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1882

14

HISTORY OF WASHINGTON COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA.

crosses the State line into Pennsylvania at the ex-
treme southeast corner of Greene County, and flow-
ing thence in a meandering but generally northward
course, marks the entire eastern boundary of Greene
and Washington Counties against the counties of Fay-
ette, Westmoreland, and Allegheny. From the north-
eastern limit of Washington County the river flows
first in a northeasterly, and afterwards in a north-

westerly course through Allegheny County to its-

confluence with the Allegheny River at Pittsburgh.

Besides the Monongahela, Washington County has a

great number of smaller streams, but among these there
are few that are of sufiicient size and importance to de-
serve special mention. The North Fork of Ten-Mile
Creek takes its rise in the southern part of this county,
and flows in a general course a little south of east to its
junction with the South Fork, which rises in Greene
County. The North Fork marks the boundary line
between Washington and Greene for a short distance
above the confluence; and the main stream of Ten-
Mile also marks the line between the two counties
from the confluence to its mouth, where its waters
join those of -the Monongahela. North of Ten-Mile
Creek, Pike Run, Pigeon Creek, Mingo Creek, and
Peters Creek flow into the Monongahela from the
eastern part of the county.

The head-streams or forks of Chartiers Creek take
their rise in the central and southern parts of the
county, and joining their waters form the main stream,
which flows in a northeasterly course through the
north part of Washington into and through Allegheny
County to its junction with the Ohio a short distance
below Pittsburgh. Raccoon Creek, King’s Creek, and
Harmon’s .Creek~ rise in the northwest part of the
county and flow into the" Ohio, the first named in a
northerly, and the others in a general westerly course.
Several forks of Wheeling Creek (which flows into
the Ohio) rise in the southwest corner of Washington
County, Hunter’s Fork (of Wheeling) marking the
boundary for several miles between Washington and
Greene. ‘''Buffalo Creek and Cross Creek, which have
their sources in the western part of Washington
County, flow westward across the State line into West
Virginia, and ‘through the "‘ Pan Handle” of that
State into the Ohio River.

Bordering the Monongahela River are narrow bot-
tom lands, seldom, if ever, over one-fourth of a mile
in width, and generally much less, through this
county. From these bottoms the “river hills” rise
abruptly to a height of from two hundred to three
hundred feet, and from their summits the country
stretches away westward in fine rolling uplands,
which in many parts‘ may be called a succession of
hills. The creeks——-Chartiers, Ten-Mile, Pike, Pigeon,
Mingo, Peters, Raccoon, King’s, Harmon’s, Cross,
and Bufi’alo—all have nearly the same kind of country
bordering their -margins, viz., bottom lands (gener-
ally very narrow, those of Chartiers’ being wider
than any other), from which the country rises to the

rolling uplands or hills._ In the southwest part of
the county there is very little bottom land along the

creeks; the hills rise more abruptly, and the high

lands are much more steep and rugged than elsewhere.

In general through the county the hills are tillable

to their tops. On them, as in the valleys, and river

and creek bottoms, the soil is excellent for the pro-*
duction of grain and fruits. The county in general

is excellentfor grazing, and well adapted for all the

requirements of agriculture.

A fine description of the natural features of VVash-
ington County is given below, being quoted from the

4 “ Memoirs of Alexander Campbell,” by Robert Rich-

ardson. His observations commence at the county-
seat, the site of which he describes as “near the
sources of several streams, which run in different di-
rections, as the Chartiers Creek, which flows towards
the north; Ten-Mile Creek, which pursues an east-
ward course and falls into the Monongahela ten miles
above Brownsville, whence its name; Bufifalo, which
directs a swift and clear current to the west-northwest
and empties into the Ohio at Wellsburg, about twenty-
eight miles distant. The town being thus. near the
summit-level of the streams, the hills around it are
comparatively low, and the country gently undulat-
ing. As we follow the descending waters the hills
and upland region, which in reality preserve pretty
much the same level, seem gradually to become higher,
so that by the time weapproach the Ohio and Monon-
gahela Rivers their sides, growing more and more
precipitous, rise to a ‘height of four or five hundred
feet. These steep declivities inclose the fertile val-
leys, through which the larger streams wind in grace-
ful curves. Into these wide valleys small rivulets
pour their limpid waters, issuing at short intervals
upon each side from deep ravines formed by steep hill-
sides, which closely approach each other, and down
which the waters of the springs, with which the up-
land is abundantly supplied, fall from rock to rock in
miniature cascades. Upon the upland not immedi-
ately bordering upon the streams, the country is
rolling, having the same general elevation, above
which, however, the summit of a hill occasionally
lifts itself, as though to afford to lovers of beautiful
landscapes most delightful views of a country covered
for many miles with rich pasturages, with grazing
herds or flocks, fruitful grain-fields or orchards, gar-
dens, and farm-houses, while upon the steeper sides

of the valleys still remain some of the ancient forest -

growths of oak and ash, walnut, hickory, and maple.
Frequently as the traveler passes along the roads
upon the upland he sees suddenly-from some divid-
ing ridge charming valleys stretching away formiles
with their green meadows, rich fields of corn, and
sparkling st-reamlets. At other times, as he advances,
he admires with delight in the distance the ever-
varying line of the horizon, which on all sides is
formed by the summits of remote ridges and eleva-
tions, sometimes conical in form, but mostly defined

104

HISTORY OF WASHINGTON COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA.

call out the militia of his county at will on any
emergency which i_n his opinion rendered it necessary,
and he now promptly exercised that authority by
calling out from the militia of the county the number
of men which he thought necessary for the success-
ful accomplishment of the object in view. The force,
which consisted of about one hundred and sixty
men,‘ all of Washington County, and all, or very
nearly all, of whom were mounted, was placed under
command of Col. David Williamson. It left, the
county on the 3d of March, and in the morning of
the4th crossed the Ohio River to the Mingo Bottom,
which was on the western bank of the stream, about
two and a half miles below the present town of Steu-
benville.

When the Shawanese war party who destroyed the
home of Robert Wallace, on Raccoon Creek, made
their rapid retreat to the Ohio with their prisoners, in
the night of the 10th of February, they found Mrs.
Wallace and her infant child to be serious impedi-
ments to the rapidity of their march, and so, soon
after crossing the river, these two helpless ones were
ruthlessly murdered,2 the mother scalped, and her

1 Butterfield, in his “ Historical Account of the Expedition Against
Sandusky under Col. William Crawford in 1782," gives the strength of
this force as ninety men only; and Doddridge (page 248) places it at
“between eighty and ninety men ;” but this is undoubtedly an error.
Most of the accounts which bear the appearance of authenticity state
the number to have been one hundred and sixty. One of the apparently
most reliable of these accounts is the “ Relation of Frederick Linebach,”
which is found in the Pennsylvania Archives of 1781-83, page 524, and
is given farther on in this narrative. It embraces the account given of
the expedition by two persons living near Easton, Pa., but who were
present on the frontier at the time Wi\iiamson‘s party returned from
the campaign. In a few days thereafter they left the frontier and-re-
turned toiEastern Pennsylvania, where they related the facts as given.
The number of Williamson’s men was stated by them as one hundred
and sixty. The statement of men who were on the border at the time,
who heard all the facts related, and very likely saw the forces of the ex-
pedition, is of more value than any account written years afterward
from recollection or tradition. It is true that Dr. Doddridge was also
living on the frontier at the time, but as he was then only about twelve
years old, it is not to be supposed that he would of his own knowledge
have any definite information as to the number of men composing the
expedition. '

Stone, in his “ Life of Brant,” ii. 220, says, “ A band of between one
and two hundred men from the settlements of the Monongahela turned
out in quest of the marauders [those who had committed atrocities on
the frontier east of the Ohio, and part of whom were supposed to be the
Moravians], thirsting for vengeance, under the command of Col. David
Williamson.” " '

On page 143 of “Contributions to American History,” published by
the Historical Society of Pennsylvania, is found the following: “ In
March, 1782, one hundred and sixty militiamen living upon the Monon-
gahela set off on horseback to the Muskingum, in order to destroy three
Moravian Indian settlements.”

Col. Whittlesey, in the “American Pioneer,” vol. ii. p_. 428, says, “ They
were principally from the Monongahela region, and appointed William-
son to the command.” .-

Gen. Irvine, who was in the East at the time the expedition set out,
and who arrived back at Fort Pitt a few days after the forces came back
from their bloody work on the Muskingum, wrote to Gen. Washington
on the 20th of April following, in which letter he said that upon his
arrival at Fort Pitt he found that “ ab'oat three hundred men had just re-
turned from the Moravian‘towns." I

2 The two other Wallace child ren—Robert, aged two and a half years,
and his brother, ten years of age-—,-w,ere taken _,,to Sandusky, where the
elder one died. Robert was sold to’ the Wyandots, and remained with
that tribe nearly three years. His father heard of his being there, and

body impaled on the sharpened trunk of asapling
standing directly on the path which led from the
Mingo Bottom to the villages on the Muskingum.
On their arrival at the Moravian town of Grnaden-
hiitten they announced the bloody work on which
they had been engaged and exhibited the plunder
they had secured. The Christian Indians at once saw

how their own safety might be endangered by this‘

visit of the hostile party. They reproached the Shawa-
nese for having compromised them by stopping at
their town, and begged them to proceed on their
homeward journey without delay. The warriors com-
plied with this request, but not until they had cun-
ningly induced the simple Moravians to purchase
from them some of the household utensils they had
brought from the ravaged home on Raccoon Creek,
and had disposed of the blood-stained dress of Mrs.
Wallace to some of the foolish young squaws of Gna-
denhiitten. These were dear purchases to the unsus-
pecting Moravians, for they soon after paid for them
with their lives. It has been the opinion of many
that the scheme was preconcerted on the part of the
hostile Indians, who knew of the preparations which
were being made in the white settlements for an expe-
dition against the Muskingum towns,3 and left these
articles at Crnadenhiitten, expecting that the white
men would find them there, and regarding the-fact
as positive proof that the Moravians had committed
the outrages on Raccoon and Buffalo Creeks, would
murder them and destroytheir towns in retaliation.
The hostile Indians suspected that the Moravians

were in secret aliiance with the Americans,‘ and A

therefore might have wished to have them destroyed,
or at least permanently driven from their towns, so
that the war parties might pass to and fro between

after the close of the Revolution sent for him, and having succeeded in
obtaining his release from captivity brought him back to his home in

Washington County.

3 The story was afterwards current among the inhabitants that the
infamous renegade, Simon Girty, was present in the settlements in dis-
guise when the expedition was being formed, and that he did all in his
power to promote it. That the Indians wished to have the blame of their
outrages thrown on the Christian Indians is evident from the fact that
two of the most savage of the captors of John Carpenter pretended to be
Moravians, though they were but warriors in that disguise.

4“ The peaceable Indians [Moravians] first fell under suspicion with V

the Indian warriors and the English commandant at Detroit, to whom it
was reported that their teachers [the missionaries] were in close confed-'
eracy with the American Congress for preventing not only their own
people but also the Delawares and some other nations from associating
their arms with those of the British for carrying on the war against tbe
American colonies. The frequent failures of the war expeditions of the
Indians was attributed to the Moravians, who often sent runners to Fort
Pitt to give notice of their approach. This charge against them was
certainly not without foundation. In the spring of 1781 the war chief
of the Delawares fully apprised the missionaries and their followers of
their danger both from the whites and Indians, and requested them to
remove to a place of safety from both. This request was not complied
with. The almost prophetic predictions of this chief were literally ful-

- filled.”—Doddm’dge’s Early Settlement and Indian Wars, page 257.

The same advice which was given to the Moravian Indians by the
Delaware chief, as mentioned by Doddridge, was also pressed on them by
Col. Brodhead.,at_—»tl~ie,r.time---he-was marching with his expedition to the
Delaware towns in April, 1781, but they persisted in their determination
to remain, seeming to court their own destruction.

884.

HISTORY OF WASHINGTON COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA.

burning of Neville’s house, the only connection in
which his name appears is in the performance of an

.act of humanity. In his history, H. M. Bracken-
«ridge, relating the manner in which Neville’s brother-
-in-law, Maj. Kirkpatrick, who commanded the sol-
.diers within the house, escaped, states: “Kirkpatrick, H
safterbeing carried some distance under guard, wa.s
taken by David Hamilton behind him on horseback;

when, thinking himself protected, he‘ began to answer
those who came up occasionally with indignant lan-
guage, when Hamilton said to him, ‘You see I am
endeavoring to saveyou at the risk of my own safety,

and yet you are making it still more dangerous for

7

me. On this he was ‘silent, and being carried some

_ distance further by Hamilton, he was advised to make

his escape, which he did.” Subsequently, when
Hamilton was deputed by a committee of the people
to go to Pittsburgh and return the pistols taken from
M”arshal.Lenox and require the fulfillment of what
had been agreed upon on his part, it is testified by a
witness under oath that “ Hamilton consented to go
in order to prevent the people ‘from coming in them-_
selves and doingmischief, forthere was danger of
their going in at that time.” These and similar
references show that however strenuous may have

~been‘his’opposition to the excise law, his influence

was on the side of order and humanity. Though
some attempts were made toward the close of the in-
surrection to apprehend him, he was successful in
evading their efiforts, and without furtherimolestation
spent the remainder of his life in peace.

He was married in early life to Margaret Ham-
ilton, niece of Col. John Hamilton, a_ lady in whom

were singularly combined the refined manners of the

East and the hardihood of the West. She lived to the

' advanced age of ninety-six, dying in 1872. It is re-

lated of her that she /crossed the mountains to and
fro between Adams and Washington Counties seven-

teen times, and always on horseback, except on her

last ‘trip. Five of Esquire Hamilton’s sisters married

husbands who established families well known in the

county. Their names were Wylie, McDonough, Scott,
Bolton, and Barr. T_wo of his brothers, Daniel and
John, settled in Kentucky. V-Vhatever hot blood may
have coursed in his veins in youth, his age presented
the picture of a. mild‘ and courteous gentleman, an

intelligent and useful citizen, and an exemplary

Christian. Formore than fifty years he was a mem-
ber in full communion in the Presbyterian Church.
At his death, which occurred May'10, 1839, in his
eightieth year,~he bequeathed half of his estate to
the educational charities of that church. Providence
denied to this worthy couple the gift of children.
They sleep. side by side inthe old Mingo graveyard.

' ’ James Morrison received aVirginia certificate for

a tract of land “ containing four hundred and thirty-
eight acres on the” waters of Mingo ’ Creek.” He

0 came to this country in 1773 with histwo sons, John

and Henry, from Chester County, Pa. Henry was a

s the peace for fifteen years from 1854.

lieutenant in the Revolution. He diediat the age of
eighty-two. His son, Henry Morrison, Sr., and

grandson,-Henry, J r., still reside on part of the old 4
homestead. John Morrison, a son of Henry, lived A

on the farm also, and his son, ‘Maj. William H.
Morrison, resides in Monongahela City. James Mor-
rison, one of -the sons of James, sold his portion of
the estate about 1869, and now lives with James W.
Gaston, of Union township.

William Scott emigrated from Ireland with his
wife and his children,——John, Thomas, Alexander,
Joseph, Mary, Fanny, Elizabeth, and Angel. John
married Margaret McNary. John, son of John, set-
tled in Somerset township, where he was justice of

farm in 1869 to Jeremiah Myers, and removed to
Washington, where he still resides. -Rebecca, daugh-

ter of John, Sr., married Martin Baile, and moved to V

Belmont County, Ohio.» Thomas married Margaret
Rodgers,-and settled in the township. Alexander
married Gertrude Kerr. They settled in the town-
ship for a time and emigrated to Tuscarawas County,

_ Ohio. Joseph, brother of John, Thomas, and Alex-

ander also emigrated to Ohio.

About 1804, Daniel Williams built a saw-mill on
the farm now" owned by Harman Raney. It was de-
stroyed by fire several years later, and never rebuilt.
In 1807, John Kenton built a tannery on Mingo
Creek, east of Dunningsville, and in 1819 leased it
to William McGregor, Esq., who had learned his
trade in Washington with Christopher Hornish. In
1828, Mr. McGregor and William Barr-: bought the
tannery from Kenton, who then moved to Indiana.
Among the many apprentices who learned their trade
with McGregor and Barr was Col. William Hopkins,
the father of the late Andrew Hopkins, Esq., of
Washington, and Hon. James H. Hopkins, of Pitts-
burgh. ' A -

In 1830, Robert and John Scott came from Pitts-
burgh and built a steam saw- and grist-mill on the
Devore farm on Mingo Creek. Itwas kept in active
operation until 1846, when it wasdestroyed by fire.

From 1827 to 1836 Charles Farquar ran a, tannery
on Mingo Creek, on the farm of the late Hiram ‘Var-
ren. Adam Devore, a son of Andrew, established, in
1830, a tannery on the farm now owned by John Gam-
ble, Esq., and kept ’it running continuously until
1853, when it wasmdismantled. George Miller built a

tannery on-his farm about 1830, but about 1845 it was '

abandoned. Now no traces of any of these.establish-
ments remain.

Dunningsvil1e.——On the 10th of December, 1791, 3

Alexander Scott bought of Joseph and Alexander
Campbell a tract of land, embracing the present site
of Dunningsville, which tract had been purchased in
1788 by the Campbells from Nicholas Vaneman, who
had warranted it from the land-ofiice March 23, 1786.

The “ Glades road” passed ‘through the tract, and on .

thisroad, in 1798, Scott built a’dWelling and store,

He ‘sold his T

.town, and from him it derives its name.
.first postmaster, having been appointed in 1830, and

A N OTTIN GHAM‘ TOWNSHIP.

885

the site of which is now occupied by the residence of
James Leyda. In 1801-2, Scott built a horse grist-
. »mill opposite his house, and a year or two subsequent
.a tavern stand just‘ east of the Leyda homestead, and
west of it a blacksmith-shop. Having installed Wil-
,1iam,Sheets in the blacksmith-shop, and a certain
\ John Kehoe in the tavern, Scottgave his personal

attention to keeping store and grinding his neighbors’
grain. .
Scott,.who was an Englishman by birth, was a

strong Tory during the war of 1812, and this greatly‘
incensed the patriotic citizens of the vicinity, and his

life was openly threatened. Scott being frightened,
and believing the threats would be carried into exe-
cution, fled to VVash‘ington and subscribed to the oath

' -of allegiance. V

In 1835, Scott removed to Ohio, having sold his

farm, tavern, and store to John. Dunning, who for
‘many years previous had been a Wagoner on the road.

After taking possession of his purchase, Dunning
succeeded in having the little villa.ge made a post-
He was its

continuedin office until his death. ‘During the time
of Dunning the sign of his tavern was two gold keys
crossed. , And the “ Crossed, Keys” was a famous
tavern in its day, as its landlord was the _typical_land-
lord of the road. ,He died Sept. 7, 1843, and lies
buried in the graveyard of Pigeon Creek Presbyterian

' Church .

After Dunning’s,death, "a man named Bell kept the
tavern, the farm having been purchased, from the ex-
ecutors of the estate by Dr. Boyd Emery, who subse-
quently sold it and the tavern to Aaron Brawdy,

under whose administration the tavern was destroyed

by fire in 1858. _\ Mr. James Leyda bought the prop-

erty from the assignee of Mr. Brawdy, and is its pres- .
yent owner.

In 1863, William Welch built awagon-shop, and
John Dornan the same year built the present black-
smith-shop of the place. -Both. came from Pittsburgh,
and are still engaged in their respective pursuits.

The postmasters intervening between Dunning and

I A . Thomas H._ Long, appointed'in 1858, have not been

ascertained, but following the latter have been John
T. Sumny, W. H. Hickson, and John Caseber. A.

C. Gamble, appointed in 1875, continues to hold the

office. _ - ~

Kammerer-—This village is located on a tract of
eighty-five acres, which’ was patented by George
Meyers, March 12, 1788, and which by subsequent
transfers became the property of William McFeeley,
who ‘owned it in 1832, it being at that time‘ under
lease to Thomas Officer, who placed John Kammerer
upon it. Kammerer built a dwelling and store-room
upon it, and April 1, 1841, bought the farm and build-
ings he had erected from the owner, McFeeley.
Shortly afterwards he built a tavern stand, which be-
fore the war of the Rebellion was a place of great

ment oflicials.

resort, and known far and wide as “Dutch J ohn’s.”
In 1845, on Mingo Creek, near the site of the old
Leyda mill, built in 1790, he built a saw- and grist-
mill, which wasburned on Sept. 22, 1850, and rebuilt
the following year. Mr. Kammerer died at his home
in 1856, and in 1859 his son Joseph built his distil-
lery and kept it in continuous operation until 1871.
In 1881 a partnership was formed between Joseph

Kammerer, Christian. Hootman, and John Leyda, -

for‘ the purpose of manufacturing" liquors. The old
saw-mill, built in 1851, was changed into a distillery,
to which was given the name of Mingo. In connec-
tion with his distillery business, Joseph Kammerer
conducts an extensive country store, and is the post-

master -of the village.

Munntown is located on a tract of land named in
the survey “Medina,” which was patented to John

lMunn,. Sr., Oct. 29, 1790. He sold it May 4, 1793, to

David Munn, from whom the place takes its name.

A small village grew up on Munn’s land, and a post-

office was established here in 1843, Samuel Hamilton
being the first postmaster. The office was afterwards

removed to Thomas’ store, on the Pittsburgh South-_

ern Railroad. Mr. Thomas was appointed postmaster,
and still continues in the office.

Ginger Hill, a small village‘ on the Washington
and Monongahela City pike, in Southeastern N otting-.
ham, on the Carroll line, has enjoyed a “ local habita-

tion and a name” ever since the time of the Whiskey .

Insurrection. On the night of Nov. 14, 1794, Robert
Johnson, excise collectorfor Washington and Alle-
gheny Counties, seized the still of Squire David Ham-
ilton, who lived near the site of Ginger Chapel. The
squire was a shrewd Scotchman, and pretended to be
in no way exercised over the action of the govern-
It, was a dark disagreeable night,
and the road to Parkinson’s Ferry being none of the

. smoothest, the officers‘ were easily prevailed upon to re-

main under the hospitable roof of Hamilton. Around
the glowing logs of the backwoods fire Hamilton
and his guests discussed the excise law, the conver-
sation being enlivened by oft-repeated draughts from
“Black Betty,” which had-been previously “doc-
tored” by Hamilton with a liberal quantity of Ja-
maica ginger. One by onethe oflicials dropped from

their chairs until all lay on the floor in the deep sleep ‘

of intoxication. Hamilton speedily gathered his
neighbors, and taking the still and whiskey carried
them many miles across the country. to a place of
safety. This action, which now would be a- serious

matter, ‘was then regarded as a good joke, and the _
place became known as “ Ginger Hill.” Such at least

is the tradition.

At this time a man named Arbuckle kept a tavern
opposite the home of Hamilton, and after this occur-
rence gave it the name of“ Ginger Hill Inn.” About

-1796, Davidlrlamilton purchased Arbuckle’s stand,

and the year following a competing one was estab-
lished by James McFliste.r, to which he gave the

‘ C. Mathews have been elected elders.

886

HISTORY OF WASHINGTON 4 COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA.

name of the “ Black Horse,” and therewas a strong
and even bitter rivalry between these two taverns -for
many years. ,_

Jacob Meyers about 1820 built a tavern on the
Glades road just east of the village of Kammerer, to
which he gave the name of “Olive Inn.” The first
landlord was Alexander Reynolds, and his successors
in order were Joseph Butler, William McCune, Thomas
Officer, Poole, Alexander-Campbell, John Kam-
merer, and Daniel Meyers, eldest son of Jacob.
Daniel Meyers was succeeded by his brother David,
who abandoned the business in 1860, but still occu-
pies the stand as a dwelling. '

Churches.-——Wright’s Chapel, in North east Notting-
ham, on Peters Creek, was built by Enoch Wright, who
was a member of the Baptist Church, and his chapel
was intended as a place o_f worship for members of that
sect, but by reason of internal dissensions he became
in 1835 a member of the Methodist Episcopal Church.
During the time the chapel was used by the Baptists,
Rev. Shadreck was the minister in charge, and under
Methodist administration the Revs. Pershing, Samuel
Wakefield, George Crook, David McCready, John
Snyder, William Ward, M. M. Sweeny, and Thomas

 

Patterson have been among the number of clergymen :

in charge. The Conference of Butler in 11881 assigned
Rev. George A. Sheets to the congregation, which

numbers one hundred and fifty-seven. Thetrustees.

are Thomas Robb, Nathan Crouch, James N. Barkley,

Alexander G. Hopkins, John Means,’ Charles Grant, .

D. M. Anderson, Robert Barkley, and Samuel Devore;

and lot on which it stands was willed by Enoch
Wright to his son Joseph, a Methodist clergyman,
who at his death gave‘ it to the Methodist Church, to
have and to hold so long as it was kept free from debt;
and adding the additional clause that all religious
bodies were to have free use of the church, providing
they were not pro-slavery.

The Mount Prospect United Presbyterian Church

at Munntown was organized in January, 1860, by the

orders of the Presbytery of Chartiers, which convened
that year at Canonsburg. Rev. Thomas Balph was
the first pastor, and served until May 1, 1869, when
he was succeeded by the Rev. J. P. Davis, the present
pastor. Since its organization Thomas Rankin, J am-es
Fife, Ezra Patterson, Mitchell Bryant, John Temple-
ton, Richard Fife, John Bower, John Watson, and J.
The Sabbath-
school has been successively under the superintend-
ency of John Templeton, J. C. Mathews, John Wat-
son, and.Daniel Crouch.

The Presbyterian Church of Fairview, also at
Munntown, was organized by order of the Presbytery
of Ohio, on the petition of James McClain, Esq., and

atthe instance of Robert McPherson, J. Hazlett, and

‘Rev. Charles Edwards.

Rev. C. C. Braddock. On the 24th day of February
the organization was perfected, with twenty-one mem-
bers, in the district school-house, which building
was occupied as a place of worship until the comple-
tion of the church edifice the subsequent fall.‘ The

Revs. George Marshall, James Black, George Birch, A

S. M-. Neebling, and John Aiken filled the pulpit as
supplies until Sept. 1, 1864, when the Rev. John
Ewing was called. He was almost immediately fol-
lowed by the.Rev. Gray, and the latter was succeeded

’ Sept. 1, 1864, by Rev. William Hannah. Rev. Han-

nah resigned April 1, 1869, and for the three follow-
ing months Rev. William Brown was in charge. On

Sept. 1, 1869, Rev. Wasson was installed, and was

succeeded Sept. 1, 1872, by Rev. J. F. Hyde. On
September, 1879, Rev. O. A. Rockwell succeeded the
latter, and the congregation has since then been in
the pastoral care of that clergyman. Since the or-
ganization S. Thomas, James Kerr, Jonathan Caseber,
John P. Cochran, William Rees, Josiah Kerr, John
Crouch, and George Smith have been elected to the
ofiice of elder.
school is John Crouch. The church has a member-
ship of one_hundred and eight, with a Sabbath--school
attendance of forty-three.

‘In 1868 the Methodists of Southeastern Nottingham
erected a chapel at Ginger Hill. The building was

-completed in thevsummer of 1868, and dedicated in

November of that year, the Rev. James R. Mills

fpreachilng the dedicatory sermon. It was given the
Stewards, Nathan Crouch, Robert Barkley, Thomas.
Robb, and D. M. Anderson. The chapel building

name of Edwards Chapel, in honor of the first pastor,
Succeeding Mr. Edwards the
pastors in charge have been the Revs. James Mea-
chem, R. B. Mansell, Samuel G. Miller, W. J. Kessler,
Joseph H. Henry, and E. B. Griflith, who was assigned
the charge in’ 1881- by the Conference of Butler. The
trustees have been William Jones, Andrew Griffith,
John Hess, William McKindry Nicholson, Zebulon
Hess, Jesse Jones, and William Griflith. Stewards,
John ' Kahle and Andrew Griflith. Sabath-school
superintendents, Andrew Griffith, David Sumny,

Homer Burgett, and William Jones. -The church has '
a membership of one hundred and four, and a Sabbath- :

school attendance of thi»rty-one. '

Sch00ls.—About 1790 a man named “ Forgee”
Johnson came from the East and became a school-
teacher in Nottingham township. He “taught round’-’
for several years until 1798, when a school-house was
‘built on Mingo Creek on the farm of Andrew Devore,
and near where the present School No. 1 now stands.
The schools taught by Johnson were “subscription
schools,” a plan which was universal in this section‘
of country prior to the enactment of the public school
law in 1834. In that year Nottingham township sent’
John Morrison as a delegate to attend the county
convention held on the 4th of November to decide

upon the acceptance or rejection of the provisions of -

the school law. Mr. Morrison voted in favor of it,

The superintendent of the Sabbath- _ -

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PETERS TOWNSHIP.  

887

and Nottingham accepted the provisions and shared
in the first State appropriation issued to the county
Jan. 12, 1835.

Election of school directors was held at the Mingo
school-house March 20, 1835, and H. Dunlap and G.
McGribbony were elected, and soon after laid out the
township into school districts, selected sites, and
erected school—houses. In that year (1835) there were
three hundred and fourteen taxables in. the township
liable to school tax, and the amount collected was
$258.7 3.. There was collected in 1836 from the county
$502, and received from the State $101.42. In 1837,
$319.26 was collected. The township in 1863 had five
school districts (which remain unchanged), two hun-
dred and ‘thirty-four scholars. Total receipts for

- school purposes, $723.17 ; expenditures, $629.17. In

1873 there were two hundred and twenty-five scholars.
Total receipts, $1539.02; expenditures, $1141.30. In
1880, two hundred and one scholars; receipts,
$1149.60; expenditures, $903.03.

4-;
Vvf

BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCH.

REV. LUKE J. wAssoN.
Rev. Luke J. Wasson was born in the County An-

trim, Ireland, October, 1846, the youngest in a family

of six children of Hugh and Elizabeth (M_cQeety)
Wasson. The family emigrated to this.country when
hewas two years old, and settled in the township of
Robinson, \’Vashington -Co., where both his father
and mother died. ' ’

He received his. academic education at Cander,

where he prepared for the Junior Class in Jefferson

College, which he entered in 1863, and was graduated

from that institution in 1865. He prosecuted his

theological studies at the Western Theological Sem- _
inary,-Allegheny City, from which institution he was V

graduated in 1868. Hewas licensed to preach by the
Presbytery of Allegheny City. Soon after leaving
the seminary he received a call as pastor to the church
of Long’s Run, at Calcutta, Columbiana Co., Ohio.
After preaching there one year, during which time

(April 28, 1869) he was ordained by the Presbytery of .

New Lisbon,’ he returned {the call as not accepted.
June, 187 0,.he united with the Pittsburgh Presby-
tery, and was installed pastor of the church of Fair-
view Oct. 12, 1870, from which he was released on
account of ill health April, 1873. During theearly
part of that summer he went west in the expectation
of regaining his health, but while at Minneapolis was

suddenly called by the Master to his reward June 13, -

1873, in the twenty-sixth year of his age.

He was united in marriage to Jennie, daughter of
James and Esther (Watson) Crawford, Nov. 5, 1868,
the year he began his ministerial labors. Mrs. Was-
son was a descendant on her mother’s side of the
Watson family. William Watson, her great-grand-
father, was a soldier in the war of the Revolution.
He emigrated from County Down, Ireland, first set-
tled in Lancaster County, and was one of the first
settlers in the “backwoods,” Washington County.
Her mother is the only representative of -the Watson
family living. Alice G. and Frances C. are the only
children of the Rev. and Mrs. Wasson.
more appropriately close this brief sketch than by
quoting the following, taken from the minutes passed
Sept. 24, 1873-, by the Pittsburgh Presbytery:

“As a man he was much respected; as ‘a laborer
for Christ he was diligent and consecrated; and as a
preacher earnest and successful. Among his late

parishioners his character and ministry are held in A

fond and grateful remembrance.”

A L  ‘

PETERS TOWNSHIP.

4‘;
Vvf

PETERS was the tenth on the list of the thirteen
original townships formed under the act erecting
Washington County, ‘passed March 28, 1781, the
eighteenth section of which act authorized and di-
rected the" trustees to divide the county into town-
ships beforeJuly 1, 1781. The territory originally
embraced in the township comprehended the present
township of Peters, the north part of Union town-
ship, and all that portion of Allegheny County lying
east of Chartiers Creek and south and west of the
Monongahela River. ,

' The first effort to divide the township was made in

September, 1784, when a petition to that effect was
presented to the court of Washington County. The
court decreed the division and certified the same to
the Executive Council. N 0 action was taken till Nov.’
21, 1786, when the Council confirmed the order of the
court dividing Peters and erecting upon the part
taken off the township of Dickinson. In the mean

time the new township had assumed separate juris-
diction and elected township oflicers} without waiting .

1 In the election returns of constables in Washington County, made at
the March term of court in 1785, the township of Dickinson appears in
the list, with the name of Oliver Elliott as constable.

We cannot ,

838

HISTORY OF WASHINGTON COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA.

.for the confirmation by the Council. Dickinson con-

tinued a township of Washington County till it be-

came a part of Allegheny County upon the erection

of the latter. This township of Dickinson was formed
from the north part, of the territory of the original

,township of Peters. The part of the old township
which was thus thrown into Allegheny County was

all that part of Peters north of a line running from

‘Chartiers Creek at the mouth of Miller’s Ru_n east-

wardly to the Monongahela River, at a point opposite

the mouth of Perry’s Run. In 1789 the township was

further reduced in territory by the extension of Alle-
gheny County southward to its present boundary
line between Chartiers Creek and the Monongahela.
In 1834, Union township was formed from Notting-
ham and Peters, thus ‘reducing Peters to its present

- area and boundaries, which aref on the north by Alle-

gheny County, on the east ‘by Union, south by Not-
tingham and North Strabane, andwest by the last-
named township and Cecil, the western boundary

-being marked by Chartiers Creek, which is the most
important water-course of the township, though

Peters Creek, which marks the eastern boundary

against the township of v Union, is also a mill-‘stream

of considerable size. .
Settlements.—-The assessment-roll of Peters town-

ship for 1788 shows the names of a number of military

men, some of whom were well known as prominent

V actors in theevents and campaigns of preceding and

succeeding years. Among these were Gen. Edward
Hand, Gen. John Neville, Maj‘. William Lee, Col. John
Campbell, Col. David Philips, and Capt. Joseph Beeler.
The names of William Fife, Philip Ross, David
Steele, Daniel Shawan, Aaron Work, and John Watt,
--—these* were all residents in that ‘part of old Peters
townshipwhich is now embraced in Allegheny County,
except Capt. Joseph Beeler. Gen. Hand’s “residence
was on the river nearly opposite Pittsburgh. He was

assessed in the year mentioned on thirteen hundred

acres. David Steel was in service in 1776 under, Capt.
Isaac Cox, and himself rose to the grade of captain.
On the 1st of‘ March, 1778, he was with the troops
who rendezvoused at Cox’s Station, under Cols. Isaac
Cox and John Canon.» His residence was where
Peter Simmons now lives. The property was owned
by Daniel McClure in 1800. . Steele was a surveyorof
good repute, and well known through the county.
There are no descendants of his now living in this
region. . _ , ‘

Col. John Campbell lived (as before stated) in that
part of old Peters which is now Allegheny County.
(Another of the. same name lived in Union township,
where he was justice of the peace for many years.)
Col. Campbellwas assessed in 1788 on two hundred

-and twenty-eight acres of land in Peters. In the same
year Jacob‘ Bowsman was assessed on two hundred

and ninety acres. He-‘lived on the south side of the

_Monongahela, opposite Pittsburgh.

The Rev. J ohnClark was assessed on one hundred

acres in 1788. He was the Rev. Mr. Clark mentioned
in the annals of the Whiskey Insurrection as being
present at the Mingo Creek meeting in 17 94, and as
having counseled and warned the infuriated people
present not to break the laws of the United States or
engage in hostile acts against the government,

Lieut.-Col. Stephen Bayard was anotherresident in
the same part of the old township, and was a very
prominent man in his time.

Col.— David Phillips, who appears on the roll above
mentioned as taxable on three hundred acres in old
Peters, was a relative -of the. person then known as
“Preaching David Phillips,” who. was assessed on
three hundred and thirty acres. All the persons
above named, except the last, were residents in that
partof old Peters township which is now ‘included in

Allegheny County.

Within the present limits of the township the first
tract of land taken. up was that called “Benton,”
granted on a Virginia certificate, Feb. 11, 1780, to
James Matthews, ‘_‘ situate on the waters of. Chartiers
Creek, to include his actual settlement made in the
year 1774.” He died on the tract; his widow sur-
vived-him several years. They had three sons, Paul-,

James, and Robert. The first and last named emi-v '
grated to the West. James settled near Washington, ,

Pa. He had two sons, James and William, of whom
the former is nowliving near the McMurray post-
office. William removed to the-VVest. A daughter
of his married Andrew ‘Crawford, and settled in Peters.
Of the original tract called “Benton,” above. men-
tioned,‘ a’ part passed from the -Matthews family,
through intermediate hands, to John and William
McMurray. ' ' 4 - ‘Q — A
A About 1765 two brothers of Scotch-Irish descent,
named Joshua and James Wright, came from fhe
Cumberland valley and siettledvon Peters Creek, in
Nottingham township. The brothers went resolutely
to work, and cleared a suflicient amount of their land
to put in a crop. Joshua then returned to their home
in the East and married Charity, a -daughter of John
Harris, from whom the city of Harrisburg derived its

name, and soonreturned with his bride to his forest _

home. Sept. 16, 1779, Joshua Wright purchased
from his brother James all his share of their joint
purchase. After this sale James Wright wentito
live in Kentucky, where he was killed by the In-
dians. A '

Joshua Wright engaged in the N ew Orleans trade,

and about 1783, while on his way to that city in one

of the flat-bottomed, square-prowed boats, was at-
tacked and captured by Indians and taken to a
point near Sandusky, Ohio, where he was burned at
the stake. The familythus left without ‘a protector
were his wife and three children, Lydia, Enoch, and
Agnes. 7 I

J oshua Wright had sold to Daniel Townsend, his
brother-in-law, four hundred acres of the original

\

eight-hundred-acre‘ tract purchased by himself and
brother James. Charity Wright, the widow of Joshua,
afterwards married a Mr. Colvin, who lived on Pigeon
Creek. Her daughter Lydia married John Laird, and
settledon a part of the land which she inherited from
her father, and upon which she died. After her
death her brother’ Enoch purchased the property_
The other daughter, Agnes, became Mrs. Joseph

Barrows. Enoch, the only son, was but a boy when ‘

his father was killed. He became a man of influence,
and filled many positions of trust and honor in his
neighborhood. He had but one child, his son Jo-
seph, who became ‘a Methodist minister. Joseph

. VVright was a close student, and in the later years

of‘his life was engaged in work upon a dictionary.

-He’ had reached the letter M at the time of his death.

And it proved labor lost, as the completed manuscript
was entirely destroyed in the hurricane which swept
over this township in 1854. Rev. Joseph Wright left
a family of ten children, as follows: Darthula, who
married Dr. James Miller, and. died in Pittsburgh;
Catharine, who married Thomas. Rankin, and set-

'’ tled upon-the farm ‘her father gave her on Mingo

Creek. She raised a large family of children, who
emigrated to Nebraska, and she now lives with them-
Lucinda Wright married John Storer, and settled on
a part of the home farm. Dr. John Storer, of Hills-

V boro’, is her son_. Joshua Wright had that part of

the original Wright tract called the homestead,
whichlie still owns. The old log house in which
Joshua Wright first lived stood where the garden
now is. He now lives in Washington, Pa., where
he is engaged in banking. Enoch Wright settled on‘
a portion of the Wright land, but in 1866 left it and
emigrated to Iowa. Joseph, another son of Rev. Jo-
seph Wright, also inherited some of the original prop-
erty, but sold it, and died in Pittsburgh. Margaret
married Dr. C. M. Townsend, and lives in Peters
township, near Bower Hill. Mary ‘Wright married
Rev.’ J. C. Brown, of the Methodist Church. Hop-
kins, another son, owns a part of the home farm, and
Charity, who married Dr. D. M‘. Anderson, also lives
on land inherited by.the children of Joshua Wright.

Anthony Dunleavy came‘ from Ireland about 1745,
and settled near VVinchester, Va. While living there
he married Hannah, a daughter of Judge Alexander
White, of that State. In 1772 he removed to the
western part of Pennsylvania, but which he supposed
was Virginia, settling upon a tract of land that is now

included in Peters township. The tract contained’

three hundred and seventy-three acres, and a patent

for it was granted to Mr. Dunleavy May 24,¢1787,v
_ under the title of.“The Tower.”

He made this his
home for some years, but in 1700 removed to Ken-
tucky. Previous to this, however, he disposed of some
of his land to John Reed and Dennis Dunleavy.
Some of the property is »now in possession of Harvey
McMurray. / .

Anthony Dunleavy had a family of four sons and

PETERS TOWNSHIP. A

three daughters, of whom Francis was the“ eldest.

In the spring of 1782, Francis Dunleavyentered the
Latin school or academy Rev. Thaddeus Dodd,
then in operation in  on Ten-Mile Creek.

Whilein school a call was made for troops, to which

he promptly responded, but was absent only ten days.
And when the call for ‘troops forthe Sandusky ex-

pedition was made he again volunteered, and served-

through that disastrous campaign. After his return
and as soon as peace was restoredhe was sent to Dick-
inson College. Having completed his studies he put
himself under the care and teaching of Rev. James
Hoge, of Winchester, Va., and later taught a classical
school in that State. Upon the removal of ‘his
father’s family to Kentucky in.1790, he went out with

them, and two years afterwards, opened a classical

school at Columbia, Ohio, in which he was associated
with John Reily, of Butler County, Ohio, for several

years. Mr. Dunleavy finally removed to Lebanon,

Warren Co., Ohio, which he made his permanent
home. He was sent to the ‘Legislature two terms to

‘represent the Northwest Territory, and was a mem-
ber of the convention of 1802 which framed the first .

constitution of Ohio. He was also a member of the
first Legislature of the State after Ohio was admitted,
and he held the office of presiding judge of the Court
of Common Pleas of the First Circuit for fourteen
years. After retiring from the bench Judge Dunleavy
continued the practice of .law for some ten years. He
retired from active business some years before his
death, which occurred Nov. 6, 1839.

John Swearingen, whose name is often found in the

records of Yohogania County Court, was a resident of
Peters township, and lived upon the land which has
since been known as the Borland property. The tract,
which was called “ Oswego,” contained three hundred
and fifty acres, for which the patent was granted in
1790. In 1796, Mr. Swearingen sold his land to An-

drew Borland. In 1808 the latter gentleman sold one’

hundred and three acres of it to Joseph Henry, who

in turn disposed of that part to William Caldwell, and ‘

it is now owned by Mrs. Joseph Caldwell. The saw-
mill on Brush Run was built by Henry Borland while
he owned the property. It afterwards belonged to
Robert and Joseph Caldwell, and is now in the pos-
session of their descendants. A part of the Swear-
ingen tract is now owned by Moses Hickman. ~

John Brackenridge owned la.nd in. this townshipias
early as 1779, as the records of November 1st of that
year show him to have sold one hundred acres to
James Matthews, who lived near him. A Mr. Bracken-
ridge was elected a‘ justice of the peace on June 18,
1800. 'He continued to live upon this place, and in
February, 1826, died, leaving his wife, Catharine
Brackenridge, two sons," and three daughters,-—John,
William, Margaret, Jane, and Agnes. Thesfarm in
this township, which at that time contained one hun-
dred and sixty-seven acres, was sold by Mrs. Catharine
Brackenridge, John Gilfillan, and Alexander Brack-

889 '

890

HISTORY OF , WASHINGTON COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA.

enridge, the executors of the estate, to William Ar-
thur. It passed from one to another, and in 1855 was
purchased of James T. Smith by Harvey McMurray,
the present owner.  Run, a branch of Chartiers
Creek, passes through this tract of land. Many years
ago a pottery was located upon this stream, the site of
the building being near Mr. McMurray’s present resi-
dence. The business was operated by a man named,
Bracken, and the clay. used ther'ein was found upon
the McCloney farm, a short distance east of the pot-
tery. This business was discontinued, and as early
as 1830, ‘or before, a woolen-mill was established upon
Brush Run by J amesand _Wil_liam Hannah. In 1840
this mill was remodeled and made into. a flouring—mill
by William Arthur, and thisbranch of industry was
continued until the destruction of the property by

fire in May, 1866. In 1881, Mr. McMurray rebuilt

the mill, upon nearly the same site and using the
same water-power. The new mill is still in opera-
tion, and Mr. McMurray has also a store at the same
place. - ' 9

~ Daniel Townsend was a native of New Jersey, born
at Little Egg Harbor in 1749. He was a soldier in
the Revolution. In 1780 he came to this township
with his family, and purchased of Joshua Wright,
his brother-in-law, three hundred and fifty acres of
land, which had been previously surveyed to Wright.
A warrant of acceptance was issued to Daniel Town-
send for this property March 17, 1790, and_the pat-
ent was granted a few days later, the tract being
named “The Sale.” On this farm Mr. Townsend
lived and died. Of his children, Elijah‘ settled upon

, the southeast portion of the homestead, and died

therein 1871, leaving a family who still own the
farm.’ Joseph, the “other son of Daniel Townsend,

married a daughter of Col. William Blackmore, and.

also madehis home upon a portion of his father’s
farm.‘ He died there in 1.871, aged seventy-five years,
leaving a family of four children. The daughters of
Daniel Townsend were seven in number. Catharine
married John Bird, and settled in Beaver County,

.Pa.; Naomi became Mrs. Uriah Burton, and lived in

Peters township; Julia became the wife of Peter
Sharp, and went with him. to Gallipolis, Ohio; Mar-
garet married William Chisler, and removed to Ash-
land County, Ohio; Rebecca, now Mrs. John Hozer,
settled in Mercer County, Pa. ; Ruth is Mrs. Stephen
Higby, living in Sandusky, Ohio; and Lydia, who
married Arthur Devore, went to Marion, Ohio. Of
the children of Joseph, second son of Daniel Town-

» send, Dr. C. VV. Townsend is the eldest; Daniel died

leaving a family; Elijah T. is county commissioner,

and lives on the homestead; and Margaret, who

married J. W. Boyer, lives in Union township.
Before the year 1780, Col. Joseph Beelor was living
in Peters township, and owned a tract of land on
Chartiers Creek, above the present residence of David
G. Phillips, the property now owned by Mr. Phillips
and Mrs. Brown- He, was actively engaged in the

expeditions against the Indians, ‘ranking as colonel
under the authority of Virginia until 1781 (by rea-
son of his oflice of county lieutenant of Yohogania
County). He was a justice of the peace under the
jurisdiction of Yohogania court, and in 1782 and 1795
was license_d to keep tavern in this township. Col.
Beelor passed his life upon» his farmin this township;
His daughters, Margaret and Mary, settled near him.

His only son, Joseph J r., lived on the farm now oc-

cupied by Robert Wilson, on Little Chartiers Creek,
adjoining the farm of Moses Coe. He left several
children to inherit his property‘, which was divided
equallyyamong them, each receiving a tract of ninety
acres. ' ‘ _
John McLoney ‘came fromthe eastern part of Penn-
sylvania and settled in Peters township at a very
early date; but did‘ not receive. patents upon the land
he located until 1785. He was electe~d’sherifi" of
Washington County in 1805, and after serving the
term of [his office kept a tavern from 1808'to 1811.
He died at his homestead in this township Feb. 24,
1823, aged eighty-five years. .His son, LukeMc-

Loney, also lived and died upon the homestead. It

is now owned by Harvey McMurray, and the old log
house in which he and his father both lived and died,
and in which Margaret McLoney, a sister of Luke,
wasborn, is still standing upon the farm. Margaret
McLoney is still living unmarried at the age of ninety-
seven years at Bower Hill, with a niece, Mrs. Jones
Fawcett. John McLoney, a son of Luke McLoney,

and grandson of John McLoney, Sr., resides on the .

National road, in West Bethlehem township, having

purchased the Myers farm there a few years ago._

He relates many interesting reminiscences of the
pioneer days which he gathered from his father and
grandfather, some of which occurred within the pro-
tection of the block-house then located" on Chartiers
Creek. “

Robert Bell, who purchased the tract “Curious
Bend,” of Anthony Boley in 1795, came fromnear
Carlisle, Pa.” He was married before coming to
Peters township, and lived until his death upon the
property he purchased here. Anthony Boley first
built a cabin below the spring-house, and then put

up a better one where the residence now stands. In '

this first cabin Robert Bell made the early home of
himself, wife,_five sons, and two daughters. These
children have all died except the son Robert and a

daughter, /who was the youngest child. She married‘
‘William Barr, and lives on Mingo Creek, near Kam-

merer’s, in Nottingham township. The son Robert,
who inherited the homestead, is still‘ living upon it,

’ and is eighty years of age.

John Moore was an early settler in this township,
locating upon the land now owned and occupied by
his son, Robert Moore. The farm of Dr. Hugh Thomp-

son was on the west side, Ephraim Norton.’s farm was

on thenorth side, and that of Robert Guthrie bounded
it on the east. . . ., '

. site.

” PETERS TOWNSHIP.

891

The Rev. David Phillips was emphatically the lead-
ing clergyman of the pioneer days of Peters township.
He was born in Wales in 1742, and emigrated from
that country to America with his father’s family, set-

tling in Chester County, Pa. He married dliring his '

residence at that place, and in 1780,came into Wash-
ington County and took out a warrant for land which
now lies in_ both Allegheny and Washington Counties.
This tract of land was surveyed to him as three hun-
dred and ninety acres, under the title of “Norwich,”

and he obtained the patent for it March 4, 1786. In ‘

1809 he sold one-hundred and fourteen acres of this
land to his son Isaac, and the land upon which the
present house of worship of Peters Creek Baptist So-
ciety stands was granted by Mr. Phillips for the church
Rev. Mr. Phillips was a member of the Great
Valley Baptist Church before coming to this ‘section,
and had held a captain’s commission in the Revolu-
tionarywar. He reared a large family of children,
and when he died at the age of eighty-seven years,
having given more than forty_ years of his life.to
the exclusive service in the cause of Christ, he left
numerous descendants. Among them were Rev. T.
C. Phillips, of New York Ci_ty;'Joshua‘ Phillips, of
Pittsburgh, Pa.; J . "M. Phillips, of Chattanooga,
Tenn.; Byram Pratt, residing ‘in the State of Penn-

, sylvania; and Henry and Archibald_Bass, both living
' , in Tennessee. M It is said that a full company of l_ineal
' descendants of Rev. David Phillips served in the

‘Union army during the late Rebellion, and that at
the present time the persons living who trace their
lineage directly back to him number nearly one thou-
sand. The old Phillips homestead is now occupied
by Charles Phillips.‘ 8 , » .
Enoch‘ Philips .came to Peters township, and on
April 2, 1796, purchased one hundred and four acres
of land of John Allison, a part of the tract patented
by Anthony Dunleavy, under the title of“ The Tower,”
this portion of which he sold to John.Allison, May
17, 1792. Enoch Phillips continued to reside upon
this_land for _a long time. He kept one of the _taverns
known here at an early day, it being located at the
forks of the road near his farm. He was a soldier
in the war of 1812. His son, David Phillips, also
kept a house of public entertainment in 1826, occu-
pying the same house his father did at an earlier date.
His son, David Phillips, has a farm in this township,
and there is still standing upon it a house built in
1814. David Phillips, J r., was elected to the office of
justice of the peace April 10, 1855, and served two
terms. . ,
James Mitchell came from Ireland to this country,
and served for a time in the Revolutionary war. On
Oct. 15,1791, having come into Peters township, he pur-
chased a part of the tract of land called “ Crookston,”

of aboutthree hundred acres. The tract was granted"

’ ‘ 1 The preceding is mainly based on information received from Samuel
King, of Allegheny County.

to Richard and Levi Crooks on a Virginia certificate,
and patented May 1, 17 86. James Mitchell made his
home for life on the place, save a few years that he
lived in Williamsport, now Monongahela City. ‘Mr.
Mitchell filled the oflice of justice of the peace for

many years, and was one of the first elders -in Peters -

Creek Church. He had one daughter, who became
the wife of John Wright, of Monongahela City.
Mr. and Mrs. Wright settled on the Mitchell home.-
stead, and it is still in the possession of their descend-
ants. ‘ ll 7

Andrew Devore was one of the early settlers of

Peters township,. although no accurate dates of his
investments have been found. He, however, owned
a large tract of land, taking it up as one of the orig-
inal settlers. Aportion of the tract is now owned by
James Johnston. ‘ . .
I Churches.—Peters Creek Baptist Church. was con-
stituted Nov. 10, 1773, the covenant made and exe-
cuted on that day being signed by the following per-
sons, viz.: Rev. John Whittaker, minister; members,
Thomas Applegate, J . Barrett, Henry Semmons, Peter
Elrod, Christopher Miller, Mary Whittaker, Margaret
J aret, and Ailey Lemmons. ~ , .

The church thus formed used as aplace for their
religious services a log house which was built on the
Robert Estep property, which is now in Union town-
ship, but then belonged to the territory -of Peters
township. The Rev. John Whittaker preached for
them for some time after, but forwhat length. of time
is not known, as no church records are extant until
the year—1793. From a road record filed in the re-
corder’s oflice at Washington, in this county, it is
seen that in 1783 this society presented a petition that
a road might be opened “ from McKee’s Ferry to the
Peters Creek Meeting-House.” _

The trustees of Peters Creek Baptist Church pur-
chased a building site of John Cox and wife, the
transfer, being made Sept. 10, 1788, according to the
tenor of a deed recorded on page 462, Book 2, vol. i., of
Washington County records. The church edifice was
built on property now owned by Benjamin Lytle, ad-
joining the Bradford mill. V

Among the-relics having reference to the early his-
tory of this church is an ancient subscription paper
which is now in possession of E. M. Townsend, of

1 Peters township, and of which the following is a copy:

“ We, the under-subscribers, do promise to pay or cause.to be paid the
sums annexed \to our names, for the use of the Rev. David Phillips, for
his labour in the gospel, into the hands of William Phillips, and that on
or before the first day of March ensuing. ' ‘I H

“ Witness our hands this second day of May, 1789.

£ .9. d.
William Phillips .....................  ...................  2 0 U
Lemuel Sayer ................ .. 2 O 0
Joseph Phillips ...... .. 1 0 0
Samuel Foster ......  .......................................... .. 1 0 L
John Masters  ............. .. 7 6 ‘
Peter Sharp .......... .. 1 4 0
Richard Masters ............................................... .. 1 0 0
Daniel Townsend ‘ . . . . . . . . . . .. 2 0' 0
Peter Rowletter '  1 0 0
I Abram Whittaker ........................ ..' ................... .. 1. 0 0
Thomas Rigdon ................................................ .. 1 ,0 0
William Rigdon....,. ........................................... .. 12 0
John Mallory . . ‘ ’ , . . . . .. 6. U”-

THE REVOLUTION.

105

the Sandusky and the Ohio without having their move-
ments watched and reported to the frontiersmen. If
such was their wish and intention it was natural that
rather than do the bloody work themselves they
should prefer to have it done by the whites, because in

. that event it would be sure to rouse a universal spirit

of revenge among the Northwestern savages, and to
unite all the tribes and bands (some of which were
still wavering and neutral) in a general Indian league
against the Pennsylvania and Virginia settlers. If
such was their plan it was a deep-laid one, which was
adroitly executed, and only too successful in its results.

Col. Williamson’s forces moved from the Mingo
Bottom 1 and passed up the valley of Cross Creek, on

' the direct trail to the Moravian towns. Before they

had advanced far from the river they passed the spot
where the Indian murderers of Mrs. Robert Wallace
had impaled her mutilated body. Naturally the rage
of the volunteers was raised to the highest pitch by
the gha.stly sight, and many and deep were the impre-
cations launched against the Moravians as the perpe-
trators of the bloody deed. If they had reasoned
more coolly they must have regarded the presence of
the corpse at that place as evidence in favor of the
innocence of the Christian Indians, for if they had
done the murder, they would hardly have advertised

‘ the ‘fact by placing the body in that position on the

direct path to their settlements; but the men were too
highly excited and incensed to reason in this way, and
so they marched on, full of wrath and vengeful feel-
ings against the peaceful inhabitants of the villages
on the Muskingum.

Late in the evening of the 6th of March the expe-
dition arrived within less than a mile ofGnadenh1'itten,
and the men bivouacked so near the village that their
advanced scouts could faintly hear the shouting of the
Indian children, yet none of the doomed people in the
town knew of their approach. The place had not been
permanently reoccupied by the Moravians since their
expulsion by the hostile Indians in the preceding Sep-
tember; but a body of about one hundred and fifty
of the exiles (including many women and children)
had come back from the place to which they had been
driven, and were then engaged at their old settlement,

1 “ Mingo Bottom is a rich plateau on the immediate bank of the Ohio,
in the south half of section 27 of township two, range one, of the govern-
ment survey, extending south to a small afliuent of the Ohio known as
Cross Creek. Opppsite the upper portion of Mingo Bottom is Mingo
Island, containing about ten acres, although much larger in 1782. It
supports a scanty growth of willow bushes only, but within the recol-
lection of many now living it was studded with trees of large size, par-
ticularly the soft maple. Cross Creek, on the Virginia side, flows into
the Ohio about three-fourths of a mile below. Before the great flood of
1832 the island contained not less than twenty acres. The usual place
of crossing was directly from shore to shore, across the head of the
island. At the landing on the west bank the vagrant Mingoes had once
a. village, deserted, however, as early as 1772. Their town gave name
to the locality. The Ohio has been forded at this crossing in very low
water. The bluffs df the river are below the island on the Virginia side,
above on the Ohio side. A. Mingo Bottom contains about two hundred and
fifty acres.”—Butterfield's Expedition against Sandusky, p. 63.,

gathering corn of the previous year’s crop to carry to
their suffering brethren on the Sandusky. A part of
them were at Gnadenhiitten and the remainder at the
two other villages, engaged in the same work.

Early in the morning of the 7th the forces moved
from their bivouac of the previous night, and advanced
towards the town in two divisions. The leftvdivision
was divided into three parties, one to move through
the woods to the river-bank below the town, one to
march in the same way to the stream at the upper end
of the town, and the third to move at the proper time
directly on the village. The right division was to
move under cover to the river at a point about a mile

above the town, and there to cross to the other shore

for the purpose of capturing a body of the Indians
who, as the commander had learned from his scouts,
were on the west side of the river.

When the right division reached the river above the
town they found the stream filled with floating ice
and too much swollen to ford. They had neither the
time nor the means necessary to build rafts for cross-
ing, and no canoes or other craft were to be seen along
the east bank. On the west, however, they saw what
appeared to be a canoe, and a young man named
Sloughter volunteered to swim across and bring, it
over. This was done, but it proved. to be, not a ca-
noe, but a trough intended for holding sugar-water.
Though large for that use, it would only carry two
men at a time, and in that manner they crossed the
river, some of the men, however, stripping off their
clothes, placing them in the trough, and then swim-
ming by its side across the stream. When some fif-
teen or twenty of the party had gained the west bank
of the river, one of the scouts, who had been posted a
short distance in advance, discovered an Indian.
Two“ shots were instantly fired at him, breaking his
arm. He proved to be a young half-breed, named
Joseph Shabosh, who had been sent out to ‘catch a
horse. After breaking his arm the scouts‘ rushed
upon him, killed 2 and scalped him, he the while
begging piteously for his life, telling them that he was
a Christian, and that his father was a white man and a
minister. The firing of the shots at young Shabosh
of course put an end to all -hopes of further conceal-
ment, and word was at once sent to the parties of the
left division to move instantly on Gnadenhiitten,
while the men of the right division who had gained
the west bank of the river—that is to say the party
who had killed Shabosh—marched as rapidly as pos-
sible to the capture of the Moravians who were on that
side of the stream. Thesewere found in a field, gath-
ering corn to take to Sandusky. The white men told
them they had come to take them all to Fort Pitt for
safety. ‘ -

2 The name of Charles Bilderback has been preserved as that of the
man who killed and scalped young Shabosh, and who seven years after-
wards was captured by an Indian party, taken to the very place where
Shabosh was murdered, and there killed and scalped. This is the tra-
dition. The most that can be said.-of it is that it may be true.

. which he accepted.

892

This paper shows that Rev. David Phillips was
serving the church atthat time. The church then
consisted of two branches, one at Elizabethtown and

. one at Peters Creek. Rev. Mr. Phillips was called to

the ministry of these two churches in April, 1781, and

-in the May following was ordained by a council con-

sisting of Rev. Mr. Woods and William Taylor, and
from that date preached at Elizabethtown, Finley-
ville, and Budd’s Ferry, on the Youghiogheny River,
until 1793. In the assessment-roll for Peters town-
ship in 1784 he is mentioned as “Preaching David
Phillips,” to distinguish‘ him‘ from Col. David Phil-

- lips, also a resident of the township.

In 1793 there occurred a ‘revival in the Peters
Creek branch, through which the church was greatly
augmented in numbers, and on Jan. 1, 1794, they
chose Rev. Mr. Phillips for their pastor. The con-
solidation with the Elizabethtownbranch soon fol-
lowed, and the two were afterwards one society, and
one pastor served both, there being two houseslof
worship in use, one at or near Gastonville, and one
at Elizabethtown. ‘

On April 3, 1810, the property at Gastonville was
sold by the pastor and Daniel Townsend and Charles

7 Daily, trustees of said church, to James Gaston. Two

years later Samuel Gaston became the owner of the
land. The proceeds of the sale of the church prop-
erty were applied to the erection of a hewed log

, house upon another building lot, which was the gift

of the plaslftor, Rev. Mr. Phillips, and which was used
until 1832, when it gave place to the present brick
edifice. Rev. Mr. Phillips continued to discharge
the dutiesof pastor of the Baptist Church until 1824,
when he had become disqualified by his great age.
He diedin 1829, of paralysis, leaving many relatives
and friends, and loved and honored by all who knew
him. .

From 1824 to 1829 the church was supplied by
several ministers, among whom were Revs. Charles
Wlieeler, John VVinter, and Joshua Bradley. During
this time the quiet of the church was so greatly dis-
turbed by the doctrines preached by Rev. Alexander
Campbell and others of his faith that on Aug. 5,
1829, a meeting was held and the society adopted the
Philadelphia Baptist Confession of Faith, in concur-
rence with its_ former church covenant and disci-
pline, as generally expressive of its views of Scrip-
tural doctrine.

Early in the "year 1829, Rev. William Shadrach, a
young man who had just commenced to preach, was
given a trial in the church, and so pleased the people
that he was called to the pastorate of the church,
This relation existed for six
years (the new brick church being built at a cost of
$1250, and the cemetery renovated and improved
during the time), when it was dissolved at the pas-
tor’s request. ‘Revs. William Penny and Benoni
Allen seem to have served the church jointly for

thenext three years, and werethen succeeded by

HISTORY OF WASHINGTON COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA.

Rev. Dr. James Estep, who was unanimously chosen
pastor.

This relation continued for nearly a score of years,
when Dr. Estep became enfeebled by oldage and was
obliged to resign, although he occasionally filled the
pulpit afterwards. \ He died Feb. 26, 1861, after hav-
ing given more than half a century to the ministry.

Rev. David Williams, who ca.1ne to preach in the
church in January, 1859, remained four years, and
under his teachings the church grew and prospered
greatly.‘ Of Rev. George Saymore’s service here it
has been said, “His pastorate took place during the
great Rebellion, which moved the heart and tried the
spirit, resources, and patriotism of every loyal citizen,
and this church felt deeply the paralyzing influence
on its prosperity and piety.” The Rev. J .6 W. Collins
commenced his labors with the people of Peters Creek
Baptist Church ‘in March, 1866, remained two years,
and through his influence a number of new members
were added to the church, and the building was re-
paired and improved. Rev. A. G. Collins succeeded
him in 1869 and labored three years, when Rev.
Henry Lewellentcame to the place, and is still in

, charge, having served all the years in a most grat-

ifying manner. V A

Since thetorganization of the Baptist Church the
persons who have served as its deacons have been
Joseph Phillips, Sr., J oseph‘ Higbee, Charles Daily,
Ephraim Estep, Isaac King, William Benson, John
King, Joseph Phillips, John Maits, Sr., John Maits,
Jr., Samuel Hetts, Peter Boyer, Samuel Boyer, Ed-
ward Riggs, and Isaac Phillips. Between six hun-
dred and seven hundred persons Ahavebeen received
on profession of faith, and the contributions of the
church to the various evangelical societies have been
very liberal in proportion to its ability.’ Of the many
persons who have gone out from this church to engage
in ministerial work, Charles and John Rigden labored
in Ohio, James Estep and Henry Wade were two of
whom but little has been learned, Joshua Phillips is
now preaching in Ohio, and J . W. Higbee is in the
University of Lewisburg as a licentiate. Sidney Rig-
den went from here and for some time was pastor of

the First Baptist Church in Pittsburgh‘. He first be-' .

came interested in the peculiar tenets advocated by
Rev. Alexander Campbell, and afterwards made. a
total wreck of his faith and the hopes of his brethren
by associating himself with Joseph Smith in origin-
ating and espousing Mormonism. ‘ . -
. For more than _a hundred years this church has
been enthusiastic and generous in the advancement

of religion, and for upwards ‘of forty years has ably ’

and creditably sustained its excellent Sabbath-school.
The church edifice. has always belonged to the old
original territory of Peters township,_ but at one time
was in the part since-set off as'Union township, then
in Peters township,and is now within the limits of

Library, Allegheny County, but a little distancefrom

the county line.

themselves homes in Washington County.

PETERS TOWNSHIP.

893

Peters Creek United Presbyterian Congrega-
ti0n.~A full century ago a religious association was
formed in this section, which became the nucleus of
the Peters Creek United Presbyterian Congregation,
one of the most prosperous and influentialreligious
institutions in Peters township. In January, 1809,
this congregation purchased a site whereon they built
a house of worship. It was on a lot containing two
acres, surveyed from the tract “ Crookston,” granted
to Richard Crooks in 1786, and‘ sold by him in,1791
to James Mitchell. The purchase was made by John
Frear, Andrew Borland, Robert Thompson, and Jo-
seph Logan, who were the trustees of the church,
and they paid ten dollars for the land. The deed
conveying the property stipulated for the church the

- “liberty of the spring -west of the meeting-house, and
a foot-path to the spring from the ‘meeting-house, and '

of a road from the main road between James Moss’
line and James Mitchell’s line.” The following de-
tails of the rise, growth, and prosperity of this church
are chiefly taken from a historical sermon by the pas-
.tor, the Rev. R. M. Patterson.

A portion of the_ emigrants from Scotland and the >

north of Ireland who settled in this country were
originally connected with the Associate Reformed.

Church of Scotland. Petitions had been sent by’

members in the eastern part of Pennsylvania to the
Synod of Edinburgh as early as 17 54 for missionaries,

again in 1758, 1761, and in 1770. In the year last

named came the Revs. John Smith and John Rogers.
Some of those who had emigrated had found for
They
were men like those who sent the first petitions home
to Scotland for preaching;-they were anxious to have
the means of grace ministered to them. Application
was made to the Presbytery of Pennsylvania in 1773,
and in answer to their prayers Revs. Smith and Rod-
gers visited this section. It seems that the most cen-
tral and most accessible place of meeting was at Can-
onsburg. In 1775 the Rev. Matthew Henderson
(who came to America as a missionary in response to
the call of 1758) came to Canonsburg and ministered
to their spiritual wants. The result of this visit was
the making out a call for him to becometheir pastor.
He accepted this call, and began his pastorate in
1781. This call, from the best data to be had, was a
joint one from three congregations,——Chartiers, Buf-
-falo, and Mingo Creek. The early history of the
first and second of these congregations is in a meas-
ure complete. Of Mingo Creek there remains noth-
ing but a fragment here and there. So that of the
origin of this congregation but little is known and that
little not well‘ known. , It appears that the first place
of meeting together for worship was at or near Daniel
Darragh’s, on Mingo Creek.

That the congregation then called Mingo Creek
and the one now called Peters Creek is one and the
same appears from the fact that Mrs. Darragh offered

the congregation a lot of ground on which to build a

57

ber.

church; and at“ the same time James Mitchell, Esq,
offered a lot for the same purpose; and by a vote of

the members and those interested Mr- Mitchell’s
(being t-he better offer) was accepted, and the church
located where it now stands. V ,

There seems to be ‘no doubt but this congregation
formed part of Rev. Mr." Henderson’s pastoral charge.
He was one of those members of the Associate Pres-

bytery of Pennsylvania who went into the union,

which gave rise to the Associate Reformed Church in
1782, but he did not remain long with that body. He

‘withdrew and -wasreceived back into the Associate
Presbytery of Pennsylvania on the 20th of October,‘

1789, when a letter was addressed to him by Presby-
tery, and also to the three congregations over which
he had the pastoral care, viz. : Chartiers, Mill Creek,
and Mingo Creek. . From this it seems evident the
first pastor of this congregation was the Rev. Matthew

.Henderson, although there is no record to show that

he was frormallyinstalled over it as a part of his charge,
or that the congregation was organized by the election
of elders during his ministry. It is probable none
were elected, and that the members either went to

Chartiers on communion Sabbaths, or the session of ,
Chartiers came with the pastor to assist in the dispen-
sation of the supper.

In the absence of any data to prove the installation
of the Rev. Mr. Henderson or the election of elders,
it is shown that the labors of Mr. Henderson were
with a congregation in its swaddling bands,’,,_,,unable to
walk or even bear a name, for it was not released from
these or had an oflicial name until October, 1795.

A short time after the Rev. Mr. Henderson’s death,

October, 1795, different ministers visited the cong,re- I

gation and preached to them, but only one name is
remembered as having been spoken of by the fathers,
Rev. J ames»Prou-dfit. ' - __

In the summer of 1796 a -call was made out for
Rev. John Smith, and he, having accepted the call,
began his pastoral labors about the 15th of Novem-
,He remained as pastor of this congregation, it
is believed, until the early summer of 1803, when he
was released by the Presbytery of Chartiers, and at
its meeting Aug. 31, 1803, he was suspended from the
ministry. V . ,

From this time till 1808 the history of the congre-
gation is a blank, but now the congregation is again
settled by the Rev. Dr. Bunce taking the pastoral
charge of it in connection with Pittsburgh. This re-
lation continued with perfect harmony between pas-
tor and people until the year 1814, when the relation
was severed that his whole time might be given to
Pittsburgh. 9 V S

_The congregation was again placed on the list of
vacancies, and not until 1817 was it again named with
the settled congregations. V I W

On the 2d day of April, 1817, a call was made by
the congregation for the pastoral labors of Rev. Alex-
ander VVilson, and was by him accepted, and on the

894

HISTORY OF WASHINGTON COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA.

8th of October he was ordained and installed pastor
of this congregation. The Rev. Mr. Ramsey preached
the ordination sermon from Eph. iii. 8, and the Rev.
Mr. Anderson delivered the charge to pastor. and
people. The relation thus formed continued through
a period of twenty—two years, when it was dissolved
by his own act in severing his connection with the
Associate Church and uniting with the Associate Re-
formed Presbytery of Monongahela, and shortly after
was settled in Cadiz, Ohio, where he remained about
twenty years. He died at Philadelphia, Pa., June

20, 1867, in the seventy-fifth year of his age.

After the Rev. Mr. Wilson’s withdrawal the con-
gregation was without. a settled pastor for about eigh-
teen months, when, about. the beginning of July,
1840, Mr. James Brown, a licentiate of the Associate
Synod, having received and accepted a call to be-
come pastor of the congregation, began his labors,
and was ordained and installed Sept. 11, 1840. He

continued his pastorate until the first Tuesday of De-

cember, 1843, when he was released. He then took
charge of the congregation of Keokuk, Iowa. .

, The congregation thus left vacant by the resigna-
tion of the Rev. James Brown after a short but suc-
cessful and acceptable pastorate, were without a pas-

tor until the 14th of October, 1845, when the Rev.

James C. Herron was ordained and installed. This
relation he sustained until. 1852, when he was re-
leased to enter upon the mission to California, to
which he had been appointed by Synod.

Again for a period of about two years the congre-
gation was vacant. In the August of 1854, Mr. James
B. VVhitton began -his labors as pastor, and on the
25th of October following he was ordained and in-
stalled. Two years ‘after his settlement he received
and accepted a call from a congregation in the city
of New York. a ' - -

Afterthe usual length of interval between pastor-
ates, Mr. A. Y. Houston began his labors on the first
Sabbath of January, 1858, and on the 17th of Feb-
ruary was ordained and installed pastor. Heire-
mainedwith the congregation until December, 1864.

On the 21st of June, 1867, the Rev. John Patterson
began his labors in the congregation, and was in the
following September installed as pastor. He was re-

. leased on the 30th of April, 1872, and was installed

by the Beaver Valley Presbytery over the congrega-

tions of Mountville and Camp Run Aug. 25, 1874.
The Rev. R. M. Patterson, the present pastor, began

his labors on the first Sabbath of January, 1873, and

. was installed on the 6th of February by the following

committee of Presbytery: Rev. D. M. B. McLean,

' William Weir, and Thomas Balph. Thus in a period
beginning with the first known election of elders, of

eighty-one years, this congregation has had but sixty-
one years of pastoral care, divided among nine pas-
tors, being on an average of a little less than seven
years to each one. _ V
The first elders of the church, elected in October,

1795, were James Mitchell, Thomas Douglass, Neil
McNeil, and John McCormick. When or by whom
they were ordained and installed is not known. Dur-
ing Rev. Mr. Smith’s pastorate, David Bower. and
Adam Crott were elected elders. It is not known

that there was any change in the session from that

time till August, 1812, when Mr. Go-tt died. In 1824,
James Anderson, a member of the session, died. No
record of his election as elder is found.

During the years 1825-26, Messrs. George Murray
and Daniel Leggett were "elected and ordained. In
1828 the session was increased by the election of
Frederick Whitely, Hugh‘ Lusk, and probably Hance
Dunlap. These men were ordained and installed by
Rev. Alexander VVilson. In 1830 another change
occurred by the death of Mr. Thomas Arthur. The
time of his election and "ordination is unknown.
Until ‘July of this year, 1830, in so far as known, the
four elders who constituted the first session still re-
mained members of it; but at that time Mr. John
McCormick died. Thus far the church was without
a minute-book. On the 28th of May, 1831, the min-
utes of Peters Creek session begin. The roll of'men1-
bers is as follows:  Bower, James Mitchell, Hugh
Boyd, Hugh Lusk, Frederick Whitely, John Callahan,
_Hance Dunlap, and George Murray. On the 27th of
September, 1831, Mr. David Gibson was elected an
elder, and 011 the 14th of October was installed, he
having been ,an elder in the Secession Church. On
the 11th of May, 1836, the session was enlarged by
the election of James McCormick, Sr., James Craw-
ford, and James McNeil. They were ordained and
installed on the 26th, and their names added to the
roll of the ‘session. Between the 28th of May and
the 18th of August two members of session, viz.,
Frederick Whitely and Daniel Leggett, were removed
by death." The record of Jan. 7, 1839, records the
death of David Bower. He had been an elder about
forty years. James McCormick, Sr., who was elected
a member of session in 1836, was in 1839 called away
by death. _On the 18th of January, 1841, Archibald
McCallister and Ebenezer Archer were elected mem-
bers of session, and on the first Sabbath of the fol-
lowing March were ordained. The following note
is found in the minutes in the year 1841: “James
Mitchell, a very aged member of the congregation,
and during most of his life a member of the session,
was removed by deathabout the 1st of January.”

He was the "last of the four original elders. He '

served the church as an elder forty-six -years. From
May 28, 1831, until Jan. 17, 1839, the minute-book
reports thirty-nine meetings of sessions, and James
Mitchell was at thirty-six of -them. May 13, 1843,
Ebenezer Archer was chosen clerk. ,

On the 16th of April, 1846, James McFadden and
James M. Bryant were elected elders.
ordained and installed on the 7th of May. The
record of Oct. 26, 1849, shows that John Wilson and
William Murray had been elected members of ses-

They were _

PETERS TOWNSHIP.

895

sion, and at this meeting it was ordered that they be
ordained on the -first Sabbath in November. The
session was again enlarged by the election of William

«Howie, Andrew Crawford, and Richard Patterson.
Messrs. Howie and Crawford were ordained, and Mr. .

Patterson installed, he havingbeen an elder in Centre
Presbyterian congregation. On the 12th of February,
1863, James McCormick, Samuel Murray, and James
R. Wilson were ordained and installed members of
session. The last addition to the session was made

Sept. 2, 1867, by the election. of Thompson Benton,

Harvey Wadsworth, and Edward Wright. The for-
mer of these was_ installed, being an elder-in the con-
gregation of Union, and_ the latter ordained and
installed on the 28th of November, 1867. The present

A members of the session (1882) are Thompson Benton

(clerk), James McFadden, Harvey Wadsworth, Rich-
ard Patterson, Edward Wright, James McCormick,
and James K. Wilson. The present trustees are Har-
vey McMurray, James Crawford, John Patterson,

.VVilliam McConkey, A. VV. Pollock, and Alexander

Douglas. .

In 1841 the report to the Synod shows a member-
ship of two hundred and four, and the same in 1851.
In 1861 there is reported only one hundred members;
in 1871, one hundred and sixty—nine; and th-ere is
now reported (1882) one hundred and fifty-six mem-
bers of this church. V I

Peters Creek Christian Church.‘—The Christian

’ Church in Peters township, near Library, Pa., was

the offspring of the agitation in the Baptist Churches
of VVestern. Pennsylvania about the year 1830. In
1829 the Baptist Church at Library had a great many
"accessions under the labors of William Shadrach,
then pastor of the church. These converts were not
committed to the doctrines of the Philadelphia Con-

" fession of Faith, and were disposed to allow greater

freedom in the exercise of that “ soul liberty” which
hadreflected glory upon the Baptist denomination.

Among these accessions was Henry Bennett, who,
not agreeing with the Baptists in‘ doctrine, was ac-
cused of heresy,.and in 1833 was excommunicated
becausehe believed in baptism for the remission of
sins, as taught in Acts ii. 38, and that in conversion
the Holy Spirit operates only through the word of
God. ‘

. ‘About this time William Shadrach stated in the

monthly church meeting that there was a report in
circulation that some of the members of the, church
had embraced the heresies taught by Alexander
Campbell, and moved that a committee of five be ap-
pointed to draft articles of faith expressive of the
views of the church in contradistinction to these
heresies. This motion prevailed, and the committee
was composed of William Shadrach, Enoch Wright,
Esq., Daniel Van Voorhis, Samuel Boyer, and Edward
Riggs. , , »

1 By Rev. W. L. Hayden.

At the instance of the committee the chairman,
William Shadrach, wrote five articles setting forth

the Baptist faith on the points in question. Four

members of the committee signed these articles, but
Edward Riggs refused to sign the paper for two rea-
sons, viz.: First, he did not believe the articles were
in contradistinction to the teaching of A. Campbell;
and, second, if he did sobelieve, he would not sign
them, for they, as Baptists, had no more right-to pro-
scribe Mr. Campbell in the articles of faith than they
had to proscribe any other man with, whom they
might disagree. He believed in. “ soul liber-ty.”‘

At the next meeting of the church William.Shad-
rach read the articles tothe church, and moved, that
they be annexed to the church covenant, and that all

the members he required, to sign. their names to the

amended covenant, or be dealt with accordingly. A
small minority of the members complied with this
requirement, but a large majority declined to commit
themselves. The minority then passed. a resolution
that all the members who did not sign the newly.-
amended covenant should be suspended from the fel-
lowship of the church until they did. so. Soon after
this action this same minority removed the lock from
the door of the rneeting-house, and put a new one in
its place, and thus retained possession-

VVhile these events were transpiring, David New-
myre preached occasionally at: the house of Edward.
Riggs, who was yet a deacon in the Baptist Church.
This aroused suspicion, and. an ineffectual attempt
was made to get him out of his position. At length
in 1835 he was called a heretic and a disturher of the
church and disowned. After his exclusion the most
of the discontented members went, back, and were
reconciled to the church, the obnoxious articles
having been previously expunged from the covenant.

The prominent members who were left out,-under
the leading of David Newmyre, planted a congrega-
tion of Disciples of Christ at Edward.Riggs’ house in
1836, consisting at first of six members, _to wit: Ed-
ward Riggs, James Boyer, Samuel Blaclnnore, Henry
Bennett, Sarah ,Moore, and Sarah Philips. These
personsunited themselves together to maintain public
worship on every Lord’s day according to the order
of the primitive church,. and we're governed by the
New Testament alone. , 7
. The infant church continued to meet in the dwell-
ing-house of Mr. Riggsfor about three years, and
slowly increased in numbers, some coming from. the
Baptists, and others from the world by conversion.
The preachers during this time were Robert Forrester,
Warrick Martin, Richard Ward,‘ James Darsie,and
John T. Smith. Those added by immersion were
Mary Tidball, Josiah Philips, Obadiah Higbee, David
Higbee, Davis» Hammond, Benjamin Abbott, and
Margaret Philips.

In the autumn of 1839 abrick meeting-house was
completed on a lot a little east of the site of the pres-
ent house. In the spring of 1840 Thomas Campbell

896

HISTORY or WASHINGTON COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA.

visited the congregation, and. set in order the things
that were wanting by setting apart Edward Riggs as
elder, and James Boyer, Obadiah Higbee, and VVil-
liam Morrison as deacons. On March 7, 1840, John
Boyer gave a deed to ‘James Boyer, John Philips, and
Edward Riggs, trustees of the Disciple or Christian
Church, of a lot containing three thousand square feet,
for the consideration of one dollar. The congregation
met in the brick house which had been erected on this
lot for nineteen ‘years, when, by reason of some fault
in construction, it was declared unsafe for meetings.

On_the 22d of March, 1856, John Philips and Ed-,

ward Riggs, -trustees of the property belonging to the
"church, gave adeed to James Boyer of the lot above
described, for the consideration of one dollar. On the
23d of the preceding January, James Boyer and wife

_ gave a deed to John Philips and Edward Riggs, trus-

tees, etc., for the lot now owned by the church. The
present frame house was built on this lot in 1858. In
the same year Edward Riggs moved to California, Pa.,
and the oversight of the church devolved chiefly upon

David Higbee, who was chosen as elder, and was or-

dained to the office on Jan. 10, 1859, by his brother,
Jesse Higbee, assisted by Thomas Strathem and Henry
Bennett, on the occasion of ‘the formal opening of the
new house. At the same time John Philips was set
apart as deacon. Here the church has met ever since.

Most of the time the church has been Without a
settled preacher, and the elders before named, with

_ others sometimes associated with them in counseland

official responsibility, haveendeavored to feed and
care for the flock of God over which they .had been
made overseers. A few times preachers have located
with them and preached regularly, but seldom more
frequently than every other Lord’s day. Beside this,
tlieschurcli has enjoyed frequent visits from preach-
ing brethren, and had the labors of some able men in
protracted meetings, which resulted in the edification
xof the church and in additions to the membership.
Among the preachers not already mentioned who
have labored, statedly or occas_ionally, with this
church are the following, viz.: R. Milligan, William
‘Baxter, Henry Langley, Samuel Church, Robert Ash-
-worth, J. Bryson Piatt, L. P. Streator, Marcus Bos-
iworth, James E. Gaston, W. W. Eaton, Charles Berry,
Henry Bennett, W. J. Loos, J. ‘L. Darsie, M. L.

-«Streator, William S. Loyd, E. L. Allen, N. P. Law- ‘

rence, O. G. Hertzog, A. Wilcox, Carroll Ghent,
Thomas Strathern, J. F. Rowe, J. C. Hay, Benjamin
Franklin, L. F. Bittle, S. B. Teagarden, and W.. L.
,Hayden. A '

On Nov. 11, 1879, John S. Galley was set apart as

elder, W. L. Hayden ofliciating, and has since shared‘

in the oversight and the public instruction of the con-

gregation. He has acted as superintendent of the

Sunday-school, which numbers about twenty-five
pupils. In t'his»work E. B. Philips has been an ef-

Ificient aid, and has sometimes been called to the su-

perintendency.‘

The congregation has been constantly depleted by

emigration, and has thus been a feeder for other
churches. But it has steadily and quietly held on its
course, and received into its fellowship about one hun-
dred and fifty members. The present membership is
forty, all of whom are regarded in good standing, and
the church is in a peaceful and healthy condition.
A In all its history this rural church has borne faith‘
ful testimony to the truth of God, has been careful to
maintain good works, and to promote righteousness
in the measure of its ability and influence, and still
abides as a monument of fidelity to cherished convic-
tions and of Christian steadfastness. '

Centre Presbyterian Church.‘~——'_I‘his Christian
organization had its origin in the year 1828. It was
organized by persons who had been members of
neighboring congregations of the same denomina-
tion, ‘namely, Chartiers, Bethel, Bethany, and Mingo.
Because its house of worship was nearly the same.
distance from each of the four churches above men-
tioned the congregation was called Centre. The
increased population in that vicinity and the incon-
venience of going several miles to a place of worship
led to the organization of Centre Church.

The Presbytery at-first only allowed the people to
organize, build a church, and have preaching occa-
sionally and the administration of the sacraments.
At a later period they were permitted to call a pastor.
Having received permission from Presbytery, the
people soon built a brick church, fifty feet in length
and forty in width, at a cost of twelve hundred dol-
lars, on a piece of land donated by Daniel Bell. Their
next step was to send a petition‘ to the Presbytery, in
session at Canonsburg, Jan. 5, 1830, asking the
privilege of calling a pastor, and their request was
granted. 8 —

Under the first action of the Presbytery, Centre
Church was regularly _ organized on“ the 29th of
August, 1829, which was a year and four months
after the people began to. hold religious services.

Dr. Matthew Brown, president of Jefferson College, ‘

being appointed by the Presbytery, presided at the
organization of thecongregation. Daniel Coe and
George Craighead were elected, ordained, and in-
stalled as ruling elders. On Dec. 10, 1880, Jacob
Bell, an elder from Chartiers Church, Samuel Wil-
son, an elder from Bethel, and Alexander Anderson,
an elder from Bethany, were added to the session of
Centre.
sons have served as elders, viz.: John Barr, William
Park, and John Fife, ordained Aug. 3, 1834; VVilliam
Crouch, an elder from Chartiers Church, elected
Sept. 25, 1836 ; William Hill, Richard Patterson, and
Joseph Van Eman, ordained Jan. 14, 1844 ;. Thomas
Fife, Samuel Van ‘Eman, and Arthur J. Hopper, or-
dained April 1, 1855; James Espy, an elder from
Bethel. Church, installed May 9, 1860; William R.

1 By Rev. Francis J. Collier.

Since that time the following-named per-»

PETERS TOWNSHIP.

8 9.7

Craighead, William H. Barr, John B. Bell, and
Robert L. Park, ordained April 23, 1876. ,

Under the second action of the Presbytery, allow-
ing the people to call a pastor, a meeting was held
four months afterwards, on May 4, 1830, and they
united in a call to Rev. John H. Kennedy, Professor
of Mathematics in Jefferson College. Prof. Kennedy
accepted the call, and served the church for ten years,

4 when he resigned on account of ill health. He died
‘of consumption Dec. 15, 1840.

After Prof. Kennedy’s resignation there was a va-

cancy for 7 one year, and only occasional service was-

held. In 1841, Rev. Alexander B. Brown, Professor
of Belles-Lettres and Adjunct Professor of Languages
in Jefferson College, became stated supply, and

A preached at Centre about four years.

Rev. Robert W. Orr, Professor of Civil Engineering
and Natural History in Jefferson College, was chosen
pastor in 1845, and his ministry at Centre lasted seven

years, or until 1852. Towards the close of his pastor-'

ate a new church edifice was erected, a few rods south
of the old one, on higher ground. It was built of
brick, and cost two thousand dollars. The building
was begun in the spring of 1851,-and finished early
the following year. -

Rev. VVilliam F. Hamilton, ‘a native of Mononga-
hela City, Pa., a graduate of VVashington College in
1844, and of Allegheny Theological Seminary in

_ 1849, succeeded Rev. Robt. W. Orr in the pastorate

at Centre. It was his first charge. He began .to
preach there in September, 1852. He was installed
May 2, 1853. His labors continued until April, 1855,
when he was released by the Presbytery of Ohio. He
removed to Uniontown, Pa. For several months sub-
sequently the pulpit was supplied by various ministers.

of the gospel.

Centre Church-again enjoyed the ministrations of
Rev. Alexander B. Brown, D.D., who returned after
an absence of ten years, during which period he served
first as a professor and then as president of Jeffer-
son College at Canonsburg. His health being im-
paired, he resigned his office as president in 1856, and
removed to a farm which he purchased in the vicinity
of Centre. For two years he preached to the congre-
gation as often as his strength’ would permit, and
there being for a while an evident improvement in
his health, he yielded to the entreaties of the people
and became their pastor in 1858. His labors, which
greatly promoted the spiritual welfare of the church,
were continued ‘until Dec. 18, 1862, when, owing to
physical debility-, Dr. Brown gave up his charge.
The people met at that time and passed resolutions
expressing their sympathy for Dr. «Brown in his
severe affliction, and declaring their high apprecia-
tion of his services, talents, and piety. He died on
the 8th of September, 1863. In the graveyard at
Centre ahandsome marble monument, erected by the
willing hands of aloving and grateful people, marks
the spot where his body reposes. Dr. Brown’s labors

at Centre, from 1841 to 1845 and from 1856 to 1862,
though much interrupted, covered a period of ten
years. , -

-One month after the death of Dr. Brown the con-
gregation called Rev. Francis J. Collier, a native of
Steubenville, Ohio, a graduateof Jefferson College
in 1858, and of -Princeton Theological Seminary in
1862, and who was at the time of his call a licentiate
of the Presbytery of Philadelphia, in which city he.
resided. He began his labors at Centre in November,
1863, and continued until February, 1871, two months
after the dissolution of his pastoral relation. During

'his'pastorate of ‘seven years and three months one

hundred persons were added to theimembershipof
the church, more than nine thousand dollars was
raised for variousobjects, the edifice was ‘painted,
papered, carpeted, and otherwise improved, and the
first building, then standing,“ was torn down. Wil-
liam Park, an esteemed elder, amiable, generous, and
devoted, a man full of faith and good works, was
called to his reward Nov. 6, 1870. An affection of
the eyes influenced Mr. Collier to resign. After
leaving Centre he went to Europe in the spring of
1871 with Rev. Dr. William P. Breed, of Philadel-
phia. On his return he was recalled to Centre, but
declined. In 1872 he settled at Downingtown,
Chester Co., Pa., where he has labored since.

In August, 1872, after a vacancy in the pastorate of
a year and a half, the congregation called Rev. Ezra
S. Heany, a native of Reiglesville, Bucks Co., Pa., a
graduate of Lafayette College in 1867, and of the

Western Theological Seminary, Allegheny, in 1870,"
‘then pastor of Mount Pisgah Presbyterian Church,

near Pittsburgh. He was installed Nov. 14, 1872, and
was pastor until April, 1878, five years and five
months, when he was released by the Presbytery of

Pittsburgh. After leaving Centre he took charge of 4

a church at Strasburg, in Lancaster County, .Pa—., to
which he has since ministered. '

The churchwas without a pastor, and the pulpit
was supplied by different ministers for a year after
Mr. Heany left. On the 9th of June, 1879, Rev.
Alexander B. Brown, son of Rev. Dr. A. B. Brown,

deceased, a member of the congregation, a graduate A

of the Western Theological Seminary, Allegheny,
and a licentiate of the Presbytery of Pittsburgh, was
elected pastor. After preaching some months, he was
ordained and installed Dec. 15, 1879. Under his
faithful ministry the church is prospering. A neat
dwelling for the sexton was built during the past
year. The church has a membership of one hundred”
and fifty-six, and there are one hundred and thirty-
five persons connected with the Sunday-school.

Schoo1s.—~The first school recollected in Peters I

township was held in a little log cabin on theBlack—
more property, where John Galley now lives, in the
year 1800. The cabin was first built for a dwelling,
but was converted to the use of this first school. A
little later- another school-house was built on the farm

898

HISTORY OF WAS HINGTON COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA.

of Abram Ward, the one now owned by John Swagler.
This school was taught by Ephraim Sayers. In 1808
a school-house was put up on the farm of James
Gailey, where Messrs. Burke, Flemming, and Craw-
ford were teachers at different times, and which was
made to do service for many years. In the year 1809
a log school-house was in use about a mile up the
run from the forks of Chartiers Creek, which was
rather old then. Martha Reed was the earliest teacher
now remembered in this house. , '
Peters township accepted the new school law in
1835," and shared in the first State appropriations. In
that year the township was divided into four districts,
‘—Bower Hill, Townsend, Craighead, and Dennison.
The number of taxable persons in the township at
that time was two hundred and forty-eight, and the
amount of money collected that year was $204.35. In
1836 the township received $79.29 from the State, and
the next year $287.75. The first new building put up
after the adoption of the school law was on the road
from James J ohnston’s farm to Bower Hill. The town-
ship remained divided into four districts until» 1859,
when the section known as Townsend, Bower Hill, and
Dennison Districts was made into four districts, the
new one being given the name of 'VVright District.
This was the first township in the county to estab-
lish a higher grade of schools, adopting the graded
school system in 1876, with A. B. Stanford as prin-
cipal, The graded schools were thrown open to all

‘ the pupils in the township who were sufiiciently

advanced to profit thereby.

In 1863 Peters township contained five school dis-
tricts, employed eight teachers, and had two hundred
and ten pupils enrolled. The total amount collected
for school purposes was $1250, and the amount ex-
pended was $593.75. In 1873 there were five teachers
in the five districts, and two hundred and twelve
scholars in attendance. The amount of tax‘ levied
for school purposes was $1528.57, and total receipts
$1920.56. The cost of the schools that year was
$1768.55. In 1880 -the number of districts had in-
creased to six, with seven teachers employed, and one
hundred and forty-three pupils enrolled. The re-
ceipts for schools were $1887.63, and the total expen-
ditures $1812.99. '

Justices’ of the Peace.~Peters was an original
township and independent district till 1803. Upon
the laying out of election districts it was embraced
with Nottingham in District No. 6, and so remained
till 1838, when it became a separate district. Follow-
ing is a list of justices of the peace of the township
from its erection to the present, time, viz.:

John Douglas, July 15, 1781.
Robert Thompson, July 15, 1781.
John Douglas, March 3, 1789.
James Mitchell, Aug. 24, 1790.
John Campbell, Feb. 8, 1799.

John Breckenridge, June 18, 1800.
John Hair, July 4, 1806.

Simeon Hailman, Jan. 7, 1808.
Enoch Wright, March 29, 1808.

George Bentley, March 4, 1811.
James Gordon, Dec. 7, 1811
William Wallace, Jan. 20, 1817.
John Bower, Jan . 16, 1819.
Wash. Parkinson, Dec. 13, 1820.
Joseph Pollock, J r., Dec. 3. 1822.
Enoch Phillips, March 1, 1823.
Dennis Darragh, March 6, 1823.
Elijah Townsend, D60. 3, 1823.

_John Bower, April 10, 1849.

Ebenezer Archer, April 15, 1845.
Robert Caldwell, April 9, 1850.
John Bower, April 11, 1854.
David Philips, April 10, 1855.
George E. Smith, May 13, 1858.
David Philips, April 10, 1860.
‘George E. Smith, April 14, 1863.
David Philips, June 3, 1865.
George E. Smith, April 14. 1868.
David Philips, Nov. 30, 1870.
George E. Smith, April 25, 1873.
George E. Smith, Jan. 29, 1874.
David Philips, Jan. 31, 1874.
George E. Smith, March 25, 1878.
John 11. Murphy, March 27, 1879.

S. Bentley, J r., Feb. 18, 1830.
Enoch Wright, Oct. 16, 1830.
Dennis Darragh, Nov. 11, 1830.
Ephraim Estep, Jan . 23, 1834.
George Gibhony, Dec. .6, 1834.
James McGrew, Nov. 18, 1835.
Elijah Teeple, Dec. 7, 1835.
Levi Finley, Feb. 16. 1836.
John Clemens, March 18, 1836.
John Kennedy, June 1, 1836.
John Samuels, Nov. 1, 1836.
John McLoney, April14, 1840.
Elijah Townsend, April 14, 1840.
John Bower, April 9, 1844.

Physicians.—Dr. Hugh Thompson was the earliest
resident physician of Peters township of whom any
knowledge is obtained. He lived. very near Thomp-

sonville, and practiced his profession ove_r a large’

tract of country. He died many years ago. His son,
Robert Thompson, familiarly called “ Doctor Bob,”
succeeded to his father’s large practice, retaining it
for a long time. - He eventually removed to Bridge-
ville, where he married a Mrs. Beltzhoover, and died
in the house now occupied by. Dr. Donaldson. A

. daughter ‘of Dr. Hugh Thompson married Dr. Car-

lisle, of Thompsonville, where he lived and died. 3
Dr. C. VV. Townsend was born in Peters township,
and is a son of J oseph'Townsend. He studied medi-
cine with Dr. William B. Lauk, of Finleyville, at-
tended lectures at a medical college in Ohio in 1847
and 1848, and in 1849 and 1850 pursued his studies at
Jefferson Medical College in Philadelphia. He com-
menced to practice while residing upon the old home-
stead in this township, but in 1860 purchased the

farm at Bower Hill on which he still lives. ‘ He has

a practice that extends through his own and several
adjoining townships.

Dr. David M. Anderson is a native of Beaver County,
Pa., and is a brother-in-law of Dr. Townsend. In the

early gold excitement in California he accompanied ,

his father to that State, going from there to South
America; remained there two years and commenced
the study of medicine during his stay in that country.

He returned to this State about the time that Fort .

Sumter was attacked, and entered the Western army
in the capacity of surgeon. He remained in the ser-
vice until the close of the war, when he went to New
York City and graduated from Bellevue Medical
College. He came to Peters township, married a
daughter of Rev. Joseph Wright,-and commenced

and still continues the practice of medicine here. He_

is also extensively interested in coal operations, his
mines lying along the line of the Pittsburgh South-
ern Railroad. I .
Thompso_nvil1e.—'-This Village has grown u-p at the
point in Peters township where Moses and John
Thompson settled in 1814. They opened a store at
Thompsonville, next commenced the mercantile trade
at Library, in Allegheny County, and then at Finley-
ville, in Washington County. , In these different
places the‘ brothers accumulated a little money, and

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ELIJAH TOWNSEND.

PETERS TOWNSHIP.

899

then began an extensive trade between New Orleans
and Pittsburgh, being the first in that line in this sec-
tion of country. Afterwards they opened a broker’s
office in Pittsburgh. During the panic these men made
considerable money, operating in bank paper, and
after that they engaged in the wool trade. In one
year, 1859 or 1860, they purchased wool at twenty-five
cents and held it until, by reason of the war, it brought
them one dollar and five cents per pound for their
whole investment. In 1860 they bought the fine farm
in Union township, upon which they went to live.
John Thompson died not long afterwards, and Moses
died in 1880. The widow of Moses Thompson is still
living on the farm in Union township. The subjects
of this sketch were in no way related to Dr. Hugh

Thompson, also an early settler of Peters township.

Post-0ffices.——Of the several post—oflices which
have been established in Peters township the first
was at Thompsonville, the oflice being in the store of
Moses and John Thompson, and Moses was appointed
postmaster. The office was established about 1815,
or soon after the Thompson brothers settled, in this
township. The persons who succeeded Moses Thomp-
son in the office of postmaster were James Moore,
James Reed, Dr. John Fife, James Pollock, Robert
Caldwell, David G. Moore, A. VV. Pollock, H. H.
Brown, J. J. Vaneman, D. J. Moore, D. F. Brown,
and William C. Wright, the present postmaster.

On Aug. 21, 1880, a post-oflice, known as the M0-
Murray office, was established in this township.
James McMurray is the postmaster, having received

this appointment when the office was established.

There is an oflice at McComb’s Station, on the
Pittsburgh Southern Railroad, called the Venetia
post—oflice. This office has existed only since Sep-
tember, 1880, and Leonard McCormick is the post-
master. 1‘ i

The office at Bower Hill was established under the
administration of President James Buchanan. John
Bower was the first postmaster appointed, and has
been the only one, continuing in the ofiice from that
time until the present.

4-»
fivf

BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCH.

ELIJAH TOWNSEND.

Elijah Townsend was born in Peters township,
I/Vashington Co., Pa., May 8, 1784, the eldest son of
Daniel and Lydia Townsend. His father was among
the first settlers of Peters township. He emigrated
from Englandwith his brothers John and Isaiah.
His children were Judith, Rebecca, Catharine, Elijah,
Oma, Charity, Lydia, Margaret, and Joseph. All

' years.

justice of the peace in Peters twenty—one years.

. daughter of Edward and Mary Riggs.

were married and raised families; all are deceased
(1882) except Margaret. '

Daniel Townsend was a well-to-do farmer, owning
at the time of his death about four hundred acres of
land in Peters township, which was divided between
his sons Elijah and Joseph, and is still owned by his
descendants. He was born Aug.-18, 1747; died July
31,1833. His wife, Lydia, was born Dec. 5, 1751;
died Sept. 5, 1819. Elijah Townsend always lived in
Peters township. He was a prosperous farmer, own-
ing at the time of his death a number of farms in
addition to the homestead farm. He was a great
reader, and was emphatically a self-educated man.
In politics he was first a Democrat, but in the later
years of his life became identified with the Repub-
lican party. At an early age he united with the
Baptist Church at Library, and was an active mem-
ber and a liberal supporter of that church for many
The last years of his life and at the time of his
death he was a member of the Maple Creek Church.

He was an officer in the war of 1812, and was
No
successful appeal was ever made from his decisions.
No stronger evidence could be furnished of his ster-
ling good sense and excellent judgment. His advice
and counsel were often sought in settlement of ques-
tions of difference among neighbors. The poor always
found in him a steadfast friend. , _

« He was united in marriage April 30, 1807, to Nancy,
The marriage
ceremony was performed by the Rev. David Phillips.

Mrs. Townsend was born June 20, 1787. Their
children were Mary, born Feb. 28, 1808, married to
Robert Phillips; six children living; she is deceased.
Lydia, born Jan. 16, 1810, wife of F. K. Cooper, a
farmer at Ginger Hill; two children.,_ John, born
Jan. 30, 1812, a merchant at VVhite Mill Station,
married Catharine McLaughlan; four children.
Eleanor, born Jan. 25, 1814, wife of Dr. John
Gousher, a physician residing in Cleveland, Ohio.
Mrs. Grousher is deceased; four children. Rebecca,
born Jan. 22, 1816, wife of John Hill; four children.

. Daniel, born March 22, 1818, twice married; first

wife, Nancy Larimer, by whom he had three children ;
second wife, Rosanna Tenant, one child. Edward R.,

born June 22, 1820, married Jane Larimer; three 0

children living. Elizabeth, born June 22, 1820,
owning and residing at the homestead. Joseph, born
Dec. 25, 1824:; died in infancy. Enoch Wright, born
Oct. 12, 1825, a physician living in Greensburg, West-
moreland Co., Pa., married Sarah Garner. Margaret
Ann, born Nov. 16, 1827, living at the homestead.

VVilliam, born. Jan. 15, 1881, married Mary A. Devore,

one son. ,
Mr. Townsend died May 18, 1871; his wife June
11,1861.

.from traders.

106

HISTORY  WASHINGTON COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA.

“The Indians surrendered} delivered up their arms,
and appeared highly delighted with the prospect of
their removal, and began with all speed to prepare
victuals for the white men, and Indians were imme-
diately dispatched to Salem, a short distance from
Grnadenhiitten, where the Indians were gathering in
their corn, to bring them into Gnadenhiitten. The
party soon arrived with the whole number of Indians
from Salem. In the mean. time the Indians at Gnaden-
hiitten. were confined in two houses _some distance
apart and placed under guards, and when those from
Salem arrived they were divided and placed in the
same houses with their brethren from Grnaden-
hiitten.” I '

While these scenes were being enacted Williamson’s
men in Gnadenhiitten ransacked the village, and
foundthere what they considered damning proof of
the treachery and guilt of the Moravians. They
seized the Indian horses and pointed to the brands on
them as proof that they had been stolen from the
settlements. The Indians in reply said they were in
the habit of branding their horses for identification,
and offered to produce the branding irons they used
for the purpose. Tea-kettles, pots, basins, pewter
plates, and a variety of other articles were found
which the white men alleged to have been taken from
the houses of settlers east of the Ohio. The Indians
replied that nearly all these things had been brought
by the missionaries from the missions on the Susque-
hanna, though some had been purchased by them
But then came the fatal evidence that
there were among these articles some household uten-
sils which had been taken from the house of Robert
"Wallace, and that the dress which his wife were when
she received the death-blow was found upon the per-
son of one of the young Moravian women, and these
were fully identified by Wallace himself, who was
present with the expedition. In the face of these
facts all protestations of innocence on the part of the
Indians were _unavailing. Their doom was already
fixed in the minds of the incensed borderers, who at
once demanded of Col. Williamson that they should
be put to death. I —

Under I the pressure of these demands the com-
mander called a council of war to decide what should
be done, but the officers composing it evaded the re-
sponsibility of making a decision, and in fact they
knew they would be powerless to enforce it if made
against the wishes of ' the men. Williamson there-
upon ordered that the question be referred to a vote
of the volunteers, which vote should be final. The

. men were then formed in line and the question for-

mally put to them, “ Shall the Moravian Indians be
taken as prisoners to Fort Pitt, or put to death here?”
All those in favor of sparing their lives were directed
to advance three paces to the front. At the order all
stood fast in the line save eighteen brave men who

r 1 From‘ the Rev. Joseph Doddridge’s .“ Notes on the Settlement and
Indian Wars of the Western Parts of Virginia and Pennsylvania.”

advanced to the front, and stood there in hopeless
minority until the commander announced the result,
then withdrew, and, as tradition says, called on God
to witness that they were guiltless of participation i
the awful tragedy about to be enacted. *

It was evening on the 7th of March when the dread
decision was communicated to the unhappy Moravian
prisoners. They had already abandoned all hope of
mercy from man, and when asked if they were pre-
pared to die answered that they were Christians, and
had no fear of death. They were then told that they
must make all preparations during the night, and
die on the following morning.

The work of butchery was done in the forenoon of
the 8th of March.” The victims were dragged by
ropes placed about their necks, some singly and
others in pairs, to the place of slaughter, where they
Were knocked down like beasts with a cooper’s mallet,
and then tomahawked and scalped. The partic-
ulars are too dreadful to dwellnupon. The tale of
Wyoming’s massacre is less soul-sickening than the
record of that day’s Work done by Christian white
men. A .

“ The prisoners,” says the Rev. Dr. Doddridge,
“ from the time they were placed in the guard-house
foresaw their fate, and began their devotions of sing-
ing hymns, praying, and exhorting each other to
place a firm reliance in the mercy of the Saviour of
men. When their fate was announced to them these
devoted people embraced, kissed, and bedewing each

others’ faces and bosoms with their mutual tears, ’

asked pardon of the brothers and. sisters for any of-
fense they might have given them through life. Thus
at peace with God and with each other, on being
asked by those who were impatient for the slaughter
whether they were ready to die, they answered that
they had commended their souls to God and were
ready to die. The particulars of the dreadful catas-
trophe are too horrid to relate. Suflice it to say that
in a few minutes these two slaughter-houses, as they
were then called, exhibited in their ghastly interior
the mangled, bleeding remains of these poor unfor-
tunate people of all ages and sexes, from the aged,

gray-headed parents down to the helpless infant at .

its mother’s breast, dishonored by the fatal-wounds of

the tomahawk, mallet, war-club, spear, and sca1ping- '

knife.”

An account of the operations of Williamson’s forces
from the time of their setting out on the expedition
to that of their return to the settlements, including

2 The manner in which Dr. Doddridge and some others tell the story '

of the massacre would lead to the inference that the Moravian prisoners
were slaughtered on the 7th of March, commencing immediately after
their doom was decided by the vote of the volunteers. That such was
not the case, but that the killing was postponed until the morning of’
the 8th, is shown by the Rev. David Zeisberger’s narrative of the trans-
action, as also by the “ Relation of Frederick Linebach,” which is given
in these pages. Gen. Irvine, however, in a letter to Gen. Washington,
dated April 20, 1782, said the report there was that Williamson’s men
had killed the Moravians “ after cool deliberation and considering the
matter for three days.” v '

ROBINSON

CMNVNSHIR

 

THIS township is the eleventh in the original
thirteen townships formed by the trustees appointed
under the act erecting the county of Wasliington.
It began its legal existence on the 15th of July, 1781.
The territory comprised in the original township of
Robinson was bounded as follows: “Beginning at
the headwaters of the North Fork of Raccoon Creek;
thence down the creek. to its mouth; thence up the
Ohio River to the mouth of Chartiers Creek; thence
up the creek to the mouth of Robinson’s Run ; thence
up the main branch thereof to the headwaters;

from thence in a straight line to the headwaters of

the North Fork of RaccooniCreek, the place of be-
ginning.” ‘ The erection of Allegheny County in
1788 cut off that portion of the township from the
mouth of Flaherty’s Run on the Ohio to the mouth
of Miller’s Run on Chartiers Creek, then in Cecil
township. In 1786, when Allegheny Countywas en-
larged by territory from Washington County, this
township was again reduced, and with slight change
in 1836 was brought to its present territory. ‘The
township as it now exists" is bounded on the west by
Hanover; on the northeast by the county of Alle-
gheny ; and on the southeast, south, and southwest
by thetownships of Cecil, Mount Pleasant, and Smith.
The boundary between Robinson and the last-men-
tioned three_townships is Raccoon Creek; and this

stream and Robinson’s Run, which is the principal 3

southeastern boundary of the township, are its prin-
cipal waters. Small tributaries enter these streams
from the east through the township, which is in gen-
eral well watered, undulating in surface, of good soil,
and excellently adapted to the purposes of agriculture.

Fromthe erection. of the -township in 1781 it was

i an independent and separate district till May 4:, 1803,

when it became a part (with Smith township) of
District No. 4:, and so continued until 1838, when it
again became a separate and independent district.
The names of justices of the peace having jurisdiction
in Robinson during the time it was a part of District
No. 4. (1803 to 1838) will be found in the list for
Smith township. The names of the justices prior to
1803 and after 1838 are here given, viz.:

James Irvine, April 15, 1782’. James Pollock, April 14, 1840.
Alexander Wright, April 15, 1782. James Pollock, April 15, 18-15.
Joseph Scott, Sept. 25, 1787. I Richard Donaldson, April 15, 1845.
Samuel Scott, Feb. 8, 1799. Robert McBirney, Aug. 14, 1846. _
Richard Donaldson, April 2, 1803. James Pollock, April 9, 1850.
Richard Donaldson, April 14, 1840. James M. Clark, April 15, 1851.
900 . -

 
 

’ landsof him and settled here.

James lV1cCalmont, April 11, 1854.
James Pollock, April 10, 1855.
James McCalmont, April 12,1859.
James Pollock, April 10, 1860.
Joseph. McNall, April 14, 1863.
James Pollock, June 3, 1865.
Thomas Donaldson, July 12, 1865.

Thomas Donaldson, 1\Iarch 29, 1870.
James Pollock, March 20, 1870.
Thomas Donaldson, Jan. 29, 1874.
James Doigaldson, May 24, 1874. .
Thomas Donaldson, March 17, 1875.
James Donaldson, March 27, 1879.
Thomas Donaldson, March 30, 1880.

Settlements»-Capt. Samuel Beelor and his son

. Samuel were settled in 1774 upon land where the vil-

lage of Candor now stands, as is recited in a Virginia

, certificate granted in February, 1780. An additional

tract of land of four hundred acres adjoining this was
granted to Samuel Beelor July 17, 1782, “to satisfie
the said grain right.” On the survey accompanying

this statement is shown a house two stories high and ‘

situated on a road from Dillo’s Fort to Turner’s Fort.
Dillo’s Fort was in Hanover township, on the farm of
Matthew Dillo, on Fort Dillo Run. The road from
there ran southeasterly to Beelor’s, and from thence
east to T urner’s‘Fort.

What was known as Beelor’s Fort was his own
house, two stories high, made large and strong. The
survey of 1782 shows no other. Capt. Samuel Beelor
and his family, and Samuel Beelor, ’Jr., and his family
lived on the place ‘until 1789, when they sold and re-
moved. The lands are now owned by J. M. Clark,
trustee,‘ John G. Smith, Mrs. Cully,_Samuel Neill, the
Raccoon Church, and embrace the site of the village
of Candor. ’ -

The fort is said to have been erected about a hun-
dred yards southwest of the Raccoon Church. It
must have been some years after Mr. Beelor’s settle-
ment before the Baileys, McCandlesses, Shearers, and
others came to this section. Beelor’s house was the
rendezvous for all the people of the vicinity in time
of danger.

On the 21st of March, 1789, James Clark, of Mer-
cersburg, Franklin Co., Pa., came to this county and
purchased the tract of land in Robinson township
known as “ Big Levels,” containing four hundred
acres, and other lands in Canton township, in this
county. David, a son of James, settled in Canton
township onthe lands purchased there, and which are
now owned by Samuel Weirick. Another son, John,
came to this township and settled upon the “ Big
Levels.” Thomas, a brother of John, purchased the
His son VVilliam in-
herited them,,and lived here until his death, Jan. 31,
1881. His son Thomas also lived and died on the
farm. VVilliam Clark, who came into this county at

"Wheeling, and from there came home.

ROBINSON

TOWNSHIP. 901

an early day, always insisted that the Beelor Fort was
on the “ Homeside Farm” below the spring, and not
by the church, as is the general impression. . The
property owned by William Clark was conveyed by
him to Kate E. Clark, a daughter of J. M. Clark,
Esq., who conveyed it to the Clark Trust Fund, by
which it is now held. J. M. Clark was for many years
a justice of the peace in this township.

Robert Shearer, with_ his brother Hugh, came to
this county from Lancaster with the Baileys, and set-
tled upon lands now owned by John Christy, William
Dornan, and William Russell. Robert lived here a
short time with his family, and was killed by Indians
in the summer of 1780,‘ about two miles northwest of
Capt. Beelor’s Fort. Robert Shearer left a widow,

‘ Elizabeth, and two daughters, Maryand Elizabeth.

Mary became the wife of Richard Johnston, and set-

tled on a part of the land now owned by William,

Dornan’. Their children all moved West. Johnston
died, and the widow married Samuel Christy, a
brother of James Christy. They had one son, James,
who now resides in Cleveland. ‘Elizabeth, the other
daughter of Robert Shearer, married James Christy,
and settled on the part of the Shearer tract now owned
by their son, John Christy. Mrs.’ J ohnAndrews and

Mrs. Samuel Neal, both of Smith township, are their,
daughters. A son of John and Elizabeth Christy is
’ a physician in Florence, Hanover township.

Robert Shearer, Sr., the father of Robert Shearer
who was killed by the Indians in 1780, came out soon
after his sons, and lived with Robert. Some time
after Robert’s death he was taken prisoner by the
Indians one Sabbath morning while in his own cabin,
and wasztaken down the Ohio River to Mehickon.
He was kept eleven weeks, and then escaped. After
many trials and hardships he reached the fort at

Hugh Shearer wasunmarried, and lived with his
brother Robert. Some time after: Robert’s death he
too was killed by Indians while working in a cornfield.

William McCandless was the first of his family to
come to this section of the country. He came with
the Baileys and the Shearers, and took up two hun-
dred acres of land north of Robert Shearer. At that
time his land was-the northernmost tract on which
settlers were living in this section. He. lived and
died on the place. Two of his sons were killed at the
same time with Hugh Shearer. A son, Hugh, lived
on the farm many years, and died there. He left a
son, Hugh, who inherited the property, and after his
death the heirs sold to James McBride, who now
owns it. .

Alexander Bailey was a native of Scotland, and in
early, life went to Ireland, where he married Jane

' Brown. After the birth. of Matthew, their oldest son,

in June, 1749, they emigrated to America, and set-
tled in Emmettsburg, Md. Here they remained till
about 1785, and there'all the children were born, who
afterwards became early settlers in this township. In

the year 1784, Matthew Bailey, the oldest son, came

to this township, and settled upon the tract of land
now owned by William Bailey. After building a
cabin in 1784, and clearing up more land, he returned
to his father’s house. In the spring following, Alex-
ander (his father) and brothers, William and James,
‘came out to the new settlement. Alexander took out
a warrant for one hundred and sixty—two acres of

land, which was surveyed to him as “Disappoint- ~

ment.” Matthew Bailey never married. He died on
his father’s tract. about 1830, and was buried in Rac-
coon churchyard. Alexander, the father, settled with
his family on the tract “ Disappointment,” and lived
there many years. His wife lived to be one hundred
and six years of age. The farm was left to John, the
youngest son of Alexander, who died there in 1850,
at eighty-five years of age. He .had ten children.
Jane, the eldest (Mrs. William Galbraith), now lives
at Candor, eighty years of age; Matthew, a son of
John, settled on the tract ‘which his uncle Matthew
first settled ; John, his oldest son, became a minister
, of the United Presbyterian Church, a11d is now preach-
ing_ at Wellsville, Ohio; Samuel is also a minister of
the same denomination, and is pastor of a church at
Cadiz, Ohio; James is an architect living at Pitts-
burgh ; William S., Alexander, a.nd Carlisle, also sons

of Matthew, reside on the homestead; Sarah, a daugh- -
ter of Matthew, became the wife of Jerry Andrews, '

and now resides in Hanover township. .
Nancy, a daughter of John (youngest son of Alex-

» ander), married George Morrison, and settled in In-
diana County, Pa. Alexander and Peggy, children
of John, died young. James settled on a part of '

Matthew’s tract, “Plenty Without Care,” and sold to

Matthew (2d), and went West. Mary became the wife .

of Silas Ewing, and now lives in Mount Pleasant
township. John and William, also sons of John, in-

herited the land of their father. William still retains 1

his portion; John lived upon his farm until 1880,
when he sold to John M.'Bailey, a son of James.
Ann, a daughter of John, and sister of John and
William, resides on the homestead with the latter.
VVilliam Bailey, born May 2, 1752, and a son of
Alexander (1st), purchased a part of the tract of his

brother Matthew. -His house was where William S.‘

Bailey’s house now stands. He died on the farm, and
left three sons———Joseph, Alexander, and Andrew——
and two daughters,—Jenny and Margaret. Alexan-
der and Joseph settled on part of the homestead. It
now belongs to Joseph (a grandson of Joseph) and
William s. Bailey.»  

Thomas Biggert (now written Bigger), his wife,
mother, and sister emigrated to America from Ireland
in 1773. After remaining in the East as short time,
they came to what is now Robinson township, and
settled upon land now owned by Matthew Bigger.
Here a cabin was built, and improvements com-
menced, but the Indians were so troublesome that

they removed down to the Washington lands, and

, Strours, and William Hall.

902 _

with twelve others located, being induced todo so by
Col. George Croghan, who insisted Washington had
no .rights there. He lived here until 1784, when he
became dispossessed by the success of \Vashington in
the ejectment suits. After being thus summarily

' turned from the fruits of his eight years’ labor, he

went back to the first stopping-place, and took out
the warrant for a tract, on which he settled, and lived
the remainder of his days. This was surveyed to
himas “ Horse Neck,” containing four hundred and
twenty-three acres. Other large tracts were pur-
chased later, and by his industry and energy he had
accumulated over a thousand acres at the time of his
death, which occurred in 1829, at the ageof eighty-
nine years. His sons have added to these lands, and
now arein possession of two thousand five hundred
acres of land in the neighborhood of the homestead,
and considerable landed property in the West.

Thomas Biggert left six sons,——Matthew, James,
Samuel, Thomas, Andrew, and John. Matthew lived
on a portion of the farm and died unmarried. James
married and settled in Beaver County near Frankfort
Springs. Daniel lived and died on the homestead
part of the farm. A portion of it was left to his
youngest son, Andrew, who exchanged for a portion
north, on which his son, Thomas M. Biggert, now
resides. Mary, a daughter of Andrew,‘ married ~
Richard Donaldson, and ‘Martha married John Don-
aldson. Both settled in Robinson township.. Mat-
thew, a son of Samuel, lives on part of the homestead,
and James, also a son of Samuel, lives on a farm his
father purchased of the Chestnut heirs.

Thomas Biggert, J r., son of Thomas, lived and died
unmarried. On the property now owned by Thomas’
Biggert, Sr., he built a tan-yard, which was situated
between the stone house of Thomas Biggert and the
residence. of Thomas M. Biggert. It was continued

 operation as late as 1850. Mr. Biggert was a prac-
’ ftical tanner, and brought up many young men to the

business, and did much to promote their prosperity.
Among those who worked and for a time carried on
the tannery were John Ewing, James Hood, David
Of the property of
Thomas Biggert, Matthew Biggert now owns the home-_
stead and central portion, Thomas . Biggert the upper
or southernvpart, and Thomas_M. Biggert the northern
portion. . -

Josiah Scott obtained a warrant for a tract of _ land
on Raccoon Creek Aug. 6, 1784, which was surveyed
to him in March the next year as “Dispute,” con-
taining three hundred and forty-seven acres. On the
1st of June, 1791, he sold this tract to his sons, Sam-
uel and Abraham Scott. Abraham owned two hun-
dred and forty-seven acres, the land on which his son .
Holland now resides. On the stream he had a grist-
mill anda horse-mill. Finley Scott, a son of Abra-
ham, married ‘ Margaret Stevenson, and became
wealthy. They lived on the old Judge James Edgar
farm in Smith township. Their sons Samuel and

' homestead and died there.

HISTORY OF WASHINGTON COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA.

John now own the property. Robert K., another son,
lives on one of the original tracts taken up by Sebastian
Burgett, near Burgettstown. Josiah Scott, J_r., owned
sixty acres, now owned by the Widow VVhite. .He was
shot by the Indians and died about ,a year afterwards.
His ‘daughter Peggy became the wife of Andrew

iMcFall.

John Donaldson, a native of Chester County, came
to this region of country i11 1781, and purchased a tract
of land called “Ross’s Patent,” containing four hun-
dred acres, which Richard Donaldson and the heirs of
James Donaldson now own. He built a cabin on the
farm, and died there unmarried. The property came‘
to his brother, Capt. Richard Donaldson. He lived
with his brother, being also unmarried. He was a
member qf Assembly from this district in 1811, and
died about 1813. The property was inherited by two
nephews, John and Richard, sons of James. John in-
herited the north part and settled ‘upon it'an.d spent
his days there, leaving the property to his son J ames,
who also died there. The property now belongs to
his heirs. Richard settled upon his portion, and spent
a long and useful life. He was a member of Assembly
in 1845-46, and justice of . the peace many years. He
died in 1879, in his eighty-first year. , Of his children,
Richard now owns the homestead; James and An-
drew settled in Rock Island, 111., in 1852; Mary
(Mrs. David Walker) settle-d" first in Allegheny town-

.ship, and now lives in Robinson township.

-James Donaldson, brother of John and Richard,
the first settler, and father of John and Richard, who
inherited the property of their uncle Richard, came to
this county about six years after his brothers, and=pur-
chased one hundred acres of Josiah Scott, and later pur-
chased one hundred and fifty more; lived upon his
Thomas, a son, lived un-
married, and died upon the farm. Andrew settled on the
Steubenville pike in this township, where his son now
owns. Thomas, another son of Andrew], lives on the
old James Donaldson homestead. John McDonald
emigrated to America from Scotland, and came to this
territory about 1780. He was living here when the

county was organizedlin -1781. He took up in dif-'
ferent warrants sixteen hundred acres of land, which A

in due course of time were patented. Upon the divis-
ion of Washington County in 1788 and 1789, a part
of these lands were thrown in Allegheny County. In
addition to this large body of land he owned a tract

of four hundred acres in what is now Union town--

ship, eight hundred acres in West Virginia, and two
thousand acres in Allegheny County. He lived upon

the home tract in Robinson township till -his death,  

leaving six sons,—Andrew and William (twins), John,
James, Alexander, and Edward. Andrew and 'Wil-
liam settled ‘on land in Beaver County, where they
lived and died. John. studied law, settled in Pitts-
burgh, and died about 1832. -James settled on the
west part of the home farm, where his sons, John J .
and Noble K., now reside.» Alexander settled in Pitts-

ROBINSON

TOWNSHIP.

903

burgh and died in Beaver County. He left no family.

- Edward, the youngest son,‘ settled on the homestead

part of the farm where his father lived and died. Of
his children, John N. lives on the old mansion farm,
and has been for many years’ successfully engaged as
a prominent breeder of Shorthorn cattle. Dr. Nesbit
McDonald resides in the city-‘ of Pittsburgh, and Mar-
garet N. resides in the town of McDonald. ’ «Edward
died in Kentucky in 1858, in the twenty-third year of
his age.

James McBirney and his son John, natives of Ire-
land, emigrated to this country at the close of the
Revolution, and settled east of the mountains. It was
not until 1814 they came to this county, and on the
15th of February of that year James purchased one

hundred and forty—three acres of land of William Mc-
Clain. James McBirney sold this place to his son

John, who lived and died upon the place. He had
three sons,—James, John, and Robert. James re-
sided on the homestead, and left it to his son, John R.
McBirney, who still owns it. A part of the Robbins
Block Coal Company’s works are on his lands. John
now lives in Hickory. Robert lived on the’ tract,

' “ Blackberry Plains,” his grandfather, James McBir-

ney bought later (and where he passed the remainder
of his days). It is now owned by Mrs. Robert Mc-
Birney, and occupied by William Dixon, a son-in-law.

John Witherspoon, from Maryland, came to this
county with his wife and one son, Jonathan, and
lived on..land of Thomas Biggert, nearithe site of the
Robinson Church, for a period of five years. After-
wards they made several removals. About 1824 he
rented the Hollingsworth improvement, now owned
by Samuel Witherspoon, grandson of John VVither-
spoon. "Within a short time after their removal to
this place the father died, leaving a widow and four
son-s,———Jonathan, John, Azariah, and Joshua. They
united in the -purchase of two hundred acres of the
tract, including the improvement, which tract was all
sold at this time, the Witherspoons, Andrew’, Sam-
uel, and Thomas Biggert and Isaac Donaldson pur-
chasing the whole tract. Jonathan had no children,

. and later sold to Joshua, whose son Samuel now owns

the property. John Witherspoon, the oldest son of
Joshua, has resided at Bavington since 1855. Rev.
James W. Witherspoon, also a son of Joshua, is a
minister of the Fifth United Presbyterian Church in
Allegheny City. William H., also a son, is a mer-
chant in Burgettstown.

James McBride took up a tract of land, now owned 1

by Alexander and James K. McBride. ' He built his
cabin and lived there many years; later erected the
house his grandson, James K., npw occupies. He had
ten sons. All are dead except Alexander, the young-

‘ ' est, now over eighty years of age, and who still occu-
‘ pies a part of the homestead. The farm was divided

between Alexander and» W‘illiam,‘whose son, James
K., owns the land of his father. Nathaniel, the eldest
son of James, lived on a farm adjoining his father’s,

but in Allegheny County. Samuel, Isaac, David, and
John all settled near their father’s place. Matthew
moved to Canonsburg. James lived to be eighty-four
years of age, and was buried at Robinson Church-.
Samuel Pollock took out a warrant for one hundred
and forty-eight acres of‘ land March 16, 1786. This
tract was on Chartiers’ Creek. He had two sons,
James and John; the former married a daughter of
Hugh McCoy, and for a second wife married a daugh-
ter of Nathaniel McCoy, of Hanover township. He
was a surveyor and justice of the peace, and" lived on
the Hugh McCoy farm, in Robinson township, many
years and died there. His brother John was a prac-
ticing physician in Clinton for nearly forty years. 1
Peter, Alexander, and William Kidd, three brothers,
came from Dauphin County about 1781. Alexander

Kidd lived unmarried, and about 1818 went to New ‘

Orleans in a produce boat, and was never afterwards
heard from. VVilliam Kidd took up a tract near
Midway. -He married a Miss Hull. After’ her death

he went West and married again. Alexander, ason .

of William, moved to Burgettstown, where he was
justice of the peace for many years. Two of his
daughters reside in Burgettstown. William A. Kidd,

a son, also many years a justice of the peace and clerk '

of the courts of \Vashington County from 1863 to
1869, is a son of Alexander. Peter, brother of Alex-

ander and William Kidd, remained some years in this _

township, then removed West. .
Christopher Smith purchased forty acres of the
Beelor lands of Thomas Clark. On this farm Mr.
Smith kept tavern many years at the sign of the
“Green Tree.” His son John now owns the property.
William Duncan owned fifty acres in thesoutheast‘
part of the township, where his daughter Polly and
granddaughter, Eleanor Connolly, now reside.
William Aten about 1800 purchased a farm of one
hundred and twenty-six; acres of James Bailey. It
was part of a tract taken up by Seth Greer about 1785.
William Aten lived here all his days, and reared a
family of three sons—Aaron, VVilliam, and Henry——
and four daughters. Aaron bought the property of
the heirs and lived there till his death‘; the property
is now owned by his children. William settled in
Smith township, where John Stevenson now lives.
Henry is teaching school in Midway. Of the daugh-
ters, Martha became the wife of Robert Stevenson,

and lives in the township; Jane married Ephraim"

Boyle; they reside in Mount Pleasant township.
Midway.--This town is on the line between Robin-J
son. and Smith townships,'and situated in both. The
tracts of land on which it is located were taken up by
\Villiam and David Elder. The land was sold by the
Elders to Samuel ,McFarlane, who sold to Thomas

V Mitchell & Co., by whom the village was laid out.

The plat‘ was surveyed Nov. 20, 1865, and was divided
into fifty-three lots and four outlots. - James Bell
bought the first lot and erected a saw-mill, now owned
by Samuel F. Bell. The first hotel was built by

» man, and W. Johnson, the present, pastor.

90-I

HISTORY ‘OF WASHINGTON COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA.

George Campbell in 1869, and is still owned and
occupied by him. 1 John Kennedy was the first post-
master, about the time the railroad was opened and
thisplace became a station.‘ The town at present
contains ten stores, Methodist Church, Odd-Fellows’
Hall, drug-store, school-house, hotel, millinery-store,

railroad station, express- and telegraph-office, post-

office, two coal-works, and two physicians. Years ago
the place was called Egypt, and a store was kept here
as early as 1844 by William Smith.

Methodist Episcopal Church.-—Services of the
society were first held in’ the mill of George W.
Peacher, and the organization was perfected in 187 4
under the charge of the Rev. J. E. Wright. He has
been succeeded by the Revs. M. S. Kendig, S. W.
McCurdy, D. K. Stevenson, J. F. Murray, J. H. Hick-
The
society has a present membership of thirty. An
edifice was erected soon afte_r the organization. -The
church is included in the charge with Burgettsto-wn

~ and Noblestown.

Baptist Church.—John Moses, a Baptist minister
of Sharon, Pa., came to Midway in 1873. There
being no Baptist society here at that time, he com-

menced preachingin the school-house. A Bible class V

was organized inhis house, which was well attended.
A hall was rented, and a Sabbath-school organized

. with one hundred and thirty scholars. On the 17th 4

of July, 1877, a church was organized with nine
members; the Rev. John Moser was called to the pas-
torate, and accepted. He remained as pastor until
April 30, 1881, at which time he resigned. ' It was
accepted June 4th the same year. The church is at
present without a pastor, and has a membership of
eighteen. I Services are held inithe school-house.
’S0cieties.—~Midway Valley Lodge, N o. 888, I. O.

.()./F., was chartered with the following officers: Hec-

tor Cochran, N. G.; William Higley, V. G. ; William
J. Riggs, Sec. Meetings were first held in a building
owned by Thomas Woods. In 1877 the society erected
a three-story building at a cost of about two thousand
five hundred dollars, with rooms for a store in the
first story, a public hall on the second floor, and lodge-
room on the third floor. Present number of members,
sixty. . - _ . .
McD0nald.~The land on which this village is lo-
cated was originally a_ part of the McDonald lands.
The plat for the town was laid out in November, 1871,

-by M. O’Hara, under direction of Mrs. F..A. O’Hara,

W. A. Edelbum being the surveyor. It contained
four hundred and thirty-eight lots, each twenty-five
by one hundred and twenty feet. An addition of forty
lots was made to the plat July 7, 1873, by Michael
and Francis O’Hara, and of one hundred and nine
lots July 11, 1873.

Before the town was platted, Henry C. McEwen
(about 1860) built a saw-mill and “chopper” at the
place, and two years later a grist-mill was added.‘ About
the time of the grading of the railroad through this

.to grant them an organization.

section VVilliam Johnson built the first house in the
town, and started the first hotel. The post—office was
established at this place first under the name of Have-
lock, and later changed to McDonald. Henry C.
McEwen was the first postmaster appointed. He was
succeeded by William Johnson, James Ewert, Jerry
Fife,‘ John Larimer, Theodore McD. McCloy, and J.
D. Sawters, who is the present postmaster. William
Johnson opened the first store.
contains three stores, post-office, church (Episcopal),
express- and telegraph—ofiice, depot, grist-mill, and
academy. . . .

McDonald United Presbyterian Church.——About
twenty-five persons gathered at the school-house in
McDonald, Nov. 1, -1875, and united in a petition
asking the Presbytery, who were to ‘meet Dec. 1, 1875,
I The application and
petition was granted. Application for a supply had
been made to the Presbytery in September, previous
to the above action, and S. W.VCook was sent as {L
commissioner. This request was granted, and the
Rev. W. G. Nevins was sent. The society was organ-
ized in February, 1876, by the,Rev. Dr. Greer, of
Robinson’s Run Congregation.
acted as a supply about one year and a half after
organization. Rev. John McArthur then acted as a
supply for nine months ; he was called to the pastor-
ate, and remainedone year and four months. Except
with a supply, the pulpit was vacant for_seven months.
On the 1st of January, 1880, the'Rev. W. D. Irons
received and accepted a call, and is still the pastor.
The church contains at present one hundred and eight
members. A neat church edifice, thirty-five by sixty-
five feet, was erected in 187 6 at a cost of four thou-
sand one hundred and fifty‘ dollars. It was finished
in the fall of 187 7 , and dedicated in December of that
year by Dr. W. J. Reed, of Pittsburgh. A Sabbath-
school of sixty. pupils is connected with the church,
of whichthe pastor. is superintendent-

Engleside Academy.—On the 2d of January, 1877,
an academy was opened by Edward Haws in the
basement of the United Presbyterian Church. Four-
teen pupils were in attendance. Mr. Haws was suc-

ceeded by G. R. Anderson, George W. Slater, and the 7

Rev. W. D. Irons, who is now _the principal. The
school contains at present forty pupils.
Village of Candor.—The land on which this vil-
lage is located was part of a tract taken up by Col.
Samuel Beelor on a Virginia. certificate in 1780, he
having settled there in 1774. The cause of the set-
tlement of people at this place was that the Raccoon
Church was located here. But fewhabitations were

erected here before 1817. At that time the Rev. Moses

Allen became the pastor of the church, and it was by
His son, Watson Allen, ‘

him the village wasbegun.
started the first store. It is related of him that while
buying goods in Philadelphia he was asked the ad-
dress to send them to. After a little thought he re-
plied “Candor, Washington Co.” The goods were

The town at present ‘

Rev. W. G. Nevins ’‘

ROBINSON

TOWNSHIP. .

905

sent, and the name became generally adopted. A
post-office was established, and the following have
been postmasters: Samuel Scroggs, W. Bigham, Ham-
ilton J. Cook, Benjamin Kelso, Dr. B. F. Hill, and
Samuel Wasson, who is the present postmaster, and is
also the merchant of the place.

The Presbyterian Church of Raccoonl is lo-
cated in Robinson township, in the northern part of
\Vashington County. It derives its name from a
creek called “the Raccoon,” the congregation being
situated on the head-‘waters of that stream. The
origin of this church dates back towards the earliest era
of the history of this county. No records can now be
found, either in the archives of the session or the Pres-
bytery, that reach back to the very first beginnings.

‘ The Atens, Baileys, Crooks, Dunbars, Dunlaps, Don-

aldsons, Kerdecks, Montgomerys, McFarlands, Mc-
Donalds, and Scotts were among the first members
and the first settlers of the neighborhood, and their
third and fourth generations are among the names
now on the church roll-. Among these there is a Vast
amount of family tradition current that is curious and
interesting enough to live, but generally that precision
of date and circumstanc-es is wanting which is neces-
sary before it could be considered reliable and valu-
able history.. ' ' «

From the records of the old Presbytery of Red-

’ stone, under whose jurisdiction most of the early
churches in this region came into existence, it ap-
pears that on April 19, 1785, there was “a suppli-'

cation for supplies for Raccoon.” This is the first
mention of the name Raccoon on those records.

One year previous to that date, April 18, 1784, there

was “ a supplication for supplies for a vacant congre-
gation near Robinson’s Run,” and on April 18, 1786,
Rev. Mr. Clark was appointed to supply Potato Gar-

den on the fourth Sabbath of May. ' These three
names, Raccoon, Robinson’s Run, and Potato Gar-

den, seem to be interchangeable. No two of them
ever obtain supplies at the same time, Sometimes
the application is from one, and the supplies are
sent to the other. When Raccoon obtains a pastor,
the other names disappear from the record. Robin-
son’s Run rises two‘ miles east of. this church, Potato

.Garden is four miles north, and the Raccoon has one

branch three miles south, and another one-half mile
north, and the main stream is three miles west. In
early times any of these names would designate this
locality. At that time the outside limits of this con-
gregation approached Hickory on the south and Clin-

.ton on the north, and included Burgettstown on the

west and Nobllestown on. the east. According to

. these records the first sermon preached here was by
.Rev. Joseph Smith, pastor ‘of Cross Creek and Buf-

falo, _on the first Sabbath of May, 1784.
But the diary or journal of Dr. John McMillan,
now in the handsof Mr. M. R. Allen, of Burgetts-

1 By-the Rev. G. M. Kerr.

town, his great-grandson, reaches farther back than
the records of Presbytery. There the following memo-
randa are found : e ’

“ The first Sabbath of Dec., 177 8_, preached at Rac-
coon, from Rom. 8, 6, and received £7 103. 6d.

“ 1779, Tues. after -3d sab. June at Mr. Bailies place
on Raccoon & Received £13 173. 3d. -

“ 1780, 3rd sab. of June at Raccoon. Reed £47 11s.
6d. '

_ 1782, Oct., 2nd
Sab. at Raccoon,” etc. a

The first leaves of this private journal, like the first
leaves of the Presbyterial records, are worn out or
torn off. But from this we know Raccoon Church
was in existence and able to. “take up a collection”
(thirty-five dollars in amount) at least as early as De-
cember, 1778.

Of the first house of worship, its size, dimensions,
and date of erection, nothing is known. It gave place

to a large and commodious hewed log structure, built

in 1786. On each of the longer sides of this building
was a recess of considerable size,——an architect’s device

_ ——to furnish a corner to support the ends of the tim-
bers, two lengths being necessary. ‘ The pulpit was in.‘

one of these recesses, and the one on the opposite side
was appropriated to the use of a few colored slaves
then owned in this neighborhood. This house con-
tinued in use until 1830, forty—four years. ’

Rev. Joseph Patterson was the first pastor. He re-
ceived the call on—April 21, 1789, and was ordained
and installed Tuesday, Nov._10, 1789. Mr. Patterson
was in many respects aremarkable man. He was
born in the north of Ireland_ in 1752. At the age of
twenty-, five years he married and emigrated to
America. After a short stay in Pennsylvania he set-
tled in Saratoga County, N. Y. In 1774 his parents
arrived in Pennsylvania, and he returned to this

State. He is spoken of as a weaver, farmer, and

scl1ool—teacher. In 1776 he was teaching near Phila-
delphia, and was present at the first public reading of
the Declaration of Independence. He left his school
and volunteered in the American army. After leaving
the army he resided a short time in York County, Pa.
I_n 1779, through the influence of J udge, Edgar, he
came to Cross Creek, Washington Co. He was then
—a Seceder, with strong prejudice against the use of
hymns in the worship of God. His neighbor, Squire
Graham, succeeded in changing his views’ on that

subject, and he became very fond of singing hymns.-
At Cross Creek he became an active leader of social

prayer-meetings. In 1783 he was appointed an elder
of the church there, and in. the fall of 1785 was re-
ceived by Presbytery as a candidate for the min-
istry at the age of thirty-three years. He studied
three years under his pastor, Rev. Joseph Smith, was
licensed to preach Aug. 12, 1788, at the age of thirty-
six, and eight months afterwards he was installed pas-
tor of Raccoon and Montour’s,Churches. In 1798 be

“1780, 4th sab. July atiMr. McDonalds place on
1 Robinson Run & Recd £22 123. 6d.

906

HISTORY or WASHINGTON COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA.

resigned Montour's, but remained pastor of Raccoon
till 1816, twenty-seven years and six months in all.
He soon after removed to Pittsburgh, where his_two
sons lived, and fourteen years after died there at the
age of eighty years. He was pre-eminently a man of
faith and prayer. There is no register of the names
of members and oflicers during this long pastorate.
The deed for the church grounds shows that in
1793 the trustees were William Rankin, Peter Kidd,

-William McCandless, Matthew Bailey, John Dunlap,
and Alexander Wright. , Records o_f Presbytery show

that Samuel Riddle was an elder in 1793, and at
the close of this pastorate the session. consisted of

’VVilliam McCandless,, Thomas Hays, John Riddle,

Thomas Miller, Benjamin Chestnut, William Moore,
and Archibald McCandless.
V On the 27th of May, 1817, Rev. Moses Allen was

0 installed second pastor of Raccoon. _ He continued in
that office twenty-two years.

He was born in West-
moreland County Sept. 5, 1780. In his youth he
obtained a knowledge of the millwright business,
which he pursued diligently and successfully some
years. He received his classical education at Jeffer-
son College, and studied theology with Dr. -John
McMillan. In 1805 he was united in marriage with
Catharine, youngest daughter of Dr. McMillan. He
was licensed to preach bypthe Presbytery of Ohio,
June. 23, 1807. In November of the same year he
was ordained and installed pastor of the united
churches of Providence and Jefferson, in Greene
County, Pa. In 1838 he left Raccoon, and was after-
wards pastor at» Crab Apple Church in Ohio for nine
years, where he died Jan. 16, 1847, aged sixty-six.
From memoranda made by his own hand itappears

that his labors were abundant. He writes: “I was,

pastor of Raccoon twenty-two ye,ars_.rduring which I
preached 2685 times, administered the Lord’s Supper

‘75 times, admitted to the communion of the church

324, baptized 15 adults_and 558 children, and solemn-

‘ ized 190 marriages.” A «

Mr. Allen was a man of decided and positive char-
acter, of strong mental ability. . He was a sound

theologian, and isalways spoken of as a very logical,

instructive, and forcible preacher. And the records
of session show that he regarded discipline as an or-

dinance of God and a means of grace.

Du’ring his pastorate a new house of worship was
built. It was a large brick edifice sixty-six by sev-

V enty—six feet, capable of seating six hundred adults.

Some of its peculiarities were a very high pulpit on
the side, instead of at the end of the building; an
outside door at the right" and left of the pulpit and

_ three others atthe opposite side; a very broad trans-

verse aisle in front of the pulpit, in which the com-
munion table‘ was-spread; a roof of four similar sides,
all tapering towards the centre, upon which stood a
modest belfry. ' This building continued in use forty-
two years. 1

In 1830, Robert Wallace, Garret Vaneman, and

Edward McDonald were elected and ordained elders,
and in 1836, John Sturgeon, David Miller,» Robert

Smith, and Richard Donaldson were added. ’Under '

thisadministration the church grew in numbers and
strength, and at its close was regarded as among the
largest and most important country charges in the
Synod. ' '

The third pastor of Raccoon was the Rev. C. V.
McKaig. . He was installed in June, 1841, and con-
tinued in_ charge until December, 1865. This was
another pastorate of prosperity and usefulness for
this church. , C "

On account of an obstinate and protracted affection
of the throat, Mr. McKaig felt'constrai‘ned first to
take a vacation, with hope of restoration and recov-

‘ ery, but finally requested a dissolution of the pastoral

relation. At a meeting of the congregation, Dec. 18,
1865, a paper was! adopted containing a very beautiful
and touching testfinonial of their regard and affection
for him, and signifying to Presbytery their acqui-
escence in his request to have the pastoral relation
dissolved. 6 _ ,

In a thanksgiving sermon preached a short time
before his resigna.ti0n, Mr. McKaig said, “ During my
labors here four hundred and thirty have been added
to the church, three hundred and twelve of these on
examination. The average increase has been twenty
per year. The highest number received any one year
was thirty-three. Four hundred and sixty-five‘chil—
dren have been baptized. Contributions to benev-
olent objects have amounted to six thousand one
hundred and twenty-six dollars. In our meetings.
of session’ differences of opinion have been freely
expressed, but no unkind, or offensive word has been
uttered. This session has always been a peacemaker,
while living at peace among themselves, no vain
eulogy. ‘ Blessed are the peacemakers !’ ”

Since his resignation of this charge _Mr. McKaig

has been for several years pastor of ‘Bloomfield, a

small suburban church in the city of Pittsburgh, but
that same trouble with his throat and voice ‘has
obliged him to demit that charge. At present he
resides in East Liberty, Pa. During his pastor-ate
there was but one election of elders.
Simonton, Thomas Wilson, John S". Russell, J. L.
Moore, and (Joseph Wallace were elected to that
office. After this, this church was without a “pastor-
for almost six years, but there was no intermission of
the regular services. Regular andorderly calls were
made out and sent to the Presbytery for the pastoral
services of Rev. John ‘Kerr, of Pittsburgh, Pa., Rev.
J. J. Beacom, of Forest Grove, Pa., Rev. J. B. Dickey

of Steubenville, Ohio, and Rev. R. K. Campbell, of
South Salem, Ohio.

various reasonsnone of these calls were accepted.
There was one election of elders during this time,
June 26, 1869. John Farrar, I. M. Stevenson, and
John Kennedy were duly inducted‘ into that office.

In 1857, John _

Rev. Mr. Dickey and Rev. Mr. 
Kerr both came and labored here for atime, but for

' the Burgettstou'n Call of Aug. 29, 1882." .

ROBINSON

TOWNSHIP. 907

The present pastor is Rev. Greer McIlvain Kerr.
He is a native of VVashington County, but his parents
removed to Mercer County, Pa., when he was very
young, and have lived there ever since. He received
his collegiate education at Westminster College, Law-
rence Co., Pa., where he graduated in 1867, and his
theological education at the \Vestern' Theological
Seminary, Allegheny, Pa. On March 27, 1871, while
he was a member of the senior class in the seminary,
having been licensed by the Presbytery of Chenango
at Beaver ‘Falls on the 28th of April of the year be-
fore, he received a call to this pastorate. He was
ordained and installed by the Presbytery of Pitts-
burgh, June14, 1871. S. J. Wilson, D.D., presided;
Rev. John Gillespie preached a sermon; Rev. W. W.

"McKinney delivered the charge to the pastor, and
Rev. S. M. Henderson the charge to the people-
During this pastorate there have been two elections
of elders. On March 26, 187 5', James Meloney and W. '
S. Russell were made ruling elders, and Sept. 20, 1879,

George C. Smith, S. C. F arrar, and Dr. B. F. Hill.
The present house of worship was built in 1872. It
is built of brick, is fifty-two by eighty feet, with a

basement story eleven feet, and the main room twenty- A

two feet to the square, with combed ceiling seven feet
high in the centre. It is tastefully frescoed, carpeted
throughout‘, and all the seats are cushioned. It was

» dedicated Nov. 26, 1873. Its total cost was $14,093,

including furniture.

This people surely have been highly favored. They A

have enjoyed the ordinances of the gospel for more
than one hundred years without interruption. They
have had exemplary leaders. No pastor, elder, or
trustee has ever betrayed his trust, or been involved
in any scandal, so as to become a reproach to the
cause of religion or a stumbling‘-block in the way of
the weak. The people have always been unusually
intelligent, upright, industrious, and moral. ‘May

_ worthy sons of noble sires still continue to hand down

to those after them an ecclesiastical record unsullied,
a spiritual inheritance without mortgage or incum-
brance. <‘ ' ' .
On the 24th of August, 1882, the centennial of Rac-
coon was held in the church, a great concourse of peo-
ple being present from all the surrounding country,
and the exercises ’of- the day (which were intensely

_ interesting)‘ being conducted by the pastor, the Rev. .

Greer M. ‘Kerr, the Rev. John M. Barnett, D.D., Rev.
Richard Lea, D.D.,‘Rev. S. C. Jennings, Rev. C. V.
McKaig, Rev. J. D. Moffit, D.D., Rev. John Kerr, and
others, and amongthose present were Revs. Freder-
icks, VV. H. McCaughey, Ross Stevenson, Alexander,
Rockwell, Bruce, D. W. Carson, James Campbell,
Hutchinson, McKnight, Fulton, Irons, and Rev.
Robert Patterson, (a grandson of Rev. Joseph Pat-
terson), two children, three grand-, and several I great-
grandchildren of" the Rev. Moses Allen. -An excellent
report of the proceedings of the day was published in

United. Presbyterian Congregation of Robinson.
-——-The people of this section of country were for many
years members of the Associate congregation of
Montour’s Run (now the United Presbyterian congre-
gation of Clinton) and the Associate -congregation of
Bur°gettstown (now United Presbyterian). But feel»-
ing it an unnecessary burden to travel so far every
Sabbath, and realizing the importance of having or-
dinances dispensed in their own midst, they met in
the fall of 1830, around a_’log-heapifire, on or near the
site of this building, and then and there resolved to

build a “ meeting-house,” raised considerable money -

on the spot, and appointed a committee to solicit sub-
scriptions from others. From the nature of this action,
and also from their expectation of receiving aid from
Montour’s Run in" return for aid aflbrded by them in
building a house of worship in Clinton, it evidently
was not their design, then at least, to seek a separate
organization, but simply to erect a second housegof

worship in the congregation and secure a part of the 1
' pastor‘s labors. 1 Several informal meetings were held

at the house of Samuel Bigger, which finally resulted
in a petition which was presented to the Presbytery
of Chartiers, April 6, 1831‘, for an “organization, and
liberty to build a church.” Against this petition the
congregation of Montour’s Run remonstrated,’and

Presbytery by an almost unanimous ‘vote denied their '

request. Again, in March, 1832, we find them before
Presbytery with a similar petition. At this ‘time Bur-
. gettstown congregation joined Montour’s in their
remonstrance.‘ This petition occupied the attention
of Presbytery for three consecutive meetings, when it

was againrefused. -With all these discouragements A
in, the way they continued, as they were able, to press '

forward the work on their church building, which was
completed in the spring of‘ 1833 at a cost of 5151374.
We find them again before Presbytery -in August,
1832, with a petition for a supply of preaching. V This
petition Presbytery seems to have regardedas a con-
tempt, and.handed it back to the commissioners. But
still they were not discouraged; but, with evident
faith in importunity, they again asked’ Presbytery in
March-, 1833, for “ disjunction from Montour’s Run.”
This was subsequently changed to a petition asking

for libertyto build a church in their own neighbor- A

hood, for a part of Mr. Wilsonis time, and also asking
Presbytery to take measures to heal the division in
Montour’s Run congregation. This petition the Pres-
bytery referred to a commission chosenfrom sister

Presbyteries, consisting of Revs. John Walker and...

Thomas Hanna, fiom the Presbytery of Muskingum,
and the Rev._ Murray, with two elders from the
Presbytery of Ohio. This commission, after a careful
heari_ng of the case,’ recommended to Presbytery that
Mr. Wilson be directed to organize the congregation
under the name of Robinson, and that he take charge
of it as a part of his pastoral charge. This report was
unanimously approved by Presbytery, Aug. 27, 1833.
At the suggestion of the commissioners Mr. Wilson

 

V iHe was born in 1821 at,Warren, Ohio.
'VVashington College, Pa., from which institution he
' graduated in 1842, he entered the theological semi-

labors the next spring.

908

HISTORY OF WASHINGTON COUNTY, PENN SYLVAN IA.

entered on his pastoral duties here before the meeting

‘of Presbytery, and shortly, afterwards proceeded with

the formal organization of the congregation, and con-
tinued to labor in it as its pastor until his death,
though he had never been formally called by the
people or installed by the Presbytery. At the organi-

'zation the following ruling elders werelelected:

Thomas Bigger, Esq., Samuel Wallace, William
Donaldson, James Pollock, Benjamin Bubbet, Esq.,
Richard Donaldson, Sr., Andrew Donaldson, Alex-
ander McBride, and James Smith.

The connection of Montour’s Run and Robinson
remained until Sept. 21, 1847, when it was dissolved
by‘Presbytery. Since that time Montour’s Run has
been known as Clinton. The land on which the
church was erected was donated by Alexander Mc-
Bride, Matthew‘ Bigger, and William McBride. The
land for the cemetery was donated by ,Matthew Big-

ger. The first burial was Maria, the daughter of '

John and Sarah Wilson, May 22, 1833. The contract
for building the church was given to John Lovyry.
The first sermon was preached by the Rev. Joseph
Banks, from the carpenter’s bench, before the house

I was completed.

The'Presbytery of Chartiers held a meeting in the
church‘ July 1, 1834. Rev. VVilliam Wilson took

.charge of, this'congregation in June, 1833, some
months before its formal organization, and continued-
his labors here as fixed pastor until his death took
place, April 30, 1842. He was ,a. native of Ireland,

born in 1772, educated at Glasgow University, where
he graduated; wasplicensed to preach in 1795, emi-
grated to this country, and preached for forty-seven

A years.

In June, 1843, Rev. J ohnScott, D.D., began his

labors as pastor of the congregation.. The relation

was dissolved in July, 1845, in consequence of his
appointment by the Associated Synod as missionary
to the Island of Trinidad. -'

Rev. Mr. Scott was a native of J edborough,.Scot-‘

land, and was born on the 7th February, 1807. ' In
1818, with his father’s family, he emigrated to Amer-
ica, entered Franklin College at New Athens, Ohio,
after which he entered the theological seminary at
Canonsburg in 1888, under Dr. Ramsey. He was
licensed to preach in June, 1842, and soon after re-
ceived a call from the united congregations of Mon-
tour’s Run and Robinson’s Run.

Rev. James G. Rankin took charge of the congre-
gation in April, 1849. His relationas pastor con-
tinued till his death, which occurred Nov. 6, 1868.
Educated at

nary at Canon_sburg, and after graduation was licensed
in 1847 by the Presbytery of Chartiers. He accepted
the call from this church in 1848, and commenced his

The present pastor, the Rev. W. R. ‘McKee, com-

menced'his labors with this congregation on the 1st
of August, 1869, and is a faithful and acceptable pas-
tor. The elders since the first are as follows: May,
1849, Samuel Bigger, William Smillie, Joshua With-
erspoon ; May 18, 1854, John W. Stewart, Matthew
Bailey; April 25, 1860, James Ackleson, James Mc-
Nall, James Gilliland, William VVitherspoon; Oct.
25, 1867, James Donaldson,_John M. Donaldson,
John Witherspoon; Feb. 3, 1872, Thomas Bigger,
John Ackleson, Samuel Witherspoon, William Don-
aldson. ‘ ' I 3
The church has at present one hundred and ninety-
two members, and a Sunday-school containing one
hundred and ninety pupils, of which William Don-
aldson is the superintendent. The present church

edifice was -erectedin 1874. The information for this '

sketch was obtained from John Witherspoon and
from a sermon preached by the pastor March 7, 1875,
the Sabbath before leaving the old church building.
Schools in Robinson Township.——The first school-
housein the township was a log building, built about
1800 on land of Richard Donaldson, near the spring,
on the farm next to James Close.

for more than ten years. From 1810 to 1813 a school
was taught in a log house that stood on the Morland
farm, now the land of James Maloney. The first
teachers in this place were Thomas Crawford and
William Geary. Douglass Greary, who was born near
the township line in 1800, recollects attending this
school at the period mentioned. He (Douglass Geary)
himself taught a school in 1830 in a school-house that
stood onthe McNall farm. John Donagho, John P.
Ewing, and others taught at the same place. Another
school-house was in Smith township, on the John
Stevenson farm. In this one of the teachers was
Henry Robinson, father of Finley Robinson, of. Mid-
way. ' '
After the enactment of the school law of 1834, the

township was divided into districts, as follows: Big-' »

ger District, No. 1; Pike, No. 2; Beech Hollow, No.
3; McAdam, No. 4; ~McDonald, N0. 5. One of the
school-houses previously mentioned (Beech Hollow)
was used for schools under the new system. The Mc-
Adam and McDonald houses were built anew.
Bigger house was used till it was destroyed by fire
some time afterwards, then built anew. Its location
was changed three-fourths of a mile south, to its
present site, where it is now called Robinson. Doug-
lass Geary was one of the’ first teachers under the
operation of the law of 1834. Under that law the
township of _Robinson, having accepted the require-
ments of the statute (in 1835), reported two hundred

and ten persons liable to taxation for school purposes. . ~

Amount collected in that year for that purpose,
$173.04, as returned by Josiah Chestnut, treasurer.
In 1836, $56.86 was received from the State,-and
$386.81 was collected on taxes levied in the township
for school purposes. In 1837, $375.95 was collected

The school was '
taught by John Elliott, an Irishman, and continued '

The 3

Apenditures, $2008.34.

ROBINSON
in the township for the same purpose. Matthew
Bailey was treasurer in this and the previous year.

In 1863 the school report shows school-houses in
Districts Nos. 1, 4, and 5 “small,.unventilated, and
poorly seated.” . _ The number of districts reported five,
with five teachers and one hundred and ten scholars.
Total amount levied in township for schoolpurposes,
$463.87-; State appropriation, $93.20; received from
othersources, $390; total expenditures, $460. _

In the year 1873 the township had six districts, six
teachers, and two hundred and forty—six scholars.
Amount of tax levied for all purposes, $2352.98; State
appropriation, $155.36; expenditure for school-houses,
building, purchasing, etc., $1004.50.

In 1880 the township contained seven districts;

-number of scholars, two. hundred and thirteen;

amount of tax levied for school and building pur-
poses, $1488.43. Total receipts, $2049.94; total ex-
The present school districtsof
'the’town‘ship'are : ‘ A _ " ‘ ' l '
Robinson, No. 1, near Robinson. Church.
- Pike, No. 2, near John Donaldson’s.
B Beech Hollow, No. 3, near Candor. .
~ McAdam, No. 4, near McAdam farm.
- "McDonald, No. 5, at McDonald.
Nos. 6 and 7, at Midway; two (graded) schools in
one house. _ , , ,
Physicians.-—Dr. John Martin, of Beaver County,
was a practicing physician in the township from 1830

to 1847.. He lived with "Squire Miller. After his

death he married his widow, and lived in the house

now occupied by Dr. B. F. Hill.

Drs. Matthews, John Clendenning, Patterson,’
and John Coburn all lived in the township, the latter
about 1848. He lived in the house now occupied
by Dr. B. F. Hill, and remained till about 1868, and

 

A removed to Beaver County. Dr. Groshorn came here

before Dr. Coburn, and died in Candor. A Dr.
Weaver was a resident at Candor a short time, and
moved away about 1860. Dr. George Shillitos prac-
ticed a year‘ or two. »Dr. W. V. Riddle came here in
the spring ef 1869, but did not remain long. ‘Dr. B.
F. Hill studied medicine with Dr.‘Bradley, of Bur-
gettststown, attended lectures at Sterling Medical Col-
1.‘ege,.C01umb-us, Ohio, in the spring of 1856, and com-
menced practice at'Candor in the fall of that year.
Upon the breaking out of the Rebellion he joined the
One Hundred and Fortieth Regiment of Pennsylvania
volunteers as assistant surgeon, and remained in that
capacity till the close of the war. He returned to
Candor, and stillcontinues in practice.

_ Dr. Caleb McNulty, of West Middletown, studied

1 medicine with Dr. John M. Wilson; graduated at

Cleveland Medical College in the winter of 1868-69,

and commenced practice at Bethany, 'Va.; practiced

there a year, then spent a year in the VVest, and came

to Midway in October, 1870, and opened an oflice and

commenced a practice in wh-icl1_, he still continues.
Dr. A. C. Stevenson, of Cross Creek township,:came_

58

TOWNSHIP. ’

* store is in operation at the oflices.

to Midway in the spring of 1871, and practiced about

five years, and removed to Oakdale, Allegheny Co. *

He sold out his practice to Dr. George  Miller,
who remained two years and removed to Mansfield,
Allegheny Co., Pa. Dr. David McMasters, of Pitts-
burgh, a regular physician, came to Midway from

. Pittsburgh in J anuary,1881, and is inpracticeat the

present time. .

Pittsburgh and Walnut Hill
In 1869, E. A. Wheeler, of Sharon, Pa., and Rapalye
& Gulick, of New York, purchased six hundred, acres
of the Johnston, Elder, and McBirney tracts. An
opening was made in Smith township, on the John-
ston tract. The’ tipple and tracts are in Robinson
township. ,, The main entry extends (1881) half a
mile in an southerlydirection. Nine side entries,
averaging a quarter of a mile each, extend east and
west. .Coal at first was shipped east, but at the

present time it is. all shipped west. From fifty to_

one hundred-and sixty men are employed. ‘The
works are at the east end of the village of Midway,
and the tract connects with the Pittsburgh, Cincin-
nati and -St. Louis Railroad tracks. A company
In 1873, John Ar-
not, of Elmira, and T. Burr Robbins purchased the
entire interest of the company, and still own and
conduct it. A r - I
Midway Coal Company.——In1.870, John and

Thomas Taylorpurchased the coal rights of two hun-

dred acres of land, parts of the Elder tract and the
Peter Kidd tract. A main drift was opened, and now
extends about half a mile in a southerlydirection. The
works are now owned by Joseph Crawford. The vein
of coal worked at this mine is four and a half feet
thick.‘ Anaverage of one hundred men are employed.
These mines are located at the west end of Midway
village, and are also connected with the Pittsburgh,
Cincinnati and St. Louis Railroad by tracks.

Robbins Block Coal.Company.—In 1873, IT. Burr I

Robbins purchased two hundred acres, of the Jacob
George and Cochran farms, and that portion of the
Jdlm McBirney farm lyingsouth of the railroad.
Operations commenced in 1874, and a main entry
opened in 18,75 that extends at present .(1881).about
one-third of a mile southerly. Five side drifts extend’
east and five west. I11 1881, Mr. Robbins purchased
two hundred acres of coal, right from the Kelso farm.
Most of the land used is in Mount Pleasant township,
but the delivery station is in Robinson township.
Every engine that passes over the Pittsburgh, Cin-

cinnati and St. Louis Railroad is coaledat the chutes '
of this company. From Saturday night. to Monday
morning it is not uncommon to use two hundred and

sixty tons for that purpose. About one hundred and
forty tons per day on an average are used. A store
is maintained at Primrose for Robbins Block, and
another at Willow Grove. ' The Willow Grove Mines
are in Allegheny County, below the Laurel Hill
Mines, and are also owned, by T, B. Robbins. From

909

Coal Company.—— A

THE REVOLUTION.

107

the slaughter of the Moravians, is found in the Penn-
sylvania Archives of 17 81-83, page 524, as follows:

“ Relation of what Frederick Linebach was told by two of his Neigh-
bours livmg near Delaware River, above Easton, who were just returned
from the Monongahela.

“ That some time in February one hundred & sixty Men, living upon
Monaungahela set off on Horseback to the Muskingum,»in order to de-
stroy Three Indian Settlements, of which they seemed to be sure of
being the Touns of some Enemy Indians. After coming nigh to one of
the Touns they discovered some Indians on both sides of the River Mus-
kingum. They then concluded to divide themselves in Two parties, the
one to cross the River and the other to attack those Indians on this side.
When the party got over the River they saw one of the Indians coming
up towards them. They laid themselves flat on the ground waiting till
the Indian was nigh enough, then one of them shot the Indian and
broke his arm; then three of the Militia ran towards him with Toma-
hawks; when they were yet a little distance from him he ask’d them
why they had fired at him; he was Minister Sheboshch’s [John Bull’s]

, Son, but they took no notice of what he said, but killed him on the

Spot. They then surrounded the field, and took all the other Indians
Prisoners. The Indians told them that they were Christians and made
no resistance, when the Militia gave them to understand that they must
bring them as Prisoners to Fort Pitt they seemed to be very glad. They
were ordered to prepare themselves for the.Journey, and to take all
their Effects along with them. Accordingly they did so. They were
asked how it came they had no Cattle? They answered that the small
Stock that was left them had been sent to Sandusky.

“ In the Evening the Militia held a Council, when the Commander of
the Militia told his men that he would leave it to their choice either to
carry the Indians as Prisoners to Fort Pitt or to kill them; when they
agreed that they should be killed. Of this Resolution of the Council
they gave notice to the Indians by two Messengers, who told them that
as they had said they were Christians they would give them time this
night to prepare themselves accordingly. 'Hereupon the Women met

. together and sung Hymns & Psalms all Night, and so likewise did the

Men, and kept on singing as long as there were three left. In the morn-
ing the Militia chose Two houses, which they called the Slaughter
Houses, and then fetched the Indians two or three_at a time with Ropes
about their Necks and dragged them into the Slaughter houses, where
they knocked them down; then they set these Two houses on Fire, as
likewise all the other houses. This done they went to the other Towns
and set fire to the Houses, took their plunder, and returned to the Mo-
naungahela, where they held a Vendue among themselves. Before these
I-nformants came, away it was agreed that 600 men should meet on the
18th of March to go to Sandusky, which is about 100 Miles from the
Muskingum.” 1

1 Linebach (or Leimbach) was an inhabitant of Northampton County,
Pa., living not far from the Moravian headquarters at Bethlehem, in that
county. On receipt of the intelligence of the massacre, he communi-
cated it to the Moravian Bishop Seidel, who requested that he would

’ make the statement to Congress, which he did, carrying with him a let-

ter from L. Weiss to Charles Thomson, secretary of Congress, as follows
(see Penn. Archives of 1781-83, p. 523):

“ SIR,-—I received this afternoon a letter of the Reverend Nathaniel
[Seidel], Bishop of the United Churches of the Brethren, residing at
Bethlehem, dated the 5th ‘instant. He informs me that the same day a
melancholy report was brought to him by one Mr. Leimbach, relative to
a murder committed by white Men upon a number of Christian Indians
at a place called Muskingum. V He continues in his Letter that the same
Mr. Leimbach is to proceed the next day to Philadfi in order to give
Congress information how he came to the ‘knowledge of that Event, so
that Congress, unless it had already a better account of the affair than
he can give, might, upon his Report, take some measures, as well of the
mischief already done, as more which might be done, and thus prevent
the total extirpation of a Congregation of Indians converted to the
Faith of Jesus Christ, and the Judgments of Almighty God against our
dear Country, which stands much in need of his divine Protection. The
Bishop desires me to give attention to Mr. Leimbach’s Report (I have
done it), and to direct him where he should make his addresses. I make
bold, Sir, to address him to you, and to begg the Favour that you intro-
duce him, if possible this night, with the Delegates of the State of Vir-
ginia, from whence it is said the mischief originated, and to-morrow
morning with_Congress. Your Humanity, Sir, gives me Confidence to
use the Freedom to trouble you this day, the day set apart for the.Ser-

4—.

Of the whole party of about one hundred and fifty
Indians of all ages who were present at the three vil-
lages when Williamson’s forces made their appearance,
about one-third the number were at work at the
upper village. These heard the shots that were fired
at Young Shabosh, and one or two of them cautiously
advancing down the river to ascertain the cause soon
found the body scalped and mutilated. No further
warning was necessary. The alarm was instantly

‘given to the people at the upper town, who fled in

terror to the woods, and thus made their escape,
leaving their corn and implements behind them.
Soon after their flight a party of Williamson’s men
came to the village, but finding it deserted made no
attempt to pursue, though the horsemen could easily
have overtaken the fugitives. The white men having
set fire to the village, then returned to Guadenhiitten.
After the massacre that town was also set on fire and
entirely consumed, including the two slaughter-houses
and the bodies of the slain Moravians.

The number of Indians slaughtered was reported as
eighty-eight, but Heckewelder, the white Moravian
missionary, in his account gave the number of the
murdered ones as ninety-six,——siXty-two adults, male
and female, and thirty—four children. All these, he
says, were killed in‘ the two slaughter-houses except
four, who being supposed to be warriors were taken
some distance away on the open ground, there to be
tomahawked and scalped. One of them. in being
taken to the fatal spot escaped from his captors by cut-
ting the rope which bound him and then dashing away
towards the woods. He was, however, soon overtaken
by the horsemen, who cut him down and scalped him.

____~_”_____________

vice of Men to their God, about a Cause which is most properly his own
The Tragic scenes of erecting two Butcher-Houses or Sheds, and killing
in cold blood 95 browne or tawny sheep of Jesus Christ, one by one, is
certainly taken notice of by the Shepherd, their Creator and Redeemer.
“ I am, with particular respect, Sir,
“ Your most obed. humble Servant,
‘ “ L. Wsrss.

 

“ SUNDAY, 7 April, 1782.”

It appears by the letter of Weiss that he supposed the outrage to have
been committed by Virginians, and every eifort was made at the time to
encourage that belief and make it general. It is not strange that the
Moravian bishop at Bethlehem should have readily accepted this idea,
for he knew that the feeling of enmity was particularly bitter between
the Virginians and Indians, and he knew of the kindness which had

been shown by Gen. Irvine, a Pennsylvanian, to the Christian Indians H

on the Muskingum, and of the services which the latter had rendered
to the general in notifying him in advance of proposed irruptions by
the hostile tribes. An attempt was also made to fasten the odium of the
crime distinctively upon the Scotch settlers. Among the papers trans.
mitted by Secretary Thomson to the Executive Council of Pennsylvania
with a copy of Linebach’s statement was a letter from George Niser,
dated York Town, April 4, 1782, in which he said, “ I have seen a Letter
wrote by a Woman at Pittsburgh, dated the 21st March, which contains
these particulars: ‘ The Militia have killed 99 of the Moravian Indians,
Viz., 33 Men and 66 Women and Children.’ In another Letter from the
same of the 5th April, ‘ The Moravian Indian Congregation is butchered,
as it is reported, by the Scotch. They came and told them they must pr-ed.
pare directly for Death. The Indians requested but an hour’s Time for
this Purpose, which was granted. They went to their Meeting-house to
join in Prayers to the Lord. After an hour had passed they fell upon
them and butchered all of them in cold Blood in the meeting-house, and
then set fire to the House.’ ”—Pa. Archives, 178l—83, p. 525,

9103

HISTORY or WASHINGTON COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA.

the three‘ mines, Walnut Hill,~Robbins Block, and
Willow'Grove, from six to seven hundred tons of coal
are mined per day‘. . l A

C Briar Hill Coal Compa,ny.—-These Works are sit-

uated at McDonald Station, on the south side of the rail- '

road,_ and east of the station. They were started in 1869
by Dougherty and Richardson, and are at present oper-

ated under a lease by J. D. Sawters and Alexander Pat-
terson. The main drift extends southeasterlyabout
half a mile; two sides extend about one-quarter of a
mile southwesterly- About one hundred and twenty
men are employed, and an average of two hundred tons
per day are mined. Coal-banks used only for private
purposes are in all parts of the township.

I

  s M IT 1-: T OWN s H I P.   1

BY a— provision in the act erecting -Washington
County, -passed March 28, 1781,~the trustees appointed
to lay off" the county into townships were required to
have them-laidr out before July 1st of that year. This
was accomplished, and the township of, Smith was

the lastone set off of theoriginal thirteen. - It-was

so— named at the suggestion of ‘J udgedames Edgar
(one of the trustees), in honor of the Rev.'Joseph
Smith. ~ is ~ _ d . . * d . 1
The original township was bounded on the north
by the Ohio River, on the east by the townships of
Robinson and Cecil, on the south«by- Hopewell t,own-
ship, and onvthe west by the State of Virginia. It
retained this large extent of territory for five years
onlv.- On the 5th of January, 1786, the inhabitants
presented to‘ the Court of Quarter Sessions. of the
Peace-held at Washington an application for a division.

' of Smith township. This application was favorably

considered, and a certificate was sent to the Supreme

A Executive Council, and read before that body March

'8, 17 86. No action was taken upon the subject ‘until
the 2d of September of the same year, when it was
again brought before the Council and confirmed. By
thisaction that portion of the territory north of Har-
lnon’s Creek and northvof Brush Run to the Ohio
River was set off: and named Hanover township.
The original line dividing these townships ran ‘.‘up
Harmon’s Creek ..to the source near.Steven SInith’s

' [the old McCurdy farm], thence across the ridge to

the head of Brush Run, and down the run to Raccoon
g,..,.,ek;=> oh the 11th~of March, 1830, by order of
court,.the territory north of the ‘present line between
Smith and. Hanover, not included in above, was set
ea from Smith township and attached to Hanover.
Upon the ‘erection of Mount Pleasant township, May
12, 1806, a. portion of Smith was set off to form its
territory. The eastern line of. Smith at that time ex-
tended J from, near the present north point of Mount
Pleasant town:ship.southward along the west line of
Chartiers -to..wnslli.p.,.passing through Hickiory, to the.

north line of Cross Creek, about one mile and a half
south of that town. ‘ ' 7 ' ‘ 1 . T

‘ The present boundaries of the township are Han-
over township onthe west, north, and northwest,

Robinson on the northeast,’Mount Pleasant on the.

southeast, and Cross Creek and Jefi"erson townships

on the southwest.

Following is a list. of justices »of.the peacefor Smith
township 1 from its erection to the present time, viz. : .

Samuel Johnston, July 15, 1781.
James Edgar, July 15, 1781;
James Edgar, Sept. 30, 1788.
John Riddle, March 4, 1796. '
John Wilkins, «May 31,1803.
James -Proudfit, March 11, 1809.
Robert Bowland, March 13,1810.
Matthew Provines, Dec. 9, 1811.

‘William McCreery, Dec, 10, 1816. R

James Keys, May 16, 1818.
James Leech, Dec. 5, 1818. -
Robert Polkerson, Dec. 5, 1818.
James McFarren, Aug. 29, 1821.

Moses Stephenson, March 12, 1822.“

Thomas Biggart, June’ 12, 1822.
Edward McDonald, Aug. 15, 1822.’

Benjamin '1‘. Bubbett, Dec. 8, 1823.

David Miller, March 44,'182-1.
John Buchanan, Dec. 13, 1824.
Archibald Hunter, Feb. 14, 1825.
Ebenezer Boyce, Oct. 4, 1828.
Alexander Kidd, Nov. 18, 1835..
William L. Robb, April 3, 1835.

lWilliam M. Moore, June 7, 1836. A
John Smith, Dec. 17,1836. .
Ebenezer Robb, March 28, 1837.

 Joseph Campbell, April 14, 1840.

Alexander Kidd, April 14, 184?“.

William Galbraith, April 15,1845. '

John Ferguson, April 9,1850.
Johnlstephenson, April 9, 1850.
John L. Proudfit, April 16,1855. 8
John Ferguson, April'10,«1855.
Samuel P. Riddle, April.l0, 1860. .»
‘John B. Hays, April‘10, 1860. ‘
Samuel P. Riddle, J due 3, 1865.
J_.‘L. Patterson, June 3,1865.

jAlexf. E. Walker, April 21, 1869.

Samuel P. Riddle, March 29, 1870.
James L. Patterson, Nov. 30, 1870.‘
James L. Patterson, Jan. 19, 1874. A
Samue-.l'P. Riddle, Jan. 27-, 1874. ,
Samuel P. Riddle, March 17, 1875..

George M. Tenan, March 16, 1876. .

John P. wood, lliarcll 30, 1880. ‘
Thomas W. PL-dicord, April 0», 1881.‘

Settler.-ients.—One of the earliest settlers of Smith

township, but one of whom but little is known, was’

Henry Rankin. He was  nowise relatedto the Ran-’

l{lI1S‘_Wl10 settled in the valley of Mount Pleasant.

On’

the 15th of June, 1778, Henry Rankin and Alexander

1 From 1781 to 1787 the/township of Smith was an independent eleca

' tion district. At that time the county was dividedinto six election dis-

tricts, and this township became part of the Sixth District; another
change was made in 1803 Changes in the boundaries were frequent,
and it has been impossible to follow them bytownsllip. Since the
change in the. constitution in 1838,’ the township has been an indei
pendent d__istl'ict.. . ' é

snirn rouflvsnrr.

911

-McBride purchasediof George McCormick‘ five hun-
dred and sixty-four acres of land adjoining Nathaniel
‘Patton, Boston Burgett, and.Joseph Phillis. He took

..-out a Virginia certificate for the land, which was sur-

veyed to him as “Chance” on the 23d of February,
1785, and patented Feb. 15, 1786. A small portion of
this tract was sold by Henry Rankin to Thomas Mil-
ler Aug. 9, 1805. . , ‘
The earliest record of a land title in, Smith town-

-ship is datedMay 10, 1776, of one hundred and
. eighty-six acres of land whiehgwas sold by William
' Crawford and Henry Houghland to Joseph Phillis,

located on Raccoon Creek, “which lands the said

\ William Crawford and Henry Houghland are enti-

tled to by improvement, according to the custom of
the country.” V

Arthur Campbell was a native of Ireland, who em-~

igrated to America and settled near Winchester, Va.
After remaining there a year or. two he removed to

' -Redstone Old Fort (Brownsville), and in looking

over the country for land on which to settle ‘he se-
'lected the tract in Smith township on which his
grandson, John Campbell, now lives. It was owned

-by Andrew and Adam Poe, who both lived on the

.place at the time. Upon the purchase. of the land of

' the Poes Mr. Campbell moved into the.house occupied
‘ by them, which was built of liewed logs, one and a

half stories in height. Arthur Campbell lived and
died on the homestead, leaving five sons, William,
John, Arthur, Robert, and Josepl1',‘».ajnd threedaugh-
ters, Nancy, Margaret, and Elizabeth. William, the

,. eldest son, settled in Jeflerson County, Ohio, where

his descendants still live. After the death of Arthur
"Campbell, Sr., the farm was left by will to John and
Robert‘ Campbell, the latter a son of ‘Arthur, by whom
it was divided, John retaining the homestead, it being
the north part, and is now owned by his son_ John.
Arthur, another son _of ‘Jolm,:résides in Wisconsin,
and a ‘daughter, Margaret, is; the wife of Allison
Vance. Robert in/heritedtlie south side of the farm,

-and left three sons.‘ Arthur and Ebenezer B.'stil1 live —~ A

on the farm, and William, 9. third son, resides in Cal-
ifornia... ’  v 1 '
"Arthur Campbell, J r., had two sons,—Arthur, who
settled in Jefferson township, on the Cassidy farm,
and died there {Joseph studied medicine with Dr.

« McClean, of Florence, married his daughter, prac-

ticed medicine in Pughtown, and died in Eldersville.
Nancy, a daughter of Arthur, died unmarried. Eliz-
.abeth married James ‘Gibson, of Hanover township,
and settled? there. Margaret married Thomas Elder,
theilfounder of Eldersville. Robert, son of Arthur
Campbell, Sr., left three daughters. Ellen married

{John L. Proudfit, Esq., of Burgettstown. Elizabeth 1

died un married.‘ Margaret married Samuel P. Wil-
son»,and settled in Virginia. A James and a William
Campbell lived where George and N. B. Campbell
now reside, in Smith and Cross Creek townships, but
were not related to the family of Arthur Campbell.. .

James Leech emigrated to this country from Ire-

-land with his wife and three children, and settled ,

first in .Northampton County, Pa., and was in the

.Revolutionary war. At the close of the war he pur-

chased land of Robert Walker, of Cecil township,

.under date of Feb. 11, 1782. - A part of the deed is as
-follows:

“Unto James Leech, of the county and township

» aforesaid, lying and binding on the waters of Raccoon "

Creek, adj.oinin_g.Wil1iam Renkins on the one side

and Redefords [Rutherfords] on the other, James’

Stephenson and Henry Hoglan and William Bash-
ford, containing Three Hundred Eachers of land.’’
On the 22d'day of February, 1786, he took out a war-

- rant for a tract of land, which was surveyed‘June 30,

1786,, under the name of “Litchfield,” containing two
hundredacres. This land is now occupied by his grand-
sons, Robert and Joseph P. Leech. On the 30th of No-
vember, 1802, he purchased the mill. property on Rac-
coon Creek, containing one hundred and five acres, of

.‘John-Wishart, with liberty to construct a dam farther
. up the creek and race-way to the mill through Wishartfs

land. In’ 1811 a road was ordered laid out from
James ‘Leech’s mill to John Marshall’s, in Cross Creek
township. On the Litchfield tract he built a cabin,

. barns, and still-houses, about half-way between Wil-

liam Rankin’s and where Robert’_s house now stands,
and later built a larger house of hewed logs near the
spring. He died in 1823, and was buried at Burgetts-
town. His sons were John, William,-Thomas, Samuel,
Robert, and James. John went to Ohio, and later to

~ Putnam County, Ill, The rest removedto Cohocton.

Ohio, except "James, who remained on. the homestead
for a time. He married a daughteriof John Wishart,
purchased theproperty on the creek,‘ where he l-ived
and died. He served in the war? ‘of 1812, and was a
justice of the peace of the township from Dec..5, 1818,

.many years. He was the father of Joseph“ P. and

Presley Leech.
Case. . » . . , .
George McCullough with his wife a.nd family. emi-
grated from Little Britain _ township, Lancaster
County, Pa.,‘ to Smith?s' township, and took out a
warrant for aitract of land, which was surveyed to
him by the name of “Gretna Green,” a patent. for
which he obtained in April, 1785. He died in Feb-
ruary, 1811, and left seven daughters and one son, the
latter of whom died young. The name became ex-

The property is now “owned by Joel

tinct. The daughters married as follows: Christinia '

married James Wilson, and emigrated to Trumbull
C,ounty,Ohio,,near the town of Poland (now Mahoning
County); Betsey married Thomas McCullough, and
went to the same locality; Jane married J oseph.Mc-
Nall, who resides in Finley township,’ Allegheny
County, Pa.; Mary married James Brown ; Margaret
married James Tenan, of Smith township. They
settled on_ the “ Gretna_Greeni” tract, having bought
out the heirs. 1 Sons of this union were George M.
Tenan, Esq., and James B. Tenan, both residents of

\

' will to his son, Joseph‘ Hays.
‘ to Josiah Allen on the 3d of February, 1795, and two

912

OHISTORY OF WASHINGTON COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA.

‘ Burgettstown. James Tenan, Sr., emigrated from
.Londonderry, Ireland, to Washington County; mar-
: ried here and settled in Smith township, on land now
- owned by Andrew Proudfoot.
.married Margaret McCullough, as mentioned above.

His son, James Tenan,

A tract of land was warranted to Abram Scott Sept.
23, 1784, situated on the waters of Raccoon Creek,

-' adjoining Joseph Phillis, Henry Rankin, and William
.Thompson.
‘ ary, 1787, to John Smith, as the assignee of Abram
 Scott, under the name of “Shady Grove,” and con-
- tained four hundred and ten acres.

It was surveyed on the 21st of Febru-

Mr. Smith purchased two. hundred and ninety-nine

- acres, a part of a tractof land which was patented by
. Jacob Neusly March -21, 1787, containing three hun-

dred and te11 acres. Thiswas also on’ the-waters of

-Raccoon Creek, adjoining William Thompson and
~ Cornelius Murphy. On the 18th of February, 1794,
~ Mr. Smith sold the two hundredand ninety-nine acres

of the Neusly tract, and twenty—five of the “Shady

‘ Grove” patent to Andrew McClean. James McClean, -
7 the son of ‘Andrew, wasa bachelor; studied theology,
. and preached in the Presbyterian denomination, and
ilived on the homestead several years. The "place is
. now owned by James Simpson. A part of . the Smith
~ tract was sold in 1792 to John Bell and John Patton.
. Bell sold to ‘Thomas Miller Dec. 24, 1804.

Cornelius Murphy owned land adjoining John

-Smith. He had but one daughter, who married a
.man of the name of Dodd, and removed to..South

Carolina. Squire John Riddle became the executor

. of Mr. Murphy after his death, and suits were pend-
. ing for several years, the heirs of Mrs. Dodd claim-
, ing the property.‘

Among the officers who received grants of land for
their services in the Dunm-ore war was Lund V\7ash-

. ington, a distant relative of George Washington. A
{patent of the State of Virginia, dated Nov. 20, 1779,
, was granted him by which two thousand acres of land

were conveyed. This tract lay on the headwaters of

- the middle branch of Raccoon Creek, and-in the town-
‘ ships of Smith and Mount Pleasant. . _

On the 8th of June, 1791, VVashington sold three
hundred acres to John McKibben. This tract is now

‘owned by Charles Provines, the heirs of Ebenezer
- Smith, and the heirs of Robert Smith. On the 20th
'~ of January, 1792, Washington conveyed all of the re-
9 mainder of the tract to George McCormick. In‘ the

deed to McCormick a statement is made concerning
the large tract granted by the Virginia patent as fol-

lows: “Said to contain two thousand acres, but in
. fact contains only one thousand acres, and is bounded,”
» etc.

A part of this tract was sold by George Mc-
Cormick, Feb. 7, 1792, to David Hays, who left it by
The latter conveyed it

years later, May‘ 4, 1797, Allen conveyed, it to Rob-

rert Glass. Upon his death this portion of his estate

fell to his son, Thomas Glass. Heretained it till

.. Ephraim _Chidester.

April 6, 1804, when he sold one hundred an_d fifty-

nine acres of land to Samuel McFarlane. In this deed
it is recited that it is part of the tract conveyed by the

-Virginia patent to Lund Washington. _A sm-all por-

tion of the tract conveyed to McFarlane formed parts
of two other tracts, one of which was patented to

Thomas Edwards April 3, 1797, the other to Andrew’

Swearingen Aug. 15, 1787. ,_ 7
Samuel McFarlane emigrated from Ireland to this
country about 1800, and in1804 made the purchase
above mentioned, and on the‘3d of September in the
same year purchased one hundred and two acres of
This tract was part of a tract
patented to George McCormick Aug. 15, 17 87 . It was
Called “ Hayes’ Bottom,” and contained three hundred
and fifty—nine acres. McCormick sold it ‘to David
Hays. September 13th the same year, and in June,

.1797, the one hundred _and two acres was sold to

Ephraim Chidester. Samuel McFarlane settled upon
the tract purchased of Thomas Glass, and where his
youngest son, Thomas McFarlane, now owns. He
lived here many years, and died at an "advanced age
at the residence of his daughter in Cross Creek.

Of his children, William settled on a farm near his
father’s, and adjoining the Judge John Farrar farm,
where he died. David studied theology, and became
a Presbyterian minister. He‘ settled first in Peoria, Ill.,
and later went to Santa Fe, New Mexico, San Diego,
Cal., and finally to Iowa, where he served as a mis-
sionary among the Indians, and died there. Joseph

‘went to California when the gold excitement was at

its height, in 1849, and has not sincebeen heard from.
John removed to Ohio. Andrew settled» ‘at Cross
Creek, and later moved to Burgettstown, where he
still resides. Samuel located on a farm left him by
his father in Robinson township, near the _town of

.Candor, and now lives in Burgettstown. _ His son, J. '

F. McFarlane, is an attorney in Washington, Pa. A
daughter of Samuel McFarlane,‘-Sr., married Thomas
Farrar, lived_ in Cross Creek many years, and moved
to Peoria, 111., and died at the residence of her daugh-
ter inthat city in 1880. ' A '

James Edgar was one among the earliest,’ settlers '

in what afterwards became the township of Smith,

.and he was for a period of thirty-five years one of the
.most respected citizens of Washington County. He
was born in York County, Pa., on the “Slate Ridge,”
.Nov. 15, 1744. His father’s family emigrated from
Pennsylvania to North Carolina, but he was never in -
the latter State, except on a visit to his relatives.

He represented his native county in the .Co'nstitu-
tional Convention of 1776. In the summer of 1779
he migrated west\of' the mountains and ‘settled in
what is no.w Smith township, -VVashington. County.

-July.10, 1784, he warranted a tract of two hundred ,9

and seventy acres “ on the waters of Raccoon Creek,”

surveyed to him Feb. 22, 1785. And on the 6th of 4

September, 1787, be warranted another tract of one
hundred and forty—two_ acres, surveyed to. h,i_m,Oct.

. Censors.

A ' of pain.”

SMITH TOWNSHIP.

913

17, 1787, as “Nineveh.” In November, 1781, he was
elected with Col. John Canon to represent the county
in the Supreme Executive Council of Pennsylvania,
and in the same yearwas elected to the Council of
_ In 1788 he was appointed associate judge,
which position he held till disabled by infirmities
which compelled his resignation. Dr. Carnahan says
of Judge Edgar,-— ‘ g ‘ .

“ This truly great and good man, little known be-

is yond the precincts of Washington County, had a good
English education, had improved his mind by read-
. ing and -reflection, so that in theological and political

knowledge he was superior to many professional men.
. . . He lived in retirement on his farm except when
the voice of his neighbors called him forth to serve
the Church or the State. He_was a ruling elder in
the Presbyterian Church, and on‘ one occasion ad-
dressed a congregation of at least two thousand peo-

ple on the subject of the insurrection,with a clearness

of argument and asolemnity of manner and a tender-
nessof Christian eloquencewhich reached‘ the under-
standing and penetrated the heart‘of every hearer.

The consequence was that few, if any, in his neigh-

borhood were concerned in that affair.” . '
.Judge H. H." Brackenridge mentions -Judge Edgar
as follows: “He was an associate judge of VVash-
ington County, and "a kind of rabbi in the Presby-
terian Church in the VVestern country. His head
was prematurely hoary with prayers and fastings and

‘religious exercises; his face thin and puritanical, I

like the figures of the old Republicans in the Long
Parliament of England.” He. died June 8, 1814.

.The Reporter (of Washington, Pa.), in its issue of

August 22d of that year, published the following

‘ obituary notice of him: V

“ Departed this life on the 8th day of June last James Edgar, of Wash-
ington County, Pa., in the seventy-first year of his age, The character
of this eminent and respected patriot and father infthe church is exten-
sively known in our county and in the churches. He was a native of
this State; in his early youth he hopefully became a subject of true
religion; while young was chosen and ordained a ruling elder in the
church, which oflice he continued to fill with good effect while able to
act. In the year 1776 he was called into public life as a statesman, being
chosen to the convention which formed the constitution of the State,

after which time he was repeatedly chosen a representative in the Leg- 8

islature from the counties of York and Washington. In later life he
several years filled the oflice of associate judge of Washington County,
until disabled by infirmity he resigned. Till his last he continued to
manifest himself a sincere friend of the cause of Christ and of his
country; was much engaged to promote the interests of the church and
the good of the State. In his last long illness he bore his affliction with
Christian patience, breathing the spirit of Christianity. His endwas
peaceful and quiet. The evening before his departure he, with consid-
erable confidence, informed his family that he hoped to get his dismis-
sion from the body that night; accordingly about three o'clock in the
morning he resigned his last breath without a struggle or any indication

' In the numerous list of distinguished men who
have been residents of Washington County, there are
found none who bore a higher character or were more
universally beloved’ and trusted than was Judge
James Edgar. V I ' ~

On_the 10th of ,May, "17 7 6, a tractof land on_Rac- .

_ acres.

‘Ann;

coon Creek adjoining George McCormick, containing
one hundred and eighty-six acres, was ‘conveyed to.
Joseph Philles, in consideration of twenty pounds, by
William Crawford and Henry Houghland, “ which
lands the .said William Crawford and Henry Hough;

land are entitled" to by improvement, according to the.

custom of the country.” ' y
’ On this land Joseph Philles lived and died, and his

descendants still occupy the property. 7 -

John Riddle came from Pigeon Creek to this town-
ship about 1790, and settled near the Raccoon Rail-
road bridge, on the farm now owned by J. L. Patter-.

son, Esq. Mr. Riddle was appointed justice of the’

peace March 4,1796, and acted in that capacity till

his death. His family consisted of six sons and four-

daughters. ‘Samuel, a son of John. Riddle, settled in
this township; John settled in Jefferson; Samuel.P.,
in Smith ; Scott,‘ in‘ Muskingum County, Ohio; J ames,
in Virginia City, N ev.; Robert, at Hanlan’s Station,

Hanorver ,township;- Dr. William  in Burgetts-'
town.. (Catharine became the wife of William Proud- i

fit,’and =Sarah_the wife of James -S. Hays, both of
Smith township. — - ,
. David.Hayes was a native of York County, Pa.,.
and came out to this region'of'country about. 1783,;

and took up several large tracts of land on the VVest~ .

Branch of Raccoon ‘Creek. On the 13th,of Septem-
ber, 17 87 , he purchased a tract of land which George
McCormick patented the August previous as “ Hayes’
Bottogm,” containing three hundred and fifty-nine
A.part of this Mr. Hayes sold to Ephraim.
Chidester in June, 1797.

David Hayes built his log cabin on the farm now‘

owned by the heirs. of James Stephenson, and where
George Robb now lives. On this farm he lived and
died. When he came to this country he had a large
family, of whom several of the sons ‘had taken. part
in the Revolutionary war, ‘and a son, John, was killed
in battle. The sons who came here were Moses,

Thomas, David, Joseph, William’, and James. Moses I

settled on one hundred acresof the home tract, and
died there. Joseph Hayes, a son of Moses, inherited

a part of the estate left by his father, and lived ‘upon ’

it during a long life, and died of paralysis Feb. 7,
1882, ‘aged eighty-one years, and the farm purchased
by David Hayes, Sept. 13,- 1787, now passes into'pos-
session of the fourth generation. David Hayes, also
a son of Moses Hayes, and brother of Joseph, mar-

ried Martha Fulton, and now resides in the township. 1

Alexander Hayes married Ann, a daughter of James
Stephenson. Their sons, John B. and James B., live

“on part of the “ Long Bottom” tract James Stephen-

son bought of Thomas Bay and left to his daughter
Thomas,'a son of David Hayes, Sr., removed
to Jackson County, Ohio. William died in 1830,
from:an -accident while mowing. James "settled in

«Allegheny County. Eleanor, the only daughter of
David, married James Todd, and settled in Allegheny
.County_.- . . . .. '.  ;_   . T 

914

HISTORY OF WASHINGTON COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA.

' Joseph Vance came to Smith township from Win-
chester, Va., in 1774, and commenced to improve land
where Presley Leach now lives, but Wil1iam,Craw-
ford and Henry Houghland had a prior claim, and
he abandoned it and took up the land now owned by
Allison, Thomas P., and John S. Vance. He was
prominent in all the various expeditions against the
Indians, and built the stockade fort known for many
years as Vance’s Fort by the early settlers. He was
prominent in the Presbyterian Church at Cross Creek,
a member of the Legislature in 1802-3. He lived to
eighty“-two years of age, and died March 6, 1832, and
was buried at Cross Creek. He left six children. Wil-
liam, who inherited the homestead, was a captain in
the war of 1812, a member of- the Legislatureof Penn-
sylvania in 1815-16. He married Rachel, a daughter of
William Patterson, the first of that family to settle in
the county. She was born June 3, 1778, and died J an.‘
9, 1817, leaving five sons, Joseph, James, William
P., Allison, and David, and four ‘daughters, Cynthia,
Elizabeth, Anna, and Rachel. On the 12th of June,
1818, William Vance married Hannah, the sister of
his first wife, by whom he had two sons, Thomas and
John Stockton, and three daughters, Mary, Caroline,
and‘Celesta. His marriage to his deceased wife’s sis-

_ter gave rise to lengthy proceedings in the assemblies

of the Presbyterian Church, which finally adjudged

. the -marriage to be “ Contra legem ecclesiw.” -William

Vance died ‘April 8, 1856, aged eighty years. His
widow Hannah died in 1880, aged ninety—four years.
His descendants still occupy the homstead. 0

Col. John Vance was the second son of Joseph

~ Vance. He was colonel in command of the regiment

that went to New Lisbon in 1812. ' He lived in. this
township all his life, and died Nov. 24, 1841, aged

sixty—two years, and was buried at Cross Creek. . His ‘

son Joseph was colonel of ‘an’ Ohio regiment under
Gen. Banks in the Rebellion, and was killed in the
Red River campaign. Joseph, a third son of Joseph
Vance, Sr., went to New Orleans, and was never heard
from. Hannah Vance, a daughter’ of Joseph Vance,
married Patterson. Maj. William Vance‘ came to
this section of country soon after his son Joseph settled
here. He located on land where John Easton now
lives, on the valley road from Cross Creek to Bur-
gettstown. Al warrant was obtained later, and on the

‘ 4th of March, 1785,.it was surveyed to him as the

9“ Oat-Field,” containing three hundred and seventy-
eight acres. He was prominentin the organization of
the Presbyterian Church at Cross Creek, a man of
‘wide range of information and well-balanced mind.
‘He died April 18, 1788, aged seventy years. Governor
‘Joseph Vance, who was long, a member of Congress

_ from Urbana district, Ohio, and Governor of that State

in 1836-38, was a grandson of Maj. William Vance.
David Vance, a brother of Col. Joseph Vance and a
son of Maj. William Vance, took out a Virginia cer-
tificate for land in 1780. This was surveyed to him
as “the Corn-Field,” containing three hundred and

ninety-two acres, Dec. 10, 1786, adjoining John Mar-
shall and William Campbell.

David Wilkin came to this county about 1786, and
lived with his son John in this township. He died

Oct.,2, 1793, aged sixty-two years. He" left three .

sons,+—Joh'n, William, and Thomas. John married
for his first wife a lady of the name of Armitage, by
whom he had one son, David; He settled first in Bur-
gettstowri, and kept store there ; then moved to Cross
Creek, and built the first brick building in that town,
now owned and occupied by Dr. John Stockton.

Later he moved to Allegehny County, Pa., and died ‘
‘there. John Wilkin, after the death of his first wife,
married Catharine, daughter of Judge James Edgar,

by whom he had several children. James, one of the

sons, was a blacksmith, and livedat Burgettstown ’

a few years, and removed to -,Wayne County,‘ Ohio,

where he died. A daughter, Mary Ann Wilkin, now

resides in Burgettstown, and is the only one living

of six children. Stephen, a son of J ohn'and_Catha-~

rine Wilkin, became a physician, and practiced in
the township, living on the farm owned by Clark and
John Farrar. He married Sarah Van Emen, of the
family who settled near Washington. Thomas, Wil-
liam, and John, also sons of John Wilkin, settled
in the township, and died unmarried. Thomas was
an elder in Cross Creek Church, and died in 1853, and

.- John in 1858. Archibald married Jemima McElroy.

He was a tanner, and lived in the township. Martha,
a daughter of John, married Samuel Merchant,.and
settled in Buffalo township, where she died. John
Wilkin, who married Catharine Edgar, after the
death of ‘Judge Edgar purchased of the heirs the
landed estate. Here he livedtill his death, Jan. 8,

1818, aged sixty-two years, and left it to his sons, ’

John and Thomas, who later sold it to Finley Scott,
by whom it is now owned. William and Thomas
Wilkin, sons of ~David and brothers ‘of ohn, settled
with their families at Sewickley.

Thomas ‘Whittaker was a resident of this township
before 1786. On the 21st of February of that year
he took out a warrant for four hundred acres of land,

"which was surveyed to him by the nameof ‘-‘ Slow

and Easy.” It was adjoining the “West Boston”
tract, on which Burgettstown was laid out. On this
farm he lived till his death iniJuly, 1794. He left
a ‘widow, Elizabeth, and sons, Samuel, Eli,and Da-
con, and daughters, Ann (Mrs. Holmes), Mary (Mrs.
Hall), Elizabeth (Mrs. Chamberlain), Sarah, Rachel,
and Esther VVhittaker. In the year 1806 two hun-
dred acres of the farm was sold to Josiah Patterson,
and upon the death of Mr. Whittaker the remainder
of the farm was left to Samuel Whittaker, who in
later years conveyed it to his son Dacon. ’ It was in-
herited by hisdaughter, Mrs. G. N. Tenan, who now
owns and occupies it.  ‘

Josiah Patterson emigrated from Path Valley, Cum-
berland Co., in 1806, with his wife and three chil-
dren,-—-Robert, Mary, and Elizabeth. He purchased

, known ‘as the “ Milltown” tract.
‘Mr. Wishart purchased of Gabriel Blakeney one h_un-

SMITH TOWNSHIP. ,

915

, two hundred acres of land of the estate of Thomas

Whittaker, north of and adjoining Burgettstown.

A On this farmhe settled and lived till his death in

1823, aged seventy years. His son Robert succeeded to
the farm, and lived upon it till his death in 1861, aged
seventy-six years.

elder in the Presbyterian Church at Cross-Roads
(Florence), and was active in_the organization of
the Presbyterian Church at Burgettstown, of which
he continued a member during the remainder of
l1is'»life. At his death the farm was left to his son,
James L. Patterson, who lives in.Burgettstown, and
is prominent in the banking business. The children
of Robert Patterson were James L., Mary (the wife of

A the Rev. James T. Fredericks, of Burgettstown), Jane,

the eldest child, who married VVatson Allen, and as
his widow married James Ewing, of Washington, Pa.
Mary, daughter of Josiah Patterson, remained un-
married, anddied in Guernsey County, Ohio, about
1876, aged eighty-four years. Elizabeth, another
daughter, married Ebenezer Smith, and lived for a
time in Burgettstown. She later removed to Guern-
sey County, Ohio.

John Wishart was a native of Ireland, who emi-
grated to this country, and settled in Waynesburg,
east of the mountains. At the close of the Whiskey

(Insurrection: he came to this section of country,

meeting some ‘of the soldiers on their return east.

' On the 16th of May, 1795, he purchased one hundred

and five-acresof land for three hundred and fifty

pounds of (Humphrey Montgomery, containing the

mill built by Samuel Johnston, situated on what was
Three ‘days later,

dred and seventy-three acres of land for three hundred
and forty-six pounds, “situate and lying on the waters

of Raccoon Creek, adjoining lands of John McKib-

bin and lands formerly.of John McCormick.” This

. last tract was part of the land granted by Virginia

patent to Lund Washington, Nov. 24, 1779, who sold
to George McCormick, Jan. 20,1792, and who, Feb-
ruary 27th of the sameyear, sold to Gabriel Blake-
ney. On this tract had been an old fort, known as
Hoagland’s Fort, which the Rankins, Buxtons, and
others used as a place of protection. A school-house
was erected on the hillside west of the fort. One
William Loughrey was the teacher. John VVishart
lived here till his death. A daughter of his married
James Leach, who remained on the homestead. Other
daughters married, and removed to Kentucky and
Ohio. John, the only son, emigrated to Kentucky.
James Stephenson was the son of John Stephen-.
son, who was a native of England, emigrated to this
country in 17500, and settled near Chadd’s Ford, on
the Brandywine. At this ‘place James Stephenson
was born in 1773. Seven years later his father with
his family removed to Pigeon Creek (now Chartiers

. township), and settled and lived there till .his death,

He was a surveyor by professioii ; _
' a justice of the peace from Dec. 5, 1818, to 1834; an

in 1808. ' When James arrived at maturity he came
-to Smith township, and in the course of a few years
purchased several tracts of land in different parts of
the township. On the east branch of Raccoon Creek
he erected a mill and built a house, where he lived,
which became known as-the Mansion House. He
was a member of the House of Representatives of
Pennsylvania in 1805-7. He married.-lane Vance,

a native of .the township, by whom he had. eight chil-
, dren, to whom he gave good farms. In 1802 he pur-

cnased two hundred acres of land of Thomas Bay.
This tract was warranted by Mr. Bay, Feb. 25, 1785,
and surveyed to him by the name of “Long Bottom,”
four hundred and fourteen acres. This farm was
given _to his daughter Ann, who married Alexander
Hays; their sons, John B. and James S. Hays, now
own the property. . Another tract of eighty-four
acres, now owned by Matthew Welsh, was left to a
daughter Mary, who married W. P. Vance. - Of _two
other tracts now owned by Samuel Ghrist, one of one
hundred acres was left to Elizabeth, who married
Samuel Ghrist; the other, also of one hundred acres,
wasleft to a son,Joseph Stephenson.
to his brother-in-law, Ghrist, and emigrated to Illi-
nois. The mill property, containing sixty acres, was

’ left to his son, John Stephenson, who sold to John

Armstrong, and it is now owned by John Keyes.
After the sale of the mill John moved to. Burgetts-1
town, where he died. His widow still resides there.
Another tract in Mount,Pleasant township was left
to his daughter Martha, who became the wife of
’James‘Rankin, Esq., and is still in her possession.
Mr. Stephenson was a man of fine executive ability,
and commanded the respect and confidence of all with
whom he came in contact. In 1805 he was elected
State senator, with Isaac Weaver, of Greene County,
to represent the district, then composed of Washington
and Greene Counties, and served in the years. 1806-7,
and was returned and served 1808-9. He lived many
years after, and died at his mansion house in 1846,
aged seventy -three years. A
- Matthew Welch emigrated from Ireland to ‘this

country about 1802, with his wife and a daughter‘ _

Isabella, then an infant. He lived a short time at
Lancaster, and in the spring of 1803 removed to this

‘ county. On the 26th of July in that year he pur-

chased one hundred acres of land of Hugh Lee, it being
part of one of the tracts patented by Samuel Johnston.
Mr. Welch lived on this place the remainder of his
life, and died there at the age of eighty-four years.
His widow lived a feivyears later, and died at ninety-
two years. They left eight children. Isabella, the.
oldest daughter, married William Galbraith. They
settled on the farm where a son, William R. Gal-
braith, now lives.’ Mrs. Galbraith is still living, at
the age of eighty-two years. Nancy-married Mark
Stephenson, and settled in the township, where he
still lives. Polly married V-Villiam Campbell, and
moved to Ohio. ‘Margaret married Thomas McCorkle,

Later he sold

.“ Radius.”

916.‘

HISTORY OF -WASHINGTON COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA.

of Cross Creek township. Eliza married Robert Mc-
Birney, of Robinson township. Rachel married Rob-
ert K. Scott. They now live on the tract of land pat-
ented for the heirs of Sebastian Burgett and named
Hannah married Matthew Welch,‘ and
they now live on a farm bought of William P. Vance,
which was originally part of the James Stephenson
lands. M. R. Welch, the only son of Matthew Welch,

inherited the home farm, and still owns and occu-
pies it. V . ‘

A fort known as Allen’s Fort was located near the

line-between Smith and Robinson townships, which I

the Baileys, Shearers, and others used as a place of

security before the Beelor Fort was erected. It is pos-
'sible.that John ‘Allen settled there prior to that time,
but his name does not appear on a Virginia certificate _

as having lands under ‘that title. .He took a Pennsyl-
vania warrant Nov. 5, 1784, which was surveyed to
him by the name of “ Derry,” Feb. 25, 1785. He
lived to an old age, and died there; married, but
childless. The farm was left to a nephew, Moses
Allen, who was not a thrifty man, and the farm passed
to other hands- He moved to near Pittsburgh, where
he kept a tavern, and there died. .,

John Ferguson, a native of Ireland, emigrated to
this country in 1795, and settled in Lancaster County;
married in the city of Philadelphia, and 1798 came

to Smith township and purchased ninety acres of ‘John -

Bavington and settled upon it. On the 29th of De-
cember, 1813, he purchased eighty-nine acres of the
administrators of John Bavington, adjoining William
Brummer and‘ Alexander Duncan, and on the 7th of
February, 1818, he purchased of John Duncan one
hundred and forty-four acres adjoining Jeremiah An-
drews, James Moore, William Ferguson, and James
Brown. This land was part of a tract which was pat-
ented by George Deed’ April 4, 1793, one-fourth of
which was sold in 1797 to Abraham Crow, who sold to
J_ohn_Duncan .March 7,1816. -John Ferguson died
on the homestead in 1842, aged seventy-six years.
His wife lived eight years later, and died in 1850,
leaving three daughters and one son, John, who by
purchase and inheritance obtained possession of the
farm, and still owns it. Elizabeth married‘James
Smith, and settled on an adjoining farm, now owned

by John Culley. ‘ They lived there many years, and 1

moved to Frankfort. After the death of Mr.’Smith,
his widow lived at the old homestead with her brother
till her death. John Ferguson, the son of J ohn,- was
a ruling elder in the United Presbyterian Church
‘many years, and held the offices of school director
and justice of the peace. He died at his residence
Jan. 31, 1881, aged seventy-four years.

In the assessment-roll of the township for the year

1788, John Cook, Sr., is assessed on fifty acres, and

J ohn. Cook, Jr., is assessed on personal estate. These
two men were evidently married and settled. In the

list of single men that followsis the name of James

Cook, who is assessed on six. hundred and forty-nine

acres of land. A part of this tract, two hundred and -

fifteen acres, was a portion of a large tract of twenty-
five hundred acres of land granted by Virginia patent
to Robert Rutherford, and sold by him to Samueland
Robert Purviance on the 25th of -April, 1782, and they
by their attorney conveyed it to James Cook on the

8th of September, 1786. On the 7 th of .May, 1792, '
James Cook sold a portion to John Cook. James Cook '

died on the home farm and left three sons, David,
Samuel, and Perry. David married, and his daughter
married William K.’Lyle. They live on the home-
stead. Samuel was a bachelor, and died November,
1879, aged seventy-seven years, and William K. Lyle
purchased his farm. Perry also married.-and lived on
part of the farm. James Cook had four daughters.
Julia married Col. James McDonald, of. McDon-
ald Stat-ion; Jane married J osephiVance, and lived
on the Vance farm, now ownedby John Hemphill;
Dorcas married Moses Lyle, of Mount Pleasant.town-

ship; Matilda married David Gault, of Cross Creek

township. 2 '

John Proudfit emigrated to this county from York
County, near Stewartstown, and settled in Smith
township in 1.806; married Elizabeth Lyle in 1809;
remained in the township till_ 1815, when he returned
to York County. In 1826 he again returned to the
township, and settled adjoining the John Dinsmore
farm. John L. Proudfit, of Burgettstown, is his son.

William McConnell was of Irish descent, and emi-
grated to this county when Burgettstown contained but

the mill and the settlers’ fort, known for a short time.

only as Burgett’s Fort. He bought a farm, now the
property of McCalmont. John McConnell was his
son. William, a son,vdied at college. Three sons
died in Ohio and-Texas.
William McConnell, is living in Hanover township
at’ the age of ninety-two years.
only representative in South township.

On the 9th of February, 1787, William Kidd

warranted a tract which was surveyed’ to him as ‘

“Plenty,” and’ contained two hundred ‘acres. He

conveyed it by deed to John Elder, July 9, 1791, by -

whom it was patented Aug. 21, 1793. Upon the
death of John Elder it was left to two daughters (one
of whom married James Chamberlain). They sold
the south half to Joseph Gladden, Jan. 26, 1829,
and he to William Gladden in March, 1844. That
part of the estate. is now owned by William Campbell.
The other portion passed through many hands, and is
now part of the town of Midway, and part of the lands
of the VValnu~t Hill Coal Company.
Burgettstown.-—The land ‘on which Burgettstown
is situated was located by Sebastian Burgett, a native
of Germany, who emigrated to this country with his
wife and three children, and settled in Berks County,
Pa. While living there his wife died, and left to his
care two sons, George and Phi1ip,.and a daughter
Agnes- He removed to near Robbstown (West New-.

ton), Westmoreland Co., before 1773, where _he soon.

Mrs. Blair, a daughter of '

Asenath Blair is the ‘

SMITH TOWNSHIP.

917

after married Roxanna Markle. He came to this part
of the country and located upon a large tract of land,

-which later was sec’ured to his heirs. His name is

mentioned as early as 1780 in connection with the
Virginia certificate of George McCormick, Henry

Rankin, and others whose lands he joined. At this

time also his own lands were taken up on a Virginia
certificate, as mention is made of the warrants being
based on the certificate, but the copy of the certificate
is not found. One of the tracts that later was sur-
veyed and patented was known as “ VVest Boston,”
containing three hundred and twenty-nine acres, war-
ranted Sept. 20, 1785, and surveyed Oct. 29, 1785. On
this tract Sebastian Burgettbuilt a mill on Raccoon
Creek, where the present mill stands. In repairing

‘ or enlarging the mill about the year 1789, he became

in need of castings with which to complete his work,
and went to Pittsburgh for them. ‘While returning
through the woods and over the rough roads, and
when within about two miles of .home,_the wagon
upset in crossing over, a log, and he fell beneath the
iron castings and was killed.

The Burgett house stood near the Robert Scott
house, and the old fort, as it was called, was near it.
This last stood many years, and later was partially
covered with clapboards. Several years ago, when
Mr. Boston Burgett built a new house, the old log

' structure was removed across the street, and was used

as a cow-house. The tomahawk and bullet-marks
were visible. It was finally struck by lightning and
destroyed. The widow of Sebastian Burgett lived on
this place many years with her children after her hus-
ba_nd’s_ death.

On th_e_28th of September, 1789, George Burgett, in
behalf of himself, Philip, his brother, and Agnes, his
Sister, entered into an article of agreement with Rox-
anna, the second wife of Boston B-urgett, for herself

, and her children, John, Andrew, Mary, Isaac, Eliza-

beth,-Sarah, and Boston Bnrgett, that four hundred
acres of the estate of Boston [Sebastian] Burgett be
set off to her. The mill property is retained’ by
George. Thetract on which the widow of Mr.'Bur-

- , gettiresided was known as “Radius,” containing two

hundred and ninety-seven. acres, and for which war-
rant was not obtained until July 17, 1800, and patent
December 10th the same year. It is recorded on a
slab in the Burgett family‘ burying-ground that Boston
Burgett departed this life. Sept. 4, 1789, in the fiftieth
year of his age. His widow lived to be eighty-three
years-ofage, and died Feb. 3, 1839. Mrs. Burgett
sold ninety-two acres of the tract “Radius” to Benja-
min Shipley Nov. 21, 1804. The remainder was di-
vided between the children by the second wife,——Isaac,
Andrew, Elizabeth, Mary, and Boston. Isaac was a
hatter by trade, and emigrated to Natchez, where he
lived and died. Andrew kept his share, and pur-
chased therights of other heirs. His son, Boston
Burgett, Robert Scott, and Mr. Morgan, now own it.
Elizabceth (Mrs. Zachariah Linn) sold her portion to

Freegift Crawford, whose daughter, Mrs. Dr. George
 Bell, inherited it. Boston Burgett studied medi-
cine with Dr. S. J‘. Perry, of Burgettstown; removed“
from the township. Elizabeth (Mrs. Lynn), after the
sale, removed to Millersburg, Holmes Oo., Ohio.
Mary married John Smith, and settled in Liverpool,

Oolumbiana Co., Ohio. - .
The patent for the “ VVest Boston” -tract recites the

fact that letters of administration were granted to 7

George Burgett, in trust for the,heirs of the deceased
Boston Burgett, and bear date March 28, 1797. On
this tract George Burgett laid out a town, with Peter
Kidd as the surveyor. The following is a copy of the
writing that accompanies the plan : ,'

“Raccoon Creek. The above is a/draught of a Town laid off for Mr.
George Burgett, called West Boston, on the. west fork of Raccoon Creek,
in Smith Township, Washington County, each lot containing one Rood»
being eighty-two and one-half feet in front-,and one hundred and thirty-

two feet back, the course of the Main Street‘North 73 east. , " '
“ Laid off the 27th day of January, 1795. 0

“Parent Kipp.” ‘

The draught contains fifty-six lots, N o. 1 being on
the north side of Main ‘Street, west of the covered’
bridge (now owned by William Melvin), running west
eleven lots, commencing opposite on Main Street with.
No. 12, running east to the creek to N 0. 22, inclusive.
The remainder are in different parts of the town. At‘
this time the only business place on the town platwas
the grist-mill. David Bruce was the first to purchase
_a lot in the new town.

to the new town iscontained in an advertisement‘?

which appeared in the columns of the Was/zingz‘on—

TeZegra_p/ze,‘bearing date Dec. 22,1795, and is as fol-
lows: “ That he has moved his store from John Bav-

enton’s mill, upon Raccoon, to George Burgett’s newl

town upon said creek. He is now openingat the
above place a large assortment of dry-goods, etc.” V
' David Bruce was a native of Scotland, and emigrated
to near Bladensburg, Md., with his father, William
Bruce, in 1784. The latter was associated with Mat-
thew Ritchie as assignee of Barton Lucasfor the sale-
of . thirteen hundred and seven acres of land granted-

'on a military warrant, and situated in what is now

Mount Pleasant township. This land was partly sold
by William Bruce and Matthew Ritchie, and the re-
mainder by John Ritchie, son of Matthew, and his

"executor, and David Bruce, "attorney for his father.

' It is not known at what time he came to _Bavington
and opened a store, but in 1795 he moved to Burgett’s
Town, where he lived till his death. 1 He was a bach-
elor, short in stature and thick set, with but one eye.
In his leisure hours he was given to rhyming, and
wrote many poems, which were published in the

_ Western Telegrap/Le, over the signature of “. The Scots:

Irishman.” They were afterwards gathered together
and published in a volume" by John Oolerick, of
Washington. Mr. Bruce was administrator_ and ex-
ecutor of ‘several estates,.postmaster of the town. He

He had lived- for some time '
previous at Bavington, where he hada store. The ‘
first authentic account of his removal from Bavington .

918’

HISTORY or WASHINGTON COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA.

died in 1830, and was buried in the churchyard of the
United Presbyterian Church. Mr. Bruce had accu-
mulated considerable village property, in addition to
that hereafter mentioned as purchased of Mr. Burgett,
One lot No. 49, out-lot.No. 1, fifty-five acres on the
‘.‘ West Radius” tract, sold by Mr. Burgett to George
Maxwell. This property is now mostly owned by M.
M. Brockman, the Rev. John Hood, and the United
Presbyterian society. Another tractof eighteen acres
he purchased May 24, 1806. His books, manuscripts,
and papers were placed in possession of a Mrs. Smith,
who later moved into Beaver County.

On the 17th of May, 1797, George Burgett advertised
to the purchasers of lotsin the town of West Boston
to “come forward. for their deeds,” and in the same
advertisement he advertised the saw- and grist-mill
for sale. Three days later, May 19th, the deed of Mr.
Bruce was executed. The following is a list of lots
sold by George Burgett, with the date of the deeds, to
1802. They were all subject to ground-‘rents: May
19,1797, David Bruce, lot No. 1, £45 53.; Sept. 12,
17.97,John Black, lot No. 5, $5; Jan. 27, 1798, George
Day, Jr., lots,Nos. 28, 29, $8; Feb. 21, 1798, James
McConnell, lot No. 31, $2; May 20, 1799, David Bruce,
lots Nos. 25, 26, 27, $15; lot No. 49, $5; out-lot No.
1,’ two acres, $13.80 ; Aug. 21, 1801, Thomas Ross, lots
Nos. 4, 50, $11; lots Nos. 42, 44, 45," $12, each one-
quarter of _an acre; Aug. 19, 1801, James G. Ward,
lot No. 20, $50; Jan. 13, 1802, Robert McClelland, lots
Nos. 39, 40,? 41, $10. .

In_ March, 1801, Peter Kidd, surveyor, laid out
another.portion of West Boston into lots, the addi-

tion being beyond Water Street in lots from fifty-seven 1

to eighty-two, and out—lots from the village from No.

. 1 to 12. Nos. 1, 2, 6, 7, 8, each contained two‘ acres,

Nos. 5, 9, 10, 11, each three acres, No.‘ 4 two and a
half acres, and No. 12 half an acre. The following
names are of purchasers of lots of George Burgett,
and are given in order of purchase: Daniel German,
Ezekiel Shipley, Richard Donaldson, Jacob ‘Myers,
Robert Bowland, Benjamin Shipley, Thomas Thomp-
son, James Leech, George Maxwell, Andrew Stephen-

' son, John. Fulton, Margaret. McDonald, John Yea-

mer, Samuel Hines, trustees of Burgettstown School,
Rowland Rogers, James Wiley, VVilliam ' Lindsey,
Robert Bowland, J r., Roxanna Burgett, Allen Hu-
ston, John Rankin,”Joseph Caldwell, Mary Sanderson,
James Stephenson, James Brooks, George Hamilton,
Moses Stephenson, Robert Ritchie, John Vance, and
Joseph Caldwell. The last lots sold by himwere on
the 4th and 5th of J une, 1810, to Joseph Caldwell,
and consisted oflots 11, 12, 15, 38, and No. 12 of out-
lots. ‘ About this time Mr. Burgett removed to Jeffer-
son County, Ohio, and later to Richland County of the
same State. George Day, whoreceived his deed for a lot

in 1798, was a tanner, and on his lot he had erected a‘

tannery before 1793, as it was assessed to him that
‘year, which was kept in operation many years, and in
1796 .he kept altavern- Robert McClelland, who

, later bought a farm .out of town.

bought a lot in 1802, was also a tanner. ‘On the 21st

of January, 1808, Rowland Rogers bought lots 2, 3,

and eleven acres of land, including, the mill property’

and privileges; this he ran till the sale to Freegift
Crawford. He was licensed to keep a tavern" in 1803,
and continued till 1815. Rowland Rogers was licensed
to keep a tavern in 1803, and opened one at this place,
which he continued to keep till 1815. On the 21st of
January, 1808, he purchased of George Burgett lots
Nos. 2, 3, and eleven acres of land, including the-mill
property and privileges, and became the miller for the
town from that time till the sale of the mill property
to Freegift Crawford. Caleb Russell, who owned land
adjoining the town, bought lots in the town, andin
1804 opened a tavern, which he kept till-his death in
1809. Margaret McDonald, on the16th of August,

1806, purchased lots 34 and 35, built thereon ahouse, -

took out a tavern license, and opened a public-house

. in September of that year, which she kept till 1809.

The next year she bought lots 36, 7-, «and 17. Joseph
Caldwell also opened a tavern in 1806, which ‘was
continued till 1815. George McKeag was a school-
teacher, and lived here before 1799 and bought lot
No.19 of some of the citizens, and on the 15th of
October of that year sold it to Peter Kidd. Thomas
Thompson,,also a lot—owner from Mr. Burgett, was
following the occupation of tailor in 1800:. In 1807,

Robert Rowland, David Bruce, Robert Ritchie, St. I

Clair Sutherland, and, James Briceland were mer-
chants. James Alexander, David Wigley, and Allen
Huston were saddlers. Thomas Huston, Charles
Henry, and Thomas Thompson were tailors. About
1808, Jesse Spencer and John Maxwell came to the
town; they were hatters’. Spencer lived where his
daughter Cornelia now resides; Maxwell in a house
by the coal bank. The tannery of George Day- was
later carried on by Elijah Ramsey, -—— Standish, and
last by Milo Laflin, under whom it was discontinued.
He also carried on a shoe-shop. - Alexander Mc-
Cready was ‘a shoemaker, and traveled around the
country with his stock and tools and worked among
the-farmers. ,He also had a shop in town, where the
wagon-shop now stands, south of John Nichols’ house.
Ebenezer Boyce before 1828 kept a cabinet-shop.

ThomasMiller, son of Samuel Mil_ler, of Hickory, 

was in the town before 1810, where he kept a tavern,

and on the 1st of January, 1811, became the first,

postmaster of Burgettstovs-'n., He was a drover, and

when returning home from Philadelphia, where he

had been with a drove of cattle, he was ‘taken sick» 3

and ‘died. He had resided for a time in’Hickory,

and kept a tavern in that place, and was captain of a I I

company organized there for the war of 1812. They,

however, saw no service. Mrs. John P. VVoods, of

Burgettstown, is a daughter of Thomas Miller.
About 1820 a pottery was owned by John F-ranks,‘

later by Hunter, who sold to Robert Brown, who in.
1838 sold, to‘-John P. Woods, by whom it was oper-

In the year 1819,-V

I to keep it in repairs.

 SMITH TOWNSHIP. "

ated till 1859, when it was discontinued and disman-
tled. About 1828 a woolen-mill was erected opposite
Dr. Donnan’s present residence. It was owned by
George Graham, and was burned a short time after its
erection. In 1833 a sec-ondone was built near where
David Pry’s store nowstands. It is owned and was

‘operated by the Parkers many years, but is now idle.

In April, 1810, David Jones was a blacksmith, and
advertised “ to give six cents and one box of cinders
for the apprehension of his apprentice, Samuel Fisher.
He has blue eyes, gallows’ look, and evil disposed.”
It is not shown that the reward was ever claimed.

A public well from an early time had beenkin use
in the town in the centre of the street at the four cor-
ners. For some reason complaint was made concern-
ingit. to such an extent that the-matter was made a
subject of legislation, and on the 26th of‘ April, 1826,
anxact passed the General Assembly of Pennsylvania
“that the public well at Burgettstown, in Washing-

A ton County, in the public square, shall not- be held a

nuisance, but to remain the property of the inhabit-
ants. On a petition of a majority of the taxable in-
habitants to-the Quarter Sessions for Washington

' «County, setting forth that the same has become a

nuisance, the judges may direct the supervisors of
the town or of t-he township to remove the same.”
This_well was filled up about 1830.

~ — Alexander Kidd, a‘ son of William Kidd, of Rob-

inson township, lived in" Burgettstown, on—_Lot No.
1.9, oppos.ite the “ Cross Keys” tavern. He learned
the trade of carpenter, married Mary, the daughter
of James Pyle, and settledin Burgettstown. In 1823
he was captain of the Burgettstown Volunteer Rifle
Company. In 1835 he was elected justice of the
peace and served several terms. Helwasactive in
the interests of the town - and -all -public movements.‘
He died Nov. 19, 1853.‘ Mrs. A. J. Link and Miss

‘ Margaret Kidd, ‘residents of Burgettstown, are his

daughters. _ 5
Thebrick house now owned andoccupied by Jo-
seph Robinson was erected by the townspeople about

1834 for church and school purposes. The school

directors of Smith township were under obligation
It was on ground donated for
that purpose by Dr. Stephen Smith. Services were
held therein by the different denominations until their
respective churches were built, since which time and

. thebuilding of the public schools it had been disused

and was sold. , .
Dr. Donnan, one of the oldest residents of Bur-

gettstown, gives the following description of the place

as it appeared in 1837 ': A“ hotel was kept by Robert

Bowlan where the building now stands on the corner-

of Main and Washington Streets,’ south of D. M.

’ Pry’s store. A store’ kept by Thomas Gormley was

in the old Bowlan House. George" and Thomas Ship-

ley also had a .store invthe Brydges House. John"

and Andrew Provines kept a blacksmith-shop where

‘James Carnahan now. keeps. The post-oflice wasat.

‘now occupied by Mr. Morgan.

91.9

.1

Jesse" Spe‘ncer"s hat-store, where his daughter, Miss.
Cornelia Spencer, now lives.

Mails were received.
twice a week by the mail carrier from Washington to.
Georgetown. , l ‘ r

The house of Andrew Burgett, where Robert K.‘

Scott now lives, was a’ noted resort ‘for travelers
tlirough that section. School was taught in the brick‘
house now owned by Joseph Robinson. The woolen-.
factory (the second one) was then operated by Isaac
Parker, and later by his son Benjamin. The pottery
located above the present residence of Dr. Donnan.

was then run by Robert Brown. He sold it the next .

year, and opened a hotel at the Brydges House. Eb-
enezer Boyce was a justice of the peace (first elected
in 1828); had his office in his house above Carnahan’s
blacksmith—shop. Denny Irons .kept a hotel where
Russell’s store now stands. Lewis Leopold was a

stone-mason, and is yet living. The grist-mill was.’

then run by Thomas Crawford. Irwin Ackleson kept
a tailor-shop in the Parker house, and John Stephen-

son in a house opposite Harper’s dentist" oflice. John '

Dougherty made and repaired wagons in the house
Isaac Parker lived in_
theihewed log house south of Mr. Hood’s hotel, and
which was torn down in November, 1881.

The Burgettstown post-oflice was established April»

25, 1810, to take effect Jan. 1, 1811.‘ Thomas ‘Miller
was the first postmaster appointed, His successors
were and have been M. S. Stephenson, 1820; S. J .'
Perry, 1821; David Bruce, July 1,1822, to July 1,
1830; Dr. Stephen Smith, July 1, 1830, to 1834; Jesse
Spencer, 1834 to 1864; Leander Robb ; Samuel Wil-

son, 1866 to 1874; David M.lPry; -John W. Pry, the _

present incumbent. .
- Old Burgettstown contains at the present time
three stores, one hotel, three‘ churches, town hall,
public school, post-ofiice, printing-oflice, steam grist-

. mill, steam saw- and planing-mill, photograph gallery,

two; blacksmiths, livery-stable, wagon~maker, shoe-:

maker, two market-houses, three dress-makers and’

milliners, one dentist, and three physicians.

The new town which. hassprung up (chiefly within-
the past fifteen -years) on the line of the Pittsburgh,
Cincinnati and St. Louis Railroad, about one mile

north of Old B.urgettstown, and which, together with K

the old town, has "recently been formed and incor-7

porated into the borough of Burgettstown,‘ was started
in 1854, as a result of the then. recently projected con--
struction of the Pittsburgh and Steuben ville Railroad,
the route of which was here identical_with that of the '

present Pittsburgh,‘Cincinnati and St. Louis line,
above mentioned. The project for building the road

began to be strongly‘ agitated and urged in 1852-53,‘

and in 1854 the new town north of Old Burgettstown
was laid out and called “Abelin_e.” It was located
on land owned by Deaco'n Whittaker. Except the
survey of the town, nothing was done until near the

completion. of th'e‘.Pittsburgh,Cincinnati and Sets’

108

Only two of all those taken in the lower towns es-
caped the slaughter. These were two Indian boys of
about fifteen years of age. One of them, who was
called Thomas," was knocked down with a tomahawk
and scalped, but being only stunned recovered after a
time, and on looking round him saw another boy
named Abel lying near, wounded and scalped but still
alive. Thomas had the presence of mind to lie down
again, feigning death, and it was Well for him that he

did so, for in a few minutes a white man came near,"

and seeing Abel still living dispatched him with his
tomahawk. After a while Thomas crept slowly and
painfully along over the dead bodies, succeeded in
getting out of the house unobserved, and gained the
shelter of the woods, afterwards making his way in
safety to Sandusky. The other boy who escaped had
managed to hide himself away in the cellar of the
house where the women were imprisoned, and just
before the building was fired crept out through a
narrow window or hole in the foundation. Another
boy had been concealed with him in the cellar, and
attempted to follow his companion through the win-
dow, but being of larger size found it impossible to
get through, and so was compelled to remain and
perish in the flames. It is stated in some accounts
that another Indian boy, eight years of age, was
brought away by one of the volunteers, who took him
to his home in the settlements, where he remained
until nearly grown to manhood, when he left his
white master and rejoined the Delawares in the West.

When the work of massacre was finished, and the
destruction of the Moravian towns made complete,
the forces of Col. Williamson started on their return,
taking with them more than eighty Indian horses,
partly laden with plunder from the devastated vil-
lages on the Muskingum. On the 10th of March
they reached and crossed the Ohio and marched
thence to their homes, but they did not immediately
disband. It does not appear that they had yet begun
to feel any shame or compunction for the frightful
crimes they had committed; on the contrary, they

’ were exultant, and (as is shown by Linebach’s ac-

count) at once set on foot a plan for a new expedition
to number six hundred men to invade the Indian
country. “If their only object was to proceed against
the hostile savages, it was a legitimate and praise-
worthy enterprise; but it seems as if they had resolved
on nothing less than the extermination of all Indians.

On a little island in the Allegheny, known as Smoky
or Killbuck’s Island, lying opposite Fort Pitt, there
were encamped a small band of friendly Delawares,
among whom were several who actually held com-
missions in the service of the United States. The
name of the island-—Killbuck’s——was derived from
Captain Killbuck,‘ who had more than once received

1 Captain Killbuck had at that time a son in the college at Princeton,
N. J ., who was placed there by authority of Congress, and being edu-
cated at the expense of the government.

HISTORY OF WASHINGTON - COUNTY, PEN N SYLVAN IA.

commendation from Gen. Brodhead in his oflticial
communications for bravery, efliciency, and steadfast
fidelity to the American cause. This little island was
visited with fire and sword on the 24th of March by a
body of the men from Ohartiers Creek, some of whom
had accompanied Williamson on the Moravian ex-
pedition, though the colonel was not with them in
this new raid, nor is it probable that he approved or
knew of their intentions. They killed several of
these friendly Indians, including two who held com-
missions in the service of the government, and would
have killed all if they had been able to accomplish
it; but the remainder succeeded in making their es-
cape to the fort, except two, who swam to the other
shore and took to the woods. One of the latter was
a chief called the Big Cat, who narrowly escaped
death at the hands of the assailants. He had always
been found among the most steadfast of the Indian
allies of the United States, but from this time his
friendship ceased, and he never again trusted the
Americans. A

The marauding party, after killing all who came
within their reach upon the island, crossed over with
their plunder to the fort. They were enraged that
the fugitives from the island had eluded their ven-
geance and found shelter within the work, and they
were particularly incensed against Col. Gibson (the
temporary commandant) for his known friendship for
the murdered Moravians and his outspoken con-
demnation of their own villany. They sent a mes-
sage to him saying that they would scalp him if he
came in‘ their way, but they could not gain admit-
tance to the fort, and were compelled to return to
their homes without the opportunity of committing
any further outrages against the friendly Delawares
or of scalping the commandant.

In some accounts of the Gnadenhiit-ten massacre
it is stated that Ool. Gibson, being apprised in advance
of the murderous intentions of Williamson’s men,
had sent a runner to the Moravian villages to inform
the people of their danger, but that the runner did
not reach the towns in time to make the information
of any avail. Ool. Gibson would undoubtedly have

done this if he had had the opportunity, but the _

statement that he did actually send such a messenger

is rendered improbable by a letter written by him to -

the Moravian bishop at Bethlehem, Pa., dated May
9, 17 81,2 a copy of the material parts of which is here
given, viz. : _ .
‘.‘ To THE RIGHT REV. ‘NATHANIEL SEIDEL:

“ SIR,—-Your letter by Mr. Shebosh} of the 11th
ult., came safe to hand. I am happy to find that the
few small services I rendered to the gentlemen of
your Society in this quarter meets with the approba-
tion of you and every other worthy character. Mr.

I Shebosh will be able to give you a particular account .

2 Heckewel_der’s Indian Nations, p. 81.
3 The father of young Shebosh, the first victim of Gnadenhiitten.

9'20

HISTORY OF WASHINGTON COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA.

Louis Railwayin 1865. ' In the latter part of 1864,
A. S. Berryhill started‘ a store, and in the. following
spring a station and depot was opened. J. L. Patter-
son was appointed station and express. agent. A
post-oflice was established in this year, 1865, desig-
nated as Cardville. The first postmaster appointed
was J ohn. D. McCabe, who was succeeded by John C.
Ralston and George M. Miller, the present postmaster.
Business increased rapidly, and at present three large
warehouses are carried on, andthe place is rapidly
increasing as a stock, wool, and- grain market, and is
now equal to any. shipping point between Pittsburgh
and Columbus. The new town contains at present
four general stores, a drug—store, two hardware-stores,
a jewelry-store, two merchant tailors, boot— and shoe-
store, variety store, furniture establishment, two

_ blacksmith—shops, tin-shop, mark-et, three wool- and

grain.-warehouses‘, a carriage-fajctory, harness-shop,
livery.-stable, lumber-yard, two hotels, a bank, rail-
road depot, eXpress- and telegraph-office, post-office,
printing-ofl5i—ce, insurance-oflice, three millinery-stores,
two sewing-machine agencies, two music dealers, two
physicians, and one dentist. A p ' . 1‘

.0 The Burgettstown National Bank was organized on
the 2d of March, 1872, under the name of the'Bur-_
gettstdwn” Savings—Bank, with the following-named

‘ directors: J. L. Proudfit, J. L... Patterson, A. S. Berry-'1

hill, T. W. Bradley, and Robert Scott. J. L. Proudfilz
was elected president, and‘ J. L. Patterson, secretary
and treasurer. The bank had a capital stock of
$10,000, which was increased‘ from time to time until
it reached $50,000, its deposits having reached $100,000.
The_.b,anki_ng-oflice -‘was. in the grocery-store of A. S.
Berryhill until the completion of the present banking-_
office in the summer of 1874. In the winter of 1878-
79 the. bank closed business for the purpose of reor-
ganizing under the National Banking Law. This was
accomplished Jan. 23, 1879. The property of the
savings-bank was purchased‘, and the national bank
was «organized by the election of Directors J. L.

Proudfit, .W. L. Archer, C. Campbell, Samuel Scott, ’

A. H. Kerr, J. C. Ralston, and J. P.‘Leech. The
directors elected J. L. Proudfit president; W. L.
Archer, vice-president; J. L. Patterson, cashier;'and
J. P.-Kelso, clerk. The capital stock was$50,000,
which was.incre‘ased in 1880 to $80,000. The first dis-
count‘? day of the national bank was Feb. 20, 1879.
The present amount of deposits is $160,000. The
present officersiare J. L. Proudfit, president; W. L.

Archer, vice-president; J. L. Patterson, cashier; J. v‘
P. Kelso, clerk; directors, J. L. Proudfit, A. H. Kerr,
. C. Campbell, J. D. Leech, J. J .' Carruthers, Samuel

Scott, W. L. Archer. . V
. Borough of B11rg'ettst0Wn.——At ameeting of the
citizens _'Of Burgettstown, held pursuant to notice at
the town hall in March, 1877, for the purpose of

taking measures for the erection of the borough of '

Burgettstown, to be composed of Old Burgettstown

and ..Q.a.rd.vil.l.e, D. S. alker.. was, chosen chairman .

and F. McFarland‘ secretary. After discuss_ion, Fin-'
ley Patterson, J. L. Patterson, and M. W. Murray“.

were appointed a-committee to take, the initiatory
steps to procure the incorporation of the proposed

borough. This committee never reported, no meet-=

ing was called, and the subject was held in abeyance

till'Ju1y, 1880, when another meeting was called, and-«

J. L. Patterson, J. L. Proudfit, S. J. Grhrist, William

Melvin, J. P. Donnan, H. B. McMurray,‘ and’M. R;
Allen were appointed to secure a survey and ‘ present‘

the proper petition to the court. This committee

performed their duties, and on the 8th December,

1880, gave notice that applicationivould be inade to

the Court of Quarter Sessions of Wa,shingtoniCounty‘

at the January term, 1881, “ to incorporate the village

of Burgettstown, including that portion thereof which '
lies- at and around Burgettstown Station.” in The grand:
jury passed favorably upon the petition on the 12th-
January, 1881, and the court confirmed, the action on’

the 23d of March following, and further provided

that a special election be held at the town hall,
April 5, 1881," for the election of borough oflicers,?at: t
which timet-’he following were elected: Burgess, C{
M. Elder; Councilmen, Dr.  W.QRiddle, B.‘ 
McClure, S. _J. Ghrist,  Witherspoon, J. P. DOD-/T

A nan, and W. S. Fulton<°;.'Sch’ool Directors, R. T. C.‘

3S-tephenson, W. P. Vance, William Melvin, James‘

Ca-.1'nahan', and “William.»Blair'. ;‘ Auditor, T. L. ,Mc-

. Clelland; Assessor and Constable", M. W. McMurray.'

Upon the organizationof the-Cou’n“cil, J. P. Donnan

was_ chosen‘ president, and the following -appoint-‘

ments were made: M. R. Allen, clerk; ‘J. L. Patter-
son, treasurer; ohn Hemphill, street commissioner;
M." W. McMurray, collector.. * . . ~
. Physicians.——-The first practitioner of medicine in
this section of the county of whom anythingis
known was Dr. Ebenezer Jennings, .a son of the
Rev. J acob-J ennings. He was a descendant of the.
Pilgrims, but a native of New Jersey, where his
father’ lived" and practiced as a physician until he

wa-slicensed by the Reformed Dutch Church and:

received ‘by the Presbytery of Redstone April '17,
1792, at which time the Rev. Jacob Jennings re-

moved to Dunlap’s Creek, Fayette Co.: his two. 1

sons, Obadiah Jennings (later known both as a law.-

yer and divine) and Ebenezer, the one above men- '
‘tioned, coming with him. He studied and practiced A _ '

medicine in" the East, and soon after coming to this
county settled in Smith township, and resided at the
house of Judge James Edgar for some years. Upon
his marriage he purchased a small farm about two
miles east of Burgettstown,from wherehe continued
to practice till his death. He was elected a member
of the General Assembly in 1806-7, and during the
first year .of his residence at the capital he became-
interested in the treatise of Dr. Jenner on vaccina-
tion, and at the close of the term visited Philadel-

phia, obtained some virus, and on his return vaccin-, '

ated his own children and_other.s... On his return to

SMITHiTO_.WN-SHIP-   A    4 1921

-the Legislature the next session, by arduous labors,
the procured the passage of a bill. providing for the
.\'accin'ation..of the poor. His healthgbecame im-
paired by his exertions, and although renominated
,for another term he declined, and on the 21st Novem-
ber, 1808, he died, aged thirty-three years, beloved
; and respected by all. He left property consisting of

five hundred acres of ‘land in Beaver County, eighty

acres, of land where he resided until a short time be-
-fore hisdeath, and one house and two lots- in Bur-
-gettstown. His executors -were Thomas. Smith, Rob-
—ert Bowland, and Obadiah Jennings. The property
.Was left in trust with them. for his. three children,-
.Maria, Samuel C., and Jacob, and provided for their
_ education ; and in case one or both of the sons desired
; a classical education, a. sufficient amount to meet the
.circumstances was to be taken from the estate.
Samuel C. Jennings, one of the sons, is now pastor
.of a Presbyterian Church in Allegheny County. '

Rev.

Dr. Thomas Hersey advertised in the Reporter

(Washington) under date Feb. 10, 1812, that he

“ offers his professional services to the people of Bar-

.-gettstown.” ',He delivered an oration on the 4th of ‘

July the same year, at a celebration held in the town.

.How long he remained here is not known.

Dr. Samuel J. ‘Perry was a resident of the town

before 1821, as in that year he was postmaster, but
- little is known of him. At‘ one time he lived where

-Dr." Harper lives, and later where Dr. Donnan resides.
I ~He died about 1830.

Dr. Stephen Smith came to ’Bu.rgettstown about

"1826. He succeeded David Bruce as postmaster in
-1830.
there till about 1840-, andimoved to Virginia. As a
physician he was Welland favorably known, and had
_'a wide practice in the vicinity.

About 1832 he went to Florence, remained

‘ Dr. Mossman was a resident of the‘ town five years

prior to 1837, a-nd in the spring of that y'ea.-r» removed
to Peoria, Ill., where he lived for several years. .

Dr. J oseph, Campbell kept a drugstore in the old

, .Bruce House, -now William Melvin. .
. .Dr. William Donnan, a son of the Rev. Alexander
, ~Donnan, born inS_cotland, came to this country with
7 .his father in 1818, and in the next year settled at
,Hickory. ‘He studied medicine with Dr. Stephenson

in‘ Canonsburg, and Dr. Hewitson, of St. ‘Clairsville,

Ohio; attended lectures at Jefferson Medical_Col-
lege, under ~Profs.\McCle11and,Pattison, Woods, and
.Reeves; commenced practice at Burgettstown in"
.1837,-and has been actively engaged in the duties
-of his profession here from that time to the present.

Dr. T. W. Bradley studied medicine with Dr. P. H.

.McCullough, o£»Rumley,' Ohio ; graduated at Sterling
;Medical College, Ohio, in 1851 ; commenced practice
..in Florence in 1844, before graduation; came to Bur-
.gettstown in 1856, and has been in practice here from
-that time until the present.

Dr. G. 'W.?Be11 studied medicine with Dr. W. L.

.Wilson,.of.,Beallsville; attended lectures in .1853 at

Jefierson Medical Collegein Philadelphia; graduated

in March, 1858 ; commenced practice in Burgettstown

-in 1854, and has remained there in practice to the

present. . -. . . . . _ .

‘ Dr. W. V. Riddle studied medicine with Dr. T. W.
Bradley. In the winter of 11863-64 he attended lec-
tures at Ann‘ Arbor, Mich.; commenced practice at
Candor in 1864; remained there aboutcfiveyears,

-and in 1869 removed to Pittsburgh. About one year

later he removed, to Burgettstown, where he com-
menced practice April 1, 1870, and has since remained
there as one of the physicians of the town.. ‘

Dr. W. T. Miller was a medical student with Dr.
M. R. Banks, at Livermore, VVestmoreland Co.:, Pa.,
graduated at Cleveland, Ohio, in 1881, and in. that
year commenced practice in Burgettstown, where ‘he
is now located in the business of his profession.

NEWSPAPERS.

TIze.Burg.ettsz‘.own Call, a five-column folio, fourteen
by twenty inches, was established by M. R. Allen, as

‘an independent journal. The first number was issued

on Tuesday, Aug. 2, 1881, and was the first paper ever
printed at Burgettstown. It now (February, ’ 1882)
has a circulation of seven hundred. ' ' .. .' ..

The Burgettstown Enterprise was started as -a monthly
journal in March, 1878, by C. Knepper, proprietor and
business manager, and J. P. Donnan, local. editor. It

-remained as aymonthly until March 1. 1881, at which

time it was changed to a weekly. At the time of the
change, J. P. Donnan retired from the editorship
and was succeeded by M. R. Allen. T_his paper was
printed at Mansfield, Allegheny C0,, from its.com-
mencement until Aug. 10, 1881, when it was printed
at Burgettstown Station, as at the present time. It is
now under the management of the Enterprise Publish-
ing Company, J. H. Cramer, business manager. Its
circulation is about six hundred and twenty-five.
Richard Vaux Lodge, No. 454, F. and A. M.-
A charter having been granted to_ this society Dec. 1,
1869, the persons designated therein met ‘on the 21st
of January, 1870, and were regularly constituted as

above named, and with the following. oflicers: G. T.

McCord, W. M.; J. B. Hays’, S. VV.; R. T. C. Stephen-
son, J.  The meetings of the society are now held
in the town hall building. The membership is at
present fifty-one. J. L. Scott, W. M.; ~William.Mel-
vin, Sec. . 6 - f
Cardville Lodge, No. 407, I. 0. of 0. F.-—The
date of organization has not been ascertained. .J._ Z.
McBride is the present Noble Grand, and A. J. Smith
the secretary. The meetings of the society are held
in the town hall building. .
Burgettstown Grange, N o. 480, 1’. .of H.—-Or-
ganized December, 1874. J. B. Hays, W. M.; W
Lyle, Overseer; O. R. Cook, Lecturer; R} C. T. Stephen-
son, Sec. ; Members, J. C. Shipley, R._.Campbell, John
Russell, William Proudfit, Robert Vance,.M. L. Cook,
Andrew Boyd, J olin Vance, J. M. Stephenson, W. T.

HISTORY OF WASHINGTON COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA.

Shipley, A. J. Link, W. O. Stephenson, J. B. Haw-
ley, Ladus C-.  Stephenson, E. A. Proudfit, Mary
Hugo, O. A. Stephenson, Mrs. W. K. Lyle, E. V. Ship-
ley, Kate E. Cook, E. B. Russell, M.-H. Shipley, M.
J. Vance, Andrew Proudfit, John Dimmet, Samuel
~Pyle, William Dunbar. A -

  Presbyterian Church of Burgettstown.-i—The
people of this vicinity in sympathy with the Presby-
terian faith were members of the Cross-Roads Presby-
terian Church (now Florence). The first action taken
in reference to the organization of a society at this
place is found onrecord in the minutes of the Wash-
ington Presbytery bearing date. Dec. 30,1828, as fol-
lows :. . . I l I

'8 “A menxorialwas presented by the inhabitants of Burgettstown and
.-vicinity, praying the appointment of a committee of this Presbytery to

confer with a committee of the Ohio Presbytery respecting the.pro-
priety of forming a congregation near the aforesaid village. On motion
resolved that the petition in the memorial be not granted. Dr. A.
Wylie and Mr. Mccluskey were appointed to‘ embody the reasons which
gintluenced the Presbytery in passing the above resolution and to trans-

gmit them to the people."

No further effort seems to have been made for many ’

years towards the permanent establishment of a Pres-
.byterian.Church in this immediate locality. In the
year 1845 a Presbyterian church edifice was erected

‘on the hill where the cemetery now is, in connection
with the congregation of Florence, then'_ under the
pastorate of the__Rev. Joel Stoneroad. Agreeably to

a ‘.1‘€S0llltlOIl of the ‘citizens of Burgettstown and vi-
cinity,-an application was made to the Presbytery of

. Washington-at its meeting at the Forks of Wheeling

on the first-Tuesday of October, 1849., praying for an

»organizat.ion.of a congregation at Burgettstown, which

petition was not granted. Acomplaint against which

action. was taken by Robert Patterson and others to.

the Synod of Wheeling, which met at Steubenville on
the third Tuesday of October,_1849, at. which time and

‘ place an order for\ organization was granted. 1 The
Rev. Joel Stoneroad was appointed by the Presbytery
of. Washington to organize the congregation. ' _Having

assembledffor that purpose on t-he 18th of October,

1849, an organization was effected by the reception of _»
.sixty members, all of whom. were members of the con-

-gregation of Cross.-Roads (Florence).
were elected elders :. Thomas Tliompson, Robert Pat-

The following

terson, John S. Lamb, WilliamlCunnin_gham, and

' -John Moore. On the 4th of April, 1850,.a call was

extended to the Rev. James P. Fulton‘, of the Pres-

bytery of Ohio, which was accepted. The Presbytery

of .Washington met at Burgettstown on the 1st of
October, 1850, and on the next day the-Rev. James

P. Fulton was ordained and installed pastor of this
' congregation. He remained in charge until the spring
-of 1857, when he sent in his resignation, which was
accepted. . . . I . H

The Rev. James T. -Fredericks preached his first

sermon at this place .on the second Sabbath of ‘Feb-
ruary, 1858.’ On the 28th of Aprilhe received and

accepted their call. , He_ was ordained and installed

on the 26th of October following, and from that time \

to the present has been the pastor. The first church

-edifice was enlarged in 1860, and again about 1868.

In 1873 the present brick structure was erected‘, sixty
by ninety, with a seating capacity of eight hundred,
and at a cost of $25,000. The highest membership,
at any one time has been four hundred and forty-five ;
its present membership is three hundred. ”
A Sunday—school was established. before 1840, and

the church was the outgrowth of it. Robert Patter-
son, an elder in the Cross-Roads Church, was for

many years superintendent, and others were con-

nected with him. D. M. Pry, elder in the Burgetts-
‘town Church, was a very successful superintendent

for ten or twelve years. J. L. Patterson now presides
over the school. It contains at present two hundred
pupils.
Riddle, Josiah Scott, W. W. Van Emen, Finley Scott,

John L. Proudfit, J. L. Patterson, John L. Rankin, ,

D. M. Pry, W. W. Riddle, W. McFarland, A. E.

Walker. The present elders are J. L. Patterson, J. L.’
Rankin, and D. M. Pry. ' 1'

This church hasbeen one of the most successful in
Western Pennsylvania. There have been but two
communions under the pastorate of the Rev. J. T.
Fredericks in which some -accessions have not been
received. Within the lastten years four hundred
andforty have been received into the church.

Burgettstown United Presbyterian Church.—-

The congregation now known as the United Pres- .0
byterian Church of ' Burgettstown, Pa., belonged

originally to the Associate\ Presbyterian branch of
that church. It is now impossible to fix the date
of its organization, if indeed it was ever formally
organized. _But it first appears as a congregation
about the‘year 1800,.at which time it was supplied
with preaching, in connection with the congrega-
tion of Hickory, by the Associate Presbytery of Char‘-
tiersi. The Rev. (afterward Dr.) William C. ‘Brown-
lee took charge of it.“ in connection with Hickory
about the year 1809. This pastorate continued about
three -and one-half years, when he left for Philadel-

phia, and afterwards removed to New York, wherehe

united with the Dutch Reformed Church. The next

pastor was Rev. Alexander Donnan, from. Ireland,’

who had" charge of it in connection with the congre-
gation of Hickory at a salary of $500 from June '1,
1818, to June 6, 1840. He relinquished -at that time

A the charge of Burgettstown to give his whole time to

Hickory. The congregation continued without a
pastor until 1845, when the .Rev.. Robert J. Ham-

mond, who had been settled in Albany, N. Y., became

their pastor, at a salary of $350, which was afterwards
increased to $400. .He resigned and was releasedin
the year 1857. The Rev. S. H..Graham,the next
pastor, commenced his labors among -them in April,

- 1862, and was ordained and installed their pastor

August 12th of . that year. ' In 1868, Mr..Grraham ac-

“cepted a call from avcongregation in NewlYork and

The elders since the first have been S. P. I

about that time.
occasion of the resignation and release of Mr. Hood '

. SMITH TOWNSHIP.

923

was released’. In the same year tlle Rev.-John Hood
acceptedtheir call -and became their pastor. The
pastorate continued until April, 1878, when he re-
signed and was released. The present pastor, D. W.
Carson, was installed in October of that year. V

The first elders whose names appear on the roll of
the session (though without record of the time of
their election or installation) are John Coventry,
\Villi,am Baily, from ,York County, Pa., Joseph
Philles, -William.Dona1dson, from Ireland, Nathan
Porter, William Smith, James Brown, James Leech,
and James Keys. In 1819, John McBurney,. A.
Hunter, and Robert Harvey were ordained as elders.
In 1837, Joseph McNary, William Wilson, Samuel
Livingston, ,and,Joshua Pyles. In 1839, V_Vi1liam

_ Galbraith, Sr.,vVVilliaI,n Caldwell, and James McCal-

mont. In 1851, Samuel B. Shillito and John Fergu-
son. In 1863, Robert Scott and James NcNary, who
were received from the c‘ongregation of »Mount Ver-
non at its dissolution, werelchosen and installed, to-
gether with John Keys, William H. Witherspoon,
M. 3. Welsh, and .W. R. Galbraith, who were also
ordained at the same time. The session at present con-
sistsof John Ferguson. (died.February, 1882), Robert
Scott, W. R. Galbraith, W. H. Witherspoon, and M.
R. Welsh; Mr. -John Keys, who is still a ‘member,
having resigned on account of bodily infirmities.
The earliest roll of members extant, though it is with-
out date, numbers sixty-two members, with the follow-

ing family names: Andrews, Brown, Cavert, Coventry,

Donaldson, Ferguson, Keys, Leech, Nelson, Philles,
and Smith. The rollof members in,1876 numbered
two hundred and twenty. In consequence of some
di_ficul_ties in which the congregation became involved

th,_rough_-a heavy debt contracted in building anew.

house of worship, qui_te a number of members left
‘These, difficulties were also the

in 1878. The present rnelnbershipis two hundred
and fifteen. The first house of worship, like that of
all thechurchesin the same ‘region at the same time,
was a cabin ofunhewed logs seated with slabs. During
the summer season the congregation, usually wor-
shipped in the open air, awooden tent serving as a

pulpit-for the minister. On the 13th of ‘October, ,

1826, Robert Coventry, Robert Tenan, and Thomas
‘Phil-les, trustees of Associate Congregation of Bur-
gettstown, purchased one acre and one hundred and
twelve perches of land of James Miller, it being. “a
lot of land on wllich a church is erected.” In 1845,
the-dateof Mr. Hammond’s settlement, a neat and sub-
stantial frame _building, fifty-four by forty-four feet,
and sixteen feet in height, was erectedat pa costof$10'-10

' in money, besides the lumber from the old building.

This building was located about half a mile east of
the village. - It was afterwards moved into the-village.
In 1873 the present house was erected, at a cost of
about $27,000.‘

.;_Methodist Episcopal ,Chl11rch*.—H~For many years 4

the people of this place who inclined to the Methodist
belief were dependent upon occasional visits from the
preachers of the Florence Circuit. At first services
were held in the old woolen-factory. , After the brick
school-house was built services were held with more
frequency, and in later years with regularity. In the
summer of 1872 the society erected a church edifice at
a cost of fifteen hundred dollars. . They now have

forty members, and are connected with the" Midway ,

and Noblestown charge. ,A list .of the pastors who

haveserved in this connection will be found in the‘

history of the Methodist Church of Midway, Robin-
son township. 6 _ . . _  r
Centre United Presbyterian Church. ~ This
church edifice is "situated in the southeastern corner
of Smith township. It was organized in May, 1859, by
Rev. J. C. Campbell, who was appointed for the pur-
pose by Chartiers Presbytery. The elders elected at

the organization were Jacob George, Thomas Steven-

son, John Campbell, and John D. Reed.‘ The first ’

trustees were Robert McBurney, Jacob George, and
John Campbell. At the organization there were fifty-
eight members, fifty-three being received on certificate
and five on examination.
for a time in Mr. John Campbe1l’s barn, but soon pre-
pared ‘for building a church. ‘At a cost of two thou-
sand five hundred dollars they built aframe church
forty-six by sixty feet, which was finished and ‘occu-

pied the first time on the third Sabbath of February,

1860. On the.28th of January, 1862, they called Mr.
D. S. Kennedy to become their pastor. ’ _H.evwas in-

stalled and ordained on the 4th of September, 1862. »

This relationship continued ten years and six months,

closing on the 13th of October, 1872. On the 10th of a
June, 1861, Mr. Robert'M.cBurney and William Keys

were ordained and installedas ruling elders. Mr.
James McCalmont was added to the eldership Jan.

23, 1863., Fourteen persons in all have beenelders '

here. At present there are six, viz., William: Berry,

James McCalmont, VV. C. Aiken-, J. ‘VV.ilson, Wil- I

liam A. Dickson, and J. S. Espey. The present.pas-
tor, J. B. Waddell, is. the second whom the congrega-

-tion has-had. He preached his first sermon at Centre

on the first Sabbath of January, 1873. He was called

on the 30th of January, 1873, and took charge of the .

congregation, May 1, 1873, and still continues pastor.

The congregation now numbers one hundred and .

fifty-three members;-has a. Sabbath-school. of over
one hundred scholars, and_ owns a parsonage with ten
acres of land, \vorth.foli‘r thousand dollars. A

The original ground for. ehllrcll and graveyard was
donated by Mrl John Campbell. His son, tWilliam
C. ‘Campbell, afterward gave some additional ground
for the graveyard, but this too ispnow filled with
graves, and the’ trustees have recently bought more
land from M_r. .W. C. Campbell.

Mount.Vernon.Associatet=Reformed Church.—A
society ..formed of people of. this denomination was
organized in 1829, in _the_soutllwestern part of the

They held their“ services _

924

HISTORY OF WASHINGTON COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA.

‘township, on the line- between Smith and Mount 0

Pleasant.- In 1832 a brick edifice fifty by fifty-six

feet was erected... on lan_d of James Leech. The society

worshiped here under the.ministrations of the Rev;
S. Taggart until the formation of the United Presby-
terian denomination, whenthe society went down and
the churchbuilding was sold in 1859 to J. P. Leech,
who now owns it. V '
Schools of the TOWnship.‘—-The earliest school
taught in the township was at the close of the Revo-

lutionary war by William Lowrie, a surveyor and a
' soldier of that war, on that part of the Rankin tract

owned bv the estate of Andrew McFarland, within
the present limits of No. 7 District. Mr. Lowrie died

‘in Beaver County, Pa.

. A surveyor named Sinclair taught some time before
‘1800 within‘ the limits of No. 3, as it stood previous
to June, 1881. Mr. Sin—clair’s name is found in the
early land records. The names of James Cresswell,

Robert Colvill, and Nathaniel Jenkins ‘appear on ‘the’.
, assessment-rol1 of the township in 1796 as teachers.

"Where they taught is not known. «
A school was taught in Burgettstown in 1798-99 by

George McKaig. He afterwards taught (in 1803) in

a housestanding on land now owned by Prof. S. C.
and John Farrar. J olin.Burnett taught in No. 4 in

1806, on l-and owned by John Ferguson, Esq. John

-Smith taught in 1806. In 1807 the teachers were
.VVilliam Grant, James Lee, George McKaig, Henry
Robinson, and John Smith. Mr. Smith taught on
-the Rankin tract.

. ‘ In 1808, Henry Robinson taught on land of Jesse
Campbell, now owned by Pressley Leech in N 0. ,8.‘

"Dr. Joseph. Campbell taught in 1808 on land of

-Capt. John B. Hays in No. 2. ‘ He also ta.ught in the

‘ same place in 1812. John Crooks and John Vas-

binder were teachers in Burgettstown before the

-school law of 1834 went into operation. The schools H

and their teachers previous to the time that the free
school system. went into operation were- as follows:

_-Burgettstown, Henry Robinson, _Robert Patterson,

-Anthony‘ Gallagher (1817), Mr. Hatch, Mr. Tellfair,

, Dr. Joseph Campbell,’ Rev." ‘Joseph McLain, Rev.

Forster, Samuel Douthett and his sister, and Mr.
Brakeman; Miss Potter, afterwards the wife of Dr.
Marshall. "Hamilton, VVashington Carter, Sallie Tay-
lor, Miss Sibella Galbraith (afterwards the wife of
the Rev. Middleton), Dr. Sweeney, Houston Walker,
and Joseph Buchanan. Two schools were frequently
in operation at the same time. Henry Robinson
taught fourteen years in all in Burgettstown.

At the house on Capt. J. B. Hays’ farm, besides Dr.

A Campbell, were oWilliam Conyngham (1817) and An-
ithony Gallagher.
. James Kerr, now owned by John Dinsmore, George

Atthe Kerr school, on land of

Cunningham (supposed to be the first or among the
first), Samuel Douth.ett, Sr., Aaron Aten, William

-1 1 By winiam Melvin.

-practiced medicine part of the time.

Haney, Levi Hays, Samuel Dickey, Solomon Spind-
ler, and the late Rev. Alexander McCarrell, D.D., of
Claysvil-le, Pa. A house stood on land now owned by
John Vance in No. 3.. John Matthews is theonly
teacher‘ reported, and he was among the early teachers;
hetaught Latin and other higher branches. .

In .No. 10, on land now owned by Isaac Simpson, .

John McCreary taught in 1825. Other teachers were
Reuben Rich, James Hays, Thomas Clelland, and

John Hoge. At the Cross-Roads, near the same place, _

Henry Robinson and Adam Rankin are reported. In
No. 7, in addition to those reported, was Mr. Shell-
cock, who taught before 1812. The late William Gal-
braith, Esq., began. to teach in 1817, andlquit about
1840. Most of his teaching was in ‘No. 7. He was
reported as one of the best in his time. -He was one
of .theexaminers after theschool -law went into opera-*
tion. ‘ ‘ . A ' . .

s In the house that was built in 1825 on land of Jo-‘
seph Vance, now Samuel G. Scott’s, in No. 9,’ John
Stevenson, John Crooks, Nathaniel Wilson, ‘T. T.
Camby, John Hartry, and’ Dr. Joseph Campbell. In

a house that was on a farm now owned by John L. A

Proudfit, ,Esq., near school No. 10, John Stewart,
Nancy Bert, C. Shepherd, Tillie White, 7 William
Pyles, Ann Pyles, and Sylvester Robb. Other
teachers, whose places of teaching are not mentioned,
are David Hays, Robert Lee, David Galbraith, Hugh
Barton, James Geary, and James Hays. Henry Rob-
inson’s teaching extends from 1807 until some time in

1842. In 1841 he taught i.n No. 8. His last termwas

in the Rankin district, Mount Pleasant township. Dr.
Joseph Campbell’s teaching» extends through a period
not quite so long, being from 1807 until 1837. He
William Gal-
braith’s extended from 1817 until about 1840.

There are many teachers, no doubt, who deserve
honorable mention, but they do not appear to be re-
membered to be handed down to succeeding gener-
ations. ' 7 - h

The first land leased for school purposes was by
George Burgett to David Bruce, Robert Boland, and
J ames VViley, trustees of the Burgettstown school,

and their successors for the use of said school a lot of ,
ground No.‘ 45, in the town of West Boston, bounded '
by Liberty Street and lot of Joseph Caldwell, dated

April 23, 1807. The house is now occupied by Mr.
John Divitt. A lot of ground was leased by Dr. Ste-

phen Smith in Burgett,stown,,on. Washington Street.

(now Main), for church and school purposes. The
house is brick, built in 1834 by Edward Downing, of
Hickory. School closed when the house was needed
for preaching. When the county commissioners were
holding their triennial assessment appeals they were
asked to contribute for the building; they ‘did so, and
gave their days’ wages. The house is now ‘owned and
occupiedby Mr. Joseph Robinson, a nephew of Henry
Robinson, the teacher. , p _ A A

Much interest was manifested in the cause of edu-

SMITHS TOWN SHIP.\

925

cation, and when the location of school buildings is
asked for, you are told that one stood here, and one
there, etc., all over the different portions of the town-
ship. If buildings used for school purposes were're-
stored, Smith township would be thickly dotted with
school-houses. A

Smith township accepted the school law in the year
of its passage, though there was considerable opposi-
tion t.o accepting its provisions. A part of the oppo-
sition was by men who were in favor of education,
but were opposed to the policy of theimmediate con-
struction of new houses. On the dayappointed to
vote on its adoption the voters assembled in Bur-
gettstown. The day being wet, and no room in the
town large enough to hold them, they went to the

‘covered bridge at the foot of Pittsburgh Street, near

the steam-mill; all favorable to the law went to one
end of the bridge, those opposed went to the other.
Robert Patterson, Esq.,the leading spirit in the move-
ment, and one of the early teachers heretofore men-
tioned, was the first president of the new board, and
Nathaniel Hunter the first ‘secretary. Mr. Hunter
was the last survivor of the original board, dying-in
1879 in Jefferson County, Ohio.

Directors previous to 1843 were Robert Patterson,
Esq., Nathaniel 'Hunter, Hon. James Keys, Jesse
Spencer, Alexander Kidd, John Neal, Garrett Van

-Eman, Thomas Bavington, David Cook, Alexander

Hays, Joseph McNary, James Dunbar, and Isaac
Morgan. No others are reported. Robert Patterson,
Esq., was president in 1840; Garrett Van Eman was
treasurer in 1837; John L. Proudfit, Esq., collector,
and*Alexand'er S. Berryhill, treasurer, in 1840. Isaac
Morgan was treasurer at one time. .

The township was divided into nine sub-districts.
The log edifices then in use gave way to neat frame
buildings, excepting in Nos. 1 and 7,, where brick
houses were built. From the school reports it ap-
pears that the free-school system did not go into effect
immediately upon its adoption. In the State super-
vintendent’s' report for the year ending Dec. 31, 1836,’

Smith township is credited with eight schools, and
. _ having received from the State appropriation $209.76

for 1836-37, and $99.48 for former years, but nothing
from the county ormdistrict, and the schools not re-
ported in operation. The $99.48 received must have
been a part of the first State appropriation, distrib-

1 uted Jan. 12, 1835. '

In the report for Dec; 31, 1837, eight schools are re-
ported and one required. Three months taught;
teachers, seven male and one, female ; salary of males,
$20 per month; females, $14 per month ; scholars, male,
152; female, 136 ; cost of instruction, 54 cents. Re-

. ceipts, district tax, $459; State appropriation, $732.97 ;
0 county, $355 .; $462 spent forinstruction ; three houses

unfinished and six required; average cost of houses,

$225. In the report for the year ending Dec. 31, 1838,

the report for Smith township is not complete. Four

schools are reported, seven houses in use, and two re-
59 '

quired. Receipts, for buildings, $644.70;'from State
appropriation, $322.19; county, $117.41; district,
$185.10. The nine houses were all built previous to
1840. No. 1, Burgettstown, was built, as before stated,
in 1834. Houston Walker, afterwards a minister in
the Secession Church, taught the first school (a select)
in it. The house was conveyed to the directors, they
keeping it in repair, but the prior right to occupy it
for church purposes was retained. James Logan
taught two public terms in it in 1838 and 1839, and
is probably the first of the public school teachers in
Burgettstown. In 1865 the school was graded. Mr.
and Mrs. Van B. Baker were the teachers. But one
teacher was employed in 1866. '

In 1868 a two-story frame of four rooms was built,
and the school was -permanently graded, George ‘T.
McCord, principal, and Miss Kate Ghrist (now Mrs.
J.’ R. McNary, of Smith township), assistant. , In
1869 another department was added, H. S. Phillips,
principal, and Miss Carrie A. Brockman (now Mrs.
Robert E. Hill, of East Liverpool, Ohio) and Miss
Sarah Hays, assistants. The fourth department was
added in 1875, William Melvin, principal, and Misses
Mary Bingham, Eva Simmons, and Mattie Fleming
(now Mrs. D. F. Enoch, of Pittsburgh, Pa.), assist-
ants. A 9 0

No 2 school—house was built in 1836 by George Mil-
ler, on land of John Proudfit, now owned by his son,
Robert F. Proudfit. It was generally known as. Hays
school-house. The house‘ previously used was the
Kerr school-house. James Fulton was the first
teacher. About the year 1852 the house was moved
to a location ‘on the -Burg.ettstown and Eldersville
road, on a farm of Robert Campbell, now owned by
his son, Arthur Campbell. Miss Eliza Ann Pyles was
about the first teacher at the new location. In 1864

the location was again changed and a new house‘

built on the same farm a few rods west of the old
house.i Van B. Baker taught the first term in the
new house. ' ' 1

No. 3, now known as Cinder Hill, was built in 1837,
on land of "William Wilson, now owned by his son,
‘William E. Wilson} The house used until it was
ready was on land of James Rankin, now owned by
John Vance. Andrew Vance taught the first term, in

V the new house. His son John taught one term in it

shortly before the civil war. A new house was built
by James Seawright on the original location in 1868.
It is the only house standing on the original location.

No. 4 was built by James Dunbar on a twenty-one-

year lease, on land of Thomas Bavington, now owned '

by D. S. McBride. A new house was built in 1863,

on land of. Robert Coventry, now owned by Dr. Wil- 8

liam Donnan, of Burgettstown.

No. 5 was built by James Dunbar, on land of John
S.’ Russell, now. owned by his son, D. A. Russell.
The house used until it was ready was on land of
John Stevenson, now owned by William ‘S. Russell.
The first teacher, or among the first, in the new house

926

* 1 Stevenson.

‘ture by reason ‘of opposition to a new district.

HISTORY OF W WASHINGTON COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA.’

was John ‘H. McC'ombs, now practicing law in Ash-
land, Ohio. In 1866 a new house was built on the
same farm near the old one. » In 1873 a larger house
was built near Bulger, on land of Lockhart and Frew.
\Villiam T. _Slater taught the first two years in the

‘ new house.

No. 6 was built on land now owned by William C.
Campbell.
ready is not reportedto the writer. (In fact he failed
altogether to get any information on the early schools
and teachers in that locality.) In 1873 the location
was changed, and a new house built in Midway, on a
lot obtained from Mr. Stephen Arnot. In- 1878 an
additional room was built, and the school graded.

‘ James C. Wilson, principal, and Miss iMcClure,

daughter of Robert McClure, deceased, assistant.
No.‘ 7, abrick house, was built by Andrew Bruce,
on land of Samuel Farrar, now owned by Wiley
The house used was on the site on which
the brickwas ‘built. William Galbraith was the first
teacher. After ‘teaching one month he was obliged
to quit, the scholars becoming sick. It is supposed
the house was occupied too soon. The bricks were

burnt in 1866, and a new house built on land of the _

late Judge John Farrar, now owned by his sons, Prof.
S. C. and John Farrar. Mr. L. McCarrell taught the
first term in the new house. “ A i 2'

No.8’ was built by George Miller, on a lease ob-
tained from William Stephenson, now owned by his
grandson, Robert'T. C. Stephenson, of Burgettstown.
VVillian1 Thompson taught-the first ‘term in N0. 8.
It is nownused as a dwelling-house. The house used

‘ until No. 8 was ready was on land of Samuel Cook,

now owned by VVilliarn K. Lyle.’ The old house is
used as atenant-house. The/location was changed
and a new house built in 1860 on land of,John Stur-
geon, now ownediby his heirs. Miss_‘Sarah K. Lyle
taught the first term in it. "The house is now known
as 4Cook’s school-house. . ‘ .
No. 9 was built in--1837 by‘ James Dunbar, on land

8 owned by -James Stevenson (miller), now owned by

Matthew ‘Welch. I-t was known -as Russell’s school-
house. John Galbraith taught the first term in N o. 9.
Before No. 9 was builta house heretofore mentioned

. asbeing built in 1825 on land of Joseph Vance, now
Samuel G. Scott, ‘was used. The house of 1825 was

bought by Mrs. Jane Perry. (colored) and removed to
her lot adjacent to Burgettstown, and is now occupied
as a_ dwelling by her. The location of No. 9 was
changed in 1862, and a new one built on land of
Joseph Vance, now owned by his brother, John S.
Vance‘. M. R. Allen, now editor of the Call, taught
the first school in the new house. The old No. 9
school" building was brought to Burgettstown, and is
now owned and occupied as a dwelling by John Pry.
. The 10th District was organized by actof Legisla-
The
township board immediately resigned, and the court
appointed six new directors, who lcvicdand collected

The house previously used until it was-

, then as the-Mud Hollow school-house.

the tax. The act was afterwards repealed. The new »

school district, organized about the year 1849 as No.

10, was formed of parts of 2 and 3. M.a‘tthe'w1\V.

Galbraith taught the first term in the old Kerr school-
house; the next year a new one was built a few-roids
from the old oneon land of Thomas C. Arnold, now

*‘own'ed'byi'Finley Scott. George M. Tenan taught the
-first term in the new house.

By resolution of the
board May 29, .1858, it was resolved not to open No.
10 the coming year. The records do not show thata
school was ever again ‘conducted in that house under
the control of the Smith township board.

No. 11 was formed by resolution of the board Sept.
17, 1853, from pa.rts of Nos. 1, 5, 7, and 9. A house

- wasbuilt on land of James Fulton in 1854. ‘ Samuel

G. McFarland taught the first term in“the new house.
It was known as No. 11 until No. 10' was disbanded.
In 1869 the location was changed and the house
moved to land of Thomas” Houston, now \Villiam and
Samuel Pyles, near the old mill-dam. It was known
In 1876 the
location was again changed and a new house built on-
land of John L. Proudfit, Esq., a few rods north of
Raccoon Station;
teacher in the new house. _ A
After the incorporation of Burgettstown as a
borough, New N o. 1 wasformed from parts of Nos. 1,
2, and 3, June, 1881, and a new house was built on
land of George M. and James B. Tenan. =s Miss Bessie,
daughter of James M. Stevenson, is teaching the first
term. ‘ ‘ , - A 3
James Fullton, a native of New York, taught in
Nos. 1, 2, and.7. He was the most successful teacher
of his time, commanding fifty per cent. more wages
than any other teacher. His methods were far in
advance of the times.
spreadifar and wide,.many patronizing ‘him from a
distance. ‘He was the first to introduce the “object
method.” Many of his old pupils still -remain in the
township, and give him thecredit of being their best
teacher. Like all leaders of reform, hehad. his ene-
mies. He was called a Yankee, -and his methods
-“ new-fangled.” He died on his farm near Wabash,

Ind., after 1837. Other teachers were James Logan,p

Abel T. Richards, Miss Mary Ann Vincent (now the
relict of John S. Russell), Ann.;McDermont, Miss
Nancy Jane Cunningham (now ‘the wife ofA. H.
Duncan, of Smith township, was ‘in chargeof Bur-
gettstown school in 1846-47), John Stevenson, Esq.,
Samuel Shillits, George M. Tenan, Esq., Hon. Joseph
Hays, George Jardine,.M.  Galbraith, John B.
Phillis, William W. Van Eman, VVil‘li'a'm H. Ham-
mond, James E. Stevenson, ex-County. Superinten-

dent Dickson, of Allegheny County, taught four- years .

in No. 4; Miss Christiana Johnson (now the wife of
H. Elliott McBride, of Allegheny County, Pa.) , VVil-
liam P. Montgomery, Samuel L. Farrar, B. P. Allen,
Miss Nancy McNary, afterwards the wife of Eli Mar-
ques, of Cross Creek township (Mrs. Marques dieda

B. P. Stevenson ‘was the first .

His reputation as a teacher '

/

SMITH TOWNSHIP.

few years ago), Misses Mary and’ Maria Raybuck,

John H. Johnson, who taught twelve years at Cook’s,

» beginning 1861 and ending 1875; Miss Jane Ann
Cook (now _the wife of W.Ly1e, of Smith town-

ship), William S. Fullton, R. P. Stevenson, S. E.
...Provines, S. C. Farrar, Miss Carrie.A. Brockman,

, ,Misse;s .A_gnes~and Clara Keys, William Melvin had.
charge of the Burgettstown school five years, a period.

longer. than that of any other since the adoption of
the school law. Misses Eva: Simmons and Mattie
Fleming each were assistants five years in the Bur-
gettstown Union school. - ‘
Among the native teachers of Smith who became
prominent abroad, James E. -Stev»enso_n. was principal
of Second Ward school, Allegheny City, some eighteen

‘or-"twenty years ago. ‘Rev. Samuel G. McFarland,

D.D., now minister of education in Siam; Hon. Jo—

..,,seph Hays, for several years principal of the Tem-

peranceville schools, now South Side, Pittsburgh.
.\Villi_am P. Montgomery has for the last fifteen years
beenteaching in Allegheny County, Pa. He is now

in his thirteenth: year as principal of the Knox.

School, Pittsburgh. TS. Clarke Farrar was principal

* ‘of the Eighth‘ Ward school, Allegheny City, from

April, 1873, until July, 1874. In July, 1874, he was

,. elected principal of Irwin Avenue school, Second
. Ward, Allegheny City, which position he still holds
; (January, 1882).

f Miss Carrie. A. Brockman was for seven years one
of the assistants in the East Liverjpool, Ohio," schools ;
about five years of that‘time she was second assistant.’

_ .. Slie.resigned her position in 1881, and married Robert
. E. Hill, of that place." Alexander White is noted as
_an academic teacher. Robert -- P. Stevenson for the

vlastfour years has been teaching in Robinsontown-,

ship, Allgheny Co., Pa.

Since the-=grea.t.li—gl1t of education first shone in N o. 7

, it-is but just to say thatislle has produced more promi-
_ nent educators than anyother district in the town-
ship. Of those mentioned as becoming prominent
. abroad, J ames. E. Stevens0I1,.Re.v. Samu;eI"€¥. McFar-
.land, S. Clarke Farrar, and "Alexander White -were
_ born within her limits. William P. Montgomery re-

ceived a part of his education in No. 7. ‘Robert

.-Curry, since deputy State superintendent of public

instruction. of this ‘State, and now principal of the
Nebraska State Normal School at Peru, spent a part
of his youthful days within her borders, his .-parents

‘residing on the farm»,on which the first school was
taught. 5 '

Three of the Burgettstown principals went “up

. higher.” George T. McCord was "afterwards principal

of the Second Ward schools of Allegheny City for

several years.» W‘. C. Lyne, after leaving" Burgetts- ‘
‘ town, went to Washington, Pa.,'.and from thence to

the Sixteenth Ward, Pittsburgh. Thomas B. McCain
is now in  VVard, Wheeling, W. Va. ‘
The first * teachers’ institute in the township. was

, held Dec. 4, 1858., The directors by resolution, Nov.

27, 1858, agreed. to allow teachers two days in each
month for township institute. Members of the board
at that meeting were John L. Proudfit, Esq., presi-
dent; John P. Wood, Esq., O. P. Cook, M. I. Mont-
gomery, and James L. Patterson, secretary. Messrs.
Proudfit, Wood, and Patterson are still living.

In 1864 the school board issued bonds and sold at

them, to provide money topay volunteers to fill the
township’s quota of troops. ‘ These bonds -were signed
by John Ferguson, Esq., president, and James L.
Patterson-, Esq., secretary. _

The present’ teachers of Smith township are, in No.-
1, Miss Bessie Stevenson; No. 2, Miss Ella Riddile;
No. 3, -Miss M. Ethie Brimner‘; "No. 4, Wm. F. Mor-
gan; .No. 5, Miss Kate Hammond; No. 6, Henry
Aten, principal, and Miss Willa Cook, assistant; No. 7,
Miss Mattie Campbell ; No. 8, Frank M. Magill; No.
9, Wm. Melvin; No. 10, J..B. Lyle. ‘

The following is the rank of Smith as regards
wages: For the year ending J une,‘ 1872, Smith stood
third; in 1873, second; in 1874, third; in 1875,. first;
in 1876, second; in 1877, first. A chilling blizzard
swept over the school finances. of Smith .in June,
1877, andthe thermometer placed her N o. 10 for the
year ending June, 1878. Boroughs are excluded in

making out the above rank. The wages have been

advanced the last two years. It is just to say that
the names of but few. teachers appear on the records

until 1869. The records are rery imperfect from,

1853 to 1869. N ojr.ec‘ords found previous to 1853. C
By act of incorporation, March 23,-1881,,Burgetts-
town became a separate school district. At an elec-
tion held in :town*,hall, April '5,;1881~, Wm. Melvin,
Wm. P. Vance, Robert T. C. Stephenson, and James
Carnahan were elected. Four were ties, viz.: C. C.
Campbell, Wm. Brimner, Wm. Blair, and Joseph A.
Rogers. On June 6, 1881, the four who were elected
met in the Union school building and effected anor-
ganization by electing Robert T. C. Stephenson pres-

ident," and Wm. Melvin secretary. Messrs.. Campbell _‘

and Brimner not appearing to draw lots, as the law
provides, the board appointed Wm. Blairand Joseph

A. Rogers, who were present, members to ‘fill the-5

vacancy. The teachers for the firstterm. in the

— borough are C. J . Vance, principal, and Misses Agnes
_ Keys, Libbie McCarrell, and Alice Stevenson, assist-

ants. _ . . e A V V ._
BaVing't0n.~The town of Bavingtonis situated in

the northeast part of Srnith township, near the mouth

of the east branch of Raccoon Creek. It is located

on a tract of land. which was warranted to John '

Bavington on the 22d of February, 1786, and sur-
veyed to him Dec. 3, 1787, as “Mill Town,” contain-
ing four hundred and four acres. Soonafter the pur-
chase he built a g1\ist- and saw-mill, which did the
grinding for many miles around. He built a cabin
on the hillside, about one quarter of a mile east of
the village. Later he built the house now owned by
D. S. McBride, where helived until his death in 1810.‘

927,

928

HISTORYOOF WASHINGTON COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA.

David Bruce opened a‘ store at the mill before 1795,
as in December of that ‘year he advertised in the
I/Vestem Telegraphe that he had; removed his store
from Bavington to George Burgett’s “new town.”
He was succeeded by others. John Bavington, on
the 10th of June, 1810, left his home for Steubenville,
Ohio, with a four-horse-wagon load of whiskey and
flour.
Ferry, near the mouth of Haman’sCreek, the stamp-

-ing of the horses loosened the planking of the bottom

of the boat, which then filled with water and sank.

; Capt. Bavington and the ferryman were both drowned.

His body was recovered, brought home and buried at
the Cross-Roads (now Florence). He left a widow,
Ruth, and fivesons, Daniel, Charles, Henry, Thomas,
and John, and several daughters. His widow and

. eldest son Daniel were administrators of the estate,‘

and the property was divided; Daniel obtained. the
homestead and m-ill property. Later he sold the mill
property to James Clark, and went to Illinois. Charles
was assisted to the purchase of mill property near
Murdocksville, lived there for a time and emigrated
to Ohio. Henry lived and died here comparatively
young. Thomas received the east portion of the
home farm, now owned by D. S. McBride. In later
years he kept a public-house at Bavington, and died
there. John received his portionof the estate in
money, and emigrated to Oregon. Of the daughters,
Polly married Matthew McBride and settled at Can-
onsburg; Nancy married Matthew Hartford, a mill-
wright, who built the ‘Bavington mill; Betsey mar-
ried Harvey Peterson ; they settledat Bavington, and
both died there. One daughter married aMr. Burns,
another a Mr. Backhouse; both removed. to Alle-

igheny County, where they lived and died. On the

21st of August, 1812, Daniel Bavington, as the admin-
istrator of the estate of John Baving_ton, took out a
warrant for a tract‘ of land, which was surveyed to
‘him as “ Pine Bush,” and contained two hundred and
seventy-six acres. . It was adjoining the “ Mil1town”
tract. Onehundred and~si'xty-four acres of “Pine
Bush” was conveyed to Nathan Kimble by Daniel
and Ruth Bavington on the 30th of October, 1813.
In December, 1812, Daniel Bavington was licensed
to keep a,/cavern. He continued about three years,
when, upon his removal to Illinois, his mother,

Ruth Bavington, opened the tavern. She was suc-

ceeded by her son Thomas. The" family of . Baving-

ton are now entirely extinct in.-the township. ‘
James Donnan, about the year 1812, kept store in,

the house now occupied by. John Witherspoon. At

A , the time the Pittsburgh and'Steubenville pike was

built, about 1819 or 1820, William Moody kept a
store in the town, and was the .first postmaster. He

8 . was succeeded by J ohn White, David McBride, John

McE1roy, Robert McAyeal, Charles McElroy, John
McBride, Dr. ‘James McCarroll, John Witherspoon,
Joseph Hunter,’James McBride. In 1856 the office
was removed to Abijah Sm‘ith’s store, west of the

1

When crossing the Ohio River at Kelly’s.

months.

creek, and in Hanover township adjoining the town. .

It remained there but one year, and was restored to
the town. John Witherspoon became the postmaster.
He was succeeded by Dr. James K. ‘White, and later by
William Donaldson, who isthe present incumbent.
The Bavington mill ‘passed from J ames. Clark to
William Clark, who sold it to D. G. McBride. It is

now owned by'Edward Hindman, by whom it is run

as a grist- and saw-mill. _ - _ A

Dinsmore.—~On the completion of the Pittsburgh
and Steubenville Railroad through the township in
1865, this place was made a station and given the name
Dinsmore. A depot, telegraph-oflice, post-ofiice, and
store were soon established. The postmasters who
have held oflice from the first areas follows: John
Pry, John M. Smith, J. W. Ralston, J. P. Cline, and
William Provines, the present incumbent.

Bu1ger.——This settlement is a station on the Pitts-'.

burgh, Cincinnati and St. Louis Railway, about three
miles east from Burgettstown, and was made a station

on the completion of the Pittsburgh and Steubenville ’

Railroad in 1865. It was laid out on the‘Alexander

Donnan tract, but at the time belonged, to John "

Woodburn. It contains a depot, store, cheese-factory,
and several dwellings- The store is kept by A. J.
Russell. The cheese—factory is controlled by a com-

pany under the name of “The Cheese and Butter’
.Association,” with the following oflicers: Thomas H. .

Ackleson, president; George Hoffman, secretary; and
A. J. Russell, treasurer. Substantial buildings were

erected, and business commenced July 1, 1881. About ‘

one thousand cheeses of the average weight of thirty-
three pounds were‘, manufactured in the first four

burgh. A A _
The mines of the VVhitestone Coal-Works are lo-

cated about half-way, between Bulger and Burgetts-

town. A few dwellings are erected in the vicinity.
A post-oflice was established a few years since at

Cherry Valley, on the line between Smith and,Mount I

Pleasant townships. Ebenezer Smith was the pos_t-
master,.and the office was kept’ at his store. “Upon

his death the office was-discontinued. , a
Union Agricultural ; Association:-At the ex-.
pressed desire of many agriculturists in this portion .

of the‘ county and adjoining townships in Allegheny
and Beaver Counties, and in the northern part of \Vest
Virginia, it was decided to organize an agricultural

society. . Prominent in the movement were Thomas I

Vance, of Cross Creek; VV. P. Vance, now of near
Elizabethtown, Hardin Co., Ky.; and John B. Philles,
merchant, of Burgettstown (recently deceased at Cairo,
Ill.).‘ To this end a meeting was held in Burgettstown
in the month of February, 1856, at Whichltime an
organization was effected by the election of‘ the fol-
lowing oflicers: President, Joseph Vance, of .Smith
township; Vice-Presidents, William M. Lee, Cross
Creek; James Rankin, Mount Pleasant; Holland

. Scott, Robinson; Thomas C. Hunter, Hanover; and

Milk is shipped from this station to,Pitts- 7

 

 

THE REVOLUTION.

109

of the late horrid massacre perpetrated at the towns
on Muskingum by a set of men, the most savage mis-
creants that ever ‘degraded human nature- Had I
have known of their intentions before it was too late I
should have prevented it by informing the poor sufierers
of it. I am in hopes in a few days to be able to send
you a more particular account than any that has yet
transpired, as I hope to obtain the deposition‘ of a
person who wa.s an eye-witness of the whole trans-
action and disapproved of it. Should any accounts
come to hand from Mr. Zeisberger, or other gentle-
men of your Society, you may depend on my trans-
mitting them to you. . . . Believe me, with esteem,
your most obedient Servant,
“ J OHN GIBSON,
“ 00!. 7th Virginia Regt.”

Gen. Irvine, who had been for some time at Phila-
delphia and Carlisle, returned to Fort ‘Pitt and re-
sumed command on the day following the attack on

_ the Delawares at Killbuck’s Island. He found af-

fairs in the department in a bad condition, the troops
at the fort demoralized, and the country in general in
a state bordering on anarchy. Some of the people
applauded the dark deeds done on the Muskingum,
while many were loud in their condemnation. The
Supreme Executive Council of Pennsylvania" having
received from Congress Linebach’s account of the
massacre, addressed to Gen. Irvine the following let-

' ter of inquiry,‘ viz.:

“In Council.
“ PHILADA., April 13, 1782.

.“SIR,-—The Council having received information
thro’ various channels that a party of Militia have
killed a number of Indians at or near Muskingham,
and that a certain Mr. Bull [young Sheboshl was

killed at the same time, the Council, being desirous

of receiving full information on a subject of so much
importance, request you. will obtain and transmit to
them the facts relative thereto, authenticated in the
clearest manner.”

Though Gen. Irvine had always been the fast friend
of the Moravian Indian congregation, and of the
white missionaries who had them in charge, it is evi-
dent that he was induced by considerations of policy
to prevent a thorough investigation and exposition of

the facts connected with the massacre? On the.9th

of May, 1782, he wrote from Fort Pitt to the presi-
dent of the Council, saying,——

“SIR,—Since Amy letter of the 3“ instant to your
Excellency, Mr. Penticost and Mr. Canon have been
with me; they and every intelligent person whom I

have conversed with on the subject are of the opinion

1 Pa. Arch.,‘1781—83, p. 525. _

2 In a letter which Gen. Irvine wrote to his Wife about that time con-
cerning the Moravian butchery he said, “ Whatever your private opin-
ion of these matters may be, I conjure you, by all the ties of affection,
and as you value my reputation, that you will keep your mind to your-
self, and that you will not express any sentiment for or against these
deeds.”—C'ontributions to American History, p. 148. '

8 .

L...‘

that it will be almost impossible ever to obtain a just
account of the conduct of the Militia at Muskingum.
No man can give any account except some of the
party themselves. If, therefore, an inquiry should
appear serious, they are not obliged, nor will they
give evidence. For this and other reasons I am of
opinion further inquiry into the matter will not only
be fruitless, but in the end may be attended with
disagreeable consequences.” . _

On the 8th of May Dorsey Pentecost, of Washing-
ton County, wrote from Pittsburgh to William Moore,
president of the Executive Council, on the same sub-
ject, as follows :

“ D’ Sir,——I arrived home last Thursday without
any particular accident; yesterday I came to this
place, have had a long conference with Gen. Irwin
and Col. Gibson on the subject of public matters,
Perticularly respecting the late excurtion to Kushac-
ton,?’ that affair is a subject of great speculation here,
some condemning, others applauding the measure;
but the accounts are so various that it is not only
Diflicult but almost Indeed Intirely Impossible to
learn the real truth; no person can give Intelligence

but those that were along, and notwithstanding there ‘

seems to have been some difference amongst them-
selves about that business yet they will say nothing-,
but this far I believe may be depended on, that they
killed the Innocent with the guilty, and its likely the
majority was the former. I have heard it Insinuated
that about thirty or forty only of the party gave their
Consent or assisted in the Catastrofy. . . . It’s said
here, and I believe with truth, that Sundry articles
were found amongst the Indians that was taken from
the Inhabitants of VVashington County, and that the
Indians Confessed themselves that when they set out

‘from S‘ Duskie Ten Warriors came with them who
9 , _

had Went into the Settlements, and that four of them
were then in the Towns who had returned. If those
Indians that were killed were really friends, they
must have been very Imprudent to return & settle at
a place they knew the white peope had been at and
would go to again, without giving notice & besides to
bring warriors with them who had come into the Set-
tlements & after murdering would return to their
Towns and of course draw people after them filled
with revenge, Indignation & Sorrow for the loss of
their friends their wives & their Children. . . .”

On the following day, May 9th, Pentecost again

wrote the president of the Council, viz.:

“ D’ Sir,———Since writing the letter that accompanys
this, I have had another and more particular conver-
sation with Gen. Irwin on the subject of the late ex-
curtion to Kushacton, and upon the whole I find that
it will be'Impossible to git an Impartial and fare
account of that affair, for although sundry persons

______________________,__

3 Meaning the Moravian settlements‘, which were frequently called
by that name among the settlers from the old Delaware town of Ku-
shacton or Coshocton, that was destroyed by Col. Brodhead, and which
was also located on the Muskingum, in the same region. '

2. y

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SMITH TOWNSHIP.

 

;VVilliam P. Vance, Smith; Directors, J . N. Scott,

Jefferson; David Grault, Lysander'Patterson, J. S.
Duncan, Thomas Vance, Cross Creek; 0. P. Cook,

J. L. Proudfit, Smith; James Hughes, John Syming- '

ton, Mount Pleasant; Milton Miller, James VValker,

‘ \Villiam Van Ostrand, Jefferson; and James McCal-

mont, Robinson; Recording Secretary, Samuel G.

' Scott, Smith; Corresponding Secretary and Treasurer,

John B. Philles, Smith. -
At a meeting of the association held March 23, 1856,

1 it wasresolved to hold an exhibition in the month of

October following. A committee was appointed to
select a suitable site for the purpose, another to solicit
subscriptions in the different townships, and another
to frame a constitution and by—l_aws.- On the 26th of

V .April one hundred and sixty-seven names were re-

ported as members of the society, and at a meeting in
May two hundred and ninety-eight additional names
were reported. On the 3d of June the same year the

committee on site made a report, which was accepted, ,
and they were discharged. Another committee was
‘ appointed. On the 24th of June the committee on

the time for holding the fair reported .Wednesday and

, Thursday, October 8th and 9th, as the most suitable

time for holding the exhibition, which report was ac-
cepted and adopted. Two days. later at a meeting of
the society the constitution and by-‘laws were read,

amended, and adopted. On the 12th of August" the

committee on site reported that Mrs. Freegift Craw-
ford offered the society a site fre‘e_o.f charge, pro-

vided the fence the society erected should be left on .

the ground when they should cease to hold their fairs
on the site, which arrangement was accepted and con-
cluded on the 23d of August, 1856. A fence and
temporary buildings were erected, and the first exhi-

bition of the society was held at the time and place .
appointed. The receipts of this exhibition were

$620.40; premiums ‘paid out, $340. ;
Exhibitions were held on these grounds until 1860,
and on J une.2d of that ‘year nine and a half acres of
land were leased for ten years of B. G. Burgett, at the
expirationof which time additional ground was added,
and itwas released. for ten years, and again, Feb. 11,

H ' 1780, was leased for ten years. At the present time

the company have inclosed seventeen acres. The
grounds vverefencedfand permanent buildings erected
the ‘first year the society came into possession. of’ the
grounds, and fairs have been held there continuously.
N 0 account was kept of the amount of voluntary con-
tributions forlerecting fences, grading the tract, and
other work. 4 ,

1 The cost of rent of. fair grounds from the first year
(1856) to the present time has been $3350; repairing

g\rounds,‘$2500; music-, $2140; buildings, halls, stalls, '
- etc., $9690; printing, $2187; amount of money paid

for premiums from the first, $24,000. Receipts from

' entries and tickets, $49,832.34. The receipts from the
"fair held Oct. 4, 5, and 6, 1881, was $2165.10.

The territory that is now included in the limits of

the association from which officers are electeduare the
townships of Smith, Hanover, Robinson, Cecil, Mount
Pleasant, Chartiers, North Strabane, Cross Creek,
Buffalo, Hopewell, Independence, and Jefferson of
W’ashington County ;. the west part of Allegheny
County-, the south part of Beaver County, and Brooke
and Hancock-Counties, W. ‘Va. 0

The following is a list of the officers of the society : '-

Presidemfs.—Joseph Vance, 1856-57; James Mc-
Calmont, 1858; John N. McDonald, 1859-60; Wil-
liam-M. Lee, 1861 ; James Donaldson, 1862; William
M. Lee, 1863; D. S. Walker, 1864; Samuel McGrill,
1865 ;.  D. Burns, 1866; Thomas McCorkle, 1867;
James ‘Donaldson, 1868; S. B. Campbell, 1869; J. B.
Hays, 1870; William L. Archer, 1871; M. H. Bor-
land, 1872; R. S. Cook, 1873-74; James Donaldson,
1875; A. E. Walker, 1876; VV. B. Moorhead, 1877-
78; William L. Archer, 1879-80; William C. Mc-
Farland, 1881. _ A '

Secretaries}-Samuel G. Scott, 1856; John P. Woods,
1857; James L. Patterson, 1858; John Stephenson,
1859-60; John P. Woods, 1861;"William Melvin,
1862; John P. Woods, 1863-80, inclusive; William
Melvin, 1881. ' . ’ ~ g ‘
' Present officers: President, VVm. C.McFar1a.nd;
‘Vice-Presidents: R. H. Brown, W. S. Bailey, A. H.
Walker, D. S. Fulton, S. H. Cook; Managers, R. S.

_ Cook, John S. Lee, Symington Farrar, R. Y. Meloy,

John A. McCalmont, Hon. G. Y. McKee, D. S. Tay-

‘lor, J r., David McNary,'Wm. McBurney, S. S. Camp-

bell, Matthew Berry, Samuel Bigger, R. K. Scott, S.
W. Lee, VVm.. Hanlan, S. G. Cunningham, R. S. Cald-
well, S. C. Gist, W. H. McKee, David Bradford ; Sec/
retary, Wm. Melvin ; Treasurer, C. J . Vance; Chief
Marshal, W. L. Archer.

4‘;
fivr

BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES

JUDGE JOHN FARRSAR.

Judge John Farrar was born in Mount Pleasant.‘

township, Washington Co., Pa., Jan. 7, 1818, and died
at his residence near Burgettstown, Pa., Jan. 6, 1875.
He was the eldest son of1 Samuel Farrar and Jane
Simanton. . . ’
His early education consisted of that afforded by
the common schools of that day, but he was possessed
of a taste for literature and-1 a thirst for higher educa-_
tion so strong that some years after arriving at ma-
turity he studied the Latin and Greek classics, higher
mathematics, and some of the natural sciences. In
1840 hewas married to Miss Phebe White. For sev-
eral years after this he engaged in farming, teaching

3 school during the Winter. Farming was a very dis-

couraging ‘business during those years famous for

0 1 The lineage of these families is given efsewhereiin this volume.

929

930

HISTORY or WASHINGTON COUNTY, (PENNSYLVANIA.

“hard times,” so the young farmer, having a knowl-
edge of the mercantile business, obtained while em-
ployed as a clerk previous to his marriage, forsook
the fields and embarked in the store business, which
he continued for a decade. During the firstpart of
this period he strongly contemplated studyinga pro-
fession} and at one time took initiatory steps to this
end, but the claims of a wife and young children de-
pending upon him for support caused the final aban-
doning of this intention.

Young Farrar’s attention was attracted to politics
by the famous campaign of 1840, when he cast his first
Presidential vote for VVilliam Henry Harrison. In

_ the great political questions that agitated the country

after the Mexican war he took a deep interest, and
from that time henceforth was a close student of
national questions. ' .

He removed with his family to Rock Island County,
Ill., in 1853. . -

D.uring the Presidential campaign of 1856 political
excitement ran high in thatland of Lincoln and
Douglas, the champions of the opposing parties.
Although a quiet farmer at the time, Farrar’s zeal
overcame his native modesty, and he mounted the
stump in his own county for John C. Fremont and
anti-slavery. Returning to his native county in 1857,
he engaged in mercantile business in Burgettstqwn
for several years. , ‘ ,

At the breaking out of the Rebellion party hostility
in this region became so bitter as to rupture society,
churches-, and families. Men engaged in_ business de-
pending on the patronageof. a community generally
either kept their lips sealed or exercised great caution
in expressing themselves on the questions that were
distracting the country, lest their bus_in.ess.should' suf-
fer. Contrary to this rule, and in opposition to the
advice.of his warmest friends, John Farrar, eminently

_a man of strong convictions and fearless of conse-

quences when duty directed, was outspoken in his
zeal for the cause of the'Union, as well as in his de-
nunciation of its enemies North and South.

In 1866 he was elected to the ofiice of associate
judge for a term of five years. When he entered
upon the duties of this ofiice a system of granting
licenses to sell intoxicating liquors existed, under
which it was a very easy matter to. obtain a license,
and as a consequence almost every village and hamlet
in the county was afflicted with drinking-houses. A1-
ways having been a warm advocate of the temperance.
cause, he immediately went to work with his charac-
teristic zeal to correct the evil, taking a firm and res-

. olute stand against all licenses applied for under the

thenpexisting laws. Ere the close of his term of oflice,
with perhaps two exceptions, not a drinking-saloon or
bar-room remained. It was thus largely through his in-
fluence that Washington County was elevated to her
present honorable and noble position on this question.

' 1 Theology.

Notwithstanding the frequent and perhaps trueas- .

sertion that ardent temperance men invariably suffer
at the polls, he was elected a member of the State
Legislature in 1874', when _a number of other and hon-
orable candidates of the same party from the same

county were defeated. But death came, and he was
carried to his grave the same week that he was to

have taken theoath of office. His cherished wife
died nearly five years previous to this.

It was, however, as a Christian gentleman that
Judge Farrar was best known and most esteemed.
In early manhood he became a member of the Pres-
byterian Church of Raccoon, next a teacher in the

Sabbath-school, and then itslsuperintendent, and ever I
afterwards connected with and working in the Sabbath- ’

school in some way. .

Soon after settling in Illinois he gathered together
and established a flourishing Sabbath-school, from
which soon resulted the organization of Beulah Church
of the Presbytery of Rock River. In this church he
wasa ruling elder until his return to Pennsylvania,
after which he served in this capacity in the church
of Burgettstown, Pa., and in Raccoon Church ‘until
the close of his life. S ‘

Socially, he was gifted with a rare combination of
qualities, easy, graceful manners, fine conversational

powers, and a warm, generous, and sympathizing
nature. Regarding no one, however poor and igno- A

rant, as beneath his notice, nor looking ‘up to any,
however wealthy. and aristocratic, as above him, he
was claimed alike by the high and lowly as a friend.

The universal esteem in which he was held is mani-i A
«fest from the positions» he occupied at the time of his ‘

death. Filling honorable and ‘respo'nsible oflices both
in the Church and in the State; chosen to the one by

‘the voice of themembers of the church of his child-

hood, and to theother by the voice of the citizens ‘of

the county, of his nativity, are facts that make an. A

eulogy of words superfluous. .

His family consisted of a daughter and five sons,‘

viz., Mary L., now Mrs. Billingsly Morgan, of Canons-'

burg, Pa.; S. Clark, for many years principal of the ,

Second Ward schools, Allegheny, Pa.; Preston W.,

physician in Nevada City, Iowa; ‘John, a farmer, 7

residing at the old family homestead; Watson W., a
clerk in the Treasury Department at Washington,

D. C.; and George W., merchant, at Braddock’s, Pa. A

J. L. PROUDFIT.

David Proudfit and his brother Robert, natives of
Scotland, emigrated to America about the year 1759,
and settled in York County, Pa.
brothers, Andrew and James, had preceded them to
this country. Andrew, who was a shoemaker, had
settled in York County, and James, who was a min-

ister in the Associate Reformed Church, had settled '

in Lanca-ster,County. David and Robert were far-

Two of their .

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SOMERSET

TOWNSHIP. 931

mers. The former married Nancy Livingston, by
whom he had eight children,»-John, Robert, Andrew,
James, Elizabeth, Nancy, Mary,and Jane.

John Proudfit was born in York County, Pa., in
1776. He settled in Smith township, Washington
Co., Pa., in 1806, where, in 1809, he married Elizabeth
Lyle. They lived in Washington County until 1813,
when they removed to York County, where they lived
fourteen years, when they returned to Washington
County, and again settled in Smith township, where
they died. Their children were David, John L.,
James K.,.Eliza J., ‘Nancy, Robert F., Cinderella,

. \Villiam., Andrew, and Eleanor K., all of whom are

living except David, James K., and Nancy.
John L. Proudfit was born in Smith township,

. \Vashington Co., Sept. 3, 1812, and the following

spring went with his parents to York County, Pa.,
where he remained until he was fifteen years of age,
when he returned with them to his native township.

‘He received a district school education, and labored

with his father upon the farm until after he was
twenty-one years of age. He married Eleanor Camp-
bell, of Smith township, June 9, 1841. She, died Aug.

4, 1866, leaving three children,-—Elizabeth, the wife
of W. A. P. Linn, of Shippensburg, Cumberland Co.,
Pa.; Jane A., the wife of Dr. W. P. Taylor, of No-
blestown, Allegheny Co., Pa.; and Martha E., the

wife of John Moore, of Smith township, VVashington'

Co., Pa.

John L. P-roudfit was married to his second wife, A

Mrs. Nancy Byers, whose maiden name was Duncan,

Dec. 24, 1867. In the spring of 1867 he removed from -

his farm in Smith township to Burgettstown, where
he now has his residence. He still superintends the
work upon his farms lying near the town. Sincethe
organizationlof the National Bank -of Burgettstown
he has been its president. He was at one time cap-
tain of the Burgettstown militia; has held the oflice
of j ustice of the peace and otherimportant local ofli-ces.
He was for many years a member of the Presbyterian
Church, an elder in the same, but is now a commu-
nicant of the United» Presbyterian Church. ’ In his
youthful days he underwent all the trials and hard
knocks of poverty, and from them he can turn his
eyes to his present prosperity with the reflection that
to himself and his own exertions he owes it all.

4L 4
MM

SOMERSET

TOWNSHIP

"SOMERSET was erected in .1782, to comprise terri-
tory taken from the townships of F allowfield, Not-
tingham, Strabane, and Bethlehem. Nolaccount of

‘its erection, however, is found in the records of the

court, but they show that at the April term of that
year the first business done after organization was the
appointment of “Christian Leatherman supervisor
of the highways for the township of Summersett.”

_ Following this appointment is the “order” that a new

township be struck off,” which, though not named
in the record, is evidently, by the description of its
boundaries, the township of Greene («now the southeast
corner of Greene County). From the records above
quoted it is evident that Somerset township was
erected by the. previous court held in January, 1782,
and the second term after the organization of the
county. This also is evident from the fact that on the
3d of April, 1782, there was read before the Supreme
Executive Council, then in session at Philadelphia,
“A return of justices for the township of Somerset
in the county of Washington, . . . by which it ap-
pears that William Parker and.John Stephenson were
duly elected justices for the said township.” Its
territory has not beensmaterially changed since its
organization._ ‘ V '
The "township hasbeen a. separate election district

44;
fivf

from its organizationlto the present time. Upon the
erection of districts in 1803 it became District_No. 8,
but the boundaries of the district- and of the township
were the same. Following is. a list of persons who
were and have been elected to the office of justice
of the peace in Somerset during the century of its
existence: ’ ‘
William Parker, April 3, 1782.
John Stephenson, April 3, 1782.
William Wallace, April 30, 1788.
Robert Mahon, April 7, 1801.
Henry McDonough, Feb. 23, 1801.
Isaac Leonard, April 2, 1802.
William Wallace, Oct. 24, 1807.
Robert Mahon, March 24, 1809.
James Rainey, Jan. 18, 1813.
Shesbaz. Bentley, Sr., Feb. 8, 1819.
James Smith, Dec. 13, 1820.

David Hart, June 10, 1822.

George Hippie, May 30, 1831.
John Caldwell, April 14, 1840.
Daniel Burgan, April 14, 1840.

John Caldwell, April 15, 1845.
'Henry MéDonough, April 15, 1845.
John Barr, April 10, 1849. ,
Henry McDonough, April 9, 1850.
John Scott, April 11, 1854.

John Scott, May 6, 1859.

Henry McDonough, April 10, 1800.
John Scott, April 12, 1864.

David Mitchell, June 3, 1865.
John A. Barr, Jan.'28, 1874.-

John A. Barr, May 24, 1874.

S. B. Mcllvaine, Ma y 24, 1874.

S. B. McIlvaine, March 27, 1879.
John A. Barr, March 27, 1879.

‘Early Settlements. —-The first persons to make their
way into the wilderness of Somerset township were the
Newkirk family and William Colvin and family, The
Newkirks came from Maryland or Virginia prior to»
1777. William Colvin was one of the earliest actual
settlers in Fayette County; and located on land ad-
joining Brownsville, which he had obtained under a

Henry McDonough,\Apri1 10, 1855. A

.932

military permit in 1763 and which he afterwards sold
to Thomas, Brown. Descendants of William Colvin
are still living in Redstone, Luzerne, and Browns-
ville. Several large tracts of land were located in
this section by the different members of the Newkirk
family, amounting to nearly nine hundred acres,
which lay along Pigeon Creek and north of the pres-
ent village of Bentleyville. One tract called “Agri-
culture” contained three hundred and eighty-six
acres, and was situated on both sides of the north
fork of Pigeon Creek adjoining lands of‘ Vincent
Colvin, John Wallace, and James Craven. The date

of the application for this land is not given, but the

survey was made April 6, 1786. It seems there was
a controversy as to the ownership of this tract, as
appears by the following extract from the survey
report: “To this tract of land there are two claim-
'ants, each of whom has taken out a-warrant for the
same land, though differently described, viz. : VVilliam
Colvin, a warrant for three hundred and sixty-four
acres, dated Feb. 13, 1786; Isaac Newkirk, a warrant
for three hundred acres, dated Feb. 27, 1786. Each
has evidence to support their pretensions and submit
to the honorable the Board of Property, on whose
warrant the return will be received.” The warrant
was returned Nov. 3, 1807, to Isaac N ewkirk as the
~rightful,owner.,

“The Legacy” was a tract which Henry Newkirk
was granted upon a Virginia certificate,»and the sur-
vey was made Feb. 25, 1786. This tract contained
four hundred and thirteen acres. Close upon the
line between Somerset and Fallowfield townships
and in the division of townships the lands of Gray-
bill and Col_vin came within the limits of Fallowfield,
while Henry N ewkirk became a resident of Somerset.
Besides there were other farms taken up and im-
proved by. the Newkirks. Three of them are in Fal-
lowfield, and are owned by Richard Richardson, Noah
Jones, and Thomas Elwood. As early as 1777 the
Newkirks erected what was considered a large dwell-

, ing-house for those times. It was built of hewed

logs, andjon a stone in the chimney was cut the
date of the erecti_on of the house. The dwelling was
pulledd-own in 1838, but the stone mentioned is still

preserved in the family. A part of this old homestead

comes within the limits of the borough of Bentleyville.
The place is now owned by Jacob Spahr, andthe old

water-mill, known as the Newkirk grist-mill, is also in’
It was one of. the famous mills of its

his possession.
day, but is now but a relic of the olden time. ‘Many
members of the Newkirk family have lived and died
in Somerset township, and ‘many others emigrated to
other parts. Joseph A. Newkirk -is the only male
representative of the descendants at present residing
here. James S. and Isaac Newkirk reside in Kansas
City, Mo.‘ . . '

George Kutner and his wife, Susan Kutner, were

' in Somerset township as early as 1780,-and became

possessed of two tracts of land containing together

HISTORY OF WASHINGTON COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA.

five hundred acres. The children of Mr. and Mrs.
Kutner were twelve, four sons and eight daughters.
The sons were Andrew, Jacob, Christian, and Abra-
ham Kutner. "The daughters were Elizabeth, Catha-
rine, Susanna, Christina, Barbara, Sarah, Mary, and
Magdalene. ' -

The Leonard family, came from»New Jersey to

Somerset township, and as early as 1780 were in pos- '

session of land here. There must have been a num-
ber of brothers, for the record of property transfers
shows that a tract of one hundred .and fifty-four acres
was owned by several of these. It was first owned by
Isaac Leonard, sold by him to Abner Leonard,_by

Abner to Caleb Leonard, and from him was purchased .
by John Hawkins. Caleb Leonard married Sarah
Burt, and their family numbered seven children,—— -

Daniel, Joseph, Zenas, Phebe, Rhoda, Mary, and
Sarah Leonard. The sons Joseph and Zenas died

in Ohio, and Danieldied in this county. The daugh- ,

ters all married and died leaving families. Edmond
Leonard, living in Fayette County, and Isaac Leon-
ard, of Washington borough, are descendants of these
earlysettlers. . . ‘ . ‘

The land of Daniel Swickard adjoined the tract of
John Study, and Burnt Run divided the tract nearly
in the centre. In 1788, Daniel Swickard was assessed
upon two hundred acres of land. .

Daniel Swickard’s family consisted of four children,
——the sons Martin and David, J r., the daughter Eliz-
abeth, who became Mrs. Saltzman, and Eve, who was
Mrs. Lash. - '

James Wherry came from England to this country,
and eventually settled in Somerset township. He
purchased a farm adjoining those of Nathaniel Reed
and J oseph Huffman, where he lived and reared his
family of eleven children, the oldest of whom, John
VVherry,» came from England with his father. In
1783, James Wherry was elected tothe oflice of jus-

tice of the peace, serving in that capacity for many.
years, and was "also an elder in the Pigeon Creek;

Church. He died in 1800. ‘His son David had his
own share of the iWherry property and also purchased
that of his brother, James VVherry, J r-., who removed
to Adams County, Ohio. Eli and-William Wherry,
grandsons of the pioneer, together with Ira Huffman‘,

now own the old homestead. Miss Elizabeth Wherry,’

another descendant, became the wife of Adam G.
Weaver, and resides in West Bethlehem township.

John W. Wherry, also of the family, lives in the -

same township.

George Myers, who purchased the “Woodstock” ‘

tract of Christian Letherman in 1785, was a German,
and beside the Letherman purchase. bought other
lands. He had someiseven hundred acres altogether,
part of which was in Nottingham township, north of
Somerset, and lying along the North Branch of Pigeon
Creek. The family of George Myers numbered eight

or ten children, none of whom are now living. David,

Henry, Andrew, Jesse, Samuel, Levi, Jacob, Hiram,

SOMERSET

6 TOWNSHIP.

- J eremiah,,Abner, William, John, and Anderson Myers,
. all living in this section, are said to be lineal descend-

ants .of George Myers.
by the family.

On May 13, 1785, Adam Wier purchased of James
Johnston seventy acres of land adjoining land of David
Delley, Jr., “including a certain springlnow used by
David Johnston,- Sr.” Some of the descendants of
Adam Wier still ownvthe place, probably those of his
daughter Mary, who-married Thomas Hall.

A On the 8th day of May, 1777, Sheshbazzar Bentley,
of New Castle, Del._, purchased of Baltzer Shillins, of
Redstone Settlement, in consideration of four hundred
pounds, “_ one tract of land containing three improve-
ments and. ten hundred and fifty acres, except what

Most of his land is still owned

' -was cut off by arbitration for Matthew Laughlin,sup—‘

posed not to exceed three acres with all the improve-
ments thereon, situated and lying upon Pigeon Creek.”
A portion of this tract he received a warrant for March
4, 1785. It was surveyed to him December 21st the
same year, and was named “ The Review,” containing
four hundred and thirty—two acres. House Bentley,
a brother of Sheshbazzar, warranted a tract adjoining

the same date, containing four hundred and thirteen ‘
-acres, and named “ House’s Grove.”

. It was his son,
Sheshbazzar Bentley, who lived at Monongahela City,
and was elected sheriff of . VVashington County in

- 1840. .

Sheshbazzar ‘Bentley, Sr., was a farmer, and also

owned and operated a mill on Pigeon Creek before
1787. The first election ‘in ,the- Second District was

held at his house in 1787. His son George moved to
the mouth of Mingo Creek, but Sheshbazzar Bentley,
J 1-., remained in Somerset, and laid out the village of
Bentleyville, March 4, 1816. Some members of his
family still remain in that place. ‘

HenryMcDonough was a farmer, a distiller, and
also served ‘honorably as a justice of the peace. His
family comprised five sons and one daughter. The
sons were John, Joseph, James, Henry, and David.
John, the oldest son, lived and died on a farm on
Chartiers Creek. Joseph and James both died young.
Henry ‘married and settled in this township, and his
son, also named »Henry, lives on his father’s farm.
David McDonough wasthe youngest of the five sons
of Henry McDonough, and lived on the home farm.
His son, Dr. Henry McDonough, now owns and occu-
pies the old homestead. The only daughter of Henry

McDonough, Sr., became the wife of Mr‘. Pangborn,.

of Westmoreland County, and went to reside in Cin-
cinnati. '

.About the year 17 85, Frederick Ault erected a mill
' on the.North Branch of Pigeon Creek, in this town-

ship, which was owned and operated by him until

1817, when it passed into the hands of Hon. James .

Gordon. In 1837, Mr. Gordon disposed of the prop-_
erty to ———-— Newkirk. ‘In 1837 the dam was swept
away, and has never been repaired. It is now owned
by Jackson Huffman. 7 '1 I  I

‘ Thomas Hall came into Somerset township in-17 88,
and purchased of Neil Gillespie three hundred and

twenty acres "of land situate on Pigeon Creek. He -

was a native of Tyrone County, Ireland, married and-

had three children when he came’ to Washington '

County. Thomas Hall, Jr., was born in this town-
ship on the farm bought of Gillespie, and is the only
son living.‘ 5 ‘ if ‘ V

_In July, 1808, Thomas Hall, Sr., bought one hun- cl
dred and sixty-eightiacres of land of William Ram- '

sey, a part of the two-hundred-acre tract warranted
by John Stevenson, and sold by him to William Coch-

ran in 1796. VVhile the property was in his possession, '

Mr. Ramsey had built a flouring—mill upon it on

Little Chartiers Creek. The United Presbyterian

Church is also built on land belonging to this ‘last
purchase of Thomas Hall, Sr., but which was donated
tothe society in 1817.by Thomas Hall, Jr., his father
having died in 1814. By will of Thomas Hall, Sr.,’
James.Hall, one of the sons born in Ireland, came

in_to possession of part of the original property in this‘

township, and the daughters—--Mary, ‘who married

Adam Wier, and J ane, who mairied Henry Vance-I
inherited the remainder. Mrs. Henry Vance now

lives on the property early owned by Joshua Davis.
The children a-nd descendants of James Hall are in

the West. Thomas Hall, J r., is living, and also his ~
* five sons. .He lives with the youngest, Adam Weir

Hall, in South Strabane township. The sons—James,
John, and Thomas (3d)'——all live in iWashington

borough. The other son, Rev. Austin W. Hall, a .
minister of the Baptist Church, is living at Big Pr_ai-”

rie, VVayne Co., Ohio. .
William Wallace lived in Somerset township as

early as 1786, and during his residence here owned ‘
several tracts of land. One tract,.called' “ Wallace’s

Bargain,” was warranted by him March 25, 17 88, and
the survey completed April 10th following. He also

became the owner of several other tracts of landlhere. '

Much of the land formerly owned by William \Val-

lace now comes within the borough of Bentleysville.» ,

Some of it is owned by Hamilton and Henry Myers;

Richard Richardson owns a portion, and still more _ A

is in the possession of Messrs. Jones and Stephens.
During his residence in Somerset Mr. Wallace served
several terms as a justice of the peace. V He finally

removed to Monongahela City, and died there. - B. I.

Bentley, of that city, is a grandson of his.

On April 20, 1789, John Wallace sold to ‘Joshua
Davis seventy-five acres of land, a part of the tract
called “Tempest,” situated on the North Forkvof
Pigeon Creek. Joshua Davis was ‘a member of the
Episcopal Church near Scenery Hill, in West Beth-

lehem township. He had five sons, but the only rep-. V ~

resentatives of the family left in -the county are
William ‘Davis, a grandson, who resides in South
Strabane township, and George Davis, a son of
VVilliam, and great-grandson of Joshua Davis, who
lives in Washington borough. I A

I 933

€l:34é.

, In the earlier days _of Somerset township James.
Wherry owned the farmon Pigeon Creek that now

,belongs to Ira Huffman. V In the family of James
' Wherry were three sons, John, David, and William.

No knowledge is gained of the last two, but John
Wherry married Elizabeth Welch, and his children,
five in number, reside in this township. . '

The sHuffman family was one of the most prom-
inent in Somerset township. Rudolph Huffman pat-

ented a tract ofland here on May, 22, 1787, and reared

a family of ten children,—-Daniel, Dorothy, David,
Martin, Jonathan,»Jacob-, Solomon, Joseph, Sophia,
and -Sevela. The daughter Sophia married Jacob
Swagler, and Sevela became Mrs. Wallace. Rudolph
Huffman’s land was on Pigeon Creek, and he followed
the business of farmer and distiller. He died before
18.06. The property is now owned by Joseph Huff-
nian, a great-grandson of Rudolph Huffman. John
Huffman was a nephew of Rudolph Huffman, and
lived on: the ‘farm adjoining that,of his uncle. His.
property is now owned by Joseph Huffman, Andrew
Mcllvaine, a_nd_ John Berger, his family having all
emigrated- to Columbus, Ohio. Richard Huffman,
who resides in Bentleyville, in this township; is a
descendant of Rudolph Huffman. He is the author
of “Pilgrim’s Poem.” -

. A James Cochran was a farmer who lived on,Cochran

Run, a branch of Chartiers Creek. His farm is now
owned by the heirs of Peter _Whitely, and Samuel
Weir. ~_ ; ‘ , y , ,

1 Of theflearly settlers of Somerset township. there
were two families of the name of Stevenson, but they
were not related. The name of the father in each
family was John Stevenson. The head of the first
family of thatname that settled in Somerset town-
shiv-pwas born in England in 1735,-came to this coun-
try in 1750, and settled near the Brandywine battle-
ground. c He was married about the year 1765 to Mary
McCowan. In 1780 he came to this County and set-
tled in'Somerset township, on the farm on which
Thomas McCorkle now lives. -He -had a family of
eleven children, nine of whom lived to mature years.
He was elected ,a justice of the peace in Somerset
township, and he also,-_repres_ented' this co_unty- two

' terms as avmember of the Supreme Executive Council

of _ the State. , On his way home, atther clo-se of his

8 secondnterm, he was taken with smallpox, and died

at Hagerstown, Md., in March, 1795., ._ Mary McCowan
Stevenson, his widow, some years after his death,

, married Judge James Edgar,.of-Cross Creek town-

ship. , V r i _ ,
The second zfarnily named Stevenson that settled in
Somerset township was of Irish extraction. John

‘Stevenson, the father of this family, was born in the

year 1729, and heremoved. from Cumberland, County,
-Pa., to Washington—-Counvty, Pa., in 17.81, and settled
on.-altract; of land in Somerset township which they
bought-rfrom Pl1ilip,Whitten, containing three hun-
dred and ninety-two acres.~ He lived on the, part _of

was captainof a company.

HISTORY OF WA‘SH,ING'1‘ON_ COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA.

this tract which now composes the farm of Samuel 

Weir. H_is first wife was , Mitchell. By this mar-
riage he had two sons, named_Joseph and George.
His second wife was Jean McCombs, and their chil-

dren were Robert, John, James, Mary, Margaret, ,

Elizabeth, Jean, and Anne. All his sons, with the.

exception‘ of James, who was too young, served as

soldiers in the Revolutionary war. He sold his farm,
in Somerset township, and purchased and lived on

the farm now owned by Andrew McC,arrel1 and the.

heirs of Hon. Thomas McCarre1l. He afterwards
divided this land among his chiIdren,,and moved to
a farm he owned near Cross Creek village, and now
comprising the farms of John Lee and H. L. Duncan.
He died there at the age of ninety years, and is buried
in Cross Creek Cemetery. _ His wife, Jean McCombs,;
died at the age of. eighty-six years. . .
Joseph Stevenson, the eldest. son of this family,

,was »a, soldier in the Revolutionary war, andserved

under Gen. Washington, and fought at the battle of
Trenton. Hecame to this county, married Mary Espy,
and had five children,—-~John, Joseph, Maria, Mary,
Anne, and Josiah Espy,——which latter son was a phy-

sician, and lived and died at Kittanning,-Pa. An-
other of his descendants isthe Rev.Loyal. Young.

Graham, of Mount Olivet Church, Philadelphia.‘ J o-
seph Stevenson afterwards lived in Canonsburg, and

died_there, and is buried in the cemetery ‘at.Chartiers.. '
‘ Church. ‘

, George Stevenson, the second son by the first wife,
was a soldier, in the Revolutionar.y war, and served
under Gen. VVashington. He cameto this county,
and was afterwards taken prisoner by the Indians
near West Liberty, now in .West Virginia. . He was
compelled by them to carry a heavy iron ‘kettle
lashed on his bare back all the way to Canada. He
was also at the same time suffering from asevere

gash in his forehead, made by an. Indian-striking him 

with a tomahawk at the time of his capture. . In Can-

ada he was sold, and remained there for three years -

and five months, when he was exchanged as a prisoner

of war. ,He married Catharine McCombs, and lived _

for a time at What is now known a as Hunter’s Mill on
Harmon’s Creek, Hanover township. , He afterwards
removeclto Knox County, Ohio,.where he died. 1 He
had a family of four children,,named John, George,
Martha, and a daughter whose name {is not-known to
thewriter. The Rev. George Graham, of Clarksville,
Iowa, is his grandson.

Capt. Robert Stevenson, the eldes't.son of John A

Stevenson, by his wife, Jean McCombs, was a soldier
in the Revolutionary war, and belonged to.-a company
commanded by Capt._ McConnell, of Cumberland
County, Pa. .He was also in the war of 1812, and
He assisted in the build-
ing of “ Fort Stevenson,” near. Sandusky, Ohio, and
the fort was named in his honor. A. He _settled in this
county about the close of the Revolutionary war, and
married Mary Testers. A He afterwards; moyed to near

SOMERSET

,

TOWNSHIP. S

Salem, Columbiana Co.,'Ohio, where he died. He
was elected a member of the Legislature of that State.
He had a large family, but the only name_known to
the writer is that of his son, Robert. ~ ’ ' -
John Stevenson; son of J ehn Stevenson and J ea

. McCombs, wasa soldier inthe Revolutionary war and

a member of a company commanded" by Capt.‘ Mc-
Connell. He settled first. in this county in Somerset
township on the farm now owned by the Whitely

I heirs. ‘ He afterwards owned and lived on the farm

now owned by James Buchanan, Esq., in Mount

‘ Pleasant township, and lastly in Cross Creek town-

ship on a farm now owned by H. L. Duncan." ,He
packed on horseback overthe mountains to the first
store in Washington its first lot of goods. John

- -Stevenson died June 13, l847, andis buried in Cross
A Creek Cemetery. His wife was Mary McCombs, and

their children were John, Margaret, J ean, Mary, and
Malcolm McCombs. They all died unmarried, except
Mary, who married Robert Marques, and leaves to sur-
vive her two sons, Rev. J. S. Marques, pastor of Pigeon
Creek Presbyterian Church, and Robert Marques,_of
Missouri, ‘these with their families -being all of his
descendants now living. James "Stevenson, son of
John Stevenson and Jean McCombs, died when quite
a young-"man, unmarried, and’ is buried in Pigeon
Creek Cemetery. i ‘ J

Mary Stevenson, eldest daughter of John Steven-

‘ son and Jean McCombs, married first Joseph N elson,‘
‘who died, leaving her” with two children, James and
John. She afterwards married Rev. John McPherrin,
many, years pastor of the Presbyterian Church at
‘Butler,’ Pa. , The names of their children are not all

known to the ‘writer, but some of them are Jane,
\Villiam', Clark, and Ebenezer. Jane was married to

the Hon. Walter Lowrie, for many years secretary of '
‘the Board of Foreign Missions of ‘ the Presbyterian

Church, and the Rev. John C. Lowrie, D.D., senior
secretary of the Board of Foreign Missions of the

~ Presbyterian Church, and Rev. Walter M. Lowrie

and Rev. Reuben Post Lowrie, both missionaries to
China, now deceased, were her sons. -
‘Margaret Stevenson, daughter ‘of John Stevenson

and Jean McCombs, married John Cratty, and she
_ had onelson-John Stevenson" Cratty, of Bellaire,

Ohio—-andone daughter. - Robert Curry, thefounder
of Curry Institute, Pittsburgh, and at one time assist-
ant superintendent of schools in Pennsylvania, was
her grandson. ~ J ' i V

I‘ Elizabeth Stevenson, daughter of John Stevenson

and Jean McCombs,.married John Stevenson, a son

of John Stevenson and Mary McCowan, who were
the first familyof Stevenso-ns to settle in Somerset
township. ‘ She and her husband lived and died on
the farm taken up by his father, and on which
Thomas McCorkle now lives. The Rev. James Ed-
gar Stevenson was her son,’ her other children are
Joseph, Jane, ‘John, Maria, Elizabeth, Mary, Marga-

ret, Emily, and .Frances..‘ Jane Stevenson,_dau‘ghter..

of John Stevenson and‘Jean McCombs, married John

Graham, of Cross Creek village. Her children were
Henry, Robert,‘ John, Mary,-Jane, Rev. Ebenezer S.,
Margery, Elizabeth, Joseph, Thomas Smith, and
Anne. Rev. Ebenezer S. Graham, her son, was one
of the pastors of Pigeon Creek Presbyterian Church.

Her daughter Anne waswife of Dr. Boyd Emery, of.
Anne Stevenson, daughter of ‘
John Stevenson and Jean McCombs, married Col. ,

Somerset township.

John Vance, and her children were Jane, David,
John, Anne, Joseph, and Julia A. Her son ‘Joseph

was a lawyer by profession, and lived at Mount Ver- -

non, Ohio. In the late war he was colonel of "an Ohio
regiment in the army of Gen.“ Banks, and he was
killed in battle on Red River, La.

’ William Jones, whose history is given below, "on H
March .21, 1793, purchased, two hundred and fifty-.
eight acres of land adjoining the farms of John a

Study, John Graybill,’and James Innis.  This prop-

erty was a portion of the three hundred and eighty- t

eight acres patented by Robert Morrison, Sept.'14,
1789,"under the title of “'I‘.oft.” Mr. Jones, whose
. lifeivextended over the period of a century, was closely
identified with the early settlement and progress of
Somerset’ township. The sketch of his life given
below is from Dr. J. S. Van Voorhis. - V i V
“He was born at Ellicott’s Mills, in the State of

Maryland, May, 1763, and came to the neighborhood»
of Ginger Hill a few years before the Whiskey In-.

surrection, and located on the farm now owned by

his son William, and on which he died "March, 1862,. n

being ninety-nine years and eleven months old. He
was a blacksmith by trade. When the United‘ States
troops were sent out to disperse the, insurgents... they
halted near his’ farm, and were ordered to return, as‘
the insurrection was over.

government, and’ took. no part in the insurrection.
By his first wife he had‘ eleven children,"five'sons

and six daughters, viz.: John, Elijah, Jesse, Samuel,. .
and John, Rebecca, Delilah, Polly, vRuth,..Rosa,’ and  
I Ann. ‘ I ‘ * ' A - _
a “John was the founder of Jonestown, and_ lived‘.

there, keeping store nearly all ‘his’ life. He died in

_ 187 4 at a very advanced age. His, peculiar sign.‘ En-

tertanement’ will be remembered by many. Elijah

lived in the brick house on the hill above J onestown,

wherehe died some fifteen years ago. Among his

children were Isaac J ones, who built the McGrigor_

Rowen Main Street, and now a successful wool-buyer
in Washington, Pa., and James J ones, deceased, who.
married C-aroline Van Voorhis, daughter of the late
Abram Van “Voorhis. Jesse is still living on partof

the old homestead. in a brick house near his brother ’

William, who owns and lives in the old homestead.

Samuel Jones-, the remaining-eson, ‘was born at the;
Jones homestead in 1800. He went to the Forks in.

1824, andlocated on the farnipurchased by his father
for him fr'omPeter Shepler. Samuel resided on this.

9735‘

, While in camp he shed.
some of the government horses. He was loyal totrhe.

110

HISTORY OF WASHINGTON COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA.

that were in Comp? may disapprove of the whole or
every part of the Conduct, yet from their Connection
they will not be willing, nor can they be forced to
give Testimony, as it _ effects themselves, and the
people here are greatly divided in Sentiment about
it, and anlnvestigation may produce serious effects,
and at least leave us as Ignorant as when we began,
and instead of rendering a service may produce a
Confusion and Ilwill amongst the people, yet I think
it necessary that Council should take some Cog-
nizance or notice of the matter, and in such a Time
as may demonstrate their disapprobation of such
parts of their conduct as are Censurable, otherwise
it may be alleged that Croverm‘ (Tacitly at least)
have Incouraged the killing of women and children ;
and in a proclamation of this kind it might be well
not only to recommend but to forbid that in future
Excursions that women, children, and Infirm persons
should not be killed, so contrary to the Law of arms
as well as Christianity. I hope a mode of proceeding
something like this would produce some good effects,
and perhaps soften the minds of the people, for it is
really no wonder that those who have lost all that is
near and Dear to them, go out with determined re-
venge and Exterpation of all Indians.”

These letters disclose a determination on the part of
Pentecost (though he was in no way implicated in the
affair) and others to suppress the facts connected with
the massacre and to prevent investigation ; and they
were enabled to accomplish this result through the
concurrence of Gen. Irvine, who, as is evident, took
that course for policy’s sake, though he was deeply
mortified and grieved at the result of Williamson’s

expedition. By those who were engaged in the bloody 2

work, and by their friends, it was vehemently asserted
that their action was generally approved by the people
of the frontier settlements, but it is certain that this
assertion was unfounded. ’ Col. Edward Cook, the
county lieutenant of Westmoreland (who had suc-
ceeded the unfortunate Col. Lochry in that oflice in
December, 1781), in a letter addressed by him to Presi-
dent Moore, dated Sept. 2, 1782, thus expressed his de-
testation of the murderous deeds of the Washington
militiamen: “ . . . I am informed that you have it
Reported that the massacre of the Moravian Indians
Obtains the Approbation_ of Every man on this side

- of the Mountains, which I assure your Excellency is

false; that the better part of the Community are of
Opinion the Perpetrators of that wicked Deed ought
to be Brought to Condein Punishment; that without
something is Done by Government in the Matter it

will Disgrace the Annals of the United States, and be

an Everlasting Plea and Cover for British Cruelty.”
And the testimony of a man of the character and
standing of Col._Edward Cook is above and beyond
the possibility of impeachment.

As the expedition of Col. Williamson was hastily
made up, and held together but a few days, itis not
probable that there were ever any muster-rolls of its

organization, if, indeed, it could have been termed an
organization at all. It is known, however, that there
is in existence a list (called a roll) of the names of the
men who composed the expedition, made up, no
doubt, soon after their return from the Muskingunri,
when the affair began to be one of wide-spread public
notoriety. But this list is in hands from which it
cannot be obtained, nor can any access be had to it,
for obvious reasons. Probably there is no person
now living, other than the custodian of this list, who
knows the names of a dozen persons who were with
C01. Williamson at Grnadenhiitten on the memorable
8th of March, 1782. Various accounts have been
given, naming the person who first used the fatal
mallet,‘ and of fiendish remarks said to have been
made by the butchers while doing their work, but
these accounts have not about them sufficient of proof
or strong probability to entitle them to perpetuation.
Nor does any one at the present day know the names
of any of the humane eighteen who advanced to the
front from the long line that stood fast for murder.
Whether Col. Williamson voted or not is not
known. It is not likely that he did, knowing that
his vote could not affect the dread result. It would
be gratifying to be able‘ to say with certainty that he
did give his voice for mercy ; and it is a pleasant task
to record the favorable opinion of him which is ex-
pressed by one who knew him, the Rev. Dr. Dod-
dridge, who says,2 “ In justice to the memory of Col.
Williamson I have to_ say that, although at that time
very young, I was personally acquainted with him, and,
from my recollection of his conversation, I saw with

confidence that he was a brave man, but not cruel. ,

He would meet an enemy in battle and fight like a
soldier, but not murder a prisoner. Had he possessed
the authority of a superior oflicer in a regular army,
I do not believe that a single Moravian Indian would
have lost his life, but he possessed no such authority.
He was only a militia officer, who could advise but
notncommand. His only fault was that of too easy
a compliance with popular opinion and popular prej-
udice. On this account his memory has been loaded
with unmerited reproach.”

CHAPTER VIII.
THE REVOLUTION.-—(0’ont1'nued.)

Crawford’s Expedition against Sandusky--Proposed Second Expedition
—-Washington Militia in 1784.

IT has already been mentioned that even before Col.
Wi1liamson’s forces disbanded themselves, after their
return from the Moravian campaign, a- project had been

1 “ Very few of our men imbrued their hands in the blood of the Mo-

ravians. Even those who had not voted for saving their lives retired

from the scene of slaughter with horror and disgust.”--Doddr'idge‘s Early
Settlements and Indian Ware, page 261.
2 Early Settlements and Indian Wars, page 260.

936

4%

farm until his death in June, 1867. He was killed_

by the rolling of a log over him. In. 1826 he was

_ married to Jane Fell, daughter of Benjamin Fell, in

Rostraver township, Westmoreland County. The
wedding took place‘at the Fell mansion, which con-
sisted of a log cabin of primitive style. Mr. Fell was
very positive that at this cabin was organized the
first Methodist class west of the mountains. Through
his influence was erected the old log church which
formerly stood where the present stone church, known
as Fell’s Church, is situated, aboutrtwo miles from
Webster.

“ Samuel Jones had by his first wife four children.
Mary married Dr. J. P. Watson, and has been dead
some years.‘ William on the 6th of February, 1850,
married Sarah, daughter of the well-known Capt.
Joseph Shepler, by whom he has three children. His
father gave William the old Fell farm, which was
purchased at Orphans’ Court sale. On this farm he
lived until he removed to-Belle Vernon, where he is
at this time as a member of the -banking—house of
S. F. Jones & Co. ,His brother, S. F. Jones, in 1861
married Miss Sallie Thomas. His father gave him
the farm near Belle Vernon, in Rostraver township,
known as the farm on which Rev. David Smith lived

while pastor of the Rehoboth Church, and died in"
' 1803. ° The old house has given place to a fine brick,
» erected by S. F. Jones.

Jones sold this farm to
Michael F. Cook, grandson of Col. Edward Cook,
and removed to Belle Vernon, where he is a member

of the banking—house of  Jones,'&‘ Co., formed“

in 1872. James, the remaining son of Samuel Jones,
married Miss Ann Finley, daughter of theilate Wil-
liam Finley, and granddaughter of the_ Rev. James
Finley, first pastor of Rehoboth, having come to the

‘Forks in 1768. James, like his brother, S.'F. Jones,

has no children. He served through the late war, and
nowlives in retirement in Monongahela City. Mr. Sam-
uel Jones’ second wife was Miss iMary, daughter of
the late Benjamin Thomas, of the vicinity of Webster.
Her mother was a sister of the late Joseph Alexander.
By her he had eight childrren,—-Elizabeth, married to
J. M. ‘Bake, deceased, and now to Thomas Hagerty ;

’Malissa married Lowry Venable and is living in

Kansas; Rettie married J_onathan Rhodes, she died
a‘ ‘few years ago in Ohio; Amanda, married to T. C.

Douglass, and living on part of the homestead;

Homer, married to J ennie"McAlpin, and residing in
Kansas; Luther, married to Sally Venable, and living

» near Belle Vernon; John and Celia are single, and

living with their mother on the homestead. Samuel
Jones was a large landholder, and the distribution of
his estate gave each of his children a fair patrimony.

'He was a man of'warm feeling and ardent sym-
- pathies. Energetic inghis business, he was no less so

in his ‘church. He was.long a member of the Meth-
odist Episcopal Church, and held his membership at

‘-Fell’s, in thelgraveyard of which church his remains

were buried. 1 He gave largely of his means and labor

HISTORY OF WASHINGTON 1 COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA.

in erecting the church in Webster. ,William. Jones’

(the elder) daughter‘ Rosa lmarried Hudson Wil-

‘ liams, who lived for many years in the neighborhood

of the Dutch meeting—house. They are both dead.
Rebecca married Andrew Mills; both are deceased.
Ann married John- Hess, who lived and died near
what is‘ now. called Edwards’ Chapel, on the turnpike
above Ginger Hill. Ruth was ne'ver.married, is now
eighty-five years’ old, and‘ resides with her brother
William on the homestead. ’ Delilah married James
Mills, brother. of the above-mentioned-Andrew Mills.

James Mills was a well-known local preacher in the

Methodist Episcopal Church and a business man

generally.‘ He lived in the town of Williamsport as_

early as 1828; in Washington, Pa., on a farm near

‘lock No. 4, where" Joseph Ryan now lives, and on

which he laid out a town called Lockport,_ which
town was a failure. For years before his death he
carried on business in Pittsburgh, where he died a
few years since. He was a man of more _than,ordi-
nary mind; his sermons were scriptural, and delivered
in a. plain -though‘ fervent manner.‘ He" attended
church for many years on the bank of the river,

where he often preached. His wife still lives in Pitts-
burgh. ’  , . \
“ Mary, the remaining daughter, married J oseph‘

Alexander, a sketch of whose life will be given. She
died Aug. 15,1856. ‘ . ' _
“ Mr. .William Jones was one of the committee on

the part of the‘Methodist Episcopal Church who
-purchased the dwelling-house (converted into a

church) on the river-bank in1826.' The house was

built by a man named Simon Hailman. It‘ was’

o.riginally three stories high, the lower one being
brick. Mr. Hailman sold it,to Mr. Bentley; hedying
shortly afterwards, Dr. Pollock was appointed ad-
ministrator of his estate. He sold it at Orphans’
Court sale, the committee——consisting of William

Jones, ZEneas Graham, Robert Bebee, and 'others——be-J

coming the purchasers for the Methodist Episcopal

Church. The house was lowered one storyby insert"-‘ --

ing heavy timbers beneath the framework and ‘so
holdingit up that the brick story could be taken
away. It was thus reduced to a two-_story frame

church, to which in after-years were added two’ wings,

one of ' which, I think, still remains._ . ,

“ What reflections are suggested to the mind when
contemplating the time covered by so long alife as
Mr. Jones passed! He was born six years before the
greatNapoleon, yet he survived him over forty years.
He wasborn six years before the Duke of Wellihgton,
who died at a very advanced age, yet Father Jones

survived him eleven years. He was thirteen years ’

old when independence was declared, thirty years old
at the time of the Whiskey Insurrection, fifty years
old during the last war with Great Britain, and
ninety-eight years oldat the commencement of the
great Rebellion. He was strictly temperate in all
things, of a quiet disposition, calm. in judgment,

Qmx 3»
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SOMERSET

TOWN SHIP.

937

never,in a hurry, firm in principle, inflexible in the

performance of all his duties to God and to man as it

was given him to see right. He was beloved by his
children and children’s children, and respected by
al1.who knew him. He was buried in the family
burying-ground, on the farm on which he "had lived

‘ seventy years. His second wife was Mrs. Phillips,
r the mother of David-and John Phillips (deceased), of

Robert (still living), of Mrs. Nancy Wickerham (de-
ceased), and the mother of Mrs. Jane Van Voorhis,

. wife of the late Abraham_Van Voorhis.” ,

V Michael Moyers, or Myers, took upna tract of land‘
7 which was surveyed tohim as ‘-‘ The Hill,” containing
-«three hundred and ninety-eight acres. Itwas patented

in 1788. He was a residenton the land probably be-
fore 1780. His death occurred about 1784, as in that

_ year the‘ land was devised by him to his son George,

who, on the 18th of May, 1803, sold it to his son, George
Myers, Jr.‘ George‘ Myers, son of Michael, took up
land on a Virginia certificate, dated Feb. 21., 1780,

'_which was surveyed Sept. 10, 1786, called “The

Morass”, This land was adjoining his father’s and

~‘Benjamin Parkinson and George Miller. It is now

owned by David Myers, a descendant. Another tract,
containing two hundred and seventy-five acres, was
patented to Michael .Myers "(a son of George), Dec.

30, .1808, adjoining Benjamin Parkinson and George"

Myers. This was sold to George Miller, April 27, 1810,
who, June 20th the same year, sold to Robert Moore.
George Myers, the son of Michael, died in 1803, and
left two hundred and ninety acres, the home place, to

, his son J acobf andone hundred acresto his son Mi- -
’ chael (on which he formerly lived), and to his son
Christopher one hundred ‘acres adjoining Martin

Swickard. He also hadfia daughter Caty anda
daughter whd married a Mr. Mushrush. The descend-
ants of this family are numerous, and reside in the
township. The lands of the Myers were in -both
Somerset and Nottingham townships.) ‘
Robert McCombs receiveda warrant for land on
the 1st cf November, 1787, and was surveyed to him

’ as three hundred and eighty-two acres. He sold the

tract to Wi"llia«m McCombs, of Canton township, of
whomhe bought it April 12, 17 92." He lived and died
on the farm, leaving one daughter, Mary, who married
John Stephenson,‘ J r., and settled on'the Stephenson
tract, now owned by the heirs of Peter‘ Whitely.
There were also four sons,—-Thomas, Malcolm, Wil-
liam, and John. Thomas was actively engaged in the
Whiskey Insurrection, and fled to’ Cincinnati, where
he lived a number of years, and returned to his brother
William, and stayed a few days, and while going to his
mother’s on the old homestead in Somerset township
was taken sick on the road, and stopped at the house
of Hugh Cotton (now John Vance), where he died.

, Malcolm went to Mercer County, ‘Pa., and William

settled in Canton townsliip, wherejhis descendants
are stillliving. " - ‘ g _ A ,
Greer Mcllvaine and his brother George came to

are children of Robert.

this county from the eastern partof the State. Greer 

took out a warrant for a tract of land (which was ‘later
divided between him and his brother) May 20, 1788,
which was surveyed to him Feb. 11, 1789, as “ Caly-.
don,” containing four hundred and seven acres. On
this farm he lived and died. He had a family of
fourteen children. Greer, the eldest, is still living in
the township at the age of eighty-eight years. John
lived. and died at Canonsburg. Guion settled, in
Hickory, and died there. George remained at home,
where he _died. William settled on a farm adjoining
the homestead, where he still lives. J. Addison Mc-
Ilvaine, an attorney of Washington, Pa., is a son of
‘William. Andrew settled on the home farm. Mar-
garet (Mrs. William Denniston) settled in Mercer
County, Pa. Mary'(M’rs. James Greenlee), settled in
Greene County, Pa. Ruth (Mrs. Joseph Moreton) lo-
cated in Virginia. Catharine (Mrs. Samuel Smith)
settled in Bentleysville. Elizabeth (Mrs. William
Campbell) settled in Mercer County, ' Pa-. Esther

1 (Mrs. Thomas Carson) settled on Pike Run. Ann
' (Mrs. Joseph Scott) lived for a time in the West, and’ ,

upon the.death of her_ husband returned home.  Elea-
nor (Mrs. David‘Scott) settled on Pigeon Creek.
George Mcllvaine, a brother of Greer, and who
came -to this country with him, settled upon a portion
of the tract “Calydon.” It was not until June 21,
1815, that he received a deed for the property. On

this he settled and raised a large family. He died in

1842 or 1843. His will bears -date July 2, 1842. His

1 son John emigrated to Ohio. George settled on a

farm adjoining his father’s and died there, leaving a
family that are now scattered. ‘Robert settled _on the
home farm, where he died. Judge George McI_lvaine,
of Ohio, and Mrs.‘William Drury, of Washington,
Greer, also a son of George,
removed to Ohio. There were also five daughters, of

whom were,Catharine (Mrs.'Ramsey.), Ruth (Mrs. ..

Stringer), Eleanor (Mrs. Kerr), two daughters mar-
ried respectively John and William Crouch, and both
died before their father. The farm was sold to David
McDonough, and is now owned by his son, Thomas
McDonough. . Z ’
« BentleysVille.——Sheshbazzar Bentley (son of Shesh-
bazzar, who first purchased lands in what’ is now
Somerset township in 1777) conceived the plan of
laying out a town, and inserted the following notice
in the Was/mzgton Reporter of date March 4, 1816:
“Bentleysville v . ’ .
“ The subscriber informs the public that he has laid out a town on the
waters of Pigeon Creek, Somerset township, Washington County, 25

miles, from Pittsburgh, 9 from Williamsport, 10 from Brownsville, 9from.
Fredericktown, and 15 from Washington, on the Cross Roads leading,

from the above towns, and in a beautiful situation, and surrounded by
rich country. There is three wool machines, one grist-mill, one saw-
mill adjacent thereto. Also, great abundanee of building-stone,’ lime-
stone, and stone coal, which will be given gratis for theuse of building
for. five years. Also, four springs of good water running through this
town. The lots will be sold at public sale on Saturday, the 16th of March,
1816. The sale to begin at 9 o’clk onsaid day, and the conditions
made known by the proprietor.

“ Mural 4: 1315- Sm-zsn. Bx-:x'rLer.”'

"938

A number of sales of lots weremade on the day

‘above mentioned, and on the 31st of August, 1816,
deeds were given to the followin,g.,persons: ‘

. Price.
' Daniel Mitchell, lot 15 , ....... .. $35.00
«John Mitchell,.lots 26, 50 .... .. s . 60.26
Benedict Reynolds, lots 2, 3, 44 55.50
vwilliam Thompson, lot 1 - ' .... .. 55.25
Joseph Morton, lot 40 57.00
Davidilvlitclnell, lots 52, 53 ..................... .. 93.00
David Lash, lots 10, ll, 12 84.25 .

- At the time of the laying out of the plat there was
standing on the premises the old Bentley mansion,
where now Robert L.‘ Jones resides, around which
(soon after the sale of lots began) dwellings and
places of business began to cluster. A meeting of
the citizens was heldin June, 1817, to provide for a
place of public worship. . The following is the agree-

ment then drawn up:

I“ Wa5,,the subscribers appointed Trustees for the purpose of Building a
House for Ptihlic Worship in the Townof Bentleysville, Do unanimously
agree and resolve Sta conduct the samein the following manner, agree-
able to an Article and Slehscriptioii taken for that purpose and to prevent
any disputes which might  hereafter respecting the same, To wit:
1st, We do Resolve that before we  1Q building we obtain a clear
deed for the lot of ground to be made to the Trustees, or a majority of

. them, and t_o their successors forever: for the use of the.-Presbyterians,

Baptist, Methodist Societys; 2d, That the said three Societies slialfthgue

equal privclidge to make their apointments, perticularly on the three. ,
’-first Sundays in each Month, but not knowingly to make two apoint-

ments in one day, but should. it so happen, then they”are to Devide the
day so as to give each an opcrtunity of ‘Preaching, and the fourth or fifth
Sundays for the use of any other regular society, with the aprobation and

a consent of at least one of the then acting trustees; 3d, when the Said

house is at any time ocupied for the use of a scool, those who occupy it
for that purpose shall be obligated to repair any damage which may be
ocasioned by the séool ; 4th, the number of the ‘trustees to be five, to be
chosen by the jointvote of theithen acting trustees, those to succeed the

present trustees to be chosen in the month of Aprile next . . . and every ~
. - \ .
. two years afterwards any vacancies which may happen at any time to be

supply’d by the then‘ existing Trustees upon their being duly notified of
tim,e,‘an*d place to meetlfor. that purpose; 5th, if any dissatisfaction should
at any time arise by any Irregular preachers being admitted on the fourth
or fifth Sundaysybefore mentioned, the then‘ acting Trustees shall endeav-

. our to settle and have power to regulate fhe same; 6th,any one of the

Trustees’ may calla meeting of the whole, provided they notify the whole

-and armajority so -met shall transact any necessary business; 7th, Re-

solved, that the foregoing resolutions and" agreements be put on record,
Together with the deed for the said lott, in the Recorder’s Office‘ in and
for the County of Washington, given under our hands this 21st day of
June, 1817. ' I
“H. W. DONOGH.
“ WM. Tnomrson.
“SHESH. Bsmrnar.
I “ABNER LEONARD.
“Jenn HIPBLE. I

“Acknowledged December 24:1), 1317.
‘t Recorded 25th December, 1817.”

Under thisagreement a church was built and occu-

pied as ’a place of public worship till its destruction '

by fire in 18.28. A - V t
It has not been thought of suflicie-nt importance by

those connected with the churches. of Bentleysville '
Circuit to furnish any info_r.mation concerning their

early history, and but little‘ has- been gleaned con-

cerning them. Much will be learned from an article pi
written by Mr. Rothwell, to be found in the history

of the borough of Greenfield, on the rise and progress
of Methodism in the eastern part of the county.

This congregation was formed priorlto 1852, and ser- ‘A

V grounds.

HISTORY -OF WASHINGTON S COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA.

iviceswere held in the school-house- Cn the28th of V
December of that year the trustees——-Robert N.‘ ‘Vest,
S. Richardson, Harrison Richardson, and John Hotl-'3

land-—pu.rchasedl a half-‘acre of land of Sheshbazzar
Bentley and erected a brick edifice,forty by fifty feet,

I at a cost of twelve hundred and fifty dollars. /It was
dedicated by*th-e Rev. James Sansom and Samuel‘

Wakefield. Among the pastors who have servedthis
church and circuit are John Spencer, James Sansom,
Samuel Wakefield, David Cross, James B. Yarnall;
The'Bentleysville Circuit embraces four cliurches,-'~
Davidson’s Chapel, seven miles from Washington, on
the National road; Scenery Hill, at Hillsborough;
Bentleysville, and Clover Hill" Church, at Garwood
Post-Office, in Fallowfield township. There are. in
the charge 349 members. The value of the church

property is estimated at $6800. There are alsofour

Sunday-schools, having 27.2 .pupils.- The Rev. Rei-
mund C. Wolfe is the present pastor. A ,camp-meet-
ing ground containing about twenty acres was leased
of John W. Stephens about 1866, for the use of the
circuit. About'_forty' cottages are erected on the

V-anceville, a small village, located near theccntre
of'Snme:rse_t township, is upon land owned by the
Vance famizl’-y,_and from them it‘rec'eived its name.

Isaac and John Vance. were two brothers who made .

early settlements in this sectiw; Isaac received a
Virginia certificate dated Dec. 3, .1779,,..en.titl-ing him
to two hundred and thirteen acres of land sitnatetr en.
a fork of Pigeon Creek. This land ad,join’ed the lands
of Patrick McCullough'and Joshua Davis,.and was
surveyed to him March 10, 1786, under the title of
“ Edge Hill.” John Vance also received a Virginia
certificate, granting him- three hundred and forty“-
three acres of land, which. was located on Pigeon

Creek, and surveyed to_ him March .9, 1786, as “Edge.

Comb.” When the death of John Vance occurred,
some years later, he .left by will theundivided'h”alt'
of “Edge Comb” to his" brother Isaac. As. stated,
Vanceville is situated near the centre of this to‘.w—n‘-
ship, while the surrounding country is well adapted
to farming. The soil ismade up 'of’clay'and sand,
and considerable llimestone is found ‘in the vicini-ty.

The Middle Branch of Pigeon Creek, flowing’ through A i

the hamlet, affords the necessary water‘ ‘privileges
conducive to business advancement.  The village has
one store, one blacksmith-shop, awsteam saw-mill, a
school building, and two churches, of the Baptist and
Disciple persuasidn. Thirteen dwellings afford resi-

V dences for the inhabitants, and "a‘ ‘post-oilice was es-

tablished here some years ago. It is now under the
charge of Dr. Henry McDonough, present postmaster.
The Disciple Church is a‘ frame building", thirty-eight

by forty-six feet, in ‘size, and was erected on «land pur- .

"chased from or“ donated by“ Joseph -McDono,ugh.

The religious society" known as the Pigeon Creek’

Baptist congregation» was organized on Saturday, Aug.- l

27, 1803, in Som_erse.t township, by Brethren. David

' Lord’s day in each month if necessary.

SOMERSET ' TOWN SHIP.

Phillips, Benjamin-Stone, Henry Speers, and Thomas
McDonough. A church meeting was held at the resi-

dence of Henry McDonough on the Saturday before .

the fourth Lord’s. day in October. According to ad-

‘journment, the church met on Oct. 22, 1803, and after

public worship proceeded to arrange the business
necessary ‘to the completion of the organization.‘
.After the appointment "of Henry McDonough as

elder, other persons were chosen to the offices of a
moderator and clerk. Benjamin Lyon and Jonathan

—Williams were ‘chosen deacons, and a resolution was .
"adopted 3 to hold the future meetings at the house of '

Henry McDonoughI the Saturday’ before the fourth
The first
observance of the’ ordinance of baptism by this society

' occurred in.1805, at which time Henry McDonough
-‘and wife, James Wherry and wife, and‘Miss Wallace,’

-a daughter of Nathaniel Wallace, were baptized by

immersion. The ceremony took place.on the property _

of Nathaniel VVallace," near where the preaching was
-held, upon a platform erected for that purpose. ‘At
the close of the sermon the minister, candidates" for

baptism, and the audience repaired to the Water, not '

-far away. During-the rite of immersion a severe

I thunder-storm arose, and a tree sheltering the plat-

form. mentioned was struck by lightning and ‘two

horses near by were killed during the storm. .For'

many years after the formation of the Pigeon Creek

_ -Baptist Church ‘its members worshiped in a tent

pitched 11p0Il’_ the .farm of Henry McDon.ough. On

March 27, 1830, Joseph Huffman, David McDonough, 

and J 01111. Panghorn, trustees of the church, received
-_a*portion' of the Rudolph Huffman tract, donated by
Solomon .Huffman, upon which the present house, a
-brick building thirty-seven by forty-seven feet in size,

of the ministers who have ofliciated in this church.
In 1828, during the administration of Rev. Charles
Wheeler,;the members were David‘ McDon.ough,
Daniel Burgan, Cassandra Burgan, Elizabeth Huff-
-man‘, Susanna Clouse, John and Mary Pangborn,
Solomon Huffman, Samuel Black and wife, Henry
Underwood, MargaretPatton, Martha, Brown, Mar-
garet Berk, John Burgan, Dr. Sharp, Lydia Clouse,
Ann.Huffman, Cynthia Nichols, James Burgan, Jesse
Underwood, Arthur Devore, John VVherry and wife,
Sidney and Margaret Ames, Noah Clouse, Isaiah
Burgan,.Elizabeth Ames, Lydia Devore, Michael
Huffman, Nancy Underw_ood,Nanc_v Nichols, J abez
Ames, Susanna Huffman, Matilda Paden, Julia Un-
derwood, Elizabeth Nichols, Hannah Underwood,
\Villiam Underwood, Margaret Reed, and ‘Bershen
Nichols. ‘The present pastor of the Pigeon Creek
Baptist congregation is Rev. Robert Miller.

' Pigeon Creek Presbyterian Church.‘-—The con-

gregational records of this church commence‘ with
the year 181-2, and of the doings of the session nothing

can be found prior to the year 1831 (the former ses-
sional records having been, insome unexplained way, ,
lost), hence the only fragments of its-early history

available have been gathered from other reliable
sources. The first settlers in the bounds of this con-
gregation were mostly of Scotch-Irish descent, and

came principally from Eastern Pennsylvania, Dela-7

ware, and from near Winchester,‘Va. V 
' As a class, they are describedias being “intelligent,
virtuous, and courageous,” and having enjoyed reli-
gious privileges in the various placesfrom w-hich they
had emigrated, they early made efforts to secure the
same privileges for themselves and their families ‘in
the home of their adoption. » s
The first sermon ever preached within the bounds
of this congregationwas on theiTuesday following
the fourth Sabbath of August, 1775. Rev.-John Mc-
Millan was the preacher, and the place was the house
of Mr. Arthur Forbes, where Mr. Frederick Whitely
now lives. . ‘ -
In a short time after this Mr. McMillan returned to

his home at Fagg’s Manor, Chester Co., Pa-. Near O
the beginning of the year 1776 he again visited this '

region, and preached at Pigeon Creek on the fourth
Sabbath of January, and on_ the following Sabbathlat
Chartiers, and continued ‘to preach alternately in these
congregations until the last of March,‘when he re-

turned to his home. ‘Soon after his return a -call was
-made out by the congregations of Pigeon Creek and
‘Chartiers, was presented to him and accepted by him

at a meeting of the Presbytery of New Castle, April

.22, 17 7 6., The Indians at this time being troublesome,
- he did not remove his family to the West until Novem-
-was erected. Revs. Estep, Speers, Luce, Higbee,..‘
. -Kendall, and Charles ‘Wheeler are the names of some

ber, 177 8, yet he visited these'churches‘ as frequently

as he could, ordaining elders, baptizing their children,‘ I

and ‘taking. such care of them as the circumstances
would permit. ' _ I " V
The date of the organization of this church cannot
be definitely ascertained, but from the best informa-
tion we have it musthave taken place some timenear

V thebeginning of the year 1776, and from the testi-

mony of Hon. James Veech (now deceased), and of

‘Rev. John‘Stockton, D.D., of Cross Creek village,

Pa., it antedates by a short time the ‘organization of
the church of ‘Chartiers, and is the oldest organiza-
tion of the Presbyteriarrorder in the county of Wash-
ington. - . I 7 ‘ - '

The date of the dissolution of the pastoral relation

betweenlDr. McMillan and the church of Pigeon. V
, Creek is notcertainly known, but it is most likely

that it took place in 1793, for in a book which he kept
in which he recorded the names of all persons who
were supporters of the church and the amounts sub-
scribed, there isa subscription-for the year 1793 (this

    é
A '11 The substance of an address delivered atltlie centeunial‘anniver-
saryof Pigeon Creek Presbyterian Church, Aug. 24,1875, together with

___

some additional particulars, of a later date, by Rev. John S. Marquis,‘

pastor.“  -

939 I

910

HISTORY- or WASHINGTON COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA.

' book is nowthe property of Dr. Boyd Emery, Sr., of

this church’)-. In April, 1794, another pastor was
called to -this church. Taking the aboveifacts in con-

nection, it will appear‘ that Dr. McMillan’s connec-

tion with this church continued near nineteen years.
So much has been written and already published

respecting Dr. McMillan, his life and work, that it is

not necessary to dwell on it at length here, and will
only add“ that he was born at Fagg’s Manor, Chester
Co., Pa., Nov. 11, 1752; received his preparatory ed-
ucation partly at an academy at Fagg’s Manor, under

the direction of Rev. John Blair, and partly at a

grammar school at Pequea, Lancaster Co., Pa., which
was under the superintendence of Rev. Robert Smith,
andwas graduated at Princeton College in the fall of
1772; studied theology at Pequea, under the direc-
tion of Rev. Robert Smith, D.D.; was licensed to
preach the gospel by the Presbytery of New Castle,
at East Nottingham, Pa., Oct. 26, 1774; was ordained
to the full work of the ministry June 19, 1776, at

Chambersburg, by the Presbytery of Donegal,’ to which

he had been dismissed by the Presbytery of New Cas-

tle, and on the 6th of August following was united in _

marriage with Miss Catharine Brown.
‘He died Nov. 16, 1833, after a short illness, at the
house of ‘Dr. Letherman, in Canonsburg, Pa., aged

5. eighty-one years and five days, and his mortal remains

are interred in the cemetery at Chartiers Church.

The second pastor of this church was Rev. Boyd

Mercer. , Of his early history but little is known, ex-
cept that he was born at or near Winch-ester, Va., in
the year 1766, and was there brought up.’ .H_e re-
ceived a classical education, at least in part, ‘at the
academy at Pequea, Lancaster, Co., Pa., which was
then under the superintendence-of Rev. Robert Smith,
D.D., but whether he afterwards attended any college
or was graduated is not known, nor under whose di-
rection he studied theology. Neither can it be ascer-
tained when he removed to the bounds of this church.
In the records of the Presbytery of Redstone, which
met at Chartiers, June 26,1792, it is stated that he

»was‘taken under _the care of the Presbytery with a

view to his licensure, and he was licensed by the same
Presbytery at Rehoboth Church, April 16, 1793.
He was called to the pastorate of this church April

22, 1794, and the relation was dissolved in 1798. His’
homewas on the farm now owned by his grandson,

Mr. Ebenezer Crouch. He and his wife deeded, March
10,1826, for the sum of one dollar, ten acres of land
for the use of Pigeon Creek Church. A These ten acres

had been surveyed and given for the use of the church

by one Peter Swartz (alias Black), but he never gave
a deed tothe congregation, and when he afterwards
sold his farm to Mr. Mercer he made no reservation
of this tract. '

—Mr. Mercer is described as being under medium
height, of an active temperament, and a good preacher.

 He died Feb. 5, 1841, aged seventy-five years. His

dust sleeps with kindred dust in the cemetery of this

. lation for several years.

church, and is the only one of its pastorsburied
here. '

Mr. Mercer’s successor was Rev. Andrew Gwin, who
was called to the pastorate in 1799, installed in 1800,
and was released from the charge in April, 1817, a
period of seventeen years. ' ‘

He was an Irishman by birth, but nothing can be
learned of the time when he came to this country,
nor _where educated. By those who remember him
he is described as being a man of about medium
height, of symmetrical proportions, a fluent and elo-
quent speaker, and a preacherof great power. This
was his last charge. He spent his last _days near

sWellsburg,.Brook’e‘Co., W. Va. ‘ - ’
At the close of this pastorate there was a great dis- ‘

sension and alienation of feeling among the members

of the congregation, and for a time the church was

almost closed. This state of affairs continued to some
extent until the beginning of the year 1822, when, by
invitation, Rev.'Andrew Wylie, D.D., took charge of
the church as a stated supply, and continued to serve
the church in this capacity until September, 1829, a

period of sevenyearsand eight months. ‘During this"

entire period he was president of Washington Col-

lege, consequently was only with the people of the

church on Sabbath day. He was very successful in

healing the divisions made in the congregation at the

close of the former pastorate, and sowed the seed to
a great extent from which so rich a harvest was gath-
ered_in the next succeeding years. Dr. Wylie was a
native of this county ; commenced a course of classical
study at an academy at Washington, then under the
care of the late Judge Mills, of Kentucky; was grad-
uated at Jefferson College, Canonsburg, Pa., in 1812,

with the highest honors of; his class ; united with the"
. church in his seventeenth year; studied theology under

the direction of his brother William and Dr. McMil-
lan; was licensed to preach by the Presbytery of Ohio
Oct. 21', 1812, "ordained by the -same Presbytery, and
installed pastor at Miller’s Run June 23, 1813; was
elected president of Jefferson College at the age of
twenty-three years; servedin this capacity for the

_ period of four years, when he resigned and was elected

president of Washington College, sustaining this re-
In 1825 he received the de-
greee of D.D. from Union College, New York. In
1828 was elected to the presidency of Indiana State
University, where he continued until the time of his
death, which took place at Indianapolis, Nov. 11, 1851,
in the sixty—thirdyear of his age. Rev. Robert Baird,
D.D., describes Dr. Wylie as being “a strongly-built
man, not much above middle size, of rather light
complexion and blue eyes, with a countenance indi-

cating intelligence and thought .rather than remark- -

able benignity. It cannot be questioned that he was
one of the best educated men in the part of thecoun-
try inwhich he lived.’’   » 7

Rev._VVilliam P. Alrich, D.D., succeeded Dr. Wylie
as stated supply,'sustaining this relation for one year,

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SOMERSET

TOWNSHIP.   A ~. 941

when a call wasmade out by the congregation for his
services as pastor. This call Mr.- Alrich declined.
Near the same time he was elected to a professorship
in Washington College, which he accepted, and
labored in this capacity till near the close of hi-s life.

In April, 1831,. Rev. William C. Anderson, D.D.,

. began to supply this church, and on September 26th

of the same year was called as pastor. He was or-

, dained and installed pastor April 17, 1832. Resigned

the charge July 15, 1836. His labors were greatly
blessed, and at the close of his labors here he records
that there were “two hundred and thirty-two per-
sons added to the church on profession~of their faith
during the period of his connection with it.” Dr. An-
derson was the son of Rev. John Anderson, D.D., of

' Upper Buffalo Congregation in this county. He was

educated in Washington College, Pennsylvania, where
he was graduated September, 1824. Studied theology
under the direction of his father, and was licensed to
preach by the Presbyteryof Washington. After he
left this church he was pastor of the Fourth Church,
Pittsburgh, Pa., oneof the churches in Cincinnati,
Ohio, at New Albany, Ind., First Church, Washing-
ton, Pa.., and at San Francisco, Cal. He was also for
some yearsipresident of Miami University, at Ox-
ford,‘Ohio. He‘ died at the house of his son, Rev.

' John A. Anderson, of Junction City, Kan., Aug. 28,
’ 1870. Of him, Dr. Stockton, who was his intimate

friend and companion, writes: “ He was a delightful
companion, an "eloquent preacher, and labored with

. great zeal and success. After leaving Pigeon Creek

Church, amidst the deep regrets of ’the people, he
traveledifar and wide, and has filled with honor many
important positions in -the church.” He twice visited
Europe, and on the last trip, in company with his

brother John, extended it as far as Jerusalem and the

Holy Land. A Dr. Anderson’s successor was Rev.
Ebenezer Stevenson Graham. Mr. Graham was the
son of John and Jane (Stevenson) Graham, of Cross
Creek township, this county. His mother in her early
years lived in the bounds of this church, and here first
united with the church. He commenced his classical
course of study in an academy at Cross Creek village,
Pa., which was then under the direction of Mr. George
Marshall, afterwards Rev. Dr. Marshall, of the church
of Bethel, in the bounds of the Presbytery of Pitts-
burgh; was graduated at Washington College, Sep-
tember, 1834; studied theology-under the direction of
Rev. John Stockton, D.D., and was licensed to preach

the gospel by the Presbytery of \Vashington. He was

called to this church Sept. 30, 1837; was ordained
and installed October, 1837, and the congregation
concurred in his request for the dissolution of the pas-
toral relation, Oct. 3, 1842, and he was dismissed "at"
the next meeting of the Presbytery of VVashington.
Dr. Stockton, who was his pastor and spiritual
father, in a letter addressed to the writer, says, “ He
became a professor of religion in the church of Cross

Creek during a ‘powerful revival of religion in that

60

{—**____~_
church in 1828. He was a man of talents, of schof-
arly attainrrfents, of eminent piety, and labored in
Pigeon Creek Church with great fidelity,
and success. In the midst of his career of useful-
ness he preached on a certain night in a close, heated
schoo_l-room, and afterwards riding home through the
chilly air, he contracted a cold’, which

brought on
bronchitis.

. This disease increased upon him till, after
repeated requests on his part,his congregation agreed
to the dissolution of the pastoral relation. He trav-

eled South in quest of a restoration. of health, and ‘V

died ‘far away from home and from_ friends at Tampa
Bay, Fla. ; ‘but whilst his flesh sleeps in that far-off
land, his memory is still fresh and green in many a
loving heart. _
The next pastor of this church was Rev. James
Sloan, D.D., who was born and brought up in the
bounds of Upper Buffalo Congregation, in this county.
He was educated at Jefferson College, Canonsburg,
Pa., where he was graduated in September, 1830,
studied theology under the direction of Rev. John
Anderson,.D.D., was licensed to preach the gospel by
the Presbytery of Washington at Cross Creek, Pa., in
April, 1834. His first charge was at Frankfort, Beaver
Co., Pa., where he was ordained and installed, and his
connection with that church ‘continued for a period
of nine years. He was called to this church April 8,
1844, was installed in December, 1844, and the rela-
tion was dissolved in October, 1862, a period of eigh-
teen years and six months. After this he for a time
supplied the church of Waynesburg, Greene Co., Pa.,
but was compelled by disease of the heart to cease
from the active work of the ministry, when he re-
moved to Monongahela City, this county, where he
died March 11, 1871, aged sixty-three years, and his
body rests in the cemetery at that place. Dr. Sloan
was a man of about medium height, of florid com-
plexion. In his younger years he was slender in
form, but as he advanced in years he grew corpulent.
By his brethren in the ministry he was esteemed as a
good -scholar, an able preacher, and a good parlia-
mentarian in the church courts. He was
years. a memberof the board of trustees of
College, and the degree of D.D. was conferred upon
him by that institution. His ministry here was a
very successful one; about three hundred and ninety-
one additions were made to the church
connection with it. 
5 Rev. Samuel McFarren Henderson was next called
as pastor. The place of his nativity was New Ha-
_gerstown, Carroll Co., Ohio. He was graduated at
VVashington College in September, 1859; pursued his
theological studies at the lVestern Theological Sem-
inary, Allegheny City, Pa.; was licensed to preach
the gospel by the Presbytery of Steubenville at the
churchpof Corinth, April, 1862; was called to this
church June 5, 1863, and was ordained and installed
November 4th of the same year.
dissolved April 24, 1867.

for many
Jefferson

uring his

This relation was
He was afterwards settled

acceptance, .

THE REVOLUTION.

111

formed to raise a new and more formidable expedition
to march against the Indian towns at Sandusky, the
headquarters of the hostile tribes that were so con-
stantly and persistently depredating the frontier settle-
ments east of the Ohio. Notice of such a project is
found in the “ Relation of Frederick Linebach” (be-

fore quoted),.where he says, “It was agreed that six _

hundred men should meet _on the 18th of March to
‘go to Sandusky. . . .” The plan was not carried out
at the time, nor in the manner then contemplated,
‘but it was not abandoned, and it is certain that from
the first the project against the hostile towns on the
Sandusky found favor among the people of the settle-
ments. It was only as to the manner in which it
should be executed that they disagreed, the majority

' being of the opinion that it should be carried on

under the direction of the commandant at Fort‘ Pitt,
and, if practicable, led by him in person.

The first step to be taken, then, was to secure the
countenance and approbation of Gen. Irvine, and to
that end, James Marshel, lieutenant of Washington
County, wrote the commandant, advising him of the
existence of the project, intimating a desire for his
approval of it, and introducing as the bearer of the
communication Col. David Williamson as a proper
commanding oflicer of the expedition, unless the gen-
eral should see fit to assume the command in person.
In this letter, which was dated April 4, 1782, Col.

. Marshel .said,—

“The bearer hereof, Colonel Williamson, is now
prepared for a voyage down the river with about
thirty thousand weight of flour.
l_ove to his country, he proposes not only to carry an
expedition against Sandusky with the militia of this
county, together with what volunteers might be raised
in Westmoreland, but offers to advance such part of

C the flour as might be necessary for the occasion. . . .
' The people in general on the frontiers are waiting

with anxious expectation to know whether an expe-
dition can be carried against Sandusky early this
spring or not. I could therefore wish that Colonel
Williamson would be countenanced in this plan if
with propriety it can be done.” By this letter from
the proper authority, the county lieutenant, the pro-
ject of the Sandusky expedition was first brought
oflicially to the notice of the commander of the West-
ern Department. The general was disinclined (as will
hereafter be seen) to place Col. Williamson in com-
mand of such an expedition, for ‘he abhorred the
work done under command of thatofficer at Gnaden-
hfitten, but he was favorably disposed towards the
carrying on of an offensive campaign against the
hostile Indians at Sandusky, and although he did
not give an immediate answer to the proposition, he
took the matter under consideration.

One week prior to the date of Marshel’s letter Gen.
Irvine had written to him and also to Col. Edward
Cook, county lieutenant of Westmoreland, asking
them to meet him at Fort Pitt for general consulta-

But from a real 1

tion on the military matters of the department. In his J"

letter to Col. Cook (which was in effect identical with
that addressed to — Col. Marshel) the general said,
“You are already acquainted with the resolution of
Congress and orders of the President and Council of
Pennsylvania respecting my command in this quar-
ter, in addition to which I have received instructions
from his Excellency General Washington. As mak-
ing arrangements to cover and protect the country is
the main object, and as it is to be done by a combina-
tion of Regulars and Militia, the business will be com-
plicated. And, further, as there will be a diversity of

interests, I think it of the utmost Importance that,

whatever plan may be adopted, it should be as gen-
erally understood as the nature of the Service will
admit. . . . You will conceive that I shall stand in
need of the Counsels and assistance on this occasion
of some of the principal people of the country. . . .
I wish, therefore, to see you and at least one field-
officer of every Battalion in your County; for which
purpose I request you will be pleased to warn such as
you may think proper to attend at this post on Friday,
the 5th of April next. Punctuality to the Day will
be necessary, as I have written to Col° Marshal and
others in Washington county also to attend on that

day. . .” Similar requests to attend were sent to the

lieutenants of the Virginia counties, which under
the previous claims of that State covered the territory
of Westmoreland and Washington. V

The conference was held at Fort Pitt, agreeably to
Irvine’s appointment. Col. Marshel, of Washington
County, was obliged to be absent, but in the letter
which he wrote to the general, informing him of his
probable non-attendance. he said, “ I shall most
heartily concur in any plan that may be adopted for
the good of the country.” In his place he sent Col.
Vallandigham, sub-lieutenant,-and there were also
present from Washington County Judge James Ed-
gar, Col. Williamson, Col. Thomas Crook, and Maj.
John Carmichael, the last three being officers of the
county militia. From Westmoreland there were
Cols. Cook and Campbell, respectively lieutenant
and sub-lieutenant of the county; and Ohio County,
Va., was represented by Col. David Shepherd and
Maj. McCulloch. ’ .

When Gen. Irvine was appointed by Congress to
the command of the Western Department, in Septem-
ber‘, 1781, he was empowered to call ‘on the county
lieutenants to furnish him from time to time, from
the militia of their respective counties, such numbers
of troops as he might consider necessary for the de-
fense of the post of Fort Pitt, and for the general
protection of the country, and at the same timethe,
president of the Supreme Executive Council,of Penn-
sylvania and the Governor of Virginia were requested
by Congress to directthe county lieutenants and militia
oflicers of the counties in their respective States
within the Western Department to obey orders given
by Gen-. Irvine for that purpose. President Moore, of

1 942 *

HISTORY OF WASHINGTON COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA.

in the church at VVilkinsburg, Presbytery of Pitts-
burgh, and has since deceased.

The present pastor is Rev. John Stevenson Marquis.
The place of his nativity is Cross Creek township,

A this county. His grandparents, John and Sarah Mar-

quis, were of the first settlers of that township, and
on his mother’s side his great—grandfather and great-
grandmother, John and Jean Stevenson,’ and his
grandfather and grandmother, John and Mary (Mc-
Combs) Stevenson, were among the early settlers of
this congregation, and were members of this church
in its early history. He was educated in part first
at an “academy in Cross Creek village, ‘under the
superintendence of Rev. J ohn” Marquis, now of Ana-

heim, Cal.,” afterwards attended an academy at West f

Alexander, Pa., Rev. John McCluskey, D.D., prin-
cipal, and was graduated at Washington College
Sept. 27, 1848; studied theology, first under the di-

rection of Rev. John Stockton, D.D., and afterwards I

at the \Vestern Theological Seminary, Allegheny
City, Pa.; was licensed to preach the gospel by the
Presbytery of ‘Washington, April, 1853, at Mounds-
ville, W. Va.; was ordained by the same Presbytery,
April, 1855 .; was first stationed for four years at Sis-
tersville, Tyler Co., VV. Va., afterwards in the bounds
of the Presbytery of Steubenville for seven years, and
from failing health was compelled to cease from the
active work of the ministry for more than three years.
He first preached in this church in Novefnber, 1867;
was calledto the ‘pastorate March 2, 1868; ‘was in-
stalled June 5th, same year. At the installation ser-'
vices Dr. Brownson presided and preached the sermon,
Dr. Stockton charged the pastor, and Rev. S. M.
Henderson (the former pastor) the people.

The first bench of elders was composed of the fol-

‘ lowing persons, viz.: Patrick McCullough, Patrick

Scott, Hugh Cotton, Hugh Scott.

Dr. McMillan, in his journal, says that on “the
third Sabbath of November preached again at Pigeon
Creek from Luke iv. 12, ordained five elders and bap-
tized five children.” This was in 1776, and most

likely the date of the ordination and installation of

the first bench of elders. After this and before the
close of the pastorate of Mr. Gwin the following-
named ‘persons were elected and ordained ruling
elders, viz.: James Smith, John Hosack, James Kerr,
Joseph Vaughn, John Stevenson, J r., William Fer-
guson, Aaron Kerr, Robert Moore, and John Atkinson.
It is notlikely that the above—named persons were all
elected and ordained at the same time, but from the
absence of any records the date of election and ordin-
ation cannot be fixed. A ‘
During the period of Dr.,Anderson’s labors here
the following-named persons were chosen and or-
dained elders, viz.: John Vance, Samuel Gamble,

Samuel Ritchey, Dr. Boyd Emery, VVilliam Kerr, I

and David Riddle. This addition was made July

1 17, 1836. Afterwards during Dr. Sloan’s labors here

there were additions made at three different times:

1

1st, Andrew Smith, James Vance, John Leyda,
Greer Mcllvain, and John Scott were elected Feb.
13,1849, and ordained April 8, 1849; 2d, William
Smith, William,Ramsey, and Edward Paden were
elected March 3, 1856, and ordained April 14th, same
year; 3d, Alexander’ Hamilton, Zachariah Peese,
James Rankin, and John C. Messenger were elected
March 5, 1860, and ordained April 8, 1860.

The present session consists of Greer Mcllvain,
William Smith, Zachariah Peese, Alexander Ham-
ilton, Edward Paden, and John C. Messenger. '

Deacons.—\Villiam Barkley, William Davis, James
Jones, and Isaac V. Riddle were elected deacons, and
were ‘ordained March 7, 1864. '

Revivals.—-The first revival in this church com-
menced near the close of the year 1781, and continued
with but little interruption for near six years. The
work-was one of great power, and many were added
to the church, but in the absence of records thenum-
ber will not be known until the revelations of the last
great day. t

The second revival was during the ministry of Mr.
Gwin, and is known as the ‘,‘ Falling VVork,” com-
mencing near the close of the year 1799 or the begin-
ning of 1800, and continuing on through the year
1802. This was a work of a most remarkable nature.
Often strong men would come to the religious services
to scoff, butwould be among the first to fall down and
plead for mercy, their groanings and pleadings baf-
fling description. Of the numbers added during this
period we have no record. 1, i _

From the commencement of Dr. Anderson’s min-
istry until its close there appeared to be one continued
revival, many being added to the church at every
communion season." At the beginning of the’ year
1857 God again blessed this church with a season of
reviving, and at the communion on the first Sabbath
of March seventy-eight were added to t-he church,
and the whole-number during that year was one hun-
dred and two. This was under theministrations of
Dr. Sloan, and at other times whilst he was pastor
therewere added eleven, twelve, sixteen.

The next season of the special reviving work of

God’s spirit commenced about the lstof November, _

1867. This was during the vacancy which occurred
after Mr. Henderson’s release fromhis connection
with this church. The religious services were con-
ducted by Mr. J. P.,Irwin, a licentiate of the Presby-
tery of .Pittsbt1rgl1, Rev. R. V. Dqdge, ,of the Second

Church of Washington, and Rev. William Hanna,

of the church of Fairview. On the first Sabbath of
December sixty-eight were received into tl1e_commu-
nion of the church.
tered the sacrament at that time. _ ,

The last season of revival was at thecommencement
of the year 1877., when large numbers were inquiring
“ what they should do tobe saved,” and at the com-
munion on the first Sabbath of March eighty‘-one-pen

' sons stood up in the presence of the congregation and

Rev. J. K. Andrews adminis—. -

  SOMERSET

TOWNS HIP. 9,-I3

publicly professed their‘ faith in Christ. Six addi-
tional members were added at the same time, being
received by letter from other churches.

C’/mrc/2. Edifices.—The first buildingwas of round
logs, with a clapboard roof and door, and was occu-
pied thefirst winter after its erection without being
“ chunked and daubed,” and without fire. The writer
heard one who worshiped here at that time repeatedly
make this statement. .

It is claimed also that there was a building here
afterwards of hewed logs, and yet it is also maintained

-that the present building is the third edifice; but if

there was a_ hewed log building the present building
must be the fourth one erected. There was a stone
building erected near the site of the first (the year is
not known). In consequence of some imperfection
in the construction, on a ‘certain Sabbath, whilst the
pastor was preaching, thefloor gave way, carrying
down with it the entire audience. The congregation
supposing that the house was falling, the scene ensu-
ing can be more readily imagined than described.

. Providentially, no one was seriously injured. 1 After”

this the floor was taken out and replaced under the
pews withearthen aisles. As each family made or
caused their own pews to be made, the variety in style
was almost as great as the number of the pews. The
site of these buildings was within the limits of the
cemetery.

The present church building was erected in 1829;

is built of brick,_ and is in size ‘seventy by fifty-six:
feet, with four doors, two in the end looking south-

west and one on each side. The present building

stands onthe brow of the hill, lying a little north of

"east of the cemetery, and outside of its limits.
In_ the early history, of the church, in the summer
season, religious services were held in a grove near

' _ the church, where a tent wasierected for the accom-

modation of the minister, and was west of the church
building, in what is now the lower part of the ceme-

tery. The following is a copy of a letter addressed to ‘R
the writer, and is the recollection of one who came‘
to this church when a small boy, Hon. Isaac Shane,’

of J eiferson County, Ohio:

"‘ Bacon Rings, Jnrrsasofi COUNTY, OHIO, March 15, 1875.
“Rev. J. S. MARQUIS: _
“ Dear Sir-,——Fo1' a long while I have neglected answering your letter,

and for which I owe you an apology; yet I hope this will be in time for .

your Centennial. My first recollection of being at Pigeon Creek Church

' was about the year 1789 or 1790, at a commhnion with my father and
‘mother, in the mon_th of "October. I recollect distinctly about the tent

where the services were held. It was standing ina grove of tall white-
oak trees, and the trees were full of wild pigeons, and I paid more at-

'tention to the pigeons than to the preacher. I was then about eight
- years old. I recollect Dr. McMillan when he rose and read the Psalm,
_ gave out one line, and then handed the book to an oldish man to lead

called Billy McCombs. The house of worship was of logs, and my im-
pression now is that they were round and the roof clapboards. There
was no inclosure either about the house or graveyard. What graves
were there were on a piece of ground about eight or ten rods east of

the church, and each grave inclosed. with a. fence of poles or logs, or

whatever could be got hold of -easiest. All was open to the wide world."

' The tent stood about ten rods west of ' thechurch on lower ground. I,
4 think two of the elders were Patrick Scott and --—» McCullough, al-

though I am not certain \VlllL'l) of them was called Patrick. Now, my_

dear friend, perhaps you had better not place too much reliance on the
foregoing statements, although I think theyare substantially correct,
but they are made from memory, and they occurred nearly eighty-five
years ago, when a little barefooted boy, eight years old, gazedcarelessly
on the surrounding scenes, and that same little boy is now well on in
his ninety-third year. And now may God bless you and yours, and
your labors in winning souls to Christ, and that your life may long be
spared is the prayer of your friend, V .
“ Isaac SHANE.”

The first meeting of the Presbytery of Redstone,

and the first meeting of any Presbytery west of the
Allegheny Mountains, was held here. It met Sept.
19, 1781. The sessionsof this Presbytery were held
principally at the house of Mr. John Stevenson, Sr.,
where Mr. Thomas McCorkle now lives, about three-
fourths of a mile from the church... i . A 1

Thirteen young men who were connectedwith this
church have entered "the ministry, and. three more
are pursuing a preparatory course of studies with the
ministry in view. V A ,

During the present pastorate this ‘congregation
erected a parsonage, with such other buildings as are
necessary, at an estimated cost of four thousand dol-
lars. This building is a frame of two stories, thirty-
six by thirty-two feet, and was built in 1871, and first
occupied near the "last of October of the same year.
The building committee consisted. of Messrs. \Villiam
Smith, Dr. Boyd Emery, William Barkley, Robert
Moore, and I. V. Riddle.  '1

New C'0ngregations.—While Dr. Sloan was pastor,

of this church thechurch. at Fairview was organized
at Muntown,and was-:.,composed largely of families
and members connected. with this church, thereby
reducing materially both the membership and terri-
tory of this congregation. And the church of Mount

Pleasant was organized in the last few years, and it _

was also composed largely of members from this
church. ' 1 A

First Sabbath-Sclzo0Z.—-The first Sabbath-school was

organized in 1822. Hon. Joseph Lawrence brought
the subject before the congregation, and Elder James
Smith and Dr. Boyd Emery were among the early
superintendents. Elder David Riddle was‘ for many
years’ the superintendent; also Hon. J. C. Messen-
ger and James Jones have acted in this capacity.
Mr. Messenger is the present superintendent.

The first educational meeting for the advancement A

of common school education ever held in this State
was in this church while Dr. Sloan was pastor.
From this originated a county convention, and as a
result county superintendents and‘ county institutes.
Centennial Oeleln-atzTon.—On the 24th ‘of August,
1875, the one hundredth anniversary’ of the'preach-
ing of the first sermon within the bounds of the con-
gregation by Dr. McMi1lan was celebrated here.
Rev. D.iH. J unkin, D.D.~, of New Castle, Pa., was
invited to deliver an historical address on the life
and times of Dr. McMillan. He was on the ground
at the “time with an elaborate address, but being

taken suddenly ‘ill was unable to deliver it, and it-

944.

/

HISTORY OF WASHINGTON’ COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA.

was read by the Rev. Boyd Mercer Kerr, a son of
this church.

Rev. J . S. Marquis read the history of the congre-
gation. _

Hon. J . C. Messenger gave a brief history of the
Sabbath-school connected with the church.

Mr. William Kerr, an aged member of the church
and for many years an elder, related many interest-

.ing reminiscences connected with the history of the

church. The assemblage was immense, coming from
every direction and from great distances. The num-
ber was variously estimated at from-three thousand to
five thousand persons. In the opinion of the writer
the last number was the nearest -correct. There was
a large number of. ministers present on this occasion.
After the exercises of the day, at night Rev. George
P. Hays, D.D., president of Washington .and J efferson
College, delivered a lecture in the church, which was
largely attended and greatly applauded.

The Church of Christ at Vanceville, formerly
designated “The Congregation of the Disciples of
Christ at Pigeon Creek,” had its distinctiveandsep-
arate organization in 1832, fifty years ago. This or-'
ganization was the result of long-cherished principles
rather than of a definite design of any number of
individuals. The Bible was the daily companion of
those. who sought information of things sacred and
revealed, or diversion from the Weariness of hard
daily labor. Pious fathers -and mothers felt it in-
cumbent upon them to teach and train up their chil-
dren in the nurture and adumnition of the Lord.

The oft-repeated saying of a godly father was, “Let
us hear what God says;” and taking up “the old
family ‘Bible that lay on the stand,” he would read a
portion, and calling upon each member of the family
that could read _ to , read a passage or recite from
memory a verse or more which he had learned, and

then singing’ “Before Jehovah’s awful throne,” or

some other appropriate hymn, he would pray, and
then send every one to his appointed work. All were
happy, and went forth in the fear if not the love of
God. Such teaching, although not universal, was
found dispersed in a sufficient number of families to
leaven every community of the early settlers west
of the Allegheny Mountains. In 1804 five Baptist
preachers assembled on Pigeon Creek to organizea

' number of immersed believers into achurch. They-

cast aboutfor a name that would be both distinctive
and. representative, and they designated it “The

‘Gospel Church at Pigeon Creek,” seeking to teach
A and to practice the teachings of Christ and his apos-

tles. This organizationcontinued until about 1832,
when some of the Baptist preachers introduced a
creed which they thought was ‘necessary to be added
to the Bible to shut out heresy. Those adopting this
creed were designated the “ Regular Baptist Church
at Pigeon Cr,eek.»” Those refusing to take the creed
were content to stand by the name “Gospel Church,”
and take only such titles -as were used by the New

Testament writers by which to designate the follow-
ers of Christ.‘ A more careful study of this book
taught them that the followers-of Jesus Christ were
called “His disciples,” “brethren,” “ saints,” “Chris-
tians,” etc.; that the corporate body united for the
public worship of God was called “the church,
churches of God, and the church of Christ.” They
also concluded that sinners can and should be con-
verted now as they were in the apostolic age ;" that
the church in any given locality should be placed
under the care of overseers and servednby deacons,
and “ follow peace with all men, and holiness, with-
out which no man shall see the Lord.” _

This church continued to meet and worship the
Lord in. the same house, held in ‘common with the
Baptists,until 1859, whenthe oldhouse was disposed
of. On Jan. 16, 1858, David McDonough made a deed
to Isaa.c Mitchell, James Morton, and John Burgan,’
trustees of the Christian Church, or Disciples of Christ,
on Pigeon Creek, in Somerset township, “ for and in
the consideration of the sum of Fifty Dollars,” of one
acre and twenty—two perches of land, on which the
present meeting-house stands, on Pigeon Creek.‘

On this lot, near Vanceville, the Disciples built
themselves a new house, which was opened for wor-
ship in 1860, and a reorganization of the congregation
was effected. '

meeting in the old house were James Burgan and
David McDonough. Since the reorganization in 1860,
William .Hill, John Burgan, Thomas W. Beatty, and

latter are now. the ruling oflicers of the congregation.

prominent and a very activemember. He was a.man
of . great physical and intellectual force. He served
his country in the capacity of first lieutenant of vol-
unteers under Gen. Harrison,’in the war with England,
from 1812 to 1814. In those days but few men were
found that equaled him in‘ courage or prowess. At

language,.and such was the proficiency made under
the teachings -of his heroic and godly wife that he
soon learned to read any common English, but the
New Testament was his delight, much of which he
committed to memory. , A

The evangelists or preachers of the word who have
labored in word and doctrine in this church were J.

' gan, NormanLamphear, Wesley Lamphear, Chauncy
Ward, Marcus Bosworth, Henry Langl y, L. P. Streator,
Dr. George Lucy, Hiram Vankirk, John Whitaker,
J. B. Ryatt, William S. Lloyd, Samuel F. Fowler,

' C. Jobes, and J. H. Hendron.

Of these, L. P. Streator labored longer than any
other one, commencing in November, 1840. The
whole number of members of this church has not ex’-

, ceeded two hundred. The number of the -original

members was twelve. Thepresent number is fifty. .-

Those who served the congregation as elders while.

Joseph McDonough have served as elders; the three »

Among these, James Burgan was for a long time a _

thirty years of age he commencedto learn written.

T. Smith, James Darsie, W. F. Pool, Robert Milli- A

2/ //Z//_
W /0 ,7 /,
V? //1

 /,,,./2/, 2

Z

V

‘.

 

SOMERSET
' The present condition of this congregation is en-
couraging. It consists of a body of intelligent men
and women, who are distinguished for their piety and
zeal. They are intelligent in the word -of the Lord,
and willing to make sacrifices in the interest of truth,
and to wait the Lord’s own good time to confer the
reward pledged to the faithful.

United Presbyterian Church of Pigeon Creek.——
The records of this congregation before the year 1836
are lost. They are thought to have been destroyed in
the burning of Mr. Samuel VVeir’s house. Our de-
pendence for the earlier history of the church is on
the ‘records of Chartiers Presbytery of the Associate
Presbyterian Church and the memory of aged. survi-
vors of those earlier days. Among the latter the

A name of Mr. Thomas Hall is mentioned in the records

of Presbytery as the commissioner of certain members
of the Associate Church applying to Presbytery for
supplies of preaching. Mr. Hall is still living, and
is a member of Pigeon Creek Church.

According to the records of Presbytery, applications
for preaching were made and granted in the year 1816.
During that and the following year public Worship
was held in Mr. Hall’s house. We do not know the
date of the erection of “ Hall’s Tent,” aroofed plat-
form occupied» by the minister during public worship,
but as Mr. Hall’s recollection is that preaching was
heldin his house for about two years, we may fix the

. date of this the first building near the beginning of

1818. The petition for the election of elders, which
corresponds with the organization, according to our

, more modern expression, was presented to Presbytery

Nov. 11, 1817. The minutes of Presbytery do’ not
show any action as being taken on this petition. The
presumption is that an unrecorded appointment was
made or that the petitioners accepted the Presby-

' tery’s silence as consent, for at the April meeting

following, April 7, 1818, a petition was presented for
the ordination of. elders. This implies that they had
been previously elected. V The unrecorded tradition is
that Mr. Hall and Mr. Adam Weir were elected to
the eldership and did not accept the office. William
Pollock and Peter Martin were ordained as elders, and
thus the church was organized not long after April 7,
1818. ‘The congregation being thus organized, the

next thing was to procure a house for worship. They '

desiredto locate it at a po-int convenient to the mem-
bership. The place selected was that Where the
church was afterwards built. It was on a part of Mr.
Hall’s farm, on ground now inclosed in the graveyard of

, Pigeon Creek Church. But they needed the consent

of Presbytery for their location, and there were difli-
culties in the way. _ .

Chartiers Church, with the venerable Dr. Ramsey
as pastor, was only nine miles away, and members of
the Associate Presbyterian Church living in Wash-
ington were desirous of obtaining an organization in
that town. In those days of sparse population it was
thought that three congregations in such small terri-

TOWNSHIP.

"Was begun.

9-15

tory would be “too thick to thrive.” In the meetings
of Presbytery following the organization, April, 1818,
petitions and remonstrances were acted on from the
congregation of Chartiersand from members in Wash-
ington opposing the location at “Hall’s” as beingytoo
near those places. A commission of Presbyterymet
with representatives of Washington and “ I-Iall’s,”‘ to
enable them to agree on a location at some convenient
point’ between the two places for the location of as
church that would accommodateboth. They could
not compromise, and Pigeon Creek renewed their pe-
tition. for the privilege of building their church at the
selected place. The contest for and against the grant-
ing of the petition was a close one. The vote in Pres-

bytery was a tie. It was decided in favor of granting I

the petition by the casting vote of the moderator of
Presbytery. And it is a cherished tradition of the
people of Pigeon Creek, showing how an unselfish
deed retains its fragrance, even in the musty pages of
history and tradition, that the moderator whose vote
decided in their favor was the Rev. James Ramsey,
D.D., whose interests were, according to the opinion
of the times, chiefly thought to be unfavorably affected
by the decision.

But even this did not end the contest. An appeal
from the decision of Presbytery was taken to the As-
sociate Synod by a representative of the Washington
people. Synod did not sustain the appeal, and thus
the organization about the beginning of the year 1819
had, by ecclesiastical authority, a “ local habitation.”
About that time they built the first house of worship,
a log house. But the church in some way got a wrong
name.
Pigeon Creek waters. But local names were scarce
then, and probably they chose the nearest local name,
or perhaps called the young church after her more
venerable relative, Pigeon Creek Presbyterian Church.
Mr. Hall, who did so much to secure the existence of the
congregation, had selected for it the name “ Concord,”
but he being absent when it first received recognition,
in Presbytery, the present name was given to it, and
is now becoming venerable with age. It will proba-
bly remain. The first log house, built probably in
1819, continued in use, with one enlargement to ac-
commodate a growing congregation, till 1838. Then
a brick church, sixty by fifty feet in size, was built at

a cost of $2500. This becoming insecure by the sink- . .

ing of the walls, in 1869 the present house of worship
It was completed and "opened for wor-
ship in May, 1871. Cost, when furnished, $18,000. A
parsonage was added in 1873, at a cost of about $4000.

Past0rs.——The first pastor of the congregation was
Rev. Alexander Wilson. He was pastor of Peters
Creek. On joint petition of Peters Creek and Pigeon
Creek, one-third of his time was given to Pigeon
Creek July 4, 1820. This arrangement continued
till June 10, 1834. September 24th, the same year,
Rev. Bankhead Boyd was ordained to the ministry,
and installed as pastor of the congregation. This re-

The situation was about three miles from _

946

HISTORY OF WASHINGTON COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA.

lation continued with great usefulness till the time of
his death, Feb. 3, 1860. The present pastor, Rev. D.
S. Littell, was called July '25, 1861, began preaching
the third Sabbath of September following, and was
inlstalcled as pastor Oct. 17, 1861.

Since 1875 the congregation has given up vpew—rents,
subscriptions, etc., and secured all funds for benevo-

lent purposes, salaries, and congregational expenses.

by a contribution taken up each time the congrega-
tion meets for public worship, which contribution is
considered as one of the acts of worship. Their de-
pendence is on the providence of God to give the
ability, and the grace of God to give the willingness,
and in both respects the Lord has not disappointed
them. Thus, in the sixty-two years since its first
pastoral settlement, the congregation has had three
pastors, aggregating more than fifty-nine years, and
beenvacant less than three years. By last ye_ar’s re-
port, the membership is one hundred and seventy-
eight. Increase for the year, eleven; decrease, four;
net increase, seven’. Contributions for all religious
and benevolent purposes, $2158. '
German Lutheran Church.~It is not knownsat
what time the church was organized, but a warrant
for sixteen acres and twenty-five perches of land was

' obtained on the 15th of January, 1816, by Jacob

Kintner, John Oustott, and George Miller, trustees,
“for the use of German Lutheran and Calvinistic
Congregations of ‘Somerset township.” This land was
patented Feb. 27, 1833. A log church was erected
soon after the warrant was obtained. A portion of
the ‘ground was used for a burial-place. ‘The old
church was taken down many years ago, and a new
one erected of brick on the site.

The ‘Rev. George“ Myers is the present pastor.

Scli00ls.—The first school taught in Somerset
which can be remembered by any of‘ the present
residents of thetownship was that held in an old log
dwelling-house situated on the farm of John Vance,
on the Middle Branch of Pigeon Creek. It was taught
for one year, about 1798', by Samuel Lawrence. Fol-
lowing this venture a school was opened in another

log dwelling-house, a half-mile east of the Vance‘

school, on the farm now owned by Joseph McDon-
ough. Leonard Blaine, an Irishman, taught here at
different times, and later John Knox McGee taught
a three-months’ term of school in the Vance school-
house. Another school was taught in the beginning
of 1800 in a building which, if standing, would be
on Thomas Richardson’s farm. In _, 1801 short terms
of school were held in the lower part of the township,
all of them being paid for by individual subscrip-
tions. After 1803 buildings for the express purpose
of schools began to be erected throughout the town-
ship. They were generally built of logs and furnished
with puncheon seats without backs-. The fireplace
occupied one end of the building, and light was ob-
tained through openings cut the whole length of the
other end,_anrl both sides .made'about ten’ inclzes

wide, and covered with oiled paper. About the year

1804 a school-house was erected on the South Branch’

of Pigeon Creek, very near the Carey Mill. Mr. David

Johnson, who was a fine classical scholar, taught,

at this place. In 1814 a school-house was built
on the farm of Greer McIlvaine, which was in the
centre of the township, and the first teacher employed
was John Mcllvaine. He was succeeded by Jesse

Woodruff, and the building continued in use, the _

schools being maintained on the old plan of subscrip-
tion, until the adoption of the public school system.
In 1814 Alexander Walker taught school in the

Quaker Church at Clover Hill. This was before the

townships of Somerset and Fallowfield were divided.
On Aug. 6, 1810, William Morrow advertised that
he was about to open a military school at the tavern

of John Wilson, nine miles from Washington, on the

VVilliamsport road. No information is gained of the
success of this institution.

of these branches only to boys, as it was considered

useless to teach girls to write; all .of the schools’ ses-

sions were held irregularly up to 1834, when the pub-
lic school law was enacted.

In 1827, Mordecai Hoge, who had taught since.

1814 in that section, commenced‘ to teach a school at

what is now known as Hoge’s Summit, where he‘

taught for six years, and teaching near Pees’ Mill
and in a log school-house on the site of the Hardy
school-house two years, he returned to Hoge’_s Sum-

mit, and taught almost without i__ntern1ission for.
twenty-three years, when his labors ceased. Prof,

John Messenger later commenced a school at that

place, and in 1860 erected andxbuilt a small building,

which was named Hoge’s Summit Academy, and
was intended for the benefit of those who wished to
obtain a classical education. The school, which has
been moderately successful, is still _in operation and

yet remains under the management of Prof. Mes-A

senger, who is a fine classical scholar.
In the year 1835, after the passage of the school
law, there were in the township three hundred and

eight taxables liable for school purposes, an_d in that_

year there was raised $253.79.
The next year the school directors, John Vance
and Henry McDonough, laid out the township into

ten school districts. _ In this year, 1836, the township .
did not accept the provisions of the school act, and
only the State tax of $88.21 was raised. In 1837 the , .

act was complied with and $500.03 was assessed and
collected. Ten school buildings were erected and are
still in use, the one at Bentleysville having been en-

larged and converted into a Union school. In Som-

erset in 1863 there were reported eleven schools, eleven
teachers, four hundred and five pupils in attendance,
and a school fund of$1111.16. In 1873 the schools
had, been reduced to the number of eight; eight
teachers were employed, two hundred and twenty-

five pupils ‘were enrolled, and the school fund

In those early days only.
reading, writing, and arithmetic were taught, and all ‘

SOMERSET

TOWNSHIP.

947

amounted to $2097.30. In 1880 eight teachers were
employed in the eight schools, two hundred and
twenty scholars were in attendance, and -the school
fund aggregated $2086.16, with an expenditure of
$1854.63.  j
‘Physicians-The first physician to settle in Somer-
set was Dr. Ephraim Estep, who located in the centre
ofthe township, where Ira Huffman now lives. This
was in 1807, and after he had studied medicine and

fitted himself for practicein Allegheny City, then but

a small settlement. He remained in Somerset town-

' ship about three years, and then returned to Alle-

gheny City. Beside studying medicine, Dr. Estep
had been regularly ordained as a Baptist minister, and
was the first pastor of the Baptist Church here. After
his return to Allegheny City he followed both profes-

' sions of medicineand‘ the ministry until his death.

Dr. Crawford succeeded Dr. Estep in the medical
practice in this township. He also came from Alle-
gheny City, and lived at the home of his brother-in-
law, Isaac McCullough. His sojourn here lasted but
three years, when he sold out.and removed to Alle-
gheny City. 0 .

Dr. Robert Mercer was a son of Rev. Boyd Mercer,
and a native of Somerset. He studied medicine with
Dr. David Mitchell, of Washington borough, and be-
gan his practice here at his old home, living in his
father’s house’. He remained here until 1828 or 1.830,
when he removed to the \7Vest.

Dr. Bishop came into Somerset township in 1830,
and at once secured the practice previously held by
Dr. Mercer. He remained two years, and also re-
moved to the West. , V
_ ‘In 1831, Dr. Boyd Emory came to this section, and
commenced the practice of medicine. He was born
in Canonsburg, but has resided in this township for

, more than fifty years. He has been eminently suc-

cessful in his profession, in which he is still actively
engaged, and is now assisted by his son and partner,
Dr. Boyd Emory, Jr. _ ‘ , I _

Dr. John Keyes came into Somerset in 1855 and
opened an oflice in the village of Bentleysville, secur-
ing at once a large and lucrative practice. At the
beginning of the Rebellion he entered the army as a
captain of the Ringgold Cavalry, and died in the
service. Dr. Robert Keyes, a younger brother of Dr.
John Keyes, practiced his profession in this township
for many years, but finally removed, to other parts.
He was succeeded by Dr. Harvey Leyda, who after
some years removed to Monongahela City.

Dr. J efl°erson Scott came next in order of the Som-
erset physicians, and is still attending to a most suc-
cessful business here. I

Dr. Stephen ‘E. Hill, son of William Hill, is a
native of Somerset.
duties of a physician he opened an oflice here, where
he has attained and holds an excellent practice.

- Dr. Henry McDonough is a grandson of Henry Mc-
Donough, who settled in Somerset township prior to

Wilson Kerr, March 24, 1874.

After fitting ‘himself for the

1785. Dr. McDonough lives on the land taken up
and improved by his grandfather. _

Dr. David Mitchell, who practiced in Washington
borough, is still remembered by many residents of this
township. He had a brother, Dr. Hiram Mitchell.
He lived in the neighborhood of the pike, and after-
ward removed to the vicinity of Canonsburg.

Among some of the earliest physicians in this sec-'
tion was Dr. Wheeler. He was an English surgeon,

but was efficient in all other phases of a medical prac- 5

tice. Others were Dr. Milton Allen, who died here,
Dr. Joseph Shidder, an-d Dr. Joseph ‘Leatherman.
Dr. E. R. De Normandie is at present the dentist of
the township, and the first regularly educated one to
come here. '
Incorporation of Bentleysvil1e.—On the 2d of
May, 1868, on petition of citizens, the court of Wash-
ington County granted a charter to the borough of
Bentleysville. The names of the burgesses, council,
and justices of the peace are here given: ;
1S68.—Bu_rgess, Hiram Mitchell; Council, B.‘ Crouch, Henry Newkirk,
John Denormandie, Dana Mitchell, Emory Leyda. _
1869 (March‘,.—Burgess, D. H. Mitchell; Council, Edward Sprowls,
Henry Newkirk, R. L. Jones, John Denormandie, Henry Hamilton.
1869 (Octoher).—Burgess, 0. L. McElheny; Council, Edward Sprowls, II.
Miller, S. B. Richardson, Thomas Johnston, R. W. West, R. Tucker.
1870.—Burgess, Henry Newkirk; Council, R. W. West, D. H. Mitchell,
Samuel Fry, David Howell, Abraham Finley, Richard Luker.
1872.'—Burgess, Willison Kerr; Council, Thomas Richardson, A. J. Buf-
fington, Harrison Richardson, Noah Morton. H 5 4 ‘
1873.—-Burgess, tie vote; Council, A. J. Buflington, H. Richardson, John
White, John Crouch, Isaac Newkirk, J. A. Newkirk, Josepl1vJen-
nings. . '
1874.-—Burgess, A. J. Buffington; Council, John \Vhite,.Jacoh-Grahle,
James Jones, Thomas Richardson, Edward Sprowls, A. J. Newkirk.
1875.—Burgess, Jeremiah Sprowls; Council, Edward Sprowls, James
Jones, John Crouch, Joseph Jennings, J. H. Leyda, William Kerr,
R. S. Jones. ’ ' '
1876.—Burgess, James Jones; Council, W. H. Cleaver, II. Richardson,
Edward Sprowls, J. H. Leyda, David Mitchell, I. M. Grable.
1877.—Burgess, James Jones; Council, E. Sprowls, Thomas Richardson,
L. Beadsworth, A. Finley, J. H. Leyda, R. L. Jones. -
1878.—Burgt-ss, James Jones; Council, E. Sprowls, F. J. Richardson, L.
Beadsworth, Jacob Grahle, A. Finley, W. H. Cleaver.
1879.—Burgess, D. L. Howell; Assistant Burgess,Daniel Kerr; Council,
Richard Hoffman, Isaac Morris, Jacob Grahle, D. Kerr, Mort. Rich-
ardson, R. L. Jones. ‘
1880.—Burges.=:, A. J. McCormick; Council, Benjamin Crouch, David
Mitchell, W. F. Richardson, John Salters.
188l.——Burgess, James Jones; Council, M. Morton,J. T. Scott, E. Sprowls,
D. Mitchell, R. L. Jones. E. Leyda. ’ ‘
1882.—Burgess, A. J. McCormick; Council, J. F. White, E. Sprowls, R.
L. Jones, Hudson Crouch, Noah Norton, Henry Scott.

The justices of the peacehave been as follows:

John \V. Stephens, April 15, 1873. ‘ David Mitchell, March‘ 17, 1876.
John W. Stephens, Jan. 21, 1874:. J. F. White, March 28, 1879.
i Jeremiah Sprowls, April 9, 1881. ‘

4-;
‘Ilvf

BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES.

WILLIAM SMITH.

William Smithwas born on Mingo Creek, Notting-
ham township, Washington C0,‘, Pa., June 28, 1804,
the youngestin a family of six children of VVilliam
and Mary (Caldwell) Smith. His fatherwas born in

948

HISTORY or WASHINGTON COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA.

County Tyrone, Ireland, was married there, and emi-

" grated to Americain 1798. He first settled on Mingo

Creek, Nottingham township; ‘In 1807 he purchased
a farm of one hundred and six acres, situated on East
Chartiers Creek, on the southern limit of North Stra-
bane township. It was mostly woods. Both he and
his wife were members of the Pigeon Creek Church.
He was an honest, hard-working man, a devoted hus-
band, a kind father,‘ and a good citizen. He died
July 20, 1840, aged eighty-two. His wife died Aug.
10, 1844, aged eighty—five. Both are buried at Pigeon
Creek. Their children were Sarah, James, Margaret,
Anni, Maria, and VVilliam. All were born on Mingo
Creek, except Sarah, who was born in Ireland. The

latter was the wife of ‘Robert Hanna, moved to Har-

rison County, Ohio, where her husband died. She
then returned to Washington. County, and lived with
her brother William until her death. 1

James married. Prudence Hanna, sister of Robert.
He settled on a farm about three miles above VVash—
ington, and died there in about six months.

Margaret lived and died at the residence of her
brother William; ‘ Neither Sarah nor James had chil-
dren. Sarah, James, and Margaret are buried at
Pigeon Creek Church. ,

Ann was the wife of Dr. Joseph Caldwell, who died ‘
in Butler County. She had children as follows: Wil-,
liam, Mary, James, Bell, Margaret, Samuel, Sarah,

and Joseph, all of whom except Margaret married
and raisedfamilies. Samuel Caldwell has been for
many years one of the oflicers of Dixmont Hospital.
Mrs. Caldwell died in Allegheny City and is buried
there. A '. '
Maria was the wife of Robert McCaskey. She lived
and died in Allegheny County. They had one son,

oseph. All deceased.

William Smith lived at the homestead until twenty-
eight years of age. His schooling was limited to at-
tendance at the old log school-house in the neighbor-
hood. The management of the home farm devolved
upon him after reaching his majority, his father with-

drawing from_its oversight. He married, Feb. 2,’

1832, Elizabeth, daughter of Andrew and Elizabeth
‘(Riddle)’ VaniEm_an. Mrs. Smith was born April 14,
1803, on the place now occupied by her son, Andrew
VVylie Smith. ‘ A

From savings during his stay on the home farm
Mr. Smith purchased a farm of seventy "acres in-
Somerset township, and after marriage moved to it,

continuing, however, the management of the home
-farm, which came into his possession upon the death

of his father.

In 1854 he purchased of James McDowell the grist-
and saw-mills on the East Branch of Chartiers Creek,
rebuilt and remodeled them, and has carried them on
ever since. But farmihg has been the principal busi-
ness of his life, and his success has been exceptional.
He has dealt extensively in Spanish merino sheep
and in Durham cattle. He has added from time to

time to his original purchase of seventy acres until
he has, nearly in one body, six hundred acres of land.

In politics a lifelong Democrat, but no seeker of
office. He united with the Pigeon Creek Church in
1832, andihas been an elder, also a trustee, in the
same for many years.

His first wife died April 18, 1874, and is buried at
Pigeon Creek. By her he had children as follows:

James, born May 9, 1834, died Oct. 29, 1834. .

Andrew Wylie, born Nov. 5, 1835-, married Sarah
Ann Doak. . Residing and carrying on one of his
father’s farms in Somerset township. Children are
Robert D., VVilliam A., Ollie F., and-Elliott Wylie.

.Mary C., born Jan. 1,1839, widow of L. L. Whitely,
living at Vanceville, Somerset township. Children
are William S., Annie M., Frank, Sarah H., David,
Margaret, and Laken L‘.  _ ' I ,

Elizabeth R., born Dec. 10, 1841, died April 2, 1859.

Margaret, born May 3, 1843, wife-of John Davis,
farmer, living in Somerset township. Children, Wil-
liam D., VVylie W., Lizzie May, John Marcus, Van
Eman D., and an infant daughter.

William James, born June 17, 1845. Married Jane,

daughter of Thomas McNary. Living upon and car-'

rying on the. homestead farm. Children, Thomas
McNary, Lizzie, VVilliam, and Ella-

Sarah Jane, born June 20, 1847. Wife of Andrew '

N. Haggerty, a theological student at the Allegheny
Seminary.

Mr. Smith married again Nov. 9, 1875, Eleanor,
daughter of Robert and Elizabeth Boyd, and widow
of Isaac .Wall.

Since his last marriage Mr. Smith has settled on a
place in Somerset township, near his mill property,
and has withdrawn from active business. _ . A

He was among the earliest advocates of the tem-
perance cause, and has been a leading man in church
affairs. Enjoying, in the fullest measurethe love and

affection of a large family circle and the best esteem ,

of his fellow-men, his declining years may be well
made bright by the consciousness of a life well‘ spent.

JOHN S. BARR.

William Barr, a gentleman of Scotch-Irish parent-_
age, a native of Londonderry, Ireland, emigrated to
America, and settled in Somerset township, Washing-
ton Co., in 1818. From the same county and parish

came his future wife, Mary Boyd, in 1824, and set- , ‘

tled in the adjoining township of Nottingham. They
were married soon after her arrival, and the number
of their children was eight. The oldest of them,
John Scott Barr, was born Jan. 26, 1827. His father
died when he was twelve years of age, and the man-
agement of the farm, upon which there was a pay-
ment soon due, devolved upon him. He devoted
himself assiduously to the work of freeing their home
from debt, and was so successful in his labor that he
soon found himself “ outof debt and out of danger}?

\

 

112

HISTORY OF WASHINGTON COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA.

Pennsylvania, thereuponpromptly gave the necessary
directions to the lieutenants of Washington and West-
moreland Counties to furnish troops from the militia
of their counties upon the requisition of Gen. Irvine.
But Governor Harrisoh, of Virginia, had not com-
plied‘ with the request of Congress in that particular,
and so that department commander could only de-
pend on the troops under his immediate command,
and such as could be furnished by Westmoreland and
Washington Counties. But, after all, it made little
difference that the lieutenants of the Virginia counties
were not empowered to honor his requisition, for Co].
David Shepherd, lieutenant of Ohio County, reported
to the general at theconference that nearly all the
men in his district liable to military duty were en-
rolled in Pennsylvania, and Col. John Evans, lieuten-
ant of Monongalia County ‘(who was not present at
the meeting), wrote to Irvine, saying that he had in
his district not more than three hundred effective men,
with a frontier of eighty miles in extent, and instead
of being able to furnish any troops for general defense
(even if he had the authority), he implored that the
case might be reversed, and men, arms, and ammuni-
tion be sent to him for purposes of defense.

At the conference at Fort Pitt the principal question
discussed was that of the general defense of the fron-
tier settlements. All present at the meeting pledged
to the commander all the support and assistance in
their power to give. The decision arrived at was to
form parties of rangers, and to keep these constantly
on duty (by tours) and in motion from point to point
along the frontiers. For this purpose it was agreed
that Washington County should keep a total force of

-one hundred and sixty men in actual service under

two field-oflicers, constantly ranging along the frontier
of the Ohio River “ from Montour’s Bottom to Wheel-
ing, and thence some distance along the southern
line,” 2 and that Westmoreland County should furnish

‘two companies, aggregating sixty-five men, to be con-

tinually on duty, guarding the northern frontier from
the Laurel Hill to the Allegheny River.
definite was done or proposed at the conference with
regard to the projected expedition against the Indians
at Sandusky. '

Meanwhile the savages in the Northwest had (as had
been foreseen) grown still more fiercely hostile since
the massacre of the Moravians, and more active than
ever on the war-path. In the space of a few weeks, fol-
lowing the return of Williamson’s expedition to the
Muskingum, several Indian forays were made into
Washington County. A Mrs. Walker, whose home
was on Buffalo Creek, was taken prisoner on the 27th
of March, but succeeded in escaping from her savage
captors. On the 1st of April an entire family named

1 He did, however, issue such directions in the following May, but it
was then of no avail because of an existing law of Virginia prohibiting
the sending of her militia troops outside the boundaries of the State.

9 Butterfield’s “ 0rawford’s Campaign Against Sandusky.” '

Nothing .

Boice, consisting of eight persons, were captured
by the savages3 and taken away to the Indian towns
west of the Ohio, and on“ the following day another
party of marauders killed a man within the present
limits of the boroughof Washington. '

A few days after the capture of the Boice family,
Miller’s block-house, situated on the Dutch Fork of
Buffalo Creek, in the present township of Donegal,
Washington County, was attacked on a. Sabbath morn-
ing by a party of about twenty Shawanese warriors,
who had arrived during the previous night, but re-
mained hidden near by until early in the morning.
Two men came out of the inclosure and started along
the path to search for a colt which had strayed.
When they had passed the ambushment, the savages
fell upon and killed them, and having torn off their
scalps the entire party leaped from their place of con-
cealment and surrounded the block-house. The
inmates were now only one old man and several
women and children, but there were rifles and am-

munition, and these were used by the women with '

so good effect that the savage assaulters were kept at
bay until there came a relieving party of three white
men_, who rushed past the Indians, effected an en-
trance into the block-house, and defended it so ef-
fectively that the red-skinned besiegers finally with-
drew and disappeared.‘ A number of other attacks
were made in this county and in ‘Westmoreland during
the month of April and in the early part of May.
In a letter written on the 8th of the latter month by
Dorsey Pentecost to President Moore 5 he said,
“ The Indians are murdering frequently. Last Fri-
day night two men were killed.on the frontiers of this
County, and about a week before I got home fourteen
persons were killed and Captured in Different parts,
and last week some mischief was done near Hanna’s
Town,“ but have not learned the particulars.”

It was evident that the ranging parties of Wash-
ington and Westmoreland County militia could not
effectually guardbthe frontier against Indian incur-
sions. It began to be seen more clearly than ever

3 One account erroneously places this event in the spring of 1783, one
year too late.‘ A ,

4 The men killed were John Hupp, Sr., and Jacob Miller, Sr. The
persons left in the b1ock—house were old Mr. Matthias Ault, Ann Hupp,
wife of the murdered John, their four children,—Margaret, Mary, John,
and Elizabeth Hupp,——the family of Edgar Gaither, Frederick Miller,
an eleven-year-old son of Jacob, who was killed outside the fort, and
two or three other members of the same family. The successful defense

of the block-house until the arrival of help was principally due to the .

heroism and undaunted courage of the widowed Ann Hupp. The boy,
Frederick Miller, was started from the house to go to Rice's fort, about
two miles away, for aid, l)ut the Indians saw him, and he was driven
back wounded, narrowly escaping with his life. But the firing of the
Indians when they killed Hupp and Miller had been heard at Rice’s,
and the rescuing party referred to, consisting of Jacob Rowe, only about
sixteen years of age, Jacob Miller, Jr., and Philip Hupp (all of whom
belonged at the Miller block-house, but chanced to be absent at Rice's
at the_time of the attack), came with all speed to the assistance of the
besieged ones, and gained an entrance as stated. The Indians kept up
the siege through the day, but disappeared during the following night.
5 Pa. Archives, 1781-83, p. 541.
0 Hanna's Town was the old coun ty-seat of Westmoreland County.

SOMERSET

TOWNSHIP. 949

The careful and attentive business habits of his
youth have attended his maturer years, and have se-
cured for him an elegant ‘home, in which he is sur-
rounded by the comforts and even luxuries of life.
His instinctive upfightness in his dealings with his
fellow-men, charity for the worthy poor, and gener-
ous support of all measures tending to promote the
interests of Church and State mark him as a man
worthy of the esteem in which he is held by his
neighbors. ‘ l

. Nov- 25, 1852, Mr. Barr married hisfirst wife, Mary
Gibson, who died March 12-, 1855, leaving one daugh-
ter, who bears her mother’s maiden name, and resides

with her father. - After Mr. Barr’s first marriage he

lived upon the farm where he was born until his

. _wife’s death, when he removed to his mother’s home
upon an adjoining farm, where he remained about.

eight years, and then moved to his present residence.‘

Jan. 26, 1865, he married Mary S. Pattison, of In-
diana County, Pa. By this marriage there were three
children; Mary J. is the only one living. William
VV., the oldest, and Joh_'n A. S., the youngest, both
died in infancy. 1 ’

In politics Mr. Barr was in early life. a Whig, and
afterwards a Republican. He has held various town-
ship oflices, and in 1872 was elected commissioner of
Washington County, which position he held for three

: years. He has discharged all public trusts with

fidelity. He responded to Governor Curtin’s call for

‘men to repel Gen. Lee’s invasion of Maryland, and

served in a Canonsburg company until the Confeder-
ate army retreated into Virginia. When sixteen
years of age he united with the United Presbyterian
Church, in which he has held all the oflices imposed
upon laymen by that denomination. He now holds
the position of elder in the church, as did also his

father and grandfather.

JACOB SWAGLER.

Jacob Swagler is of the: third generation of his
family in Washington County, and was born Feb. 11,
1830, upon the farm where he now resides. He is the
son of Jonathan and Sarah (Horn) Swagler, who were
married May 4, 1815.. They had ten children, seven
of whom are living. ~ Of those living, Solomon, Eliz-
abeth, Eliza J ., and Susanna reside in Ohio. Deli-
lah, John, and Jacob are residents of VVashington
County. Jonathan learned the business of farming,
which he followed all his life. He was noted for
his industry and sobriety. He died in 1876, in the
eighty-third year of his age, and his grave is in the
family burial- ground upon the farm, beside that of his
wife, who died in 1872, aged seventy-five years. Jon-
athan’s father,- Jacob Swagler, Sr., was a native //of
Germany, from which country he emigrated when a
young man, and settled in Eastern Pennsylvania.
He remained there but a short time, and then came
to Washington County, Pa., where he purchased the

farm now owned by his grandson Jacob. The deed
given him by the State for this farm bears the signa-
ture of Governor Thomas Mifflin, the date Feb. 15,
1798, and is known as “ Swagler’s Delight.” He
married Christina Huffman, a woman of German de-
scent, and raised a family of six children, but one of
whom, Jonathan, made his home in Washington
County. Jacob Swagler, the present owner of thefarm,
deeded to his grandfather in 1798, and upon which
he was born and has spent his lentirelife, was married
Nov. 25, 1858, to Levina Tombaugh, by whom he has
one child, who bears her mother’s name, and is mar-
ried to John S. McDonough,'a. farmer of Somerset
township, Washington County. Levina (Tombaugh)
Swagler died Feb. 25,_1860, and Sept. 12, 1863, Jacob
married J11lia Ai. Voorhes, who died Sept. 19, 1872.
By this marriage there are three children, all of whom
reside with their father. They are Annie M., A. J.
C., and Lizzie. Jacob married his present wife, whose
maiden ‘name was Mary Morris, Sept. 26, 1874. They
have one child, Bertha Cecelia. Mr. Swagler in-

herited valuable possessions from his ancestors, a re-.

spected n_ame, lands, etc. His aim has been to keep
the name unsullied, and the testimony of those who
know him best is that he has succeeded. His well-
directed labor has also added largely to his landed
inheritance. In ‘politics he is a Republican, having
been a member of that party since its organization,
and in‘ religion a communicant of the regular Baptist
Church.

JOHN W. STEPHENS.

The ‘first of the Stephens family ofwhom there is any
special record was one John Stephens, who emigrated

from Wales when seventeen years of age, and settled -

in Eastern Pennsylvania, probably in Bucks County.
He had a son Levi, who came to Fayette County, Pa.,
when about eighteen years of age, as oflicial surveyor.
He took land as a remuneration for his services, and
at one tirnelowned all of the land now in possession of
his numerous offspring, residing in Washington town-
ship, Fayette County. He married Elizabeth Brown,
of Chester County, Pa., and to them were born nine
children, two of whom died in infancy. The children

.who grew to manhood and womanhood and married
were Nathaniel, Sarah, John, Levi, Nancy, Elizabeth,
and Thomas.

The eldest of the children, Nathaniel, married for
his first wife Elizabeth Dodson, by whom he had nine
children. His second wife was Mrs. Houseman,
née»Shepler, and by this marriage there was one child.
Nathaniel was a farmer, and spent his life upon the
Stephens homestead in Fayette County. His oldest
son, John D., married Mary Nutt, of Chester County,

 

Pa. Their children, all of whom are living, are Lee.

P. and Hannah, John W., Nathaniel and Mary, and
Ezra N. John D.lStephens spent the early part-of
his married life in Allegheny County, Pa. He then re-
moved. to Fayette County, where he engaged in farm-

950

HISTORY OF WASHINGTON COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA.

ing and also established a nursery, being one of the
pioneers of that business in his section of the country.
His son, John VV. Stephens, whose name appears at
the beginning of this sketch, was born Dec. 14, 1823,
upon the bank of the Monongahela River, in a house
built by the men sent out to suppress the “ Whiskey
Insurrection,” now the property of James G. Blaine.
John ‘W. Stephens spent his early years in work upon
his father’s farm. He received his education in the
district schools and Allegheny College. After leaving
college he remained with his father for a short time,
andthen went to Uniontown, Fayette Co., Pa., where
he engaged in the foundry business with his ‘uncle,
Richard Miller. ' A

Jan. 7, 1851, he was married to Margaret J .‘Bent-
ley, daughter‘ of Sheshbazzar and Hannah K. Bent-

ley, of Bentleysville, VVashington Co., Pa. Bythis,

marriage there were six children: Amanda Edmonia,
died Aug. 23, 1856, aged four years, two months, and
nineteen days; Franklin M., who was educated in
the common schools, Mount Union College, Ohio, and
Washington College, Pennsylvania, is now a. student
of medicine with Dr. J. Y. Scott; William P. mar-
ried Elizabeth White, and is a merchant in Bentleys-
ville; Charles Edgar is now in "the employ of Neil,
Blythev& Co., of Monongahela "City, learning his
trade; Henry ‘B. resides at home, and is- a farmer;
Sheshbazzar, the youngest, died Oct. 18, 1867, aged
two years, one month, and twentyydays. In 1851,
soon after his marriage, Mr. Stephens removed to
Bentleysville, and engaged in farming, in which busi-
ness he has been interested ever since. Here his resi-
dence has been since the date above named, with the
exception of two years spentgupo-n a farm which he

purchased in Allegheny. County, Pa. -During his
residence in Bentleysville, he has also been engaged‘
. in the business of merchandising.

In politics heiwas
in his early manhood a Whig. Upon the organiza-
tion of the Republican party he united with it, and
has since labored to promote its principles. He at-
tended the first convention -of the Republican party

« in Pittsburgh in 1856. During the civil war he Was,

“draft commissioner” for Washington County. In
1878 he was elected a member of the State House of
Representatives by a flattering vote, his colleagues
from the county being Hon. Findley Patterson and
Hon. John C. Messenger, both Democrats. While he
has been earnest in his efforts to promote the inter-
ests of the party of which he is an honored member,
he has not been a place-seeker, his inclination being
for the work of his early years, that of farming. In
business he has been successful. While he has not
amassed a large fortune, he has accumulated a com-
petence, and enjoys it. For forty years he has been
an active member of the Methodist Church. Modest,
frank, and manly, a self-respecting gentleman, -he has
the confidence of a large acquaintance.

 

s. R. HAWKINS.‘

S. R. Hawkins, late" commissioner of Washington
County, was born and reared in Somerset township,
upon the farm where he now resides. His grand-
father, William Hawkins, one of the most prosperous
of Washington County’s early-day farmers, married
Nancy Mozier. They had but one son who grew to
manhood, John Hawkins, father of S. R. Hawkins.
John was twice married, first to Sarah A. Young, by
whom he had three children,——William, S. R., and
Henry, all living. After the death of his first wife
John Hawkins married Susan Farmer, by whom he
had six children, four of\‘wl_1om are living. He died
April 17, 1880. His second wife died a few years
previous to that date. , S. R. Hawkins, who is ‘a-
thrifty farmer in the prime of life, obtained his edu-

, cation in the common schools, and learned‘ the busi-

ness of farming with his father. When he became
of age he settled upon a farm not far from his present
home, and which he still owns, and where he and his
.wife,whose maiden nam'e”wa;s«.Jesephine Richardson,
lived until his father’s death‘, when they ‘moved to
the old homestead. They have no children. Mr.
Hawkins is a member of the Methodist Church of
Beallsville. In politics he and the numerous Hawt-
kins family are distinctively Republican. »He has
been elected to important township oflices by his
party, and was one of the Republican county com-
missioners for three years, his term expiring with the
year _1881.

WILLIAM SMITH, J1_t.
VVilliarn Smith, Sr., and his wife, whose maiden

name was Mary Caldwell, were natives of County.

Tyrone, Ireland. In the year 1798, after their mar-
riage, they emigrated to America'and settled in
Mingo Creek, Nottingham township, Pa., where they
remained about eight years, when they removed to a
farm now owned by their son William. Here Wil-
liam Smith, Sr., died. J My 20, 1840. His wife, Mary
(Caldwell) Smith, died Aug. 10, 1844. Their chil-
dren were Sarah, who was born before her parents
left Ireland. She married Robert Hanna, and lived

in Harrison County, Ohio, until her husband’s death, a

when she returned to Pennsylvania and made her
home with her brother William until her death in
1876. One child, an unnamed infant, died while
they were crossing the ocean. James married Pru-
dence Hanna, and resided in Washington County’
until his death in 1840. Margaret never married.
She made her home with her brother William. She
died about ten years ago. Ann married Dr. Joseph
Caldwell. ~ She died at her home in Pittsburgh several
years ago, leaving a family of eight children, all mar-
ried. Maria married Robert McCasky. She died
soon after marriage, leaving one son, who is also
dead.

William-, the youngest, and only one living of the

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.,years before that date.

A ' 10, 1874. Mary married James Wilson.

SOMERSET

TOWNSHIP. 951

children, was born June 28, 1804. His lifetime
home has been near the place of his birth. His
judgment is excellent, and he has always borne an
unsullied character for integrity. ’ He has led the life
of a farmer mainly, has been prosperous inhis busi-
ness, and is a man of wealth. He has been a life-
long Democrat, but not a politician. He is a gentle-

’man of genial temperament, possessed of good soc-ial

qualities, and is popular. He is an elder in the
church, a despiser of all vices, and is noted for the
purity of his life.

William Smith, Jr., was married Feb. 2, 1832, to
Elizabeth Van Eman, who was a granddaughter of
Nicholas Van -Eman, a native of the town of Eman,
Holland, who married Mary Wilson, of Wales. It is
not known at what period they came to this country.

. They first settled near Wilmington, Del. They came
_ to VVashington County prior to 1781, and settled upon

“Little Chartiers Creek,” taking up a large tract of
land under a “tomahawk improvement.” The name
was changed to Van Eman after their settlement here.
The children of Nicholas and Mary Van Eman were
George, Nicholas, Andrew, Garrett, Katie, Polly,

, Betsy, Susan, and Polly. After the death of their

father, which occurred in 1781, his land was divided
‘among his three sons, George, Nicholas, and Andrew,
his son Garrett having gone to Kentucky several
George settled on. the farm
now owned by Joseph Clokey. Nicholas settled on
the farm now owned by William Berry. Andrew
settled on the farm now owned by his grandson, An-
drew W. Smith. They all obtained patents for their
land in 1786. Andrew Van Eman married Elizabeth

Riddle in the year 1788. Their children were Catha—_

rine, who ‘married John McCully. They resided in
Washington County for a time, and then removed to
Jefferson County, Ohio, where she died. William
married‘ Sarah Logan, and moved to Ohio,.where he
remained but a short time when he returned to VVash-
ington County, and settled upon a farm near Burgetits‘-_
town, where he was engaged in farming until quite
old, when he sold out and -went to his daughter’s
home in Guernsey County, Ohio, where he died Oct.
She lived
for some time after her husband’s death, in 1856, with

‘ nah.

her son Thomas upon a farm now ownedby Horner
Donley, and afterwards lived with her daughter,
Catharine Weirs, where she died March 25, 1872.
Jane, who was born Oct. 28, 1794, married her cousin
Andrew, son of George Van Eman. She died‘ at the
residence of her daughter, Harriet VValker, of Monroe
County, Mo. John died Oct. 23, 1820, in the twenty-
fourth year of his age. ‘Margaret, born Feb. 10, 1799,
married James McDowell, and resided for some years
in VVashington County, when she moved to Fairfield
County, Ohio, when she died. David remained
single, and lived for some years after the death of his
parents upon the old homestead with his sister Han-
He then sold out and went VVest, where he
spent some time, when he returned to his native
county, and spent several years with A. W. Smith.
He died in Guernsey County, Ohio, Aug. 30, 1878, in
the seventy-eighth year of his age. Andrew was born
Mays29, 1805. He married Elizabeth Taylor. He
resided for a while after marriage in Washington
County,,then went to Adams County, Ohio, thence to
Kansas, and is now a resident of Colorado. ’ Hannah‘
was born Oct. 24, 1807. 9 She resided with her brother
David for a long time, and is now living near her old
‘home. Elizabeth Van Eman, wife of William Smith,
J r., was born April 14, 1803, and_ died April 18, 1874.
She was a worthy Christian woman, ready at all times
to sacrifice her own comfort for the good of those
around her. ‘She was constant in her efforts to instill
into the minds of . her children the true principles of
the Christian religion. Her husband’s success in life
was in a ‘great measure due to her frugality, self-denial,
and industry. . To them were born seven children,-
James, died in infancy; Andrew W., married Sarah
A. Doak, and resides upon a farm once owned by his
maternal grandfather. His children are Robert D.,
William A., Ollie Florence, and Elliott W.; Mary C.,

married Laken VVhitely; Elizabeth, died when in her A

seventeenth year; Margaret, married John Davis;
William J ., married Jane McNary, their children are
-Thomas McNary, Elizabeth, \Vil1iam, and Ella;
Sarah J ., married Andrew Hagerty, at present a stu-
dent in the Theological Seminary of Allegheny City,
Pa. William. Smith, J r'., was married to his second
wife, Eleanor Wall,Nov. 9, 1875.

soUTH STRABANE TOVVNSHIP.

.4.‘
‘W

THE old township of Strabane was one of - the
original townships of the county, andembraced the
present territory of ‘North and South Strabane,,theA
township‘ of Washington, and part of Canton town-
ship. The township of VVashington was taken from
it between 1785 and 1790, but the exact date has not
been ascertained. At the March term of the Court
of Quarter Sessions of 1790, there‘ was presented a
petition of “inhabitants of the townships of Strabane
and Washington,” praying for the division of Strabane
into two townships by a division line running “along
the Road leading from Redstone to the Town of Wash-
ington, and the Road from said Town to Wells’ Mills,
to cross Chartiers Creek at Pumphrey’s Ford.” The
petition was granted,- andthis certificate sent to the
Executive Council. From the boundary mentioned
it cannot be determined where the new town hip was

located, nor can any knowledge of 

township be obtained‘ from record t. .
In December, 1792, there waspresented  
of Quarter Sessions the following:  A 7

 

 

“ The petition of sundery of the Inha'bitants.of tfiétwweir  of Stra-
bane and upper end of Nottinglra}1n_tbwnshtpsigégjwhereasn numizgp 9f the
Inhabitants of Nottingham  it 1 N 8
district and frequently attend at W ’  1
and often without an Iiispector,_and‘*%wa§
respecting the validity of their votes,‘
doubting, if your Honours think‘ fi’,t--to 7
ing that part of Nottingham to Str

  
 
 
  
  
   

The addition was made by
accordance with. the prayer of 4
that time the territory of the
practically unchanged.  A
A At the October term of court in 1831 apet
was presented to the court of Washington County
asking that the township be divided. Viewers were
appointed, and _returns made, and at the May termof
court in 1831 the petition for division of the township
was granted, and order issued erecting North and
South Strabane as separate townships. -

Following is a list. of. justices of the peace. elected
in South Strabane township from 18401 to the pres-
ent time:

Dickerson Roberts, April 14, 1840.
Robert Colmery, April 14, 1840.
James Linn, April 13, 1841.

John N esbitt, April 15, 1845.

  

0

Jonathan Martin, April 17, 1846.
John Nesbitt, April 9, 1850.

John Farley, April 17, 1851.
Ebenezer McBirney, April 11, 1854.

1‘The justices who held jurisdiction in the territory of this township
prior to 1840 are named in the list of justices given in the history of
North Strabane.

952

    

 

 of . the , 1 in 3   V 3 .
.l39fiti°fl,a11¥l.' om;  8 ~ -

"township. 7     '

Jonathan Martin, April 10, 1855.
John Zediker, April 10, 1855.
VVorkman Hughes, April 10, 1860.
Isaac Vance, April 10, 1860.

D. L. Reynolds, April 17, 1866.

D. L._ Reynolds,iApril 10,_ 1871.
John Zediker, April 19, 1872.

John Zediker, Feb. 7, 1874.

D. L. Reynolds, Feb. 7, 1874.

J. B. McBride, Jan. 23, 1374.  
R. D. Henry, March 16, 1876.
Charles Schmidt, March 21, 1877.
Samuel Garber, April 9, 1881.

Settlements.——Richard Yeates, a Virginian, re-
ceived Virginia certificates for large tracts of land in
what are now South Strabane and Franklin townships.
An entry in the first survey book of , Yohogania County
of the year 1782 is as follows :

«  “In consequence of Three Certificates dated at C'ox’s Fort the.21st

day of Feb’y, 1780, and Part of one other dated 9th day of Feb’y, 1780,
granted by the Commissioners for Actual Settlements appointed to ad-
just Claim to unpatented lands in the Counties of You ghiogena, Monon-
gahela, & Ohio. Richard Yeates, assignee of William Riel y, is entitled
to Nine Hundred anditwo acres of land lying in Youghegonia County
aforesaid, sd. land lying on the Eastern branches of the Middle Fork of
Shurters Creek. . . . In testimony whereof, I have hereunto set my
 yghis 26th Day of Feb‘ , 1780.

 
      
  
 
 

. .“'_I.‘HoMAs Bo'Nn', D. S. Y. C.
“W. CRAWFORD, S. Y. 0.”

  
  
 

V,  lands of Capt. James Bu-
  Roney, both of whomreceived
  ' '   Qgneesr of Richard Yeates for one
A A Wacres of land. The_entry in
 pfitioned above, concerning the
jfiuchanan, is.here given, and
 is similar :
,  itificate dated at CoX’s Fort, Feb. 9, 1780,
 _, "ointed to adjust claims to unpatented Lands
'1 ',,",¢,),,f“v,_,A«;«,‘l1ogania, Monongalia, and Ohio. Capt. James
of Richard Yates, is Intitled to one hundred and

 .a,t.'w'a‘

All '1  _ of land on the waters of the middle fork of Shustees

    
   
 
 
   
 
   
      

    
  

“Signed Feby 26, 1780.
' THOMAS Bonn, D.‘S. Y_. 0'.

“ Ex’d., W. CRAWFORD, S. Y. 0.”

Richard Yeates was a zealous Virginia partisan.
He resided for a time on what is now known as the
Gabby farm in Franklin township. On this farm was
built the jail of Augusta County, Va. It- is supposed
he removed to the lands ip South Strabane. ' He com-
menced the sale of his land inthis county in 1783,
and continued until 1788, when they were all dis-
posed of. V .

Before the fall of 1787, Richard Yeates had re-
moved from the county and the State, and nothing
has been ascertained of his subsequent life. \/

Henry Taylor came to this section of the country’
from Cecil County, Md., about the year 1770, and set-
tled on land he afterwards purchased. The first pur-

Ina} at. lmfu. 3



;i.»Unn;wm.INzz.:¢1u\.i1.4 .

i.|....!.. .x..hisc.\\nfiari!|{..

~ SOUTH STRABANE TOWNSHIP. .

953

chase of which there is any record is of one hundred
and fifty acres on the Middle Fork of Chartiers Creek,
“ Bounded on the northeast by Robert Howelton’s
land, and on the path leading from Catfish Camp to
Pittsburgh including his improvement.” This deed
or patent is signed by John Penn, Feb. 1, 1771. Tay-

lor afterwards purchased other tracts, amounting in

the aggregate to about seventeen hundred acres, all in
what is now South Strabane. He married Jane White,
and settled on the portion of land which afterward
became the farm of John Smith, and nowxowned by
George Davis. On this he built a. cabin which was
occupied by him for several years. His sons were
Matthew, Henry, John, Joseph, and George; the

, daughters were Jane, Eliza, and Mary.

» Matthew Taylor, the oldest son, was born on the
farm, married Nancy Hutchinson, and settled on a
part of the tract. He died June 19, 1852. They had
ten children, ‘eight of whom are living. Thomas re-
sides in West Finley. George lives in Buffalo town-
ship; Matthew on two hundred acres, a part of the
old homestead.‘ William lives in Washington. His
son, J. Frank Taylor, is a member of the-bar in
VVashington County. Henry, the. second son of
Henry, married Nelly Dagg; settled on a portion of
the farm; later sold, and removed to Wheeling, where
he died. The property is now owned by George

. hlunce;

John, the third son, settled on a part of the estate
now owned by William Berry. He married Mary
Good, and after the sale removed to Tuscarawas
County, Ohio. Joseph married, first, Ann Stewart,
and, second, Mrs. White, a widow, and lived and died‘
in the township. George W., the youngest son, settled
on a portion of the farm, -where‘ he resided until his
family had arrived at maturity and became scattered.

He sold and removed to Pittsburgh, and later to‘

Wlieeliiig. ,

Of the daughters, Jane became the wife of Richard
Dagg. They settled on the portion of the farm now
owned by Joseph Miller. John W. Seaman, the
present prothonotaryv of Washington County, is a
grandson. Eliza married Dr. Layton. They removed
to Waynesburg, Greene Co., and died there. Mary
married Thomas Patton, whorwas a hatter. They

‘settled in Washington, Pa., for several years, and

emigrated to Ohio.

Henry Taylor was appointed a major of militia and
a justice of the peace of Yohogania County; and upon.
the erection of Washington County, in 1781, was
elected a justice of the’ peace, October 15th, and ap-
pointed by the Supreme Executi-ve Council a justice
of the peace and of the Court of Common Pleas and
Quarter Sessions, and later made the presiding jus-
tice, a position he held until. the office was abolished
in 1791, and the Hon’. Alexander Addison, a judge
learned’ in the ‘law, succeeded him. He died Oct. 8,
1801, sixty-three years of age’. -

William Huston was the fir;-it white man who settled

from Pennsylvania into lMaryland.

in the immediate vicinity of where the borough of
Washington now stands. In 1774, Michael Cresap
stopped at the house of William Huston at Catfish
Camp, when on his way from Wheeling to Redstone.
Huston’s land was taken up on a Virginia certificate,

and was surveyed to him as “Huston’s Pleasure.”,_
On this farm he lived until the latter part of 1802.

His will was made December 7th of that year. He
had three sons, James, Dixson, and Hamilton, and
four daughters, Ann, Jane, Peggy, and Polly. The
farm was divided before the death of their father,
Hamilton receiving a deed for two hundred and
thirty acres. Ann married John Bollen, who was a
shoemaker, and settled in Washington, Pa., opposite
Joseph Hustonls (who was a cousin of William) tav-
ern on Main.Street. , Here they lived until 1811,
when they moved to Amwell township. Mrs. Jane B.

.'Prall, of ‘Washington, is their daughter. Hamilton

settled on the home farm. He had a son William,
and Mrs. Samuel McFarland is a daughter. Jane
Huston, daughter of William, married John Smith.
Peggy married John Paxton, and'Polly,married
Archibald Kerr. The old homestead and spring is

now owned by Mrs. Henry Swartz, and part of the

farm is now owned by Mrs. Nicholas Wade and
others. The Wade extension is on part of the farm,
and Wade Avenue passes through it. .

Josiah and Hugh Scott, brothers and sons _of Abram
Scott, came to this county about 1771 from Peach
Bottom, near where the Susquehanna River passes
Hugh Scott
settled in.wha_t is now Nottingham township, and
Josiah on a piece of land in what is now South Stra-
bane. He was born in 1735, and about 1760 married
Violet Foster. The warrant for his land was not
taken out until Sept. 21,1784, and was surveyed on
the 10th“ of September the next year. It was named
“ Oakham,” and contained two hundred and ninety.-
nine acres, adjoining lands of Dorsey Pentecost,
Samuel Workman, and Matthew Steen. On this farm

. he lived till 1819, when he and his son John and his 1

wife and several others died of cholera. _ His children
were Sarah, Alexander, Abraham, Mary, Betsey,
James, Jane, Josiah, Hugh, ~'Robert, Samuel, and
J ohn. Alexander married Rachel, the daughter of
John McDowell, and settled on the old McDowell
farm in North Strabane township. A sketch of him
and his familywill be found in the history of that
township in connection with the McDowells. Abra-

ham married'Rebecca, also a daughter of John Mc-"

Dowell. He became‘ a Presbyterian clergyman,- and
was connected with Jefferson College. A sketch of
this family will also be found in the history of the

/McDowell family. Mary, a daughter of Josiah, be-

came the wife of William Cotton, and Betsey the wife
of Robert Stephenson. _ John‘ married Isabella, a
daughter of Isaac Vance; they settled on the.home-
stead, and both died in 1819.

Isaac Vance was a son of John Vance, of Somerset

THE REVOLUTION.

113

that a merely defensive line of operations could not
afford security to the border settlements, and that
this much-desired object could be accomplishedonly
by asuccessful campaign against the Indian strong-
holds in the heart of their own country. This be-
lief had been expressed by Gen. Irvine five months
before (Dec. 2, 1781), in a letter to Gen. Washing-
ton, in which he said, “It is, I believe,- univer-
sally agreed that the only way to keep Indians from
harassing the country is to visit them. But we find
by experience that burning their empty towns has
not the desired effect. They can soon build others.
They must be followed up and beaten, or the British
whom they draw their support from totally driven
out of their country.” .

The sentiment of the people (particularly those of
Vlfashington County) in favor of an invasion of the
Indian country became more positive day by day.
No such enterprise could have been carried forward
without the aid of Washington County, but its peo-
ple were especially earnest (it may be said clamorous)
for the movement against the Indian towns. On
the 1st of May Col. Marshel said in a letter to Gen.
Irvine, “Since I had the Honour of consulting with
you on the expediency of an Expedition against San-
dusky I have met with the Officers and principal
People of this County, and find that in all probability
we shall be able to carry forward the Enterprise.”

. Six days later a delegation of the leading inhabitants,

principally of Washington County, and among them
Dorsey Pentecost, then a member of the Supreme

P Executive Council of Pennsylvania, ‘called on Gen.
Irvine at Fort Pitt, and urged upon him the expedi- .

ency of giving his consent and aid to the expedition,
on which the minds of so large a number of the peo-
ple west of the Laurel Hill (especially those living west

' of the Monongahela) were fixed in approval.

It seems that this pronounced expression of the
popular feeling decided Gen. Irvine to consent to
and promote the expedition. He had been suspi-
cious that one of the objects of the enterprise was to
establish a new and independent State or govern-
ment of some kind west of the Ohio, but upon re-
ceiving full and satisfactory assurances that such was
not the case, and upon mature consideration which
resulted in the conviction that such an idea if really
entertained could not be successfully executed, he
finally gave a definite consent to, and a promise to
support and carry out, the expedition. On the 9th of
May he said in a letter to the president of the Execu-
tive Council, “ A volunteer expedition is talked of
against Sandusky, which, if well conducted, may be
of great service to this country; if they behave well
on this occasion it may also in some measure atone
for the barbarity they are charged with at Muskingum.

They have consulted me, and shall have every coun-

tenance in my power if‘ their numbers, arrangements,
etc., promise a prospect of success.” There appears

in the tone of this letter an evident resolve on the

part of Gen. Irvine that the new expedition should
be very different in characterfrom that which had
so recently» and so barbarously executed its bloody
work at Gnadenhiitten, and this was afterwards made
still more apparent by his determined opposition to
C01. Williamson as commander.

The plan‘ of the expedition was made by Gen.
Irvine, and of course the projected campaign was to

be under his direction and control, as commander of ‘

the department. He decided that no force of less
than three hundred men could march to attack the
Indians on the Sandusky with any hope of success
against the numbers that might be there concentrated;
that to move a smaller body than that to the invasion
of the Indian country would be but to invite disaster;
therefore under no circumstances would he permit
the advance of an expedition numbering less than the
number mentioned, while he wished and hoped to be
able to make it considerably above that strength.

To raise the necessary force the general had un-
questioned authority to direct a draft from the militia
of Washington and Westmoreland Counties, yet he
resolved to not adopt that course, but to fill the ranks
entirely with volunteers. They were not, however,

to be irresponsible, but were to be in all respects I

subject to military rule and discipline, precisely as if
they had been drafted from the militia for service in
a regularly organized regiment or battalion. Rapid-
ity of movement being indispensable to the success
of such an expedition, it was decided that all the men
must be mounted; but no horses could be furnished
by the department quartermaster, nor any supplies by
the commissary, therefore each volunteer was required
to provide himself with a horse, arms, and equipments
(ammunition being furnished from Fort Pitt); and
they or the people of Washington and Westmoreland
were to provide supplies suflicient for a campaign of
thirty days’ duration.

The volunteers were to be allowed to elect their own
oflicers, even to the commander of the expedition.
Each man was, in consideration of services on this
campaign, and of furnishing horse, arms, and supplies,
to receive credit for two full tours of military duty;
and in case he should find in the camps or villages of
the enemy any articles which had been stolen by the
Indians from his home in the settlements, he was to
receive them back upon proving property. Gen.
Irvine could not promise that the government would
pay for horses or equipments lost in the service, but
it was announced by Dorsey Pentecost, member of the
Council from Washington County, and also by the
member from Westmoreland, that the State of Penn-
sylvania would reimburse all who might sustain losses
in the campaign. This semi-official promise was not
doubted by the volunteers or the people of the two
counties, and it was afterwards made good.

« The time fixed for the assembling of the expe-
ditionary forces was the 20th of May.
designated for the rendezvous was the Mingo Bottom,

The place ,

954

Hrsronr or WASHINGTON COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA.

township, who died in 1796. Isaac -was born Feb. 11,

1754, and came to this county with his father. On
the 18th of November, 1803, he married Mary, da-ugh-
ter of Henry Cotton. He purchased‘ two hundred
and fifty acres of land in Strabane township of Hugh
Cotton, his brother-in-law, April 23, -1810, on which
he settled and raised a large family. His wife died

Nov..9, 1830, and he survived her until ‘Nov. 5, 1837, -

when he too died at the age of eighty-three years,
leaving fourteen children, John, Agnes, Henry, Hugh,
Isabella, Samuel, ' Mary, Hannah, Martha, Isaac,
Rachel, Joseph, Margaret, and Lydia. John and
Henry Vance settled on Pigeon Creek, on land their
father had located there, and where their descendants
now reside. Mrs. John D. Scott is a daughter of
Henry. Isabella Vance married John Scott, a son of
Josiah Scott; they settled on the Scott farm, and both
died of cholera in 1819.
Riddle, and settled on Pigeon Creek, where their son
now lives. Isaac settled in Allegheny County, and
died in February, 1873. His son John owns the
property. Mary married Samuel Davis, and settled
on Pigeon Creek.

Samuel, :1. son of Isaac; settled on the homestead
in Strabane township, where he died. Of his chil-
dren, John remained on the homestead, where he now
lives; William settled on the Scott farm, and died
there; Isaac located in Carlisle, where he now resides;
Joseph. becarnea Presbyterian minist.er and located
at Carlisle, but on account of ill health returned to
the homestead and died when still a young man.

Thomas Dill emigrated to this country from Ire-
land and purchased land in Strabane township, a part
of which he afterwardssold to Henry -Wilson, who,
married his daughter Jane. Matthew Dill, a.son_,
married_ a daughter of Alexander Cunningham, of
Washington, Pa., with whom he engaged in the mer-

cantile business in that place.

Henry Wilson, a native of Ireland, came to this
country about 1800, and married Jane, a daughter of
Thomas Dill, and purchased a portion of his farm, on
which their son, Matthew Dill Wilson, now resides.
Jane, a daughter of Henry and Jane Wilson, married
Lewis Guttery, and now lives at Moundsville, W. Va.

Samuel J Wilson, also a son of Henry VVilson, grad- _
A uated at Washington College, became a Presbyterian

minister, and for several years was located at Pitts-
burgh. Heis new president of the Allegheny Theo-

-logical Seminary at Allegheny City. Elizabeth, a

daughter of Henry Wilson, became the wife of John
Paxton, of Canonsburg. This son, the Rev. John
Paxton, was for several’ years pastor of a Presby-
terian Church in Washington, D. C., and now pastor

«of the Forty-second Street Church in New York City.
vThomas‘B. Wilson, also a son of Henry, was a Pres-

byterian minister, and located in Xenia, Ohio, where

-he died, leaving a widow and two sons, both of whom

are Presbyterian ministers, one located’ near Pitts-
burgh, the other near'Downingtown, Pa.

Martha married David .

On the 8th of April, 1786, Nicholas Little received
a warrant for a tract of land in Strabane township,

which was surveyed to him on the 10th of September, '

1786. It contained three hundred and ninety acres,
and was named .“Littleton.” Nicholas and his
brother Moses, who were natives of Ireland, emi-
grated to this country and came to this county about

41781. The descendants of Nicholas are now living

in Cecil township. Moses Little settled on land ad-

joining John and William Colmery, and now in pos-
session of D. L. Reynolds. His children were David, ’

John, Margaret, ‘Nancy, Moses. David settled on
the home farm, lived a bachelor, and died there. John
learned the trade of a printer, and lived and died in
Pittsburgh.
Reynolds, and resided_about two miles eastin the town-

ship; their descendants are living on the farm. N ancy‘

married McMurtry, and settled in Pittsburgh.
»Moses married Nancy, daughter of Joseph Harris,
of Amwell township. They settled on an adjoining
farm, where he lived and died. They had six chil-
dren,-—-Emeline is unmarried; Margaret became the
wife of Samuel Melvin, of Waynesburg, Greene Co.;
John H., adjoining the homefarm; Leroy W. be-
came an attorney-at-law, resided -in Washington, Pa.,
and died in 1872; Dr. J. H. Little resides in Wash-
ington, and Moses owns the home farm, but resides
in Washington, Pa. '
Robert Doak came from Harrisburg before 1780 and
settled on land which was surveyed June 2, 1785, con-
taining four hundred acres, named “ Doak’s Plain.”
Patent for it was obtained Sept. 17,‘ 1790. Hevdied
in 1803, and left two sons, Robert and William, and
one daughter, Jean, who was the widow of John
Boggs, and at this time the wife of James Neal. The
heirs sold to Robert Henry one hundred and thirty-

_ five acres, March 28, 1803, and the same date two hun-

dred to William Doak, and to John McMillen seventy
acres; later, and in 1805, Robert Doak soldother land
to John McMillen and Robert Hazlett. William Doak
lived on his farm till his death in 1857, aged ninety-
four years. He came to this section of country with
his father, and settled on the farm where he and his
father lived and died. He used to relate that they

were driven from the place several times by the In- C

dians, and once remained away two years.
‘James Wilson purchased of Richard Yeates two

_ hundred acres of land, Oct. 28, 1783, where he resided 4
in his latter days.‘ It descended to his son Hugh, -

who was long a resident of Washington, Pa., and re-

tired to this farm near the borough.of Washington,

where his son, Hugh W. Wilson, was born. The
latter married Frances M., daughter of Thomas Bar-

-low, -in 1817, and settled on the farm his grandfather
~ had purchased. They ‘had two sons,—Edward P. is

now of 'Cincinnati,rJames resides on the home

resides in the borough of Washington.
After the death of his wife he married Sarah, the

farm. Clara became the wife of A.’ Todd Baird, and

Margaret became the wife of Zachariah.

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SOUTH STRABANE TOWNSHIP.

955

granddaughter of Col. Presley Neville, by whom he

had one son, Neville, now living in Cincinnati.
Robert Henry took up a tract of land on a Virginia
certificate, received in February, 1780. It was sur-
veyed as “ Redstone,” containing three hundred and
thirty-three acres. On the 21st of November, 1793,

, he purchased one hundred and eighty-nine acres of

Craig Ritchie, and on the 3d of May, 1799, he pur-
chased one hundred and seventy-nine acres of Thomas
Kerr (who inherited the tract of three hundred and

I thirteen acres called “ Witches’ Haunt” of his father),

and on the 28th of March, 1803, he purchased one
hundred and thirty-five acres of the heirs of Robert
Doak. These four purchases made an area of eight
hundred and thirty-six acres. He married Ann, a

‘ ‘daughter of Nicholas Little, a.nd had two sons, Nicho-

las and Joseph, and two daughters, Isabella and Peggy.
Joseph married a daughter of David Zediker, and
emigrated to Richland County, Ohio. Nicholas mar-
ried Margaret, a daughter of John Zediker; they
settledon the Henry homestead, where he lived and
died April 24, 1838, leaving. four sons, Robert, J o-hn ,
Lewis, and-Joseph, and one daughter, Mary: Robert
remained on the homestead, where he still lives.
John located on the William‘ Gibson tract. Lewis
was in the United Stgategswajrmy, and was wounded at
the battle of the ,.Wiilder11ess, and died a few days

- _after, May 24, 1864. Joseph died when about twenty-
one years of age} Mary, the daughter of Nicholas

and sister of Robert and John, married Nathaniel
White, andscttled near Hickory, in Mount Pleasant
township; " Isabella, a daughter of Nicholas Henry,
Sr.-, married Lewis Zediker, and settled in Beaver
County. Peggy, the youngest daughter, married
Benjamin Gray, and emigrated to Ohio.

Thomas VVoodwa._rd settled in the county about

.1785, and took _out a warrant for land April 27, 17 86.
’It was surveyed on the 22d of May following, and

named “ Indian Camp,’,’ containing four hundred and
five acres. A part of the‘ tract afterwards came into
the possession of Col. James Dunlap, who laid out a
town upon it called Williamsburg, and opened a tav-
ern, then having for its sign “ Mount Vernon.” After
1818 this passed to Jonathan Martin, and.was called
Martinsburg, and still later .to George Pancoke, and
the placelis now known as Martinsburg and “Pan-
cokef’ , ,‘

The nameflof Lodowyck Smith does not appear on
the survey books,but he was located in this township,

‘ on land adjoining Alexander Kerr, in Ma.rch, 1786.

In 1796 he opened a tavern on the farm, which was
kept by him till his‘ death in 1817. His will bears
date in 1816, by which he left his wife the mansion
house and one hundred acres during her life, and to
his children each a portion of the tract. He had seven
daughters and two s0ns,——-Catharine, Margaret, John,
Susannah, Christina, Julia, Mary, Elizabeth, and
Lewis. 

Catharine married David Zediker; they came into

possession of ninety acres, which was sold, and is now
owned by B. B. Zediker, and removed to Ohio. Mar-

garet married John Zediker, and settled on the Zedi- ‘

ker farm, a portion of which. was given to them by
her father. John also lived. on a portion of the farm.
Susanna" married Dickinson Roberts; they resided on
part of the ‘farm, He was sheriff of Washington
County in 1817. Their children were Elizabeth, who

married Thomas Fergus, and settled in South Stra- -

bane. Mary married Lewis Valentine. _.Leonard
settled on the -Little farm, and Lewis in Waynesburg.
Christina Smith married Samuel Munce ; they settled
on the homestead and had two children, of whom one
married Adam Beck, whose heirs now own the prop-
erty. Julia Smith married VVilliam Helms, and set-
tled at Amity, in Amwell township. Mary Smith
married James Guttery, and settled on part of the
Smith farm, now owned by their son George. Eliza-
beth Smith married Jacob Koontz, a son of Michael
Koontz, of Washington ; the portion of the farm they
owned is now owned by Robert Zediker.
Smith, a son _of Lodowyck, settledon the portion
left him and died there, leaving it to his "son Lewis.
It is now owned by the heirs_ of John Zediker, Jr.
John and David Zediker were Germans, who came
to this township, where they both marijed daughters
of Lodowyck Smith. John married Margaret, and
David married Catharine. The latter received of her
father forty-five acres of land, and Margaret ninety

‘acres. David and Margaret soon after sold their land

andremoved to n-earRichland (now Mansfield), Ohio,
where he took up a large tract of land,. and raised -four
sons, each of whom he gave eighty acres.

John Zediker, his brother, purchased lands of.

Thomas Kerr, adjoining, and lived there many years,
raised alarge family of children, and finally went
VVest, leaving his family‘ here. Of these Lewis mar-
ried Margaret, the daughter of Nicholas Henry, and
lived on the Zed-iker homestead, where he died, leav-
ing five sons and five daughters. His son John lives
in the east portion of the township, and is a justice
of the peace. Robert lives on the Jacob Koontz
property. Nicholas. lives in Martinsburg, and B. B.
Zediker on the homestead, and also owns the portion
left to David Zediker. John, a brother of Lewis, and
son of John Zediker, lived on the portion ofland his
father bought of Thomas Kerr, and his heirs are still
in possession.’

' William Smith, a native of Ireland, came to this

county and settled for a time on Mihgo Creek, and
July 25, 1807, purchased one hundred and nine acres
of land of Nicholas Vaneman, where he settled and
died. His children were Ann, Sarah, Margaret,
Maria, James,“ancl William. Ann married Joseph
Caldwell, of Hickory, where he was a merchant. Later

he moved to Butler County, Pa. Sarah married Rob- »

ert Hanna, and moved to Ohio. Margaret remained
single, and died in the township. James set/tled near
VVashington, Pa., but died soon after settlement.‘

Lewis '

~ rolled; its present membership is forty-four.

956

HISTORY OF WASHINGTON COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA.

VVilliam married Elizabeth, daughter of Andrew
Vaneman, and settled first in Somerset township,
where he remained eight years.‘ He then bought the
mill property in South Strabane township, which he
still owns. He owns property adjoining in Somerset
and South Strabane townships. He now lives near
the line and in Somerset township, and his son Wylie
in the old Andrew Vaneman homestead in this town-
ship. _ .

Hugh, Samuel, and James Workman came to this
country about 1781 and settled near Washington, Pa.
They were all engaged at different times in the expe-
ditions against the Indians. Hugh and Samuel were
tanners. Hugh took up his residence in the borough
of Washington, where he followed his occupation.
Samuel took out a warrant for a tract of land dated
Sept. 2, 1785, and which was surveyed May 13th the
next year. It was called “ Paphos,” and contained
three hundred and fifty-eight acres. He opened a
tavern in 1796, and kept it till 1812. The load owned

' by James Workman is now owned by Huston Paull,

and that owned by Samuel is now owned by Mrs.
Templeton. James VVorkman also purchased of
Henry VVoods, July 22, 1796, eighteen acres (a part
of the John McClure tract), and on the 20th of Jan-
uary, 1801, he purchased land of VVilliam Huston, a
part of the tract called “ Huston’s Pleasure.”

A Methodist Church or class was organized in this
township about 1840. Their meetings were first held
in the school-house. About five years later they erected
a neat frame church, in which services were held until
about 1867,,when it was thought best to change the

-location, and- a frame building was erected on the

north side of the National road, about six and a half
miles east of Washington borough, outside of this
township. The chapel, at first known as Providence
Chapel, upon its removal to its present location be-

came known as Davidson’s Chapel, and is at present 8
~ under the pastoral care of _the Rev. R. S. Wolf. Upon

the site of the Providence Chapel now stands the
Mount Pleasant Presbyterian Church, under the care
of the Rev. W. F. Hamilton. ‘

Mount Pleasant Presbyterian Church.—This
church was organized July 2, 1872. Its edifice is in
South Strabane, five miles east of VVashington. For
the first few years of its existence it was supplied with

' preaching successively by Rev. VV. Ewing and Rev.

George Fraser, D.D. Since April, 1-875, its pulpit
has been filled by Rev. W. F. Hamilton. Its ruling
elders have been Isaac Dager, William Pees, and
Robert Munnell, ordained July 2, 1872, and John B.
Herron and John Herron, ordained Feb. 11, 1877.
The last named is now acting. Isaac Dager died Dec.
4, 1876. The others have removed out of the bounds.
At its organization twenty-eight members were en-
One
of the active instruments in the establishment of this
church was the venerable Mrs. Jane ‘Dill Wilson, who
died June 20, 18.77, at an advanced age.‘ She was the

mother of Rev. Thomas Wilson, deceased, and Rev._
S. J. Wilson, .D.D., LL.D., professor in Western
Theological Seminary. Among her grandchildren
are Rev. Maurice B. Wilson, Emsworth, Pa., and
Rev. Calvin D. Wilson and Rev. John R. Paxton,
D.D., both of Washington, D. C. She was a person of
remarkable force of character and most devoted piety.

Schools were taught in the township in the early

' days by subscription, in the same manner as in-other
townships. At the time of the passage of the school _

law in 1834 therewere living in the township 245
persons liable to school tax. The amount raised for
school purposes in 1835 was $201.88. Unlike some

of the other townships in the county, this township.

accepted the provisions of the law, and raised in 1836
$401, and received from the State $66.39-. In 1837
the whole amount received was $404.47. The town-
ship was divided into seven districts, which remained
as they were laid out until about 1875, when another
district was made. In 1863 there were 237 pupils;
in 1873, 221; and in 1880 the number was increased
to 333. In 1863 the receipts for school purposes
were $1035.20; expenditures, $995; in 1873, receipts,
$1995.18; expenditures, $1723.92; in 1880, receipts,
$4419.49; expenditures, $4120.97. ' 3

PREHISTORIC PIPE.

' Prehistoric relics have been found in various places
in South Strabane township. A cut is here given of
a pipe made doubtless by a people whose occupancy
preceded that of the Indians whom the first white
settlers founfl here. . It was found near the United

W.
fl
W
W
M

.
#4 0:001 ...
vu..u%
.. .. .15.
..~...........%wv
vouvt luv ooooto I
oustaouo cow Pr,
. .

/mum!/g

a o o. oo
«o a oovv
» —uooo.ocol.
or to 4% co.
Gxuuufic? : ‘

/’

//

' entry is an air-shaft, six by six feet.

SOUTH S']_‘RA.BA‘NE TOWNSHIP.

957,

Presbyterian Church in this township by Joseph
Brundige in the year 1840. 0 , ‘
Enterprise Goal-Works.——Oni the 1st of April,
1873, operations were commenced for sinking a shaft
seven by eleven feet in size, for the purpose of mining
coal. .After reaching a .depth of one hundred and
fifty feet they struck the Pittsburgh vein, which at
that place was four feet in thickness. The land was
owned by James Walter and Julius Le Moyne, and
the sinking of the shaft and mining was under the
management of the former. In December of that
year ‘mining commenced ; from ten to twenty-five men
were employed, and entries were opened, from both

the east and west sides. ‘After the ‘several changes,
the original proprietors retiring‘, the propertycame.
« -into possession of V. Harding, who now owns it.

There is one main entry running northerly, and nine
cross entries, five on the west side and four on the
east, extending as follows: West side,,No. 1,1400
feet; No. 2, 1400 feet; No. 3, 700 feet; No.4, 500
feet; No. 5, 250 feet. About 800 feet from the‘ main
East side: No.
1, 125 feet; No. 2, 750 feet; No. 3, 150 feet; No.4,
175 feet. The entries on the east side and, Nos. 3, 4,
and 5 on the west side are not worked at present.
About 12,000 tons were mined in 1881. Abranch

road runs from the.‘ works to connectwith the Pitts-‘ .

burgh Southern Railroad. A

44.;
‘_f

BIOGRAPHIQAL$KETCHES.

.,>.

SAMUEL VANCE. ’ V

Samuel Vance was born ‘in Somerset township,

. Washington County, Pa.,- March 13, 1791.‘ His father,
Isaac Vance, was of Scotch-Irish parentage, and a

native of the valley of Virginia. His mother, Mary

I Cotton, of Puritan ancestry, was born in Bedford

County, Pa. Both families came to this .country

' about the year 1780. P

The life of Samuel was the uneventful one of a
well-to-do Washington County farmer. He was a
man of noble impulses, strict integrity, and high
character. His reading and thinking made him one
of the "earliest and most pronounced temperance men,
and an anti—slavery man when that movement was
first begun. He was twice married, his wives being
cousins, Martha and Mary Fife, of Allegheny County,
Pa. He had eight children, ‘four of whom survive
him. In 1834’he was chosen a ruling elder in the
First Presbyterian Church of Washington, in which
relation he continued until the time of his death,
Feb. 28, 1874. His good judgment, practical common

' sense, and unflinching honesty were often called into’

requisition in public local trusts and interests.

61

In

HUSTON PAUL. . .
William -Paul, a native of Pennsylvania, and Han-

nah Slack, a native of New Jersey, were married in '

the beginning of the present century, and settled in
Amwell township, Washington Co., Pa. They had
twelve children, all of whom grew to manhood and

'womanhood ‘and married. ’ Huston Paul was their

third child, and was born Nov. 10, 1805. He enjoyed

but meagre advantages of study inchildhood, it being if

necessary for him very early in life to devote his time
to manual labor. .He was married Oct. 4, 1827, to

' Nancy, youngest ;daughter of Martin and Catharine

I Oct. 11, 1841.

Heckathorn, of Greene Co., Pa. - For five years after
his marriage he was engaged in milling. He then
purchased the farm where he now resides. Hisli-fe
has been one of temperance, industry, and prudent
economy. Although he has almost reached the age
of fourscore years, he is still active, the result, no
doubt, of his even-tempered, abstemious life. He has
four children,——Hannah married John C. Hastings,
a har-dwaremerchant of Washington, Pa., where they
reside; They have ‘two children,—William, married’
to Sadie Ashbrook, and Annie G. Catharine is un-
married,~a_nd resides with her father. William mar-I
ried Martha Vance. He is a farmer,land resides in
Franklin“ township, Washington Co. They have seven
children,—-Philo»V., Samuel H., Gary B., Isaac E.,
Mary R., Nancy, and Martha. _ ~
- - Nancy is unmarried, and resides with her father.

WILLIAM D AVIS.

William Davis was born in West Bethlehem town-_
ship, Washington CogPa.,’Oct. 6, 1810, and is the son
of Joshua and Mary Davis. , His father was born in
Pennsylvania, and his mother was a native of Ireland.
William was the oldest of their children, and he and
Mrs. Lucinda Smith, of Pittsburgh, are the only ones
now living. Mr. Davis in his childhood attended the
so-called subscription schools of the neighborhood in
which his father resided. He engaged in farm labor
early in life, and continued to work for different far-
mers, carefully husbanding his earnings, until 1847,
when he purchased and moved to the farm where he
now resides, and since that time he has devoted himself
to agriculture and the growing of Saxony wool, in both
of which he has been eminently successful. He was
married Jan. 28, 1836, to Juliet Palmer, who died
They had three children. _George
married Elizabeth Martin, and is engaged in mere
chandising in Washington, Pa. John K. married
Margaret'Smith, and is a farmer in Somerset town-
ship. Mary Elizabeth died in infancy. Aug. 15,
1844, Mr. Davis married Phebe E. Moore, who died
July 8, 1852. His present wife’s. maiden name was
Mary Kerr. They have one son, VVi1liam H., who is
a farmer and resides with his parents. Mr. Davis
has held a number of important township offices,

958

HISTORY or WASHINGTON COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA.

and was for nine years a member of the Poor Board of
the county. He discharged the duties of these posi-
tions in a manner creditable to himself and his con-
stituency. He is also a director of the First National
Bank of Washington, Pa., which position he has held
for a number_of years.‘ He has long, been a member
of the Presbyterian Church, and for a number of
years has held the office of elderin that organization.

He. is pleasant and unobtrusive in manner, of a
kind and benevolent spirit, greatly attached to his

' home, and is much respected by his neighbors. His
» success in life is due to his integrity, his industry, his

devotion, and his unselfishness.

GEORGE M.- RAMSEY, M.n.

Of the early history of Dr. George M. Ramsey’s
family little is known.
to this country at the age of twelve years. His
grandfather, William Ramsey, was born in Bucks
Co., Pa., in the year 1755. At the age of sixteen he
took 'the'colonial oath of allegiance, and enlisted
early in the war of independence as captain. ‘When
reconnoitring one -day he unexpectedly met two
mounted‘ British oflicers, one of whom he captured,
notwithstanding he was himself on foot. The gov-
ernment presented liimwith the sword of the ofligcer
he captured in recognition of his bravery, and agility.

After the surrender of Yorktown he started on.

footfor home, and becoming weary on'the way he
hung his cumbrous sabre on the limb of a tree and
left his trophy there, which in after-years he greatly
regretted. In 17 80 he married Martha Allan, of Ches-
ter County, Pa. In 1800 he nfoved to Washington
County, and purchased the tract of land now com-
prising the farms of John S. Barr__and S. B. Wier, in
Somerset township. He built a mill and pottery
near where the United Presbyterian Church now
stands. William Ramsey with his family were at-

tendants and communicants of Pigeon Creek Pr~es- "

byterian Church. In 1815 he moved to Ohio, where
he died at the age of eighty-six years. His‘ remains
‘wereburied at Morristown, Ohio.

Josiah Ramsey, the doctor’s father, was born Dec.
4, 1783, near Chambersburg, Pa. ; was seventeen years

old when he came to Washington County. In 1804-

he-married Catharine Mcllvaine, andhad born unto
himtwelve children, nine daughters and three sons,
William, George M.,, and Josiah Allan. A few years
after his marriage‘ he bought the farm in South
Strabanewhere all of his children except three were
born. He was a man of exemplary life, a Presby-
terian of the Calvinistic type, industrious, and "dex-
trous with the use of tools, but remained a farmer.
He died at the age of fifty-three years, and his re-

I mains were buried at Pigeon Creek Cemetery.

His oldest son, William Ramsey, was born Jan. '16,
1812. He remained at home, was a steady-going far-

His great-grandfather came _

mer, and never married. He was an ardent Republi-
can, a consistent member of the Presbyterian Church
for about forty years, a ruling elder in the same for
about twenty-five years. He died June 30,1880, and
a handsome monument marks the place of his burial
in Pigeon Creek Cemetery. ' ' '

Josiah Allan, the youngest son and the youngest
of the family, was born March 31, 1828. He received
a liberal education, graduating from Washington
College in the class of 1850. He read medicine at
M cKeesport, Allegheny ‘Co., Pa., and began prac-
ticing at Braddock Fields, the same county, where he
married Mary West, daughter of Rev. Nathaniel
West, D.D. ‘

After a few years he moved to Philadelphia, where
he practiced until the beginning of the Rebellion, and
being surgeon of a volunteer regiment of Philadel-
phia, he entered the service with his regiment under
the call for seventy-five thousand men to serve for
three ‘months. At the expiration of his three months’
service he‘ was appointed and commissioned surgeon
o.f the One Hundred and Twenty-first Pennsylvania
Volunteer Infantry, and continued in service in the
Army of the Potomac until it disbanded in 1865. He
then returned to Philadelphia and resumed the prac-
ticeof medicine. Jan. 1, 1870, his'w-ife'd.ied, and in

‘September, 1871, he married Emeline E. Ramalee, of

Philadelphia, and to them" was born one son, Paul
Lemoyne Allan Ramsey. Dr. Josiah Allan'Ramsey
was a man of delicate constitution, of courteous and
genial manner. He died Jan. 8, 1873, and his re-
mains were buried in Mount Vernon Cemetery, Phila-
delphia. A

Dr. George M. Ramsey was born April 19, 1820, in
South Strabane township, Washington County. When
fifteen years of age hisfather died; he remained at
home two years after his death, and then went to the
carpenter trade. ' In the autumn of 1846, his health
failing, he was advised by his physician to go_South.
He first went to Louisiana, where he spent theiwinter;
he then went to St. Louis, Mo., and in the midsum-
mer to Mineral Point, Wis. His health not im-
proving he again went South via New Orleans and
Mobile to Selma, Ala. In the autumn of 1848 he
taught school in Arkansas for two and a half months,
when he was obliged to leave without compensation
for his work because of his sympathy for, and sup-
posed aid to, slaves escaping from their masters. He

again went to St. Louis,‘ t’hen‘ce’to Al~a'ba1na,where he '

spent the winter of 1848. In the summer of 1849 he
returned to his home in Washington County, and in
the autumn. of the same year began the study of
medicine in Canonsburg, Pa. He graduated at Jef-
ferson Medical College in the class of 1852, and in
October of that year began practice in St. Louis, Mo.
In June, 1853,he was appointed surgeon on a vessel
bound for Australia, and went to New York City" to

embark, but finding the vessel " not seaworthy he re-

fused to accept the position. He remained in New

THE INDIAN

OCCUPATION. 15

by vario11s arcs of circles, as regularly drawn as if a
pair of compasses had traced the lines upon the sky.
Everywhere around him he sees lands abounding in
limestone and all the necessary elements of fertility,
and producing upon even the highest summits abund-
ant crops of all the cereal grains. To enhance the

'natural resources of this picturesque country its hills

conceal immense deposits of bituminous coal, which
the descending streams here and there expose, and
which, along the sides of the valleys within five miles

‘of Washington and thence to the Ohio River, are

conveniently reached by level aditsu Such, for nearly
two hundred miles west of the Alleghenies, isthe
general character of this region, especially of that

portion of it lying along the Monongahela and Ohio,

a region whose healthfulness is not surpassed by that
of any country in the world.”

The Indian Occupation.--When the wilderness
region west of the Alleghenies in Pennsylvania was
first penetrated by English-speaking white men, they
found it partially occupied by roving bands of In-
dians, whose principal permanent settlements were in
the vicinity of the confluence of the Monongahela
and Allegheny Rivers, and above and ‘below that
point on the latter stream and the Ohio, but who
had, besides these, a few transient villages, or more
properly camps, located at different points in the in-
terior of the great hunting-ground. These Indian
occupants were principally of the "Delaware and
Shawanese tribes or nations, but there were among
them several colonized bands “of Iroquois, or “Min-
goes,” as they were called. These represented the

powerful Six Nations of New York, who were the

de facto owners of this trans-Allegheny country, and
who sent these bands with their chiefs to live among
their vassals, the Delawares, in the same manner and
for the same reason that the Romans of old planted
colonies and posts at remote points in their tributary
provinces.

The Delawares claimed that theirs was the most
ancient of all the aboriginal nations, the “ Lenni‘
Lenape/’or Original People. One of their traditions
ran, that, ages before, their ancestors had lived in a
far-off country to the west, beyond the mighty rivers
and mountains, at a place where the salt Waters con-
stantly moved to and fro, and that in the belief that
there existed away towards the rising sun a red
man’s paradise-—-a land of deer and salmon and
beaver———they had left their far-away home and trav-
eled on towards the east and south to find it, but
that on their way they were harassed and attacked by
enemies and scourged and divided by famine, so that
it was notluntil after long and weary journeyings
during hundreds of moons that they came at length
to a broad and beautiful river (the Delaware), which
forever ebbed and flowed, like the waters from whose
shores they had come; and there, amidst a profusion
of game and fish, they rested, and found that Indian
elysium of which they had dreamed before they left

their old homes in the land of the setting sun. .At
the present day there are enthusiastic searchers
through the realms of aboriginal lore who, accepting
the vague narrative as authentic, imagine that the
red man came from Asia across the Behring Strait,
through which they saw the tide constantly ebb and
flow asimentioned in the’ tradition.

Certain it is that at the ‘coming of the first
Europeans to America, the Indians of the Lenni
Lenape were found living in Eastern Pennsylvania
and New Jersey, in the country drained by the river

which the white men called Delaware, a name which -

they also gave to the nation of red. men who inhabited
its valley. Many years before that time the Dela-
wares had been powerful and the terror of other In-
dian tribes, but they were. afterwards subdued and
humbled by the all-conquering Iroquois or Five
Nations,‘ who reduced them to a state of semi-vas-
salage, and compelled them to acknowledge them-
selves women and not warriors. The Delawares,
while not daring to deny this fact, endeavored to re-
lieve themselves of the disgrace in the eyes of white
men by an ingenious yet flimsy account to the effect
that as the Indian nations were almost continually at
war with each other it had become necessary to have
some one of the tribes stand constantly in the atti-
tude of peace-makers between them; that as it was
‘proper that the bravest and most powerful nation
should perform this office, it naturally fell to the
Delawares, who were exceedingly unwilling to take
it, but finally consented to doso for the general good.
It was disgraceful for warriors to ask for peace; this
had always been done by the women of the tribes,
hence peace-makers were women, and the Delawares
in accepting the position as such became, metaphori-
cally, women and wearers of the petticoat? The
Delawares said that the Iroquois brought about this
result by cunning speeches and artifice, because they
dreaded their power and were anxious-to render them
powerless for harm, the Delawares only discover-
ing the trick.when it was too late for them to recede-
Heckewelder and other Moravian writers gravely re-
peated this silly story for truth; but it is unquestion-
able that the Iroquois treated the Delawares with
great contempt, as a subjugated people and vassals.
At a treaty council held in.'Philadelphia*°' in July,
1742, a Six Nation chief named Cannassatego gave a

1 The Iroquois confederation, at first embracing the Mohawks, Oneidas,

Onondagas, Cayugas, and Senecas, was then called the Five Nations, but
afterwards became the Six Nations by the addition of the Tuscaroras,
who emigrated to the North upon being expelled from their earlier hunt-
ing-grounds in the Carolinas. ,

2 At a time when a strong French force was reported to be on the upper
Allegheny on its way to the Ohio, the Delawares living at the head of
the latter river sent runners to the Six Nation council at Onondaga,
with belts and a message, in which they said, “ Uncles, the United Na-
tions,—We expect to be killed by the French your father. We desire
_therefore that you will take off our Petticoat that we may fight for our-
selves, our wives and children. In the condition we are in, you know
we can do nothing.”-——:O'olon’£al Records, vi. 37.

3 Col. Rec., iv. 580.

11-l

HISTORY OF WASHINGTON COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA.

on the west bank of the Ohio River, a short distance
below the present town of Steubenville} Great ex-
ertions were made to induce men to Volunteer,and
the result was a rapid recruitment. Many who were
willing to serve in the expedition were unable to
equip themselves for a campaign in the Indian
country, but in nearly all such cases some friend or
neighbor was found who would loan a horse or fur-
nish supplies. The dangerous and desperate nature
of the enterprise was fully understood, yet so much
of enthusiasm was exhibited in all the settlements
that as early as the 15th of May the number of
volunteers obtained was regarded as suflicient for the
successful accomplishment of the purposes of the
campaign, and three days later a great proportion of
them had made all their arrangements 2 and were on
their way to the place of meeting. But they did not
all arrive at the time appointed, and it was not until
the morning of the 24th that the last of the volun-
teers had crossed from the Virginia side of the Ohio
to the rendezvous. _ When, on the same day, the
forces were mustered on the Mingo Bottom ‘it was
found that four hundred and eighty3 mounted men
were present, ready and eager for duty.‘ Of this
number fully two-thirds were volunteers from Wash-
ington County,5 and the remainder from Westmore-

1 In a letter written on the 8th of May by Dorsey Pentecost to Presi-
dent Moore (Pa. Arch., 1781-83, p. 540) he said, “ I hear there is great
preparation making for a Desent on St. Duskie, to set out the 20th of this
month (the former plan having failed), which will be conducted by Gen-
tlemen of Experience & Verasity. I am Doubtful of the men's being
raised, as those ‘Kind of Expeditions have generally failed for the want
of Men, and I am further Doubtful on acct. of Provisions, as great
numbers will not be able to furnish themselves, and no money in the

‘ hands of any person Equal to that business.”

2 Butterfield, in his “ Expedition against Sandusky,” says, “ It is a tra-
dition—-nay, an established fact—that many, aside from the ordinary ar-
rangements necessary for a month’s absence (not so much, however,
fromja. presentiment of disaster as from that prudence which careful and
thoughtful men are prone to exercise), executed deeds ‘in consideration
of love and affection,’ and many witnesses were called in to subscribe
to ‘last wills and testaments.’ ” The commander of the expedition, Col.
Crawford, executed his will before departing on the fatal journey to the
Wyandot towns.

3 Lieut. John Rose (usually mentioned in accounts of the expedition
as Maj. Rose), an aide-de-camp of Gen. Irvine, who had been detailed for
the same duty with the commander of this expedition, wrote to the gen-
eral on the evening of the 24th from Mingo Bottom, and in the letter he
said, “ Our number is actually four hundred and eighty men.” This was
a more favorable result than had been anticipated, as is shown by a let-
ter written three days before (May 21st) to Gen. Washington by Gen. Ir-
vine, in which the latter said, “The volunteers are assembling this day
at Mingo Bottom, all on horseback, with thirty days’ provisions. . . . If
their number exceeds three hundred I am of opinion they may succeed,
as their march will be so rapid they will probably, in a great degree,
effect a surprise.”

4 All were in high spirits. Everywhere around there was a pleasur-
able excitement. Jokes were bandied and sorrows at parting with loved
ones at home quite forgotten, at least could outward appearances be re-
lied upon. Nevertheless furtive glances up the western hillsides into
the deep Woods kept alive in the minds of some the dangerous purpose
of ' all this hustle and activity.”—-Bu.tterfield’s Historical Account of the Ex-
pedition against Sandasky under Col. William Grawfcrrd. .

- 5 Col. James Marshel, in a letter addressed to Gen. Irvine, dated May
29, 1782, said that of the 480 men composing the forces of the expedi-
tion 320 were from Washington County, about 130 from Westmoreland,
and-20 from Ohio County, Va. ‘  A

land, excepting a very few from the Pan-Handle of
Virginia."

It was in the afternoon of the 24th of May that the
force was mustered and divided into eighteen com-
panies, their average strength, of course, being about
twenty.-six men. They were made thus small on ac-
count of the peculiar nature of the service in which
they were to engage,——skirmishing, firing from cover,
and practicing the numberless artifices and strata-
gems belonging .to Indian warfare. Another object
gained in the formation of these unusually small
companies was the gathering together of neighbors

and acquaintances in the same command. For each

company there were then elected a captain, a lien-
tenant, and an ensign. “Among those [captains]
chosen,” says Butterfield in his narrative of the expe-
dition, were “McGreehan, Hoagland, Beeson, Munn,
Ross, Ogle, John Biggs, Craig Ritchie, John Miller,
Joseph Bean, and Andrew Hood.” Two other captains
not mentioned by Butterfield were John Hardin and
Joseph Huston. These two, as well as Capt. John
Beeson (of Uniontown), commanded companies raised
in that part of Westmoreland County which after-
wards became Fayette. A large part of ‘the com-
pany commanded by Capt. John Biggs was also of
the same county. Eleven or twelve of the companies
were from Washington County, but their captains
cannot be placed, except Craig Ritchie, of Canons-
burg. V

After the several companies had been duly formed
and organized, the line-ofiicers and men proceeded to
elect field-oflicers and a commandant of the expedi-
tion. For the latter office there were two candidates.
One of these was Col. David Williamson, and his
chances of election seemed excellent, because he was
a citizen of Washington County, which had furnished
two-thirds of the men composing the forces, and also
because he was still undeniably popular among the
volunteers, notwithstanding the odium which had
fallen on the acts of the then recent Moravian expe-
dition, of which he was the commander. ‘His com-
petitor for the command of the new expedition was
Col. William Crawford, whose home was at Stewart's
Crossings of the Youghiogheny River, in Westmore-
land (afterwards Fayette) County. He was a regular
army officer of the Continental establishment, was
well versed in Indian modes of fighting, and had

already made an enviable military record. He, as _

well as Williamson, enjoyed much personal popu-
larity, and was also the one whom G-en. Irvine wished

, to have selected for the command.“

* Upon counting the votes it was found that four

5 Gen. Irvine wrote to Gen. Washington on the 21st of May, “ I have
taken some pains to get Col. Crawford appointed to command, and hope
he will be.” Irvine was evidently determined that Williamson should not
be elected, and there is little doubt that he had used such means as made
him certain of the result beforehand. If Williamson had been elected,
it is not likelythat the general would have allowed him to assume
command, .

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SOUTH STRABANE TOWNSHIP.

959

6 York City until the beginning of the civil war, when

he was appointed surgeon of the soldiers’ barracks in
Pearl Street, and was examining surgeon until Oc-
tober, 186l, when, at his request, he was ordered
to report to the Ninety-fifth Regiment New York
Volunteers for duty. This regiment was ordered to
Washington, and in March, 1862, entered Virginia,
and was attached to the Army of the Potomac. Sur-
geon Ramsey was in all of the battles fought by the
Army of the Potomac until February, 1863. At the
battle of Gettysburg he had charge of a hospital
containing over a thousand wounded Union and
several hundred rebel soldiers. He performed all the

o.pe~ration—s required with a death-rate of only seven per _

thousand. In F ehruary, 1863, he was ordered to report
to the Secretary of the Navy for detached service,
but remained surgeon of the N inety—fifth New York

ories are certainly quite novel, and may not meet
with approval, but to preserve them and invite dis-
cussion a summary is here made as nearly as possible
in his own language:

The velocity and direction in whichclouds move
(even when affected by the earth’s surface), when
compared with the velocity and direction of the
earth’s rotation, “ demonstrate that the wind always
moves eastward, and in the aggregate has a greater
velocity than the earth’s surface over which it moves.
Air-motion is always eastward, although it may di-
verge northward or southward, thereby resulting in
a compound motion, yet its eastward motion is always
the greatest.” “ Air-pressure upon the earth’s surface
is more than one ton to each square foot of surface.”
“Now considering the earth as virtually in astate of

i equilibrium in space,‘ that gravity is not exerted upon

Volunteers, and, at his own request, was permitted to
return to duty with his old regiment. Immediately
upon his return he was ordered to duty as brigade-
surgeon at brigade headquarters, and was finally mus-
tered out of service with his regiment, July 18, 1865.
He then returned to New York City and resumed the
practice of medicine. In April, 1872, he married

I ’ Anna Martha Gaflhey, and in the autumn of 1876 he;

returned to theold homestead in VVashington County,
Pa., where he nowresides.

Dr. Ramsey is especially fond of scientific studies,
and for many years has been engaged upon the diffi-
cult problem of accounting for the diurnal motion of
the earth. VVhile residing in New York he delivered
lectures upon the subject before scientific societies,
and in 1869 he published a work of two hundred and
sixty-four pages, entitled “Cosmology,” in which his
theories are propounded and discussed. These the-

iitin away to impede rotation, that this air-pressure

in motion is exerted in the direction of rotation, and
that its velocity is greater than the earth’s velocity of
rotation, it follows,” in Dr. Ramsey’s opinion, “that
the earth’s diurnal. rotation is produced and perpetu-
ated by atmospheric pressure in motion.” “ The at-
mosphere is, in fact, a great elastic belt, enveloping
the earth from pole to pole, moving with a velocity
greater than that of the earth’s surface, and exerting
its mighty power to rotate the earth with a leverage
of four thousand miles.” Hence is to be discovered
another law of nature in operation, “whereby at long
but undefined, periods the earth is virtually capsized,
causiiig geological and glacial periods and changes in
the geographical position of the polar centres.”

In the diagram to illustrate these views, S repre-
sents the sun; B the earth at her vernal equinox; C

950

HISTORY OF GTON COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA.

and D the earth at her solstices. “ One law of atmos-
pheric motion is that it always crosses the line of
illumination at right angles, as is shown by the
arrows. At B it is seen that the earth’s line of rota-
tion and_ air—motion coincide; while at the solstices,
C and»D, they diverge 45°. Now, the atmosphere
being the cause of the earth’s rotary motion, it is

plainly seen,” says the doctor, “if the divergence-

were greater the rotary power would be exerted with
greater force upon the earth around her polar diam-
eter, resulting in a change in the direction of rotation
so as to coincide with the line of air-motion, and this
change in the directionlof rotation would produce a
deluge that would submerge whole continents.” '

 4

UNION. TOWINSHIP.

4.;
Vvr

THIE‘. township of Union lies in the northeast corner

-of Washington County, on the convex sideof a sweep-

ing bend of the Monongahela River, which forms its
entire eastern boundary. On the north and northeast
the township is bounded by Allegheny County, on
the west by‘ Peters and Nottingham townships, and
on the south by the township of Carroll. Besides
the Monongahela River, which forms the eastern
boundary‘ of the township,as already mentioned, the

only streams of sufficient size and importance to be

worthy of rn:ention'are Mingo— Creek in the southern
and Peters Creek in the northern. part of the town-
ship. Both these rstreamis flow in an easterly course
into the Monongahela. These, with a number of
smaller creeks and runs, tributaries of the two principal
creeks and of the ,Monongahela, comprise‘ all the
waters of Union township. Along the margin of the
river are bottom-lands, ranging from one-eighth to
three—quarters of a milein width. From the western
and northwestern borders of these bottoms the land
rises abruptly into a range of high “river hills,” from
the tops of which elevations there stretches away to-
wards the interior a succession. of high rolling uplands,
-everywhere tillableiandiadmirably adapted for pur-
poses of agriculture and grazing. The hills are un-'
derlaid with a rich and heavy vein of coal, and above
this vein is found an unlimited supply of stone of the
most excellent and durable quality for purposes of
building, to whichuse it has been successfully ap-
plied by the inhabitants of this locality almost from
the time of the building of the homes of the earliest
settlers.  _ y

. The territory of_which this township, is composed
‘was that part of Peters and that part of Notting-
ham townships lying along the Monongahela River.

I The first action towards the erection of a township

upon this territory was the presentation, at the Jan-
uary session of court in 1835., of a petition from
f‘ sundry inhabitants of Peters and Nottingham town-
ships for a new township out of part of said town-
ships.” On the 26th of the same month the court
appointed viewers, who reported atthe une term. A

review was granted, andon the 3d of October‘ _a re-
review was granted. On the 23d of Decgember, 1835,
the re-reviewers “ reported in favor a new township.”
which report was approved, and on the 31st of March,
1836, the court confirmed the report, and. decreed the
erection of a new township to be named “ Union.” '

Dissatisfaction seemsto. have grown out of this.

procedure, and the inhabitants of the new township
presented apetition at the.June term of court, 1836,
“ for a view of -said township, for the purpose of be-
ing annexedto Carroll township, from the great in-
convenience respecting ‘schools.’,’ Commissioners
were appointed on the 23d of June to examine the

merits of the case. It was -in’ their hands for some,

time,‘ and not until‘ Nov. 15, 1839, was  final report,
made, which was“ That there is no alteration neces-
sary.”' This was approved, and on the‘ 21st of Feb-
ruary the action was confirmed} -

Early Settlementsand Settlers.-—-—The following
is a list of the names of persons assessed in Peters

5' and Nottingham townships in 1788, on landsnow

within the limits of Union township, vii. : In Peters
township, John Anderson, 80 acres; James Ander-

«son, 30 acres; James Barclay,"250acres; John Barr;
' John Cox, 300 acres; John Campbell, 160 acres;

Edward Campbell, 50 acres; Robert Estep, 300 acres;
John Finley, 125 acres; James Grailey, 50 acres;
VVidow Pyatt, 200 acres; Thomas Williams, 150
acres. In Nottingham township, John Barr, 140
acres; Joseph Bentley, 115 acres; Charles Bradford,
65 acres; Philip Dailey, 110 acres; Charles Dailey,

260 acres; Nathan Dailey, 300 acres; ‘Jacob Fegley, .

325 acres; Zachariah Fegley; Simeon Fegley ; John
Holcroft, 400 acres; John Happer, 300 acres ; James
Logan, 100 acres; Robert Little, 400 acres. 1

_ Settlements had been made in many places along‘
the Monongahela River before the land was ‘ceded by , '

the Indians to the Penns, but within the limits of
Union township no evidence is found of such prior

‘settlements. The earliest date brought to notice is

discovered in a Virginia certificate that was issued to
Gabriel Coir, an‘. 5, 1780.“

, ‘Mrs. Freitchman -and others.

at nine acres, called “Falling Timber Bottom.”
application for this land was dated May 23, 1769.

UNION TOWNSHIP.

961

This tract of 400 acres -was granted to Gabriel Cox
as a settlement right, and was surveyed _to himas
315% acres, under the title of “Coxbury.” It was
located adjoining the property of Robert Little,
Robert Estep, and Samuel Irwin, and also adjoining
another tract of land which Cox owned, and which
was called «“ Cox’s Addition.” The last-named tract
was granted to Mr. Cox under the pre-emption, and
was surveyed as 262 acres. Gabriel Cox and his wife,
Sarah, lived at this place until about the year 1790,

‘ but whether ‘they had any family, or to what place

theyremoved at that time, is not known. None of
their descendants are in the county. 1 The land occu-
pied by Mr. Cox is now owned. by Andrew McClure
and Messrs. Morrison and Dennison. It is, however,
authentic that Gabriel Cox was a major under the
‘authority of Virginia from~1776 to 1781; also, that
he was a participant in the various expeditions that
went out from Washington County against the In-
dians from 1778 to 1782.

John Campbell and his’ son Edward were residents
of this county as early as 1779, as the name of the

father appears upon a recorded deed of that date._
-John Campbell took up a tract of land containing

311 acres, to which was given the name. of “ Camp-
bellton,” and he received a patent for it Sept. 9, 1788.
On April 5,1807, he purchased 226 acres of land
adjoining the tracts of Abram Mellinger and Enoch

‘Wright, on Peters Creek, on the Washington road.

This tract was named “Partnership.” Mr. Campbell
held this property for several years, and Jan. 23, 1823,
sold it to his son Edward. It is now occupied by
-John Campbell was
appointed justice of the peace Feb. 8, 1799', which
oflice he held for many years. ’ '

Philip Dailey received Jan. 17, 1780, a Virginia
certificate for a tract “ adjoining lands of Gabriel Cox,
and including his settlement made in the year of our
Lord 1773.” This tract was surveyed astwo hundred
and twenty-three acres under the name of “ Dauphin.”
At his death Philip Dailey left this property by will to

his sons, Philip, Charles, and Samuel Dailey.

Nathan Dailey, a brother of Philip, Sr., warranted’
a tract of land containing two hundred and eighty-
The

The land was also secured by Mr. Dailey upon a Vir-
ginia certificate, and the warrant of acceptance was
given Dec. 16, 1792. One hundred and twenty—seven

acres of this property was conveyed by Nathan Dailey

to his son Nathan in October, 1816, and one hundred
and twenty-seven acres was sold by him, Jan. 13,
1818, to Joseph Bentley. A The part given to Nathan
Dailey, J r., was in turn left by him to his son Isaac,
who afterwards sold a portion of _it to John Hindman.

John Holcroft was a native of Fairfield County,
Conn. The exact date of his arrival in Washington
County is not known, but he was here prior to 17 86,
and at that time he was living on land belonging to

Dorsey Pentecost. On Dec. 30, 1786, he leased of
Dorsey Pentecost property‘ described as “the lands
now in possession of John Holcroft, Hugh and James
Miller, James Patterson, ‘John Spivey, Benjamin
Johnston, John Wi'lliams'on, William McCoy, and
William Leam.an, and one other tract on the west
fork of Chartiers Creek.” It"appears~ that the lands
had been‘ leased prior to this date, but Pentecost re-
linquished all right and title to the rents, in- consid-
eration of which Holcroft wasto pay him £200 in
gold or silver coin. How long Holcroft retained pos-
session of the lan_ds under this lease is not known.
During the Whiskey Insurrection Holcroft was -living
in what is now Union township, and was one of the
foremost and most active of the insurgents. The land
upon which he then lived is east of Gastonville, on
the Finleyvilleand Elizabeth road. It has passed
through, many hands and is now owned by Joel Sick-
man and others, the old log house which he occupied
standing near the present stone house of Mr. Sick-
man. In 1788, Holcroft was assessed upon a tract of
four hundred acres of land called “Liberty Hall,”
that was taken up by Samuel Irwin upon a Virginia
certificate. In January, 1795, Holcroft bought it.

He lived in this township until 1818, whenhe died ~

far advanced in years. His wife, Rachel Holcroft,

survived him, as did his eight sons and eight daugh- ‘

ters. The sons were John B., Seely, Richard, James,
George, Nathaniel, Elijah, and _William Holcroft.
The daughters were Mrs. Elizabeth Lockwood, Mrs.
Mary Scofield, Mrs. Deborah Donalson, Mrs. Rachel
Applegate, Mrs. Sarah Gallagher, Mrs. Gerty Sprig,
Mrs. Margaret Seely, and Mrs. Betsey Storer. The
son William was the youngest of the family. The
Holcroft property or a part of it isnfiow owned by
John Houston. '

Richard James, of Upper Freehold, Monmouth Co.,
N. J ., purchased of Gabriel Cox, April 20, 1786, five
hundred and five acres of land in which was included
the whole of the tract called “ Coxbury,” and a part
“ Cox’s Addition.” Again, on Oct. 28, 1793, Richard

a James, “in consideration of the -love, good will, and

natural affection which he hath and doth bear toward
his son, and the farther consideration of ten. shil-
lings,” conveyed to his son, Robert James, one-half
of the land purchased of Gabriel Cox, which was
two hundred and fifty-two and one-half acres. Also
at the same time, and for the same reasons and con-
sideration, he conveyed to his son William the other
half,——two hundred and fifty-two and one-half acres,
---—the latter half containing houses, barns, stables, and
all other buildings. Upon coming into possession of
their property in 1793 the two brothers, Robert and
William James, both single men, came to Washing-
ton County. Robert built a log house upon the lower

part of his land, and soon after married Catherine, a .

daughter of Mr. Gallagher, who lived near,in Alle-
gheny County. About the year .1800,'Robert James
built the stone house now owned by Mrs. Gilmore,

c

T the villainy ceased.

962

HISTORY OF WASHINGTON COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA.

‘where he lived until his death, Nov. 30,1834, at
. seventy-three years of age.

His wife died March 7,
1842, aged seventy-six years. The two sons born to
Robert and Catherine James both died in early life,
but their six daughters all reached maturity. Eliza-
beth _became the wife of Rev. John Wl1ite,r a Meth-
odist minister, then on the circuit which included
Union township, but who afterwards settled in Se-

Jvickley. Catherine James married Edward Smith,

of Virginia, and Harriet. married Andrew McClure,
who settled upona part of the old homestead, and in
1849 built the stone house in which he now resides
.with his family. Martha James became Mrs. Samuel
Gaston, and with her husband settled in Iowa. The

daughters Emma and Rebecca never married, and 4'

lived together in the old home many years after their
parents’ death. Robert James was a prominent mem-
ber in the Methodist Church, having much to do with
its organization and in the erection of the building
known as the “Stone Chapel.” He donated one acre
of land Sept. 13, 1817, providing only “ that the trus-
tees shall erect or cause to be erected or built thereon
a house of worship for the use of the members of the
Methodist; Episcopal Church.” He was extremely
active in all good works, and yet soon after settling in
this township a demand was made upon him for a

' certain. amount of money; his refusal resulted in the

burningof his barns and all other outbuildings. Sus-

’ pecting a man in. the vicinity to be connected with
the fire,Mr. James commenced measures to bring him 1

to justice, when ‘he-suddenlylfled to other parts. He
was undoubtedly the leader of a band who had made
a. practice of extorting money from the better class of
inhabitants of this _section by sending threatening
letters, -as in Mr.’ James’ case. With his departure

Among the early settlers who came to this territory
with the idea that they were settling in Virginia was
Robert Lytle, who came about the year 1776 and lo-
cated on land lying partly on the Monongahela River
and partly on Peters Creek, adjoining Gabriel Cox
and«Samuel~ Heath. This tract was granted to him
on -the 425th of February, 1780. It contained four
hundred and eighty-six acres. On, this farm helived,
raised a family of children, and died at an advanced
age, leaving seven sons,-—David, James, Abram, Jo-
seph, Samuel, Isaac, and Robert. Of these, David
settled in Mercer County, Pa.; J amesemigrated to
near St. Louis, M0,; Abram“ resided on the home
farm, which was left upon his death to his son,'John
Lytle, whostill resides upon it.» He also left three
daughters, one-- of whom, Mary (Mrs. Gilmore), re-
sides in Elizabeth, Allegheny County. Two daugh-
ters married and moved West.

Joseph Lytle, son of Robert, settled in Beaver
County,‘Pa., and later moved to Allegheny County,
opposite Monongahela City, where he ‘resided with
his brother Isaac.‘ Isaac and Benjamin Lytle, of
Union t'ownship,“are sons of Joseph. Samuel Lytle

moved to near Bentleyville in this county, and lived
there till his death, leaving descendants. Isaac set-
tled in Allegheny County, opposite Monongahela
City; the farm on which he settled is now owned by
his youngest son. Robert Lytle, when a young man,
emigrated to Chillicothe, Ohio, and remained there.

In the year 1786, Jacob Fegley took up two tracts
of land in what is now Union township, and the as-
sessment-roll of 1788 shows him to have been then
the possessor of three hundred and twenty-five acres.
One tract named “Fergus” was patented’ Feb. 22,
1789, but the date of the patent of the other, called
“High Germany,” is not given. The land of. Mr.
Fegley was situated near Mingo “Church, adjoining
that of John Kennedy, and is still owned by his
descendants. a

John Happer was a native of Ireland, whence he
emigrated, and coming to VVashington‘ County took up
a tract of three hundred acres of land in this vicinity,
the place where his grandson, John‘ Happer, now
lives. He received the patent upon his land May 19,

‘1787. John Happe_r’s children were six, four sons

and‘ two daughters. Of the sons, Andrew and Bap-
tist lived to manhood. Andrew went to Ohio, where

‘he died-; Baptist remained upon the homestead all his

life. The daughter Agnes married John Steele, who
lived near Brownsville. Jane married John Storer,

and settled in Allegheny County, but died in about a ’

year afterwards. Baptist Happer had also four sons
and two daughters. Samuel, the eldest, went West,
and died there; John, liveson the old homestead;
James, the youngest, emigrated to Illinois; An-
drew has been a missionary in China for thirty-eight
years under the Presbyterian, Board of ‘Missions;
Sarah married Rev. Thomas Gault, and -removed to
the West; Margaret also married and settled in the
‘West. ' '

Robert Estep was a native of New Jersey who set-.’'

tied in this townshipvin 1788, taking up three hundred
acres of land on Peters Creek, one mile below=Fin-
leyville, upon which he lived and died; His land

adjoined that of Gabriel Cox, which the latter sold-
Robert Estep left a family of

to Robert James. V
thirteen children, most of them living in Union town-
ship for many years. Afterwards some of the family
moved West. Dr. James Estep, one of the sons,
was born in this township. He studied and practiced
medicine in Westmoreland County, and later in his
native township. He was also an ordained Baptist
minister, and was the pastor of Peters Creek Baptist
Church ,for several years. Nathan, the oldest son of

‘Robert Estep, settled on the old homestead, and died

leaving no descendants. VVilliam, another son,'also
lived on a part of the home farm, which his son
Joseph now owns. Ephraim, still another son, left
the farm he inherited to
now occupies it. ' .

John Cox came to Washington County before the
year 17 88, and took out a warrant for a tract of land

his daughter Elmira, who .

UNION TOWNSHIP.

963

containing three hundredand six acres, which was
surveyed to... him as “Belmont,” the patent being
granted Sept. 9, 1790. Upon his farm he built a log
house, which stood near the present brick house of
_Joseph’S. Gaston. “Belmont” was sold by Cox to
John Gaston theNovember following its patenting,
and Cox removed to near Limetown, and remained
there until his death. "A son, Enoch ‘Cox, also died
near Limetown. .

_ John Gaston came from New Jersey to this county

A with his wife and family of four sons and two daugh-
. ters, and,_ as already mentioned, purchased of John

Cox, Nov. 30, 1790, the tract “ Belmont,” upon which
Gastonvi-lle has been built. He also purchased land
adjoining. He built a hewed log house a short dis-

_ tance south of thesite of John Cox’s old house, living

in it un,t._il.his death in 1825, at the age of eighty-seven
years. Mr. Gaston gave to each of his sons, William
and James, one hundred acres of his land. They
eventually sold their shares of the property to Samuel,
another son, and both removed to Ohio. Samuel re-
mained upon the homestead. Joseph, the fourth son,
went to, South Carolina, whcre“he married and subse-
quently removed to Ohio, where he. died. Samuel
Gaston. married Margaret Penny, of Allegheny County,
and their family of nine children all settled here.
They, are all dead except William, who lives on a part
of the old tract of land at‘Gastonville. Joseph S.
Gaston, J r., now living in the brick house built by

~_ Samuel Gaston "on the homestead tract, is a son of

Joseph S. Gaston. and a grandson of Samuel Gaston.
Margaret, one of John Gas.ton’s daughters, became

’ the wife of Samuel McClean, of New Jersey. They
settled «in Nottingham township,_at the head of Peters

Creek, where they died and left no descendants.

Col. Joseph Barr, on Jan. 11, 1803, purchased two
hundred acres of land of Samuel Meek,-which ad-
joined the property of Abraham Mellinger in this
township. It was a part of the “ Rocky Ridge” tract,
which was patented to Samuel Meek, Oct. 11, 1788.
Col. Barr sold it again in April, 1854, to Dr. William
B. Link, whose son, Dr. John Link, now owns it.
Col. -Joseph Barr had a family of six children,——two
sons and four daughters. ' The sons were Robert and
Joseph, and the daughters were Mary A., who became
Mrs. John Berry-, Deborah and Kate, who remained
unmarried, and Caroline, who married Rev. Mr. Mc-
Farlane, a minister of the Seceder Church.

Charles Bradford was an early settler of Washing-
ton County, as it appears upon record that before
1788 vheahad purchased sixty-nine acres of land of»
John Cox, and had a saw-mill upon Peters Creek at
that time, which was run for many years after. This
sixty-nine acres was, on Aug. 29, 1791, conveyed by
John Cox to Rev. David Philips and Gabriel Peter-
son in trust for Henry G., Andrew, Fielding, and Ju-
liana Bradford, the four children of Charles Bradford.

Henry G. and Andrew diedbefore the year 1815, and"

in that year the remaining heirs, Fielding, Bradford,

and Juliana, who had become Mrs. John Finley, sold

1 the property to Enoch Wright. In August, 1807, the

saw-mill had been leased for ninety-nine years -to
Samuel-Gaston. It was on land now ownedyby Isaac’
Lytle. Nothing of the mill remains. ,
Joseph Bentley came from Chester County,-.Pa., to
this place , with his father, who settled on, Jacobs
Creek, in Washington County. . Joseph was then un-
married, and Mercy, daughter of Philip Dailey, Sr.,
afterwards became his wife._ The Bentleys were early
settlers. Joseph was assessed upon one hundred and

fifteen acres of land in the year 1788. ' When he mar-.

ried, Joseph Bentley settled upon a part of the tract
patented to Nathan Dailey as,“ Falling Timber Bot-
tom,” adjoining the property of Moses Halliday. On
Jan. 13, 1818, Nathan Daily sold to him a mill privi-
lege and one hundred and twenty-seven acres of land
below his earlier purchase, as in 1801 he had pur-
chased of James Logan- the tract patented Dec. 8,

.1800, as “Falling Tree Bottom,” which adjoins the

tract.“ Falling Timber Bottom.” The Logan pur-
chase is the land upon which Joseph Bentley built
the stone house in which he passed his life. His son
George is the only one of the eleven children now
living‘, and_he occupies the homestead. Benjamin,
Levi, Eli, and Absalom, also remained upon the old
place untiltheir death. . Jesse went West, and Mary,
who married Thomas,Wilson, removed to‘ Venango

County, in this State. The old distillery which Joseph .

Bentley built is still standing up the Run, near where
his stone house was built. The distillery was inoper-
ation until 1862. _ .

“ Widow” Pyatt’s name appears on the assessment-
roll of 1788. She lived in Union township,on the
place where Mrs. Saulsbury now lives, on the road
from Finleyville to Library. - . ”

“ Froman’s Mill Place” was the property which
Paul Froman took up and afterwards sold to Robert

‘McGee, and which was surveyed in 1786. Froman

took up a great deal of land in this section, all of his

purchases having especial reference to the water -

privileges upon them. "He built agrist—mill upon his
land in this township, and attempted to build a high

, dam and use an overshot wheel, but thisewas never

accomplished, and the dam has always been called
“Froman’s Folly.” The mill was -located. on Fro-
man’s Run at the falls, just below Happer’s road.
Froman made a trip down the river with produce
and died there. The old "mill place, containing sev-
enty-six acres, passed into‘ the hands of John Kennedy,

and he also purchased eighty or ninety acres of land‘

of_ John Barr, the property which William Kennedy
now owns. These purchases were made in the years

1797-99. John Kennedy had nine children. , Samuel,
James, William, and John, are settled in this vicinity. A

The first two are dead, but the others are still living
here.
and fifty acres of land of Mrs. Polly Fegley, and ad-
joining his father’s property. The spot where the

John Kennedy, J r., purchased one hundred

a portion to David Mellinger.

96-1

HISTORY or WASHINGTON COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA.

whiskey insurgents gathered is between the Mingo
Church parsonage and Squire John Kennedy’s place,
where a distillery stood at that time.’

The land embracing thesite of Finl'eyville is a part
of a tract that was warranted to John 'Wall, Dec. 3,

1787. The part called “Mount Pleasant,” containing

four hundred and five acres, was conveyed by deed May

'3, 1788, to James Barclay, who in the same year was

licensed to keep a tavern. J ames-Barclay is said to
have been a sea-captain ; he was a brother-in-law of

. John Finley, and he continued to live upon a part of
‘this place until -his death. His sons, Robert and James,

also lived in this vicinity, butdied leaving no de-
scendants. James Barclay sold one hundred acres of
his land, June 15, 17 91, to Hugh Barclay, and in 1802
sold one hundred and thirty-three acres to John Fin-
ley for six hundred and eight ‘dollars. He also sold
Both Finley and
Mellinger lived in this section as early‘: .1794.
John Finley lived and died here, leaving a family of

‘eleven children, of whom Levi and Gen. Robert Fin-

ley settled at Finleyville. Levi Finley married and

had five children who settled in and near Finlleyville.

James, a son of his, lived and died at Lim-etown.
Barclay Finley, another son, is connected with the
Monongahela Bank at Monongahela  Dr;’oo}VVil-;-4
liam Finley, a third son, lives,at‘FinI%éyville. 
and F. M. Finley, the other two sons of “/Lejvi,l now‘
own the one hundred acres of‘ lasndithatil belongeldg, td V
Hugh Barclay, of whom their. fathe17'%f5tiii‘c~hasedTit.-
Gen. Robert Finley was a bachelor, and i, lived and
died at Finleyville.  4 ,  i     1   
John Hindman camelfromafiglg,  part, ofMary-my
land to this county about the  17196, and.’ on, A»pril,,f

Canon. This land was on thdfig gills, a short distance
below Limetown. Later, Ms; Hiiidmael.-lteoght..
eighty acres of land of Isaac  a‘s0n«ofiI‘i'athan..l‘
Dailey,'which was a portion of the body called  Fall-2-,,
ing Timber Bottom.” On Aug. 20, 1819,11-e eeeeae ’
possessor of one hundred and three acres of the tract.“
“Dauphin,” which was taken up by Philip Dailey. .
This purchase he sold to his son William, Sept. 19,
1823. John Hindman lived and died upon the prop-
erty he bought of Isaac Dailey. His family con-
sisted of four sons and five daughters. Of these,
John died while young ; Robert settled in Allegheny
County; William remained in Union township, and
some, if not all, of the daughters remained upon the

   

‘homestead. Samuel, the youngest son, also remained
there until 1864, when he purchased a smallplace in

Gastonville, where he now lives.

Thomas McVey came from Pequea, in this State.
He was a single man, and his sister, who came also,
kept house for him a year. He rented a farm of Mr.

I _ McAllister, at Ginger Hill, Nottingham township, in

1799, upon which he remained twoyears, and two

‘years longer upon a farm two miles farther east. He
‘married Hannah Kerr and lived for a while upon a

_ r r ’  ah 
16, 1798, purchased seventy¢ga,,t§o,'acres"of, Th.oma,s"“'  ,.  v

place he rented of Squire John Campbell, in Finley-
ville, on Peters Creek. About the year 1805 he pur-
chased of George Wilhelm ninety-seven acres of land
which belonged to the Jacob Fegley property, upon
which he lived and died. The farm is now in thepo‘s-
session of Benjamin McVey, a grandson of Thomas.

J ohn_ Pollock came with his wife and three children
from Gettysburg to this township, and bought a tract
of one hundred and thirty-three acres of land, back
from the river and adjoining the Hindman‘ tract.
‘His two sons, James and.Samuel, settled upon the
homestead. Samuel was a bachelor, but James mar-
ried Miss Mary Patton, and their family numbered
nine children. Their sons, John and Samuel, Jr.,
own the old place, the latterbeing unmarried. Da-
vid’, another‘ son, served in the Union army in the war
of the Rebellion, and is now in the West. Two
daughters are living upon a part’ of their father’s
place. '1 ‘ , A _

William Patton came to this section with the Hind--
man and Pollock families about 1799. He settledon
a farm of one hundred and eighty acres, _a portion of
Nathan Da.iley’s “ Fallen’ Timber Bottom,” which his
son Robert now owns. The log house built and occu-

 by William Patton until his death is still stand-
Qnd is now the home of Harvey Biers. William
 six children, three sons and three daugh-

 

ters.   and Robert live in Union township,
and J ohn ,i§§£allo\vfield. The daughter Sarah mar_-
tried  and lives in Allegheny County;
Mary  Pollock, and her home adjoins
her father’s§‘lia1§ 75’ Matilda became thewife of Joseph
1 me is in Monongahela City.
liigas ‘a native of Lancaster County,
8 section in 1800, immediately
ve bought land of Thomas Mc-
 , Jefferson township, Allegheny
=:‘_‘,“*-‘H removed to this township and
gilliam Martinnow resides. ‘He lived

   
 
 

     
         
  
  

   

  

many’ years, but in his old age removed to Lime-

town, where his son William had settled and_ was
operating coal-mines.

, John and David Donaldson formerly owned the
property adjoining John Cox’s, and on the southeast
David owned one hundred and fifty acres, and John
had a part of the Welch property. David died in
Union township, but left no descendants. John Don-
aldsonremoved to Butler County, in this State. A

daughter of his, Mrs. Patterson, resides near Mingo .‘

Church, in Union township. 1 ,

Physicians.——Of the members of the medical pro-
fession who have practiced in Union township, Dr.
Johnston was one of the first. He came to this sec-
tion about the year 1815, and remained until 1828 or

1830, when he removed‘ to near Monongahela City .

and purchased a farm, but continued his practice until
his death. While residing in Union township he lived

on the farm which later became the property of '

George Fors'yth,' but is now owned by the Rankins.

‘ ‘   L 6 UNION crowNsHI1>.

Dr. Joseph Pollock was a practicing physician
here as early as 1820, and then lived near Gaston-
ville. His practice extended largely through the
country, twelve or fourteen miles in each direction
from his home.
County, in this State, and died there.

Dr. James'Mi1ler was a native of Fayette County,

A and studied medicine with Dr. Robert Thompson, of

Canonsburg. He graduated at Jefferson College,
and also at Jefferson Medical College, Philadelphia.
He commenced his practice in Union township in

p183l,’his home beingat Finleyville, upon the Mel-
. linger farm. Dr. Miller married a daughter of Joseph .
Wright, of Peters township, and continuedin his

profession here until his death in 1842.

 Dr. Thomas Storerwas born in Illinois, and is the
son of J. R. Storer, a native of this township. Dr.
Storer graduated from Jefferson Medical College, at

‘ Philadelphia, in 1865, and began practicing at Hills-

boro’, Pa. « In 1871 he came to this township, remain-
ing here until 1876-77, when he returned to Hills-
boro’, where he is still in practice._

Dr. L. B. Welch is A native of Union township, a
son of John L. VVelch. In 1878 he graduated from,
the University of ,Maryland, and soon after returned
to Union township, where he is now engaged in the
practice of his profession.

Dr. William B. Lank succeeded to the practice of
Dr. Miller in 1842, the year in which the latter died.
Dr. Lank was a graduate of J eflerson Medical Col-
lege, but came here from J anesville, Ohio. He was
an excellent physician, and‘ had an extensive practice
until his death in 1880. His son, Dr. John Lank,
graduated from J etferson Medical College at Phila-
delphia, and succeeds his father’s practice.

Finleyville.-—-This village derived its name, from
that of John Finley, one of its early settlers, although
the first steps toward the laying out of the village
were really taken by James Barclay,'who had prior
possession of the tract of four hundred and five acres
called “Mount Pleasant,” upon which Finleyville

I has been built. Mr. Barclay’ was licensed by the

County Court in-1788 to keep a tavern, and again in
the years 1796-98 his name is found ‘among those
to whom licenses were granted. It was during this
time that the incident occurred which gave to the vil-

lage the name “Rogue Alley.” Isaac Craig, of Pitts- _

burgh, writes the following facts, which he obtained
from his father, Judge Wilkins, Harman Denny, and
Col. William Robinson, J r.: ' -

“ In 1797 our affairs with the French Directory assumed such a th reat-_,

ening aspect that Congress deemed it necessary to prepare for war, and
authorized the building of two vessels at Pittsburgh. They were built
under the superintendenee of Maj. Craig the following year, and were
called the Galley ‘President Adams’ and the Galley ‘ Senator Ross.’
As these were the first vessels of the kind west of the mountains they
caused a- good deal of excitement, and the tavern-keeper where Finley-
ville now is ordered a sign to be painted with a galley on it. , The painter
made an old-fzishioned row-galley, and the tavern became known as the
sign of the ‘ Row-Galley,’ and finally, after the sign disappeared, it was

I corrupted into ‘ Rogue Alley’ by ignorant people.” '

1

He afterwards removed to Lawrence

‘In after-years the land upon which Finleyville
is situated was in part owned by Abraham Mellinger
and John Finley. The Mellinger portion was sold

to Enoch Wright, and in January, 1857, it passed to '

West Frye. The John Finley property remained in
the possession of the Finley family. In 1819, William
Finley kept tavern in Fi-nleyville village, as did also
Levi Finley at a later time, when the line of stages
between Pittsburgh and Brownsville was in full
operation. ’ . '

The first post-ofice was established at Finleyville
in July, 1826. Gen. Robert Finley was the first post-

-master appointed, and the persons who have served

as .postmasters since are and have been James Finley,
J. L. Morris, ‘James Finley, S. B. Kennedy, West
Frye, T. R: Storer, F. M. Finley, ——+ Bell, F. M.
Finley, and John S. Collins, who is the present post-
master. A The business places of the village are a
hotel, post-office, two stores, a blacksmith-sho-p, an

express-oflice, I and the station of the Pittsburgh

Southern Railroad. ' ,

Gastonville is a small village or hamlet, the site
of which is upon the tract of land originally known
as “ Belmont,” which was warranted and patented to

John Cox, but soon passed into the hands of John

Gaston. “ In 1854 a portion of it was in the possession
of Joseph M. Curry, who laid out and sold the village

plots. Gastonville is situated only half a mile from

Finleyville, and contains one store, a school building,
an Odd-Fellows’ hall,J_,a‘nd a few dwelling-houses.
Coal Blufl'.——The settlement which was known in

the early_ history of this section as Limetown, and ‘

later as Coal Bluff‘; extends along the bank of the
Monongahela River for three miles, and owes its rise
and growth entirely to the development of its coal.

The bank along the river at this point is what is’

called river bottoms, which extend inland from ‘one-
fourth to_ one—half a. mile, where the river hills rise

quite" abruptly and are very steep. The coal crops_

out of the hills on a level with the flats in nearly all
places, which is a very favorable’. condition for drift-
mining. The Pittsburgh, West Virginia and Charles-
ton Railroad passes through the settlement of Lime-
town, or Coal" Bluff’, giving good opportunities for

‘shipping by rail, in additionto its facilities for water

transportation. A station is located at each mine
along the railroad. Stores are connected with the
mines’ to-furnish provisions and goods to the miners.
The post-oflice was established about 1850. The
postmasters have been Mark Borland, John Peterson,

J. K. Logan, James Patton, and Isaac Yohe, the -'

present incumbent. ,

At_ Coal Bluff station John F. Logan is agent for
the Adams Express Company, and in April, 1880, he
established the “ Coal Bluff Steamship and Exchange
Agency,” which now does a business of three thou-
sand dollars per monthin forwarding money and

selling ticketsto and from foreign countries for the’ A

miners of the Monongahela Valley.

965

THE REVOLUTION.

1 1.5

hundred and sixty-five had been cast, of which
Williamson had received two hundred and thirty,
against two hundred and thirty-five for Col. Craw-
ford, who thereupon became commandant of the
forces of the expedition.‘ Four majors were then
elected, viz.: David Williamson,“ of Washington
County, Thomas Gaddisi’ and John McClelland, of
Westmoreland (now Fayette), and Joseph Brinton,
of what is now East Pike Run township, Washington
County, their rank and seniority being in the order
as above named. The brigade-major elected was
Daniel Leet, whose residence was near the present
borough of Washington. Jonathan Zane, John
Slover, and Thomas Nicholson were designated as
guides or pilots to the advancing column. Dr.

"John Knight,‘ post surgeon at Fort Pitt, had been

detailed by Gen. Irvine- as surgeon to the expedition.

Instructions addressed “ To the oflicer who will be
appointed to command a detachment of volunteer
militia on an expedition against the Indian town at

or near Sandusky” had been forwarded by Gen-

(Irvine from Fort Pitt on the 21st of May. In these
instructions the general expressed himself as follows:

1 Doddridge, in his “ Notes” (page 265), says of Crawford that “ when
notified of his appointment it is said that he accepted it with apparent
reluctance.” Concerning this Butterfield, in his narrative of the expe-
dition, says,-

“ It has been extensively circulated that Crawford accepted the oflice of
commander of the expedition with apparent reluctance, but Rose (Maj.

-Rose, of Gen. Irvine’s stafi‘) settles that question. His reluctance was not

in taking command of the troops after the election, butin joining the ex-
pedition. He left his home with the full understanding that he was to
lead the volunteers. Gen. Irvine, it is true, allowed the troops to choose
their own commander, but he was not backward in letting it be known
that he desired the election of Crawford.”

2 Williamson received the entire vote of the force for first major. “ I
cannot_but' give Col. Williamson,” said Maj. Rose in a letter to Gen.
Irvine, “ the utmost credit for exhorting the whole to be unanimous after

the election had been made known, and cheerfully submitting to be

second in command. I think if it had been otherwise Crawford would
have pushed home, and very likely we should have dispersed, which
would likewise have been the case if Williamson had not behaved with
so much prudence.”

3 The opposing candidate for second field-major was Col. James Mar-
shel, county lieutenant of Washington, who came within three or four
votes of an election. He was an exceedingly popular man, andhighly
thought of by Gen. Irvine. .

4 Dr. John Knight was a resident of Bullskin township, Westmoreland
County. In 1776 he had enlisted in the West Augusta Regiment (Thir-
teenth Virginia) as a private soldier. Soon after enlisting he was made
a sergeant by Col. Crawford, the commanding officer of the regiment.
On _the 9th of August, 1778, he was appointed surgeon's mate in the
Ninth Virginia. Afterwards he was promoted to surgeon of the Seventh
Virginia (under command of Col. John Gibson), and held that position
in the same regiment at the time the Sandusky expedition was fitted out.
He was then detached by order of Gen. Irvine, and at the request of Col.
Crawford, to act as surgeon of that expedition. On the 21st of May he
left Fort Pitt to join the expeditionary forces, and reached the rendez-
vous at Mingo Bottom on the 22d. After encountering all the dangers
and hardships of the campaign, from which he narrowly escaped with his
life, he returned to his regiment, and remainedon duty as its surgeon at
Fort Pitt till the close of the war, when he left military life. On the
14th of October, 1784,he married, Polly, daughter of Col. Richard Steven-
son, who was a half-brother of Col. Crawford. Subsequently Dr. Knight
removed to Shelbyville, Ky., where he died March 12, 1838. His widow
died July 31, 1839. They were the parents of ten children. One of
their daughters married John, a son of Presley Carr Lane, as prominent
public man of Fayette County. Dr. Knight was the recipient of a pen-
sion from government, under the act of May 15, 1828.

“The object of your command is to destroy with fire and sword, if
practicable, the Indian town and settlement at Sandusky, by which we

hope to give ease and safety to the inhabitants of this country; but if

impracticable, then you will doubtless perform such other services in
your power as will in their consequences have a tendency to answer this
great end. '

“ Previous to taking up your line of march it will be highly expedient
that all matters respecting rank or command should be well understood,
as far at least as first, second, and third.5 , This precaution, in case of
accident or misfortune, may be of great importance. Indeed, I think

whatever grade or rank may be fixed on to have command, their rela- .

tive rank should be determined. And it is indispensably necessary that

subordination and discipline should be kept up; the whole ought to un-
derstand that, notwithstanding they are volunteers, yet by this tour

they are to get credit ‘for it in their tours of military duty, and that for

this and other good reasons they must, while out on this duty, consider

themselves,.to all intent, subject to the military laws and regulations

for the government of the militia when in actual service.

“ Your best chance of success will be, if possible, to effect a surprise,
and though this will be difiicnlt, yet by forced and rapid- marches it
may, in a great degree, be accomplished. I am clearly of opinion that
you should regulate your last day's march so as to reach the town about
dawn of day, or a little before, and that the march of this day should
be as long as can well be performed.

“ I need scarcely mention to so virtuous and disinterested a set of
men as you will have the honor to command that though the main
object at present is for the purpose above set forth, viz., the protection
of this country, yet you are to consider yourselves as acting in behalf
of and for the United States, that of course it willbe incumbent on you
especially who will have the command to act in every instance in such
a manner as will reflect honor on, and add reputation to, the American
arms, of nations or independent Statesfi

5 These directions were observed, Col. Williamson being designated as
second, and Maj. Gaddis as third in command.

6 Yet the Moravian historians and their imitators have heaped un-
measured abuse on the brave men who composed this expedition.
Heckewelder, in his “ History of the Indian Nations,” calls them a
“ gang of banditti ;” and Loskiel, writing in the same vein in his “ His-
tory of Indian Missions,” said, “ The same gang of murderers who had
committed the massacre on the Muskingum did not give up their bloody
design upon the remnant of the Indian congregation, though it was de-
layed for a season. They marched in May, 1782, to Sandusky, where
they found nothing but empty huts.” The Rev. Joseph Doddridge,
D.D., following the lead of these Moravian defamers, in his “ Notes on
the Settlement and Indian Wars of the Western Parts of Virginia and
Pennsylvania,” says (page 264) of Crawford’s expedition, “ This, in one
point of view at least, is to be considered as a second Moravian cam-
paign, as one of its objects was that of finishing the work of murder
and plunder with the Christian Indians at their new establishment cm
the Sandnsky. The next object was that of destroying the Wyandot
towns on the same river. It was the resolution of all those concerned
in this expedition not to spare the life of any Indians that might fall
into their hands, whether friends or foes. . . . It would seem that the
long continuance of the Indian war had debased a considerable portion
of our population to the savage state of our nature. Having lost so
many relatives by the Indians, and witnessed their horrid murders and
other depredations on so extensive a scale, they became subjects of that
indiscriminating thirst for revenge which is such aprominent feature in
the savage character, and having had a taste of blood and plunder,
without risk or loss on their part, they resolved to go on. and kill every
Indian they could find, whether friend or foe.” Does‘ not the tenor of
Gen. Irvine’s instructions to C01. Crawford completely disprove the alle-
gations of Loskiel, Heckewelder, and Doddridge? It’ further testimony
is necessary it is found in a “History of Centre Church,” written by
Robert A. Sherrard, of Ohio, whose father, John Sherrard, was avolun-
teer in Crawford’s expedition, and present with it in i.ts operations from
the Ohio to the Sandusky and back to the Ohio. Mr. Sherrard says,
“ In my young days I was acquainted with six or seven of the men who
were out in Crawford’s campaign. They were volunteers from’ the
neighborhood where I was raised, within four or five miles of Connel1s-
ville, close to which place Col. Crawford dwelt. John Sherrard, Col.
James Panll, John Rodgers, Daniel Cannon, Alexander Carson, and sev-

‘ eral others of that neighborhood arrived. safe home. I have heard my

father converse freely on that subject, and at a much later date I have
conversed with C01. Paull and John Rodgers about Crawford’s defeat,

‘Lytle, and William Gist.

966

  11ISTORY or wAsHINeroN~coUNtrv, PENNSYLVANIA.

'1‘-heseveralcollieries of Coal Bluff and of this
township are mentioned’ separately in the chapter on
geology and mining, contributed by J. Sutton Wall,
Civiland Mining Engineer, of Monongahela City.

The "‘ Old White Mill,” a grist- and flouring-mill,
located on the Monongahela, in this township, was

put in operation in 1842 by George.Bent1ey,.whose'

brother, Eli Bentley, had built a saw-mill at the same
place ten years before. Both the saw-mill and the
grist-mill, which was widely and favorably known as

. the Old VVhite vMill, remained in operation for many’

years. In.1—880 the property was rented to the Amer-
ican Facing Company of New York, and is now in
use for the manufacture of foundry facings. .
Peters Creek Lodge, No. 248, I. 0. O. F., was
instituted at Finleyville, May 17, 1847. When char-
tered «the members were William Gaston, William B.
Lank, William Van Wye, Samuel Morgan, Isaac
Following is a list of the
Noble‘Grands of this lodge, viz.»: William Gaston, Dr.
W. B. Lank, William Gist, Isaac,Lytle, James Angus,
J ames<Morrison, Joseph M.- Curry, Samuel Atchison,
R.. R.-Bell, James McAllister, W. M. Monck, John
Huston, .VVil~liam Ferree, .Michael Saunders, Joseph
Conlin,.John Barclay, Frederick Snell, A. P.-Heath,
Isaiah Brown, John Stofiile, Thomas———,. A. Crouch,
Josiah Estep,-Abel Buckingham, Louis Welch, George
‘V. Lyons, E. N. Wright, Samuel P. Hutchinson, R.
Campbell, Robert , Cowen, Samuel Messner, George
Gibso.n,’Frank BI,*Storer, J . M. Snell, George  Miller.
Theimeetings of the society were first held in a build-

ing between Gastonville and Finleyville, belonging to

William Gaston. In 1855 the lodge erected a building
at a cost of $1800,.with a dwelling on the first floor
and a hall in the second story. The lodge at pres-
ent contains twenty-five ‘ members. The present
oflicers are George;C. Miller, Noble Grand; P. A.
Martin, Vice Grand; Isaac Lytle, Secretary.
Advance Lodge, No. 697, I. 0. 0. F.—On the 28th
of January, 1870, a lodge named John F. Logan Lodge,
No. 697, I. O. O. F., was instituted at Coal Bluflf’. The
officers were James Craig,Noble Grand; P. J. Dough-
erty, ViceGrand; George Bentley," Treasurer; J. F.
Logan and Hugh Craig, Secretaries" In 1872 the
name was changed to Advance Lodge, of which the

officers atjiresent (October, 1881) are James Stark,’

Noble Grand; Cyrus Gilmore, Vice Grand; William
Wilson, Treasurer; Robert McLuckie, Secretary. The

lodge now numbers fifty-nine members. The hall they

own and occupy was built in 1875, and dedicated Sep-
temberv-29th.of the -same year. The charter members
of Advance Lodge were James Craig, Patrick Dough-
erty, John F. Logan, Hugh Craig, George Bentley,
Hugh McKinney, Samuel Mesner, John Bar-«clay,
Albert Fuller,.William Wilson,,Sr., R.  McMasters,
Henry Reitz, .George Keistler, John T. Sutton, Wil-
liam Wible, R. S. Lowers, Alexander Ferree,- William
Brawdy, Sr., W. P. McMasters, William Price, John
M. Wilson, Thomas Elliott, S’. 13. Kennedy," W. E.

‘poses 1 3813 59.82.

taught, one of which is independent.

_ Henry H. Finley, April 12, 1842.

French, Benjamin ‘French, William Bouston, VVilliani
N. Jenkins, Daniel Lowers, Isaac Hodge.
Schools.-—The first school in what is now.Union'-

township was taught aboutthe year 1800. The build-
ing in which it was taught was built of logs, sixteen.

feet square, and stood on the bank of Peters Creek,
about half a mile above. Finleyville. The _.next

school in the townshipwas taught in aframe bu-ildei

ing, which is still standing below Finleyville. As
early as 1808-9 there was a log school-house built
in what is now the Lower Hodgkins District, the

building standing on property that «afterwards; be-.1

longed to Mr. Jenkins. One mile north of that
another log house was built“ in. 1812. Airframe build-
ing took the place of it in 1865.

Union township was erected in March, 1836,‘before.

the school law of 183.4 was in full operation; In the.
following year the inhabitants petitioned to be an-

nexed to Carroll township for school purposes. The
name of the township does not appear uponlthei
treasurer’s report for the years 1835-37,“ and at 1

what time the township was. distri_cted is not known;
In 1863 Union township had. six school districts,
employed nine teachers, had enrolled three hundred;

‘and’ ninety-seven scholars, and levied for school ~pur-
The total receipts were $1387.3.:0,.
In» 1873 -

and expenditures amounted to $1278.27.
the districts were seven, each having one school, and
there was one independent school. Eight teachers
were employed, three hundred and sixty-four sch-olars

enrolled, the school fund was $2840.17, and the ex-

penditures were $2323_.91. The school superintende

ent’s report for 1880 gives the number of district_s in“

Union township as eight,—-Upper Limetown, Middle
Limetown, VVhite Mill, Lower Hodgkins, Mingo,
Boggs, Pollock, and Gaston. Nine schools were
_ There were
three male and six female teachers employed, and
four hundred and fifty-eight pupils "enrolled. The
total receipts for school purposes‘ from all sources

amounted to $2787, and theexpenditures to $2587.03. ,

In Upper Limestone .District the school building
that was built on Huston’s Run, just after the school
law went into effect, is still standing and in use.

Justices of the Peace.——Union.township, upon its 3
organization in 1835, was attached to ‘District No. 6, .

and the names of its justices are included in the jus-

tiees’ list of Peters township until 1838, when the

office became elective and the township an independ-

ent district, iu which the following-named justices

have been elected, vi.z.: . . -

Francis Reader, April 14, 1840. Joseph S. Gaston, April 13, 1838.

John Kennedy, April 14, 1840. Isaac Lytle, May 12, 1862. ,
Joseph S. Gaston, April_2.3, 1863. ,
Milton B. Curry, June 3, 1865.

, Joseph S. Gaston, Jan. 31, 1874.
William Ferree, April 17, 1874.
Joseph S. Gaston, April 17, 1874.
Joseph S. Gaston, March 16,1876.
William Ferree, March 27, 1879..
Frank R Storer, April 9, 1881.

Joseph S. Gaston, April 11, 1843.
John Kennedy, April 15, 1845.
Joseph S. Gaston,,April 11, 1848.
John Kennedy, April 9, 1850.
Joseph S. Gaston, April 13, 1853.
Michael Saunders, April 10, 1855.
Wilson Kerr,"June 2,1857.

UN ION TOWNSHIP.

967

Churches in the Township.--The Mingo Creek
Presbyterian Church was organized in August, 1786,
at which time Mingo Creek, Pike Run, and Horse-
shoe Bottom’ applied to tile Redstone Presbytery re-
questing theservices of a miiiister, which request was
granted. Several ministers were sent out as supplies
during the first ten yea.rs of - the existence of this

church, among them Rev. Mr. McClean, who ad-

ministered the ordinance of baptism to children.
Preaching was first held in barns and groves and
under a tent near the spot which the sheds of the
present church now occupy. A lady now living rec-

_ollects listening to a sermon by the Rev. Samuel Rak-

ston in those days, he standing on low ground between
two trees, the stumps of which still mark the place,
while the ‘people were on the higher ground above
and around him. :

"The first building erected for church purposes was
one of logs, which stood on the bank not far from the
site. of the present edifice; It was fifty by fifty-five
feet in size, with five by nine feet extensions from
the middle onrthe north and south st-ides. . The north
extension was occupied by the pulpit, andthe "south

. one-was known, as the bachelors’ seats. At each end

of the building was a door. This building must have
been put up previous to 17 94, as it was then a place
of meeting for the whiskey insurgents, and the point

_from where they started on the occasion when Gen.

Neville’s house was burned and Maj. James McFar-
lane was killed. Both the church and Mingo Ceme-
tery were located upon the land known as .“ Barr-
ville,” and first owned by John Barr, a member of
the church. Although so early in use as stated, no
direct‘ conveyance of the property was made until
the year 1807, when it was given by John Gibson,
who in the mean time had purchased the property of
John Barr. The deed upon record,.given by James
Gibson and wife for the consideration of $20, conveys
“to John Hamilton, John Campbell, and William
McMu11en, in trust "for the Mingo-‘Creek Congrega-
tion, a piece of ground situate on Froman’s Run, in-

cluding the meeting—house, tent, spring, and grave-

yard, containing about two acres, dated April 11,

‘I807?’ -

Rev. Samuel Ralston was one of the pastors early
in charge of Mingo ‘Creek Church. He was a native
of Ireland, born in 1756, and was educated at the
University of Glasgow, Scotland. In. 1794 he emi-
grated to this country, and Nov. 30, 1796,'having
received and accepted a call to this church, was regu-
larly installed as pastor of Mingo Creek and Parkin-
son.’s Ferry Churches. He remained in charge for
forty years, until 1836, when he resigned the pastor-
ate.

gymen who succeeded the Rev. Mr. Ralston were the
Revs. Nathan Sh'otwel'l,_John  Smith, John R.
Dundas, Abner 0. Rockwell,’ William Greenough,
John J. Beacon, William W. McKinney, and J. H.

He died Sept. 25, 1851, at the age of ninety-six '
- years, and was buried in Mingo Cemetery. The,cler-

Nesbit. The church has now two hundred members,
but at the presentotime (January, 1882-) is without a
pastor. _

Prominent among -the early elders of Mingo Church
were Aaron \Vil1iams, Sr., - and John Happer, Sr.
The former was the grandfather of Rev. Aaron‘]Wil-.-
liams, D.D.,. Prof. Samuel Williams (both deceased),

and Rev. Moses Allen Williams, of Oregon-. John Hap-_

per was the grandfather of the Rev. Andrew Happer, of
Canton, China, and of the Hon. John A. Happer, now
an elder of Mingo Church. On the second board of
elders were Benjamin Williams (son of Aaron),
Potter, and —— Senton. ‘ The names of those subse-
quently installed were Robert Gailey, John Morri-
son, Sr., John Morrison, Jr., -Comison, Jamison
Beatty, John Kennedy, Esq., James McVey, James
Patterson, John Patton, Samuel Hindman, John A.
Happer, Joseph V Patterson, John Kennedy, John
McVey, and Benjamin McVey. "

 

 

The present house of worship of the ‘lMingo Creek-
Church was built in.1832, in place of the old historic‘

log building known as the Mingo Creek Meeting-
house in the days of the,Whiskey Insurrection.‘ In

the old burial-ground of the Mingo Creek Church is

tobe seen the grave of 'Maj. James McFarlane, who
was killed in the attack on Gen. Neville’s house at

I Bower Hillin 17 94. Thesgrave. is marked by a stone
which bears this inscription : - ~ 1'

“Here lies the body of", Major James McFarlane, of Washington
County, Pennsylvania, who departed thislife Jn,lyl'17,"‘1”79‘l, aged forty-
threejyears. He served during the war with Iindaunted courage in
defense of American Independence against the lawless and despotic‘ en-
croachments of Great Britain. He fell at last by the hands of an unprin-
cipledkviIlain,in lsuppiort of? what he sti~1i’posed to he the rights of" his
country, much lamented "by a/numerous and‘respecta'ble circle of ac-
quaintances.” . . . ‘ r ' ‘ " "

The Seceders’ Church in this township was _organized

at a date which has not been ascertained, but it is

found that those early settlers, Col. Joseph Barr, John

Huston, John Fife,’ and the McNeals, were among its 9

most prominent members. A frame: church was
erected on land donated. by Col. Barr, situated. oppo-

site the present residence of Dr. John 'Lank,i.n this
Services were held in this church for
many years, but they had no regular pastor, and were
The society was never,
strong. in numbers, and after the death ‘of , Col. Barr,

township.
dependent upon supplies.

it ceased to exist as a church organization.

The Peters Creek Baptist‘Church is mentioned more
fully in the history of Peters township. In the year
1788 a lot was purchased of John Cox, and worship
was held by this society for several years in Union
township before their removal to Peters township;
The ‘present church building is located in the village
of Library,'in Snowdon township, Allegheny County,-
but the majority of its members reside in Peters town-
ship. The land owned by the society in what is now
Union "township was sold to JamesCastor April 3,

968

1310, by the Rev. David Philips, Daniel Townsend,
and Charles Dailey, trustees. .

The Peters Creek Methodist Episcopal Church was
organized almost three-fourths of a century ago. In
the month of August, 1810, Robert James and wife,
of what is now Union township, attended a Methodist

camp-meeting on Pike Run, and while there Mrs.

James persuaded‘Bishop McKendree, who presided

« at the gathering, to send a minister to Peters Creek.

Robert James was then living in his stone house,
which stands near the church, and is owned by Mrs.
Gilmer. The upper part of this stone house was all
in one room, and in-this room the first services were
held and attended by Methodist people and others
from many miles around. Here the first Methodist
class was organized, and among its members were
Robert and William James and their wives. In 1817
or 1818 the stone church nowin use was built, and
was known as “J ames’ Chapel,” “Stone Chapel,” or
“ Stone Church.” Robert James gave the land upon
which this was built, and also -set apart an acre of
land as a graveyard. By his deed, dated Sept. 13,
1817, Robert James conveys “to William Jones, Na-
than Dailely, Jonathan
VVhite, of Washington township, and Joseph Bentley,

 

, Philip Smith, Zedekiah Benham, and Lewis Peairs,

of Allegheny County, one acre, of land, provided that
they shall erect or cause to be erected or built thereon
a house. of worship for the use of the members of the

,Methodist Episcopal Church in the United States.”

This proves conclusively that “ Stone Chapel” was not
erected either in 1810 or 1815, as many people assert.
Robert James and ‘wife and their six children were
all buried ‘in the graveyard given by Mr. James, as
were Sampson Carter and wi'fe,‘and many others who
had lived in this vicinity and were Workers in the
Methodist Church. 9 . '

In 1859 the circuit known as Peters Creek Circuit
was set off by itself, it having formerly been a portion
of the Chartiers’Circuit. At that time Peters Creek
Church had a membership of thirty-six, andit has
now increased to forty-four. The “ chapel” when
built was fifty by fifty-five feet in size. In 1876 it
was entirely remodeled, and furnished with stained-
glass windows. , ' I

During the more than seventy years.of its existence
this church "has been served by a great number of
preachers, among whom are and have been the Revs.
Norval Wilson, Charles Cook, Thornton Fleming,
Abner Jackson, Lemon Lock, Richard Johnson,
Sheridan Baker, David McCready, Henry Snyder,
M. B. Pugh, John Brown, Ezra Himley, John
Wright, William Cooper, Artemas ‘Ward, Dr. Wake-
field, George. Baker, F. C. McClure, D. A. Pearce, C.
H. Edwards, M. M. Sweeney, F. F.‘ Pershon, T. Pat-
terson, and G. A. Sheets, who is the present pastor.
The Sunday-school in connection numbers sixty schol-
ars, and James M. Gaston is the su_perintendent.

, Robert James, and John 4

, HISTORY or WASHINGTON” COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA.

A'Methodist Episcopal Church was built at Lime-_ .

town about 1840, chiefly through the liberality of
Joseph Bentley. The society "had been organized
previous to this time by Rev. Charles Cook,'when he
was in charge of the Williamsport Church, services
being held in private houses, groves, school-houses,
andlalso in a mill which stood on the river-bank a
short distance. above the present church. In 1859
forty-five members of this church were reported, and
it was then placed in Peters Creek Circuit. At that
time it was one of eight appointments that had pre-
viously belonged’ to the Chartiers Circuit. In 1872 a
new building for worship was erected, at a cost of
$3000, on land donated‘ by George Bentley. The
church is now connected with the “Stone Chapel”
charge, near Gastonville. Rev. G. A. Sheets is in
charge here, as at Peters Creek Church. '

The Methodist Protestant Church at Coal Bluff was
organized in 1871, principally by the efforts and
through the influence of the Rev. James Robinson,
of Pittsburgh. ‘The present pastor is Rev. Mr. Still-
Wagon. The preachers in charge before him were
Revs. ‘M. Lucas, James Robinson, Robert Hodgkin-
son, and Rev. Mr. Brindley. In‘ 1871 a house of wor-
ship was erected by the Methodist and Presbyterian
societies of Coal Bluff, upon land donated .by James
K. Logan, and is now used by both congregations
upon alternate Sabbaths. , .

' The Presbyterian society of Coal Bluff is a branch
of the ‘Mingo Creek Church. The pas'or of Mingo
Creek officiates here every alternate Sabbath. ,

4-;
Vvf

BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES.

SAMUEL DENNISTON.

Samuel Denniston was "born in Allegheny County,
Pa., Feb. 27, 1796, and died in Union township,
Washington County, Pa., Sept. 7, 1879. His father
was William Denniston, a native of Ireland, who

emigrated to America a short time prior to the Revo- -
vlutionary war, in which he served for a time as a

soldier. He married Elizabeth Wilson, of Chester
County, Pa., and settled in Allegheny County. They
had eight children, four sons and four daughters, all
of whom are dead. - A '

Samuel’s life until the year 1827 was spent in Al-
legheny ‘County. In that year he and two of his
brothers, Joseph and William, purchased a farm near

,Thompson_ville, Peters township, Washington Co.

They worked this farm together for about twelve
years, when Samuel disposedof his interest to his
brothers, and purchased and moved to the farm in
Union township now_ owned and occupied by his
sons, William and Thomas Denniston, where hevspent
the remainder of his life, which was a record of strong

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WEST BETHLEHEM TOWNSHIP.

999

self-reliance and unswerving allegiance to his business.
By his own efforts he accumulated the valuable in-
heritance of his children. For them his labors were
unceasing, and by them he is gratefully remembered.

He was twice married. His first wife was Elizabeth

‘Caldwell, to whom he was married April 21, 183_6.
She, -died Nov. 25, 1851. One of her children, John

VVilson, died in infancy; another, Sarah A., died
April 7, 1863, aged twelve years and three months.

Those living are'William, Mary J ., Elizabeth, and ’

Thomas, .His second wife, whom he married March
17, 1853, was Elizabeth Applegate._ By her he had
twochildren,--James _A_., dead, and Rachel , living.

GEORGElBENTLEY.

Prior to the war of the Revolution there came from
England to this country one George Bentley, who set-

» tled in Chester County, Pa., where he married and

remained until the close of the war, when, with his
wife and children,,_he emigrated to the then»wi1der-
nessof Western Pennsylvania. He first 1ocated’on

- Jacob’s Creek, where he remained until about the

year 1787, when he bought of Charles Lipe the prop-
erty now owned -and occupied by his grandson, also
named George. . For the property he paid £100.

-His wife was a Miss Jane Carson, and was born in '-

Ireland. To them was born a large family." Of
these Sesch. B. built and operated the mill now
owned by Mr. Harris.‘ Among his brothers were
Benjamin, Jeffrey, Abram, and Joseph, all of whom
did -their part towards making the wilderness blos-
som like the rose. On the land bought of Lipe he
built the stone house which is still standing and oc-

cupied by h.is descendants. Healso built a grist-mill, '

which, though a small. affair, was much needed. and
duly appreciated. It was about the first one erected
in this part of the county._ In 1818 Mr. Bentley

WEST   BETHLEHEM  TOWNSHIP,  

bought for $7650 the property lyingbetween the
farm above named and the farm now owned by the
heirs of Moses B. Thompson. This was a large
amount of money for those days, and paying forlit
was a long and arduous struggle, but was finally ac-
complished. In 1800, or about that time, Mr. Bent-
ley died. Joseph, who was born in Chester County,
Pa., in time came into the possession of the Bentley
estate. He was married to Mercy Dally, by whom
he had seven children, viz.: Benjamin, Mary, Levi,
Eli, Jesse’, Absalom, and George, all of whom are
now dead except George.‘ Of these only Mary, Jesse,
and Absalom left heirs. Joseph’s first venture in
business was a grist—mill and linseed oil mill on Piney
Creek Fork, which he operated five years, and then
moved to the Nathan Dally farm, where he followed
distilling. Afterwards he moved to the old. home-
stead, where he died ‘in 1842. In 1840 he deeded

his estate to "four oflhis sons, of whom George was-
one. He was a member of the Methodist Episcopal .

Church, and died respected by all.’ .His youngest
child, George, was born’ M-arch 5, 1809, and is now
the last of the family, and on the old’ homestead

where he was born is passingaway the evening time of A
life, the possessor of the Bentley estate, which has be- ,

come very valuable, and which came to him by pur-
chase and by will. None of the broad acres _left 
his ancestors have grown less in value by his having
owned them, and the honor and -integrity of the fam-

ily name has never been dimmed by act or deed of -

his. He is in politics a Republican, believing that
party to be the exponent of honesty and advance-
ment. For many years he has been an Odd-Fellow,
and was ‘a charter member of Advance Lodge, No.
697, in which he has held most of the oflices. '9 White

Mills village was laid out by him, on partflof the old '
, homestead. Mr. Bentley is a member ‘of; nochurch,

a followerof no creed, his motto being’; to “live and
letlive.”, ' ' ' ' '1

~+;:::r+:;
- ,

4 .
iv?

WEST BETHLEHEM is one of the southern tier of

I Washirigton County townsliips, itssouth boundary

being formed by the county of Greene. 8 On the west
itis bounded by Amwell and South Strabane town-

ships, on thenorth and northeast by Somerset, and

on the "east bylEast Bethlehem and West Pike Run
townships. The surface is "hilly, the ridges, which
generally extend in a‘ north-and-south direction,
being elevated and often steep, and divided by nar-

row valleys. The ‘township has no,streiams of sige,

the largest being the North Forkof Ten-Mile Creek,
which flows in a general easterly direction across the

‘south part of thetownship, receivingithe waters of

Daniels’ Run and a number of otherpinconsiderable
streams from the "northward in its course tlirough
West Bethlehem. ' V
This township and East Bethlehem were embraced
in the territory of the original township of Bethlehem
from 1781 to 179.0, when the latter was divided. An

<acco,unt, p__f_the erection! of the ‘old township, and of

970

HISTORY OF WASHINGTON r CO-UNTY, PEN NS YLVAN IA.

itsdivision, forming the East and West townships, is
given“in the history of East Bethlehem. ,
Early rsettloements.-‘—One ofthe, earliest settlers
in the territory of this townshiipiwas Joseph Hill, an
Irishman, who, having emigrated to America, settled
first in Maryland, andin 17 74 cameinto Wasliiiigton
County  Plum Run, in ‘West Bethle-
hem township, where he   3.  hady of

land. Joseph _Hill was ‘twice married, first to 

’Ackley, and the second time to Margare_t Joy. These
two marriages‘ resulted in «a family of thirteen “ chil-
dren, ‘who married and settled in life as follows:
Joseph ,Hill, Jr., married Mary Jameson; James
Hillj’ married ‘Ann-Hill; Thomas marr_ie'd Rachel
Speers; John’s wife was‘ Nancy Sergefanit; Margaret
became the wife of J ames Beatty ; ‘Elizabetli became
‘Mrs. John Welsh ;‘ Sarah was Mrs. John Sargeant;
Benjamin’s wife was’Delilah Notestine; "William’s
wife was Narcissa Beatty; Atkinson Hill married a
‘Miss’ Reemer, of Ohio; Rebecca became Mrs. William
Freenian; Eleanor married William Hawkins, and
now l‘ive's'in Kansas; and Henry, who remained
single, rd/emoved to ‘Ohio. From this family, espe-
cially“ the son‘ J ames,‘ the Hill descendants have be-
come very numerous, although they are widely scat-
tered.-  Dr.‘ Hill, of Burgettstown, and a host of
others in other parts of Western’ Pennsylvaniaiare
‘menibers ofytliis Hill family. “The property of James
Hill consisted of a tract of one hundred and ninety-
seveneacresmf land, which has ‘become the property

~ goof J osephCHill,'Esq. By intermarriage they are con-

nected with ‘the old ‘German family named Weaver,
who were 8 all people _of prominence. Adam G.
’.VVea‘ve~r is a -representative "of this branch of the
‘Hill family.  s o  

-The Enoch family were of "English descent. They
came into Washingt_on‘>‘Coun~ty before the ‘commence-

‘ment ofthe Revolution. ” David Enoch and Col. John I

“SE-noch’w’ere.brothers. Col. John Enoch resided‘ near
where ‘the village of Clarksville, in Greene County,
has sincebeen built. He was colonel of the militia,
and built a block-house on his property fo'rva- refuge
when threatened by the Indians. David Enocli had

a son, David Enoch, J r., who was born in this county _
some yea;rsrbefore therdeclaratiofn of. independence.
’ David’ E_noch~,»Jr.,.was~-twice married, and was» the

father offourt-een "children. Of these, Elizabeth be-

‘cameuthe wife ‘of James Arrt0!1‘;~i:;and*-residiesliRhea!‘ Gal-
‘lipolis,‘-'Ohio.“ David Enoch, the “representative of’
=the third generation bearing that name-e,‘married Su- ’
san Bigler and removed to Richhilltownship, Greene"?

County,‘ where .l1e-dizedv.» Sarah Enoch married James

‘Lowrie, ‘ and -died in-‘— this county. These were the j

ichiildren 9ief .David ?Enoch.’s -i_i,rst marriage. i His

daughter'Eunice became the wifeof - George Gardner, 

and removed‘ to the West.,« :Henry Enoch ?married
Sarah Reese and emigrated to Ohio.‘ Cynthia Enoch
became the wife of -Levi Sowers,-ason’ of George

I Sewers, who came from Maryland» to West Bethlehem A

township and married Miss" Gardner. Mr. and Mrs.
Levi Sowers still live in the township on the Ell9C.jl_l-
Gardner-‘homestead.’ " Margaret fEnoch is married ‘iéiiiid
living in GreenenCounty, and Abner married Eliza-
beth Davis, who has since died. He is still living
near the oldfamily home. Catharine Enoch is still

living in Greene County, whither she removed with . if

‘her husband... Leonard Guthrie. Andrew, George,
and; WiEEi7am.. Ema ziil}di:fecE;“ ihefere they arrived’ at
theage of ‘manhood. Hiram  ‘m.th.a.
child‘, and is now forty-eight years of age. He studied‘
medicine with Dr. Joseph W. Aliexanderfi In 1863
he graduated from the University of Pennsylvania,
and immediately entered the service. of the ~Un.ited
States in West Virginia as Assistant Surgeon of the
First Regiment of Mounted -Volunteers of that State.
Remaining one year in the service he resigned, and
in 1864 located in‘ Washington’. ~ V V ’
The homesteadiof Demas M. Letherman, who died
in West Bethlehem Dec. 5, 1878, has been in the pos-
session of the Letherman family for more thanone
hundred years. The house in which he died isbut a
few rods from the site of the one in which he was
born sixty-two years before. When"twenty-one years
of age Mr. Letherman graduated from the Hazzard
Academy at Monongahela City, and was afterwards a
‘very successful" teacher in Washington "County. In
1871 he was elected a member of the Pennsylvania.
State Eegislature, and filled’ the ofliée with credit to
himself and to the satisfaction of his constituents. 5 '

In the year 1784, J o‘lin‘J ames took up or purchased _

‘a two hundred and fifty acre tract of land in West
Bethlehem township, situated in the extreme southern
part. ‘Later he purchased a ‘mill-site and tract on
Ten-Mile Creek, onthe line of Amwell and West
"Bethlehem townships. The mill property (adjoining
his first purchase) had a mill up'on’itwhen‘it came
into his possession, and ‘is now owned by Morgan
Martin, a grandson ‘of James Martin. I ' »
“Rustick Defeat” was a tract of land of two hun-

dred and fifteen acres which was warranted to Rich ard

Hawkins, and the survey was made June 1-3,'17,8G".

This property was partially bounded by that'ot' Adam » .

Weaver, Josiah Crawford, and George Myers, also .
early settlers in West Bethlehem township. -

- John and Henry Conkle came into this section as
early as 1784, and both received Virginia certificates

forilargiiei tracts of land, John taking three hundred _

and eighty.__acres called “ Solitude,” and Henry three
hundred and ninety-two acres named “German.”
The entire Conkle property is now owned by William
Conkle. i if ’ A ‘ I I V » I T 7
Col. Thomas Crooks came into the territory of West’
Bethlehem township, and on a Virginiarcertificate
took tip a tract of land -on ‘Pigeon Greek,..wlii'ch*w_,as
called ‘»‘Richard’s Valley.” This property was sur-
veyed tooMr.iCrooks Feb. 25,’17~85. ‘ Col. Crooks was
a-man prominent in all local and public affairs, and
held many offices of importance and trust. ' He died

j tice of the peace.

WEST: BETHLEHEM TOWNSHIP.’ i '   9.71

Feb. 25, 1815, aged‘ eighty years, and his widow, Mrs.
Judith Crooks, died April 3Q, 1823, at the age of
eighty‘-three years. The homestead upon which they
lived and died is now owned by Jacob Swagler. , At
the death of Col. Crooks the Reporter, of Washington,
published the following: A ‘ ‘
~ -

1 ’ “ R1caAnD’s VALLEY, Feb. 25, 1815.

“ Died.—This morning, at this place, in his old mansion, at half-past
five o‘clock, that worthy old patriot, Thomas Crooks, of West Bethlehem
township, where he" was among'_the first emigrants in‘ theiwestern
country, and was early -on the stage of public business. In the militia
he was an oflicer of high rank at the beginning ot' the Revolution, was
alert in routing the «savages to the westward,’ was a zealous patriot
throughout the Revolutionary war, and presided many years as a jus-

lie was a very warm friend and an implacable
enemy. I-Ie bore agsevere and lingering illness with resigned patience.”

John,‘Adam, and‘Peter,Weaver were brothers of
German descent who came to this township at an early
date. ‘ Two tracts of land were warranted to Adam.
The first was “ Long Green,” containing three hun-
dred and ‘ninety-Fnine acres, situate on a branch of
Daniels Run. The second tract adjoined the first,
was warranted‘ to him Sept. 25, 1789, and surveyed
June 24, 1790,‘ under the title of “Short Green.” The
property of Adam VVeaver was left by him to his wife
and children at his death, which occurred in 1820.
The sons were Daniel and Abraham Weaver, and the
daughters were Catharine and Ann Weaver. From

- their marriages numerous descendants have come,

"among whom are AdaIn,G., Solomon", Jacob, and
Daniel Weaver. Levi Matthews and Daniel Green-
]-ee are also descendants of Adam VVeaver, and they,
with Adam G.“ Weaver, now own the original settlerTs
property. John Weaver, who resides near ,Hills-

‘borough, in this township, -is also of the family.

Adam G.‘,Weav.er is a prominent member of the
“ Fairview.Methodist Episcopal Church,” and is the
class-leader of that society." He has been married
twice. His present wife was Miss Hill.

Peter Drake received a Virginia certificate forthree

hu-ndred and thirty-three and one-half acres of land »

in West Bethlehem township, which was surveyed to

hi-m J an. 28, 1785, and was bounded by the tracts of _
. _ Isaac Leonard, Henry Coonrad, Jacob White, and

William ‘Wallace- " r I -
Andrew:VVise, who followed his sons into this town-

ship after they hadlocated here, was a German, born

at Hesse-Darmstadt in the year 1754. He died here

in 1848, and was buried in the ‘Vise graveyard. Peter W
and Adam ‘Wise were brothers of Andrew. They ,

came from east of the mountains, and ‘both located

large tracts of land. Peter Wise’s tract was situated ;

on the North Fork of Ten‘-Mile .Cr.eek. It contained
three hundred and fifty-six acres, and was surveyed

to him Jan. 26,1785, under the title of ‘.‘.,Th-'e I

Fishery.” When Peter Wise secured this property
he soon built a mill upon it, which he had completed
before the survey was made; Theamill was located
ina bend of the creek, therace, which _was about
seventy rods in length, running from the lower part

of the pond across the bend, and having afall of
about twelve .feet. This mill’ was in operation for
many years, and only divided the rnillingwbusiness
after'1836 with the Ullery mill, which was built about
one mile above the Wisemill in that year. Previous
to that date it had controlled the entireotrade of all of
West" Bethlehem, and part of East Bethlehem. and
Amwell townships, and some of Greene.County.

Peter Wise had several children, .a.mc_ng whom 5

were the sons, Andrew, Adam, and Peter, and ‘a
daughter named Hannah. Adam and Peter both re-
moved to Ohio and settled near Canton. Hannah
married Jacob Zollers, and to her Peter Wise, Sr.,
gave‘ seventy-six-acres of his land. To his son An-

drew he gave one hundred acres, which Andrew.

afterwards disposed of. ‘,In 1818, Peter Wise sold the
mill-site to his brother Adam, ‘who bought it for his
sons, Frederick and Joseph Wise, whose descendants
still own it. , . , 5  '
, Adam Wise, one of the brothers‘ who _settled in this
township at an earlydate, located his land adjoining
that of his brother, and according ‘ to the present
division lines  is-in both Washington and Greene
Counties. Adam Wise had six sons and two daugh-
ters,——-George, Samuel, David, Frederick, Joseph,
Solomon, Rebecca, and Elizabeth" Wise. ‘ Re’-becca

became the wife of Peter Grumrine, and. removed ‘to

Ohio. Eliiabeth married Jacob Shidder,_and settled
in West Bethlehem, on the farm now. occupied” by
John Wherry. Most of ’t.h"eiri“childr,en went to Ohio.
One son, Joseph Shidder, became a physician, and
practiced. and died inthis town-ship. Jacob Shidder,
Jr., another’ son, is «living in Amwell .townsh'iip,.
George Wise, the oldest son of Adam Wise,-.settled

on Ruff’s Creek,in Greene County, but later‘ moved 1

to Marshall County, Ill., where he died. He was a
member of the religious society called Dunkands.
Samuel Wise, the second son,_ lived for ‘a while ‘near
the village of Hillsborough, but subsequently—remo.v.e'd
to Knox County, Ohio. David '\Vis.e;;'Zth.e -third son,
located on a portion of the homestead property, and
also purchased the Pra-ker farm adjoini-ngi. , David
Wise lived and died upon this "farm and leftfa large
family‘ of children, nearly all of whom ‘wentto the
Western States. The_son Henry remai;ned/in West
Betlilehemand still resideshere. Three of the sons

of David Wise, as well as two of his gran_dsons,,_ were ' I
 preachers of, the Dunkardl faith. The fourth son,

‘Frederick Wise, lived on the mill property which his
father purchased of Peter Wise, Sr. He died’ on the
place in 1,876, and his son, Joseph B. Wise, nowvowns

the prope‘rty:,as well as the seventy-six acres given by
, Peter Wise ‘to’ his daughter, Mrs. Hannah Zollers.

‘Joseph B. Wise is justice of the peace. Frederick

'Wise hadtwo daugllters ;- one of them, Margaret, mar,-

ried James C. Hawkins. Of their sons, Dr. A. W,
Hawkins “is a‘ surgeonin the navy, and Col. A. Haw-
kins served as col-,0_ne1, of the Tenth Regiment of the

1 State of Pennsylvania.

972

HISTORY OF WWASHINGTON COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA.

The fifth son of Adam Wise was Joseph. He ca-me
- to be joint owner, with his brother Frederick, of ‘the

Peter Wise mill property,.and lived upon it until his

‘death. I He left quite a large family of children. Of

these, Samuel is in Kansas. Hon. Morgan R. Wise
resides in Waynesburg, Greene Co., and is a repre-
sentative in Congress frpm that district. Of the
daughters of Joseph Wise, Elizabeth became Mrs.
William Stewart, of Greene County; Mary married
J . M. Day, of Morris township; Rebecca married Eli
Tombaugh; Maria became the wife_ of_ Dr. J. P.
Shields, of Pittsburgh; and Barbara became Mrs.

Albert Hill, and located in West Bethlehem township,

The youngest son of Adam ‘Wise was Solomon Wise.
He inherited the greater part of the homestead. In

‘ 1854 he sold it to Dr. James Braden, and removed to

Marshall County, Ill., where he died. None of his
family reside in this township. ' .
Eleazer Jenkins was living in this township pre-
vious to 1789, and in February of thatyear was hold-
ing the oflices of justice of the peace and judge of

. the Court of Common Pleas. He had also served as

captain in the Washington'County militia.‘ ,
Peter Mowl came from Germany, settling first in
the State of Maryland,,but afterwards removed to
this township, where he ‘purchased a part of the
Shidder property. This came into the possession of

his ‘son, Abram Mowl, at the father’s death, and he

also died upon the place (in 1861). During his life
Abram Mowl held the office of director of the poor.
Solomon and Charles M. are sons of Abram Mowl,
and are still living upon the_old farm. A

Henry Hildebrand came from Germany and settled
in this township, purchasingthe property where his

. son, M. Hildebrand, now lives. This son was born in

West Bethlehem and married Christine Harsh, daugh-
ter of Philip Harsh, also of West Bethlehem town-

‘ ship. M. Hildebrand is now nearly ninety years of

age. His sons, D. and H. J. Hildebrand, reside near
their father and the homestead. A ,

George and John Sowers were sons of Michael
Sowers, who was a German. They all lived in West
Bethlehem. George Sowers was married twice, his
first wife being Miss Gardner, the mother of Levi
Sowers. This son married Cynthia Enoch, daughter
of'Dav_id' Enoch, Jr. They lived upon a farm in

. Greene County, about four miles west of Waynes-A

burgh, but finally inherited and moved to the old
Enoch homestead. . John Sowers married three times.
He removed to the oil regions in this State, where his
family still reside. , f   A J

Joseph Lawrence lived on Pigeon Creek, in West»
Bethlehem, on the sec,tionInor.th of the ‘National road.
He was married twice, and the children were Joseph,

‘Jr., George Vaneman, Samuel, and a daughter who

became the wife of Andrew Moore. J osephvLawrence,
Sr., was a member of Congress, and died at the Na-
tional capital in 1842. George V. Lawrence married
Elizabeth‘ Welsh and resides in‘ Monongahela City,

I

where he has held many public offices, including that
of member of Congress and State senator. _ A _

The tract of land early settled by Erasmus Nichols
adjoined the village of Hillsborough on the south-

west. His family of ten children were five sons and '

five daughters. The son James married Nancy Ke-
hoe ;- Stephen married Margaret Wise; Williarri

married Rebecca Smith; ‘Atkinson married Sarah '

Hoover; Erasmus Nichols, J r., died unmarried. The
daughter Nancy became Mrs.'Gabriel Trugo; Eliza-
beth married Jeremiah Coleman; Eleanor married
David Phillips; Margaret became Mrs. Joseph Sar-
geant ; and Sarah Ann was the wife of John ‘Barnes.
._ John Sargeant settled at an early day upon a tract '
of land on Plum Run, south of Hillsborough, and
the property is now owned and occupied by his grand-
son and namesake, John Sargeant. He had a family
of nine‘ children,——six sons and three daughters. The
son James married Susan Crumrine; Margaret be-
came the wife of John. W. Spohn ; Joseph married‘
Margaret Nichols; John married Sarah Baker; Val-.
entine married Susan Conaway; \Vi1liam’s wife was
Susan Garee; Sarah Ann became _ Mrs. VVilliam
Baker; and Nancy and Thomas remained unmarried.
The exact date of the settlement of the Tombaugh
family in the county was about the time of the closing
of the Revolutionary war. George Tombaugh and his
young brother, Matthias, were the only children of
their parents, and, so far as known, were at the time of
their parents’ death the only representatives of the
name in America. Previous to the date of their immi-
gration they had lived at Georgetown, D. C. They were
of German extraction, and were possessed of the in-
dustry, frugality, and patient endurance which are-
characteristic of that race. The young men, George
and Matthias, had abundant reason for the exercise of
their industry and frugality, for Whatever may have
been the pecuniary‘ means of their parents at George-
town, they came into this county without a penny.

George, indeed, had a shilling in’ his pocketbefore ,

crossing the Monongahela, but bysome means lost it
while crossing the river. With characteristic energy
they went to work, and in time accumulated enough
to purchase a tract of land on South Pigeon Creek,
which since that time has been
name. ,
Harmar, and participated in the d_efeat at Chillicothe:
When the command was given to Gen.  Clair, Mat.-A
thias remained with the army, and was killed in the '
disastrous campaign that succeeded. P A I r

The older brother, George (who was born Aug. 
1768), was now the only living representative of the
name in America. He took an active part in Indian
wars which harassed the inhabitants of the Ohio bor-
der, and fought under Col. Crawford, who fell a vic-
tim to savage ferocity in 1782.

Some time after 1782,iGeorge Tombaugh was mar-
ried tolE‘lizabeth' Gardener, wh_o was born‘ March 2,

held in the family‘ .

The younger brother, Matthias, enlisted under Gen.‘ ~

hood.

WEST BETHLEHEM TOWNSHIP.

973

1758. To them were born seven children, as follows:
Christina, born 1787, married George Swihart, and
moved to Ohio; Elizabeth, born 1788, married Daniel
Wise, and movedto Ohio; Jacob, born 1790, married
Susan Wise, and also moved to Ohio; Matthias, born

. 1792, married Rachel Spohn; George, born 1796,
. married Susan Myers, and emigrated to Indiana;

Solomon, born 1798, married Catharine Horn, and
moved to Ohio; Sarah, born 1801, married George
Myers, also moved to Ohio. Of these all ar_e dead

‘except Sarah, who still resides in Holmes County,

Ohio, __ _

The elder George Tombaugh lived on his farm on
South Pigeon Creek till his death, which occurred
Nov; 5, 1832. The Tombaughs now living in the

' county are all descendants of Matthias, who, as before

mentioned, was born in 1792, and in 1822 wasymarried
to Rachel Spohn. To them were born ten children,
eight sons and two daughters, viz. : Solomon, born in
1824, married ‘Lydia Letherman; John, born 1827,
married Louise Hosack; Levina, _born 1829, married
Jacob Svvagler; George, born 1831, married Harriet
Colvin; Mary, born 1833, married Andrew Hilde-

L brand; Matthias, born .1834, married Jane Lether-

man; Eli, born 1836, married Rebecca Wise; Isaac
and Jacob (twins), born 1839 (Isaac lives at the home-
stead, and Jacob, who married Jennie Ostrander,

‘ lives in Illinois) ; Adam, born 1842, married Florence

Letherman. Of these children of Matthias and Ra-
chel Tombaugh, all are living except Mary and Le-
vina, and of the.surv'ivors, all except George, Mat-

thias, and Jacob, are livingin Washington County.

Matthias Tombaugh lived all his life on the farm of
his father. He died ‘in 1864. W ‘ ,

T The Buckingham family came originally from Eng-
land and located near the city of'Philade.1phia. Soon
after, they removed to Washington County, and set-
tled in West. Bethlehem, where (William and Enoch
Buckingham, lineal descendants of the family, still

‘reside and own the farms of the pioneers of the fam-

ily. |Isaac Buckingham lived on Ten-Mile Creek,
upon the present farm of Mr. Overholt. He married

I _ Miss Eaton, and had a family of several children, of

whom Col. John Buckingham was the oldest. The

son Henry married Mary Morton, and settled in Mor- '

gan township, Greene Co. Mrs. Robert Morton was
a daughter of Isaac Buckingham. A ,
Stephen Hill, an early resident of VVest Bethlehem,
was born in Ireland. He lived in Bradford County
in this State, but finally came to this section, and set-
tled on Plain Run, where he erected a distillery and
a horse-mill. His wife was Mary \Velsh, and their

family consisted ‘of five sons and four daughters. Of
. these, Eleanor, Mary, and Stephen Hill, J r., died un-

married; George Hill ‘married Nancy Speer ; Nancy
married Bennett Morton; John married Susan Haw-
kins ; ‘William .married Elizabeth Morton; Robert
married Mary Merrell; and Margaret died in child-

62

Christopher Sunedecker came fromGerman-y, and

located, in this township near'Ten-Mile. In 1801 he ‘

purchased. half of a four hundred acre tract, owned
by one of the Shedder family. The wife of Christo-
pher Sunedecker lived to the extreme old age of
ninety-‘six years. Their son, George Sunedecker, was
born in West‘ Bethlehem, and also died in the’ town-
ship, leaving lson,’ Jacob S-unedecker, who now lives
on the old homestead. _

Dickinson Roberts took up a tract of land in VVest

Bethlehem township at asvery early date. His son, 2

Leonard Roberts, Was a prominent member of the
Methodist Church in his day, and a stanch Worker in
the old Methodist Chapel near their home. Asa

, Roberts,_a son of Leonard Roberts, was born on the

homestead. . .
Peter Eller came to this township soon after 1800,

_and. purchased seventy-five acres of ‘land, which he

soon after sold, and bought one hundred and sixty
acres of Christian Ufford, on the south fork of Daniels’

Run, above Christopher Cox’s, and below Thomas.

Rees and Caspar Rickett, and also adjoining the
lands of John Crumrineand Jacob Shedder. Henry
Eller, son of the settler, Peter Eller, lives on the tract

(which his father purchased from Ufford. A
Samuel Weir settled on Pigeon Creek, in West"

Bethlehem, on a farm now owned by his grandson of
the same nan‘le. Samuel Weir married a'Miss Rob-
inson. They had seven children,,:wl1ose names were
as follows: Thomas, Adam, James,i Samuel, William,
Jane, and Lavina. Thomas married Nancy VVhite-
hill,~ and remained on Pigeon Creek. . Adam married
Mary Hall, and resides near the old homestead.
James married ‘Miss Lawrence, an aunt of the,Hon.
George V. Lawrence; his second wife was a Miss

Jenkins: he resides on Pigeon Creek. VVilliam'mar-L

ried a Miss, Jane Lawrence, sister to James’ Wife.
Samuel lived on the home farm. Jane (Mrs. James
Robinson) is now living in_ Westmoreland‘ County,
Pa.,‘ near Ligonier, , Lavina (Mrs. James Irwin) ‘re-
sides on Pigeon Creek, in West Bethlehem township.

On Nov. 9, 1802, Christopher Clouse bought one
hundred acres of land of Noah and Thomas D. Sum-
mers, heirs of Benjamin Summers. ‘This ‘land was
on Pigeon Creek, near the town of Hillsborough,
where Mr. Clouse settled in 1812, when he came from

‘Lancaster County to West Bethlehem township, and

purchased‘ more land of Stephen Hill. Christopher
Clouse was a blacksmith, and when the National
road was built he had a shop on the road, wherehe
worked at his trade until 1824. From that place he
removed to Martinsville, and lived there until 1835,
then Went-to West Finley to reside with his son
Daniel Clouse, where he died in 1854. Christopher
Clouse had ten children, of whom Daniel was the
eldest, being born the year his father cameto this
township. Two of his daughtersare, still living,—--,
Mary Clouse, of Burnsville, 1Vest Finley township,
and Mrs. Eli Horace, of Martinsville. '

116

HISTORY OF WASHINGTON COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA.

“ Should any person, British, or in the service or pay of Britain or
their allies, fall into your hands, if it should prove inconvenient for you
to bring them off, you will, nevertheless, take special care to liberate
them on parole, in such manner as to insure liberty for an equal num-
ber of people in their hands. There are individuals, however, who I
think should be brought oif at all events should the fortune of war
throw them into your hands. I. mean such as have deserted to the
enemy since the Declaration of Independence.”

The forces of Col. Crawford commenced their march
from Mingo Bottom early in the morning of Saturday,

the 25th of May. There was a path leading froml

the river into the wilderness, and known as “Wil-
liamson’s trail,” becauseit was the route over which
Col. Williamson had previously marched on his way
to the Moravian towns. This trail, as far as it ex-
tended, offered the easiest and most practicable route,
but Col. Crawford did not adopt it,‘ because it was a
principal feature in his plan of the campaign to avoid
all traveled trails or routes on which they would be
likely to be discovered by lurking Indians or parties
of them, who would make haste to carry intelligence
of the movement to the villages which it was his pur-
pose to surprise and destroy. So the column, divided
into four detachments, each under immediate com-
mand of one of the four field-majors, moved up from
the river-bottom into the higher country, and struck
into the ‘trackless wilderness, taking a course nearly
due west. The advance was led by Capt. Biggs’ com-
pany, and piloted by the guides Zane, Nicholson, and
Slover.

On through the dark forest the troops moved rap-
idly but warily, preceded by scouts, and observing
every precaution known to border warfare to guard
against ambuscade or surprise, though no sign of an
enemy appeared in the unbroken solitude of the
woods. ‘No incident of note occurred on the march
until the night of the 27th of May, when, at their
third camping-place, a few of the horses strayed and
were lost, and in the following morning the men who
had thus been dismounted, being unable to proceed
on foot without embarrassing the movements of the
column, were ordered to return to Mingo Bottom,
which they did, but with great reluctance. A

On the fourth day they reached and crossed the
Muskingum River, and then, marching up the western
side of the_stream, came to the ruins of the upper
Moravian village, where they made their camp for
the night, and found plenty of corn remaining in the

and I can assert positively that I never heard from either of these three
the least intimation that to kill off the remainder of the Christian Mo-
ravian Indians was at all the object of Crawford and his men ; but on
the contrary I have frequently heard these men say the main object
was to chastise the Wyandots by killing as many as they could, burn
their towns, and destroy their corn. This, and this only, was the object
of these men in undertaking this campaign, and by that means to check
the Indians from murdering, scalping, and plundering-the white inhab-
itants on the frontier settlements, as had been the case for two months
before.”

1 Dr. Doddridge, in his “ Notes,” says, “ The army marched along
Williamson's trail, as it was then called, until they arrived at the upper

Moravian town.” In this, as in many other parts of his narrative, «

Doddridge was entirely mistaken.

‘ravaged fields of the Christian Indians. This en-

campment was only sixty miles from their starting-
point on the Ohio, yet they had been four days in
reaching it. During the latter part of their journey
to this place they had taken a route more southerly
than the one originally contemplated, for their horses
had become jaded and worn out by climbing the
hills and floundering through the swamps, and so the
commander found himselfvcompelled to deflect his
line of march so as to pass through a more open and
level country; b11t he did this very unwillingly, for it
led his army through a region in which they would
be much more likely to be discovered by Indian
scouts or hunting-parties.

Up to this time, however, no Indians had been
seen; but while the force was encamped at the ruined
village, on the evening of the 28th of May, Maj.
Brinton and Capt. Bean went out to reconnoitre the
vicinity, and while so engaged, at a distance of about
a quarter of a mile from the camp, they discovered
two skulking savages and promptly fired on them.
The shots did not take effect and the Indians fled,
but the circumstance gave Col. Crawford great un-
easiness, for, although he -had previously supposed
that his march had been undiscovered by the enemy,
he now believed that these scouts had been hovering
on their flanks, perhaps along the entire route from
Mingo Bottom, and it was certain that the two savages
who had been fired on would speedily carry intelli-
gence of the hostile advance to the Indian towns
on the Sandusky.

It was now necessary to press on with all practica-
ble speed in order to give the enemy as little time as
possible to prepare for defense. Early in the morning
of the 29th the column resumed its march, moving
rapidly, and with even greater caution than before.
From the Muskingum the route was taken in a
northwesterly course to the Killbuck, and thence up

thatstream to a point about ten miles south of the

present town of Wooster, Ohio, where, in the even-
ing of the 30th, the force encamped, and where one
of the men died and was buried at a spot which was
marked by the cutting of his name in the bark of the
nearest tree. , ~ _

From the lone grave in the forest they “moved on in

a westerly course, crossing an afiiuent of the Mohican, /\

passing near the site of the present city of Mansfield,
and arriving in the evening of the 1st of June at the

place which is now known as Spring Mills Station, ‘

on the Pittsburgh, ‘Fort Wayne and Chicago Railroad.
There by the side of a fine spring. they bivouacked
for the night. In the march of the 2d they struck the
Sandusky River at about two o’clock P.M., and halted
that night in the Woods very near the eastern edge of
the. Plains, not more than twenty miles from the
Indian town, their point of destination. They had
seen no Indian since their departure from the night
camp at the Moravian Indian village on the Muskin-
gum, though they had in this day’s march unknow-

974

HISTORY OF WASHINGTON COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA.

Valentine Kinder was the owner of the tract “Val-
entine ;” claim assigned to him by George Kinder,
warranted to him Jan. 26, 1785, and surveyed to him

_ April 8th of the same-year. It contained 268 acres,

adjoining James Crawford, Peter Lesley, Abraham
Hartman, and David Ruble.

’ “Hyde Park” tract was warranted to Neal Gilles-
pie Feb. 9, 17 85; surveyed, December 6th, same year.
Location on waters of Ten-Mile-Creek ; contents, 412

- acres; adjoining Adam VVeaver, Ezekiel Barnes, and

\Vil_liam Miller. Situation about one mile south of
the site of the town of Hillsborough.

“ White Oak Flat” tract was warranted to Thomas
Lackey, and surveyed May 10, 1785. Contents, 387
acres, and located adjoining Richard Lackey, who,
on the same date, had surveyed to him a tract of 488,
acres, called in the survey “ Black Oak Flat.”

, _ “The Ant” tract, on the north fork of Ten-Mile, .
was surveyed, Nov. 10, 1784, to Myles Hayden, and

patented Sept. 29, 1788. The present owners of this
tract are Adam Horn, ‘James M. Horn, and S. G.
Bane. '

“ German” tract, 416 acres, taken on Virginia cer-

titicate by Henry Conkle ; surveyed to him April 23, ,

1785; resurveyed on Pennsylvania warrant, Feb. 11,
1788; patented, June 13th, same year, as 392 acres.

. John Conkle (presumably a brother of Henry) took

up on Virginia certificate the tractof 380 acres, which
was surveyed to him March 4, 1784; warranted to
him by Pennsylvania, Feb. 11, 1788, and resurveyed
June 13, 1788. V

Adam Simon warranted the tract of three hundred
and forty-three and three-fourths acres, which was sur-
veyed to him as two hundred and fifty-two and three
thirty-seconds acres, and named in the survey “ De-
spair” (whether the name given, it had any reference

- to the “shortage” in area is not known). "The tract

is =describ.ed' as adjoining James Barnett, Ezekiel
Breaden, George Dan-eer, Thomas Richardson, and
,Frederick,Tea_gue. Adam Simon died, and on April

I 18, 17 97, the tract was sold to Nicholas Simon by the

heirs, who were Michael Simon, Catherine Simon
(Mrs. George Daneer), Andrew Simon, Jacob Simon,

Agnes Simon (Mrs. Michael Beltz), Elizabeth Simon‘

(-Mrs. Philip Strong, of Huntingdon County), Mar-

. garet Simon (Mrs. George ’Wright, of Franklin

County), and Mary Simon (Mrs. James Stall, of
‘Franklin Co., Pa.). Except as indicated in the above
mention of the heirsof Adam Simon, his children
settled in VVashington County in locations not far re-
moved from thehomestead of their father.

-7 “ Buck’s Haunt” was the name of ‘the tract of land

-granted to Daniel Letherman on a Virginia certifi-
_ cate, and surveyed to him May 2, 1785. It was located

next the land of James Braden, and contained three
hundred-and ninety-three acres. Demas Letherman,
his son, lived in this township and died here some
three years ago at about sixty years of age, from what
was supposed to he a paralytic stroke. He was an ac-

tive politician, and served several years as State sena-

-tor. His farm is located on Pigeon Creek, northwest

of Scenery Hill, upon which Mr. Letherman had
erected a large and handsome stone mansion‘ a few
years before his death. He lefta widow, one son, and
several daughters, all of whom reside upon the home-

‘stead.

The first person known to have kept tavern in_ what
is now West Bethlehem township was Isaiah Ball, his
house being open to the public in 1782. In 1794,
John Meeks had opened a house for public,entertain-

ment-. He was followed a few years later by William A
Meeks and Absalom Hawkins, the first named having ‘

a tavern in operation in 1801, and the latter in 1803.
The Hawkins tavern was upon the site of the resi-
denceof" the heirs of Edward Taylor, east of Hills-
borough. '

Mr. William Robinson, now nearly eighty years of
age, lives in Hillsborough, and from him can be
learned many interesting anecdotes of the pioneer
days of West Bethlehem township. He also relates
many incidents’ of the staging days when the long
lines of stages were passing over the National road be-
tween Wheeling and Cumberland, being himself one

, of the regular drivers. Addis Lynn, who worked for

Stephen Hill, of Hillsborough, was a noted driver,
and John Buck drove for Daniel Moore, of Washing-
ton, Pa., and L. W. Stockton, of Uniontown. ‘
Churches.—In the year 1797 measures were taken
by the earliest religioussociety known in West Beth-

lehem township toward erecting a house for worship._

This was known as the “ Redstone” church, and was
built upon land purchased of Thomas Crooks for that
purpose." The trustees of the society were Joshua
Davis, Leonard Roberts, William Allen, John Welch,

Thomas Richardson, and James Eaton, who, on J ul y-
11, 1797, purchased of Thomas Crooks a_ piece of land.

containing one rood and thirty-seven perch‘es,- “situ-
ate on the Redstone road,” forwhichthey paid a con-

sideration of five shillings on that date. A proviso ,

in the contract granted to those attending church the
privilege of passing to and from a spring on other

7 land of Mr. Crooks. This church was built under the

charge and supervision of Rev. Joseph Doddridge,
and was located about half a mile below the site of
the village of Hillsborough. It was entirely aban-
doned many years ago, and- by some it is thought to
have been identical“ with the Episcopal Church which

was pulled down some thirty years ago, the logs being i

used to construct the house now occupied’; by Edward
Taylor. The graveyard in connection with this church
is called the Crooks Graveyard. It was originally well
laid out and cared for, but is now unfenced and neg-
lected. In, passingthrough it one sees that the first
interments date back more than eighty years. From
the inscriptions it is seen that Judith Parr died in Oc-
tober, 1802, aged seventy-nine years; Col. Thomas
Crooks died Feb. 25, 1815, past eighty years of age;

-Judith Crooks died April 30, 1823, nearly eighty—four

WEST BETHLEHEM ‘TOWNSHIP.

9175

years of age; Henry Huntsberry died Feb. 7, 1830,
seventy years old; Robert Rigle died Oct. 1, 1848,
aged'ninety years; Lieut.-Col. Roger‘S. Dix, U.S.A.,
died Jan. 7, 1849; William Dickerson died Aug. 13,
1859, ninety-two years of age.

The German Baptist (or Dunkard) Church was first
organized in West Bethlehem about 1800, with the

Rev. Mr. Bruist as its pastor. The first place for

holding meetings was at the brick church on Ten-
Mile Creek, which house is still_ in the possession of
the society, and is used for one of the several meet-
ing places. About the year 1858 the frame edifice
situated on Pigeon Creek was built, having dimen-

, sions of forty by sixty feet. Some time prior to 1838,

Rev. Mr. Bruist was 1 succeeded by Rev. Mr. Helft,
and he in turn was succeeded by that clergyman
known as Grandfather John Spohn, whose father
came from east of the mountains into this section in
the year 1785. Rev. Mr. Spohn, when a small child,
was brought across the Alleghenies in a sack thrown
across the back of a mule, and, together with a stone,
balanced the weight of his sister, who occupied the
other end of the sack. Upon arriving here. the father
of Rev. Mr. Spohn purchased the farm now occupied
by Solomon Mathews, of West Bethlehem township,
giving a gun for the land. During the ministry of
Rev. Mr. Spohn the German Baptist (or Dunkard) So-

-ciety began to assume definite shape as a church.

The succeeding minister was Rev. George Wise, who
eventually removed to Illinois, and was succeeded by
Rev. John Wise, who remained as the minister for
forty years. He then removed to Illinois, and Rev.
A. J . Sterling, of Fayette County, preached for four
years. The only minister of the German Baptist

. faith now ofiiciating in Washington County is the

Rev. J. M‘. Tombaugh. The following are the names
of the members of thissociety prior to the year 1838,
and after Rev. ‘Mr. Helft had assumed the pastorate:
Rev. Mr. Helft, pastor; Jacob Garber, Sr., elder;
Daniel Spohn, Sally Spohn, Israel Bigler, Sr., Catha-
rine Bigler, Andrew ‘Vise, Samuel Thomas, Henry
Tanner, Joseph Grable, Sr., Barbara Grable, Jacob

. Y. Spohn, John Spohn, John Miller, Sr., John Miller,
Jr., John Miller,-Nancy Miller, John Lane, Hannah

Leasor‘, Robert Guttery, Peter, Joshua, Rebecca, Eze-

_ kiel, and Elizabeth Swihart.

A On Feb. 19, 1803, there was organized at the resi-
dence of Joseph Hill, J r., in West Bethlehem town-
ship, a -Baptist society called the Lebanon Church,

- but was still better known as the Plu.m Run Old Side

Baptist Church. This society was also of the Dunk-
ard faith, and the trustees chosen to arrange for
building a house of worship, and other business af-

. fairs, were Hugh Jennings, Ross Nichols, Joseph Hill,

Jr., James Beatty, and James Hill. They purchased
of Joseph Hill, Sr., a lot containing one acreflof land,
the lot being partly. from each of the two tracts called

“ Hillsborough” and “ Absent Brother.” Among the
organizing members of this church were Joseph and
Mary Hill, James Hill, Ross and_ Margaret Nichols,
Daniel and Lucretia Leonards, Rebecca Welsh, James
and Margaret Beatty, Thomas and Rachel Hill, David
Evans_and wife, Mrs. Sarah Barnes, John Welsh, and
James Burgan and family. Mr. Burgan and his fam-
ily afterwards left the Dunkard, and became members

of the Campbellite Church. The house of worship I

first set up by the Plum Run Baptist Churchwas
built oflogs, but that has ‘since been replaced by a
substantial brick edifice. The ministers who have
had charge of this society were Revs. Henry Speer,
Francis Downey, Cephas McClelland,'Adah Winnet,
and the present incumbent, Rev. ‘Philip McInturff, ‘a
native of Eastern Virginia. A -

The Ten-Mile Methodist Episcopal Church at Zol-
larsville originated in the formation of a class com-
posed of Bennett Morton and wife,*Samuel Gass and
wife, William Bennington and wife, Samuel «Garrett
and wife, William Garrett and wife, Solomon Wise,
Step-hen. Ulery, and several others. Their first ser-_
vices were held about 1840 by John "Gregg and Hiram

rWinnet, local ‘preachers, in the old log church build-

ing of the Lutherans, near the residence of Adam
Horn ; but soon afterwards a brick house of worship
was erected for the society by Stephen Ulery, located
on a bluff of Ten-Mile Creek at Zollarsville. The

first trustees of the church were Benhett Morton, Sol-

omon Wise, and Stephen Ulery. The first preachers
appointed to the charge were John Coyle and
Ruter. The present pastor is the Rev. J . G. Gugley.

 

‘The church is embraced in ‘a charge with Mills- I

borough, ‘West Bend, Clarksville, and Valley Chapel.

The Winnet Chapel, in West Bethlehem township,
was erected in 1866 to replace the frame building for-
merly occupied by the society which worships there,
andwhich was burned in 1864. In the interval be-
tween thedestruction of the old house and the erec-
tion of the new one services were held in the school-
house near by. Both, edifices were built while Rev.
Hiram Winnet, now of Pittsburgh, wasuthe clergy-
man in charge. The membership has attained the
number of one hundred and eleven, and the present
class-leader is John I. Martin. —‘

Fairview Methodist Episcopal Church was organ.-
ized in this township in 1876, and the church edifice
was erected in the same year, the church site being
donated by William Sargent. The present pastor is
Rev. Charles McCaslin, who has officiated since 1879.
Previous to that year, and from the time of the organ-
ization of the church, Rev. William Stewart was the
preacher; The members of the society number eigh-

teen. Adam G. Weaver is‘ the class-leader.

The Town of -Hillsborough is located within the

«territory of West Bethlehem township, about midway

C "‘ ,

976

HISTORY OF WASHINGTON COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA.

between the boroughs of Washington and Browns-
ville, about twelve miles from either place. The
town lies on both sides of the old National road, and
it was one of the principal points at which the coaches
of the different stage-lines made a stopping-place in
the prosperous days of the great thoroughfare. The

site of Hillsborough is a part of the tract called

“ Springtown,” surveyed Feb. 23, 1785, to Isaac
Bush, wl1o sold to George Hill, June 18, 1796. On
the 13th of February, 1800, George Hill conveyed
the tract “Springtown” to his son, Stephen Hill,
upon an agreement, from which is quoted the follow-
ing : “Conditioned and covenanted by the said
Stephen Hill to and with the said George Hill, his
father, that he, the said Stephen Hill, doth promise,
for himself, his ‘heirs, executors, administrators, and
assigns,’ and each and every of them, out of the above-
described premises to keep him, the said George Hill,

his father, and George Hill, his brother, in good and‘

sufficient meat, drink, washing, lodging, and wearing
apparel, in sickness and in health, during their
natural lives; and if failures should‘a'ri'se in the
fulfillment of the conditions, the same shall yearly
and every year be settled by three reputable‘ men.”
VVhether any “failures in the fulfillment of the con-
ditions” of this agreement arose or not does not ap-
pear. Probably there were none.‘ 1

Nineteen years after the above-mentioned convey-
ance of the “Springtown” property by George Hill
to his son, Stephen Hill, the latter, with Thornflas
McGiffin (to whom he had conveyed‘ an interest in
the land), laid out upon it the town bearing the name
of the principal proprietor. ‘The survey and plat was
made in the early part of the summerlof 1819, and
an advertisement of the proprietors,.dated,July 19th
of that year, appeared in the Washington Reporter of
July 26th, as follows : in G if S » 1.

y “ HILLsBoRoUcH.

“ The publick are informed that a town has been laid off to be called
Ilillsborough on the National road, adjoining Hill’s Stone tavern, about
equal distance from VVashington'and Brownsville, and that lots will be
sold on the premises on Monday the 19th of August at publick auction.
Sale to commence at ten o’clock A.M. _ . ‘ _

“ The situation is healthy and pleasant and affords strong encourage-
ment to the enterprise of the Merchant, the Mechanic, and Innkeeper.
The surrounding country is fertile, well improved, and contains a nu-
merous and enterprising population. There is no town or village within
from ten to twelve miles distance which can rival it, nor is it presumed
that any can be established short of that distance which can have that
effect. The plan and terms of sale a.re liberal.

“ STEPHEN HILL,
“ THOMAS 1iIcGirrix,

“ Proprietors.
“July 19,1819.” - i

The plat of the town, recorded with the records of
VVashington County, is accompanied by the following
remarks, viz. :

“The above is a plan of the town. of Hillsborough, situate on the
United States Road, nearly equidistant between Brownsville and Wash-
ington, Pa. The town‘contai'ns 106 lots, as numbered on the plan.
The streets and alleys are as represented in the plan. The main
street is 60 feet wide, except the back street on each side of the town,
which is 40 feet wide. Each alley is twenty feet Wide. Every lot (Nos.

1, 17, 18, 49, 50, 82, 83, 96, and 97 excepted) is 60 feet wide in front by
200 feet back, and right angles. Lot No. 1 is 60 feet front by 120 feet
back, lot No. 50 is 58 feetin front, and lot No. 49 is 50 feet in front and
wider back so as to form Waynesburgli Street, with a bearing of S. 18140
west, and 60 feet wide. Lots Nos. 17 and 18 are exactly opposite to the

last-mentioned street, and lots 49 and 50 tapering back as in the plan, to .

make the angles of lots Nos. 16 and 19 square. Lots Nos. 96 and 97 are
50 feet each in front, and widening back on the principle of lots Nos. 49
and 50. And lots 82 and 83 are to be exactly opposite’ to these, and of
such size as to make their adjacent lots square in their angles, and the‘
street between them,'S. 29%° west and 60 feet wide. 9
r “ STEPHEN HILL,
“ THOMAS MCGIFFIX,

“ August 16, 1819.” “ Proprietors.

The National road, as before mentioned,‘ runs
through the town, forming its main street. By the
plan there was laid out, on the northerly side of the

A street, and near the centre, a plat of ground called -

“ Hill’s Reserve.” ' On the same side of the street_ the
lots, commencing at the west side of Hill’s Reserve,

f numbered westwardly from No. 1 to N o. 38, inclusive; 1

then recommencing on the opposite side of the street,
numbered back _eastwardly from 3-1 to 89, inclusive.
Opposite 89, on the north side of the street, was N o.
90, from which the lots numbered westward to 106,
which last was laid out adjoining the east side of a re-

served plat of ground smaller than “ Hill’s Reserve,” "

and separated from the latter by a road called on the
plan Crooks Street. I

Upon the site of Hillsborough a public-house had
been kept by Thomas Hill as early as 17 94, and it was
continued by the Hill family for many years, “Hill’s
Stone Tavern” being mentioned in the advertisement
of Hill and MeGiflin’s,sal‘e of‘Hillsborough lots in
1819. ' _

The Hillsborough post-office was established im-
mediately after the laying out of the town. It is
found mentioned in the lVas/Lington Reporter of Oct.
3, 1819, that “a post-office has been established at
H_i1lsborough,'in Washington_County, Pa. ; Mr. Samuel
Stanley is the postmaster.” 1 Mr-. Stanley was a car-

penter by trade, and settled on the site of Hills-_
. borough ten or‘ twelve years before the laying out of

the town. During the period of half a century in
which he was a resident of this place he enjoyed the
highest esteem and confidence of his fellow-citizens.
He ‘died in or about 1860, his daughter succeeding
him in the charge of the post-office at Hillsborough.
It is now designated as “Scenery Hill” post-oflice.

The first merchant of Hillsborough was Jeremiah 1

Coleman. The first two physicians of the place were

Drs. McGougan and Henry Halleck. The present‘ 9 \

physicians are Drs. T. R. Sterer and C. T. Dodd.

The town now. contains two churches (Methodist
Episcopal and Lutheran), one school-house, accom-
modating two schools, three stores, two blacksmith-
shops, one ‘wagon-making establishment, two shoe-
shops, one cabinet-maker’s shop’ and undertaking
establishment, and fifty dwellings.

Scenery Hill Lodge, No. 770, I. O. O. F., was,

chartered May 18, 1871, with the following-named

_ charter members: John I. Cleaver, Philip Thornburg, ,

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WEST BETHLEHEM TO WNSHIP.

977

James Dalrymple, Jacob Gayman, Andrew Horn,

Mahlon Linton, Eli U." Myers, Norton M. Myers,‘

Walter S. Myers, VVilliam Oller, John A. Paul, Joseph
VV. Ross, Jacob W. Shedler, Taylor _Smith, Solomon
Wansetter, John A. Yerty. Officers: L. M. Cleaver,
N. G.; A. A. Hill, V. G.; George M. Baker, Sec.;

B. F. Wise, Asst. Sec. ; J. W. Ross, Treas. The‘

lodge now numbers seventy-eight members.‘
Zollarsville, a little hamlet within the limits of
\Vest Bethlehem township,was ‘founded by Jacob
Zollar, and named for him. He was of German de-
scent, and built the first house in the place. The
house was afterwardsused by Elijah Hawkins as a
store-room. Daniel Zollar located on Ten—Mile
Creek, owning a large farm there, and had a family

' of five sons and two daughters. Mrs. Stephen Ulery,

of Zollarsville‘, and Demas Zollar, of Westmoreland
County, are grandchildren of Daniel Zollar.
Zollarsville is located, on Ten—Mile Creek, which
stream makes _a remarkable bend at this point and is
here forty yards in width. It is spanned by a fine
bridge at this place. The village of Zollarsville con-

'tains twelve dwelling-houses and .the various places

of business, which are quite. widely separated from
each other. A '

In 1835 a large grist—mil'l was built here by Jacob
Ulery, which was run-‘by water-power, and for years
dida considerable business. Since it passed into the

_ possession of Stephen Ulery, steam has been applied

with successful results. ' The “ White Pine” hotel is
kept by W. H. Ulery, the store and post-oflice are
Jacob Nickerson is
the wagon-maker, James Porter the blacksmith, and
John A. Patterson the residentphysician of the place.
Dr. James Braden, born in Greene County‘, educated

at Canonsburg, and graduated at J efferson Medical
' College, Philadelphia, settled in Zollarsville as the

first resident physician of the village, and practiced
here from 1850 until the later years of the war of the

. Rebellion, when he removed to Indianapolis, Ind.,
. where he is still in practice.

Schools:-The earliest school-teachers of whom any
account is found in West Bethlehem were Walter
Thomson, John Donahoo, and Peter R. Hopkins.
The name of the first mentioned is found marked as
“schoolmaster” on -the assessment-roll of the town-

a ship for 1800, and the two others were teaching primi- -

tive schools here at about the same time. Among the
teachers of a little later date were Robert Jones,
Jonathan Warner, and Peter Nonnasmith. The
Donahoo above mentioned was also teaching in
1807. The oldest school-house that is remembered

was a log building that stood near the site of the

Lutheran and Presbyterian church, on land of- the
Simon _family. In this old building German schools
were taught in 1805, and prior to that time. Mr.

Samuel Oller recollects it in the year named, and he

does not think there was any other school-house in
the township at that time. It had a clapboard roof,

Robert Quail, April 14, 1840.

and windows made of greased paper. English schools
began to be taught in the township about 1809. Prior
to that time they were taught in German. Among

the ‘first teachers in English was Walter Thomson, -

who had previously taught in German. Scholars came
from a distance of four miles to attend his school.
In 1823, in the east part of the township, there was a
log school-house standing on oseph Grable’s farm,

others on the David Coonrod and Spindler lands.’

Another, a log ‘building with aicabin roof, was on
John Friend’s farm. In this last named schools were
taught by William McCleary and a teacher" named

Gordon. Jacob Ragan taught a school in a vacant"

log building on Jonathan Garben’s farm. Later, Wil-
liam McCleary taught a school in a log building on

Amos Waltonls farm. One of the ancient log school- '

houses of this township was used until 1863, and was
said to have been the last of its kind used for school
purposes in Washington County.

Upon the passage of the free school law of 1834 a
meeting was held at Washington borough, at which
each township in the county was represented, the ob-
ject being to take action in, reference to the acceptance
of the provisions of the law. At this meeting West
Bethlehem was one of the five townships of the county
that voted for non-acceptance. In 1835, however,
the township had accepted the law, conformed to its
requirements, and elected as school directors Messrs.
J. Eagy and J. Mikesell, and was reported in that
year as having assessed and collected $336.19 for
school purposes. At that time the number of per-
sons liable to school tax in the township was four
hundred and eight. ‘ -

The school report for the year ending June 2, 1863,
shows the following school statistics for West Bethle-
hem : Number of schools in township, 14; number of
teachers, 15 ; number of pupils enrolled, 659‘; receipts
for school purposes for the year, $1397. The report
for 1873 showed: Number of schools, 15; number of
teachers, 16; number of pupils enrolled, 534; re-
ceipts for school purposes, $4205. In 1880 the school
report for the township showed: Number of schools,
16; number of teachers, 18'; number of pupils en-

rolled, 600; receipts for school purposes, $3743.89;

expenditures for same, $2533.82.

JUSTICES OF THE PEACE OF WEST BETHLEHEM}

George Taylor, April 21, 1862.
William Hedge, April 14, 1863.
Samuel Garrett, April 17, 1866.
Samuel Garrett, Nov. 30, 1870.
George Taylor, April 12, 1872.

. George Taylor, Jan. 21, 1874.
Samuel Garrett, Jan. 27, 1874.
Samuel Garrett, March 16, 1876.
Jacob Gayman, March 21, 1877.
George Taylor, March 27, 1879.
J. B. Wise, April 9, 1881.

Andrew Cox, April 14, 1840.
Abraham Young, April 15, 1845.
Stephen Hi1l,.Apri1 10, 1849.
Andrew Alexander, April 10, 1849. ,
Abraham Young, April 9, 1850.
Atkinson Nichols, April 19, 1852.
Andrew Cox, April 13, 1853.
George Taylor, April 13,1853.
William Hedge, May 18, 1858.
Samuel Barnett, May 18, 1858.

1 Until 1838 East Bethlehem and West Bethlehem formed one district,
and the justices for both townships for that period are given in East
Bethlehem township. *

' aged twenty-nine years.
Barnard married Elizabeth Drake, who died Aug.’

978 ‘

HISTORY or WASHINGTON COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA.

BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES.

5

SAMUEL BARVNARD.

Samuel Barnard was born in West Bethlehem town-
ship, VVashington County, Dec. 1, 1796, and died Jan.
26, 1881. After receiving suchinstruction as the dis-
trict school. afforded, he commenced the life of a far-
mer upon the old homestead, which he subsequently
inherited. He cultivated his lands skillfully and

profitably, uniting with _this,business that of gen-.
‘ eral stock raising. He was a substantial citizen, and

lived a quiet, unostentatious life, doing his duty ashe
understood it. He was married April 6, 1828, to
Eleanor Barnes, 'Wl10 died Feb. 23, 1839, aged forty
years. Their children were six in number,——John,
their first-born, died in infancy ; their second, Demas,

was a member of the Washington Cavalry, Capt. A. J. A

Greenfield commanding, in the late war, having gone
of his own accord to Grafton, Va., a few weeks after
the organization of the company, and there had, his.
name placed upon the muster-roll. He was wounded
by guerrillas while serving in Virginia, and died Feb.
12, 1863. His remains were interred in the. Lutheran
Cemeterynear his home. His comrades bearr.testi-
mony to his bravery and efficiency as a ‘soldier, and
his moral worth as aman. VVhen informed by his
physician that he had but a very short timeto live,
he said to Capt. Greenfield, who was -by his side,

“ Captain, they say  must die! I would like to live,"

a While longer to kill more-traitorsY,.’x" E The next two
of Samuel Barnard’s children,-»‘ar,1,d,,the,only ones now
living, are twins,——Elizab,e,th: andi;Sam1”iell  ‘Eliza-
beth is the wife of George Gaymjan,,a farmer of East

Bethlehem township, an’dfhas~t'-yvo ch_ildren,—l,—_S_amue'l
and Emma. Samuel B.-is a-prosperous farmer, and?

resides at the old home; ‘ Hewas a soldier, inlthe late
war, enlisting in Capt. A. J. Barr’s company Oct. 14,
1862, and serving until he was discharged, July 19,
1865. ‘ A

The fifth child died in infancy, and the youngest,
Eleanor, married Isaac H. Kinder, andldied in 1868,
March 12, 1843, Samuel

1.0, 1860, aged sixty-four years. Mr. Barnard’s.father,
Ignatius Barnard, was born‘ in what is now ,VVest
Bethlehem township, Oct. 25, 1762. He was a sol-
dier, and married Elizabeth Lewis, of Virginia.
Their children were Mary, who married William
Buckingham; James, who married Julia Bricker;
Samuel, before mentioned; Ignatius, who died‘ in
infancy ; Parmelia, who married Joseph Wise; Eliz-
abeth, who married Joseph Ross; Catharine, un-

married; and Nathan, who married Hannah Zol- J

.last two sessions.

lars. Samuel Barnard’s grandfather wasa native
of Scotland, from which country he emigrated and

settled in Washington County, Pa.

2 GEORGE CRUMRINE.

George Crumrine, of _West Bethlehem township,
was born Oct. 28, 1813, in the township where he now
resides, and was one of sixteen children (all of whom
arrived at maturity) of John Crumrine and his .wife
Barbara, who was a Fohrman. . John Crumrine was
born on Jan. 22, 1779, in what is now Carroll County,
Md., "near the present village of Melrose, and there
married. His_father was Abraham, who was the son
of George L., who immigrated from the Palatinate, in
Germany, in 1748. Three sons came from Maryland
early in the century. George settled in East Bethle-
hem township’, Peter went on into Knox County, Ohio,

and John, the above named,who came later, about

1811, and‘ settled and lived till his death, on Jan. 13,
1857, upon the farm near the mouth of Daniel’s Run,
now owned by one of his daughters, Mrs. Julia Ann

tTheakston. _His children were Elizabeth, wife-of’

DavidjHorn_; Mary, wife of John T_inkey; Susan, wife
of "James Sargent; Margaret, wife of G. W. Crabb’;
George; ‘John; William; Ju‘lia,A., wife of Thomas
Theakston _; Abraham ; Judith, wife of D. W. Longdon ;
Sarah; Barbara; Lucinda, wife of John Blackford;
Valentine; David; Maria, wife of Dennis Drake.
The fifth named of this family, George Crumrine,

, had but little start in the Wayof pecuniary aid, but by

means of industry and economy has succeeded in ac-

5quiring a competency, and is now a representative
' farmer of his;township. I In his youth he learned the
‘ carpenter’_s»-trade, and on Oct. 25, 1840, was married
7 to Mahala, oldestdaughter of James and Julia Ann

(Bricker) Bar_nard,,n,eigl1b_ors of his father. In 1847

he abandoned his trade and removed to thefarm

which he" now occupies and owns near Hillsborough,

I the post-ofiice at that place being called Scenery Hill.

His children are James B., born April 27, 1842 (mar-

ried first, Jennie Collins; second, Gusta Harris), a .

physician at Pennsboro’, W. Va., where he has been
practicing for the last fourteen years. Taking an ac-
tive interest in politics, he has been a Democratic
member of the West Virginia Legislature during its
His other .children are Elizabeth
A., born Dec. 26, 1847, wife of Jacob Gayman, a sur-

Veyor, residing at Hillsborough; Julia Ann, born. '

June 2, 1849, is unmarried; Cordelia, born May 13,
1851, wife of Robert Hornbake, miller, Frederick-
town; Emma Lucinda, born'June 13, 1853, wife of
Cepha.s Horn, of Hillsborough; George Leroy, born,
Sept. 4, 1855, and John Elwood, born Aug. 22, 1865,
are unmarried, and reside with their parents.

       

 

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WEST FINLEY TOWNSHIP.

4;;
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THIS is the extreme southwestern township of
VV-ashington County, it being bounded on the west
by the State of West Virginia, and on the south by
Greene County. East Finley joins it on the east, and

A its northern boundary is formed by the township of _
Donegal. The principal streams of West Finley are

Hunter’s Fork (of Wheeling Creek), which marks
the southern boundary of the township, separating
it from Greene County; Robinson’s Fork, which

flows diagonal'ly through the township from its

northeastern to itssouthwestern corner; Templeton
Ru_n,which flows southwestwardly across the south-

‘ eastern corner of the township; and the head and

main streams of Middle Wheeling Creek, which
flows in a westerly course through the north part of
the township‘ into West Virginia. ' ~ _

The territory of West Finley, together with that

p of East Finley township, was for a period of_ forty

years preceding their separate organization included
in the old township of Finley, which had itself

_ formed "a part of and was taken from the original

township of Donegal." In the history of East Fin_ley
township will be found an account of the erection of

, old Finley township in May, 1788, and of subsequent

changes in its boundaries and area down to and in-

' cluding the final division of its territory, and the

formation from it of the townships of East Finley
and West Finley, which were erected by order of the
Court of Quarter Sessions Dec. 24, 1828, with bound-
aries which have not been materially changed from
that time to the present. . '
Settlement of West F inley.—Henry Holmes, an
Irishman "by birth, came into this section and first

located in what is now Donegal township, near the G

site of West Aleitander. Afterwards he was granted
a'Virg_inia certificate, dated Feb. 24, 1780, for a tract

‘of land called “Burnt Fields,” situated ona branch

of Robinson"s Run, in this township, which was sur-
veyed to him J an. 21,-17 85. William, a son of Henry
Holmes, married Elizabeth Davidson, and afterwards
died. upon the homestead, which’ is now owned by his
grandson, Robert Holmes. Mrs. Martin and ' Mrs.
Davidson were daughters of William Holmes. A
James Beham settled early in West Finley township,
but the date of his settlement is not positively known.
Enough, however, has been learned to place him

among the first who came here. He lived on a farm, '

a part of which is now the property of Thomas

Barnes. Among the children of Mr. Beham were
two sons then old enough to be of great assistance to
their father. According to the custom of the time,
Mr. Beham put bells upon all of his stock, horses. in-
cluded, and turned them out with those of his neigh-
bors to graze. One day Mr. Beham sent-his two sons
for his horses. The Indians had taken the bells off,
and by ringing them led the boys far away from their

homes, when they seized, tomahawked, and scalped .

them, and left them, as they supposed, dead. The
eldest, however, was not dead, and after a time re-
vived and went home, Where he related the facts after
his recovery.’ The event occurred upon the bank of
a little stream which was called Beham’s Run. The
school-house near by and thesite of the family home
have-always been called “ Beh-am’s school-house’? and
“Beham’s Knob.” About the time of the Beham
tragedy another occurred in the family of Mr. Ben-

nett, who lived not far away. Becoming frightened,‘

at the Indians, the whole Bennett family fled and left
a bedridden old lady‘ (a relative) alone. When they

returned they found the lifeless body of the old lady

in the bed. She was buried in the woods, her last
resting-place marked by some rude stones set up near
the place of her death. And the thicket which in-
closes the place has always been called “Bennett’s

‘ Thicket.” ~

Alexander Burns was born in Scotland in 1739, and

-when four years of age removed with his parents to .

Ireland. At the age of fourteen, while in the market-
place at Armagh with his mother, he was taken from
her side and impressed .on board a man-of-war, in
which service he was retained for seven years. Fi-
nally the ship entered New York harbor and Alexan-
der ran away into the country, Where he hired out to
a farmer, a German, with -whom- he remained seven
years. He then revisited his home in Ireland and re-
turned to this country about the close of the Revolu-
tionary war. He came to this section and took out a
warrant for a tract of land Oct. 29, 1784, which was
surveyed to him as “ Burns’ Camp,” Dec. 14,1784.
On this land he settled, and had a large piece of land
cleared before 1780. He was captured by the Indians
and kept a prisoner for several years. During the
season of his captivity Philip Sommers discovered the
clearing Mr. Burns had made, and, finding no owner,
he procured a warrant for ‘it. Before it was surveyed
to him Burns ‘was’ released by the Indians and returned,
979

THE REVOLUTION.

1 17

ingly passed very near the camp of the Delaware chief
Wingenund.

On the morning of the 3d of June the horsemen
entered the open country known as the Sandusky
Plains, and moved rapidlyon through waving grasses
and bright flowers, between green belts of timber and
island groves such as few‘ of them had ever seen
before. Such were the scenes which surrounded
them during all of that day’s march, and at night
they made their fireless bivouac on or near the site of
the present village of Wyandot, not more than ten
miles from their objective-point, Where (as they be-
lieved) the deadly and decisive blow was to be struck.

Two hours after sunrise on the 4th the men were
again in the saddle, and the four squadrons began

' their march, moving with greater caution than ever.

A march of six miles brought them to the mouth
of theLittle Sandusky; thence, having crossed the
stream, they proceeded in a direction a little west of
north, past an Indian sugar-camp of the previous
spring (which was all the sign that they had seen of
Indian occupation), and passed rapidly on towards

the Wyandot town,‘ the objective-point of the expe- -

dition, which, as the guide Slover assured the com-
mander, lay immediately before them within striking
distance. Suddenly, at a little after noon, the site of
the town came in full view through an opening in

' the timber, but to their utter amazement they found
only a cluster of deserted huts without a single in-

habitant! The village appeared to have been de-
serted for a considerable time, and the place was a
perfect solitude. This was-a dilemma which Col.
Crawford had not foreseen nor anticipated, and he at
once ordered a halt to rest the horses and give time
for him_to consider the strange situation of affairs,

and to decide on-a new plan of operations.

The guides and some others in Crawford’s com-
mand were Well acquainted with the location of the
Indian town. John Slover had previously been a
prisoner with the Miamis, and during his captivity
with that tribe had frequently visited the Wyandot
village on the Sandusky. In guiding the expedition
there he had, of course, expected to find the village
as he had before seen it, and was, like the rest, as-
tonished to find it deserted. The fact, as after-
wards learned, was that some timebefore Crawford’s
coming, but how long before has never been definitely
ascertained, the Indians, believing that their upper
village was peculiarly exposed to danger from the in-
cursions of the whites, had abandoned it and retired
down the river about eight miles, where they gathered
around the village of the Half-King, Pomoacan, and
that was their location when the columns of Col.
Crawford descended the Sandusky.

1 The location of the old Wyandot town was three miles southeast of
the present town of Upper Sandusky, or five miles below by the course
of the river, and on its opposite bank.

- Contrary to the belief of the Pennsylvania and S

Virginia settlers that the mustering of their forces
and the march of their expedition was unknown to
the Indians, the latter had been apprised of it from
the inception of the project. Prowling spies east of
the Ohio had Watched the volunteers as they left their
homes in the Monongahela Valley and moved west-
ward towards the rendezvous; they had seen the
gathering of the borderers at Mingo Bottom, and had
shadowed the advancing column along all its line of
march from the Ohio to the Sandusky. Swift runners
has sped away to the northwest with every item of
warlike news, and on its receipt the chiefs and war-
riors at the threatened villages lost not a moment in
making the most energetic preparations to repel the
invasion. Messengers were dispatched to all the Wy-
andot, Delaware, and Shawanese bands, calling on
them to send in all their braves to a general rendez-
vous near the Half-King’s headquarters, and word
was sent to De Peyster, the British commandant at
Detroit, notifying him of the danger threatening his
Indian allies, and begging that he would send them
aid without delay. This request he at once acceded
to, sending a considerable force of mounted men, with

two or three small pieces of artillery. These, however,

did not play a prominent part in the tragedy which
followed.

The Indian scouts who had watched the little army
of Crawford from the time it left Mingo Bottom sent
forward reports of its progress day by day, and from

“these reports the chiefs at the lower towns on the San-

dusky learned in the night of the 3d of June that the
invading column was then in bivouac on the Plains,
not more than eighteen miles distant. The war par-
ties of the Miamis and Shawanese had not come in
to the Indian rendezvous, nor had the expected aid
arrived from the British post at Detroit, but the chiefs
resolved to take the war-path without them, to harass
and hold the advancing enemy in check as much as
possibleuntil the savage forces should be augmented
sufficiently to enable them to give battle with hope of
success. Accordingly, in the morning of the 4th of
June, at about the same time when Col. Crawford
was leaving’ his camp¥ground of the previous night
to ma.rch on the deserted Indian town, the great Dela-
ware chief, Capt. Pipe, set out from his town with
about two hundred warriors, "and marched to the ren-
dezvous, where his force was joined by a larger party
of Wyandots under their chief Ghaus—sho-toh. With
them was the notorious white renegade, Simon -Girty,

mounted on a fine horse and decked out in full Indian - ‘

costume. The combined Delaware and Wyandot
forces numbered in all more than five hundred braves,
—-a screeching mass of barbarians, hideous in their
war.-paint and wild with excitement. After an orgie
of whooping, yelling, and dancing such as savages
were Wont to indulge in before taking the war-path,
the wild crowdrelapsed intosilence, filed out from.the
place of rendezvous, and glided away like a huge ser-

, near Bellefontaine, where James

are none of the Byers’ descendants now remaining
‘here. A

980
and, proving his prior right tothe land, Mr. Sommers
relinquished all claim to it. The patent was granted
to Burns Feb. 16, 1790. He lived upon this farm un-
til his death,~Jan. 12,1826, atthe age of eighty-seven
years. The family of Alexander Burns was three
sons,—-James, John, and VVilliam. James settled in
Rich Hill township, Greene County. He had several
daughters‘, of whom Nancy (now Mrs. William Davis)
lives in Donegal township, and Jane, who became Mrs.
Johnston, resides in Ohio. John lived and died upon
a portion of the home farm. His daughter Mary mar-
ried Alexander Gunn, and resides upon the old home-
stead. William, the only surviving son of Alexander
Burns, also lived upon -the home farm until a few years
ago, when he removedto the home of his son-in—law,
Henry Blaney, near “ Good Intent.” A large number
of the lineal descendants of ‘Alexander Burns reside
in and near West Finley township. '
James and Thomas Byers were brothers, of Irish
nationality, who came to West Finley township, and

»March 16, 1786, were granted a warrant for “ Ston_e-

coal,” a four-hundred-acre tract of land adjoining the
property of David Bradford, James Leeper, James

)’ Shaw, and Samuel Byers. James Byers was a bach-

elor, but Thomas had a large family. His eldest

- daughterwas the. wife of Dr. Wylie, abrother of the

cle~rgymen,\VVilliam and Andrew Wylie. The second

‘daughter married David Stewart, and the third mar-
ried Andrew_Yates, all removing to‘ West Virginia.‘

A _fourth daughter, Nancy, was the ‘wife of John
Brice, a son of Rev. John Brice, pastor of the “Three
Ridges” Church. They emigrated to Ohio. The

youngest, daughter of Thomas Byers was the wife of

Mr. ,Wilson, a tailor by trade, and they also removed
West. The sons of ‘Thomas Byers were Thomas, J r.,
who married Miss Hammitt, and died in the borough

of Washington ; John, who studied medicine with Dr._

Warren, of Canonsburg. He married twice, Miss

A Boner first, and Miss Madden last, and went to the
State of Ohio, where he died; Samuel and William,

of whom no record is found; and James, who was a
farmer, and married Mary, daughter of Rev.'Mr.
Stephenson. The Stephensons all removed to Ohio,
Byers died. There

John Sutherland was a Scotchman, who in 1772
emigrated to Bladensburg, Md. In 1786 he came into
Washington County, locating» upon land on the waters
of Chartiers Creek. In 1800 he purchased one hun-
dred and six acres of land of Shields and Hollings-
worth,*in this township, and located here. His son
George, born in Scotland in the year 1769, remained
on Chartiers Creek until 417 90, and then followed his
father to West Finley. In 1795 he married Char-
lotte McCoy. Their family were six sons and two
daughters, of whom there is the following record:
Eleanor, Christiana, and .William died single. John

A was a blacksmith by trade, and married Eleanor

. IHISTORY OF WASHINGTON COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA.

Hough. He was a justice of the peace for several
years in West Alexander, where he lived and died.
Alexander Sutherland married Maria Boland in 1831,
and removed to Mansfield, Ohio. - He has been aprac-
ticing physician for half a century, andiis now more
than eighty years of age. Isaac, who married ‘Ruth
Fee in 1830, is a resident of West Finley township.
David married for his first wife, Lydia Lucas, and
for his second, Margaret Baird._ His home is in Davis

I County, Iowa. Robert stilllives in ‘Vest Alexander,

and has been married three times,——to Jane Lucas, to
Elizabeth Lossen, and to Annie Taylor.

Andrew Frazier was a Scotchman who crossed the
ocean in the same vessel with John Sutherland,. Wil-
liam McCoy, and others in. 1772. He went to
Bladensburg, Md., and from there came to this
county in 1786. The records show that June 24,
1799, he purchased of Thomas Shields a four-hun-
dred-acre tract of land called “ Big-Meadow,” situ-
ated on Robinson Run. ‘It, was patented to Mr.
Shields, April 10, 1798. Andrew Frazier spent his
life upon thistfarm, and left a family of five children.
David married Jane Ross, and lived and died in this
county; Alexander ‘Frazier, who was ‘married three

times, died in Washington, Pa. ; .Daniel, who was a I
roving character, was drowned at Wheeling, Va. »

The two daughters were Mrs. .VVilliam_McDonald,

who lived in. East Finley township, and Mrs. John '

Eckels, who went to Illinois and died there. The

Fraziers, of West Alexander, in this county, are de-

scendants of Andrew Frazier, the Scotch pioneer.
William Rose, who was a native of Scotland, was a

son-in-law of Alexander McCoy. He emigrated to‘
‘this country in 1772, landing at Philadelphia, and

until 1785 lived in the Susquehanna valley. H-e

then came to Chartiers Creek, and in 1800 followed “ ‘

his father-in-law and the other friends from Scot-
land to their new home in West Finley township.
William Ross bought two tracts of land here on
June 24, 1799. The first comprised two hundred and

ninety,-eight acres, which was _patented,to Thomas,

Shields, April 10, 1795. The second tract was ad-
joining the first. It comprised one hundred and one
acres, and it was patented to Henry Holmes, March
16, 1786. Holmes sold it to Shields, May 14, 1795,

. and he in turn sold the two trac_ts——-four hundred

acres in‘ all—l-to William Ross, This early settler had
a family of four sons and three daughters: Thomas,

Alexander, and Kenneth all died unmarried; John '

married Elizabeth McDani_'els, and lived and died in
this township; Jane Ross became the wifeof David
Frazier, and left numerous descendants; Charlotte
became Mrs..James Templeton. She died in the city
of Wheeling, and her husband in West Finley.

Catharine was the wife of Alexander Sutherland..

She died in this township,“and left three sons and
three daughters. 1

The Henderson family, born and reared
Finley township, have always been persons of popu-.

in West

born in 1818.

WEST FIN LEY TOWNSHIP.

981

larity and influence. On the maternal side they de-
scended from James Wherry, an emigrant from Scot-
land, who settled on Pigeon Creek. One of his daugh-
ters, Drusilla, married a man named Pyles, and resided
in Buffalo township. Another daughter, Esther, who
was born in West Finley township ‘in 1787, became
the wife of John Henderson. They remained here,
and brought up a family. of eight children,——John,

_ James, Alexander, Cyrus, Oliver P., Francis _ M.,

Elizabeth, and Esther. James Henderson resides in
Washington County. AleXander’s wife was Miss

Huston, and they lived in Buffalo township.‘ Cyrus

never married. Francis.M. has had three wives. His
residence is in Ohio County,“ W. Va. Oliver P. Hen-
derson, who married Miss Armstrong, was in the war

' of the Rebellion, and died -in the service during the

siege of Yorktown. The daughter Elizabeth became
Mrs. George Carroll. She died in this township. John
Henderson, son of John. and Esther Henderson, was
He ‘received only a common-school
education, owing to financial inability on the part of
his father to give him better advantages. A He evinced
in early life strong pro-slavery ideas, but could never

reconcile them to his sense of right, and finally hind-

self and father, and all his brothers except James,
became strongly avowed anti-slavery advocates.
In- .1844 and 1,845, John Henderson, James and

', Alexander Sprowls, Robert and Isaac Sutherland, and
John and Kenneth McCoy organized an anti—slavery _

society, with headquarters at the residence of Kenneth
McCoy. A line of stations for the refuge and pro-

.tection of slaves was formed, and by it many refugees

from far and near were secreted, cared for, and assisted

in their flight to Canada.’ A great and eflicient ele-_

ment in this work was the Quaker society, who in

'‘ numerous instances were the salvation of the fugitives

striving for freedom. Preceding the Rebellion the
danger to anti-slavery people was very great, and
often the lives of the members of this society were

in jeopardy during their visits to Wheeling. In 1861, A

John Henderson entered the Union army as a captain.
He remained in the service until 1864, when his com-
pany was mustered out. ' Mr. Henderson was early

is married to Margaret Trussell. They had six children,
, ——Easter, Milton .F., Sarah, Emma, Martha, and

Oliver P. Henderson. All are still living." Milton
F. served in the Army of the Potomac during the Re-

A bellion as a member of the Sixteenth Pennsylvania

Cavalry. John Henderson is still following the pur-
suit of agriculture upon his fine farm in this town-
ship. . 1

Lucy and Elizabeth Leeper came here and took up
three tracts of land, each containing four hundred

acres, in a body in this township, the warrants for

which were dated Oct. 25, 1784, and the surveys

\ made on the same date. ‘These tracts were located

on thewaters of Wheeling Creek, andthe names
given were “ Drayton,” “Shipton,” and “ Iron Hill.”

James Leeper at one time owned the Connant land, ,

now the property of the Sprowls family, but is not A

supposed to have been a residentof the township.
John Toland was the pioneer resident of Cooney

Town, an area of territory three miles ‘square, in the

southwest corner of West Finley township. Mr-.

Toland’s farm was the first one cleared in the local- "

ity, and embraced two hundred acres. It is now
owned by John Henderson and‘Flemming Trussell.

Although Mr. Toland reared a large family, but a K

very few representatives are now found in this part
of Washington County. ‘ '
VVilliam Porter was an early settler‘ of this township,
locating upon land two miles south of West Alex-
"ander, and but half a mile from the Virginia line.
He had a V mill in operation which was situated
_nearly upon the State li.ne. It has now fallen into de-
cay. His family was four sons and several daughters,
all quite advanced in years before they married. Mr.
Porter was a’ member of the Seceder Church. While
attending services he fell down and died immediately.

William Porter, of this township, is a’ grandson of

the pioneer William, and the old farm is now owned
by Alexander McCleary, Esq., a ‘justice of the peace.

The farm upon which George Davidson made his
settlement is now the property of Robert Holmes, of

West Finley township. Mrs. Alexander McCleary’

and Mrs.‘Thomas McCleary were his daughters. His
sons Robert, William, and George were all physi-
cians.

Samuel Davis occupied and owned the farm of
Samuel Mc_Ninch in this township. He had several
daughters and four sons,—-—Joshua, Richard, Samuel,
and William. Joshua was a tanner, Samuel ‘emi-

grated to another State, and William, who married

Nancy Burns, died upon the homestead, which he had

' never left. Isaac Davis, of this township, is his son.

Alexander McCoy and his wife, Christiana McDon-

A ald, were early residents in this vicinity. Their four

children were Alexander, Jane, Nancy, and'l“Charlotte

McCoy. Jane married William Ross, and Nancy be-

came the wife of Daniel McCoy, who was, however,
no relative. Charlotte was the wife of George Suth-
erland, and they had a number of children.

of West Alexander, Daniel Sutherland, of Iowa, and

Isaac Sutherland, of West Finley, are their sons.
Isaac Lucas was a Revolutionary soldier and an

aide-de-camp to "Gen. Washington. His property in

'this section was a four’-hundred-acre tract of land

called “Tragical,” situated on Robinson Run, He
bought it of Thomas Shields, April 23, 1806, to whom
it had been patented June 20, 1798. The farm is now
in the possession of Samuel McNay. Isaac Lucas
had six sons,—--John, William, Daniel, David, Abi-
jah, and Benjamin. John’s wife was Jane Temple-
ton; William married Miss Bushfield, and went to
Ohio ; Daniel and_David' both went to Ohio, the for-
mer marrying and having a large family; Abijah and

Robert, the only survivor. is a resident of ‘
.West Alexander. . ’ - '

Dr. , ,
Alexander Sutherland, of Ohio, Robert Sutherland, .

982

Hisronv OF WASHINGTON COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA.

his wife, Jane Lee, emigrated to Illinois; and Benja-
min, who married Mary Lee, lived and died in this
county. Thomas B. Lucas was a grandson of Isaac
Lucas. He married Malinda Rockafellow. He en-
tered the Union army, and was killed at Gettysburg,

. July'3, 1863. His only living son is John P. Lucas,

of Burnsville.— He too was in the army, a member
of the Eighty-fifth Regiment Pennsylvania Volun-
teers. '

William Gunn, a native of .Aberdeen, Scotland,
married a sister of Alexander Gunn (to whom, how-
ever, he..was. not related). About the year 1775 Wil-
liam Gunn, his Wife and one son, and Alexander
Gunn and two unmarried sisters emigrated to this
country and landed in Philadelphia. After -remaining
in that city about a year they emigrated to this county
and settled upon a tract of land now in Donegal town-
ship, owned by Gordon and Samuel Patterson. On
this property they all lived a few years, ‘and William
moved with his family to What is now West Finley
township. The land _on which he settled proved to
belong to those immense l'and proprietors, Shields and
Hollingsworth. He then purchased four hundred
and twenty-eight acres of Isaac Parkhurst, of Warren
County, Ohio. This land was situated on Robinson
Run. The land upon which he first located in Finley
township is now owned by Arthur Sprowls and James
Milliken. On the farm he purchased of Parkhurst
he lived the remainder of his long life, and died in

1825, aged eighty years. He left ten children, who -

upon arriving at maturity all emigrated to the West,
except John, the second son, who settled on the home-
stead andthere lived till his death in 1848, leaving a
family of eight, children,.of whom Alexander ‘is the
only one living in‘th/e. township‘ or the county. He
married a daughter of John Burns, and now resides
on the old Burns homestead. r

Alexander Gunn, who remained on the farm in
Donegal when .William came to Finley, stayed there
until about1800, when he purchased three hundred

"acres of land, in. West Finley, which is now mostly

owned by James Hunter, Q whose father, Matthew
Hunter, purchased it of Mr. Gunn.’ He remained
unmarried, and after the sale of the farm resided with
his nephew, John Gunn, until his death. He was an
elder in the Presbyterian Church of West Union, Va.,
for over forty years. One of his sisters" married John
Craig, and died without children._ The other never
married.- ’

Hercules Roney and James Roney were of Scotch- '
Irish birth, and emigrated to America about 1775.

They were early settlers in this county, and were both
chain-men with C01. William Crawford, as surveyor
of Yohogania "County, Va., and assisted i11 many of
the surveys of land granted on Virginia certificates.

They settled in Finley township upon land which

theyvafterwards obtained on Virginia certificates.
Hercules Roney’s certificate bears date Dec.’ 21,
1779; this was surveyed to him on the 20th of J an-

uary, 1785, under the name of “ Green Spring,”
and contains three hundred and seventy-six acres ad-
joining the land of James ‘Roney. '

The certificate of the tract obtained by James Ro-
ney bears date Feb. 24, 1780, and wassurveyed Jan.
20, 1785, and named “ Star Fort,” containing four
hundred acres. Hercules Roney built upon his land

\a large and strong block-house, which was known as

“ Roney’s Block-House,” or “ Roney’s Fort.” To this
place the neighbors repaired in times of danger. Her-

cules Roneylived on the “Green Spring” tract the

remainder of his days’, and died in 1812, leaving four
children. To his two sons, James and William, he
gave each one hundred and fifty acres of land, and

tothe two daughters, Mrs. Milliken and Mrs. Reed,‘

each one hundred acres. James married Miss Mc-
Whirter and removed to Canonsburg. William mar-

ried a Miss Lawrence and remained in the township.

The McIntosh family, who were of Scotch birth or
descent, located in this township at an early but not
precisely known date.
1789 or 1790 the entire family, with the exception of
one daughter, were massacred by Indians._ They were
out at some distance from their house engaged in
stacking hay or grain, when the Indians fired on

' them, killing the father on the stack. The mother

and six children ‘fled towards the house, but were
overtaken, tomahawked, and scalped. The daughter
above_mentioned had been sent to a distant pasture
with a horse, and hearing the firing, and realizing the
danger, fled to Roney’s block-house and gave the
alarm. Hercules Roney and a party of men started.
at once for the scene of the butchery. The Indians
had gone, but the eight "dead and mutilated bodies
told the bloody tale. Roney and his party buried

them on the farm that is now owned by Mr. Blaney. _

On March 30, 1795, Robert Morris, of Philadelphia,
sold to Edward Tighlman, also of Philadelphia, thirty
thousand acres of land ; ‘consideration, £10,200. ‘This
land was surveyed in seventy-five tracts, of four hun-
dred acres each, for all of which, patents were granted

in 1787. At that time the entire body of land was ‘
within the limits of Washington County, but now it ‘
lies partly in West Finley township and partly in ,
Greene County. The seventy-five tracts were pat-. '

ented under the following names : .
King’s Wood, M—ill“Creek, Bastian, Garden, White-
Oak Level, Rumney, Eagles’ Nest,Artillery, Ashhill,

Stony Point, Buffalo Lick, Cranberry Marsh,‘Lion’s I‘

Den, Forlorn Hope, Alps, Rush Run, Magazine,
Whitehill Eminence, Beaver Dani','Mill-Stone Rock,
Smithfield, Barrier,Fairford, Owlhill, Eden, Alarm-
Post, Spice Hill, Iron Hill, Tuolow, Bee-Tree, Slup-
ton, Longhill, Hook Run, Silver Stream, Wolf ’s Den,
Field Fort, Bear Camp, Otter Run, Shipton, Thorn,
Fellon, Blackberry Grove, Thistle, Plumb Hill, Chest-

nut Hill, Pike Run, Deer Hill, ‘Sugar-Loaf,.Darnel 8

Camp, Burton, .Iohn’s Bottom, Broad’ Valley, Win-
sor, Big Rock, Dunkard’s Falls, 1l‘Iack’s Camp, Crab-

During the harvest season of V

WEST FINLEY TOWNSHIP.

983

Tree, Nettle Hill, Mill-Seat, White'Thorn, St. Clair’s,
Encampment, Yellow Spring, Green Spring, Forlorn,
Club Law, Lutis Bean, Hempfield,,Wolf-Path, Fox
point, Foxhill, and Drayton. .

ll “ Doctor’s Hall” was a tract of four hundred acres
situated “ on a branch of Wheeling Creek,” in what

V is now We.--t Finley township, adjoining certain va-

cant lands and lands of Griflith Jones and Daniel
McFarland & Co. It was surveyed to James Hunter

Nov. 13, 1785, f‘ at the instance of Dr. Henry Moore.” ‘

It was taken up on a Virginia certificate. Entry
made in Ohio County (Va.) Book of Entry June 9‘,
1781. —

GoodIntentis the name o.f a little village situated
in the northeastern, part of West Finley township, on

'a- tributary of Wheeling Creek. It is located upon

land formerlyowned ‘by Peter Wolf, a pioneer in that

section. He built the mill at Good Intent, which he ~

afterwards sold to Weaver Potter, and erected another
farther up the creek. Both were called Wolf ’s mills,
and the last one, which was sold to William Donnelly,
has gone to decay. Peter Wolf removed to Washing-
ton and died there. Good Intent -business -interests
are comprised in a water-power grist-mill, a tannery,
store, harness- and saddlery-shop, two blacksmith-
shops, the post-office, and public school-house. The
post-ofiice was established at Good Intent -in 1837,

- with John Ensel asfirst postmaster, who was suc-

ceeded by Joseph Chase. The first person engaged
in the business of general merchandising here was
Thomas Frazier, who opened a store in_ 1845. He was

followed by Hall & Frazier, James Ensel, Robert"

Chase, James Roney, Samuel Ambler, and John
George- The present merchants are C. W. Blaney
&.Son. The tannery was carried on in earlier years
by Charles. Chase, Robert Chase, and James Roney,
and is now under the management of William 
Sunderland. -Drs. George Lucas and George David-

- son were the resident physicians as early as 1850 ; Dr.

John Buchanan until 1852,; Dr. Samuel Potter until

_1856 ; ‘Dr. George B. Wood in 1874; Dr. John Smith

in 1877, and Dr. Frank Blachly in 1881. Tllirizy or

, _ forty years ‘ago Mrs. Elizabeth McWhirter, Mrs. Spill- .

man, Mrs.iCatharine Miller, and Mrs. Jane Lucas

' were famed as nurses in this vicinity, and were often

employed in place” of regular physicians, whose ser-
vices could not always and readily be obtained.
Burnsville, or West Finley, as it is more properly
called, is loca_ted in the southern part of the township.
It was laid out by John Burns, who owned the land
upon which it‘ has been built. It is upon a portion
of the tract taken up and improved by Alexander
Burns, but which was occupied by ‘Philip Sominers

during the temporary captivity of Mr. Burns among.

the Indians. ,U_pon.Mr. Burns’ release, however, Mr.
Sommers relinquished all claims to the land,‘and the
four hundred acres was patented to Mr. Burns Feb.
16, 1790. The situationvis high. and healthy, and al-

together West Finley is a pleasant and attractive .

' of No. 571.

place. The first post-oflice -of the place was estab-
lished in 1832, and was called.West Finley, by which
name Burnsville has gradually come to be known.
The first postmaster was VVilliam C. Burns, who kept
the office at his residence, a half-mile, southeast of the
town proper, now the home of Alexander Gunn. Mr.
Burns is stillliving, in excellent health and vigor, al-
though approaching his eightieth year. Mr. Burns’

_ successor was Joshua Ackley, who removed the oflice

to Greene County, where it remained until Mr. Ack-
ley was succeeded by William C. Telagarden, who
brought it back to Burnsville, its present location.
Joshua Ackley, the second postmaster, died Sept. 30,
1881, at seventy-seven years of age. The postmasters
who followed Mr. Teagarden were Wesley Cannon,
Samuel Grim, and Jacob Rockefellow, the present in-.
curnbent. ‘
At present West Finley contains twenty-seven
dwelling—houses, two wagon-shops, two cabinet and
undertaker establishments, two saddlery and harness-
shops, the post-oflice, an Odd-Fellows’ Hall, two
stores, the hotels of J. P. Lucas andC. Burns, black-
smith-"shops of Brady, Gray, and L...W. Fields, the

shoe-store of John Hastings, andseveral carpenters '

and artisans of other trades. Just west of theitown

is the public school building; the “Windy Gap”  

Cumberland Presbyterian Church is near theto'wn;
One of the earliestvphysicians of Burnsville was i Dr.’
Roberts. In 1863, Dr. Richardson and Dr. Silas Mc-
Cracken were practicing here, and at the present time
the profession is represented in Burnsville by Drs. 
S. Grim, J. W. Teagarden, and I. N. Sprowls. 7.
,West Finley Lodge, No. 956,- I. O. 0. F., was
instituted at Burnsville, March 27, 1878. The organ‘.-
ization of the lodge was effected by Deputy Grand
Master James Craig‘, assisted by Past Grands John
Birch and J. M. Carson, of Hopewell "Lodge, No.
504, Robert M. Luckie, of N o. 607, R. W. McGlumpy,
of No. 571, Greene County, William A. Irwin, N. G.
of Hopewell Lodge, N o. 504, and I. H. Taylor, N. G.

Grim, N. G.; George ’-I‘. Carroll,iV. G.; L. M.‘
Sprowls, Sec.;.Albert Sampson, Treas. The other
chartermembers were Louis Cooper, James .Giles,

Joseph Howell, Mandeville Earnest, J. M’. Houston,

Thomas Lawrence, John P. Lucas, G. W. Jenkins,
James Marshall, J. J. Irey, A. S. Sprowls,*‘Morgan
Sprowls, Seaman Sprowls, J. W. Taylor,-and VVilson
Spro-wls. The lodge has at present thirty-two mem-
bers. . ’

The Burnsville Christian Church.‘-—In 1839 a
gentleman belonging to the Cumberland Presbyterian

Church'invited a Disciple preacher by the name“ of -

James, who resided near Bethany, W. Va.‘,’ to preach
at two different times in the Windy Gap Meeting-

house. He was followed in‘1840 by John Henderson,"

Dr. ‘George Lucy, and Chauncey Ward in frequent

1  Rev. W. L. Hayden.

The first oflicers chosen were Dr. W. L. _

984

HISTORY OF fWASHINGTON COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA.

"appointments, and several persons were baptized. A

church of what are known as Bible Christians once

. flourished in the vicinity, but had becomevdepleted

in membership. This people stood on the same
ground with the Disciples in regard to the repudia-
tion of unscriptural names and human creeds as

. bonds of union. »Under the labors of John Hender-

son, Sr., most of the remnant of this church were
brought into full harmony with the Disciples, and

‘ten of them met with him at the house of Abraham

Teagarden, and covenanted to enter into a church re-
lation. . As far as can be now ascertained, their names
are Abraham Teagarden, Nancy Teagarden, Jacob
Teagarden, Samuel, Teagarden, Sr., Eliza Teagarden,
Cynthia Teagarden, Robert Chase, Benjamin Potter,
James Hill, and John Cummins. A short time there-
after an organization. was effected, in the year 1841,

by Dr. George Lucy, at a school-house near Benja-'

min Gunn’s, in ‘West Finley township.

The original members were the above-named ten
persons, John Henderson and his wife, Hannah Tem-
pleton, Nimrod Longdon» and his Wife, Sarah Sutler,

_ Sarah Ackels, Benjamin Gunn, Mary Gunn, Joseph_
Ryan, Sarah Ryan, John Batson, Walter L. Batson,.
James Henderson and his wife, twenty-five in all. i ‘

The first - elders were Abraham Teagarden and J o-

seph Ryan. Benjamin Gunn and Nimrod Longdon

were the first«deacons._ The infant church often_en-
joyed the public teaching of William Munnell.

.Unhappily difficulties soon sprang up and scat-
tered the little flock, and retarded the progress of the
church. By the care and effort of John Henderson,
Sr., the members rallied again, and met at Liberty
school-house forpublic worship. ,

Several students of Bethany College visited the
congregation ‘and rendered valuable service. Among
these were Charles L. Loos,.John Lindsey, Moses E.

‘Lord, and Robert Y. Henley, all of whom afterwards

became distinguished preachers of the gospel. Thos.
Hillock was regularly employed to preach forone or
two years, and the church was edified.

But reverses, removals, and deaths thinned the
ranks of the faithful, so that inv1849, with all the un-
tiring fidelity of John Henderson, only about twelve
or fifteen. persons met regularly on the Lord’s day.

In August of this year, S. B. Teagarden, who ten
years before had invited preaching in the neighbor-
hood, left the Cumberland Presbyterians and united

with the Disciples, receiving the hand of fellowship

from Moses E. Lard. About thistime Randall Fau-
rot labored a while. for this church regularly. j

In April, 1850, Prof. Robert ‘Milligan, of Washing-
ton College, preached in an adjacent Baptist Church,
and made a fineimpression on the religious commu-
nity. But Liberty school.-house -continued to be the

place of meeting, and many. precious seasons of

prayer -were there enjoyed during this year, near the
close of whichthe house was burned, and the Dis-
ciples met from house to house.

In October of this year L. P. Streator preached a
few evenings very acceptably, and gained some addi-
tions. The following minute is from the record of the
church of that year: I ‘ i '

“ Samuel B. Teagarden was chosen and set apart by the laying on‘of I

hands.to the oflice of Evangelist by the coxigregation of Disciples in
West Finley, Washington Co., Pa., and Walter L. Batson and John M.
Longdon were chosen and set apart by the laying on of hands of the
Presbytery to the oflice of elder of said congregation. ’

- “ Done at the ‘ Windy Gap’ meeting-house Dec. 29, 1850.

’ “JOHN M. Loxenon, Clerk.”

L. P. Streator was present and officiated on this
occasion. ’ -

At this time so much interest had been awakened
that now professors began to urge. the homeless church
to build a meeting-house. The great difliculty was
the want of funds. In January, 1851, the officers of
the church authorized S. B. Teagarden to travel and
solicit funds for this purpose, — He spent five months
at much personal sacrifice, and by a liberal contribu-
tion himself obtained about five hundred and seventy
dollars, with which a modest frame building, twenty
by thirty-six feet, was erected on the present site near
Burnsville. On Dec. 10, 1851, Samuel McFarland
made a deed of the lot to Joseph -Templeton, Alexan-
der-Henderson, and John M. Longdon, trustees of the
Disciples’ Church in West Finley township, Washing-
ton Co., Pa., containing one-fourth of an acre more
or less,_ for the consideration of one dollar, for the use
of said church. '

On the second day of the preceding October, James

Darsie preached the first sermon in this house, though

the dedication sermon was preached by B. F. Lobin-

gier on the following Lord’s day." In September of
that year S. B. Teagarden was employed to preach
half the time "for one year. ~ _

The preachers who have labored with this church
at different times during these forty years an-d more,

in addition to those already named, either in meet- .

ings of days, in stated appointments for a specified
time, or occasionally, are John Dodd, James Foster,

James Hough, David VVal1is, Thomas J. Melish, Wil- _ '

liam Baxter, A. Campbell, J. D. Pickett, P. H. Jones,

I. Baldwin, 0. L. Matthews, David White, R. B. -

Chaplin, J. C. Howell, John Luke, A. E. Myers, and
Campbell J obes. Simon Huston was also a strong
preacher and a good elderof the church for many

years previous to his ‘death, March 14, 1877. He was ‘

mighty in the Scriptures, and died lamented by all
who knew him. ' V '

Brady Gray is now the leading elder of the church,
which numbers, as reported, forty-three members.
They have no other pastor at present, and are depend-
ent: on supplies for preaching. It is said the elders

generally ruled well and the church has continued

steadfastly in the faith and practice of the primitive
church, though sometimes flourishing and sometimes
not. With all its ups and downs, its depletionsand
opposition,~it still stands firmly “upon the founda-

wnsr FINLEY rroWNsHI1>. A

985

1 tion of theiapostles and prophets, Jesus Christ him-

self being the chief corner-stone.”

The Church of the United.‘Brethren in Christ
was organized in 1824 in Finley township, by the
Revs. Jacob Ritter and Adolphus Harndon. Among
the first members were George Early, Andrew Stellar,

, Samuel F eatherly, Henry Sherrich, Isaac and Chris-

tina Earnest. The Rev. VVinters was the first
regular preacher, and the Rev. C. Wortman was the
last one who ofliciated. 7 A log church was fi.rst built
soon after the organization, which was replaced by
another in 1850, and in 1874 this gave way to a good
and tasteful frame edifice, in which the congregation,
still worship. The society has at present one hundred
and ten members. _ ‘ ' '

 

5 * The .“Sa1emZ’ Methodist Church, in the south-

west part of VVest Finley township, was organized
about the year 1830. The church edifice is a frame
building, and -was erected between 1850 and 1860._ It
stands. near the point of intersection of Washington
and Greene County lines with the West Virginia line.
There is now a membership of one hundred, under
the ministration of Rev. Mr. Boatman, who resides in
the town of Dallas, W. Va.

built’ on. land belonging to John Henderson, and is lo-

cated nine miles south of West Alexander, at a place

sometimes called “ Coonie Town.” The place gained
this name froma local character, Benjamin Fairly,
who from his remarkable success in trapping raccoons
was given the sobriquet of “Coonie Ben.” Before
the late war the society was a strong one. Some of
the memhersgin 1856 were ‘Washington and Mary
Prosser,_ Lindley Larimore, Samuel and VVilliam

- Plauts, Andrew Hunt, _Jacob Glassboner, George

Carroll, Mary Hamilton, Mary McCann, Maria \_Vhite,
Harriet Glassboner, Lydia McKea,n,Hannah E. To-

‘ land, Mary Parker, Noah Hertzog, George Glass-

boner, Sarah A. Hertzog, Mary E. Hunt, ‘Jeremiah
Glassboner, Mahala, Mary, and John McGinnis, Jane,
Nancy, and Martha King, Jane and John Day, Catha-

T _ rine_Toland, and Lucinda J. Toland. -Differences of

opinion upon various points have nearly ruined the
church, and‘at present it is small, the membership

_ now comprising but thirty-two persons. «The former

pastors were Revs. William Scott and J. Y.. Burwell.
The present minister is Rev. John A. Simpson, with
occasional preaching by Rev. John Henderson. p
Windy Gap Church is a branch of the Concord
Church, which was-organized in 1855. The members
of the“ Concord”iChurch residing inthe vicinity_ of

VVin'dy Gap petitioned the Presbytery at its previous ’

fall session to organize them into a separate church,

. which was done May 29, 1855. Their first business

session was held in the June following, of which the
record says, “The Windy Gap Congregation met in the
church, and after prayer received one member by cer-

' tificate. No further business was t-ransactedf’, They

started out with a m embershi pof over thirty,with Alex-

. ander Sprowls, John Chase, Samuel Rockefellow, and

Solomon N ickinson as ruling elders. In 1855, Rev. E.

P. Henderson was the officiating clergyman, but from ‘

1856 to. 1857 the people were dependent upon supplies.
From 1857 to the spring of 1863, Rev. P. Axtell had

the charge. It was during his administration, in 1858, *

that they purchased a lot of ‘Henry and Nelson

Sprowls,——consideration, $600,—upon which they 
erected a handsome parsonage. The clergymen who -

followed Rev. Mr. Axtell in preaching at Windy Gap
Church were Revs. A. W. White, who remained until
1870; J. D. Foster, who left in 1871; J. N. Cary,
who stayed till the spring of 1875, at which time Rev.
J. R. Morris assumed the charge. Rev. J. Reed is
the present pastor. The burial-ground belonging to
this society is called Windy Gap Churchyard. The
first grave made in the ground was that of Amanda

Connet, who died March 14, 1844, at the age of A
Just below the highway stands a marble‘

sixteen.
monument erected to the memory of two brothers
who sacrificed their lives in the defense of their

,country. They were Griflith D. Taylor, who fell at
, the battle of Fredericksburg, Va., Dec. 13', 1862, and
y The North Wheeling Baptist Church was ‘or-

ganized.in 1850. Thechurcl} is a frame building,‘

Henry M. Taylor, who died on Davis Island, N. Y .,
Feb. 5, 1864. A monument in'this ground marks the
grave of Dr. J. W. —Hancher, who died March 22,
1876, in the fifty-first year of his age.

. Schoo1s.——The earliest teacher of whom there is_

any account as having taught school within the terri-
tory which is now VVest Finley township" was John
McDowell,. a Scotchman. ‘He was succeeded by
David Frazier, a son,of Andrew Frazier, who was an
early settler, and by David Coventry, "William Alms,
Alexander, Burns, and Jonathan Parkinson. These
school-teachers were paid by subscription, as was the
case everywhere in Western Pennsylvania at that

time. In this section the subscriptions were generally’

paid in rye, which was disposed of to the distillers.
The localities where early scl1ool—l.1ouses-werel placed
in this part of Finley township were known as Kim-_
men’s, Chase, Frazier’s, McCoy’s, Power’s, Windy
Gap, and Good Intent. _
This township sent James Holmes to the county
convention held in Washington Nov. 4, 1834, for the
purpose of decid'1g whether the county of VVash-

ington should accept the provisions of the act passed 0

April 4, 1834, providing for a general system of edu-

cation throughout the State. It was moved by Wil-
.liam Patterson, of Cross Creek township, that a tax

be levied to carry into operation the law. This mo-
tion was seconded by Thomas Ringland, of ‘Morris
township. It was carried, twenty-one votes being
cast in favor and five against it, the delegate from
Finley, James Holmes, voting yea. At this time
there were in V\7est Finley township two hundred and
thirty—three persons liable to school tax, and the pro-
portion of tax of the township was one hundred and
ninety-one dollars and ninety-nine cents, which was

986

raised. The next year there was assessed, levied, and
collected for school purposes two hundred and sixty-
nine dollars and ninety-six cents. The township was
divided,into school districts under the charge of J.
Henderson and A. Powers, the school directors elected
at the first election held for that purpose on the 14th

‘ of October, 1834, at the house of John Dougherty

(formerly John Sunderland’s). School-houses were
soon after erected in these districts, and though “ the
operation of the school» law was a little cumbersome,”
stillthe work progressed, and time and experience
modified its imperfections until the present successful
methods were brought into practice. 9

. The school report" of 1863 showed that there were
in the township ten districts, with ten schools, ten
teachers, and .475 scholars. The amount of money

, received for school purposes was $1262.12; amount

expended, $1413. In 1873‘ there were eleven districts,
eleven schools, and 419 scholars enrolled. Amount

.

%_L.

r 
,.

HISTORY OF WASHINGTON COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIAH»

of money received for school purposes, $2628.17 ;
amount expended, $2686.79. In 1880 there were eleven

districts, eleven schools, a11d 379 scholars enrolled. '

Amount of money received for school purposes,
$2284.09 ; ' amount expended, $2061.59.
Justices of the Peace.——The following is a list of

_ the justices of the peace elected in tWest Finley from

the year 1840,‘ viz.:

John Burns, April 14, 1840.
Alexander Frazier, April 14, 1840.
Alexander‘ Frazier, April 15, 1845.
John Burns, April 15, 1845. -
Alexander Frazier, April 9, 1850.
John Burns,April 9, 1850.

John Burns, April 10, 1855.
Alexander Frazier, April 10, 1855.
Thomas Frazier, May 20, 1856.
John B. McGuire, April 10, 1860.

Thomas Frazier, April 9, 1861.
John B. McGuire, June 3,1865.
Alex. McCleary, April 17, 1866.
John B. McGuire, April 17, 1870.
Alex. McCleary, April 1, 1871.
Alex. McClea.ry, April 9, 1874.

E. B. Gray, March 17 , 1875.

Alex. McCleary, March 16, 1876.
J E 0. Baldwin, March 30, 1880.,
Alex. McCleary, April 9, 1881. I

1 Prior to that time the territory of West Finley and East Finley was
included in the Donegal district. See justices‘ list of East Finley.

fivvnstr PIKEP RUN TOWNSHIP.  

4‘;

wvf

I

THE-territory of this township, together with that
of East Pike Run, was embraced in the old township
of Pike Run, and so remained for a period of almost
half a century-from the erecti-onof the township last
named. ’An account of the erection of Pike‘ Run
t'o¥wnshi'p in- April, 1792, and its division on the 9th
of March, 1839, forming East and West‘ Pike Run
townships, is given in the history of East Pike Run.
Theboundaries of West Pike Run are Fallowfield
and -Somerset on the north, East Pike Run on the
east, EastBethlehem on the south, and Somerset and
West Bethlehem on the west. The township is abun-
dantly watered for agricultural purposes by small.
creeks -and runs,'but it has no river or other stream of
sufficient importance to be mentioned" among the
principal» water-courses of the counjy.

' One of the earliest settlers (if not the first.) within
the territory that now forms the township of West
Pike Run was Dr. Charles Wheeler, who came into

this section of Washington County as early as the fall ~

of.1774, andtook up two tracts of land which were
contiguous to each other, located on Falls‘ Run, a
branch of Pike Run, and which were warranted to
him» under‘ the title of “ Winter’s Choice.” The en'-
tire area was about three hundred and forty-five acres,
but it was granted to him as three hundred acres, strict
measure. When the establishment of township lines
took place-‘Dr. Wheeler’s landxvas in both East Beth-

lehem and West Pike Run, townships. A The Virginia

‘certificate which he received entitlinghim to his land

was dated Feb. 21, 1780. In the survey the property
was. described thus:

“ Situate chiefly on the north side of the main road leading from Red-
stone Ferry to Washington town in Washington County, called ‘ Win-
ter’s Choice,’ containing three lumdred acres of land, surveyed January
25, 1785, in pursuance of a Certificate granted to Charles Wheeler from
the Commissioners of Fi1'gi1iia for a settlement right as followeth, to
wit: , ’ ‘ " ‘

“ Surveyor’s Office, Yohogania County,
State of Virginia.

“Charles Wheeler produced a certificate from the Cunignissioners ap-
pointed to settle titles and grant unpatented lands in the counties of
Yohogania, Monongalia, and Ohio, for three hundred acres of land in

Yohogania County, to include his improvement made thereon in the ‘

year 1775, which was granted at Cox’s Fort the 21st day of February,

1780, and duly entered in this otfice.
‘ [Signed] “ B. J onxsrox, »
v  - “Surveyor I'ohogam'a County/.
“January 12, 1785.” v

In 1796, Dr. Charles Wheeler was one of three per-

’ sons who purchased a town lot in Brownsville for the

use of a Protestant Episcopal Church. In his history
of Christ Church, of Brownsville, Rev. Samuel Cowell
says of him, “ Dr. Charles _Wheeler was an English-
man, and a surgeon by profession, who, after) serving
in Dunmore’s war, settled on a "farm about four miles
west of Brownsville. He was warmly attached to the
church, and when disposingof his worldly e‘fl'ects*be-

queathed to the same one hundred‘ pounds, to be paid '

atathe death of hisiwife. Mrs. Wheeler lived ‘many

WEST PIKE RUN TOWNSHIP.

years after. her husband’s death, having reached the
advanced-age of ninety-four years.” ,
The wife of Dr. Wheeler was Miss Elizabeth Cresap,

1 and she lived a quarter of a century "after her husband

had passed away. Her remains were interred in
the Episcopalian churchyard at Brownsville. Dr.

V VVheeler was the ownerof several slaves, all of

whom he remembered in his will. 5 Hannah Young
was the latest survivor of these slaves,‘ she living
until after 1870. ,As Dr. and Mrs. Wheeler had no
children, he, after naming various minor bequests,
gave the bulk of his property to Charles Wheeler,
his nephew. The following are some of the clauses
in the will, which was executed May 26, 1808, viz.:

I A f‘After my debts are discharged, which are very tri-

fling, it is my further wish and pleasure that the little
I have which is of my own acquiring shall be disposed‘
of in the following manner: [After naming several
sums for other persons he gave] £50 to bla.ck Samuel,

.£50\to black Benjamin, £50 to black Hannah, £25 to '

black Lydia, £50 to black Daniel, and £25 to black

Rachel. The above named black people were raised .

under my roof. I therefore hope they will consider
the intent of the small bounties bestowed them by an

indulgent master and to apply the same discreetly to _

their interests. . '. . As it was not my lot to have issue
by my wife, I did not embark in this world’s specula-

' tionin search of more than what would enable me to
. live decently comfortable to my family and friends.

Therefore it must be .considered that the little I pos-
sessat this present, the total value thereof cannot
now be "fully estimated for the time to come by sev-
eral_hundreds. When it arrives at that epoch it is
mydesire and request that my executors will, from
any additional sum arising from the sale of my real
and personal property, equally divide the same in
addition to every legacy I have bequeathed.”

’ Joseph Crawford and Robert Clarke, of Fayette
County, and Thomas Johnson, of Washington County,
were named executors of this will, which was proved
Sept. 25, 1813. On March 29, 1839, they sold to Jona-

‘ than Knight one hundred and seventy-three acres of

the tract“ Winter’s Choice.” It now belongs to Oliver
K. Taylor, cashier of the Bank of Brownsville.

Jonathan Knight, above mentioned as the purchaser ’

of a part of the ,Wheeler lands, was a resident within
the present limits of West Pike Run township for

many years. He was one of the most w‘idely-known ‘

and highly-esteemed men of Washington County or
of Western Pennsylvania. He served with honor in
both Houses of ‘ the State Legislature, and as a mem-
ber of Congress from his district. He was the. most

"famous surveyor in this section of country, and be-

came one of the most eminent civil engineers of his

day in the United States: The place where he lived A

and died is about one mile east of the town of Centre-
ville, and now within the limits of West Pike..Run
township, though originally in East Bethlehem, the
change being caused by-la readjustment of the lines

between the two townships to conform to the route of
the old National road. His residence was but a very
short distance north of the township line in West
Pike Run, and apparently he- always continued to
regard himself as belonging _to East Bethlehem, which
was his post-oflice address.
(yet comprehensive) autobiographical‘ sketch of Mr.‘
Knight, prepared for Lanman’s“ Dictionary of Con-

gress” in 1858, copied from the original manuscript, S

and furnished by his son, William Knight, nowlre-
siding at or near Marysville, Marion Co., Iowa, is here
given: ~ 1 -

“I was born of poor but respectable parents,‘ in
Bucks County, Pa.-, on the 22d of November, 1787,
and with them removed». in 1801 to East Bethlehem,
Washington Co., in the same State, where I yet
reside, engaged in agriculture. J

“In 1809 I married Ann Heston,_in a meeting of
the religious society-of Ffiends, in accordancewith
their good order, and we still remain in religious fel-

‘lowship with that society. The limited means at
‘command did not permit of my education in any col-
lege,‘ nor in any seminary of learning above the

ordinary primaryschool then in the country. — Never-
theless, an unquenchable thirst for knowledge im-

pelled me to read and study at home, mostly at nights,
‘by which means I acquired a pretty good American

education and a competent store of mathematical
learning, and became a teacher in schools and a sur-
veyor of land and of roads. _ V _
“ About the year 1816 I was appointed by the State
government of Pennsylvania to make and report a
map of Washington County, in order to facilitate the

forming of Melish’s map of the State. This duty \

involved much field labor, the_instrumental surveys
requiring an hundred days in their performance.
That servicehaving been satisfactorily performed, I
served three years as county commissioner, to which
oflice I was elected. by the people. Soon I entered
upon, civil engineering, and after ‘assisting in a subor-
dinate station in the preliminary surveys for the
Chesapeake and Ohio Canal and in those of the
National or Cumberland road, between Cumberland
and Wheeling, I was appointed in 1825, by the Fed-
eral government, a commissioner to extend that road,
and accordingly did extend it from Wheeling through
the States of Ohio and Indiana to the eastern line of
the State of Illinois. I « .

“ In 1822 I was elected a member of the Legislature
of Pennsylvania, and'served in the House of Repre-
sentatives and in the Senate six sessions. In 1828 I
resigned my seat in that Senate and entered the ser-
vice of the Baltimore and Ohio Railroad Company,
and visited England to acquire knowledge in thatlthen
new department of civil-7 engineering.‘ Returning, It

1 Jonathan Knight, the son of Abel and Ann S. Knight, was born in '

Bucks.County, Pa., on the 22d day of November, 1787., His father was
a weaver by trade, but couldsuivey land and teach school.— Civil and

Military Engineers of America, ‘by Charles Stewart, 0'. E;,- 1871.

987» A

A very brief and modest . A

C988

‘broad and national views.

HISTORY OF  WASHINGTON COUNTY, I PENNSYLVANIA.

accepted the ofdce of chi-efnengineer for that company

’ in 1880, which I held until 1842.1 ‘Retiring then to

the farm, I continued the pursuit of agriculture, for
which I was always partial, with only occasional-‘ times
or absence from home on professional or other calls
until. 1854, when I waselected to the Thirty-fourth
Congress in t'he'Twentieth' District of Pennsylvania,
composed of Fayette, Greene, and Washington’ Coun-
ties. Having served through the three sessions of
that Congress, and failing of a re-election‘ in.1856, I

again retired to a rural and private life on the farm
. at East Bethlehem. '

. (Signed) ~ “J. KNIGHT.”
*“ The leading characteristics of Mr. Knight as a

professional man,” says Mr. B. H. Latrobe,” who was

Jonathan Knig'ht’s successor as chief engineer of the

» Baltimore and Ohio Railroad, “ were strongly marked,

and entitled him toa high rank in the-roll of Ameri-
can ‘civil engineers. His natural-aptitude for the ac-
quisition of knowledge in the exact sciences, and es-
pecially those -which depend upon the skillful use of
algebraicanalyses, was unsurpassed. The habit of
closethinking, into which he was led by the natural
tendencies of his mind to mathematical investigation,
made him reason. rightly on all subjects, and gave a
p-hilosophica-l cast to his conversation upon almost
every -topic that he touched. Yet his remarks were
not a series of dry abstractions, but were practical in
their bearings and enriched by illustration and anec-
dote. In political economy hewas well» versed, an_d
expressed en‘lig_htened andcomprehensive Views upon
the subject of banking, trade, manufactures, and agri-
culture, of the last of which ‘he possessedmuch‘ prac-

tiealknowledge, derived from experience and careful

observation. Politics also was a favorite theme with
him, and upon public" measures he always expressed
. He discussed the charac-
ters of public men with great spirit, and often with a
sarcastic humor which marked ‘his conversation on
most subjects. ‘The character of Henry Clay ap-
peared to be-his ideal of a statesman and orator. In
private life he was distinguished by many excellent

, qualities. He raised a large family,--ten -children,——-

fulfilling his domestic duties in the most exemplary
manner, bringing up hisvchildren in the fear of God,
providing for them With a judicious" regard to their
several. capacities and dispositions. Heleft a corn-
fortable estate, after having settled all his children

_ 1 On the 2d of March, 1842, on the occasion of the acceptance’ of Mr.
Knight’s resignation, the board of directors of the Baltimore and Ohio
Railroad Company took the followingaction :

‘ “On motion of Gen. Marriott, seconded by Mr. S. J. Donaldson, the
following resolutions were adopted, viz.: Resolved, unanimously, That
in accepting theresignation of,Jonathan Knight, Esq., as chief engineer,
the board feel it to be a duty to express the high sense entertained of his
worth as a man and merits as an oflicer; and also to acknowledge the

value andimportance of the services rendered by him in the responsible-
‘oflice whichhe has sofilong held with credit to’h-imself and justice to

the interests;-of the company. ‘Resolved, That the president cause a copy

"of the above resolutions to be transmitted -to Jonathan Knight, Esq.”

2 Stewarfs’ “ Civil and Military Engineers of America,” pp. 2-10, 241.

during l1is own lifetime, and among his neighbors and K’

many friends a_character of unsullied probity and
consistent Christian kindness.” ' ’
Jonathan Knight died at his residence in West
Pike Run township, Nov. 22, 1858. ' The following
account of the event, and of the fatal illness pre-
ceding it, is furnished by his eldest son, William
Knight, of Iowa: ,“'He was taken suddenly ill with
bilious colic in a very severe form at his home, on
the 13thvday of November, 1858. In a few hours in-
flamation had set in, causing a severe pain and a con-
tinual oppressive sensation in'the chest. He died on

the tenth day of his illness, being the seventy—first’

anniversary of his birthday (November 22d). During
his la.st illness he was very patient and calm, con versed
little, but always spoke pleasantly to those about him,
recognizing them until the last moment, and with his
last words said that he had made his peace with God,
and had no matter to make up with any man,'and

that he was entering upon a state of rest and happi-

ness in the life to come.”

Of the ten children of Jonathan Knight,'Willia1n,
the eldest, lived in East Bethlehem until 1864,'when'
he emigrated to Mahaska County, Iowa, and resided
there until’ the-fall of 1881, when he removed to his

‘present home at Marysville, Marion‘Co., in the same

State. Oliver lived in East Bethlehem and West Pike
Run townships till his death. Henry C. settled early
in life in Detroit,,Mich., and died there. David’ S.
passed his life in East Bethlehem township, ‘Washing-
ton County. Zephaniah B. migrated -from VVashing-
ton County to Oakland County, Mich., and remained
there until a few years ago, when he removed to
Omaha, Neb., and now resides there. Jonathan
Knight, Jr., settled early in life in Mehaska County,
Iowa, but soon afterwards removed to-Tonganoxie,
Kan., Where he is now living. Abel was locatedfor a
short time in West Pike Run township, then removed
to Oakland County, Mich., and ‘soon afterwards to
Leavenworth County, Kan., where he remained but

’a short time, and removed to the State of California,-

where he remained“ till his death, in theifall of 1881.
Three other children of Jonathan Knight—Eber H.,
Elizabeth, and Ann—resided » in VVest Pike Run
township with their parents until their death.
Benjamin VVhite‘ was the owner of “ Apple Green,”
a tract of land in West Pike Run township which
contained four hundred and sixty-three acres, and

was surveyed to him June 5, 1786. Mr. White was

an excellent scholar ; he taught school and music," and
practiced surveying. _ More than sixty years ago "he

taught school in the stone house which is now the

mansion house of Amer J eifreys. He was very badly
crippled, and only able to move about with consider-
able difficulty. His wife was Jane Beall, a sister of
Zephaniah Beall,. who founded the town of Bealls-
ville. Mr. and Mrs. White had but two children,
both daughters, Tabitxhavand Keziah White. Tabitha
died when-very young, and Keziah became the wife

H ‘shall County, Iowa.
'Centrevil'-le, Washington‘ Co.

WEST PIKE RUN TOWNSHIP. , I‘ 8)

Or

_ of Simon Johnson. She inherited‘ the homestead, or

rather her father gave it to her during his life, and
lived with her. She afterwards sold’ the property,
and the whole family removed to the State of Ohio.
William Griflith came from VVales to America be-
fore the year 1690,. and settled in New Castle, Del.
Although William Griflith had formerly been wealthy,
he came to this country poor, and remained thus all
his life, dying at the age of one hundred and five
‘years. His son,.VVilliam Griffith, Jr., was born in.

- New Castle in December, 1714, and in 1735 crossed

the Susquehanna River and settled on Beaver Creek,
in. York County, remaining there until hjs death,
which occurred Sept. 21,. 1778. Jacob Griflith, a son
of William Griflith, Jr., came into Washington
-County in 1790, and located upon the land in West
Pike Run township now owned and occupied by
Elijah Hawkins. He was a member of the Society
of Friends, and founded the Clover Hill Friends’
Meeting in this township, of which he remained a

supporter until his death. Israel Griffith was ason

of Jacob Griffith, who located on the property near
the site of Henry Horn-bake’s mill, and worked in
thetold Benjamin Vore mill, though he was also a
'-cooper by trade. He married Letitia Shaw, by whom
he had eight children. Of these but five are living,-4
Eli R., Israel L., Emmor H., and the two daughters,
Anna and Eliza. Israel .L.~Grifiith resides in Mar-
Emmor H. Griflith lives in
Eli R. Griffithlives
‘one and one-half miles northeast of Centreville.

. ‘Emmor H. has no children; Eli R. has two,-the
_'son Oliver R. Griffith, whovlives near his father, and

-another so.n, who is a merchant in Minneapolis, Minn.
Joseph J effreys, who was born in Chester County,
Pa., was - a farmer, and emigrated to VVashington

Countyin 1795. He was awitness of the battle of

Brandywine, which occurred Sept; 11, 1777, but was
-not -old enough to be a participant in the engage-
ment. His wife was Miss Elizabeth Robinson, of
Loudoun County, Va., and they had a family of nine
children, of whom only Pleasant, Amor, Job, and
Mary lived to the age of men and women. Of these
four but Job and Amor are now living. Job married
Rebecca Coyle._ Amor married Sarah Gregg, and
they had a family" of eleven children, of whom only
-five are now alive,—Joseph, Anderson,‘Jacob, Eliza,
and B. Franklin Jeffreys. Amor J eifreys is a fuller
by trade, and owns the old Benjamin White prop-

 erty. -Mary J effreys, the daughter of the early set-

tler, Joseph Jeffreys, became the wife of Samuel
‘McCoy, and Pleasant J effreys married John Keys.‘
The present townships of Carroll, Allen, East Pike
‘Run, West Pike Run, Fallowfield, and a part of
-Somerset were originally included in one township,
Fallowfield. At that time all the residents of the
territory mentioned gathered to vote at one point,
which was usually at thevresidenceof Edward West,
‘thepproperty in Fallowfield township now owned by
- 63 '

Allen White and others. The paternal ancestors of
Edward West were English, and those of his mother
were Germans. Mr. ‘Vest himself was born in Lou-
doun County, Va., and when he came to this section

be purchased a tract of land containing. three hun-,

dred and five acres, which is now owned by Edward
West, J r., Dixon Spahr, Allen —White, and John
Rider. Edward West, Sr., had quite a large family
of children. Of the sons, the youngest died in in-
fancy, and Edward, J r., died leaving no heirs. The
son Jonathan married Frances Nixon, and their sons
—-—Thomas, Edward, Jr., Jonathan, J r., and Robert

.West—are "living in Washington County. Thomas,

‘West, son of the pioneer, Edward West, Sr., had a
son, Thomas ‘West, Jr., who died near Pittsburgh.
The sons,- Joseph and Matthew West, had the old
homestead. Joseph had a large family, who are now
living in Southern Illinois. Ed-ward West, Jr., the

son of Jonathan, and grandson of Edward West, Sr.,

is the oldest representative of the .. family in this
county. His sons are four,——Robert, Thomas, George,
and Jonathan ‘West. His daughter Anna married
George Morrison, Esq., of Uniontown,»Fayette Co.
"His daughter Mary became the wife of Robert Gregg.
Jane West married Thomas Hondan. .
Seaborn Crawford settled’ on a small tract of land
"in this township, located near the town of Beallsville,
where he followed the trade of blacksmith, and lived
upon the place until his death. He had two sons,

Richard‘ and Nathan Crawford. Nathan Crawford, '

-Jr., of Somerset township, is a grandson of Seaborn
Crawford, and Mrs. Susan Graves, of West,Pike Run
township, is his granddaughter. ..

Mr. Mahlon Riggs, now eighty-four years of age,
and long a resident of this section, gives many names
of persons who lived in West Pike Run township in
the early part of the present century. Among them
were Rezin Beall, Charles Dobbs, Mark Deems,
George Fitzsimmons, Eleanor Hopkins, Thomas
Hopkins, Alexander Hopkins, William Howe, Robert
Hill, James Moflitt, James Mitchell, Abijah Riggs,
and George Riggle. Information has been obtained
of but few of this number, save the fact that their
names-belong in the list of early settlers. The land
owned by Mark Deems was a tract located near
Beallsville, which is still in possession of descend-
ants of the family. He had» four sons,--Mark, Jr.,
Jacob, John, and George Deems. His daughter be-
came Mrs. David Jenkins. Mark Deems, Jr., mar-
ried Miss Baker. J acob’s wife was Miss Duvall.
“John died in Illinois. George Deems was married
twice, first to Miss Baker, andafter her death to Miss
Sharp. ' ,

James Moflit was an Irishman, a good farmer, and
a highly respected man. He owned a farm in West
Pike Run, but followed the trade of aweaver and let
his sons, attend to the farm. The property is now
owned by his grandson, John T. Mofiit. James Mof-

fit had quite a family of children. Thomas, the eldest ’

118

pent across the grassy plain towards the cover of the
distant belt of forest.

In the brief halt at the deserted village Col. Craw-
ford consulted with his guides and some of the ofiicers
as to the most advisable course to be adopted under
the strange circumstances in which he found. himself
placed. John Slover was firm in the opinion that the
inhabitants of the village, had removed to a town situ-
ated a few miles below. He also believedvthat other
villages would be found not far away from the one
which had been abandoned, and that they might be
surprised by a rapid forward movement. Zane was
less confident, and not disposed to advise, though he
did not strongly oppose a farther advance into the
Indian country. The commander, after an hour’s
consideration of the embarrassing question, ordered
the column to move forward towards the lower towns.
Crawford’s army and the combined Indian forces
under Pipe and Ghaus-sho-toh werenow rapidly ap-
proaching each other. H

Crossing the river just below the abandoned village,
the Pennsylvania horsemen pressed rapidly on in a
northerly direction to the place which afterwards
became the site of Upper Sandusky. There was no
indication of the presence of the foe, but the very
silence and solitude -seemed ominous, and the faces of
oflicers and men grew grave, as if the shadow of ap-
proaching disaster had begun to close around them.
A mile farther on, a halt was ordered, for the gloom
had deepened over the spirits of the volunteers, until,
for the first time, it found expression in a demand from
some of them that the advance should be abandoned
and their faces turned back towards the Ohio River.
At this juncture Col. Crawford called a council of
war‘. It was composed of the commander, his aide-
de-camp, Rose, the surgeon, Dr. Knight, the four ma-
jors, the captains of the companies, and the guides.
Zane now gave his opinion promptly and decidedly
against any farther advance, and in favor of an im-
mediate return ; for to his mind the entire absence of
all signs of Indians was almost a sure indication that
they were concentrating in overwhelming numbers at
some point not far off. His opinion had great weight,
and the council decided that the march should be con-
tinued until evening, and if no enemy should then
have been discovered, the column should retire over
the route by which it came. »

During the halt" Capt. Biggs’ company, deployed as
scouts, had been thrown out a considerable distance
to the front for purposes of observation. Hardly had
the council reached its decision when one of the
scouts came in at headlong speed with the thrilling
intelligence that a large body of Indians had been
discovered on’ the plain, less than two miles away.
Then, “in hot haste,” the volunteers mounted, formed,
and moved forward rapidly and in the best of spirits,
the retiring scouts falling in with the main body of

horsemen as they advanced. They had proceeded i

HISTORY OF WASHINGTON COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA.

nearly a mile from the place where the council was
held when the Indians were discovered directly in
their front. It was the war party of Delawares, under
their chief, Capt. Pipe, the Wyandots being farther
to the rear and not yet in sight.  _
When the Americans appeared in full View of the
Delawares, the latter made a swift movement to oc-
cupy an adjacent wood, so as to fight from cover, but
Col. Crawford, observing the movement, instantly
dismounted his men, and ordered them to charge into

the grove, firing as they advanced. Before this vigor- ‘

ous assault the Delawares gave way and retreated to.
the open plain, while Crawford’s men held the woods.
The Indians then attempted to ‘gain cover in another
grove farther to the east, but were ‘repulsed by Maj.
Leet’s men, who formed Crawford’s right wing. At
this time the Wyandot force came up to reinforce the
Delawares, and with them was Capt. William Cald-
well, of the British army, dressed in the full uniform
of an officer in the royal service.‘ He had come from
Detroit, and arrived at the Indian rendezvous a little
in advance of the main British force, but after Pipe
and Ghaus-sho-toh had set out with their braves to
meet Crawford. He now came up tothe scene of
conflict, a.nd at once took command of both Indian

parties. On his arrival he immediately ordered the

Delaware chief to flank the Americans by passing
to their left. The movement was successfully exe-
cuted, and they held the position much to the dis-
comfort of the frontiersmen, who, however, could not
be dislodged from their cover. But they had no great
advantage of position, for the Indians were scarcely
less sheltered by the tall grass of the plains, which
almost hid them from view and afforded a consider-
able protection against the deadly fire of the white
marksmen?

The fight commenced at about three o’clock, and
was continued with unabated vigor, but with varying
success, through the long hours of that sultry June
afternoon. Through it all the villanous Simon Girty
was present with the Delawares, and was frequently
seen by Crawford’s men (for he was well known by
many of them), riding on a white horse, giving orders

and encouraging the savages, but never within .range »

1 Capt. Caldwell was the commanding oflicer of the entire force which .

De Peyster had sent from Detroit in aid of their Indian allies, viz., the
mounted detachment known as Butler’s Rangers and a company of

infantry from the garrison at Detroit. Naturally, it would be supposed ,

that the mounted Rangers would arrive first on the ground, and why
they did not is not clearly explained, but they were yet several miles in
the rear during the fight of the 4th of June. Capt. Matthew Elliott, of
the British, was also present with the Indians in this battle, but he was
only a Tory oflicer in the royal service, and could have no command in
presence of Caldwell, who was a captain in the regular British army.

2 “ Some of the borderers climbed trees, and from their bushy tops took
deadly aim at the heads of the enemy as they arose above the grass.
Daniel Canon (brother of Col. John Canon, of Canonsburg) was conspic-
uous in this novel mode of warfare. He was one of the dead shots of
the army, and from his lofty hiding-place the reports of his unerring
rifle gave unmistakable evidence of the killing of savages. ‘ I do not
know how many Indians I killed,’ said he, afterwards, ‘ but I never saw
the same head again above the grass after I shot at it.’ ”—Butterfield.

990

HISTORY OF ‘WASHINGTON COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA. A

V, of the family, was a phyyfsician, andpracticed his pro-

fession in the town of Carmichael’s, Greene Co. The
son James married Miss Bennett, and lived in West
Brownsville. John Moffit became a farmer, and after

_he had reached old age married a vMiss Wilson.

William Moflit, another son of the elder James Moflit,
married Mrs. West. The son Andrew, whose wife was
Miss Vance, lives in this township. Of the daughters
of James Moflit, Sr., Dorcas became a school-teacher
and afterwards the wife of Ellis Johnson, removing
to Ohio. Isabella became the wife of Judge James
Hart, and Jane married J ohn'Hopkins.

John Baker was an early resident of this township.
He was twice married, and reared two families of chil-
dren. Of the first family, Nicholas Baker, the eldest
child, lived and died on the homestead. Joshua,

another son, married Miss Shaw, and died in- the

town of Beallsville. The daughter-of this marriage
became -Mrs. Graham, and lived in Brownsville,"
Fayette -Co. Lewis Baker was the oldest son and
child of John Baker’s second wife. _He married a
lady of the same name, a.nd after her death married
Miss Sowers. They lived for some time in the town
of California, but he died in East Bethlehem town-
ship. John'Baker, another son, 1-parried Miss Hill,

and emigrated to Ohio, and Thomas also went to that

State. George Baker married Miss Sharp, and set-
tled in Greene County, but a short time before his
death returned -to this township. The son Wesley
removed -VVest, and never married. The daughter
Sarah wentVVest after her marriage, and Elizabeth,
who never married, went to Ohio and died there.
William Almond was a farmer in this township,

and had a family of children, many of whose de-

scendants still reside here. The son Haman married
Abigail Powell, and lived and died in this his native
township. ‘The son, Henry Almond, married a Miss
Hopkins, and spent his whole life in Washington
County.

Mr. Kelley was a resident of West Pike Run‘, who
owned two fulling-mills, one situated on Pigeon Creek
and the. other on Ten-Mile Creek. He married Mrs.
Cooper, a widow lady with two sons, _ Samuel and
Moses Cooper. Mr. Kelley gave the mill on Ten-
Mile Creek to his step-son Moses, and the one on
Pigeon Creek to Lemuel Cooper. The last named is
still living, having reached the age of eighty-five
years. V V ,

James Riggleowned a farm near Centreville, and
also kept a tavern on the old Washington and Browns-
ville road before the National road was built. Zeph-
aniah Riggle, a son of James Riggle, kept a public-
house in Centreville, the ‘same that is now kept as a
hotelby Joseph J effreys. He is still living in West

Virginia. His two sisters, daughtersof James Rig-
gle, were Mrs. Mary Thompson and Mrs. Samuel
Smith. » ' ’

Henry Hornbake’s mill, located on Pike Run, in
this township, was built in'1857 upon the site of a

-West Pike Run.

former mill, which was burned in 1855 or 1856. The
Hornbake family, originally from Germany, came
directly to Washington County, and kept a hotel on
Maple Creek, near the Monongahela River. Henry
Hornbake] had two brothers, George and Jacob.
Henry’s sons are_ Robert, ‘William H., Jesse B., and
Charles S. Hornbake. '

The first and only post-oflice that has been at Clover
Hill is that called Garwood post-office, established in
1880. John B. Graves is\ "postmaster, and has the
ofiice in "connection with his store. .

Schools.-—A11 that is known of early schools within
the territory now embraced in this township has been
given in the history of East Pike Run, in connection
with ‘those of old Pike Run -township, which included
in its boundaries nearly all that now forms—‘East and

after the erection of East and West Pike Run, in 1839,
they were redistricted for school purposes, and school
boards elected, that for West Pike Run consisting of
J ohn. S. Cooper, Samuel Taylor, W. ‘F. Hopkins,§B.
Taylor, and Nathan Rogers. The amount of school
money raised in that year does not appear. Accord-

' ing to the school report for West Pike Run for the a

year ending June 1, 1863, the numberof schools then
in the township was seven ; number of teachers, seven ;
number of pupils enrolled, three hundred and forty-
seven. Ten years later the report showed the number
of schools, six ; teachers, six ;.pupilS enrolled, two hun-
dred'and seventy—four; amount of school funds re-
ceived for the year, $1461.06. In 1880 the school re-
port gave the following: Number of schools, six ;'
number of teachers, six; number of pupils enrolled,
two hundred and forty-nine ; amount of school moneys
for the year, $1848.65. .

Churches.—The first Episcopal Church formed in
Washington County was “St. Thomas’ Church,”_ which
existed in West Pike Run township as early as‘17 7 7.
In the year 1791 a building was erected for the use of
th church, and as there were no other houses of
worship in the neighborhood, this one was also used
by other denominations, although the special property
of the Episcopalians. ‘ It was built upon alot of one
acre of land, purchased of Edward West for fiveshil-

lings, -Thomas Dowler, William Crawford, Henry _

Gregg, John Gregg, Frederick Cooper, Jacob Springer,
James Ellis, Edward Morton, Robert Kerr, William

Riggs, Jacob Crabs, and John Honsh,--vestrymfen and .
trustees of the church, making the‘ purchase. The ‘

building erected was of logs, twenty-Seven by thirty
feet in size. It was fitted up with a pulpit and gal-
lery, was weather-boarded upon the outside, had plas-
tered walls, and was ceiled overhead. From being
built upon land formerly owned by Mr. West it was
called ‘West’s Church, although the name by which
it was known among Episcopalians was St. Thomas’
Church. In the gallery was a stone seventeen by
twenty inches in size, upon whichwas the following

This was the case until after the‘
adoption of the public school law of 1834. Soon

and gate of Heaven.

1 WEST PIKE RUN TOWNSHIP.

991.,

inscription: “Surely the Lord is here. How dreadful
is this place. This is no other but the ‘house of God
A.D. 1791.” p

The first minister was Rev. Robert Ayers, who was
preaching in St. Thomas’ Church in 1803. He was
succeeded by the Revs. Davis, Temple, Ten Broeck,
and others- In the memoirs of the Rev. Joseph
Doddridge is found the following report concerning
this parish: ' ‘ ‘

A “ At a convention held in St..Thomas’ Church, in Washington County,

Pa., there were present Rev. Robert Ayers, Rev. Joseph Doddridge, and
Rev. Francis" Reno. After divine service, Rev. Robert Ayers was ap-
pointed chairman, and Stephen G. Francis secretary. Several resolu-
tions were passed. The last one declared that the next convention
should be held near Gen. N eville’s old place on Chartiers Creek, Pa., to
commence the Saturday before next Whitsunday, and that Rev: Robert

‘ Ayers preach the opening sermon.

“ “ Done in convention, September 25, 1803.
. . “STEPHEN G. FRANCIS,
“ Secretary.”

A convention of Protestant Episcopal clergymen
again took place in St. Thomas’ Church in the year
1810, when it was “ Resolved, That the Rev. Dr. Dod-
dridge opena correspondence with the Right Rever-
end Bishop White, of Philadelphia, for the purpose of
obtaining, through him, permission of the General
Convention to form a diocese in the Western country.”
The object was to unite the western counties of Penn-
sylvania, Western Virginia, and Ohio in one diocese.
This appeal, as stated, was made in 1810, but no an-

. swer was made to itiuntil 1818, eight years later, when

it was incidentally noticed by Bishop White when re-
plying to a letter pertaining to other matters of the

O ‘ ‘church, in which letter the bishop gave sundry rea-

sons for not responding to calls from the West. Be-
side the services held in this building by the Episcopa-

lians, Rev. Boyd Mercer, an Old-School Presbyterian, *
. preached in it for several years. About thirty years

after its erection it fell into disuse, and the next to re-
vive‘ interest and attendance in services there were the
Episcopalian clergymen, Revs. Roseman, Pfiffer, and
Freeman. Under‘Rev. Mr. Freem'an’s rectorship the
building was remodeled and new seats and a new pul-
pit put in it. _ After he left, however, there was but
an occasional sermon by the minister at Brownsville,
and finally Episcopalian services were entirely aban-
doned because the membership had died out. But
Revs. James Samson and David Cross and Rev. Jacob
Momyer, a Cumberland Presbyterian minister, all
used the house. Rev. John Jordan, a Free-Will Bap-
tist minister, also preached there two years. After
Rev. Mr. Jordan came Rev. Mr. McKey, an Episco-
palian minister of Monongahela City, and with sev-
eral others tried-to revive the membership and ser-
vices, with but i'ndifl“erent success. The last Episcopal

,members to worship within the walls of the house

were Jonathan and Mary A., Ruth, Ann, Francis, Je-
mima, and Melissa West, Azariah Crow and wife, and
their daughter- The old building, that is nearly a
century old, is a complete wreck, and vandalism will
soon destroy the last vestige of it. In the churchyard

attached to St. Thomas’ Church the following‘ old
residents have been buried: Ann Johnson, died Feb.
2, 1819, aged eighty-two years; Edward West, died in
June, 1872, eighty-three years old; James Kerr, died

March 16, 1865, seventy-two years of age; John’

Stroud, Sr., died Feb. 6,1820, aged fifty-one years;
Elizabeth Stroud, died Feb. 8, 1855, seventy-five years
old ; Thomas Dowler, died April 1, 1824, eighty-five
years old; Rosanna Chamberlain, died March 9, 1859,
in the seventy-seventh year of her age. Theiyard is
in poor condition, surrounded by a dilapidated stone
fence. The place is full of graves, many unmarked,-
uncared for, and overgrown.

The first Quakers in the vicinity of West Pike Run-

township were David and Ruth Graves, both minis-
ters of that faith. Persons who become preachers

among this people are never educated or ordained for -

the work. Their church in this section was known as
the Westland Meeting-house, and was builtupon
land originally belonging to Michael Riggle. On

‘March 5, 1785, the tract called “ The Brewery,’/’ con-

taining ninety-nine acres, and adjacent to the lands
of Mark Deems, Herbert Wallace, and William
Clo11se, was warranted to Michael Riggle, and sur-
veyed to him May 17, 1786. On April 9, 1794, he
sold this land to John Samms, and of him David.
Grave, Jacob Griffith, John Heald, John Almond,
Joseph Pennock, and Alexander Pedan, “trustees on
behalf of the Society of the People called Quakers,”
appointed by Westland Monthly Meeting for this es-
pecial purpose, pur'ch'ased four and one—half acres of
land upon which to build their house of worship, the
consideration being twenty dollars. The purchase
was made on the 26th; day of Sixth Month, 1797.
Upon this land they built a frame house, twenty by
thirty feet in size, and in it the regular meetings of
the Friends were held, attended by all the persons of
that faith in the vicinity, until the dissensions created
by the preaching of Elias Hicks arose among them.
Hicks taught “that the devil had no existence, and
that if we did right our heaven was here.” This was
the rock upon which the society split into the
“Hicksite” and “Orthodox” Quakers. The Ortho-
dox Friends continued their services in the Westland
Meeting-house, and had quite a large membership,
among them Philip and Jeremiah Rodgers, Mary and
Priscilla Rodgers, Richard and Priscilla Crawford,

Nathan and Mary Crawford, Francis Crawford, and

Amos and Edith Grriflith. All children born to
parents who were Quakers had a birthright in the
church, At the time Elias Hicks’ preaching divided
the original Westland Meeting he was a man a little
past theprime of life, tall and spare in appearance,
and having no permanent residence, but traveling
about from_ place to place, wherever he believed his
work to callhim. His followers were William Mc-
Gerr, who was the leader of the Hicksites after Mr.

Hicks left, Rebecca McGerr,Benjamin and Elizabeth A

992'

HISTORY OF WASHINGTON COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA.

Taylor, Ann, Josiah, Alvinia, and John Graves, and
many others whose names have been forgotten.’ To
accommodate thesepeople another house of worship
was erected upon the same lot, a brick building of
the same size, twenty bythirty feet, and ‘fifty-two feet
distant from the first building. , In these two houses
the Orthodox and Hicksite Friends worshiped until
the ‘members of ’ both societies passed away from the
place." Elias Hicks died in the East, not far from
Boston. Theonly one of his followers left in this
section is Mrs. Rebecca McGerr, a beloved and re-
spected old lady, now more than ninety years old.

About the year 1851 the Orthodox Friends ceased -

to exist as a religious organization, all the members
except’ Amos Gri.flith'aiid his ‘family having emi-

‘ . grated to other ‘parts. From this township Amos

Griffith went to Brownsville, Fayette Co., and from

there removed to the Quaker settlement near Mount

Pleasant,’ Harrison Co., Ohio. 8‘ Some years «after the

Quaker services ceased to be held in lWest_ Pike Run

- t0‘VnS_l1il); afld all prospect of their revival had died
, 011l5.‘tl18lI' property was sold by. them under ‘permis-'
. sion granted by the Legislature of the State of Penn-

sylvania, as follows: C

“coMMoNwEAixrH or PENNSYLVANIA TO sociirrr or
Q I I l FRIENDS. 5
“An Act to authorize the sale of at Vcci-toga

_ Q I. X V V inlot of ground by the Society of
Frtends in the comely of Waslziiigtoii. ' . l

' . . . 9
;]i‘::::»r1:-0 ‘E-llllis Belly,  Joseph H. Miller, the representa-
théy are hereb 99 ‘l t '9 W0 divisions of tile Society of Friends, be and

. g y authorized and empowered to sell and convey in fee
simple and by a clear deed of transfer, at public or private sale, as they
:::r3:l‘sll‘::3T1:‘1ln9,-thflfitlfilcll 01,‘ lot .of,groun_d situate in West Pike Run
‘ P’ "1 th‘? °°“”l¥ Of W3Shm£t0D, known as the West Pike Run

Meeting-House lot, with the appurtenances appertaining or belonging
“1e1‘et0- « Approved April 1, 1863.” I

This rttgulted in the sale of the property, which,
after Pflssmg l7h1'O1lg‘l1 several hands, came into the
POSSGSSIOII of Samuel Price. On March 25, 1865, it
was P}11‘<?hf1Sed by Mrs-Ann Gregg, awidow lady,
who lives in the building used by the Orthodox so-
met)’; f1Dd_h91' 8911 uses the brick building‘ erected for
the Hlcksltes f°,r'a W3g0,n'S.h0P-V,  graveyard for the
c0mm0n,use.of both churches was laid ‘out by them“,
and although there are no tombstones at the graves,
"the" ‘P9013531’ belief Pl’0hil0iting the placing of
,them2""the ‘Yard is quite full of graves, and kept in a
moderately good condition.

T§f)’10l"S Church, of the Methodist Episcopal de-
nomination, is included in the Beallsville charge,
and is under the care of the Rev. W.'R. Spindlef.
The trustees of the church are C. B. Holland, Eli
Greenfiehli aI1d»JaInes Hill. The present number of
members 13 S9VentY'fiV6. ‘Their first house of worship
was built of logs about the beginni-ng of the present
century; this was replaced by oneibuilt of stone,

' which was in use "till 1857, when itlwas torn down,

and a. brick structure built on the site. This was

partially destroyed by ‘fire, and a new brick, edifice "
was erected upon the same site, andwas dedicated.
In the. _Taylor’s Q,

by the Rev. Edward B. Griflin.
Church graveyard, located near the N ationalroad,
are found the graves of the following-named persons:
George Baker, died July 26, 1840, agedseighty-two
years; William J ackman, died Sept. 5, 1830, eighty-
eight years of age; William Taylor, a native of
Ireland,jwho was born in 1754, came to America in
1789, and died Aug. 6, 1841, ‘aged eighty-seven years ;W
David Powell, died Jan. 5, 1854, aged eighty-fivelyears.

Little Zion Methodist Episcopal Ch11'rch,situatedi
in’ West Pike‘ Run township, was organized _ in 1844,‘

under the ministration of Rev. AugustusiR.,Green,‘,

and with the following menibership: Abraham and
Rachel Lowdrake, William and Nancy Wallace,

. Mary and Rebecca Howard, Hannah Young, George

and Patty Morris, Sabina and Cynthia McTerry,
Samuel, Melissa, Permelia, andClarissa Wheeler,

and Elizabeth Kane. The religious services were

held until 1850 at the house of Abraham Lowdrake.

In that year the society purchased a building lot of ,
-Mrs. Mary Lewis and her son Charles,'and upon‘ it '

they erected -a small log house and gave ‘it the name
of Little Zion Church. This effort on the part of
the few members to secure a place for the worship of
God seemed to receive its reward at once, and their-
numbers increased so rapidly that verysoon the
building had not seating capacity for the congrega-
tion." The school building near by, known as the

Jenkins school-house, was abandonedfor another one, '

and the society made a purchase of the building and
converted it into.a house of worship. This they con-
tinued to use until 1881, when they erected a good"

frame edifice, which was dedicated in September of F

that year, Rev. Benjamin Wheeler preaching the dedi-
catory sermon. The clergymen whohave had charge
of Little Zion Church from the first have been ‘Revs.

“Augustus R. Green, Fayette Davis, George and J ames,

Coleman, William Newman, Mr. Hart, William Ralph,
S. T. Jon es, C. W. Herbert, William H. Brown, Charles
Smith, L. Gross, William B."Lewis, and the present

pastor, Rev. S. T. Jones. The present membership 

is divided into two classes. The first class, having‘
Abraham‘ H." Wallace for leader, has fourteen mem-
bers. Class No. 2 has also fourteen members, with
Noah West as class-leader.

The Clover Hill Methodist Episcopal Church is lo-
cated near the centre of the townsliip,and also near

the sites of the old Westland and Hicksite Quaker .

Meeting-houses. After these were -abixndoned as
places of worship, the Methodist people purchased

land and built an edifice called Clover Hill Metho- .

dist Church. The church is_ embraced in the Bent-F
leysville Circuit. The present preacher in charge is’
the Rev. Reimund C. Wolfe-

WEST PIKE RUN ’ TOWNSHIP.

993

Fairview Church is located two miles south of the
Na‘ti‘onalroad.. ‘ The membership has not been as-
certained. ‘The preachers who have served’ this
church are and have been the‘ same as those serving
the Bethesda and Beallsville churches.

BEALLSVILLE BOROUGH.

In the ‘year 1774 Robert Thornton ‘5 seated himself
upon a tract of 1 land situated on the waters of Fish-
pot and Plum Run, now. in Washington County.“
Whether heiheld it merely under a “ tomahawk im-
provement” right at first, and afterwards under a
Virginia certificate, is not known, but it is probable
that such was the case, as ‘he certainly did not hold

~ under a Pennsylvania warrant. Whatever was the

nature of his claim to the tract, it was sold by him to
Zephaniah Beallbefore 1785. “The said Zephaniah
Beall obtained a warrant from the Land-Oflice of
Pennsylvania for the said land, dated Maythe four-

teenth in_tl1e_. year of our Lerd one thousand seven ,
hundred and eighty-five, (1785), in pursuance of _

which warrant there was surveyed to andfor the said
Zephaniah Beall the thirtieth day of May in the year
of our Lord one thousand seven hundred and eighty-
five, three hundred and forty-nine andsone-halfacres
and allowance (34% A.) called ‘Clear Drinking.’ ’’

On _t’he'24th of October, 1796, Zephaniah Beall con-

veyed one hundred and ‘eighty-four acres of this tract

9 ‘to hisson, Zephaniah Beall, Jr. Afterwards Christian

Kreider and George Jackson becamelpossessed of an
interest in these lands, with the elder and younger

Beall, and in August, 1819, these four proprietors laid - «

out on their property (a part of the “Clear Drink-
ing”’ tract) the town of Beallsville;'_the “charter”
being dated on the 30th of that month. A few days

‘prior to that datethe proprietors had published the

following advertisement, viz..:

- ,  ‘FBEALLSVILLE. 1
“The public are informed that a town is laid off to be called Bealls-

. ville, on the National road, including the tavern stand now occupied by  v _ J, .
f‘ erected into a borough, to be called the borough of

Christian Kreider,atthe Cross-roads, about nine miles from Brownsville
and fifteen from Washington.‘ The lots will be sold on the premises on
Monday, the 13th of September next, at public auction. Sale to commence
at 10 ofclock A.M. Any further comments of the advantages of this site
is considered unnecessarypas those wishing to purchase will view the
premises. .  S , ‘
“ The conditions will be made easy to purchasers.
« ~ « .- t » “ZnPH’A BEALL,
“ GEORGE JACKSON,
‘ .“ Cnaxsrmn ‘Kaunas,
“ZEPH’A W.lBr:ALL, -
_ “ .Proprietora.

“Aug. 23, 1819.
“ The"Tavern House will also be sold on said day.”

The survey. and plat of the town was made by the
famed surveyor and engineer, Jonathan Knight, and

1 This quotation (as also that which is given a few lines “farther on) is
from the preamble to the ‘charter of the town of Beallsville, made. in
1819 by Zephaniah Beulland the three other proprietors. 8

3 Thereis no doubt that this name was given to the tract on account
of the copious and perennial spring ‘which supplies the never-failing
fountain in the present borough of Beallsville.

1 1853.-—,Same as in preceding year.
- 1‘854.—-Burgess, James, Thompson;

dated Sept. 13, 1819. The lots  2 to 110 in-

clusive (exceptN,os. 48, 49, 50, 71, 7.2, 73, 93, and 94)__

were laid out “right-angled, and sixty feet in front

and ‘one hundred and eighty feet back.” . ,

In the year 1821, two years after the l_aying out of
Beallsville, there were residing in thetown the fol-
lowing-named persons, most of whom were heads of.

families, viz.: Thomas Stewart’, who kept’ tavern in a. 

log house; John Havlin, who lived in a frame-house;
Moses Bennington, who owned and occupied a brick
residence; William McKinley, whose dwelling was
a log cabin; Peter Herford,'who hada brick house;'

and James Berry, whose house was built of logs.__

John and Bartley Curry were single men who kept a

store in the village, but still had their own house, »

employing a colored housekeeper. William Ogden;

had a blacksmith-shop there at that time. Dr. Thomas >

H. ‘Fowler was one of thefirst physicians,_ and at that
time was postinaster. Dr._William L. ,VVilson, Dr.
Willis, and Dr. Alburson were also among the early
physicians. Previous to the laying out of Beallsville,
Dr. James Mitchell, J r., resided at or near the loca-
tion of the village, and on May 8, 1809, advertised
over his name “ that he -has opened a medicinal shop
near the Washington road, within half a mile‘ of * the
tavern formerly known by the name of Cross-Keys,
and now kept by Mr. Jackson, nine miles from
Brownsville.” It is not known whether Dr. Mitchell
removed from Beallsvilleto Canonsburg, or to the

State of Virginia,‘as the statements of old residents

disagree.» The first house built in Beallsville is said
to have ‘been put‘ up by Joseph Mills. On July 2,
182], Thomas G. Norfolk announced through an ad-
vertisement “that he has removed "from Ginger Hill

to the" large brick house in Beallsville, and opened a I

house of public entertainment at the sign of the-
‘Beallsville Sun.’ ” These were the beginnings of
the town, but its growth was very slow during the
first quarter of a century of its existencef; ' A I _
On the 16th of February, 1852, the town was

Beallsville, bounded, limited, and described as fol-
lows, to wit: Beginning at a corner stone on the,Pitts—
burgh and Morgantown road, ‘between the farms of
Thomas H. Fowler, Peter Flick, and John McJun—,

kin ; thence, including the farms of John Mc'Junkin,

James Thompson, Nancy Campbell, Joseph -———,
Rezin Cramer, J oseph’ Weaver,’ and Thomas_,l.H. Fow-
ler, to the place of beginning.” The firstborough
election was held May 17, 1852, Judge Archibald D.
Scott, Morgan Hartman, and William Greenfield
beingthe inspectors. The borough oflicers elected
then and in succeeding years for the borough of
Beallsvillewere and have been the following, viz.':

1852:-Burgess, Peter Flick; Council, William Greenfield, J. W. Mitchell,
Samuel Beall, Job Pyle,‘S. P. Grey. '

Council, Samuel Beatty, Samuel
Beall, John Ewart, John McJunkin, J. P. Morgan.



994

HISTORY OF- “WASHINGTON COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA.

1855.—Burgess, Henry Page; Council,__M. L. Wilson, Thomas_Odburt,
1 ‘John McDonough, Rezin Cramer, and A. D. Scott.
1856.——Burgess, Jbhn McJunkin; Council, Job Pyle, James Thompson,
Morgan A. Miller, Levi Busch, and Butler Huggins."
1857;—-Burgess, John McMath; Council, J ob Pyle, Samuel Havlin,
Gideon H. Hawkins, A. J. Bllflington, and Thomas Sargent.
1858._—-Burgess, A. G. Richardson; Council, Samuel Havlin, Charles
Gattry, A. J. Buflington, David Mitchell, and Morgan Hartman.
1859.——Burgess, A. D. Scott; Council, David Butz, James C. Rogers,
Charles Gattry, Job Pyle, and James M. Miller.
1860.—B'urgess, John McJunkin; Council, John Butz, Job Pyle, Dr.
John Keys, Morgan Hartman, and Charles Gattry.
1861.-—Burgess, John McJunkin ; Council, Morgan Hartman, Job Pyle,
Charles Gattry, David Butz, and Dr. John Keys. — ‘
1862.-—Burgess, John Martan; Council, Job Pyle, Morgan Hartman,
Charles Gattry, James R. Rogers,-and David Butz.
1863.—Bnrgess, John Martan; Council, Job Pyle, Moses Bennington,
Milton, McJu nkin, Charles Gattry, and James M. Miller.
1864.—Burgess,_David Butz; Council, Morgan Hartman, Job Pyle, J. M.
Miller, Charles Gattry, and Thomas Robinson.
1865.—Burgess, ‘David Butz; Council, P. C. Rogers, A..D. Scott, Charles
Gattry, Morgan Hartman, and J. W. Irwin. I
1866.—Burgess,  Holland; Council, Charles Gattry, George T. Binde,
Thomas Hill, Milton McJunkin, alld Henry McKee. I
1867.——Burgess,JWilliam H; Crable; Council, J. M. Miller, Morgan Hart-
man, Peter Hickman, Hugh-Keys, and Thomas Robinson.
1868.--‘Burgess, William H. Crable ; Council, Hiram-Winnett, s. R. Boram,
J. F. Irwin, Job Pyle, and Thomas Robinson. , .
1869.—-Burgess, John E\var—t»:;,:_@ounciI, James M} Miller, Lemoyne Snel-
len, Thomas Hill, Peteig. Hickman, and Job Pyle. I *
V 1870.-—Burges.s, Lemoyne Snellen; Council, James F. Irwin, James
Hopkins,~Thomas Robinson,and A. Odburt.
18.71.-—-Burgess, James M. Miller; Council, Lemoyne Snellen, Morgan
_ )1 Hartman, and Job Pyle. A ' A '
1872.-—Burgess, Arthur Odburt; Council, Job Pyle, Morgan Hartman,
and Samuel Bowen. 1 , _
1873.——Burgess, A. Wilson; Council, Job_ Pyle, Charles Guttry, E.’ G.
, Greenfield, Thomas Robinson, and Stephen Beatty.

\ 1874.——Burgess, George M. Baker_; Council, Thomas Robinson, A. C.
Powell, S. P. _Beatty, K. I. Dawson, and E. J. Greenfield. ,
1875.—Burgess, J. W. Ellwood; Council, S. B. Holland, S. P. Beatty,

Thomas Hill, S. Floyd, and C. Guttry.
1876.—-Burgess, J. I. Fitzimmons; Council, J. A. Hopkins, W. W. Brown,
‘ ' J. I. Irwin, Thomas Floyd, and S. I’. Beatty. .
1877.-—-Burgess, John McMath; Council,.Tllomas J. Floyd, Eli G. Green-
, field, Henry McKee. and J. M. Miller. .
1878.—-Burgess,‘ William C. Sargent; Council, E. R. McCready, J. I. Daw-
son, Thomas C. Sargent, and William B. Flick.
1,879.—-Burgess,‘ S.‘ B. Holland; Council, Eli G. Greenfield, George W.
Snyder, William Hazen, John Craven, and Caleb Zollens. ' '
18SO.—Bul'gess, ‘Walter Craven; Council, Eli_ G. Greenfield, John S.
Gray, Thomas Floyd, James Frey, John Deems, and George W.
Snyder. 
1881.—Burgess, S. B. Holland; Council, John Deems, James A. Hopkins,
M John Hadden, William C. Sargent, Thomas Floyd, and James Frey.

Jusrxcns or.'r'H1«: Pmcnor BEALLSVILLE.

Mark Mitchell, June 11, 1852.
A. D. Scott, June 11,1852.
John Ewart, April 10, 1855.
John McJunkin, May 30, 1857.
A. D. Scott, April 13, 1858.
David Butz, April 21, 1862.

A. D. Scott, April 14, 1863.

James M. Miller, March 29,‘ 1870.
A. D. Scott, April 23, 1873.
James M. Miller,.Jan. 13, 1874.
A. D. Scott, Jan. 19, 1874.

James M. Miller, Dec. 14, 1874.
A. D. Scott, March 25_, 1878.
James M. Miller, March 30, 1880.

The growth of Beallsville, which was very slow
during its existence as an unincorporated town, and
for a decade or more after its erection as a borough,

has been much more rapid in recent- years, until it

has become a place of considerable business and im-

' .portance. Its location is fifteen miles east of Wash-

ington borough, and nine miles west of Brownsville,

on the old National road, the town being built on
both sides of that great thoroughfare. ‘ It contains
seventy-nine dwelling-houses, one church, a good

i brick school-house, in whicll two schools are taught

an-d two teachers employed, the post-ofiice and tel-
egraph-office, the banking-house of James M. Mil-

I ler (which business was commenced in 1872), three

physicians (Drs. L. H. Tombaugh, James Sargent,
and‘ T. P. Hasson), one dentist (Dr. Hugh Keys),
two dry-goods stores (Hawkins & Miller and Harvey.
Young), the general store of Bo_ren & Ebert, the
hardware—store of Stephen _P. Beatty, drug-store of
L. H. Tolnbaugh, two shoe-stores," of which Butz and
Borem are respectively the proprietors, the millinery
stores of Mrs. Ewart and Miss McKee, the harness-

making and saddlery-shop of Morgan Hartman, the '

cabinet-makingand undertaker’s establishment of
James Frey, the marble-works of J. F. Dawson, the
wagon- and carriage—shop of John Gray, the black-
smith-shops of Thomas Floyd, John Deems, and
Isaac Cox, the livery-stables of V. S. & W. Sargent,
and Gussman & Lewis, two hotels, kept by Eli G.

Greenfield and Valentine Sargent, and a number of A

mechanics and minor industries.

Beallsville Methodist Episcopal Church was organ- ,

ized in 1872, with two classes. The pastor over this
charge in 1880 was the Rev. C. McCarlin; class num-
ber one having sixty members, under S. W. Rodgers
as class-leader, and class number two having a mem-
bership of sixty-nine, with Lemoyne Lewellen as class-
leader.. The pastors who have served this church
will be found mentioned in the history of Centreville
Church,.in East Bethlehem township.

Beallsville Lodge, No. 832, I. O. O. F., was char-
tered March _4, 1873. The charter members were
George M. ‘Baker, Taylor Smith, William H. Crable,
Thomas Robinson, W. H. H. Link, Johnson Hill, T.
Regester, George W. Deems, J. A. Hopkins, H. J.
Winnett, S. J. Lewellen, S. R-. Hawkins‘, Thomas
Martindale, Jackson L. Thompson, L. Jackson Baker,
John A. Crawford, H. H. Young, George W. Eagey,
S. P. Beatt , O. M‘. Hartley, A. C. Powell, William
Baker, and S. B. Lacy. The officers are William
Baker, N. G.; William F. Guttry, V. G. ‘; S. P.
Beatty, Sec. ; H. J. Winnett, Asst. Sec. ; Thomas
Robinson, Treas.

Chandler Lodge, No. 237, F. and A. M., hold their

sessions in the upper story of the public school build- .

ing. This building was originally the Cumberland
Presbyterian; Church, the school directors purchasing
it of Rev. Mr. Kerr, the 1ninister.then in charge of
the society. The school board added the upper story,

’ by which they incurred some indebtedness, to liqui-

date which led to its subsequent use as ‘a Masonic
Hall. _ ' ' '

The burial-place of Beallsville is known as the
Keys graveyard. This cemetery is‘ in an excellent
condition, being finely fenced and handsomelykept.

. , ' -A-0
Academies, 450, 667, 749, 904. ‘
Acheson family, 479. ~
Acheson, A. iW., 247.

. Acheson, David, -376, 554.

Acheson, Thomas, 307, 638.
Adams Express on the National road, 381.
Addison, Alexander, 243, 267, 270, 289, 485.
Advance, 509.
Advertiser, 582.
Advocate and Day Spring, 582.
African M. E. Church, Washington, 524; Mo-

nongahela City, 588; Canonsburg, 621.
Agnew family, 711. 3 1 1
Agricultural fairs and societies, 472, 622, 928.
Alexander family, 768. J
Alexander, Joseph, 385.
Alexander, Dr. J . W., 627. '
Alexander, William J ., 596.
Allegheny County erected, 241.

- Allenfamily, 646.

Allen’s Fort,” 916.

Allen, Rev. Moses, 906.

Allenport (Independence), 647. .

Allen township, 643; erection, 643; early set-
tlers, 643; Allenport, 647;’ schools, 648;

justices, 648; religious societies, 648; (Sem- ,

. eteries, 648.

Allison family, 673, 689, 707.
Allison, Col.'Ja1nes, 707.

Allison, Jonathan, 720.

Allison (Rev. Thomas) family, 831.
Alrich, Rev. Dr. William P., 940.

American Republic and Spirit of .Washington,

582.

Amity, 660.

Amwell township, 652; justices, 652; early set-
tlers, 652; Amity, 660; churches, 661, 666,
668, 669, 670; postmasters, 665 ; physicians,
665; Ten-Mile village, 665; Lone Pine (Pin
Hook), 665; Pleasant Valley Academy, 667 ;‘

y‘Bane Town, 668; ‘Baptist Church, the first
religious, society in .the county, 669;
schools, 670. 

Anderson, Rev. Abraham, 406.

Anderson, Rev. John, 821.

Anti-slavery societies, 546; meetings mobbed,
547.

Armor family, 804.

Armstrong, Col. James, 329.

Armstrong’s expedition, 57.

Assessments, Mutual Life Insurance Associa-
tion, 528. .

Associate judges, 244; list, 249.

Associate Reformed Presbyterian Church,Mil-
1er’s Run, 716; Patterson's Mills, 739.‘

Associators, 154 n.

. Atcheson family, 852. ,

Atkinson family, 799. _
Attorneys, roll of, 250. .
Attorneys-general, deputy, list of, 250.

‘ . Auditors, list of, 470.

64“

IND

A-‘
Vvf

Augusta County, resolutions of Revolutionary
Committee, 74, 180; district of West Au-
gusta, map, facing 184. 1

Augusta Town. 185 n., 211, 216.

Aurora, 582.

Axtel family, 655, 801.

B.

Bailey family, 901.

Baird family, 244, 541.

Baird, Dr. Absalom, 272, 280, 541, 548.

Baird, George, 542.

Baird, Thomas H., 244, 307, 377, 383, 386, 393,

531, 542, 547, 554.
Baird, William, 542. '

_ Baker, Enoch, 671.

Baker’s Bottom, Logan’s family slain, 66.

Bald Eagle, 20. ‘ D

Baltimore boundary agreement, 190; final rat- V

ification of, 195. ‘

Baltimore and Ohio Railroad Company, 391.
Bane family, 652. -

Bane Town, 668.

-Banks and Bankers: The Branch Bank Sf Phil- i

adelphia, 524; Bank of Washington, 525; y
Franklin Bank of’ Washington, 526; ‘First :
National Bank of Washington, 526; Sam-
uel Hazlett’s Bank,'528; Hopkins, Wright
& Co., 528; Washington Savings-Bank, 528; '
Alexander & Co., 578; People’s Bank, 578;
Canonsburg Savings-Fund Society, 614;
Canonsburg Savings-Bank, ‘614; Canons- '1
burg Bank, Limited, 615; Farmers’ De-
posit Company, 614; Burgettstown Na-
tional Bank, 920.

Baptist Church, Washington, 517; Mononga-
hela City, 587; North Ten-Mile, 668; Am-

' Well (the first church society in the county),
669; Buffalo, 684; Carroll, 692; Pleasant
Grove, Donegal, 758 ; East Bethlehem, 772 ;
East_Finley, 779; Fallowfield, 794; Peters
Creek, 967; Robinson, 904; Pigeon Creek,
938; German Baptist (or Dunkard), 975;
North Wheeling, 985.

Barnard, Samuel, 978.
Barr, John S., 948.
Bassett Town,’477.
Battle of Bushy Run, 63.
Battle of Great Meadows, 38 .
Battle of Point Pleasant, 72.
Bavington, 927.
Bavington family, 927.
Beall family, 768.
Beard family, 797.
Beaver County erected, 242.
Beaver, the Delaware king, 17, 144.
Bebout family, 838.
Bedford County erected, 147; early townships,
148; early assessment-rolls, 148.,
Beelor, Joseph, 91, 152, 196, 890.
Beelor, Samuel, 900, 904.
Beelor’e Fort, 900.

Belle-View Camp-Meeting Grounds, 833.
Bench and Bar, 235, 249. <
Bentley family, 933.
Bentley, George, 969.
Bentleysville, 937. -
Berry family, 702, 860, 875.
Beveridge, Rev. Dr. Thomas, 406.
Biggert family, 901. ‘V
Biographies of '
Alexander, William J ., 596.
Alexander, Dr. J . W., 627.
Allison, Hon. Jonathan, 720.
Baker, Enoch, 671.
Ba'rnard,.Samuel, 978.
Barr, John S., 948.
Bentley, George, 969. '
Blachly, Dr. Stephen L., 848.
Brownlee, Dr. J. C., 762.
Craig, VValter, 740.
Craighéad, James, 706.
Crumrine, George, 978.
Davis, William, 957.
Denney, Dr. William, 764.
Denniston, Samuel, 969.
Dickson, Dr. James Glenn, 626.
Eagleson, Dr. D. S., 761.
Ewing, Hon. John H., 556.
Farrar, Hon. John, 929.
Frazier, Th'omas, 759.
Grim, Dr. William L., 764.
Hanna, Mrs. Sarah R.,-558.
Hawkins, S. R., 950. A
1 Hazzard, Hon. T. R., 598.

. Henderson, Joseph, Esq., 564.

Hopkins, Hon. James H., 562.
Hopkins, Hon. William, 560.
' Howe, Maj. S. B., 635.

Irwin, John, 685.

Lawrence, Hon. George V.,597.
Maxwell, John, 824. ‘

Lee, Maj. William‘, 741.
McCleary, William, 780.
McConnell, Alexander, Sr., 718.
‘McConnell, Alexander, J r., 719.
McFarland, Samuel, 564.
McLain, William, 759.
McNary, James S., 880.
McNary, William Hill, 717.
McQ,uown, James, 763.

Mayes, Joseph Finley, 762.
Noble, Thaddeus Clark, 758.
Parkinson, Dr. Joseph, 834.
Patterson, James, 739.

Paul, Huston, 957.

Pees, Zachariah, 881.

Perrine, David, 842.

Plants, Leonard, Sr., 781. -
Pringle, John Snyder, 642.
Proudfit, John L., 930.

_ Ramsey, George M., 958..
Reed, Parker, 822.
Ritchie, W. H. S., 624.

995

996

INDEX.

Biographies of

Sloan, Rev. Dr. James, 599.

Smith, William, 947.

Smith, William, J r., 947.

Speers, Henry, 649.

Speers, S. C., 649.

Sphar, Henry, 651. _
Sprowls, Drs. J. N., I. N ., Lee M., 763.
Stephens, John W., 949. ' ’
Stewart, Robert, 842.

Stockdale, Robert, 651.
Swagler, Jacob, 949.

Swart, A. J ., 672.

Teagarden, Dr. James W., 764.
Townsend, Elijah, 899.

Vance, Samuel, 957. 9'

Walker, David S., 741.

Walker, John N ., 741.

Warne, Major James. 600. '

Wasson, Rev. Luke J ., 887.

Work, Maj. George T., 823.

Blachly family, 848.

‘ Blachly, Dr. Stephen L., 848.

Blaine family, 636.
Blaine, Ephraim L., 636, 638 n.
Blaine, Hon. James G., 637.
Blair, Dr. Alexander, 544.
Blair, Dr. Isaiah, 542. . ‘ -
Block-houses, 73, 678, 689, 707, 724, 736, 744, 775,
804, 825, 855, 900,916.
Boggs family, 67-4. , _
Boggs, Lydia (Mrs. Kruger), 674, 678.
Boice family captured, 112. _ A
Boquet’s expeditions, 62, 63.

fioundary controversy, 158,175, 237 n., 239;‘.

map illustrating, facing 190.
Boundary line run and marked, 197 et seq.
Bower family, 767.

Bower, John, 386, 767.

Boyd family, 813, _827, 838.

Boyd, David, 814.

Boyd, David M., 814.

Bracken family, 700.

Brackenridge, H. H., sketch,.236‘; see Whiskey

Insurrection, passim. ‘ .

Braddock’s expedition and defeat, 44; death, 52.
Braddock’s read, 141, 370.
Bradford family, 872. -

9

Bradford, David, 250,’ 259; see Whiskey Insur-.

rection, passim, 483, 707. 1
Brady, Capt. Samuel, 77, 79, 89, 483.

Branch Bank of Philadelphia, Washington,

524.

Briceland family, 604.,

Briceland’s company of militia, 604.

Briceland’s Cross-Roads, 807.

Brodhead, Col. D., 88; expedition, 93.

Brown, Rev._..Dr., Matthew, 444, 510, 619, 878,
896. - ' ’

Brown, Rev. Dr. A. B., 879-, 897.

Brownlee family, 677, 800, 828.‘ _

Brownlee, Dr. J . C., 762.

Brownlee, Rev. J. T., contributions, 399, 405,
831. '

Brownson, Rev. Dr. J . I., contributions, 438,
450, 510.

Bruce, David, 917.

Bryson family, 487, 745.

Buchanan family, 825.

 Buffalo township, 673; justices, 673; early set-
‘ .

tlers, 673; Taylorstown, 679; physicians,
689; churches, 680; schools, 684.
Buffalo village, 822.. "
Bulger, 928.
Bumgarner family, 765. ,
Burd’s road, 371.
Burgett family, 916.

Burgettstown, 916.
Burgettstown Call, 921.
Burgettstown Enterprise, 921.
Burning gas-well, 850.
Burnsville, 983.

Bushy Run, battle of, 63.
Butler family, 569.

. ' Co
Caldwell family, 812. _
California borough, 628; incorporation, first

election, 628; newspapers, 628; borough ,

oflicers, 630, business men’, 630; boat-
building, 630; churches, 631; cemeteries,
633; societies,i633; Grand Army of the
Republic, 634. H .
Campbell family, 725, 851, 911.
Campbell,-Elder Alexander, 418.
Campbell, Elder ‘Thomas, 416.
Campbell, Col. John, 221, 888.
Campbell, Parker, sketch, 251, 307, 377, 489,
638.
Campsey family, 745. I
Candor, 904. ‘
Canon, Col. John, 129, 205, 224, 225; sketch,
226, 268', 278, 601.
Canonsburg Academy, 451, 603.

/

Canonsburg Bank, limited, 615,

Cauonsburg borough, 601 ; Theological Semin-
ary, 405; early settlers, 601; Canonsburg

Academy, 451, 603; town-plats, early lot-_'

holders, 606; incorporation, bounds, lists
of oificers, 608; market-house, 609, 611;
fire-engine and company, 611; early tav-
erns, 611; post-ofiices and postmasters, 611;
(newspapers, 612; ‘physicians, 613; banks,
614; library, 615; schools, 615; Sabbath-
schools, .616; churches, 616; Oak Spring
Cemetery,’ 621; Freemasons, 623; Odd-
Fellows, 623; Grand Army of the Republic,

623; ice industry, 623; rolling-mill, 624; .

Chartiers woolen-factory, 624.

Oanonsburg Herald, 612.

Canonsburg Saving-Fund Society, 614.

Canonsburg Savings-Bank, 614.

Canton township, 686; justices, 686; early set-
tlers,1686; schools, 690. '

Cardville, 919.

Carman family, 826. .

Carpenter, John, captured, 103.

Carroll Gazette, 582. ,

Carroll township, 691; erection and boundaries,
691; early settlers, 691; Columbia (Pitts-
borough), 692; justices, 697.

"Catfish, 20,476.

Catfish Camp, 20, 66, 71, 145; council of war at,
185.

Catholic Church in Washington County, 423;
St. James, West Alexander, now Sacred
Heart, Claysville, 424, 756; Church of the
Immaculate Conception, Washington, 424;
Church of the Transfiguration,Mononga-
hela City, 424, 587; East Pike Run, 788.

Caveat, James, 205.

Cecil township, 698; early settlers, 698; jus-
tices, 703; Venice, 703; churches, 703;
Pennsylvania Reform. School, 705.

Ce1eron’s expedition, 23. _

Cemeteries, Washington, 550;. Monongahela
City, 589; Canonsburg, 621; California,
633; Allen, 649; West Alexander, 752.

Centreville, 770.

Chamberlin, B. B., 247. '

Chambers family, 658.

Chartier, Peter, 18, 138, 163. I _ v

Chartiers Creek, origin of name, 164 n.; once
navigable, 602.

Chartiers township, 707; justices, 707:, early
settlers, 707; Houstonville, 715; Locust
. Hill or McConnell’s Mills, 715; 'Allison’s
coal-works, 715; churches, 716; schools,
716. .
Chartiers Valley Agricultural Association, 622.
Chartiers Valley Railroad Company, 396.
Chartiers woolen-factory, 624.
Chautauqua, Lake, 24, 181 11.
Cherry family, 854. ,
Cherry’s Fort, 855. ~— '
Christian ‘Church of Washingt<in"County, 416;
' Washington, 520; California, 631; Pleasant
Valley, 666; Donegal, 756; Fallowfield,
795 ; West.Middletown, 818 ; Independence,
833; Peters Creek, 895; Vanceville, 938;
Burnsville, 983. ' » I I ' ' ’ 1
Church, the -first organized in Washington
County, 669. _ -, - ' "
Churches, see the several townships.
Citizens’ Fire Company, 502.
Citizens’ Library, 540.
Civil and Legal History, 138-262.
Clark family, 900.
Clark, Rev. Dr. John. B., 617.
Clark, Dr. Matthew H., 545, 710.

Clarke, George Rogers, 65, 70.; expeditions,

.86, 94, 227.

Claysville, 753; early tit1es,.753; early taverns,
753; early residents, 754; newspapers, 755;
incorporation, 754; justices, 755; churches,
755. ~ 6 .

Olaysville Sentinel, 755.

Clemens family, 675.

Clemens, Christiana, 674.

Clerks of Commissioners, list, 470. .

Clerks of Court, list, 469.

Clokey family, 875.

Cloud family, 853.

Coal Blufi,‘ 965. T -

Coal-mines and mining, 365, 389, 788, 841-, 909.

Coleman, Rev. W. M., contribution, 751.‘ 4

Columbia, 692. ' U '

Colvin family, 790.’ ‘

Colvin family, 931.

Commissioners, list of, 469.. -

Commissioners to run boundary, report, 200. 3

Commonwealth, 509. 2

Concord, 847.

Connit family, 845. V I I

Connolly, Dr. John, 66, 70, 158, 165, 169, 173,
180,181. * .’ ‘ . 1*

Cook family,- 656, 843.

Cooke (John L.) family, 711.

Coon Island, 753.

Cooper family, 791, 800. .

Cooper’s company, three months’ service, 311.

I Corbley, Rev. John, 305, 529,‘ 669.’-

Cornplantet at Washington, 477..

Cornstalk, 72. - ' -'

Coroners, list, 469. J 
Council of War at Catfish. Camp, 1185.

County Home, 468. ' . .
Court-house and prison, erection and changes

464. ' ‘

Court list, 249.

Court, West Augusta. County, records, 204.. -
Court, Yohogania County, records, 212.

Courts, early terms, 236, 240, 464. 1

Courts, where firstheld, 464. _ '

Cox, Gabriel, indictments, 239.

Cox, Capt. Isaac, 221, 744.

Cox’s Fort, 192.

Craig family, 816.

Craig, Walter, 731, 740. .

Craighead family, 701, 706, 708, 872.
Craighead, James, 706.

INDEX.

997

Craighead, Dr. Thomas B.,.613.

Crawford family, 766.
Crawford-Neville.‘mi1ita:ry title, 708, 712. '
Crawford, Col. William, 68, 72, 76, 147, 151, 189,

  192, 207; captured and burned, 124-126.

Crawford’s expedition, 111.

Cresap, Michael, 65, 70, 71, 76, 167, 177, 209, 638. 1

Cresap, Thomas, 370.

Criss family, 836.

Croghan, George, 19, 26, 28; Lands, 167. .

Crooks, Gen. Richard, 308, 309.

Cross Creek Academy, 452.

Cross Creek township, 721 ; erection and bound-
aries, 721 ; early ettlers, 72] ;- Cross Creek
village, 732 ; physicians, 732 ‘; _ schools, 733;
justices, 736; churches, 736.

' Cross Creek village, 732.

Crow family, 645.
Crumrine family, 767.

. Crumrine, Boyd, contribution, 138-262. 4

Crumrine, George, 978.

Culley family, 806.

Cumberland County, 147.

Cumberland Presbyterian Church, Washington

County, 410; Washington, 523; Mononga-

hela City, 588; Amwell, 670; , Millsboro’,
772; East Finley, 780; East Pike Run, 788;
Franklin, 801; Morris, 846.
Cumberland road, 374; see National road. .
Cunningham, Samuel, 224, 527. ' '
Cunningham family, 224, 483, 527, .690.
Curry family, 657.
Cuthbertson, Dr. John, 828, 840.

- D.
Daily Republican, 582.
Davis family, 815, 933.

‘Davis, Rev. D. J ., contribution, 620.

Davis, William, 957. '

Day family, 844. ,
Delawares, history, 15; influence, 92; defection,

93. .

Delegates in Congress, address of, 181.
Denniston, Samuel, 968. ’ 2 I

Denny, Dr. William, 764.

Deputy Attorneys-General, 250.

Devore family, 883.

Dickerson family, 798.

Dickinson township, 241. _

Dickson, Dr. James Glen, 624.

Dille family, 708.

Dillow family, 804.

Dillow’s Fort, 804.

Dinsmore, 928. .

Dinsmore family, 689.

Dinsmore’s Fort, 689. .
Disciples of Christ, see Christian Church. ,
Districtattorneys, list, 250. I ' 1
District of West Augusta, map of, facing 184.
Doak, Robert, 954. -
Dod family, 653.

Dod, Rev. Thaddeus, 398, 439, 464, 653, 661, 845.

Dodd family, 688. ’

Dodd, John and Charles, 461, 493.

Doddridge family, 140, 825.

Doddridge Chapel, 833.

Doddridge’s Fort, 825.

Doddridge, Philip, 140, 256.

Donaldson family, _902.

Donegal township, 742; boundaries, 742; early
settlers, 743; Indian raid in 1781,. 744 ;jus-
tices, 747; West Alexander, 747; Vienna
(Coon Island), 753; Claysvill_e, 753 ; schools,
749 ; . churches, 749, 755.

4 Donnell family, 700.

Dorsey family, 767, 784.
Douglass family, 689.

\

Duckillg-stool erected, 204, 206.
Duncan family, 803.

‘Dungan family, 803.

Dunlevy family, 889.
Dunmore’s war, 64, 177.
Dunningsville, 884.
Dye family, 687.

E.
Eag-leson, A. S., contribution, 683.
Eagleson family, 761. » -
Eagleson, Dr. D. S., 761.
Eagleson, Rev. Dr. John, 453, 761, 821.

1 Early excise laws, 262.

Early judicial proceedings, 239.
Early political troubles, 225, 237.

. Early roads, 152,239, 371.

Early taverns, Washington, 493; see Taverns.
Earp, Rev. Samuel, Ph.D., contribution, 458.
East Bethlehem township, 764, 789; division of
old Bethlehem, 765; ‘early settlers, 765;
4 Fredericktown, 769; Poweltown, 770; Cen-
treville, 770; churches, 770, 771, 772, 773;
Millsboro’, 770; schools, 773; justices, 774;
. salt-works, 774.
East Finley township, 774; divisionlofold Fin-

ley, 774; early settlers, 775; churches, 777 ;'

schools, 780; justices, 780.
East Pike Run township, 781; erection and

division of old Pike Run, 781; early settlers, .

781 ; Greenfield, -784 ; churches, 786; schools,
788; justices, .788; Granville, 788; coal-
‘works, 788. '

6 Edgar, James, 238, 240, 258, 266, 736, 812, 912. '_
. Educational history, 438.

Eighth Pennsylvania Reserve Regiment, 312;
C0. K, 315. '

Eighth Regimen t, Pennsylvania Line, 77, 79.

Eighty-fifth Pennsylvania Regiment, 322; Co.
A, 325; Co. B, 325; C0. C, 327; C0. D, 327 ;
Co. E, 328. ‘

Eldersville, 841.

Elections, first, 229, 237, 238.

Elliott, William, 205.

England family, 646.

Engleside Academy, 904. ‘

Enlow family, 775.

Enochs family, 659, 768.

Enterprise coal-works, 957.

Episcopal Church, Trinity, of Washington, 518 ;

St. Pa1ll’s, of Monongahela City, 588; St.
John’s,,of West Brownsville, 640; of -West
Pike Run, 990.

Evans family, 658.

Ewing (Thomas) family, 730.

Ewing, John H., 363, 377, 387, 393,396, 555.

E-wing, J. K., 247.
Ewing, Nathaniel, 245.
Excise laws, 262.

F.

Fallowfield township, 789; reduction of limits,
789; early settlers, 790; churches, 795 ;
schools, 796; justices, 796.

Farmers’ Deposit Company, 614.

Farrar family, 855.

Farrar, Hon. John, 929.-

Female seminaries, 454, 818.

Fergus family, 713.

_ Ferguson family, 731, 916.

Ferries, West Brownsville, 638.

Fife family, 701.

Fifth Judicial District, 243. -

Finley ‘family, 708. ‘

Finley, Rev. James, commissioned to Monon-

gahela Valley, 234.
Finleyville, 964,

Fire companies, 501.

First National Bank of Washington, 526.

First Pennsylvania Cavalry, 342,-; Co. I, 344;
C0. K, 345. A

I First Presbyterian Church», Washington, 510;

Monongahela City, 585.
Fish'Pot Run, 152.
Florence, 807. I

2 ' Florence Academy, 452, 809.

Florence Enterprise, 808. .

Forbes’ expedition, 61. ,

Forks of Ohio," first fort at, 31, 34.

. Fort Du Quesne, erected, 35; abandoned, 61.
Fort Dunmore (Fort Pitt), 72, 176; Virginia
Court held at, 179, 204.

Fort Fincast1e,‘built, 70.

Fort Henry (Fincastle), siege of, 186.;

Fort Laurens, built, 87. - 1

Fort McIntosh, built, 79, 86.

' Fort Necessity, built and surrendered, 38.

- Fort Pitt, erected, 62, 138; council at (1768),
153; abandoned by British, 168; Virginia
Court held at (as Fort Dunmore), 179, 204.

Fort Redstone, built, 62. , '

Fort Stanwix, treaty of (1768), 145. ,

Forts, or block-houses, 93, 673, 689, 707, 724,
736, 744, 775, 804, 825, 900.

Fourteenth»Judicial District, 244. A

Fourteenth Pennsylvania Cavalry, 346; CO. H,
348. _ ,

Franklin Bank of Washington, 526.

Franklin township, 796; erection and bounda-

ries, 796; justices, 797; early settlers, 797; -

Vanburen, 801 ; Toledo, 801; churches, 801 ;
schools, 802. ' 6

Fraser, Col. John, 334.

Frazier, Thomas, 759.

Fred ericktown, 769. ‘
Free Presbyterian Church, 750. 1.,
Freemasons, 548, 572, 583, 623, 755, 921.
Freeman, Rev. Dr.Azel, contribution, 410. -
Freights in early times, 265. ,
French and Indian war, 44, 138. g 5
French occupation and expulsion, 21,29, 53,62

138; map of, facing 139. Q ' p -
Friends (Quakers), Allen township, 648; East
Bethlehem, 772; East Finley, 777; . West
' Pike Run, 991. A

Froman, Paul, 153, 171, 214, 565, 691.

Frye family, 691., 792.

Fulton, Robert, and family, 813.

l G. .

Gabby family, 798. 9 1

Gallatin, Albert, 287, 375, 376. _

Gardner family, 837.

Garrett family, 679, 816.

Gastonville, 965.

Gas-well, burning, 850.

Geology, 365. 4 .

Gibson, Col. John, 87.

Gillespie family, 781, 838.

Gillespie, Neal, 636.

Gillespie, Neal, Jr., 638. V

Gilmore, Samuel A., 246.

Ginger Hill, 885.

Girty, Simon, 86, 125, 152, 205.

Gist, Christopher, 29, 32, 37. —

Goble family, 655.

Good Intent, 983.

Good Intent Fire Company, 502.

Gordon, James, 571.

Gourley family, 745. 4

Grow, A. M., Esq., contribution, 532.

,Gow, John Louden, 252, 456, 460, 685.
Grable family, 790.
Graham family, 725.

9.98

INDEX.

Graham, the exciseman, 263.

Grand Army of the Republic, 550, 585,623, 624.
G1=and_jury, first venire and return, 236, 476.
Grant’s defeat, 61, 814. , 1'
Granville, 788.

Grayson family, 488. I
Great Meadows, battle of, 38.,
Greene County erected, 241.
Gregg family, 783. , . .
Gretna Green of Washington County, 749.
Grier, Rev. J. A., contribution, 716. A

Grim, Dr. William L.,« 764.

Guyasutha, 63, 145.

Hall family, 933. _
Hamilton family, 693, 884.
Hamilton, David, see Whiskey. Insurrection,
_passz'm,383, 694, 883, 885.
Hami‘l,ton,~Col. John, see Whiskey Insurrection,
passim, 694. ' ,
Hamilton, Robert, 487. , _ ,
Hamilton, Rev. Dr. W. F., contribution; 398.
H_and’s expedition, 86. _
Hanna family, 844. J

‘ Hanna, Robert, 158, 205.
" Hanna, Mrs. Sarah R.,‘456, 558.

Hannastown, Revolutionary resolutions, 75,-
180; destruction of, 132; attacked by Dr.
Connolly, 173. ,

Hanover township, 802.; reduction of limits,
802-; early settlers, 803 ;' Florence, 807;
churches, 808, 809; Florence Academy,
.809; Murdochsville, 809. ;_ Paris, .809;
schools, 810; justices, 810. .

Hart, George Scott, 248. ,

Hawkins family, 744, 766.,

’ Hawkins, 8. R., 950.

895.; .
Hayes family, .913. _
Hayes, 8. B. and G., 554. , ;
Hays family, 712.  .  .-
Hazelbaker family, 645.  

Hayden, Rev. W._ L., contributions‘, 416, 631, 666,

Hazlett family, 486. jg;   ,
Hazlett, Samuel, 393, 547, _555.
Hazlett’s Bank, 528.

Hazzard, T. B., 591, 598.
Heald family, 783.

Heath, Andrew, 184, 214, 215.6 _ '
Hempfield R-ail;ro.ad.,Company, 394.
Henderson (Rev. -M.) family, 709.
Henderson, Joseph, 393, 546, 562.
Henderson, Rev. Matthew, 300, 441, 487, 616,
708, 851. . l .

Henry, Robert, 955. . , '

Herald of Liberty, 506. , ‘ . . ’
Hertzog, Prof. G. G., contribution, 462." —
Hickory. 864. 6 ~*‘ , . I
Hillsborough, 975.

Hogs, David, 476, 478, 548.

‘Hogs, John, 583, 548.

Hol;:§?of&'ft”§aIehn, -271.

‘.

, H0173" .,i"’e Company, 501..

Hopewell township, 811; reduction of. limits,
811; early settlers, 811; justices, 816, 817;
West Middletown, 816; post-oflices, 817;
schools, 817, 820;, Hopewell town, 819;
churches, 7820; schools, 820; Buffalo vil-

A lage, 822. ' . ~ » '

Hgpewell town, 819_.

Hopkins, Hon. James H., 562.-

Hopkins, Hon. William, 386, 560. —

Hopkins, Wright ‘&,?Co-., '528.

"Hormel family, 766.

glonstonville, 715.

 646.».

Howe, Maj. S. B., 635.

Huffman family, 934.

Hughes family, 656, 853.
Hughes, Samuel L., 656.
Humphries family, 744.
Humphries, Robert, 747.

Hunter family, 678.

Hunter’s company in war of 1812, 308.
Hupp family, 744, 765. ‘
Huston (Joseph) family, 485.
Huston, William, 66, 68, 130.
Hutchinson family, 678.

I.

Ice industry, Canonshurg, 623.

Improvement of cattle, 89.

Independence (Allenport), 647.

Independence A townsllip, 824; erection and
1imits,’824; early settlers, 825; physicians,
828; Independence village, 828; churches,
829 ; the Doddridge Chapel, 833 ; Belle-View

camp-meeting ground, 833; schools, 833;

justices, 834. .
Indian hostilities in 1774, 69.

‘ Indian incursions after Braddock’s defeat,.53.
Indian occupation of the Monongahela valley,

. . 15.

Indian Peter, 142 _n.,. 623.
Indian traders, -18.

Indiana Company, 231.
Iroquois (Six Nations), 19.
Irvine, Gen. William A., 101. .
Irwin family, 685, 689.
I'r.win,.John, 685.

_ J.

Jackman family, 785.

J ackman, Robert, 628.
Jackson family, 807.
Jackson, Philip, 807.-
Jefferson Academy, 451.
Jefferson College, 441, 709.

Jefferson township, 836 ;. erection and .bound- 1

aries, 836; early settlers, 836; churches,
839; schools, 840; physicians, 840; coal-
mining, 841 ;. Eldersville, 841 ; societies
and orders, 841 ; justices, 842.

Jennings, Dr. Ebenezer, 920. .

‘Jennings, Obadiah, 251, 486, 510, 531, 546. .

Johnson family, 686. .

Johnson, the exciseman, 267, 270. '

Johnson, Job, 629. '

Johnson, Sir William, 141.

Johnston family, 875.

Johnston, Samuel, 803..

Jones fami1y,.93‘5. .

Journal of the Interior, 573.

Judges, list, 249. . '

Judges of the Virginia Courts, 204, 205, 212, 218.

Judicial districts, 243 et seq.

Judicial system of the province, 150; of the
Revolution, 155 ; under the Constitution of
1790, 242; under the Constitution of 1838,
245; under amendment of 1850, 246; under
the Constitution of 1874,4248.

J umonville, death of, 35. .

Jum'or’s Friend and Pennsylvania Reserve News-
Letter, 582. , , . .

Justices, election of, first, 229;, second set, 242.

K.

Kammerer, John, 885.

Kerr, Rev. G. M., contribution, 905.

Kidd family, 903. '

Killbuck, 94, 108. _ . . _

Killbuck's Island, friendly Indians attacked,
108. . ‘

_ Luminary, 612.

Kirk family, 606,690.
Kirk, Col. James T., 316.

Kittanning, an Indian town, 17; destroyediby --

Armstrong, 56.

Knight, Dr.John, capture and escag)e,‘124, 127.
Knight, Jonathan, 392, 395, 472.

Koontz, Dr. J . S. Brady, 546.

Koontz, Robert H., 253.

Krepps family, 782. ,

Kllntz family, 484.

Kuskusky, 18. - —

Kutner (Kintner?) family, 932.

L-

Laird family, 746.

Land laws of Virginia, 188.

Land titles, first, 146.

Langdon (Longdon) family, 844.

Langley, James, 485. -

La Sallels explorations, 21.

Lawrence, George V., 597. '

Lawrence, Joseph, 597.

Leake, Rev. Lemuel F., 878.

Lee, Maj. William, 741.

Lee family, 732.

Leech family, 911. -

Leet families, 797. ' 7 -

Leet, Daniel, brigade major with Crawfoii-d’s
expedition, 115; deputy -surveyor of -Yo-
hogania County, 193 n., 210 ; sub-lieutenant
of Washington County, 225; sketch, 226,
797. ' - I A

Legal and Civil History, 138-262.

Leman family, 687.

Le Moyne, Dr. F. J., 449, 456, 493, 540, 543,
547. ’ ‘ .

Le Moyne, Dr. John Julius, 493, 495, 543-.

Leonard family, 932. - - -

Lester, Rev. W. H., contribution, 749.

Le Tort, James, 18. - '

Lewis, Gen. Andrew, 72.

Lewis, Thomas, 189.

Liberty poles, 286. ’ 6 i A 5

Libraries, of Washington, 539 ; Canonsburg,
615. - ' - ~ «  -

Linden, 876.

Lindley family, 843.

Lindley’s Mills, 848.

Lindsey, James, 246. A

Linn family, 874. -

Linton family, 767. _ *

Lochry, Col. A., command‘ destroyed, 100.

Locust Hill, 715. « -  ‘

Logan, the Mingo, 66, 67; raid on the Monon-
gahela, 69; on Ten-Mile Creek, 70.. ' -

‘Logstown, 17, 26, 140. .

Lone Pine, 665.

Lord Dlmmore, 163; see Boundary Controversy,

. passim.
Louisburg, 876.

Lutheran Church, German, of Washington,
523; English Evangelical,.of Monongahela
City, 588; Ginger Hill, 697; Fallowfield,
795; Somerset, 947. - 4

Lyle family, 730, 853. ..

Lynn, John, the exciseman, 271.

M.-

McBirney family,,903.

McBride. family, 903.

McCalmont family, 853.

McCammont family, 851.’ .
McCarrell, Dr. J . F., contribution, 840.‘
McCarroll (McCarrell) families, 838, 851.’ ‘ V
McCarty family, 850. . . _ A — V
McCleary, William, 780.

INDEX.

. c 2999’

:_ -3. .-~.

McClelland family,»875. ,
McCloy family, 690. 8
McClure-‘fainily, 816. ’.
McCollum family, 844.

McComb family, 730, 937.
McConaughey family, 679.-
McConnell family, 702, 806. ' V
McConnell, Alexander, Sr., 718.
McConnell, Alexander, Jr., 719.
McCon~nell’s Mills, 715.
McCook‘family, 605.

McC0ok, Dr. George, 613.
McCormick family, 828.

‘McCormick, George, 912.

McCracken family, 654.

Mcpready family, 836.

McCready,«Robert, 736, 836.

McCurdy, Rev. Elisha, 808.

McDermot, J ames,‘ 489.

McDonald, 904.

McDonough family, 933.

McDowell family, 674. , 4
McDowell, John (Judge), 215, 698, 869.
McElroy family, 856. - *
McFarland family, 655.

McFarland, Samuel, 548, 564. 3 .
McFarland, William, sketch, 238, 240, 655.
McFarl-ane, Andrew, 174, 567. ’- . ‘ .
McFarlaue,Maj;.James, 273. . I
McGiffin family, 251, 657.

McGiflin, Col. Norton, 310,311,323, 363
McGiflin, Thomas, sketch, 251, 377, 547.

McGiflin’s company, three months’ service,

 311. « -
McGill family, 605. _ 4
McGill, Rev. Dr. Alex. T., 605.
McGugin family, 850.

McGugin gas-well, 850.
Mcllvaine family, 937.’
McIntosh’s expedition, 86. A
Mackay, C-ol. ZEneas, 77. I
McKee family, 815. »

-McKee, Alexander, 170.

McKeeve‘r family, 816.

McKennan family, 252, 485.

McKennan, Rev. Dr.- James, 662. 8

McKennan, T. McK. _T., 252, 293, 395, 455, 474,
485, 501, 638. . _ .

McKe'nnan, William, 252, 4.85.4 ' :

McKennan, Col. William, 252, 485, 816. .

McLachlin, Rev. A., contribution,?683.- ~

McLain family, 760. 9 » 1

McLain, William, 760. 3

McLoney family, 890. 1 »

McMillan family, 871. 4 .

McMillan, ‘Rev. ‘Dr. John, 292, 398, 438, 439,529,
619, 736, 877, 871, 939. , ’

McMi1lan’s log academy, 440.

McNary family, 715, 804, 873.

McNary, James S., 880.

McNary, "William Hill, 717.‘

McNi~ght«family, 712.

McNu-lty family, 676.

McQuown—, James, 746, 763.

McRoberts family, 675.

McWilliams family, 675. 8 ,

Malady, Rev. D. J .,‘contrii3ution, 423.

Manchester family, 827.; . . .~ '

Maps, Washington County, between 12 and 13 ;
French Occupation, facing 139; .District
of ,West Augusta, facing 1-84; — Boundary
Controversy, facing 190:; Virginia Surveys,
facing 193; Washington County, 1781-88,
facing 222; Plan of :Washington Borough,
facing”476.   *2?‘ 2>-5;-» es. .

Market.-house, Wash‘ j ‘y   . :  1

Marquesffannly, 723,i..i.,..{ ..   ' ’  « g V.

 

Marques, Rev. Thomas, 661, 723, 736, 821.
Marshall family, 728.

Marshel family, 728. — A

Marshel, James, 96, 97, 103, 111, 199, 224, 227;

sketch, 226; see Whiskey Insurrection,
passim, 485, 728. 8

Marshel, John, 252‘.

Martin, Rev. Dr. James, 407.

Martin family, 875.

Mason and Dixon’s line, 162.

Maul and Wedge, 507.

Maxwell, John, 824.

, May family, 702.
, Mayes family, 749, 762.

Mayes, Joseph Finley, 762.,
Melvin family, 838. ,
Melvin, William, contribution, 924.
Mercer, Rev. Boyd, 940.
Merchant family, 807.
Mercury, 507.
Methodist Episcopal Church, .Washington, 519 ;
Monongahela City, 586; Cecil, 703; West
Alexander, 752; Claysville, 756; Centre-
ville, 770; Millsboro’, 771 ; East Finley, 778 ;
Greenfield, 78.6; Fallowfield, 795; Liberty
‘Chapel, 802; Florence, 808; Hanover, 810;
Independence, 830; Bethel (J efierson), 839;
Mount Zion‘ (Morris), 847; Nottingham,
886; Robinson, 904; Burgettstown, 923;
South Strabane, 956; Peters Creek, "968;
Limetown, 968; Coal Blufi‘, _968; Zollers-
ville, 975; Fairview, 975; West Bethlehem,
975 ; Salem, 985; West Pike Run, 992.
Methodist Protestant Church, Washington, 522 ;
Canonsburg,‘ 620; California, 633; Amity,
661; Millsboro’, 771; East Bethlehem, 773;
Jefferson, 839. -
Mexican war, 310.
Midway, 903.
Militia in 1784, 136.
Militia system, early, 224.
Miller family, 701, 744.
Miller, Joseph, 308, 658.
Miller’s block-house attacked, 112.

8 Millsboro’, 770.

Mines and mining, 365.’

Mingo Creek battalion, 272; meeting-house,

274.

0 Minton family, 844.

Mitchell family, 686, 891.
Monacatoocha, 31.
Monkey Box Line on National read, 381.
Monongahela Bridge Company, 638.
Monongahela City, 565; early residents, 570;
xwar of 1812, Williamsport Rangers, 571;
Freemasons, 556,583; Odd-Fellows, 583;
newspapers, 573, 582; made a borough un-
der present name, 573, 693 ; borough oflicers,
. 574; war of Rebellion, 574; made acity,
575; city oflicers, 565; justices, 576; busi-
ness men, 576; banks, 578; manufactures,
580; gas company, 581;, societies, 583;
churches, 585-88; cemetery, .589; schools,
589 ;- new school building, 594.

' : MonongahelaNavigation Company, 384.

, Monongahela Patriot, 582. .

, Monongahela Valley Railroad Company, 397.
 Monongahela Valley, Republican, 582. _
 Monongalia County erected, 184; courts, 185.
 Moore family, ‘806.

 Moore, Daniel, 382, 393, 638.

1 Moore, William S.,.659.

Moravian massacre, 106. .
Morgan, Col. George, 183, 220, 231, 383.
Morgan (Col. George) family, 701,866.
Morgan, Katharine Duane,‘ 538.
Morgan, Thomas Jefferson, 310, 508.

Morgan za, 866. - -

' Mormon, Book of, who wrote it? 425. 9

Morris township, 842; erection and boundaries,
843; justices,843; early settlers, 843 ;‘ pros-
perity, 845; churches, 845; physicians, 847;
COI1C0l'd,84:7; Sparta, 847; Lindley’s Mills,
848. ‘ 1 V ’

Morrison family, 710, 884.

Morrow family, 687, 746.

Mount‘Pleasant township, 850; erection and
boundaries, .850; justices, 850; earlyxset-‘

tlers, 850; the Washington lands, 856;’ ‘8

diary of Washington’s visit, 858 ; churches,

860; Hickory, 864 ;- physicians, 864 ; schools,

865. ' - —
Mountain, James, 251.

' Munntown, 885.

Murdoch family, 253, 487, 605, 710, 871.
Murdoch, Alexander, 253, 307,. 383.

, Murdoch, Dr. Samuel, 545, 605, 613..

Murdochsville, 809.
Myers family, 886, 932, 937.

Myers, Rev. A.'_,S., contribution, 756.

N.

National road, 374, 747.
Nemacolin, .20, 370.
Nesbit family, 690, 711.
Neutral ground, 582. -
Neville-Crawford military title, 708, 712. '
Neville, John, 85., 182 ;. see Whiskey Insurrec-

tion, passim, 708. ' 1 . '
Neville, Presley, 275.
New county project, 569.
Newell family, 837.
N ewkirk family, 792, 932. .

Newspapers, Washington, 506; Monongahela _,

‘ City, 573, 582; Canonsburg, 612; Califor-
nia, 628; Claysville, 755; Florence, 808;‘
Burgettstown, 921. A ‘

New State, petition for, 185, 187 .9

V New State project, 185, 187,231.

Nichols family, 799.

~Noble, Thaddeus Clark, 758.

Normal schools, 461.

Norris’ Fort, 707. . .

North Strabane township, 866; early settlers,
866; Linden, 876; churches, 876..

Nottingham township, 882; reduction of limits,
882; justices, 882 ; early residents, 883;
Dunningsville, 884 ; Kammerer, 885 ; Munn-
town, 885 ; Ginger Hill, 885 ; churches, 886;
schools, 886. ' V . 9

O.
Oath of allegiance to Virginia, 188, 214. ,
Odd-Fel1ows, 550, 583, 623, 633, 661, 752, 755,
' 770,786,841, 994, 921. .

Ohio Company, 29, 163. )

Ohio County erected, 184; courts, 185.

Ohio River, origin of name, 23 n..

Olome Institute, 454. 8

One Hundred and Fortieth Regiment, 334 ;. Co.
0, 326; .00. D, 338; ‘Co. E, 339; C0. G, 340;
C0. K, 341. '

’ One Hundredth Regiment, 329; Co. A, 333.

Our Country, 508.

P.

Pack-horse transportation, 232, 265.
Paris, 809. . ‘ .
Parkinson family, 390, 566, 567, 834, 883.
Parkinson, Benjamin, 275, 283, 566,883.
Parkinson, Dr. Joseph, 828, 834. .
Parkinson’s Ferry, 287, 295, 566,567. _
Parks family, 698, 722.. 1
Patrons of Husbandry, 841, 921.

THE REVOLUTION.

119'

of the white men’s rifles. The combined forces of the
Wyandots and Delawares considerably outnumbered
the command of Col. Crawford, but the latter held
their own and could not be dislodged by all the arti-
fices and- fury of their savage assailants.‘ When the
shadows of twilight began to deepen over grove and
glade the savage hordes ceased hostilities and retired
to more distant points on the plains.

I The losses in Col. Crawford’s command during the
afternoon were five killed and twenty-three wounded,
as reported by the aide-de-camp, Rose, to ‘Gen. Irvine.
One-of the killed was Capt. Ogle, and among the
oflicers wounded were Maj. Brinton, Capt. Ross, Capt.
Munn, Lieut. Ashley, and Ensign McMasters.

The losses of the Indians were never ascertained.

‘Though doubtless greater than those of the whites,

they were probably not very heary, because the sav-
age combatants were to a great extent hidden from
view by the tall grass which grew everywhere in the
openings. A number of Indian scalps were taken by
Crawford’s men, but no prisoners were captured on
either side. The British captain, Caldwell, was
Woundedin both legs, and was carried back to Lower
Sandusky in the night succeeding the battle. Upon
this the command of the British force that was on
the way seems to have passed to his lieutenant, John
Turney, as a report of their subsequent operations in

"the campaign was made by him to De Peyster, the

commandant at Detroit.

At the close of the conflict of the 4th of June the
advantage seemed to be with the white men, for the
foe had retired from their front and they still kept
possession of the grove,” from which the red demons
had tried persistently but in vain for more than four
hours to dislodge them. The oflicers and men of
Col. Crawford’s command were in good spirits, and
the commander himself felt confident of ultimate
victory, for his volunteers had behaved admirably,
exhibiting remarkable steadiness'and bravery during
the trying scenes of the afternoon. But the Indians
were by no means dispirited, for they had suffered no
\______________________,_____. _____

1 Butterfield relates the following incident concerning Francis Dun-
levy, one of the volunteers in the expedition, whose home at that time
was on Chartiers Creek, in what is now Peters township, Washington
County, viz. : “ Francis Dunlevy, who belonged to Captain Craig Ritchie’s
company, had during the fight been engaged with an Indian of huge
proportions. The latter, as evening approached, crept carefully and
cautiouslytowards Dunlevy through the top of a tree lately blown
down, which was full of leaves, when getting near enough as he sup-
posed he threw his tomahawk, but missed his aim and then escaped.
This Indian’ was afterwards recognized by Dunlevy as he believed in
‘Big Captain Johnny,’ who, in the war of 1812, was with the friendly
Shawanese at Wapakoneta.” ' I

2 “ The battle of Sandusky was fought in and around the grove since
well known as ‘ Battle Island,"in what is now Crane township, Wyan-4
dot County, three miles north and half a mile east of the court-house in

   

_ Upper Sandusky. The spot has always been readily identified by reason

of the scars upon the trunks of the trees, made by the hatchets of the
Indians in getting out the bullets after the action. But the ‘island’ may
now be said to have disappeared. Cultivated fields mark the site where
the contest took place. Occasionally an interesting relic is turned up
by. the plow-share, to be preserved by the curious as a memento of the
battle.”—-—Butterfield. '

actual defeat, and they knew that their numbers
would soon be augmented by the Shawanese and other
war parties who were already on their way to join
them, as was also the “British detachment which had
been sent from Detroit?
Wyandots was made on the plains to the north of the
battle-field, and that of the Delawares at about the
same distance south. Far to the front of the Indian
camps, lines of fires were kept burning through the
night to prevent a surprise, and the same precaution-
ary measure was taken by Col. Crawford. Out-
lying scouts from both forces watched each other with
sleepless vigilance through the hours of darkness,
and frontiersmen and savages slept on their arms.

It was the wish of Col. Crawford to make a vigor-
ous attack on the Indians at daylight on the morning
of the 5th, but he was prevented from doing so by the
fact that the care of his sick‘ and wounded was very
embarrassing, requiring the services of a number of
men, and so reducing the strength of his fighting
force. It was determined, however, to make the best
preparations possible under the circumstances, and to
attack with A every available man in the following
night. The Indians had commenced firing early in

the morning, and their fire was answered by the

whites ; but it was merely a skirmish at long range
and in no sense a battle. It was kept up during the
greater part of the day, but little harm wasdone, only
four of Crawford’s men being wounded, and none
killed. Col. Crawford, as we have seen, was not pre-
pared for a close conflict, but he, as well as his officers
and men, felt confident of their ability to defeat the
enemy when the proper time‘ should, come, attributing
the apparent unwillingness of the Indians to come to
close quarters to their having been badly crippled in
the fight of the 4th. But the fact was that the sav-
ages were content with making a show of fight suffi-
cient to hold their white enemies at bay while wait-
ing for the arrival of their reinforcements, which they
knew were approaching and near at hand.

The day were on. The red warriors kept up their
desultory firing, and the white skirmishers replied,
while their comrades were busily and confidently

3 The British force from Detroit, including Butler's Rangers, had ar-
rived on the evening of the 4th at a point onlysix miles north of the
battle-ground, and there encamped for the night. The Indians knew
of this, and as they had also begun to receive reinforcements by small
parties of Shawanese, they knew that they had only to hold Crawford’s
force at bay until all their succors should arrive, when victory would be
certain. Col. Crawford was entirely ignorant of the proximity of any
body‘ of white troops, though he had no doubt that Indian reinforce-
ments were on their way. Had he known all the facts his feeling of
confidence must have been changed to the most gloomy forebodings of
disaster. - .

4 A considerable number of his men had been made sick by the great
fatigue and excessive heat of the previous day, and by the very bad water
which they had been compelled to drink, the only water which could
be found in the vicinity of the battle-ground being a stagnant pool
which had formed under the roots of a tree which had been blown over.
Maj. Rose, in his report to Gen. Irvine, said, “ We were so much encum-

bered with our wounded andsick that the wtrole“day was spent in their

care and in preparing for a general attack the next night.”

The night bivouac of ‘the

1 rittmrough (Columbia),¥’692.1 2 1 1 in

1 Plan of Washingto"n,'facing 476.5 1_

-Pleasant Valley ‘Academy, 667." 2 ° "

1000

INDEX."  

Patterson families, 726, 914.

Patterson, James, 739.

Patterson, Rev. Joseph, 736, 905.
Patterson, Rohert,.contrihution, 425.
Paxton family, 713. «

Pease, Nicholas, 220, 881, 874. ~

Peck fa1niiy,,660.

Poesy family, 874.

Pees, Zachariah, 881.

Penn and D,-unmore, 170.

Penn,-William, the title of, 162.
Pennsylvania Reform School, 705, 725. .
Pennsylvania Reserves, 312.
Pennsylvanian, 5-73.

Pentecost family, 868. 1
Pentecost, Dorsey, 96, 109., 122, 148, 170, 213,

221, 225, 227; sketch of, 228, 234, 237, 238; 3

> superseded as justice; 240, 263, 868.
Pentecost, Joseph,sketch of, 251,383, 489, 548,
. 694. _ 5 ’ . .
Pentecostls Mills, 221.
Perrine family, 731, 842.
Perrine, David‘, 842.._ , _
Peter, _Indian, 142 n., 636. , 6
Peters township, 887 ; reduction of limits, 887;
early residents, "888 ; churches, 891‘; schools‘,
897 ; justices, 898; physicians, 898 ;. Thomp-
, sonville, 898; post-oflices, 899.  2
Petition for new State, 185, 187..

' Phillips family, 891.‘

Phil1ips.“Col. David, 888,: .-
.Tllilsli,ps, Rev. David, 266, 891. 1 1

’ Phwlzix, 573. 4
. Pillory, 221, 222.

Pin Hook (Lone Pine), 665,  1 . _ 8

Pittsburgh and Steubenville1Railroad:-Company,

Pittsburgh, Virginia" and Charleston Railroad
Company, 396. 1

Plants, Leonard, “Si-.,.781,_. . ~ .;
Pleasant Hill Seminary,7.455.’~ . I

a,-‘

Plnmer family, 827.

Poe family, 805.

Poguefamily, 837. _ . 1
Point Pleasant,‘battle of, 72..
Pollock family, 872.’ ~

Pollock (Police), Thomas, 813.
Pontiac’s war, 62.
Populationin 1882, 475. 1 p

, Potts family, 806. '

Pow__eltown, 770.

Presbyterian Church ,.Washington County, 398 ; *
First, ofwashington, 510; Second, of Wash-
ington, 814; First, of Monongahela City,
584; Canonsbgrg, 619; First,‘ of Califor-
nia,- 632; Lo'w'er_Ten-Mile, 661; East Bur.

’t'alo,.683 .; Carroll, 696;'Mil’le_r’s Run, 704;‘
Cross Creek,‘ 736; West Alexander, 749;
Claysville, 755; F-allowfield, 795-; Franklin,’
801; ‘Cross-Roads, Hanover, 808  Iaower"
Bnfialo,  ;- Jefferson, 839; ‘Upper Ten-
Mile, 845; Mount Prospect, 860 ; Chartiers,
876.; Fairview, Munntown, 886; Centre,
Peters, 896; Raccoon, 905‘; Burgettstown,

922; Pigeon Creek, 939; Mount Pleasant,

956. . 1 « .

Presidentjudges, 243,et seg.; list, 249.1 ’ "

Presly church, Mingo'Creek, 967. ' 1

. Prigg family, 687.

Pringle, John S., 641, 
Prosperity, 845.4  1 g
Prothonotaries, list, 469,,”  ‘
Proudfit family, 803, 916. 7' L

Proudfit, John L., 930.,

Provincial Conference, 154. _
Provincial Convention, 153,
Provincial judicial system, 150.
Public buildings, 463. .
Punlphrey, Zachariah, 686.

Q.
Quail family, 873.
Quakers, see Friends.

R.

- Raccoon Creek, Indian raids, 88, 103.
Railroads, 391. 7
Ralston, Samuel, 589.;-.  1
Ramsey, Dr. James, 405, 617, 713.
Ramsey, George M., 959.

‘ Rankin family, 855,910. ‘ 1

A Ravages by Indians after Braddock’s defeat, 53.
Rea family, 731. 1 A
Recorders of deeds, list, 470.

. Records of West Allgusta.County Court, 204.

4 Records of Yohogania County-‘Court, 212.
Redick, David, 250,295’, 479. '1 0 '

; Redstone, road opened by Col. Burd, 62, 141;
the “ Hangard” erected, 34, 371, and de-
stroyed, 43; Rev. John Steele’s visit, 142;
attempted removal of settlers at, 143.

 Redstone Creek, 35.

2 nedstone Old Fort, 170 n., 266, 289. 1 c
  Reed families, 481, 689, 699, 725, 822, 858, 859.‘

 Reed, Alexander, 383, .393, 481, 490, 512, 526,
‘ 531, 546, 548. 4 ‘ 1

-—  Reed, John, 220. 1 1 ’

- J. M. K., contributions, 733, 865.

- , efdrm School, Pennsylvania, 705.

‘5 Reformed‘ Presbyterian Chur-ch,'Miller’s Run,’

, 716; Patterson's Mills, 739.

j Registers of wills, list, 470.

, Religious, History, 398.
Representatives, list, 471.

9  Review and Eacantiner, 509.

; Revolution, the, 74, 153, 179.

1 . § Reynolds family, 724.

Reynolds’ block-house, 724.

11  Richards family, 699.
- jnigclon, Sidney, 4.31.

5 Riggs ‘family, 644.

A , Ringgold Battalion, 353.
7 Ringland family, 844.

5 Ritchey family, 730.

Ritchie family, 604, 624.

Ritchie, Capt. Craig, 114, 275, 604.

Ritchie, Matthew, 219, 483, 701, 859. ,

Ritchie, W. H. S., 624.

Ritner, Joseph, 309, 679.

Rizor family, 746. .
Roads, early, 152, 239, 372; see records of West

Augusta and Yohogania County Courts,
- 204, 212.
Roberts family, 606.
Roberts, Samuel, sketch, 244.

Robinson township, 900; reduction of limits,-

900; early settlers, 900; Midway, 903;
churches, 904, 905, 906; societies, 904 ;
McDonald, 904; Engleside Academy, 904;
. Candor, 904; schools, 904 ;_ physicians, 909;
coal companies, 909 .
Roll of attorneys, 250.
Rolling-mill, Canonsburg, 624..
Ross, James, sketch, 251, 286, 292.
Rothwell, S. S., contribution, 786.
Ruple family, 799.
Ruple, Col. James, 307, 393, 489.
Rural Notes, 612. ,
Russell family, 715.
Rutan family, 844.

 ,  /2. ‘F.   ad‘
I/~»..,__»i'1; L>f;_,( 6,)  V

5), ..

, Scott _family, 953.

  
  

  
 

Sabbath-school, First ’ ,j_

Washington, 513;  1 ~
Sacunk, Sawkunk, 18. ‘j"’;f~j;.  g ' _’ . 11 »
Salt-works, 774. i 1 3.’

Sample, William, 277,-397.,l:7‘7  

Sand-works, 370. '

4.»;-1:2,-~l

Schools, of county, -460;  7529;
. Monongahela City,-589; Canonsburg, 615;‘

Allen, 649; Amwell,‘ 670; Buffalo, 684;

Canton, 690; Cecil, 704'; ‘Chartiers, ,7-161;.
Cross Creek, 733; West Alexander, 749;.

East Bethlehem, 773,; East Pike Run, 788;

Fallowfield, 796; Franklin, 802; Hanover,
810; West Middletown, 817; Hopewell, 820;;

Independence, 833; Jefferson, 840»;.Mou.nt
Pleasant, 865; Nottingham, 886; ;»Peters,_
897; Robinson, 908; Smith, 924; Somerset,
946 ; South Strabane, 956; Union, 966 ; West
Bethlehem, 977; West Einley,1985.
Scotch-Irish, 265. ‘

4’

; scntt families, 729,860, 883, 884, 870, 902.
.- Scott, Hugli, 883. 

  Scott, Thomas, 177, 194,208, 224, 230, 233, 237.

Settlements, the first, 140.

Settlers, attemptedremoval of, 141. '

' Settlers west of Monongahela, 145.

Seventh Virginia Regt. in the Revolution, 76.

.-Seventy-ninth Regiment, 319; C0. D, 320.

7 Shannon family, 487.’

Sharp family, 838.
Shawanese, history, 16.
Shearer family, 901.

Sheriffs, list, 468.

* Shilling, Pennsylvania, 240.

Shingiss, the Delaware king, 17, 53, 56.
Shuste“r,Daniel, 658.

Simonton family, 855.

Simpson (James) family, 854.

V» Six Nations, proprietors, 19. .
1 Sixteenth Pennsylvania Cavalry, 349. ,

1 Slavery and servitude, 255.
1- Slavery in Pennsylvania, abolition, 255 ;.

Siiith Regiment Pennsylvania Militia,.362.

Choli-

tion societies, 546,‘ 750. '

» Slaves, registries of, 258; statistics, 261.

Slemmons family, 688. 5
Sloan, Rev. Dr. James, 599.

Slover, John, capture and escape, 128, 134.

1 Slusher family, 659.1 4
_ Smallman-,“Thoma_8, 221‘-

Smallpox meeting, Washington, 487.

Smiley family, 811.

Smiley, William, 811, 813,. A ‘ .1

Smith _township, 910; reduction of limits, 910;
justices, 910; early settlers, 910 1;. Burgettse
town, 916; Cardville, 919; Burgettstown

National Ban k, 920 ; physicians, 920; news.-p

papers, 921; orders, 9213; schools, 924;
Bavington, 927; Dinsmore, 928; =Bulger,
928 ; Union Agricultural Association, 928.
Smith, James, 206. . 5 '
Smith, Rev. J. M., contribution, 619.
Smith, Rev. Joseph, 398,- 439, 736, 812; family,
813. 1
Smith, Thomas, 174.

. . Smith, William, 947.
 sfmith, William, Jr.", 950.

Soldiers‘ monument, 552. ‘ 6
Somerset township, 931 ‘; erection and bounds,
931 ; early settlers, 931.; Bentleysville, 937 ;
Vanceville, 938‘; -churches, 938’; Church of
Christ at Vanceville-, 944; United. Presby-
terian Church, Pigeon Creek, 945; German
Lutheran, 946; schools, 946; physicians,’
.947; incorporation of Bentleysville,~*947.'

INDEX.

. —     1001

1 South Strabane township, 952 ;. settlements, 952; ,

Methodist Episcopal Church, 956 ;-9 Mount

Pleasant Presbyterian Church, 956 ; schools, '
956; prehistoric pipe, 956; Enterprise Coal- '

Works, 957. _
Southwestern State Normal School, 462.
-Sparta, 847.

Spaulding and the Book of Mormon, 425.
Speer family,—873. 1
Speers family, 643, 649.

Speers, Solomon C., 649.»

Sphar family, 651.

Sphar, Henry, 651.

Sprowls family, 776.

Sprowls, Drs. J. N., I. N., ’LeeoM., 763. v
St. Clair, Gen. Arthur, 150,170 11.

Stage lines, 381. I A 1 6

State senators, list,’ 471. do

State treasurer, 471.

- Steamboatonayigation, 390.

Steel, Rev. John, sent to Redstone, 142.
Steen, Isaiah, 485. ’ ~
Stephens, John W., 949. ' 1

.,Stephenson families, 730, 744, 837, 915.

Stephenson, Hugh, 221. "
Stevens, Dr. James, 545.

Stevenson families, 934.

Stewart family, 837.

Stewart, Galbraith, 816.

Stewart, Robert, 842.

Stewart, Mary, murder of, 852. I
Stockdale family, 645, 651.

Stockdale, Robert, 651._

Stockley, T_h0maS, 434.

Stocks, 222, 240, 609.

Stockton families, 800.

Stockton, Rev. Dr. John, 737, 738, 800.

' Stoolfire family, 746. >-

Struthers family, 710.
Students’ Enterprise, 612.

_ Superintendents of schools, 471.

Surveyors, county, list, 470.
Sutton family, 659, 669.
Swagler, Jacob, 949.

Swart, A. J ., 672.
Swearingen, Andrew, 711.

- Swearingen, Thomas,’ 782.
Swearingen, Van, 77, 79, 170; sketch, 238, 483.

Swickard family, 932.

T.

Taggart, Rev. Samuel, contribution, 818. -
Tanacharison, 31, 32. I
Tavern rates fixed, 216, 240.

Taverns, early, 493, 747, 753, 794.

Taylor family, 953. ’ 3

Taylor, Henry, 146, 224, 235, 240; sketch, 241,

266.

Taylor’s Fort, 678.

Taylorstown, 679. _

Taxables -of Yohogania County, 219.  I
Teagarden family, 765. ’

Teagarden, Dr. James VV., 764.

Teeter family, 825.

Teeter’s Fort, 825. -

Templeton families, 719.

Tenan family, 911.

Ten-Mile Creek, Indian raids on, 70.
Ten—Mile Rangers, war of 1812, 308.
Ten-Mile village, 665.‘

{Centh Pennsylvania Reserves, 316; C0. D, 318.

Texan war, 310.

Theological Seminary at Canonsburg, 405.

Thirteenth Virginia Regt. in,the Revolution, 77.

Thompson families, 690, 854, 815.
Thompson, Rev. David, 831.
Thompson, Dr. Hugh, 613, 898.

Thompson, Dr. Robert, 614.“

Toledo, 801.

Toll-gates on the National road, 381.

Tom the Tinker, 271, 273, 286.

Tomahawk improvements, 146.

Topography of Washington County, 13.
Toryism in the Monongahela Valley, 91, 156.

Townsend family, 890, 899.

-Townsend, Elijah,899.
Townships, original, 228.
Travis family, 804. 1
Treasurers, list, 470. -
Treaty of Fort Stanwix (1768), 145.
Tribune, 509. - 1
Trinity Church, Washington, 518.
Trinity Hall, 458. ~
Tucker family, 659, 806. ,
Turnpikes, 374, 332, 333, 334. ,
Twelfth Pennsylvania Regiment, three months’ ‘
, service, 311. '
Twenty-second Pennsylvania Cavalry, 353; C0. ,
A, 355; Co. B, 356; C0. C, 358; C0. D, 359; .
Co. E, 359; C0. F, 360; C0. G, 361.
Twenty.-seventh Judicial District, 247.

. U,
Underground Railway, 261.
Union Agricultural Association, 928.

‘ Union Grove Seminary, 818.

Union School of LWashington, 532.
Union township, 960 ; early settlement and set-
tlers, 960; -physicians, 964; Finleyville,
965; Gastonville, 965; Coal Blufi‘, 965;
Peters Creek Lodge, 966; Advance Lodge,
966; schools, 966; justices of peace, 966;
churches, 967. , . _ V ' _
United Brethren Church, Carroll, 697; Done- .
gal, 758; East Finley, 777; West Finley,
985. . V
United Presbyterian Church of Washington
County, 399 ; of Washington, 516 ; Chartiers
(Canonsburg), V616; Taylorstown, 680;
North Buffalo, 681; South Buifalo, 683;
Venice, 703; Chartiers Cross-Roads, 716; 9
West Alexander, 751 ; Wheeling,(East Fin-
ley), 778_; Paris, 809; Mount Hope, 831;,
West Mid.dletown, 818; Mo.unt;Pleasant,
862; Candor, 880; Mount Prospect, 886;
’ Peters Creek, 893; McDonald, 904; Rob-
inson, 907; Burgettstown, 922; Pigeon
Creek, 945. , v ' -
Upper Buffalo Academy, 453.
Urie family, 814.
. V.
Vallandigham, George, 238 ; see records of West
Augusta Court and of Yohogania Court.
Valley ‘Leader, 628. --
Valleg] Record, 582.
Valley Sentinel, 582.
Valley Spirit, 628.
Van Buren, 801.
Vance family, 914.
Vance, Isaac, 953.
Vance, Samuel, 957.
Vance’s Fort, 722, 736.
Vanceville, 938.
Vaneman family, 873.
Van Kirk family,’ 657. ‘
Van Voorhis family, 695.
Van Voorhis, Dr. J. S., 643.‘
Vasbinder family, 815. 1
Venice, 703. 1
Vienna (Coon Island), 753.
Virgin, Brice, 86. '
Virgin, Reason, 207, 797.

Virginia, title to Northwest Territory,‘ 159;

legislative proceedings, 182; counties west’ ‘

of the Alleghanies,'183; oath offlallegiance
to, 188, 214 ;, land ‘laws of,‘188;"sur'veys in‘
Washington County, 192; map of‘Virgihia
surveys; facing 193; judicial’ system, 204;
usurpations, 227; autographs of “Virginia
justices, facing 204; records of Court of
West Augusta C01_1n.,t,JI,;,204'.; records of

Court of Yohogania County,’« 212.

'W.

  Wait family, 699.

Walker family, 741.

Walker, Mrs., captured on Buffalo, 112. 1
Walker, David S., 741‘.

Walker, John N ., 741. ‘

Wallace family, 805, 933.

Wallace family, ‘captured, 103, 106.

‘Wampum, 143 11.

War contributions, 364.
War of 1812, 306, 571.
War of the Rebellion, 310, 574.
Ward, Edward, surrenders to the French, 17,
34, 36, 140, 207,212,’ 221. 1 -
Warn e, Maj. James, 569,600.
Washington borough, 476.’
banks and bankers, 525.
churches, 510.
Cornplanter at, 477.)
early business interests, 489, 491.
early residents, 478. ' v ‘
early taverns, 493.
fire department, 501.
Freemasons, 548. .
gas-works, 553. U ~ '
Grand Army of the Republic, 55 .
incorporation and list of oflicers, 496. ' 
insurance companies, 528. ‘ V
libraries, 539. -
manufactures, 554. '
market-houses, 499.
newspapers, 506.
Odd-Fellvows, 550.-
original plan of, facing 477,
physicians, 541. - - 4 ,
post-oflices andpostmasters, 505. '
‘ ‘ schools, 529. ' ’ V
smallpox meeting, 491.
societies, 546.
town hall, 503.
union school, 532.
Washington Cemetery, 550.
Washington Coal Company, 553.,
Washington College, 441,
Washington County:
act erecting, 222. .
area and population in 1332, 242.
centennial celebration, 555. 9
civil list, 468. ‘ I
coal-mines and mining, 367,
commission of, the peace, 230.,
county buildings, 463, i _
courts, organization of, 235, 464,
educational history, 438.
elections, early, 228. V
emigrations, early, 232.
Fifth Judicial District, 243.
Fourteenth Judicial District, 244.
geology, 365.
Indian occupation, 15.
3 internal improvements, 370.
justices, election of, first, 229,,
justices, second set, 242.
limits, reduction of,‘ 241.
location, boundaries, topography, 13_
map of Virginia, surveys, facing 193,

1002 1\

INDEX.

.Washington County :7

map of 1781-82, facing 222.
Mexican war, 310.
. militia in 1784, 136.
ofiicers, appointment of,_ 224.
political troubles, early, 225, 237.
~ population, 475.
7 railroads, 391.
_ religious history, 398.
sand-works, 370.
slave registries, 258.
slavery, 257.
Texan war, 310.
townships, division into, 228.
Twenty-seventh Judicial District, 247.
war contributions, 364.
war of 1812, 306, 571.
7 war of the Rebellion, 310.
Whiskey Insurrection, 262. ,
Washington County Fire Insurance Company,
528. 4 3 -
Washington Democrat, 509.
Washingtonian, 507 .
Washington Examiner, 508. *

‘Washington Female Seminary, 455, 559.

Washington Fire Company, 502.

Washington, George, sent to French forts, 31; 1
campaign in 1754, 34; engagement with 
Jumonville, 35; battle of the Great Mead- 
ows, 38; with Gen. Braddock, 45; with j
Forbes’ expedition, 61; with armyin 7
Whiskey Insurrection, 295; lots owned -

in Washington, 477; ‘visits his lands in .'
Mount Pleasant township, 189, 374,  ;
diary of his visit in 1784, 858; ejectment 3

suit, 859. _
Washington and Jefferson College, .448.
Washington, Lund, lands, 912.
Washington Observer, 509.
Washington Patriot, 508.

Washington and Pittsburgh Railroad Company, 1

393.

Washington Reporter, 506. _
Washington Savings-Banks, 528.
Washington Weekly Review, 509.
Wasson, Rev. Luke J ., 887.
Watson, James, 274.

Waynesburg and Washington Railroad Com-  »
' ; ‘West Pike Run township, 986; settlement, 987;

pany, 397.
Weaver family, 7l0.._
Weir family, 800. 4
Welsh family, 826,, 9'15.

Weller family, 872.
Wells family, 721, 825.
VVells’ Fort, 722, 736.

Wendell, Abraham, 18.
Wesleyan Methodist Church, Monongahela
City, 588. \

West Alexander, 747 ;early taverns, 746, 747; :'

incorporated, 748; ofllcers, 748; justices,
748; a Gretna Green, 749; ‘schools, 749;
churches, 749 ; cemetery, 752.

West Alexander Academy, 451, 749.

West Augusta, district of, 172; court, 178, 179;
division into Ohio, Yohogania, and Monon- '
galia Counties, 182, 183; map, facing 183; -'
court-house on Gabby farm, 185 n.; record

, of West Augusta Court, 204.
Westbay, Henry, 603, 611.

West Bethlehem township, 969; early settle- J
ments, 970;,church'es, 974; Hillsborough, '

975; Zollarsville, 977; schools, 977.

VWest Brownsville borough, 635; laid out, 637;

Bowman’s addition, 637; ferries, 638; Mo-

non gahela bridge, 638; boat-yards,639, 640 ; 9
incorporation, first election and oflicers, 
639; churches, 640; Excelsior Planing- 1

Mill, 642.

Western Corrector, 507.

Western Missionary Magazine, 507. ,

Western Patriot, 582.

Western Register, 508.

Western Telegraphe and Washington Advertiser,
506. 7

West Finley township, 979; settlement, 979;

Good Intent, 983; Burnsville, 983;Lodge

No. 956, 1.0.0. r., 983; Burnsville Chris- 5
tian Church, 983 ; United Brethren Church, ‘
983; Salem M. E. Church, 985; North 1

Wheeling Baptist Church, 985; Windy Gap

Church, 985; schools, 985; justices of the 3

peace, 986.

West Middletown, 816; early residents, 816; '

justices, 817; post-oflice, 817; school, 817;

Union Grove Seminary, 818; churches, 818. 
Westmoreland County _erected, 148; early ofli- 
cials, 149; court records, 151.; early town- ‘
ships, 151; courts reorganized, 156; jus- :

tices arrested, 174; Revolutionary resolu-
tions, 180.

schools, 990; churches, 991; Beallsville
borough, 993.

‘ Westsylvania, the proposed new State, 231.

Wheeling, attack on (1782), 134.

Wherry family, 932. ‘

Whipping-post, 221, 240. ‘

Whiskey Insurrection, 262; attack on N eville’s
house, 272; death of McFarlane, 273 ;_mail
robbery, 278; Braddock’s Field meeting,
280; United States army called out, .286,
294; the terrible ‘night, 298.

White Eyes, Koquaitahghaitah, 220.

White family, 872.

Whittaker family, 914.

Wick family, 658.

Wier family, 933.

Wilderness, the, 138.

Williams family, 674.

Williamson family, 676. V . _

Williamson, Col. David, with Crawford’s expe-
dition, 111, 114, 676.

Wil1iamson’s expeditions, 102.

Williamsport, see Monongahela City.

Wilson families, 482, 483. ' 7

Wilson, Col. George, 77, 166, 207, 209.

Wilson, Dr. John R., 545.

Wilson, Henry, 954.v,<

Wilson, John K., 393.

Wilson, Robert, the exciseman, 268.

Winget family, 844.

Winter family, 744.

Wishart family, 915.

Wishart, Dr. John, 393, 544.

Witherspoon family, 903.

Wolf family, 677, 688.. 4

Wolf's Fort, 678.

Work family, 815.

Work, Maj. George T., 823.

Workman family, 484. _,

Workman, Hugh and James, 130.

Wright’s Chapel, Washington, 524.

Wright family, 888.

Wright, Joshua, 152, 213.

Wylie family, 487, 687.

Wylie, Rev. Andrew, 940.

Y.
Yeates, Jasper, 183.
Yeates, Richard, 953.

Yohogania County, erection, 184; record , of V

court, 212.

Z,

9 Zollarsvi1le,977-.

V tracted and extensive.

ERRATA.

Page 228, 2d column. “ Veach” should be Veech.

Page 250, 2d column, note, and page 479, 1st column. That David
Redick was a native of Ireland is stated on the authority of a biograph-
ical note in IV. Penna. Archives, Sec. S, 46; but Hon. D. Kaine. of
Uniontown, Pa., communicates that he was born about 1745, in East
Pennsborough township, then Lancaster, now Cumberland, County,
nine miles west of Harrisburg, where the village of Hogest’own now is.
His father was John Redick, probably from Ireland; his mother was
Rachel, daughter of John Hoge, who was a native of New Jersey, and
a son of William Hoge, a Scotchman. David Redick studied law at
Carlisle, married his cousin, Ann Hoge, a_ daughter of Jonathan Hoge,
the broth er of David, the proprietor of VVashington. His wife survived
him and died in 1812. They had seven children, three sons, Jonathan
H.,'admitted to the bar in 1803, subsequently killed in a duel (so says
Mr. Kaine), David, and James, and four daughters, none of whom left
descendants except the youngest, Eliza’, who married a Capt. Anderson,

C and whose children reside in Louisville, Ky.

Page 261, 2d column, note. The death of Mrs. Gardner’ should be
printed as occurring about 1850. A

Page 265, 1st column. “ Repealing act, 1781,” should be 1791.

Page 364, 1st column. “Prostrated and extensive” should be pro-

f
l

Page 392, 1st column. Jonathan “ Wright” should be Jonathan
Knight. 4 ‘- '
Page 470, 1st column. “ Registers of Deeds” should be recorders of
deeds; in 2d column, “ Recorders of Wills" should be registers of wills.
‘Page 476, 1st column. “ Matha’s” Bottom should be Martha’s Bottom.
Page 484, 1st column. The residence of Mr. Samuel Cunningham was
next on the east the one now occupied by A. T. Baird, Esq., on East
Maiden Street. — '
Page 487,.1st column. Lot 283 on “ Maiden” should be on Main.
Page 488, 1st column. . Sarah B. “ Muller” should be Sarah B. Musser.
- Page 553, 1st column. A line of copy has been omitted in the measure-
ments of the Soldiers’ Monum-ent; the height of the second base should
be three and three-eighths feet.
Page 674, 2d column. Mr. “ Koogle” should be Mr..Kruger.
Page 758, 2d column. The paragraph concerning the Pleasant Grove
Regular Baptist Church should have been placed in East Finley township.
Page 867, 2d column. Miss Mary “ Boynton” should be “ Baynton.”
She was the daughter of the Mr. Baynton who was of the firm of Wharton,
Baynton & Morgan, trading with the Indians in 1763, losing heavily by
them in the French and Indian war, and .becoming interested as bene-
ficiaries in the ‘Indian grant to the traders at the treaty of Fort Stanwix
in 1768, out of which arose the famous Indiana Company.

120

HISTORY OF WASHINGTON COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA.

making preparations for the intended night assault;
butit was a delusive and fatal confidence. Suddenly,
at a little past noon, an excited scout brought word
to Col. Crawford that a body of white horsemen were
approaching from thenorth. This was most alarming
intelligence, but it was true. The British detachment
from Detroit——Butler’s Rangers—had arrived, and
were then forming a junction with the Wyandot forces.‘
But this was not all. Almost simultaneously with the
arrival of the British horsemen, a large body of Shaw-
anese warriors appeared in the south, in full view from
Col. Crawford’s position, and joined the Delawares.
In thisstate of affairs the idea of an attack on the
Indian camp could no :longer be entertained. The
commandant at once called a council of war of his
oflicers to determine on the course to be pursued in
this dire emergency. Their deliberations were very
short, and the decision unanimously rendered was to
retreat towards the Ohio. In pursuance of this de-

cision, preparations fo_r the movement were at once.

commenced. The dead had already been buried, and
fires were now built over them to prevent their dis-
covery and desecration by the savages. Most of the
wounded were able to ride, but for the few who were
not, stretchers were prepared. These and other nec-
essary preparations were completed before dark, and
the volunteers were ready to move at the word of
command. Meanwhile, war parties had been hourly
arriving to reinforce the Indian forces, which had now
become so overwhelming in numbers that any offen-
sive attempt against them would have been madness.

As soon as the late twilight of June had deepened
into darkness all scouts, and outposts were called in,
the column was formed in four divisions, each under
command of one of the field-majors, as on the out-
ward march,” and the retreat was commenced, the
command of Maj. John McC1elland leading, and Col.
Crawford riding at the head of all. Usually in a re-
treat the post of honor, as of danger, is that of the
rear- guard, but in this case the head of the column
was as much or more exposed than the rear, as the
line of march lay between the positions held by the
Delawares and Shawanese. That the advance was
here considered to be the post of danger is shown by
the fact that orders were given to carry the badly
wounded in the rear. '

The Indians had discovered the movement almost
as soon as the preparations for it commenced, and
hardly had the head of the column begun. to move
when it was fiercely attacked by the Delawares and
Shawanese. The volunteers pushed on, fighting as
they went, but they suffered severely, and soon after
Maj. McClelland was wounded, and, falling from his
horse, was left behind to the tender mercies of the
savages. The division, however, fought its way clear

1 Reported by the British lieutenant, Turney, at one hundred and forty
Warriors.

2 Excepting that of Maj.Brinton, who was wounded. His division was
now commanded by Brigade-Maj. Daniel Leet.

of the Indians, who did not then follow up the pursuit,
probably for the reason that they felt doubtful as to
the actual intent of the movement, thinking it might
prove to be but a feint, covering the real design of a
general assault; so, fearful of some unknown strata-
gem or trap, they remained within supporting dis-
tance of the Wyandots and Rangers, and by failing to
pursue probably lost the opportunity of routing, per-
haps annihilating, the head division.

When the advance-guard received the attack of
the Delawares and Shawanese, the other three divis-
ions, which, although not wholly demoralized, were
undoubtedly to some extent panic-stricken, most un-
accountably abandoned McClelland’s command, and
in disregard of the orders to follow the advance in a
solid column, moved rapidly off on a line diverging
to the right from the prescribed route. They had not
proceeded far, however, before some of the companies
became entangled in the mazes of a swamp, in which
several of the horses were lost. During the delay
caused by this mishap the rear battalion was attacked
by the Indians, and a few of the men were wounded,
but the enemy did not push his advantage, and the
divisions pushed on as rapidly as possible, and de-
flecting to the left beyond the swamp, and striking
the trail by which they came on the outward march,
came about daybreak to the deserted Indian village
on the Sandusky, where they found the men of ‘Mc-
Clelland’s division, who had reached there an hour ‘or
two earlier, disorganized, panic-stricken, and leader-

less, for Maj. McC1elland had been left for dead on A

the field, as before narrated; and during the hurried
march, or more properly the flight, from the scene of
the fight to the abandoned village, the commander,
Col. Crawford, had disappeared, and no one was able to
give any information concerning him, whether he had
been wounded, killed, captured, or lost in the woods.
John Slover, the guide, and Dr. Knight, the surgeon,
were also missing. These facts, when known by the men,
greatly increased their uneasiness and demoralization.

At this point (the deserted Wyandot village), Maj.
Williamson, as Col. Crawford’s second in command,
assumed the leadership of the forces, and after a brief

halt the entire command, now numbering something.

more- than three hundred and fifty men, continued
the retreat over the route by which they had come on’
the outward march?’ The new commander, never

3 Soon after leaving the deserted village they passed a sugar camp
which the Indians had used the preceding spring. Butterfleld relates
that, in passing this place, “Isaac Vance, one of the volunteers from
Washington County, espied a brass kettle that had been used by the In-
dians in this camp to boil sap in, and which had apparently been left in
the bush through an inadvertence. This kettle, in the eyes of aback-
woodsman, was a prize of too much value to be left in the enemy's coun-
try ; so, dismounting and seizing a bowlder, he soonhad the utensil flat-
tened, ready for transportation. It was then securely fastened to his
saddle, and notwithstanding the stirring scenes through which the
finder soon after passed, was transported all the way to the home of the
borderer.” ‘

Isaac Vance lived in the township of Somerset, Washington County, C

as did also his father, John Vance.

‘ally changed since that time.

THE REVOLUTION.

doubting that the Indians would pursue him in force,  each successive onslaught with such cool bravery and

hurried on his men with all possible speed, keeping
out the most wary and trusty scouts on his rear and
flanks. — The command passed the mouth of the Little
Sandusky without seeing any signs of an enemy, but
while passing through the Plains, at about eleven
o’clock in the forenoon, the scouts discovered far in
their rear a pursuing party, apparently composed of
both Indians and white men. They were afterwards
found to be Wyandots and British Rangers, all
mounted. It was now the purpose of Maj. William-
son to cross the Plain country and reach the shelter
of the timber before being overtaken by the pursuers ;
and the latter were equally determined, if possible, to
possess themselves of the woods in advance of the

- -Americans. The racewas an eager and exciting one

on both sides, but at last Maj. Williamson found that
the Indians were gaining on him so rapidly that he
would be compelled to stand for battle before reach-
ing the timber. Maj. Rose, in his report of these
operations to, Gen. Irvine,,said, “ Though it was our
business studiously to avoid engaging on the Plains,
on account of the enemy’s superiority in light cav-
alry, yet they pressed our rear so hard that we con-
cluded on a general and vigorous attack, whilst our
light-horse‘ secured the entrance of the woods.”

The place where ,Maj. Williamson found himself
compelled to stand at bay before the pursuing horde
of VVyandots and British Rangers, in the early after-

noon of the 6th of June, was near the creek called

Olentangyf a tributary of the Scioto, near the eastern
edge of the Plains, where the column of Col. Craw-
ford had first debouched from the shades of the forest
into the open country on the morning of the 3d,
when moving towards the Wyandot town, which they
found deserted. ‘But the aspect of affairs was materi-
Then they were ad-
vancing in high spirits and confident of victory
over the savages; now, in headlong flight before the
same barbarous foe, they were turning in sheer des-
peration to fight for their lives.

The battle-line of the borderers faced to the west,
and in its rear, holding the edge of the woods, and
ready to act as a reserve corps in case of emergency,
was the company of light-horsemen. The pursu-
ing force, close upon them, attacked unhesitatingly
and with fierce energy, first striking the front, then
quickly extending their battle-line around the le.ft
flank to" the rear of VVilliamson’s force, which was
thus compelled to meet the savage assault in three
directions. But the panic and demoralization of the
volunteers had entirely disappeared} and they met

1 Referring to one of the companies, which Col. Crawford had selected
and equipped for special duty as skirmishers and scouts.

2 This battle of Olentangy was fought on a plain about five‘ miles
southeast of Bucyrus, Ohio. .

3 Before the fight Maj. Williamson addressed his men, telling them
that the only possible chance they had of A escaping death and probably
torture was to stand solidly together and fight with the determination
never to yield; that if they should break and endeavor to save them-

steadiness, and fought with such desperation, that at

the end of an hour from the commencement of the

battle,_the enemy withdrew discomfited, and appa-
rently with heavy loss. Perhaps the sudden cessa-
tion of their firing was in some degree due to the fact
that just then a furious thunder-storm, which had for
some time been threatening, burst upon the combat-
ants. The men were drenched and chilled to the
bone, while much of their ammunition was rendered
useless by the rain. This, however, operated quite as
unfavorably to the Indians as to the whites.

As soon as the savages and Rangers withdrew, Maj.
Williamson, without a moment’s delay, caused the

dead to be buried and the wounded‘ cared for, and

then the retreat was resumed. Capt. Biggs’ company,
which seems to have always held the post of danger,
leading the advance in the outward march, now
formed the rear-guard, though its ranks were reduced
to nine men and all its officers were missing. It was
afterwards relieved, however, and from that time each
of the companies in turn took position to guard the
rear of the retreating column.

When Williamson commenced his retreat from the
battle-field, the enemy, who had in the mean time
scattered over the Plains, soon concentrated and re-
newed the pursuit, firing rapidly but at long range.
Soon, however, they began to press the rear more
closely, throwing the volunteers into some disorder,
which must have grown into a panic but for the cool-
ness and intrepidity of the commander and Maj.
Rose. These officers were unceasing in their efforts,
constantly moving along the line entreating the vol-
unteers to keep solidly together and preserve unbroken
the order of march, and warning them that if any
should leave the column and attempt to escape singly
or in squads they would certainly lose their scalps.
Finally they became steady, and the order of march
was preserved unbroken during the remainder of the
day. The Indians kept up the pursuit, and occasion-
ally attacked with much vigor, though, as VVilliam-
son.’s force was now moving through the timbered
country, the savages no longer held the relative ad-
vantage which they had possessed in fighting on the
Plains. . _

The volunteers bivouacked that night (June 6th)
on the Sandusky River, about six miles from the
battle-field of the afternoon; the enemy’s ‘force
camped about a mile farther to the rear. Unusual

selves by flight there would be but faint hope that any of them would
ever again see their homes. The aide-de-camp, Maj. Rose, rode along
the line, cheering the men by his own coolness and apparent Ct nfidence.
“Stand to your ranks,” he cried, in clear, ringing tones, and with his
slightly foreign accent; “take steady aim, fire low, and waste not a
single shot! Be steady, steady, for all our lives depend upon it I" These
admonitions from their officers, and the evident hopelessness of escape
by flight, caused them to stand firm, resolved to fight to the last, with no
thought of surrender. '

4 The loss of the volunteers in this fight was three killed and eight
wounded; that of the enemy was not known, but must have been much
greater.

121 _

122

HISTORY OF WASHINGTON COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA.)

precautions were-taken by Maj. Williamson to guard
against a surprise during the night,—and at the first
streakings of dawn on the 7th the men fell in to re-

sume the march; but hardly had the column been’

formed when the Indians came up and opened fire
upon the rear. A lively skirmish followed, in which
two of the men fell into the hands of the savages, but
no disorder ensued. . The retreat was continued
steadily and in good order, and, much to Maj. Wil-
liamson’s surprise, the Indians suddenly abandoned
the pursuit. The last shot from the savages was fired
at a point near the present town of Crestline. From
there the column moved rapidly on in good order
and without molestation, reaching the Muskingum on
the 10th, crossing that stream between the ruined

I Moravian villages of Schoenbrunn and Gnadenhiitten,

and on the 13th reaching the Mingo Bottom, where
they found some of the missing, who had arrived
ahead of the column. They crossed the Ohio on the
same day and camped‘ for the night on the Virginia
side of the river. On the 14th they were disbanded,
and returned to their homes after an absence of alittle
less than four weeks. Maj. Williamson was indefati-
gable in his attention to the wounded and his efforts
to alleviate their suffering. On their arrival on the
east bank of the Ohio he took care that every wounded

iman able to ride should be furnished with a horse

and an escort to take him to his home; while those
who were too badly» hurt to endure that method of
removal were by his orders carried‘ on litters to the
nearest settlements, where they were nursed and cared
for. Through all the trying scenes of the campaign
Williamson proved himself a brave, eflicient, humane,
and prudent officer.‘

1' On the day when the retreating forces recrossed the Ohio (June 13th),
Williamson made an official report of the retreat from Battle Island
(not of the entire campaign) to Gen. Irvine, as follows:

“I take this opportunity to make you acquainted with our retreat
from Sandusky Plains, June 6th. We were reduced to the necessity of
making a forced march through the enemy’s lines in the night, much
in disorder; but the main body marched round the Shawanese camp,
and were lucky enough to escape their fire. They marched the whole
night, and the next morning were reinforced by some companies, of
which I cannot give a particular account, as they were so irregular and
so confused. . . . I must acknowledge myself ever obliged to Maj. Rose
for his assistance, both in the field of action and in the camp. His char-
acter in our camp is estimable, and his bravery cannot be outdone. Our
country must ever be obliged to Gen. Irvine for his favor done on the
late expedition. Maj. Rose will give you a particular account of our
retreat. I hope your honor will do us the favor to call the officers to-
gether and consider the distress of our brave men in this expedition,
and the distresses of our country in general. Our dependence is entirely
upon you, and we are ready and willing to obey your commands when
called upon.” ’

Another and more minute report of the operations was made by Lieut.
(otherwise called major) Rose to Gen. Irvine, who transmitted the two
reports to Gen. Washington, with the following letter written by him-
self, and dated June 16th, viz.:

“ The inclosed letters—-one from Co]. Williamson, second in command,
and the other from Lieut. Rose, my aide-de-camp—contain all the par-
ticulars of this transaction which have yet come to my knowledge. I
am of opinion had they reached the Plains in seven days (instead of ten),
which might have been done, especially as they were chiefly mounted,
they would have succeeded. They should also have pushed the advan-
tage evidently gained at the commencement of the action. They failed

5

' they brought.

The fearful news of the disaster which had befallen
the Sandusky expedition reached the settlements two
days before the retreating force under Maj. William-
son arrived at Mingo Bottom. Col. James Marshel
had it as early as the 11th of June, by a letter from a
fugitive who had left the main body five days before.
He (Marshel) at once communicated the intelligence
to Gen. Irvine. I“ This moment,’’. he said, “ came
to hand the inclosed letter, by which you will learn
the unhappy fate of our little Army. What the con-

‘ sequences may be God only knows. I would fondly

hope that matters are not quite so bad as they are
represented.” And he added, T‘I shall be as expe-
ditious as possible in raising a party of men to secure
the retreat across the river should the pursuit be
continued so far.” The same news which Marshel
received came also to Dorsey Pentecost, who imme-
diately rode to the Ohio to meet the retreating volun-
teers. There he found the main body under Wil-
liamson, but there was little of comfort in the tale
On his return home he wrote the
president of the Council as follows: 2

“ WASHINGTON COUNTY, June 17th, 1782.

“DR. SIR,—-By a person who is now here on his

way tothe head of Elk, I have Just time to tell you
that on the 25”‘ of last month 478, some say 488 men,
mounted on Horses, set out under the Command of
Col. Crawford for S‘. Duskie; they were discovered at
the Muskingum, and from there, all the way out,
Spies was kept on them; the S‘. Duskie people col-
lected the Shawanese & The Light dragoons from the
British posts between S‘. Duskie and the post at De
Trouit, they attacked our people in the plains of S‘.
Duskie, near the S‘. Duskie River, on Tuesday was a
week last. The battle continued two days, the first
day was very close and hot work, the second day was
at long shot only. On the night of the 2‘1 day our
people retreated, & the Indians broke in on them in
the retreat & routed them; however, about two Hun-
dred stuck together & brought off all the wounded ex-
cept three; which was left on the ground. The next
day the Indians attacked our people in the reare, but
was repulsed with Considerable Loss on their side;

they then pursued their retreat with Success & unmo- -

lested to the Ohio. I met the men at the Mingo Bot-
tom last Wednesday, about thirty-five miles from my
House, & Collected the Information I send you.
“There is about 20 wounded (few dangerous) and
about half that Number killed; there is a good many
missing, amongst which is Col. Crawford, and a num-
ber of other valuable men, but asthe Scatterediparty’s

in another point which they had my advice and, indeed, positive orders
for, viz., to make the last day’s march, as long as possible and attack the
town in the night. But they halted in the evening within nine miles,
and fired their rifles at seven in the morning before they marched.
These people now seem convinced that they can not perform as much by
themselves as they some time since thought they could; perhaps it is
right that they should put more dependence on regular troops. I am
sorry I have not more to afford them assistance."
2 Pa. Arch., 1781-83, p. 556.

THE REVOLUTION.

are Coming in daily I have Hopes of them. As the

people was much confused when I met them, I could
not get that Information requisite; what little I got
was from Maj. Ross [Rose], Aid De Campt to Gen.
Irwin [Irvine], & who went Aid to Crawford, & I

hope the General will give you a particular account,

as he will receive it from the Major. I am told that
the Indians were much superior to our people and
that in the engagement they Suffered greatly, and
that Col. Crawford Strongly recommended to return
before they got to the Town, alleging that our people
were too weak, as the Indians had Early Intelligence
of their Coming, but was overruled By the rest of the
Officers. . . .” »

Having seen how Maj. Williamson with the main

‘body of the troops reached and crossed the Ohio

River, let us’ return to trace the adventures and mis-
fortunes of the brave Col. Crawford, his faithful
friend Dr. Knight, and others who had become sepa-

rated from the column and were struggling on through

the wilderness, with dangers surrounding them on
every side, in their endeavors to escape from the
savages.

When the volunteers commenced their retreat from
the battle-field of the 4th and 5th of June, at about
nine o’clock inthe evening of the last-mentioned
day, Col. Crawford rode at the head of the leading
division (McClelland’s). A very short ,time after-

_wards they were attacked by the Delawares and

Shawanese, and (as has already been mentioned) the.
rear divisions left their positions in the line of march

and moved away to the right, leaving the front di-

vision to extricate itself from its perilous situation.
They left in such haste that no little disorder ensued,
in which some of the sick and wounded were left be-

hind, though it is believed that all but two were finally

saved from the enemy. While the Indian attack on
the advance division was in progress, Col. Crawford
became anxious concerning his son John, his nephew,
William Crawford, and his son-in-law, William Har-

rison, and rode’ back to find them or assure himself of

their safety, but in this he was unsuccessful. While
engaged in the search he was joined by the surgeon,
Dr. Knight, whom he requested to remain with and
assist him. With this request the doctor readily com-
plied. He thought the missing men were in the front,
but as the colonel assuredhim they were not, the two
remained behind a considerable time after the last of
the troops had passed on, the commander in the mean-
while expressing himself in terms of indignation at
the conduct of the three battalions in disobeying his
orders by leaving the line of march and pressing on
in their semi-panic, forgetting the care of the sick and
wounded, and regardless of everything but their own
safety.

After the last of the troops had passed on, a.nd when
Crawford and the surgeon found it useless to remain
longer, they followed as nearly as they could in the
track of the larger column, which, however, by this

123
time was a considerable distance away and lost to view
in the darkness. Proceeding rather slowly on (for
the colonel’s horse had become jaded and nearly worn
out by the fatigues of the day), they were soon after
overtaken by two stragglers who came up from the
rear, one of them being an old man and the other a
stripling. Neither of these had seen or knew any-
thing about the two young Crawfords and Harrison.
The colonel and his three companions had not pro-
ceeded far when the sound of fire-arms was heard in
front of them and not very far away- It was from the
attack which the savages made on the rear of the re-
treating column at the time when a part of it became
entangled in the swamp, as has been mentioned. The
noise of the firing before them caused Crawford’s party
to turn their course in a more northerly direction, on
which they continued for two or three miles, when,
believing that they were clear of the enemy, they
turned at nearly a right angle, now facing nearly east,

_and moving in single file, Indian fashion. At about

midnight they reached and crossed the Sandusky
River. Near that stream they lost the old man, who

had lagged behind, and was probably killed by

Indians.

From the Sandusky they continued in an easterly
direction, but when morning came they turned more
southerly. Early in the day the horses ridden by Col.
Crawford and the boy gave out entirely and were
left behind. Early in the afternoon they were joined
by Capt. Biggsand Lieut. Ashley, the latter mounted
on Biggs’ horse, and suffering ‘severely from the
wounds received in the battle of the 4th. The captain
had bravely and generously stood by the wounded
lieutenant, and was now marching on foot by his side,
resolved to save him if possible, even at the risk of
his own life. And a fearful and fatal risk it proved
to be.

At almost precisely the time when Biggs and Ashley
were found by Col. Crawford’s party (about two o’clock
P.M. on the 6th of June), the main body of volunteers,

under Williamson, were facing to the rear, forming I

line of battle to meet the attack of the pursuing In-
dians, as has already been noticed. The distance
from the field where the battle was raging to the
place where the party of fugitives were at that time
was about six miles in a northwest direction. After
being joined by Biggs and Ashley, the colonel and his
companions moved on slowly (being encumbered by

the care of the wounded oflicer) for about an hour, '

when their flight was interrupted by the same thunder-
storm that burst over the battle-field of Olentangy at
the close of the conflict. Being now drenched with
the rain, and wearied by their eighteen hours’ flight,
the commander thought it best to halt, and accord-
ingly they made their night bivouac here,1 amid the
most cheerless surroundings, wet, shivering, and in

+————————__.._______._____’_.___._____

1 The place where they encamped that night is about two miles north
of Bucyrns, Ohio.

16

HISTORY OF WASHINGTON COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA.

most withering reproof to some Delawares who were
present, in reference to the conduct of their nation in
some of their transactions with the whites. Hetold
them they were not warriors but women, and that
they deserved to have their ears cut off for their be-
havior, and after a long and extremely abusive and
contemptuous speech to them in the same strain, in
which he told them their people must remove forth-
with from the Delaware, that they could have no
time to consider about it, but must go at once to the
Susquehanna, but that considering their behavior he
doubted whether they would be allowed to remain
there, he handed them a string of wampum and con-
tinued, “You are to preserve this string in memory_
of what your uncles have this day given‘ you in
charge. We have now some other business to trans-
act with our brethren [the English], therefore depart
this council, and consider what has been said to you.”

The humiliated Delaware chiefs dared not disobey
this peremptory command. They left the council at
once, andthe last of their people removed immedi-
ately afterwards to Wyoming, where they remained
only a short time, and then went to the West Branch
of the Susquehanna, and from there a large part of
them emigrated to the Ohio, whither a considerable
number of their tribe had removed many years before,
as early as 17 25.1

The Shawanese, who were originally inhabitants of
the country now embraced in Southern Georgia and
Florida, were driven from that country by a hostile
tribe,” and came to Pennsylvania about the year 1697,
and removed from the Susquehanna to the head of
the Ohio about 1728. An account of their coming

1 Conrad Weiser, the Indian trader, Indian agent, and interpreter, in
a speech to the chiefs of the Six Nations a.t Albany in July, 1754, said,
“The Road to Ohio is no new Road. It is an old and frequented Road;
the Shawanese and Delawares removed thither above thirty years ago from
Pennsylvania, ever since which that Road has been traveled by our
traders at their invitation, and always with safety until within these
few years that the French with their usual faithlessness sent armies
there.” .

2 Zeisberger, the Moravian, says, “ The Shawanos, a warlike people,
lived in Florida, but having‘ been subdued in war by the Moshkos, they
left their land and moved to Susquehanna, and from one place to another.
Meeting a strong party of Delawares, and relating to them their forlorn
condition, they took them into their protection as grandchildren; the
Shawanos called the Delaware nation their grcmdfather. They lived
thereupon in the Forks of the Delaware, and settled for a time in Wy-
oming. When they had increased again they removed by degrees to the
Allegheny.” When they came from the East to the Ohio, they located
«at and near Montour's Island, below the confluence of the Allegheny
and Monongahela. The Delawares came with them to the VVest, both
tribes having been ordered away from the valleys of the Delaware and
Susquehanna by the Iroquois, whom they were compelled by conquest
to recognize as their masters.

Some writers have said that the Shawanese came from the country
west of the Ohio to Pennsylvania, but this is shown to he a mistake by
the language of Hetaquantagetchy, a Six Nation chief, at a council held
at Philadelphia Sept. 10, 1735. He gave an account of the murder of
one of the Iroquois Indians by a small band or tribe of the Shawanese
who were then located on/the Allegheny, and added, “ That the tribe of
Shawanese complained ‘of is called Shaweygira, and consists of about
thirty young men, ten old men, and several women and children; that
it is supposed they are now returned to the place from whence they first
came, which is below C’arolz‘na.” '

and subsequent movements is found in the minutes
of a treaty council held at Philadelphia with the
chiefs of the Six Nations, Aug. 26, 1732. The
Shawanese were then settled on the Ohio, and it was
desired to induce them to remove back to the Susque-
hanna, to remove them from the influence of the
French, who, as it was reported, had made their ap-
pearance on the Allegheny. The Governor of Penn-
sylvania proposed to the Six Nations to use their in-

fluence with the Shawanese to that effect, and on the -

occasion of the council referred to recited to the as-
sembled chiefs as follows:

“ They were told that the Shawanese, who were set-
tled to the Southward, being made uneasy by their
Neighbours, about Sixty Families of them came up

to Oonestogoe, about thirty-five years since, and de-

sired leave of the Sasquehannah Indians who were

planted there to settle on that River; that those Sas- -

quehannah Indians applied to this Government that
they might accordingly Settle, and they would be-
come answerable for their good Behaviour. That our
late Proprietor arriving soon after, the Chiefs of the
Shawanese & of the Sasquehannahs came to Phila-
delphia & renewed their Application; that the Pro-
prietor agreed to their Settlement, and the Shawanese
thereupon came under the Protection of this Govern-
ment; that from that time greater Numbers of the

same Indians followed them and Settled on the Sas-

quehannah and,Delaware; that as they had joyned
themselves to the Sasquehannah Indians, who were
dependent on the five Nations, they thereby also fell
under their Protection. That we had held several
treaties with those Shawanese, and from their first
coming were accounted and treated as our own Indi-
ans; but that some of their young men having, be-
tween four and five years since, committed some Dis-
orders, tho’ we had fully made it up with them, yet,
being afraid of the Six Nations, they had removed
backwards to Ohio, and there had lately putt them-
selves under the Protection of the French, who had
received them as their children. That we had sent a
message to them to return, & to encourage them had
laid out a large_ Tract of Land on the West of the
Sasquehannah round the principal Town where they
had last been settled, and we desired by all means
that they would return thither.”

But the Shawanese could not be induced to return
to the lands which had been laid out for them “near
Pextan, which should always be kept for them and
their children for all time to come.” In response to
a message to that effect, four of their chiefs,-—Ope-
kethwa, Opakeita, Quassenungh, and Kataweykeita——
went from the Ohio to Philadelphia, where they ar-
rived on the 28-th of September, 1732,3 and after a
council of three days’ duration with the Governor,
during which he used all his powers of persuasion to in-
duce them to consent to the removal, “ They answered

3 Col. Rec., iii. 459.

12-I

HISTORY OF WASHINGTON COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA.

constant dread of being discovered by prowling sav-
ages. '

Early in the morning of the 7th the party pushed
on in nearly the same southeasterly direction, recross-
ing the Sandusky River. An hour or two after their
start they came to a place where a deer had been
killed. The best part of the carcass had been cut off
and wrapped in the skin of the animal, as if the owner
had intended to return and carry it away. This they
took possession of and carried with them, as also a
tomahawk which lay on the ground near by. A mile
or so farther on they saw smoke rising through the
trees. Leaving the wounded officer behind, in charge
of the boy, the others" advanced cautiously towards the
fire. They found no person there, but they judged,
from the indications, that some of the volunteers had
been there, and had left the place only a short time
before. Lieut. Ashley was then brought up, and they
proceeded to roast the venison which they had cap-
tured. As they were about finishing their meal a
white man was seen near by, who, on being called to,
came up very cautiously, and was recognized by Col.
Crawford as one of his own men. He said he was the
slayer of the deer, and that he had been frightened
away from the carcass by the approach of the colonel
and his companions. Food was given him, and after
eating he moved on with the party. I

About the middle of the afternoon they struck the
route of the army’s outward march, at a bend in the
Sandusky, less than two miles distant from the place
where Williamson’s force had bivouacked the night
before, and where, in the morning of the same day,
the pursuing Indians had made their -last attack on
the retreating column. They were still nearer to the
camping-place occupied by the Indians during the
previous night, and it is difficult to understand how
the practiced eye of Col. Crawford could have failed
to discover the proximity of Indians, but it is cer-
tain that such was the case, for when Dr. Knight and
Capt. Biggs advised him to avoid following the trace,
for fearof encountering the enemy, he replied with
confidence that there was little danger of it, for the
savages would not follow the retreating column after
it reached the timbered country, but would abandon
the pursuit as soon as they reached the eastern verge
of the Plains.

From the point where they struck the trail at the
bend of the river, then, they moved on over the route
which had been passed by the troops in their out-
ward march. Col. Crawford and Dr. Knight, both
on foot, led the ‘way; Capt. Biggs (now riding the
doctor’s horse) followed some fifteen or twenty rods
behind, and in the rear marched the boy and the
killer of the deer, both dismounted. In this manner
they proceeded along the south side of the river until
they came very near the place where Williamson had
made his camp of the previous evening. It does not
appear that they had yet detected the proximity of an
enemy, or that they were using more than ordinary

precaution as they traveled. ‘Suddenly, directly in
front of Crawford and Knight, and not more than fifty
feet from them, three Indians started up in full view.
Crawford stood his ground, not attempting to gain
cover, but the surgeon instantly took to a tree and
raised his piece to fire, but desisted from doing so at
the peremptory command of the colonel. Immedi-
ately afterwards, however, Capt. Biggs saw the sav-
ages and fired, but without effect. One of the Indians
came up to Crawford and took him by the hand, while
another in like manner advanced and took the hand
of the surgeon, at the same time calling him “doc-
tor,” for they had previously been acquainted with
each other at Fort Pitt.

The Indians told Crawford to order Biggs and Ash-
ley, with the two other men in the rear, to come up
and surrender, otherwise they would go and kill them.
The colonel complied, calling out to them to advance,
but this was disregarded, and all four of them es-
caped, though Biggs and Ashley were afterwards
taken and killed by the savages.

It was a party of the Delawares who captured Col.
Crawford and ‘Dr. Knight, and they immediately

‘took their captives to the camp of their chief, VVinge-

nund. The time this occurred was in the afternoon
of the 7th of June (Friday), only five days after the
army had,passed by the same place in its outward
march in the highest spirits, and with the brave
Crawford riding at its head, happily unconscious of
the awful doom which awaited him.

Crawford and Knight remained at the camp of the
Delawares for three days. During their stay there
(in the evening of Sunday, the 9th) a party of out-
lying scouts came in, bringing the scalps of Lieut.
Ashley and Capt. Biggs, as also the horses which had
been ridden by those unfortunate oflicers. Besides
Crawford and Knight, there were nine other white
prisoners at the Delaware camp, all half—starved and
guarded with the utmost vigilance by the seventeen
warriors who composed the war party at the camp.
Several. of these savages were personally known to
Crawford and Knight.

On the morning of the 10th the camp was broken
up, and the warriors set out with their prisoners for
the Sandusky towns. All of them except Crawford
w_ere taken to the old town at Upper Sandusky ; but
the colonel was taken by a different route to the head-

quarters of Pomoacan, the great sachem of the Wyan-'

dots. There were two reasons, for his being ‘*?sent to
that village, one of them "being to have him guide his
captors over the route by which he and Knight had
come, so that they might possibly find the horses
which had been left behind, and the other reason
being to allow the colonel to see Simon Grirty, who
was known to be at the Half-King’s town. Grirtywas
an old acquaintance of Crawford’s, as has been seen,
and the latter had a faint hope that by a personal in-
terview with the renegade he might be induced to

THE REVOLUTION.

125

use his influence with the Indians to save the prison-
er’s life, or at least to save him from the torture by
fire. The hope was a vain and delusive one, as the
event proved, but the doomed man in his extremity
clung to it as drowning men catch at straws. His
savage custodians well knew that he would gain
nothing by the interview with Girty, but they granted
his request, apparently for the demoniac satisfaction
of witnessing the despair and agony of his certain
disappointment.

A The prisoners bound for the old town arrived there
the same evening. Later in the night Crawford and
his guards reached Pqmoacan’s village, where he had
the desired interview with Girty, during which he

poffered the wretch one thousand dollars to interfere

and save his life. Girty promised to do what he
could, though he had not the slightest intention of
keeping his word. He also told the colonel that his
nephew, William Crawford, and his son-in-law, Wil-
liam Harrison, had been captured by Shawanese
scouts, but that the chiefs of that tribe had decided
to spare their lives, the latter portion of his statement
being false, as he well knew. But the story, with
the promise to intercede in his behalf, had the effect
to allay for the time the colonel’s worst fears.

On the following morning (June 11th) Crawford
was informed that he must go to the old town, to
join the other prisoners, so that all could be marched

 a body to the village of the Half-King. Under

this order he was taken to the upper village, where he
arrived about the middle of the forenoon, and there
found the main body of the white prisoners, including
Dr. Knight, and the Delaware chiefs, Pipe and‘Win-
genund, who had come there at an earlier hour in
the morning. Here the hopes which had been raised

in Crawford’s mind by the promise of Girty were sud-

denly extinguished when Wingenund approached him
and painted his face black. The hypocritical chief,‘
while he was performing the ominous operation, pro-
fessed to be extremely glad to see the colonel, and
assured him that he was to be adopted as an Indian;
but Crawford was not deceived by this dissimulation,
for he well -knew that when the Indians painted the
face of a prisoner black it meant but one thing,—that
the person so marked had been doomed to death.
All the other prisoners, including Dr. Knight, had
previously been painted black by the implacable
Delaware, Capt. Pipe.

A li tle later in the day the whole party of pris-
oners, under their Indian guards, moved out from the
old town and took the trail down the river. Col.
Crawford and Dr. Knight (who were regarded by the
Indians as their principal prizes) were marched some
distance in the rear of the others, and were kept in
charge by no less personages than the chiefs Win-

1 The treacherous Win genund was well acquainted with 001. Crawford,
had always professed great friendship for. him, and had more than once
been entertained by the colonel at his house on the Youghiogheny.
Capt. Pipe was also acquainted with Crawford.

9

genund and Pipe. They had not proceeded far from

the village before they passed the corpse of one of

the-prisoners who preceded them. A little farther on
they saw another, then another and another, four in

all, killed by their guards only a few minutes before, .

and all bearing the bloodymarks made by the scalp-
ing-knife. '

They had supposed that their destination was the

town of the Wyandot sachem, Pomoacan, but their
hearts sank within them 2 when, at the Big Springs,
on the present site of Upper Sandusky, the Indians
left the trail leading to the Wyandot headquarters
and took that leading to the villages of the Delawares.
On this trail they proceeded in a northwesterly course
until they reached Little Tymochtee “Creek, where
Crawford and Knight, with their guards, overtook the
other surviving prisoners, only five in number. Here
several squaws and young Indians were met, and all
the prisoners were halted and made to sit on the
ground. The object of this movement became appa-
rent when, a few minutes later, the five prisoners were
set upon by the squaws and boys, who tomahawked
and scalped them all. One of these five was John
McKinley, of Washington County, whose scalped
head they cut off and rolled about on the ground.
The Indian boys took the warm and bloody scalps
and repeatedly dashed them into the faces of Craw-
ford and Knight, who had also been seated on the
ground a short distance away from, but in full view
of, the butchery.

Of the prisoners who had set out from the old

town only Crawford and Knight now remained. The

march was resumed on the trail to Pipe’s town, the
two prisoners being now separated and made to walk
a hundred yards or more apart. On their way they
were met by Simon Girty on horseback and accom-
panied by several Indians. Crirty spoke to Crawford
and also to Knight, heaping upon the latter the vilest
epithets and abuse. As the party moved on they
were met by many Indians, all of whom maltreated
the prisoners, striking them with clubs and beating
them with their fists. About the middle of the after-
noon the party with their dejected captives arrived
at a piece of bottom-land on the east bank of Ty-

2 The Wyandots had advanced much farther on the road towards civ-
ilization than had the Delawares or Shawanese, and not only had they,
long before that time, wholly abandoned the practice of burning their
prisoners, but they discountenanced the horrid custom among the other
tribes. The prisoners, knowing this, had consequently regarded it as a.
sign in their favor that they were to be taken to the home of the Wyan-
dot sachem, but when they found that they had been deceived, and that
their real destination was the towns of the cruel Delawares, they knew
too well that mercy was not to be expected. The fact was that Pipe
and Wingenund, being fully determined to inflict the fire torture on
Crawford and Knight, had recourse to stratagem and deceit to obtain
from the Half-King, Pomoacan, his consent to the commission of the
barbarity, for, as the Wyandots were more powerful than they, and in
fact masters of that section of the Indian country, they dared not
do the dreadful deed without the consent of the Wyandot sagamore.

and that consent they knew could never be obtained if their request _

was accompanied by. a straightforward statement of their real inten-
tions. ‘

T126

mencement of the infernal orgie.

-burning in a circle around it.

HISTORY OF WASHINGTON COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA.

.'mochtee'Creek, where a halt_was made, and itbecame
'at once apparent’ that with this halt, the journeying
of ‘one at ‘least of the prisoners was ended. Craw-
iford and Knight were still separated, and were not
again allowed to hold any conversation together.
“Knight was in charge of a‘ peculiarly villanous-look-

ing Indian named Tutelu, who had been made his

special guard, and who was to take him on the fol-
‘lowing day to the Shawanese towns, which had been
..decided on as the place where he was to be put _to

death.
The spot where the party halted on the banks of

-the Tymochtee was the place‘ where Col. Crawford

was to die. It had been fully and finally decided by

the chiefs that he should suffer death by the torture

of fire, and as all the barbarous preparations had
been made there was but little delay before the com-
The fatal stake
had already been set, and fires of hickory sticks were
About forty Indian
men and twice that number of squaws and young In-
dians were waiting to take part in the torturing of the
unfortunate prisoners. .

Immediately on his arrival the colonel was stripped

naked and made to sit on the ground, with his hands

firmly bound together and tied behind him. Then
the yelling, screeching crowd fell upon him and beat
him: without mercy until he was exhausted and cov-
.ered with blood. . When they had tired of this the
victim was dragged to the centre of the fiery circle
preparatory to the last act in the hellish drama. A

‘rope had previously been tied around the stake near
its foot, and now the other end of it was made fast to

the cord with which his wrists were bound together.
The rope was some six or eight feet in length, allow-

ing him to pass two or three times around the stake.

He could also sit or lie down at will.

The infamous Simon Grirty was present, and re-
mained there during all the dreadful proceedings
which‘ followed. When Crawford was led to the

‘stake he called out to the renegade (who stood among

the foremost in the ring of savage spectators), asking
him if they had determined to burn him to death,

and upon Grirty’s unfeeling reply in the aflirmative
‘he replied that if so he would try to endure it with
-patience and die like a soldier and Christian.

Then
the vindictive Capt. Pipe addressed the savages with
violent gesticulations, and at the close of his speech
the assembled barbarians applauded with wild de-

"light, whilst some of the crowd rushed in upon the

prisoner and cutoff both of his ears?

'1 The spot where Col. Crawford met his horrible death is on a piece of
slightly rising ground in the creek bottom, as above mentioned, a short
distance northeast of the village of Crawfordsville, Wyandot Co., Ohio.

9 This statement is made in_the narrative of Dr. Knight, who, after
witnessing the dreadful scenes of Col. Crawford’s murder. made his es-
.cape (as will be mentioned in succeeding pages) and wrote an account
of the events of the expedition. That narrative and the report of Maj.
‘Rose, the aide-de-camp, furnish the facts on which this and other reliable
accounts of Crawford’s campaign are based. ' ‘ .

~ ' As a prelude to the still more terrible tortures that
were to follow, the Indians closed in on the miserable
man and fired charges of powder into his unprotected
body. More than fifty times .was this repeated, and
the pain thus inflicted could scarcely have been less
than that produced by the flames. After this satanic
procedure was concluded the fires (which up to this
time had been burning but slowly) were replenished
with fresh fuel, and as the heat grew more intense,
and the sufferings of the victim became more and
more excruciating, the joy and shouting of the red
devils rose higher and higher. ~

Burning at the stake is universally regarded as
among the most terrible tortures that human cruelty
can inflict. But the Delaware chiefs had prepared for
the brave Crawford an agony more intense and pro-
tracted than that of the licking flames,-——they roasted
him alive! The fires were placed at a distance of
some fifteen feet from the stake, and within that dread-
ful circle for three and a half hours he suffered an
almost inconceivable physical torment, which death
would have terminated in one-tenth part the time if
the fagots had been piled close around him.

As the fires burned down the Indians seized burn-
ing brands and threw them at the victim, until all the
space which his tether allowed him was thickly strewn
with coals and burning embers, on which his naked

feet must tread as he constantly moved around the ‘

stake and back in the delirium of his pain. To in-

tensify and prolong the torture the savages applied,

every means that their infernal ingenuity could sug-
gest, and which to describe or even to think of fills
the mind with sickening horror. . 1
To Simon Girty, who was in prominent view among
the savage throngf Crawford called out in the extrem-
ity of his agony, begging the wretch to end his misery
by sending a ball through his heart. To this appeal
Grirty replied, sneeringly, that he had no gun, at the
same time uttering a brutal laugh of derision and
pleasure at the hideous spectacle. If, as tradition
has it, he had once been repelled in his attempted
addresses to the colonel’s beautifuldaughter-, Sally
Crawford, he was now enjoying the satisfaction of a

terrible revenge on her miserable father, for the in- -

dignity. _ . V 1
Through it all, the brave man bore up with as much

fortitude as is possible to weak human nature, fre-_

quently praying to his Heavenly Father for the mercy
--which was denied him on earth. Towards‘ 
being evidently exhausted, he ceased to Inove-“around
the stake and lay down, face downwards, upon the
ground. The fires being now wellburned down, the
savages rushed in on him, beat him with the glowing
brands, heaped coals upon his body, and scalped him.

3 It has been stated in some accounts of the death of Col. Crawford
that the British captain, Matthew Elliott, -was also present during the
dreadfu1.scene_s of the torture. It may have been so, but the statement
has never been fully substantiated, and there are serious doubts of its
authenticity. .. . . . . _ _ v .

I

e last,"-

I was his _“ big captain.’-’

THE REVOLUTION. .

Once more he arose, bloody, blinded, and crisped,
and tottered once or twice around the stake, then fell
to rise no more. Again the barbarians applied burn-
ing brands, and heaped live coals on his scalped head,
but he was fast becoming insensible to pain, his ‘end
was near, and after a few more vain attempts by-the
savages to inflict further torments, death came to the
rescue and the spirit of William Crawford was free.
It was on the 11th of June, at about four o’clock in
the afternoon, that the torture commenced. The end
came just as the sun was sinking behind the tops of the
trees that bordered the bottom-lands of the Tymoch-
tee. Then the savages heaped the brands together on
the charred and swollen body and burned it to a cin-
der, dancing around the spot for hours, yelling and

‘ "whooping in a wild frenzy of de-moniac exultation.

It will be recollected that Dr. Knight was brought
from the Indian old town to the place of torture on
the Tymochtee with C01. Crawford, though the two
were kept apart and not allowed to converse together.
The doctor remained a horrified spectator of ' the
burning of his superior oflicer until near the time of
his death. On his arrival at the place Knight was
fallen upon by the Indians and cruelly beaten. While
Crawford was in the midst of his greatest suflering
Simon Girty ca.me to where Knight was sitting and

' told him that he too must prepare for the same ordeal,

and he need have no hope of escaping death by tor-
ture, though he would not suffer at the same place,
but would be removed to the Shawanese towns to be
burned. Soon after an Indian came to him and struck
him repeatedly in the face with the bloody scalp which
had justbeen torn from Crawford’shead. Towards
the end of the diabolical scene, but while Crawford
was yet living, Knight was taken away and marched
to Capt. Pipe’s house, some three-fourths of a mile
distant, where he remained during the night, securely

bound, and closely guarded by the Indian Tutelu, who ’

had him in his especial charge.

In the morning (June 12th) his guard unbound
him, and having again painted him with black, started
out on horseback, driving Knight before him on foot,
bound for the Shawanese towns, where the doctor was
to suffer the torture- Passing by the spot where
Crawford had suffered on the previous day, they saw
all that remained of the colonel, a few burned bones,
when the Indian told his horrified prisoner that this
They moved on towards the
southwest, on the trail to the Shawanese town, of
Wapatomica, nearlyforty miles away.

. Knight had not wholly abandoned‘ the hope of es-
caping the torture, though his case looked wellnigh
hopeless. He carried as cheerful a countenanceas
he could, concealed from his guard his knowledge of
the import of the black pain.t on his face, and con-
versed with him as well as he could, pretending that
he expected, to befadopted into“ the Shawanese tribe
on arrival at their destination. Tutelu vas'ked,,him,.if'.



he knew how to build a Wigwam, and Knight assured.’
him that he was excellent at that business. All this
pleased the Indian, and to some extent threw him off
his guard- The , journey of the first day was about
twenty-five miles. At the night camp Tutelu again
bound his captive, and Watched him closely through

the night, so that the doctor, although he tried hard,

to free himself, did not succeed.

At daybreak Tutelu rose, stretched his limbs, un- I

bound his captive, and renewed the fire, but did not
immediately prepare to resume the journey. They.
had been greatly tormented by gnats during the night,

and the doctor asked him if he should make a smudge

in their re_ar to drive the pests away. Tutelu told him
to do so, whereupon Knight took two sticks.(one of
them about a foot and a half in length, which was the
largest he could find), and holding a coal between,
them carried it behind the Indian as if to start the
smudge, but as soon as he had got the right position
suddenly turned and dealt the savage a blow over
the head with all his strength, partially stunning him
and knocking him forward head first into the fire.
His hands were badly burned, but he immediately
recovered himself, rose, and ran away, uttering a
hideous yell.‘ The doctor seized the Indian’s gun
and followed him, determined to kill him; but in his
eagerness he broke or disarranged the lock of the
piece, so that he could not fire. This being the case
he followed only a short distance, and then returned
to the place where they had passed the night.

Here the surgeon lost no time in making prepara-
tions for a desperate attempt "to eifect his escape from
the Indian country. He possessed himself of Tutelu’s
ammunition, his blanket, and an- extra pair of mocca-
sins, and without delay commenced his long journey,
taking a course about east by north. All day he
traveled without molestation or notable incident, and
at- night had emerged from the timbered_country and
entered the Plains, where he made his lonely bivouac.
But he was too uneasy and anxious to remain long,
and so after two or three hours’ rest resumed his way,
and traveling all night, guided by the stars, had crossed
the open country and entered the forest to the east

"before daylight appeared. During this day (June

14th) he struck the track of the troops on their out-_
ward march, but having already received a severe
lesson on the danger of following this he avoided it
and took a north course, whichhe kept during the
rest of the day. That night hecamped in the forest
and slept undisturbed. I ‘ I I A-

The next morning he shaped his course due east,
and moved on with greatly lightened spirits but ex-

1 Tutelu fled to the village of the Delawares, and was seen on his. ar-
rival by John .S1over, who was then a captive there, He (Tute1u)re-
ported the loss of his prisoner, with who_m he said he had a hard battle,
and had given the doctor fearful and probable fatal knife-wounds in the?
back and stomach, although (as hesaid) Knight was a man of immense
proportions and physical power. Slover told the Delawares thatuthis
was false, and thatthe, doctorwas a weak, puny man-, whereat the In-

dians ridiculed Tutelu without mercy.

128

HISTORY OF WASHINGTON COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA.

ceedingly weak from lack of food. He could shoot
no game, for his utmost endeavors failed to put the
lock of his gun into working condition, and finding
at last that itwas useless to make further attempts,
and that the piece could be only an encumbrance to
him, he threw it away. He caught a small turtle,
and occasionally succeeded in taking young birds, all
of which he ate raw. In this way, and by making
use of nourishing roots and herbs, he succeeded in
sustaining life through allthe Weary days of his jour-
ney to civilization. As he traveled eastward he found
heavier timber, and saw everywhere great quantities
of game, which was very tantalizing, as he could not
kill or catch any, although nearly famished.

For twenty days from the time of his escape from
his guard Tutelu, Dr. Knight traveled on through the
wilderness, unmolested by savages, but suffering ter-
ribly of hunger and cold,———for he had not the means
of making a fire,—-and on theevening of July 3d
struck the Ohio River about five miles below the
mouth of Beaver. On the 5th he arrived safely at
Fort Pitt,‘ where he remained as surgeon of the
Seventh Virginia Regiment until after the declara-
tion of peace. V '

John Slover, one of the guides of the expedition,
was one of those who were captured by the Indians
and condemned to the torture, but almost miraculously
escaped. On the evening of the 5th of June, when
the forces of Col. Crawford commenced their retreat
from Battle Island, and the combined Delawares and
Shawanese attacked the advanced battalion "under
Maj. McClelland, it will be recollected that the three
other divisions precipitately abandoned the line of
march and moved away on a route diverging to the
west, and that soon afterwards the head of the column
marched by mistake into a hog or swamp, where a
number of the volunteers lost their horses by reason
of their becoming mired in the soft muddy soil.
Among those who were thus dismounted were the
guide, Slover, James Paull (afterwards sheriff of Fay-
ette County), and five others, who then kept together
in a party and attempted to make their escape through
the woods. They traveled on in safety until the 8th,
when, at about nine o’clock in the forenoon, they fell
into an ambuscade of Shawanese Indians, who had
followed their trail from the Plains. The savages

 1 In a letter from Gen. Irvine to President Moore, dated Fort Pitt,
July 5, 1782, he says, “This moment Doctor Knight has arrived, the
surgeon I sent with the volunteers to Sandusky; he was several days in
the hands of the Indians, but fortunately made his escape from his
keeper, who was conducting him to another settlement to be bound
iburned]. He brings the disagreeable account that Col. Crawford and
all the rest (about twelve, to the doctor’s knowledge) who fell into his
[their] hands were burned to death in a most shocking manner; the
unfortunate colonel in particular was upwards of four hours burning.
The reason they assign for this uncommon barbarity is retaliation for
the Moravian afi‘air. The doctor adds that he understood those people

had laid aside their religious principles and have gone to war; that he
saw two of them bring inscalps who he formerly knew.”-—Pen'n. Ar-"

chives, 1781-83, p. 576.

fired on them, and two of the men fell. Paull ran for
his life and made his escape, but Slover and two other
men were taken prisoners and conducted back to the
Shawanese towns on Mad River, which they reached
on the 11th of June. On their arrival they were re-
ceived by an Indian crowd such as always collected
on such an occasion, and were made to “run the
gauntlet” between two files of squaws and boys for a
distance of some three hundred yards to the council-
house. One of the men had been painted black
(though why the Indians had thus discriminated
against this man does not appear), and he was made
a special target for the abuse and blows of the bar-
barous gang. He reached the door of the council-
house -barely alive, but was then pulled back and
beaten and mangled to death, his body cut in pieces,
and these stuck on poles about the village.

Slover and the other man ran the gauntlet without
fatal or very serious injury, but the latter was sent
away the same evening to another village, and no
more was heard of him. As to Slover, he was kept
at the village for two weeks, during which time coun-
cils were held daily and war-dances every night, to all
of which he was invited and most of which he at-
tended? The Indians also assigned to him a squaw
as a companion, with whom he lived in comparative
freedom during his stay at the village?’ Finally a
council was held, at which it was decided that he
should be put to death by torture.

The next day .“ about forty warriors, accompanied
by George Girty, an adopted Delaware, a brother of
Simon and James Girty,“ came early in the morning
round the house where Slover was. He was sitting
before the door. The squaw gave him up. They
put a rope around his neck, tied his arms behind his
back, stripped him naked, and‘ blacked him in the
usual manner. Girty, as soon as ‘he was tied, cursed
him, telling him he would get what he had many years
deserved. Slover was led to a town about five-miles
away, to which a messenger had been dispatched to
desire them to prepare to receive them. Arriving at
the town, he was beaten with clubs and the pipe-ends
of their tomahawks, and was kept for some time tied
to a tree before a house-door.
inhabitants set out for another town about two miles
distant, where Slover was to be burnt, and where he
arrived about three o’clock in the afternoon. They
were now at Mac-a-chack, not far from the present site
of West Liberty, in Logan County. Here there was

2 Having previously lived much among the Indians, Slover was well
acquainted with their language, and spoke it, particularly the Miami
and Shawanese dialects, with great fluency.

3 i‘ There was one council at which Slover was not present. The war-
riors had sent for him as usual, but the squaw with Whom he lived would
not suffer him to go, but hid him under a large quantity of skins. It
may have been done that Slover might not hear the determination she
feared would be arrived at, to burn him."—Butterfield.

4 James and George Girty, as well as Capt. Matthew Elliott, of the
British service, were present at the Shawanese town, and took part in
the Indian councils before mentioned.

In the mean time the- s

THE REVOLUTION.

129

a council-house also, as at Wapatomica,1 but only a
part of it was covered. In the part without a roof was
a post about sixteen feet in height. Around this, at a
distance of about four feet, were three piles of wood
about three feet high. Slover was brought to the post,
his arms again tied behind him, and the thong or cord

. with which they were bound was fastened to it. A rope

was also put about his neck and tied to the post about

‘four feet above his head. VVhile they were tying him

the wood was kindled and began to flame. Just then

- the wind began to blow, and in a very short time the

rain fell violently. The fire, which by this time had
begun to blaze considerably, was instantly extin-
guished. The rain lasted_ about a quarter of an
hour.”2

‘The savages were amazed at this result, and per-
haps regarded it as an interposition of the Great
Spirit on behalf of the prisoner. They finally de-
cided to allow him to remain alive until morning,
when, as they said, they would recommence the tor-
‘inure, and devote the whole day to it. He was then
unbound, and made to sit on the ground, where he
was beaten, kicked, and otherwise maltreated by the

Indians, -who continued dancing round him and yell- V

ing till nearly midnight. Three guards were then de-
tailed to watch him during the rest of the night; he
was again bound and taken to a house, where a rope
was fastened about his neckand tied to a beam of the
house. His guards kept awake taunting him about

the torture he was to endure until towards morning,

when two of them fell asleep, and not long afterwards
the other followed their example. Soon they were
all. asleep, and when he was entirely sure that they
were so Slover commenced attempts to unbind him-
self. Hehad comparatively little difficulty in slipping
the cords from one of his wrists, which left him at

‘liberty to work at the rope around his neck. This he

found much more securely tied, and he began to de-
spair of loosening it, as the daylight had begun to
appear and the Indians would soon be on the alert.
At last, however, he succeeded in untying the knots,
and rose from his painful position, free, but still in
the greatest danger of discovery. '
Stepping softly over the sleeping warriors, he
quickly left the house, and ran through the village
into a corn-field.’ Near by he saw several Indian
horses grazing, and having with no little difliculty
caught one of these, using the rope with which he
had been bound as a halter, he mounted and rode
‘away, first slowly, then more rapidly, and finally
with all the speed of which the animal was capable.
No alarm had yet been given in the village, and he
had therefore reason-to believe that the Indians wer
still ignorant of his escape. '
Slover forced the horse to his utmost speed for a
long time, but gradually his pace slackened and grew

1 The Indian village to which he had first been taken.
2 But.terfie1d’s “ Expedition against Sandusky.”

judged to be his true course.

slower and slower until about two o’clock in the
afternoon, when, finding it impossible to urge him
beyond a walking’ gait, he dismounted, left the ani-
mal, and pushed on on foot. He had heard the dis-
tant hallooing of Indians behind him, showing him
that he was pursued, but he kept on, using every
precaution to cover his trail as he proceeded. No
Indians appeared, and he traveled on without a
moment’s stop until ten o’clock at night, when, being
very sick and vomiting, he halted to rest for two
hours. At midnight the moon rose, and be pro-
ceeded on, striking a trail, which he kept till day-
light, and then, as a measure of precaution, left it,
and struck through the woods along a ridge at a right
angle from his previous course. This he continued
for about fifteen miles, and then changed to what he
From this point he
met with no specially notable adventure. On the
third day he reached the Muskingum, on the next he
reached and crossed the Stillwater, and in the even-
ing of the fifth day of his flight he camped within
five miles of Wheeling. Up to this time he had not
closed his eyes in sleep since he left his cabin and
squaw companion at Wapatomica. Early on. the
following morning he came to the Ohio River oppo-
site the island at Wheeling, and seeing a man on the
other side, called to him, and finally induced him to
come across and take him over in his canoe, though
at first he was very suspicious and unwilling to cross
to the west shore. On the 10th of July Slover reached
Fort Pitt.

As the volunteers who marched with Col. Crawford
to Sandusky were during the campaign regularly in
the service under the orders of the general command-
ing the Western Department, there were of course
muster-rolls of the several companies showing the
names of all their members; but no such rolls are
now known to be in existence. In the absence of
these and of any unoflicial list of those who composed
the force under Crawford, very few names are now
known of Washington County men who marched
with the expedition to Sandusky. A few, known as
residents of this county, have been incidentally men-
tioned in‘ the preceding narrative of the campaign,
and the names of some others (but not many) have
been gathered from different sources. Among them
are those of John Canon, of Canonsburg, David
Steele, of Peters township, Isaac Cox, James and
Hugh Workman, of Amwell township, and VVilliam
Huston, of Washington, all of whom. returned from
Sandusky in safety. In one account it is stated that
William Huston never returned; but this is proved
to be incorrect by an aflidavit which is found, made
by William Huston before Justice Samuel Shannon
in 1798. John Campbell, William Nimmons, and
William Johnson volunteered from this county, and
marched with the expeditionary forces from the Mingo
Bottom to the Sandusky Plains, but did not come back.

wrong, but he obstinately insisted that he was not.

130

HISTORY or WASJI-JIINGTON COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA. I

with ‘the fugitives from the scene of disaster, and were
never again_heard of in the settlements. The names
of these men, as volunteers from Washington County,
were given by William Darby, whose statement has
been published by De Hass, Butterfield} and other

writers upon the subject of Crawford’s ‘ill-starred en-

terprise. ‘

The names of a few others who enrolled themselves
with the volunteers who marched from Washington
County in the memorable campaign of 1782 against
the Wyandot towns are found in the minutes of the
Supreme Executive Council of Pennsylvania, refer-
ring to awards made some years afterwards in reim-
bursement for losses sustained by various persons in
that campaign. Such of the entries in those minutes
as have reference to residents of Washington County”
are given below (names of such as are known to have
been residents of Westmoreland being omitted), viz.:

“In Council.
' “PHILADELPHIA, Jan. 7, 1785.

“The comptroller-general’s reports upon the following accounts
against the State for losses sustained, etc. upon the Indian expedition
9

of 1782, under the direction of Colonel William Crawford, were read and ’

approved, viz.:

“. . . Twelve pounds to James Alexander; . . . six pounds four
shillings and five pence to Noble Graham; six pounds to Samuel Dualls;
thirteen pounds to John Dean ; seven shillings and sixpence to Samuel

‘Butterfie1d,. in his “Historical Account of the Expedition Against
Sandusky,” quotes Darby's account, as follows: .

“From the fort [the stockade inclosing the house of Jacob Wolfe, in
what is now Buffalo township, Washington County] my parents removed
to Catfish [Washington], and spent the residue of 1782, and to April, 1783,
on the farm of Alexander Reynolds, recently owned by,Dr., F. J. Le-
moyne. On this farm, we were living when . . . the militia army were
defeated under Colonel William Crawford . . . James and Hugh Work-
man were both in that expedition, and I fancy I see the two women now

when James Reynolds came running to my mother, exclaiming, ‘Jamy ,

Workman is killed 2’ James Workman,.who was a married man, was
not killed, but returned to his family and lived many years afterwards.
A like report came in regard to Hugh, and happily proved untrue, to the
great joy of his betrothed wife, Peggy Bryson, living then with her
brother-in-law, Thomas Nichol. John Campbell, of Pigeon Creek, was
killed in the action.” Butterfield then proceeds: .

“The brothers Workman were in the same company when the army
on its outward march left Mingo Bottom; but when Crawford selected
his company of light-horse, Hugh joined it, leaving his brother James
in the ranks of the mounted infantry. James was twenty-five and Hugh
twenty-three years of age when they joined the Sandusky expedition.
The former applied for a pension fifty years after, and was successful.
Both were then living (1833) in Amwell township, Washington Countyl’
James Workman was one of those who became separated from the main
body of Crawford's forces in the night of June 5, 1782, and while he and
another man in the same condition were making their way through the
»woods in'their attempt to escape, they met Nicholas Dawson, of West-
moreland County (one of the volunteers), who had mistaken his course
and was heading towards Sandusky, thus running directly into danger
instead of escaping fromit. They tried to convince him that he was
Finding it impossi-
ble to persuade him to change his course, they at last told him that as
he would certainly be taken by the Indians if he kept on, and as it was
better for him to die by the hands of white men than to be tortured by

‘savages, they were determined -to shoot him then and there unless ‘he
‘consented to turn his course and go with them. This was an unanswer-

Vable argument, and Dawson finally yielded to it, though with a very bad
grace. He changed his route, joined company with the two men, and
so succeeded in making his escape, and arrived in safe! y at his home be-
yond the Monongahela. v f I

2 The grea_te-r- part of those named are known to have been inhabitants
of the county of Washington. ", It is not unlikely that some are included
who were not such, but they are certainly very few. ‘ ‘ ‘

Cane; seven pounds to Richard Clark; . . . fifteen pounds te Louis‘
Heming; . . . and sixteen pounds to Joseph Barker.

“ January 10, 1785, . . . thirteen pounds to James Woods; eight pounds
ten shillings to Jacob Van Kirk ; thirty pounds to James Nicholl; . . .
four pounds nineteen ‘shillings and sixpence‘ to Joseph Parish ; . . . six-“
teen pounds to Jacob South ; ten _pounds to Jacob Schwartz; . . . five
pounds sixteen shillings and three pence to John Lucas; . . . five pounds
to Alexander McDonald : . . . four pounds ten shillings to Robert Jack-J
son; fifteen pounds to William Case; fifteen pounds to Aaron Rollins ;.

eleven pounds to Lewis Duvall; three pounds eight shillings to Charles

Burdin; . . . six pounds ten shillings to Dennis Stevens.

“March 2, 1785.—Accounts approved of J Craig Ritchie and Andrew
Munro, for horses lost on the Sandusky expedition. Of the aforesaid
Craig Ritchie, four rations due from the 20th of May to the 20th of June,
1782. -

“ August 30, l785.—The comptroller-genera1's report upon the accounts
of William Shearer, of the county of Washington, for a horse lost on
the Sandusky expedition, was read and approved. 1

“ September 15, 1785.—Upon the account of James Scott, for a_ horse,
blanket, etc., lost on the Sandusky expedition.

“ September 21, 1785 .——Of Peter Peterson, for rations due on the San-
dusky expedition. Of Henry Taylor, for thirty days’ rations furnished
John Blean upon the aforesaid expedition. Note.-—All the (3) three per-.
sons above named are inhabitants of Washington County.

“ December 31, 1785.—Of Richard Graham, for a horse lost on the San-
dusky expedition. '

“ April 19, 1786.—Of Hugh Sprouls, of the county of Washington, f0]?
a horse lost on the Sandusky expedition.

“ Of Joseph Brown,of said county, for rations furnished to the militia
employed on the said expedition. Of Thomas Brown, of said county,

, for rations furnished as aforesaid. -

“ December 8, l789.—Of George Tompoh, for his provisions, while
employed as a militiaman on the frontiers of Washington County, and
for a blanket, a pack-saddle, and two bags lost on the (said) expedition
under Colonel Crawford, in 1782, amounting to two pounds seven shil-
lings and sixpence.

“ Of John Hill, for a saddle, blanket, two bags, and a wallet or pack

1 lost on the said expedition, amounting to four pounds two shillings and

sixpence.

“ Of Robert Taylor, for thirty days’ provisions due him while em-
ployed on said expedition, amounting to one pound two and sixpence.
Of Richard Hopkins, for a horse lost on the said expedition, amounting
to four pounds. I

“ Of John Turvey, for thirty days’ provisions due to him while em-
ployed on said expedition, amounting to one pound two shillings and
sixpence.

"‘ December 17, 1789.——Of Robert Walker, J r., of Washington County,
for provisions furnished by him for the Sandusky expedition,under Col-
onel Crawford, in the year 1782, amounting to one poundtwo shillings
and sixpence. , _ '

“ February 18, 1790.—Of Alexander Lashley, for a horse which was
taken into public service and lost on the Sandusky expedition against
the Indians, under Colonel Crawford, in the year 1782, valued at twelve
pounds, and allowed. _

“ August 28, 1790.——Of Moses Cook, for a horse which was lost on the
Sandusky expedition against the Indians, in 1782, amounting to fifteen
pounds. .

“ September 6, 1790.-—Of the estate of James Guifee, for a horse which
was lost on the Sandusky expedition against the Indians, in 17 82, amount-
ing to fourteen pounds.”

Proposed Second Sandusky Expedition.——It has
been mentioned that a number of fugitives from the

disordered forces of Col. Crawford reached the Ohio‘

River considerably in advance of the main body in
its retreat under command of VVilliamson. These
stragglers immediately returned to their homes, and
spread through the frontier settlements the most
alarming and exaggerated reports3 of the disaster

3 The earliest reports which obtained currency were to the effect that
the army of Crawford was almost annihilated, and that the Indians were
pursuing them to the Ohio, and would doubtless cross the river and carry
rapiue and desolation through the border settlements. The fact was

THE REVOLUTION.‘ I

which ‘had befallen the expedition. These reports

not only caused great grief and extreme anxiety for_

the fate of relatives and friends who were with Craw-
ford’s forces, but the wildest consternation also, for it
was feared and believed that the victorious savages-
red and white—would soon be across the Ohio, and
would carry devastation and butchery eastward to
the Monongahela, if not to the base of Laurel Hill.
When the grief and anxiety of the people was to a
great extent allayed by thereturn of the volunteers,
and the consequent discovery that the disaster was by
no meansas overwhelming as had at first been re-
ported, the dread of Indian invasion still remained,
and the bold frontiersmen, discarding the idea of
waiting for the coming of the foe, and then merely

. standing on the defensive, began at once to urge the

forming of a new expedition to carry the war into the
heart of the Indian country, and to prosecute. it to
the point of extermination, or at least to the destruc-
tion of the Wyandot, Delaware, and Shawanese
towns, for they believed that in no other Way could
security be had for the settlements along the border.
It was the wish of the leading spirits——such men as
Williamson, Marshel, and Col. Cook, of VVestmore-
land—that the proposed expedition should be made
as strong numerically as possible, that it should in-
clude besides volunteers from the militia of Wash-
ington and Westmoreland Counties as many regular
Continental troops as could be spared from Fort Pitt,

' and that it should he commanded by Gen. Irvine in

person.
The first proposition communicated to the com-

imandant at Fort Pitt for a new Indian campaign

appears to have been that of two captains of West-
moreland militia (Robert Beall and Thomas Moore),‘
who joined in a letter to Gen. Irvine, dated June 23d,

' in which they said, “ The unfortunate miscarriage of

the late expedition, the common interest of our coun-
try, and the loss of our friends induce us to be thus
forward in proposing another. . . . We do not wish
to be understood as giving our own private senti-
ments, but of those of the people generally in our
quarter, for which purpose we are authorized to ad-
dress you, and from accounts well authenticated we
assure you it is the wish of the people on this side the
Monongahela River” without a dissenting voice.

A In his reply to Beall and Moore (dated June 26th)
Gen. Irvine said, “Inclination as well as duty is a
continual spur to me not only to acquiesce in but

‘to encourage every measure adopted for the public

good. Your proposals on this occasion are so truly
patriotic and spirited that I should look on myself

that, including all those killed in battle, those who afterwards. died of
wounds, those-who suffered death at the hands of their savage captors,
and those who were missing and never heard from,‘ the total loss sus-
tained by Crawfordis forces was lessthan seventy-five men. ,

;_ 1 Beall. and Moore were neighbors of the unfortunate 001. Crawford.
This-fact probably increased their zeal and desire for. retaliation upon
the Indians. '

unpardonable were I to pass them“ unnoticed.” Ina
letter of the same date, addressed to C01. Edward

Cook, lieutenant of Westmoreland County,.Irvine*
sa.id, “Your people seem so much in earnest that I

am led to think, if other parts of the country, are so

spirited and patriotic, something may probably be.
done, but as it will take some time to come to a proper‘
knowledge of this matter, and that must be accu-
rately done, there can be no harm in making the ex-
periment. . . . I have no intimation of any plan

being on foot in Washington_County for this pur-

pose, though‘ it is said -the people wish another expe-=

dition.” V

The manner in which it was proposed to form the
new expedition and carry it to a successful issue is
indicated in a letter written by Irvine to the Secretary
of ‘Var, Gen. Lincoln, on the 1st of July, from which
the following extracts are made 2

“The disaster has not abated the ardor or desire for
revenge (as they term it) of these people? A number
of the most respectable are urging me strenuously. to

take command of them, and add as many Continental»

officers and soldiers as can be spared, particularly ofli-
cers, as they attribute the defeat to the want of expe-
rience in their oflicers. They cannot nor will not rest
under any plan on the defensive, however well exe-
cuted, and think their only safety depends on the total
destruction of all the Indian settlements within two
hundred miles; this, it is true, they are taught by
dear-bought experience. .

“ They propose to raise by subscription six or seven
hundred men, provisions for them for forty days, and
horses to carry it, clear of expense to the public, un-
less government at its own time shall think proper to
reimburse them. The 1st of August they talk of as-
sembling, if I think proper to encourage them. I am
by no means fond of such commands, nor am I san-

guine in my expectations, but rather doubtful‘ of the .

consequences; and yet absolutely to refuse having»

anything to do with them, when their proposals are

so generous and seemingly spirited, I conceive would
not do well either, especially as people too generally,
particularly in this quarter, are subject to be clamorous
and to charge Continental officers with want of zeal,
activity, and inclination of doing the needful for their
protection. I have declined giving them an immedi-
ate, direct answer, and have ‘informed them that my
going depends on circumstances, and in the mean time
I have called for returns of the men who may be de-
pended on to go, and the subscriptions of provisions
and horses. The distance to headquarters is so great
that it is uncertain whether an express could return‘
in time with the commander-in-chief’s instructions. ’ '

2 The general, it seems, had somewhat changed his mind concerning
the temper of the people since the 16th of June, when, in his report of
the Crawford expedition to Gen.-Washington, he said,—.-

“ These people now seem convinced that they cannot perform as n1uch_

by themselves as they some time, since thought theycould; perhapsit
is right that they shouldputi moregdependuence on regular troops. _. . 

131?

132

HISTORY OF WASHINGTON COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA.

‘ “As you must know whether any movements will
take place in this quarter, or if you are of the opinion
it would on any account be improper for me to leave
the post, I request you would please to write me by
express. But if no answer arrives before or about
the 1st of August, I shall take for granted you have

«no objections, and that I may act discretionally.

Should it be judged expedient for me to go, the
greatest number of troops fit to march will not exceed
one hundred. The militia are pressing that I shall
take all the Continentals along, and leave the defense
of the fort to them; but this I shall by no means do.
If circumstances should seem to require it, I shall
throw in a few militia with those regulars left, but
under Continental oflicers.” i c

On the same day, July 1st, Gen. Irvine wrote Gen.
Washington, informing him of the plan for a second
expedition to Sandusky, but saying that he should
not think of proceeding with the campaign without
express orders from the commander-in-chief. ‘_‘ By the
best information I can obtain,” he added, “we may
lay out our accounts to have to fight the Shawanese,
Delawares, Wyandots, Mingoes, and Monseys, in all
about five hundred. They are all settled in a line
from Lower Sandusky near Lake Erie to the head of
the Miami, not more than seventy-five miles from the
two extremes; Upper Sandusky lies near the centre.
If all these could be beat at once, it would certainly
nearly, if not entirely, put an end to the Indian war
in this quarter.”

There were good grounds for the alarm felt by the
people west of the Monongahela, for a few days after
the return of the volunteers from the Sandusky expe-
dition the Indians appeared in ‘large numbers along
the west bank of the Ohio, their main force being
concentrated at Mingo Bottom, with smaller parties at

. various points on both sides of the river, but closely

and constantly watched by detachments of the militia
of Washington County. The settlers between the
Ohio and Monongahela. Rivers were almost in a state
of panic. On the 30th of June Col. John Evans
(lieutenant of the Virginia county of Monongalia),
whose home was in that part of Washington County
which afterwards became Greene, wrote Gen. Irvine
informing himof the presence of Indian war parties
in his vicinity, and adding, “ Without your assistance
I much fear our settlements will break. The defeat of
Col. Crawford occasions much dread.”

On the 2d of July, Col. Marshel wrote Gen. Irvine,
giving information of the alarming situation of af-
fairs on the Ohio border, and reporting to the general
that he had sent Col.‘ Williamson with a detachment
to Cox’s fort, about four miles below Mingo Bottom,

" 1 In the preceding narrative of the march of the expeditionary force
to and from Sandusky this oflicer was mentioned as Major Williamson,
that being the grade to which he was elected for that campaign. After
his return from the expedition his proper hiilitary title was (as it had
been before) Colonel Williamson,-of the Washington County militia.

'on the Virginia side of the Ohio, and that Col.

Thomas Crook had marched with another detach-
ment to Wheeling, the latter having Marshel’s orders
to form a junction with C01. Williamson’s force, in
case he could do so without endangering the safety of
the post at Wheeling. And Marshel continued, “ To-
morrow I intend marching whatever men may ren-
dezvous in this quarter to Richard Wells’ fort, which
is within five miles of Mingo Bottom, at which place
I intend to stay, if circumstances will admit, until. I
hear from you; and I shall expect, if you think it
necessary, that a number of your troops will march
to our assistance as soon as possible.” Again, on the
following day, he wrote Gen. Irvine from Catfish
(Washington County seat), informing him that the
inhabitants were clamorous for assistance. “ The
people declare,” he said, “they must abandon their
habitations unless a few men are sent to them during
harvest. They also declare their willingness to sub-
mit to and supply the men on the faith of the gov-
ernment.”

On the 5th of July Gen. Irvine said, in a letter to
the president of the Council,” “The people generally
seem anxious to make another tryal, and urge me to
take Command of them. Their proposals are to raise
Volunteers, Provisions, and Horses by subscription,
at their own Expence, without making any charge
against the public, unless they should hereafter think
proper to reimburse them ; they also promise to obey
orders &c. The 1st of August is the time talked of
to march. I have not yet determined whether to go
or not, but am getting in Returns of Men, Horses, &
Provisions subscribed.”

Meanwhilethe people continued in a state of mind
bordering on panic. ‘Many of them moved from
their homes to the shelter of the forts and block-
houses. Nearly as much consternation prevailed in
the settlements, east of the Monongahela, and the
general alarm was greatly increased by the sudden
appearance of the savage enemy in Westmoreland
County, where, on the 11th of July, they killed and
scalped three sons of Mr.’ Chambers, and twoldays
later attacked and burned Hannastown, the old
county-seat of Westmoreland.3 The party which ac-

2 Pa. Arch., 1781-83, ‘p. 576.
3 An account of the destruction of Hannastown was given by Michael
Huffnagle in a letter to President Reed, as follows:

“ FORT REED, July, 1782.

“SIR,—I am sorry to inform your Excellency that Last Saturday at" -

two O’Clock in the afternoon, Hanna’s Town was attacked by about one
hundred Whites and Blacks. We found several Jackets, the buttons
mark’d with the King’s eighth Regiment. At the same Time this Town
was attacked another party attack'd Fort Miller, about four Miles from
this Place. Hanna's Town & Fort Miller in a short Time were reduced
to Ashes, about twenty of the Inhabitants killed and taken, aboutone
hundred h-ead of Cattle, a number of horses, and hogs ki1l’d. Such wan-
ton destruction I never beheld, burning and destroying as they went.
The People of this Place behaved brave, retired to the Fortt, left their
all a prey to the Enemy, & with twenty Men only & nine guns in good
order, we stood the attack till dark. At flrst some of the Enemy came
close to the Pickets, but were soon oblidg’d to retire farther off. , I can-

THE REVOLUTION.

133

complished this destruction was composed of Indians
and BritishVRangers, and came in from the north, by
way of the valley of the Allegheny.

Intelligence of the attack on and destruction of
Hannastown did not reach Gen. Irvine at Fort Pitt
until three days after the occurrence, and of course
it was then too late for the commandant to send a

- force in pursuit of the savages with any hope of suc-

cess. The Indians who made the foray were from the
north, mostly Mingoes. The surviving prisoners cap-
tured at Hannastown and Miller’s were taken to
Niagara and delivered to the British military authori-
ties there. At the close of the war they were deliv-
ered up and returned to their homes.

A day or two after the destruction of Hannastown

, a party of seven or eight Wyandots made an incursion

in Washington County, near its present northern bor-
der. They attacked a cabin, in which they found an
old man alone, whom they murdered and scalped.
Then they plundered the place and made off with
their booty, without having taken the lives of any
more victims. The news spread through the settle-
ments, and a party of eight frontiersmen set out in
pursuit a few hours later. In the party were theptwo
brothers, Andrew and Adam Poe, both famous for
their prowess in Indian warfare. It was while on
this pursuit that the Poe brothers had the desperate

V hand-to—hand fight which resulted in the killing of the

noted Wyandot chief, “ Big Foot,” the story of which
is narrated more at length in the history of Hanover
township. The other members of the pursuing party
overtook the Indians and killed all but one, but lost
three of their own number, including a young man
named Cherry.

Before the events above narrated, Gen. Irvine wrote
(July 11th) to Gen. Washington, saying that the
people were constantly growing more determined in
their efforts to raise a new force to operate against the
Sandusky towns, that solicitations to him to assist in
it and to assume the command were increasing daily,
and that the militia oflicers had actually commenced

preparations for the expedition. The news of the

descent of the savages on Hannastown caused these
preparations to be urged with greater energy by the
bolder and more determined men, while it increased

.the general alarm and apprehension in a great degree.

.___________A____,_.____.______________________
not inform you what Number of the Enemy were killed, as we see them
from the Fortt carrying off severals.

‘ “ The situation of the Inhabitants is deplorable, a number of them not
having a Blanket to lye on, nor a Second Suit to put on their Backs.
Aifairs are strangely managed here; where the fault lies I will not pre-
sume to say. This Place being of the greatest consequence to the Fron-
tiers, to be left destitute of Men, Arms, & ammunition is surprising to
me, although frequent applications have been made. Your Excellency,
I hope, will not be offended my mentioning that I think it would not be
amiss that proper inquiry should be made about the management of the
Public afiairs in this County, and also to recommend to the Legislative
Body to have some provision made for the Poor distress’d People here.
Your known humanity convinces me that you will do everything in
your power to assist us in our distress’d ‘situation.”—-Penn. Archives,

(1781-83, p. 596.

Gen. Irvine, in a letter written to President Moore, of
the Executive Council, on the 16th of July, said, in
reference to the probable results of this affair, “ I fear
this stroke will intimidate the inhabitants so much
that it will not be possible to rally them or persuade
them to make a stand. Nothing in my power shall
be left undone to countenance, and encourage them.”

Notwithstanding Gen. Irvine’s fears to the con-
trary, the raising of the new expedition was strenu-
ously urged and ‘pushed forward‘ with all possible
vigor by the principal officers of the militia in the
two counties. Other than clearly established physi-
cal disability, or having served in the then recent
campaign under Col. Crawford, very few pleas for ex-
emption from service were deemed valid_. Men were
required to perform regular tours of duty at the sev-
eral stations in anticipation of Indian attacks, but were
excused fromthis duty if disposed to volunteer for the
new expedition. But the continual alarms caused by
Indian forays rendered it necessary to keep large
numbers of the militiamen constantly on duty at the
stations, and before long it became evident that the
requisite number of volunteers could not be raised and
equipped for the proposed new campaign by the time
(August 1st) originally set for the -general rendezvous.

“The incursions of the Indians on the frontier of
this country,” said Gen. Irvine, in a letter written on
the 25th of July to the Secretary of "War, “will un-
avoidably prevent the militia from assembling as soon
as the 1st of August. Indeed, I begin to entertain
doubts of their being able to raise and equip the
proposed number this season,” Under these circum-
stances the general thought it proper to extend the
time of preparation for the expedition, and accord-
ingly he directed that the forces should assemble on‘
September 20th (instead of August 1st), at Fort Mc-
Intosh, as a general rendezvous, and march thence to
the invasion of the Indian country} -

On the 10th of August Col. Marshel received
orders from Gen. Irvine to call out from the militia
a party of twenty men and an officer to range the
country lying on the waters of Ten-Mile and Buffalo
Creeks, in Washington County, this order being made
in response to an address to the commandant, signed
by the principal inhabitants of that region, and ask-
ing him for a force to protect their homes against the
savages. Gen. Irvine, in giving the desired order to
C01. Marshel, said, “Though I do not think there
is as much danger as they apprehend, yet if they
run, the consequence is the same, and I do not wish
any more breaks in the settlements.”

The people of Washington County, even more than
those of Westmoreland, were firm in their deter-
mination to prosecute the new campaign against the
Indians at Sandusky. On Thursday, August 22d,
the militia oflicers and principal citizens of the county

1 Both the State and general government had approved the plan of the
expedition,and Gen. Irvine had been appointed to the command of it.

. THE INDIAN

OCCUPATION.

17

that the place where they are now settled Suits them
much better than to live ‘nearer; that they thought
they did a Service to this Province in getting Skins
for it in a place so far remote; that they can live
much better there than they possibly can anywhere

._on Sasquehannah; that they are pleased, however,

with the Land laid out for them, and desire that it
may be secured to them.” On the following day at a
council held with the chiefs, “They were told there
were Coats making for them, and other Cloathsf with
a Present, was providing; the Proprietor presented
their Chief with a very fine gilt Gun, as a mark of
respect for their Nation, and told them he would
send a Surveyor to run Lines about the Land in-
tended for them, and that none but themselves and
Peter Chartiere should be allowed to live on it.” The
attempt to remove them eastward from the Ohio was
relinquished, and they, with the Delawares, were
found there when the first white men (other than a
few traders) came to this region.

In 1748 the strength of the Delawares at the head
of the Ohio was one hundred and sixty-five warriors;
that of the Shawanese one hundred and sixty-two ;‘-"
these figures being given by Conrad VVeiser. Their
chief settlement or village was Logstown 3 (called by
the French Chinigue, or Chinique), which was then 4
located on the right bank o'f the Ohio, several miles
below the mouth of the Allegheny, and where also
was the residence of the Iroquois sachem, Tanachari-
son, called the Half-King, whose authority over-
shadowed that of the Delaware and Shawanese chiefs,
because he represented the powerof the dreaded Six
Nations. The seat of the Delaware “ king,” however,
was not at Logstown, but higher up,.near the head of
the O-hio, on its left bank. In the journal of Maj.
George Washington’s trip to the French forts on the

1 The four chiefs received “ each of them a blue Cloth Coat lined with
Salloon, a Shirt, a Hatt, a pair of Stockings, Shoes and buckles. . . .
And for a present to their Nation was ordered and delivered a piece of
blue Strouds for blankets, one hundred weight of Powder, four hundred

weight Bullets, ten gallons Rum, and two dozen Knives. And to John

Wray, the interpreter who came down with them, five pounds.” Two of
the chiefs, however, were taken sick with smallpox and died in Phila-
delphia, where they were “ buried in a handsome manner” by the orders
of the Governor.

2Eleven years later‘ (in 1759) George -Croghan, deputy Indian agent
under Sir William Johnson, in a report made to Gen. Stanwix of the
numbers of the several Indian tribes in the West, gave the numbers of
the Delawares and Shawanese (who prior to that time had removed west-
ward from their first location on the Ohio) as follows:

“ The Delawares residing on the Ohio, Beaver Creek, and other
branches of the Ohio, and on the Susquehanna, their fighting men are
600.” [A considerable. number of the Delawares being still residing on
the Susquehanna, and these not being included in Weiser’s return of
their strength in 1748.]

“ The Shawanese on Scioto, a branch of Ohio, 400 miles below Pitts-
burgh, 300 warriors.”

3 When the Indians notified the French to quit the country in 1753
they said, “ We have a fire at Logstown, where are the Delawares and
Shawanese.”—C'olom’al Records, v. 667. V '

4 A later village also called Logstown was on the opposite side of the
Ohio. . '

Logstown was “ the first of the Indian towns on the road from Lan-
caster to Allegheny.”—-Col. Rec., viii. 289.

Allegheny in the fall of 1753 he says, “About two
miles from this [the confluence of the Allegheny and
Monongahela], on the southeast side of the river, at
the place where the Ohio Company intended to erect
a fort [at or very near the mouth of Chartiers Creek],
lives Shingiss, king of the Delawares. We called
upon him to ‘invite him to a council at Logstown.”
This same Shingiss, who was generally styled “ king,”
was in some of the oflicial communications of that
day mentioned as the chief sachem of the Delawares;
his brother, Pisquitomen, being also a high chief in
the nation. The “king” of the Shawanese in 1753
was Nochecona.5 In 1756, King Shingiss had re-
moved his residence from the mouth of Chartiers
Creek to “ Old Kittaning” on the Allegheny, which
was also a town of the Delawares. Maj. Edward
Ward (who when an ensign, in command of a small
force engaged in the spring ‘of 1754 in building a fort
at the confluence of the Allegheny and Monongahela,
was compelled to surrender the work to the French,
who then named it Fort Du Quesne) said,“ “ That in
the year 1752, and before his surrender to the French,
there was a small Village Inhabited by the Delawares
on the South East side of the Allegheny River, in the
neighborhood of “that place [the mouth of the Alle-
gheny], and that Old Kittaning, on the same side of the
said River, was then Inhabited by the Delawares; that
about one-third of the Shawanese Inhabited Loggs
Town on the West Side of the Ohio, and tended corn
on the East Side of the River, and the other part
of the nation lived on the Scioto River.”

From his stronghold at Kittaning, Shingiss led
his Delaware Warriors against the settlements east of
the mountains in the fall of 1755, after_the defeat
of Braddock, and at that time and through all the
year 1756 he carried desolation and massacre through
allflshat country from the Potomac to the Delaware.
He was one of the most implacable and ferocious of
all the savage leaders. “Were his war exploits all
on record,” says Heckewelder, “they would form an
interesting document, though a shocking one. Conc-
cocheago, Big Cove, Shearman’s Valley, and other
settlements along the frontier felt his strong arm,_suf-
ficiently to know that he was a bloody warrior, cruel
in his treatment, relentless in his fury. His person
was small, but in point of- courage, activity, and sav-

age prowess he was said to have never been exceeded

by any one.” It appears that he was succeeded by
Tomaqui, or “King Beaver,” as the latter name is
found mentioned as that of the head of the Delaware
nation in and after 1758. And in a list of Indians

5 See Colonial Records, v. 685. -

5 In a “Deposition taken March 10, 1777, at the house of Mr. John
Ormsby in Pittsburgh, etc., Agreeable to Notice given to C01. George
Morgan, Agentlfor the Indiana Company, before James ‘Wood and
Charles Simms, pursuant to a resolution of the Honble, the Convention
of Virginia, appointing them Commissioners for collecting Evidence on
behalf of the Commonwealth of Virginia against the several Persons pre-
tending to claim Lands within the Territory and Limits thereof under
Deeds of Purchases from Indians.”

134
met at Catfish Camp (the present borough of Wash-
ington) to -consult together and take measures “for
the purpose of carrying an expedition under the
command of Brigadier General Irvine against San-
dusky or other Indian towns bordering on our fron-
tier.” This meeting resulted in a resolution that the
county would furnish its full quota of men and ma-
terial for the expedition,‘ and that for this purpose
all delinquents should be assessed, each individual in
proportion to his property, an amount sufficient to
cover his share of the necessary expense of the outfit
and equipment. It was also agreed that if any
horses should be lost in the proposed campaign, and
the government should fail or neglect to pay for them-
for one year after such loss, then the owner of the
animal should receive payment from the other mem-
bers of the company to which he belonged, each
contributing in proportion to the assessed value of
his estate. The quotas of wheat for the rations of
the drafts from each battalion were to be delivered at

some mill or mills within the respective districts of

such battalions by September 6th next ensuing.

The chairman of this meeting was the county lieu-
tenant, Col. James Marshel, who communicated its
proceedings to Gen. Irvine, with the assurance on his
part that he had no doubt his county would raise and
equip a force of at least five hundred men, to be ready
at the appointed rendezvous by the 15th of September,
“ which,” as he said, “ will be as soon as the people of
the county can possibly be in readiness.” The gen-
eral was pleased with the patriotism. of the meeting,
and of its resolutions, but he very plainly indicated’
in his reply that he doubted the ability of the people
to execute what they had promised. He had, how-
ever, the grace to say to C01. Marshel, “ I trust you
will not be mistaken notwithstanding.”

The Indians continued to grow bolder and more
aggressive in their raidings along the border. On the
11th of September, in the evening, an Indian force of
two hundred and sixty warriors -under the renegade
George Girty (‘brother of theinfamous Simon), accom-

1 The meeting resolved that the county would furnish as its quota
six hundred and,seventy-one men from the several’ militia battalions,
two hundred and fifty-two horses, and 40,200 rations (to consist of one
and one-fourth pounds of flour and the same weight of beef each);
also that any person furnishing two hundred rations and delivering the
same as directed by the commanding officer of the battalion of his dis-
trict, or in lieu of such number of rations should furnish and deliver a
good and serviceable pack—horse, with pack-saddle, halter, lashing rope,
and two kegs (or in their stead one good bag), should receive therefor
exemption from" and credit for a two months’ tour of military duty. The
resolution of the meeting was “ that each and every battalion of Washing-
ton County militia shallrfurnish the quota of men, provisions, and pack-'
horses, equipped for transportation, hereunto annexed to each and every
battalion respectively, namely :

I A Men. Horses. Rations‘.

1st Batt. commanded by Col. [Henry] Enoch, 61 22 3,600
2d “ “ “ Col, [George] Valian-

. ' digham, 165 62 9,900
3d “ “ “ Col.[I)avid] Williamson, 140 53 8,400
4th ' “ r 0 “ i “ Col [John] Marshall, 140 53 8.400
5th “ f‘ 5‘ Col. [Thomas] Crooks,‘ 165 62 9,900

, , 671 252 . 40,200-

HISTOBY OF WASHINGTON COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA.

panied by a force of about forty British Rangers from
Detroit under Capt. Pratt, of the royal service, at-

tacked the fort (Fort Henry) at Wheeling,” but were‘

repulsed. Other attempts were made by them to carry
the place by assault during the day and night of the
12th, but with no better success, and in the morning
of the 13th they withdrew from Wheeling with the
intention of carrying their depredations to the inland
settlements. Their attack on Wheeling is described by
Ebenezer Zane in the following letter to Gen. Irvine : 3

“ WELING, 14th September, 1702.
“SIR,—On the evening of the eleventh instant a

body of the enemy appeared in sight of our garrison.

They immediately formed their lines around the gar-
rison, paraded British colors, and demanded the Fort
to be surrendered, which was refused. "About 12
o’clock of night they rushed hard on the pickets in
order to storm but was repulsed. They -made two
other attempts to storm before day but to no pur-
pose. About 8 o’clock. next morning there came a
negro from them to us, and informed us that their
force consisted of a British captain and 40 regular
soldiers and 260 Indians. The enemy kept up a con-
tinual fire the whole day. About ten o’clocki at night
they made a fourth attempt to storm to no better pur-
pose than the former. The enemy continued round
the garrison till the morning of the 13th instant,
when they disappeared. Our loss is none. Daniel
Sullivan, who arrived here in the beginning of the
action, is wounded in the foot. .
“ I believe they have drove the greater part of ou
stock away, and might, I think, be soon overtaken.
“I am, with due respect, your ob’t serv’t,
“ EBENEZER ZANE.”

When the Indian besiegers found themselves com-
pelled to withdraw from Fort Henry ‘without having
effected its capture as they had expected to do, the
larger part of their force, together with Capt. Pratt’s

A British Rangers, crossed the Ohio with what plunder

they had been able to secure, and took their way

through the wilderness towards the Sandusky. The-

remainder of the Indian force, some sixty or seventy
in number, took the opposite direction, striking east-

2 John Slover, the guide in Crawford’s expedition, who made his escape
from the Indians after having been tied to the stake for torture, as before.

narrated, had given warning that the savages were meditating an ex-
tended series of operations against the frontier settlements, and that
among these projected operations was_an attack in force on the post at
Wheeling. This information he said he gained by being present at their
councils for several days while in captivity, and fully understanding
every word that was uttered by the chiefs on those occasions, as he was
entirely familiar with the Delaware,-Wyandot, and Shawanese languages,

I The tale which he brought of these intended expeditions by the Indians

against _the white settlements was not believed by Col. Cook, Col. Marshel,
and Gen. Irvine, but the result proved that Slover had neither misunder-
stood nor falsified t_-he intentions of the savages as expressedby their
chiefs in council.. , « ,,
3 Proceedings of West Virginia Historical Society, Vol. I., Part I.-,0 Ap-
pendix, page 102, g , _ - - , . ,
4 It is said, and with apparent truth, that the last shot fir-ed by a. British
soldier in thefi war of ,the,13.evolu.,tion_was fired in the last assault yorrthia
fort in the night of Sept. 12-13, 1782. ‘ H

THEE REVOLUTION.

ward towards the interior settlements,-bent on mas-
sacre and devastation in revenge for their disappoint-

' ment at Fort Henry. Their obj ective-point was Rice’s

fort, on the ‘Dutch Fork of Buffalo Creek, in the
present township of Donegal, Washington County.
Intelligence of the attack on Fort Henry was
brought to Col. James Marshel at Catfish by Capt.
Boggs immediately after the siege began, and While
all the Indian and British forces were collected round
the fort. On receipt of the information Marshel no-

- tified Gen. Irvine by letter as follows :

“ THURSDAY, September 12, 1782.
“ DEAR SIR,—-By an express this moment arrived
from Wheeling, I have received the following intel-
ligence, namely: That a large trail, by supposition

‘ about two hundred Indians, was discovered yesterday

about three o’clock near to that place. Capt. Boggs,
who brought the account, says that when he had left
the fort about one mile and a half he heard the swivel
at Wheeling fired, and one rifle. He further says
that Ebenezer McCulloch, from Van Meter’s fort, on
his way to Wheeling, got within one-half a mile of
the place shortly after Boggs left it, where he was
alarmed by hearing a heavy and constant fire about
the forts, and makes no doubt the fort was then
attacked. . . .”‘

Three days later Col. Marshel communicated to
Gen. Irvine further information of the movements of
the Indians in the following letter:

“ SUNDAY MORNING, 15th September, 1782.

“ DEAR SIR,——-You may depend upon it, as a mat-
ter of fact, that a large body of Indians are now in
our country. Last night I saw two prisoners who
made their escape from Wheeling in time of the
action, and say the epemy consists of 238 Indians
and 40 Rangers, the latter commanded by a British,
officer; that they attacked Wheeling Fort on Wed-
nesday night, and continued the attack until Thurs-
day night, at which time the above desertersl left
them. That Fort they say was the principal object
of the enemy; but it appears, both from their account
and the enemy’s advancing into the country,‘ that
they have despaired of taking it. The deserters say
that shortly before they left the enemy that they had
determined to give up the matter. at Wheeling, and
either scatter into small parties in order to distress
and plunder the inhabitants, or attack the first small
fort they could come at. The latter, I’m this moment

informed, is actually the case ; that they have attacked‘

one Rice’s Block-House, on what is called the Dutch
fork of Buifaloe, and it’s to be feared it will fall into
their hands, as only those have been called’ upon
who are not going upon the expedition, I’m afraid

1 The two men whom Marshel refers to in this letter, first as “pris-
oners” and afterwards as “deserters,” were,‘so says Doddridge, “two
white men who had been made prisoners when lads, raised among the

Indians, and taken to war‘ with them. These men deserted from them a

soon after their counei1...at_the"c}ose of. the siege of .Wheeling.”

135"

they will not turn out as well as they ought to do..-
If the enemy continues "to advance in one body the‘
matter will become serious, and, perhaps require our

e whole strength to repel them.’ But if it can possibly
be avoided 1 could wish not to ‘call upon a man that’s-‘ .

going upon the" expedition against Sandusky. Be’-‘
sides, the battalion rendezvous is appointed as soon?
as the men could possibly be collected. Unless the

oflicers have made their appointments, as you will i

see by Col. McCleery’s 2 «letter they have done in the
first battalion, no doubt ammunition will be wanted’
on this occasion.’ A small quantity, such as the
bearer can carry, will do. Excuse haste. T
“ From, Sir, your most obt. ‘humble serv’t,
' “ JAMES MARsHEL.”

The fact that the Indians were advancing eastward-
from Wheeling was known at Rice’s fort about half
an hour before the savages made their appearance,
the intelligence having been brought by Jacob Miller,"
who learned the news. at the house of’ Dr. Moore, near

- Catfish, and rode with all possible speed to notify the
people at the threatened point, and to take part in the ,

defense. Some of the men from the fort had gone to
Hagerstown for supplies, and only five were left to
defend it, viz. : George Lefler, Peter Fullenweider,
Daniel Rice, George Felebaum, and Jacob Lefler, J r.‘
This force was increased to six by the arrival of Mil-
ler. The Indians- soon made their appearance and
surrounded the fort. The six defenders fired, and
three savages fell. The Indians returned the fire
without effect, but in their second volley they killed
George Felebaum, who was standing at a port-hole.’
The ball struck him in the forehead, and he expired
instantly. The firing Was. kept up during the day,
but without any further casualty to the white men.
Abraham Rice, of the fort, was absent, having set
out at once on receipt of the news brought" by Miller
to go to Lamb’s fort, some four miles away, for assist-
ance. He had not been gone long when he heard the
firing at his own fort, and at once determined to re-
turn and assist .in the defense; but he failed in his
attempt, for he was discovered by the Indians, who
fired a great number of shots and wounded himbadly,
but he made his escape, and was able to reach Lam'b’s,
whence, after his wounds had been dressed, he set out
on his return, having with him a party of twelve men.
This was late in the evening. On approaching the
besieged fort ten of the party became alarmed and
retreated, but Rice and the other two went on. » They
were soon discovered’ by an Indian, who thereupon

. gave the -usua=lk.alarm,which passed aroundthe. entire

line encircling -the fort.‘ The savages -supposed" that
alarge party of whites was approaching, and after
one more fierce_ but _ine.ffectual attempt to carry the
fort" they retreated from the place, having lostfour

. warriors by the rifl'es"of the ,'defenders.‘ On the folf

2 Col. William McCleery, sub-lieutenant of Washington County; .

136

HISTORY OF WASHINGTON COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA.

lowing morning a force of about sixty frontiersmen
collected and started‘ in pursuit of the Indians, but
after proceeding two or three miles it was found that
the savages had scattered in small parties, and the
pursuit was abandoned. The Indians, however, in
their retreat met another party of four white men, two
of whom they killed, losing one of their warriors.
The Indian attacks at Wheeling and at Rice’s fort
(showing that the savages could make incursions in
force and almost at will in spite of the vigilance of
the “ranging parties” of militia) materially damp-
ened the ardor of the people with regard to the new

Sandusky campaign, notwithstanding that the gov- Y

ernment had ordered a considerable body of Conti-
nental troops to accompany the expedition, in ac-
cordance with the wishes of Cols.‘ Marshel and Cook
and several of the more prominent among the militia
officers of Washington and Westmoreland Counties.
On the 18th of September, two days before the
time which had been appointed for the rendezvous at
Fort McIntosh,‘ Gen. Irvine addressed communica-
tions to C01. Marshel and Col. Cook, saying, “ I have
this moment received dispatches from the Secretary
at War informing me that some regular troops are
ordered from below to assist us in our intended ex-
pedition. I am therefore to beg you will immediately
countermand the march of the volunteers and others
of your counties until further orders. As soon as I
am positively assured of the time the troops will be
here I shall give you the earliest notice.” The time
for the assembling of the volunteers and other forces
for the expedition was then postponed to the 6th of
October;2 but before that time Gen. Irvine had re-
ceived_a letter from the Secretary of War as follows :

“ WAR OFFICE, September 27, 1782.

“ DEAR SIR,—From late accounts forwarded by his
Excellency General Washington, we learn that the
Indians are all called in [by the British]. This has
induced the resolution to lay aside the expedition I

mentioned in my last.

“ I am, dear sir, your ob‘. serv’t,

“ B. LINCOLN.”

This caused the commandant at Fort Pitt to aban-
don all thoughts of the proposed campaign, though
he did not immediately notify the county lieutenants
to that effect. But on the 18th of October he said,

1 The letter (before quoted) of Col. Marshel to Gen. Irvine, dated Sept.
15, 1782, has the following postscript: “ Should you think of joining the
Militia, Catfish Camp appears at present to me to be the most suitable
place to establish your headquarters, at which place I shall order one

Battalion to rendezvous on Tuesday next. I mean those that’s going -

on the Expedition, as Catfish will be in their way to Fort McIntosh.”

2 In a letter written by Christopher Hays to President Moore, dated
“ September ye 20th, 1782, he says, “There is a Campaign Proposed to
Go against the Sanduskey Towns, to start ‘by the 6th Day of Next
Month, under the Command of General Erwine wherein these Counties

« Quoted themselves To find all Voluntiers and a Number of Regular

Troops in Provision During said Campaign which is Nearly if not alto-
gether Ready & Lies Prepared for that Purpose.”—-Penn. Arch., 1781-83,
p. 637. '

in a letter to .Col. Edward Cook, of Westmoreland,
“ I received your letter by Sergt. Porter, and one last
night from Col. Marshal, which is full of despondency.
Indeed, by all accounts I can collect, it would be vain
to insist on bringing the few willing peopleto the
general rendezvous, as there is not the most distant
prospect that half sufficient would assemble. Under
the circumstances I think it will be most advisable to
give up the matter at once, and direct the provisions
and other articles to be restored to the owners.”
About two weeks after Gen. Irvine wrote this letter
he received official notification from the Secretary of
War (dated October 30th) that the Indian expedition
had been abandoned, and thereupon the fact was
oflicially communicated to the lieutenants of West-
moreland and Washington Counties. This ended all
thoughts of raising a force to invade the Indian
country, and it also closed the military history of

‘this section of country for the period of the war of _

the Revolution. After the official proclamation of
peace, however, and as late as the end of the spring
of 1783, Indian depredations were continued to some
extent along the Western Pennsylvania and Virginia
border, though none of these are found reported as
having been committed within the territory which
now forms the county of Washington.

Washington Militia in 1784.~The composition
of the Washington County militia immediately after
the close of the Revolution is shown in a return made
by Col. James Marshel, county lieutenant, dated July
7, 17 84,3 as follows:

First Battalion.

Lieutenant-Colonel, David Phillips; Major, John Small.

First Company.—Nu mber of men, 73.

Captain, James Munn.

Lieutenant, Henry Sawings.

Ensign, William Byars.
Second Company.—Number of men, 74.

(Nominated.)

Captain, Robert Ritchie.

Lieutenant, Jeremiah Wright.

Ensign, Thomas Sweet.

Third Company.--—Number of men, 68.
(N ominated.)
Captain, William Conner.
Lieutenant, John Conner.
Ensign, Isaac Williams.

Fourth Company.—Number of men, 82.
Captain, Mabra Evans,
Lieutenant, James Wilson.
Ensign, William Goban.

Fifth Company.—Number of men, 60.
Captain, John Robinson.
Lieutenant, Samuel Heth.

Ensign, Thomas Gibson.

Sixth Company.—Number of men, 96.
Captain, Samuel Blackmore.
Lieutenant, George Welsh.

Ensign. Henry Morrison.

Seventh Company.—Number of men, 61.
Captain, William Armstrong.
Lieutenant, John Brackenridge.
Ensign,_John Blackburn.

3 Penn. Archives, 1783-86, pp. 287-88.

THE REVOLUTION. ‘ 137

Eighth Company.—N umber of men, 78.
Captain, William Phillips.
Lieutenant, John Lamb.

Ensign, Archibald Ralston.

Second Battalion.

Lieutenant-Colonel, Henry Enoch ; Major, James Carmichael.
First Company.—N umber of men, 74. _ '
Captain, John Guthrey.
Lieutenant, George Cilsur.
Ensign, Matthew Hannon.

Second Company.-—Number of men, 64.
Captain, Andrew Ferley.
Lieutenant, James Blackburn.
Ensign, James Metheney.

Third Company.—Number of men, 80.

(Nominated.)

Captain, Charles Swan.
Lieutenant, Azariah Davis.

J V Ensign, William Shepherd.

Fourth Company.—Number of men, 84.
Captain, Thomas Extile.
Lieutenant, Henry Dickinson.
Ensign, John Lindsley.

Fifth Company.—Number of men, 56.
Captain, Elijah Mills.
Lieutenant, Jacob Mills.
Ensign, Elisha. Perkins.

Sixth Company.—N umber of men, 75.
Captain, James McClelland.
Lieutenant, John Hoit.

Ensign, Joseph Gar-ret.

Seventh Company.—Number of men, 72.
Captain, Robert Sweney.
Lieutenant, Everhart Heef.
_ Ensign, Henry Hormil.

Eighth Company.—Number of men, 62.
Captain, James Archer.
Lieutenant, John Fee.
Ensign, David White.
‘Third Battalion.

John Marshal, lieutenant-colonel; Peter Kidd, major.
First Company.—Number of men, 70.
Captain, Henry Renkon.
' Lieutenant, Alexander Kidd.
Ensign, Josiah Scott.

Second Company.——No return.

Third Company.—Number of men, 55.
Captain, Thomas Wells.
Lieutenant, Samuel Leiper.
Ensign, John Wells.

Fourth Company.—Number of men, 77.
Captain, Samuel Smith. ‘
Lieutenant, Thomas Marquis.
Ensign, William Wallace.

Fifth Company.-—Number of men, 62.
Captain, James Stevenson.
Lieutenant, Arthur Scott.

Ensign, Jesse Renkon.

Sixth Company.——N umber of men, 66.
Captain, Thomas Renkon [Rankin ?].
Lieutenant, Charles Campbell.
Ensign, William Hays.

Seventh Company.——Number of men, 80.
Captain, John Reed.

Lieutenant, William Herron.
Ensign, James Howld.

Eighth Company.—No return.

Fourth Battalion.

Lieutenant-Colonel, David Williamson; Major, Daniel Leet.

First Company.—Number of men, 60.

Captain, Charles Bonner.

Lieutenant, Robert Walker.

Ensign, Philip Briscoe.
Second Company;-—No return.

Third Company.—Number of men, 67.
Captain, Thomas Hambleton.
Lieutenant, James Brown.

Ensign, Samuel White.

Fourth Company.—Number of men, 74.
Captain, William Leet.
Lieutenant, Brice Virgin.
Ensign, Obadiah Holmes.

Fifth Company.—N umber of men, 60.
Captain, James Morrison,
Lieutenant,
Ensign,

 

Sixth Company.—Number of men, 65.
Captain, Eleazer Williamson.
Lieutenant, John McWil1iams.
Ensign, Jacob Miller.

Seventh Company.—-Number of men, 71.
Captain, John Cotton.
Lieutenant, Samuel Reddle.
Ensign, James Huston.

Eighth Company.-Number of men, 81.
Captain, Timothy Downing.
Lieutenant, Anderson.
Ensign, John Williams.

1 Fifth Battalion.

Lieutenant-Colonel, John Guthredge; Major, James Craven.
First Company.—Number of men, 80.
Captain, Eleazer Jenkins.
Lieutenant, Thomas Richeson.
Ensign, Kinsey Davis.
Second Company.-—Number of men, 76.
Captain, William Jackman.
Lieutenant, Henry Gregg.
Ensign, James Thomas.

Third Company.——N umber of men, 55.
Captain, David Ruble. '
Lieutenant, Darby Strahan.
Ensign, Valentine Kindor.

Fourth Company.—Number of men, 56.
Captain, Isaac Ross.
V Lieutenant, Frederick Ault.
Ensign, John Huffman.

Fifth Company.—N umber of men, 55.
Captain, Edward Seaburn.
Lieutenant, Richard Hogeland. "
Ensign, Jeremiah Craven.

Sixth Company.—Number of men, 60.
Captain, George Myers.
Lieutenant, Luther Kerrey.
Ensign, Henry Conrod.

Seventh Company.—Number of men, 73.
(Nominated.)
Captain, John Worth .
Lieutenant, Thomas Ritchie.
Ensign, Nicholas Johnson, Jr.

Eighth Company.—Number of men, 68.
(N ominated.)
Captain, Robert J ackman.
Lieutenant, Joseph Brenton.

Ensign, Nathan Powell. July 7, 1734,

13,8

,CHAPTERIX.  
THE CIVIL AND LEGAL Hrsronv.
BY BOYD CRUMRINE.

I.

The Wilderness—The First Settlemen.ts—-Attempted Removal of Settlers
—-Council at Fort Pitt, April, 1768--The Treaty of Fort Stanwix--
SettlersWest of the Monong_ahela—Bedford County erected.

To write the civil and legal history of Washington
County is first, in a general way, to discuss the origin
and progress of the settlementswithin her borders,
then the establishment of _municipal government and
the organization of courts of justice for the due and
orderly administration of the law.

The Wilderness.——The cabins of white men were
first built within the original limits of Washington
County possibly in 1766, certainly. in 1767. In the
latter year, if not in the former, the Monongahela
had been crossed and settlers had stopped on Dunk-
ard Creek, in what is now Greene County,.at the
mouth of Ten-Mile Creek, and upon Raccoon Creek.
It is thought that, prior to 1750, the hills and
valleys of this State west of the Alleghanies
were untrodden by the feet of white men, ex-

1750.

cept of adventurous traders among the Indians, such .

as Peter Chartiers and others. Nor were our lands at
this date occupied by the homes of the Indians.

These prior possessors of the soil resided and had _

their homes or towns chiefly along and south of the
great lakes, though smaller villages, temporary abid-
ing-places, and hunting-camps were here and there
along the Ohio, Allegheny, and Monongahela. There

may have been many loc_a1ities which were unknown ’

to the Indians at the coming of the English. Within
the lands lying between the Monongahela and the
Ohio, as originally erected into VVashington County,

 the red men had no permanent dwelling-places,.al-

though Catfish, a warrior, and Shingis, a king, of the
Delawares, "had hunting,-lodges, the former where
Washington now stands,‘ the latter at the mouth of
Chartiers Creek. ..

Thomas Hutchins, the engineer of Bouquet’s expe-
dition against the VVestern Indians in 1764, in his to-
pographical description of Virginia, Pennsylvania,
etc., "wrote of the country of whic_h our county forms
a part nearly a century ago:

“ The whole country abounds in Bears, Elks, Bufialoe, Deer, Turkies,
&c.,—an unquestionable proof of the extraordinary goodness of its soil.

“ In the year 1760, a small town, called Pittsburgh, was built near Fort
Pitt, and about 200 families resided in it; but upon the breaking out of
the Indian war (in the month of May 1763) they abandoned their houses
and retired into the fort. I

“In the year'1765, the present town of Pittsburgh was laid out. It is
built on the eastern bank of the _River Monongahela, about 200 yards
from Fo.rt’Pitt_.' .  . -

1 Judging from the point marked “ Catfish’s Camp” upon the original
plot of the town, as laid out on Oct. 13, 1781, it must have been within
the present Trinity Hall grounds. A later but a still ancient draft
places the old Warrior's camp in the same locality.

HISTORY OF WASfHIN’GTON ‘COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA.

“The country on both sidesof the Ohio, extending South-Easterly

and South-Westerly from Fort Pitt to the Mississippi, andvwatered by
the Ohio River and its branches, contains at least a million‘ square miles,
and it may, with truth, be afiirmed, that no part of the globeis blessed
with a more healthful air or climate ;—watered with more navigable
rivers and branches communicating with the Atlantic Ocean, by the
Rivers Potowmac, James, Rappahannock, Mississippi and St. Lawrence,
or capable of producing with less labor or expense Wheat, Indian Corn,
Buckwheat, Rye, Oats, Barley, Flax, Hemp, Tobacco, Rice, Silk, Potash,
850., than the country under consideration. And although there are
also considerable quantities of high lands for about 250 miles, (on both
sides of the River Ohio,) Southwardly from Fort .Pitt, yet even the sum-
mits of most of the hills are covered with a deep rich soil, fit for the
culture of Flax and Hemp, and it may be also added, that no soil can
possibly yield larger crops of Red and White clover, and other useful
grasses, than this does.”

In a foot-note Hutchins quotes from Gordon, a still
earlier traveler:

“ This country may, from a proper knowledge, be aflirmed to be the
most healthy, the most pleasant, the most commodious, and the most
fertile spot of earth known to European people.”

Francis Parkman, writingof the country west of
the Alleghanies in 1760, during the time of the French
and Indian war,” says,— ' I

.“ One vast and continuous forest shadowed the fertile soil, covering
the lands as the grass covers a garden lawn, sweeping over hill and hol-
low in endless undulation, burying mountains in verdure, and mantling
brooks and rivers from the light of day. Green intervals dotted with
browsing deer, and broad plains alive with buffalo, broke the same-
ness of the woodland scenery. Unnumbered rivers seamed the forest
with their devious windings. Vast lakes washed its boundaries, where
the Indian Voyager, in his birch canoe, could descry no lands beyond
the world of waters. Yet this prolific wilderness, teeming with waste
fertility, was but a hunting ground and a battle-field to a few fierce
hordes of savages. Here and there in some rich meadow opened to the
sun, the Indian squaws turned the black mould with their rude imple-
ments of bone and iron, and sowed their scanty stores of maize and
beans. Human labor drew no other tribute from that exhaustless soi1.”

Fort Pitt was built by Gen. Stanwix in the year
1759, near the ‘ruins of Fort Du Quesne, destroyed’
by Gen. Forbes the preceding year. The same writer
just quoted says,3—- , i ' I

“Fort Pitt stood far aloof in the forest, and one.‘ might journey east-
ward full two hundred miles before the English settlements began to
thicken. Behind it lay a broken and woody tract; then succeeded the
great barrier of the Alleghanies, traversing the country in successive

ridges, and beyond these lay vast woods extending to the Susquehanna.
. . . Two roads led from Fort Pitt to the settlements, one of which was

cut by General Braddock in his disastrous march-across the mountains.
from Cumberland in the year 1755. The other, which was more fre-
quented, passed by Carlisle and Bedford, and was made by'General _

Forbes in 1758. Leaving the fort by this latter route, the traveler would
find himself, after a journey of fifty-six miles, at the little postof Ligo-
nier, about a hundred miles from" Fort Pitt. It was nestled among the
mountains, and surrounded by clearings and log cabins. Passing several
small posts and settlements he would arrive at Carlisle, nearly a bun-
dred miles farther east, a place resembling Bedford in its general aspect,
although of greater extent. After leaving Fort Bedford numerous
houses of settlers were scattered here and there among the valleys, on
each side of the road from Fort Pitt, sothat the number of families be-
yond the Susquehanna amounted to several hundreds, thinly distributed
over a great space.”

What is known as the French and Indian war, the
history of which will appear in another part of this
work, terminated with the definitivee treaty of peace
signed between England and France on Feb. 10,

9 1. Conspiracy of Pontiac, 147.
3 II. Conspiracy of Pontiac, 3.

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CIVIL’ AND tLEGAL—THE WILDERNESS. 3

139

1763. Then passed from France all her possessions
east of the Mississippi, including Canada. Up to
this time, says Bancroft, “not a fountain bubbled on
the west of the Alleghaniesbut was claimed as being
within the French empire. Louisiana stretched to
the head springs of the Allegheny and the Monon-
gahela, of the Kanawha and the Tennessee.”

It is thus seen that the lands on which we live,
until the period referred to, were claimed to be under

‘the jurisdiction of France, and though when that

jurisdiction wasremoved the territories now of Wash-
ington County were as yet unsettled by the white
race, still a brief reference to that jurisdiction may
be made the starting-point of these chapters-

In the library of Washington and Jefferson Col-

" Ilege is a very rare and valuable atlas, with the title

page, “ Atlas Universel, par M. Robert de Vaugondy,
Geographe Ordinaire du Roy et par M. Robert de
‘Vaugondy, son fils, Geographe ord. du Roy, et de
S. M. Polonoise Due de Loraine et de Bar, et Associé

de L’Academie Royale des Sciences et belle Lettres V

de Nancy. Avec Privilége du Roy, 1757.” The
ninety-eighth map of the series is entitled “Partie
de L’Amerique Sepentrionale, qui comprend Le
Cours de L’Ohio, La Nlle Angleterre, La N l~le York,
Le New Jersey, La Pennsylvania, Le Maryland, La
‘Virginie, La Caroline. . . . Avec Privilége 1755.”
Upon this map, which, as will be observed, is from the

French stand-point altogether, the boundary line be-
tween Pennsylvania and Louisiana is the western

base of the Alleghany Mountains.

On the same map, as is seen from a portion copied
to "illustrate this chapter, is the Monongahela, “ou
Mohongalo,” receiving on its west bank three un-
named streams, and on its east one, before it has the

_Waters of Pierre-Rouge (Redstone) 011 its east bank.

‘Then one more unnamed stream enters it on the west
before it receives the “ Yauyaugany” from the east;
then flowingon it unites with the “ Ohio ou Alle-
gany,” coming from the northeast, and with the latter
forms the “ Ohio ou’Splawacipiki.” Below the union
the Chartiers Creek, runn.ing from the south, enters
the Ohio; then, farther down, “ Bever” Creek from
the north. iNo settlements or villages, either of white
‘men or of the Indians, are indicated upon any of the
territory between the Monongahela and the Ohio}
France claimed all the lands west of the Alle-
ghanies by right of prior discovery, and the estab-
lishment .of her power ‘upon the coasts of North
America was coeval with the first colonies from

England.” Samuel Champlain became the father of
_New France, upon the waters of the St. Lawrence, in

1603. In.1616, Le Caron, Champlain’s companion,

,. 1 It is believed that this French map was made up, partly at least,
from the map of Joshua Fry. and Peter Jefferson, published at London
in 1754, of the ‘.‘ Most Inhabited‘Part of Virginia, &c.,’? which was con-
structed, as appears upon its face, from surveys of Christopher Gist, made
‘in 1751. _. _ A
3-1. Bancroft, 17-18. .

“ had passed into the hunting-grounds of the ‘Wyan-
dots, and, bound by his vows to the life of a beggar,
had, on foot or paddling a bark canoe, gone onward
and still onward, taking alms of the savages, till he
reached the rivers of Lake Huron.” 3 Marquette and
Joliette, in 1673, with five Frenchmen and two Al-

gonquins, passed up the Fox River, across the portage‘

and into the waters of the “ Ouisconsin,” thence to
the Mississippi, down beyond the mouth of the Ohio
as far as the mouth of the Arkansas, whence they re-
turned.‘ In 1682, the same year in which Wm. Penn
first came to his new colony on the Delaware, Robert
Cavalier de la Salle, having passed with his expe-
dition from the lakes intothe Mississippi,‘ in April of
that year proceeded to the mouths of that river,_and
in the name of Louis XIV. took possession of all the
lands watered by the Mississippi and its tributaries
and named it Louisiana? VVe have already seen how
that Louisiana, upon the French map before referred
to, extended to the base of the Alleghany Mountains.

_History has not recorded when the Ohio was first
explored and made known towhite men, but it does
not do violence to the judgment to assume that the
French, full of adventure, were the first Europeans
to become acquainted with its beautiful shores.

“ It is known that the French were pa.rticularly fond of pursuingidis-
coveries in every direction in which their light boats might be rowed.
And it has been supposed that the Ohio and its tributaries had been as-
cended to their spring-heads at a much earlier date than either history
or tradition now informs us.” 5

The first notice taken by Pennsylvania, so far as
we are informed, of the claims of France as em-
bracing any part of her western territory was at .a
meeting of the Provincial Council held on Aug. 4,
1731, Patrick Gordon, Esq., Governor. The‘Crovernor
laid before the Council a message prepared for the
House of ‘Representatives, then in session, which
being read was approved. The first part related to
the Sugar Islands_. The Governor then proceeded to
inform the board that the matter mentioned in the
close of his intended message related to Indian affairs,
and would be found tobe of great consequence to the
whole province, the details whereof he would leave
to Mr. Logan, to whom the information had first been
given, and who from his long experience and knowl-
edge in those affairs could give the best account of it.

Mr. Logan “then producing the Map of Louisiana, as inserted in a
Book called a New General Atlas, published at London, in the year 1721,
first observed from thence how exorbitant the French Claims were on
the Continent of America; that by the description in the said Map they
claimed a great part of Carolina and Virginia, and laid down Susque-
hanna as a Boundary of Pennsylvania. Then he proceeded to observe
that by virtue of some Treaty, as they allege, the French pretend a Right
to all Lands lying on Rivers of the Mouths of which they are possessed;
That the River Ohio (a branch of the Mississippi) comes close to those
mountains which lye about 120 or 130 miles back of Susquehanna, within
the Boundaries of this Province, as Granted by the Kiug’s Letters Pat-
-ent; that adjoining thereto is a fine tract of land called Allegheny, on
which several Shawnese Indians had seated themselves. And that by

3 II. Bancroft, 297. 41bid.. 3-29. ’
5 Albach’s Western Annals, 61; II. Bancroft, 338.
5 Patterson’s* History. of the Backwoods, 10.

.

140

HISTORY OF WASHINGTON COUN TY, PENNSYLVANIA. 

the Advices lately brought to him by several Traders in those parts, it
appears that the French have been using Endeavors to gain over those
Indians to their Interest,”1 etc.

Whereupon recommendations were at once made to
the House of Representatives to prepare for a treaty

to be made with the Five Nations.

Pennsylvania was thus warned as early as 1731 that
a powerful continental nation, with which the parent
kingdom was then at peace, was threatening a foothold
upon fertile lands within her own charter limits, yet,
disturbed, for many years by a controversy with Lord
Baltimore concerning her southern boundary, and

, also by disagreements between the proprietary Gov-

ernors and the provincial Assemblies, as well as by
continually embarrassing relations ‘in her Indian
affairs in her undoubted possessions and settlements
east of the mountains, for many years she made no
effort to repel the French intrusion ; indeed, not until
Virginia, in 1748 and 1749, had taken the initiative
in the establishment of. the Ohio Company in the
vicinity of the Pittsburgh of to-day, for the purpose
of displacing the French enlodgment, did Pennsylva-
nia manifest an interest in the subject; where her
western boundary might lie she seemed to know little
and care less. It was the Virginia occupation in
1748-49, resulting in the French and Indian war, the
history whereof and of the French expulsion will be
elsewhere related, which brought to Pennsylvania a
suggestion of Watchfulness to her western boundary.

The First Settlements. ——The jurisdiction of
France had not yet been determined in the valley of
the Ohio when Englishmen began to settle upon the
waters of the Monongahela. In 1751, at a council
with the Six Nations, Delawares, and Shaw-
anese, held by George Croghan, then the
deputy Indian agent, at Logstown,2 an Indian
village on the Ohio about eighteen miles below Pitts-

1751.

1 III. Col. Records, 401.

2 Where was Logstown? On March 10, 1777, depositions were taken
at the house of John Ormsby, in Pittsburgh, in relation to the claim of
the Indiana Company to lands conveyed by the Six Nations at the treaty
at Fort Stanwix in November, 1768. The deposition of Edward Ward
was as follows:

“ Major Edward Ward Deposeth and saith that at the beginning of the
year 1754, William Trent, Esquire, was appointed by Governor Dinwid-
die, of Virginia, Captain of a company to be raised, of which this depo-
nent was appointed Ensign by the said Trent, who assembled the Chiefs
& Deputies of the Six Nations, and requested of them permission to erect
a Trading-House at the Junction of the Allegheny and Monongahela
Rivers, to carry on a Free and Open Trade with the Six Nations and
their dependants, which was granted by the said Deputies, with this re-
striction that he was to found no Settlement or Improvements on the said
Land, but on the Contrary to Evacuate the same when required by the
Six Nations, after which the said Captain Trent inlisted a number of
men not exceeding thirty-three, and proceeded to erect a Fort at the
place before mentioned. That on the 17th of April following, and before
the Fort was nearly completed, this Deponent, who commanded in the
absence of Capt. Trent, was put to the necessity of surrendering the pos-
session to 9. Superior. number of Troops, Commanded by a French oflicer,
who demanded it in the name of the King of France, at which time the
Half-King and a number of the Six Nations in the English Interest";
were present. This deponent further saith that in the year 1752, and
before his surrender to the French, there was a small Village Inhabited

burgh, a Dunkard came from Virginia and requested
leave to settlelon the “ Yogh-yo-gaine River, a branch
of the Ohio,” when he was told that he must apply
to the Onondaga Council, and belrecommended by
the Governor of Pennsylvania.3 But the first actual
white settlers west of the Laurel Hill mountains were
doubtless Wendell Brown and his two sons, Maunus
and Adam, and perhaps another son, Thomas. They
came in 1751, and settledbelow the mouth of Little
Jacobs Creek, in Fayette County,‘ not far from New
Geneva. Then followed Christopher Gist, in 1753;
William Jacobs, in 1761, at the mouth of Redstone
Creek; William Colvin, in 1764, where Brownsville
now stands; Lemuel Barrett, in 1763, Where Bridge-
port now is;5 William Crawford, on the Youghio-
gheny, opposite Connellsville, in 1765.6 It is thus
seen that the beginning. of the settlements west ‘of the
Alleghanies was prior to the commencement of the
French and Indian war in 1754, and they continued
until that war terminated, and was followed by Pon-
tiac’s conspiracy in 1.764; but not until the period of
the peace which followed Bouquet’s expedition in
the year last named were there any settlements made
west of the Monongahela River.

Books and papers heretofore printed upon the his-
tory of the country lying between the Monongahela
and Ohio inform us that the settlements within our
limits began about 1770, and increased very rapidly
in 1771,1772, and 1773. Dr. Doddridge states that
the settlements on this side of the mountains com-
menced along the Monongahela, and between that
river and the Laurel Ridge, in the year 177 2, and

,that in the succeeding year they reached the Ohio

River.'’ This is certainl incorrect.
Y

Before it is shown, however, when our earliest set-

by the Delawares on the Southeast side of the Allegheny River, in the
neighborhood of that place, and that old Kittaning, on the -same side
of the said river, was then Inhabited by the Delawares; that about one-
third of the Shawanese Inhabited Loggstown, on the west side of the
Ohio, and tended corn on the East side of the River, and the other part
of the Nation lived on the Scioto River. That the Deputies of the Six
Nations, after the surrender, joined the Virginia Forces, Commanded by
Colonel George Washington, who was then on his march, at the Little

Meadows, and continued with him in the service of Virginia till after -

the defeat of Monsieur La Force and a party of French Troops under his
Command.” See this affidavit in full in I. Calendar of Va. State Papers,
278. At the time it was made Edward Ward was ajustice in the Yo-
hogania County Court, of which more hereafter. '

3 V. Col. Records, 531.

4 Veech’s The Monongahela of Old, 79.

5 Ibid., 80, 81.

6 I. Cal. Va. State Papers, 280. ,

7 “ Notes on the Settlement and Indian Wars of the Western Parts of
Virginia and Pennsylvania,” by Dr. Joseph Doddridge, page 129. Dr.
Doddridge was the eldest son of John Doddridge, of Maryland, who first
immigrated to Friend’s Cove, a few miles south of Bedford, but in 1773
removed with his family to a place a short distance from West Middle-
town in this county. The author of the work referred to was born at
the settlement near Bedford in 1769, and was with his father when the
removal referred to was made. A younger brother was Philip Dodd-
ridge, who became celebrated in early times as an able and eloquent
lawyer. The notes on the settlements were written in 1824, and the
author died in 1826, at Wellsburg, where he is buried. The brother,
Philip, died in 1832, at Washington, D. C., while a member of Congress.

tlers began to arrive, it should be stated that all set-
tlements made west of the Alleghanies within the
present limits of Southwestern Pennsylvania prior
to the treaty of Fort Stanwix, on Nov. 5, 17 68, were
without authority and illegal. The policy observed
by both the province of Pennsylvania and the colony
of Virginia was not to permit of improvements upon
lands until they had been purchased from the Indians;
doubtless, if not in recognition of rightful ownership,
at least to avoid hostilities on the part of the red men.
Braddock.’s road, opened for the army of that ill-fated
general in" 1755, carried to Redstone (now Browns-
ville) by Col. Burd in 1759, was the gateway through
the mountain barrier, first used and most generally
by immigrants from Maryland and Virginia, and
later by immigrants from the older counties of Penn-
sylvania in the east; and, though the boundary con-
test between the two governments had not begun
actively for several years yet, still both governments
had sought to prevent the occupation of white set-
tlers until the Indian title had been extinguished.
Capt. Alexander Mackay, with a party of the Forty-
second Regiment of the king’s forces, was sent from
Fort Pitt to Redstone Creek, and on June 1, 1766, he
issued a proclamation warning the settlers in that vi-
cinity away. Soon afterward, in July of the same
year, Governor Fauquier, of Virginia, issued a like
proclamation. ’ And so, in the following September,

Governor Penn, by proclamation, prohibited “ all his

Majesty’s subjects of this or any other province or
colony from making any settlements, or taking any
possession of lands, by marking trees or otherwise,
beyond the limits of the last Indian ‘purchase (that
of 1754),within this province, upon pain of the se-
verest penalties of the law, and of being excluded

_from the privilege of securing such settlements should

the lands where they shall be made be hereafter pur-
chased of the Indians”? These prohibitions were but
following the proclamation of the king, of a _like
tenor, made at the termination of the French and
English war in 1763, though they were of but little
if any effect. The immigrants from “ over the moun-
tains” still came, singly, or with a few old neighbors
or acquaintances. They made friends with the natives
by their trade and. intercourse, and, though no record
has come down to us of their daily life and habits
during this period, yet the nature and character of
such an existence can be supplied by the imagination.
And though there was still peace and a friendship
with the individual hunters of the tribes, nevertheless
there were threats and warnings from the chiefs of the
nations, indicating that the intrusion upon their hunt-
ing—grounds was not accepted with equanimity. In
the councils with the deputies of the ruling nation
complaints were loud and frequent. C

Attempted Removal of Sett1_ers.——At length in"

1 See The Monongahela of Old, 86 ;, IX. Col. Records, 327.
10

CIVIL AND LEGAL-—ATTEMPTED REMOVAL OF SETTLERS.

141

December, 1767, shortly after Mason and Dixon’s line
had been extended to the second crossing. of
Dunkard Creek, near what is now Mount 1767.
Morris, in Greene County, where the distin-

guished surveying party was stopped by the watchful. -

Indians, Gen. Gage, commanding at New York, wrote
to Governor Penn :
“ The accounts which I have lately received from all quarters are full

of Intelligence of the dissatisfaction of the Indians, and of their ill
Disposition towards us. I am now called upon by a letter I have re-

ceived from Sir William Johnson,2 expressive of his apprehensions of an

immediate Rupture with the Indians unless some means are fallen up-
on to pacify them, to acquaint you that altho’ several Causes for their
present ill temper are suggested, yet the Insults they have received
from the frontier people, chiefly from those of Virginia, and the obstin-
acy of the People who persist to settle on their lands, not only without
their consent but in contradiction to their warmest Remonstrances,
and the endeavors that have been used to remove them, I perceive to be
the most immediate cause of their discontent.”

The letter recommended the adoption of effectual
measures to remove “ these Lawless Settlers,” and a
like letter was addressed to the authorities of the col-

ony of Virginia. ~ ’ _
The reply of Governor Penn, atan early date after-

ward, promised a reference of the subject to the As-

sembly to meet in the next month, and then pro-

ceeded :

“ With respect to the Insufliciency of the Laws to secure the Indians
in their Persons and Properties, I would beg leave to observe that the
remote Situation of their Country, and the dispersed and Vagrant man-
ner in which the People live, will generally render the best Laws that
can be framed for those Ends in a great measure ineffectual. The Civil
Oflicers whose Business it is to see that they are duly enforced, cannot
exert their authority in so distant and extensiye a wilderness. In the
execution, therefore, of the present interesting matter, I am persuaded
that notwithstanding all the Legislature can do I shall find it necessary
to apply to the Military aid, which you have so readily offered me in sup-
port of the Civil Power. Yet I fear that while the Severity of the
weather in the Winter Season continues, it will be found extremely
diflicult if not impracticable to oblige these Lawless people to abandon
their present habitations, and to remove with their Families and Effects
into the interior part of the Country, and I am of Opinion it would be
unadvisable to make any attempts of that kind before Spring.”

The Assembly met on the filth of January, 1768,
when the Governor at once laid before that body a

2 Sir William Johnson was the agent for Indian aifairs on the part of
the crown, and resided in a splendid residence called. Johnson Hall on
the Mohawk River, about thirty miles from Albany, N. Y. He came
to America in 1734; in 1755 he was in command of the provincialtroops
of New York in the expedition against Crown Point, and commanded
the expedition against Niagara in 1759. In his capacity of Indian
agent he had acquired a powerful influence over the Indians, and there
is an anecdote related of him which shows that in his intercourse with
them he had not failed to learn their cunning. ' Having sent to Eng-
land for a finely laced suit of’ clothes, on their arrival, Hendrick, the
chief of the Mohawks, was dazzled with their splendor. His vanity
could not be appeased, and he hit upon an expedient.to gratify it. He
went to Sir William one morning and demurely told him that in the
preceding night he had dreamed that the baronet had generously pre-
sented him with a suit of his laced clothes. The hint could not be mis-
taken, and the chief went away happy with the result of his ingenuity.
In a few days, however, Sir William made known to his Indian majesty
a dream he had had, that the chief had given him a tract of land con-
taining several thousand acres. “ The land is yours,” said Hendrick,
“ but now, Sir William, I never dream with you again; you dream too
hard for me.” Sir William died on July 11, 1774, at his home. (See I.
Olden Time, p. 520; Blake’s Biog, Dict., p. 665.)

18

HISTORY OF WASHINGTON COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA.

present at a treaty council held at Fort Pitt on the
5th of July, 1759, Shingiss, George, and Kickeusking
were named as “chiefs and captains,” the first named
having been deposed from his higher dignity, doubt-
less on. account of his bloody record as an inveterate
enemy of the English, who were then masters of the
country.

In or about 1753 the Delawares and Shawanese
who had previously lived at Logstown removed to
Sacunk, or Salt Lick Town, which was located at the
mouth of Beaver Creek; but in 1759 the Delawares
had migrated from that place to Kuskusky, or Kus-
kuskees, which was some miles above Sacunk, on the
Beaver. At a council held on the 25th of February
in that year at Fort Pitt (which, as Fort Du Quesne,
had been taken from the French by Gen. Forbes
three months before), King Beaver, of the Delawares,
said, “The Six nations and you [Col. Hugh Mercer,
afterwards Gen. Mercer, who was killed at Princeton,
Jan. 3, 1777] desired that I would sit down and smoke
my pipe at Kuskusky. I tell you this that you may
think no ill of my removing from Sacunk to Kus-
kusky, for it is at the great desire of my brothers, the
English, and my uncles, the Six Nations; and there
I shall always hear your words.” From Kuskusky,
Sacunk, and Kittaning the Delawares and Shaw-
anese not long afterwards migrated to the Muskingum
and Scioto.

The white traders were persons of no little conse-
quence among the Indians. The French ‘traders were
here somewhat in advance of those of the English-
speaking race, though the latter made their appear-
ance among the Delawares and Shawanese soon after
their settlement on the Allegheny and Ohio,‘ certainly
as early as 1730. The first French, trader known to
have been among the Indians on the Allegheny was
James Le Tort, who probably came as early as 1720.
One of the speakers of the Shawanese at a treaty
council held in 1732 said that when they (the Shawa-
nese) came over the mountains from “Patowmack”
(about 1728), they met a French trader, who told
them that the French Governor was exceedingly
anxious to see them at Montreal, and that upon his
advice they went there. This was doubtless the
“French gentleman” whom the Indians called Ca-
hictodo, and who was frequently mentioned’ in the
proceedings of the Pennsylvania Council in 1731-32.

Peter Chartier, whose name was afterwards given to
one of the principal streams flowing through the pres-
ent county of Washington, went out from Philadelphia
to the Allegheny at or very soon after the time when
the Shawanese migrated there.‘ He was the sonlof
a French glover who had been established in that
business in Philadelphia,” and was himself French

1 Chartier had before that time become possessed of a tract of six hun-
dred acres of land, near the place from which the Shawanese removed,
and mentioned as “ near Pextan.’_’

9 On the 24th of February, 1707, a message “ from the Queen of the Con-
estogoe Indians” was received by the Provincial Council of Pennsylva-

in all his sympathies and inclinations, though he
Wentlto the wilderness ostensibly as an English
trader. It is told that he at one time had a trading-
post on the’Ohio at the mouth of the creek which
still bears his name (where King Shingiss was also
located, as before mentioned); but he also estab-

’ lished himself at a Shawanese village situated on the

Allegheny, about twenty miles above the site of Pitts-
burgh. This place became known as “ Chartier’s Old
Town.” In 1744 he had decided to boldly take the side
of the French, who were using; great efforts to secure
the Indian trade; and on the 18th of April in that
year he, with a large body of Shawanese whom he
had induced to join him for the purpose, surprised
and took prisoners two other traders on the Alle-
gheny, robbing them of their entire stock of goods,
amounting to sixteen hundredpounds. The names

of these two traders were James Dinnew and Peter ’

Tostee. For this and numerous other villanies Char-
tier was severely reprimanded and warned by Gov-
ernor Thomas, of Pennsylvania, and this was his
pretended excuse for joining the French interest,
which he did at once,‘ and on the 25th of April,
1745, the Governor announced the fact to the Pro-
vincial Council of Pennsylvania. ‘During the same
year Chartier persuaded the Shawanese at the Old
Town to abandon their settlement at that place and
remove to the Scioto. He was rewarded by a com-
mission in the French service, but his subsequent
career is not known.

In 1.735, Abraham VVendall, a German trader, was
living among the Indians on the Allegheny, this fact
being mentioned by one of the Six Nation chiefs at a
council held in Philadelphia on the 10th of Septem-
ber _in that year. The chief also presented a letter
from this Wendall, “ written in low Dutch, giving in-
formation of some violence which had been committed
by one of the tribes of the Shawanese.” A very early
English trader who lived with the Indians on the
Allegheny was John Fraser, who was referred to in a
letter dated Sept. 9, 17 53,3 written by Edward Ship-
pen, as follows: “ Weningo [Venango] is the name of
an Indian town on Ohio [as the_Allegheny was then
often called], where Mr. Fraser has had agunsmith-

shop for many years; it is situate eighty miles up’

said river beyond Logs Town.” In the summer of
1753, when the French came down the Allegheny in
force to build the forts at Le Boeuf and Venango,
Fraser was driven away from the latter place and
came down the river. Soon afterwards be located
on the Monongahela, where he had a trading-post.
George Croghan (afterwards deputy Indian agent)

nia, informing “ that divers Europeans, namely, Mitchel (a Swiss), Peter
Bazalion, James Le Tort, Martin Chartiere, the lfrench Glover of Phil-
adelphia, ffrank, a young man of Canada who was lately taken up here,
being all ifrenchmen, and one from Virginia, who also spoke ffrench,
had seated themselves, and built Houses upon the branches of the Pa-
towmack within this Gov’mt, and pretended that they were in search of
some Mineral or ore."
3 Col. Rec, v. 660.

_ at that session.

142

HISTORY OF > WASHINGTON COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA.

message, accompanied with. the correspondence re-
ferred to, and stating the causes of the im-
1768. pending Indian hostilities-to the settlements
made and being made upon their unpurchased
lands, and further stating,-

“ And I must inform you that those Settlements upon the Indian Lands
to the westward of the Alleghany Mountains, now appear by the Line
lately Run between Pennsylvania and Maryland, to be within the bounds
of this province. . . . I must earnestly recommend to you the framing
of a Law not only to remedy the present Evil, but to punish future De-
Iinquencies of the same kind, &c.”

The Assembly, while preparing a bill intended to
effect the purpose desired, responded to the Governor’s
message in a long address, showing a full appreciation
of the necessity for cautious treatment of the tribes,
and soon afterward an anxious letter was received by
the Governor direct from Sir William Johnson, in
which it was said,— _

“ There are doubtless amongst the Scattered Tribes living in back parts
of that Country, several Idle Indians, who may, from motives of private
Interest, be persuaded to give some encouragement to the Settlers; but
these are private acts of Persons who would not presume to avow them
to the Confederacy, whose sole Right it is, and whose Resentment may
have a most fatal Tendency, &c.”

The result of this correspondence,’ necessarily so
interesting to the present residents of the Mononga-
hela valley,‘ was that on Feb. 3, 17 68, there was
passed “ a most terrifying law,” the first one enacted
This act, after reciting that “many
disorderly people, in violation of his Majesty’s procla-
mation, have presumed to settle upon lands not yet
purchased from the Indians, to their damage and great
dissatisfaction, which may be attended with danger-
ous and fatal consequences to the peace and safety of
this province,” enacted,-—

“‘ That if any Person or Persons, settled upon any Lands within the
Boundaries of this Province, not purchased of the Indians by the Pro-
prietaries thereof, shall neglect or refuse to remove themselves and Fam-
ilies oil" and from the same Lands, within the Space of Thirty days after
he or they shall be required so to do; . . . or if any Person or Persons
being so removed, shall afterwards return to his or their Settlements, or
the Settlement of any other Person, with his or their Family, or with-
out any Family, to remain and settle on such Lands; or if any Person
shall, after the said Notice to be given as aforesaid, reside and settle on
such Lands, every such Person and Persons, so neglecting or refusing to
remove with his Family, or returning to settle as aforesaid, or that shall
settle on such Lands after the Requisition or Notice aforesaid, being
thereof legally convicted by their own confession or the Verdict of a
Jury, shall suffer death without the Benefit of Clergy.” 2

On Feb. 24, 1768, Governor John Penn issued his
proclamation, embracing the provisions of the act
quoted from, and warning all persons offending
against it with the penalties therein provided. The
same-day Rev. John Steel, a fighting parson of Car-
lisle, Cumberland Co., John Allison and Christopher
Lemes, Esqs., and Capt. James Potter, also of Cum-

8 1 Published at length in IX. Col. Records, 403 to 412.

” 2 IX. Col. Records, 481. The benefit ‘of clergy was this: By the old
English law the clergy, because they were supposed to have more of the
good thing of learning than other persons, were exempted from the pun-
ishment of death imposed for the commission of certain crimes. Later
statutes gave this exemption to all persons who could read and write.
But the Stat. 7, Geo. IV., c. 28, s. 6, after our Revolution, abolished this
exemption, and thereafter the learned and the unlearned suffered in the
same way for the commission of crime.

berland County, were sent to the Monongahela valley
with printed copies of the proclamation and with full
instructions in writing? .

On March 15, 1768, George Croghan, a deputy
superintendent of Indian affairs under Sir William
Johnson, wrote the Governor that he was about to
proceed to Fort Pitt, to hold a council with the
Western Indians, whom he expected to meet there on
the 25th of that month, and stating that if Pennsyl-
vania was to be represented by commissioners at that
council they should set off in a few days,‘ whereupon
John Allen and Joseph Shippen, the latter being the
secretary of the Provincial Council, were duly ap-
pointed, though the council with the Indians was not
held until a later date than that fixed.

The Rev. John Steel and his companions proceeded
in due time to their destination, had several confer-
ences with the settlers, and when they reached Fort
Cumberland (now Cumberland,.Md.) on their return
they made the following report to the Governor, here
printed entire, as throwing so much light upon the
early history of the Monongahela valley :5

“ FORT Cnmnnnmnn, April 2, 1768.
“ May it please your Honour: .

“ Having in our return reached Fort Cumberland, and being here to
part, We concluded it necessary to prepare an Extract from our Journal
of what appeared to us most important, which We Ordered to be trans-
mitted to your Honour by Mr. Steel. ’

“ We arrived at the Settlement on Red Stone, on the twenty-third Day
of March. The People having heard of our coming had appointed a
Meeting among themselves on the twenty-fourth, to consult what meas-
ures they should take. We took the advantage of this Meeting, Read the
Act of Assembly and Proclamation explaining the law, and giving the
Reason of it as well as we could, and used our Endeavors to persuade
them to comply, alleging to them that it was the most probable Method
to entitle them to favour with the Honourable Proprietaries when the
Land was purchased. After Lamentin g their distressed Condition, they
told us the People were not fully collected, but, as they expected, all
would attend on the Sabbath following, and then they would give an
answer. - »

“ They, however, affirmed that the Indians were very Peaceable, and
seemed sorry they were to be removed: and said they apprehended the
English intended to make War upon the Indians, as they were moving
off their People from their Neighborhood.

“ We labored to persuade them that they were imposed on by a few
straggling Indians; that Sir William Johnson, who had informed our
Government, must be better acquainted with the mind of the Six Na-
tions, and that they were displeased with the White People’ settling on
their unpurchased Lands. On Sabbath, the twenty-seventh day of
March, a considerable Number attended, (their Names are Subj0ined,)
and most of them told us they were resolved to move oil“, and would Pe-
tition your Honour for a Preference in obtaining their Improvements
when a Purchase was made.

“ While We were conversing we were informed that a number of
Indians were come to Indian Peter’s ;5 We judging it might be subser-

3 IX. 001. Records, 483. 4 Ibid., 491.

5 The writer is of the opinion that in the preparation of local history
the better method is, first, to observelas closely as possible a chronologi-
cal arrangement, and, second, to allow the actors to speak for themselves
when letters, papers, or documents of any kind are used. To quote ver-
batim from such sources enables the reader to form his own judgment,
not only as to the individuality of the person whose words are read, but
also as to the subject matter, illuminated sometimes by the quaint and
curious speech. In this belief literal copying is observed, even as to
spelling of proper names. _

6 Indian Peter, of whom but little is known save what appears from
mere reference to his name in ancient records, had lived just beyond
where Uniontown now stands, adjoining Philip Shute, a German. He
wrote the Governor of Pennsylvania that he couldn't “ get along with

CIVIL AND LEGAL——COUNCIL AT FORT PITT, 1768.

.34

vient to our main design, that the Indians should be present, while We
were advising the People to obey the Law, sent for them; They came;
and after Sermon delivered a speech, with a string of Wampuml to be
transmitted to Your Honour. This Speech was: ‘ Ye are come, sent by
your Great Men, to tell these People to go away from the Land, Which
Ye say is ours; and we are sent by our Great Men, and are glad We have
met here this day. We tell you the White People must Stop, and We
stop them ’till the Treaty, and when George Croghan, and our great
"Men will talk together, we will tell them what to do.’ The names of
the Indians are subjoined. TheJndians were from Mingo Town, about
Eighty Miles from Redstone.‘ After this the People were more Confirmed
that there was no danger of War. They dropped the design of Petition-
ing, and said they would wait the issue of the Treaty; some, however,
declared they would move off. We had sent a messenger to Cheat River,
and to Stewart’s Crossings, on the Yougheoghenny, with Several Proc-
lamations, requesting them to meet us at Guesse’s place, as most Central
‘for both Settlements. - ,

“On the thirtieth of March aboutthirty or fourty men met us there.
‘We proceeded as at Red Stone, reading the Act of Assembly, and a

. Proclamation, and endeavored to convince _,them of the Necessity and

‘Reasonableness of quitting the unpurchased Land, but to no purpose.
‘They had heard what the Indians had said at Red Stone, and reasoned
in the same manner, declaring that they had no Apprehensions of a
War; that they would attend the Treaty, and take their Measures ac-
cordingly. Many severe things were said of Mr. Croghan, and one Law-
rence Harrison treated the Law and Government, with too much dis-
respect. On the thirty-first of March, We came to the Great Crossings
of Yougheoghenny, and being informed by one Speer, that eight or ten
Families lived in a place called Turkey-Foot, We sent seine Proclama-
tions thither by said Speer, as We did to a few Families nigh the little
Yough, judging it unnecessary to go amongst them. It is ourOpinion
that some will move off in Obedience to the Law, that the greatest Part
will wait the Treaty, and if they find that the Indians are indeed dis-
satisfied, We think that the whole will be persuaded to Remove. The

Indians coming to‘ Red Stone, and delivering their Speech, greatly ob-

structed our design. We are, your Honour’s most obedient,
“ most humble Servants,

“ JOHN STEEL,
“ JOHN ALLISON,
“ CHRISTOPHER LEMES,

l “ JAMES POTTER.

f‘ To HONOURABLE JOHN PENN, ESQ., LIEUTENANT-GOVERNOR,».ETC.

I “ The Indians Names who came to Red Stone, viz. :
“ Captain Haven; Captain Hornets; Captain Mygog Wigo; Captain
Nogowach ; Captain Strikebelt; Captain Pouch; Captain Gilly; Captain

_ Slewbells.

“ The Names of Inhabitants near Red Stone:

“John Wiseman; Henry Prisser ; William Linn; William Colvin;
John Vervalson; Abraham Tygard, (Teagarden ;) Thomas Brown; Rich-
ard Rodgers; John Delongg Peter Young; Geo. Martin; Henry Swats;
Jos. McLeon; Jesse Martin; Adam Hatton; John Verval, Jun.; Jam’s
Waller; Thos. Douter, (Douthitt;) Captain Coburn; Michael Hooter;
Andrew Linn ; Gabriel Conn; Thos. Down; Andrew Gudgeon, (Gudgel;)
Phil. Sute, (Shute ;) James Crawford; John Peters; John Martin; Hans
Cack, (Cock ;) Daniel McCay; Josias Crawford; One—Province.

“ Names of some who met us at Guesses (Gist’s) Place:

“James Lyne; . . . Blounfield, (Brownfield ;) Eze. Johnson, Thomas
Guesse, (Gist,) Char. Lindsay; Jams Wallace, (Waller;) Richard Harri-
son; Phil. Sute, (Shute,); Jet. Johnson; Henry Burkon, (Burkham;)
Lawrence Harrison, Ralph Hickenbottom. -

“ Names of the People at Turkey-foot:

“ Henry Abrahams; Eze. Dewit; Jams. Spence; Benj. Jennings; J no.
Cooper; Eze. Hickman; Jno. Enslow; Henry Enslow; Benj. Pursley.”

the d—d Dutchman,” and wished to give up his land for another tract.
_He then settled just opposite Redstone Old Fort, where West Browns-
ville now stands, and no doubt lived there at the time of Rev. Steel’s
visit. The tract was warranted to him on April 5, 1769, under the name
of “Indian Hill.’’ '

1 Wampum was an Iroquois word meaning a mussel. . Such shells are
made into beads, each a cylinder about three-eighths of an inch long,
and about one-eighth of an inch thick, and strung upon a string, con-
stituting astring of wampum. Such strings plaited together made a
belt of Wampum. Everything of moment transacted at solemn council,
and every message delivered, was ratified by a string or belt of Wampum.

143

When he had reached his home, the Rev. Mr. Steel
wrote again to the Governor, by way of a supplement
ary report:

“ CARLISLE, April 11, 1768.
“ May it please your Honour: ’

“Upon my return to Carlisle, the 8th instant,  had the Pleasure to
see your brother Allen, and Secretary Shippen, in their way to Fort Pitt.
The Secretary requested a Copy of our Journal, believing it might be of
some Use to them, with which they were immediately furnished, and

further advised me to wait an Opportunity rather than hire an Express,

to Transmit to your Honour our Papers, which I am favored with in the
present Bearer. Sir, there is one thing which, in preparing the Extract
of our Journal, happened to be overlooked, viz.: The People at Red
Stone alleged that the removing of them from the unpurchased Lands,
was a Contrivance of. the Gentlemen. and Merchants of Philadelphia,
that they might take Rights for their improvements when a Purchase
was made. In confirmation of this, they said that a Gentleman of the
name of Harris, and another called Wallace, with one Friggs, a Pilot,
spent a considerable time last August, in viewing the Lands and Creeks
thereabouts. We promised to acquaint your Honour with this.

“ I am of Opinion, from the appearance the People made,and the best
intelligence We could obtain, that there are but about an hundred and
fifty Families in the different Settlements of Redstone, Yougheoghenny
and Cheat River. . . .”2 .

Council at Fort Pitt,1768.-—-The council. with the
Indians was held at Fort Pitt, now Pittsburgh, be-
ginning on April 26th, and ending on the 9th
of May. There were, among others of the 1768.
whites, George Croghan, deputy Indian
agent for Indian affairs, John Allen and Joseph
Shippen, J r., commissioners on the part of Pennsyl-
vania, and, the oflicers of the garrison. Of the Six
Nations there were 1.2 chiefs, 6 chief warriors, with
293 warriors, besides women and children; of the
Delawares, 13 chiefs, 9 chief warriors, with 311 war-
riors, besides women and children ; of the Shawanese,
10 chiefs, 8 chief warriors, with 141 warriors, besides
women and children; Munsies, 5 chiefs, with 196
warriors, besides women and children; Mohickons,
3 chiefs, with 90 warriors, besides women and chil-
dren; of Wyandots, 7 were sent; _in all there were
1103 Indians, besides women and children?

The conference, lasting for many days, was upon
two principal matters: one, the pacification of the
Indians as to murders of members of different tribes
committed at a late date, particularly the killing of
several Indians upon the Susquehanna by one Fred-
erick Stump and John Ironcutter, his servant, on
January 10th preceding; and the other, the arrang-
ing of difliculties which had arisen, on account of the
settlements already made and being made upon their
lands. Many speeches were delivered, and much for-
mality observed at this well-attended conclave. The
passions aroused among, the natives by the outrages
admitted to have been committed upon them were
rather easily arranged by shrewd management and
a “condolence’_’ in the shape of presents, amounting
in value to upwards of fifteen hundred pounds, and
towards the end of the council the matter of the re-
moval of the settlers from the Monongahela was

 

_ .__________________________
2 The foregoing correspondence is published in IX. Col. Records, 506-
10. . '

3 See for the parties present and the proceedings in full, IX. Col.
Records, 516;; I. Olden Time, 344.

144

HISTORY OF WASHINGTON COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA.

brought forward. ‘ It will be remembered that Allen
and Shippen had been supplied by Rev. Mr. Steel, at
Carlisle, with a copy of the minutes of the conference

had with the settlers at Redstone on the 27th of March. .

The whites seemed to await with some impatience an
opportunity to open the debate upon this subject;
and indeed it would appear, as shown by the result,
that there was more anxiety on the part of the Penn-
sylvania authorities that the settlers should remove,
than there were on the part of the Indians themselves,

« on whose account such furious legislation and proc-

lamations hadbeen made and issued.

At the session on the 2d of May, a week after the
council began, Tohonissagarrawa, a chief of the Six
Nations, by whom as the lords paramount all the
lands in this western country were claimed to be
owned, said through an interpreter to Brother Onas,
asthe Governor of Pennsylvania was called,—

“ Brother: It is not without grief that We see our Country settled by
You without our knowledge or Consent; and it is a long Time since we
first complained to you of this Grievance, which we find has not yet
been redressed, but settlements are still extending further into our
Country. Some of them are made directly on our war Path, leading to our
Enemies Country, and we do not like it.1 You have laws amongst you to
govern your People by, and it will be the Strongest Proof of the Sin-
cerity of your Friendship to let us see that you remove the People from
our Lands; - as we look upon it, it will be Time enough for you to settle

them, when you have purchased them and the Country becomes yours.”2

The reply of the Pennsylvania commissioners was
made on the 4th of May, in which they expressed
their pleasure that they had so good an opportunity
of acquainting the Indians of the endeavors which
had been made to do them justice in this respect,
and proceeded to recite the issuance by the Governor
of the proclamation which had been unobserved.
“As the people,” said they, “who have settled on
your Lands came chiefly from Virginia, the Governor
of that Province, likewise, issued Proclamations and
orders to the same Purpose. The King’s General
too [His Excellency General Gage] hath twice sent
parties of Soldiers to the people living on Red—Stone
Creek and the Monongahela to warn them off your
Lands, and threatened them with seizing their per-
sons and effects if they refused to move away.”
They then informed the Indians of the passage of
the law inflicting the penalty of death on all persons
who should continue on their lands after the first day

1 That is, on Dunkard Creek.

2 That the Indians, though wild and untamable, were nevertheless not
devoid of reason and eloquence an extract is made from a speech on the
land question at another council by Gachradodow to Asaragoa, the In-
dian name of the Governor of Virginia : “ The world at the first was made
on the other Side of the great Water, different from what is on this
Side, as may be known from the difi‘erent Colours of our Skin and of
our flesh, and that which you call Justice may not be so amongst us;
you have Laws and Customs and so have we. The Great King might
send you over to conquer the Indians, but it looks to us That God did
not approve of it. If he had he would not -have placed the Sea where
it is as the Limits between us and You.” For an affecting scene, show-
ing real eloquence on‘ the part of the uncultivated Indian, see the pro-
ceedings of the council of condolence held at Shamokin (Sunbury), in
1769, to appease the Indians on account of the murder of Seneca George’s
son by a nephew of old Conrad Weiser, in IX. Col. Records, 618.

of the next June; that four prudent and honest men

had been sent among the settlers to distribute copies .

of the act, and of the proclamation commanding
strict obedience to it under the penalties provided;

that the messengers had returned home and reported

to the Governor that they had executed his orders, but
that they were told by the people settled at and near
Redstone Creek that they had been encouraged by the
Indians themselves to continue on those lands, but
they would obey the law and move off without
delay: .

“ But Brethren we are sorry to tell you that as soon as the Men sent
by the-Governor had prevailed on the settlers to consent to a compliance
with the Law, there came among them eight Indians, who live at Mingo
town, down this River, and desired the People not to leave their Settle-
ments, but to sit quiet on them till the present Treaty at this place

‘ .
should be concluded. The People on receiving this advice and encour-
agement suddenly changed their minds, and determined not to quit
their places till they should hear further from the Indians.”

The commissioners then quoted the speech made at
Redstone by the Mingo warriors,3 and expressed their
great anxiety at this behavior of the Indians, as it
had absolutely frustrated the efforts being made to
remove the intruders from their lands. Theythen
proposed that the Indians would send some of their
wise and prudent men “ to the people settled at Red-
stone, Youghogany, and Monongahela, to contradict
the advice of the eight Indians from the Mingo

' Town,” and the commissioners would send an “ honest

and discreet” white man to accompany them :_

“ And, Brethren, if after receiving such notice from you they shall re-
fuse to remove by the time limited them, you may depend upon it the
Government will not fail to put the Law into immediate Execution
against them.”

On the 6th of May, Beaver, a chief of the Dela-
wares, said,—— ‘

“ The Country lying between this River and the Allegheny Mountains
has always been our Hunting Ground, but the White People who have
scattered themselves over it have, by their hunting, deprived us of the
Game, which we look upon ourselves to have the only right to, and we
desire you will acquaint our Brother, the Governor,'of this, and prevent
their Hunting there for the future.”

The proposition to send messengers to the settlers
was assented to on the 9th of May, and White Mingo
and the three deputies sent from the Six Nations
were selected by the Indians, to be accompanied by
John Frazer and John Thompson, appointed as the
“ honest and discreet” representatives of the prov-
ince. The latter received written instructions, defi-
nite and imperative in terms, but when ready to

depart up the river they sent several times for the
- Indian messengers, “ who at last came to the fort and

acquainted them that they had been seriously consid-
ering the business they were going to be sent on, and
it now appeared to them so disagreeable that they
could by no means consent to undertake it, and im-
mediately returned the Wampum which had been
given them.” They at first set up a want of power
from their superiors, being present only as deputies,
and they further added “that the driving white

.3 See page 143.

CIVIL AND LEGAL—SETTLERS WEST OF MONONGAHELA.

people away from their settlements was a matter

which no Indians could with any satisfaction be con-.

cerned in, and they thought it most proper for the
English themselves to compel their own people to
remove from the Indians’ lands.”

The Indians appointed to carry the message having
declined, the commissioners vainly endeavored to
procure the appointment of others in their stead, and
therefore concluded to abandon the attempt. But be-
fore they left for Philadelphia, Guyasutha came with
Arroas, a principal warrior of the Six Nations, to the
commissioners at their lodgings, where the former
made the following statement, giving most judicious
reasons for their failure to send the messengers, as
they had engaged to do:

“ . . . -We were, all of us, much disposed to comply with your Request,
and expected it would have been done without difficulty, but I now find
that not only the Indians appointed by us, but all our other young Men
are very unwilling to carry a Message from us to the White People,
ordering them to remove from our Lands. They say they would not
chuse to incur the ill will of those People; for if they should be now
removed they will hereafter return to their Settlements when the Eng-
lish have purchased the Country from us. And we shall be very un-
happy if, by our Conduct towards them at this time, we shall give them
Reason to dislike us, and treat us in an unkind Manner when they
again become our Neighbors. We therefore hope, Brethren, you will
not be displeased at us for not performing our Agreement with you, for
You maybe assured that we have good Hearts toward all our Brethren,
the English.” _

The result was that the settlers, “ chiefly from Vir-
ginia,” were not removed from the homes they had
established in the then wilderness of the Mononga-
hela valley; nor did any of them suffer the death
penalty provided by a timid Assembly; if such had

’ been the case there might have been a less number of
the Linns, the Colvins, the Teagardens, the Browns,

the Rodgers, the Swartses, the Martins, the Harrisons,
within and near the bounds of Washington County
than we have at present.

The efforts to dispossess the early settlers are
thought to have produced two very. natural conse-
quences: first, they tended to alienate the settlers
from the Pennsylvania government, and to turn them
the more readily to Virginia in the boundary contro-
versy which after a time followed; and again, they
contributed, as has been thought, with other influ-
ences to maintain a good feeling between the early
pioneers and the Indians, by which means the filling
up of the lands westward of the Alleghanies to the
Ohio River was rapidly promoted.

Treaty at Fort Stanwix, 1768.——The speech of
Guyasutha clearly foreshadowed an expected treaty
by which the Indian title to this country was to be
purchased. Accordingly in the fall of the same year,
under the supervision of Sir William Johnson, the
treaty was held at Fort Stanwix, now Rome, Oneida
County, N. Y., for the important purpose of settling
a general boundary line between them (the Indians)
and the neighboring colonies.‘

1 IX. 001. Records, p. 545.

145

Governor Penn intended to be present at this treaty
on Sept. 7, 1768, but was obliged to return before it
was opened. The Council was not begun till ‘October
24th, and on November 5th was transacted the busi-
ness which more immediately concerns us, to wit, the
purchase by the proprietary government of Pennsyl-
vania of the Indian title to a large part of the lands
of the province. This purchase included all of the
present counties of Washington, Greene, Fayette;
Westmoreland; all of Allegheny and Beaver south
of the Ohio River, and then extended northeast -to
Susquehanna and Wayne.

The settlers were now no longer to be disturbed by
the government on account of objections from the
Indians, and on Feb. 26, 1769, notice was given by an
advertisement from the land-oflice that on the 3d of
April ensuing the land-office would be opened to receive
applications for lands within the new purchase at the
rate of five pounds sterling per,one hundred acres,
and one penny per acre quit-rent. No person was to
be allowed more than three hundred acres. On the
day when the office was opened numbers of applica-
tions for lands within the limits of Washington
County were granted, as will soon appear by a refer-
ence to a few of them.

Settlers West of Monongahela:-But before the
3d of April, when lands west of the Alleghenies could
lawfully be acquired,—indeed, before the council at
Fort Pitt and the treaty at‘ Fort Stanwix,——there were
many settlem_ents made west of the Monongahela
River, and extending well towards the Ohio. It is
now believed, indeed documentary evidence has made
it clear, that in and prior to 1767 settlers had made
improvements here and there all over the beautiful
country extending from Fort Pitt southward to the
boundary line and between the two rivers named. It
is not purposed here to show these settlements in de-
tail, but it is beyond doubt that as early as 1767
Everhart Hupp, Abraham Teagarden, and Jesse
Baumgartner settled at or near the mouth of Ten-
Mile Creek, and on April 3, 1769, the first day of the
opening of the land-oflice, warrants were granted to
William Preston, Robert Harrison, Paul Fooks, and

tDavid Evans for the four tracts which afterwards

made up the Morganza property when purchased, a
little before 1796, by Col. ‘George Morgan. On April
5, 1769, Phineas Kellum, or Killeum, obtained a
warrant for a tract on the North Fork of Ten—Mile
Creek. ,'

The records of the land-oflice show that on June
15, 1769, applications were made by Abraham Hun-
ter for three hundred acres “on a branch of
Shirtees Creek [by the path leading] from 1769.
Fort Bird to Mingo Town, joining land of
Joseph Hunter, Jr., including Catfish, a Delaware
Indian’s improvement ;” by Joseph Hunter, for three
hundred acres “ on a branch of Shirtees, Creek, joining
land of Abraham-Hunter;” and by Martha Hunter,

146

HISTORY OF WASHINGTON COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA.

for three hundred acres “on a branch of Shirtees
Creek, joining land of Joseph Hunter, Jr.” These
lands when surveyed on‘ Nov. 11, 1769, were named
respectively, in the order above given and going from
south to north, Catfish Camp, Grand Cairo, and
Martha’s Bottom. The borough of Washington, on
Oct. 13, 1781, was laid out on parts of the two tracts
called Catfish Camp and Grand Cairo. Each one of
the surveys was returned as containing over three
hundred and thirty acres. Fort Bird, or more prop-
erly Fort Burd, was at Redstone, now Brownsville,
and the Mingo town was on the west side of the Ohio,
just below where Steubenville now stands.

' The same year, 17 69, without more particularity as
to dates, warrants were granted to Mary McDowell
for a tract afterwards passed. to Henry Taylor, just
northeast of Washington; to William Drummond
and to John Allman, for tracts on Chartiers Creek;
to Michael Marshall, for a tract in what is North
Strabane; to Indian Peter, for the Indian Hill tract,
between “Krepp’s Knob” and the Monongahela, on
part of which West Brownsville stands. In 1770,

Joseph Parkinson had acquired property at
1770. Parkinson’s Ferry, now Monongahela City;

Gabriel Cox, on Peters.Creek ; John Grimes,
on Buffalo Creek; and in the fall of that year Henry
Taylor, the grandfather of Matthew Taylor, came out
from Cecil County, Md., and made his improvement
on the lands known to this day as the Rich Hills, just
northeast and in sight of Washington}

1 To illustrate by actual instance the method of acquiring titles by
what was called “ Tomahawk Improvements.” as well as the manner of
life of our early settlers, the reader will pardon the following extracts.
In 1782 suits in ejectment were brought in our Common Pleas Court by
Henry Taylor, claiming under his Pennsylvania rights; and the ques-
tions at issue were, which party had made the earliest settlements.
Depositions were taken and filed, and from those on the part of Mr.
Taylor are made the following extracts, relating as appears from them
to the Taylor lands, a part of which are at this day owned by Matthew
Taylor, a grandson of Henry Taylor.

Deposition of Alexander Bowling, July 3, 1783: -

“ That in the fall of the year 1770, be this Deponent saw Henry Taylor
at Monongahela River, on his way out to Chartiers Creek; he understood
he was going out to take up land, and he applied to him to show him
Land that was not yet Improved: in answer to which he told said Taylor
he was about gathering his Corn and he could not go until he had it
finished. Van Sweringen being present said he was going out that way
to see some Land he had get of Baltzer Shilling, & that he would be
glad of his company, and that said Baltzer could show him Land plenty.
Said Taylor went out in a few days with said Sweringen. This Depo-

nent further says that some time after, he went out to work on a tract ,

of land he had out on said Chartiers Creek, & on his way he saw Henry
Taylor and Van Sweringen surveying and Marking a Line which said

' Taylor informed that he was marking ofi‘ his Claim and said Taylor was

marking this White Oak Tree which stands about north-west of where
Mr. Yeates now lives, and that he then and there saw a plain marked
line towards the south east; said Taylor asked this Deponent to stay
with him all night, pointing over the ridge and that his Cabban was a
little Way from where they then stood.”

Deposition of Isaac Williams, Jan. 30, 1784:

“That in the year 1770, that he saw Henry Taylor living in the forks
of Chartiers Creek, that he understood he was Improving that Land
that is now in Dispute, and to make a Settlement thereon; that he hired
his Brother John Williams to strenthen the improvem ents then

Henry Taylor, as shown by the note hereto, built

his cabin in the fall of 1770, and returned to Cecil .

Claimed by said Taylor; that he new the work to be Done, as he hunted
to get provision for the men while they were doing the work ; that he
also knew Taylor to pay his brother a Riffle Gun and some Cash when
he wentaway, and on his return paid the sum of Eight pounds: that
when they were doing the work he found a new Cabban on the White
Oak Ridge appearing to have been built that Winter; that on Taylor’s
finding that some person had been at work on his Land, he employed
me to Enquire and if possible find out who it was, and to purchase their
Claim, which I found it to be Hugh Sidwell, and purchased the said
White Oak Cabban and all his claim, in Behalf of said Taylor, for the
sum of twenty shillings.”

“ Question asked by Henry Taylor at Isaac Williams, if Baltzer Shill-
ing did not make a practice of Running about Through the woods and
Marking and Hazing trees and calling that his Improvements and that
in a Great Number?

“ Answered, he knew it well to be his constant practice.”

Deposition of John Williams, Jan. 30, 1784:

“ That in the faul of the year 1770, that he seen Henry Taylor Living
in a new Cabban on the Rich Hills which he understood was built by
said Taylor, as he Frequently Lodged at his house at the Monongahela
River, when going and returning from Chartiers; that he seen said
Taylor having Surveying Instruments to Run out his Land; that when
he was hunting there he saw New Marked lines which was Called Tay-
lor’s Lines; at that time he seen no Improvements on or within said
lines but what was called Taylor’s, and that Cabban on the Rich Hill
where Taylor was living in was the first he knew or ever’ seen on the
forks of Chartiers Creek; That said Taylor Hired him that same faul to
farther Improve the said Land, . . . that he Deadened some Timber and
Cut and Split five hundred rails on the Rich Hill Tract, five hundred
rails on the White Oak Ridge Tract, that he built a good Cabban and
Split five hundred rails on another Tract, for which the said Taylor paid
him before he left the Settlement a Riflile Gun and four Dollars Cash,
and the next spring when the said Taylor Returned from Cecil County,
Maryland, he paid me the Remainder Honorably, being Eight pounds
pennsylvania money.”

Deposition of Hugh Sidwell, July 4, 1783: -
“That he built a cabin about Christmas, 1770, and sold his claim to
Isaac Williams for Henry Taylor for twenty shillings.”

Deposition of Isaac Grier, Jan. 12, 1783.

“ That in ye year 1770, about the last of November or the beginning of
December, he this Deponent did assist Henry Taylor to Build a Cabban
on the Waters of Chartiers Creek, on a piece of Rich land,.to ye southwest
of the Cabban where the said Taylor now lives in, now known by the name
of the burned Cabban & after Finishing the afsd Cabban on Friday, spent
the Next Day in same being Satirday and the next Day being Sunday
set on our way towards the Monongahela River, where we met with Van
Sweringen, Baltser Shilling, James Hendricks & another young man to
me unknown who I understood had been surveying Lands. “"6 lodged
that night at John Williams hunting Camp; said Sweringham, Shilling,
Hendricks, and stranger Passed on towards afsd River; the next day

being Monday saw the afsd Sweringham, Baltzer Shilling, Mr. Hend- -

ricks & stranger at Shillings Cabban near Pigeon Creek, and we then
and there saw Joseph Alexander and his father on their way out to Char-
tiers to see some Land, and Farther this Deponent saith not.” .

Deposition of Frederick Lamb, Jan. 2, 1784:

“That some time in the Month of April in the Year 1772, he came to .

Polser Shilling where he was doing some work on a certain Tract of
Land where Richard Yates now dwells on, he had seen on a Tree a small
distance from them, with H T on it, which at the time he thought it had
been Henry Tay1or’s Claim and he asked the said Polser was not this
Henry Taylor’s Land; Polser answered, Yes, it is his Claim, and that he
was working there on purpose to affront said Taylor; and he wanted
Taylor to come there on purpose to quarrel with him, and give Taylor a
Thrashing, and would Black his eyes well. He then told Polser that
Henry Taylor was a civil man and would not fight with him and that
twas better to let it alone. Then Polser‘ said he would go up and let
Van Sweringen have it, for Van was not ashamed of any mean action
and he knew Van to be Roague enough to cheat Taylor out of the
Land.”

  CIVIL AND LEGAL._BEDFORD COUNTYIERECTED.

147

County, Md. On the 1st day of February, 1771, be-
fore his return in the spring following, he obtained
orders of survey for his improvements, one of which
recites’:

“Whereas Henry Taylor of the County of Cecil in
Maryland, hath requested that we would grant him
to take up one hundred and fifty Acres of Land on
the Middle Fork of Chartiers Creek, Bounded on the
North-East by Robert Hamilton’s Land and on the
Path leading from Catfish Camp to Pittsburg, includ-
ing his Improvements in the County of Cumberland:
Provided the same Land ‘does not interfere with any
Manor o.r appropriated Tract in the said County of
Cumberland,” etc. The warrant is signed, “ John
Penn.” - I

In the month of October, 1770, George Washington
made a journey by way of Braddock’s road and Fort
Pitt and down the Ohio River to the Kanawha, and
kept a diary of his observations. As of date the 23d
of the month he describes his approach to the two
Cross Creeks, one emptying into the Ohio from the
east and the other from the west, and proceeds:
“ About three miles or a little more below this, at the
lower point of some islands which stand contiguous
to each other, we were told by the Indians that three
men from Virginia had marked the land from hence
all the way to Redstone; . . . at this place We
encamped.”

It is indicated from what has already been written
of our early settlements, and it plainly appears upon a
full examination, that the lands lying between the

»Monongahela and the Ohio were settled from the

outer limits to the central portion by approaches from
the mouths and up the courses of the streams flow-
ing into the rivers. The pioneers first stopped along

_ the rivers themselves, then gradually followed up the

branches into the upper lands. And accounts hereto-
fore published have stated, and investigations made
in the preparation of this work have confirmed the
statement, that by the year 17 7 4' there was scarcely a
section of the lands lying between the two rivers
which did not contain the cabin of the pioneer.

It has been seen that in-February, 17 7 1, when the
warrant heretofore quoted was issued to Henry Tay-
lor, the land the survey of which it authorized was
described as in the county of Cumberland. Cumber-
land County, the sixth county of Pennsylvania estab-
lished, was erected by the act of Assembly passed
Jan. 27, 1750, just about the time when the earliest
settlers reached the valley of the Monongahela. It
embraced all the lands lying westward of the Susque-
hanna River and north and west of the county of York,
extending by a shading of inhabitants growing lighter
and lighter with the approach to this Western wilder-
ness. The seat of justice being for a little while at
Shippensburg, and afterwards where it is to-day, at
Carlisle, it is apparent that its jurisdiction was not
felt to any extent by the settlers of our county; still

the inhabitants were not without the protection of the
law, for Thomas Gist, son of Christopher Gist, settled
at Mount Braddock, in Fayette County, was com-

_ missioned a justice of Cumberland County in 1770,‘

and in the same year Col». William Crawford was also
appointed a justice of that county? His home was
opposite where Connellsville now is, on the Youghio—
gheny River. '

Bedford County Erected.——‘It was not a long
while, however, after our first settlers arrived until the
seat of j ustice was brought a little nearer to their
new homes, for on March 9, 1771, Bedford 1771.
County was erected out of a part of Cumber-
land. Like the latter county, Bedford was originally
of wide dimensions, and the reason assigned for its
formation was “the great hardships the inhabitants
of the western part of the county of Cumberland lie
under from being so remote from the present seat
of jurisdiction and the public offices.” To indicate
its great extent it may be stated that its bounda-

ries were: “Beginning where the province line ‘

crosses the Tuscarora Mountain, and running along
the summit of that mountain to the gap near the
head of the Path Valley; thence with a north line to
the J uniata; thence with the J uniata to the mouth of
Shaver’s Creek; thencenortheast to the line of Berks
County; thence along the Berks County line north-
westward to the western boundaries of the province;
thence southward, according to the western boundary
of the province} to the southwest corner of the prov-
ince; and from thence eastward with the southern
line of the province to the place of beginning.” V
An examination of the records shows that the settlers
west of the mountains had much more to do in the
administration of justice that when they were within
the jurisdiction of Cumberland County with its seat
of justice at Carlisle. Still, for the reason that it was
not yet definitely established that that portion of
the county lying between the Monongahela and the
Ohio was within the boundaries of Pennsylvania, the

then inhabitants of that locality seem not to have re- A

ceived much notice from the county authorities.

The first court of Bedford County was held at Bed-
ford, one hundred miles east from Pittsburgh, on
April 16, 1771, and.George Wilson, Esq., who lived
near the mouth of Georges Creek, in what was after-
wards Fayette County, was one of the justices. Among
the first justices of the peace were Col. (then Captain)
William Crawford and Thomas Gist, hereinbefore
mentioned as justices of the county of Cumberland,
and Dorsey Pentecost, then living on his “planta-

1 The Monongahela of Old, 116.

2 Butterfield’s Crawford’s Exp., 94.

3 Observe here that at this date, 1771, it is not indicated what the west-
ern boundary of the province was, whether it was a meridian line, or
whether it corresponded with the sinuosities of the Delaware, which was

the eastern boundary, nor is it, of course, indicated where that bound- '

ary lay. This will be explained in the chapters upon the Boundary Con-
troversy.

148

HISTORY or WASHINGTON COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA.

tion” called “ Greenway,” in the Youghiogheny set-
tlement, but who came to the eastern branch of Char-
tiers Creek about 1777, and was afterwards the second
president judge of Washington County.

Dorsey Pentecost was a member of the first board
of county commissioners of Bedford County, as was
also John Stephenson, a half-brother of William
Crawford, and residing in the same locality, near what
is now Connellsville. The third paper put on record
by the first recorder of deeds is “ a mortagage made
this 14th January, 1771, between Francis Howard,
now of Fort Pitt, Ensign in his Majesties 18th regi-
ment of Foot, and Edward Hand, Surgeon’s Mate in
said reg’t, for 1636 acres of land lying on both sides
of Chartiers Creek.” 1 This land is referred to in an
extract from the records of the Quarter Sessions of
Westmoreland County, hereafter quoted. Upon the
deed books of Bedford County is also a curious deed,
dated February, 1770, from Anonquit, Enishera, and

Connehracahecat, the first a chief and the others two

deputies of the Six Nations, for “ our full leave and
liberty of us, and for and in behalf of the said Six
Nations, to settle on a tract of land on the north side
of the Alligania River opposite to Fort Pitt, in form
of la Cemi Circle from said landing, &c.” The deeds
of the Indians to private persons, however, were of
no validity. A

The territory belonging to Washington County as.

originally erected, that is, lying between the Monon-
gahela and the Ohio and extending from Pittsburgh
to the southern boundary line (thus including Greene
County), was embraced within two of the original
Bedford County townships, to ‘wit, Pitt‘ and Spring-
hill, the former embracing the northern part and the
latter the southern. I

At the first session of the court of General Quarter
Sessions of the Peace, held at Bedford, for Bedford
County, the 16th of April, 1771, the court proceeded
to divide the county into townships. The limits of
Pitt and Springhill townships were as follows:

“Pitt.——Beginning at the mouth of the Kiskeminetas and running
down the Allegheny. River to its junction with the Monongahela, then
down the Ohio to the western limits of the Province, thence with the
western boundary to the line of Spring Hill, thence with that line to the
mouth of Red Stone Creek, thence down the Monongahela to the mouth
of Youghioghena, thence with the line of Hempfield to the mouth of
Brush Run, thence with_the line of said township to the beginning.

"‘ Spring Hill.—Beginning at the mouth of Red Stone Creek and running
thence a due west course to the western boundary of the Province, thence
south with the Province line to the southern boundary of the Province,
then east with that line to where it crosses the Youghiogheny to Laurel
Hill, thence with the line of Tyrone to Gists, and thence with that line
to the beginning.”

The official assessment rolls for these townships for
1772 show that Pitt township had fifty-two land-
holders, twenty tenants, and thirteen single freemen;
Springhill, three hundred and eight landholders,
eighty-nine tenants, and_fifty-eight single freemen;

:and we find many familiar names given as residing

1 Dr. Egle’s History of Pennsylvania, 365.

either at that date or soon afterward in the original
Washington County. ,

The assessment roll for 1772 of Springhill town-
ship shows the following names among others:
Thomas Brown (Ten-Mile), Jeremiah Beek (Beck),
William Brashear, William Crawford. (the Quaker,
afterwards of East Bethlehem), Josiah Crawford,
Oliver Crawford, John Casteel, Henry Enoch, John
Garrard, John Garrard, J r., Zachariah Goben (Gapen),
James Harrod, William Harrod, Levi Harrod, Thomas
Hughes (Muddy Creek), Andrew Link, Jacob Link,
John Moore, David Morgan, John Masterson, Daniel
Moredock, James Moredock, John Swan, Robert
Sayre, Abraham Teagarden, George Teagarden, Henry
Vanmetre, Gabriel Cox, Bernard Eckerly, James Car-
michael, Samuel Eckerly, John Hupp, William Tea-
garden, and John Williams. Among the names from
the Pitt township list are Jacob Bausman, who settled
this side of the Monongahela, at Pittsburgh, in the
original Washington County, and was the grand-
father of John Bausman, late of Washington, Pa.;
John Barr, John Campbell, Samuel Heath, and John
McDonald? But _few of the many familiar names
have been copied, not only to avoid errors,——because
Springhill and Pitt townships embraced territory east
of the Monongahela as well as to the west of it,——but
also for the reason that the purpose is merely to indi-
cate with what great rapidity our western country
was being filled with settlers as soon as it was possible
to acquire lawful titles after the peace of 1764, the
treaty of 1768, and the opening of the land—of_iice in
1769. '

C H A P T E R X.
THE CIVIL AND LEGAL HISTORY.-—( Continued.)

II.

Westmoreland County Erected—'1‘he Provincial System--Westmoreland
County Records——The Revolution——The Revolutionary Judicial Sys-
tem—-Westmoreland Courts Reorganized.

Westmoreland County Erected.—And now, by
the 1st of January, 1773, the pioneers west of the
mountains had become stronger in numbers
and so well established that they determined 1773.
to possess, if possible, the machinery of courts
of justice and of other oflices created for the protec-

tion of property and preservation of rights for their.

own immediate use. So, on Jan. 26, 1773, there is
found in the journal of the House of Representatives
the following: '

“A petition from a. Number of the Freeholders and Inhabitants on

the West-Side of Laurel-Hill, in the County of Bedford, was presented
to the House and read, setting forth that they labor under very great

Hardships and Inconveniences in being so remote from the Courts of ’

Justice, and the public offices in the said County, many of the Petition-
ers living at the Distance of an Hundred Miles from the County Town,
and the Roads so very bad at some Seasons as to be almost impassable;

2 The Monongahela of Old, 200.

CIVIL AND LEGAL-—WEST-MORELAND COUNTY ERECTED.

149

—that in consequence thereof, the Fees of the Sheriff and other Ofiicers
are much increased, and become a heavy Grievance to the Petitioners,
who therefore most humbly pray the Honourable House, to erect the
said Part of the County of Bedford, West of Laurel Hill, into a separate
County} Ordered to lie on the Table.”

Another petition of like tenor was presented to the
House and read on January 30th, and on the same
day the consideration of the petitions was resumed.
On February 12th the Governor acquainted the
House that he should be ready to pass the bill which
had been prepared in accordance with the petitions
referred to, when presented to him for that purpose.
The act, as passed and approved by the Governor on
the 26th of the month, provided:

“ That all and singular the lands lying within the province of Penn-
sylvania, and being within the boundaries following, that is to say; be-
ginning in the province line, where the most westerly branch, com-
monly called the South or Great Branch of the Youghiogheny River
crosses the same; then down the easterly side of the said branch and
river to the Laurel Hill; thence along the ridge of the said Hill, north-
eastward, so far as it can be traced, or till it runs into the Allegheny
Hill [Mountains]; thence along the ridge dividing the waters of Sus-
quehanna and the Allegheny River, to the purchase line, at the head of
Susquehanna; thence due west to the limits of the province, and by the
same to the place of -beginning; shall be, and the same is hereby de-
clared to be, erected into a county, henceforth to be called Westmore-

. land.2

Thus Westmoreland County, including, as it did

when erected, all of Fayette, Greene, Washington,‘

Allegheny west of the Allegheny River and south
of the Monongahela River, and all of Beaver south
of the Ohio, as well as all of Indiana and that part

' of Armstrong east of the Allegheny River, was of

magnificent proportions. The Laurel Hill range of
mountains divides the county from Somerset and
Cambria. The next range west is the Chestnut
Ridge, and between the latter and Laurel Hill is
the beautiful valley of Ligonier, about ten miles
wide. VVest of Chestnut Ridge the county assumes

‘ the character of “an original table-land or inclined

plane, scooped out into hills and valleys by the action
of the water. Near the larger streams the hills are
higher and more precipitous; between the sources of
the smaller streams they rise in gentle undulation,
nicely suited to the purposes of agriculture. From
the summit of Chestnut Ridge the country seems to
spread out into a vast verdant plain.”'°’

This territory was destined to be for years the theatre
of interstate strife, as well as of the worst forms of
border warfare. The frontier line, dividing the settle-
ments of the pioneers from the Indian country, had
now moved to the west of the Inountains, and while
our early people were habituating themselves to the
orderly recognition of the law, terror and outrage, as
well as a conflict of jurisdiction, made their homes to
be homes of unrest. A

By the provisions of the organic act, the courts of

1 6 Votes of Assembly, 43?.
2 The reader will observe that here again, as in the erection of Bed-
ford County, there is no attempt to define the western boundary’.
3 Day’s Historical Collections, 680.

Westmoreland County were to be held at the house of

4 Robert Hanna until the court-house should be built.

Hanna’s settlement was about three miles northeast
of the present Greensburg. Having opened a house
of public entertainment, a number of other dwellings
had been established near Hanna’s place, and here
were held the courts of Westmoreland County until
some time after the county of Washington was erected.
At this place, called Hanna’s Town, were the first
courts of justice ever held by an English-speaking
people west of the Alleghany Mountains; and as the
territory afterwards constituting our own county, and
our own early settlers had, as will shortly appear, much
to do with the courts and oflicials of Westmoreland
County, it will be proper to give in some detail a
sketch of the organization of that county, as the names
cited will hereafter become quite familiar. ‘

The first justices of Westmoreland County were
included in a general commission issued by the‘S,u-
preme ‘Executive Council on Feb. 27, 1773. It em-
braced the following Well-known names: William
Crawford, then living opposite the present Connells-
ville, afterwards the colonel in command of the ex-
pedition against the Sandusky Indians; Arthur St.
Clair, afterwards a major—general in the Revolution ;
Thomas Gist; Alexander,McKee, afterwards, with
Simon Girty, a deserter to the British-Indians; Rob-
ert Hanna ; William Louchry; George Wilson, living
near the mouth of Georges Creek, opposite Greene
County; Eneas Mackay,'Joseph Spear, Alexander
McClean, James Caveat, and others. On Jan. 11,
1774, affairs at Pittsburgh assuming a threatening as-
pect by reason of the proceedings of Dr. John Con-
nolly in the establishment of the Virginia jurisdiction,
to be discussed at length hereafter, additional justices
were added to the commission, among whom were
Van Swearingen, then living eastof the Monongahela,
opposite Greenfield, afterwards becoming the first
sheriff of Washington County; Alexander Ross, a
trader and speculator at Pittsburgh, and a Tory when

the Revolution soon afterwards began; Andrew Mc-

Farlane and Oliver Miller, both afterwards Washing-
ton County men. In 1777, Edward Cook, the proprie-
tor of Cookstown, now of Fayette County, and James
Marshall, thought to be the James Marshel after-

wards the first county lieutenant, recorder, and regis-

ter for Washington County, became justices for
Westmoreland County. All these justices were
“commissionated” by the Governor to be justices of
the Court of General Quarter Sessions of the peace
and of the County Court of Common Pleas for the
said county, and William Crawford, being the first

named in the commission, became by a well settled‘
' usage the presiding justice; in 1775, however, having‘

accepted a commission from the Gover.n'orof Virginia
during the boundary controversy, he was dismissed
from his oifice as a Pennsylvaniairiagistrate.

The record of the Provincial Council for Saturday,
Feb. 27, 1773, reads as follows:

150

HISTORY OF WASHINGTON COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA.

“A Law having passed yesterday for erecting a part of the County
of Bedford into a separate County, called Westmoreland, and Arthur St.
Clair, Esq., the Present Prothonotary, &c., of Bedford, having requested
the governor to Grant him the oflicesin the new County, in lieu of those
he now holds in Bedford County, His Honor was this day pleased to ap-
point him to the Several oflices following, in the said County of West-
moreland, by three Separate Commissions, under the Great Seal of the
Province, viz.: Prothonotary or principal Clerk of the County Court of
Common Pleas, Clerk or Register of the Orphans’ Court, and Recorder of
Deeds.”1

The courts of Westmoreland County are now or-
ganized, and, as the extracts soon to be given from
their records will show, the people ‘west of the Monon-
gahela were within the benefits aiforded thereby. Up
to this time no roads had ever been established by
authority of law south of Pittsburgh and between
the two rivers, and whatever legal jurisdiction had
been exercised was, like the condition of the settle-
ments themselves, of a kind not very concentrated.

The Provincial System.—-It should be remem-
bered, too, that at this time Pennsylvania was still a
proprietary province, its people bearing allegiance to
the English sovereign. To understand the form of
government, soon to be changed (not very radically,
it is true, except as to the sovereign power), it must
suflice to say that the proprietary form of government
was one‘ in which the proprietary was granted the
ownership of the lands, and became the Governor of
the people to whom the lands were conveyed by him,
subject only, as to his political power, to the supreme
sovereignty of the king. By the charter granted by
Charles II. in 1681,” he conveyed to Mr. Penn, «his
heirs and assigns, all the territory within the limit
specified : -

.“ And him, the said William Penn, his heirs and assigns, we do by this
our royal charter, for us, our heirs and successors, make create and con-

1 X. Col. Records, 77. As we shall meet with Arthur St. Clair frequently
hereafter, a brief sketch may be acceptable. He was born in the town
of Thurso, in Caithney, Scotland, in 1734; was educated at the University
of Edinburgh; studied medicine with the celebrated Dr. William Hunter,
of London, but in 1757 entered the military service of Great Britain in
the Sixtieth, or Royal American, Regiment of Foot, and became a sub-
ordinate of Gen. Amherst in America. He was with Gen. Wolfe in the
reduction of Quebec and the battle on the Plains of Abraham, Sept. 13,
1759, and resigning from the British army in 1762, first removed to Bed-
ford, then to Ligonier va.1ley in 1764. In 1770 he was appointed surveyor
for Cumberland County, and the same year became a justice of the courts .
and a memberof the Council for that county. When Bedford County
was created’, in 1771, he was made a justice of its courts, prothonotary,
clerk,’ and register. When the conflict of jurisdiction occurred between
Pennsylvania and Virginia, he was a zealous Pennsylvanian, but the
Revolution coming on, he entered the Continental service, was made a
major-general, became an intimate with Gen. Washington, and served
with distinction to the end of the war. In 1783 he was a member of the
Council of Censors (St. Clair Papers, 116); delegate to Congress, 1785-87,
and president of that body in 1787; appointed Governor of the North-
western Territory in 1788. In January, 1790, fixed the seat of justice
for the Territory at Cincinnati, naming the place after the order of which
he was president in Pennsylvania from 1783 to 1789. In 1791 suffered a
severe defeat in an engagement with the Indians of the Miami and the
Wabash. He resigned his commission of general in 1792, and in 1802 he
was removed by President J effersonn from his governorship. Being the
life-long friend of Washington, he was also an ardent Federalist. Re-
tiring to a small log cabin -on Chestnut Ridge, he spent the remainder of .
his days in poverty. Truly republics are ungrateful!

5-’ See I. Dell. L., App. 1.

stitute the true and absolute proprietary of the country aforesaid, and of
all other the premises; saving always to us, our heirs and successors, the
faith and allegiance of the said William Penn, his heirs and assigns‘,
and of all other proprietaries, tenants and inhabitants, that are, or shall
be, within the territories and precincts aforesaid; and saving also unto
us, our heirs and successors, the sovereignty of the aforesaid country;
to have and to hold, possess and enjoy the said tract of land, country,
isles, inlets, and other the premises, unto the said William. Penn, his
heirs and assigns, forever; to be holden of us, our heirs and successors,
Kings of England, as of our castle of Windsor, in the county of Berks,
in free and common socage, by fealty only, for all services and not in
capite, or by Knight service; yielding and paying therefor to us, our
heirs and successors, two Beaver skins, to be delivered at our Castle of
Windsor. on the first day of January, in every year; and also the fifth
part of all gold and silver ore which shall from time to time happen to be
found within the limits aforesaid, clear of all charges. And of our fur-
ther grace, certain knowledge and mere motion, We have thought fit to
erect, and we do hereby erect, the aforesaid country and islands into a
province and seignory, and do call it Pennsylvania, and so from hence-
forth will have it called.” I

This, the Section III. of the charter, clearly indi-
cates the absolute character of the grant to Penn, so
far as his ownership and power of disposition of lands
were concerned. In the vault of the Historical So-
ciety of Pennsylvania at Philadelphia are preserved
the original certificates for the payment of the last
installment of two beaver-skins deliverable to the
king, in accordance with the terms of the section
quoted. They are dated Jan. 1, 1780, and the for-.
malities observed and apparent upon the papers are
somewhat interesting.

The form of government and the judicial system
authorized by the charter and established for the
province of Pennsylvania may now be briefly no-
ticed. ’

The Governors were appointed by the proprietaries,
by and with the advice of the king and Council. The
executive department was composed of the Governor
and his Council, and did not sit as an upper house,
the entire legislative power being vested in a single
body of representatives chosen by the people.

After 1710 the highest court was the Supreme "Court,
with law and equity sides, the equity jurisdiction, how-
ever, being discontinued‘ by the act of 1767. The
court consisted of four judges learned in the law, one
of Whom was distinguished in his commission as the
chief justice, and any two of whom might hold the
court. It held two’ sessions in banc annually» in Phil-
adelphia, and had appellate jurisdiction over all the
inferior courts in criminal, and in civil" cases above
fifty pounds in value. The judges were required to
go the circuit of the several counties twice a year, if
necessary, to try issues of fact pending therein, and

these circuit courts might be holden by one judge.

These judges, as well as the justices of the inferior
courts and of the peace, appear to have been commis-
sioned to hold ofiice for life, or during good behavior,
which meant at the will of the Governor, by whom,
they were appointed.

The county Courts of Common Pleas, Courts of
General Quarter Sessions, and Orphans’ Courts, “ for
protecting the interests of minors and regulating the

CIVIL AND LEGAL——WESTMORELAND COUNTY RECORDS.

affairs of decedents,” were held by the justices of the
peace of the county, who were not required to be learned

I in the law, and whose number depended entirely upon

the will of the Governor. Three of the justices con-
stituted a quorum, and the one first named in the
commission became the president by long established
usage. The courts were held four times in each year.
The Court of General Quarter Sessions of the Peace
appeared to be the principal county court, and in it
might sit all the justices of the peace of the county,
while the Court of Common Pleas and the Orphans’
Court were held by the same justices, or some of them,’
specially commissioned therefor ; but these courts
seem to have been of minor -importance, the Supreme
Court drawing to it the chief part of -the civil busi-

ness. Criminal causes of a high grade, such as were

triable only in the Court of Oyer and Terminer, were
tried by commissioners specially appointed and au-
thorized. The power thus to create commissioners
for the trial of criminal offenses becoming objection-
able, was first prohibited by the State constitution of
1790.

The lowest court was that of the local magistrate
or justice of the peace, with the jurisdiction to ex-
amine into charges of criminal offenses, and in civil
matters to try causes involving less than forty shil-
lings. V
The sheriffs (and the coroners as well) were ap-

' ‘pointed by the Governor within three days after re-

turn made to him fromtwo persons chosen by the
freemen of each county, and in default of such ap-
pointment the first person on the return was entitled
to the office. '
The prothonotary or “Principal Clerk” and the
clerk of each county were each appointed from three
persons nominated by the justices of the peace, and

if one of them were not commissioned within ten

days, the ‘highest on the list held the oflicezl

Westmoreland County Records. -—The early
records of the courts of Westmoreland County, to
return from the digression, were kept by Arthur St.
Clair, whose several commissions as “Prothonotary

or Principal Clerk” of the Court of Common Pleas,

clerk of the Court of General Quarter Sessions of the
Peace, and clerk of the Orphans’ Court are dated
Feb. 27, 1773, in the thirteenth year of the reign of
His Majesty George III., and purport to have been
granted by “Richard Penn, Esq., Lieutenant-Gov-
ernor and Commander-in-chief of the Province of
Pennsylvania and Counties of New Castle, Kent,

and Sussex on the Delaware.” The penmanship dis-

played in the keeping of these records is indicative
of a high degree of care and method.

' "*7 1 The outline above given of the provincial judicial system is believed
«to be accurate, though in the conflicting accounts by different writers

to be sure of accuracy is of some ditficulty. The reader is referred to
Gordon‘s History of Pennsylvania,‘121 and 547-48; Lodge’s English Col-
onies, 23l, 232; Futhey and Cope’s History of Chester County, 364, ct
sequitur.

151

VVilliam Crawford was the president j udge, as stated,
until the order of Council for his removal was passed
in 17 7 5. 2

» It has been thought best, for the sake of clearness,
first tocnll from the records of Westmoreland County
the transactions affecting the inhabitants west of the
Monongahela up to the time of the organization of
our own county, then to retrace our way to the be-
ginning of the “Boundary Controversy,” occurring
immediately upon the organization of Westmoreland,
and not terminated until immediately preceding the
creation of Washington County.

The very first act of the first court ever held by
English-speaking people west of the Alleghany Moun-
tains, to wit, the Quarter Sessions of “Westmoreland
County, is recorded as follows:

“ At a court of General Quarter Sessions of the Peace held at Robert
Hanna’s Esquire for the county of Westmoreland the sixth day of April
in the thirteenth year of the reign of our Sovereign Lord George the
third, By the Grace of God of Great Britain and Ireland King, Defender
of the Faith, 4950., And in the year of our Lord one thousand seven hun-
dred and seventy-three, Before William Crawford, Esq., and his associ-
ates Justices of the same court.

“The Court proceeded to divide the said county into the following

townships by the limits and descriptions hereafter following, viz. :’.’

Omitting the townships which did not extend west
of the Monongahela, the townships created by this
order were the two following, in the language of the
order: .’ A

“ Pitt.—Beginning at the mouth of Kiskeminitas and running down
the Allegheny River to its junction with the Monongahela, then down
the Ohio to the Western Limits of the Province, thenceiup the Western
Boundary to the line of Springhill, thence with that line to the mouth
of Redstone Creek, thence down the Monongahela to the mouth of
Youghiogheny, thence with the line of Hempfield to the mouth of Brush
Run, thence with the line of said Township to the Beginning.”

as as :1: as as :1: 2: :1: are are

“ Springhill.——Beginning at the Mouth of Redstone creek and running
thence a due West course to the Western Boundary of the Province,
thence by the Province line to the Southern Boundary of the Province,
thence east with that line to where it crosses the Youghiogheny, thence
with the Youghiogheny to Laurel ‘Hill, thence with the line of Tyrone
to Gist’s, and thence with that line to the beginning.” 3 ’

As will be seen hereafter, Washington County when
stricken off from Westmoreland embraced all the
territory lying between the Monongahela and the

western boundary of the State, and south of the

Monongahela and Ohio at Pittsburgh. Therefore,
drawing a line due west from the mouth of Redstone
Creek (Brownsville), this line is the division line be-
tween the old townships of Westmoreland County.
That line passed through East Bethlehem township

2 “At a Council held at Philadelphia, 25th January, 1775. . . . Cap-
tain St. Clair appearing at the Board and representing that William
Crawford, Esquire, President of the Court in Westmoreland County,
hath lately joined with the Government of Virginia in opposing the Ju-
risdiction of "Pennsylvania in the County, the board advised the Gov-
ernor to supersede him in his oflice as Justice of the Peace and Common
Pleas. A Supersedeas was accordingly ordered to be issued.”—-X. Col.
Records, 228.

3 It is observed that as to Pitt and Springhill townships, embracing the
territory west of the Monongahela River, Westmoreland County adopted
the lines previously established by Bedford County.

THE INDIAN

OCCUPATION. 19.

came among the Ohio River Indians as a trader as
early as 1748. Andrew Montour and Conrad Weiser
(both afterwards trusted agents of the provincial gov-
ernment) came at about the same time. Hugh Craw-
ford, John Gray, John Findley, David Hendricks,
Aaron Price, Alexander McGinty, J abez Evans,

Jacob Evans, David Hendricks, William Powell, and '

Thomas Hyde were trading on the Allegheny, Mo-
nongahela, and Ohio in 1752, and the six last named
were in 1753 taken prisoners on the Allegheny by

"the French and Indians and sent to Montreal. ‘ Be-

sides thetraders above named, there were several
others (whose names are not known) in the region
contiguous to the head of the'Ohio between 1748
and 1754, when they were all driven out by the
French. Their trading-places were principally on
the Ohio and Allegheny Rivers, with Fraser’s and a
few others on the Monongahela below the mouth of
the Youghiogheny, but none, as far as ascertained, on
the smaller streams or in the interior.

There is nothing found either.in written history or
in tradition, to show that the section of country which
now forms the county of Washington was ever the
permanent 1 home of any considerable number of
Indians. _ These lands, like all those on the upper
Ohio, the Allegheny, and the Monongahela, and east-
ward to the mountains, though claimed and partially
occupied by the Delawares and Shawanese, were
owned by their masters, the redoubtable Six Nations,‘

A 1 The fact that the Six Nations were the acknowledged owners of this
region of country, and that the Shawanese and Delawares were here
only on suiferance, seems clear. At the treaty council held at Philadel-

phia, July 12, 1742. (Col. Rec., iv. p. 580), and which has been already

mentioned, the Six Nation chief, Canassatego, after a severe reprimand
to the Delawares for having presumed to claim’ and sell lands to the
whites, in which he said, “ Why did you take it upon you to sell lands at
all? You are women! you know you are women, and can no more sell
lands than women,” continued, “After our just reproof and absolute order
to depart from the land, you are to take notice of what we have further to
say to you. This string of Wampum serves to forbid you, your children
and grandchildren to the latest posterity, from ever meddling in land
affairs; neither you nor any who shall descend from you are ever here-
after to presume to sell any land.”

At the treaty held with the Indians at Fort Pitt, in May, 1768, a
Shawanese chief complained bitterly to the English of their encroach-
men ts, and said, “ We desired you to destroy your forts. . . . We also de-
sired you not to go down the river.” In the next day’s council, Guya-
sutha, a chief of the Six Nations, rose with a copy of the treaty of 1764,
and said, “By this treaty you had a right to build forts and trading-
houses where you pleased, and to travel the road of peace from the sun
rising to the sun setting. At that treaty the Delawares and Shawanese
were with me and they know all this well, and they should never have
spoken to you as they did yesterday.” Soon after the Shawanese chief,
Kissinaughta, rose and said,‘apologetically, to the English, “ You desired
us to speak from our hearts and tell you what gave us uneasiness of
mind, and we did so. We are very sorry we should have said anything
to give offense, and we acknowledge we were in the wrong.”

In the same year (1768) when the Pennsylvania commissioners,
Allen and Shippen, proposed to the Indians to send a deputation of
chiefs with the white messengers, Frazer and Thompson, to warn off the
white settlers who had.located without authority on the Monongahela
River and Redstone Creek, the “ White Mingo” (whose “ Castle” was on
the west side of the Allegheny, a few miles above its mouth) and three
other chiefs of the Sixihlations were selected to go on that mission, but
no notice was taken of the Delaware or Shawanese chiefs in the matter,
which shows clearly enough that these two tribes were not regarded as
having any ownership in the lands.

and by them regarded as merely a hunting-ground.
At a meeting of the Council of Pennsylvania in
August, 1_753, “ The Governor informed the Council
. . . that he had seen Andrew Montour after his Re-
turn from Onondago, who told him that the Six
Nations (as well as he, Mr. Montour, could learn
from the Indians, though there were but few at home
whilst he was at Onondago) were against both Eng-
lish- and French building Forts and settling lands at
Ohio, and desired they might both‘ quit that country,

' and only send a few Traders with Goods sufiicient to

supply the wants of their Hunters,- that they did
not like the Virginians and Pennsylvanians making
Treaties with these Indians, whom they called Hunt-
ers, and young and giddy Men and Children ; that they
were their Fathers, and if the English wanted'any-
thing from these childish People they must first speak
to their Fathers.” 2

On another occasion (July 31, 1753) the Governor
of Pennsylvania received by hand of Andrew Mon-
tour a message from the Six Nation chiefs, in which
they said, “We thank you for the notice you are
pleased ‘to take of those Young Men [the Indianson
the waters of the Ohio] and for your kind intentions
towards them. They stand in need of your Advice,
for they are a great way from us. We, on behalf of
all the Indians, our Men, I/Vomen, Children, entreat
you to give them good Advice. ‘ It is a hunting country
they live in, and we would have it reserved for this use
only, and desire that no Settlements may be made there,
though you may trade there and so may the French.
. . . We therefore heartily thank you for your Regards
to us and our Hunters at Ohio, which we testify by A
String of Wampum.”

The Iroquois owners of the territory extending from
the head of the Ohio to the Alleghenies merely per-
mitted the Delawares and Shawanese to use it as _a
hunting-ground, yetthey always boldly claimed these
lands as their own, except when they were confronted

And it is related by George Croghan, in his account of a treaty council
held with the Six Nations at Logstown in 1751, that “ A Dunkard from

' Virginia came to town and requested leave to settle on the Yo-yo-gaine

[Youghioghenyl River, a branch of the Ohio. He was told that he must
apply to the Onondaga Council, and be recommended by the Governor
of Pennsylvania.” The Onondaga Council was held on a hill near the
present site of Syracuse, N. Y., and the central headquarters of the Six
Nations. -

Another fact that shows the Six Nations to have been the recognized
owners of this region of country is that when the surveyors were about
to extend the Mason and Dixon line westward, in 1767, the proprietaries
asked not of the Delawares and Shawanese but of the Iroquois (Six Na-
tions) permission to do so. This permission was given by their chiefs,
who also sent several of their warriors to accompany the -surveying
party. Their presence afforded tothe white men the ‘desired protection,
and the Shawanese and Delawares dared not offer any molestation.
But after the Iroquois escort left(as they did at a point on the Maryland
line), the other Indians became, in the absence of their masters, so de-
fiant and threatening that the surveyors were compelled to abandon the
running of the line west of Dunkard Creek. ’

Finally, it was not from the Delawares and. Shawanese but from the
Six Nations that the Penns purchased this territory by the treaty of
Fort Stanwix in 1768; ’ . ,

2 Col. Rec., vol. v. pp. 635-37.

152

HISTORY OF WASHINGTON COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA.

centrally, through the southern ends of West Beth-
lehem and Amwell, and centrally through Morris,
East Finley, and West Finley, these being the town-
ships bordering on Greene County. All of Washing-
ton County north of that line was in Pitt township;
all south of that line, as well as all of Greene County,
was in Springhill township.

The first grand inquest contains the name of Wil-
liam Teegarden,‘ J r. This was either a William Tee-
garden who lived on the old Forbes road to Pitts-
burgh, or another William" Teegarden‘ who kept a
ferry near the mouth of Ten-Mile Creek.

The first cause entered at this term of court was :

7; three times called appears not: process

“ The King } Forcible Entry. True Bill. Defendant being
Garrett Pendergrast, Jr. awarded; per cur.”

. It is interesting to note that the first proceeding in
any court of justice west of the Alleghanies to lay
out a public highway was instituted for the benefit
of residents west of the Monongahela, for at this the
first term of the Quarter Sessions of Westmoreland
County, upon the petition of inhabitants of Spring-
hill township, John Moore, Thomas Scott, Henry
Beason, Thomas Brownfield, James McClean, and
Philip Shute were appointed viewers to view and lay
out a road:

“To begin at or near the Mouth of a run known by the name of
Fish Pott run about two miles below the Mouth of Ten Mile Creek, on
the west side of Monongahela River (it being a convenient place for
a ferry, as also a good direction for a leading road to the most western
parts of the Settlements), thence the nearest and best way to the Forks
of Dun1ap’s Path and General Braddock’s Road on the top of Laurel
Hill.”1 ‘ —

‘ At the second term of the Quarter Sessions, held
July 6, 1773, the grand inquest contained inter alia
the following names: James Crawford, living nearly
opposite Fredericktown; James Devore, adjoining
Andrew Devore, also kept a ferry at the mouth of
Pigeon Creek; Brice Virgin, and Henry Taylor. At

_ this term there were two bills of indictment for Riot

1 It is singular that the stream of water entering the river “two
miles below the mouth of Ten-Mile,” though the distance is not quite
so great, should have had the name Fish Pot in 1773, the same name by
which it is still known. The old road laid out across the river at this
place was long a leading thoroughfare to the West. John S. Williams,
in 2 American Pioneer, 442, describes the trip of his family from
North Carolina to Marietta in 1802: “ The mountain roads (if roads they

could be called, for pack-horses were still on them) were of the most dan- '

gerous and difficult character. I have heard an old mountain tavern-
keeper say that, although the taverns were less than two miles apart in
years after we came, he has known many emigrant families that eitopped
a night at every tavern on the mountains. I recollect but few of our
night stands _distinctly, say . . . Tomlinson’s (near Cumberland), Beeson-
town (Uniontown), Simpkins’, and Merrittstown. . . . After a tedious
journey we all arrived safe at Fredericktown, Washington Co., Pa., where
We stopped to await the opening of the land-oflice at Steubenville. . . .
Made another start . . . in the afternoon and lay at Benjamin Town-
send’s at Fish Pot Run ; we lay also at the Blue Ball, near Washington ;
at Rice’s, on the Buffalo; and at Warren, on the Ohio.” This party
crossed at Millsboro’\doubtless, although there was a ferry at the mouth
of Fish Pot Run kept by James Crawford, and to this day the Crawfords
reside across the river opposite. Oliver Crawford kept a ferry at the
mouth of Muddy Creek.

found against Henry Vanmetre, Abraham Vanmetre,
Jacob Va.nmetre, Simeon Moore, Jesse Pigman, Na-
than Freaks, Thomas Roach, Daniel Murdoch (More-
doch), Charles Swan, John Swan, John Swan, Jr.,
Thomas Swan, Thomas Hughes, James Johnson, and
one Harrison, all residents of what is now Greene
County. ,

The grand inquest of the next term, Oct. 6, 1773,
contained the names of Joseph Beelor, residing on
Chartiers Creek, below the mouth of the Eastern
Branch, in Peters township, James Crawford, a.nd
John McDonald. At this term there was a true bill
for a misdemeanor, name not given, found against
Simon Girty,2 and process for his arrest awarded.
James Brigland pleaded guilty to an indictment for
a felony, and was punished by “ ten lashes well laid
on” at the public whipping-post and a fine of twenty
shillings. Luke Pickett suffered a similar punish-
ment for a like offense. William Hawkins was held
in £100, and Joshua VV right in £50, in a recogni-
zance for the appearance of the former at the next
term to answer to “a certain bill of indictment.”3

Benjamin Kuykendall was held in £20, with William_

Teegarden as his surety in £10, for his appearance as
a witness against Hawkins. At this time it is re-
corded: “John Williams is appointed constable in
Pitt. township over the Monongahela River.” This
may have been the same John Williams who helped
to build Henry Taylor’s cabin, near Catfish Camp, in
1770. Record is also made at this term of the follow-
1ng:

“ Upon the Petition of Divers Inhabitants of the township of Pitt, in
the county of Westmoreland, Humbly shewin g that whereas your Peti-
tioners together withla number of other Inhabitants of the Township
aforesaid labor under great difficulties and disadvantages for want of j a.
Public Road leading from the South-West side of the Monongahela River
opposite to the town of Pittsburg-, by Doctor Edward I-Iand’s Land on
Chartiers to the Settlement up said creek supposed to be at or near the
western Boundary of the Province of Pennsylvania: And praying the
Court would nominate and appoint men to view and examine the same
and if they could find it necessary & Convenient that then & in such
case to_lay out a Public Road as they shall think may be least to the
damage of the Neighbors or parties concerned & least injurious to the
Inhabitants thereabouts and make return thereof under their handsto
the Court, agreeable to an Act of Assembly in such Case made and Pro-
vided. The Court appoints John Campbell, Benjamin Ronow, Phillip

Ross, Christopher Miller, Jacob Bousman, and Andrew Robison to view. A

the said road _& that they or any four of them if they see cause do lay
out the same as a Public Road by courses & distance the nearest and
best way and make Report of their Proceedings to the next Court.”

2 This was the same Simon Girty, notorious in the border warfare,
who, in the spring of 1778, with Alexander McKee and Matthew Elliott,
deserted to the British—Indians, and in 1782 was present at the burning
and torture of Col. William Crawford. »

3 Both William Hawkins and Joshua Wright lived upon Peters Creek,
and the latter was the great-grandfather of Joshua Wright, of,Wash-
ington. Benjamin Kuykendall also lived on Peters Creek, near the
Monongahela River, and was afterwards a justice in the Yohogania
court. “I crossed the Monongahela at 11 o’clock to-day, and went on
foot two and one-half miles to Kerkendall’s mills, where I bought four
barrels of best flourat 11s. 8d. per barrel, and one barrel of whiskey,
thirty gallons, at 23. 6d. per gallon, all to be landed free of charge at the
river this evening. The landlord tried his skill at fishing, but caught
nothing except a terrible fish,.if such it may be called, named an alli-
gator.”—C'ol. May’s Journal, Tuesday, May 6, 1786, p. 32.

CIVIL AND LEGAL.-—THE REVOLUTION.

This-was the first road ever laid out by judicial pro-
ceedings in any part of what is now Washington
County, and doubtless one terminus _was in the neigh-
borhood of Washington. John Campbell lived in
Lower Chartiers, Jacob Bausman on the “ South
Side” of the river at Pittsburgh, where his descend-
ants yet reside, and Dr. Edward Hand was surgeon’s
mate “in his Majesties 18th reg’t of Foot” at Fort
Pitt before that post was abandoned by the English
forces.

At this term record was made of the oaths of Joseph
Beelor and James Caveat as county commissioners.

The next term of the Quarter Sessions was held the
first Tuesday of January, 17 74, when Andrew Pierce,

:Moses Brady, Morgan Morgan, David Allen, Henry

Taylor, and John Kennon (doubtless John Canon)
were appointed viewers “upon the petn. of
1774. divers Inhabita.nts of Springhill & Pitt town-
ship,” to View a road “ to begin at Thomas
Gruess’s [Gist’s, Fayette'County,] and from thence to
Paul Froman’s Mill near the River Monongahela,
[mouth of Mingo], and from thence to another Mill
of the said Paul Froman’s on Chartiers Creek.” 1
At the term of the Quarter Sessions held in April,
1774, there were quite a number of cases against Balt-
zer Shilling, who annoyed old Henry Taylor in 1770
by marking trees, etc., as noticed in a note to a pre-

ceding page. There was also an indictment for Riot

against Adam Alexander, also mentioned in the note
referred to. -Charges of the offenses of Riot and Forci-
ble Entry and Detainer are quite frequent all through
these records, originating no doubt in personal con-
troversies concerning land titles. The records of this
term’s business in the Quarter Sessions show the

‘following interesting road proceeding:

“Upon the Petition of a number of the Inhabitants of Tyrone and
Menallin townships. setting forth that they are under diflicult circum-
stances for want of a. Public Roadleading into Braddock’s Road on any
part of the mountain; And further, we would observe to your worships
that from the natural situation of the country, we at present who live
on the west side of Monongahela River, are obliged frequently to carry
our corn the distance of twenty miles to the mill of Henry Beason, near
Laurel Hill, and in all probability at some seasons of the year will ever
have to do so; And praying your worships would be pleased to grant
us a Public Road to begin on the east side of the Monongahela River,
near the Old Fort, thence the nearest and best way to intersect Brad-
dock’s Road near the forks of Dunlap’s Path and said road on the top
of Laurel Hill.

“ The court appoints Richard Waller, Andrew Linn, J r., William Col-
vin, Thomas Crooks, Henry Hart, and Joseph Graybill, viewers, etc.”

Beeson’s mill, where Uniontown now is, being fed
by a mountain stream, was more available in dry sea-
sons of the year than either of Froman’s mills on the
“ West Side.” Thomas Crooks was then, or soon
afterward, of near Hillsborough. Joseph Graybill, of

1 Paul Froman immigrated from York County, Pa., to the Shenandoah
valley, Va., in 1732, and very early came thence to this country. His
mill on Chartiers Creek was on the Eastern Branch, and the same with
Beck’s Mills in North Strabane. The tract on which it stood contained
fourteen hundred acres, and was conveyed by Froman to Dorsey Pente-
cost, Nov. 20, 1777. - ~ : »

153

Fallowfield township, was an ancestor of the present
Grables on Pigeon Creek. _

Passing now to the October term, 1775, of the
Quarter Sessions, among the names of the grand
jurors are Joseph Brownlee, Thomas Apple-
gate, and William Teegarden. The state of p 1775.
social science of the times is illustrated by a

record made at this term, which is copied entire:
“The King } Felony (true Bill): Defendant beingarraigned

v. . .
Elizabeth smith. pleads guilty and submits to the Court.

“Judgment that the said Elizabeth Smith be taken this afternoon
(being the eleventh instant) between the hours of three and five, and
there to receive fifteen lashes on her Bare Back well laid on; that she
pay a fine of eighteen shillings and five pence to his Honour the Gov-
ernor; that she make restitution of the goods stolen; that she pay the
costs of prosecution and stand committed till complied with. Sheriff re-
ceived his fee and fine; clerks fees and attorneys fees paid.

“ Judgment.”

But this was not the endof poor Elizabeth Srnith’s
case. She was an indented servant, z'.e., a white per-
son sold for a term of years, perhaps for her passage-
money across the ocean. ‘This is indicated ‘by an
order made the next day upon a petition setting forth
that the Elizabeth Smith so tried and punished was a
servant of James Kinkaid, the petitioner, who prayed
that she might be ordered to serve additional time for

the period she had been confined in the county jail,’

and it was so ordered.

The next term of the Quarter Sessions was held on
the second Tuesday of April, 1776. Observe that this
was but a short time before the meeting of the Pro-
vincial Conference at Carpenter’s Hall, Philadelphia.
There were several orders made relating to township
lines, roads, and in recognizances in criminal causes,
but no business of importance to us was transacted.
Then there is an interregnum, and there are no records
of any court held thereafter until Jan. 6, 1778, almost
two years. For the last time is “The King” made
the plaintiff in criminal prosecutions. A new order
of things is about to be established. The people of
Pennsylvania are soon to assume the sovereign power
of governing themselves. This change of government
and the manner in which our jurisprudence was
affected by it will now be briefly sketched.

The Revolution.-—A “ Provincial Convention for
the Province of Pennsylvania” had been held at Phil-
adelphia on Jan. 23, 1775, and continued by adjourn-
men. s from day to day to the 28th. Similar conven-
tions were held in other provinces and colonies. At
this Philadelphia convention each of the counties ex-
cept Westmoreland was represented, and resolutions
were passed heartily approving the conduct and pro-
ceedings of the Continental Congress, and it was re-
solved that the convention would faithfully endeavor

to carry into execution the measures of the Associa--

tion entered into and recommended by them, that it

2 III. Penna. Archives, Sec, S, 625.

154

HISTORY OF WASHINGTON COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA.

was the most earnest wish and desire of the conven-
tion to see harmony restored between Great Britain
and her colonies, “ . . . but if the humble and loyal
petition of said Congress to his most gracious Maj-
esty should be disregarded, and the British adminis-
tration, instead of redressing our grievances, should
determine by force to effect a submission to the late
arbitrary acts of the British Parliament, in such a sit-
uation we hold it our indispensable duty to resist such
force, and at every hazard to defend the rights and
liberties of America.” Other resolutions were adop-
ted designed to stimulate the production of a suffi-

cient supply of articles necessary for subsistence, cloth- 1

ing, and defense ; “that from and after the first day of
March next no person or persons should use in his,
her, or their families, unless in cases of necessity, and
on no account to sell to the butchers or kill for the
market, any sheep under four years.old. And where
there is a necessity for using any mutton in their fam-
ilies, it is recommended to them to kill ‘such as are
the least profitable to keep.” The manufacture of
madder and other dye—stuffs and the raising of flax
and hemp was also recommended. And it was also
significantly I

“ Resolved, unanimously, That saltpetre being an article of great use
and consumption, we recommend the making of it, and are further of
opinion it may be done to great advantage.

“Resolved, unanimously, That the necessity we may be under for
gunpowder, especially in the Indian trade, induces us to recommend the
manufacturing of that article as largely as possible by such persons who
are or may be owners of powder-mills in this province.”

Of course this saltpetre and gunpowder were for
use only in trade and innocent consumption! The
necessity for the production of every article required
for consumption——-nails and wire, steel, paper, glass,
wo,ol—combs and cards, copper sheets, bottoms and
kettles, fulling-mills, barley, tin plates, and printing
types—was strongly impressed upon the people; and
it was finally resolved that the Committees of Corre-
spondence for the city and liberties of Philadelphia
should be a standing Committee of Correspondence
for the several counties here represented, “ and that
if it should at any time hereafter appear to the Com-
mittee of Correspondence of the city and liberties
that the situation ‘of public affairs renders a provin-
cial convention necessary, that the said Committee of
Correspondence do give the earliest notice thereof to
the committees of the several counties.” -

Thus it came about that on June 18, 1776, “ a num-
berof gentlemen met at Carpenter’s Hall, in Phila-
delphia, being deputed by the committees of
several of the counties of this province, to
join in a provincial conference, in consequence

1776.

‘ of a circular letter from the committee of the city

and liberties of Philadelphia, inclosing the resolutions
of the Continental Congress of the 15th of May last.” 1
At this convention of deputies, known as “The Pro-
vvincial Conference,” Westmoreland County was rep-

1 III. Penn. Archives, Sec. S, 635.

resented by Edward Cook and James Perry. The
resolutions of the Continental Congress ‘referred to
recommended the total suppression of all authority
under the king of Great Britain, and provided,-

“That it be recommended to the respective assemblies and conventions
of the united colonies, where no government sufficient to the exigencies
of their affairs has been hitherto established, to adopt such government
as shall, in the opinion of the representatives of the people, best conduce
to the happiness and safety of their constituents in particular and
America in general.” ,

By special order this resolution of such great. mo-
ment was read a second time, and after mature con-
sideration, as the record states,

“Resolved, unanimously, That the said resolution of Congress of 15th
of May last is fully approved by this conference.

“ On motion, Resolved, unanimously, That the present government of
this province is not competent to the exigencies of our affairs.

“ On motion, Resolved, N. C. D.,2 That it is necessary that a provincial
convention be called by this conference for the express purpose of form-
ing a new government in this province on the authority of the people
only.”

The conference then proceeded to determine the
number of which the convention should consist, and
what should be the qualifications of the electors and
of the persons who might be elected. It was resolved
that eight representatives be sent to the convention
by the city of Philadelphia, and eight by each county
of the province, and that an elector should be a free-
man, qualified by the laws of the province to vote for
representatives in Assembly, of the age of twenty-one
years, who had lived one year in the province imme-
diately preceding the election, and ‘had “ contributed
at any time before the passing of this resolve to the
payment of either provincial or county taxes, or had
been rated and assessed towards the same ;” and there
was framed a test or oath renouncing allegiance to
the British sovereign, to be administered if thereunto
by any one required. On the next day,—

“On motion, Resolved, unanimously, That whereupon as the county of
Westmoreland hath been exempted from the payment of taxes for three
years last past, and thereby many persons may be excluded from a vote
at the ensuing election in consequence of the foregoing regulations, con-
trary to the intention thereof, therefore every person of 21 years of
age, being a‘ free man residing in said county, shall be admitted to vote:
he being an associator3 and having lived one year in the province next

2 N emine Contra Dicente. —

3 The appellative “Associators” had quite an early origin in Pennsy1- I

vania history. .
In November, 1747, when through disagreement between the proprie-
tary representatives and the Provincial Council the province was left

' defenseless, the people of the city of Philadelphia entered into a volun-

tary military association for the general defense of the city and the
province. They armed themselves, elected their own-oflicers, and, pre-
senting themselves before Council, were recognized and commissions
ordered for their commanders. Chester County followed with a similar
association in December, and Bucks County in January. These associa-
tions died out with their occasion,—the hostilities with the French.

When the news of Concord and Lexington reached Pennsylvania, in
the latter part of April, 1775, a military association was formed in Phila-
delphia with branches in every county, and the first act of the Council
of Safety, June 30, 1775, was “ to approve of the Association entered into
by the good people of this Commonwealth for the defense of their lives,
liberties, and properties."

A committee of Council formed Articles of Association for them, to be
found in X. Col. Records, Sec. S., 308. The “ Associators” organized and
composed the first battalion that went into service, formed the Flying

_ CIVIL AND .LEGAL—-THE REVOLUTIONARY JUDICIAL SYSTEM.

155

preceding the election, and taking the test aforesaid, if thereunto re-
quired." .

It was subsequently determined that any one quali-
fied to vote for members of Assembly. by the laws of
the province might be elected a member of the con-
vention ; and it was further provided that a test oath
Should be taken by the member-elect before taking
his seat, renouncing allegiance “to George the Third,
King of Great Britain,” and not then could the per-
son—elect be entitled to his seat until he had sub-
scribed the following declaration:

“ I, —— -4-, do profess faith in God, the Father, and in Jesus Christ,
His eternal Son, the true God, and in the Holy Spirit, one God blessed
forever more; and do acknowledge the holy Scriptures of the Old and
New Testament to be given by divine inspiration.”

‘A committee was also appointed who reported the
time, place, and manner of holding the election for
the members of the convention, whereby, their report
being adopted,the several counties were divided into
election districts, the voting-places designated, and
the ofiicers to hold the elections appointed. West-
moreland County was divided into two districts, the
first embracing the people on the south side of the
“ Youghiogena,” to vote at Spark’s fort, and the

second embracing the people on the north side of ‘

said river, to vote at Hannas Town} The judges ap-
pointed to hold the election at Hannas Town were
James Barr, John Moore, and Clement McGeary.
Those appointed to serve at Spark’s fort were George

‘ VVilson, John Kile, and Robert McConnel.

The time appointed for the election of members of
the convention was the 8th day of July, 1776, and
the election was on that day held at the places desig-
nated. It is possible that the voters as they were
assembled at Spark’s fort may have ‘heard that four
days before the Declaration of Independence had

been passed and promulgated, for the minutes of the

Council of Safety, which had taken the place and
assumed the executive duties of the proprietary and
his Council, show that on July 5, 1776,

“The President of the Congress this day sent the following Resolve
of Congress, which is directed to be entered on the Minutes of this
Board: '
“ ‘ In Congress, 5th July, 1776:

“ ‘ Resolved, That Copies of the Declaration be sent to the several As-
semblies, Conventions, and Councils of Safety, and to the several Com-
manding Oflicers of the Continental Troops, that it be proclaimed in
each of the United States, and at the Head of the Army. '

1 “ ‘ By order of Congress,
“ ‘ J OHN HANCOCK, Presd’t.’

Camp at Amboy in August, 1776, and the term is used constantly that
year. But in the fall of 1776 the Continental line of Pennsylvania was
formed, and in 1777 the Associators are succeeded by the “ Militia.” In
other words, revolution having been inaugurated. the people rose in their
own capacity in a military association, held the State until‘ their own rep-
resentatives, elected under the authority of their own organic law (the
Constitution of 1776), were in‘ their seats and had the reins, when the
“ Associators,” as did the California Committee of Vigilance of 1849, sub-
sided and government moved on. -

1 Spark’s fort was near Burns’ ford, in what is now Perry township,
Fayette County. Observe how that the residents west of the Monon-
gahela were disregarded, either as supposed to be within the power of
Virginia at that time, or were treated as living south of the Youghio-
gheny.

“In consequence of the above Resolve, Letters were wrote to the
Counties of Bucks, Chester, Northampton, Lancaster, and Berks, In-
closing Copy of the said Declaration, requesting the sameto be pub-
lished on Monday next, at the places where the Election for Delegates
are to be held.” 9

The date of the meeting of the convention was also
determined, by the conference, to wit, July 15, 1776,
and after some action recommendatory of the organi-

zation of the militia, an “Address of the Deputies,

from the Committees of Pennsylvania, assembled in
Provincial Conference, to the People of Pennsyl-
vania” was prepared and adopted, and a “ declaration
on the subject of the independence of this colony of
the crown of Great Britain” was approved “ with
the greatest unanimity of all the members,” signed
at the table, and ordered to be delivered in Congress,
when the Provincial Conference, on June 25, 1776,
adjourned.

At the election held as provided for on July 8,
17 76, for members of the Provincial Convention,
James Barr, Edward Cook, John Carmichael, John
McClellan, James Smith, John Moore, James Perry,
and Christopher Lavingair were returned as elected
the representatives of Westmoreland County.

The convention, which was to form a new govern-
ment “-in this province on the authority of the people
only,” met at Philadelphia‘ at the time. appointed,
July 15, 17 7 6, and from the_instant of its organization
assumed the whole political power of the State. It
appointed delegates to Congress, and imposed upon
them instructions and restrictions designed to pre-
serve the dignity and independence of the new gov-
ernment, but not until Saturday, September 28th,
was the great labor of forming the Constitution of
1776 terminated? One provision of the plan or frame
of government provided by this constitution may be
here quoted as worthy of preservation from oblivion :

“ SEC. 36. As every freeman, to preserve his independence (if without
a sufficient estate) ought to have some profession, calling, trade, or farm
whereby he may honestly subsist, there can be no necessity for, nor use
in establishing offices of profit, the usual effects of which are depend-
ence and servility, unbecoming freemen, in the possessors and expect-
ants; faction, contention, corruption, and disorder among the people.
But if any man is called into public service, to the prejudice of his pri-
vate affairs, he has a right to a reasonable compensation. And whenever
an oflice, through increase of fees or otherwise, becomes so profitable as

to occasion many to apply for it, the profits ought to be lessened by the
Legislature.”

The Revolutionary Judicial System.--The
changes made in the organization of the courts of
justice by the provisions of this our first Constitution
will at present be designated only so far as is indi-
cated by certain provisions of an act of the
new Assembly, passed Jan. 28, 1777. It will 1777,
of course be understood * that by the Declara-
tion-of Independence and the adoption of a frame of

2 X. Col. Records, 635. ,

3 See Gordon’s History of Pennsylvania, 540. In this convention
Benjamin Franklin was president, James Edgar was a representative of
York County, Jonathan ‘Hogs of Cumberland County, and Thomas Smith
of Bedford County. '

156

HISTORY   OF WASHINGTON COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA.

government of their own construction the people of
Pennsylvania had stricken down all courts and offices
established and held under the proprietary govern-
ment. It was necessary therefore that these courts
and offices should be re—established. The act referred
to met this requirement, and portions of it, sufficient
for our purpose, are as follows:

“ WHEREAS, by the unconstitutional power claimed by the British
Kingand Parliament over the American Colonies, and the cruel and op-
pressive measures which the said King and Parliament have pursued to
establish that power, it became necessary for the Colonies to declare
themselves Free and Independent States, which was accordingly done
pursuant to a resolve of the Continental Congress; Whereupon all au-
thority being in any person under the said King consequently ceased,
and the laws enacted by his Representatives here became of no force or
effect, although the same were for the most part suited to the circum-
stances of the people: And whereas, it is absolutely necessary for the
Well governing every State, that Laws properly adapted to the circum-
stances of the inhabitants be at all times in force ;

“ Be it therefore enacted, and it is hereby enacted, by the Representatives
of the Freemen of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania in General As-
sembly met, and by the authority of the same, That each and every one
of the Laws or Acts of General Assembly that were in force and binding
on the inhabitants of the said Province on the fourteenth day of May
last, shall be in force and binding on the inhabitants of this State from
and after the tenth day of February next, as fully and effectually to all
intents and purposes as if the said Lawsand each of them had been made
and enacted by this General Assembly; and all and every person and
persons whosoever, are hereby enjoined and required to yield obedience
to the said Laws, as the case may require, until the said Laws or Acts of
the General Assembly respectively shall be repealed or altered, or until
they expire by their own limitation ; and [to] the Common Law and such‘
of the Statute Laws of England as have heretofore been in force in the
said Province, except as is hereafter excepted.

as as as :1: ac are axe. :1: as

“ And be it further enacted by the authority aforesaid, That Courts of
Quarter Sessions and Goal Delivery, and Courts of Petty Sessions, Courts
of Common Pleas, Orphans Courts, and Supreme Courts, Courts of Oyer
and Terminer and General Goal Delivery, shall be held and kept in each
respective County in this State at the times and places directed and ap-
pointed by the said Laws or Acts of General Assembly, and Circuit and
Nisi Prius Courts, as directed in and by an Act of General Assembly of
the said Province, passed the twentieth day of May One Thousand seven
Hundred and Sixty Seven, entitled, ‘ An Actito amend the Act for estab-
lishing Courts of Judicature within this Province, by the_Justices and
Judges that shall be hereafter elected and appointed ;’ the same to com-
mence in each County on the same days of the same months respectively
appointed by the said Laws for holding such Courts that shall be next
after the Judges or Justices of such Courts are qualified to hold the
same, and shall have, use, and exercise all the powers, authority of ju-
risdiction that by the aforesaid Laws, Justices and Judges of such Courts
respectively heretofore have had, used and exercised, and the powers of
Chancery given to the Justices by the Constitution of this State, agree-
able nevertheless with this Act and such other Act or Acts of General
Assembly as shall be hereafter made ; and every oflicerof all and every
of the Courts in this State that is or shall be appointed shall have, use
and exercise the same or like powers that such oflicer or officers of the
same title, character and distinction might, could or ought to have had,
used and exercised under the Charter and Laws of Pennsylvania, until
displaced. And all Constables, Overseers of the Poor, Supervisors of the
High Ways, and the Wardens and Street Commissioners of the City of
Philadelphia, that were last appointed or elected in the said Province,
are hereby authorized and strictly enjoined and required to exercise
their several and respective powers, and execute, do and perform all the
business and duties of their several and respective oflices, until others
are appointed in their stead and places.

:1: as as :1: :1: =1: =1: :1: :1:

“And, be it further enacted by the authority aforesaid, That the President
and Council shall appoint one of the Justices in each respective County
to preside in the respective Courts, and in his absence the Justices who
shall attend the Court shall choose one of themselves President for the
time being.

“And be it further enacted by the authority aforesaid, That every action
that was in any court in the Province of Pennsylvania, at the last term

the said court was held, except discontinued or Satisfied, shall be and is
hereby declared to be in the same state, and on the same rule, and may
be prosecuted in the same manner in the courts in each respective
County, to be hereafter held and kept, as if the Authority of such Court
had never ceased; and if any recognisance has been taken and not re-
turned, it is hereby declared good and valid in Law, and shall be re-
turned and prosecuted as the Laws direct, saving the stile; and where

any person had obtained a judgment before any Justice of the Peace, '

for any debt or sum of money, and such judgment not discharged, the
person in whose favor the judgment is may (on producing a transcript
of such judgment to any Justice of the Peace in the County Where the
defendant dwells or can be found) demand and obtain an execution for
the money mentioned in such judgment, which shall be of the same
force and eifect as if the judgment was obtained before the justice that
granted the execution.”

Westmoreland Courts Reorganized.——Under this
act of Assembly were the courts of Westmoreland
County reorganized. The last term under the old
order of things was held, as has been seen, in April,
1776. The act before referred to was passed the 28th
of January, 1777, andon June 11th1 following, a new
commission was issued appointing as justices the fol-
lowing persons among those returned as having been

‘elected, to wit: Edward Cook, John Guthrey, Charles

Forman, John Moore, James Marshall, Christian
Truby, Philip Rogers, Joseph Huston, Robert Adams,
James Bair, Hugh Martin,James McGarraugh, John
Beard, Andrew Robb, and Robert Richey. The first
term held, however, under ‘the new arrange-
ment was on Jan. 6, 1778, before “Edward

1778.

Cooke, Esq., President,” etc.; no business,

however, was done.
April.

At July sessions a grand inquest attended, but no
trials were had, though there were recognizances for
future appearances, one defendant, William Down-
ward, being bound over on a charge of “Misprison
of Treason.” ‘ _

At October sessions, 1778, William Mitchell was

Nor was there any session in

indicted and tried for misprison of treason; Francis '

McGinnis and James Finley were witnesses for the
Commonwealth. The defendant was convicted, and

“ Judgment, that the one-half of his goods and chattels are Forfeited
to this Commonwealth and himself be Imprisoned during the present

. war.” 2

1 XI._Col. Records, 220.

2 There were many Tories in this Western country during the Revolu-
tion. On March 28th of the same year when Mitchell was tried, Simon
Girty, Alexander McKee, and Matthew Elliot deserted to the British-
Indians, and Girty became the “ notorious renegade.”

Withers, in his Chronicles of Border Warfare, 167, writing of the
period 1777-78, says, “ There was then, unfortunately for the repose and
tranquillity of many neighborhoods, a considerable number of those mis-
guided and deluded wretches, who, disaffected to the cause of the colo-
nies, were willin g to advance the interest of Britain by the sacrifice of
every social relation, and the abandonment of every consideration save
that of loyalty to the King. . . . A conspiracy for the murder of the
Whigs and for accepting the terms offered by the Governor of Canada to
those who would renounce their allegiance to the United States and
repair to Detroit by the relenting of one individual was prevented being
carried into effect. . . . Scenes of licentiousness and fury followed upon
the discovery of the plot. . . . The head only of this fiendish league lost
his life, but many -depredations were committed on‘ the property of
its members. . . . A court for the trial of the conspirators was held at
Redstone Fort, and many of them were arraigned at its bar. But as
their object had been defeated by its discovery, and as no further danger

CIVIL AND LEGrAL—-WESTMORELAND COURTS REORGANIZED.

157

At this term John McGrew and Joseph Brouster
were held by recognizance on a like charge of mis-
prision of treason, and,Joseph Hill was tried for
assault and battery, and fined one hundred dollars
and costs. *

Nothing of moment occurred at the sessions of
January and April, 1779. At Julysessions, 1779,
the grand inquest contained inter alia the
names of Daniel Carmichael, John Reed,
John Carmichael, John Vanmetre, and
Thomas Scott, names with which we will meet again.
Joseph McGarrah, Esq., presided at this term, Edward
Cook, the usual president, being himself a defendant
in a criminal prosecution. It appears that one Joseph

1779.

-J ones was a reprobate like Andrew Link in the early

courts of Washington County, always a defendant in
some charge or other. He is now a prosecutor of the
president judge in the latter’s own court. An act
of Assembly had been passed prohibiting the distilla-
tion of whiskey or other spirits from malt wheat, rye,
or barley, or other grain, flour, etc., so that the army
might not be deficient in subsistence. The following
record, which a lawyer will read between the lines,
will hence explain itself:

“ On motion of Michael Hutfnagle, Esq., Whether the court will order
David Sample, Esq., attorney for the state in this court, to prefer a Bill

of Indictment against Edward Cook, Esq., for the distilling of whiskey
contrary to the Act of Assembly, and whether Mr. Sample is under the

_Jurisdiction of this Courtin ordering him so to do,-—the said Mr. Sample

in reply says, he is under the Jurisdiction of this court but refuses to prefer

was apprehended from them, they were released, after having been re-
quired to take the oath of allegiance to the United States and to bear
with the injuries which had been done their property. Those who were

’ suspected fo.r the murder of the chief conspirator were likewise arrainged

for that offense, but were acquitted.”
At the October sessions, I779, of the Virginia Legislature, that State

‘then claiming jurisdiction over this part of Pennsylvania, passed an act

which is quoted from 10 Hening, 195: “Whereas divers evil disposed
persons on the frontiers of this Commonwealth had broke out into an
open insurrection and conspiracy, and actually levied war against the
commonwealth, and it is represented to the General Assembly that Wil-
liam Campbell, Walter Crockett, and other liege subjects of the com-
monwealth, aided by detachments of the militia and volunteers from
the county of Washington and other parts of the frontiers, did by timely
and effectual exertions suppress and defeat such conspiracy, and whereas
the necessary measures taken for that purpose may not be strictly war-
ranted by law although justifiable from the immediate urgency and
imminence of the danger, be it therefore declared and enacted, that the
said William Campbell, Walter Crockett, and all other persons whatso-
ever concerned in suppressing the said conspiracy and insurrection, or
in advising, issuing, or executing any order or measures taken for that
purpose, stand indemnified and clearly exonerated of and from all pains,

penalties, prosecutions, actions, suits, and damages on account thereof, J

and that if any indictment, prosecution, action, or suit shall be laid or
brought against them, or any of them, for any act or thing done therein,
the defendant or defendants may plead in bar, or the general issue, and
give this act in evidence.”

These three facts—the trials in the Westmoreland County court for
misprision of treason, the conspirators brought to bar at Fort Redstone
(Brownsville), with the killing of their leader and the Virginia act for
the indemnification of the persons named in it—evidently bear an inti-
mate relation to each other ; but we have hitherto been unable to discover
data sufficient to inform us as to the details of the treasonable conspiracy
and who was its leader who lost his life. The court referred to as having
been held at Redstone must have been a sitting of magistrates on a pre-
liminary hearing. N o court for jury trials was ever held at that place.

11

a bill for these reasons, that it did appear to him that the prosecutfon
was founded in spite, and he submits to the Court whether they will order
him to prefer a Bill. The Court examining the complaint of Joseph
Jones made to Charles Foreman, Esq., the day of aforesaid,
on which the motion is founded, and finding that the said Joseph Jones
hath not said in his oath that the said Edward Cook, Esq., had or did dis-
till whiskey or other spirits from Malt Wheat, Rye, Barley, or from other
grain or from any meal or flour, or that the said Edward Cook, Esq., had
used or mixed or caused, or procured to be used or mixed any of the same
enumerated articles contrary to the Act of Assembly aforesaid, and the
Court also calling for the said Jones and examining him on his oath,
and he, the said Jones, answering on his oath aforesaid that he cannot
say that the said Edward Cook, Esq., used any of the articles above
enumerated in order for the making or distilling whiskey or other spirits;
for which defect in the complaint aforesaid the Court will not order the
Indictment aforesaid to be preferred.”

At this term of court an indictment for Forcible

Entry and Detainer was found and process awarded ‘

against George McCormick, James Wood, Dorsey
Pentecost, Benjamin Vanatre (Vanata), John Crow,
Michael Springer, and Jonathan Johnston. There
being no place west of the Monongahela for the
administration of justice, contests as to land titles
seem to have sometimes resulted in breaches of the
peace. All these defendants were from what is new
Washington County.’

At January sessions, 1780, held January 4th, “ The
constables being called and none attending, the court
remit the fines on account of the severity of
the weather.” No business interesting to the 1780.
present residents of Washington County was
transacted at this or any subsequent term until, per-
haps, the January sessions, 1781, when

“ O11 motion the Court do hereby erect that part of West Moreland
County Included within the following Boundaries into a township; that
is to say, Beginning at the west side of the Monongahela river, at the
mouth of Peters creek, thence up the said creek to the head thereof,
thence with a straight line to the head of Saw Mill creek, thence down
Saw Mill creek, thence up the Ohio River to the mouth of the Mononga-
hela, and thence up this last river to the place of Beginning; and do
hereby name the same Wharton.”

It will be observed that the whole of this new town-
ship lay west of the Monongahela River, in what is
new Washington and Allegheny Counties. When
Washington County was soon afterward erected it
was obliterated.

January term, 1781, was the last session of the
Court of Quarter sessions of the Peace for West-
moreland County prior to the erection of
Washington County, but at April sessions, 1781.
1781, at which time our courts had not been
organized, the Westmoreland County court continued
an order for the view of a road from “ Wasl1ington’s
Mill to Capt. Van Swearingen’s ferry on the Mo-
nongahela River and thence to Catfish Camp,” and
appointed Hezekiah McGrudin, Peter Reasoner, Wil-
liam Morgan, Jacob Vanmetre, Joseph Morehead,
and Alexander Morehead viewers. Gen. Washing-
ton’s mill was at the present Perryopolis, in Fayette
County, and Van Swearengin, who afterward became

the first sheriff of Washington County, was then just

158

HISTORY OF WASHINGTON COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA.

opposite Greenfield, at which point he maintained a
ferry. ‘

A reference to the early records of the Courts of
Common Pleas of Westmoreland County would not
disclose matters of‘ public interest to our citizens.
There can be but little importance attached to the
ordinary civil causes of a court of justice after so long
a time has elapsed, although for illustrations of the
character of a people there can be but few better re-
sources than to their courts of criminal jurisprudence.
Forthis purpose have the records of the Quarter
Sessions of Westmoreland County been so fully
abstracted. However, there is one record in the
Common Pleas which may perhaps be of interest by
Way of showing not only the "habits then occasionally
indulged in, but also the promptitude with which the
court whose dignity was insulted took notice of the
matter of complaint. The following record is made
up at January term, 17 74:

“ It appearing that F-—— D————, one of the attorneys of this court, the
duties of his oflice not regarding, hath of late at divers times and places
Within the jurisdiction of this court been publicly and notoriously guilty
of the shameful vice of Drunkenness, at which times and places afore-
said he did publish several malicious passages highly reflecting on sev-
eral magistrates of this county, and other mischiefs then and there did
unbecoming the character and duty & ofiice of an attorney of the court,
It is ordered and considered by the court that the said F—— D: for
such his shameful misbehavior be suspended, and he is hereby suspended
and precluded from further using the office, duty & business of an at-
torney of this court.”

It is a singular fact that in the records of Westmore-
land County courts, either in the Quarter Sessions or in
the Common Pleas, there is to be found but one trans-
action which can be connected with the Boundary
Controversy. The records of the Virginia courts, here-
after to be examined, are full of causes relating to
that contention. The single record referred to is the
following, found at No. 76, July term, 1775:

Capias Case 0. C. C. & Ce. October,

Ended says P111; Plff. for Defd't’s
l _ App. accepted fees, Clerks fees
John Connolly. J 12-6.”

“ Robert Hanna, Esq., W

'0.

The defendant in this action for damages was the
Dr. John Connolly who has ever been notorious as
the chief agent of Lord Dunmore in the exercise of
his Virginia jurisdiction upon the Monongahela.
Robert Hanna, the proprietor of Hanna’s Town, the
seat of justice for Westmoreland County until after
Washington County was erected, was one of the
county trustees or commissioners and also a justice,

and was soon brought into contact with Lord Dun-'

more’s oflicials. The special subject matter of the
action will doubtless hereafter be observed.

Omitting further references to the records of these
old Hanna’s Town courts, the reader has now been
‘carried in our judicial history to the month of Jan-
uary, 1781. At this time the western boundary line of

the State has been established, though not yet actually
marked, and it is found that west of the Monongahela
River there is room for another new county of mag-
nificent proportions, soon afterward to be erected.
But, as has already been disclosed, from about 1774

to August, 1780, two governments were in collision,‘

at times in bitter controversy, in an exercise of juris-
diction, by judicial as well as other civil and military

officials, over the same territory, embracing Wash-
, ington County as originally erected. ‘

The reader is now asked to retrace his steps to the
period immediately preceding the erection of West-
moreland County, in order that a view may be ‘had
of this contest, long known as the “ Boundary Con-
troversy.”

CHAPTER XI.

‘THE CIVIL AND LEGAL HISTORY.—(0ontz'nued..)

III.

The Boundary Controversy—The Virginia Title——The Penn Tit1e—Ma-
son and Dixon’s Line-—-Beginning of Boundary Contention—Dr. John
Connolly-—Controversy opened-—British abandon Fort Pitt, 1772.

The Boundary Controversy.—To write the his-
tory of the contention called the “Boundary Con-

troversy,” the conflict of jurisdiction between Penn- '

sylvania and Virginia over the territory west of the
Alleghany Mountains, is an undertaking arduous,
not from lack of original material, but from the im-
mense mass of documentary details, full of interest
and importance. A volume could be composed with
more easethan a chapter. The writer upon the sub-
ject is constantly embarrassed with the riches which
lie at his hand. His worry is not to find the infor-
mation, but to select from that before him. Access
to this richness of detail, however, is denied to the
general reader.

This contest arose over the lands in which the
homes of our own ancestors were first established in this
western country. It divided a people who were

harassed by Indian incursions, and though during '

the whole of it necessarily subjected to a common
danger from a relentless and savage foe, soon were
engaged with the additional burden of a war for in-
dependence and liberty; a civil contest, accompanied
with great bitterness, continuing at the same time
with an Indian war and a struggle, at times hopeless
and depressing, with the tyrannous ministry of the
mother-country. And the participants were our own
early settlers, then engaged in conquering a virgin
soil from the forest to fertility. Emigrants over the
mountains from three governments—-—Pennsylvania,
Maryland, and Virg'inia—met together in the valleys
of the Monongahela and Ohio, and in the hill country
adjacent thereto. Different nationalities, the English,

_ “ Mobs,”

CIVIL AND LEGAL——THE VIRGINIA TITLE.

Scotch, Scotch-Irish, Irish, Germans, and French,
each were represented, and being without govern-
ment at first, when they came to be organized for
governmental protection, and that too in the midst of
constant warfare with a savage foe, and of a war for
independence of the mother-country, what wonder
that bitterness should ensue and hostilities originate
not to be ended for almost a generation of men? It
will be seen howimen became the extreme of parti-
sans, either for Pennsylvania or for Virginia, and that
‘had it not been for a common danger from a common

foe which prevented too wide a separation, the es- “

tablishment of civil government with the protection
of courts of justice and the administration of the
laws would have been without doubt attended with
much bloodshed. .

Of the early settlers of Washington County as
originally erected it has already appeared that a large
majority of them were from Virginia and Maryland,
and it will be seen that many of them became the
most earnest adherents of the Virginia usurpation;
yet, though dissatisfied for a time, some of them, the
same persons afterward became of the most honorable
of our people, and have left behind them descendants
who have always been of our best citizens. The fair-
minded reader will therefore make due allowance for
partisan prejudice when he meets in the correspond-
ence of early days with such terms as “Banditti,”
etc., frequentlyoccurring therein; for op-
probrious epithets used in political excitements of
the present day lose their force and become simply

-amusing after the heat of the struggle has passed

away. -
Though thefirst settlers raised their roof-trees west
of the Monongahela as early as 1767, yet not until

_17 81 did Virginia cease to exercise an active juris-

diction by her courts and judicial oflicers. Not until
that date, or near it, did the settler know whether he
belonged to Virginia or to the land of William Penn.
And, indeed, in 1774 the proprietarygovernment of
Pennsylvania, pending the attempted adjustment of
the controversy, proposed to Virginia a boundary
line which would have left all of Washington County
in her present limits, except a small portion in the
neighborhood of West Brownsville, in the Virginia
Pan Handle. It is not difficult to conjecture what
would have been our fate had this proposition been
accepted. .

What was theorigin of this Virginia usurpation,

V for usurpation it was‘? How did it happen that Vir-

ginia had any of her territory upon our western
border? How did she come to claim jurisdiction
over the great Northwestern Territory north and west
of the Ohio River, the mother of magnificent States
of the Union? An attempt will be made to answer
these questions with as much brevity and clearness as
possible, and the reader will at once be led into the
Boundary Controversy.

159

The Virginia Title.——-The limit. to the westward of
the province of Pennsylvania was of course definitely
known when the charter was granted, although the
line itself was not established and marked for a whole
century afterwards. To know, then, upon what the

-claims of the colony of Virginia were based, exami-

nation must be made of the royal grants in which
she was concerned. The first charter or patent was
by Queen Elizabeth to Sir Walter Raleigh

in 1583, and it had neither name- nor bounds. 1583.
Upon Raleigh’s return the name Virginia was

given to the Whole country. All to the southward of
the Chesapeake, as low as the Gulf of Mexico, was
called South Virginia, and all to the northward N orth
Virginia. But the settlers under this patent, p-artly
from misconduct, the opposition of the Indians, and
other calamities, abandoned their efforts, and the
patent became extinct.‘

In 1602, James I. succeeded Elizabeth, and in
1606 issued a new patent incorporating two com-
panies, called the South Virginia Company
and the North Virginia Company, afterwards 1606.
commonly called respectively the London
Company and the Plymouth Company. The South
Virginia, or London Company, was not to go below
34°, nor the Virginia, or Plymouth Company, above
45°, but when they made their choice each was to be
limited by a square of one hundred miles "backward
from the sea. The London Company, as it will now
be called, settled at Cape Henry, and hence the one
hundred miles square warranted by that patent could
not have extended to the eastern base of the
Blue Ridge. But in 1609 the London Com- 1609.
pany received a new patent with the bound-
aries of their grant enlarged in the following terms:

“All those lands, countries, and territories situate, lying and being
in that part of America called Virginia. from the point of land called
Cape or Point Comfort, all along the sea-coast to the northward two
hundred miles, and from the said Point or Cape Comfort all along the
sea-coast to the southward two hundred miles ;' and all that space and
circuit} of lands lying from the sea-coast of the precinct aforesaid up
into the land throughout, from sea to sea, west and northwest; and also
the islands lying within one hundred miles along the coast of both seas
of the precinct aforesaid.” 2

The terms of this grant are full of ambiguities, the
chief of which is in the words “up into the land
throughout, from sea to sea, west and northwest,” as
containing directions for the northern and southern
boundaries.’ Shall the west line be drawn from a

point two hundred miles north of Point Comfort, and I
the northwest line be drawn from a point two hun-

dred miles south of Point Comfort‘? If so, then the
London Company was limited to a triangle, the
western point of which might reach, perhaps, to the
Monongahela River, but at a point above and south
of Morgantown, extending to no territory adjoining

 

1 Paine’s Public Good, 8; quoting Oldmixon’s History of Virginia.
2 The Laws of the United States respecting the Public Lands (Wash-
ington, 1828), p. 81.

160

HISTORY OF WASHINGTON COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA.

our western boundary, as indicated by the ‘following
diagram: '

 

K
-5‘
o
 ”’/‘ -tee mute “.

      

Q0\$’Y CUM;:
S. zoo \\l\\\_V-3

But the interpretation of the ambiguous clause
always claimed by Virginia to be the true one was,
that the west line should be drawn from the southern

end of the four-hundred-mile coast-line, and the
northwest line from the’ northern end of the same,

thus :

 

z‘
9
2
§

% ézxm \l\\\_E%

W

One will see that, if the latter interpretation were
correct, the northwest line would run through the
heart of Pennsylvania, passing eastof Lake Erie;
while the southern boundary running due west, the
two would never meet, and Virginia would have
owned the greater part of the whole continent. In con-
sidering this astounding result, however, in the view of

this interpretation, it must be remembered that when
the charter or patent to the London Company was
granted it was supposed that the South Sea (Pacific
Ocean). was much nearer to the Point Comfort coast-
line than it really is; for not long before this Sir
Francis Drake, from a mountain in the Isthmus of
Darien,‘ had seen both the South sea (Pacific) and the
Atlantic, and in 1608, when the London Company were
soliciting their patent, an expedition was organized
to find a passage to the South Sea by sailing up the
James River. And Capt. John Smith was once com-

' missioned to seek a new route to China by ascending

the C-hickahominy? Without discussing further the
propriety of either interpretation of the antiquated
ambiguities of this ancient patent, let it be said that,
as will perhaps appear hereafter, Virginia always
while yet a colony and when she had become a State,
referred chiefly to this charter of 1609 as authorizing
her jurisdiction, not only over the Monongahela and
Ohio Valleys, but also as giving to her an ownership
of the entire Northwest Territory. This jurisdiction
over the Northwest Territory she refused to cede to the
United States, though her refusal endangered the
confederation, until in 1781, When, no longer able to
resist the influence of other States, especially that of
Maryland, she finally gave way so far as to abandon
her claims over lands north of the Ohio River, with a
condition, however, that the United States would

guarantee her right to the territory south and east of

the Ohio. This guarantee the Congress of the United
States refused, and in 1784 the condition was with-
drawn and the cession made absolute.‘°’ The reader who
will examine fully the history of the cession made by
Virginia of her jurisdiction over the Northwest Terri-
tory will be struck with this fact, that no sister State
or government, nor the Congress of the confederation,
ever at any time recognized her right to such juris-
diction. Only for the sake of perfecting the Union,
such as it then was, was there any respect paid at all
to her pretensions.

This absence of respectful recognition was doubt-
less owing to another matter of fact in the colonial

history of Virginia, to which reference may be made _

as rendering unnecessary any discussion of
the ambiguous terms of the charter or pat-
ent of 1609. That fact was that in 1624,
prior to the grant of Maryland to Lord Baltimore, as
well as prior to the grant of Pennsylvania to William
Penn, the charter to the London Company was dis-
solved in the English courts by a writ of qua war-
mnto,‘ and from a proprietary colony, somewhat like

1624.

1 Paine’s Public Good, 14.
2 Maryland’s Influence in founding a National Commonwealth, 8;
Stitl1’s History of Virginia, Sabine’s Reprint, 77; Paine’s Public Good, 18.
3 For a full and satisfactory discussion of the subject here referred to
the reader will examine “ Maryland’s Influence in founding a National
Commonwealth, a paper read before the Maryland Historical Society,
by Herbert B2 Adams, P.D., Baltimore, 1877;” also Paine’s Public Good.
4 To Trinity Term, King’s Bench, 1624; Chalmer’s Annals, p. 62.

l. was Pennsylvania, is well known.

CIVIL AND LEGAL—THE VIRGINIA TITLE.

161

that of William Penn, Virginia from that time ‘be- Alleghanies and the Mississippi is not included in any’

came a crown colony. On March 22, 1622, the In-
dians had made a preconcerted attack on the white
settlers scattered through distant villages on both
sides of James River, and massacred three hundred
and forty-seven men, women, and children.‘ “Some
time‘ after this massacre,” says Oldmixon, as quoted
by Thomas Paine,” “several gentlemen in England
procured grants of land from the company, and
others came over on their private accounts to make
settlements; among the former was one Captain Mar-
tin, who was named to be one of the Council. This
man raised so many differences among them that new
distractions followed, which the Indians observing
took heart, and once more fell upon the settlers on

A the borders, destroying without pitying either age,

sex, or condition. These and other calamities were
chiefly imputed to the mismanagement of the pro-
prietors, whose losses had so discouraged most of their
best members that they sold their shares, and Charles
I., on his accession to the throne, dissolved the com-
pany, and took the colony into his own immediate
direction. He appointed the Governor and Council

-himself, ordered all patents a.nd process to issue in

his own name, and reserved a quit-rent of two shil-
lings sterling for every hundred acres.”

Thus Virginia became a crown or royal colony, and
ever after until the Revolution so remained. And the
distinction between a colony and a province, such as
Whatever rights
are secured to the proprietor of a province cannot be
infringed or altered by the crown without the consent

of the proprietor, nor abrogated unless by judgment

of law founded on some act of commission working a
forfeiture or dissolution. But a royal colony is a
mere creature of the royal will ; its boundaries, all its
machinery of "government, may be modified, altered,
or annulled at the royal pleasure and discretion?
Now, merely adverting to the fact that, in case of a
colonial government, possession and settlement alone
could give title against a like colony (though
1763. not against a province such as Pennsylvania),
about the last act of the English king affect-
ing the limits imposed upon Virginia was the royal
proclamation of Oct. 10, 1763. It commences by re-
citing that by the late treaty with France the crown
had received valuable and extensive acquisitions of
territory in America; that letters patent had been

issued for the establishment within the countries

ceded to the crown of “four distinct and separate
governments, styled and called by the names of Que-
bec, East Florida, West Florida, and Grenada.” It
then marks out the boundaries of these governments,
after which it proceeds to annex certain new districts
of country to the province of N ewfoundland,’ Nova
Scotia, and Georgia; but the country between the

1 App1eton’s Cyclop., xvi. p. 382.
2 Public Good, p. 19.
3 Johnson 29. McIntosh, 8 Wheat., 543; I. Story’s 0.011)., 143.

of these. Without annexing the territories lying upon
the Monongahela and Ohio, the proclamation con-
tains the following provisions, which in effect confine
Virginia beyond the Alleghany Mountains :

“ And whereas it is just and reasonable, and essential to our interest

and the security of our colonies, that the several nations or tribes of
Indians, with whom we are connected andwho live under our protec-

tion, should not be molested or disturbed ‘in the possession of such parts .
of our dominions and territories, as, not having been ceded to, or »pur- ‘

chased by us, arereserved to them or any of them as their hunting-
grounds; we do therefore, with the advice of our privy council, declare

it to be o11r royal will and pleasure that no governor or commander-in-.

chief in any of our colonies of Quebec, East Florida, or West Florida,
do presume upon any pretence whatever, to grant warrants of survey,

or pass any patents for lands beyond the bounds of their respective ,

governments, as described in their commissions. As also that no gov-
ernor or commander-in-chief of our colonies or plantations in America,
do presume, for the present, and until our further pleasure be known, to
grant warrants of survey, or pass patents for any lands beyond the heads
or sources of any of the rivers which fall into the Atlantic Ocean from
the west and northwest, or upon any land whatever, which not having
been ceded to or purchased by us, as aforesaid, are reserved unto the said
Indians or any of them.”

Undoubtedly this, a royal decree, limited Virginia
to the ridges of the Alleghanies. True, its force

was “ for the present and until our further pleasure

be known,” yet no subsequent decree removed the
limitation. True, by the treaty of Fort Stanwix, in
November, 1768, the lands west of the Alleghanies
were purchased from the Indians, and true, also, that
subsequent to that treaty Lord Dunmore granted war-
rants and passed patents for lands westof those moun-
tains; but it isalso true that for these unauthorized
oflicial acts the Virginia Governor was re-
proved by Lord Dartmouth, the English Sec-
retary of State.‘ Virginia, thus limited, so
remained until the colonies became American States.
Her occupation of lands upon the waters of the Mo-
nongahela and the Ohio was therefore an usurpation?

It is admitted that Pennsylvania, being a proprie-
tary province, could not have been, and hence was
probably not intended to be, affected in the right to
make settlements upon the western waters by the proc-
lamation referred to. Though she could not have
been deprived summarily of the right, her policy had,
constantly been not to permit settlements on lands
not purchased from the Indians, and when that dis-
ability was removed by the treaty of Fort Stanwix, she

1776.

4 Public Good, 24.

5 At‘ December term, 1845, of the General Court of Virginia. was heard
the case of the Commonwealth of Virginia 12. Peter M. Garner et al, for"
an alleged abduction of slaves.

, The defendants had met the slaves at the water’s edge on the Ohio‘
side of the Ohio River, and were aiding them from their boat, when they’
were seized by Virginians in ambush upon the bank. The place of the
commission of the offense was laid to be in the State of Virginia, that
State claiming that all that river to the top of the northwest bank was
within its jurisdiction; and that question was about the only one before

the court. Hon. Samuel F. Vinton appeared for the defendants, having’

been appointed by the government of Ohio, and in an able argument,
which was printed and is preserved, the whole subject discussed in these
pages was exhaustively examined. The final decree of the court was
that the offense complained of was not committed withinthe jurisdiction,
of the State of Virginia.

20

HISTORY OF WASHINGTON COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA.

and rebuked by the chiefs of the Six Nations. At a
conference held with the Indians at Fort Pitt in 1768,
“ the Beaver,” a" chief, speaking in behalf of the Dela-
wares and Mohicans, said, “Brethren, the country
lying between the river and the Allegheny Mountain
has always been our hunting-ground, and the white
people who have scattered themselves over it have
by their hunting deprived us of the game which we
look upon ourselves to have the only right to. . . .”
Washington, in his journal of a trip which he made
down the Ohio from the mouth of the Allegheny in
1770,’says, “The Indians who reside upon the Ohio,
the upper part of it at least, are composed of Sha-
wanese, Delawares, and some of the Mingoes. . . .”

And it is certain that, though the Iroquois were the‘

owners of these hunting-grounds, they were occupied
almost exclusively by the Delawares and Shawanese.
From their towns and settlements in the vicinity of
the head of the Ohio, went forth from time to time the
hunting parties of these tribes, which formed the prin-
cipal part of the Indian population of the territory of
the present county of Washington, as their temporary
camps were almost the only Indian settlements in all
the region lying between the Monongahela and the
Ohio. ' I

On the ‘Monongahela, at the mouth of Dunlap’s
Creek, where the town of Brownsville now stands, was
the residence of old N emacolin, who, as it appears,
was a chief, but with very few, if any, warriors under
him, though it is not unlikely that he had had a re-
spectable following in the earlier years, before the
whites found him here. It was this Indian who guided
Col. Thomas Oresap across the Alleghenies in the first

journey which he made to the West from Old Town, -

Md., for the Ohio Company in 1749. The route
which they then pursued was known for many years
as “ Nemacolin’s path.” Later in his life this Indian
removed from the Monongahela and located on the
Ohio River. It is believed that the place to which
he removed was theisland now known as Blennerhas-
sett’s Island, in the Ohio, below Parkersburg, W. Va. ;
the reason for this belief being that there is found, in
Gen. Richard Butler’s journal of a trip down that
river in 1785, with Col. James Monroe (afterwards
President of the United States), to treat with the
Miami Indians, mention of their passing, in the river

A between the mouths of the Little Kanawha and Hock-

ing, an island called “Nemacolin’s Island.” I This
was, without much doubt, the later residence of the
old chief of that name. . I

An old Indian named Bald Eagle, who had been
a somewhat noted warrior (but not a chief) of the
Delaware tribe, had his home somewhere on the Up-
per Monongahela, but at what point is not precisely
known. He was a very harmless and peaceable man
and friendly to the settlers, yet he was killed without
cause about 1770, and the cold-blooded murder was
charged by the Indians upon white men. Of the
Bald Eagle and the circumstances of his death Veech

says, “ He was on intimate terms with the early set-

tlers, with whom he hunted, fished, and visited. He V

‘was well known along our Monongahela border, up

and down which he frequently passed in his canoe.
Somewhere up the river, probably about the mouth
of Cheat, he was killed, by whom or on what pretense
is unknown} His dead body, placed upright in his
canoe, with a peace of corn-bread in his clinched
teeth, was set adrift in the river.” The canoe drifted
ashore on the east side of the Monongahela, a short
distance above the mouth of Ten—Mile Creek, where
the wife of a settler recognized the old Indian and
wondered that he did not leave his canoe. She ex-
amined more closely and found he was dead. This

murder was regarded as a cold-blooded and unpro-A

voked outrage by both Indians and whites.
It is said that the early settlers who came into what

is now Washington County found here several In- .

dian villages or camps; one of these being on Ten-
Mile Creek, a short distance from the Monongahela,
one on the Dutch Fork of Buffalo Creek, one on Rac-
coon Creek, in what is now Hanover township, and
another on Mingo Creek. But this is -only vague
tradition, and it is by no means certain that any such-
ever existed at the places mentioned; and if they
were there, it is not probable that they were anything
more than temporary camps. The only Indian set-
tlement of which there is any authentic account as
having existed in Washington County was the one
known all over Western Pennsylvania as Catfish
Camp, located on ground that is within the limits of
the present borough of Washington, on the small
stream called by the Indians VVissameking, one of the
branches of Chartiers Creek. This settlement, how-

ever, was not an Indian village, but merely for a time-

the residence or camp of the old Delaware, Tingooqua,
or Catfish, who had been in his younger days a war-
rior (but not a chief) of that nation? Mention of

1 Withers. in his “Chronicles of Border Warfare,” states the case dif-
ferently, and gives the names of the murderers. He says, “ The Bald
Eagle was an Indian of notoriety, not only among his own nation, but
also with the inhabitants of the Northwestern frontier, with whom he
was in the habit of associating and hunting. In one of his visits among
them he was discovered alone by Jacob Scott, William Hacker, and Eli-
jah Runner, who, reckless of the consequences, murdered him, solely to
gratify a most wanton thirst for Indian blood. After the commission of
this most outrageous enormity, they seated him in the stern of a canoe,
with a piece of journey-cake thrust into his mouth, and set him afloat in
the Monongahela.” , _

2 In some accounts of this Indian he is mentioned as “a celebrated
Indian Chief, whose Indian name was Tingoocqua, or Catfish, who be-
longed to the Kuskuskee tribe of Indians, and occupied the hunting-
grounds between the Allegheny Mountains and the Ohio River.” But
from his own words at the treaty council, as quoted in the text, it appears
clear that he was not a chief, for he says, “ I am only a messenger,” that
is, the bearer. of a message from the chiefs of his people. As to his hav-
ing been a member of “ the Kuskuskee tribe of Indians,” it is proper to
mention that Kuskuskes was a place or settlement, to which the Dela-
wares had then recently removed from their older town of Sacunk at
the-mouth of Beaver. Of this new settlement of the Delawares Ch.
Frederick Post said in July, 1758, “ Kuskuskee is divided into four towns,
each at a distance from the others, and the whole consists of about ninety
houses and two hundred able warriors.” That Kuskuskes was the name
of the place where Catfish then came from, instead of being the name

162

HISTORY OF WASHINGTON 1 COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA.

immediately extended her active sovereignty to the
Ohio. On_Feb. 26, 1769, she publicly announced the
opening of her land-office for the sale of lands in
the new purchase, and on the day of its opening,
April 3, 1769, as has been seen, warrants of survey
were issued for lands lying in Washington County.
But not until 1774 did Virginia presume to pass like
orders with regard to lands in the Monongahela valley.

The Penn Title.—-The charter granted by Charles
II. to William Penn for his province of Penn-
1681. sylvania was dated March 4, 1681. Section I.,
in its provisions in respect of the boundaries

of the grant, is as follows:

“All that tract or part of land in America, with the Islands therein
contained, as the same is bounded on the east by the Delaware river,
from twelve miles distance northwards of New Castle town unto the
three and fortieth degree of northern latitude, if the said river doth
extend" so far northward; but if the said river shall not extend so far
northward, then by the said river so far as it doth extend; and from the
head of the same river the eastern bounds are to be determined by a
meridian line, to be drawn from the head of the said river unto the said
three and fortieth degree. The said land to extend westward five de-
grees in longitude to be computed from the said eastern bounds; and
the said lands to be bounded on the north by the beginning of the three
and fortieth degree of northern latitude, and on the south by a circle
drawn at twelve miles distance from New Castle northward and west-
ward, unto the beginning of the fortieth degree of northern latitude,
and then bya straight line westward to the limits of longitude above
mentioned.” 1

It seems to be made plain by the language quoted
from the charter that Pennsylvania was in her limits
a province of three degrees of latitude and five degrees
of longitude, extending from the fortieth degree, z'.e.,
line 39°, to the beginning of the forty-third degree, i.e.,
line 42°; and in the absence of an interference with

any prior grant, doubtless no other position
1632. would ever have been entertained. But in

1632, forty-nine years before ‘the date of
Penn’s charter, Charles I. had granted a province to
Lord Baltimore, which was named Maryland, and
of which the bounds were:

“All that part of the Peninsula or Chersonese lying in the partsiof
America between the ocean on the east and the bay of Chesapeake on
the west; divided from the residue thereof by a right line drawn from
the promontory or headland called Watkin’s Point, situated on the bay
aforesaid, near the river Wighco on the west, unto the main ocean on
the east; and between that boundary on the south, unto that part of
the bay of Delaware on the north, which lyeth under the fortieth de-
gree of north latitude from the equinoctial, where New England is ter-
minated; and all that tract of land within the metes underwritten (that
is to say) passing from the said bay, called Delaware Bay, in a right line

by the degree aforesaid, unto the true, meridian of the first fountain of
the river Potowmack, thence verging towards the south, unto the further

bank of the said river, and following the same on the west and south,

unto a certain place called Cinquack, situate near the mouth of the said

, river, where it disembogues into the aforesaid bay of Chesapeake, and

thence by the shortest line unto the aforesaid promontory or place called
Watkin’s Point.”2 V

It does no violence to a fair construction of this
charter to interpret the clause “which lyeth, under
the fortieth degree of north latitude from the equi-

1 Quoted from I. Dall. L. App. 1; I. Proud’s History of Pennsylvania,
172.
2 Quoted from Johnston’s H1St')1‘)' of Cecil County, Md., 14.

noctial” as establishing the point whence the due
west line forming the northern boundary of the grant
was to be drawn, upon the line 39°, z'.e., under or south
of the fortieth degree, a degree of latitude being a
portion of space lying between two parallels. The
first degree of north latitude begins at the equator,
and ends at the line 1°. So the fortieth degree begins
at line 39°, and ends at line 40°. A point under the
fortieth degree of latitude, f‘where New England is
terminated,” surely would not be a point in that de-
gree. Therefore Penn’s charter may properly have
carried him down to parallel 39°, where he would
have met Lord‘ Baltimore’s grant. Had that parallel
been actually made the line between the two prov-
inces, Baltimore would have been a Pennsylvania
city, and’ our southern boundary would have nearly
reached to the District of Columbia?’

But it was destined that our southern boundary

should be neither at 39° as claimed by Penn, nor at
40° as claimed by Lord Baltimore. Of the fortieth
degree, divided into two, Pennsylvania got the smaller
portion.

Mason and Dixon’s Line.-—It is not proposed to
write of the controversy which arose with Maryland
almost as soon as the colonists of VVilliam Penn, the
proprietor, arrived, although the details of that con-
test, its strifes, its captures and reprisals, the war waged
upon the Susquehanna, and, perhaps above all, the

scientific triumph for that day of the running of the -

line itself, comprise a most interesting part of Penn-
sylvania history} Suflice it to say that not until Aug.
4, 1763, did the proprietors of Pennsylvania and Mary-
land, being together in London, agree with Charles
Mason and Jeremiah Dixon, “two mathematicians
or surveyors,” ‘to run and mark the boundary line be-
tween the two provinces. Mason and Dixon arrived
at Philadelphia on Nov. 15, 1763, and proceeded at
once with their task, but not until 1765 had they
completed their work upon the circle and the tangent
and got upon the parallel. The completion of that
line, henceforth to be known as Mason and
Dixon’s line, to ‘a point thereon at a crossing 1767.
of Dunkard ‘Creek, on the southern boundary

of Washington County as originally erected, is graphi-
cally described by Mr. Latrobe as follows:

“ In 1767 the surveyors began operations on the parallel of latitude late.
A negotiation with the Six Nations was necessary,5 which Sir William

Johnson had promised to conduct, and this was not conc1uded.before‘

3 The writer is aware that Mr. Veech, in his Monongahela of Old,
219, and in his reprint, Mason and Dixon’s Line, 18, holds a different
opinion, and speaks of the “absurdity of this construction” which
would carry Penn’s grant to parallel 39°. The most that will be ad-

mitted as to his view is that, when the controversy between Penn and _

Lord Baltimore arose, it was a fair case for a compromise, as the lawyers
would say.

4 The reader is referred particularly to The Monongahela of Old, ch.
V111,; Mason and Dixon’s Line, by the same author, Hon. James Veech ;
and History of Mason and Dixon’s Line, by Hon. J. H. B. Latrobe.

5 Because the‘lands they were about to pass ‘upon had not yet been
purchased from the Indians.

CIVIL AND LEGAL—BEGIN N IN G  THE BOUNDARY CON TEN TION .

163

May, so that it was not until the 8th of June that the surveyors reached
their halting-place of the preceding year, on the summit of the Little
Alleghany. On the 14th of June they had advanced as far as the sum-
mit of the Great Alleghany, where they were joined by an escort of
fourteen Indians, with an interpreter, deputed by the Chiefs of the Six
Nations to accompany them. And so the Indian becomes their protector
against the Indians as they mark the boundary of the sovereignties
that before long are to obliterate the very memory of their aboriginal
possessors. And the escort seems to have had some vague apprehensions
in regard to the results of all this gazing into the heavens and measur-
ing upon the earth, and to have become restless and dissatisfied, and on
the 25th of August the surveyors note that ‘Mr. John Green, one of
the chiefs of the Mohawk nation, and his nephew leave them, in order
to return to their own country.’ The roving Indians of the wilderness,
regardless of the escort, begin also to give the party of white men un-
easiness; and on the 29th of September, twenty-six of the assistants quit
the work for fear of the Shawnees and Delawares. Mason and Dixon
have now but fifteen axemen left with them; but, nothing disheartened,
they send back to Fort Cumberland for aid, and push forward with the

. line. At length they reach a point two hundred and forty-four miles

from the river Delaware, and within thirty-six miles of the whole dis-
tance to be run. And here in the bottom of a valley, on the borders of a
stream marked Dunkard Creek on their map, they come to an Indian
War-path, winding its way through the forest. And here their Indian
escort tell them that it is the will of the Six Nations that the surveys
shall be stayed. There is no alternative but obedience, and retracing
their steps they return to Philadelphia, and reporting all these facts to
the commissioners under the deed of 1760, receive an honorable dis-
charge on the 26th of December, 1767.”1

The line thus run and marked was 39° 43’ 26”
north latitude. Extending as it did Westward beyond
the meridian of the first fountain of the Potomac,
which meridian formed the western limit of Mary-
land, as to that extension it was ex parte, and, of
course, could not affect the rights of Virginia. Why

' the surveyors did not stop at the meridian referred to

is a mystery, “for there,” says Mr. Veech, “their
functions terminated. But they pass it by (unheeded,
because unknown) resolved to reach the utmost limit
of Penn’s five degrees of longitude from the Dela-
ware, for so they were instructed.” And why were
Mason and Dixon stopped in their line at the second

' crossing of Dunkard Creek? Because by that point

passed the Warrior Branch of the old Catawba or
Cherokee trail, along which traveled ‘the war parties
of the Northern and Southern Indians, and across. it
the Indian escort would at that time allow not even
an imaginary barrier to be drawn.

Thus, as late as the fall of 1768, the southwestern
corner of the province of Pennsylvania had not been
marked, and her western boundary, whether an irregu-
lar line or a meridian, was as yet unknown. The
boundary of a tract of land, even of small dimensions,
is of the wildest uncertainty until it has been run out
by courses and distances and marked upon the ground.
One can easily see what results would be brought
about by this gap in the boundaries between the prov-
ince of Pennsylvania and Virginia.

1 On the eastern half of the line the. surveyors planted at" the end of
every fifth mile a stone graven with the arms of the Penns on the one
side and of the Baltimore family on the other, marking the intermediate
miles with smaller stones, having a P. on one side and an M. on the
other. The stones with the arms upon them were all sent from England.
The writer stood beside one of them in June, 1881; one hundred and
fourteen years had not obliterated the inscriptions. For want of wheel
transportation over the mountains a different and less permanent mode
of marking was adopted. '

Beginning of the Boundary Contention.——In
1748, Thomas Lee, of the King’s Council in Virginia,
formed the design of effecting settlements on
the wild lands west of the Alleghanies through 1748.
the agency of a corporation called the Ohio
Company. Lawrence Washington and Augustine
Washington, brothers of George Washington, were
interested in the scheme. A grant was obtained from
the king for five hundred thousand acres of land, to be
taken chiefly on the south side of the Ohio, between
the Monongahela and Kanawha Rivers. Two hun-
dred thousand acres were to be selected immediately,
and to be held for ten years free from quit-rents or
taxes, on condition that the company should seat one
hundred families on the lands within seven years, and
build a fort and maintain a garrison sufficient to pro-
tect the settlements.

The object of the company was not only to form
settlements, but also to carry on upon a large scale a
trade with the Indians, which hitherto had been
mostly in the hands of the Pennsylvanians. In 1749
a cargo of goods suited to that trade arrived from
London, another to follow the next spring, the whole
amounting in value to four thousand pounds sterling.
In 1751, Christopher Gist was sent out as the agent
to explore the lands, and in 1752 he attended a treaty
with the Indians, with whom the French were then
tampering. 1 .

This treaty was held at Logstown. Col. Joshua Fry
and two other commissioners represented the colony
of Virginia. V

' Governor Dinwiddie, of Virginia, became one of the
London Company’s proprietors, and in 1758 he sent
George Washington, then but ayouth, as a messenger
to the French commandant at Venango to ascertain
the purpose of the threatened encroachment. Then
followed in 1754 the attempted erection of the fort at
the “ Forks of the Ohio,” in pursuance of its rec-
ommendation in Washington’s journal as the _most
eligible place, its capture by the French, and the erec-
tion of Fort Du Quesne in its stead, and the inaugura-
tion of the French and Indian war. All this was
brought about without the agency of Pennsylvania.”
How this trespass, committed by the colonies of Vir-
ginia upon her western limits, called the attention of
Pennsylvania to the necessity of a settlement of her
western boundary, will presently appear.

Let us now go back to the year 1749. Remember
that this was but about five years subsequent
to the time when Peter Chartier,?’ from a 1749.
Pennsylvania Indian trader, went over to the

2 For an account of the Ohio Company see Sparks’ Writings of Wash-
ington. Washington’s Journal of his tour upon the Ohio in 1753 is pub-
lished in full in I. Olden Time, 12.

O 3 One Chartier in 1717 received a warrant for five hundred acres

-where “ he had seated himself on the Susquehanna River, above Cones-

toga Creek, including within the survey the improvement then made by
him, for which he agreed, on behalf of his son, Peter Chartier, in whose
name he desired the survey to be made, to pay for the same.”——Rupp

164

HISTORY OF WASHINGTON ‘ COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA.

French. On Nov. 22, 1749,‘ Thomas Lee (heretofore
mentioned), president of the Virginia Council, wrote
to Governor Hamilton, of Pennsylvania, announcing
the formation of the London Company, the purpose
to build a fort for the protection of trade with the
Indians, in order toretain them from the French and
“ engage them in affection to his Ma_jestie’s subjects,”
and stating that the Pennsylvania traders were pre-
vailing with the Ohio Indians to believe that the fort
was to be a bridle for them, and that the roads which
the company were to make were to let in the Cataw-
bas upon them to destroy them, etc., whereby “ the
carrying the King’s Grant into execution is at present
impracticable.” The letter closed with a request
that measures be taken “ to put a stop to these mis-
ehievous Practices.” Another letter from Mr. Lee
followed, dated Dec. 20, 1749, wherein he states that
hehad found it necessary “ to write to the Lords of
the Treasury, desiring their Lordships to obtain the
King’s Order for running the dividing Line betwixt
this Colony and Yours, else many difficulties will
arise upon seating the Large Grants to the Westward
of the Mountains.” Governor Hamilton, on Jan. 2,
1749, replied in a letter from which is copied:

I “ As you have mentioned the large grant his Majesty has lately been
pleased to make to some gentlemen in Virginia of Lands on the
Branches of the Ohio, I am induced to desire your opinion whether it
may not be of use that the Western Bounds of this Province be run by
Commissioners to be appointed by both Governments in order to assure
Ourselves that none of the Lands contained in that Grant’ are within
the Limits of this Province. If you should join with me in Sentiment

that the work is necessary to be done I shall at all times be ready to ap-
point Commissioners,2 etc.”

Again on May 6, 1753, Governor Hamilton wrote

to. Robert Dinwiddie, who had become Governor of

Virginia, acquainting him of hostilities by

1753. Ottawa Indians upon the Allegheny, that in-

formation had,been received of a threatened

invasion by abody of -French and Indians, and pro-
ceeded:

“ I should be well pleased to know whether it be intended by Your
Colony to erectany kind of Fort on the Lands granted to the Ohio Com-
pany, andymy reason for desiring this Information is that I have re-
ceived Directions from the Proprietors of Pennsylvania to enter into
any reasonable measures to assist You in any design of that Sort, only
taking Your Acknowledgment that this settlement shall not prejudice
their Right to t_hat Country,- and further that I may assure The Settlers
they shall enjoy the lands they bona fide settle on the common Quit
Rent, etc.” 3

Lancaster County, 120, 121. Peter Chartier was licensed as an Indian
trader by the Lancaster court Nov. 3, 1730.——-Ibid.,253. In 1739 there
was surveyed to him a tract of six hundred acres in Paxton Manor,
Lancaster, embracing land afterward the site of New Cumberland. A
few years after this survey he settled on or near the Allegheny River,
at what was called Old Town or Chartiers Old Town, about forty miles
above Pittsburgh. In 1744 he accepted a military commission under the
French, and prevailed upon some of the Shawanese Indians of Old Town
to move to the French settlements on the Mississippi.—Rupp’s Cumber-
land, 436. He gave his name to the creek flowing northward through
one of the most beautiful valleys of Washington County.

1 V. Col. Records, 423.

2 Ibid., 423-24.

3 Ibid., 629. The instructions from the proprietaries to Governor
Hamilton are printed in VI. 001. Records, 4.

To this letter no reply is at hand from Governor
Dinwiddie, but on Nov. 24, 1753, the latter wrote that
he had “sent a person of Distinction to the Com-
mander of the French Forces on the Ohio to know
his Reasons for this unjustifiable Step in invading
our Lands.” _ He also said, “ We have several work--
men gone out to build a Fort at the Forks of the
Monongialo with the approbation and desire of the
Indians.” This “ person of distinction” was George
Washington? '

It has appeared that Governor Hamilton had prom-
ised co-operation with Governor Dinwiddie in the
expulsion of the French, who had already estab-
lished themselvesupon the upper waters of the Alle-

gheny, but the Assembly, by whom the money was to -

be supplied, refused it. This body, the representa-
tives of the people, was then in a controversy with
the Governor and Council, who represented the pro-
prietors, with respect to the taxation of the unsold‘
lands of the latter, their manors, etc., insisting that
their private estate should bear its share of the bur-
den with the property of the people. Neither side
would yield, and it followed, which is now stated
once for all, that in the French and Indian war Penn-
sylvania contributed little if anything in men or
money save only the supplies and transportation sold
and hired by the Germans of the middle and older
counties during the period of Braddock’s march to his
defeat. An excuse was made, in good faith perhaps
too, of conscientious scruples, and at the time now
under consideration a doubt was also expressed on the
part of the Assembly whether the lands on the Ohio
were really within the province at all or not. This
suggestion brought about on the part of the Gov-
ernor and Council an examination as carefully made
as could then be done. An ascertainment of the dis-

.tance to the “ Forks of the Ohio” by the usual route

across the mountains was obtained; a Mr. West was
examined,‘who said “that Col. Joshua Fry, one of
the Virginia commissioners (at the treaty at Logs-
town referred to), who had the Reputation of an
excellent Mathematician, with a Quadrant of eigh-
teen Inches Radius, took an Observation of the Sun
on the 16th of June, 1752, at a place about a Mile
North of Shannopin’s Town,” and ascertained the
latitude of that place to be 40° 29’ .6

The Governor then communicated to the Assembly,
March 2, 1754 :

“By these it would have appeared to you that Logstown, the Place

where the French propose to have their Head-Quarters, is not at the Dis-
tance of Five Degrees of Longitude from the River Delaware, and

not to the Southward of Fifteen Statute Miles South of this City, 1 7 54.
and that the Course of the Ohio from that Place to Weningo
[Venango], which the French have taken Possession of, and from whence
they have driven away our Traders, is to the North-East, and conse-
quently nearer to us.” 7 .

5 Ibid., 712.
5 Shannopin‘s Town was at or near where Lawrenceville now is. Logs-
town was supposed to be about one mile north of Shannopin’s Town.
7 V. Col. Records, 751, 753.

CIVIL AND LEGAL—DR. JOHN OONNOLLY.

165

On March '13, 1754, Governor Hamilton, having
made the examinations stated, wrote to Go.vernor
Dinwiddie:

“ The Invasions lately made by the French on Parts of his Majesty’s
Dominion: having engaged me to inquire very particularly into the sit-
uation of their Forts, and likewise into the Bounds and Extent of this
Province to the Westward. I have from thence the greatest Reason to
believe not only the French Forts, but also the Forks of Mohongialo
(where You propose to erect one and to grant away Two hundred Thou-
sand Acres of Land to such as shall engage in the Intended Expedition
to Ohio), are really within the limits of Pennsylvania. In duty to my
Constituents therefore, I cannot but remind You of what I had the
Honor to write you some time ago upon this subject.” 1

Dinwiddie had previously issued a proclamation of
the tenor stated in the foregoing letter. On March
21, 1754, his reply to Governor Hamilton is written,

in which are catalogued what had been done by way

of men, means, arms, etc., for the expedition, but
there is perfect silence as to the chief matter of inter-
est in Governor Hamilton’s communication. But in
the next letter, of the same date, he says,—

“ Your private letter of the Thirteenth Currant I have duly read and
am much mislead by our Surveyors if the Forks of the Mohongialo be
within the Limits of‘ Your Proprietor’s' Grant. .I have for some time
wrote home to have the line run, to have the boundaries properly known
that I may be able to keep Magistrates on the Ohio (if in this Govern-
ment) to keep the Traders and others in good order, and I presume soon
there will be Commissioners appointed for that service.

“ In the mean time, that no Hindrance may be given to our intended
Expedition, I think it ishighly reasonable if these Lands are in your
Proprietor’s Grant that the Settlers thereon should pay the Quit Rents
to Mr. Penn, and not to his Majesty, and therefore as much as liesin my

. power I agree thereto, after the time granted them by my Proclamation
to be clear of the Quit Rents ceases ; but surely I am from all Hands as-

sured that Logs Town is far to the west of Mr. Penn’s Grant.” 2

Attention is called to these letters to and from Gov-
ernor Dinwiddie, in view of what is to appear here-
after, when many years are elapsed. About the time
they were written the fort at the Forks of the “ Mohon-

gialo” was being erected, but on April 17, 1754, En-

sign Ward was compelled to surrender his incomplete

.. fortification which was to protect the Ohio Company’s

settlers and the trade with the Indians, to M. Contre-
coeur, “ who fell down from Weningo with a Fleet of
Three Hundred and Sixty Battoes and Canoes, with
upwards of One Thousand Men and Eighteen Pieces
of Artillery, which they planted against the Fort ;” so
wrote “ Your Honours most obedientand very hum-
ble Servant, G. Wasl1ington,” in a letter to Governor
Hamilton, received on the 3d of May.3 After this
calamity Governor Dinwiddie was not so sure as to
his jurisdiction over Logstown. The Maryland As-
sembly had not been much more liberal than that of
Pennsylvania, and on April 27, 1754 (perhaps, how-
ever, before he had heard of Ensign VVard’s surren-
der), in a letter to Governor Hamilton, he com-
plains :4

“ I cannot help observing that Two Proprietary Governments should
distinguish themselves on this exigency of our aflairs, in not contribu-
ting their assistance agreeableto his Maje-stie’s commands, and more so

from your Province when it is in doubt if the Land we are going to pos-
sess is not in your Grant.”

'1 vr. Col. Records, 3.‘ 2Ibid., 3. 3Ibid.,28. 4 Ibid.,32.l

This was the last official correspondence upon the
subject for about twenty years, and now the first acts
of the government of Virginia, in which jurisdiction
over the Monongahela and Ohio valleys was claimed,
have been here disclosed. Hitherto and through-
out, the controversy has been courteous and peace-
able. When it is again renpwed it partakes of the
very bitterness of partisan strife. But following En-
sign Ward’s surrender, the establishment of Fort Du
Quesne at the confluence of the. Ohio and'the Alle-
gheny, the first battles of ryoung», ,Washington in the
territory now of . Fayette County,‘ and Braddock’s de-
feat, was a long period of relentless an_d bloody In-
dian warfare, during which there was no opportunity
for a conflict of civil jurisdiction west of the Alle-
ghany Mountains.

* Dr, John Connolly.—From 1764 to 17 7 4, however,
there was peace with the tribes, the pioneers being
disturbed only at times by the occasional depreda-
tions of savages intent upon plunder more than moved
by the havoc of war. Col. George Washington, then
unemployed in military affairs, turned his attention
to the acquisition of lands west of the mountains,
with Capt. William Crawford to aid him in
their selection. In October, 1770, he went 1770.
upon a journey by way of Capt. Crawford’s
settlement on the Youghioghena River, and the latter
accompanied him down the Ohio to the K.-anawha for
the purpose of examining lands in which he was in-
terested at that place. On the 17th of that month,
with Dr. Craik,5 who had been his companion in arms
at the battles of the Great Meadows and of the Mo-
nongahela, Capt. Crawford, and others, he arrived at
Fort Pitt. “ We lodged,” he says in his journal,“
“in what is called the town, distant about three hun-
dred yards from the fort, at one Semple’s,7 who keeps
a very good house of public entertainment. The
houses, which are built of logs and ranged in streets,
are on the Monongahela, and I suppose may be about
twenty in number, and inhabited by Indian traders.”
On the 21st of November, Washington on his return
left the Ohio at the Mingo town, just below where
Steubenville now is, and came across the country over
the lands he soon afterwards owned in Mount Pleasant
township to Fort Pitt again. “ 22d. Stayed at Pitts-
burgh all day,” his journal continues; “invited the
officers and some other men to dinner with me at
Semp1e’s, among whom was Dr. Connolly, nephew to.
Col. Croghan, a very sensible and intelligent man,
who had traveled over a good deal of this western

A 5 The same Dr. Craik in whose company he came to Washington‘
County in 1784 to meet with the settlers, the Reeds and others, upon his
lands in what _is now Mount Pleasantjand Cecil townships. For his
journal on this occasion see the history of Mount Pleasant township.

5 Published in many places, but see I, Olden Time, 416.

7 The house of Samuel Semple', this landlord. is said to have been
built by 001. George Morgan, the grandfather of D. '1‘. Morgan, Esq., of
Washington, and was the first shingle-roof house in Pittsburgh; I. Olden
Time, 418; Craig’s History of Pittsburgh, 107.

166

HISTORY OF WASHINGTON COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA.

country both by land and water.” This Dr. Connolly,
now introduced to the reader by no less a personage
than George Washington, is soon to play an im-
portant part in the civil history of the country west
of the mountains. Though born in Lancaster County,
therefore in interest and relationship a Pennsylva-
nian, he seems early to have become an adventurer
upon the waters of the lower Ohio, and at last ap-
peared at Fort Pitt, as stated. In a subsequent page
will be given a sketch of him from the pen of one
who knew him well. He remained, as will be seen,
at Fort Pitt until 177 5, during which period the was
probably the most noted man of the western border.

Controversy Opened.—Upon the erection of Bed-
ford County, March 9, 1771, Fort Pitt still being a
post garrisoned by the king’s soldiers, the residents
in _the Monongahela valley were called upon to con-
tribute their shares of the taxes necessary to main-
tain the county government, whereupon, the mass of
them having come from Maryland and Virginia, and
being doubtful in the absence of an established west-
ern boundary under which government they dwelt,
resistance to the collection of these taxes followed of
course. Indicating this condition of feeling and es-
tablishing the fact that the very first active opposi-
tion to the Pennsylvania jurisdiction of which we
have any account came from the settlers in the Mo-
nongahela valley, and that, giving Dunmore and
Connolly their just dues, the Virginia usurpation of
1774 was not a sudden inspiration, but, on the con-
trary, was suggested by the attitude, if not the peti-
tions, of our early settlers themselves, contemporary
letters written at the scene of conflict will now be
produced}

One George Wilson, Esq., a justice of the Bedford
County court, residing at the mouth of Georges Creek,

now Fayette County, near New Geneva, then
1771. in Springhill ‘township of Bedford County,

wrote the following letter to Arthur St. Clair,
then also a justice of the same court, and as well the
prothonotary of the Common Pleas, clerk of the
Orphans’ Court, recorder of deeds, and ‘register of
wills of the same county; 2

“SOPRINGHILL TOWNSHIP, August 4, 1771.
“MY DEAR CAPT.:

“I am sorry that the first Letter I ever undertook
to write you should contain a Detail of a Grievance so

1 See foot-note to page 176, post.
2 George Wilson, known generally as 001. Wilson, had come from old

, Augusta County, Va., into Pennsylvania in 1768 or 1769. Notwithstand-

ing the place of his immigration, he was always loyal to Pennsylvania
in the “intestin Broyls” which are to be narrated. In 1775, as will
hereafter appear, he was arrested by the Virginia authorities for aiding
the “capture” of Dr. Connolly. He died as the lieutenant-colonel of
the Eighth Pennsylvania Regiment in the war of the Revolution at
Quibbletown, N. J ., in February, 1777. See IX. Penn. Arch., 2d S. 648.
He was the grandfather of Lawrence ‘L. Minor, of Waynesburg, Greene
Co., and the great-grandfather of Hon. W. G. Hawkins, now judge of
the Orphans’ Court of Allegheny County. Is not his character set out
unintentionally in the letter quoted?

disagreeable to me; Wars of any Cind are not agree-
able to. any Person Posesed of ye proper feelings of
Humanity, But more Especially intestin Broyls. I
no sooner Returned Home from Court than I Found
papers containing the Resolves, as they Called them,
of ye inhabitants to ye Westward of ye Laurel hills,
were handing fast about amongst ye people, in which
amongst ye rest Was one that the Were Resolved to
oppose Every of Pens Laws as they Called them,
Except Felonious actions, at ye Risque of Life, &

under the panelty of fiftey pounds, to be Recovered '

or Leveyed By themselves off ye Estates of ye failure.
The first of them I found hardey anugh to offer it in
publick, I emediately ordered into Custotey, on
which a large number Ware assembled as Was seposed
to Resque the Prisonar. I indavoured, By all ye Rea-
son I was Capable of, to convince them of the ill
Consequences that would of Consequence attend such
a Rebellion, & Hapily Gained on the people to Con-
sent to relinquish their Resolves & to Burn the Paper
they signed—VVhen their Forman saw that the Arms
of his Centrie, that as hee said Hee had thrown him-
self into would not Resque him By force, hee catched
up his Rifle, Which Was Well Loaded, jumped out
of Dors & swore if any man Cam nigh him he Would
put what Was in his throo them ; the Person that
Had him in Custody Called for assistance in ye Kings
name, and in pirtickelaur Commanded my self. I
told him I was a Subject _& was not fit to Comand if
not willing to obey, on which I watched his eye untill
I saw a chance Sprang in on him & Seized the Rifle
by ye Muzzle and held him, So as he Could not Shoot
me, untill more help Gott in to my assistance, on
which I Disarmed him & Broke his Rifle to peses.
I Res’d a Sore Bruse on one of my arms By a punch

of ye Gun in ye Strugle-——Then put him under a Strong "

Guard, Told them the Laws of their Contrie was

stronger then the Hardist Ruflin amongst them. I 

found it necesery on their Complyance & altering
their Resolves,3 and his promising to Give himself no
more trouble in the affair, as hee found that the
people Ware not as hardey as hee Expected them to
be, to Relece him on his promise of Good Behavior.
“I am affraid Sum Who Have Been to much
Countenanced By their King,& ye province of Pen-
sallvania are Grate accessoreys to those factions, &
God Knows where’ they may Eind. I have, in my
Little time in Life, taken the oath of .Alegence to

His Majestic seven times, & allways did it with ye"

Consent of my Whole Heart & am Determined in my
proper place to Seport the Contests there of to ye
outmost of my power. As I look on it as my Duty to
Let those things be known to Government & my ac-

._..

3 “ I ‘understand by Capt. John Harden, the bearer of this, that there is
an agreement entered into by a number of the inhabitants of Mononga-
hela and Redstone. They have entered into a bond or article of agree-
ment to join and keep off all officers of the law, under a penalty of fifty
pounds, to be forfeited by the party refusing to join against all oificers
Whatsoever.”—-—Letter from Wm. Crawford to James Tilghmam, Aug. 9:
1771. IV. ‘Pa. Arch, 424. — I 1 e

CIVIL AND LEGAL—CONTROVERSY OPENED.

quaintance at Philladelphia is none; I Expect you
will Communicat those things to them that the Wis-
dom of Government may provide Remedies in time,
as there are numbers in the Lower parts of ower Set-
tlements still increasing ye faction.

“ It gives mee Grate Pleasure that my nighbors are
Determined not_to J oyn in the faction, & I Hope the
Difient Majestrits in this side y‘ Mountains will use
their influence to Discorage it.

“I understand Grate thrates are made against mee
in partickolaur, if possible to intimidate mee With
fear, & allso against the Sherifs & Constables, & all
Ministers of Justice, But I hope the Laws, y° Bul-
works of ower nation will be Seported in Spight of
those Low Lifed trifling Raskells. Give myiComple-

’ments to Mr. George Wood, Mr. Doherty & Mr. Fra-

zor, and Except of myne to your self”, 1

On September 24th, Arthur St. Clair, writing from
Bedford to Joseph Shippen, J r., the secretary of the
Provincial Council, says: 2

“I am sorry the papers I now enclose will contradict the favorable
account I have given of our country ; indeed, I am apprehensive there
will be a good deal of trouble in our frontier.

“A ridiculous story that Mr. Cresap3 has spread with much industry
that this Province did not extend beyond the Allegheny mountains, but
that all to the west of it was the King’s Land, and together with Mr.
Croghan’s claims and surveys4 has put numbers in a doubtful situation,

1 I. St. Clair Papers, 257.
2 Ibid., 260.

- 3 Michael Cresap here mentioned was the son of Thomas Cresa p, who
lived at Old Town, on the Potomac, south of Cumberland, and who, in
the boundary controversy between Pennsylvania and Maryland in ear-
lier years, was famous as a bold partisan of the latter province. As early
probably as 1770, Michael Cresap became a trader at Redstone Old Fort,
and in the springof 1774, while with a party of land-jobbers on the Ohio
looking after lands, became involved in the killing of the Indians, fol-
lowed by Dunmore’s war. On his way home after the skirmish at Grave
Creek he stopped a while with William Huston, then living at Catfish
‘Camp; he was at Catfish Camp later in the summer with a body of
militia. On the breaking out of the Revolution he led his company of
militia into the Continental service at Boston, but soon after, on Oct. 18,
1775, died in New York City at the early age of thirty-three years. He
was the Col. Cresap charged by Logan with the murder of his kindred,
but the authenticity of that celebrated speech has for many years been

seriously questioned. I
4 George Croghan (pronounced Crohon) is said to have been a native
of Ireland.‘ He first settled upon the Susquehanna and engaged in the
Indian trade. He built a fort at what is now Shirleysburg, Huntingdon
Co.; was at first captain in the provincial service, but subsequently be-
came deputy superintendent of Indian affairs under Sir William John-
son, and established himself near Lawrenceville, above Pittsburgh,
where he afterward lived and died. On Aug. 2, 1749, Croghan had ob-
tained a deed executed by Iohonorissa, Scarrooyaddy, and Cossowantine-
cea, chiefs of the Six Nations, conveying to him in fee “ a certain tract
or parcel of land situate lying and being on the South side of the Monon-
gahela River, Beginning at the mouth of a Run nearly opposite to Tur-
tle creek, and then down the said Monongahela River to its Junction
with the River Ohio, Computed to be Ten Miles; then Running down
the Eastern Bank or side of the said River to where Raccoon creek emp-
ties itself into the said River; Thence up the said Creek ten miles, and
from thence on a direct line to the Place of beginning; Containing by
Estimation One hundred thousand acres, be the same more or less.” On
the 4th‘ of November, 1768, as Croghan recited in his grants out of this
land to purchasers from him, this deed was confirmed by the Six Nations
“ unto his most sacred Majesty George the Third by the Grace of God
King of Great Britain, France and Ireland, & his heirs and successors,
for the Use benefit and behoof of the said George Croghan, . . . as by
the said-Deed Pole Recorded in the Office for recording of Deeds in the
City of Philadelphia, in Book 1, Volume the fifth, Page 239, 830., may

167

and will probably make it very diflicult to carry the laws into execution.
. . . You will see by Col. Wilson’s letter that he has been active in sup-
pressing a commotion in his neighborhood, and I hope you will be so
good as to represent it to the Council in its proper light.” '

In a letter dated at Fort Pitt, June 4, 1772, George
Croghan wrote to Arthur St. Clair,5 inclosing him a
copy of a letter from “ Col. Cresap to the Inhabi-
tance” at Redstone, in which an argument is
made that “the Western bounds of Pennsyl- 1772.
vania Could Not Come Any Distance on this
Side y° Hills,” and “I may venture to say you will
be of opinion that if any objections be made to the
Laws a11d Taxes it will be Intirely owing to y° meshurs
Taken by Pennsylvania in not ascertaining the true
limits of thire Durediction, and publishing it to the
people.” On July 18th of the same month, _St. Clair
wrote to Mr. Shippen from Bedford :5 “ A day or two
ago a petition in the name of the people living to the
westward of Laurel Hill; signed by two hundred and
twenty persons, was presented to our court. It
charged the Government and the officers of the court
with great oppression and injustice, and prayed that
directions might be given to the sheriffs to serve no
more process in that country, as they apprehended it
was not in Pennsylvania.” Alarm was expressed at
the consequences impending. It was stated that
“ Col. Cresap” appeared openly as a prime mover in
the matter, and Mr. Croghan was strongly suspected
of giving it much encouragement privately. The
letter proceeds,——

‘t The petition was presented by a Mr. Brent, a gentleman from Mary-
land, who practices in our county. He offered nothing in support of it,
but the uncertainty where Pennsylvania ends, and the hardships it was
on the people to live under authority that was perhaps usurped. He

more fully and at large appear.” In 1771 Croghan was running the
lines of his tract, and'claimed also to have another one-hundred-thew
sand-acre tract to lie south of the foregoing. He was then also negoti-
ating with C01. Washington, through Capt. William Crawford, for the sale
of certain parcels (see the Washington and Crawford Letters, 16, 20, etc.).
Having run his lines, in 1772 and afterward he made a number of convey-
ances, of which the following are recorded in the deed-book of the old Au-
gusta. County Court: to Bernard Gratz, of Philadelphia, 10,129 a.«; 2 r., 30
p,, on the West Branch of Raccoon Creek; to same, 14,013 acres on the
western side of Chartiers Creek; to same, 31,485% acres omthe waters
of Robinson’s Run and Raccoon Creek; to Joseph Sirnons, of Lancaster,
10,580 acres on Raccoon Creek; to ‘Edward Ward, of Fort Pitt, 3863
acres on the south bank of the Ohio; to Jacob Bausman, of Fort Pitt
(in 1770), 308 acres on the west side of Chartiers Creek; to Benjamin,
Tate, of Fort Pitt, 384 acres on the east side of Chartiers Creek; to
Thomas Lawrence, of Philadelphia, 18,580 acres on the southwest side
of the Ohio,—all of which tracts nearly are described by courses and dis-
tances and adjoinders. It is said. that our old surveyors were often an-
noyed by striking a marked tree on one of “ Geo. Groghan’s lines.”

Croghan’s position in the boundary controversy was a doubtful one.
He was a Pennsylvanian by sympathy, though in interest he was a Vir-
ginian,for the apparent reason that he thought that if his “ claims” fell
within the limits of Pennsylvania his title was invalid as against that
province, a result which actually followed when the line was run. All
of his immense grant, covering so much of northern Washington County
as originally erected, was wiped out of existence.

5 I. St. Clair Papers, 262.

5 Ibid., 265.

7 The reader of the controversy as to the genuineness of the Logan
speech will recollect the point made against it, that the Cresap named
as “Col. Cresap” was not a colonel, but a captain. Here is seen the

factnthat Cresap was called colonel in 1772, two years before the speech

was delivered.

168

HISTORY OF WASHINGTON COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA.

 

was answered by Mr. Wilson, and I assure you the Proprietaries and
the people are very much obliged to him. In a very handsome speech
of about an hour, he opened the Constitution of the Province, compared
it with that of the neighboring colonies, and pointed out where it ex-
celled them. . . . I think it was lucky it was spoken so publicly, as
many people from the doubtful part of the country were present and
seemed so pleased with the conduct of the court in rejecting the peti-
tion.”

Soon afterwards, but without date, another letter
was written by Capt.‘ St. Clair to Mr. Shippen,1 in
which the good effect of Mr. Wilson’s speech was
again referred to:

“ However. there is still a number of people, abetted chiefly by Mr.
Croghan, that refuse to submit to the jurisdiction of this Province, and
very lately the sheriff has been very ill treated by a number of them;
about twelve waylaid him and come upon him and one of his deputies
stark naked, and threatened to put them both to immediate death, but
after much abuse they consented to let them go at that time, but swore
in the most dreadful manner, that if ever they returned to attempt
to serve process, they would sacrifice them or follow them to their
own houses and put them to the most cruel death. The sheriff knew

V several of them, pa.rticularly Abraham TeaGarden and William Tea-

Garden the younger, who are the ringleaders of the gang of villains,
John Death, Andrew Gudgell, and Michael Cack; and they were all
well armed with guns, tomahawk, pistols, and clubs; and the sherifi‘ is
of opinion that only for a pocket pistol which he produced he would
certainly have met with extreme ill usage if he had»escaped with his life.

“ I have said these people are chiefly abetted by Mr. Croghan, and I
think I have reason to say so; for no longer ago than Friday last, the
collector and the constable, whom he had called to his assistance to levy
his (Mr. Croghan’s) taxes, were drove off by his people, and that Mr.
Croghan himself threatened to put any or all of them to death if they
attempted to touch any of his effects, for that he was not within the
Province by twenty miles.”

If Croghan were assessed with his 100,000-acres
tract on the south side, described in the note to a
preceding page, his interest would lead him to pro-
test vigorously against the payment of the provincial
taxes; but to show that the opposition to the juris-
diction was not wholly attributable to a dislike of all
governmental restraint and burden, there is a letter
from Robert Lettis Hooper, Jr., to William Frank-
lin, the Governor of New Jersey, dated at Fort Pitt,
Sept. 15,1772: ‘

A “ SIR,-—A few days ago I was at Redstone, when I had an opportunity
of knowing the sentiments of the People of that Part of the Country
with Respect to the Western Boundary of Pennsylvania, and find a great
Number of them are determined to pay no respect to the Institution of
the Court of Bedford. They believe the Western Boundary of Pennsyl-
vania will not extend so far as Redstone Settlement, and say it is an
imposition to oblige them to pay taxes for Building Court-Houses, &c.,
in Bedford County when there is the greatest probability of their being
obliged to contribute to publick Uses in. the New Colony.”

“These sentiments do not proceed from Licentiousness in the People,
nor from a desire to screen themselves from Law as some would repre-
sent, but from believing themselves ou't of Pennsylvania and being bur-
thened with exhorbitant Taxes and Mileage, which they are unwilling
to pay till it is absolutely determined whether they are in Pennsylvania
or not.” 3

There is not at hand any documentary evidence that
the notice received by the Provincial Council resulted
in any immediate action on the part of the government.

1 I. St. Clair Papers, 267. _

2 By the “ New Colony" in this letter is to -1 be understood a reference
to a proposed grant by the king and Council, known at the time as Wal-
pole’s grant, afterward as Vandalia, to constitute a new colony to be
settled back of Pennsylvania and Virginia.

3 From Ellis’ History of Fayette County, 115.

Why cannot now be stated, unless that the outbreaks
of which information had been given were regarded
simply as to be expected in the early period of the
establishment of a new county organization over a
settlement of pioneers." But Fort Pitt is now to cease
as a garrisoned post, and events are to ripen for more
trouble upon the western border. 0

Fort Pitt Abandoned by the British.——Fort Pitt,
erected by Gen. Stanwix in 1759, at a cost of £60,000
sterling, was occupied by the British forces thence-
forward continuously until the 10th of October, 177 2,
on which date by order of Gen. Gage, then com-
mander-in-chief in North America, Maj. Charles Ed-
monstone, in command at Fort Pitt, sold to Alexander
Ross and VVilliam Thompson “ all the pickets, bricks,
stones, timber,_and iron which are now in the build-
ing or walls of the said fort” for fifty pounds, New
York currency,“ and soon afterwards withdrew. A
corporal and a guard were left in possession for a time,
when, as has appeared by the aflidavit printed in a
note to a previous page, Edward Ward took possession
and retained it for some time? i

In the same year in which Fort Pitt was aban-
doned there arrived a new Governor over the colony
of Virginia in the person of John Murray, the fourth
Earl of Dunmore, one of the Peers of Scotland. He
had been Governor of New York, and on the death
of Botetourt was sent as his successor to Virginia.
Early in the next year, 1773, he made a visit to Fort
Pitt, and stopped on his way at the house of
William Crawford, on the Youghiogheny. It 1773.
had been the intention of Washington to ac-
company Lord Dunmore on his trip over the moun-
tains, and the former had made all the necessary ar-
rangements to do so, but was prevented by the death
of Miss Custis, his step-daughter.“ At Fort Pitt Lord
Dunmore met Dr. John Connolly, heretofore intro-
duced to us by Col. Washington, who had dined with
him at Semple’s in 1770. ’

There is no evidence as to what was the real pur-
pose of this visit of the Virginia Governor, but from
the fact that soon afterwards began an active out-
break of the boundary controversy, and in the next.
year occurred the Indian war known as Dunmore’s
war, of both of which matters Dr. Connolly was an

4 Equivalent, at eight shillings to the dollar, to one hundred and-.
twenty-five dollars.’ For the facts concerning this sale see II. Olden“
Time, 94, 95. '

5 There is an unaccountable discrepancy in the accounts of this matter.
The oflicial records of the proceedings of the Virginia convention, Jan.
6, 1776, show the fact of the sale Oct. 10, 1772, of the material of the
fort to Ross and Thompson, and that a corporal and a few men were
left in charge. ~Edward WaI‘d’s aflidavit (1 Calendar, Va. State Papers,
278) states that in 1772 the fort was evacuated, and he took possession
and kept it till 1774, when it was seized by Connolly. It must be that
Ward was in possession as the agent of Ross and Thompson, the former
of whom was “agent” for the contractors for victualing his Majesty’s
forces in North America. V

9 Seeletter, Washington to Dunmore, April 13, 1773; Washington and
Crawford Correspondence, 27; letter, Washington to Crawford, Sept. 25,
1773, Ibid., 29.

CIVIL AND LEGAL—CONNOLLY’S

ASSUM PTION OF GOVERNMENT. ' ,1 69

indefatigable promoter, there is no doubt that it was
“ to sound the inclinations of the inhabitants as well
as the Indians.”1 Most impartial writers have ex-
pressed the opinion, after the examination of all the
facts, that Lord Dunmore had early information of
transactions presaging the rupture with the mother-
country, and that in the controversy instituted over the
boundary question, as well as in his management of the
Indian war of 1774, he was impelled in both by a wish
to put the two governments into antagonism with
each other. It is most probable that in 1773, when
Lord Dunmore met Dr. Connolly at Fort Pitt, which
was about the middle of the summer, he selected him
as his agent to extend thejurisdiction of Virginia
over the Monongahela and Ohio Valleys. It will be
remembered also, that on Feb. 26, 1773, Westmore-
land County had been erected, and the seat of jus-
tice was at Hannas Town, not far from the present
Greensburg. In the formation of a new county,
with all the attendant jealousies and diversities of in-
terest, when new burdens were imposed upon a people
little able to bear them, it was a suitable time suc-
cessfully to introduce a rival government to receive
the adherence of the disaffected.

C H A P T E R X I I.
THE CIVIL AND LEGAL HISTORY»-—( aonzmued.)

IV.

"The Boundary Controversy, Continued-—Connol1y’s Assumption of Gov-
ernment—Governor Penn and Lord Dunmore-—Connolly at Hannas-
town———Arrest of Westmoreland County Justices—Commissioners to
Lord Dunmore—The Peace Policy Pursued—Counter Proclamations
and Subsequent Outrages—-The Augusta County Court Opened-The
Revolution—-Connol1y’s Power Ended-—Address of Delegates in Con-
gress. -

Connolly’s Assumption of Government.-—On
Jan. 1, 1774, the followings advertisement was posted
at Pittsburgh and throughout the vicinity :2

.“ VVHEREAS, his Excellency John, the Earl of Dunmore, Governor in
chief and Captain General of the Colony and Dominion of Virginia, and
Vice Admiral of the same, has been pleased tolnominate and

177 4. appoint me Captain, Commandant of the Militia of Pittsburgh
and its Dependencies, with instructions to assure his Maj esty’s

Subjects settled on the Western Waters, that having the greatest Regard
to their Prosperity and Interest, and convinced from their repeated Me-

.morials of the grievances of which they complain, that he proposes mov-

ing to the House of Burgesses the Necessity of erecting a New County,
to include Pittsburgh, for the redress of your Complaints, and to take

every other Step that may attend to afford you that justice for which

you Solicit. In order to facilitate this desirable circumstance. I hereby

‘require and command all persons in the Dependency of Pittsburgh to

assemble themselves there as a Militia on the 25th Instant, at which time

‘I shall communicate other Matters for the promotion of public Utility.

Given under my Hand, this 1st day of January, 1774.
“ JOHN CONNOLLY.”

1 See note with John 0rmsby’s statement in a subsequent page.
9 X. Col. Records, 141. ~

On the 11th of January, ]Elneas Mackayf one of
the justices of Westmoreland County, wrote to Arthur
St. Clair : “

“ DEAR Sm,—Here inclosed you will find a copy of Doctor Connolly’s
advertisement, put up at diiferent parts of thi village, the 6th Instant,
several copies of which were dispersed through the country at the same
time. This imprudent piecewill I am much afraid be the means of
creating great confusion and disturbance in this county, unless proper
steps will be taken to check it in time.

“ The Doctor informs us that Lord Dunmore has made application to
General Haldiman for a sergeant and twelve men, to be sent immedi-
ately to this place, in order to support his authority.

“ The captain has already appointed six or seven magistrates, among
whom are Major Smallman, John Campbell, and John Gibson; the rest
I have not heard their names yet. There is no doubt but all the dis-
affected and vagabonds that before invaded law and justicewith so much
art, will now flock in numbers to the captain’s standard, if not prevented
in time, the consequences of which we have just cause to dread. I think
your presence is absolutely necessary at this time.

“ P.S. . . . Since I wrote the above, Mr. Espy5 happened in company
with the new captain, to whom Espy said he thought the next court for
Westmoreland would be held at Pittsburgh; 6 to which the captain re-
plied in a rage, damn him if he would not oppose it; from which and
many other circumstances of the like kind,it appears how determined
he will be to carry his designs into execution. It’s thought here that
’tis all Colonel Croghan’s intrigues.”

Upon the receipt of this letter, Arthur St. Clair (who
was the prothonotary or “ chief clerk”) on January
12th sent his own clerk to the Provincial Council,
with a letter inclosing the high-sounding advertise-
ment of Capt. Connolly, and stated that what had
occurred to him was that previous to the day ap-
pointed for the meeting of the militia, heshould de-
mand such security of Connolly for his good behavior
as he would not be able to procure, and in conse-

quence have him committed, and that he had written

to Mr. Wilson for his “council on this thought.” 7
The emergency requiring it, Arthur St. Clair, in his

-capacity of justice, before Governor Penn’s reply to

his letter was received, issued a warrant for Dr. Con-
nolly’s arrest, an account of which, as well as of the oc-
currences at Pittsburgh on the day of the militia meet-
ing, is contained in his letter to Governor Penn, dated
at Ligonier, the place of his residence, on Feb. 2,
1774:8

“ I am honored with your letter of the 20th of January, which reached
me the 28th, and am happy to find the method pursued at Pittsburgh

on the 25th did not materially differ from that you had been pleased to
direct.

3 Afterward the colonel of the 8th Pennsylvania Regimentin the Rev-
olution, of which regiment seven companies were from Westmoreland
(then including Allegheny, Washington, Fayette, and Greene) and one
from Bedlord. Col. Mackay died at Quibbletown, N. J., Feb. 17, 1777.
For sketch and roster of regiment see X. Pennsylvania Archives, Sec. S.,
641.

4 I. St. Clair Papers, 271. .

5 A lawyer of Bedford, practicing also at Hannastown. At the second
term of the Washington County court, he was admitted there to practice.

5 For some time there was a controversy whether the county-seat of
Westmoreland should continue at Hannas Town or. be fixed at Pitts-
burgh. Col. George Wilson was in favor of the latter place; Robert
Hanna and Joseph Irwin,the other trustees, outvoted him. See his letter,
IV. Pennsylvania Archives, 466; and the letter of Arthur St. Clair,
Ibid., 471. r

A 7 I. St. Clair Papers, 273.

3 IV. Penna. Archives, 476; see the same letter with valuable notes in

I. St. Clair Papers, 279.

170

HISTORY OF WASHINGTON COUNTY. PENNSYLVANIA.

“ Dr. Connolly was arrested previous to the meeting, by my orders, on
his avowin g himself the author of the advertisement requiring the people
to meet as a militia, and committed on refusing to find sureties for his
good behavior till next court.

“I was in hopes the sending him out of the way [e3.e., to jail] would
have put an end to it altogether; I was mistaken. About eighty persons
in arms assembled themselves, chiefly from Mr. Croghan’s neighborhood,
and, after parading through the town and making a kind of feet de joie,
proceeded to the Fort, where a cask of rum was produced on the parade
and the head knocked out. This was a very effectual way of recruiting.
As a scene of drunkenness and confusion was likely- to ensue, I got the
magistrates (who attended in consequence of the letter I had sent them)
together, and read the inclosed papers} which we had concocted that
morning, and at the conclusion, when they were required to disperse,
theyreplied they had been invited there but came with peaceable inten-
tions, and would go home again without molesting any one; on which
we left them. However, towards night their peaceable disposition for-
sook them, and I should probably. have felttheir resentment, had I not
got intimation of their design. I thought it most prudent to keep out
of their way. . . . V

“ Mr. Connolly has most certainly a commission from Lord Dunmore
expressly for Pittsburgh and its dependencies; and his subalterns are
John Stephenson, a brother of Mr. Crawford,2 our senior magistrate,
William Harrison, a son-in-law of his, and Dorsey Pentecost,3 whoowas
lately in the commission of the peace here. Mr. Pentecost has, I hear,
been (fown to Mr. Connollyfs since his confinement, and taken the nec—
essary oaths to qualify him for his military office, and is to assemble the
people at Redstone, and take possession of Fort Burd'.4 I have written
to the justices5 in that part of the country to watch his motions. Mr.
McKee is said to be appointed a justice by Lord Dunmore, but I would
fain hope without his consent; at any rate he behaved very well on the
late occasion, and, as he was doubted, I made a point of having him
there under pretense of his"being an Indian Agent, but in fact, if he
was a friend or abettor of Connol1y’s measures. . . .”5

1 This paper, printed in IV. Penn. Archives, 478; I. St. Clair Papers,
280; I. Olden Time, 473, is too long to be copied. It was a temperate
but dignified and forcible presentation of the propriety of a peaceable
obedience to the laws of Pennsylvania. One paragraph, however, was:
“ The Jurisdiction of Pennsylvania has been regularly extended to Pitts-
burgh‘, and exercised there for a number of years, as the records of Cum-
berland, Bedford, and Westmoreland Counties testify ; and you yourselves
have acknowledged it, by applying for your lands in that Province.
Whether that extension has been legally made or not, can be determined
by the Crown alone; but must be submitted to till it is determined.
And it must be evident to you that Lord Dunmore, as Governor of Vir-
ginia, can have no more right to determine this matter, than one of us,
for this plain reason; the charters of Pennsylvania and Virginia, both
flowed originally from the Crown; on that footing they are perfectly
independent of each other; but they are both parties in this dispute, and
consequently neither can be judge.” '

2 That is, Wm. Crawford, the presiding justice of the courts; he had
one brother, Valentine Crawford, and five half-brothers, one of whom
was John Stephenson.

3 Dorsey Pentecost was then living in the present Rostraver township,
Westmoreland County; he did not remove to the East Branch of Char-
tiers until a later date. His deed to Samuel and Robert Purviance for
his mansion tract, “Green Way,” on the Youghiogheny, is dated May
16, 1777, but the sale and his removal might have been earlier. The
-letter in the text, however, clearly indicates that his removal had not
yet taken place. _

Pentecost was a Virginia adherent from the start; though he had been
an oificial of Bedford County, he was omitted in all the appointments for
Westmoreland County.

, 4 “Redstone,” of course, was the present Brownsville, Fayette Co.
In 1759, Col. James Burd had erected there a fort of some strength, called
Fort Burd. There were there then the distinct and well-preserved traces
.of works made by the Mound-Builders, supposed to have been an old
Indian fort, but the Indians here when the settlers came never built
such fortifications. This old fort, so called, gave the name “Redstone
Old Fort,” used almost entirely by the early people.

5 Van Swearingen, a justice, then lived across the river, about oppo-
site Greenfield, Washington Co., and Thomas Scott, also a justice, lived
on Dunlap’s Creek, near Brownsville. The former became the first sheriff,
and the latter the first prothonotary and clerk of Washington County.

6 This manoeuvre as to Alexander McKee did not amount to much.
He was a native of Pennsylvania, and trader among the Indians. In

Governor Penn and Lord Dunmore.~In the
mean time Governor Penn, who had awakened to the
necessity of executive action, on Jan. 31, 17 74,7 had
written to Lord Dun more stating that he had lately
received the advertisement set up by Connolly at Pitts-
burgh and vicinity, and expressed his surprise at the
step so sudden and unexpected, and so very alarming
to the inhabitants of the western part of the province,
who had taken up and improved and hitherto peace-
ably enjoyed their lands under grants from the pro-
prietaries of Pennsylvania. Affecting to‘ disbelieve
that Lord Dunmore would countenance measures in-
jurious to the rights of the proprietaries,_and having
a tendency to create disturbances within the province,
he proceeded,—

“ The western extent of the Province of Pennsylvania, by the Royal
Grant, is five degrees of longitude from the river Delaware, which is its
eastern boundary. In the year 1768 [in 1767] an east and west line was
run from Delaware, at the mouth of Christiana creek, to the crossing of
Dunkard creek, a branch of the Monongahela by Messieurs. Dixon and
Mason, two surveyors of distinction, who were sent over from England
to run the division line between Maryland and Pennsylvania. These
artists fixed the latitude and extent of that line with the utmost exact-
ness and precision, to the satisfaction of the commissioners on both sides.
From the 233d mile-stone on this line a north line hath been since care-
fully run and measured to the Ohio, and from thence up to Fort Pitt; the
several cou.rses of the river having been taken with all possible care.3
From the line of "Dixon and Mason to a known point in the south line of
the City of Philadelphia, the true course and distance hath been discov-
ered by actual survey, as also from the point aforesaid to that part of the
river Delaware which is in the same latitude as Fort Pitt; and from these
several data, the mot exact calculations have been made by Dr. Smith,
Provost of our College, Mr. Rittenhouse, and our Surveyor General, in
order to ascertain; the difference of longitude between Delaware and

Pittsburgh, who all agree that the latter is near six miles eastward of
the western extent of the Province.” ‘

Governor Penn inclosed a map made to illustrate the
subject. Should his lordship, however‘, contrary to
expectation, still entertain any doubt respecting this
matter, it was hoped he would at least think it rea-
sonable, for avoiding those mischiefs which must nat-

1772 he became a deputy Indian agent. He soon after this letter began
to act openly with the partisans of Lord Dunmore, although he had been
a justice of Bedford County and was then a justice for Westmoreland
County. He became an official of the Virginia courts when organized
in the Monongahela Va.lley, and in the spring of 1778, with Simon Girty,
Matthew Elliot, and other renegades, went over to the Indians, who were
then allied with the British. He had a fine body of lands at the mouth

of Chartiers Creek. In the “‘ Record Book of Surveys made in Yoho- '

gania County, A.D. 1780, by William Crawford, Surveyor,” is found an
entry that on June 15, 1780, Benjamin Johnston “produced a warrant
for 500 acres of land, dated 20th May 1780, N o. 4925, which he" locates
& enters on lands whereon Alexander McKee lived at the mouth of
Shirtee or Chartiers creek, the said McKee having left the same &
gone to the Common Enemy of America, which was located by Dorsey
Pentecost, but no warrant being left in the office, the entry became
invalid or void.” Virginia had ceased then to be a royal colony.

7 X. Col. Records, 149; I. St. Clair Papers, 277.

3 In running this due north line to the Ohio, and thence up the river
to Fort Pitt, St. Clair had taken a prominent part. It was done by him
in connection with Moses McLean in 1771 (I. St. Clair Papers, 0), doubt-
less to fix some kind of a western boundary to Bedford County. Perhaps
the object was merely to find the distance of Fort Pitt due west from the
Delaware River, to ascertain if it were within the five degrees of longi-
tude. In this view the willingness in 1774 to adopt the meandering line
for the western boundary is clearly indicated, in which case almost all
of the present Washington County would have been left with the Pan
Handle.

‘affairs since Connolly’s release.‘

CIVIL AND LEGAL——GOVERNOR PENN AND LORD DUNMORE.

171

urally arise in case of clashing and disputed juris-
dictions, to defer the appointment of oflicers and the
exercise of government in that neighborhood, and
sufi'er the people to remain in the quiet and undis-
puted poss.ession of the la.nds they held under Penn-
sylvania till some temporary line of jurisdiction could
be agreed on by hismajesty in Council, before whom
a petition from the proprietaries of Pennsylvania for
the settlement of their western as well as other
boundaries was then pending. On Feb. 23, 1774,
Joseph Spear, atrader residing at Pittsburgh, also a
Westmoreland justice, wrote to Arthur St. Clair from
that place :1

“I am just now informed that the Virginians up the Monongahela
have had two or’ three musters lately ; one at Red Stone Old Fort, and
one yesterday at Paul Froman‘s,2 on the other side of the Monongahela;
and am also told they had a meeting at Mr. Pentecost’s own house; in
consequence of which Mr. Pentecost wrote to Mr. Swearingen to act no
longer there as a Pennsylvania magistrate at his peril. I therefore
think it would be advisable to endeavor to have a stop put to these pro-
ceedings, if possible, as it creates the greatest disturbance, and very
much retards the execution of our civil process.

“P.S..-—This news has just come to hand; otherwise I would have
written you more fully. Dr. Connolly is just now going over the run3
to Redstone, I know not what for.”

How Dr. Connolly, who had lately been committed
to jail by St. Clair, came to be at liberty, and what
was the purpose of his trip to Redstone, is made ap-
parent by the letter of ]Eneas Mackay to Governor
Penn of April 4, 1774, which gives a history of
It is stated that
Connolly, having been in confinement for but a few
days, prevailed upon the sheriff, John Proctor, to
permit him to visit Pittsburgh, pledging his honor to
return before the next court in April ; that he stayed
a few days at Pittsburgh, and then, instead of return-
ing to jail as he had promised, he went up to Redstone

-settlement, where, with the assistance of his friends

in that quarter, he assembled about twenty men, who
guarded him “ from there to or near the frontier of
Virginia;” that he returned from Virginia to Pitts-

1' IV. Pennsylvania Arch., 481; I. St. Clair Papers, 284.

, 2 This was Paul Froman, who lived on the East Branch of Chartiers
Creek, at the present Beck’s Mills, or Linden, in North Strabane town-
ship. -

3This may have been “river” in the original. In 1769, James Hen-
dricks, a deputy surveyor for Cumberland County, wrote to James Tilgh-
man, the secretary of the land-oflice, under date of September 5th: “I
received yours of 28th u1t., where you desire I would give my opinion
how far the Western Boundary of this Province would reach. As I have
never been at the line where it crosseth the Monongahela, I can’t pretend
to judge,-only from the opinion of the people living out there, and as
most of them are prejudiced, I can’t give any weight to what they say.
But as I am very particular in taking the Courses of the Monongahela,
I shall be able in the fall to give it you with some exactness; in the
meantime, I am inclined to believe that Chartiers Creek must be in the
Province, as its junction with the Ohio is but (scarce) four miles from
Fort Pitt, about North West, and on going to Redstone, you cross it sev-
eral times, and I am well assured the mouth of Redstone is several de-
grees to the Westward of South from Fort Pitt.” This would indicate
that travelers from Fort Pitt to Redstone came across the river over upon
the Chartiers and up the same probably some distance before turning
towards the Redstone.

4 IV. Penn. Archives, 484.

«burgh on March 28th, and since then “ our village is
become the scene of Anarchy and Confusion ;” that:
“ On the 30 of March a party from the Chartee settlement joined the

Doctor at this place. On hearing of that circumstance, Sheriff Proctor
and the justices, Smith, McFarland, and myself, Repaired to the Fort in

order to discover the Doctor’s intention, and if we found them anywise ‘

tumultuously disposed to Read the Riot Act. There we found about
twenty odd Men, some with, and some without arms, and the Doctor be-
fore them with two letters in his hand, both of which he said he had
just received from Lord Dunmore, with orders to make them (the mili-
tia) acquainted with the Contents, and this he immediately did, by read-
ing these Papers to them. In the first of these letters his Lordship
greatly applauded the Doctor's Conduct when Taken by the Sherifi" for
not giving Bail, and Commanded him to Persevere in the prosecution of
the plan be began upon, maintaining the possession of FortlPitt & its
dependencies, and to put, the militia & other Virginia Laws in force, con-
cluding with a promise of being powerfully supported by his Lordship.

“ The other letter the Doctor declared to be a Duplicate of ‘his Lord-
ship’s answer to Governor Penn's Letter Relating to the militia muster,
when first set on foot at this place last January.”

This letter, which is too long to quote entire, then
proceeds to state that, after reading the papers, Con-
nolly called the sheriff and his justices to a “ barrack-
room,” and delivered to them a lecture upon the pro-
priety of obedience and acquiescence, and said that
“he had not intended to take any step ‘contrary to
the Established Rules of law at that place till after
the court, which would sit in a few days, when he was
determined to deliver himself up, and a Bide by the
judg’t of the same;” that the next morning Sheriff
Proctor served a writ upon William Christy, one of
Dr. Connolly’s militia lieutenants, on notice of which
Connolly caused the sheriff’ to be arrested upon a
king’s warrant, and held him in custody for some
time, “and ever since that time there are -parties of
armed men in Constant persute of our Deputy sherifi"
& Constables, by which means it’s impossible for us
to do any business. The doctor is now in actual pos-
session of the Fort, with a Body Guard of Militia
about him, Invested, as we are told, with both Civil
and military power, to put the Virginia Law in Force
in these parts,” etc. The letter is closed with the re-
mark, “The Indians are greatly alarmed at seeing
parties of armed men patrolling through our streets
Daily, not knowing but there is hostility intended
against them and their country.” It was not long,
indeed, until an Indian war followed, owing its origin
to Connolly and his superior, Lord Dunmore.

Lord Dunmore’s reply to Governor Penn’s com-
munication, written on January 31st, was delayed
until the 3d of March.5 A copy of his reply, as has
been seen, was in Connolly’s hands on March 30th,
almost as soon as it reached Governor Penn. Doubt-
less Connolly had been with Dunmore when
written:

it was

_ “ WILLIAMSBURGH, 3 March, 1774.

“ SIR,--I have been favored with your letter of the 31st January, 1774,
and duplicate of the same,.the occasion of which having been the ap-
pointment of certain oflicers by me in a remote district of "the county of
Augusta,“ in this Colony, which includes Pittsburgh, which having been

5 X. Col. -Records, 156; I. St. Clair Papers, 285.

6 This is the first mention we have of the country upon the Mononga-
hela and the Ohio forming a part of Augusta County, Va. That county

' more.

THE FRENCH AND ENGLISH CLAIMS

TO THE TRANS-ALLEGHENY REGION. 21

this Indian is found in the proceedings of a treaty
council held in the State-House at Philadelphia, Dec.
4, 1759, on which there were present among others
Tingooqua and Joshua, “ messengers from the Ohio.”

“ Tingooqua, alias Catfish,‘ arose, and taking four
strings of Wampum, held two of them in his Fingers
separate, and spoke: ‘ Brother,——I have not much to
say; I am only a messenger; I came from Kuskus-
kes; The Nation I belong to, as well as many others
to the West of us, as far as the setting of the sun, have

heard that you and Teedyuscung sat often together in

council, and at length agreed upon a Peace; and We

are glad to hear that the Friendship and Harmony,

which of old always subsisted between our and your
ancestors was raised up again and established once
This was very agreeable to us, and We came
here to see if what was related was true; and we find
it is true, which gives us great Satisfaction.’

“ Then taking hold of the other two Strings he pro-
ceeded: ‘Brother,——Now that Teedyuscung and you
have, thro’ the goodness of Providence, brought about
a peace, we entreat you to be strong; don’t let it slip;

- don’t omit anything to render it quite secure and last-

ing; hold it fast; consider our aged Men and our young
Children, and for their sakes be strong, and never
rest till it be thoroughly confirmed. All the Indians
at Allegheny desire you to do so, and they will do all
they can likewise.’ Gave a String of Wampum.

“ ‘ Brother,——We make eleven Nations on the West
of Allegheny who have heard what you and Teedyus-
cung have concluded at the Treaty of Easton, and as
we all heartily agree to it, and are determined to join

in it, we have opened a Road to where Teedyuscung

Lives, and we, the Messengers, have traveled much
to our satisfaction on the Road which he has made
from his habitation to this Town”. We have found it
a very good Road, and all our Nations will use this
Road for the time to come. We say nothing of the
Six Nations; We do not reckon them among the
Eleven Nations. We leave you to treat with them
yourselves. We make no Road for them; This is
your own affair. We only tell you we do not in-
clude them in anything We say. I have done.’ Gave
four Strings of Wampum.” V

Neither the time when old Catfish withdrew from
the main body of his tribe and took up his residence
on the banks of Wissameking nor the duration of his
stay at that place is known‘. He was found living
there as early as 1770, and remained several years
(making in that time two or three slight changes in
the location of his camp or cabin), and afterwards mi-

of his tribe or nation, is proved by his own words, given in the minutes
of the treaty council referred to, viz.: “The messenger observing one
Sarah Gladdin amongst the people that were present, addressed the Gov-
ernor, and told him ‘ That he had in his house-a son of this woman's, a
prisoner, at Kuskuskes, and that he would take care he should be delivered
in the spring.’ ” Kuskuskes, then the principal settlement of the Del-
awares, was at that time the home of Catfish, who was himself a Dela-
ware.
1 Col. Records, vol. viii. p. 417.

grated to the Scioto country, where he died. For
many years after his removal the place where he had
lived in this county continued to be occasionally

mentioned as “Catfish’s Camp,” and the name is '

still well known at the present day.
Beyond the story of old Catfish, and the doubtful

* traditions already mentioned of the existence of a few

Indian settlements within the present limits of Wash-
ington County, there is, with reference to that terri-
tory, no Indian history to be given for the years prior
to the opening of “ Dunmore’s war,” in 17 74. From
that time on through the border warfare that raged
until after the close of the Revolution the annals
of this region are full of stirring events, Indian
incursions, massacres, and alarms,—whic-h are to be
narrated in succeeding chapters covering the period
from 1774 to 1783.

CHAPTER II.

THE FRENCH AND ENGLISH CLAIMS TO THE TRANS-
ALLEGHENY REGION-——GEORGE WASHINGTON’S
VISIT TO THE FRENCH FORTS IN 1753.

THE earliest Written annals having reference to the
region of country bordering the head-streams of the
Ohio River date back to the year 1669, in which year
the great French explorer, Robert Cavelier La Salle
(having first obtained permission from the Governor-
General of Canada), fitted out at his own expense an
expedition having for its ultimate object the discovery
and exploration of a great river (the Mississippi),
which Indians reported to exist five hundred leagues
westward from Montreal, and which was then sup-
posed’ to flow into the Vermillion Sea, or Gulf of
California. Setting out from La Chine, on the St.
Lawrence, in July of the year named, he soon reached
the western end of Lake Ontario, where he was taken
ill with a fever, and during his sickness a part of his
men deserted, which made it impracticable for him
to continue by the route which he had originally de-
cided on, which was through Lakes Erie, St. Clair,
Huron, and Michigan to a point near the site of the
present city of Chicago, and thence overland.

This plan of La Salle being thus frustrated by the
loss of his men, he nevertheless determined not to
give up the enterprise, and as soon as he had fully re-
covered he again started on his way with the remainder
of his followers, crossed the Niagara River between
the falls and Lake Erie, passed through the country
of the Five Nations, found the Allegheny River,
built canoes, embarked, and paddled down that stream
to its confluence with the Monongahela, and thence
down the Ohio to where they found its current broken
by rapids, these being the same now known as the
Falls of the Ohio, at Louisville, Ky. There his men
positively refused to proceed farther down the river,
and he was compelled to return, little thi11king,fprob-

172

HISTORY OF WASHINGTON COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA.

done, as is always my rule, with the advice of his Majesty's Council [of
Virginia], I could not till I had an opportunity of laying your letter be-
fore them return you an answer, and it is not till now that I am en-
abled to do so.”

The letter then proceeded to suggest that though
the calculations relied upon in the plan sent by Gov-
ernor Penn might be correct, yet that, Virginia not
having been a party to them, she was not bound.
The transactions of the French and Indian war were
cited with respect to the right of that colony to this
country. “ And it seems to me that the step which
I have taken ought not to have been either unex-
pected or surprising, as you are pleased to say it was

to you, when it was well known that formal declara-

tions were made by the Assembly of Pennsylvania
that Pittsburgh was not within the jurisdiction of
that government at the time that requisitions were
made to them for the defense of that place, the burden
of which on that account fell on this government.”
Dunmore then proceeded to avow authority from him
to Dr. Connolly for all the latter had done, and in-
sisted upon the most ample reparation for the insult
to the authority of his “ Majesty’s government of Vir-

ginia” in his arrest, and “no less can possibly be

admitted than the dismission of the clerk  Clair)
of Westmoreland County, who had the audacity,
without any authority, to commit a magistrate in the
legal discharge of his trust, unless he (St. Clair) can
prevail, by proper submission, on Mr. Connolly to
demand his pardon of me.”

To this communication Governor Penn replied on
March 31, 177 4,1 with an evident degree of impatience
that his suggestions for delay in establishing the Vir-
ginia jurisdiction until the line could be fixed, either
by commissioners to be selected or by steps to be
taken upon an order of the king in Council, should
have been so rudely disregarded. But, after a little,
the communication enters upon a discussion of the
proceedings of the Provincial Council and the As-
sembly in relation to the building of the forts upon
the Ohio, beginning with 1752, and extending till
17 54, giving an accurate review of all the facts, and

had been erected in 1738. Frederick County was erected at the same
time, and these two counties embraced all of Virginia west of the Blue
Ridge, the range of mountains nearest the coast. Frederick lay south
of the western part of Maryland, while Augusta stretched out as far as
the settlements proceeded beyond the Alleghanies. The county-seat of
Augusta County was Staunton, in the Shenandoah Valley. That part of

r Augusta lying, as claimed, west of the Alleghany Mountains was after-

wards known as West Augusta, or the District of West Augusta. In the
year 1775, by the convention assembled to devise a plan for resisting the
oppressions of the mother-country, among other proceedings it was de-
termined that “ The landholders of the district of West Augusta shall be
considered as a distinct county, and have the liberty of sending two
delegates to represent them in general convention.” Kercheval, in his
“ History of the Valley of Virginia,” 236, says, " This is the first account
which the author has been able to find in our ancient statutes in rela-
tion to West Augusta as a separate district or county. In fact, it does
not appear that we ever had a county legally established by this name.
It is presumable that it acquired the name by general usage, from its
remote and western locality from the seat of justice." More as to this
hereafter. ,
1 X. Col. Records, 158; I. St. Clair Papers, 287.

quoting. the letter of Governor Dinwiddie of March
21, 17 54, in which it was said in this the last commu-
nication at that time between the two governments
upon the subject: “Your private letter of the 13,
current, I have duly received, and am much misled
by our Surveyors if the forks of Monongahela be
within the limits of your Proprietaries’ Grant. I
have for some time wrote home to have the line run,
that I may be able to appoint Magistrates on the
Ohio (if in this government) to keep the traders and
others in good order, and I presume soon there will
be Commissioners appointed for that purpose. In
the mean time, that no hindrance may be given to
our intended expedition, it is highly reasonable, if
their lands are in your Proprietaries’ grant, that the
settlers should pay the quit-rent to Mr. Penn, and not
to his Majesty; and therefore, as much as lies in my
power, I agree thereto, after the time granted by my
proclamation, to be clear of quit-rents, ceases.” Thus
successfully meeting the averment that there were
any transactions of the provincial government which
estopped her from asserting her jurisdiction upon the
Ohio, Governor Penn then explains away the position
in which he was placed by the Provincial Assembly
when they refused to grant supplies to aid in the war
referred to. This he does by stating that “ unfor-
tunately at this time there was no very good under,-
standing between the Government and the Assembly,
and when Mr. Hamilton [then Governor] laid Mr.
Dinwiddie’s requisition before them, they declined
complying with it, and urged for reasons that by the
Royal orders to the several Governors they were not
to act as principals out of their own Governments;
that they (the Assembly) would not presume to de-
termine upon the limits of the Province; and that
by papers and evidences sent down to them, and re-
ferred to by the Governor, the limits of the ‘Province
had not been clearly ascertained to their satisfaction.”
He then states that at this date, 17 54, only the tem-
porary line between Pennsylvania and Maryland had
been established, and that only one hundred and
forty-four miles from the Delaware. Mason, and
Dixon’s line had not been surveyed and marked.
The position of the French forts within the limits of
the province had , been ascertained by Mr. Hamilton
from information from Indian traders, founded on
computed distances and mountainous and crooked
roads, with which the Assembly was not satisfied.
“ But if their declarations had been ever so formal or.
positive, I cannot conceive how any proceedings of
theirs would affect the State of the Province, controul
the jurisdiction, or prejudice the rights of the Pro-
prietaries.” The Governor then served a notice upon
Lord Dunmore:

“ And to prevent the setting up of claims and making conclusions of
«right by the Government of Virginia, from the circumstances of settle-.
ment on the one side, and non-claim on the other, I must take this op-
portunity of notifying to your Lordship that the Proprietaries of Penn-

sylvania do claim, by their said petition [then pending before the king],
as part of their Province of Pennsylvania, all the lands lying west of a

J,

J

J

I

CIVIL AND LEGAL———CONNOLLY AT HANNAS TOWN.

173

south line to be drawn from Dixon’s and Mason's Line, as it is commonly
called, at the westermost part of the Province of Maryland to the begin-
ning of the fortieth degree of north latitude, to the extent of five de-
grees of longitude from the river Delaware; and I must request your
Lordship will neither grant lands nor exercise the government of Vir-
ginia within those limits, till his Majesty's pleasure may be known. . . .
Mr. St. Clair is a gentleman who for a long time had the honor of serv-
ing his Majesty in the regulars with reputation, and in every station of
life has preserved the character of a very good worthyman ; and though
perhaps I should not, without» first expostulating with you on the sub-
ject, have directed him to take that step [the arrest of Connolly], yet
you must excuse my not complying with your Lordship‘s requisition of
stripping him, on this occasion, of his oflices and livelihood, which you
will allow me to think not only unreasonable but somewhat dicta-
torial. . . .” . '

This was the last correspondence between the two
Governors for some time upon that subject.

Connolly at Hannas Town..——Dr. Connolly Was
left on the 30th of March, the day before the last
preceding letter was written, in full possession of old
Fort Pitt, surrounded by his body-guard of militia,
but intending, as he stated to Eneas Mackay, to
report as he had engaged to do to the court of VVest-
moreland County, to be holden the next week, and to
submit himself to its order. He did so report, but in
a manner entirely unexpected. His proceedings are
fully related in a letter written to Governor Penn on
April 8th by Capt. William Crawford, the presiding
justice of the Westmoreland court, and carried to
Philadelphia by Col. George Wilson :1

“SIR,—AS some very extraordinary occurrences have lately happened

‘in this country it is necessary to write an account of them to you. That

which I now give is at the request and with the approbation of the
magistrates that are present attending the court. A few weeks ago Mr.
Connolly went to Staunton (Va.), and was sworn in as a justice of the
peace for Augusta County, in which it is pretended that the country
around Pittsburgh is included. He had before this brought from Wil-
liamsburg commissions of the peace for several gentlemen in this part
of the province, but none of them I believe have been accepted of. A
number of new militia ofiicers have been lately appointed by Lord
‘Dunmore. Several musters of the militia have been held, and much
confusion has been occasioned by them. I am informed that the militia
is composed of men without character and without fortune, and who
would be equal-ly averse to the regular administration of justice under
the colony of Virginia as they are to that under the province of Penn-
sylvania. The disturbances which they have produced at Pittsburgh
have been particularly alarming to the inhabitants. Mr. Connolly is
constantly surrounded with a body of armed men. He boasts of the
countenance of the Governor of Virginia, and forcibly obstructs the
execution of legal process, whether lrom the court or single magis-
trates. A deputy sheriif has come from Augusta County, and I am
told he has writs in his hands against Captain St. Clair and the
sheriff for the arrest and confinement of Mr. Connolly. The sherifi‘ was
last week arrested at Pittsburgh for serving a writ on one of the inhab-
itants there, but was after some time discharged. On Monday last one
of Connolly’s people grossly insulted Mr. Mackay, and was confined by
him in order to be sent to jail. The rest of the party hearing it imme-
diately came to Mr. Mackay’s house, and proceeded to the most violent
outrages. Mrs. Mackay was wounded in the arm with a cutlass. The
magistrates and those who came to their assistance were treated with
much abuse, and the prisoner was rescued.
 _

1 X. Col. Records, 165; I. St. Clair Papers, 291. The writer of this let-
ter was Capt. William Crawford, then residing at Stewart's Crossings (at
Connellsville, Fayette C0,). He soon afterwards engaged in Dunmore’s
war, first as a captain, then as a major, and then became an active Vir-
ginia partisan. In the next winter he was superseded in his commission
as a justice for Westmoreland County. The leader of the expedition
against the Indians in 1782, he was burned at the stake at Sandusky
on June 11th of that year.

12

 

“ Some days before the meeting of the court a report was spread that
the militia oflicers at the head of their several companies would come
to Mr. Hanna’s, use the court ill, and interrupt the administration of
justice. On Wednesday while the court was adjourned they came to
the court-house [at Hannastown, Westmoreland C0,], and paraded be-
fore it. Sentinels were placed at the door, and Mr. Connolly went
into the house. One of the magistrates was hindered by the militia
from going into it till permission was first_obtained from their com-
mander. Mr. Connolly sent a message to the magistrates informing
them that he wanted to communicate something to them, and would
wait on them for that purpose. They received him in a private room.
He read to them the inclosed paper, together with a copy" of a letter to
you which Lord Dunmore had transmitted to him, inclosed in a letter
to himself, which was written in the same angry and undignified style.
The magistrates gave the inclosed answer’ to what he read, and he soon
afterwards departed with his men. Their number was about one hun-
dred and eighty or two hundred. On their return to Pittsburgh some of
them seized Mr. Elliott, of the Bullock Pens, and threatened to put him in
the stocks for something which they deemed an affront offered to their
commander. Since their return a certain Edward Thompson and a young
man who keeps store for Mr. Spear have been arrested by them, and Mr.
Connolly, who in person seized the young man, would not allow him
time even to lock up the store. In other parts of the country, particu-
larly those adjoining the river Monongahela, the magistrates have been
frequently insulted in the most indecent and violent manner, and are
apprehensive that unless they are speedily and vigorously supported by
Government it will become both fruitless and dangerous for them
to proceed to the execution of their ofiices. They presume not to point
out the measures proper for settling the present disturbances, but beg
leave to re-commend the fixing of a temporary line with the utmost ex-
pedition as one step which in all probability will contribute very much
towards producing that effect. For further particulars concerning the
situation of the country I refer you to Colonel Wilson, who is kind
enough to go on the present occasion to Philadelphia.

“ I am, sir, your very humble servant.” 2

The following letter was also sent along, written by
Thomas Smith,3 who had witnessed the occurrences:

“ WESTMORELAND COUNTY, April 7, 1774.

“SIR,—The present transactions at this place are so very extraordi-
nary, that I am persuaded you will be very much surprised at the rela-
tion of them, if anything that is absurd and unwarrantable which orig-
inates from Lord Dunmore can surprise y'ou. I think I am warranted
in this observation by his Lordship’s letter to his honor, duplicate of
which, together with a letter at the same time to Connolly, we have had
just read to us. -

“After Connolly was committed to jail in the manner you have been
informed, the sheriff let him at large on his word of honor to return at
the court. He did return, indeed, in such a manner as might have been
expected from his preceding conduct. We heard, when we came up to‘
this court, that he was mustering a large party in order to prevent the
court from sitting. We thought that there could not be any foundation
for such a report, but at the same time we thought it prudent to order
the Sheriff to raise as many men ‘as he could collect, to prevent us from
being insulted by a lawless set of men acting under the color of author-
ity. The time was so short that but few were collected on our side, and
those few were ill armed, so that we found ourselves in a very disagree-
able situation when we received certain intelligence that Connolly was
coming down with two hundred armed men. When we found they were
at hand the magistrates thought it prudent to adjourn the court, as it
was near the time. They soon after came down to the number of one
hundred and fifty or one hundred and eighty, with colors flying, and
their Captains, &c., had their swords drawn. The first thing they did
was to place sentinels at the court-house door, and then Connolly sent
a message that he would wait on the Magistrates and communicate the
reasons of his appearance. The bench and bar were then assembled in
Mr. Hanna’s house, where we sent him word we would hear him. He
and Pentecost soon came down, and he read the paper which will be sent
down to his Honor the Governor, with the bearer of this, and then he
read a duplicate of Lord Dunmore to our Governor together with the
letter mentioned before. ‘

“ The Court told him they would soon return an answer to what he
_..____._______________ ________A__.____________

9 See deposition of George Wilson, IV. Penn. Archives, p. 492.
3 IV. Penn. Archives, 618.

174

HISTORY OF WASHINGTON ‘COUN TY, PENNSYLVANIA.

had said. (They did not think it prudent to do it without consulting
together and taking the opinion of the bar.) We soon agreed on the
terms of the answer, and the gentleman who had the principal hand in
forming it, has done it in such a manner as I am persuaded will pro-
cure him the thanks of the government.’ It contains firmness and mod-
eration, and, as far as I am capable of judging, it was not possible to
form one more free from exceptions in our present situation. One in
any other form might have been the occasion of altercations, which
might have produced undue concessions, or been attended with the most
fatal consequences ; for I have reason to believe that the greatest part of
them were wishing for some colorable reason to quarrel. The bench
proposed to deliver the answer in the court-house. However, in that
particular they counted without their host, for they were refused ad-
mittance and Connolly waited for them at the court-house door, where
Mr. Wilson, at the request of the Court, delivered it, and after exchang-
ing copies they departed more peaceably than might have been expected.
However, the consequences of such proceedings are too apparent to need
be enumerated; the administration of justice must be entirely at a stand,
and, indeed, I cannot help thinking that this mob has collected for that
purpose, as I am well assured that amongst all those who assembled
there was not one single man of any property ; on the contrary, the great-
est part of them were such as are obliged to hide themselves from their
creditors, or such as are under the necessity of taking shelter in this
part of the country to escape the punishment. of their crimes. It seems
Lord Dunmore gave Connolly blank commissions, trusting to his own
prudence to fill them up by inserting the.names of proper persons. Con-
nolly, in order to be consistent with himself, bestowed one of these com-
missions on one ********, an old fellow who has several times been com-
mitted for felony. I don't, indeed, know that he has been convicted,
because he has always broke the jail. Once I think he was committed
to Lancaster jail and escaped. His character is so well known, that
those who are the strongest advocates for the present disturbances are
ashamed of his being appointed one of their Captains.

“ The people in this part of the country who would wish to enjoy the
benefits of society, and would submit to any form of government, are
in the most disagreeable situation imaginable; their property, their
liberty, and their lives are at the mercy of a lawless desperate banditti!
In such a situation they look for and have the utmost reason to expect,
the protection of that government under which they have settled. What
is the most proper method to be taken it would be presumption in me
to suggest. There are but two ways; the one to agree on a temporary
line of jurisdiction until the matter can.be finally settled; the other, to
establish a suflicient garrison at Fort Pitt to withstand the rabble, who
act under Lord Dunmore’s commission. It would have been a happy
thing for this part of the country, if this last measure had met with suc-
cess when it was first recommended to the Legislature; and, indeed,
sensible people in this part of the country, who are well affected to this
government, cannot help drawing conclusions from the opposition which
that measure met with, which I am persuaded could never be the motives
of those who may have made the opposition to it.

“The conduct of Lord Dunmore is really the most extraordinary, in
the light in which the people of this part of the county are obliged to
view it, that can be imagined. To establish the jurisdiction of a dif-
ferent province over the people who have purchased, and settled, and
lived for a considerable space of time, peaceably under this; to establish
this jurisdiction by a military force, is such an absurd measure, that I
believe it will be difficult to suppose any in his senses would have
adopted It.

“I hope you will excuse this incoherent scrawl, when I inform you
that it is written in a small room amidst the clamor and confusion of a.
number of people. Excuse the imperfections.

“ I am, sir, your most humble servant,
“ THOMAS SMrrH.1

“ Josnrn SHIPPEN, Esquire.”

1 Thomas Smith, the writer of this letter, was the brother of Dr. Wil-
liam Smith, the provost of the College of Philadelphia, now the Uni-
versity of Pennsylvania. They were natives of Scotland. Thomas was
early a settler at Bedford, and became a celebrated lawyer. In 1775 he
was appointed colonel of militia, and the next year was a member of
the Pennsylvania Constitutional Convention. In 178C was a member of
the Continental Congress. From 1790 to 1794 he was president judge
of the Mifiiin, Huntingdon, Bedford, and Franklin County district, and
was justice of the Supreme Court from 1794 to 1809, when he died.

He practiced at the bar of Westmoreland at the date of the text. In

the account of the burning of Hannastown by the Indians on July 13,

With the foregoing letters was Conno1ly’s address
the Westmoreland County magistrates, as follows:

“ GENTLEMEN: I am come here to be the occasion of no Disturbances,
but to prevent them. As I am countenanced by Government, whatever
you may say or conceive, some of the justices of this Bench are the
cause of this Appearance and not me. I have done this to prevent my-
self from being illegally taken to Philadelphia. My orders from the
Government of Virginia not being explicit, but claiming the Country
about Pittsburgh, I have raised the Militia to support the Civil Author-
ity of that Colony vested in me. '

“ I have come here to free myself from a Promise made to Captain
Proctor, but have not conceived myself amenable to this Court, by any
Authority from Pennsylvania, upon which Account I cannot apprehend
that you have any right to remain here as justices of the Peace consti-
tuting a Court under that Province ; but in order to prevent confusion,
I agree that you may continue to act in that capacity, in all such Mat-
ters as may be submitted to your determination by the acquiescence of
the People, until I may have instructions to the contrary from Virginia,
or until His Majesty's Pleasure shall be further known on this subject.”

The answer of the magistrates to this act of mili-
tary domination was as follows:

“The jurisdiction of the Court and oflicers of the County of West-
moreland rests on the legislative Authority of the Province of Pennsyl-
vania, confirmed by His Majesty in Council. That jurisdiction has been
regularly exercised, and the Court and Oflioers will continue to exercise
it in the same regular manner. It is far from their intention to occasion
or ioment Disturbances, and they apprehend that no such intentions can

with Propriety be inferred from any part of their conduct; on the con- ,

trary, they wish and will do all they can to preserve the public Tran-
quility. In order to contribute to this very salutary Purpose, they give
Information that every step will be taken on the part of the Province
of Pennsylvania to accommodate anyfditferences that have arisen be-
tween it and the Colony of Virginia, by fixing a temporary line betwixt
them.” 2

Westmoreland County Justices Arrested.-—But
the capture of the Westmoreland County court-house
and the impertinent interference with the justices by
Dr. Connolly and his body-guard of militia were not
enough. The same day of the date of William Craw-
ford’s "letter the court rose, and Eneas Mackay, Dev-
ereux Smith, and Andrew McFar1ane, three of the
justices residing at Pittsburgh, returned to their homes
at that place. On the next day, April 9, 17 74, all
three were arrested upon the order of Dr. Connolly.
Andrew McFarlane gave the particulars in a letter to
Governor Penn, written just before being carried
away, in which he said,—

“When Justice Mackay, Smith, and I returned from attending the
Court last evening, we were informed that Dr. Connolly was determined
to Issue Kings Warrants for us, which was served on the above-named
Gentlemen and myself this day by Mr. Connolly’s Sheriff, and an in-
famous Constable who took me prisoner by the Sholder and Told me I
must go to the Fort to Capt. Connolly to.receive my sentence which I was

Obliged to Do. The Crime which we are Charged with is for the answer
we gave Dr. Connolly, in writing, by the Concurrence of the Court at

Westmoreland, a Copy of which was enclosed to your Honor, per favor of '

Colo. Wilson. Connolly insisted much that we should give Bail for our
appearance at Stauuton 3 Court, in Virginia, which the other gentlemen

1782, published in the Greensburgh Argus in 1836, written by Judge Coul-
ter, it is said, " Thomas Smith, Esq., afterwards one of the judges of the
Supreme Bench, brought quarterly from the east, the most abstruse
learning of the profession to puzzle the backwoods lawyers.” He was
admitted to the bar of Washington County at its second term, and was
the attorney of Gen. Washington in his ejectment suit for his lands in

- Mount Pleasant township.

2 This address and the reply are-in X. Col. Records, 167-68.
3 Down the,Shenandoah Valley, the county-seat of Augusta County,
Va. *

CIVIL AND LEGAL—COMMISSIONERS TO’ LORD DUNMORE.

175

and myself refused,‘ so that we are to go to jail this Day, where we
intend to remain until your Honor’s Pleasure is known, which we make
no Doubt will be in a short Time. They have taken two other Prisoners,
one of which is Clark to Joseph Spear, Esquire, at this place, for assisting
-the under Sherifi‘ of Westmoreland, to take one of their Virginia Cap-
tains. I am Taken at a very great Inconveniency as my Business is
suffering much on account of my absence. Bul I am willing to suffer a
great Deal more rather than Bring a Disgrace on the Commission which
I bear under your Honor. I understand we are to be Guarded by a great
Number of Militia to Staunton Goal, where we are to be kept in Close
Confinement”?

The three justices refusing to acknowledge the
usurped jurisdiction were led under guard towards
the valleyof Virginia. After they had traveled one
day together, Mackay obtained leave to proceed to
Williamsbur , “in order to lay Connolly and his Mi-
litia’s conduct before my Lord Dunmore,” while

-Smith and McFarlane proceeded with the ofiicer to

the Staunton jail. Arriving at Williamsburg, Mac-
kay laid his story before Dunmore, who heard him to
the end, and then told him “ that Connolly was au-
thorized by him as Governor of Virginia to prosecute
the claim of that Colony to Pittsburgh and its Depend-
encies, and as to taking of prisoners, he Connolly only
imitated the Pennsylvania officers in Respect to Con-
nolly’s imprisonment by them.” However, Dunmore
permitted the justices to return home, which they
did at once.3

Commissioners to Lord Dunmore.-In the mean
time information of the interruption of the court at

'Hannas Town, communicated by the letters of Wil-

liam Crawford and of Thomas Smith, with informa-
tion also of the arrest of the justices, Mackay, Smith,

\ and McFar1ane, was received by Governor Penn at

Philadelphia on April 19th, and on the 21st, the com-
munications being laid before the Council, it was at
once resolved to appoint commissioners “to go as
‘soon as possible to Williamsburgh, in order to repre-
sent to the Government of Virginia the ill Conse-
quences which may happen to the Persons and Prop-
erties of his Majesties Subjects, if an immediate stop
be not put to the Disorders and violent proceedings
which have been begun and are now carrying on,
under the Authority of that Government,‘ &c.”
James Tilghman and Andrew Allen, members of the

 *___ _.--.___

1 To avoid a recognition of the authority of the Virginia magistrates

‘ at Pittsburgh. The jail to which they were sent was at Staunton.

2 IV. Pa. Archives, 488. See X. Col. Records, 176. On the 25th of April,
1774, the deposition of Ephraim Hunter, deputy sheriff of Westmoreland
County, taken before the mayor of Philadelphia, stated that on the 10th
of April, on his return from court, he stopped at the house of William
Elliot, living about seven miles from Pittsburgh, to refresh himself and
horse; that suddenly five or six men appeared, armed with rifles, which
they presented and required him to surrender; that he knew them im-
mediately to be a party of militia raised by Dr. Connolly, and refused;
that he ran into the house and there he saw ZEneas Mackay, Devereux
Smith, and Andrew McFarlane, Esquires, magistrates, etc., in custody
of a certain Francis Brown, who calls himself deputy sheriif of Augusta
County, in Virginia, and a guard over them; that the next day he saw
the magistrates twelve miles from Pittsburg, on their way to Virginia,
who wished to send letters by him, but were not permitted.

3 See letters, IV. Pennsylvania Archives, 494, 511, 515, 516.

4 X. Colonial Records, 170.

Governor’s Council, men distinguished in their day
(the former the father of William Tilghman, the em-
inent chief justice of Pennsylvania), were appointed

the commissioners with written instructions, ‘first, to -

prevail upon Lord Dunmore to unite with the proprie-
taries of Pennsylvania in a petition to the king to
appoint commissioners to run and mark the boundary
line, the-expense to be equally borne by the two col-
onies; second, whether he should so agree or not,
they .vvere to use every possible argument to induce
him to agree to a temporary line until the permanent
boundary could be established; but the commissioners
were not to accede to any temporary line which would
give to Virginia jurisdiction over any lands lying to
the eastward of the Monongahelaf’ A ’ _

The commissioners arrived at Williamsburg on
the 19th of May, 1774, and on the 21st had an oral
conference with Lord Dunmore, in which the latter
expressed his willingness to join in a petition to the
king to appoint commissioners to settle the bound-
ary, but stated that Virginia would not bear any
part of the expense. He suggested that the commu-
nications should be in writing, which method was
adopted, and the different propositions and discus-
sions are preserved.“

For the reason that, as will be seen, the mission
was entirely unsuccessful, let it suflice to state that
on the part of Pennsylvania the commissioners pro-
posed as a temporary boundary that Mason and
Dixon’s line be extended to the distance of five de-
grees of longitude from the river Delaware, and the
courses of that river having been ascertained north
from said line, that from the end of the said five de-
grees a line o-r lines drawn to the Ohio, as nearly as
may be at the distance of five degrees of longitude in
every part from a corresponding part of the Delaware
River in the same latitude, this to be taken as the
line of temporary jurisdiction until the true western
line was established.7

In reply to this suggestion, Lord Dunmore would
not accept a line of jurisdiction “of such an incon-
venient and difficult to be ascertained shape,” and
contended that by a proper construction of William
Penn’s charter the western boundary was to be a
meridian at five degrees of longitude from the Dela-
ware run south from the parallel of forty-two degrees
latitude, imagining that the course of that river was to
the northeast continuously to thatparallel, and hence
that such a meridian would fall east of Pittsburgh, in
which he was much mistaken.

The‘Pennsylvania commissioners then, rejecting the
suggestion of Lord Dunmore, made another proposi-

5 Ibid., 175. 6 Ibid., 182, et seq.

7 Is it not probable that in this first proposition made by the commis-
sioners, one at least of whom was an eminent lawyer, all was asked for
that was supposed to belong to Pennsylvania? If so, it would indicate
that the proprietaries would have been content with a boundary corre-
sponding with the mean-derings of the Delaware, which would have
left almost all of the present Washington County in the Pan Handle.

176

HISTORY OF WASHINGTON COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA.

tion in the interest of harmony and peace: “And
for that valuable purpose we shall be willing to re-
cede so far from our Charter Bounds as to make the
River Monongahela, from the Line of Dixon and
Mason downward, the Western Boundary of Jurisdic-
tion, which would at once settle our present Disputes
without‘ the great Trouble and Expense of running
Lines, or the inconveniences of keeping the‘ jurisdic-
tion in suspense. This, We assure your Lordship, is
the farthest we can go in Point of “Concession, &c.”

The sur-rejoinder of Lord Dunmore, determined as‘

he was from the start not to abandon his usurpation,
was made an easy matter for him after the communi-
cation with the clause last quoted was received. He
becomes cross and proceeds : “ And what_were your
proposals to reconcile these difiiculties? Why, in
your first you propose that every Thing in dispute
shall be given to Pennsylvania, and in your second
that Virginia shall be content without having any
Thing given up to it; at least I conclude from both
the Proposals, but that no real intention is meant to
avoid the great and reciprocal Inconveniences of a
doubtful Boundary, &c. . . . and your Resolution
with respect to Fort Pitt, (the jurisdiction over which
Place I must tell you at all Events, will not be relin-
quished by the Government without his Majesty’s
Order,) puts an entire stop to further Treaty, &c.”1

1 Since the foregoing was written, the following proceedings have been
found, confirmatory of the suspicion expressed on a previous page, that
the Virginia usurpation was not upon the mere motion of Lord Dunmore,
but was petitioned for by the inhabitants of the Monongahela valley
themselves: C

“On the 13th of May, 1774, his Excellency the Governor ordered the

«following petition, with several Papers relative to the imprisonment of

Mr. John Connolly by the officersof Pennsylvania, while he ‘was acting
as a Magistrate under the authority of this Government, to be laid before
the House of Burgesses:

“ ‘ To his Excellency John, Earl of Dunmore, his Maj esty’s Lieutenant
and Governor General of the Colony and Dominion of Virginia and Vice
Admiral of the same, and the. Honorable the Council and House of Bur-
gesses:

“ ‘ The Petition of the Inhabitants settled on the Waters of the Ohio
showeth: \ '

“‘ That the major part of your petitioners have formerly lived in his
Majesty’s Colony of Virginia, and preferring the mild, easy, and equit-
able Government thereof, to the expensive administration of justice in
Pennsylvania, which, being a limited and Proprietary Government, hath
extended an unlimited, and (as we think) illegal jurisdiction over his
Majesty‘s subjects, settled many miles west of their bounds, which is op-
pressive to the poor and burthensome to all, particularly in trying titles
to land, and in recovery of small debts, wherein their officers’ fees are so
disproportioned that they seem rather calculated for enriching individ-
uals than the public good; their practicing attornies being left at liberty
to exact such fees as they may choose, in all land trials, and will not
pleadagainst their jurisdiction, however far west it may be extended.
Oflicers of Government being generally at the disposal of the Proprie-
taries’ Governor, who will neither appoint nor continue any but those
who adhere strictly to their master’s interest, however contrary to the
good of the settlers, his Majesty’s subjects; add to this, a heavy Provin-
cial tax, which they likewise exact, a great part thereof being swallowed
up by the officers who lay and collect the same, to the great grievance
of the subject. ~ ' ‘

“ ‘ From the aforesaid several grievances, and the farther ill-provided
defence of the country in cases of emergency, we humbly conceive our
lives and properties in imminent danger, from our contiguity to the
‘faithless and barbarous natives, whose treaties, alliance, and sincerity,
are never to be relied on, as well as a hearty conviction that the present
Government is usurped. ’

Nothing remained for theicommissioners butto
return to Philadelphia.

The Peace Policy Directed.——And so therewas
to be no amicable settlement of the boundary contro-
versy. This side the great sea there was no superior
power with jurisdiction to determine the dispute upon
the application of either party. The ‘adherents to
either side, if there were any whowere not fond of
strife, must have contemplated the prospect of the
acquisition of peaceful homes in the new West with
a degree of hopelessness. The negotiations termi-
nated on the 27th of May, 17 74.

On the 22d of April, the next day after the ap-
pointment of the commissioners, the failure of Whose
negotiations has just been narrated, Governor Penn
wrote to William Crawford and his associates, justices
of Westmoreland County: ’

“ GENTLEMEN :

“ The present alarming Situation of our Affairs in Westmoreland
County, occasion ed by the very unaccountable Conduct of the Government
of Virginia, requires the utmost Attention of this Government, and there-
fore I intend, with all possible Expedition, to send Commissioners to expos-
tulate with my Lord Dunmore upon the Behavior of those he has thought
proper to invest with such power as hath greatly disturbed the peace 01
that Country. As the Government of Virginiahath the power of raising
militia-, and there is not any such in this Province, it will be in vain to
contend with them, in the way of Force; the Magistrate, therefore, at
the same time that they continue with steadiness to exercise the juris-
diction of Pennsylvania with respect to the distributions of Justice and
the punishment of Vice, must be cautious of entering into any such con-
tests with the Officers of my Lord Dunmore, as may tend to widen the
present unhappy Breach ; and therefore, as Things are at present circum-
stanced, I would not advise the Magistracy of Westmoreland county
to proceed by way of criminal prosecution against them, for exercising
the Government. of Virginia.”

This letter of instructions gives the key to the
absence of retaliatory measures on the part -of the
Westmoreland County authorities.
the courts of that county show but a single case, and
that of as civil action at a later date, wherein any of
the Virginia partisans were defendants, while the
records of the Virginia‘ courts, soon -to be noticed, are
full of such cases,—criminalproceedings against ofii-
cers acting under Pennsylvania authority. These in-
structions also account for the long continuance and
outrageous character of the Connolly domination:
The doctor was suffered to proceed unpunished.

Thus was the power of Lord Dunmore established
in the valley of the Monongahela. Fort Pitt was re-
baptized by Connolly under the name of Fort Dun-'
more,?‘ which, henceforward until the Revolution had
well advanced, was its Virginia name. Connolly’s en-

“ ‘ We humbly entreat your Lordship and Council, and the Honorable
House of Burgesses, to make such provision for us, in our present dis-
tressed situation, as to you shall seem meet; and your Petitioners, as in
duty bound, will ever pray, &c.’

“ Signed by 587 Inhabitants.” '

—See II. Amer. Archives, 40:. Ser., 275.

2 X. Col. Records, 171,. ‘ =

3 St. Clair tb Penn, June 16,1774; I. St. Clair Papers, 308; IV. Penn.
Arch., 519. , "

The records of .

CIVIL AND LEGAL——t-COUNTER PROCLAMATIONS.

177

' ergies had full play. His conduct was, if possible, of

a more outrageous character than it had been.

On June 25, 1774, the adherents of Pennsylvania
residing at Pittsburgh addressed a long memorial to
Governor Penn, in which additional ill treatment on
the part of Dr. Connolly was set forth, and, after sev-
eral specific acts of a violent character, it was stated,——

“ That your Memorialists are of the opinion that Mr. Connolly has
taken all the pains in his power to foment the disturbance between us

and the Indians, for several reasons; particularly when a number of
the Traders arrived here lately from the Shawanese Towns, escorted by

- three Shawanese Chiefs, who were sent to the care of Col. Croghan,

’till ahandsome present was made for them by the Traders for their
fidelity, Dr. Connolly ordered out forty-one of his militia to take them
at all events, and to send them to his_Guard-House; which hellish plot
being discovered, Mr. Butler and some other Friends conveyed the In-
dians and their presents over the River just as the Guard surrounded
Mr. Croghan’s House, for which Mr. Butler has been severely threat-
ened.”1

Accompanying the memorial from which this ex-
tract is made is a document _of “Remarks on Dr.
Connolly’s proceedings,” closing a long schedule of
his misdeeds with the sentence: “These are but a
few of the many Distresses we labor under, and with-

out Protection and Speedy Redress, we cannot long,

support ourselves under such Grievous Persecution
& Tyranny.”

Dunmore’s War.——To intensify the troubles of
the pioneers of this time, hostilities broke out on the

‘part of the Indians, as intimated in the memorial

cited. Early in the spring occurred the massacre of
Logan’s party at Baker’s, opposite the mouth of Yel-
low Creek, and the attack on others at Grave Creek,
in which Cresap’s men were engaged? Then Logan
broke loose with his party of revenge, ravaged the
Upper Monongahela, and sent his war parties into the
Ten-Mile region. .A panic followed, which drove the

‘settlers living west of the Monongahela across into

the neighboring and more densely populated regions,
some of them not stopping this side of the mountains.
The "Yellow Creek massacre occurred on Saturday,
April 30, 1774; on May 7th, Valentine Crawford,
brother of William, residing in what is now Fayette
County, wrote to George Washington :3 “This alarm
has caused the people to move from over the Monon-
gahela, off Chartiers and Raccoon, as fast as ever you
saw them in the year 1756 or 1757 down in Frederick
County, Va. There were more than one thousand
people crossed the Monongahela in one day at three

. ferries that are not one mile apart.” Arthur St. Clair

writes Governor Penn, June 12th,‘ “A fresh report of
Indians being seen near Hanna’s Town, and. another
party on Braddock’s Road, set the people a going
again yesterday. I immediately took horse and rode
up to inquire, and found it, if not totally groundless,

1 IV. Penn. Archives-, 526.
2 Cresap’s party on the way home stopped at William Huston’s at Cat-
fish Camp, withone of them wounded. - A
3 Washington-Crawford Letters, 87.
4 Iv. Penn. Archives, 514; I. St. Clair Papers, 307.

at least very improbable; but it was impossible to
persuade the people so, and I am certain I did not
meet less than one hundred families, and I think two
thousand head of cattle, in twenty miles’ riding.”

The war, of the terrors of which these scenes formed A

a part, and which was called Dunmore’s war, was not
ended until the treaty at Camp Charlotte, in now Pick-

away County, Ohio, in October. Dunmore himself

was with that part of the army which came across the
mountains and descended the river by way of Pitts-
burgh,5 and himself arranged the terms of the treaty
under circumstances which hitherto have been unac-
countable except upon the supposition that for reasons
known to him he designed to preserve the Indians in
the interest of the British government. The war had
been entirely with the Virginians, or “ Long Knives,”
as the Indians called them. N o incursions had been
made upon soil admittedly of Pennsylvania. And to
show a well-settled belief always entertained that
Dunmore’s war and Dunmore’s usurpation of jurisdic-
tion in the West were each parts of one plan by which
to set two American governments by the ears,.a quo-
tation is made from Jacobs’ “ Life of Michael Cresap,”
p. 63 :6
“And we have seen from the preceding pages how effectually he
(Dunmore) played his part among the inhabitants of the western coun-
try. I was present myself when a Pennsylvania Magistrate of the
name of Scott [Thomas Scott, see past] was taken into custody and
brought before Dunmore a.t Redstone Old Fort ; he was severely threat-
ened and dismissed, perhaps on bail, but I do not recollect now. Another
Pennsylvania Magistrate was sent to Staunton Jail. And I have already
shown in the preceding pages that there was a sufficient preparation of
material for this war in the predisposition and hostile attitude of our
afiairs with the Indians; that it was consequently no diificult matter
with a Virginia Governor to direct this incipient state of things to any
point mostcondncive to the grand end he had in view, namely, weaken-
ing our national strength in some of its best and most elficient parts.”
It must be remembered in this connection that the
ill feeling towards the mother-country had ‘reached
that state that conventions of representative men were
being held in all the colonies. The meeting of the
provincial deputies chosen by theseveral counties in
Pennsylvania began in Philadelphia on July 15, 1774,
and the condition of affairs leading to such conven-
tions could not have been_unknown to Lord Dunmore.

Counter Proclamations-While at Pittsburgh, on
his way down the river with the division of his army
under his own command, Lord Dunmore issued a
proclamation] dated at Fort Dunmore, Sept. 17, 1774:

“A PROC[.AMA'I‘ION. ,
“ Whereas, the rapid settlement made on the west side of the Alle-
gheny Mountains by his Majesty’s subjects within the course of these
few years has become an object of real concern to his Majesty’s interes

5 I. St. Clair Papers, 345. p

6 John Jeremiah Jacobs was the clerk of Michael Cresap when the lat-
ter did business as a trader, with his headquarters at. Redstone. Cresap,
on the breaking out of the war, marched to Boston with a brave set of
fellows intent upon liberty, and soon died a Revolutionary patriot. Ja-
cobs, the author and former clerk, married Cresap’s widow, and wrote his
work to vindicate his old chief ’s memory against Jefi'erson’s use of the
so-called Logan speech, “‘ Who is there to mourn for Logan?” etc.

7 I. Olden Time, 506.

178

HISTORY OF WASHINGTON COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA.

in this quarter; And whereas the Province of Pennsylvania. have unduly
laid claim to a very valuable and extensive quantity of his,Maj«--sty’s
territory, and the executive part of that government, in consequence
thereof, has most arbitrarily and unwarrantably proceeded to abuse the
laudable advancements in this part of his Majesty’s dominions by many
oppressive and illegal methods in the discharge of this imaginary au-
thority; And whereas the ancient claim laid to this country by the
colony of Virginia, founded in reason, upon pre-occupancy and the gen-
eral acquiescence of all persons, together with the instructions I have
lately received from his Majesty’s servants, ordering me to take this
country under my administration, and as the evident injustice manifestly
offered to his Majesty by the immediate strides taken by the proprietors
of Pennsylvania in prosecution of their wild claim to this country de-
mand an immediate remedy, I do hereby in his Maje.~zty’s name require
and command all his Ma jesty’s subjects west of the Laurel Hill to pay
a due respect to this my proclamation, strictly prohibiting the execution
of any act of authority on behalf of the province of Pennsylvania at
their peril in this country; but, on the contrary, that a due regard and
entire obedience to the laws of his Majesty’s colony of Virginia under
my administration be observed, to the end that regularity may ensue,
and a just regard to the interest of his Majesty in this quarter, as well
as to the subjects in general, may be the consequence. Given under my
hand and seal at Fort Dunmore, Sept. 17, 1774.

_ “ DUNMORE.
“ By his Excellency’s command.

“ God save the King.”

Counter to this Governor Penn issued his proclama-
tion on Oct. 12, 1774 :1

“ A PBOCLAMATION.

“ Whereas, I have received information that his Excellency, the Earl
of Dunmore, governor general in and over his Majesty's colony of Vir-
ginia, hath lately issued a very extraordinary proclamation, setting forth
[here is recited the substance of Governor Dunmore’s proclamation of
the 17th of September]; And whereas, although the western limits of
the province of Pennsylvania have not been settled by any authority
from the Crown, yet it has beensufficiently demonstrated by lines accu-
rately run by the most skillful artists that not only a great tract of
country west of the Laurel Hill, but Fort Pitt also are comprehended
within the charter bounds of this province, 9. great part of which coun-
try has been actually settled, and is now held under grants from the
proprietaries of Pennsylvania, andthe jurisdiction of this government
has been peaceably exercised in that quarter of the country till the late
strange claim set up by the Earl of Dunmore in behalf of his Majesty’s
colony of Virginia, founded, as his Lordship is above pleased to say, ‘in
reason, pre-occupancy, andthe general acquiescence of all persons ;’ . . .
In justice, therefore, to the proprietaries of the province of Pennsyl-
vania, who are only desirous to secure their own undoubted property
from the encroachment of others, I have thought fit, with the advice of
the council, to issue this, my proclamation, hereby requiring all persons
west of Laurel Hill to retain their settlements as aforesaid made under
this province, and to pay due obedience to the laws of this government;
and all magistrates and other oflicers who hold commissions or oflices
under this government, to proceed as usual in the administration of
justice, without ‘paying the least regard to the said recited proclamation,
until his Majesty’s pleasure shall be known in the premises, at the same
time strictly charging and enjoining the said inhabitants and magistrates
to use their utmost endeavors to .preserve peace and good order. Given
under my hand and the great seal of the said province, at Philadelphia,
the twelfth day of October, in the year of our Lord one thousand seven
hundred and seventy-four, and in the fourteenth year of the reign of
our sovereign Lord George the Third, by the grace of God, of Great
Britain, France, and Ireland, king,‘ defender of the faith, and so forth.

“ By his Honor’s command.

“JOHN PENN.
“EDWARD SHIPPEN, .13., Secretary.

“God save the King.”

Thus the contest had advanced another step, to a
war by proclamations.

The Indian war having closed_by the treaty in
October, Lord Dunmore returned to Virginia, again

1 IV. Penn. Archives, 580; I. Olden Time, 508.

, was not a proper Judge, and would abide by the Consequences. . .

stopping, however, at Pittsburgh, when he was once ‘

more brought into personal communication with his
Virginia adherents. He then proceeded to Redstone
(Brownsville), at which placehe had Thomas Scott
brought before him for the offense of acting as a
Pennsylvania magistrate. The scene which occurred
is well given in the language of a letter by St. Clair
to Governor Penn, dated Dec. 4, 1774 : 2

“ Sm,-—The war betwixt the Indians and Virginians is at last over. . . .
But our troubles here are not yet over. The magistrates appointed by
Lord Dunmore in this Country seem determined to enforce the jurisdic-
tion of Virginia, and have begun with arresting one of your Honour’s
Oflicers.

“ The 12th of November Mr. Connolly sent a warrantifor Mr. Scott to

appear before him, or the next justice, to answer for a number of Of- .

fences committed by him under a pretended Authority from Pennsylva-
nia. The Warrant Mr. Scott did not Chuse to pay any regard to, and
the same Evening a number of armed men came to his House to take him

by Force to Fort Burd. There he found Lord Dunmore, Mr. Campbell, '

and Mr. Pentecost, ready to sit in judgment upon him. Much passed
amongst them, but the event was that he was obliged to enter into Re-
cognisance, with two Sureties, to appear at the next Court, to be held at
Pittsburgh, for the county of Augusta, on the 20th day of December, if
the Court should happen to be held there that Day, or at any further
Day when the Court should be held there, to answer for having acted
as a Magistrate of Pennsylvania, contrary to Lord Dunmore’s Procla-

_mation, or be committed to Goal. He chose the recognizance, the Cir-

cumstances of his Family and Health rendering the other very Incon-
venient. . . . A

“I account it a fortunate Circumstance that they began with Mr.
Scott, who, with a great deal of firmness, possesses a good share of natu-
ral Understanding. In the course of an Examination, which continued
near two Hours, he told Lord Dunmore that he had only one short an-
swer to all his Questions, which might save his Lordships a good deal of
Trouble; ‘that he‘ acted under Commission from your Honour and in
Obedience to your Proclamation.’ His Lordship was pleased to reply,
that you had no right to give any such Commission or Authority’ to issue
such Proclamation. Mr. Scott told him that was a Matter of which he

"3

The reader will observe in this letter the first refer-
ence to the intended establishment of a court of jus-
tice for Augusta County, Virginia, at Pittsburgh, or
Fort Dunmore, as the Virginians called it. It seems
to have been arranged that the first term shouldbe
held at that place on Dec. 20, 1774, for on De-
cember 18th, St. Clair writes to Governor Penn:“
“ The Court it is said will certainly be held at Pitts-
burgh on the 20th. I am personally threatened, but
I promised Mr. Scott to be there at the time to give
him some countenance at least, if I cannot give-him
assistance at his trial.”

The Pennsylvania magistrates having been in-
structed to maintain the jurisdiction of their province,
regardless of Dunmore’s proclamation of Sept. 17,
1774, but with information that Pennsylvania was

not in condition to contest that fact by military force,’

the Westmoreland County justices endeavored to ex-
ecute the laws as was required of them, but, as has
been seen, with trials and tribulation. Their difli-
culties will further appear from the following among
other papers laid before the Provincial Council : 5

9 IV. Penn. Archives, 586; I. St. Clair Papers, 347.
3 Thisis the interview- mentioned by John J. Jacobs, who was present.
See ante, p. 177.
4 IV. Penn. Archives, 589 ; I. St. Clair Papers, 351.
5 X. Col. Records, 227.

‘‘ Westmoreland, ss :

. “ Before us, Robert Hanna and Arthur St. Clair, Esquires, two of his
Maj esty’s Justices forwestmoreland County, personally appeared Samuel
Whiteside, keeper of the Goal of the said County, and being duly sworn
according to Law, deposeth and saith: that on this instant, the twenty-
fourth of December, a number of armed Men came to the Goal of said
County, and ordered him to open the Prison Doors, and turn out a cer-
tain William Thomas, then in his custody on sundry executions; that
hebelieves a certain William Christy and Simon Girty, who seemed to
be Officers from their'Dress, were at the Head of their Party; That he,
this Deponent, refused to deliver his Prisoner, or open the Door where
he was confined: that they then talked of throwing down the House,
when a certain Major Connolly came up, enquired who resisted the re-
leasement of the Prisoners, threatened to tie and carry off him, this
Deponent: ordered the party to fire their Pieces against the House, and
strip off the Roof, on which-he, this Deponent, being afraid of ill Con-
sequences, both to his Person and Property, did open the door to allow
the Prisoner to speak to the Party, and one of them rushed in, seized
him, and dragged him out, and also turned out a certain William Daw-

. son, who was likewise in his custody on.Execution, and that it was Con-

nolly himself who laid handson Thomas and dragged him out; and
further saith not.
“ SAMUEL Wnrrssmn.
‘ “ Sworn to and subscribed, etc.”

‘ “ Wnsnnas, I am well informed that certain Persons, by written In-
structions, directed to different people throughout this Country, break
open doors, Cupboards, &c., and do commit certain other acts of Violence
in order to extort money from the Inhabitants, under the Appellation
of Taxes; These are, therefore, to acquaint all His Majesty's Subjects,
that as there can be no Authority legally invested in any Persons for
such acts at this J uncture, that such Attempts to abuse public Liberty
are unwarrantable, and that all Persons have an undoubted natural as
well as lawful Right to repel such Violences; and all his Majesty's Sub-
jects are hereby required to apprehend any Person, whatever, who may
attempt a seizure of their Effects in Consequences of such imaginary

‘Authority, to be dealt with as the Law directs.

“ Given under my Hand, at Fort Dunmore, this 30th Day of December,

' 1774.

“ J om: CONNOLLY.”

The Augusta County Court.~The Augusta County
court had not been opened at Fort Dunmore on
December 20th, as had been determined, but on the
12th of December, 1774, a writ had been issued by

-Lord Dunmore, tested in the name of his Majesty,

adjourning the county court of Augusta County from
Staunton to Fort Dunmore, accompanied with a new
commission of the peace, embracing, with the old
justices of the parent county, the names of such of the
adherents in the Monongahela valley as were re-
garded as proper persons for Virginia magistrates.‘
Their first term‘ of court was held at Fort Dunmore
on Feb. 21, 1775, at which time George Croghan,

John Campbell, John Connolly, Thomas
1775. Smallman, Dorsey Pentecost, John Gibson,

George Vallandigham, and William Goe
appeared, took the qualifying oaths, and occupied
their seats as justices. And see the policy observed
even here. Croghan, during the Dunmore war, had
become quite a Pennsylvanian; he is now made the
presiding justice, and this brought him back among
the Virginia partisans. And from this date there were
not onlytwo different sets of magistrates, with their
subordinate officers, assessors, and commissioners,
over the same people in the Monongahela Valley,

1 For the record of this writ, and the newlcommission of the peace,
see the records of the Augusta County Court, hereafter. ’

CIVIL AND LEGAL‘—-THE REVOLUTION.

179

but within a few miles of each other had been estab-
lished two different courts, regularly (or irregularly)
administering justice under the laws of two different
governments I '

On the very next day after the first sitting of the
Fort Dunmore court, on Feb. 22, 1775, Robert Hanna
and James Caveat, justices, were both arrested for the
performance of their duties as Pennsylvania magis-
trates and confined at Pittsburgh, where they re-
mained for about three months, vainly endeavoring
to obtain a release? After fruitless efforts to obtain
relief from the Governor and Council, then probably
employed with affairs of a most auspicious nature,
the sheriff of Westmoreland County aided by a posse
of an effective strength proceeded to the place‘ of their

incarceration the latter part of June, and set them at

large, carrying Dr. Connolly along with them. Just
when they were released does not appear, but to July
term, 1775, of the Court of Common Pleas of West-
moreland County there is found an action of Oapias
in Case indicating an arrest for damages, brought by
Robert Hanna, Esq., 22. John Connolly. The writ
is returned, C. C., that defendant is arrested. This
cause, the only one in the records of Westmoreland
County having a reference to the Virginia contro-
versy, is marked, “ October, ended, says Plff.,” which
is probably explained by a letter from Valentine
Crawford to George Washington, dated June 24,
17 75,3 from which is extracted as follows:

“ We have chosen committees out here, and are raising an independ-
ent company, regulating matters the best we can; but an unhappy
confusion happened the other day. The Pennsylvanians came to Fort
Pitt with the Sheriff and about twenty men, and took Major Connolly
about midnight, and carried him as far as Ligonier, the very night be-
fore we were to have the talk with the Indians. . . . On Major Connolly
being taken,the people of Chartiers came in a company and seized three
of the Pennsylvania magistrates, "who were concerned in taking off
Connolly,—Geo'rge Wilson, Joseph Spear, and Devereux Smith. They
were sent in an old leaky boat down to Fort Fincastle4 under guard.
Our court, however, had no hand in this. It was done by a mob or set of
Connolly’s friends on Chartiers Creek. The members of our committee
wrote a very spirited‘ letter to the gentlemen of the Pennsylvania com-
mittee,5 demanding.Connolly back. All signed it and sent it with an
express.’ On its receipt they immediately sent Major Connolly back."

The Revolution.—In the foregoing letterthere are
references to a new condition of things. A crisis in
the affairs of the colonies had been reached. The 19th

, of April, Lexington and Concord had become famous
' as the places where the first struggles for independ-

ence were made, and it is now to be seen what effect
the new order was to have upon the boundary con-
troversy. The astounding news had scarcely reached
the Monongahela River when, on the same day, the
16th day of May, 17 75, meetings of citizens were held
both at Hanna’s Town and Pittsburgh, at which sep-
arate meetings the two committees——the Virginia and

2 IV. Penn. Archives, 625; and see 1. St. Clair Papers, 351, 353, 355.

3 Washington-Crawford Letters, 102.

4 A title in honor of Lord Dunmore; at the present Wheeling. By
“ our court” Crawford means the Fort Dunmore court. ' 1

5 These committees were Committees of Safety formed to further the
Revolution just begun, and even in this were they divided.

180'

HISTORY OF WASHINGTON i COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA.

the Pennsylvania committees—-referred to by Valen-
tine Crawford were constituted. Extracts from the rec-
ord of the proceedings of these two meetings are now
given :

“ COMMITTEE or AUGUSTA COUNTY, VA. ,

“ At a meeting of the inhabitants of that part of Augusta county that
lies on the west side of Laurel Hill, at Pittsburgh, the 16th day of Maya
1775, the following gentlemen were chosen a committee for the said dis-
trict, viz.: George Croghan, John Campbell, Edward Ward, Thomas
Smallman, John Cannon, John McCullough, William Goe, George Val-
landigham, John Gibson, Dorsey Pentecost, Edward Cook, William Craw-
ford, Devereux Smith, John Anderson, David Rodgers, Jacob Vanmetre,
Henry Enoch, James Ennis, George Wilson, William Vance, David Shep-
herd, William Elliot, Richmond Willis, Samuel Semple, John Ormsby,
Richard McMahon, John Neville, and John Swearingen.1

“ The foregoing gentlemen met in committee and . . .

“ Resolved, unanimously, That this committee have the highest sense
of the spirited behavior of their brethren in New England, and do most
cordially approve of their opposing the invaders of American rights
and privileges to the utmost extreme, and that each member of this
committee, respectively, will animate and encourage their neighbor-
hood to follow the brave example.

“ The imminent danger that threatens America in general, from min-
isterial and parliamentary denunciations of our ruin, and is now carrying
into execution by open acts of unprovoked hostilities in our sister col-
ony of Massachusetts, as well as the danger to be apprehended to this
colony in particular from a domestic enemy, said to be prompted by the
wicked minions of power to- execute our ruin, added to the menaces of
an Indian war, likewise said to be in contemplation, thereby think to
engage our attention, and divert it from that still more interesting ob-
ject of liberty and freedom, that deeply and with so much Justice hath
called forth ‘the attention of all America; for the prevention of all or
any of these impending evils, &c.” 2

Measures were taken to collect from the people, in
a manner the most agreeable to them, so much money

as would be sufficient to purchase half a pound of _

gunpowder and one pound of lead, flints, and car-
tridge-paper from every tithable person in the
county, which sum was fixed at two shillings and
sixpence for each tithable. The resolutions, only a
small portion of which are given above, are full of
energy and directness:

“COMMITTEE or WESTMORELAND COUNTY, PA.

“ At a general meeting of the inhabitants of the county of Westmore-
land, held at Hanna’s Town the 16th day of May, 1775, for taking into
consideration the very alarming situation of the country, occasioned by
the dispute with Great Britain :

“ Resolved, unanimously, That the Parliament of Great Britain, by sev-
eral late acts, have declared the inhabitants of Massachusetts Bay to be
in rebellion, and the ministry, by endeavoring to enforce those acts, have

attempted to reduce the said inhabitants to a more wretched state of T

slavery than ever before existed in any State or country, not con-
tent with violating the constitutional and chartered rights of humanity,
exposing their lives to the licentious soldiery, and depriving them of the
very means of subsistence.-

“ Resolved, unanimously, That there is no reason to doubt but the same
system of tyranny and oppression will (should it meet with success in
Massachusetts Bay) be extended to other parts of America; it is there-
fore become the indispensable duty of every American, of every man who
has any public virtue or love for his country. or any bowels for posterity,
by every means which God has put in his power to resist and oppose the
execution‘ of it; that for us we will be ready to oppose it with our lives
and fortunes. And the better to enable us to accomplish it, we will im-

1 Quite a number of these committeemen were sound Pennsylvanians.
Devereux Smith, George Wilson, William Elliott, John Ormsby, and
John Swearingen are known to have been, and probably others were.
John Swearingen was the father of Van Swearingen, and lived on the
Monongahela, below Georges Creek. .

' 2 Craig‘s History of Pittsburgh, 128.

J

mediately form ourselves into a military body, to consist of companies
to be made up out of the several townships under the following associa-
tion, which is declared to be the Association of Westmoreland County.”

' Then follow the Articles of Association, which pro-‘

vided that the people should form themselves into a
regiment or regiments and choose oflicers to com-
mand them, in such proportions as should be thought
necessary, and they ended with “ No, licensed murder!
no famine introduced by law !”

End of Dr. Connolly's PoWer.——The spirit of the
Revolution being abroad, the Monongahela valley
is soon rid of Dr. John Connolly. His royal chief,
Lord Dunmore, had early become alarmed and re-
moved his family on board the “ Fowey,”_ a British
man-of-war in the Chesapeake, having previously
taken away the powder from the magazine in Wil-
liamsburg. Patrick Henry, afterwards the illustri-
ous, at the head of a body of armed volunteers, forced
him to surrender the powder, and soon afterwards the
news of Lexington having come, the last British Gov-
ernor of Virginia, on the 8th day of June, 1775, fol-
lows his family to their refuge, and hereafter is the
enemy of his late subjects? As to Connolly himself,
it has already been seen from the letter of Valentine
Crawford that he had been arrested and carried to
Ligo-nier, where, on the application of the Revolu-
tionary Committee at Pitsburgh, he had been released.
Arthur St. Clair wrote to Joseph Shippen, J r., July
12, 1775: 4 “Whilst Connolly was at my house en-
deavoring to procure bail, I treated him with a good
deal of civility, by which, with the help of a cheerful
glass, I got at some of his designs. He is immediately
to go to England with White Eyes and some _other
Delaware chiefs, to solicit for them a confirmation of
the country which they now live in, a great part of
which is within the bounds of this Province, and Lord
Dunmore is to back it with all his interest.” But St.
Clair’s wine was not quite so successful in uncovering
Connolly’s intentions. -

Immediately upon his release, Dr. Connolly pro-
ceeded from Pittsburgh to Lord Dunmore, who sent

him to Gen. Gage, commanding the British forces at ’

Boston. He left Boston on the 14th or 15th September,
and reached Lord Dunmore about the middle of Oc-

tober withinstructions from Gen. Gage to Dunmore,

who granted him a commission of lieutenant-colonel
of a regiment to be raised in the “back parts” and

Canada, with power to nominate his subordinate‘

officers. On Nov. 22, 1775, when the new lieu-
tenant-colonel was on his way to Detroit, where he
was to meet his commission and instructions as an
officer of the British troops to operate against his late
fellow-citizens, he was_ captured at Hagerstown‘, in
Maryland, and amongst the papers found in his pos-
session was the following in his own handwriting,

3 A History of Virginia, by J. W. Campbell (1813), 15+.
4 IV. Penn. Archives, 637; I. St. Clair'Papers, 358.

CIVIL AND LEGAL —ADDRESS

OF DELEGATES IN CONGRESS.

181

evidently a copy of the proposals he had laid before
Gen. Gage in the previous Septemberzl

“ Proposals for Raising an Army to the westward, &c., And for effect-
ually Obstructinga communication between the Southern and Northern
Governments?

“As I have, by directions from his Excellency, Lord Dunmore, pre-
pared the Ohio Indians to act in concert with me against his Majesty’s
Enemies in that quarter, and have also dispatched intelligence to the
different Oflicers of the militia on the frontiers of Augusta County, in
Virginia, giving them Lord Dunmore’s assurances that such of them as
shall hereafter evince their loyalty to h is Majesty, by putting themselves
under my command, when I should appear amongst them with proper
Authority for that purpose, of a confirmation -of title to their lands,
and the quantity of three hundred acres to allwho should take up Arms
in support of the Constitution, when the Present Rebellion is subsided;
I will undertake to penetrate through Virginia, and Join his Excellency,
Lord Dunmore, at Alexandria, early next spring, on the following con-
ditions and authority. . . .. [Here followed the several provisions of the

' plan of his campaign, the supplies, etc., required.] . . . If your Excel-

lency judges it expedient for the good of the service to furnish me with
the Authority & other requisites I have mentioned, I shall embrace the
earliest opportunity of setting off for Canada, and I shall immediately
dispatch Lord Dunmore’s armed Schooner, (which new awaits my Com-
mand,) with an account of what your Excellency has done, and that I
shall be ready, if practicable, to Join his Lordship bylthe 20th of April,
at Alexandria, where the troops under my command may fortify them-
selves under Cover of the Men of War on that station. . . .”

This paper, found concealed carefully in Connolly’s
saddle at the time of his arrest, is without date, but
is there anyvfurther doubt as to the secret purpose of
Dunmore and Connolly, by their usurpations within
our borders, to handicap the efforts of the colonies in
the struggle for independence? But Connolly took

none of the leaders of his Virginia forces into the

British camp with him. Samuel Semple, his father-
in-law; George Croghan, his uncle; Dorsey Pente-
cost, the chief of his co-workers, were joining in the
Revolutionary arrangements of the Augusta County
committee, perhaps at the very time he was ‘prepar-
ing the Ohio Indians to act in concert with him

against his relatives and friends?‘

     

1 For the papers relating to the arrest of ,Dr. Connolly, the Proposals
and his subsequent fate, see IV. Pennsylvania Archives, 681, 682, 654,
695; II. Olden Time, 93, 104, 112, 348. He was turned over to Congress

and held until the winter of 1780-81, when he was exchanged. In the 1

summer of 1782, he with one Johnson was at the head of a body of Brit-

sh and Indians at Lake J adaqueé'(as Chautauqua was then called) threat-
ening an attack upon Fort Pitt, but being deterred by a report of the
abundant preparation made, a body of his Indians made the raid on

Hann-a’s Town on July 13th. After the Revolution was over and the
treaty of peace made with England, Connolly seems to have settled in
Canada, and in 1788 he is found at Louisville, intriguing with the people
of Kentucky, who were said to havemade overtures to Lord Dorchester
to be taken under the protection of the British government. (II. St. Clair
Papers, 98, 101.) Kentucky was then still within the State of Virginia.
(See also concerning him Jacobs’ Life of Cresap, 57, 60.)

2 As this paper is long only portions can be given; the whole is in IV.
Penn. Archives, 654.

, 3 Craig’s History of Pittsburgh, 134.

. As we are now done with the celebrated Dr. Connolly in the text (and
has this illustrious individual received too much consideration '2), that
the reader may know more about his personal history, the following,
found on an interleaf of a ‘ History of the Civil War in America,’ in the
handwriting of John Ormsby, onevof the Augusta County Committee, is
added:

“The above Dr. Connolly was-born and bred near Wright’s Ferry, in
Pennsylvania. His father was a jobber among the farmers on_ the Sus-
quehanna, who found the secret of pleasing an orderly Quaker widow of
thename of Ewing, and the jobber was a professed papist. This match,

It might have been supposed that once the colonies
of Virginia and Pennsylvania were united in a com-
mon cause of such magnitude -as now was pending,
the territorial controversy between them would have
ceased. Not so. However, it will now be necessary
to avoid details and go to generals, showing how that
contest continuing the attention of the Colonial Con-
gress as well as the common friends of both peoples
became actively involved.

Address of Delegates in Congress.—On July 25,
17 7 5, the date when Connolly reached Lord Dunmore
from Gen. Gage at Boston, an address was sent to our
people from the delegates from Pennsylvania and Vir-
ginia in the Continental Congress. As this paper has
been preserved in but few, if in more than one, of the
publications in which it is referred to, it is here copied
entire:

_“ To THE INHABITANTS or PENNSYLVANIA AND VIRGINIA ON THE WEST
SIDE or LAUREL HILL:
.“ Friends and Oountrymen: It gives us much concern to find that dis-

turbances have arisen and still continue among you, concerning the
boundaries of our colonies. In the character in which we new address

‘ you, it is unnecessary to inquire into the origin of these unhappy dis-

putes, and it would be improper for us to express our approbation or

as might be expected, proved very disagreeable, so that he left nothing
to commemorate his memory but the villanous doctor. This fellow had
traversed the Illinois country till he could subsist there no longer, so
that he appeared at Pittsburgh a few years before the commencement
of the Revolution. Here he was introduced to Lord Dunmore, who
traveled through the western country to sound the inclination of the
inhabitants as well as the Indians. Connolly, like a hungry wolf, closed
with Dunmore a bargain that he would secure a considerable interest
among the white inhabitants and the Indians on the frontier. In con-
sequence of this agreement my lord made him a deed of gift of 2000
acres of land at the Falls of the Ohio, and 2000 more to Mr. John Camp-
bell, late of Kentucky, both of which grants are now owned by the heirs
of Col. Campbell. Connolly immediately set himself to work in dis-
seminating his hellish insinuations among the people. He employed an
adjutant to drill the militia, and had the audacity to engage artificers
to repair the old fort, and in every respect acted the part of a tyrant.
He sent runners among the Indians far and near, with large ‘promises
of soon supplying them with goods and money. Having thus far paved

the way for his atrocious designs, he met Lord Dunmore at Alexandria, _

where they concerted the infernal scheme of massacring all those on
the frontiers who would not join in their work. Matters thus progressed
and Lord Dunmore sent Connolly to General Clinton at New York [this
should be General Gage, at Boston,—ED.], who approved the scheme,
appointed Connolly a lieutenant-colonel and commander of two or three
regiments of whites and Indians, with authority to draw on the pay-
master-general for cash. Upon this exaltation, the great and mighty
Connolly set out for Baltimore, where he joined the persons who were
taken (captured) along with him, and who were no doubt as sanguinary
villains as himself. A report was whispered among the minute-men at
Hagerstown, etc., of Connolly's schemes, so that they had a sharp look-
out for him, and happily -succeeded in arresting him and his comrades,
and all the commissions for thenew regiments, with the general plan
of their operations, were found upon him, upon which he was committed
to prison. This news, you may be sure, was joyfully received on the
frontier and especially at Pittsburgh, where the writer of these lines
resided with his family.

“When Lord Dunmore arrived in Pittsburgh (in 1773 or 1774) he
lodged at my house, and often closeted me, as he said, for information
respecting the disposition of the inhabitants. He ‘threw o11t some
dark insinuations as to my usefulness, in case I would be concerned,
but as he found I kept aloof he divulged his plans to Connolly, and I
suppose to Campbell, else why give him the aforesaid grant of land
which he enjoys and is very valuable? . . . Connolly and Arnold, both
of whom merited a halter, are now on half-pay on the British establish-
ment.” From II. Olden Time, 93.

22

HISTORY OF WASHINGTON COUN TY, PENNSYLVANIA.

ably, how near he had approached to the great river
which it was the object of his journey to discover.
Thirteen years later he reached it by a more northern
route, passed down its swift current to the mouth,
where, on the 9th of April, 1682, in full sight of the
blue expanse of the Gulf of Mexico, he reared a
cross, and a column inscribed with the name and
arms of the French sovereign, and took possession
for him of the valley of the Mississippi and a con-
tiguous country of indefinite extent, which he named
Louisiana, embracing, according to the French theory
of possession, all the valley of the mighty stream and
all the regions watered by its tributaries discovered
and to be discovered in the future.

There is no doubt that La Salle and the party who
came with him down the Allegheny in 1669 were the
first Europeans who ever saw that stream, the Monon-
gahela, or "the Ohio. Very little is known of any
white visitors _who came after them to this region
during the eighty years next succeeding, for there is
no definite account of the presence in this section of
country of any other people than the native Indians
and occasionally a white trader until near the middle
of the "eighteenth century, at which time both France
and England were asserting their respective claims to
the dominion of this wilderness region. west of the
mountains. It was in the _conflict which resulted
from the attempts of eachiof these rivals to expel
the other, and to enforce their own alleged rights by
the fact of actual possession, that the events occurred
that are here to be narrated, and which mark the be-
ginning of the history of the southwestern counties
of Pennsylvania.

The English claimed the country by virtue of a
treaty made with the Six Nations at Lancaster in
June, 1744, when the Indians ceded to the British
king an immense scope of territory west of the royal
grant to Penn,1 co-extensive with the limits of Vir-
ginia, which at that_time were of indefinite extent.
At a subsequent treaty held (in 1752) at Logstown,
on the Ohio, below Pittsburgh, one of the Iroquois
chiefs, who had also taken part in the Lancaster
treaty, declared that it had not been the intention of
his people to convey to the English any lands west
of the Alleghenies, but that, nevertheless, they would
not oppose the white man’s definition of the bound-
aries. .

The Six Nations in council had also decided that,
notwithstanding their friendship for the English,
they would remain neutral in the contest which they
saw was imminent between that nation and the
French, both of which were now using every effort
to strengthen themselves in the occupation of the
territory bordering the head-waters of the Ohio.

The claim which France made to the ownership of
the territory at the head of the Ohio was based on

1 It was supposed at that time that.Penn?s western boundary would
not fa1l_to the Westward of the Laurel Hill.

_ watered by that river and all its afiluents.

La Salle’s’ discovery of the mouth of the Mississippi
nearly seventy years before, and on the possession
then taken for the French king of all the regions
To fortify
and confirm this claim they took measures to occupy
the country bordering on the head-streams of the
Ohio, and in this they were somewhat earlier, as well
as more active and energetic, than the English.
The first mention found inany public document of
the actual or probable presence of French people on
any part of the territory of the province of Pennsyl-
vania with intent to occupythe same under authority-
,.of their government is that which occurs in the
records of a session of the Provincial Council? held at
Philadelphia, Aug. 4, 1731. The message of the
Governor which was on that occasion laid before the
Council, and “being approved was ordered to be sent
down to the House,” concluded with these words:
“I have also another Affair of very great Import-
ance to the Security of this Colony & all its Inhabit-
ants to lay before you, which shall speedily be com-
municated to you,” and .

“ The Governor then proceeded to inform the Board
that the Matter mentioned in the close of the preced-

= ing Message related to Indian Affairs, & would be

found to be likewise of very great Consequence to
the whole Province, the Detail whereof His Honor
said he would leave to Mr. Logan, to whom the Infor-
mation had been first given, and who, from his long
experience and knowledge in those affairs, could give
the best Account of it. »

“ That Gentleman then producing the Map of
Louisiana, as inserted in a book called a New Gen-
eral Atlas, published at London in the year 1721, first
observed from thence how exorbitant the French
Claims were on the Continent of America; that by
the Description in the said Map they claimed a great
part of Carolina and Virginia, & had laid down Sas-
quehannah as a Boundary of Pensilvania. Then he
proceeded to observe that by Virtue of some Treaty,
as they alledge, the French pretend a Right to all
Lands lying on Rivers, of the Mouths of which they
are possessed. That the River Ohio (a branch of
Mississippi) comes close to those mountains which
lye about 120 "or 130 Miles back of Sasquehannah,
within the boundaries of this Province, as granted by
the King’s Letters Patent; that adjoining thereto is a
fine Tract of Land called Allegheny, on which sev-
eral Shawanese Indians had seated themselves; And
that by the Advices lately brought to him by several
Traders in those parts it appears that the French
have been using Endeavours to gain over those
Indians to their interest,-& for this End a French
Gentleman had come amongst-them some years since,
sent, as it was believed, from the Governor of Mon-
treal, and at his Departure last year carried with him
some of the Shawanese Chiefs to that Governour,

2 Colonial Records, vol. iii. pp. 401, 402.

182

HISTORY OF WASHINGTON COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA.

censure on either side; but as representatives of two of the colonies
united among many others for the defence of the liberties of America,
we think it our duty to remove, as far as lies in our power, every obsta-
cle that may prevent her sons from cooperating as vigorously as they
would wish to do toward the attainment of this great and important end.
Influenced solely by this motive, our joint and earnest request to you is
that all animosities which have heretofore subsisted among you as in-
habitants of distinct colonies may now give place to generous and con-
curring efforts for the preservation of everything that can make our
common country dear to us.

“ We are fully persuaded that you, as well as we, wish to see your dif-
ferences terminate in this happy issue. For this desirable use we recom-
mend it to you, that all bodies of armed men kept up under either prov-
ince be dismissed, that all those on either side who are in confinement
or under bail for taking a part in the contest be discharged, and that
until the dispute be decided every person be permitted to retain his pos-
sessions unmolested.

“ By observing these directions the public tranquillity will be secured
without injury to the titles on either side; the period, we flatter our-
selves, will soon arrive when this unfortunate dispute, which has pro-
duced much mischief, and, as far as we can learn, no good, will be peace-
ably and constitutionally determined. .

“ We are your friends and countrymen.

“ P. HENRY.

“ RICHARD HENRY LEE.
“BENJAMIN HARRISON.
“ THOMAS JEFFERSON.

“ J oHN DICKINSON.

“ GEORGE Ross.

“ B. FRANKLIN.

“ J AMES WILSON.

“ CHAS. HUMPHREYS.
“ PHILADELPHIA, July 25, 1775.” 1

There were no armed men maintained by the Penn-
sylvania authorities on their side, nor, so far as known,
were there any Virginians held in confinement after
Connolly had been liberated; Whereas the Virginians
had a regularly organized militia, and at the date of
this communication held George Wilson, Joseph
Spear, and Devereux Smith in‘ confinement at Fort
Fincastle, “exposed to every species of insult and
abuse,” unless they were released when Connolly was
discharged.’ Hence the expression as to “ either
province” and “either side” were doubtless used to
avoid making disagreeable distinctions?’

CHAPTER XIII.

THE CIVIL AND LEGAL HISTORY.—(C'mm'nued.)

V.

The Boundary Controversy continued—-Proceedings of the Virginia
Legislature-—Divisionl of the District of West Augusta into Three
Counties: Ohio, Yohogania, and Monongalia——Council of War at Catfish
Camp——Petition fora new State--Oath of Allegiance to Virginia
—Virginia Land Laws—-The Baltimore Agreement as to the Boundary
Line-—Virginia Surveys-—Pennsylvania Indignant-—Final Ratification
of Boundary Agreement. ~

Virginia Legislative Proceedings.——Hencefor-
ward, though deeds of violence between the con-

tending parties were neither so frequent nor of so
grave a character, yet there was no disposition on the

1 This paper is copied from Jacobs’ “ Life of Michael Cresap,” 62, the
only place where it is known to be printed. The author says, “ As I con-
sider this proclamation ‘an important document, and nowhere recorded,
I give it to the reader verbatim in toto.”

2 See St. Clair to Joseph Shippen, J r., I. St. Clair Papers, 358.

3 I. Olden Time, 445. '

l part of Virginia, now about to become an independ-
ent sovereignty, to surrender her foothold in the val-
leys of the Monongahela and Ohio. Lord Du'nmore’s
power having ceased, her “ Convention of Delegates
for the Counties and Corporations in Vir-

ginia” was held at Richmond, July 17, 1775. 1775.
On the 7th of August that convention re-

solved “that Capt. John Neville be directed to march

session of Fort Pitt, and that said company be in the
pay of the colony from the time oftheir marching.“

Chapter I. of the General Ordinances passed by this
convention was for raising a force for the defense of
the colony. Two complete regiments of ten hundred
and twenty men each were to be raised. Exclusive of
these regiments there were to be two companies, of
which that of Capt. Neville was to be one, and another
of one hundred and twenty-five men to be raised in
West Augusta. By the same ordinance the colony
was divided into sixteen districts, “ and the inhabitants
of West Augusta are to compose one entire District.”"’

Chapter IV.“ regulated the election of delegates

‘and committee-men in the several counties, and its
Section 10 provided that the freeholders of every
county and corporation within this colony, “ and the
landholders in the district of West Augusta, as here-
after described, shall have the liberty and privilege
of electing annually twenty-one of the most discreet,
fit, and able men, being freeholders, to act as a com-
mittee for carrying into execution the association and
such other measures as the Continental Congress or
General Convention of the colony may direct.”

The next Virginia Convention, that for December,
1775, was held first at Richmond, and afterwards by
adjournment to Williamsburg, heretofore the State
capital.’ And at Williamsburg (the royal govern-
ment having ceased to- have sway there) was held the
convention of May, 177 6, at which the Declaration of
Rights8 and the new Constitution was adopted.”

Chapter V. of the ordinances of the convention of
May, 1776, was “ An ordinance” to enable the present
magistrates and officers to continue the admin-
istration of justice, and for settling the general 1776.
mode of proceedings in criminal and other
cases till the same canbemore amply provided for.”
Section 4 provided: -

4 This Capt. Neville, pfior to 1774, had made large entries and pur-
chases under Virginia rights of lands on Chartiers Creek, and was about

out. He was the Gen. Neville whose residence was burned in the Whiskey
Insurrection. This residence was on the right bank of Chartiers Creek,
near‘Woodvil1e, and opposite the present Allegheny County Poor-farm.

Capt. Neville is said to have taken no part in the jurisdictional con-
test, his presence at Pittsburgh with his command having reference to the
protection of the frontiers from the Indians and their preservation from
British approach. (I. Olden Time, 445.) ‘

5 9 Hening’s Statutes, 13, 14. In this ordinance we have the first
recognition in. the Virginia laws of the district of West Augusta, the
jurisdiction of the Fort Dunmore court, as will appear. It is seen that
West Augusta as a civil division was never created by law, but simply
recognized by this and later ordinances.

5 9 Hening, 53. 7 Ibid., 75. 3 Ibid., 109. 9 Ibid., 112. 10 Ibid., 126.

with his command of one hundred men and take pos- I

to remove thither from near Winchester, Va., when the Revolution broke A

CIVIL AND LEGAL—DIVISION OF THE DISTRICT OF WEST AUGUSTA.

183

“And whereas courts in the District of West Augusta have hitherto
been held by writs of adjournment, which writs cannot now be obtained,
Be it therefore ordained, That the Justices residing in the said District,
on taking the same oath aforesaid, shall have the power and authority
to hold a court within the said District, on the third Tuesday of every
month, at such place as they may appoint, and shall exercise th’eir'office
both in court and without, in the same manner as the justices of the
several counties are by this ordinance empowered to do.”

The reader of the extracts from the records of the
Westmoreland County courts will remember that after
the April term of 1776 the courts of that county held
no sessions until in January, 1778. But the Virginia
courts, at . Pittsburgh (the name of Fort Dunmore
having been abandoned), continued regularly, and,
as will hereafter be seen from the records themselves,
when the ordinance quoted reached the valley of

.Monongahela, the justices determined‘ that by its pro-

visions their jurisdiction became independent of that
of old Augusta County, and they were entitled to a
clerk and other oflicers of their own appointment,‘
and enabled to remove the seat of justice from Pitts-
burgh to Augusta Town, just over the ridge west from
the present Washington.

The Continental Congress at an early period per-
ceived the importance of securing the friendship of
the Indians, at _least so far as to prevent their acting

in concert with their enemies,” and on July 4, 1776, ,

appointed commissioners to hold treaties with them.
The commissioners for the Middle Department were

-Jasper Yeates and J ohnMontgomery from Pennsyl-

vania, and Dr. Thomas Walker and John Harvie
from Virginia. These gentlemen met at Fort Pitt
soon after their appointment, but were not able to
assemble the tribes until in October. VVhile at this
place the commissioners doubtless observed the evils
arising out of the disputed jurisdiction, probably

they had some instructions in the premises, for there

is extant a paper in the handwriting of Jasper Yeates,
evidently prepared by these commissioners, which is
of such interest as to warrant its publication : 3

“ A proposal for accommodating the Disputes between the Counties of
West Augusta and Westmoreland until the boundary between them can
be settled.

“ lst. That the Laws as far as respects the Jurisdiction of the County
of West. Augusta be exercised on the South side of Youghyogany River
and said River be considered as the Boundary between the two Counties
in respect to the Jurisdiction of their respective Courts only.

“2d. That the People claiming under the County of Westmoreland
may continue to be represented at their Capital as usual and have
liberty to choose their Representatives and all other Ofiicers of Govern-
ment; only their Sheriffs, Magistrates, and Constables shall not act in
Oflice on the South side of said River; Provided always, that nothing
herein contained shall tend to invalidate any Judgment in the Courts
held heretofore for Westmoreland, but when a boundary is run they may
execute such Judgments on their side of the said Boundary anything
herein to the contrary notwithstanding.

“ 3d. That the Inhabitants on the South side of the Youghyogany and
East of the Monongahela River as far as the great line shall not pay

1 Quite a squabble ensued in an effort to oust John Madison, the old
clerk, to make a place for Dorsey Pentecost.

2 Pioneer History, by S. P. Hildreth, 97; Craig’s History of Pittsburgh,
140. '

3 This paper has never before been printed ; thanks are due to Hon.
G. L. Cranmer, of Wheeling, for the copy here used.

Taxes to either Government until said Boundary is settled, and all per-
sons associated in the Militia are to serve under the Government they
associated under. If these Proposals shall meet the Approbation of the
Public the People for West Augusta shall meet at Mr. Martin Kemp’s on‘
the 2d Tuesday in November next, and those claiming under Westmore-
land at Mr. Edward Cook’s, the same Day, to choose six men to be their
Trustees to Negotiate and confirm the above Proposals.
‘ “ BY FRIENDS T0 BOTH GOVERNMENTS.
“ October 18th, 1776.” 4

The suggestions contained in these proposals for
the temporary adjustment of the disputed judicial
jurisdiction seem to have attracted no attention even.
Historical writers heretofore have made no reference
to this document, and give no account of any meet-
ings held at the place designated. At least the writer
has not been able to find such references.

Division of the District of West Augusta.-The
district of West Augusta, with its county-seat at Au-
gusta Town, was not, however, of long duration now,
for the Virginia General Assembly of October, 1776,
at Williamsburg, Patrick Henry, Governor, ‘made
several enactments affecting that jurisdiction. Chap-
ter XLVF’ was:

“ An act for ascertaining the boundary between the county of Augusta

and the Districtof West Augusta, and for dividing the said District into
three distinct counties.” 6

4 The Jasper Yeates who was the writer of this paper (for there had
been one or more of that name before him) was a citizen of Lancaster.
He was justice of the Supreme Court of Pennsylvania from 1779 till
his death in March, 1817. While at Pittsburgh, in 1776, he paid a visit
to the scene of Braddock’s defeat in company with his fellow-commie’
sioner, Dr. Walker, and wrote a letter (published in VI. Hazard’s Reg-
ister, lO4; also in II. Pa. Archives, Sec. S., 740) describing the appear-
ance of that battle-field. Dr. Walker had participated in the scenes
upon that field on July 9, 1755, twenty-one year before.

“He pointed out the ford where the army crossed the Monongahela (be-
low Turtle Creek 800 yards) ; a finer sight could not have been beheld;
the shining barrels of the muskets, the excellent order of the men, the
cleanliness of their appearance, the joy depicted on every face at being
so near Fort Du Quesne, the highest object of their wishes the music
re-echoing throughout the mountains. How brilliant the morning!
how melancholy the evening!”

5 9 Hening, 262.

6 The writer has a paper without date, in the handwriting of Col.
George Morgan, evidently prepared before the passage of the act in the
text. Col. Morgan (afterwards of Morganza) was, by appointment of
Congress, Indian agent for the Middle Department,'with headquarters at

Pittsburgh, from April, 1776, for several years. He was not an adherent

of the Virginia power,.and therefore could not have been the author of
the paper, which is as follows:

“ Proposed Division of West Augusta into Three C'ounties,—— Ohio, Youghz'o-
gems and Monongahela. H H

“ Ohio County-- .

“ To begin where the Division Line between Maryland and Pennsyl-
vania, continued in the same Course Westward, strikes the Mononga-
hela; Thence the same Course continued to the River Ohio; Thence
up the River Ohio & along the several windings thereof to the Monon-
gahela River, and up the said Monongahela River to the Place of Begin-
ning.

“Remarks: This would make a County of a good Figure, nearly
square, about fifty Miles long & thirty broad; the whole bounded by
Natural Lines except about thirty miles; The Centre of this Tract of
Country would be near the Heads of Chartiers Creek, A rich Country
thick settled & well watered with fine Springs.

“ Monongahela County-
“ To begin at the lower side of the Mouth of the litle Kanawha;
Thence South-East to the Laurel Hill to where it is crossed by the Bound-

D

184

HISTORY OF WASHINGTON COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA.

“Whereas it is expedient to ascertain the boundary between the
county of Augusta and the District of West Augusta. Be it enacted,
&c., That the boundary between the said District and county shall be
as follows, to wit: Beginning on the Allegheny mountain between the
heads of the Potowmack, Cheat, and Green Briar Rivers; thence along
the ridge of mountains which divides the Waters of Cheat river from
those of Green Briar, and that bra.nch of the Monongahela called Ty-
gers Valley river to the Monongahela river; thence up the said river and
the west fork thereof, to Bingemans creek, on the northwest side of the
said west fork; thence up the said creek to the head thereof; thence in
a direct course to the head of Middle Island creek, a branch of the

, Ohio ; and thence to the Ohio, including all the waters of the said creek

in the aforesaid District of West Augusta; all that territory lying to
the northward of the aforesaid boundary, and to the westward of the
Statesof Pennsylvania and Maryland, shall be deemed and is hereby
declared to be within the District of West Augusta}

“And to render the benefits of government and administration of
justice more easy and convenient to the people of said District, Be it
enacted, &c., That from and after the 8th day of November next ensuing
all that part of the said District lying within the following lines, to
wit: Beginning at the mouth of Cross Creek, thence up the same to the
head thereof, thence southeastwardly to the nearest part of the ridge
which divides the waters of the Ohio from those of the Monongahela,
thence along the said ridge to the line which divides the county of Au-
gusta from the said District, thence with the said boundary to the Ohio,
thence 11p the same to the beginning, shall be one distinct county, and
be called and known by the name of Ohio County.

ary Line between Maryland & Pennsylvania extended to the Westward;
Thence Westward the same Course as the said Line continued to the
River Ohio; Thence down the River Ohio to the place of beginning.

' “Remarks: This is nearly a square Figure &contains all the Settle-
ments on the Monongahela above Youghiogane County. It is about fifty
Miles Long and near forty broad. The Centre of the Settled part of this
Country is at or near the Mouth of the West Fork of Monongahela, a
rich. well settled country; and as the Indiana Claimis contained within
these Lines, no other County would be involved in a Dispute with the
Proprietors.

“ Youghiogane County-

“ To begin where Ohio County does-—viz.: where the division Line be-_
tween Maryland & Pennsylvania continued in the same Course W'est-
ward strikes the Monongahela; Thence down the River Monongahela
to the Alleghany River & up the said Alleghany River to the Western
Boundary Line of the State of Pennsylvania; thence along the said
Western Boundary Line of the State of Pennsylvania to the Southern
Boundary Line of the State of Pennsylvania; Thence Eastward along
the said Southern Boundary Line of the State of Pennsylvania to the
Meridian of the Western Boundary Line of Maryland ; thence south to
the'North West Corner or Boundary of Maryland ; Thence West to the
Place of Beginning; And whereas it is uncertain where the Western &
Southern Boundary Lines of Pennsylvania will fall or be fixed when the
Line of Property shall be run; Suppose until then the said Boundary
should be pointed out as follows :-—To begin at the Mouth of Plum Run
& up the same to the head thereof; Thence to the Bul1ock,Penns in
Tenure of acertain William Elliott; Thence along the great Road to
the Widow Mires; thence along the New Virginia Road & Braddock’s
old Road (as proposed by ‘the Honhle. Convention of Virginia to the
Convention of Penna. as a temporary Boundary between the two States,)
to the Boundary of Maryland.

“ Remarks: This is a very compact figure nearly of the same size as
the other two Counties. The Centre of it would be some where about
the Mouth of Jacobs Creek, in a very fertile and populous Country.
By this division there is no Inhabitants of the three Counties would
have to cross any diflicult Waters when obliged to attend at Courts or
other public Meetings.

“Additional Remarks: The Inhabitants settled between the Laurel
Hill and the Alleghany Mountains along Cheat River, Tyger Valley &
Green Briarare sufficient for a Fourth County or they might remain in
Augusta or be included in Monongahela County, by extending the first
Line to the Alleghany Hill.
County as above proposed is claimed by Penna. and as the Mononga-
hela is the Extent of their present Claim, the Proceedings in the
Courts of the undisputed parts of Virginia would not, should this
division be adopted, be interrupted or Party Quarrels arise in them."

1 This section, it will be observed, simply provided for a dividing line
on the southeast and south for the districtof West Augusta.

C

Memm. Every foot of Youghiogane

“ And all that part of the said district lying to the northward of the
following lines, viz.: beginning at the mouth of Cross Creek, and run-
ning up its several courses to the head thereof, thence southeastwardly
to the nearest part of the aforesaid dividing ridge between the waters
of the Monongahela and Ohio, thence along the said ridge to the head
of Ten Mile Creek, thence east to the road leading from Catfish Camp
to Redstone Old Fort, thence along the said road to the Monongahela.
River to the said Fort, thence along Dunla.p’s old road to Braddock’s
road and with the same to the meridian of the head fountain of the Po-
towmac, shall be one other distinct county, and be called and known by
the name of Yohogania County?

“ And all that part of the said District lying on the northward of the
county of Augusta, to the westward of the meridian-of the head foun-
tain of the Potowmack, to the southward of the county of Yohogania,
and to the eastward of the county of Ohio shall be one other distinct
county and shall be called and known by the name of the county of
Monongalia. '

“And for the administration of justice in the said counties of Ohio,
Yohogania, and Monongalia, after the same shall take place, Be it
enacted, &c., That after the said 8th day of November, courts shall be
constantly held every month by the justices of the respective counties,
upon the days hereafter specified for each county respectively, that is to

say: For the county of Ohio, on the first Monday, for the county of 4

Monongalia on the second Monday and for the county of Yohogania on
the fourth Monday in every month, in such manner as by the laws of

this commonwealth is provided for other counties, and as shall be by

their commission directed.”

These acts of the Virginia General Assembly are
copied verbatim from the original volumes of H ening,
and to illustrate to the eye those parts of Pennsyl-
vania embraced in the original district of West Au-

I gusta, as well as within the limits of the counties of

Ohio, Yohogania, and Monongalia, a maphas for the
first time been constructed and expressly for this
W.0rk.

A subsequent section of the chapter from which the
foregoing extracts are made provided that Yohogania
County should have jurisdiction to hear and deter-
mine all actions and suits, both in law and equity,
which should be “depending” before the court of
West Augusta at the time the said jurisdiction should
take place. And it was further provided :3

“ And be it further enacted, etc., That it shall and may be lawful for
the landholders of the said counties respectively, qualified as aforesaid}
to vote for representatives in General Assembly, and they are hereby re-
quired to meet at thetimes and places hereafter mentioned, that is to say :
The landholders of the county of Yohogania to meet at the house of An-
drew Heath, on the Monongahela, in the said county, on the eighth day of
December next; the landholders of the county of Monongalia to meet at
the house of Jonathan Corbin (Coburn), in the said county, on the said
eighth day of December next, and the landholders of the county of Ohio
to meet at the house of Ezekiel Dewit, in the said county, on the said
eighth day of December next, then and there to choose the place of hold-
ing courts for their respective counties.”

Whether the election required to be held at the

house of Andrew Heath to choose a place for holding"

their courts of Yohogania was held at the time and

2 Here again is had only the southern line of Yohogania County, di-
viding it from Ohio and Monongalia, permitting Virginia to exercise her
jurisdiction as far to the east and north as she could get.

3 9 Hening, 264, 265.

4 The qualifications were, by a preceding section, the possession for the
year preceding of 25 acres of land with a house and a plantation, or of
100 acres without a house and plantation, claiming an estate for life in
one’s own right, or in right of his wife, although a patent had not been
obtained ; in all future elections of senators the three counties were to
form one district. '

CIVIL AND LEGAL—PETITION FOR A NEW STATE.

185

place appointed is not known, but the records of that
court show (although there is some obscurity) that
when duly organized it held its sessions at the plan-
tation of Andrew Heath, on the left bank of the Mo-
nongahela, in what is now Allegheny County, but
near the Washington County line. There its busi-
ness continued to be done until Aug. 28, 1780, after,
indeed, the boundary line was established, though
before it had been finally run and marked. Jona-
than Co_burn lived about ten miles southeast of New
Geneva, in what is now Fayette County,‘ and the
place chosen for the holding of the courts of Monon-
galia County was the plantation of Theophilus Phil-
lips, about two miles above New Geneva, on the Mo-
nongahela River, and here its courts were held until

the establishment of the boundary line, when, to get

them out of Pennsylvania,.they were removed to the
plantation of Zachwell Morgan, afterwards Morgan-
town. The early records of this court were lost in the
burning of the clerk’s oflice in 1796. The place fixed
for holding the courts of Ohio County was Black’s
cabin, on Short Creek, now West Liberty, and the
first court held there for that county was on Jan. 6,
1777. There these courts continued to be held until
1797, when they were removed to Wheeling.”

Council of War at Catfish Camp.——The military
as Well as the civil power of Virginia was also ac-
tively exercised west of the Alleghanies. On the 13th

' of December, 1776, Patrick Henry addressed a letter to

Dorsey Pentecost, then county lieutenant (the ofliicer
having charge and direction of the militia) for Yoho-
gania County, apprising him of the certainty of In-
dian hostilities in the next spring, and advising every
possible ' preparation to be made in anticipation
thereof. '

In pursuance of the recommendations of this letter,

.a “council of war” was held at Catfish Camp, now

Washington, on the 28th and 29th of Janu-
1777. ary, 177 7 . This meeting was attended by the
several county lieutenants and field-oflicers of

A the three counties, and by thirty-two captains of mi-

litia. It would be interesting to know at what spot
the council was held.3

1 The Monongahela of Old, 93.

2 There has long been a tradition that an old Virginia court-house
stood just west of Washington, one account placing it at Razortown
(Jacobs’ Life and Times of Patrick Gass, 229), which was a collection
of houses on the farm now of Hon. John Hall, a short distance north-
west; another placing it upon the farm of William Gabby, about one
pile immediately west of that borough; and our older historians (Dr.
Smith's Old Redstone, 32, 113, and 129, and Dr. Creigh’s History of
Washington County, 137) would place the court-house of Ohio County,
Va., at one or the other of these places. The writer, aided by the
statements of old citizens, after a close study of the records of Augusta
County and of the Yohogania County courts, has come to the conclu-
sion that there was a log court-house and jail sixteen by twenty-four
feet on Mr. Gabby’s -farm, and that it was the court-house of Augusta
County, Va., just before'Yol1ogania County was organized, at which
place business was done for two or three monthly terms in the fall of
1776. (See note to the Centennial Celebration of Washington County,
39, and the records of the Augusta County Court hereafter.)

3 For the interest attached to this council the letter and proceedings

Petition (for a New State.~The reader has now
seen the establishment over the territory west of the
Alleghanies of both the civil and military power of
Virginia, and it must be apparent that by the winter

are here printed from the originals, presented by D. T. Morgan, Esq.,
from the pa.pers of his grandfather, Col. George Morgan:

“ WILLIAMSBURCH, December 13th, 1776.

“SIn,—The more I consider of the state of things in your quarter,
the more I am convinced of the Necessity there is to prepare for hos-
tilities in the Spring; and although Continental Troops will be stationed
on the Ohio, yet the Militia must be the last great Resource from which
your safety is derived. In order to form something resembling Maga-
zines, for the Present I have ordered about six Tuns of Lead for West
Augusta; and that this article may be deposited in the Proper places, I
wish you to summon a Council of Field Ofiicers and Captains, and Take
their Opinions which places are the fittest places for Magazines in the
three countys of Yohogania, Monongalia, and Ohio, and Transmit the
result to me. I wish you would please to find out where Capt. Gibson’s
Cargo of Powder is, and let me know. In the Council of Officers I would
desire it should be Considered whether the Militia with you want any
articles Government can furnish and what it is, for be assured it will
give me great pleasure to Contribute to your safety. I am of the opinion
that unless your People wisely Improve this winter you may probably;
be destroyed. Prepare then, to make resistance while you have Time.
I hope by your Vigorous Exertions your frontier may be defended, and
if necessity shall require some assistance be afforded to Combat our Eu-
ropean Enemies, I have great Expectations from the number and known
Courage of your Militia, and if you are not wanting in foresight and
preparation they will do great things. Let a plan of Defence be fixed
and settled beforehand; I mean principally the places of Rendezvous
and the Oflicers who are to act, as well as to Provide Speedy and cer-
tain Intelligence. Let the Arms be kept in constant repair and readi-
ness, and the Accoutrements properly fixed. It will be proper to send
out Scouts and Trusty Spies Toward the Enemies Country to bring you
accounts of their movements. I wish great care may be used in the
Nomination of Military Oificers with you, as so much depends on a
proper appointment. You will please to give Strict attention to the
great Objects here recommended to you, and I shall be Happy to hear
of the safety of your people, whose Protection Government will omit
Nothing to accomplish.

- “ I am, Sir,
“ Your most obedient servant,
“P. HENRY, JUN.
“COL. Donsnr PEN'rncosr.”

 

“At a Council of War held at Catfish Camp in the District of West
Augusta the 28th day of January , Anno Domini 1777.
“ Present, Dorsey Pentecost, Co‘y Li eut.

John Cannon, Colo. V

Isaac Cox, Lieut.-Colo.

Henry Taylor, Major.

David Sheperd, Co’y Lieut.

Silas Hedge, Colo.

David McClure, Lieut.-Colo.

Samuel McCullough, Major.

Zacheriah Morgan, Co’y Lieut.

John Evins, Major.

Captains: John Munn.
David Andrew.

Captains: David, Owings.
Henry Hogland.

John Wall. John Pearce Duvall.
Cornelius Thompson. James Brinton.
Gabriel Cox. Vinson Colvin.

Michael Rawlings.
William Scott.

{' Joseph Ogle.
William Price.
Joseph Tumbleson.
Benjamin Fry.
Matthew Richey.
Samuel Meason.
Jacob Lister.
Peter Reasoner.
James Rogers.

James Buckhannon.
Abner Howell.
Charles Crecraft.
John Mitchell.
John Hogland.
Reason Virgin.
William Harrod.
David Williamson.
Joseph Cisnesy.
Charles Martin.
Owin Daviss.

186

HISTORY OF WASHINGTON COUNTY, PENS YLVAN IA.

of 1776-77, at which time the Revolution had fairly
begun, and the settlers were in terror and distress
from anticipated Indian barbarities, already too Well
known to them in all their horrors,—that by this pe-

“ Colonel Dorsey Penticost was unanimously chosen President of this
Council, whereupon Col. Morgan and Col. Shepherd Conducted him to
his seat.

“ Col. David McClure was unanimously chosen Clark. V

“ The President Informed the Council of the Importance of the busi-
ness for which he had convened them and Concluded with Recommend-
ing Deliberation in their Councils, Decency and decorum in their De-
bates,,and then Produced Letters from his Excellency the Governor,
dated the 9th and 13th of December last, Signifying the Necessity of
Spedy and Vigorous Exertion of the Militia, and putting them in a
proper State of Defence &c. &_c.

“ Upon Motion made Resolved, That Col. Dorsey Pentecost, Col. Shep-
herd, Col. Morgan, Col. Cannon, Cap. Richey, Col. McClure, Maj. Evins,
Cap. Mitchel & Cap. Martin be appointed a select Council to Consider of
the before Mentioned Letters and make their Report to this Council, to
be then Reconsidered, and the Council adjourned until Tomorrow at 10
O’Clock.

“ January 29, 1777.

“ The Council met according to adjournment, and Col. Isaac Cox was
unanimously Chosen Vice President. Col. Pentecost from the Select
Council delivered the following Resolutions which he read in his place
and then sent to the Clark’s Table where they were read a Second Time,
and

“ Resolved, that it is the opinion of your Committee, That the follow-
ing is proper ‘Places for Magazines in the District of West Augusta (viz)
the House of Gabriel Cox in the County of Yohogania, the House of John
Swearingen in the County of Monongalia & the House of David Shep-
herd in the County of Ohio; and that the Six Tunns of Led to be sent
to this district mentioned in his Excellency’s letter of the 13th of De-
cember last, addressed to C01. Pentecost, be divided in the following
manner and deposited at the before mentioned places, (viz) for Yohoga-
nia County_2% Tunns, for the Monongalia County 214 Tunns & for the
Ohio County 1% Tunns, being (as this Committee Conceives) as equal a
Division of the said Led and other Ammunition that may be sent to this
District, according to the number of People in each County as may be.

“Resolved, That his Excellency, the Governor, be requested to send
with all Convenient Expedition, Powder Equivalent to the before Men-
tioned Led, which agreeable to the Rifle use is one pound of Powder to
two pounds of Led, with Ten Thousand flints.

“Resolved, That in Consequence of his Excellency’s Requisition that
it is highly Necessary and it is accordingly Strongly recommended to
C01. Pentecost to send a Capt. and 50 Men down the Ohio to find out if
Possible where Capt. Gibson’s Cargo of Powder is, & Conduct it up to
the Settlements and that it is the Opinion of this Council that the Ofli-
cers and Men to be employed in the Business Deserves double Wag.es.

“Resolved, As the Opinion of your Committee, That upon the best In-
formation they can at this Time Collect, that one-third of the Militia of
this District is without Guns, Occasioned by so many of the Regular
Troops being furnished with Guns out of the Militia of this District,
and that one-half of the remaining Part wants repairs.

“ Resolved, Therefore, that Government be requested to send up to this
district one Thousand Guns, these Rifles, if Possible to be had, as Mus-
kets will by no means he of same Service to defend us against an Indian
Enemy. .

“Resolved, For the Purpose of Repairing Guns, Making Tommehocks,
Sculping knives, &c., that proper Persons ought to be Employed in each
County at the Public Expense, and that Thomas and William Parkeson
be appointed in the County of Yohogania, and that they Immediately
Open Shop at their House on the Monongahela River for the above pur-

pose, and that they make with all possible Expedition all the Rifle Guns

they can, and a Suificient number of Tommehocks, Sculping knives, &c.,
and that the County Lieut. Reseve them, or Direct the Distributign
thereof. ' '

“ Resolved, That Robert Curry be Employed for the above Purpose in
the Monongahela County, and that he Open Shop at his own Dwelling-
House in the forks of Cheet.

“ Resolved, That Thomas Jones (or some other proper person to be ap-
pointed by the County Lieut.) be appointed for the above purpose in the
Ohio County, to Open Shop at the House of Col. Shepherd.

“Your Committee having Maturely & Deliberately Considered the

riod many of the inhabitants had -become Weary of the
contest," apparently without an end to it, and had
begun to feel the want of a State government with its
power nearer to them than that either of Penn-
sylvania or Virginia. To illustrate that feeling a
paper is now given which has never appeared

in print,‘ and which cannot fail to interest by 1776.
its peculiar style, as Well as by the vigorous
setting forth of the evils under which our early set-
tlers lived : I

Truly Critical and Distressed Situation of this Country, and with the deep- '

est Anxiety have viewed the very recent Cruel Depredations Committed
on our people by our relentless Neighbor, the Indians, and with the ut-
most regard have Considered his Excellency’s Recommendation to pre-
pair for Hostilities in the Spring, and to prepair to make Defense while
we have time, and to form a plan of Defense for this Country, are of
opinion that if no field Oflicer appear to take the Command of Troops,
now raised and raising in this District at the next meeting of the differ-
ent Committees, that the said Commanders forthwith order the sd Troops
to such places on the Frontiers as they shall think proper, for the Present
Protection of the Inhabitants, and at least one hundred of sd Troops be
ordered to Grave Creek Fort,—and in case the said Troops are not
stationed as aforesaid, then the County Lieut. of Yohogania County is
requested to order a Lieut. and 25 men to_Baker’s Fort, and a Lieut. and
25 men to Isaac Cox’s on the Ohio, and that the County Lieut. of Ohio
County order a Lieut. and 25 men to Beech Bottom, and a Lieut. and 25
men to the Grave Creek Fort, and that the County Lieut. of Monongalia
County order a Capt. and 50 men to be stationed at the House of Capt.
Owen Davis’s, the head of Dunkard Creek, and a Lieut. and 25 men to
Grave Creek to augment that Garrison to 50 men, those men to be ordered
at such time as the County Lieut. shall think Proper and the Exergency
of the times Require; and that Militia be Drafted, oflicered, andi(held
in Constant Rediness) to Rendezvous at the following places and in the
following Manner—(Here is mentioned the active officers. the places of
Rendezvous in each County, which are the places of the Magazines, the
drafts and who heads them from each company, which is 15 Privates,
one Sarjt. and a Commissioned oflicer, making in the whole’ about 1100
men.)

“ Resolved, unanimously, That upon the first hostilities being Committed
on our Settlements, that the County Lieutenant in whose County the same
may Happen, Immediately call a Council of the three Countys as Proper
measures may be pursued for the Chastisements of the Cruel Perpetra-
tors.”

[The foregoing is from a certified copy over the signature of David
McClure, clerk.]

“ WILLIAMSBURGH, Feb. 28, 1777.

“ SIR,—You are forthwith to send one hundred men properly Oflicered
in order to escort safely to Pittsburgh the powder purchased by Capt.
Gibson. I suppose it is at Fort Louis, on the Mississippi, under the pro-
tection of the Spanish Government.

“ The Canoes necessary for the voyage, the provisions,and every other
matter must be provided, and the officers’ orders must be to lose not a
moment in getting the powder to Fort Pitt.
leave that Fortress, you are to order two hundred militia to guard it till
further orders; let necessary repairs be forthwith done that it may be
put in good posture of defense. I’ve ordered four 4-pound Cannon to be
cast for strengthening it, as I believe an attack will be made there ere
long. Let the Ammunition (Lead included) be stored there, & let it be

defended to the last extremity ; give it not up but with the lives of your- I

self and people. Let the provisions be stored there and consider it as thg
Bulwark of your Country. No Militia shall be paid but those on actual
duty, & I wonder any one should think otherwise. Let me know the
quantity of Ammunition and stores at Pittsburgh; upon any alarm of
dangerous Invasion, take care to defend Pittsburgh. Capt. Linn has a
good Boat capable of bringing the Powder.
“ I am, Sir,
“ Your humble servant,

' “P. HENRY, JUN.
“COUNTY LIEUTENANT or MoNoNsAHI:LA.” ‘

1 For his copy the writer is indebted to Hon. G. L. Cranmer, of Wheel-
ing. It is the same petition, doubtless, referred to in Jacobs’ “ Life of
Michael Cresap,” who says, p. 60,-

If the present Garrison.

CIVIL AND LEGAL—PETITION FOR A NEW STATE.

187

“ MEMORIAL FOR THE ERECTION OF A NEW STATE.

“ To the Honourable the President & Delegates of the thirteen united
American Colonies in General Congress assembled:

“The Memorial of the Inhabitants of the Country West of the Alle-
gheny Mountains Represents:

“ That whereas the province of Pennsylvania and Virginia have set up
Claims to this large & extensive Country which for a considerable time
past have been productive & attended with the usual Concomitants &
pernicious and destructive effects of discordant and contending jurisdic-
tions, innumerable Frauds, Impositions, Violences, Dept edations, Feuds,
Animosities, Divisions, Litigations, Disorders, & even with the Effusion
of human Blood to the utter Subversion of all Laws, human & divine,
of Justice, Order, Regularity & in a great Measure even of Liberty itself
& must unless a timely and Speedy Stop be put to them in all Probability
terminate in a'Civil War, which how far it may effect the Union of the
Colonies & the General Cause of America we leave to your wise, pru-
dent, impartial, & Serious Consideration :—And whereas (exclusive of &
as an Addition and further aggravation to the many accumulated Griev-
ances & Oppressions we already labor under in consequence of the afore-

’ said Claims & the Controversies &c thereby occasioned, the Fallacies,

Violences & fraudulent Impositions of Land Jobbers, Pretended Officers
& Partisans of both Land Offices & others under the Sanction of the
jurisdiction of their respective Provinces, the Earl of Dunmore’s War-
rants, Officers & Soldiers Rights & an Infinity of other Pretexts in which
they have of late proceeded so far as in Express Contradiction to the
Declaration of the Continental Commissioners made on the ninth day of
October 1775 at a Treaty at Fort Pitt to make encroachments on the In-
dian Territorial Rights by improving, laying Warrants & Ofiicers Claims
on & Surveying some of the Islands in the Ohio and Tomahawking (or
as they term it) improving in a variety of places on the Western side of
said River, to the great imminent & manifest danger of involving the
Country in a Bloody, ruinous, and destructive War with the Indians, a
People extremely watchful, tenacious, & jealous of their Rights, Privi-

. leges and Liberties, and already it is to be doubted, too much inclined to

a Rupture and Commencement of Hostilities from the Persuasions and
Influence of British Emmissaries, Agents & Ofiicers & the little attention
unfortunately hitherto paid to them by the American Confederacy in
Conciliating their affections, Confidence and Friendship;) there are a
number of private or other claims to Lands within the limits of this
Country eqnallyembarrassing & perplexing; George Croghan Esquire
in various Tracts, Claims Land by Purchase from the Six Nations in
1748 and confirmed to him at the Treaty of Fort Stanwix in 1768 to the
amount by Computation of 200,000 Acres on which are Settled already
1500 or 2000-Families; Major William Trent on Behalf of himself and
the Traders, who suffered by the Indian Depredations in 1763, another
large Tract Containing at least 4,000,000 of Acres by Donation & Cession
of the Six Nations aforesaaid at the aforesaid Treaty of Fort Stanwix in
1768, on which 1500 or 2000 Families are already settled; and there was
on the 4th day of January 1770 a certain Contract & Purchase made by
the Honourable Thomas Walpole and associates (including the Ohio Com-
pany & the Officers & Soldiers in the Service of the Colony in the year
1754) under the name of the Grand Ohio or Vandalia Company, with and
of the Lords, Commissioners of the Treasury on Behalf of Crown for an
Extensive Tract of Country within the Purchase & Cession from the
aforesaid Six Nations and their Confederates at the said Treaty of Fort

‘ Stanwix aforesaid made and by his Majesty’s Special Command & Direc-

“ As this petition recites the treaty of Pittsburgh, in October, 1775,it
is probable we may fix its date (for it has none) to the latter part of 1776
or 1777. I rather think the latter, not only from my own recollection of
the circumstances of that period, but especially from the request in the
petition to be erected into a new State, which certainly would not be
thought of before the Declaration of Independence.” But it is now
possible to fix the date of this remarkable petition with more certainty
by other papers, for which the writer is indebted to Mr. Cranmer, to wit,
a letter from Jasper Yeates to James Wilson, Esq., dated Pittsburgh, July
30, 1776, with a P.S. of date Aug. 1, 1776, in which latter the petition is
mentioned as then being circulated and intended for Congress and its
contents described, and another paper, being “ The Address and Memo-
rial of the Committee of West Augusta County” to the Speaker of the
Lower House of the Virginia Assembly, praying that the “ Hon’ble House
will take such steps in the premises & make such necessary Regulations
to ensure Union to the Inhabitants in these times of public Calamity,
etc., in which also the petition is mentioned, and the bounds of the 14th
statedescribed, “ Beginning on the Eastern Bank of the Ohio, opposite
the mouth of the Scioto, etc.”

tions notified to the Indians of the Western Tribes at the aforesaid Con-
federacy on the 3rd day of April 1773 by Alexander McKee, Esq., Deputy
Agent of the Western Department for Indian Affairs on the Plains of
Scioto, who by their Answer of the 6th of the same Month, expressed
their approbation thereof and Satisfaction & Acquiescence therein, at the
same Time justly observing that it was as necessary for prudent People
to govern the white settlers, as for the Indians to take,Care of their
foolish young men.

“ This is a country of at least 240 miles in Length, from the Kittan-
ning to opposite the Mouth of Scioto, 70 or 80 in Breadth, from the Alle-
gheney Mountains to the Ohio, rich, fertile and healthy even beyond a
Credibility & peopled by at least 25,000 Families since the year 1768 (a
population we believe scarce to be paralleled in the Annals of any Coun-
try) Miserably distressed & harrassed and rendered a scene of the most
consummate Anarchy & Confusion by the Ambition ‘of some, and avarice
of others, and its wretched Inhabitants (who through almost insuper-
able Difficulties, Hardships, Fatigues & Dangers at the most imminent
Risque of their lives, their little all and everything that was dear and
valuable to them, were endeavoring to secure an Asylum & a Safe Retreat
from threatening Penury for their tender numerous families with which
they had removed from the lower Provinces and settled themselves in
different Parts of the aforesaid Lands & Claims agreeable to the usual
Mode of Colonization & an Ancient Equitable & long established Custom
& Usage of the Colonies, the Rights of Pre-Em ption whenever those Lands
could be rightfully & legally conveyed & disposed of :) after surmounting
every other Obstacle to the Hopes, their Expectations & wishes, now un-
happily find themselves in a worse & more deplorable Situation than
whilst living on the poor, barren rented Lands in their various respective
Provinces below: through Party Rage, the Multiplicity of Proprietary
Claims & Claimants & the Precariousness & Uncertainty of every kind
of Property from the forecited Causes, the want of Regular Administra-
tion of J usticé & of a due and proper Executive and Exertion of a system
of Laws & regulations, and Mode of Polity & Government, adapted to
their peculiar Necessities, local Circumstances and Situation, and its
Inhabitants, who tho’ neither Politicians nor Orators, are at least a
rational and Social People inured to Hardships & Fatigues, & by expe-
rience taught to despise Dangers & Difficulties, and having immigrated
from almost every Province of America, brought up under and accus-
tomed to various different & in many respects discordant & even Contra-
dictory Systems of Laws & Government & since their being here from
the want of Laws & Order Irritated and exasperated by Ills & urged &
Compelled by Oppressions & Suffering and having imbibed the highest
and most extensive Ideas of Liberty, as the only pure efficient source of
Happiness and Prosperity will with Difficulty Submit to, the being an-
nexed to or Subjugated by (Terms Synonymous to them) any one of those
provinces much less the being partitioned or parcelled out among them,
or be prevailed on to entail a state of Vassalage & Dependence on their
Posterity, or Suffer themselves who might be the happiest & perhaps not
the least useful Part of the American Confederacy as forming a secure,
extensive & Effectual Frontier & Barrier against the Incursions, Rav-
ages & Depredations of the Western Savages, to be Enslaved by any set
of Proprietary or other Claimants, or arbitrarily deprived & robbed of
those Lands & that Country to which by the Laws of Nature & of Nations
they are entitled asfirst Occupants, and for the Possession of which they
have resigned their All & exposed themselves and families to Inconven-
iences, Dangers & Difliculties, which Language itself wants Words to
express & describe, whilst the Rest of their Countrymen softened by
Ease, enervated by Afiluence & Luxurious Plenty & unaccustomed to
Fatigues, Hardships, Difliculties or Dangers, are bravely contending for
and exerting themselves on Behalf of a Constitutional, national, rational,
& social Liberty. _

“We the Subscribers Inhabitants of the Country as aforesaid therefore
by Leave by hereby plenarily, amply & specially delegated, inter-
ested, authorized & impowered to act & to do for us on this occasion as our
immediate Representatives, Solicitors, Agents, & Attornies, Humbly to
represent to you as the Guardians, Trustees, Curators, Conservators &
Defrees ofall that is dear or valuable to Americans, that in our Opinion no
Country or People can be either rich, flourishing, happy, or free (the only

 

. laudable, rightful, useful, warrantable & rational ends of Government,) or

enjoy the sweets of that Liberty, the Love & desire of which is radically
impressed on, Self-Existant with & animates & actuates, every brave,
generous, humane and honest soul, and for which every American Breast
at this time pants and glows with an unusual Flow of Warmth and
Expectation & with redoubled zeal and Ardor: whilst annexed to or
dependent on any Province whose seat of Government is those of Penn'-
sylvania & Virginia four or five hundred miles distant and separated by
a vast, extensive & almost impassable Tract of Mountains, by Nature

188

HISTORY OF WASHINGTON COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA.

itself formed and pointed out as a Boundary between this Country &
those below it, that justice might be both Tedious and Expensive, the
Execution of the Laws dilatory & perhaps mercenary, if not arbitrary;
Redress of Grievances precarious and Slow and the Country so situated
without participating of any of the Advantages suffer all the Inconven-
iences ot' such a Government & be continually exposed, as we already
too well know, by Dear bought and fatal experience to the violence,
Frauds, Depredations, Exactions, Oppressions of’ interested, ambitious,

designing, insolent, avaricious, rapacious & mercenary Men & Oflicers——.

And pray, that the said Country belconstituted, declared & acknowledged
a separate, distinct & independent Province & Government by the title
& under the Name of ‘The Province & Government of Westsylvania,’
be empowered & enabled to form such, Laws & Regulations & such a
System of Polity & Government as is best adapted & most. agreeable to
the peculiar Necesities, local Circumstances & Situation thereof and its
Inhabitants invested with every other Power, Right, Privilege & Immu-
nity, vested or to be vested in the other American Colonies; be Consid-
ered as a Sister Colony & the fourteenth Province of the American Con-
federacy, that its Boundaries be :—Beginning at the eastern Branch
[bank] of the Ohio opposite the mouth of the Scioto and running thence
to the top of the Allegheny Mountains, thence with the Top of the said
Mountain to the Northern Limits of the Purchase made from the Indians
in 1768, at the Treaty of Fort Stanwix aforesaid, thence with the said
Limits to the Allegheny or Ohio River and thence down the said River
as purchased from the said Indians at the aforesaid Treaty of Fort Stan-
wix, to the Beginning.

“And that for the more effectual Prevention of all future and further
Frauds & Impositions, being practiced upon us, thereby all Proprietary
or other Claims or Grants, heretofore by or to whomsoever made of
Lands within the aforesaid Limits of the said Province, with & under
the approbation & Sanction of the General Congress or Grand Conti-
nental Council of State of the United American Colonies:

“ And your Memorialists, as by all Ties of Duty, Interest and Honor
bound, as American Brethren & Associates, embarked with you in the
same arduous & glorious Cause of Liberty and Independency shall ever
pray, that your Councils and Endeavors for the Common Good, may be
continually attended, blessed and crowned with a never ceasing and
uninterrupted series of Success, Happiness and Prosperity.”

Perhaps it would be a work of supererogation to
proceed beyond the production of the foregoing ex-
traordinary paper, by-way of illustrating the results
of the contention between the two sovereignties.
That petition was actually circulated and filed with
the Continental Congress, but without any result
whatever, for at that time the United States had no
territorial jurisdiction. Not until 1784, when the
Atlantic States had ceded their claims to the territory
west of their several grants, was there a national com-
monwealth established. If, therefore, the Congress

-had had the wish to grant the prayer of this petition

it did not have the power.

Oath of Allegiance and Fidelity to Virginia.——
Early after the colonies had declared their independ-
ence of the mother-country, and when the Revolution
was well under way, the States enacted laws
requiring oaths of allegiance to the new
sovereignty and a renunciation of the old.
At the May sessions, 1777, of the General Assembly
of Virginia the following law was enacted :1

1777.

“ Whereas allegiance and protection are reciprocal, and those who will
not bear the former are not entitled to the benefits of the latter; There-
fore be it enacted, etc., That all free-born male inhabitants of this State,
above the age of 16 years, except imported -servants during their term of
service, shall, on or before the tenth day of October next, take and sub-
scribe the following oath or afiirmation before some one of the justices

1.Chapter III.‘, 9 Hening, 281.

of the peace of the County, city, or borough, where they shall respec-
tively inhabit; and the said justice shall give a certificate thereof to
every such person, and the said oath or aflirmation shall be as followeth,
viz.: “ I, -—- , do swear or aflirm, that I renounce and refuse all
allegiance to George the Third, King of Great Britain, his heirs and
successors, and that I will be faithful and bear true allegiance to the
commonwealth of Virginia, as a free and independent state, and that I
will not, at any time, do, or cause to be done, any matter or thing that
will be ‘prejudicial or injurious to the freedom and independence thereof,
as declared by Congress; and also that I will discover and make known
to some one justice of the peace for the said State, all treasons or trai-
torous conspiracies which I now or hereafter shall know to be formed
against this or any of the United States of America.”2

The act then proceeded to require that the justices
should keep registers and transmit returns to the
county clerk; that within one month after the pas-
sage of the act the court of every county should ap-
point certain ones of their number “to make a tour
of the county and tender the oath or aflirmation afore-
said” to the persons of whom it was to he demanded,
and that in the certificate directed to be returned of
those who take the oath or affirmation “shall be
mentioned the names of such as refuse;” that a list

, of I the recusants should be delivered by the justice to

the county lieutenant or chief commanding officer of
the militia, “who is hereby authorized and directed
forthwith to cause such recusants to be disarmed;”
and such recusantswere made incapable of holding
any oflice in the State, of serving on juries, of suing
for any debts, -of voting or of being elected, and of
buying and holding lands. The last section provided
that the act should be read publicly by the sheriff of
the county at the door of the court-house of his
county on or before the 3d day of next September,
“ and also by every minister of the gospel, or reader,
immediately after divine service, on some Sunday
within the said time.”

The records of «the court of Yohogania County
show that on Aug. 26, 1777 ,—John Campbell, John
McDowell, Isaac Cox, Richard Yeates, John McDon-
ald, William Goe, Zachariah Connell, George Vallan-
digham, Thomas Freeman, and John Canon, justices
present,—-gentlemen were appointed to ‘make the
“Tour of the Different Districts hereafter mentioned
and Tender the Oath of Allegiance and Fidelity to
this Commonwealthf’ &c.” To each appointee was

assigned his district, over which he was to travel and .

tender the oath provided,making and returning his
lists of those who took it and the recusants. ~

Virginia Land Laws.-—We11 may be supposed, as
would appear from the action of Pennsylvania and

2 A law with a like preamble, enactment, and oath of allegiance was
passed by the General Assembly of Pennsylvania,June 13, 1777, except-
ing, however, the counties of Bedford and Westmoreland from its provi-
sions, for the obvious reason, without doubt, that in the then existing
conflict of jurisdiction the danger of open collision would become more
imminent. The text, shows how the law was enforced by Virginia in
the very territory which Pennsylvania had exempted. (See III. Penn.
Archives, Sec. S., 6.)

3 See map, ante, for the outline of Yohogania County, and for the ap-
pointees and each one’s district see the extracts from the records of Y0-
hogania County Court, post. ~ S

CIVIL AND LEG‘rAL—VIRGINIA LAND LAWS.

189

Virginia, respectively, with reference to the oaths of
allegiance to the new State governments, that the
Pennsylvania jurisdiction was scarcely exercised at
all in the Monongahela valley. Indeed, long before,
on Feb. 13, 1775, Robert Hanna, W. Lochry, John
Carnahan, and Devereux Smith had united in a letter
to Governor Penn,‘ in which they said, “ We are sorry
to repeat our complaints so often, but William Craw-
ford, Esq., and Dorsey Pentecost hath each opened
a Land Office, and assumed the Title of Deputy Sur-
veyors to execute their entries. The people in gen-
eral hath already given up, and what can we do to
support Government, there now being writs granted
for almost every acting Officer in this County, and

we are every day expecting Confinement.” 2

It is, however, known that by far the greater part
of the lands lying in Washington County, as origin-
ally erected, were occupied by persons claiming
under Virginia titles. Settlement rights had been
acquired, of course, when the settlements began, and
such rights were always of much importance. There
is evidence that as early as 1770 surveys had begun to
be made, and during the time of Lord Dunmore a
number of patents were granted. But not until the
act hereinafter quoted was there a regular and con-
tinuous system of granting legal titles to lands west
of the Alleghanies.3

But in 1779, Virginia, recognizing the fact probably
that her jurisdiction.“ upon the western waters” must

sooner or later come to an end, and her necessi-

A 1779. ties also doubtless requiring the revenue which

might be made available, enacted a law which,
being the basis of so many of the land titles of
Washington County, is of sufficient importance to
demand a clear account of it, buried as it is from the
sight of all but antiquarians.
Chapter XII. of the acts of the General Assembly
of Virginia,.in the session of May, 177 9,4 was

“ An act for adjusting and settling the titles of claimants to unpat-
ented lands under the present and former governments previous to the
establishment of the Commonwealth's Land Oflice.

“ Section IV. And whereas, great numbers of people have settled in

1 X. Col. Records, 234. ‘

2 Thomas Lewis was the county surveyor for Augusta County, Vir-
ginia. During the year 1774, Crawford surveyed and returned tohis
oflice 4153 acres for different persons. He surveyed Washington’s Mount
Pleasant lands, 2813 acres, in April or May, 1774. On May 8, 1774, he
writes to Washington, “ Sir,——Inclosed you have the drafts of the Round
Bottom and your Chartiers land, finished agreeable to Mr. Lewis’ direc-
tion.”——Washington-Crawford Letters, 46. These lands were patented to
Washington by Lord Dunmore on July 5, 1774. Dorsey Pentecost was

running lines in the neighborhood of the Henry Taylor tract as early as I

1772, and surveyed for George Croghan on the Chartiers to the extent of
30,000 acres in 1773.— Washington-Crawford Letters, 38.
-3 For the reason that afterthe final running of the boundary line the

~ holders of Virginia titles and rights protected themselves generally by

obtaining surveys and patents from Pennsylvania, our records do not
show in but few cases what lands were held originally from Virginia.
The Washington tract in Mount Pleasant and Cecil and the Hugh
Stephenson tract in Cross Creek are two instances in which the lands
never were patented by Pennsylvania.
4 10 Hening, 35.
13

the country upon the western waters,5 upon waste and unappropriated
lands, for which they have been hitherto prevented from sueing out
patents or obtaining legal titles by the King of Great Britain's procla-
mations or instructions to his governors,6 or by the late change of
Government,7 and the present war having delayed until now the open-
ing of a land oflice and the establishment of any certain terms for
granting lands, and it is just that those settling under such circum-
stances should have some reasonable allowance for the charge and risk
they have incurred, and that the property so acquired should be secured
to them," Be it enacted, etc., That all persons who at any time before
the first day of January, in the year one thousand seven hundred and
seventy-eight, have really and bona fide settled themselves or their
families, or at his, her, or their charge have settled others, upon any
waste or unappropriated lands on the said western waters, to which no
other person hath any legal right or claim, shall be allowed for every
family so settled four hundred acres of land or such smaller quantityas
the party chooses, to include such settlement. And where any such set-
tler hath had any survey made for him or her since October 26, 1763, in
consideration of such settlement for less than four hundred acres, such

settler, his or her heirs, may claim and be allowed‘ as much adjoining,

waste and unappropriated land as together with the lands so surveyed
will make up the quantity of four hundred acres.”

Section V. made special provisions for such as had
settled in towns and villages, and then provided that
upon the production of certificates from the commis-
sioners to be appointed under the act to the county
surveyors, the latter was required to enter them in his
books, and to proceed to survey the land so entered
according to law, “ and upon due return to the Land
Office of the surveys, with the certificates from the
commissioners,” patents from the commonwealth were
to issue. I

“ And if any such settlers shall desire to take up a greater quantity

of land than is herein allowed them, they shall on payment to the

Treasurer of the consideration money, required from other purchasers,
be entitled to the pre-emption of any greater quantity of land adjoining
to that allowed them in consideration of settlement, not exceeding one
thousand acres, and to which no other person hath any legal right or
claim.

“ And to prevent doubts concerning settlements, it is hereby declared,
That no family shall be entitled to the allowance granted to settlers by
this act, unless they have made a crop of corn in that country, or re-
sided there at least one year since the time of that settlement.

“All persons who, since the said first day of January, one thousand ,

seven hundred and seventy-eight, have actually settled on any waste or
unappropriated lands on the western waters to which no other hath a
just or legal right or claim, shall be entitled to the pre-emption of any
quantity of land, not exceeding four hundred acres, to include such set-
tlements, at the State price to other purchasers.

“ And all those who, before the said first day of January, one thousand
seven hundred and seventy-eight, had marked out or chosen for them-
selves any waste or unappropriated lands, and built any house or hut,
or made other improvements thereon, shall also be entitled to the pre-
emption upon the like terms, not exceeding one thousand acres, and to
which no other person hath any legal right or claim; but no person
shall have the right of pre-emption for more than one such improve-
ment.”

By Section VI. the composition money, which seems
to mean the “ State price,” was fixed at ten shillings
for every one hundred acres.

Section VIII. allotted the country on the western
waters into districts: Monongalia, Yohogania, and
Ohio Counties into one; Augusta, Botetourt, and
 .

5 Of course this meant down in the present Kentucky and Tennessee,
as well as upon the Monongahela. I

5 Id est, the proclamation of 1763. V

7 In Pennsylvania, from 1775 to 1782, the Land Oflice was substan-
tially closed, and was not opened for new sales until July 1, 1784.——1'he
Monongahela of Old, 97.

THE FRENCH AND ENGLISH CLAIMS

TO THE TRANS-ALLEGHENY REGION. 23

with whom they, "at their Return, appeared to be
highly pleased; That the same French Gentleman,
with five or six others in Company with him, had
this last Spring again come amongst the said Indians,
and brought with him a Shawanese Interpreter, was
well received by them, had again carried some of
their Chiefs to the said Gov’r, & the better to gain
the Affections of the said Indians brought with him
a Gunsmith to work for them gratis. Mr. Logan
then went on to represent how destructive this At-
tempt of the French, if attended with Success, may
prove to the English Interest on this Continent, and
how deeply in its consequences it may affect this
Province, & after having spoken fully on these two
heads, Moved that to prevent or putt a stop to these
designs, if possible, a treaty should be sett on foot
with the five Nations, who have an absolute author-
ity as well over the Shawanese as all our Indians,
that by-their means the Shawanese may not only be
kept firm to the English Interest, but likewise be in-
duced to remove from Allegheny nearer to the Eng-
lish Settlements, and that such a treaty becomes now
the more necessary because ’tis several years since any
of those Nations have visited us, and no opportunity
ought to be lost of cultivating & improving the
Friendship which has always subsisted between this
Government &tl1em. . . .”.

- In the following year, on the 25th of August, at a
council held at Philadelphia with several chiefs of
the Six Nations} further information was gained con-
cerning the movements of a certain Frenchman
among the Shawanese on the Allegheny River. At

this convention with the Six Nation chiefs, Hetaquan-

tagetchty, the principal speaker, said, “That last
Fall the French Interpreter, Cahictodo, came to Ohio
River (or Alleganey) to build houses there, and to
supply the Indians with goods, which they no sooner
understood than they went out to forbid him, telling
him that the lands on the Ohio belonged to the Six
Nations, that the French had nothing to do with
them, and advised him to go home; but he not re-
garding their advice proceeded, upon which they
sent to the French Governour to complain, but their
Messengers were not returned when they came from
home. That they know nothing certainly of what
passed between Cahictodo and the Shawanese at
Ohio.” ' I
The speaker was then asked, “Were not the French
angry with those Peoplefor. passing them and bring-
ing their Peltry to trade with the English, and did
they not endeavour to hinder them?” To which he
replied, “The ‘French are angry, and not only en-

deavour to stop them, but threaten them, and some of '

those nations expect the French will fall on them;
but they regard it not; they find better usage from
the English, and will have no more dealings with the
French.”

1 Colonial Records, vol. iii. pp. 439-40.

The Frenchman whom the‘ Iroquois speaker called
Cahichtodo was doubtless the same one who was men-
tioned in the proceedings of the Provincial Council in
August of the previous year as above quoted; but it
does not appear from the account that he came to the
Allegheny in any other capacity than that of a trader
desirous of furnishing the Shawanese with goods in
exchange for their peltry.

The first attempt on the part of either government
to enforce their claims by taking actual possession
of the region west of the Alleghenies in what is now
the State of Pennsylvania was made by the French
in 1749, in which year the commandant-general of
Canada sent out an expedition under command of
Louis Bienville de Celeron, with orders to proceed to
the head of the Ohio,2 and thence down that stream,
taking formal possession of its valley a.nd the con-
tiguous country; not, however, according to the En-
glish method, by establishing military posts and
buildings and garrisoning forts, but by planting
crosses and ‘posts bearing devices representing the
royal arms and insignia of France, and burying me-
tallic plates duly inscribed with a record of the event,
as evidences of actual occupation. The commander of
the expedition performed the duty assigned to him,
and in the manner indicated, erecting monuments
and burying plates of lead at various points along
the Allegheny and Ohio. Some of the Indians in
the Seneca country (which embraced all the val-
ley of the Upper Allegheny) obtained possession
of one of these plates by some artifice (probably by
digging it up after it had been buried by Celeron),
and it was taken by a Cayuga sachem and delivered to
Col. (afterwards Sir William) Johnson, as will be
more fully mentioned hereafter, The plate was of
lead, three-eighths of an inch in thickness, and about
eleven by seven and one-half inches on the face, upon
which was stamped and cut3 in rude capitals the fol-
lowing inscription in old French,‘ viz. :

L’AN 1740, Dv REGNE DE LOVIS xv. ROY DE
FRANCE NOVS CELERON COMMANDANT D VN DE-
TACHMENT ENVOI PAR MONSIEVR LE MARQUIS DE
LA GALISSONIERE COMMANDANT GENERAL DE LA
NOUVELLE FRANCE POVR RETABLIR LA TRANQUIL-

2 Meaning the head of the river since known as the Allegheny, which ‘

having been discovered by the French explorers many years before any-
thing was known of the Monongahela, was in those early times regarded
as the main stream. The Iroquois name of the Allegheny was 0-hee-go,
and the French adventurers who passed down its current to the present
city of Pittsburgh rendered the name Ohio (or sometimes Oyo), in con-
formity With the orthography of their language. In the English the
pronunciation only is changed. It was not the French alone who re-
garded the Allegheny as the main Ohio, for we find that Washington in
his journal and dispatches mentioned Venango as being situated “on
the Ohio.” Another name which the French gave to the Ohio,,and ap-
plied to the stream even to the head of the Allegheny, was “ La Belle
Riviere,”-—-The Beautiful River.

3 The whole inscription was stamped except the date and place of inter-
ment. These were cut with a knife or other sharp instrument in spaces
which had been left blank for the purpose. The name “ Paul de Brosse”
was stamped on the back of the plate.

190

Greenbriar into another; "Washington and Mont- l

gomery into another; and Kentucky into another,
and the last.

The Governor with the advice of his Council was
to appoint four commissioners for each district, any
three of whom might act, to settle and adjust claims
to unpatented lands, and provisions were made for
the oath of the commissioners, the method of hear-
ing, the registry to be kept, etc. '

At the same session (May, 1779) was enacted the
law establishing the Land Office.

Section 3 of Chapter XIII.‘ made the following
provisions respecting the office of county surveyor:

“ A surveyor shall be appointed in every county, to be nominated, ex-
amined, and certified able by the president and professors of William
and Mary College, and of good character, commissioned by the Gov-
ernor, with a reservation in such commission to the said professors, for
the use of the college, of one-sixth part of the legal fees which shall be
received by such surveyor, for the yearly payment of which he shall
give bond,” etc.

The foregoing is believed to contain a full account
of the land laws of Virginia, upon which are founded
so many of the titles in the Monongahela valley.
The commissioners to settle and adjust the claims of
settlers ‘in the district of Monongalia, Yohogania, and
Ohio Counties‘ were Francis Peyton, Philip Pendle-
ton, Joseph Holmes, and George Merriweather, the
latter of whom, however, did not attend when their
duties were performed. But before an account is
given of the transactions of these land-title commis-

' sioners, their certificates to settlers, and the surveys

following, made within the limits of our county under
these Virginia laws, it is proper for sake of clearness
first to narrate the history of the final determination
of the boundary line, for, as will appear, even the set-
tlement of the ‘contention as to the locality of that
line was not an end by any means to the exercise of
jurisdiction by Virginia within our county.

The Baltimore Agreement as to the Boundary
Line.~Early in the year 1776, and before the May
session of the Virginia Assembly of that year, both
States seem to have become anxious for an end to the
boundary contention. Hitherto there seemed to have
been no opportunity to meet with a chance of
settlement. On Dec. 18, 1776, both houses of
the Virginia Assembly agreed upon the fol-
lowing resolution :2

1776.

' “ Resolved, That it is the mutual interest of the commonwealth of Vir-
ginia and Pennsylvania, that the boundaries between them be speedily
settled and ascertained, in the most amicable and indisputable manner,
by the joint agreement and concurrence of both. . . .

“ Resolved, That as the boundaries expressed in the Pennsylvania char-
ter may admit of great doubt, and a variety of opinion may arise on its
construction, and it is expedient and wise to remove as much as possible
all cause of future controversy, ( . . . ) to quiet the minds of. the people
that may be affected thereby, and to take from our common enemies an
opportunity of fomenting mutual distrust and jealousy, this common-
wealth ought to offer such reasonable terms of accommodation, (even if
the loss of some territory is incurred thereby,) as may be cordially ac-

1 10 Hening, 52. _
2 Reprinted in Revised Code of Va. of 1819, p. 51.

HISTORY OF WASHINGTON CO UN TY, PENNSYLVANIA.

cepted by our sister state, and anlend put to all future dispute, by a firm
and permanent agreement and settlement. .

“ Resolved, Therefore, That the Virginia Delegates in Congress be em-
powered and instructed to propose to the Commonwealth of Pennsyl-
vania a final accommodation of our disputed boundaries in the following
manner: '

“ That the meridian line drawn from the head fountain of the Potow-
mack River, shall be extended from the intersection of the line run be-
tween the proprietors of Maryland and Pennsylvania, (commonly called
Mason and Dixon’s Line,) due north until it intersects the latitude of
forty degrees, and from thence the southern boundary of Pennsylvania
shall be extended on the said fortieth degree of latitude until the dis-
tance of five degrees of west longitude from Delaware River shall be
completed thereon, the same to be ascertained by proper astronomical
observations; that from the completion of the said five degrees of longi-
tude, upon said fortieth degree of latitude, the western boundary of
Pennsylvania shall be fixed at five degrees of longitude from its eastern
boundary, either in every pdint thereof, according to the meanders of the
Delaware River, or, (which is judged easier and better for both,) from
proper points and angles on the said Delaware River, with intermediate
straight lines between; and whenever said western boundary shall be
run, that the degrees of longitude be also fixed by astronomical obser-
vations, at proper points and angles on said Delaware River; and from
these, that there be straight lines run corresponding as near as may be
with the before-mentioned straight or reduced courses of the (said river;
for which purpose, if the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania shall accept
this offer, and whenever they shall have signified their agreement to the
boundary herein proposed, the Governor and Council are empowered
and desired to appoint commissioners to proceed with a propel‘ mathe-
matical apparatus, and in conjunction with commissioners to be ap-
pointed on the part of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, to ascer-
tain and run the said Southern or Southern and Western boundary,
until the same shall strike the Ohio or Allegheny River, which it is appre-
hended is as far as it can yet be extended with safety on account of the
Indians, saving their private property and rights to all persons who may
have acquired titles, under either country respectively, previous to the
ascertaining and running such boundary, although they should be found
to fall within the other.” '

Pennsylvania was to assent to this proposed bound-
ary, cutting as it would have done a large corner
out of her parallelogram,——almost all of Fayette
County, all of Greene County, and quite a portion of
Washington County,—when commissioners were to
be appointed to run and mark the line. Of course
the sister State could not cordially accept the offer,
but it appears that during the year 1777 and 1778, at
long. intervals, negotiations were made through the
Virginia delegates in Congress, with such little in-
terest, however, that the papers would become lost I ‘

On May_ 20, 1779, while Virginia was passing her
statute relating to lands on the Western waters, her

Assembly also resolved “that the Governor be desired ‘ H

to inform the commissioners appointed on the part of
Pennsylvania‘ to adjust the boundary between that
and this State, that this Assembly will proceed to

nominate commissioners for the same purpose, to sig- '

nify that the place appointed by them is agreeable,
but to desire that such meeting may be postponed
until the Assembly shall have risen, of which notice
will be given them.” 5 The commissioners on the part
of Pennsylvania were George Bryan, John Ewing,
and David Rittenhouse; those on the part of Virginia

3 See VI. Penn. Archives, 82 ; VII. Ibid., 79, 184, 309, 310.
4 When Pennsylvania had appointed her commissioners hasnot been
discovered; the papers seem to have been lost!
5 VII. Pa. Archives, 441.

 

   

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CIVIL AND LEGAL——BALTIMORE AGREEMENT AS TO THE BOUNDARY LINE.

I

191

were Rev. James Madison, Rev. Robert Andrews, and
Thomas Lewis. They met at Baltimore on Aug. 27,
1779. Thomas Lewis, one of the Virginia commis-
sioners, the former county surveyor of Augusta
County, did not attend. At their first meeting they
produced their respective commissions, when it was
determined that their proceedings were to be reported
to the Assemblies of their respective States for ap-
proval, and that their communications should be in
writing. This correspondence, as stated by Mr.
Veech in a manuscript correction to his “ Mason and
Dixon’s Line,” “was an instructive lesson in diplo-
matic casuistry. After very stately displays of their
respective pretensions, making them as irreconcilable
as they could, they advance with rapid strides towards
the agreement.” Omitting the discussions (confined
to the construction of the Pennsylvania charter), a
presentation of the propositions from the one side and
the other will here be presented}

On the 28th day of August, the Pennsylvania com-
missioners submitted their position and proposals.
After a full and exhaustive discussion of the terms of
the charter bearing upon the boundary, and of the
right of Pennsylvania to go down west of the Maryland

line to parallel thirty-nine degrees, thence west to the A

limit of five degrees of longitude ; but without refer-
ring to the western boundary at all, they conclude,—-

“Yet, gentlemen, although we have no doubt of the justice and pro-
priety of our claim, as above laid down, but, on the contrary, a full con-

« fidence that disinterested judges would allow us the whole of that tract

of country w.hich is so expressly contained in the charter, and so fully
ceded by the State of Virginia; yet, inasmuch as it might disturb the

settlers on the south side of the River Potomack, who have been long

accustomed to the laws and government of Virginia; for the sake of
peace, and to manifest our earnest desire of adjusting the disputes on
amicable terms,we are willing to recede from our just rights, and there-
fore propose thata meridian be drawn from the head spring of the north
branch of the Potomack to the beginning of the fortieth degree of north

_ latitude, and from thence that a parallel of latitude be drawn. .to the

western extremity of the State of Pennsylvania, to continue forever the
boundary of the State of Pennsylvania and Virginia.” ’

The communication of the Virginia commission-
ers, on August 30th, was an argumentative reply to
the discussion of the other side, and concluded,-

“ Anxious as we are to put an end to the dispute subsisting between
the two States, and to remove all grounds of future dissensions by ad-
justing at this time their boundaries in an amicable manner; yet the
undoubted right of Virginia to that tract of country westward of Mary-
land,'_and as far northward as the latitude of that point on the Delaware,
twelve miles distant from N ew-Castle northward, together with a regard
for the peace of those who have settled in this tract, on the supposition
that it was comprehended in the government of Virginia, determine us
not to accede to the proposal you have been pleased to make. But, we
trust on afurther consideration of the objections of Virginia to your
claim, that you will think it advantageous to your State to continue
Mason and Dixon’s line to your western limits, which we are willing to
establish as a perpetual boundary between Virginia and Pennsylvania
on the south side of the last-mentioned State. We are induced to make
this proposal, as we think that the same principle which eifected the
compromise between Pennsylvania and Maryland should operate equally
as strong in the present case.”

It is admissible to infer, from the absence of any

reference in both theseproposals to the nature of the

;___.________fi._____.__
1 For the full record, see 10 Hening, §l9.

western boundary to be adopted, that both States
seemed to assume that that line was to be a line cor-
responding with the sinuosities of the Delaware.
True, it is possible that each party left that matter in
the background for a point from which compromise
suggestions might originate. At all events, the Penn-
sylvania commissioners, in their communication made
the same day, were not slow to see anopportunity
opened ; they proceeded to state that they should be.
under the disagreeable necessityof returning to their
constituents with a report of the proposals made for
the sake of peace, “unless you can comply with an
‘addition to your proposal which we now make for
your consideration,” viz. :

“ That Mason and Dixon’s line shouldbe extended so far beyond the
limits of Pennsylvania as that the meridian drawn from the western
extremity of it to the beginning of the forty-third degree of north lati-
tude, shall include as much land as will make the State of Pennsylvania
what it was originally intended to be, viz.: three degrees in breadth and
five degrees in length, excepting so much as has heretofore relinquished
to Maryland. . . . And finally, if this proposal be not complied with, it
is our intention that it shall not be adduced to prejudice the claim of
Pennsylvania hereafter.”

Still the point was not yet reached. It was not far
away, however. In her answer on the same day,
Virginia could not accede to the idea of compensa-
tion when she had nothing for which she should pay,
and still contemplating the great necessity “ that
every cause of discord be now removed,” on the same
day made another advance:

“ We therefore propose that a line run due west from that point where
the meridian of the first fountain of the north branch of the Potowmack
meets the end of the thirtieth minute of the thirty-ninth degree of north-
ern latitude, five degrees of longitude, to be computed from that part of
the River Delaware which lies in the same parallel, shall forever be the
boundary of~ Virginia and Pennsylvania, on the southern part of the
last-mentioned State. We hope that this proposal will finally meet with

your approbation, as it coincides most nearly with the claim of each
State.” V

To this the Pennsylvania commissioners, on Aug.
31, 1779, replied,—

“We will agree to your proposal of the 30th of August, 1779, for run-
ning and forever establishing the southern boundary of Pennsylvania
in the latitude of thirty-nine degrees thirty minutes, westward of the
meridian of the source of the north branch of the river Potowmack,
upon condition that you consent to allow a meridian line drawn north-
ward from the western extremity thereof as far as Virginia extends, to
be the western boundary of Pennsylvania.”

To which the Virginia commissioners responded at
once,-

“We cannot agree to make that addition to our proposal, . . . but

. we will make a further proposal, which we think as advantageous

to Pennsylvania as that first made by you to us. We will continue

Mason and Dixon’s line due west five degrees of longitude to be com-

puted from the river Delaware, for your southern boundary, and will

agree that a meridian drawn from the western extremity of this line to
your northern limit shall be the western boundary of Pennsylvania.”

Thereupon the Pennsylvania commissioners closed
the negotiations:

“ We agree to your last proposal of August 31st, 1779, to extend
Mason’s and Dixon’s line due west five degrees of longitude, to be com-
puted from the river Delaware, for the southern boundary of ‘Pennsylva-
nia, and that a meridian drawn‘ from the western extremity thereof to
the northern limit of the state he the western boundary of Pennsylva-
nia forever.”

192

HISTORY OF WASHINGTON COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA.

And thus followed the final agreement of the com- (

missioners of the two States for the establishment of
the southern and western boundaries of Pennsylvania.
It was in these words:

“ BALTIMORE, 31st August, 1779.

“We, James Madison and Robert Andrews, commissioners for the
State of Virginia, and George'Bryan, John Ewing, and David Bitten-
house, commissioners for the State of Pennsylvania, do hereby n1utu-
ally, in behalf of our respective States, ratify and confirm the following
agreement, viz.: to extend Mason’s and Dixon’s line due west five de-
grees of longitude, to be computed from the river Delaware, for the
southern boundary of Pennsylvania, and that a meridian drawn from
the western extremity thereof to the northern limit of the said State be
the western boundary of Pennsylvania forever.

“ In Witness whereof we have hereunto set our hands this thirty-first
day of August in the year of our Lord 1779.

“JAMES MADISON,
“ROBERT ANDREWS,

“.Gr.oner. BRYAN,
“ JoHN EWING,
“ DAVID RITTENHOUSE.” 1

Even with this agreement, however, the boundary
controversy was not yet determined, for, as it will be
remembered, the result of the Baltimore commission
was to be submitted to the constituent States. Penn-
sylvania was the first to act, and

“ On Friday, November 19, 1779, agreeable to the order of the day, the
House took up the report of the commissioners appointed to settle the
boundary line between this State and Virginia, and the same being read
and fully considered, A

“ Resolved, unanimously, That this House do ratify and finally confirm
the agreement entered into between the commissioners from the State
of Virginia and the commissioners from this State, which agreement is
in the following words: [quoting the agreement as printed above.]

“ Attested,
“THOMAS PAINE,
“ Clerk of the General Assembly.” 2'

Thus did Pennsylvania manifest her readiness to

accept the action of the Baltimore commission and

give “it her unqualified approval, as well she might
do,” says Mr. Veech,3 “ seeing that it expanded her
western limitsfull half a degree, without any equiva-

1 Hon. George Bryan was a Philadelphia delegate of the Convention
of 1776, and is said to have been the author of the Constitution of that
«date; inl1777, vice-president and afterwards president of the Supreme
Executive Council; 1780, assistant judge of the Supreme Court; 1783
member of Council of Censors from Philadelphia; the author of the
celebrated preamble to the Pennsylvania act of 1780 for the abolition of
slavery. He was born in Dublin, Ireland, 1731; died at Philadelphia in
1791. '

John Ewing, D.D., born East ,‘Nottingham, Md., 1732; died 1802; an-
cestors from Ireland; tutor in philosophy in Philadelphia College, and
became provost of that institution when made the University of Penn-
sylvania in 1779; had been commissioner on boundary between Pennsyl-
vania and Maryland in 1760; was also pastor of the First Presbyterian
Church of Philadelphia. V 1

David Rittenhouse, LL.D., born near Germantown, Pa., 1732; ances-
tors from Holland; was eminent as a mathematician and astronomer;
was engaged upon the boundaries of New York, New Jersey, as well as
of Virginia; state treasurer from 1776 to 1789; first director of the U. S.
Mint; died at Philadelphia, June 26, 1796." A

Right Rev. James Madison, relative of President Madison, at this time
president of William and Mary College, Va., afterwards bishop of the
Protestant Episcopal Church of Virginia.

Rev. Robert Andrews, was professor of mathematics in William and
Mary College, a. Protestant Episcopal minister.

2 This resolution is not foufid in our Pennsylvania Archives or Records,
but see VIII. Penn. Archives, 14; XII. Col. Records, 177, 213. It is
printed in full in 10 Hening, 519, et seq.

3 Centenary Memorial, 335.

lent loss on the south.” Virginia, however, held
back, and whether from a dissatisfaction with the
boundaries as established by the commission, or with
an intention to benefit her whilom adherents in the
Monongahela valley, her Assembly had no action
upon the subject until the following summer. And
what occurred in the mean time?

Virginia Surveys in Washington County.—~It
will be remembered that the General Assembly of
Virginia in May, 17 7 9, after the negotiations for the
appointment of the Baltimore commissioners had been
begun, had passed her act “ for adjusting and settling
titles of claimants to unpatented lands” upon the
western waters, creating districts, with fo11r commis-
sioners to each, to hear proofs of settlement rights
and grant certificates to claimants, and that the com-
missioners appointed for Yohogania, Monongalia, and
Ohio Counties were Francis Peyton, Philip Pendle-
ton, Joseph Holmes, and George Merriweather. All
this before the Baltimore_conference.

These land-title commissioners came to “ the west-
ern waters” in the Monongahela valley in December,
1779, and in that and the following months sat at
Redstone and at Cox’s Fort,‘ on the Monongahela, and
granted scores of certificates to claimantsunder Vir-
ginia settlement rights.

Col. William Crawford was the county surveyor for
Yohogania County. His “ Record Book of Surveys”

‘ for that county is still extant, and contains numerous

surveys made by him, through his deputies, within
the present limits of Washington County, upon cer-
tificates granted. by the said commissioners sitting
either at Redstone or Cox’s Fort. These surveys are
all plotted out, and‘ properly and neatly recorded, and
in order to illustrate to the sense of sight this exer-
cise of power by Virginia over lands then known not
to be hers, or which at least she was about to aban-
don, the accompanying map has been made by an

. able artist simply by connecting a number of contig-

uous surveystogether.

The greatest number made in any one locality was
upon the waters of Pigeon Creek. And that the
reader may know the ‘extent to which this
land jurisdiction was exercised, a list is given, 1780,
compiled of the surveys from Col. Crawford’s
record, made upon lands in the present limits of
VVashington County. The list will be introduced by

a transcript of a survey made of a tract then occu-.

pied in whole or in part by Henry Taylor within
sight of Washington.5

4 Redstone was Brownsville. There has been some doubt as to the
locality of Cox’s Fort. Mr. Veech calls it “ Coxe’s Fort, on the west" side
of the Monongahela.” Some of the certificates are dated at Coxe’s Fort,
others at Cox’s Fort, evidently meaning the same place. There was a
Cox’s Fort just above VVellsburgh, on land about 1785 bought by Van
Swearingen, but the locality called by this name in the text is believed to
be the station or fort of Capt. Gabriel Cox, in the now Union township.

5 In an ejectment brought by Judge Taylor in 1782, his title was sus-
tained over that of Richard Yeates, or his assignees, because of a prior
settlement. At the date of these Virginia. surveys our territory was

 

 

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CIVIL AND LEGrAL——PEN N SY LVAN IA IN DIGN AN T. 193
an Acres. To whom surveyed. When \Vhere.
\‘\V“?\\%\\k?\“\(R‘].I Q %\\R\\“\( 400. Nicholas Plater. May 13, 1780. Pigeon cr., Fallowfield.
<9 04,, 105. George Sybolt. “ 15, “ A “ “
' BUG 2995. Vincent Colvin. , “ 20, “ “
“AND 1 235. Philip Black. ,“ 20, “ “ “
A _ N 153. Nicholas Plater.3 “ 20, “ V “ - “
1 LAND 215. John Hull. “ 26, “ “ “ v
'- 786. Joseph Graybil1.4 June - 3, “ ‘.‘ “
9K 400. Christopher Graybill. “ 3, “ “ “
M 379. George Venimon. “ 4-, “ Chartiers cr., Peters.
G L 9 f‘ 284. Samuel Jenkins. “ 4, “ Pigeon cr., Fallowfield.

‘9 92, 349. William Woods. “ 8, “ » “ “
E, 347. Luther Colvin. “ 24, “ “ “

J’ 400. Abraham Deaker. “ 26, “ “ “

g 634. Vinson Colvin. “ 27, “ “ “

Q 260. Peter Chesround. “ 27, “ “ “

( 333. Samuel Heath. Nov. 6, “ Mon. R., Union. (?)
g 376. Moses Holladay. Dec. 18, “ “ “
‘_ u 400. John Robinson. (no date given) “ “
 g\Q/fE %‘k\“% 203. Benjamin Bently. (no date given) “ “ (?)
-\% \\,-C -tk%\-\\\§R“ Q; ~\\,§‘ @_A_ 212. Jacob Fegle. Jan. 12, 1781. Mingo cr., Nott. or U.
\\§\'\\q\ VeQ\\'\ / CHAIN G_ 375. Capt. Henry Heath. (no date given) Mon. R., near A. & W.
______® JAME§m|)i0NEy 400. Capt. Henry Heath. (no date given) Waters of Alle. River.5
(9 (9/0 E JAMES BUCHANON 486. Robert Lightle. Nov. 3, 1781.6 Union.
E _-“““““D _ 286. Capt. Geo. McCormick.7 Feb. 12, 1782. _ Smith.
848. Capt. Samuel Beelor. March 17, “ At or near Candor.
“In consequence of three Certificates dated at Coxes Fort the 21st Day 763- William ASk9W- June 1. “ R0bi113011-
of February, 1780, and part of one other dated 9th Day of February, 40O~ “ “ Ad.l0iDiD8‘-
1780, granted by the commissioners for actual Settlements, appointed to 400- “ “ 2» “ “
adjust _claims to unpattented Lands in the Counties of Yohogania, Mon- 400- “ “ 8 3: “ “

ongahela, and Ohio, Richard Yeates, assignee of VVilliam Riley, is en-
titled to nine Hundred and Two acres of Land lying in Yohogania County
aforesaid, said Land lying on the eastern Branch of the middle Fork of
Shirtees creek, the Form, Manner, and Model, is as the annexed Plot
representeth: Beginning at  O. at A, thence S. 37° W. 64% Pole to a
B. Oak at B; thence N. 87° W. 68% Pole to a W. O. at C; thence S. 37°
W. 84 Pole to a W. 0. at D; thence N. 82° W. 113 Pole to a W. O. at E;

' thence N. 36° W. 144 Pole to a B. O. at F; thence N. 4° W. 175 Pole to a

W. O. at G; thence N. 58° E. 340 Pole to a W. O. at G; thence N. 58° E.
340 Pole to a W. O. at H; thence S. 47° E., 126 Pole to a Walnut at I;

. thence S. 50° W., 70 Pole to a black Ash at K ; thence South 63 Pole to

a white Ash at L; thence South 89° E., 95 Pole to a Sugar tree at M;
thence S. 8° W. to the Beginning; Containing by Calculation 902 acres.
In Testimony whereof I have hereunto set my Hand this 26th Day of
February, 1780.
“ THOMAS BoNn, D. S. Y. C.
“ Examined copy given.
“ Test '
“ B. J OHNSTON.
“Del’d Mr. Yeates, & by him returned to the Land Oflice.”

“WILLIAM CRAWFORD, S. Y. 0.

Acres. To whom surveyed. When. Where.

902. Richard Yeates. Feb. 26, 17.80. Chartiers cr., Sth. Strab.
160. Hercules Roney. “ 26,(?) “ “ “ “

161. Capt. James Buchanan. “ 26, “ “ -“ “

400. Ezekiel Hopkins. “ 29, “ Mingo cr., Nottingham.
375. Joseph Brenton. May 2, “ E. Pike Run.
400. John Adams. “ 2, “ “ “
637. James Innis. “ 4, “ . Pigeon cr., Fallowfield. .
(394. Noah Williams. “ 6, “ “ “

206. John Study. “ 6, “

216. Daniel Sweekard. “ 6, “ “ “

270. John Beck. “ 10, “ “ “

263. D. Hopkins, J. Collins. “ 10, “ Mingo cr., Nottingham.
400. John Cramer. “ 11, “ Pigeon cr., Fallowfield.
408. John Jackson. “ 11, “ Chartiers cr., Nth. Strab.
355}. John Blackburn} “ 11,(?) “ Chartiers cr., Peters.

360%. Richard McMachin.9 (no date given) Mon. r., near Allegh. co.

pretty well settled, and what must have been the temper of the Penn-
sylvanians when viewing their execution?

I 1 Surveyed under certificate dated Cox’s Fort, Feb. 19, 1780, adjoining
Moses Coe, William Long, Francis Morrison ; in Peters township, in the

corner below the mouth of the‘ East Branch of Chartiers, now or late of V

D. G. Phillips. At the foot of the record is this note: “ B. J. offered the
survey-—rejected for want of money.” '
2 The certificate recited is dated at Redstone Old Fort, Nov. 17, 1779.

Pennsylvania Indignant.——As might -have been
expected, this exercise of sovereignty created a storm
of indignation. “ No event in the whole controversy
so roused” the people of Pennsylvania.
1779, Thomas.Scott9 (still living on Dun1ap’s Creek,
in now Fayette County, and therefore near where the
land commissioners held theirsessions) wrote to the
Supreme Executive Council, of which he was then a

3 At the foot of the record of this surveygis Written: “ May 25, 1784,
rec’d 5s. 3d. the College Fee. Col. CraWford’s fees “Mr. Plater says he
Paid to Mr. Brock in a cow that Brock sould to John Brouchman.”
John Brock was a deputy surveyor under Col. William Crawford.

4 See Virginia Act of May, 1780, hereafter quoted.

5 Described as lying in Yohogania County, including the drains of a
small branch of Allegheny River, adjoining Hunt, Tub, and Gen.
Thompson’s land, and was probably north of the Monongahela at Pitts-
burgh.

5 Seven months after Washington County was erected!

7 At this date of the first board of Washington County commissioners!

3 The first of these surveys to William Askey recites a certificate dated
at Cox's Fort, Nov. 20, 1779 (the very day after Pennsylvania had con-
firmed the report of the Baltimore commission), “ That William Askey,
assignee of Richard Willis, is entitled to 763 acres of land in Yohogania.
County, adjoining his settlements made in 1771, lying on the western
branches of Robinson’s run,” part of a pre-emption warrant for 1000
acres.

These are all the Yohogania County surveys in this book (embracing
a period from 1780 to 1785, inclusive) which can with any certainty be
placed in the present limits of Washington County, including for ob-
vious reasons one probablyin Allegheny County north of the Monon-
gahela River. After the early part of June, 1782, when 001. Crawford
was burned at the stake by the Sandusky. Indians, Benjamin Johnston
succeeded him as county surveyor, at first pro tempore, then by commis-
sion. The latter lived then on one of the Dorsey Pentecost tracts, in
new North Strabane township.

The deputy surveyors during this period were John Brock, G. Green,
Thomas Bond, B. Johnston, Daniel Leet, John Wells, William Sinclair,
William Lowrey, Isaac Greathouse. It should be remembered that this
list does not embrace all the Virginia titles in our county, only those
made at this period and in that part of Washington County which lay
in the old Yohogania County.

9 XII. 001. Records, 234.

On Nov. 29, g

194

HISTORY OF WASHINGTON COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA.

member, “ respecting the State of Virginia empower-
ing commissioners to sell lands within the bounds of
this State, particularly in the cqunty of Westmore-
land.” This letter is not found, but on its receipt
Joseph Reed, the president of the Council, trans-
mitted it to our delegates in Congress 1 with some
vigorous preliminary remarks, and .

“ We have therefore thought it our duty to lay this matter before you
as the Representatives of Pennsylvania in the great Assembly of Amer-
ica, convened for the purposes of general Union and common Defence,
that you might take their Sense thereupon, and that we may avail
ourselves of their Judgment and Influence, if they conceive the com-
mon Interest of America injured thereby. At the same time we shall
make such a Remonstrance to the State of Virginia as the Interest and
Honour of this State require ;- if these should be ineffectual We trust we
shall stand justified in the eyes of God and Man, if availing ourselves
of the Means We possess, we afford that support and Aid to the much
injured and distressed Inhabitants of the frontear Counties which their
Situation and our Duty requires.”

After. receiving the resolution of Congress passed
Dec. 27, 1779, recommending to the contending. par-
ties not to grant any part of the disputed land, or to
disturb the possession of any persons living thereon,
and to avoid every appearance of force until the dis-
pute could be amicably settled} the president of the
Supreme Executive Council on the next day, Decem-
ber 28th, issued a proclamation,3 which, after reciting
at length the appointment, proceedings, and agreement
of the Baltimore commissioners, that that agreement
had been at once ratified by the Pennsylvania Assem-
bly, and the ratification duly transmitted to Virginia,
that nevertheless the ofiicials of that government had
proceeded to Fort Burd (Redstone), and were pro-
ceeding to exercise a summary and arbitrary juris-
diction, tending to dispossess the grantees under
Pennsylvania, etc., and quoting also the "resolution
of Congress, closed by requiring of all oflicers, civil
and military, and others, subjects of Pennsylvania,
to pay due obedience and respect to the resolution of
Congress, and encouraging the several grantees claim-

ing under Pennsylvania to continue in the cultiva-

tion and improvement of their several estates, as well
as in their allegiance and fidelity, notwithstanding
any claims or pretences set up by the State of Vir-
rginia- Fifty copies of this proclamation were trans-
mitted to Mr. Scott, with a letter from the President
dated Dec. 29, 1779 : 4 .

“You will see from its import (the Proclamation) that we thought it
best to avoid all irritating Measures, and express our Confidence in the
Justice and Honour of Virginia to rectify the Measures complained of.
. . . We have sent you an attested Copy of the Resolution of Congress,
that you may communicate itto the Commissioners if they are yet with
you, and we would desire you to do it in form, demanding of them
Whether they will yield Obedience thereto, and transmitting to us their
Answer so Authenticated that, if necessary, we may lay the samebefore
Congress. We shall also remonstrate with the Government of Virginia,
etc.”

Mr. Scott performed the duties required of him,
and on the 20th January, 1780, received the following
reply from the Virginia land commissioners still with
them on the Monongahela :5

1 VIII. Penn. Archives, 46.
3 Ibid., 212.

2 XII. Col. Records, 211.
4 VII1. Penn. Archives, 63. 5 Ibid., 91.

“ MR. Scorr:

“ Sir,—In answer to your application of yesterday we beg you would
inform his Excellency the President» of Pennsylvania, that we shall ever
pay the greatest respect to a recommendation of Congress, as well as to
an application from the executive power of Pennsylvania, consistent
with our duty as servants of the State of Virginia.

“ We do not conceive an immediate application to us (on the resolution
of Congress) consistent with the rules of propriety; we rather think such
an application ought to be made to the Governor of Virginia, under
whose commission we act. Until that is done and we receive directions
to the contrary we think ourselves obliged to continue to act under our
commission. '

“ We are, with great respect,
“ Sir, Your Obed’t hble Servts
“FRANCIS PEYTON,
“ PHIL. PENDLETON,
“ JOSEPH HOLMES.
“ Cox's Four [Union tp.],
“ January 21st, 1780.”

On March 24, 17 80, the Supreme Executive Council
and the General Assembly"' submitted a joint address
to our delegates in Congress, containing a forcible pre-
sentation of the state of affairs in the Western fron-
tiers: “ And we now find ourselves reduced to the sad
alternative of seeing a number of honest, industrious
settlers, who have peaceably purchased, cultivated,
and enjoyed their lands for many years, under Titles
of this State, now dispossessed and ruined, or enter
into a contest which to us, is dreadful in contempla-
tion.” The address is of great length, and concluded:

“ But if Pennsylvania must arm for hervinternal defence instead of
recruiting her Continental Line, if her attention and supplies must be
diverted in like manner, if the common enemy encouraged by our di-
vision should prolong the War, interests of our sister States and the
common cause be injured or distressed, we trust we shall stand acquitted
before them and the whole World; and if the effusion of Human blood
is to be the result of this unhappy dispute, We humbly trust that the
great Governor of the Universe, who delights in Peace, equity, and
Justice, will not impute it to us. Confiding in his protection and the
justness of our cause, We shall‘ endeavor to defend and preserve the
Citizens of this State from further violence, and if necessary repel force
with force, with what success we presume not to say. It is suflicient for
us that opposition, Tyranny, and injustice are the same from whatever
hands they proceed, and that no change or situation can be more dis-
graceful or distressing.”

Pennsylvania for the first time in the boundary
controversy was now thoroughly ready for a fight.
The peace policy was ready to be abandoned. Men
are always prepared for an emergency when they are
willing to leave the results with Providence. But of
what effect were these belligerent declarations upon
Virginia? Her General Assembly met in May, 1780.
Chapter IX.7 of the acts of that session was an act
granting further time to obtain warrants upon cer-
tificates for pre-emption rights, etc. Of this chapter,’
Section IV. provided that the further time of eighteen
months be given to all persons who may obtain cer-
tificates from the commissioners to enter the same,

“Provided that the Court of Commissioners for the district of the
counties of Monongalia, Yohogania, and Ohio do not use or exercise
any jurisdiction respecting claims to lands within the territory in dis-

pute between the States of Virginia and Pennsylvania, north of Mason

and Dixon’s line, until such dispute shall be finally adjusted and set-
tled.”

5 XII. Col. Records, 289. 7 10 Hening, 237.

CIVIL AND LEGAL—FINAL RATIFICATION OF BOUNDARY AGREEMENT.

195

Look back now at the list of surveys on a previous
page.

The Virginiacommissioners may not have granted
any certificates to settlers after the passage of this act,
in May or June, 1780, but her surveyors and deputy
surveyors continued right along to receive entries,
make oflicial surveys, and to return the same, of lands
within the present limits of Washington County,
indeed until as late as June 3, 1782, more than a
year after Washington County was erected.’

But Virginia was possibly somewhat under the in-
fluence of a general sentiment adverse to her policy,
and her conduct began to be‘ shaped accordingly.
Col. John Proctor, one of the agents for forfeited es-
tates for Westmoreland County, perhaps saw some
change for the better when he wrote his letter to
President Reed, dated June 1, 1780: 2

“ I havue the Pleashor to inform you that we havue had parfect Quiet-
ness from Virginia, the havue laid several new Plans for new Disputs but
the People being so often Desaved by them will not fall in with them,
and the seem know at their wits end. I have maid several new frends to
pennsylvania by telling the People in the Desputed Part that the Com-
isioners only want’d to fill there own Pockets with money whitch is
tackin from the Poor unjustly, and that Pennsylvania will not pay aney
regard to aney thing Don by them.”

Final Ratification of Boundary Agreement.-
But the end of the contest approaches. On June 23,
1780, the Lower House of the Virginia Assembly
passed a resolution confirming the Baltimore agree-
ment, with a very important condition attached, to
be complied with on the part of Pennsylvania. It
was finally passed as amended by the Senate on July
1st, and transmitted at once to Philadelphia. This
resolution“ controverted the reasoning of the Penn-
sylvania commissioners at Baltimore, disavowed the
binding agency of the Virginia commissioners in the
execution of the agreement, yet asseverating the wish
of that State to prevent future dispute and animosity,
and to prove the sincerity of her professions and de-
sire to cultivate and maintain the most cordial har-
mony with the sister State of Pennsylvania, expressed
the willingness of Virginia to ratify the agreement
“ on the Conditions expressed in the following resolve,
corresponding with the reservation in their offer of
December 18, 1776:”

“ Resolved, therefore, That the agreement made on the 31st day of Au-
gust 1779, between &c. [naming the commissioners], be ratified and
finally confirmed to wit: [quoting the agreement] On Condition that
the private property and rights of all persons acquired under, founded
on, or recognized by the laws of either Country previous to the date
hereof, be saved andvconfirmed to them, altho’ they should be found to
fall within the other, and that in the decision of disputes thereupon
preference shall be given to the elder or prior right whichever of the
said states the same shall have been acquired under, such persons pay-
ing to that state within whose boundary their lands shall be included
the same purchase or consideration money which would have been due
from them to the state under which they claimed the right; and where
any such purchase or consideration money hath, since the declaration

of American Independence, been received by either state for lands which
according to the before recited agreement shall fall within the territory

1 See the surveys for William Askew, in Robinson township.
9 VIII. Penn. Archives, 284. p ’
3 10 Hening, 519, et seq.; VIII. Penn. Archives, 352.

of the other, the same shall be reciprocally refunded and repaid, and
that the inhabitants of the disputed territory, now ceded to the state of
Pennsylvania, shall not before the first day of December, in the present
year, be subject to the payment of any tax, nor at any time to the pay-
ment of arrears of taxes or impositions heretofore laid by either state.

“ Resolved, That upon the acceptance and full ratification of this con-
dition and agreement on the part of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania,
the Governor be empowered with the advice of the Council to appoint
two Commissioners on behalf of this Commonwealth in conjunction
with Commissioners to be appointed by the Commonwealth of Penn-
sylvania, to extend the line commonly called Mason and Dixon’s line
five degrees of longitude from Delaware River, as aforesaid, and from
the western termination thereof to run and mark a meridian line to the
Ohio River, which is as far as the General Assembly conceive the same can
at present be extended and marked without danger of umbrage to the
Indians ;4 giving the said Commissioners, on the part of Virginia, such
instructions therein as the advice of the Council shall judge proper."

Pennsylvania was prepared, for the sake of an end
to the controversy, to yield even to these humiliating
conditions, clearly disclosing the want of good faith
on the part of Virginia, especially in view of the cer-
tificates and surveys by the Virginia officials even
then continuing within our borders. The General
Assembly of Pennsylvania met on the 7th of Sep-
tember; the same day the message of the president

‘of the Council laid before that body the foregoing

resolution of the General Assembly of ' Virginia,
stating,5 “ The prospect of an amicable termination
of this unhappy controversy cannot but be accept-
able to every good man and faithful citizen, and we
have no doubt this overture will be improved into a
full and final accommodation, consistent with the
rights of individuals and the honor of the State.”
On Saturday, Sept. 28, 1780,‘

“ The House resumed the consideration of the report of the Committee
upon the Determination of the General Assembly of Virginia respecting
the disputed Boundary, and having maturely considered the same,it was
unanimously agreed to as follows, viz.: , ‘

“ Resolved, That although the conditions annexed, by the Legislature
of Virginia, to the ratification of the boundary line agreed to by the
Commissioners of Pennsylvania and Virginia on the 31st day of August,
1779, may tend to countenance some unwarrantable claims ‘which may
be made under the State of Virginia, in consequences of pretended
purchases or settlements pending the controversy, yet this state, de-

termining to give the World the most unequivocal proof of their earnest-

desire to promote peace and harmony with a Sister State, so necessary
during this great contest against the Common Enemy, do agree to the
conditions proposed by the State of Virginia, in their Resolves of the
23d of June last, to wit: [Here is copied verbatim the first resolution of
the Virginia Assembly, including the conditions set out.] And we do
hereby accept and fully ratify the said recited conditions, and the Boun-
dary Line formed thereupon.”

Following the foregoing was a resolution almost
word for word with the second of the Virginia resolu-
tions, authorizing the appointment of commissioners,
to act in conjunction with those to be appointed by
Virginia, to extend Mason and Dixon’s line, and to
run and mark the meridian from the western termi-
nation thereof.’

4 Who had not yet parted with their title to lands west of the Alle-
gheny and north of the Ohio; this they did by the treaty of 1784.

5 XII. Col. Rec., 476.

6 VIII. Penn. Archives, 570.

7 It is not understood why the Legislature passed the act of April 1,
1784: “An Act confirming an agreement entered into between this
State and the State of Virginia.”-——-2 Smith's Laws, p. 261.

Copyright, 1882, by BOYD CRUMRINE.

24 HISTORY OF WASHINGTON COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA.
_ I

LITE DANS QUELQUES VILLAGES SAUVAGES DE cEs
cANToNs, AvoNS ENTERRE cE PLAQVE AU CONFLU-
ENT DE L’oHIo ET DE TcHADAKo1N CE 29 JVILLET
PRES DE LA RIVIERE ovo, AUTREMENT BELLE
RIVIERE, POUR MONUMENT DE RENOUVELLEMENT
DE POSSESSION QVE Novs AvoNs PRIS DE LA DITTE
RIVIERE OY0 ET DE TovTEs CELLES QVI Y TOM-
BENT, ET DE TovTEs LES TERRES DES DEUX coTEs
JVSQVE AUx sovRcEs DES DITTES RIVIERES AINSI
Qv’EN oNT JOVI oU Dv JOVIR LES PRECEDENTS
RoIS DE FRANCE ET QVILS S’Y SoNT MAINTENVS PAR
LES ARMES, ET PAR LES TRAITES SPECIALEMENT
PAR cEVs DE RISVICK D’VT-RECHT ET D’AIx-LA-
oHA1>ELLE.1

The expedition, sent out by command of the Mar-
quis de la Galissoniere, as indicated by the inscrip-
tions on the plates, was composed of the commandant,
De Celeron (who was a captain in the French service
and a chevalier of the Order of St. Louis), the Rev.
Father Bonnecamps, a’ Jesuit, who was chaplain,
“ mathematicien,” navigator, and astronomer for the
party, Messieurs Con trecoeur, de Saussaye, Le Borgne,
Philip and Chabert J oncaire,” and Coulon de Villiers
(the last mentioned of whom, as also Contrecoeur,
afterwards took prominent parts in the campaigns
against Washington and Braddock), two other oflicers
and six cadets of the French service, twenty-four
French soldiers, including petty officers and a gun-
smith, fifty Indians of the Canadian tribes friendly
to the French, and nearly two hundred‘voya_qem~s,
who were to perform the severe labor of the expe-
dition,——the paddling of the canoes, the transporta-
tion at the portages, and other kinds of heavy work.
The detachment was abundantly supplied with arms,
military equipments, and ammunition. The embarras
of the campaign consistedof the necessary camp
equipage, tools, and implements, leaden Slabs to be
buried at prominent points, provisions, and a large
amount of merchandise intended for presents to the
Indians of the Ohio Valley. A journal of the expe-
dition was kept by" Celeron. Father Bonnecamps
also kept a journal, and made a map of the route, or
what purported to be one, but_ which was very incor-

, rect with regard to the rivers and smaller streams.

. The officers and men of the expedition, having em-
barked in canoes, with their equipment and material,
at La Chine, on the St. Lawrence, a few miles above
________________________,______________
1 Translation: In the year 1749, of the reign of Louis XV., king of
France, we, Celeron, commandant of a detachmentsent by Monsieur the
Marquis 'de la Galissoniere, commandant-general of New France, to re-
store tranquillity in certain Indian villages of these districts, have buried
this plate at the confluence of the Ohio and Tchadakoin [Chautauqua],
this 29th of July, near the River Ohio, otherwise Beautiful River, as a
monument of renewal of possession that we have taken of the said river
Ohio and of all those which fall into it, and of all the lands on both
sides as far as to the sources of said rivers, which the preceding kings
of France have rightfully enjoyed and maintained by arms and by trea-
ties, especially by those of Ryswick, Utrecht, and Aix-la-Chape-lle.
2Sons of Chabert Joncaire, who lived among the Iroquois for many
years, and died at Niagara in 1740.

 

Montreal, left the former place onthe 15th of June,
1749, and proceeded up the great river to Lake On-
tario, thence along the southernshore of that lake
to Fort Niagara, where they arrived on the 6th _of
July. They made no halt here, but moved at once
to the portage, and commenced the work of trans-
porting their material and stores by land around the
cataract. This labor occupied a week, and on the
13th they -were again afloat on the waters of Niagara
River above the rapids. From the river they entered
Lake Erie, and pulled along its southeastern shore
towards the landing-place of the portage over Which
they were to pass to reach the lake now called Chau-

tauqua. Twice they were compelled by -strong head

winds to disembark andencamp on the shore, waiting
for a favorable change of weather, but finally in the
afternoon of the 16th they reached the landing-place,
where the company disembarked, and the commander
sent out two of his oflicvers with a party of men to
mark and clear the first part of the portage route.
They had heavy work before them,——to carry the
canoes, laden with all their impedimenta, tons in
weight, to be relaunched on the waters of an inland
lake more than seven hundred feet higher than those
of Erief’ and with an intervening ridge of fully two
hundred feet additional altitude to be crossed in the

portage of nearly ten miles in length. But it appears I

that Celeron took little account of the obstacles con-
fronting him, and here, as at other stages of his long
and diflicult journey, he pushed on without hesitation
and with remarkable energy. At dawn in the morn-
ing of the 17th he put his men in motion, and although
the way was rugged, steep, and in many places appar-
ently impassable, and a serious delay was caused by a
heavy rain-storm, they traversed the portage, heavily
laden as they were, in less than six full days, arriving
on the shore of the highland lake on the 22d. It is
not improbable that the small stream since known as
Chautauqua Creek afforded them some little facility
for water carriage, but if so it could only have been
for a very small proportion of the distance between
the two lakes.

At the end of the portage they halted a while to
repair the canoes and give the wearied voyageurs an
opportunity for a little rest after their fatiguing march
from the shore of Lake Erie, but early in the day on
the 23d the flotilla moved briskly on through the
bright waters of Chautauqua, and in the same even-
ing the men bivouacked on its shore within a league
of the outlet through which the surplus waters of the
lake flow to Conewango Creek, and with the current
of the latter stream to the Allegheny. At this camp-
ground some of the Iroquois warriors of Celeron’s
party came on and reported that while fishing-during
the afternoon they had seen Indians, apparently

3 Chautauqua Lake is seven hundred and twenty-four and a half feet
above the level of Lake Erie. The distance, ‘as now traveled, between

the two lakes is about eight and a half miles, but there is no reason to
suppose Celeron made it in less than ten. ‘

196

HISTORY OF WASHINGTON COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA.

At last, so far as the legislative power of the two
commonwealths was concerned, the contention was at
an end. Henceforward the matter was with the re-
spective executive departments. Nothing remained
to be done but the running and marking of the line
of separation of the two jurisdictions. ,

How Virginia had clung to the valley of the Mo-
nongahela! Her surveyors were still running their
lines around “settlements” made by her adherents,
by virtue of certificates issued by her commissioners’
courts at Redstone and Cox’s Fort. But her Yoho-
gania County Court,.holding its sessions for the ad-
ministration of justice under her laws, only closed its
records on Aug. 28, 1780,‘ but a month before the pas-
sage of the Pennsylvania resolution ‘accepting the
terms of settlement imposed by Virginia. Then was
the power of Virginia withdrawn.

The exercise of an active jurisdiction on the part
of Pennsylvania over lands lying west of the Monon-
gahela River, and soon to be erected into a new
county, had been superseded probably since 17 74, at
least to a very great extent. The Virginia jurisdic-
tion having been withdrawn, the condition of that
territory, "fully settled by this time, is doubtless well
described by the lamentation of Col. Joseph Beelor,
of old the provincial county commissioner of West-
moreland County, and later an adherent of the Vir-
ginia usurpation. His letter to C01. Daniel Brod-
head, then commanding at Pittsburgh, and calling
upon the surrounding counties for men and horses,
may properly be entitled as “Beelor’s Lament.” 1

’ A “ oer. 10, 1780.
“ DEAR SIR,—I received yours of the 7th inst. this
morning,” butit is not in my power to give you a just
return as you request until the last of this week, for
I have been obliged to issue orders to press horses &
draught men, as I could not get Volunteers enough,
of which I have not got a return yet. I am sorry to
inform you that I am afraid we shall come but little
speed; I find that the Government’ of Virginia will
not protect me in any thing I do by vertue of the laws
of Virg“, since their last Resolution, & the laws of
Pensyl“ have not as yet taken us und_er their protec-
tion ; all this the Country is acquainted with, so that
every thing I do is at the.Risque of my Fortune unless
protected by the States. If it had not been to forward
an expedition I should have declined acting a good
while ago, as no man ever had a more disagreeable time
of it than I have at present, having no law to defend
me. We are assured of your good intentions for the
safety of the Countrey, & are very sorry that we cannot
act with that spirit that we ought to do. But hope the
laws of Pen“ will either be extended in a few Days
from this time, or the Laws of Virg“ be kept in force.
It is very unhappy for this Countrey that the two
contending States has not provided a better way for

1 vm. Penn. A: chives, 583.   I I
2 Col. Beelor lived in Peters township, near .Cha1*tiers Creek.

the defence of this Countrey that to Let it fall between
them both until matters are settled between them.
“ I have the honour to be with the greatest

“ Respect,» Dear Sir, your most obed’t H?ble serv’t,
“ J OSEPH BEELOR, Coll.
’ “ without law to protect Inc.”
Directed,

“ OoLo. BRODHEAD.”

C H A P T E R X I V.
THE CIVIL AND LEGAL HISTORY.--( Continued.)

VI.
The Running and Marking of the Boundary Line—A Temporary Line

Run—-The Permanent Line Run and Marked.

The Running and Marking of the Boundary
Line.——From this time (the date of Col. Beelor’s la-

» ment) onward, with the exception of complaints made

of delays on the part of the Virginia officials ap-

pointed to aid in running and marking of

the line, the boundary controversy was at an 1780.
end as between the States, and confined there-
after to factions, so long separated that a union
seemed impossible. By the final action of Pennsyl-
vania on Sept. 23, 1780, accepting the ratification of
the Baltimore agreement with theconditions attached
by Virginia, where the boundary should be was no
longer a question: it only remained now to run and
mark it.

But delays, vexatious and long continued, were to
intervene. Thomas Scott wrote to President Reed,
Jan. 24, 1781,?’ “I have been big with ex-

pectation of the line between us and Virginia 1781.,

being shortly run, and that dispute finally

settled, but begin to think I shall be disappointed.”
On Feb. 25, 1781, Col. Daniel Brodhead, command-
ing at Fort Pitt, added to a letter a “ P. S.—I hope
no time will be lost in determining the Boundary
Line, for until then the Inhabitants will be in con-
fusion, and I cannot call them out in case of Inva-
sion.”4 But on the 21st of February a step had been
taken by the Supreme Executive Council in the ap-

pointment of John Lukens and Archibald McClean, ‘

of York County, as commissioners on the part of
Pennsylvania to run and mark the line, proposing to

Virginia the 10th of the next May as the time, and .

providing that in case of the death, sickness, or in-
ability of either, Alexander McLean, Esq., of West-
moreland County, be substituted? Then on March

_ 20, 17 81, President Reed wrote to Thomas Scott,‘ in-

forming him of these steps and also of another im-
portant matter, the immediate prospect of the erec-

3 VIII. Penn. Archives, 713.

4 Ibid., 744.

5 XII. Col. Records, 635. For instructions see Ibid., 704. '
5 IX. Penn. Archives, 20.

CIVIL AND LEGAL—A TEMPORARY LINE RUN.

tion of a new county. On the 17th of April, 1781,
Thomas Jefferson, then the Governor of Virginia, ad-
dressed the following to President Reed :1

“ SIR,—I have been honored with your Excellency’s Letter, proposing
the actual extension of our mutual Boundary. . . . No mode of deter-
mining the extent of the five degrees of Longitude from Delaware
River, in the Latitude of Mason’s and Dixon's Line having been pointed
out by your Excellency, I shall venture to propose that this be deter-
mined by Astronomical Observations, to be made at or near the two ex-
tremities of the Line, as being, in our opinion, the most certain & unex-
ceptionable mode of determining that Point, which being fixed, every
Thing will be easy.

’ “ Should this mode be approved by your Excellency, we have appointed
the Rev. James Madison, as a commissioner on our part to execute the
work in the Western Quarter, and the Rev. Robert Andrews to perform
the oflice at the Eastern end, in conjunction with the Gentlemen whom
you have been pleased to appoint or any others on your part. . . . We
will send to the Westward the most necessary Instruments, which we
suppose to be a good Time Piece, Telescopes, and a Quadrant, and hope
it will be convenient for you to furnish what may be necessary at the
Eastern end.

“ Our Commissioners will be at their Respective Stations at any time
which your Excellency shall think proper to appoint, allowing it to be a
month after I‘ shall have received your Pleasure on that Head. . . .”

The important suggestions contained in this com-
munication must have been favorably received by
President Reed, and the time changed from that at
first proposed, for on May 22, 17 81,2 Governor J effer-
son writes the information that his government has
been compelled to remove to Charlottesville by the
British invasion, and being at a great distance from
VVilliamsburg, where the commissioners of Virginia
resided, it would be impossible to proceed with the

' running of the line on June 12th, the day last set by

President Reed, which made necessary a postpone-

ment. The establishment of the permanent boundary

was then deferred till May 1, 1782.

A Temporary Line Run.—But on June 3, 17 81,3
Governor Jefferson assented to a proposition pre-

viously made, to run a temporary line, extending

Mason and Dixon’s line due west twenty-three miles,
or to the.Ohio River, and directed the county surveyor
of Monongalia County to join in the work with any
one whom President Reed should appoint. Soon
after the receipt of this letter the Supreme Executive
Council appointed as the Pennsylvania artist Alex-
ander McClean, Esq., then living in that part of
Westmoreland County now. forming Fayette. This
appointment and the cause of the interruption of the
prospect of the running of the permanent line is set
forth in the letter of President Reed to C01. James
Marshel,4 the lieutenant of Washington County, of
date July 23, 1781 : 5

“SIR,-—I have received two letters from you, one of the 5th, &_ the
other of the 27th June, which I have laid before the Council. We are

sorry to hear of the obstructions which have been thrown in your way
by ill designing people who keep up unhappy Contests for sinister pur-

1 IX. Penn. Archives, 78. 2 Ibid., 160. 3 Ibid., 189.

4 James Marshel was also the recorder of deeds and the register of
wills, as well as the county lieutenant. Holding the latter position, he
was the representative of the executive power in the county in military
affairs. , '

5 IX. Penn. Archives, 304. See also President Reed to Hon. Christo-
pher Hays, Ibid., 300. -

197

poses. We hope the Time will come when these Machinations will be
at an end, as we are resolved as soon as the line is run to exert the Power
of legal & coercive Authority over all who shall presume to disturb the
publick Tranquility & distress the Country by their mal Practices. It
was much our wish to run the Line this Spring, but the State of Vir-
ginia being invaded [by the British Army], & the affairs of the Gov-
ernment in great confusion, there has not been the Time or Opp’y for
that purpose which was necessary. Besides that, uponinquiry we found
the Season was too far advanced for those Astronomical Observations
which were necessary to run the line with Exactness. We have there-

fore postponed the grand Operation to next Spring. But as we know it ~

was highly necessary to have a partition of Territory and Jurisdiction,
we proposed to Virginia to run a temporary lin-e, beginning at the End
of Mason and Dixon’s, and measuring 23 miles,6 what is by common
Computation the five degrees of Longitude called for in the Charter of
King Charles the 2d. This has been agreed to, and the State of Virginia
has sent Orders to the Surveyor of Yeoghegany County7 to join with one
to be appointed by us to that Service. We have appointed Alexander Mc-
Clean, Esq., and this Express carries up his Commission & Instructions
for this Purpose. Should he have Occasion for a Guard or any other Assist-
ance from you, we make no Doubt he will receive it. As soon as they
have run the Line & reported their Proceedings we shall send up Procla-

mations calling upon all those who shall fall into this State to conform .

to its Laws and Government, and hope you will soon be relieved from
the Anarchy and Confusion which has reigned so long in your Country
from this unhappy Dispute. . . .”

Washington County had been erected by an act of
the General Assembly passed March 28, 1781. It is not
the place here to show what were the “ Obstructions”
producing the “ Anarchy and Confusion” referred to
in this letter. They will be given at length hereafter.
Suffice it to say that, after the organization of the
county, the old antagonisms arising outof the dis-
puted jurisdiction continued indeed for several years.
Such terms as “Villanous Banditti” were of fre-
quent use on either side, and letters in the State
Archives are full of them. ~ Of one party were Col.
James Marshel, Hon. Thomas Scott, the principal
leaders of the old Pennsylvania adherents, while of
the old Virginia partisans Col. Dorsey Pentecost and
Col. John Canon were among the most conspicuous.
During the year 17 81 the new State project was also
revived, resulting in much trouble, and the passage of
an. act, late in 1782, making the advocacy of the
scheme a treason. These difficulties at present must
be deferred. Their continuance, however, during the
year 1781 and later was the occasion of much anx-
iety for the final establishment of the boundary line.

It appears that Alexander McClean was one of
those drafted by the Virginia military officials to
serve in Gen. George Rogers Clarke’s expedition
against the Indians, which left Western Pennsylva-
nia inthe summer of 1781, of which fact Archibald
McClean, of York County, informed President Reed
in a letter, dated on Aug. 13,1781,3 sothat the border
troubles. as well as the British invasion of Virginia
became responsible for delay. But Mr. McClean’s

6 In the latitude of their line Mason and Dixon computed the width
of a degreeiof longitude to be 53 miles 167-I15 perches, and Penn’s five de-
grees of longitude from the Delaware at 267 miles 195%, perches. To
their stopping-place on Dunkard, the distance run, they say, was 244
miles, 113 perches, 7% feet, leaving, as they computed it, 23 miles 83
perches yet to be run.——- Veech. ‘

7 It was Monongalia County.

3 ‘IX. Penn. Archives, 352.

198

HISTORY OF WASHINGTON COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA.

services on that expedition seem to have been dis-
pensed with, for on September 13th he addressed a
letter to President Reed,‘ giving as an excuse for his
inactivity the delays occasioned by the unreadiness
of Mr. Madison, who had been appointed to act with
him on the part of Virginia, and on October 19th
Thomas Scott wrote to President Reed,“ “ We still
groan under the difficulty of an unrun boundary line,
now occasioned by Mr. Madison, the Virginia com-
missioner (partly from design in himself, and partly
to gratify a small faction still in the county), declin-
ingto join with Mr. McClean in that business, and
instead thereof he has posted off a messenger to Vir-
ginia with prayers, and thinks (as is said) that it may
not be done.” 3

Preparations had already again been made, how-
ever, for the running of the permanent line early the
next year, for on October 8th the Supreme Executive
Council had appointed Rev. Dr. John Ewing and
David Rittenhouse, Esq.,4 commissioners for that pur-
pose, who were desired at once to proceed to provide
the necessary instruments and to have everything in
readiness to perform said service; yet by reason of
the facts already mentioned the much-desired tem-
porary line had not yet been run, and on December
17th, Hon. William Moore, now the president of the
Supreme Executive Council, wrote to Brig.-Gen. Wil-
liam Irvine, in command at Fort Pitt :_5

“ . . . With respect to the line between this state and Virginia, every
measure, on our part, has been taken to have had a temporary line run
last summer; but it has failed of being effectual by some omissions of
the commissioners appointed on the part of that state; and it seems to
be impracticable by the lateness of the season, and perhaps unnecessary,

now, to push that measure, as preparations are making for running in .

the Spring a permanent line, founded on astronomical observations. . . .”

But the winter having passed away, on March 1,
1782, a committee of the General Assembly met with
the Supreme Executive Council, and after con.-
1782. sideration it wasresolved that the completion
of the permanent line was unadvisable for the
present on account of the great expenses necessarily
attending it, but “that a temporary line during the
continuance of the present War or till times are
more settled _on the Frontiers may be made and
agreed on at a small expense, which will answer
every purpose expected.” This resolution being
communicated to Governor Harrison, of Virginia,
it was assented to,7 whereupon, on April 6th, Alex-
ander McClean was again commissioned3 and in-
structions given him as follows :9

“You are hereby instructed to be on ‘the 10th of June at the ex-
tremity of Mason and Dixon’s line, where you’ll meet the Commissioners
from Virginia, & then continue the said line 23 miles West, then run a

1 IX. Penn. Archives, 402. 2 Ibid., 439.
3 See letter Col. James Marshel to President Reed, IX. Penn. Archives,
444.

4 XIII. Col. Records, 79.

5 IX. Penn. Archives, 468.

6 Ibid., 506; XIII. ‘Col. Records, 209.

7 IX. Penn. Archives, 518.

3 XIII. Col. Records, 252.

9 IX. Penn. Archives, 519.

Meridian Line till it strikes the Ohio. Shou’d the Commissioners from
Virginia not Attend at the time dz place, or refuse to perform with you
the running of ye above Lines you’ll proceed yourself.”

Some differences then followed between Governor
Harrison and President Moore as to whether or not
the commissioners should begin at the extremity of
the boundary between Pennsylvania and Maryland,
or at the point on Dunkard Creek where Mason and
Dixon had been stopped by their Indian escort in
1767 ; 1° but the matter being referred to the Virginia
Assembly, that body, on June 1, 17 82, empowered the
commissioners to be appointed by the Governor to
begin at the extremity of Mason and Dixon’s line,
thence extend it twenty-three miles, and then run the
meridian to the Ohio.” But Alexander McClean did
as he was instructed to do, and on June 10, 17 82, ap-
peared with his escort at the point designated, pre-
pared for the duty enjoined, with the result, however,
shown by his report to President Moore, as follows: 12

“CoLo. CooK’s,
“ON MY WAY FROM PITTSBURGH, 27 June, 1782.

“ SIR,—TO my great Mortification I am lead to inform you that after
every eifort which prudence might dictate, I am again prevented from
Running the Line. The Circumstances I presume you will be anxious to
know. They are as follows, Viz.: Shortly after my Return from Phila-
delphia an expedition was formed against Sandusky by the Volunteers
of both Counties, which drew off a great Number of the Militia and
Arms. The Situation of Washington County was very distressing to
appearance. I thought it not prudent to call any part of the Guard
from thence, altho’ Impowered so to do. The Lieut. of the ‘County of
Westmoreland furnished me with a guard of one hundred and upward,
but had not Arms suflicient to supply them. About Seventy were armed.
We proceeded to the Mouth of Dunkard Creek, where our stores were laid
in on the tenth day of June, and were preparing to Cross the River that
night when a party of about thirty horsemen Armed appeared on the op-
posite of the River, Damning us to come over, and threatening us to a great
Degree; and several more were seen by our Bul1ock_ Guard, which we
had sent over the river, one of which asked them if they would
Surrender to be taken as prisoners and other Language of menacing;
and hearing of a great number more who were on their way to their
assistance, We held a Council, the Result of which was to appoint a
Committee to confer with them on the Causes of their opposition, the
result of said Conference you will see enclosed. This Mob or Banditti
of Villains are greatly increased since the supply Bill has been published
amongst them. . . . In short the Cry against Taxes in Specie is general
and in any Mode by a Number of those who “formerly adhered to Vir-
ginia, and they think the Running of the Line will be a prelude to and
increase the power of Collecting them; Together with the Idea of a
New State, which is artfully and industriously conveyed (under Cover-
ture) by some of the Friends of that State as the only Expedient to

prevent the Running of the Line. I have also to inform you that I have .

the most finished assurance that they have not the least Desire to settle
the Line in any equitable manner, for the Instructions of their Com-
missioners (if they have appointed any) will doubtless direct them to
begin at the end of Maryland, which is not yet ascertained, neither can
it be without the concurrence of that State, which I am fully persuaded
was thrown in as a barrier to keep the Evil day the further oil’. ,

“. . . Colo. Hayes, who was present on Committee, was Zealous to
proceed against all opposition, but all to no purpose, other than to en-
rage the Mob still more; they proceeded to dare us to trial of their
Resolution and intention. I have just now been with General Irwin,
who is well disposed to render every Service in his power, but as 3. Con-
tinental Oificer he cannotinterfere without instructions for that purpose.
In short every measure has been taken that might be thought prudent
but to no purpose. Their obstinacy is such that they will never submit
until destruction overtakes them.

“ I have therefore to request that you will devise some mode that it
may be accomplished speedily, as the Enemies of this State are daily

10 Ibid., 533, 549. 11 Ibid., 562. 12 Ibid., 554.

CIVIL AND LEGAL-—THE RUNNING OF THE PERMANENT BOUNDARY.

199

encreasing, and I find it is out of my power, unless a Commissioner
from Virginia should appear, to proceed without open war, which, if you
are determined upon, you’ll please to give ‘me instructions agreeably,
together with the Necessary Powers. I am just now informed that a
meeting of some of the former subjects of Virginia has been lately Re-
quested to choose Ofiicers to resume the Government in this place, the
Result of which I am not able to inform you.”

With the foregoing report was the following record
of the conference had with the “Mob or Banditti of
Villains” referred to:

“ MOUTH or DUNKARD CREEK, June 10th, 1782.

V “Ata meeting of the Commissioners on the Part of Pennsylvania,
the 10th Day‘ of June, one Thousand Seven Hundred and Eighty-
Two.

“ Present Alexander McClean, Esq., ) Commissioners
and Samuel McClean, Asst. Surveyor. I for Running the Line.

“ With the Several Drafts of the Militia of the 3d and 4th Battalions
of 'Westmoreland County, under the Command of Col. Benjamin Davis,
etc. '

“ When a number of the Inhabitants of Washington County, holding
themselves yet under the Jurisdiction of the State of Virginia, appeared
in Opposition to us under Arms. And as the meeting of Parties in such
cases Inraged with Passion are frequently attended [with 1?] Evil Conse-
quences it was thought Proper to appoint a Committee to Confer on the
Causes or Reasons of said Opposition; on which Henry Vanmeter, Jesse
Pigman, and George Newland, of the Opposite Partie, were appointed a
Committee to Confer with us; and Christopher Hays, Henry Beason,
and Alexander McClean, a Committee on behalf of Pennsylvania.
After Producing the Several Papers and Instructions, Together with
Corresponding Letters of the Council of Virginia, The said Committee

on part of Virginia Refuse to Concur with the Committee of Pennsyl-

vania in the Measure, until finally Determined or Proclaimed to be

agreeable to the State of Virginia, other than through forceable or

Dangerous Measures, Which might be attended with Consequences

truly Evil.

“ In Witness that it is the full Intention of the Party we represent,

‘We, as a Committee, do Sign our Names for them the Day and year

aforesaid.
“ HENRY VANMETER,
“ J Essu PIGMAN,
“ GEORGE N EWLAND.1
“ True Copy,
“ E. Coox.”

The executive of Pennsylvania having received the

I Virginia resolution of June 1st, and Mr. McClean’s

report of June 27th, on July 18, 1782,” appointed the
“ 4th day of November next to run the line between
the States of Pennsylvania and Virginia, agreeably to
said resolution, and that a guard of one hundred
militia be ordered to attend the Commissioners while
on that duty.” Governor Harrison on August 1st
appointed Col. Joseph Neville ' as “ the surveyor on
the part of this State to extend the boundary Line of
the two States, agreeable to the Resolution of our
Assembly, and [I] have ordered one hundred Militia
from the County of Hampshire to attend them as a
Guard.”

On the appointed day and in the required manner,
with “ chill N ovember’s surly blasts” soughing among,
the forests and hills along the southern boundary of
Washington County, did Alexander McClean and
Joseph Neville with their guard of two hundred
militia perform the ‘duty assigned them of running

1 All residents of Washington, now Greene County. See subsequent
letter from McClean, IX. Penn. Archives, 585.
9 XIII. Col. Records, 334.
3 IX. Penn. Archives, 607.

and marking a temporary line, according to the terms
agreed upon, on the south and west between Penn-
sylvania and Virginia. Mr. McClean made report
of the proceedings on Feb. 19,- 1783, and on

March 26th following, John Dickinson, the 1783.
then president of the Supreme Executive
Council, issued his proclamation,‘ giving notice to
all persons within the Pennsylvania jurisdiction, no
longer in doubt, “to take noticeof the proceedings
aforesaid, and to pay due obedience to the laws of
this Commonwealth.” 1

The Running of the Permanent Boundary.-

The General Assembly of Pennsylvania, on March

22, 1783,5 had approved the report and confirmed the
temporary line as run by Messrs. McClean and Neville,
which action was communicated by President Dickin-
son to Governor Harrison on March 27th, ‘the day
after the issuance of the foregoing proclamation.
One would have thought that the two contending
States, having run and marked a temporary line
which all perhaps must have known could not have
been far from the true boundary as had been agreed
upon, the jurisdictional controversy would have ended
with peace among the people. Not so. There were
two causes still existing productive of continued dis-
sension. One was disputes of the bitterest nature
arising out of conflicting claims to the same lands by
settlers on account of “improvements” made under
the laws of one or the other of the two States. The
fierceness of this contention, when the hand of the
executive power lay lightly, can easily be conceived.
Another serious difficulty was the entry of prosecu-
tions in our courts against the Virginia militia offi-
cers, who, with severe rigor, enforced the compulsory
service of persons drafted by them for Gen. Clarke’s
expedition in 1781.6 Remonstrances were made to
the Virginia government by her late adherents com-
plaining that the compact made upon the subject of
private rights in the boundary agreement was not ob-
served, and that the Pennsylvania government was
persecuting by criminal suits the oflicers of militia
who had but obeyed executive instructions. On
J une 12, 1783, Governor Harrison wrote to President
Dickinson] transmitting the remonstrance and call-
ing attention to the nature of the charges made.
This communication received the consideration of
the Council. and a reply was made on July 3d,8

4 XIII. Col. Record, 541.

5 X. Penn. Archives, 8.

5 Col. James Marshel Wrote President Reed, Aug. 8, 1781, with refer-
ence to elections for the organization of the Pennsylvania militia: “I
Judged it most prudent to postpone the Election until that event [the
running of the line] Should happen, or until the departure of the armed
Banditti Under the General [Clarke] that then awed the good people of
this County, and were Chasing such of the Inhabitants as Pentecost,
Shepherd, and Evans, the Lieutenants of Youghagaini, Monongalia &
Ohio, were pleased to point out by way of drafting as fit to go with the
general. . . .”—IX. Penn. Archives, 343; II. Ibid., 78, 80.

7 X. Penn. Archives, 56.

8 XI. Ibid., 499.

200

promising that, “As the Honor of Pennsylvania
requires the strictest attention to the obligations of
publick Faith, we shall take such Measures as shall
be judged most proper to demonstrate the purity of
our intentions and the rectitude of our proceedings.”
Immediately afterward Thomas Scott, the prothono-
tary and clerk of Washington County, was informed
of the proceedings, the letter of Governor Harrison
transmitted to him, and a full report on the facts was
requested. This ,report,1 which clearly showed that
there had been no just ground for complaint, having
been received, was laid before the General Assembly
of Pennsylvania, which body, on Aug. 28, 17 83,2 pro-
nounced the remonstrance and complaints frivolous
and unwarrantable, and adopted a resolution requir-
ing the Supreme Executive Council to correspond
with the executive of Virginia upon the subject of
the permanent boundary line a.nd the mode and time
for establishing the same, and authorizing the imme-
diate appointment of commissioners to act with others
to be appointed on the part of Virginia in running
said line, “ this house being sincerely disposed finally
to ascertain the boundary between the two States as
speedily as possible.”

On Sept. 11, l783,3 the Supreme Executive Council
proceeded to act upon the foregoing resolution. It
was determined to appoint four commissioners imme-
diately, with directions to provide the necessary
astronomical apparatus, and to correspond with those
to be appointed bythe State of Virginia for the same
purpose. The same day Rev. John Ewing, D.D.,
David Rittenhouse, Esq., the State treasurer, John
Lukens, Esq., surveyor-general, and Thomas Hutch-
ins, Esq., were appointed the Pennsylvania commis-
sioners. The Governor of Virginia, on November
10th, responded to a notification of this appointment,
and named as the commissioners appointed on the
part of that State Rev. James Madison, Rev. Robert
Andrews, Hon. John Page, and Thomas Lewis.‘ It
will be observed that two of the commissioners on
each side had been members of the Baltimore com-
mission in 1779. The time agreed upon for running
and marking the line was the 1st day of June next,
and as it was the intention to run the meridian line,
which would extend north of the Ohio River, notice
was given to Congress of the time and place of
meeting?

All things now seem auspicious for a final termina-
tion to the long controversy. The American Revo-
lution is become a fact accomplished, a definite treaty
of peace has been made, and henceforward there is
an end to border troubles arising out of the boundary
controversy. As the actual running of the permanent
line is a matter of great interest, scientific as well as
political, and as that line formed the southern

1 X. Penn. Archives, 65, 7'2, 78, 80, 171, 174.
2 X. Penn. Archives, 95; XIII. Col. Records, 672, 685.
3 XIII. Col. Records, 685.

4 X. Penn. Archives, 145. 5 Ibid., 223.

HISTORY ‘OF WASHINGTON COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA.

boundary of Washington County for fifteen years
after its organization, it will be proper to give the
ofiicial record of the proceedings:

INSTRUCTIONS TO THE PENNSYLVANIA CoMMIssIoNEEs.6
“ IN COUNCIL, PHILADELPHIA, March 26th, 1784.
“ GEN'rLEMEN,—

“ With this letter you will receive a Certificate of the act of Council
respecting your appointment duly authenticated.

“ We confide in your abilities and attention, that the very
important business committed to your charge will be performed 1 7 84.
in the best manner. .

“Your first employment after the necessary astronomical observations,
we presume, will be the Extension of Mason’s and Dixon’s line, due
West five degrees of Longitude. This extended line we desire to have
marked by Stones properly prepared and fixed in the ground, at the dis-
tance of five miles from one another, every stone to be inscribed with
its distance from the River Delaware. The southwest corner of the
State should be marked with a large Stone, well fixed, and by a consid-
erable heap of smaller stones around it. The bearings and distance of
near & remarkable objects around it should be taken & be mentioned in
the Report of proceedings. The line from thence to the Northern Limit
of the State should be marked as the Southern boundary is to be, com-
puting the distance to be inscribed upon each’Stone therein from the
Southwest Corner.

“We hope that such a peace will be established with the Indians be-
fore you arrive at the Ohio in running the Western boundary, that you
may safely proceed in that work to its northern Extremity. In that
Case, we wish you to ascertain the Northwestern Corner of this State
by astronomical observations in the Latitude of forty-three degrees, and
to mark that as the Southwest Corner is to be.

“ We have given Notice to Congress of your appointment as Commis-
sioners to make these surveys; and if any should be appointed on their
part, you will be pleased to act in conjunction with them. As you Gen-
tlemen in the Execution of this Commission, will travel over many
parts of the Country, We cannot but ardently wish that you may em-
brace the opportunity of making every observation and obtaining all
possible information concerning the situation and courses of Rivers,
Streams, Hills, and Mountains, that may be of the least use in assisting
the publick Councils, on the very interesting ‘subjects of forming the
most advantageous communications by roads and canals between the
different parts of the State.

“We have appointed Colonel Andrew Porter to attend you as Com-
missary under your direction. He is to purchase before you set out the
articles of which a list is enclosed,7 except such as can be obtained from
the publick stores, procure provisions at the places of operation, hire
necessary labourers, and to render a just and true account of the Monies
expended.

“'1 am Gentlemen,
“ with great Esteem and Regard,
“ your obedient and very humble Servant,
. “ JOHN DIcKINsoN.”

PENNSYLVANIA COMMISSIONERS T0 PRESIDENT DIcKINsoN.3

“ SIR,

“We have considered the proposals made to us, by the Executive
Council, and are unanimously of opinion that it will be inconsistent with
the business for us to have anything to do with providing Necessaries
for ourselves, or with being dependent on the Humor of a Commissary,
so that unless it be part of his duty to provide for us, we cannot under-
take the Work. And when we reflect upon the accuracy necessary _for
the accomplishment of the Work, the constant attention to the obser-
vations both Night and Day, thefrequent interruptions of our natural‘
Rest, the daily Fatigue we must undergo, the Danger of losing our
Health and above all the regard we ought to have to our Characters
with all the Gentlemen of Astronomical Knowledge in Europe, whose
Eyes will be turned upon us, and who will expect from us all that Pre-
cision, that can be derived from the greatest astronomical Discoveries
that have yet been made; We expect that the Supreme Executive Coun-

5 Ibid., 230. »

7 This list included 120 gallons spirits, 40 gallons brandy, and 80 gal-
lons Madeira wine, 200 pounds loaf sugar, 2 dozen hams, with a liberal
supply of other articles.--X. Penn. Archives, 573. The commissioners
must have lived well.

9 X. Penn. Archives, 233.

CIVIL AND LEGAL—THE RUNNING OF THE PERMANENT BOUNDARY.

201

oil will enable us to meet the Commissioners from Virginia upon equal

Terms: which, we have good Reason to believe, is for Six Dollars per

Day, and all their Expenses paid by the State.

“ We are with greatest Respect, Sir,
“ your very humble Servants,

“JoHN EWING.
“ DAV. RI'r'rENHoUsE.
“ J OHN LUEENS.

“ THOMAS HUTCHINS.
“ PHILADELPHIA,

“ 30th March, 1784.”

PENNSYLVANIA COMMISSIONERS T0 SUP. Ex. CoUNcIL.1
“ GENTLEMEN, "

“The time of our Departure from Philadelphia drawing near, it is
necessary that. the Commissary should be employed in looking out for
the articles that may be wanted. As the Council have signified to us
that they would be glad to know who would be agreeable to us in this
Expedition, we would inform them that it appears probable to us, that
Coll. Porter, from his long Experience in the army, and his knowledge
of the most (Economical and ready way of supplying a number of Men
with the Necessaries would answer the Expectations of the Council and
of the Commissioners, as well as any Person they can think of at present.
He has informed us that if the Council will appoint him, he will go with
us, and he is acquainted with the Terms which you have proposed.

“With Respect to the Provision to be made for the Commissioners, We
have expressed our Sentiments fully in our last letter to Council, and
we have agreed to undertake the Business, and hope to accomplish the
Work in such a manner as will give satisfaction to the State and answer
the Expectations of Gentlemen of science in Europe, if the Council do
not wish to have Men of greater abilities employed; in which Case we
will cheerfully resign the Business into the Hands of any others that
may appear to the honorable Council to be better qualified for the Work,
or more eligible on the whole.

“ An anxious Desire to gratify the astronomical World in the per-
formance of a Problem which has never yet been attempted in any
Country, by a Precision and Accuracy that would do no Dishonour to
our Characters, while it prevents the State of Pennsylvania from the

Chance of Losing many hundred Thousands of Acres, secured to it by

our agreement at Baltimore, has induced us to suffer our Names to be
mentioned in the accomplishment of the Work. We assure you that
the lucrative motives that might have Influence with us, in other Cir-
cumstances, have not suflicient Weight to engage us in so difiiculta
Work, that will separate us from our Families for half a year, and sub-
ject most of us to Fatigues to which we have not been accustomed.
“And wecannot persuade ourselves that the State of Pennsylvania
will avail itself if this Desire, to subject us to the mortifying Circum-
_stance of meeting with the Commissioners from Virginia upon any unequal
Terms. However, we submit the whole affair to the consideration of the
honorable Council, and if upon our Return from the work it should be
found that the Commissioners from Virginia have been employed on the
same Terms, we shall perfectly acquiesce; as we look for no more than
an Equality with them. I
“ We are, Gentlemen,
“ with great respect,
“ your most obed’t h’ble servants,
' “ J OHN EWING.
“ DAV. RITTENHOUSE.
’ “ THO. HUTCHINS.
“ PHILADELPHIA, April,7th, 1784.” '
REPORT or PENNSYLVANIA CoMMIssIoNEEs.2

“ To his Excellency JoHN DIcKINsoN, EsQ., President of the State, 4;» To the
honorable the Supreme Executive Oouncilvof the Commonwealth of Penn-
sylvania.

“ The Commissioners appointed for ascertaining the Length of five De- I

grees of Longitude and for determining and fixing the Boundary Lines
between this State and Virginia by Astronomical Observations, beg
Leave to Report, '

“ That after procuring the necessary Instruments, according to the
Directions of Council in the preceding Spring, we sett off for our respec-
tive Places of Observation about the Beginning of June, Messrs Ritten-
house and Lukens to Wilmington, and Ewing and Hutchins to the South
Western Corner of the State.

“ The observers at Wilmington completed their Observatory, and
furnished it with the necessary Instruments, so as to begin their astro-

1 X. Penn. Archives, 236. 2 Ibid., 375.

nomical Operations, in Conjunction with Messrs Page and Andrews,
Commissioners from Virginia, about the Beginning of July; where they
continued observing the Eclipses of Jupiter’s Satellites, till the 20th of
September, that they might have a sutficient Number of them, both be-
fore and after his opposition to the Sun; And altho’ the Summer proved
very unfavorable for astronomical purposes, they were fortunate enough
to make, amongst them, near 60 observations of these Eclipses, besides
many other Observations of the other heavenly Bodies for the Regula-
tion of their Clock and fixing their Meridian Line; so that they were
well ascertained of their Time to a single Second.

“ In the mean Time, the other Observers, setting out from Philadelphia,

pursued their Rout, to the South Western Extremity of the State, where E

they arrived about the middle of July, having been greatly retarded by
the Badness of the Roads through that mountainous Country. There
they met with Messrs Madison and Ellicott, the Commissioners from the
State of Virginia, who had arrived about the same Time. With all pos-
sible Dispatch, they erected their Observatory on a very high Hill at the
place where the Continuation of Messrs Mason and Dixon’s Line by
Messrs. Neville and McClean Ended; supposing that this place would
prove to be near to the Western Extremity of five Degrees of Longitude
from the River Delaware. After erecting their Instruments, which had
not sustained the least Damage, by the Carriage through so long a Jour-
ney, and the most unfavorable Roads, they began their astronomical Ob-
servations about the middle of July, and they continued them Night and
Day till the 20th of September following. Although they were fre-
quently interrupted and disappointed by an uncommon quantity of Rain
and Foggy Weather, which seems peculiar to that hilly Country, yet by
their Attention to the Business of their Mission, they made between 40
and 50 Observation of the eclipses of J upiter’s Satellites, many of which
were correspondent with the Observations made by the other Astrono-
mers at Wilmington; besides innumerable Observations of the Sun and
Stars for the Regulation of their Time Pieces and the marking of their
Meridian with the greatest Precision.

“ In this part of their work, situated near 30 miles beyond any of the
Inhabitants, the Commissioners were greatly assisted by the Diligence
and indefatigable activity of Coll. Porter, their Commissary, to whose
Industry in providing every Thing necessary, and prudence in managing
the Business of his Department with the utmost (Economy, the State is
greatly indebted.

“ The Astronomical Observation, being compleated on the 20th of Sep-
tember, the Eastern astronomers set out to meet the other Commissioners
in the West, in order to compare them together. Messrs. Rittenhouse
and Andrews carried with them the Observations made at Wilmington,
while Messrs. Lukens and Page returned home, not being able to endure
the Fatigues of so long a Journey, nor the subsequent labour of running
and marking the Boundary line. Mr. Madison continued with the
Western Astronomers till the arrival of Messrs Rittenhouse and An-
drews, when the affairs of his Family and publick Station obliged him
to relinquish the Business at this Stage, and return Home, after concur-
ring with the other Commissioners as to the principles on which the
matter was finally determined.

A “ Upon Comparison of the Observations made at both Extremities of
our Southern Boundary, your Commissioners have the pleasure of as-

suring you, that no Discouragements arising from the unfavourable State A

of the ‘Weather, or the unavoidable Fatigues of Constant application by
Day and frequent Watchings by Night, have prevented them from em-
bracing every opportunity,'and making a suflicient Number of Astro-
nomical Observations, to determine the Length of five Degrees of Lon-
gitude with greater precision than could be attained by terrestrial
Measures of a Degree of Latitude in different places of the Earth: and
further, that they have compleated their Observations with so much ac-
curacy and certainty as to remove from their Minds every degree of
doubt concerning their final determination of the South Western Corner
of the State. _

“ In the Result of the Calculations, they found that their observatories
were distant from each other twenty minutes and one second and an
eighth part of a Second of Time. But as the Observatory at Wilming-
ton was fixed at 114 Chains, 13 Links West of the Intersection of the
Boundary Line of this State with the River Delaware; and as 20 Minutes
of Time are equivalent to five Degrees of Longitude, they made the nec-
essary Correction for the said 114 Chains, 13 Links, and also for the said
one Second and one eighth part of a second, which is equal to 19 Chains and
96 Links; and accordingly fixed and marked the South Western Corner
of the State in the manner mentioned in the joint agreement and Report
of the Commissioners of both States under their Hands and Seals, which
we have the Honour of laying before the Council.

“After these calculations were made, the‘ Commissioners proceeded

202

HISTORY OF’ WASHINGTON COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA.

with all convenient Dispatch to the place where Mason and Dixon form-
erly were Interrupted by the Indian Nation in running the southern
Boundary of this State, in order to extend the said Boundary Westward
to the length of five Degrees from the River Delaware. Being prevented
by rainy weather for near a week from making any astronomical Obser-
vations in order to ascertain the Direction of the Parallel of Latitude,
which we were to extend we concluded, to save Time and Expense, that
it would be eligible to take the last Direction of Mason and Dixon’s
Line, and to correct it, if necessary, when we should have an opportunity
of a serene Sky. Upon extending the Line in this Manner 195 Chains
from the place where they ended their work, we found by astronomical
observations that we were 32 feet and five inches North of the true par-
allel, and we accordingly made the necessary Correction here and marked
a Tree with the Letters P. on the North side and V. on the South. From
thence we assumed a new direction, which we again corrected in like
manner at the distance of 575 Chains where we found our line to be
73 feet and 6 inches North of the Parallel of Latitude. We made the
offset accordingly and planted a large post in the true parallel marked
as above. From thence we found another direction by calculation, which
beginning at the said post should at the Distance of eight Miles from it,
intersect the said Parallel, making offsets at convenient distances, and
planting Posts in the true Parallel. This direction being continued 33
Chains farther than the eight miles above mentioned, fell 23 inches
South of the Parallel, where we also planted a post in the true Boundary
marked as before; and from thence to the South West Corner of the
State we assumed a new direction which being continued, fell two feet
and eight inches South of the said Corner. This correction therefore
being made, we planted a Squared White Oak Post in the said Point, and
marked its bearings from Different Objects, as mentioned in our joint
report. Besides the Marking of the Boundary Line by the Posts and
Stones above mentioned; your Commissioners took care to have a Vista
of 20 or 30 feet wide cut over all the most remarkable Ridges which were
in the direction of the Parallel.

“For a more particular description Of this part of our work, we beg
leave to refer to the annexed plan and sketch of the Country through
which the Line Passed. The season being now far advanced, we were
obliged to desist from any farther Prosecution of the work, and "agreed
with the Virginia Commissioners to meet them at the South Western
Corner of our State on the 16th of May next, to proceed in running and
marking the Western Boundary of this State. '

“ Agreeable to our Commission to report the Situation of the Country
and the best means of preserving the Communication and Connection
between the Eastern and Western Parts of the State, we beg Leave to
observe that the natural obstructions to so desirable a purpose may be
in a great measure removed by a few easy instances of attention paid by
the Legislature of this State, to the Situation and exhausted condition of
the Western Citizens. Their Publick Roads are numerous, extensive,
and in bad order, while the Citizens being few in number, scattered at a
distance from each other, and being harrassed and exhausted by an In-
dian war, are unable to repair their Roads, or to open them through
more easy and convenient Passes over the Hills and Mountains. A few
hundred pounds, not exceeding one thousand, judiciously and frugally
applied, would, in our opinion, make a tolerable good Waggon Road
from York County to the Monongahela, and thereby facilitate the Ex-
portation of Goods from this City to that Western Country, and secure
their Trade with us, especially if the Ferry over the Susquehanna was
made free to all the Citizens of the State. It appears probable to us that
otherwise the Exertions of Maryland and Virginia to repair their Roads
to that country will frustrate the Expectations, which we are entitled to
entertain of enjoying the advantages of the Trade with the Western
Parts of our own State. We beg Leave farther to observe that the nat-
ural attachment of the Western Citizens to this State might be increased
and fixed by an indulgence to their distressed Situation in the price of
their Lands, and the Terms of Payment, and particularly in the remis-
sion of the Interest due on the purchase Money, during the Time they
have been obliged to evacuate their Possessions by the Savages, and fly
to Forts for the security of their Lives and Families.

“JOHN EWING,
“DAVID RITTENIIOUSE,

“THO. HUTCHINS.
“ PIIILA., 23d Dec., 1784.”

JOINT REPORT OF THE PENNSYLVANIA AND VIRGINIA COMMIssIONERs.1

“Agreeably to the Commission given by the State of Virginia to
James Madison, Robert Andrews, John Page, and Andrew Ellicott, & by

1 X. Penn. Archives, 374.

the State of Pennsylvania to John Ewing, David Rittenhouse, John
Lukens & Thomas Hutchins, to determine by astronomical observations
the Extent of five Degrees of Longitude west from the River Delaware
in the Latitude of Mason’s and Dixon's Line, & to run & mark the
Boundaries which are common to both States, according to an agree-
ment entered into by Commissioners from the said two States at Balti-
more in 1779, & afterwards ratified by their respective assemblies: We,
the underwritten Commissioners, together with the Gentlemen with
whom we are joined in commission, have by corresponding astronomical
observations, made near the Delaware & in the western Country, ascer-
tained the extent of the said five Degrees of Longitude: and the under-
written Commissioners have continued Mason’s and Dixon’s Line to the
termination of the said five Degrees of Longitude, by which work the
southern Boundary of Pennsylvania is completed.

“ The continuation we have marked by opening vistas over the most
remarkable Heights which lie in its course, & by planting on many of
these Heights in the Parallel of Latitude, the true Boundary, Posts
marked with the Letters P. & V., each letter facing the State of which
it is the Initial. At the Extremity of this Line, which is the South
West corner of the State of Pennsylvania, we have planted a squared
unlettered white oak Post, around whose base we have raised a Pile of
Stones. The Corner is in the last vista we cut, on the east side of an
Hill, one hundred and thirty-four chains & nine Links East of the
meridian of the western observatory, & two Chains & fifty-four Links
west of a deep narrow valley through which the said last vista is out.
At the distance of fifty-one Links & hearing from it North twenty-three
degrees east stands a white oak marked on the south side with three
notches; & bearing South twelve degrees west & at the Distance of
twenty-nine Links stands a black oak marked on the North side with
four Notches. The advanced season of t.he year & the Inolemency of
the weather have obliged us to suspend our operations; but we have
agreed to meet again at the South West Corner of Pennsylvania on the
sixteenth Day of next May, to complete the Object of our Commission.
Given under our Hands & Seals, in the County of Washington in Penn-

sylvania, this 18th Day of November, 1784.
“ROBERT ANDREWS,

“ANDREW ELLIOOTT,

» “ JOHN EWING,
“DAVID RITTENHOUSE, ..
“ THO. HUTOIIINS.”

Thus was the Southwestern corner of Pennsylvania at
last found and marked; but the meridian line thence
northward for our western boundary was as yet un-
touched. The commissioners who had extended
Mason and Dixon’s line had adjourned to meet again
to run thismeridian line on the 16th day of the next
May; some obstacles must have intervened, however,
for on April 11, 1785,? Rev. Dr. John Ewing
and Thomas Hutchins were appointed to de-
termine and mark that boundary, to whom
instructions were at once issued?’ But Dr. Ewing
resigned and Thomas Hutchins was absent, where-
upon the Supreme Executive Council on May 5,
1785}

“ Resolved, That David Rittenhouse and Andrew Porter, Esquires, be
appointed Commissioners to run and mark the boundary of this Com-
monwealth, from the south-western corner thereof to the northwestern
corner of the same; and that Andrew Ellicott, Esquire, be appointed a
Commissioner, in conjunction with David Rittenhouse and Andrew
Porter, Esquires, or either of them, or such other Commissioner or Com-
missioners as may be appointed by Council, to run and mark the bound-

ary of this Commonwealth, from the river Ohio, where it crosses the
same, to the northwest corner of the State.”

1785.

Andrew Ellicott was of Maryland, and on May 4,

2 XIV. Col. Records, 402. ,_
3 X. Penn. Archives, 438. For these commissioners a liberal provision
of sixty gallons spirits, twenty gallons brandy, forty gallons Madeira
wine, etc., was supplied.
4 XIV. 001. Records, 454.

, (

CIVIL AND LEGrAL—'1‘HE RUNNING

OF THE PERMANENT BOUNDARY. 203

1785, wrote to President Dickinson‘: “I understand
that the Executive Council (at the Head of which
you preside) have appointed me one of your Commis-
sioners to run the western boundary of your State,
over the Ohio. As I have been employed in favor of
Virginia on this business to that River, I find that I can
attend with conveniency afterward in favor of Penn-
sylvania.” The other commissioner on the part of
Virginia was Joseph Neville, and the commissioners
on both sides met atthe appointed place on May 16,
1785,2 and on Aug. 28, 1785, made their report, as fol-
lows :3 ' v

“ We, the subscribers, Commissioners appointed by the States of Penn-
sylvania and Virginia, to ascertain the boundary between the said
States: ’

“ Do certify that we have carried on a Meridian Line from the South-
West Corner of Pennsylvania N orthward to the River Ohio, and marked
it by cutting a wide Vista over all the principal Hills intersected by the
said Line, and by felling or deadening a Line of Trees, generally thro’
all the lower grounds; and we have likewise placed Stones marked on
the East side P., and on the west side V., on most of the principal Hills
and where the Line strikes the Ohio ; which Stones are accurately
placed in the true Meridian bounding the States aforesaid.

“Witness our Hands and Seals this 23d day of August, 1785.

“ DAV. ARITTENHOUSE,
“ ANDREW PORTER,
“ANDREW ELLICOTT,
“ JosEPH NEVILLE.”

The western boundary was yet to be continued to

the northwestern corner of the State, and, although
none of that part north of the Ohio was touched by

. Washington County, yet it is proper that our record

be completed by giving the further and final exten-
sion.

It will be remembered that the commission to Ritten-
house, Porter, and Ellicott authorized those gentlemen
to continue the line to completion; indeed, Mr. Ellicott
was specially appointed to act for Pennsylvania north

. of the Ohio. In the early spring of 1786, however, the

{1786.

commissioners were changed. Rittenhouse
and Ellicott were put upon the northern boun-
dary between Pennsylvania and New York,
which had been postponed the preceding year, while
Alexander McClean, of Fayette County, was commis-
sioned to assist Andrew Porterf‘

(‘ On May 10, 1786, Col. Andrew Porter addressed to

the Supreme Executive Councilthe following letter :5

“ PHILA., May 10, 1786.
“ GENTLEMEN :

“'I beg leave to inform Council that I propose to proceed to the West-
ward without loss of time, in order to complete the Line of the ‘Western
Boundary of the State; and being informed that Mr. Alexander Mc-
Clean is to assist‘ me in the business, should be glad his appointment
might be sent him as soon as convenient. . . .”

The two commissioners made a report of progress
on June 25, 1786, as follows : 6

, “ SHENANGO CREEK, 25th June, 1786.
“ GENTLEMEN : — '
“ We beg leave to inform Council, That on the 19th Inst. we began to

extend the Line of the Western boundary of the State, and have pro-

1 X. Penn. Archives, 452. 2 Ibid., 440. 3 Ibid., 506.
4 XIV. Col. ‘Records, 655; XV. Ibid., 38.
5 X. Penn. Archives, 760. 5 XI. Ibid., 26.

ceeded upwards of three miles. We have fallen in with several Hunting
parties of Indians since our arrival in the woods .; they all appear friendly
and peaceable.

“ We are, with Respect, &c.,

“ ANDREW PORTER,
“ ALEXANDER MCCLEAN.”

The final report was made Oct. 4, 1786 : 7

“ We the commissioners appointed to ascertain and Complete the Line
of the Western boundary of the State of Pennsylvania, beg leave to re-

‘ port: That we have ascertained and completed. said Line by astronomi-
. cal observations as far as Lake Erie; having opened a Vista, and planted

Stones in the proper direction, marked on the East side P., and that said
line extends some distance in the Lake.

“ October 4th, 1786. “ ANDREW PORTER,

“ ALEXANDER McCLEAN.’_’8

The reader has been long kept about the south-
western corner" of Washington County, as originally
erected, awaiting the ascertainment and marking of
two imaginary lines coming together at that point,
which, run and marked a century ago, then terminated
a fierce but bloodless contest, and have since served
to separate the jurisdiction of two sovereign and in-
dependent States. He has seen how near, at one
time, almost the whole of what is new Washington
County was of being left to form a part of the State
of Virginia. He will linger yet a while to read the
language of Mr. J. H. B. Latrobe,” at the close of his
description of the manner in which the Indian escort
stayed the London surveyors at the crossing of Dun-
kard Creek, in 1767 :

“Subsequently, and by other hands, the line was
run out to its termination, and a cairn of stones some
five feet high in the dense forest now marks the ter-
mination of Mason and Dixon’s line, calling by that
name the southern boundary of Pennsylvania, and,
standing on the cairn and looking to the east and
north, a fresher growth of trees in these directions
indicates the ranges of the vistas so often mentioned.
But mount the highest tree adjacent to the cairn that
you may note the highest mountain withinthe range
of vision, and then, ascending its summit, take in the
whole horizon at a glance, and seek for a single home
of a single descendant of the sylvan monarchs whose
war-pathlimited the surveys, and you will seek in
vain. But go back to the cairn, and listen there in
thequiet of the woods, and a roll, as if _of distant
thunder, will come unto the ear, and a shrill shriek will

pierce it, as the monster and the miracle of modern-

ingenuity—excluded from Pennsylvania as effectually
by the line we have described as the surveyors of old
were stayed by the Indian war-path—-rushes around
the southwestern angle of the State on its way from
the city which perpetuates the title of the Lord Pro-
prietary of Maryland, to find a breathing-place on
the Ohio in the ‘ Panhandle’ of Virginia.”

7 Ibid., 69.

8 At this date, May, 1882, there is a joint commission, constituted by
Pennsylvania and Ohio, at work restoring the boundary between those
two States, and between Pennsylvania and New York. See the Reports
of the Secretary of Internal Aifairs, 1880, 1881, 1882.

9 Page 37 of his Lecture on the History of Mason and Dixon’s Line
before the Historical Society of Pennsylvania, Nov. 8, 1854, published
1855, now rare.

204

HISTORY OF WASHINGTON COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA.

C H A P T E R X V.
THE CIVIL AND LEGAL HISTORY.—-( Continued.)

VII.

The West Augusta Court.1

BEFORE proceeding with the extracts made from the '

interesting records of this court, there should be a
notice of the judicial system then in force in Virginia.

The Virginia Judicial System.-—In every county
were appointed magistrates, called justices of the
peace, usually from eight to thirty or forty in number,
in proportion to the size of the county, of the most
discreet and honest of the inhabitants. They were
nominated by their fellows, but commissioned by the
Governor, and served without pay. If the question
before them were a question of law only, they de-
cided it themselves; but if it were of fact, or of fact
and law combined, it was referred to a jury. In the
latter case, of a combination of law and fact, it was
usualfor the jurors to decide the fact, and to refer the
law arising thereon to the decision of the justices.
But this division of the subject lay in their discretion
only. If the question related to any point_ of ‘public

liberty, or if it were one of those in which the justices

might be suspected of bias, the jury undertook to de-
cide both law and fact. ,

The justices executed their process by thesheriii‘ or
coroner of the , county, commissioned from among
themselves, or by constables of their own appoint-
ment. When any free person committed an offense
against the Commonwealth, if it were below the de-
gree of felony, he was bound by a justice to ‘appear
before the court, to be tried on an indictment or in-
formation. If the charge were a felony, the accused
was committed to jail a11d a court of these justices
was called; if, "on examination, they thought him
guilty, he was sent to the jail of the General Court,
before which court he was tried first by a grand‘ jury
of twenty-four, of whom thirteen must have concurred
to find a true bill, which being found he was tried by
a jury of twelve men of the county where the offense
was committed, and by their unanimous verdict he was
acquitted or condemned Without appeal. But if the
criminal were a slave, the trial by the county court
was final. In every case, however, except that of
high treason, the Governor had the power to pardon.

1 From the original records of the Virginia courts, held first at Fort
Pitt (called by the Virginians Fort Dunmore), afterward for a few
monthly terms near the borough of Washington, and subsequently, after
the division into the three counties in 1776, on the Monongahela River,
near the Allegheny and ~Washington County line, such extracts will be
made as will serve not only to preserve from oblivion this interesting
period of our legal history, but also to illustrate the character of the

jurisdictional contest then pending, the nature of the legal business of ‘

that day, and, still further, the social condition of that early time. It
will be remembered that the spelling of proper names is retained as in
the pfiginal records.

In high treason the pardon could only be granted by
the General Assembly.

In civil matters these justices had jurisdiction in
all cases of whatever value not appertaining to the
department of the admiralty. This jurisdiction was
twofold. If the matter in dispute were of less value
than four dollars and one-sixth a single justice might
try it at any time and place within his county, and
might award execution upon the goods of the de-
fendant. If it were of that or greater value it was
determinable before the county court, which con-
sisted of four at least of these justices, assembled at
the court—house of the county on a certain day in
every month. From the determination of thecounty
court, if the matter in controversy were of the value
of ten pounds sterling, or concerned the title to or
the bounds of lands, an appeal lay to one of the su-
perior courts. , A

There‘ werethree superior courts, ‘to wit, the High
Court of Chancery, the.General Court, and the Court
of Admiralty. These courts were held at the capital
of the State, at first Williamsburg, afterwards Rich-
mond-.2 

Without further introduction, or further comment
than an occasional note, the reader will now be intro-
duced to the records of an extinct judicial jurisdic-
tion ; those records made up on the day of the trans-
actions recorded, and signed by the presiding judge
at the end of each day’s proceedings. ,

RECORDS OF WEST AUGUSTA COURT.

“ His Majesties Writ adjourning the County_Court of Augusta from
the Town of Staunton to Fort Dunmore and with a new Commission of the
Peace and Dedimus and a Commission of Oyer and Terminer and Dedi-
mus from under the hands of John Earl of Dunmore, his Majesties Lieu-
tenant and Governor injChief, bearing date the sixth day of December,
One Thousand Seven Hundred and Seventy-four, directed to Silas Hart,
James Lockart, John Dickinson, John Christian, Daniel Smith, Archi-
bald Alexander, John Poage, Felix Gilbert, Abraham Smith, Samuel

‘ McDowell, George Moffet, Sampson Matthews, Alexander McClenachan,

William Bowyer, Matthew Harrison, George Matthews, Michael Bow-
yer, Alexander Robertson, John Gratton, John Hays, Thomas Hugert,
James Craig, Elijah McClenachan, John Frogg, Jonah Davidson, Wil-
liam Tees, John Skidmore, George Croghan,3 John Campbell, John Con-
nolly, Edward Ward, Thomas Smallman, Dawsey Pentecost, John Gib-
son, William Crawford, John Stephenson, John McCullough, John Can-
non, George Vallandigam, Silas Hedge, David Shepherd, and William
Goe, Gentlemen, being read and thereupon Pursuant to the said Dedi-
mus the said George Croghan, John Campbell, John Connolly, John Gib-
son, George Vallandigam & William Goe, Gentlemen, took the Usual
oaths to hi Majesties Person and Government, subscribed the Abjura-
tion Oath and test, and also took the Oaths of justices of the Peace

and of justices of the County Court in Chancery, and of justices of Oyer .

and Terminer, all which Oaths were administered to them by Thomas
Smallman and Dawsey Pentecost, and then John Campbell and ‘John
Connolly administered all the aforesaid Oaths to the aforesaid Thomas
Smallman and Dawsey Pentecost, who took the same and Subscribed
the Abjuration Oath and Test, on which the court being Constitnted the
following members were present:

‘I This account of the organization of the Virginia courts and their
judicial system at the period covered by the records about to be intro-
duced is taken from Thomas J efi'erson’s “ Notes on the State of . Virginia,”
written in 1781-82. . 1 ‘ A

3 George Croghan and the persons whose names follow all lived. west
of the mountains.

~/

AUTOG-RAPIIS

JUSTICES OF THE OLD VIRGINIA COURTS.  

THE FRENCH AND ENGLISH CLAIMS TO THE TRANS-ALLEGHENY REGION. 25

scouts, watching the movements of the canoe fleet,
and that these had immediately disappeared when
they found they were discovered. This circumstance
gave Celeron no little concern, and at the end of the
next day’s journey he convened a council, by which
it was decided to send out an officer with a party of
the Canadian Iroquois who accompanied the expedi-
tion, taking belts of Wampum and some presents, to
find the scouts who had caused the alarm, accompany

them to their villages, and there use all means to con-.

ciliate the people and allay their fears with regard to
the objects of the advancing French column. In ac-
cordance with this decision, a party of the Canadian
Indians was sent out under command of one of the
J oncaires, who, failing to find the scouts on the path,

‘proceeded to the Indian village of Broken Straw

(called by the French Paille Coupée), where, as it
appears, he was known, as had also been his father
(Chabert J oncaire) before him. There he made some
friendly and conciliatory speeches, to which the In-
dians in turn replied in equally friendly terms, yet
still remained distrustful of the French and of the
objects of the expedition.

’ The progress made by Celeron’s force on the 24th
of July was small. Embarking in the morning of
that day, they-soon reached and entered the outlet-
stream, but the water was so low that it was found
necessary to lighten the canoes, and carry a part of

H their loads overland to the deeper water below, so that

at night the canoes had not advanced more than two
miles down the stream. During the five days next
succeeding their progress was but little more rapid,
on account of low water, shoals, and tortuous chan-
nel, so that it was not until midday of the 29th that
they debouched into the broad current of the Alle-

gheny, which they called La Belle Riviere.

At the place where Celeron entered the Allegheny
from the Conewango, “ at the foot of a red-oak on the
south bank of the Ohio River, and opposite a little
island at the confluence of the two rivers, Ohio and
Kanaugon” 1 (Conewango), he buried one ofhis leaden
plates in token of French occupation and dominion.
The arms of the king of France were affixed to a tree
near by the place, and the other ceremonies usual
among the French when taking pretended possession
of new countriesin the name of their sovereign were
observed on this occasion.

Every movement of the French was seen and noted
by the Indian scouts who were constantly lurking
along their flanks, and who, of course, knew the spot
where Celeron buried the metallic tablet. It is there-
fore probable that the plate which was buried-oppo-
site the mouth of the Conewango on the 29th of July
was afterwards disinterred by the Indians, and that it
was the same which was carried by the Cayuga sa-
chem to C01. Johnson. The principal reasons for

‘supposing this to have been the case are, first, that

1 Description given in Ce1eron’s Journal of the Expedition.

l the date on the tablet was the same as that on which

Celeron buried the plate opposite the mouth of the
Conewango, and, second, that the inscription is to the
effect that it was buried on the bank of the Ohio
(Allegheny) at its confluence with another stream,
the only discrepancy being that the name of that
other stream as out upon the plate differs from that
which Celeron in his journal gives to the Conewango.
But this fact is by no means fatal to the supposition
that the plate brought to C01. Johnson was the same
which Celeron buried at that place, for at that time
among the Indians a stream was frequently known
by as many as four or five different names. The name
of the stream in question (the Conewango) was spelled
by Celeron in his journal in one place Kanaaiagon.
and in another place Chanougon, while his “mathe-
maticien,” Bonnecamps, spelled it Kananouangon.
It seems very reasonable to suppose that the stream
down which the French came from the lake, Tchada-
koin (Chautauqua), should have been called by them
by the same name, and that they should have that
name on the slab, with the date, at the time they
buried it. There was an Indian village on the Cone-
wango near its mouth called Kanaouagon, which
the French visited after the ceremony of burying the
plate. I The Indian residents of this place called the
stream and their village by the same name, Which, as
it appears, was then adopted by Celeron in place of
the other name, Tchadakoin.
speculations, the facts can never be certainly known.

On the last day of July the expedition left the
Indian settlement at the mouth of the Conewango
and proceeded down the Allegheny, passing several
Indian villages. At night the canoes were made fast to
the shore, and the company encamped on the bank
of the river, with sentinels regularly posted in accord-
ance with military usage. This precaution was ob-

served by Celeron _during all the journey, partly, ,

however, for the purpose of enforcing and preserving
discipline among the reckless Canadian voyageurs.
In the forenoon of the 3d of August they came to
the mouth of the Riviere aux Boeufs, now known as
French Creek, which enters the Allegheny’ from the
northwest. Here they found a small Indian village,
at which they made but a brief stop, and passed on
down the river to a point about nine miles below,
where the expeditionary forces landed, and a second
plate was buried “on the south bank of the Ohio

[Allegheny] River, four leagues below the river Aux M

Boeufs, opposite a bald mountain, and near a large
stone on which are many figures rudely cut.” The
stone referred to was an immense bowlder, upon

"which, on the side facing the river, were some Indian

hieroglyphics, which caused the savages to regard the
rock with superstitious awe?

2 This rock is described, and a view of it, including the hieroglyphics
on its face, given in S(_:hoolcraft’s “ Indian Tribes in the United States,”
vol. vi. »

But these are mere '

CIVIL AND LEGAL—RECORDS or WEST AUGUSTA COURT.

205

“ February 21st, 1775.

“ Geo. Crogan, John Campbell, John Connolly, Thos. Small-
1775. man, Dawsey Pentecost, John Gibson, George Vallandigham,
and William Gqe, Gentlemen, Justices.”1

“ George Brent and George Rootes took the usual oaths to his Majes-
ties Person and Government, sub. the Abjuration Oath and Test, then
took the Oaths of Attorneys.” 1 1 ,

‘‘Ord. that John Campbell, George Redman, Thomas Redman, and
Benjamin Renoe, or any 3 of them being first sworn View a Road from
Fort Dunmore to Frederick Dunfields, and make a report of the Conven-
iences and Inconveniences to the next court.”

“Joseph Hill is appointed a Constable in the room of Jacob Van metre,
and that he be summoned to be sworn in the oflice.”

.“ On the petition of James Johnston and others it is ord. Edward Cook,
Joseph Hill, Senr., Levi Stevens, Gilbert Simpson, Richard McMahon,
John Decker, Paul Froman, and James Innes, they being first sworn
View a Road from the Road from Thomas Gists to Fort Dunmore, to Paul
Fromans on Shirtees Creek by James Devores ferry, and make report of
the Conveniences and Inconveniences to the next Court.”

‘f William Elliott? being bound over to this Court by Thomas Small-
man, Gent., for disturbing the minds of his Majestie’s Good people of
this County by demanding in an Arbitrary & Illegal Manner of Sundry
persons what personal Estate they are possessed of, that the same may
be tax’d according to the Laws of Pennsylvania, being called, appeared,
& on hearing the argument of the attorneys, the Court are of Opinion
that he be Committed to the Goal of this County, & there to remain
until he enter into a recog in the sum of £100 with 2/"secys in the sum of
£50 each for his good Behavior for the space of one Month, and there-
_upon the sd Wm. Elliot with John Harvie and Chas. Sims ackd them-
selves Indebted to our Souvereign Lord the King, the sd Elliot in the
sum of £100, and the sd Harvie and Sims in the sum of £50 each to be
levied of their respective goods and Chattels, Lands, & Tenements, in
case the said Wm. Elliot is not of good Behavior for the space of one
month. ‘ -

“Ordered that the court be adjourned until to-morrow morning 10
o’clock.

“GEORGE CROGHAN.”

“ At a court con’d & held for Augusta County at Fort Dunmore Feb.
22d 1775.

“Pres’t John Connelly, Thomas Smallman, Dorsey Pentecost, Wm.
Goe, Gentlemen, Justices.

“ John Canon,3 one of the Gent in the Commission of the Peace &c.
took’ the Usual Oaths to his Majesties Person and Government, sub-
scribed the Abjuration Oath & Test, and then took the Oath of a justice
of the Peace and of justice of the County Court in Chancery & of jus-
tice of Oyer & Terminer.

:1: as as as ax: as as as are

“ Pres’t John Canon.

“On the petition of Alexr Douglass & others, It is Ord that Wm
Crawford, Providence Mounce, Ezekiel Hickman, Joseph Beelor, John
Vanmetre, Morgan Morgan, Vincen Colvin, Henry Taylor, Van Swear-
ingen, they being first sworn view a road from Providence Mounces Mill
by Ausbergers Ferry & from thence to Catfish Camp, and make a report
of the conveniences & inconveniences to the next court.

“ Ordered that Robert Henderson, Benjamin Kuykendall, John Rob-
inson & James Sulivan, they being first sworn viewa road from Fort
Dunmore to Beckert’s fort and make a report of the conveniences and
inconveniences to the next court.

“ Pres’t John Gibson. .

“ David Sample, Gent, is recommended to the Gentn appointed to ex-
amine atto’s, that he is a person of Probaty, Honesty & Good Demeanor.

“ On the motion of Henry Heath it is Ord that Silas Dexter, Gabriel-
Cox, Richd McMahon, Benj. Sweet, Robt. Henderson view the most
convenient way from Fort Dunmore to Henry Heaths, they being first

1 Of these “learned Thebans,” Croghan, Campbell, Connolly, Small-
man, and Gibson resided at Pittsburgh; Pentecost, then on the Yong-
hiogheny, soon afterward in the present North Strabane township;
Vallandigham, at the present N oblestown, and William Goe just below
Brownsville. Gibson was the uncle of the afterward Chief Justice Gibson,
of the Supreme Court of Pennsylvania.

2 A Westmoreland county oflicial, living about Where Wilkinsburg
now is. The reader of the preceding “ Boundary Controversy” will see
that the contest comes into this Virginia court the first day of its exist-
ence.

‘The proprietor of Canonsburg.

14

sworn, & make a report of conveniences & inconveniences to the next
court.

“ Admin of the estate of Wm. Craig deed is Granted to Andrew
Vaughan, a creditor, he having complied with thelaw.

“ Ordered that Gabriel Cox, Richard McMahon, James Bruce & Henry
Heath or any 3, app. the Est.

“Patrick McElroy took the Usual Oaths to his Majesties Person &
Government, sub. the Abjur. Oath & test & then was sworn as a
Deputy Sherifl‘. ‘ ,

“William Christy took the usual oaths to his Majes’s person & Gov-
ernment sub. the abjur. oath & test which is ordered to be certified on
his Commission of a Lieutenant of the militia of Pittsburgh & its Depen-
dencies.

“ Simon Girty4 took the usual Oaths to his Majesties Person &Govern-
ment sub theabj uration Oath & test which is ord to be certified on his
commission of a Lieutenant of the militia of Pittsburgh and its De-
pendencies.

“ Jacob Bausman took the usual oaths to his Majesties Person & Gov-
ernment sub the Abjur Oath and test which is ord to be certified on his
commission of Ensign of the militia of Pittsburgh and its Dependen-
cies.

' “ Ord that Paul Froman, Thomas Cook, Josiah Crawford, Jacob Long,
Richard Cooks, they being first sworn, view a road from Fort Dunmore
to Paul Fromans and make a report &c.

as :1: as as :1: are :1: a: :0:

“ Pres’t John Campbell.

“ Ab. John Connolly.

“John Connolly took the usual oaths to his Majesties Person & Gov-
ernment, sub the ab oath & Test, which is ord to be Certified on his
Commission of Maj. of the Militia.

“ Pres’t John Connolly.

“ Wendle Ourey being bound over to this Court for acting as an as-
sessor5 under the laws of Pennsylvania appeared and having made con-
fessions to the Court it is ordered that he be discharged from his recog.

:1: =1: :1: :1: are :1: :1: are as
“ Ord that the sheriff make use of the Room in the Fort now used as

' aw Guard Room as a Goal for this part of the County, and also that John

Campbell & Dorsey Pentecost Gent, with the survey of Prison Bound
include the ally of the fort & two rods wide to the town.

“ Robert Hannahfi being bound over to this Court for openly disturb-
ing the peace by interrupting the Execution of Legal Process by the
Ofiicers of this Government, & did actually imprison a Certain Philip
Reily in the discharge of his duty as a Constable against the Peace of
our Sovereign Lord the King, being called, appeared & oifered a Plea to
the jurisdiction of the court, which Plea was Overruled, & It is Ordered
that he be Committed to the Goal of this County & there to remain un-
til he Enter into recog in the sum of £1000 with 2 secys in the sum of
£500 each to be levied &c, in case Robt. Hanah is not of Good Behaviour
for a Year & a day & also desist from acting as a magistrate within the
colony of Virginia by any authority from the Province of Pennsylvania
& that he keep the Peace to all his Majesties Liege subjects in the
mean time: [thereupon the said Robt. Hannah with Wm. Elliot &'
Devereux Smith his secys ackd themselves Indebted to our Sovereign
Lord the King, the said Hannah in the sum of £1000 and the ad Smith &
Elliot in the sum of £500 to be levied &c, in case Robt. Hannah is not
of Good Behaviour for a year and a day, & also desist from acting as a
Magistrate from Pennsylvania under any authority derived from that
province, and that he keep the Peace to all his Majesties leige subjects
in the mean time].7

“ James Caveat, Gent,3 being bound over to this court for sundry times
malevolently opposed the authority of His Majestie’s Oificers of the
Government of Virginia & has rioutsly opposed the legal Establishment
of his Majestie’s Laws in this country contrary to the Peace of our
Sovereign Lord the King, being called appeared and offered a Plea to
the jurisdiction of the court which was Overruled & it is Ordered that
he be committed to the ‘Goal of this county & there to remain until he
enter into recog in the sum of £1000 with two secys in the sum of £500
each to be levied &c in case James Caveat is not of good Behavior
for a year & a day and also desist fromacting as a magistrate within
the colony of Virginia by any authority derived from the Province of

4 The renegade.

5 For Westmoreland County.

5 See Chapter XII., et seq.

7 The part in brackets erased in original.
8 Also a Westmoreland County justice.

206

HISTORY OF WASHINGTON COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA.

Pennsylvania, & that he keep the Peace to all his Majesties Loyal sub-
jects in the mean time.

“ Francis Brown took the usual oaths to his Majesties’ person & Gov-
ernment, sub. the abjur. Oath & test & was sworn as a deputy Sheriff,
with the consent of John Christian, by a note from under his hand.

“ James Smith being bound over to this court for acting as a Commis-
sionerl under an authority derived from under the Province of Pennsyl-
vania, being called, appeared & on being heard, It is Ordered that he be
committed to the Goal of this County, & there to remain until he enter
into recog. in the sum of £100 with 2 sec’ys in the sum of £50 each, to
be levied, &c., in case he is not of Good Behavior for a Year & a day, &
also desist from Acting as a Commissioner from under any authority de-
rived from under the Province of Pennsylvania within this colony.

“ Ord. that David Steel, John Wals [Wallace], Oliver Miller, & Nathan
Couch, they being first sworn, view a Road from Devores’ Ferry 2 to the
road that leads from Fort Dunmore to Dunfield’s to join Dunfield’s road
on Shirtees Creek, near Ben Renoe’s, & make report of the conv. & in-
conv. to the next court.

“ Ord. that the Sherifl‘ Imploy a Workman to build a Ducking Stool3
at the Confluence of the Ohio with the Monongohale, & that the Person
Imployed bring in his Charge at the Laying of the Levy.

=1: :1: are :1: an ac =1: :1: as

“ David Steeltook the usual oaths to his Majestie’s Person & Govern.,
sub. the ab. oath & test which is 0rd. to be certified on his commission of
ensign, of Pittsburgh & its Dependencies.

“Ord. that Thos. Brown, Bazil Brown, Wm. Colvin, Reuben Camp, &
Conrad Walter, they being firstsworn, view a road from Old Redstone
fort to Conrad Walters, & make a report of the conven. & inconven. to
the next court.

“Ord. that the Court be adjourned until to-morrow morning at 10
o'clock. ~
“JOHN CoNNoLLr.”

“ At a court con’d & held for Augusta County, Feb. 23d, 1775. Pres’t,
Jno. Campbell, John Gibson. Thos. Smallman, Wm. Goe, J no. Cannon.

“ James Berwick, Gent, is recommended to the Gentlemen to examine
att’ys, as a person of Probaty, Honesty, & good Demeanor.

“Andrew Ross, Gent, is recommended to the Gentlemen to Examine _

atto’s as a person of Probaty, Honesty, & Good Demeanor.

“ On the Motion of Henry Heath, leave is gran ted him to keep a ferry
on the Monongahela River from his House over the River to the land of
Fras Hollo, & that he provide Boats.

“On the Motion of Michael Cresap leave is granted him to keep a
ferry on the Monongohale River at Redstone fort to the land of Indian
Peter, & that he provide a Boat.

“On the motion of James Devore leave is granted him to keep a ferry
on the Monongohale River from his House over the river to the Mouth
of Pidgeon Creek, and that he provide boats.

“ Luke J olifl‘, being Committed & brought before the Court for desert-
ing from the Militia & for taking with him a stand of arms & for pre-
venting the Indians or not delivering up sund. Prisoners then in their
Custody, & on hearing Sund. Witnesses & the said Luke, the Court are
of Opinion that he receive for the said ofience of deserting 500 lashes
with a cat & nine tails on his bare back well laid on, & It Is said to the
Sherifi" that Execution thereof be done at such time and in such num-

bers as not to endanger life or member.
It an ac :1: =1: :1: an as as

1 For Westmoreland County.

2 Monongahela City.

3 An arrangement by way of seat suspended at the end of a strong
pole, over an upright, like the old-fashioned well-sweep, elegantly

‘ 5
,r-'-/ . “\\w

“‘
. ~‘‘ “A; <1
W

 

adapted to cool the temper of irascible females over the bank of a con-
venient stream or spring. 0 tempera, 0 mores !

“ Ord. that Edward Cook, Joseph Hill, senr, Levi Stevens, Gilbert
Sampson, Richard McMahon, John Decker, Paul Frooman & James In-
nis, they being first sworn view a road from Thomas Gist’s to Paul Froo-
man’s Mill on Shirtees Creek & make report of the Conven & Inconven
to the next court.

“ Ord that Thomas Crooks, Wm. Bushears, ;Robert Thornton, Thos
Egenton and Philip Whiten, they being first sworn, view a road from
Redstone old fort to Shirtees creek to Paul Froomans & make report .856.

“ On the motion of Jacob Bousman leave is granted him to keep a ferry
across the Monongohale River from his house to the town opposite thereto,
& that he provide & keep a sufi". number of Boats for that purpose!

as as as :1: 4: :1: :1: as an

“ Ord that David Steel, Thos Bond, John McKee & Silas Dexter, they
being first sworn view a road from the mouth of the Yough. River at
McKee’s ferry 5 to the road from Devores ferry to Renoe’s, near Sampson
Beavers and so on to Froomans Mill & make a report «be.

“ On the motion of Dorsey Pentecost it is ord that his mark be recorded
a Crop in the left Ear & his brand D. P. V

“ Christopher Turby, John Carpenter, Joshua Wright, Joseph Hill Sr.
John Hawthorn, Emson Brumfield, John Harden, J unr. John Pettyjohn,
John Warick, James Booth, Reason Virgin, Ezekiel Rose, Wm. Haw-
kins, James'Taylor, Nathl. Blackmore, James Murdough, Jas Young,
Abraham Slover, J no Bell, John Dousman, Andrew Robinson, Nicholas
Higarthy, Barney Wrother, J no Castleman, Elias Myers, Wm. Teagard,
J unr, Joseph Irwin, Jno Nicholas, James Baird, Saml. Hinley, Moses
Smith, Levi Moore, Michael Martin, Richard Wells & Garshom Hull are
appointed Constables & it is Ord that they be summoned to be sworn
before a Magistrate or attend at the next court to be sworn.

“ John Campbell & Dorsey Pentecost, the persons appointed to lay 011‘
the Prison bounds made a report & Ordered to be recorded. ~

“ Ord that Sheriff summon a Grand jury for the Inquest of the body
of this county to appear here in May next. .

. at: as as :1: an :1: as :1: =1:

“ Ordered that Alexander McKee, James Innis, Thomas Galbraith,
Wm. Harrison, Thomas Gaddis, J no‘ Swearingen, Thomas Frooman,
[Freeman] Benjamin Davis, Edward Cook, John Whitacre, Philip Ross,
David Rogers, James Chew, David Scott, Chas Wheeler, Thos. Crooks,
John Robertson, John Nevill, Michael Rough, Isaac Mason, Eli Coulter,
Wm. Elliot, Henry Vanmetre, Geo. Rodger Clark, Richd Yates, John
Irwine, Christopher House, & Joseph Beeler, are humbly recommended
to his Excellency the Governor as proper. persons to be added to the
Commission of the Peace‘ of this county.

“Edward Armstrong & James Ryon were brought before the Court
for fighting in the Court Yard & disturbing the Court; It is Ord that
they be Committed to the Goal of this County & there to remain until
they Each Enter into recog in the sum of £10 with 2 secys on the sum
of £5 Each to be levied &c for their appearance at the Grand jury in
May next & that his Maj esties deputy atto. prosecute them for the same;
sum Geo Ashton, John Collins, and Samuel McKenzie.

“ On the motion of John Canon, It is Ord that his mark be recorded 9.
Crop in the right Ear & half crop in the left.

:1: ‘as an an ‘as: =1: :1: as as

“Geo Ashton took the Usual Oaths to his Majesties Person and Gov-
ernment sub the ab Oath & test & Ord to be certified on his Commission
of Captain of the Militia. .

“ License to keep an Ordinary is Granted to John Ormsby he having
comp with the law.

“ License to keep an Ordinary is Granted to Samuel Ewalt he having . '

compd with the law.

“ The last Will & Test of Shedrick Muchmoor decd was proved by
Valentine Thos D’a1ton & Wm. Plumer two of the wits, & O. R. & on the
Motion of Mary Muchmoor the widow, admin with the will annexed,
is granted her she having compd with the law.

“ Ord that Benj. Tomlinson, Joshua Baker, Jacob Cochrane, J os Coch-
rane, or any 3 app the est of Shedrick Muchmoor deed and return the
app to the next court.

“ Jonathan Muchmoor of the age of 19 years orph of Shedrick Much-
moor decd choose Thos Smallman his Gdn who compd with the law.

“ Ord that the Court be adjourned until tomorrow morning 10 O'clock.

“ J onn CoNNoLLY.”

“ At a court con’d & held for Augusta county, at Fort Dunmore, Feb.
24, 1775. , '

“ Pres’t, John Campbell, J no Connolly, Thos. Smallman, John Gibson,
Dorsey Pentecost. ' _

A an as :1: as as an as 4: as

4 This last order is canceled on -the records. 5 McKeesport.

journed accordingly.

“ Pres’t John Cannon.

“ License to keep an Ordinary is granted to Frederick Farre, he hav-
ing compd with the law.

“ The same to Jacob Bousman on the south side of the Monongohale
River opposite the Town. »

“On the motion of Samuel Sinclair who lives in the forks of the‘ River
Monongohale & Youghagania, leave is granted him to keep a ferry over
Each of the Rivers & that he keep boats.

“ License to keep an Ordinary is granted to Saml Sample} he having
complied with the law‘.

“ Wm. Hawkins,2 Andrew Robertson, Nicholas Hagerty took the usual

' oaths to his Majesties Person & Government, sub the ab oath & test &

then took the oaths of Constable.

V =1: :1: =1: :1: =1: :1: are are :1:

“ Ord that Chas Bruce, Geo. Aston, Abraham Slover & Josiah Osburn,
or any 3 of them being first sworn, View the nearest and best way from
Fort Dunmore to Chas. Bruce’s on Raccoon Creek & make report &c.

“ His Majesties writ for adjourning this Court from Fort Dunmore to
the Town of Staunton being read it is ordered that the Court be ad-

“ JOHN CoNNoLLr.”

“ His Majesties writ for adjourning the Court of Augusta from Staun-
ton to Fort Dunmore being read this 16th May, 1775.

“ Present, Geo. Croghan, John Campbell, John Connolly, Thos. Small-
man, John Gibson, John Cannon.

“Edward Ward3 and John Mccullock took the Usual Oaths to his
Majestie’s Person & Government sub the ab Oath & Test & then took the
oath of Justice of the Peace and of the County Court of Chancery and
of Justices of: Oyer & Terminer.

“ Henry Peyton took the oath of an atto & is admitted to Practice as
such in this court.

axe =1: :1: are as :1: :1: =1: :1:

“ At a Cald Court held for the Examination of Thos Glenn ‘who
stands Committed to the Goal of this County charged with the Murder
of his servt Man, Peter Eglington.

“ Pres’t Geo. Croghan, John Campbell, John Connolly, Edward Ward,
‘Thos. Smallman, J no. Gibson, Geo. Vallandigham. ,

“ The above named Thos Glenn was brought to the barr & upon Ex-
amination denied the fact wherewith he stands Charged, whereupon
several Witnesses were sworn and Examined & upon Consideration of
which the Court are of Opinion that he is Guilty of the fact wherewith
he. stands Charged & that he ought to be tried for the sd supposed fact
at the General Court in October next at the 6th day thereof & in order
thereto he is remanded to the Goal of this county & thence to be re-
moved to the Pub. Goal in the city of Wmsburgh. ,

“ Be it remembered, John McCullock, Moses Williamson, James John-
son, James Nowland, of this County, ackd themselves Indebted to our
Sovereign Lord the King in the sum of £100 Each to be levied of their
respective Goods & Chattels Lands & Tenements in Case they do not ap-
pear at the Capital in the City of Wmsburg on the 6th day of the next
General Court & then & there give Evidence agst Thos Glenn for the
Murder of his servt Peter Eglington & not depart without leave of the
court. ' A

“ Then the Court did rise.
“ J os Blackford for the Prisoner. -
“ Gsoaen OROGHAN.”
=1: ‘ :1: :1: =1: :1: as :1: as as

“Pres’t Geo. Croghan, John Connolly, Edward Ward, John Cannon,
John McCul1ock, John Gibson.

:1: =1: :1: as as as ' :1: as as

“Benja Renoe, Geo. Redman & Thos Redman, 3 of the persons ap-
pointed to view a road from Fort Dunmore to Frederick Dunflelds &
make a report, made their report. It is ordered that the Road be Es-
tablished & that Geo. Redman and Benj Renee be surveyors thereof &

1 that the Tithables within 3 miles on Each side work thereon.

1 Washington’s landlord in 1770.

2 Of Peters Creek.

3 The Edward Ward who as ensign of Capt. William Trent’s company
surrendered the fort then being erected at the confluence of the Monon-
gahela and Ohio to M. Contrecoeur and his forces, on April 17, 1754. He
remained at Pittsburgh, and on March 6, 1787, was a voter for the elec-

tion of justices in Dickinson township, residing on lands on the lower,

Chartiers. See the record concerning him at the ‘first session of the
Yohogania court, post. '

CIVIL AND LEGAL—RECORDS or WEST AUGUSTA COURT. 207

“ Wm. Crawford4 one of the Gent. in the Com of the Peace took
the Usual Oath to his Majesties Person & Govern sub the ab Oath & test
& then took the Oath of a Justice of the Peace & a justice of the County
Court in Chancery & of a justice of Oyer & Terminer.

“ Pres’t Wm. Crawford.

“On the Petition of Maby (?) Hayes at others. It is Ord that Peter
Elrod, John Whitacre, Andrew McMeans, Benj. Davis, Silas Dexter, Gabl.
Cox, Richd McMahon, Benj. Sweet, 8: Robt. Henderson, or any six of
them being first sworn view a road from Dorsey Pentecost’s by. Peter
Barrachman’s Ferry to Fort Dunmore and make a report of the Conv &
Inconv to the next Court.

“ On the motion of Capt. Paul Froman itis Ordered that John Dacker,
John Munn, James Innis, & Thomas Eddington or any 3 of them being
first sworn View the most conv. way from Froman’s Mill on Shirtees
creek to Froman’s Mill on the East Side , of the Monongahela & make a
report «to. I I

“ A grand-jury for the Inquest of the body of this County, to wit, Geo.
McCullock, foreman, Oliver Miller, Abraham Teagarden, John Swan,
Jesse Pigman, Bazil Brown, Richd Waller, Jacob Vanmetre, Wm. Colvin,
J osiah,Wal1ace, Moses Williamson, John Dacker, Richd McMahon, Richd
McGlaughlin, & Daniel Cannon, having received their charge retired.

“ On the complaint of James O’Neal against his Master Patrick Flem-
ing for beating & abusing him, It is Ord thatvhis Master be Sumdto
appear here the next Court to ansr the Complaint & that he in the mean
time treat well & give security for the same, himself in the sum of £30
& 1 secy in the sum of 15£ & thereupon he with James Chambers his
secy also in the sum of 15:6 to be levied &c in case he doth not use his
servt James O’Neal well till the next Court.

“On the complaint of John Connolly, Gent., agnst Geo. Wilson,5 Gent,
as a disturber of the Peace, on hearing the parties the Court are of
Opinion that the Complt be dismissed.

“ Ord that Richd Hu ls, David Steel, Thos Cook, Richd Crooks & Paul
Froman or any 3 of them being first sworn view a road from Fort Dun-
more to Paul Froman’s Mill on Shirtees Creek & make a report &c.

“ Ord that the court be adjourned until tomorrow morning 10 O’c1ock,

‘ “JOHN CAMPBELL.”

“ At a Court cons & held for Augusta County May 17th 1775.

“Pres’t Geo Croghan, Edward Ward, Thos Smallman, John Gibson,
John McCullough, Wm. Crawford.

:1: as as :1: as an :1: are as

“ On the petition of Rezin Virgin & others, It is Ord that Philip Shute,
Richd Waller, Abraham Teagarden, Wm. Teagarden, George Teabolt, &
Rezin Virgin or any 3 of them being first sworn view a road from the
foot of Laurel Hill by Wm. Teagarden’s ferry to the mouth of Wheeling
& make a report &c.

“On the motion of David McKee for leave to keep a ferry over the,

Monongohale & Youghogana which motion being Opposed, on hearing
the parties It is considered that the sd ferry is Unnecessary; It is there-
fore Ord that the said motion be rejected.

as are :1: as as as axe. :1: :1:
Pres’t John Cannon.
:1: =1: :1: are as as as as :1:

“T-—— M-—— being bound over to this court on the complt of Archi-
bald Hamilton for burning his House in the neighborhood of Sandy
Creek, whereby he has lost some of his Efiects, being called, appeared &:
on hearing the parties by their atto & sund wits, the Court are of Opinion
that he is Guilty of a High Misdemeanor & It is Ord that he be Com-
mitted to the Goal of this County for the sd ofience, there to remain
until he enter into recog in the sum of £100 with 2 secys in the sum of
£50 each for his good behavior for a year and a day, & thereupon he
with Jacob Bousman & Hugh O’Hara his secys ackd himself Indebted to
our Sovereign Lord the King in the sum of £100 & the sd Jacob Bons-
man & Hugh O’Hara acknowledged themselves indebted to our Sovereign
Lord the King in £50 each to be levied &c in case the said T——— M-—

is not of good behavior for a year & a day. ‘

“The Grand-jury for the Inquest of the body, of this County, re- 1

4 Col. William Crawford, it will beremembered, had been superseded
in his otfice of justice for Westmoreland County on Jan. 25, 1775, and
though named in Dunmore’s new commission of the peace of Dec. 6,
1774, had not yet been sworn; after this date he continues a Virginia
adherent. .

5 This was Col. George Wilson, of Georges Creek, a native of Virginia,
but a stout Pennsylvanian. His name has been of frequent occurrence
in the “Boundary Controversy.”

208

HISTORY OF WASHINGTON COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA.

turned and having read several Indictments, true bills, It is Ord. that
the King’s atto do prosecute them,and that the clk. do Issue process on
them accordingly, and also several bills of Indict. being prefered and
found Ignoramus, it is Ord. that the same be dis’d.

.“ Ord. that the Court be adjourned until to-morrow morning, 10
o’clock.

“ G1-".0. CROGHAN."

“ At a court cond. and held for Augusta County, May 18, 1775.

“ Pres’t, Geo. Croghan, John Connolly, John Gibson, Geo. Vallan-
digham.

:1: are :1: as as :1: :1: =1: ac

“ Pres’t, Edward Ward, John Cannon, Wm. Crawford, John McCul-
lock.1 .

“Thomas Scott being bound over to this Court for his acting and
doing business as a Justice of the Peace under Pennsylvania in Con-
tempt of the Earl of Dunmore’s late Proclamation? as also to such other
Misdemeanors as shall be then and there objected against him, appeared
and on hearing him and the wits, the Court are of Opinion that he is
guilty, and It is Ord. that he be Committed to the Goal of this county,
and there to remain until he enter into recog. in the sum of £500 with
2 secy’s, in the sum of £250 each, to be levied of their respective Goods
and Chattels, Lands and Tenements, in case Thomas Scott is not of good
Behavior for a year and a day, and also desist from Acting as a Magis-
trate within the Colony of Virginia by any authority derived from the
Province of Pennsylvania, and that he keep the Peace to all his
Majestie’s Liege Subjects in the mean time.3

as are as as axe as as :1: ac

“ On the complt of John McNally against his Master, Caspar Real, for
beating and abusing him, being sumd, appeared, & on hearing the par-
ties and the wits, the Court are of Opinion that the Complt is Ground-
less and be dismissed, & It is Ord that the Sheriff take the said servt an
give him 25 lashes, well laid on, & It is said to the Sheriff that Execu-
tion be done immediately.

“ Caspar Real prod & made oath to his account of £2 16 0, his expenses in
taking up his servt, John McNally, . . . when run away and for 4 days
absent time, when run away. It is Ord that he serve the same according
to law.

:1: :1: .1: :1: as 4 as :1: =1: :1:

“ The persons appointed to view a Road from Shirtees Creek to Devores

1 The reader will now observe that an additional batch of justices take
their seats upon the bench. An important cause is about to be heard.

2 Of Sept. 17, 1774.

'3A notice of this Thomas Scott, at the date of the above record a
justice of Westmoreland County, has been given in the sketch of the
boundary controversy. He became afterwards a member of the
Supreme Executive Council, the first prothonotary and clerk. of Wash-
ington County, a justice of that county, her first member of Congress
under the constitution of 1787, and held many posts of honor. He had
been arrested on Nov. 12, 1774, at his home on Dunlap’s Creek, and car-
ried before Lord Dunmore (on the latter’s return from “Dunmore’s
War”), where he was held to bail for his appearance at the Augusta
County Court, soon to be established at Pittsburgh. He chose to give
bail on account of his health.

The record shows his hearing before Dunmore’s Court on May 18,
1775, but it will be observed that on the termination he does not enter
into the recognizance directed, and therefore must have been impris-
oned. There‘ is nothing to show us how long he remained incarcer-
ated, but “ he was not released until accumulated resentment and the be-

ginning of the war for liberty had burst his prison bonds and set many _

of Connolly's captives free.”—- Veech. Contrast the policy adopted by
the Virginia authorities with that always pursued by the magistrates of
Westmoreland County, as outlined by Governor John Penn in his letter of
April 22, 1774, “ to William Crawford, Esq., and his Associates, justices of
Westmoreland county.” In this letter it is said, “ . . . As the Govern-
ment of Virginia bath the power of raising a Militia, and there is not
any such in this province, it will be in vain to contend with them in the
way of Force; the Magistrates, therefore, at the same Time that they
continue with steadiness to Exercise the jurisdiction of Pennsylvania
with respect to the distributions of justice and punishment of Vice,
must be cautious of entering into any such Contests with the Oflicers of
my Lord Dunmore as may tend to widen the unhappy Breach, and
therefore, as Things ‘are at present circumstanced, I would not advise
the Magistracy of Westmoreland County to proceed by way of criminal
prosecutions against them for exercising the Government of Virginia.”
(X. Col. Records, 171.)

ferry,4 made their report. It is Ord that the Road be established, & that
David Steel & Jedd Ashcroft be overseers, and that the tiths within 3
miles on each side work thereon.
as :1: as :1: as as :1: :1: =1:

“Ord that the Court be adjourned until to-morrow morning [sic], 3

o'clock in the afternoon. ‘ _
“Gno. CROGHAN.”

“At a Court Continued & held for Augusta County, May 19, 1775.
Pres’t John Gibson, Wm. Crawford, John McCullough, Edward Ward,
John Can non. — .

“ On the Motion of Benj Wells, It is ordered that his Mark, a Crop &
a Slit in the left Ear, be Recorded.

:1: a: :1: :1: :1: =1: :1: :1». as
“ Ord that the Court be adjourned until to-morrow morning, 8 O’c1ock.
“ EDWARD WARD.”

“ At a Court cond & held for Augusta County, May 20th, 1775. Pres’t,
Geo. Croghan, Edward Ward, Thos. Smallman, John Gibson.

:1: :1: :1: an: :1: :1: :1: -1: ac ,

“ On the Complt of James Ross against his Master, Moses Holliday, for
detaining him as a servant, Contrary to Law, it was objected to by the
Master and by his atto, that the Matter should not come on this Court,
as the sd Master had never been Summoned, & had not had any previ-
ous Notice thereof till he came to Court; but the Court Overruled the
Objection, it appearing to the Court that he was fully prepared,& on
hearing the Wits, the Court are of Opinion that the servt be set at
Liberty. ,

“ Ord that Thomas Silk be by the Church wardens of Augusta Parish
bound to Jacob Bousman accr to law. .

“ On the motion of Thomas Glenn by his atts. setting forth that he had
been Committed to the Goal of this County on supposition of being guilty
of the Murder of his servant & that the proceedings of the Called Court
were Irregular & by which he was Illegally confined, and praying that
the Court will take the same into Consideration & the Court being of
Opinion that the Allegations are true It is ordered that he be discharged
from his imprisonment.”

“ Pres’t John Campbell & William Crawford."

:1: an at: as as are :1: =1: axe

“On the motion of Jacob Bousman leave is granted him to keep a
ferry‘ across the Monongohale River from his house to the Town opposite
thereto, & that he provided and keep a suiiicient number of Boats for
that purpose in ferrying over the Militia on Muster days.

“ On the Motion of John Ormsby ‘for leave to keep a ferry across the
Monongohale River from this Town to his land opposite thereto, being
opposed by Jacob Bousman, Motion Overruled.”

:1: as :1: ac :1: are as are ac

“ His Majesties writ for adjournin_g this Court to the Town of Staun-

ton on the 3d Tuesday in June next was produced and read & it is Ord

that the Court be adjourned accordingly.
“JOHN CAMPBELL.”

“ At a Cald Court held at Fort Dunmore May the 27th, 1775 for the
Examination of Thomas Glenn who stands Committed to the Goal of
this County for the Murder of his Servant Man, Peter Eglington.

“ Pres’t Geo. Croghan, John Campbell, Edward Ward, Thomas Small-
man. V

“ The above-named Thomas Glenn was led to the barr and upon Ex-

amination denied the fact wherewith he stands Charged; whereupon '

several Witnesses were Sworn and Examined; upon Consideration of
which the Court are of the Opinion that he is not guilty of the Murder
wherewith he stands Charged, but that he is guilty of treating his Ser-
vant Ill, and that he ought to be tried for the same at the next Grand
jury Court to be held at this Place & that he be Committed to the Goal
of this County & there to remain until he enter into Recog in the sum
of £1000 with 2 secys in the sum £500 each for his good behavior in the
meantime & that his Majesties deputy atto prosecute him for the same.
‘ “ Then the Court did rise.
“ Gno. CROGHAN.”
=1: :1: =1: :1: =1: :1. as ; :1: a:
“At a Cald Court held at Fort Dunmore for Augusta County, Sep-

tember 12, 1775, for the Examination of VVil—liam Evans for the breakin
open the Kitchen of James McCash1in. ‘

“Pres’t John Campbell, Dorsey Pentecost, William Crawford, John

McCo1lock. ’

4 Now Monongahela City.

J

CIVIL AND‘LEGAL——RECORDS OF WEST AUGUSTA COURT.

209

p “ The above-named William Evans was led to the Bar & upon Exami-
nation denied the fact wherewith he stands Charged ; whereupon several
Witnesses were sworn & Examined; on Consideration of which the Court
are of the Opinion that he is not guilty of the Burglary, but that he is
guilty of a Trespass.

“ It is Ord that he be Committed to the Goal of this County & there
to remain until he enter into recog in the sum of £50 with 2 secys in the
sum of £25 each for his app at the Grand jury & for the Good behavior
& the sd Wm. Evans with Geo. Aston & Cornelius Conner his Secys ackd
the sd Evans in the sum of £50 & Aston & Conner in the sum of £25
‘each to be levied &c., in Case he do not Appear & for his good behavior
in the meantime & that his Maj esties Deputy Atto prosecute him for the
same. '

V “ Then the Court did rise.
“ J OHN CAMPBELL.”
:4: ex: :1: :1: ac as =1: :1: as
:1: :1: =1: :1: =1: :1: :1: :1: I :1:

“ His Majesties writ for adjourning the Court from Staunton to Fort
Dunmore being read this 19th day of September, 1775.

“ Pres’t Geo. Croghan, John Campbell, Dorsey Pentecost, Thomas
Smallman.

“ David Shepherd 1 took the Usual Oaths to his Maj esties person & Gov
sub the ab Oath & test & then took the Oath of a justice of the Peace &
of a Justice of the County Court in Chancery & of a Justice of Oyer &
Terminer.

“Pres’t David Shepherd & absent John Campbell.

“Ord that the Sheriff Contract with a workman to Repair his house
agst tomorrow with a Barr & Seat for the Clk & Justices.

“ Pres’t Wm. Crawford.

:1: =1: :1: :1: are :1: ate :1: ex:
“ Ord that the Court be adjourned until tomorrow morning 10 o'clock.
“ GEO. CROGHAN.”

“ At a Court cond & held for Augusta County, at Fort Dunmore, Sept.
20, 1775. 5

“Pres’t Geo. Croghan, Thos. Smallman, Dorsey Pentecost, David Shep-

herd, Gentlemen, Justices. '

>1: :1: =1: :1: >1: axe :1: are :1:
“David Steel took the Usual Oaths to his Majesties Person and Gov.
sub. the ab. Oath & test & then took the Oath of a Deputy Sherifi".
=1: :1: as as :1: :1: :1: :1: as
“An Indenture from John McMillen to Wm. Parkinson was proved
by John Gabl. Jones & Benj Davis, 2 of the Witts & O. R.
“ Geo. Wilson,2 Gent, being bound over to this Court for Confederate
with, Aiding, Advising and abeting certain disorderly persons who on

the Morning of the 22d of June last Violently Seized & carried away ‘
.Maj. John Connolly from this place and also advising others not to aid

the Officers of Justice when called upon to apprehend the aforesaid dis-
turbers of the Peace, being called & not appearing, It is Ord that he be
prosecuted on his recog. '
as :1: as :1: :1: =1: 2: ax: :1:

“Christian Perkey being bound over to this Court on the Compt of
Edward Rice for breaking down his Saw Mill dam, being called appd
and several wits were sworn & Examined; on Consideration of which
the Court are of Opinion that he be committed to the Goal of this County
& there to remain until he enter into recog in the sum of £50 with 2
secys in the of £25 each & thereupon he with Wm. Crawford & Haden
Wells his secys ackd themselves thesd Perkey in the sum of £50 the sd
Crawford & Wells in the sum of £25 each to be levied &c in case the sd
Perkey is not of Good behavior for a year & a day.

:1: ax: =1: :1: =1: 2: :1: as :1:

“ The Persons appd to view a road from the Confluence of Wheeling to

the foot of Laurel Hill at Conrad Walter's made a rep that they had

1 Of near the present Wheeling.

2 This was the Col. Geo. Wilson, of Georges Creek, who, it will be re-
membered, with John Carnahan, the sherifi‘ of Westmoreland, and others,
raided Fort Dunmore, liberated Justice Hanna and others, captured
Doctor Connolly, and carried him on the way to Philadelphia as far as
Ligonier. At Ligonier, St. Clair wined the doctor well, but was much
mistaken when he supposed he had thawed out state secrets. In retalia-
tion for Connolly’s capture, “a mob or set of Connolly’s friends, who
live on Chartiers Creek,” seized Col. Wilson, Joseph Spear, and Devereux

Smith, and sent them in an old leaky boat down to Fort Fincastle

(Wheeling) under guard. This retaliation, as well as the efibrts of the
Pittsburgh Committee, procured Connolly’s release, and perhaps Wilson,
Spear, and Smith were also soon set at liberty.

viewed the same & find that there may be had a good road from the sd
Confluence of Wheeling to the Confluence of Ten-Mile on the Mpnon-
gahela & from thence to the sd Walters. It is Ord the sd Road be Estab-
lished & and that James McCoy be overs. from the foot of the Laurel Hill
to Chas. Hickman & John Craig from Hickman & to Wm. Teagarden’s
ferry on the Monongahela & Ezekial Rose from there to John Dicker-
sons J unr., Reason Virgin from there to the Mouth of Wheeling & that
the Tiths in 5 miles on each side work thereon.
>1: :1: an ex: :1: =1: :1: at: as

“ Persons appd to View a Road from Fort Pitt to Beckett’s fort made a
report; It is Ord that the sd Road be Established & Andrew Pearce be
Over from Beckets fort to J as. Wilsons; Cornelius Thompson from Wil-
sons to the River Monongahela; James Sullivan from there to the head
of the Saw Mill run and Boston (?) Frederick from there to Fort Pitt &
the Tiths within 5 miles on each side from Fort Pittto the Monongahela,
and the Tiths within 3 Miles on each side from the River to Beckets fort
work thereon. .

are :1: as as as as as =1: :1:
“'Ord that the Court be adjourned until tomorrow morning 10 o’clock.
“GEO. CROGHAN.”

“At a Court Cond & held for Augusta County September 21, 1775,
Pres’t Geo. Croghan, J no. Gibson, John Cannon, John McCullock. _
:1: :1: as :1: as :1: as are ac
“ A deed of Barg & Sale from James Brenton to Michael Cresap Senr.
was provd by John Jeremiah Jacobs one of the Wits & O. R.
“ A Deed of Barg & Sale from Robt. Denbow to Michael Cresap was
provd by Geo. Brent one of the wits & O. R.
“ A Deed of Barg & Sale from John Corey to Michael Cresap Senr. was

provd by John Jeremiah Jacob the wits & O. R.3
_ =1:

:1: :1: =1: :2: as as :1: as
“ Ord that the Court be adjourned until tomorrow morning 10 O’clock.
‘ “ GEO. CROGHAN.”

* * * 91¢ * * =15 =l= =14

“ At a Court Cond & held for Augusta County at Fort Dunmore Sept.
22, 1775.
“ Pres’t Geo Croghan, J no Cannon, Thos Smallman, John McCullock.
“ Ord that the Court be adjourned until tomorrow morning 10 O’clock.
“ Geo. CROGHAN.”

:1: :1: :4: =1: :1: _ :1: as as an
“ At a Court Cond and held for Augusta County Sept. 23, 1775.
“ Pres’t Geo. Croghan, J no Cannon, J no McCullock, Dorsey Pentecost,
David Shepherd. _
:1: :1: as as :1: =1: :1: =1: :1:

“It appearing to the Court that George Brent & John Gabl. Jones,
practicing attornies at this Court, have this day insulted this Court in a
very gross manner, by directing the under sheriff not to Open the Court
when Commanded by the Justices met upon the adjournment of yester-
day, from which directions the sheriff hesitated some time in doing his
duty, & did Commit other Insults highly derogatory from the dignity
& Authority of the Court; It is the Opinion of this Court that the sd
George Brent & John Gabl. Jones be suspended from practicing as attos
in this Court until the Pleasure of the General Court is known in this
Behalf. It is therefore Ordered that the Clerk do certify these proceed-
ings to the Honble, the General Court, dz that the Atto Genl do um John
Walker Gent of Albemarle, Edmund Winston of Bedford, George Rootes
of Frederick, & Chas. Sims of West Augusta, to attend there and prove
the facts alledged agst the sd Brent & Jonesl& It is Ord that They be
Committed to the Goal of this County & there to enter into recog in the
sum of £200 each with two secys in the sum of £100 Each.”4

“ Pres’t John Campbell, Thos. Smallman, & absent Geo. Croghan.

“ Pres’t Wm. Crawford & absent J ohn.Gibson.

are as are :1: -1: are :1: =1: :1:

“ The Persons app’d to View a Road from Providence Mounce’s Mill5
by Asburger’s ferry & from thence to Catfish Camp made a report:

“It is Ord that the Road be Established & that Ezekiel Hickman be
Overseer from Mounces Mill to Christo. Bealors ferry on Yough., &
Morgan Morgan from there to Asburgers ferry, and Benj. Fry from
there to Pigeon Creek, & Evan Williams from Pigeon Cr. to the East

2 3 These deeds to Cresap were for lands where Brownsville now is.
Cresap was the Col. Cresap of the celebrated Logan speech.

4 The record of this proceeding for contempt is all erased in the origi-
nal, indicating a reconciliation of the court towards the offending
lawyers. ‘

5 On the Youghiogheny, doubtless.

210

HISTORY OF WASHINGTON COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA.

Fork of Churtees Cr. & Garret Vanemon from there to Catfish Camp, &
the Tiths within 3 miles on East side work thereon.

“A Resolution of the Convention1 directing a mode of the Proceed-
ings of the Court of West Augusta was prod. & read &‘the same being
approved of, 0rd. that the Court for the future be regulated thereby &
that the same be Recorded.

“Pres’t Jno. Campbell, Wm. Crawford, John Cannon,.John McCul-
lock, Dorsey Pentecost.

“ Ord. that Thos. Smallman,John Cannon,John Gibson, or any two of

them, provide a House at the Pub. Expense for the Use of Holding the
Court & that the Sheriff Contract with the workmen to put the same in
repair agst the 3d Tuesday in J an’y next.
, “Ord. that the Sheriff with the consent of Thomas Smallman, John
Cannon & John G'«bson, or any two of them, Contract for a house for
safe keeping of hisll’risoners, & make a return of the whole to the next
Court at the County’s Expense?

“ Wm. Hawkins3 took the Usual Oaths to his Majesties Person &
Government sub. the ab. Oath & test & then took the Oath of a Deputy
Sheriff. '

“ His Majesties Writ for adjourning this Court to the Town of Staun-
ton on the third Tuesday in Novr. next being read. The Court was
accordingly adjourned.

“JOHN CAMPBELL.”

The court for A.ugusta County was held at Pitts-
burgh, Oct. 17, 1775, according to an ordinance of
the convention held at Richmond; Present, George
Croghan, Thomas Smallman, John Gibson, and John

‘McCullock; and also on Nov. 21, 1775; present,

George Croghan, Edward Ward, Thomas Smallman,
John Canon, and George 'Va1landig.ham. At the
latter court: , -

“ The persons appd to View a road from Capn Froman’s to the Mouth
of Yough made-their report: It is Ord that the sd road be Established &
that John Malony & Thos Lapsley & Edward Sharp be surveyors & that
the Tithables within 3 miles on each side work thereon.”

31% Bl‘ =13 91‘ =16 9!‘ #3 =l¢ II!

On Nov. 21, 17 7 5, “ a Court was held—Present,
Geo. Croghan, Thos. Smallman, John Canon, and
Geo. Vallandigham,~——for ‘ the Examination of Mr.
Devereux Smith at His House, by His Petition to the
Justices,” for the murder of Capt. George Aston, one
of Connolly’s militia officers. The court was of the
opinion that Mr. Smith should be held for trial at the
next General Court in April, and ordered his commit-
ment to prison.

The prisoner by his counsel moved to be admitted
to bail, whereupon “the Court are of the Opinion
that from the situation Mr. Smith is in, the circum-
stances attending the fact Wherewith he is charged,
that he ought to be admitted to Bail,” and he was held
in £3000, with Robert Hanna, }Eneas Mackay, and

William Butler as his sureties, “ upon‘ Condition that -

Devereux Smith doth personally appear On the 6th
day of the next General Court, (if he be able at the
time to attend the sd General Court from the situation
of his wound & state of health‘,) if not, at the ensuing
Court for the Tryall of Criminals,and shall not de-

1 This refers to the proceedings of the “ Convention of Delegates for
the Counties and Corporations in Virginia, held at Richmond Town,
July 17, 1775," in furtherance of the American Revolution.

2 A new place for holding court and keeping prisoners was necessary,
as Capt. John Neville with his company of soldiers had occupied Fort
Dunmore, The name Fort Dunmore, however, is new about to be
abandoned.

3 Peters Creek.

_ part, &c.” What became of this case is not known,

but it is evident that it had its origin in the personal
troubles of the jurisdictional controversy.

The next term was held at Pittsburgh, Jan. 16,
1776; present, Edward Ward, Thomas Smallman,
J ohn_ McCullock, ’George Vallandigham,
and William Goe. Administration of the 1776.
estate ‘of Alexander Miller, deceased, was
granted to John Calhoun; George Wilson,-John
Swearingen, John Hardin, and Joe. Caldwell ap-
pointed appraisers.

License to keep an ordinary was granted to David
Duncan and to James McCaslin. Thomas Girty, the
brother of Simon, was bound to keep the peace, hav-
ing been charged with threats and assault upon the

— wife of Samuel Semple, the Pittsburgh landlord.

Hugh Scott and Ezekiel Dewit were appointed
constables.

On Jan. 17 , 177 6,—present, Edward Ward, Dorsey
Pentecost, John McCullock, George Vallandigham,
and Thomas Smallman,—Richard Wells, James
Wright, Daniel Harris, Thomas Glenn, Thomas
Crooks, Thomas Atkinson, Francis Morrison, and
Peter Hilderbrand had their several ear-marks al-
lowed and recorded. Samuel McBride was appointed
a constable in place of Rezin Virgin. The court was
then adjourned until the court in course.

The next term at Pittsburgh, being upon a writ ad-
journing the county court of Augusta from Staunton
to Fort Dunmore, was held April 16, 1776; present,
John Campbell, Dorsey Pentecost, Thomas Smallman,
and John Canon. Administration of the estate of
Jeremiah Woods, deceased, was “ granted to John
Stevenson (who is married to the widow,) he having
complied with the law, and Benjamin Kuykendall,
James Sullivan, Richard McMahon and Peter Bar-
rakman were appointed appraisers, whereupon court
was adjourneduntil tomorrow morning at 9 O’clock.”

31¢ 91¢ $l¢ =i4 91¢ =l< =i‘- is at
“At a Court Cond & held for Augusta County ‘April 17th, 1776.

“Pres’t John Campbell, Edward Ward, Dorsey Pentecost, John Mc-

Cullock, John Cannon.
as as as as :1: :1: :1: an ex:

“ Daniel Leet prod a Commission from the Colledge of William & Mary,
to be Deputy Surveyor of this County, under Thos. Lewis, Gent., he hav-
ing taken the Oaths according to Law & Entd in Bond with Geo. Rice &
Geo. McCormick his secys.

“ John Harry is app surveyor in the room of Edward Sharp.
are :1: =1: :1: 7 :1: as :1: :1: =1:

“ On the Motion of Christopher Carpenter leave is granted him to keep.

a ferry near his house on the Monongahela for the purpose of setting
over the Militia on Muster days.
:1: as :1: =2: =1: :1: .~x: :1: =1:

“Solomon Froman is app a Consta in the room of Nathl Blackmore,
& that he be summoned before Mr. John Cannon to be sworn into the
said oflice.

“Admin of the Estate of John Edwards, deed, is grantedto Benj.
Kuykendall (Jersey Ben) a Cr. he havg compd with the Law.

“Ord that Zadock Wright, Gabl Cox, Benj. Sweet & Isaac Custard or
any 3 of them app the Est.

:1: as :1: se :1: :1: as are as

“James Innis, John Munn, &,Thomas Edginton, 3 of the persons ap-
pointed to View a road from Fromans Mill, on Shirtees to Fromans
Mill on the East side of the Monongahela, made report; It is Ord that

CIVIL AND LEGAL——RECORDS‘

or WEST AUGUSTA COURT. 211

the sd Road be Est & that John Munn be surv from Fromans Mill on
Shirtee to the Fork of the Road that goes to Henry Spears, & that To-
bias Decker, from thence to the Mill on the Monongahela, & that the
tiths within 3 Miles on Each side work thereon.

“William Andreas is appd Consta in the room of Joseph Hill, senr.,
& that he be sumd to be sworn before Dorsey Pentecost.

are :1: =1: :1: as :1: as :1: =1:

“ License to keep an Ord is Granted to Thos. Brown at his House at
Redstone Fort, Bazel Brown havg on his behalf Entd into Bond accd
to Law.

ac :1: an :1: :1: as as as =s
“ Ord that the Court be adjourned until to-morrow morning 10 O’clock.
O “JOHN CAMPBELL”,

“ At a Court Cond & held for, Augusta County April 18th, 1776.

“ Pres’t John Campbell, Edward Ward, Dorsey Pentecost, John
Canon.

=1: :1: :1: :1: ac . as as axe :1:

“ On the Petition of James Mitchell & .others setting forth that a
road is Established from Conrad Walters by Wm. Teagarden’s ferry to
the Mouth of Wheeling which is very Inconvenient to your Petrs &
praying that a Review of the sd Road be made, it is Ord that Ebenezer
Zane, James McMahon, David Owens, Henry Vanmetre, Dav. Evans,
George Cox, James McCoy, & John McCle1len, or any 6 of them, being
first sworn view if the old Road Established is Convenient, if not make
a report of the nearest & most Conv. way & the Incon. & Con. thereof to
the next Court & that the surveyors‘ desist from working on the road
until report is returned.

“ Ord that the Court be adjourned until the Court in Course.

‘ “ JOHN CAMPBELL."

“ At a Court held at Pittsburgh, for the District of West Augusta, the
Twentieth day of August, 1776. ,

“Pres’t Edward Ward, Dorsey Pentecost, John Gibson, David Shep-
herd, John Cannon, William Goe, Gentlemen.

“ Dorsey Pentecost and John Gibson, Gent., administered the Oath
prescribed by an ordinance, entitled an ordinance to enable the present

I Magistrates & Oflicers to Continue the administration of Justice & for

setling the General mode of proceedings in Criminal & other cases, till
the same can be more amply provided for,1 to Edward Ward, Gent., and
then the sd Edward Ward administered the aforesaid Oath to John Gib-

— son, Dorsey Pentecost, John Cannon, David Shepherd, & William Goe,

Gentm.

' “ David Shepherd and John Cannon, Gent., are appointed to Contract
with someperson or persons to build a house 24 by 14 with a petition in
the Midle to be used for a Goal at  , Augusta Town? _

“John Madison, Jr., deputy clerk, took the Oath appointed by an

' Ordinance of the Convention.3 '

“ Patrick McElroy, Deputy Sherifi‘, took the af0res’d Oath.
“ Court Proclaimed.
as :1: a: as :1: ac as as :1:

1This was the ordinance of the Virginia Convention of June, 1776,
Chapter V., Section IV., 9 Hening, 127: “ Be it therefore» ordained that
the justices residing in the said district, on taking the same oath afore-
said, shall have the power and authority to hold a court within the said
district on the third Tuesday of every month’, at such place as they may
appoint, and shall exercise their oflice, both in court and without, in
the same manner as the justices of the several counties are empowered
todo.”

2 Here we have record evidence of the existence of a place for holding
a. Virginia court near where Washington stands.

The Augusta County court, while in session at Pittsburgh, Aug. 20,
1776, ordered the erection of a house, twenty-four by fourteen feet, for a
jail. The “ petition” was doubtless intended to set apart a small room
for a temple of justice. The place. where the building was erected was
called “Catfish Camp ;” on second thought that name was erased, and
“Augusta Town” substituted. The name was changed after adjourn-
ment, however ; see erasure at the end of the next day’s proceedings; see
also order made by the Yohogania court on Dec. 23,1777.

That this jail and court-house, and, therefore, Augusta Town, must
have been on the William Gabby farm,»immediately west of Washing-
ton, is sustained not only by tradition, but by the recollection of the
removal of such an old building by Mr. Gabby‘s father.

3 Brother of Rev. James Madison, of William and Mary College, who
helped run the Boundary Lines; their father was Gabriel‘ Madison, 9.
relative of President Madison.

“ David Steel, a Deputy Sheriif, took the Oath appointed by an Ordi-

nance of Convention.
:1: as an as :1: :1: :1: an as

“ Ord. that all the Constables be summoned to be sworn agreeable to
the ordinance of Convention before the Most Convenient Magistrates to
them.

an :1: 1: as as as :1: , :1: :1:

“Edward Ward, Dorsey Pentecost, & John Gibson, Gent, are recom-
mended as proper persons for his Excellency to choose one of them to
Act as sheriff for the Ensuing year. ’

=1: as :1: as as as :1: :1: ae ~

“Moses Williamson, Junr. is appd a Consta. & It is Ord. that he be
sumd to be sworn into the ofiice before Mr. David Shepherd.

“ Ord. that the Court be adjourned until the third Tuesday in Septem-
ber next to  , Augusta Town.

“ EDWARD WARD.”

“ At a Court held at Augusta Town, for the district of West Augusta,
the 17th September, 1776.

“ Pres’t, Edward Ward, Dorsey Pentecost, John Cannon, David Shep-
herd.

“ Pat. McElroy, deputy Sheriff, protested against the Insufil of the
Goal, & on his Motion 0rd. to be Certifiedfi

“Ord. that the sheriff summon 24 Freeholders to serve as a Grand
jury at this Court in November next.

“ Ord. that the Court be adjourned until to-morrow morning 6 o'clock.

“EDWARD WARD.”

“At a Court continued & held at Augusta Town for the district of
West Augusta, September the 18th, 1776.

“Pres’t Edward Ward, Dorsey Pentecost, John Cannon, David Shep-
herd, Gentlemen, Justices.

“ John McCul1ock, Gent. took the Oath appointed‘ by Order of Conven-
tion as a Justice.

“ Pres"t, John McCullock.

“ William Hawkins, a deputy sheriff, took the Oath appointed by Order
of Convention as a deputy sheriff.

“David Rodgers, Isaac Cox, John McDowell, Richard Yeates, Wm.
Scott, Dan’l McFar1ane, John McDaniel [McDonald], George Morgan,
Philip Ross, James McMahon, Benj. Kuykendall, Wm. Louther, John
Evans, David Scott, John Hardin, sen’r., John Swearingen, Thos. Gad-
dis, Wm. Harrison, Sam’l Newell, Thos. Brown, Thos. Freeman, Joshua
Wright, Erasmias Bochias, Henry Enochs, Henry Vanmetre, James
Caldwell, John Williamson, Sen’.r, Thos. Polke, Oliver Miller, Zachariah
Spriggs, Benj. Wilson, Wm. Hanna, Ephraim Richardson, James Walker,
James Anderson, A1ex’r Maxwell, Amaziah Davidson, Jacob Cook,
Matthew Ritchey, Jacob Haymaker, Thomas Crooks, Thomas Waller,
James Wherry, Ab‘m Inloe, Demas Linley, And’w Swearingen, Wm.
Rankin, are recommended as Proper persons to be added to the Com-
mission. '

“ Patrick McElroy is appointed to goe Express from this Place to
W’msburgh for the Commission of the Peace & the Sheriff’s Commission
& the acts of the Assembly & the Ordinances of Convention for the dis-
trict of West Augusta. .

as as as :1: :1: :1: as . as as

“ Richard Yeates, John Campbell, & James McMahon are recom-

mended as proper persons for Coroners.
as :1: as as j =1: :1: as :1: :1:

“ The Court on Considering the Ordinances of Convention for holding
a Court in the district of West Augusta without writs of adjournment
from East Augusta, on the third Tuesday in Every Month at such place
as they shall appoint, are of Opinion that by such Ordinances they are a
separate and distinct County & Court from that of East Augusta, & they
do appoint Dorsey Pentecost, Esqr., their Clerk for this Court; to which
John Madison, J unr., deputy Clerk, on behalf of John Madison, Clerk of
the County, Objected to the Appointment, alledging that they had no
right to do so till the division of the County, looking upon him as Clerk
of East Augusta & the district of West Augusta, till a division is made
by an Ordinance of Convention.

“ Ord. that John Madison, J unr., deputy Clerk, in whose Custody the
records of the adjourned Court for this district are, is Ordered to deliver
them to this Court on the 25th of October next.

“‘ Ord. that the Court be adjourned until the Court in Course.
- “ EDWD. WARD."

“ At a Court held for the district of West Augusta at Augusta Town,
Nov. 19, 1776,

4 This protest was to avoid responsibility for escapes.

212

HISTORY OF WASHINGTON COUNTY, PENNSYLVAN

“ Pres’t Edward Ward, John McCollock, John Cannon, William Goe,
David Shepherd.

“Thomas Glenn,who was bound by recog. to appear at the Grand-
jury Court, appeared & was 0rd. to be prosecuted for beating his serv’t.
No prosecutor or witnesses appearing, It is Ord. that he be discharged.

f‘ Ord. that the Court be adjourned until to-morrow morning 6 O‘clock.

“ EDWD. WARD.”

“At a Court Cond. & held for the district of West Augusta County,
November the 20th, 1776,

“Pres’t Edward Ward, John McCollock, John Canon, David Shep-
herd.

“ Capt. Wm. Christy prod. a Comm. of a Comp’)! of Militia, took the
Oath required by Ordinance of Convention & 0. cd.
“ Lieut. Jacob Bousman, the same as Ensigh, Hugh Smith, the same.”

Here closes the Order Book of the old Augusta
County Court.

lVery many matters, showing a large and varied
business done in this court, have been omitted. The
parts of that oldbook passed over show the names of
very many of our pioneers. The reader will please
look at the map of the old Virginia counties, and ob-
serve the extensive territorial jurisdiction of the dis-
trict of West Augusta, whose last court was held
within sight of Washington were it not for the inter-
vening hill.

C H A P T E R X V I.
THE CIVIL AND LEGAL HISTORY.—( Continued.)-

VIII.
The Yohogania County Court.

The Court of Yohogania County.——In the ses-
sion of the General Assemblyof Virginia for Octo-
ber, 1776, as shown in a preceding chapter, an act
was passed defining the District of West Augusta,
and dividing the said district into three new counties,
Ohio, Yohogania, and Monongaliafl and defining
their boundaries severally, except as to Yohogania
County upon the northeast, north, and northwest.
The same act provided, as will be remembered, that
the electors in each of the new counties should meet
on the 8th of December next (those of Yohogania
County at the house of Andrew Heath, on the Mo-
nongahela River), “then and there to choose the
most convenient place for holding courts for their re-
spective counties.” We have no returns of this elec-
tion for Yohogania County, and the records now to
be presented are obscure as to the place where the
first courts of that county were held, whether in the
lately erected twenty-four by fourteen feet building
at Augusta Town, at Pittsburgh, or at the house of
Andrew Heath; suffice it to say that those first courts
were held at all events at a place afterwards falling
within the limits of Washington‘County, and from
Dec. 23, 1776, to Aug. 24, 1780, exercised an undis-
puted jurisdiction over all the lands west of the Mo-
nongahela within the limits of that county. The
war of the Revolution, as Well as the constant press-

1 Chapter XLV.; 9 Hening, p. 262; see ante, p. 183.

ure of a contest with bloodthirsty savages instigated.
and directed by British management, united our pio-
neers for common protection, and during the time re-
ferred to there is but little if any trace of internal
dissension. . Even persons holding lands under Penn-
sylvania rights held «oflice, civil and military, under
the appointment of this Virginia court. The pres-
ence of a name, therefore, upon these pages will per-
mit of no odious inference, but indicate only the part
performed by the owner in those early days, and per-
haps many will now first learn of positions, honor-
able and full of danger and responsibility, filled by
their ancestors in times that tried men’s souls.
“YOIIOGANIA COUNTY, Dec. 23, 1776.
“In consequence of an act of the general assembly of Virginia put-
ting off all that part of the District of West Augusta, Northward of the
following bounds or lines (viz) Beginning at the mouth of Cross creek
running up the several courses thereof to the head; Thence south-

Easterly to the nearest part of the dividing ridge Between the Ohio and
the Monongahela Rivers; Thence along the said Dividing Ridge to the

head of Ten Mile creek; Thence East to the road leading from Catfish A

Camp to Redstone old Fort; Thence across the said River to the said
Fort; Thence along Dunlap’s old road to Braddocksl Road, and with said
road to the meridian of Potomac River ;—and a Commission of the Peace
and a commissioniof Oyer and Terminer, Directed to John Campbell,
Edward Ward. Thomas Smallman, Dorsey Pentecost, John Gibson, Wil-
liam Crawford, John Stephenson, John Cannon, George Vallandigham,
William Goe, John Neville, Isaac Cox, John McDowell, Richard Yeates,
John McDaniel, [McDonald ?] George McCormick, Philip Ross, Benjamin
Kirkindall, William Harrison, Samuel N ewell, Thomas Brown, Thomas
Freeman, John DeCom‘pt, Joshua Wright, Oliver Miller, Benjamin Har-
rison and Zachariah Connell; Also a Dedimus Potestatum, directed to
William Goe, John Neville and Isaac Cox, or any two of them, to ad-
minister the oath prescribed by law, to John Campbell, Edward Ward,
Thomas Smallman, Dorsey Pentecost, John Gibson, John Cannon, and
Geo. Vallandigham, or any two of them, and they to administer the
aforesaid oath to the aforesaid justices.

“Whereupon the aforesaid William Goe and Isaac Cox administered
the aforesaid oath to the aforesaid Dorsey Pentecost, who thereupon did
administer the aforesaid oath to the aforesaid Richard Yeates, George
McCormick, Benjamin Kirkindall, Samuel Newell, William Goe, Isaac
Cox, Thomas Freeman, Joshua Wright, Oliver Miller, Benjamin Frye,
Matthew Richie, Andrew Swearingin, and John Canon, as Justices of
the Peace?

“ The court then proceeded to the election of their clerk, whereupon
the said Dorsey Pentecost, Esquire, was unanimously chosen and ap-
pointed their Clerk, and ordered to take charge of their rolls.

“ Dorsey Pentecost took the oath Prescribed by Law as Clerk of this
court. V

“The court demanded the Records and Papers from John ,Madison,
Junior, Deputy Clerk of East Augusta, in whose custody they are;
Which he Peremptorily refused, Notwithstanding he confessed he had
seen an Act of assembly directing him so to do.

“ Edward Ward, gentleman, came into court and prayed that the court
would receive his reasons for refusing to act as Sherifi‘ of this county,
which was granted and were as follows:

“ That he cannot think of acting as Sherifi“, or appointing any under
sheriffs, until the line Between the states of Virginia and Pennsylvania

are fixed or limited; for on the North Eastern Bounds of this County .

There is still a Door open for dispute and Contintion, which has been
heretofore the cause of Disturbing the Peace of the People settled and
Claiming alternately the Jurisdiction of Each Government, and before
he can think of acting or any Person under him, he proposes praying
the general Assembly to have a Temporary line fixed between them, or
the limits of Pennsylvania run or the Government of Virginia Per-
emptorily running the same, until which is done he cannot think of

2 Subsequently others of the persons named in this commission of the.
peace came in and were duly qualified, to wit: John McDowe1, George
Vallandigham, Zachariah Connell, William Goe, William Crawford,
John McDonald-, John Campbell, and John Stephenson. A new commis-
sion was again issued, as will be seen, on May 26, 1778.

CIVIL AND LEGAL—THE COURT OF YOHOGANIA COUNTY.

213

acting in any state or Government to Infringe on the reserved rights of
his fellow subjects; he farther assures that when Government has this
done, he is ready to act with Cheerfulness. and if this Cannot be done he
begs that the Court will Recommend some other gentlemen to his Ex-
cellency to serve as Sherifl',—and hopes the Court will acquiesce in Pro-
moting the having the above bounds ascertained ; and further offers to
qualify into the Commission of the Peace.

“ The Court is of opinion that the said Edward Ward, gentleman, may
be Permitted to Qualify into the commission of the Peace, they being of
opinion that he is no sheriff until he enters into Bond before this Court,
andcomply with the Tinner of his commission as Sheriff; Whereupon
the said Edward Ward came into court and took the oath of a justice of
the Peace.

“ The Court is of opinion that Joshua Wright, Gentleman, is a proper
person to be recommended to his Excellency the Governor to serve as
sheriff, the whole of the above gentlemen named in the Commission of
the Peace who are qualified refusing to act in said ofiice on account of
the great difliculty they apprehend will attend the Execution of said
oflice until such time as a line is fixed Between this Common Wealth
and the state of Pennsylvania,” 1

Then followed the appointment of constables,-
Brice Virgin, Richard Elson, William Lankford, John
Alexander, Samuel Clark, Samuel Griffith, Isaac
Sparks, John Brown, James Bokias, Matthew Hays,
William Gaston, William Hays, John Johnson, Josiah
Orsborn, Philip Philips, Andrew Dye, Peter Aus-
turges, and John Beans.

“Ord that Dorsey Penticost, Esquire, be recommended as a proper
person to have the Command of the Militia of this County; and that
John Cannon be a proper person to be recommended as Colonel of the
said Militia; Isaac Cox be recommended as Leutenant Colonel of said
Militia, and Henry Taylor, Maj. of said Militia. '

“ Ordered that the Clerk forward a letter to his Excellency & Council
notifying the general dissatisfaction of the people of this county against

the late Election being held on the Sabbath day, the short notice of the

said election, and of the Inconveniency of the Bounds circumscribing
the said County. I

“Whereas ‘by an act of the General Assembly the suits the brought
and instituted in the Court \of the District of West Augusta are directed
to be determined in this Court and the Papers and Records relative
thereto are now in the hands of John Madison, Junior, Deputy Clerk of
East Augusta, who hath this day been called upon to deliver the said
Papers and records to this court, which he, the said John Madison, in
contempt of the said Act and the demands of this Court refuses to de-

"liver, to the Manifest Injury of Individuals and evident hurt of the

publick:

“ Ordered, therefore, that a Process be Issued to apprehend the said
John Madison and forthwith bring before this Court to answer the above
misdemeanor.

“ Court adjourned until in Course.
' “ EDWARD WARD.”

“ Court met on Monday the 28th of April, 1777, according to adjourn-
ment to Court in Course.

“ Present, Edward Ward, John Cannon, John McDowell,
1 777. Richard Yeates, Benjamin Kirkindall, Joshua Wright, Oliver
Miller and Andrew Swearingen, Gentlemen, Justices.

“On the Courts meeting and the Sheriffs Commission not coming to

Mr. ‘Joshua Wright, agreeable to recommendation of the Court, and not-

I withstanding Col. Pentecost’s letter to Colonel Cannon, Insuring him

he had a Sheriff’s Commission for Mr. Wright, he refused to act Protem-
pory. Therefore the Court was reduced to the Necessity of appointing
another, as there was an Election to be held for a Senitor and Delegates,
and a Criminal to be tried and other Breeches of the'Peece.

“ The question first being put to Mr. Joshua Wright, to be appointed
protempory, and he refused, notwithstanding his hearing of the Com-
mission as aforesaid; but said if his commission had come to this Court
he would have sworn into said Oflice :—-The question then being put to

1 Joshua Wright was the great-grandfather of Joshua Wright,
banker, of Washington. He had been safely through Crawford’s ex-
pedition in 1782, but the next spring, while going down the river with
produce, was killed by the Indians. It seems to have been the custom
that the sheriff should be appointed from those in the commission of the
peace, as was Joshua Wright.

the rest of the Court, who would serve as Sheriff, and all refused to ex-
pect‘Mr. William Harrison. who agreed to be appointed, and the Court
unanimously agreed that the said Mr. Harrison be recommended as a
proper Person for Sheriff, and Mr. Joshua Wright concurred with the
Court. - I

I“ The Court is of opinion that William Harrison, Samuel Newell and
Thomas Freeman are proper personsto be recommended for Sheriifs the
Insuing year. _

“ William Harrison came into Court took the Oath as Sherifi‘.

“ Court adjourned Tuesday, 7 0’clock.”

“ Court met according to adjournment.

“ Pres’t‘Edward Ward, John Cannon, John McDowell, Richard Yeates,
Benjamin Kirkindall, Joshua Wright, Oliver Miller, Andrew Swear-
ingen, Gentlemen, Justices.”

as :1: an :1: an :1: =1: 2: ‘ =1:

“The Court still laboring under great difliculty for the want of a
Clerk, as Colonel Dorsey Pentecost, our former Clerk lying in Baltimore
in the Small Pox‘: The Court then applied to Mr. James Innis who the
said Colonel Penticost had appointed to serve as Clerkin his Absence,
and when application was made to said Mr. Innis he refused to attend

the Court; his answer was that he only agreed to attend the March '

Court, upon which the Court choose Mr. Isaac Cox for their Clerk, who
Came into Court and swore into said Oflice.”

Zachariah Connell (the proprietor of Connellsville),
William Lee, and Andrew Heath were sworn as cap-
tains of the militia, John Canon as colonel, and Henry
Taylor as major.

At the next term, held May 26, 1777, “present,
William Crawford, Benjamin Kirkendall, John Mc-
Daniel, and Oliver Miller, Gentlemen, Justices,”

“ Colo. Dorsey Pentecost came into Court and beged that the Court
would consider the Cause of his not attending their Court at their last
meeting——he, the said Pentecost, Convinced this Court that it was out of
his power to attend, he being at that Time confined in the Small Pox ;——-
and prayed the Court to reestablish him in his oflice of Clerk of this

. Court, Colonel Isaac Cox who was appointed Clerk of this Court to suc-

ceed him, acquiescing, in said Petition, on the Proviso, that his Bonds
given the Court for the due performance of his Oflice, be given up or
Confiscated; the Court is therefore of opinion that the Reasons offered
by the said Pentecost for his non-attendance at Last Court is satisfactory
and the Court acquiesce with his and Colonel Cox’s request, and it is
accordingly ordered that Colonel Cox’s Bond be delivered him and he is
hereby released therefrom and that the said Pentecost enter into Bond
with this Court for the due performance of his Office, and to Take the

charge of the Rolls of this Court as Clerk to this Court.

“ Colonel Isaac Cox took his seat in Court.”

Thomas Cook was sworn as captain of the militia,
John Muckelhany and Benjamin Kirkendall 2 (other-
wise called Jersey Ben) Were appointed constables.
On May 27th, Michael Thorn and Joshua Meeks were
sworn as captains of the militia. To Zachariah Connell,
Edward Ward, William Groe, Thomas Freeman, Ben-
jamin Frye, Benjamin Kirkendall, Oliver Miller,
Richard Yeates, Andrew Swearingen, John McDaniel
(McDonald), Samuel Newell, Matthew Richie, and
Isaac Cox was assigned a portion of territory in which
he was to “ Take in the list of Tithables.”

“ June 26th, 1777, Court met according to adjournment.

“Pres’t, John Campbell, Isaac Cox, Richard Yeates, Thomas Freeman,
Oliver Miller, and Zachariah Connell, Gentlemen, Justices.

“ Ordered, That the sheriff cause to be erected a pair of Stocks and a
whiping post in the Con rt-House Yard by next Court.

“ Upon the information of Zachariah Connell, Gentleman,-That James
Johnson did this. day swear two profane oaths and two profane Cusses:
Ordered, That the said James Johnston be fined Twenty Shillings, Cur-
rant money for the same. ’

2 Not the justice; there were two B. K’s.

wl

26

HISTORY OF WASHINGTON COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA.

On the 4th of August the ‘fleet of Celeron left the
rock and moved on down the river. Two days later
they passed a deserted Shawanese village _ called
“ Chartier’s Old Town,” where Peter Chartier had
resided with the Indians some five years previously.
Paddling on down the stream, they passed the site of
the present city of Pittsburgh, but nothing is found
to show that any plate was buried, or even a halt
made there. On the 6th the expedition reached the
old Indian village of Chiningue, or Logstown, some
twelve miles below the mouth of the Monongahela.
Here they found a great number of Indians of several
different nations, and among them several English-
speaking traders. This last-nam ed fact roused the
ire of Celeron, who promptly expelled the traders.
warning them that if they dared to return they would
do so at their peril; and by one of them he sent the
following letter to Governor Hamilton of Pennsyl-
vania, viz.:

“ From our camp on La Belle Riviere, at an ancient village of Chaoua-
nons, Aug. 6, 1749. .

‘‘SIR,——Having been sent with a detachment into these quarters by
Monsieur the Marquis de la Galissoniere, commandant-general of New
France, to reconcile among themselves certain savage nations who are
ever at variance on account of the war just terminated, I have been
much surprised to find some traders of your government in a country to
which England never had any pretensions. It even appears that the
same opinion is entertained in New England, since ,in many of the vil-
lages I have passed through the English who were trading there have
mostly taken flight. Those whom I first fell in with, and by whom I
write you, I have treated’ with all mildness possible, although I would
have been justified in treating them as interlopers and men without de-
sign, their enterprise being contrary to the preliminaries of peace signed
five months ago. I hope, sir, for the future you will carefully prohibit
this trade, which is contrary to treaties, and give notice to your traders
that they will expose themselves to great risks in returning to these
countries, and that they must impute only to themselves the misfortunes
they may meet with. I know that our commandant-general would be
very "sorry to have recourse to violence, but he has orders not to permit
foreign traders in his government.

' “ I have the honor to be with great respect,
“ Sir, your humble and obedient servant,
“ CELERON."

Celeron found the Indians at Logstown wholly dis-
inclined to form an alliance with the French or to yield
the possession of the country tothem, and they were

, too well disposed towards the English traders to relish

their summary expulsion. The French commandant
made a speech to them which they thought insulting,
telling them that all the valley of the Beautiful River
was owned by his master, the king of France; that
Frenchmen would supply them with goods, and that
none. others would be permitted to do so; that he was
then on his way down the river to reprimand the
Wyandots and other Western Indians, and to whip
them to their homes for having traded with the Eng-
lish. All this had the effect to incense the savages
against the French. There were at «Logstown a con-
siderable number of Iroquois and Abenakis, and the
dissatisfaction felt by these being communicated to
their Canadian kinsmen who were with Celeron,
caused them to refuse to go farther with the expedi-
tion. They returned to their homes in the north,
passing up the Allegheny River, over the route by

-Montreal, where they arrived Nov. 10, 1749.

which the expedition came, and tearing off the cop-
per plates blazoned with the royal arms of France
fro_m the trees to whichthey had been aflixed by Cel-
eron’s orders. Whether they also dug up the leaden
slabs which had been buried on the shores of the
Allegheny is not known, but it is not unlikely that
they-did so. ~
On the voyage down the -Ohio from Logstown (or
Chiningue) Celeron caused plates to be buried at four
different points, viz.: at Kanououara or Wheeling
Creek, on the 13th of August; at the mouth of the
river Muskingum} on the 15th of the same month;
at the mouth of Chinondaista (now -known as the
Great Kanawha), on the 18th; and at the mouth of
the Big Miami, on the 31st of August. This was the
end of Celeron’s voyage down the Ohio. From this
point the expedition passed up the Miami to the head
of canoe navigation, then marched through the wil-
derness to the Miami of the Lake (now the Maumee),
and floated down that stream to Lake Erie.
by way of that lake, the Niagara River (portaging
round the falls as before), Lake Ontario, and the St.
Lawrence River, Celeron and his party returned to
In
theory they had taken actual and permanent possession
of the Upper Ohio Valley, and those of its tributaries
(the lower river to the Gulf of Mexico being already
in French occupation), but in fact they had accom-

plished nothing, for instead of securing the friend-

ship and alliance of the Indians living on the Alle-
gheny and Ohio Rivers, they had intensified the
distrust and enmity of those savages. The Pennsyl-
vania and Virginia traders, too, who had been driven
away by Celeron returned to Logstown immediately
after his departure,2 and were made welcome by
the Indians, who made haste to renew their assur-
ances of undiminished friendship for their brethren,
the English.

In reference to the expedition of Celeron and his
planting of the leaden plates, intended as a memorial
and proof of the French occupation of the valley of
the Ohio River, some extracts are here given from the
minutes of the Provincial Council of Pennsylvania,""
VIZ. : I

1 The plates buried at the Muskingum and Kanawha were afterwards
discovered, the former in the year 1798 by some boys who were bathing
in the stream. Seeing a part of it protruding from the bank they dug
it out, and knowing nothing of its historical value, out off a part of it

and melted the lead for bullets. The other part, however, was obtained '

from the boys by a gentleman, who sent it to Governor DeWitt Clinton, of
New York, and it is still in existence in Boston, Mass. The plate which
was buried at the mouth of the Kanawha was found in March, 1846, by a
boy (a son of J. W. Beale, of Point Pleasant, Va.), who in playing along
the river-bank saw the edge of the plate a few feet below the surface.
It was dug out and preserved, with the inscription, entire.

2 George Croghan, who was sent out by the Governorof Pennsylvania —

in August, 1749, with presents and belts to the Ohio Indians, reached
Logstown soon after the French left, and in his report to the Governor
he mentioned that “ Monsieur Calderon with two hundred French
soldiers” had left the village and gone down the river a short time pre-
vious to his arrival there. '
3 See Colonial Records, vol. v. p. 507, et seq.

Thence, _

214

HISTORY or WASHINGTON COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA.

“ Upon the Information of Isaac Cox, Gentleman, that James John-
son did this day swear three profane Oaths and one profane Curse; Or-
dered, That the said James Johnston be fined Twenty Shillings Currant
money for the same.

“Upon the Information of John Campbell, Gentleman, that James
Johnson did this day swear four profane oaths: ordered., That the said

, James Johnston be fined one pound Currant money for the same.

“ Ordered, That Richard Yeates and Isaac Leet be appointed to meet
two Gentlemen, to be appointed by the Court of Monaungahela County, at
the House of Captain Reason Virgins, on the forth day of August next,
to run the line agreeable to act of Assembly between this County and the
said County of Monaungahela.

“ Ordered, That Richard Yeates and Isaac Leet be appointed to meet
two gentlemen, to be appointed by the Court of Ohio County, at the
house of William Shearers, on the head of Cross Creek, on the first day

. of August next, to run the line between this County and the said County

of Ohio, agreeable to Act of Assembly.

“Ordered, That the Court of Monaungahela be requested to appoint
two Gentlemen of their County, to meet two Gentlemen already ap-
pointed by this Court, at the House of Captain Reason Virgins, on the
forth day of August next, to run the line between this County and the
said County of Monaungahela, agreeable to Act of Assembly.

“ Ordered, That the Court of Ohio County be requested to appoint two
Gentlemen of their County, to meet two Gentlemen already appointed
by this County, at the House of William Shearers, on the head of Cross
Creek, on the first day of August next, to run the Line between this
County and the said County of Ohio, agreeable to the act of Assembly.

“ Ordered, That Court be adjourned until Court in Course.

“IsAAc Cox.”

“At a Court Continued and held for Yohogania County. August 25,

V 1777.

“Present, Isaac Cox, Richard Yeates, Thomas Freeman, John Mc-
Dowell, and Zachariah Connell, Gentlemen, Justices.

“ 0rdered—That for Conveniency of Setling and Expediting Business,
That the Court be adjourned to the House now occupied by Andrew
Heath.

" IsAAc Cox.”

“ At the House of Andrew Heath Court met according to adjournment.

“ Present John .Campbell, Isaac Cox, Richard Yeates, Thomas Free-
man, John Cannon, John McDowell, John McDaniel and William Goe,
Gentlemen, Justices.” ’

H Jacob Bousman was sworn as a captain of militia,
George Vallandigham as one of the justices, Isaac
Leet as a deputy sheriff, and John James Wood as
a constable.

On Aug. 26, 1777, Joseph Wills was sworn as a
constable,_and on this day,

“ Upon the Petition of Paul Froman, setting forth that he is desirous
of Building a Water Mill on Mingo Creek at the mouth thereof; and
praying an order to view and Condemn one acre of Land on the oppo-
site side from said Froman’s Land for that Purpose :

“Ordered, That the sheriff be Commanded to summon twelve Free-
holders of his Vissinage to meet on the aforesaid land and they being
first sworn shall diligently View and Examine the said Land which
shall be Effected or Laid under Water by the Building said Mill, with
the Timber and other conveniences thereon, and that they report the
same to next Court, with the true Value of said acre of Land Petitioned
for, and of the Damages done the party holding the same.”

On the same daywas the following action taken by
the court: ’

“ Ordered, That the following Gentlemen be appointed to make a Tour
of the Different Districts hereafter mentioned, and Tender the Oath of
Allegiance and Fidelity to this Common Wealth to all free Male Inhab-
itants, agreeable to an Act of Assembly Intitled an act to oblige all the
free male Inhabitants above a Certain age to give assurance of allegiance
to this state and for other purposes Therein mentioned}

1 This act by the Virginia Legislature has been previously quoted in
the chapter on the “Boundary Controversy.” For the act itself see 9
Hening, 281.

“Ordered, That Matthew Richie, Gentleman, be appointed for the
above purpose within the following Bounds, Vizt: Beginning at the
mouth of Cross Creek and up the same to the Dividing ridge Between
said Creek, Raccoon andOChartiers Creeks; thence along said Ridge to
Croghans Line; thence up the same to Thomas Rogers’s; Thence on
Strait Line to the head of Indian Creek; Thence down the same to the
Ohio; Thence down the said River Ohio to the Beginning.

“ Ordered, That Samuel Newell, Gentleman, be appointed for the
above purpose within the following Bounds, Vizt: Beginning at the
mouth of Churtiers Creek, extending up the same to the mouth of Rob-
ertsons run; Thence up the said Run to Croghans Line; thence with
said Line to Raccoon Creek ; Thence down said Creek to the Ohio;
Thence up the same to the Beginning.

“ Ordered, That John McDaniel, [McDonald] Gentleman, be appointed
for the above purpose within the following Bounds, Vizt: Beginning at
the mouth of the West fork of Churtiers Creek, Extending up the said
fork to the top of the dividing ridge, Between Churteers Creek, Cross
and Raccoon Creeks; thence along said ridge to the head of Robertsons
run; thence down said Run to the Churteers Creek; -thence up the said
Creek to the Beginning. ' ’

“ Ordered, That Andrew Swearingen, Gentleman, be appointed for the
above purpose within the following Bounds, Vizt.: Beginning at the
mouth of the West fork of the Churteers Creek and Extending up the
same to the Top of the dividing ridge Between Churteers Creek and
Cross Creek ; Thence along said ridge to the south Bounds of the County;

- Thence with said Bounds to the Main Fork of Churteers Creek; Thence

down the same to the Beginning.
“ Ordered, That Isaac Cox, Gentleman, be appointed for the above pur-
pose within the following Bounds, Vizt. : all that part of the County Ly-

- ing west of Sweekly Creek, East of the Allegheny River and North of

the Monaungahela Riven?

“ Ordered, That Oliver Miller, Gentleman, be appointed for the above
purpose within the following Bounds, Vizt.: Beginning at the mouth of
Peters Creek and extending up the same to the head; thence a. Strait
Line to Ezekiel Johnstons on Churteers Creek; Thence down the same
to the mouth; Thence up the Ohio and the Monaungahela to the Begin-
ning. '

“ Ordered, That Benjamin Kirkindall, Gentleman, be appointed for the
above purpose within the following bounds, Vizt.: Beginning at the
mouth of Pigeon Creek, Extending up the same to the head; Thence a
south line to the South Bounds of the County; thence with the said
Bounds to the Top of the dividing ridge between the waters of the Mo-
naungahela River and Churteers Creek; thence along said ridge to the
head of Peters Creek; thence down the same to the Monaungahela River;
thence up the same to the Beginning. ' '

“Ordered, That William Goe and Thomas Freeman, Gentlemen, be
appointed for the above purpose within the following bounds, Vizt.: Be-
ginning at the mouth of Little Redstone Creek, and Extending up the
same to the House of William Castlemans ; Thence on a Strait line to the
mouth of Washington’s Mill run; thence up said Run to Froman’s

A Road ; Thence along said read to Thomas Gists, Esquire; Thence along

Laurel Hill to Dunlap’s old road; Thence with said road to the Mo-
naungahela River ; Thence with said River to the Beginning.
“Ordered, That Zachariah Connell, Gentleman, be appointed for the

above purpose within the following Bounds, Vizt.: Beginning at the ,

head of Maryland and extending along Braddock’s Road to Thomas
Gists, Esquires; Thence with Froman’s Road to head of Byers Run;
Thence down said Run to Yough River; Thence down the same to the
mouth of Sweekly Creek; Thence with said Creek and North Bounds of
the County to the Beginning. -

“ Ordered. That Benjamin Frye, Gentleman, be appointed for the above
purpose within the following Bounds, Vizt.: Beginning at the mouth of
Little Redstone Creek, extending up the same to the House of William.
Castleman ; Thence on a strait Line to the mouth of Washington’s Mill
run; Thence down the river Yough to the Monaungahela; Thence up
the same to the Beginning. A

“Ordered, That Richard Yeates, Gentleman, be appointed for the above
purpose within the following Bounds, Vizt. : Beginning at the mouth of
Pigeon Creek and Extending up the same to its fountain; Thence south
to the South Bounds of the County; thence with said bounds to the
Monaungahela River; Thence down said River to the Beginning.

:1: :1: are :1: av :1: =1: as :1:

“ Ordered, That the sherifl‘ call on Mr. John Anderson, of Pittsburgh,

2 This indicates that the jurisdiction claimed extended well up north-
east of Pittsburgh.

CIVIL AND LEGAL—-THE COURT OF YOHOGANIA COUNTY.

215

or any other person, for the papers and records belonging to the District
of West Augusta, and that the said Sheriff give the said Mr. John Ander-
son, or any other person who may deliver the said Records, 9. Receipt for
the same; and that he deliver the said Papers and Records to the Clerk
of this Court, who is also ordered to give the said Sheriff a Receipt for
the said delivery.

“ Robert Hamilton, a prisoner in the sheriff’s custody, came into court
and in the grocest and most imperlite manner insulted the court and
Richard Yeates, gentleman, in particular; Ordered, that the sherifi‘ con-
fine the feet of the said Robert Hamilton in the lower rails of the fence
for the space of five minutes.

“Ordered, That any prisoner or prisoners the sheriff have, shall be
confined in the guard or some other.room in Fort Pitt, with the acquies-
cence of General Hand, until such time as a proper goal can be provided
for the county.

“Ordered, That Isaac Cox, Oliver Miller and Benjamin Kirkindall be
appointed, or any two of them, to contract with a proper person or per-
sons to build a goal and court-house in the following manner and at the
following place, vizt.: The goal and court-house are to be included in
one whole and intire building, of round sound oak, to go twenty-four
feet long and sixteen feet wide, two story high; the lower story to be
eight feet high, petitioned in the middle, with squeared hewed logs with
locks and bars to the doors and windows according to law, which shall
be the goal. The upper story to be five feet high in the'sides, with a
good cabbin roof, with convenient seats for the court and bar, and a
clerk’s table, to remain in one room, with a pair of stairs on the outside
to assend up to said room, which shall be the place for holding court;
with two floors to be laid with strong hewed logs; the whole to be com-
pleat and finished in one month from the date hereof. ‘The said build-
ing to be erected on the plantation of Andrew Heath at such convenient
place as the said Isaac Cox, Oliver Miller, and Benjamin Kirkindall, gen-
tlemen, or any two of them shall think proper.

“Ordered, That John McDowell, gentleman, be appointed to take a
_tour within the following bounds and tender the oath of Allegiance and
fidelity to the State, to all free male inhabitants within the same, above
sixteen years of age, agreeable to act of assembly; Beginning at the

, mouth of the east fork of Churteers Creek and extending up the same

to Ezekiel Johnstons; thence on a strait line to the head of Peters
Creek; thence on the top of the dividing ridge between the Mononga-

‘ hela River and Churteers Creek to the south bounds of the county;
‘thence with said bounds to the main fork of Churteers Creek; thence

with said creek to the beginning.
I “Ordered, That the ‘court be adjourned to six o’clock1 to-morrow
morning. - ' A
“ JOHN CAMPBELL.”

On the next day, Aug. 27, 17 7 7 ,_ there seems to have
been quite a deal of civil business done. It maybe
interesting to name the parties to causes wherein
orders were made: Alexander Bowling 7;. William
Poston; Same 72. Francis Morrison; Thomas Rankin
7;. Jeremiah Standsbury; David Day '22. Jacob Hen-
dricks ; John Lyda v. Joseph Cox; Matthew Dale 7;.
Richard Elson ; Benjamin Jones 12. Patrick McDan-
iel; William McMahon v. John Greathouse; Daniel
Swigert v.'Benjamin Newgent; Peter Reasoner '0.
Davis Ruth; Balser Shillings '22. Spencer Collins;

”,Dorsey Pentecost 2:. Christopher McDaniel; Burr

Harrison 22. William Williams; Joseph Lindsey 72.
George Long; Zachariah Connell 22. Providence
Mounce; Same v. John Lindsey; Ignaw Labat v.
John Bradley; Hugh Sterling 'v. Mordecai Richards;
Ignavv Labat 'v. Thomas Girty; Davis Wilson 22.
Henry Bowling ; Alexander Sumrall and Thomas Jack
2;. Walter Summerville ; John Worthington 72. James
Poor; John Snively '12. Samuel Beelor; Richard Yeates
71. Brice Virgin; Richard Waller 'v. John Earskin;

1 So the record reads,—'6 o’clo'ck.

Dorsey Pentecost v. James Poor. The spelling of the
original is preserved in this list. Isaac Leet, Sr.',
Joseph Beeler, Sr. . (the late Westmoreland County
commissioner), John Carmichael, James Rogers,
Isaac Reason, James McLane, James Blackstone,
Joseph Becket, and Joseph Vance are recommended
to the Governor to be added to the commission of the
peace. 7

“ Ordered, That the magistrates appointed to make the Tour of the
County and Tender the oath of allegiance and Fidelity, Shall also Take
in the Numbers in Each Family within their Respective districts, In
order to enable the justices to make an equal distribution of the salt,
and make return to October Court.” - -

Isaac Cox was recommended to the Governor to be
commissioned as lieutenant-colonel of the militia in

the place of Thomas Brown, who had declined the '

oflice, when the court rose.

The next term was held Sept. 22, 1777. On the
first day of the court

“ William Taylor produced a Licence appointing him to preach the
Gospel after the manner of his sect; which being read, the said William
Taylor came into Court and took the Oath of fidelity and allegiance to
this Commonwealth.”

To illustrate, by two of several cases tried, the
method of administering the criminal law, the fol-
lowing records appear :

“ David England, being charged with a breach of an act of Assembly
of this commonwealth, Intitled an Act for the punishment of Certain
Ofiences, came into Court and confessed the Charge; Then came a jury,
to wit: James Swolevan, James Wall, Charles Bruce, James Campbell,
William Marshall, Joseph Becket, John Crow, Zadock Wright, Edward
Cook, Joseph Bealer, Andrew Heath, & John Douglass, and being sworn
say that they find forty shillings.

:1: as as :1: =1: :1: :1: are as

“ Thomas Estill, being Charged with a Breach of the Act of Assembly
of this Commonwealth entitled ‘an act for the punishment of Certain
Oifences,’ who being called upon come into Court and pleads Not Guilty;
Whereupon, a Jury being sworn, to wit: James Swolevan, James Wall,
Charles Bruce, James Campbell‘, William Marshall, Andrew Heath, John
Crow, Joseph Becket, Zadock Wright, Joseph Beeler, Edward Cook, and
John Douglass, do say, they find for the Commonwealth Twenty Pounds
Current Money.

“ Philip Tabor, charged with being guilty of a Breach of an act of
Assembly of this Commonwealth, intitled ‘ an act for the punishment of

A certain Offences,’ being Called comes into Court and Pleads Not Guilty;

Whereupon come a Jury, to wit: James Swolevan, James Wall, Charles
Bruce, James Campbell, William Marshall, Andrew Heath, John Crow,
Joseph Becket, Zadock Wright, Joseph Beeler, Edward Cook, & John
Douglass, who upon their Oaths do say the said Philip Tabor is Not
Guilty.
:3: :3: as as as :1: — :3: :1: as

“ Upon the Petition of Adam Wickerman, setting forth that he is de-
sirous of Building a Water Mill on Mingo Creek about three quarters of
a Mile from the mouth, and that he owns all the Lands that will be
overflowed by the building of the said Mill: It is therefore considered
by the Court that the said Adam Wickerham have leave to build and
compleat a Mill at the place aforesaid.

=1: as as as :1: :1: =1: :1: as

“ Ordered, that John Campbell, Gent., be requested to furnish the wife
of Lemuel Davis, a poor Soldier now in the Continental service from this
State, for the‘Support of herself and three Children, the sum of four
pounds per month to commence from’ the said Lemuel Davis’s March
from this County.

“Ordered, that the provision made for the Children of Edward Mc-
Cawley by a former Order of this Court, shall commence from the time
of his March from this Country, and that the funeral Charges of one of
the said Children since dead be paid by the said Mr. Campbell, and that

216

HISTORY OFFWASHINGTON COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA.

this Court do draw on the Treasurer of this Commonwealth for the pay-
ment of the same.1

’ “A letter from General Hand addressed to Col. Campbell requesting
that Capt. Alexander McKee’s Parole given to the Committee of West
Augusta be given up to him the said General Hand, in order to enable
him to put Capt. McKee on a New Parole, as he finds it necessary to re-
move said Alexander McKee. Ordered that the said Parole be given up
to General Hand and that. he deposit a Copy of the New Parole to be
taken from the said Captain McKee in Lieu thereof, certified by the said
General Hand.” .

The records of the next regular term begin as
follows:

“The Court met according to Court in Course at the house of Mr.
Andrew Heath Octbr 27th, 1777.

“ Present John Campbell, Isaac ‘Cox, Joshua Wright, Richard Yeates,
Gentlemen, Justices.

“ Ordered that the Court be adjourned to the new Court-House.

. “JoHN CAMPBELL.”

“ The Court met at the Court House pursuant to adjournment.

“ Present John Campbell, Isaac Cox, Richard Yeates, Joshua Wright,
Benj. Kirkindall, Andrew Swearingen, Samuel Newell, Gentlemen,
Justices.”

On the next day it was

“ Ordered, that the Inhabitants of this County have leave to Inoculate
for the Small Pox, at their own houses or such other convenient places
as they may think proper.” ’

On Oct. 30, 1777, the following order was made:

“Ordered, that Isaac Cox, Oliver Miller and Benjamin Keykendal,
Gent., or any two of them-, be appointed to contract with a proper person
or persons to build a suflicient Stone Chimney in the Court house and
Goal, to be carried up in the middle of the building, with three fire
places, one in each room of the Goal, and one in the part where the Court
is held; and to have the Court Room chunked and plastered; also a Good
loft of Clapboards, with a window in each Glebe (gable), and four pains
of Glass of ten Inches by eight, and the Goal rooms to be plastered.”

The next regular term was held Dec. 22, 1777, when
Maybury Evans was sworn as lieutenant of the militia
of the county (county lieutenant), John Crow as cap-
tain, and Patrick Lafferty as ensign. Earmarks were
allowed and ordered to be recorded for John Crow,
J acobShil1ings, Richard Yeates, Oliver Miller, May-
bury Evans, Richard Evans, William Anderson, and
Michael Taggert.

“ On the Petition of Andrew Heath &c, Ordered, that Robert Hender-
son, Zadock Wright, John Robertson, John Crow, Thomas Applegate and
Andrew Dye, view a road the nearest and best way from Pittsburgh to
Andrew Heaths ferry on the Monongahela River, and from thence to
Beckets Fort.

“Upon the Motion of Andrew Heath, ordered that he have leave to
keep a ferry at his house across the Monongahela River.

:1: as ax: :1: ac :1: :1: =1: 1:

“ Ordered, that the Sheriff collect from every Tythable person within
this County, the sum of three Shillings as County Levies, and that he
account with the Treasurer of the Commonwealth for the same.

-1: as an :1: as as :1: :1: ac

“ Ordered, that the Sheriff‘ pay out of the County Collection to Richard

1 Beside the foregoing, orders were subsequently made for the relief
of the families of other Revolutionary soldiers from Yohogauia, some of
them as follows: Richard James, —-— Knox, Thomas Douthard, Abra-
ham Ritchie, William Richie, Robert Crawford, —-— Stewart, William"
Lindsey, Ezekiel Lindsey, Thomas Dunn, Peter McCorkey, John Depugh,
Jeremiah McCarty, William Nau, James Behan, Richard Wade, David
Smith, Richard Jones, George Frederick Ki per, John Evans, James
Shirley, Charles Churchill, Matthew Burns, Jchn Overlin, Providence
Blackstone, William Shaw, Daniel McKay, Greenberry Shous, Matthew
Hindman, Jonathan Davis, Nicholas Hagerty, Thomas Green.

Yeates, the sum of six pounds for laying two floors in a Goal formerly
built for this district? -
an :1: an as as as :1: :1: =1:
“ The Ordinary keepers within this County are allowed to sell at the
following rates:

One-half pint whiskey ..........  .................... .. 1s.
The same made into Tody .................................. .. 1s. 6d.
Alarger or lesser quantity in the same proportion.
Beer per Quart ....  ........................................... .. ls.
For a hot breakfast ........  ................................ .. 1s. 6d.
For a cold breakfast ......................................... .. ls.
For a dinner ............................................. ._. ...... .. 2s.
Lodging with Clean Sheets pr." Night ................. .. 6d.
Stablidge for one horse for 24 hours with good hay

or fodder ....................................................... .. 2s.
Pasturage for one horse for 24 hours ................... .. ls.
Oats or Corn per Quart ...................................... .. 6d.
Supper ............................................................ .. 1s. 6d.

“ Ordered, that the above rates commence the fifteenth day of January
next, and not before.
“Ordered, that this court be adjourned to-morrow morning at 7
o’clock.
“WILLIAM Gos.”

On the 24th of December, 17 7 7, the following orders '
were made:

“ Ordered, that the recommendation for Militia Oflicers of the 5th &
6th November last, by the justices of this County, be confirmed as the
Opinion of this Court, and they do hereby confirm the proceedings of
the said Justices respecting the same, as the distressed situation of this
County demanded the particular attention of the said Justices at that
time.

“ Ordered, that Gabriel Cox be recommended to his Excellency the
Governor as a proper person to serve as Major of this County, in the stead
of Henry Taylor who has resigned his Commission.

:1: :1: :1: as an :1: as as :1: ac

“ Upon the Motion of William Harrison, Gent., Ordered that the Clerk
issues a summons to call John Stephenson, Thomas Gist, Joseph Beeler
and Edmund Rice before the Court, to testify and the truth say, what
they know respecting the marriage of Catherine Harrison with Isaac
Mason, on the part of the said Catherine.”3

No term of court seems now to have been held until
March 23, 1778, probably on account of the insufli-
ciency of the building used to protect the
court and suitors from the inclemency of the
weather. Even at that date, only the justices
residing within convenient distance (Isaac Cox, Joshua
Wright, Thomas Freeman, and Benjamin Frye) were
present when court opened, although Oliver Miller,
William Crawford, and John Stephenson afterward
appeared.

There was quite an amount of ordinary business
(granting letters testamentary and of administration,
orders in civil causes) transacted, and_ Thomas Prather,
Levingston Thomas, and Nicholas Christ were sworn
as lieutenants of the militia, Luke Decker and John
Johnston as ensigns.

On the next day, March 24th, twelve justices occu-
pied the b.ench,——John Campbell, Isaac Cox, Rich-
ard Yeates, Joshua Wright, William Crawford,
Oliver Miller, Zachariah Connell, John De Camp,
Benjamin F-rye, Thomas Freeman, George Vallan-
digham, and William Goe-

1778.

5-’ Doubtless this “ Goal formerly built for this district” was the Jail on
the Wm. Gabby farm, west of Washington, and about a mile from that
place. '

3 See the record of this matter made April 28, 1778, post, p. 217.

CIVIL AND LEGAL——THE COURT or YOHOGANIACOUNTY.

217

* >l= 5% * * =l¢ =!= * *

“James McGoldrick, being charged with pulling down and demolish-
ing a Block-house erected by Orders of General Hand for the preserva-
tion of the Inhabitants of Pittsburgh, and the said James being brought
into Court confesses the charge . Ordered ‘that the said James be held
in One hundred pounds, with two securities of fifty pounds each for the
appearance of the said James before the next Grand Jury Court, other-
wise to remain in Custody of the Sherifi".

:1: :1: as :1: :1: are as are are

“View of a road from the Court-house to Pittsburgh, returned by
Zadock Wright and Robert Henderson, viewers; passing by Zadock
Wright’s fields on Peters Creek, thence along the dividing Ridge pass-
ing Widow Lapsley’s, thence along the Old Road to Stewart’s, thence
along the old road to Jacob Bousman’s. Ordered to be Con-firmed.

“ Ordered, that Zadock Wright be appointed Overseer of the Road
from the Court-House to Martha Lapsley’s; Robert Henderson, Over-
seer of the Road from Martha Lapsley’s to Jacob J udy’s; and Sebastian
Frederick, Overseer of the Road from Jacob Bousman’s; and that the
Tythable Inhabitants within three miles on each side of said Road work
on and keep it in repair, together with the Inhabitants of the town of
Pittsburgh. ' ‘

as :1: a: :1: :1: =1: :1: are :2:

“ John Whitaker, a Minister of the Gospel, came into Court and took

V the Oath of Allegiance and fidelity as directed by an act of General As-

sembly, entitled an Act to Oblige the free male Inhabitants of this
State, above a certain Age, to give Assurance of Allegiance to the same
and for other purposes.” .

On March 25, 1778, the record shows a large busi-
ness in the militia line. John Stevens and Isaac
Cox were recommended as proper persons to serve as
colonels of militia. Joseph Beelor, the old VVest-
moreland County commissioner doubtless, and George
Vallandigham, of the first board of Washington
County commissioners, were recommended as majors.

“ William Christy came into Court, being summoned as Garnishee in
behalf of John Campbell and Joseph Simon against George Croghan;

being sworn, saith that he hath two pair of Geers, one old ox, one old
spade, one pitch fork, one small box of iron and an old Lanthorn, and

‘no more, of the Estate of said George in his hands.”

' Then John Stephenson and Isaac Cox produced
their commissions from the Governor and were sworn
as colonels of the militia; Gabriel Cox, as a major;

' George Vallandigham, as a lieutenant-colonel; Charles

Reed, as lieutenant; David Lefergee, as ensign; Ed-

mund Baxter, as captain.

“ Upon the Petition of Samuel Cook, setting forth that he is desirous
of building a Water Mill on Brushy Run, a Branch of Chirtees Creek,1
aud praying for an Order for the Condemnation of one acre of Land on
the opposite side of said Run to said Cook's Land: Ordered, that the
Sheriff summon a Jury of Twelve Freeholders of the Vicinage, to meet
on the said Land petitioned for and they being first sworn shall diligently
view the said Land and Lands adjacent thereto on both sides of the
Run, together with the Timber and other conveniences thereon, with
the true value of the Acre, and of the damages done to the party holding
the same, and report the same to the next court under their hands and
seals.”

The following record would indicate that there was
at least one individual within the jurisdiction who
may have been favorable to Pennsylvania :

“ The Comgmmweauh ' }being charged with a disaffection to the

Jacob Shilling (a criminal) C°"“”°” W°“1‘h'

“ Then came the Defendant, who pleads Not Guilty: where upon
came a Jury, to wit:jP-atrick McElroy, Bazil Brown, Benjamin Venatre,
John Custard, James Ellison, Pierce Noland, William Marshall, Senr.,
William Marshall, Junr., John Munn, John Greathouse, Robert Hen-
derson & John Morrison, who say that the Prisoner is Not Guilty.”

1 This is the Brushy Run emptying into Chartiers immediately below
Canonsburg.

Charles Bilderback produced a commission as en-
sign of the militia, and was sworn; Isaac Pearce,
as captain ; George Redman, as lieutenant; Elijah
Pearce, aslieutenant; and Richard Waller, as lieu-
tenant. ‘

A license to keep an ordinary was granted to
Thomas Cook, “at his dwelling-house;” to Jacob
Bausman, “at his dwelling-house opposite the town
of Pittsburgh ;” to John Munn,? at his dwelling-
house; to William Christy, “ at his dwelling-house in
the town of Pittsburgh.” The court adjourned to
meet the next morning at seven o’clock. '

“ March 26, 1778, the court met according to adjournment.
are :1: =1: :1: as :1: :1: =1: ax:

“ Upon the Petition of John Johnston : Ordered that Gabriel Cox,
James Wright, Nathaniel Blackmore. and Paul Froman, or any three of
them, they being first sworn, view a road the nearest and best way from
the Court house to Penticosts Mills 3 on Chirtees Creek and make Return
to next Court.’ ’

91¢ 3!‘ I4 * =15 9!: 31¢ 3!‘ ' 91¢
April 27, 1778.
* 9!‘ 71¢ 91¢ * 3? 9l¢ * =l=

“ View of the road from the Court House to Pentecosts Mills on Chur-
tees Creek, returned by the Viewers and ordered to be confirmed, run-
ning from said Court House to Spencers point; Thence near Richardsens
School House; Thence through Gabriel Cox’s Land; Thence crossing
Peters Creek near John Cox's to Benjamin Collings; Thence to Joshua
Wrights; Thence to William Stephensons; Thence to Thomas Cook's;
Thence to said Mills; Ordered, That Gabriel Cox be appointed Overseer
of the road from the Court House to Peters Creek, near John Coxes;
James Wright, Overseer of the road from Peters Creek near John Coxes
to opposite Henry Johnstons; and Nathaniel Blackmore Overseer of the
road from Henry Johnstons to Pentecosts Mills on Chartiers Creek, and
that the Tithables within three miles of said Road (except on the East

side of the Monongahela River) work on, cut open and keep-said road

in repair.” V
as :1: =1: :1: as are at an an

April 28, 1778. Andrew Swearingen and David
Andrews were sworn as captains, Nathaniel Black-
more as lieutenant, of the militia.

:1: as :1: :1: as as as :1: =1:

“ Thomas Gist came into Court, and being sworn on the Holy Evan-
gelist of Almighty God, sayeth ‘that in the year of our Lord one Thou-
sand Seven Hundred and Seventy-two, in the month of April to the best
of his recollection, in the presence of Joseph Beeler, John Stephenson &
Edward Rice, he solemnized the Wrights of Matrimony between Isaac
Meason and Catharine Harrison, according to the rights and ceremonies
of the Church of England; he the sd Deponent then being a Magistrate
in the State of Pennsylvania and that he was under an oath not to Di-
vulge said Marriage Except legally called for that purpose.

“ John Stephenson and Joseph Beeler came into Court,'and being sworn
on the Holy Evangelist of Almighty God, sayeth,that they were present
at the Marriage of Isaac Meason with Catharine Harrison in the year
one Thousand Seven ‘Hundred and Seventy-two in the Mouth of April
to the best of their recollection, and was under a promise not to divulge
the said Marriage, unless legally called, or Death of either of the parties;
and the said Joseph farther sayeth that there was a pre—engagement be-
tween the said Isaac and Catharine That upon divulging the said mar-
riage contrary to the will of the sd Isaac the said parties should be
absolved from any obligation to each other as man and wife.

:1: are an :1: 1:. :1: as :1: :1:

“ Ordered that George McCormick, John Canon & John Stephenson,
Gent., be recommended to his Excellency the Governor as proper per-
sons to serve as Sheriff for this County, the ensuing year.

:1: :1: =1: :1: as :1: an a: :1:

April 29, 17 78.

3 Of Munntown.
3 Now or late Beck's Mills, or Linden, North Strabane.

218

HISTORY OF WASHINGTON COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA.

3: =2: :1: axe :2: are are an ac

“ George McCormick is appointed Sherifi‘ Protempore to serve one
month, he complying with the law; whereupon the said George with
Samuel Beeler and Dorsey Pentecost, his securities, come into Court en-
tered into Bond and oath accordingly. '

as :1: :1: as as :1: :1: >1: :1:

“ Ordered that Isaac Cox, Gentleman, contract with some Proper
Person or Persons, to build a pair of Stocks, Whipping Post and pillory,
in the Court house yard and also a Complete Bar; and other work in the
Inside of the Court House as he may think proper for the Conveniency
of the Court and Bar; the whole to be Compleat by next Court.”

0 * =l= 5! . :16 i4 =l= =I= =14
May 25, 1778.
$ 1 IF I3 * $4 5i¢ 3% =1:

“View a Road from the House of Edward Cook, crossing the Monaun-
gahela River at the House of John Rattans ; Thence to or Near the Plan-
tation of John Hop, deceased; Thence to Luther Colvins on Pigeon
Creek ;-Thence the nearest and best Way to the Road leading from
Perkesons to Zebulon Collings; Ordered to be confirmed and that the
Tithables within three miles on each side work on and keep said read
in Repair.

“John Decker, John Hull, Samuel Johnston, Jacob Johnston, Samuel
Frye and Henry Newkirk, came into Court and took the oath of Fi-
delity.

“Peter Reasoner is appointed surveyor of the road, from Edward
Cooks to John Rattans ferry. -

“Nicholas Christ is appointed Surveyor of the Road from John Rat-
tan’s ferry to Pigeon Creek, near the House of Luther Colvins.

“ John Decker is appointed surveyor of the road, from Pigeon Creek
near the House of Luther Co1vin’s, to the road leading from Perkesons
to Zebulon Collings. I

“Then came a Grand» Jury or Inquest of the body of this County,
Vizt:

“John Decker, Gabriel Cox, John White, Henry Newkirk, Jacob
Bousman, Jacob Johnston, John Springer, Nicholas Christ, James
Wright, Samuel Johnston, John Hull, Samuel Frye, David Andrew,
Joseph Brown, James Patterson who being sworn received their charge
and Retired to their chamber.”

May 26, 1778.

“A New Commission of the peace, and commission of Oyer and Ter-
miner, directed to John Campbell, Edward Ward, Thomas Smallman,
Dorsey Pentecost, John Gibson, William Crawford, John Stephenson,
John Canon, George Vallandigham, William Gee, John Neavill, Isaac
Cox, John McDonald, George McCormick, Philip Ross, Benjamin Kirk-
indall, William Harrison, Samuel Newell, Thomas Brown, Thomas Free-
man, John Decamp, Joshua Wright, Oliver Miller, Benjamin Frye, Mat-
thew Ritchie, Jacob Haymaker, Andrew Swearingen, Benjamin Harri-
son, Zachariah Connell, Isaac Leet, Senr. Joseph Beeler, Senr. John
Carmichael, James Rogers, Isaac Meason, James McLane, James Black-
more, Joseph Beckett, and Joseph Vance, Gentlemen, which being read
as usual, the said William Gee, Thomas Freeman, Andrew Swearingen,
John McDonald, Benjamin Frye and George Vallandigham, took the
usual oathsof Justices of the Peace and Justices of Oyer and Ter-
miner.‘

°‘ The Court being Constituted took their seats and proceeded to Busi-
ness.

-1: as :1: as as :1: an are :1:

“ Tacitus Gillard, Esquire, came into Court and Produced a passport
from the Board of War, and Desired that the same may be Entered on
the minutes of this Court as a Testimonial of his Allegiance and Fi-
delity te the United States of America, which is granted and is as fol-

lows:
“ WAR OFFICE, Yonx TOWN,

. “ October 18, 1777. ,

“ Tacitus Gillard, Esq., late an Inhabitant of the State of South Caro-
lina, being on his way to Florida or some of the Countries or places on
this side Thereof, or adjacent Thereto, where he proposes to form a set-

1 The following gentlemen named in the commission were subse-
quently sworn into oflice: Isaac Cox, Benjamin Kuykendall, Samuel
Newell, Joshua Wright, Oliver Miller, Joseph Beeler. Joseph Beckett,
Richard Yeates, Thomas Smallman, John Gibson, William Crawford,
John Stephenson, William Harrison, James Rogers, John Canon, Mat-
thew Ritchie, Edward Ward.

tlement, and having applied for apassport to enable him to go and travel
through the parts of the Country, in allegience to and in Amity with
the United States of America, and having produced Testimonials of his
having Taken the oaths of allegience and Fidelity, to the said States;
These are to permit the said Tacitus Gillard Esq., freely to pass with his
family, Servants, Attendance, and Efl‘ects, Down the River Ohio, and all
persons, are Desired not to molest the said Tacitus Gillard Esq., his
family, servants and Effects, on any account or pretence whatsoever.

“ To an Continental } “ By Order of the Board of War;

Ofiicers and Others’ “RICHARD PETERS Secretary”
, .

whom it may Concern.
ex: :1: :1: :1: =1: :1: :1: are a:

“ Upon the petition of David Philips and others: Ordered, That John
Jones, Robert Henderson, and John Wall, they being first sworn do view
a road from McKee’s ferry, on the Manaungahela River, to Pentecost’s
Mills on Churteers, and make report of the Conveniency and Incon-
veniency thereof to the next Court. A

“Upon the petition of David Philips: Ordered, That William Frye,
Jacob Barrachman, and J-acob Shilty, make a review of the Road from
Peter’s Creek to Robt. Henderson’s, and make report of the Conveni-
ences and Inconveniences of the nearest and best way to next Court.

an :1: are :1: are :2: =1: :1: as

“ James Fasithe was brought into-Court and Stands charged with Dis-
affection to the State, who pleads not Guilty, whereupon came the same
Jury as before, who say -that the sd James Fasithe shall pay a fine of
Twenty dollars, and suffer forty-eight hours confinement in the Com-
mon Jail, and, before he be Discharged therefrom, give such security as
the Court shall then see fit.”

* * 91¢ 31¢ * 31¢ * 91¢ 31¢
_May 27, 1778.
* =1‘ * * ' 91¢ * $ 9!: =l=

“Ordered, That Isaac Cox, Thomas Freeman, and Andrew Swearin-
gen, Gentlemen, distribute the Cards Consigned for this County upon
proper and suitable certificates to them produced, and that two thirds be
delivered to Isaac Cox and Andrew Swearingen, and one third to Thomas
Freeman, Gentleman.”

91% BF * IR * * OE * *
June 22, 17 78.
34 >14 31¢ 91¢ 33 =15 Si: 9!: 91¢

“ Upon the petition of Paul Froman: Ordered, That Nicholas De-
pugh, John Lovejoy, Robert McGee, and James Colvin, or any three of
them, View a Road, the nearest and best way, from Devores Ferry to
Penticost’s Mill on Chartiers, passingby Froman’s Mill, on Mingo Creek,
and report the Conveniences and Inconveniences to Next Court. I

as :1: as as =1: :1: as are ax:

“ Whereas, George McCormick, Gentleman, was at a former Court ap-
pointed Sheriff for this County for one Month, and at the same time re-
comended the said George McCormick to his Excellency the Governor
as a proper person to serve as Sheriff for this County the Ensuing year,
and no commission as yet arrived for the said Sheriff: Ordered, That the
said George McCormick, Gentleman, be appointed Sherifi‘ for this County
for and during the Term of one Month next Ensuing, he complying with
the Law.

as as as as are as an as as

,“A Request from ' the Court of Ohio to call on the Commissioner for
adjusting the Boundary Line between this County and the sd County of
Ohio; This Court are of Opinion that the sd Request is highly reasona-
ble. It is therefore Ordered, That the Commissioners on the part of this
County doth proceed to finish the business to which they have been ap-
pointed and make a report to next Court.”

as as as as :1: :3 as :1: :1:
June 23, 1778. _ _
:1: =1: :1: as :1: are as :1: :1:

“Upon the petition of Richard Yéates; Ordered, that Henry Taylor,
James Allison, James Patterson & William Brashers, or any three of
them, being first sworn, View a Road from Catfish camp to Penticost’s
Mills and make a report of the Conveniency and Inconvenience to the
next Court. J

an :1: an :1: =1: :1: as as >1:

“ George McCormick, Gentleman, came into Court and took the oath.
of high Sheriff for this County for the Term of one month.

:1: as as we :1: =1: .1: at .1.

“ Andrew Dodge obtained License to keep an Ordinary at his Dwelling

CIVIL AND LEGAL—THE COURT OF YOHOGANIA COUNTY.

219

house on the Road from Devoirs ferry to Shirtees Creek, he having com-
plied with the Law &c.

“Ordered that William Crawford, Gent., be appointed a Commissioner
with Richard Yeates & Isaac Leet for adjusting and settling the Boundary
line between this County and the County of Ohio.

“Thomas Lapsley, a Lieut in the Militia, came into Court and in-
forms them he is in dayly fears on acct of being apprehended by the
Military Law and desires the protection of this Court, on a matter which
from the testimony of the Evidence now adduced appears an affair of
Slander':,—the said Mr. Lapsey now surrenders himself to this Court:
whereupon Proclamation being made that if any person could ought
say against the said Thos. Lapsley they might then be heard, but none
appearing the Court ‘are of opinion the said Mr. Lapsley be and he is
hereby discharged, and the Sheriff of this County is hereby commanded
to protect the said Mr. Lapsley, from Injury or Insult for that Cause.”

are as :1: =1: :1: as a: as at:
June 24, 1778.
:1: at: as :1: =1: ' an ate :1: as

f‘ Ordered that Colo. John Stephenson and Cole. Isaac Cox do call on
Thomas Brown and receive from him the Cotton and Wool Cards sent
up to this County; one-half of which are to be distributed in the Bat-
talion of Colo. Stephenson and the other in that of Colo. Cox. These
Gentlemen to whom this charge is intrusted are to conduct themselves
agreeable to the Governor’s Letter to the Justices of this County on the
26 N ovr. last; provided that if there are more womenin either Battalion,
Col. Stephenson & Col. Cox are to supply each other accordingly to the
number of persons who may have a right to obtain the same.

are as :1: as as as :1: are :1:

“ On the Petition of Col. John Campbell setting forth that he is de-
sirous of building a Mill on Chartiers Creek; that the Land on both
sides of the Creek where he intends to build his dam is his own prop-
erty, but he is apprehensive that some lands the property of some per-
sons to him unknown, at the mouth of Robinons Run, may be flowed by
the Back Water of his Dam; Ordered, that the Sherifl' summon 12 free-
holders of the Vicinage to meet on the Lands said to be aifected by the
back water from his said Dam and such Jury are to value the Damages

‘ and report the same to next Court, under their hands & seals.”

II! 31¢ 9!: # * 9i! 0 3!: II
Aug. 26, 1778.-
* ll: 91¢ 1!! * * SR 3 9i¢

“- George McCormick, Gentleman, produced a Commission from the
Governor appointing him Sheriff for this County, which was read; the

Court demanded the sd George McCormick, Gent., to enter into Bond-

according to Law, and Qualify into said Commission which he refused,
alledging that he was a captain in the 13th Virginia Redgment in Con-

‘ tinental Service, and Contrary to his Expectations the General refused

to permit him to resign his said Military Commission, and that his serv-
ing as Sherifi‘ was Incompatible with his duty in the Military depart-
ment; it is the Opinion of the Court that the reasons are satisfactory.

“ Ordered, That Matthew Ritchie, Joseph Beckett & James Rogers,
Gentlemen, be recommended to his Excellency, the Governor, as proper
Persons for his Excellency to Commission one as Sherifi‘ to serve the
ensuing year.

“Matthew Ritchie, Gent. came into Court and took the Oath of High
Sheriif for the term of one month.”

Sept. 29, 1778.

:1: :1: :1: :1: as as as as as
“Andrew Poe produced a Commission from his Excellency the Gov-
ernor, appointing him Lieut. of the Militia, which was read and sworn
to accordingly. ‘
=1: =1: :1: as :1: :1: as :1: as
“Ordered that the Clerk prefer a Petition to the assembly setting
forth, that the Court Conceives the Laying a County levy to defray the
Necessary Expence of the County in the administration of Justice will
from the Particular situation of the County be attended with difiiculty,
and praying that it may be Enacted to enable the Court to receive and
apply the fines, accruing in the County towards leing the County Levy.”

as :1: :1: an a: as _ as :1: :1:
Nov. 23, 1778.
as :1: as as as as :4: as as

“Ordered that Samuel Johnston, Richard Boyce, James Campbell,
Alexander McKendless, Peter Rowleter, William Christie, John Ormsby,

Nathaniel Tumbleson, Edmond Polke, Richard Willis, Joseph Noble,
James Allison, Lawrence Crow, Nicholas Little & Susbazly Bentley be
fined agreeable to Law, for Non Attendance as Grand jury Men.”

* * =16 =l= 91¢ ‘ SF =16 91¢ =16
Nov. 24, 17 78.
* =l¢ * =16 * 3- =13 91% 9i:

“ Ordered that a request be made to the Court of Monaungahela, to ap-
point Two Gentlemen to meet Richard Yeates and Isaac Leet, Junr., ap-
pointed by this Court as Commissioners to ascertain Dun1ap’s— old road
from Redstone old Fort to Braddocks road, as the Boundary Line be-
tween this County and the sd County of Monaungahela, agreeable to
Act of Assembly. '

=1: ax: as :1: as as as as as

“ Ordered that Colo. Isaac Cox be Impowered to acct with all persons
that hath Negotiated any business relative to this County’s salt, lodged
with Israel Thompson of Louden County, and that he receive the re-
mainder of said alt, and Transport it to this County and Issue the same
to the Inhabitants to whom it is due, at six pounds Ten Shillings per
Bushel, and that the profits thereon shall be his full satisfaction for his
said services, and that the said Col. Cox shall also pay all demands on said
salt, Either for the Original purchase or otherwise.

as an as as :1: ' as as as :1:

“ The Court then proceeded to lay the County Levy.

“ Dr. The County of Yohogania.

To Philip Pendleton, States attorney..... ....  ..... .. £100.

To Richard Yeates, for Running County Line ..... .. 31.

To Isaac Leet, J unr., “ “ “ ..... .. 36.

To Dorsey Pentecost, per  .. 14.18
£181.18

Cr. By 910 Tithablesl 128. each 546.
£3462

Dr. To the Sheriff £546, 6 per   32.15.2

To the Sheriff for extra services, 1200 lb.Tob.

“ Ordered, that the sheriif Collect from every Tithable person within
this County the sum of Twelve shillings each, as a County Levy, and that
he pay the above charges to the different persons to whom they are due,
and that he account for the above Collection. I V

“ Ordered, that Benjamin Kuykindall and Samuel N ewell, Gentlemen,
Contract with a proper person or persons to Junk and Daub the Court
House, and provide Locks and Bars for the Doors of the Goal, and to build
an addition to the End of the Court House and Goal, sixteen feet square,
one story High, with good suflicient logs and a good Cabben Roof, with a
good outside wooden chimney, with convenient seats for the Court and
Bar, with a Sheriif ’s Box, & with an Iron pipestove for the Goal room,
and that they have a pair of stocks, whipping post, and Pillory Erected
In the Court-yard, and that the whole be completed as soon as Pos-
sible.

“Ordered, that Henry Taylor, James Allison, James Patterson, and
William Brashers, be attached for Neglecting to make report of the con-
veniences and Inconveniences of a Road from Catfish Camp to Pentecosts
Mills, agreeable to a former order of Court.”

Nov. 25,1778.
* * =l¢ IR Bl? =3 =16 3% *

“ Commission from his Ex. the Gov. appointing Matthew Richie
Sheriff of this County was read, whereupon the said Matthew Ritchie
Informed the Court that he had taken every Method in his Power to
Procure deputys to assist him in the Exercise of his Otfice ; but from the
present State of the fees and the small Emoluments arising to the sheriff
of this County, although he has offered the whole to any person who
would act as a Deputy, he has not been able to procure one, Together with
the Contested Boundary of the County, and Therefore refused to Act or
Qualify into his Commission. Whereupon Geo. McCormick, Gent., is
recommended to his Excellency as a proper Person to serve as Sheriff
for this County ; Ordered, that the Clerk Transmit a Copy of this Rec-
ommendation to his Excellency as soon as Possible, with an apology for
the frequent application the Court are under the Disagreeable Necessity
of making for Sheriff's commissions ; and also informed his Excellency
that a commission appointing the said Geo. McCormick, Sherifl’, was Is-
sued some time ago, but the said McCormick was then an Officer in the

1 Perhaps the tithables (taxables) were confined to freeholders, 23.3.,
landholders in fee or for life.

220

HISTORY OF WASHINGTON COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA.

Continental Service, and, contrary to his Expectation, the Genl. would
not at that Time sufi‘er him to resign, and Consequently could not serve;
but since has been permitted to resign, _and is now clear of the army, and
now assures the court that he will Except of the Oflice and have the duty
Done. _

“ Geo. McCormack, Gent., is appointed sheriff for one month, Entered
into Bond, Sworn accordingly.

“ Ordered, that the Sheriff pay out of the Depositum in his hands in
the statement of the county levy. '

To Wm. Nemmons, as per acct ....................  .... .. £6 12
To “ , “ for express 6
To the sheriff for three calld courts, £600 Tob ...... .. 3 15
To executing a negro man belonging to Jo. De

Camp, £25.. ..........................  ............. .. 1 7 6

“Ordered, that the clerk send the recommendation of the sheriff to
the Governor, by express, for the said Sheriff ’s Commission, for which
he shall be allowed Eighteen pounds.”

:1: :1: :1: :1: :1: as :1: :1: :1:
Jan. 25, 1779.
:1: :1: :1: :1: :1: :1: :1: :1: :1:

“ Ordered that this Court be adjourned till Court in course.
“ BENJ. KUYKENDALL.”

March 22, 1779.

91¢ 91¢ 91¢ 91¢ 9! 91¢ 91¢ 91¢ 91¢
March 23, 1779.
91¢ 91¢ 91¢ 91¢ 91¢ 91¢ 91¢ 91¢ 91¢

March 24, 1779.

:1: :1: :1: :1: :1: :1: :1: :1: :1:
“ Admn of the Est. of the late Colo. White Eyesl is granted to Thos.
Smallman, he having complied with the law.
“ Jos Skellon, David Duncan, Wm. Christie & Saml. Ewalt
appointed appraisers to said Est.”
:1: :1: :1: :1: :1: :1: :1: :1: :1:
“Oliver Miller returns the following fines: Robt. McGee for Drunk-
enness 5s.; John Hall 5s.; Wm. Brashers 153.; George Sickman 205.;
James Bruce 20s.; for profane Swearing. Clerk Recd. the money.”

1779.

91¢ 91¢ 91¢ 91¢ 91¢ 91¢ 91¢ 91¢ 91¢
March 25, 1779. _
91¢ 91¢ 91¢ 91¢ 91¢ 91¢ 91¢ 91¢ 91¢

“ Ordered that Benj. Vanatar be allowed £200 for his Expence & ser-
vices in going to Wmsburgh for the Shfs. commission and other neces-
saries for the use of the County, to be paid out of the depositum in the

I Shfs. hands, if so much remain, and if not the balance to be Levied at the

next County Levy.”

91¢ 91¢ 91¢ 91¢ 91¢ 91¢ 91¢ 91¢ 91¢
April 26, 17 7 9.
91¢ 91¢ 91¢ 91¢ 91¢ 91¢ 91¢ 91¢ 91¢

“ Ordered that Isaac Cox, Gent., pay to the Clerk his proportion of the
money arising from the sale of the Cards sent to this County for the use

1 White Eyes, whose Indian name was Koquaitahghaitah (i.e., the
man who keeps open the correspondence between his own and other
nations), was chief of the Turtle tribe of the Delawares, and a great
friend to the Americans, and especially to C01. Geo. Morgan (called
Taimenend by the Indians),‘during the Revolution. When the British
had prevailed upon almost all the Western Indians to become their allies,
White Eyes, with a band of _ adherents, remained faithful, and joining
Col. McIntosh’s expedition in 1778, with a colonel’s commission, he died
that year. Accounts commonly received state that he died then at Ft.
Laurens of smallpox; but a manuscript letter from Col. Morgan to a
member of Congress, dated May 12, 1784, would indicate that he had
been killed by treachery. A son, Georgewwhite Eyes, thirteen years of
age, was then in the care of Col. Morgan, at Princeton, of which son the
letter states: “ Having now entered Virgil and begun Greek, and being
the best scholar in his class, he will be prepared to enter College next
Fall." “ His father was treacherously put to death at the moment of
his greatest exertions to save the United States, in whose service he held
the commission of a Colonel.” “ I have carefully concealed and shall
continue to conceal from young White Eyes the Manner of his Father’s
death, which I have never mentioned to any one but Mr. Thompson
[the Secretary] & two or three Members of Congress." Col. White Eyes
was a man of much property, as the letter referred to shows.

of the Soldiers wives, and that he transmit it by the first opportunity to
the Treasury."

91¢ 919 91¢‘ 91¢ 91¢ 91¢ 91¢ 93 91¢
April 27, 1779. _
91¢ Q 91¢ 91¢ 91¢ 91¢ 91¢ 91¢ 91¢

“Henry Taylor, James Scott on Mil1er’s Run, John Reed of Millers
Run, Jas. Edgar, Wm. McCombs. John Douglass, William Bruce, James
Marshel, Wm. Parker and Ezekiel Magrudin, are recommended to his
Excellency the Governor as Proper Persons to be added to the Commis-

A sion of the Peace.”2

91¢ 91¢ 91¢ 91¢ 91¢ 91¢ . 91¢ 91¢ 91¢

May 24, 1779.
:1: :1: :1: :1: :1: :1: :1: :1: :1:

“Vincent Colvin took the Oath of allegiance & fidelity as prescribed
by Law.

“ William Rankin took the Oath of allegiance and fidelity according
to Law.

“ Then came a Grand Jury (to wit) Charles Morgan, Joseph Brown,
John White, Nicholas Dawson, Richd. Boyce, James Patterson, David
Ritchie, Sampson Beaver, Isaac Vance, NathanielBrown, John Embly,
Wm. Rankins, Vincent Colvin, Sheshbazzer Bentley, Michael Tigurt,
Samuel Dunn, Josiah Crawford, Andrew Vaughan & Robt. Ramsey.

:1: :1: :1: :1: :1: :1: :1: :1: :1:

“ On the motion of Nicholas Pease setting forth that he is desirous of
erecting a Grist mill On Shirtees Creek in which he has lands on both
sides but that he cannot do it without condemning an acre the property
of Joseph Edington & Isaac Kinny Ordered that the Sheriff do summon
ajury to attend on the premises to lay of and value the sd acre of Land
and make their report to next Court.” 3 '

91¢ 91¢ 91¢ 9i¢ 91¢ 91¢ 91¢ 91¢ 91¢
May 25, 1779.
91¢ 91¢ 91¢ 91¢ 91¢ 91¢ 91¢ 91¢ 91¢ _

“Ordered that Jno. Decker, Vincent Colvin, Joseph Perkeson and
Joseph Beckett, or any three of them, being first sworn, do lay of and
assign unto Elizabeth Devoir, widow & Relict of James Devoir, decd.
her dower in the Lands, Slaves & Personal Est. whereof James Devoir-.
deed. died seized and make report to Next Court.”

91¢ 91¢ 91¢ 91¢ 91¢ 91¢ 91¢ 91¢ 91¢
May 27 , 1779.
91¢ 91¢ 41¢ 91¢ 91¢ 91¢ 91¢ 91¢ 91¢

“Ordered that Thomas Gist, Thomas Warren, Jno. Irwin, of Pitts—*

‘burgh, Matthew Richie, & Dorsey Pentecost be appointed commissioners

agreeable to Act of Assembly, as Judges of Counterfiet money.”

:1: :1: V :1: — :1: :1: :1: :1: :1: :1:
June 28, 1779.
:1: :1: :1: :1: :1: :1: :1: :1: :1:

“ John Reed being served with a scire facs, at the suit of Martha Laps-
ley for a Judgment obtained against him by the said Martha on a de-
claration of ejectment in May, 1775, came into Court, produced Benj.
Kuykendall as Evidence that he had feed an atto., and that he neglect-
ing his dutys, the first Court J udgt was obtained against him, unrepre-
sented; the Court are of opinion that the matter in dispute be deferred
till the next September Court, and that the parties attend with their
wits at the time to have a decisive hearing.”

:1: :1: :1: :1: :1: :1: :1: :1: :1:

The regular terms were held July and August,
1779, but no business of importance transacted. '

sept.‘28, 1779.

:1: :1: :1: :1: :1: :1: :2: :1: :1:

“An Order of Monongahela Court for appointing a Committee of
three to draw up a remonstrance to the Gen]. Assembly of Virginia
praying at repeal of the Law for opening a Land office, & appointing
commrs. to take in Entries of Land, on the west of the Laurel Hill, was
laid before the Court at the request of the Court of Monongahela; upon

2 Before, however, a new commission of the peace was issued the
county had ceased to exist. .

3 This mill is still in the hands of the same family, a few miles east, of
Washington, on East Branch of Chartiers.

CIVIL AND LEGAL——THE COURT OF YOHOGANIA COUNTY. 221

seriously considering the same and the consequence of repealing those

Laws, Ordered, that the sd Ct. of Monongahela be informed that this
Court cannot by any means concur with the sd. Ct. in wishing those

Laws to be repealed, as they cannot but consider them as exceedingly’

well adapted tothe Local circumstances & Situation of the People of
this County; so far from wishing a repeal of those Laws this Court are
determined to take every Method in their power to prevent it.

“Ordered that Thomas Ashbrook be appointed surveyor of the road
from Catfish Camp half-way to Pentecost’s Mills, and John McDowell
the other half, and that the tithables within three miles do work on and
keep the said Road in repair.”

:1: :1: _ :1: :1: :1: :1: :1: :1: :1:

“Col. Wm. Crawford came before the Court, made Oath that Hugh
Stephenson, now decd. obtained a Warrant from Lord Dunmore, while
‘Governor of Virginia, for three thousand acres of Land, & that the sd.
Hugh Stephenson was an Inhabitant of Virginia, & that he was 3. Cap-
tain of a Company actually raised in Virga. & in the service of Virginia
in the year of Boquet’s Campaign, 1764; & the said Crawford furtl1er
made Oath that he was a witness to the sd. Hugh Stephenson assigning

_ to a certain Richd. Yeates onethousand acres of the said Warrant.

“ William Crawford came before the Court & made Oath that Burton
Lucas was a Subaltern Oflicer in the service of Virga in Col. Wm. Byrd's
Regt., in the year 1758 and ’59, in consequence of which he obtained a
warrant from Lord Dunmore, while Gov. of Virginia, for two thousand
Acres of Land, which was assigned by the sd. Lucas to Matthew Ritchie
dz Wm. Bruce.”

91¢ 91¢ 91¢ 91¢ 91¢ 91¢ 91¢ 91¢ I 91¢
Sept. .29, 1779. ,
:1: :1: :1: :1: :1: :1: :1: , :1: :1:

“Ordered that Col. John Cannon have the publick salt which now
lies at Alexandria, brought 11p to the County and Distribute it to persons
Intitled to receive it, and that he be authorized to contract for the Car-
.riage on such Terms as he can, Taking Care in the distribution to Fix
the price so as to raise the money due on sd. salt for the Original Cost,

, Carriage, and other Contingencies.

“ Ord. that Benj. Kuyke11dall, Esq., be authorized to have the Publick

salt now lying at Israel Thompson’s in Louden County brought up on

the same principals.”

91¢ 91¢ 91¢ 91¢ 91¢ 91¢ 91¢ 91¢ 91¢
Oct. 25, 1779.
91¢ 91¢ 91¢ 91¢ 91¢ 91¢ 91¢ 91¢ 91¢

“ Col. Isaac Cox having applied to us for a pasport.to remove himself
and family and attendance from this County to the County of Kentucky
on the Ohio, It is Ordered that the sd. Isaac Cox have leave to remove
himself and attendance as aforesaid, he Deporting himself as a good
Citizen, and in amity with the United States, having been long a Magis-
trate in this County and demeaned himself well therein. It is expected
that all good Otfices be done him by the Inhabitants of this Ct mn1on-
wealth.”

91¢ 91¢ 91¢ 91¢ 91¢ 91¢ 91¢ 91¢ , 91¢
Oct. 26, 1779.
91¢ 91¢ 91¢ 91¢ 91¢ 91¢ 91¢ 91¢ 91¢

“ Edward Ward Genl. came into Court, and being sworn on the Holy
Evangelist of Almighty God, sayeth, that Thomas Smallman,1 Gent.,
was a Lieutenant and Quartermaster in the first Battalion in the Penn-
sylvania Regiment in Actual service in the year 1758.”

:1: :1: :1: . :1: :1: :1: :1: :1: :1:

“Benjamin Kuykindall, Gent., came into Court, and being sworn,
sayeth, That in the spring of the year 1754 he saw Maj. Edward Ward 2

.on his March to Virginia from what is now Fort Pitt, that the sd. Maj.

Ward had the Command of the party with him, and that he understood
that he was the Commanding otficer of the Post at the aforesaid place
as an Ofiicer in the Virginia line and surrendered to the French.” 3

:1: :1: :1: :1: :1: :1: :1: :1: :1:
Oct. 27, 1779.
:1:_ :1: :1: :1: :1: :1: :1: :1: :1:
“ Certificate Adam Stevens to Isaac Cox, on motion Ordered to be re-
corded.

1 A justice of this and of the Augusta County court.

2 Also a justice of this and of Augusta County court. A

3 To M. Contrecoeur, and his French and Indians, April 17, 1754. The
post surrendered was the fort then being erected where Pittsburgh new
is. Edward Ward resided in Dickinson township, Washington County,
in 1787. 1

15

“ Col. Crawford being sworn sayeth that the sd. Isaac Cox was a Sub-
altern Oflicer in the Virginia service in the year 1764.” ‘ ‘
:1: :1: :1: :1:- :1: :1: :1: :1: :1:

No court appears to have been held in November.
Dec. 27, 1779.

919 91¢ 91¢ 91¢ I3 91¢ 91¢ 91¢ 91¢

“ Majr. Edward Ward having applied to this Court to Certify his Genl.
Character; It is Ordered therefore to be Certified, That the said Majr.

Edward Ward has been a Justice of the peace in this County since its .

Institution, and Demeaned himself well therein, as also in the Ofiices of

Sheriff for sd. County, and that he has always deported himself as a good ,

citizen of the Com. Wealth & an honest m_an and a good Neighbor.”

:1: :1: :1: 4 :1: :1: :1: :1: :1: :1:
Dec. 28, 1779.

“Whereas John Campbell, Esq., Lieut. for this County, is now a Pris-
oner with the Indians, and it is uncertain when he may return totake
the Command of the Militia of this County; upon (Jonsi«leri11g the same
and the present situation of the Militia of this County, it IS the opinion
of this Court that it is Necessary that some person should be appointed
in the stead of the sd Col. Campbell; it is therefore ordered that Dorsey

Penticost be recommended to his Excellenc the Governor as a 1'0 er-
.1’

person to be appointed in the stead of the sd Col. Campbell.”
:1: :1: :1: :1: :1: :1: :1: :1: :1:

Feb. 28, 1780.

“George McCormick proved to the satisfaction of the Court that he
served as a11 Ensign in the Company of rangers in the Vir-
ginia service i11 1764, and that he has never reed. any premium 1780.
for sd service under the Proc. of 1763.”

:1: :1: :1: :1: :1: ' :1: :1: :1: :1:

“John Gibson, Gent., one of the Justices of the Peace for this County,
provd to the satisfaction of the Court that he served as a Deputy com-
missioner in the service of Great Britain at Fort Pitt in the year 1760,
and that he has never recd. any benefit, under the Kings proc of 1763.”

:1: :1: :1: :1: :1: :1: :1: :1: :1:
March 27, 17 80.
:1: :1: :1: :1: :1: " :1: :1- :1: :1:

“Ordered that it be certified that Edward Ward,‘Ge11tleman. acted as

a Captain in the 1st Penns_\lvania Battalion in the year 57 &58: asa
Lieut. in 56 & 57, & as all Indian agent i11 service of the Crown in the
years 60, (51, 62, & that he has recd no satisfac_tion for the same from the
King of G. B.’s proclamation of 63.” A

:1: :1: :1: :1: =1: :1: :1: :1: :1:

May 23, 17 80.

:1: :1: :1: :1: :1: :1: :1: :1: :1:

“On the petition of Dorsey Pentecost setting forth that he is desirous
of Building and con1pletinga water Mill on the Eastt-1'11 branch of Chur-
tees creek, a11d that he owns the Lands o11 hotl1 s3d«-s of the creek, so
that no person will be effected by the ovelflowing from his Dam; Ordered

.that the sd Pentecost liave leave to b11ild and compleat a water mill at

the place atoresd actcording to Law.”
:1: :1: :1: :1: :1: :1: :1: :1: 9 :1:

a

June 26, 1780.

“Ordered, that Paul Mathews be allowed two Thousand Dollars for
Erecting a Whipping Post, Stocks and Pillory.
“ Gentlemen deposited.
William Goe, One hundred and fifty Dollars.
Oliver Miller, Do. , Do.
Joseph Beckett, One Hundred.
Dorsey Peintecost, One Hundred.
Samuel Newil, One Hundred.
to be De-ducted out the Money when Levied by the Sl1eriff.”4

4 This allowance for the building of -the wl1ippi11g-post, stocks, and
pillory was 11ot so extravagant. neixher were the ad.va11cen1en1s made to
pay for it so extremely liberal, for at this date the c111're11cy was so de-
preciated that ei,:.:hty dollars of paper were worth but one dollar of spa-
cie, so that the allowance for the service was but 1wenty~five dollars,
and Dorsey Pentecost’s large advancement was but one dollar and a

222

. HISTORY OF WASHINGTON COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA.

July 24, .1780.

=14 . =l¢ * * * =l¢ 31¢ =i< *

“ Abram Steel appeared in Consequence of a Summons, & Confest the
Crime of swearing four profane oaths.‘
Samuel Newell, Esq.”

Aug. 28, 1780.

:1: an :1: as :1: _ as as :1: are
“ Present, Edward Ward, Joseph Beelor, Richard Yeates, George Val-
land-igham, Oliver Miller.”
:1: :1: as :1: as :1: :1: =1: :1:

“ At a cald Court held for the tryal of J*** J ****** for passing Conn-
terfeit Continental Money, . '

“ Com’wealth v. J****** ; by evidence of Daniel Applegate and Joseph
McGune, the said J ****** is acquitted.

“23 forty-Dollar Bills. .

“7 thirty-Dollar Bills, Counterfeit, lodged in the hands of Andrew

Heth.”
as :1: =1: :1: ax: as ac :1: ate

“ Ordered that Court adjourn till Court in Course.
“ EDWARD WARD.”

There was no “Court in Course.”
last time a court of justice was held under the Vir-
ginia urisdiction within the limits of old Washington
County. At this term, as well as at other preceding
terms, much more business was done than the extracts
made would indicate, for in the last day’s proceed-
ings the following names appear:

Richard McMahon-, James Bruce, Arnold Evins,
Abington George Colvin, deceased, John Miller, J ***
J ******, Hugh Brady, Sampson Beaver, David Steel,
James McMullin, Garsham Hull, John Breckenridge,
William May, Mordecai Richards and Stephen Rich-
ards ,(sons of Stephen Richards, deceased), Agnes
Stilk, Joseph Parkisong Elizabeth’ Deckert, Sarah

_ Jacobs, Mary Boyd, Catharine Develin, Ann Walker,

David Richie, John Wall, George Brown, Jacob
Knight, Tobias Wood, Moses Holladay, Michael
Burk, John Brotoman, William Long, Morris Hake,
James Dornin, Thomas Timons, Joseph McKinnen,
John Seamon, Jeremiah Morgan, and Robert Peat.
It was indeed a court of “ large "and varied”-busi-

quarter, though Justice Goe and Miller were able to contribute one
dollar, eighty-seven and one-half cents. For a history of the depreci-

ation of the Continental} currency, see III. Adams’ Writings of Albert
Gallatin, 261.

20s. Lodged in the hands of

This was the

ness. Beside the criminal andcivil trials by jury,
common in our day, it granted letters testamentary
and of administration, appointed guardians, qualified

militia officers, established roads and ferries, author-.

ized and recorded ear-marks and brands, authorized
sale of slaves and servants, granted licenses for ordi-
naries (or taverns), bound out infant orphans, pun-
ished drunkenness and “ profane curses,” etc., and
all this was done after a primitive method of simpli-
fied justice. I

On Sept. 23, '1780,1 the General Assembly of Penn-
sylvania had ratified the Baltimore agreement of July
31, 1779, with the disagreeable condition attached by
the Virginia Legislature of June 28, 1780, the result

of which was that nothing remained of Yohogania

County, Virginia, but a narrow strip on the Ohio
River between the mouth of Cross Creek and Mill
Creek, which was merged into Ohio County, after-
wards forming a part of Brooke County when organ-
ized in 1797. Yohogania County, Virginia, then be-
came a lost county, but soon afterwards a new county
was born to take its place, Washington County, Penn-
sylvania.

CHAPTER XVII.
CIVIL AND LEGAL HISTORY.—-( Continued.)

IX.

The Erection of Washington County-—-Appointment of Ofl‘icers—Early
Political Troubles--Division into Townships--Election of J ustices-—
The New State Project.

The Erection of Washington County.-Withlin
sixty days after the Pennsylvania Assembly had
finally ratified the.Baltimore agreement of Aug. 31,

‘1779, relating to the boundary line, with the

somewhat unpalatable condition attached 1780.

thereto by Virginia, President Reed, on Nov."

6, 1780, in his message to the new Assembly, then

lately convened, wrote as follows : 2 ’
“The final‘ settlement of the contested boundaries of this State and

Virginia induces us to lay before you the propriety and policy of setting
off one or more counties so as to introduce law, order, and good govern-

ment, where they have been long and much wanted. We think it would ' .

also conduce much to the defence of the frontiers and safety of the in-
terior country, as the strength of those parts might then be organized
& systematically drawn forth in case of necessity.”

This necessity for the erection of “one or more.

counties” out of old Westmoreland must have been
apparent to any one looking at the large extent of

‘the latter county, bounded on the east by the Laurel

Hills and Chestnut Ridge up from the western ter-
minus of the Maryland line, on the north by_ the
Kiskeminitas, Allegheny, and Ohio Rivers, and on.
the west and south by the western and southern
boundaries of the State. Moreover, the Ohio River

to the west of us had become the frontier line, and

1 VIII. Penn. Archives, 570.
2 XII. Col. Records, 530.

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THE FRENCH AND ENGLISH CLAIMS

TO THE TRANS-ALLEGHENY REGION. 27

“ 2d February, 1750. -

“ The Governor having received by the last Post a
Letter from Governor Clinton [of New York] with
some Papers relating to Indian Affairs, the same were
read and sent to the Assembly, and are as follows:

“A Letter from Governor Clinton to Governor
Hamilton. ,

“ Sir,—Your Favour of the 22d instant I h-ave re-
ceived, and am glad that you are of the same opinion
with me in relation to Indian Affairs. I send you a
copy of an Inscription on a leaden Plate stolen from
Jean -Coeur [J oncaire] some months since in the Sen-
ecas’ Country as he was going to the River Ohio, which
plainly demonstrates the French Scheme by the ex-

orbitant claims therein mentioned; also a copy of a

Cajuga Sachim’s Speech to Colo. Johnson, with his
Reply, on the subject matter of the plate, which I
hope will come time enough to communicate to your
Assembly.” ‘ A

This letter of Governor Clinton was dated “Fort
George, 29th January, 17 50.” The speech o.f the Ca-
yuga sachem, who, with a number of other Indians
of the Five Nations, was at the house of Col. John-
son, is given in the minutes, as follows : A

“ Brother Corlear and Warraghiyagee [Gray Eyes].
I am sent here by the Five Nations (with a Piece of
writing which the Senecas, our Brethren, got by some
Artifice from Jean Coeur) to you Earnestly beseeching
you will let us know what it means, and, as we put

‘ all our confidence in you our Brother, hope you will

explain it ingeniously to us. [The speaker here de-
livered the square leaden plate and a wampum belt,

and proceeded.] I am ordered further to acquaint

you that Jean Coeur, the French Interpreter, when
on his Journey (this last summer)’ to Ohio River,

“Spoke thus to the Five Nations & Others in our
- Alliance:

“‘Children,-Your Father [meaning the French
Governor] having, out of a tender regard for you,
considered the great difficulties you labour under by
carrying your Goods, Canoes, &c., over the great Car-
rying Place of Niagara, has desired me to acquaint
you that, in order to ease you all of so much trouble
for the future, he is resolved to build a House at the
other end of said carrying Place, which he will fur-
nish with all necessaries requisite for your use. . . .’

Jean Coeur also told us that he was now on his way

to Ohio River, where he intended to stay three
years, and desired some of Us to accompany him
thither, which we refused; whereupon he answered
he was much surprised at our not consenting to go
with him, inasmuch as it was for our interest-and
ease he was sent thither to build a House there; also
at the carrying place between said River Ohio and
Lake Erie,‘ where all the Western Indians should be
supplied with whatever Goods they may have occa-

1 The land carriage between Lake Erie and Chautauqua Lake, N. Y.,
and that between the lower end of that lake and the Conewango Creek,
which flows into the Allegheny.

sion for, and not be at the trouble and loss of time of
going so far to Market as usual [meaning Oswego].
After this he desired to know our opinion of the
Affair and begged our consent to build in said Places.
He gave us a large Belt of Wampum -thereon de-
siring our answer, which we told him we would take
some time to consider of.” —

To this speech Col. William Johnson replied, as-

suring the Cayuga sachem and his associates that he .

was always glad to see the Indians at his house, but

particularly so on that occasion, as it gave him an ,

opportunity of convincing them that their friends,
the English, were worthy of their fullest confidence,
while the French were and had always been their
worst enemies. “But their scheme,”’ added he,
“now laid against you and yours (at a time when
they are feeding you up with fine Promises of serving
you in several Shapes).is worse than all the rest, as
will appear by their own writing‘ on this Plate.”
This is an affair of the greatest Importance to you,
as nothing less than all your Lands and best Hunt-
ing places are aimed at, with a view of secluding you
entirely from us and the rest of your brethren, viz.,
the Philadelphians, Virginians, etc., who can always
supply you with the necessaries of lifeat a much
lower rate than the French ever‘ did or could, and
under whose protection you are and ever will be safer
and better served in every respect than under the
French. These and a hundred other substantial
reasons I could give you to convince you that the
French are your implacable enemies, but, as I told
you before, the very Instrument you now brought me
of their own writing is suflicient of itself to convince
the world of their villanous designs; therefore I
need not be at the trouble, so shall only desire that
you and all other Nations in Alliance with you
seriously consider your own Interest, and by no means
submit to the impending danger which now threatens
you, the only way to prevent which is to turn Jean
Coeur away immediately from Ohio, and tell him
that the French shall neither build there or at the-
carrying Place of Niagara, nor have a foot of land
more from you. Brethren, what I now say I expect,
and insist upon it being taken notice of and sent to.

the Indians of the Ohio, that they may immediately

know the vile designs of the French.”

A belt of Wampum was then presented, and the-
Indian speaker replied,—— ,

“ Brother Corlaer and Warraghiyagee, I have with
great attention and Surprise heard you repeat the
substance of that Devilish writing which I brought,
you, and also with pleasure noticed your just Re-~
marks thereon, which really agree with my own sen-

 

2 At this point ‘in his speech to the Indians Col‘. Johnson translated
to them the words upon the leaden plate. “ I repeat here,” he says, in
his report of the conference, “ the Substance of said writing, with some.
necessary additions, Giving a large Belt of‘ Wampum to confirm what
I said, which Belt, with the rest, are to be sent to all the nations as

. far as the Ohio River.” . . l

CIVIL ANCD LEGAL——THEs ERECTION OF WASHINGTON COUNTY.

the narrow strip of Virginia forming the Panhandle
still left the Pennsylvania settlers west of the Monon-
gahela to form in reality the barrier against Indian
encroachment upon the interior parts of the State.
The interest of our pioneers, therefore, in the pro-
posed establishment of the civil and military power
more conveniently at hand can easily be inferred.
Thomas Scott, Esq., the same who had been ar-
rested and brought before Lord Dunmore at Redstone
on Nov. 12, 1774, and had been imprisoned by Dun-
more’s court at Pittsburgh on May 18, 1775, had
written upon the subject of the new county or coun-

ties to President Reed on Oct. 8, 1780, though his

letter has not been found. It was doubtless this com-

munication which had called forth the passage quoted
from the message to the Assembly the follow-

1781. ing month, for on March 20, 1781, President
Reed replied to Mr. Scott, as follows :1

“ DEAR SIR:

“I received your favor of the 8th October last but a few days ago.
You will see by our public Message to the House that we have not for-
gotten the important Point you dwell so much upon. I have also in
private Conversation endeavored to impress it on the Minds of the
Members, but the Truth is that the People of your own Country are not
agreed on it,5-’ which with the great Load of Business arising in our
great Continental Concerns has I believe kept the House from going
into it. Some of the members of the House think there is more prob-
ability of gaining military Assistance from the People while laying in
one County than aftera Division of the County. . . . Since I began this
letter I find a Bill has been brought into the House for setting ofi‘ the

County; but I confess I was apprehensive it would not pass this session,

until within this Day or two, But I now hope it will. . . .”

Only eight days after the date of this letter, to
wit, March 28, 1781, the act erecting a new county
was passed. Its provisions were as follows: 3

“SECTION I. Whereas the inhabitants oi‘ that part of Westmoreland

County, which lies west of the Monongahela river, have ‘represented to
the Assembly of this State, the great _hardships they lie under, from

' being so remote from the present seat of Judicature and the public

oflices; for remedy whereof,

“SECT. 2. Be it enacted . . . That all that part of the State of Penn-
sylvania west of the Monongahela river,4 and south of the Ohio, begin-
ning at the junction of the said rivers; thence up the Monongahela
river aforesaid, to the line run by Mason and Dixon ; thence by the said
line due west to the end thereof; and from thence the same course to
the end of five degrees of west longitude, to be computed from the
river Delaware; thence by a meridian line extended north, until the

1 IX. Penn. Archives, 20. How slow was the travel of information in
those days! '

2.Referring no doubt to opposition east of the Monongahela, where
Mr. Scott still resided. In 1782, when Fayette County was proposed to
be erected, there was serious opposition expressed; see letter of Chris-
topher Hays to President Moore, IX. Penn. Archives, 6:57. '

3 See P. L. 1781, 400; I. -Dallas’ L., 874; II. Carey & Bioren, 282; I.
Smith’s L., 517. .

4 In 1791, Gen. Ephraim Douglass,’ the prothonotary of Fayette
County, wrote to Governor Mifflin: “ . . . The Act for erecting the
county of Washington limits that county by the west side of the Mo-
nongahela river; and this county is limited——beginning at Monongahela
river where Mason and Dixon's line crosses the same; thence down the
river to the mouth of Speer’s run, &c. Now, by these two acts, it
would appear that the river still belonged to Westmoreland county, and
that neither of the other counties have any jurisdiction on it."——Monon-
gahela of Old, 165. The difiicuity suggested here as to the jurisdiction
of the courts of either Washington or Fayette Counties over the Mo-
nongahela River does not seem of much moment, but, so far as now
known, it has not yet arisen.

henceforth to be called Washington.”

same shall intersect the Ohio river; and thence by the same to the '

place of beginning; (the said lines from the end’ of ‘Mason and Dixon’s
line to the Ohio ri-ver, to be understood, as to _be hereafter ascertained

by Commissioners now appointed or to be appointed for that purpose,)

shall be and the same is hereby declared to be, erected into a county,

Thus it is seen that Washington County, as origin-
ally erected, embraced all the lands lying west of the
Monongahela and in the State, thus including the
present Greene County and all of Allegheny and
Beaver Counties south of the Monongahela and the
Ohio. .

At this date George Washington had firmly fixed
himself in the hearts of the American people, soon
to -give them the avails of victory ; Cornwallis was
marching and countermarching through the central
portion of North Carolina, to surrender in the fall
afterwards to Washington and La Fayette at York-
town. What name then the more proper for the new
county than it received?

It was provided by Section 3 of the act that the
inhabitants of the said county of Washington should
thereafter have and enjoy all the jurisdictions,
powers, rights, liberties, and privileges whatsoever
which the inhabitants of any other county enjoyed,
“ by any charter of privileges, or the laws of the State,
or by any other ways and means whatsoever;” and
Section 4 provided “ that the trustees, or any three of
them, hereafter appointed by this act to take assur-
ance of a piece of land, whereon to erect a court-
house and prison, shall, on or before the first day of

"July next ensuing, divide the said county into Town-

ships or Districts.”

Provision was made in Section 5 for the election of
inspectors by the electors in the several townships,
and that the inhabitants of ‘the county, qualified as
electors, “ shall (until otherwise ordered by the House
of Assem bly) meet at the house of David Hoge, at the
place called Oatfishes Camp, in the aforesaid county,
at the same time that the inhabitants of the other
Counties shall meet for a like purpose, and then and
there elect two representatives to serve them in As-
sembly, one councilor, two fit persons for sheriffs, two
fit persons for coroners, and three commissioners. . . .”
Section  extended the jurisdiction of the justices
of the Supreme Court to the said county, with power
from time to time “to deliver the goal of the said
county of capital and other offenders, in like manner
as they are authorized to do in the other counties of
this State.”

“ SECT. 7. And be it further enacted &c., That the freeholders of each
Township or District, in the County aforesaid, are hereby authorized and

_ required, to meet on the fifteenth day of July next, at some proper and

convenient place, and elect two fit persons for Justices of the Peace for
each Township.”

The oaths for the inspectors and judges were pre-
scribed in Section 8, and it was furtherenacted by

“Si-".c'r. 9. . . . That when the persons elected forjustices of the.Pe-ace,
as aforesaid, or shall be_appointed by the President and Council, have

taken the oaths or affirmations required by the Laws of this Common-
wealth, and received their commissions as directed in theiconstitutionof

223

224

HISTORY or WASHINGTON -COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA.

this State, the said Justices or any three of them, shall and may hold
Courts of General Quarter Sessions of the Peace and Goal.Delivery, and
County Courts for holding of Pleas; . . . which said Courts shall sit and
be held for the said County of Washington, on the Tuesdaysxnext pre-
ceding the Westmoreland County Courts, in every of the months of
January, April, July, and October, at the house of David Hoge aforesaid,
in the said County of Washington, until a Cou rt-house shall be built; and
when the same is built and erected in the county aforesaid, the said
several courts shall then be holden and kept at the said Court-house on
the days before mentioned.

“Sadr. 10. . . . That it shall and may be lawful to and for James
Edgar, Hugh Scott, Van Swearingen, Daniel Leet and John Armstrong,
or any three of them, to take up or purchase, and to take assurance to
them and their heirs, of a piece of land situated in some convenient
place" in the said County, in trust and for the use of the inhabitants of
the said County, and thereupon to erect and build a Court-house and
Prison, suflicient to accommodate the public service of the said County.”

Section 11 made provision for the raising by
county rates and levies the money necessary in the
opinion of the trustees for the purchase of the land
and the erection of the public buildings, the amount
being limited by Section 12 to the sum of one thou-
sand pounds. A

Actions pending in Westmoreland County against
persons living in the bounds of Washington County
were authorized by Section 13 to be proceeded in to
final judgment, to be enforced by process from the
courts of the old county.

Sections 14, 15, and 16 appointed Henry Taylor col-
lector of excise in Washington County, and made

.provisions for his duties, powers, fees, and perquisites
as such collector.

Until a sheriff and a coroner should be chosen in
Washington County, it was provided by Section 17
that the sheriff and coroner of Westmoreland County
should officiate, while the 18th and last section of this
organic act made adequate provision for the official

bonds of the sheriff and the county treasurer.

Appointments of Oflicers. —-— This act, which
brought into existence the civil municipality within

whose limits we live, was passed, as stated, on March

28, 1781, which was Wednesday. On Monday, April
2, 17 81, there is the following record of the proceed-
ings of the Supreme Executive Council: 1

“The Council taking into consideration the act of Assembly passed
the twenty-eighth instant, entitled ‘An Act for erecting part of the

county of Westmoreland into a special county,’ called by the name of

Washington. V
“Resolved, That Thomas Scott, Esquire, be appointed and commis-
sioned to be Prothonotary of the said county of Washington?

1 XII. Col. Records, 681. I

2 Maj.-Gen. Arthur St. Clair, in a letter to the Supreme Executive
Council,dated Philadelphia, March 26, 1781 (in IX. Penn. Archives, 36),
strongly recommended Michael Huifnagle, “ a young gentleman now in
the practice of the law in Westmoreland,” for the appointment of pro-
thonotary for the proposed new county, the bill for which “will proba-
bly pass into a law.” The special qualifications of his candidate were
fully exhibited by the influential general, but Thomas Scott received
the appointment unsought for, so far as known.

Mr. Scott is already well known to us. Of all the early men of our
county he was at least the peer of the best of them. He continued pro-
thonotary till March 28, 1789, when, having been elected to the First
Congress under the Constitution of 1787, he was succeeded by his son,
Alexander Scott. (See XI. Penn. Archives, 568; XVI. Col. Records,

“ Resolved, That James Marshall,3 Esquire, be appointed and com-

niissioned to be Lieutenant of the county of Washington; and that John

Cannon 4 and Daniel Leet be appointed and commissioned to be sub-
lieutenants of the said county.” 5

40). On Nov. 21, 1786 (XV. Col. Records, 120), he was commissioned a

justice/(though still prothonotary), and the writer has his notes of a
charge ‘to a grand jury. The following is an obituary notice taken from
the Western Telegruphe of March 6, 1796:

“ In the night of Wednesday last, March 2, 1796, a few days after he
had completed his fifty seventh year, died Thomas Scott. He was born
in Chester County, but from a child’ lived in Lancaster County till the
year 1770, when he removed with his family and settled on Dunlap’s
Creek, near the Monongahela. When Westmoreland County was
erected in 1773, he was appointed ajustice of the peace from that county.
In this capacity he was a warm and able supporter of the Pennsylvania
jurisdiction, and drew on himself the particular resentment of the par-
tisans of Virginia. When this contest sunk in the great cause of the
‘Revolution, he was elected a member of the first Pennsylvania Assem-
bly under the republican government, and in the year following he was
elected a member of the Supreme Council. After his period of appoint-
ment in the Council expired. and this county of Washington was erected
in 1781, the oflice of clerk of the courts here was given to him. This
occasioned the removal of his residence to this town In 1787 he was
chosen a member of the State Convention for ratifying the Constitution
of the United States, and in 1788 a member of the First Congress under
this Constitution. As the change of the Constitution of Pennsylvania
occasioned a new appointment of State ofiicers in.l79l, he declined being
considered as a candidate for a seat in the Second Congress, with a view
to retain his office of clerk of the courts of this county. But the Gov-
ernor thought proper to supersede him. The chagrin arising from this
appointment preyed upon his mind. At the election a few weeks after
he was chosen a member of Assembly from this county, and in 1792 a
member of the Third Congress.

“ With but such opportunities for the study of the law as his residence .

in Philadelphia afforded him, and unaided by a liberal or professional
education, he was early admitted to the bar in the western counties, and
was a successful advocate. His arguments were natural and judicious,
his language nervous, and his elocution remarkably emphatic.

“ llis person was manly and respectable, his mental faculties strong
and decisive, his manners kind and sociable, and with an extent of
knowledge, and with that correctness of mind, which hardly anything
but education can give, he would have been every way a great man.

“ He was liberal and did not study economy. Before he was appointed
clerk of the courts here his estate and his practice at the bar afibrded
him a competency. The appointment to that office offered him a per-
manent prospect of competence for life. From his early. residence in
this country, and from his advantages of mind and station, he might
have accumulated great wealth, but he did not, and he died but in mod-
erate circumstances. He has left behind him a widow and elei en chil-
dren, of whom three are sons and eight are daughters. One of his sons
and three of his daughters are married. The rest are in their mother’s
family.”

These sons were Arthur, Alexander, and Thomas. Of their descend-
ants nothing has been learned. Of the eight daughters, Agnes first mar-
ried Samuel McKinley and became the grandmother ot'Alex. McKinley,
the jeweler, of Washington, and her second husband was Henry Woods;
Elizabeth married Alex. Cunningham (from Derry, Ireland), and be-
came the mother of John Cunningham, M.D., of Wooster, Ohio, and of
the late Samuel Cunningham. deceased, of East Maiden Street, Wash-
ington ; Margaret married David Cook; Mary married Joseph Pente-
cost, the lawyer, of Washington; Jean married David Huge (brother
of John and William), appointed by President Adams register of the
United States Land-Oflice, Steubenville, Ohio, removed by President
Jackson ; Sarah married Thomas Thomson; Mabel married Sampson S.
King, lawyer, capt. 22d Inf., U.S.A., wounded at Chippewa, promoted
major, died at Gettysburg; and Rebecca married Shephard Conwell.
Thomas Scott’s will, in his own hand, is filed in the register"s ofiice, and
is recorded in Book I., p. 283.

3 Almost always so printed, but incorrectly. He never wrote his name
other than Marshel. For sketches of these otficers see subsequent
pages. _

4 Who always wrote his name Canon.

5 The military system then in force was created by act of March 17,
1777. In each county, as the representative of the executive, there was
a lieutenant and sub-lieutenants, not exceeding five in number. The

CIVIL AND LEGAL——EARLY POLITICAL TROUBLES.

225

It appears that Col. Marshel was in Philadelphia
when the act creating the county was passed} for on
April 4, 1781, the records of ‘ the Council say : 2

“ James Marshall, Esquire, appointed by the Honorable House of As-
sembly to be Register for the Probate of Wills and granting letters of
administration, and Recorder of Deeds for the County of Washington,
and by this Board, to be Lieutenant of the said county, attended in

Council, and took the several oaths necessary to qualify him for the
said oflices respectively.”

Early Political Troubles.—The nursing of the
new county, thus given a corporate existence, and
supplied with the oflicers necessary for the keeping
of its records, and for the organization of its military
power, now proceeded slowly under many and some-
what serious difliculties. That these embarrassments

"may be realized the better by the reader, a chrono-

logical order will still be followed, as the organiza-
tion of the municipality is proceeded in to a legal
entity, with a complete establishment of its courts
and justices for the administration’ of the law, and at
the same time, with the notice of the township divis-
ions, elections, organizations of the courts, etc., will
be given original writings illustrating every-day
events of great public importance, the character of
the prominent actors therein, themselves the chroni-
clers, as well as the troubled condition of the times.
The constant terror from Indian incursions, actual
and threatened; the continued existence of the Vir-

ginia usurpation, and the jealousy between the Penn-

sylvanians and the Virginians; the inability of the
Pennsylvania government to Wield power which
alone can give protection; the resurrection and re-
agitation of “The New State Project,” thought in
such circumstances to afford a prospe_ct for better se-
curity and permanence; and, as might be expected,

the rivalry for the possession of ofiices, the evidence

of power and position and the opportunities for
wealth and advancement, even at that day strong
and controlling,——all these will be unfolded as well as
it is now possible. But let the reader be cautioned
again not to judge of any man’s real character, in
this period of angry strife, from what is said of
him by an opponent. The names of no unworthy
men will here be found, though some of them are

power given was exercised by the lieutenant, or in his absence by two or
more of the sub-lieutenants. By warrants to the constables lists were
obtained of all male inhabitants between eighteen and fifty-three, ex-
cepting delegates in Congress, members of the Council, judges of Sn-
preme Court, masters and faculties of colleges, and the clergy; and
within five days the lieutenants or sub-lieutenants divided the county
into districts, eachdi.‘-itrict to contain not less than 440 nor more than
680 privates, divided into’ eight classes, which were numbered. Each
district had its field-ofiicers, elected, being a colonel, a lieutenant-colo-
nel, and a major, and each class or company its captain, two lieutenants,
and ensign. The men were called (or drafted) into service by classes to
serve a tour of two months, one class at a time, to be relieved by the
next. Absentees paid fines. which reimbursed the State for bounties
paid to substitutes. A complete system of rules and regulations was
provided. ‘

1 See letter, Dorsey Pentecost to Prest. Reed. . IX. Penn. Archives, 316,
hereafter quoted.

5-’ XII. Col. Records, 683.

now and then denominated “ Raskels,” “ Banditti,”
“ Mobs,” etc.

And let it be remembered (it is now written once
for all) that, starting from the spring of 1774, when
Cresap stopped with his party, one of them wounded,
at “ Catfish Camp,” at the beginning of Dunmore’s
war, until 1795, when Wayne’s treaty gave final peace

to the borders,——in all a period of twenty-one years,

—there was not a day when fear did not find a place
at the fireside of the settler.

On April 20, 1781, the Supreme Executive Council?’

“Ordered, That Col. James 'Marshall,4 Lieutenant of the county of
Washington, be authorized and directed to call out forty men of the
militia of that county; or if the militia shall not be organized suflicient
for that purpose, to raise the said number of men, for the purposeiiof es-
corting and guarding the Commissioners appointed to run the Line be-
tween this state and Virginia, during the time they shall be on that
service; and that he be authorized to call on the commanding oflicer at
Fort Pitt for ammunition for that purpose.”

The running of the boundary line was delayed,
however, as has appeared in a former chapter, and on
June 5, 1781, Col. Marshel wrote to President Reed
as follows :5

“ Sm,

“ Since my arrival in this County, I have been making What progress
I Can in organizing the Militia, altho as yet, Deprived of the Assistance
of the Sub-Lieutenants by the Indefatigable Opposition of a Certain
Mr. Penticost [Dorsey Pentecost] and a few of his adherents, the old
enemies of this government, who Immediately on my arrival got to-
gcther at their Court-house, in what they call Yohogania County, which
is wholly involved in this and Westmoreland Counties, and to which the
Government of Virginia has Sent no Orders for some Considerable time
past. Notwithstanding, they have resolved to go on with the jurisdic-
tion of Virginia, both Civil and Military until the line is Actually run.
Whereupon the said Penticost swore into an Old Commission of County
Lieutenant that he pretended to have by him for a longtime, and there-
upon assumed the Command of the Militia. Mr. Cannon [John Canon]
(a Civil Ofiicer under the government of Virginia,) one of our Sub-Li_eu-
tenants, publickly declares that government have Infringed upon the
Rights of the people in appointing officers for them before they were
represented, and instead of assisting me in Organizing the Militia, is
using all his Influence to prevent it. Mr. Lite [Leet] the other Sub-
Lieutena.nt refuses doing anything until the artists arrive on the spot,
which leaves me without assistance, and must Consequently delay the
formation of the Militia. However, I expect in a short time to have the
business Compleated, and that the artists will not fail in being on the
line as soon as possible, which might prove fatal to the Interests of the
State in this Quarter; for altho the people at large are well afiected to
this government, the junto aforesaid are Indefatig-able, and a failure on
the part of the artists would afford them great Opportunity of doeing
mischief ; in a word Mr. Penticost and Mr. Cannon are ringleaders of
Sedition, and are doeing every thing in their power to revive the juris-
diction of Virginia, in order to keep this Country in Confusion, and
there not being a Court of Justice in this County, these disturbers of
the peace go unpunished; two or three words of an Order from your
Excellency would put the affairs of this Country into a better situation,
and at the same time Oblige a whole County.

“The Indians have not done any damage on the frontiers of this
County for some time past, altho they never had a better Opportunity,
and were it not for Col. Broadhead’s late Expedition and the Expecta-
tion of General Clark being in their Country this Summer, I am per-
suaded they would have laid a Considerable part of our Country waste
by this time; let me hope then, that as soon as there may be a Neces-
sity, you will Enable us to Call out a number of our Militia for the de-

3 Ibid., 699.
4 Erroneous spelling of Marshel’s name preserved.
5 IX. Penn. Archives, 193.

226

HISTORY OF WASHINGTON ‘ COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA.

fence of the Frontiers, and that we may be supplied with ammunition
as soon as possible. “

“I have the Honour to be with Very great Respect and Esteem your
Excellency’s Most Obedient and very Humble servant.1

‘ 1 In this letter are found four of the old worthies: James Jlfarshel, born
Feb. 20, 1753, in north of Ireland, obtained rights to about fifteen hun-
dred acres in what is now Cross Creek township, between 1776 and 1778.
From the fact that two cousins, John and Robert, came west near to‘
him from that part of Lancaster now Dauphin, it is thought he too had
come thence.‘ On the erection of Washington County, John became an
influential justice; Robert is said to have been in Wil1iamson’s expedi-
tion, for which he expressed his regret all his life. In 1779, when Rev.
Joseph Smith was called by the Presbyterian congregations of Buffalo
and Cross Creek (Adam and Andrew Poe signing), Col. Marshel, to have
Rev. Smith brought out, gave two hundred acres .of his land to Capt.
Joseph Reed, the great-grandfather of J. M. K. Reed, Esq., and his

brother, John C. Reed, who now obcupy it. Marshel became an elder in .

the Buffalo Church, but it is said that in his later days he was not dis-
tinguished for his piety. ‘On Nov. 3, 1784, he resigned his oflices of county
lieutenant, register, and recorder, and succeeded Van Swearingen as
sherifi‘, and on Jan. 17, 1789, was himself succeeded by Col. David Wil-
liamson. He was again recorder and register from 1791 to 1795. With
David Bradford and Rev. David Phillips, he represented Westmoreland
County at the Pittsburgh meeting in September, 1791, “ to take into con-
sideration” the excise law, and afterwards took a prominent part in the
Whiskey Insurrection. In July, 1794, he was present with Bradford
when the captured mail was opened at Canonsburg, and two days
afterward, with Bradford and others, signed the call for the militia to
rendezvous at Braddock’s Fields. In the Whiskey Insurrection he
seemed to be wholly in the control of Bradford, following, though un-
willingly, when the latter led. In 1795 or ’96 he sold his lands in West-
moreland County and removed to Wellsburg, W. Va., where he resided’
till his death, March 17, 1829. He left surviving a son, John, born about
1783; studied law with Parker Campbell, admitted in 1807, went into
mercantile business; commissioned sheriff in 1835, and in 1836 was made
cashier of the Franklin Bank of Washington, so remained till a year or
so before his death in 1863. Col. Marshel also left a son Robert’, who
settled in Ohio, a daughter who married William McCluney, and two
other daughters, who died unmarried. John Marshel, cashier, left a
daughter Rachel, wife of Dr. Lafierty, Brownsville; another daughter,
wife of Dr. Cowen ; Rebecca, widow of the late Dr. M. H. Clark, Wash-
ington; and Jane, wife of S. A. Clarke, bookseller, Pittsburgh.
Dorsey Pentecost; see note to later page.

_ John O'anon.———Though Findley, “ Whiskey Insurrection,” 95, says, writ-
ing in 1794, that Canon was from Chester County, doubted; for there is
some evidence that he came to this county from Virginia. He is first found
in what afterward became Washington County in February, 1774, when
he and Henry Taylor were appointed by the Westmoreland County Court
as road-viewers. Already well known to us as a justice of the Augusta
County and Yohogania County Courts, it must be inferred that he was
quite a partisan of the Virginia jurisdiction. The office of sub-lieu-
tenant of the militia, from which he derived his title, was abolished in

' 1783, but on Oct. 6, 1784, he was commissioned a justice of the peace

and of the courts, and recommissioned Aug. 24, 1790, holding that office
till his death. He had acquired Virginia rights to the several tracts
afterwards surveyed by Pennsylvania as Abington, Mount Airy, and
Canon Hill, containing nearly twelve hundred acres; on parts of the
two former he laid out Canonsburgfthe first lot sold March 15, 1787,
about which time he with others brought about the establishment of a
High School in Canonsburg, which in 1791 was organized as an acad-
emy, incorporated in 1794, with himself as one of the trustees. He died
in 1799, just before the academy he had aided to found became Jefferson
College. To but a slight extent involved in the Whiskey Insurrection,
on July 26, 1794, he was present, with Bradford, Marshel, and others, at
the opening of the captured mail. at Canonsburg, and also signed the
call for the Braddock’s Field rendezvous. Col. Canon left a widow,
Jeannette; sons, John, Samuel, William, Joshua; daughters, Jean, Anne,
Margaret. Of these survivors little is known. Joshua settled at Bur-
getstown; his children, Abigail, wife of John Dougherty, one of
whose daughters is wife of M. R. Allen; Ellen, wife of a Mr. McCne;
Jane, wife of Josiah Scott, Florence; Margaret, wife of John Fulton,
Burgetstown; Martha‘ never married ; Julia, wife of M. M. Brockman,
Burgetstown; John, married Asenath Boyd, of West Middletown, re-
moved to California, where he lives. Jean. daughter of Col. Cannon,
married Rev. Robert Patterson, son of Rev. Joseph Patterson, in August,

. ington bar, still lives.

On June 27, 1781, Col. Marshel again addressed a
communication to President Reed,” informing him of
new developments since his letter of the 5th:

“ SIR: .

“ Since I had the honour of Addressing your Excellency last, the Old
Enemies of this government and their adherents have exerted them-
selves to. the Utmost to prevent this County being, organized. On the
5th Inst. a Council of the Militia Officers of Youghagena County was
held at their Court-house and in Consequence of sd Council, the fifth
part of the Militia of sd County was drafted for General Clark‘s Expedi-
tion, but the people did not Conceive’ they were Under the Jurisdiction
of Virginia, therefore they denied their Authority, and almost Univer-
sally Refused doing duty under any government whatever until the line
between the States is actually run.

“ Upon finding the Commissioners did not arrive by the time appointed
to run the line, I did not know well what part to act, fearing the Conse-
quence of Inyolving the good Subjects of this State in a Civil War with
Col. Penticost’s Banditti, and a new Government party that Exists here,
and of Exposing our frontier Settlements to the greatest da-nger from the
Indians, (who no doubt well know our unhappy Situation). I thought
it most Advisable to postpone Organizing the Militia until the Commis-
sioners arrive on the spot. Let me hope then that your Excellency will
forward the Commissioners with all possible Dispatch, as it is Clearly
Impossible to do anything to purpose in this County until their arrival.
The Expiration of the several periods Given us to expect them, discour-
ages our best friends, and gives the aforementioned party great Opportu-
nity of keeping up the Confusion, which they hope will issue in driving
the whole people into their favorite scheme of New Government. Some
of those Gentlemen formerly Elected members of Virginia Assembly, on
this side the Mountains, are lately gone down on no other business than

1801. A son of this union is Mr. Robert Patterson, of the Presbyterian
Banner, of Pittsburgh, whose wife is Eliza Acheson Baird, a daughter of
Hon. Thomas’ H. Baird. A writer in the Presbyterian Magazine, Febru-
ary, 1857, says, “ Col. Canon, the founder of Canonsburg, was an ac-
tive, intelligent, and gentlemanl y man. He died when but little past the
meridian of life, leaving a widow and several children. Mrs. Canon was
regarded as the lady of the place, and deservedly ; for she was eminently
pious, friendly, and generous. Her house was the seat of hospitality, the
favorite resort of Christian ministers and serious students.”

Daniel Leet.—Isaac Leet, the father of Daniel, died in Washington
County in 1802, and is buried, as is also his widow, in the burial-place
on the farm of S. K. Weirich. Daniel was born in New Jersey, Nov. 6,
1748; was by 1rof~ssiou a surveyor, and, as the reader will recollect, pro-
duced his commission as such from the College of William and Mary,
Va., to the Augusta County Court on April 17, 1776, and was sworn into
office as a deputy under Col. William Crawford. As such deputy he made
many of the Virginia surveys in Washington County in 1780. He prob-
ably first came to this country in 1773, for on September 23d of that year
Washington writes to Crawford, " By Mr. Leet I informed you of the
unhappy cause which prevented my going out this fall."-- Washington-
Crawford Letters, 28. He had been previously employed by Washington
to survey lands for him in Virginia. In 1778 he was with the militia as
adjutant, under Gen. Mclntosh, at Fort Laurens. During the Revolu-
tion he also served with the Virginia line ‘as quartermaster and paymas-
ter. In 1782 he was brigade-major in the unfortunate expedition, under
Col. Crawford’s command, against the Sandusky Indians, in which h-is
brave superior was tortured to death at the stake. On this occasion,after
Maj. Brinton was wounded, Maj. Leet commanded a division, and ex-
hibited much bravery and vigilance. (See Butterfield’s Crawt'ord‘s Expe-
dition, 77, 124, 207, 219, 296.) He is appointed in the act erecting the

county one ofthe trustees to divide the county into townships, and to‘

purchase ground for the public buildings; and besides his ofiice as sub-
lieutenant, he was one of the first justices commissioned for the courts
of the county. His homestead was what is now known as the Shields’
tract a few miles south of Washington, where his onlychild, Eliza, was
born. She married David Shields, who resided in Washington from 1804
to 1823, when he removed to the Sewickly Bottoms, Allegheny County.
Of this union there were nine children, of whom but three married.
Two of these three are dead, leaving descendants; the other, the widow
of John K. Wilson, Esq., and mother of D. S. Wilson, Esq., of the Wash-
In 1829, Daniel Leet removed from Washington
County to the home of _his daughter, Mrs. Shields, and there died June
18,1830
2 IX. Pennsylvania. Archives, 233.

.CIVIL AND LEGAL——EARLY POLITICAL TROUBLES.

227.

to Endeavor delaying the line, in order to forward their business of new
Government, and a Committee has been formed in this County for some
time who go well nigh assuming the government of the County, which
appears preparatory to something more Compulsive. '

“ Let me again urge the Necessity of the Commissioners being on the
line as soon as possible from this one Consideration, that a failure on
their part will Expose the friends of this government to the Contempt
and Malice of their enemies. There is at this time upwards of‘ two
thousand five hundred Effective men in this County, but if we remain
much longer in our present Situation, we mustnnavoidably be reduced,
either by Internal or External Enemies, and perhaps by both. On the
17th Inst., a party of about twenty Indians attacked the frontier Inhab-
itants, wounded one man, and took otf a whole family prisoners, which
has occasioned great part of the frontiers to be evacuated.”

The references in the foregoing letter to Gen.
George Rogers Clarke’s expedition of 1781, against
the British and Indians at Detroit, to obtain men for

which the Virginia militia officers for Yohogania

County instituted a draft and enforced it with great
severity in Monongahela valley, as well as to the
“ New State Project” now revived, and which caused
no little concern at the State capital, will hereafter
be more fully explained. .

On July 23, 1781, President Reed replied to the
two letters from Col. Marshel, as follows 2,1

“ SIR :

“ I have received two Letters from you, one of the 5th & the other of
27th June, which I have laid before the Council. We are sorry to hear
of the Obstructions which have been thrown in your Way by ill design-
ing People, who ‘keep up unhappy Contests for sinister Purposes. We
hope the time will soon come when these Machinations will be at an End,
as we are resolved as soon as the Line is run, to exert the Power of legal
& coercive Authority over all who shall presume to disturb the publick

I Tranquility & distress the County by their mal Practices.” [The presi-

dent then proceeded to explain the delay in running the boundary line,
and the necessity of its early completion ; the agreement with Virginia
to mark a temporary boundary, and the appointment of Alexander Me-

A Clean on the part of Pennsylvania for that purpose; announcing the in-

tention of the Council, as soon as that line was run and reported, to issue
a proclamation calling upon the people within this State to conform to
its laws and government, as quoted from this letter in our Boundary
controversy, and concluding :] “ You and the other Friends of this State

' may depend upon a firm and vigorous Support in your Attachment to

it, & that we shall most heartily concur in every Measure to Establish
Peacq, _Good Order, & Government as soon as possible.”

Dorsey Pentecost seems to have received informa-
tion of the subject matter of Col. Marshel’s two let-
ters to President Reed, of the 5th and 27th of June,
for on July 27, 1781, he addressed to the latter the
following letter :2
“SIR:

“I am now in General C1arke’s Camp, about three miles below Fort
Pitt, and about to leave this Country on the Expedition under that

- Gent1eman’s Command, & from some recent Transactions that have hap-

pened here, & being apprised_ of some unwarrantable Representations
that have, and are about to be made to your Excellency in Council, re-
specting the Common Welfare of this country, & inwhich my Life,
Property, & Consequently my Character is (Concerned, & not being able
(owing to my immediate service in the Public) to attend so soon as I
would wish at Philadelphia, have taken the Liberty to trouble your Ex-

cellency with the following plain State of Facts.

“This country (I mean West of the Monongahela River) has ever
been considered by a majority of its Inhabitants to be within the State
of Virginia; it has been underthat Jurisdiction without Controversy
since the year 1774, but on the Publication of the Agreement made be-
tween the Commissioners for the two States, Virginia and Pennsylvania,
at Baltimore, 1779, and a Report immediately following that the Line

1 XI. Penn. Archives, 304. 2 Ibid., 315.

should be run without Procrastination in Consequence thereof; this
produced a. Relaxation amongst the Oflicers (particularly in the Mili-
tary Line), knowing that such an Agreement would include the Whole,
or nearly so, of Yohogania County, and by that means the whole Coun-
try was thrown into perfect Anarchy & Confusion. The Indians through
the Course of the last Summer were exceedingly troublesome, & butch-
ered. up many of the defenceless Frontiers; myself and some others
apprehending e »rly Visits from them this Spring, and knowing the con-
fused Situation of the People, from the Reasons above mentioned, went
personally to the Frontier Settlements, & found them in the greatest
Dejection of Spirits; they expected nothing but Desolation & all the
Cruelty to be feared from an extensive Combination of Savages (this
was ‘the latter Part of the Winter). At our Return We advertised a
meeting of the Principal People to endeavor to fall on some Plan for the
Def.-nee of those helpless Persons (the_Frontiers); accordingly a num-
ber of Gentlemen met, and We then recommended that every District:
as they then stood, should choose two men out of each to form a General
Committee for that Purpose; that was also accordingly done. We then
proceeded to direct (with the acquiescence of the People) to raise by
Hire 100 men, to be stationed and employed as aforesaid; this alarmed
t-he Pockets of some Gentlemen (notwithstanding We advised as our
Opinion that Government would countenance the measure whenever it
should be established, & the men allowed Militia pay); they therefore
opposed the measures, published Pieces (or at least a Piece) setting forth
the Enormity of the Expence, the Impropriety of the attempt, with
many other unwarrantable assertions,—in short, Sir, the Piece was in-
flammatory, alarming, & decorated with Falsehood.

“ This impeded the good Intent of the Committee, but did not quite
frustrate their honest endeavors, for the Commanding" officers at Fort
Pitt not only countenanced but gave every Spur to facilitate so laudable
a measure. We hired thirty men, sent them to the Frontiers, and they
are there yet. . '

“ About this Time the Spring Session met, and a certain James Mar-
shall (a Person of Yesterday amongst us,) a Frontier inhabitant, & a
member of Committee, went home from one of the meetings, prepared
a Petition to the Assembly, went to a few of the Frontier Companies
who were in the greatest Distress; he flattered them that he would pro-
cure from the Assembly immediate Succor for them ; they agreed-to the
Proposal, and gave him money of Convoy & sent him to Philadelphia.
At his return he brought the Act of Assembly creating that part of
Westmorel-and lying west of Monongalia into a Separate County by the
name of Washington & for himself three Commissions, Lieutenant Re-
corder & Register, for said County; and in that Act of Assembly, on
his (Mr. Marshall's) or some of his Friends Representation, a Sett of
men were appointed, who all (except Capt. Swearingen & Mr. D. Leet,)
are strangers to the Country, being Gentlemen that have but recently
come among us.

“ While Mr. Marshall was at Philadelphia, Genl. Clark came here with
an Intent to carry an Expedition against the Savages, which was prin-
cipally intended to have been aided by Volunteers from this County.
He consulted myself with many others on the most probable plan for
Success. Every Effort ‘was tried, but to no'effect; the Frontiers were
murdered every Day, & the ‘Militia could not be got out. The Field oili-
cers of Yohogania County called on me, & requested that I would take
the Command of the same, & I endeavored to save it from utter Destruc-
tion. I accordingly swore into a Commission for that Purpose, which
had been in the County upwards of a year, & "which I had neglected to
qualify to on account of the apparent Probability there was fora Change
of Government.

“Soon after this, Genl. Clark had a meeting of the Principal People
to consult on the most Plausible Plan to raise the Militia for his expedi-
tiou. They after long deliberation, Resolved, that nothing could effect
so desirable a Plan, save my Exertions as County Licut. of Yohogania,
and in the most pointed Terms (in an address to me) requested thatI
would put my Command in Force, and use every Exertion to facilitate
the Expedition. The Day following I was furnished with a Demand from
Genl. Clark for the Quota of the County. I went into the Business ‘with
Resolution, conducted myself with a steady Firmness, and with a great
Deal.of Fatigue, Trouble, & Perplexity, I have accomplished that Busi-
ness and the Militia are now encampt.

“Thishas been the Part that I have acted from the Principle only of
saving this unhappy Country from the inevitable ruin with which it is

‘threatened, though my Conduct has been misconstrued by Mr. Marshall

and his adherents, as intended to oppose the authority of the State of
Pennsylvania, on account of my hearing some Considerable Commis-
sions in the other State. And here I beg Leave to inform you, Sir,
(whatever you may have heard to the Contrary) that: Commissions 6;

228

HISTORY OF WAS HINGTON COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA.

Command were never Objects that gave me one moments Uneasiness,
and its a matter of total Inditference to me who doth the Public Busi-
ness, so it is well done, and a man in office acquainted withthe Bonum
Publicum. And I would further inform you that every Otfice thatI
have filled, I undertook from a Principle of serving the Public with my
utmost abilities and industry.

“ I am conscious of the Rectitude of my Intentions, and I scorn the
Censures of discontented Partisans; I have always been vigilant to ef-
fect the Business I have engaged in, and have generally succeeded to
their mortification with advantage to the Public.

“It may not be amiss to let your Excellency in Council know that I
waited on Mr. Mar.-hall as soon as I heard of his Return from Phila-
delphia, & the Office he was to fill whenever the County should be estab-
lished, & offered that if he could or would undertake to regulate the
Militia, protect the Frontiers, & afford Genl. Clark Assistance, I was
ready. to retire, but that, I apprehended, it was totally out of his Power
until the Line of Division between the States was run, & that the People
could be assured that they were on a permanent Footing, and whether
the Errors and Impositions heretofore practiced on us, on account of
the Territorial Dispute, would not rather be augmented than abated ;—-
upon the whole, whether it would not be the best to desist from the
Exercise of his Oflice as (‘ounty Lieutenant until the Line was run, or

‘the authority of Pennsylvania regularly extended ; to these Propositions

he gave the following categorical answer: ‘that he was determined to
support the Honour and Dignity of an ofiicer, & he meant immediately
to organize the milétia.’

“And he accordingly did all he could to perplex the People, and ad-
vise them to pay no obedience to Draughts that I had ordered for Genl.
Clark’s assistance, & has actually offered Protection to some of ’cm,
though he before on a request of Genl. Clark's, declared he could do
nothing as an oflicer, wished well to the Expedition, & as a Private
Person would give every assistance to promote it.

as at: as :1: at: :1: at: are ac

“ There is one Circumstance more I would wih to mention, & that is
—The Act of Assembly directs that the Elections to be made for Jus-
tices should be held on the 15th inst. (this was the Sabbath); the Day
following, I am told», was the Day advertised, however, so obscurely
that few, very few, knew of the Day or Place as will appear by the
Number of Votes—not one Third of the People knew or attended the
Election ; by this means an obscure sett of men, perfectly unacquainted
with Business will be Returned for Justices. I tremble at the Conse-
quence; I shudder at the Event, I lament the Situation of the poor

People of this Countr_v. I wish most sincerely that your Excellency ‘

knew the trite State of Affairs here, & had it in your Power to rectify
the abuse offered the honest People of this Country.

“ I am come now, Sir, to apologize for this Letter, & have nothing to
offer in my Defence, although I confess the Liberty I have taken greatly
needs an apology, save that I am about to leave this Country on the
Expedition & shall not have it in my Power to confront in Behalf of
the People the insulting abuses here offered them. I am bursting with
anxiety for the welfare of this infant Country, and could not consistent
with what I conceive to he iny Duty suffer such a Career of Iniqnity to
go on with the Rapidity it now doth without letting the Supreme Ex-
ecutive Council of this State know something of it, and for which Pre-
sumption I beg Excuse for, Sir,

‘ “ Your Excel1ency’s Devoted
“ & most obedient H‘ble Servt.
“ Doassv Pl-'.N’1‘ECOST.” 1

. 1 Dorsey Pentecost, one of the most prominent of the men .of our early
days, it is thought was from Virginia, and settled in what is now Ros-
traver township, Westmoreland County. In a deed conveying his
“ mansion tract,” made when about to remove west of the Monongahela
River, the tract is described as having been surveyed to D. P. on a war-
rant out of the Surveyor’s Ofiice of the Province of Pennsylvania in the
year 1769, and afterward an entry made in the “Surveyor's Office of
Virginia.” The reader will remember that he was a. Justice of Cum-
berland County in 1770, of Bedford County in 1771, though not for
Westmoreland County when erected in 1773. When the boundary con-
test began, he was from the’ first to the last, as has been observed, a
partisan of Virginia. In 1777 he removed from the Youghiogeny region
to the eastern branch of Chartiers Creek, purchasing from Paul Froman
a. tract of about 1400 acres at the present Linden, in North Strabane
township, near which, probably adjoining, he soon purchased other
lands, of which those now owned 'by John Gamble, Esq., formed a part.
In this locality he lived till his ‘death. At the first general election for

Space has been taken to quote these letters from
the leading parties on both sides, in order that the
peculiar conditions of public, affairs in which our
county was organized might be fully realized. The
close of the letter of Mr. Pentecost contains a refer-
ence which will now receive attention.

Division into Townships.-—The fourth section of
the organic act required that the trustees, James
Edgar, Hugh Scott, Van Swearingen, Daniel Leet,
and John Armstrong, or any three of them, should, on
or before the 1st day of July ensuing, divide the county
into townships or districts; and the seventh section
provided that the freeholders of each township or dis-
trict should meet on the 15th day of July, “ at some
proper and convenient place, and elect two _fit persons
for justices of the peace for each township.”

Just when the division into the original townships
was made_is not known, nor can any report of the
trustees be found to show where the lines were. But
enough appears to indicate that the original township
boundaries followed the courses of the larger streams
or the dividing ridges between the smaller ones. This

is all that can now be said with certainty.

The division was made in due time, on or before
July 1, 1781, and the townships as then named were
as follows: Amwell, Bethlehem, Cecil, Cumberland,
Donegal, Fallowfield, Hopewell, Morgan, Notting-
ham, Peters, Robinson, Smith, and Strabane, thirteen"
in number. ’

Mr. Veach says :2

“ Among the most interesting minor studies of our early history is to
trace the origin of first settlers in the names of localities. . . . Wash-
ington County affords the most instructive derivations. . . . By the act
of 1781 erecting it, its trustees . . . were required to divide it into town-
ships. They took the Continental number, thirteen. Of these were.
Amwell, the name of a township in Hunterdon County, adjoining
Morris County, N.J., and of a Presbyterian church in the same vicinity,
from which came the Lindleys, Cooks, Rev. J. Dod, and others. Cecil,
from Cecil County, Md. Fallowfield, a township in Chester County. . . ,
Nottingham, a township in Chester County, and a district in $Cecil
County, Md. . . . Hopewell, a township in York, Cumberland, and Bed-
ford counties. . . . Donegal and Strabane are Irish all over, and com-
mon in all our Scotch-Irish counties. Bethlehem, perhaps because

Washington County he was elected a member of the Supreme Executive
Council, and took his seat Nov. 19, 1781; and on Oct. 31, 1783, he was
appointed president judge of the courts, being the first judge specially
commissioned for that office, Henry Taylor, his predecessor, being pre-
sidingjudge by reason of having been first named in the general com-
mission. In 1785, without doubt because of extensive land speculations
and a miserable currency, he had become seriously involved,.and having
made arrangements for the disposal of all his lands he went into Fred-

erick County, Va., and while there, Nov. 25, 1786, he was suspended '

from his office as president’ judge. In 1787 he returned to Washington
County. He died in 1802, and left surviving him his widow Catharine
(née Beelor); three sons,——Joseph, the lawyer of Washington, father of
George Pentecost, of West Middletown; Dorsey, grandfather of A. J.
Pentecost, auctioneer, Allegheny City; and George W., who served in
the war of 1812, and died unmarried: five daughters,——Margaret, mar-
ried Ashby, Virginia; Catharine, married, first, Rabb, Uniontown,
second, Vance, Uniontown; Sarah, married Ezekiel Graham, mer-
chant, Cincinnati; Lucy, married James Ashbrook, lawyer, Washing-
ton"; Rebecca, married Mordecai Hoge, Steubenville. Of the family of
Col. Dorsey Pentecost, the only representative in Washington ‘County
at present is Mr. George Pentecost, of Middletown.
2 Centenary Memorial, 405.

CIVIL AND LEGAL—-ELECTION OF JUSTICES.

229

settled largely by Quakers. Running out of names, Mr. Edgar procured
one to be named Smith, in which he and his pastor, Rev. Joseph Smith,
resided.”

The subsequent modification of the original. town-
ships, and the erection of new ones, into those at
present existing will not be followed out here, but in
their several histories, hereafter given, the time and
method of their organization as well as their early
residents will be fully shown.

Election of J ustices.—It is seen from Col. Pente-
cost’s letter that the 15th of July, the day on which
the organic act required the elections for justices to
be held, fell on the Sabbath; and that, as he states,
the elections provided for c_ame off’ on the next day,
being Monday, the 16th. "It is not probable that,

even in those days of rudeness, a people who so fre-

quently imposed fines for “ profanecurses,” as shown
by the records of the old Virginia courts, would

tolerate an election held on the Sabbath day, even_

when so required by an act of the General Assembly.
The returns of the votes polled at that election are
not to be found, but there is a letter from Thomas
Scott, the clerk of the Quarter Sessions, to President
Reed, dated July 31, 1781,‘ from which the following
extracts are made:
“ DEAR Sm:

“I expect this will be handed you by a messenger from this county
with the returns of our elections for Justices of the peace, which affords

me an opportunity of acknowledging with Gratitude the receipt of the
commission 2 with which Council is pleased to honour me in the county:

' and also of requesting that in order to make my business perfectly con-

venient and more capable of Imploying my whole attention, Council be
further pleased to Grant me a Commission of Justice in the Common

Pleas, Clark of the Orphans Court, and of the Quarter Sessions, which

last hath sometimes been Granted to one on the Court’s recommenda-
tion of several; but as this mode would leave the Sessions for some time
without at Clark, and appears unknown in our present constitution, I
have thought this application not Irregular, and really necessary.

at: :1: =1: :1: ac as :1: =1: at:

“Whatever may be the end of Genl. Clark’s expedition, his prepara-
tions for it have been greatly Injurious to the Interests of Pennsylvania
in this country and hyghly oppressive and abusive, to many Individuals
well aifected to this Government. He hath made use of a paper
(whereof the Inclosed is said to be a Copy) as authority for exercisin g
a strange, very extraordinary and most arbitrary J uri.-‘diction over those
who have formerly been subject to Virginia, no Matter where they live
or whether they were subject by force or free will, which paper and
others of the same kind, and his and his parties’ proceedings in Conse-
quence thereof hath contributed not a little to the prevention of the
proper organization of Washington County and regulation of the militia
of Westmoreland.

“‘ A sense of duty constrains me just to mention this matter, the par-
ticulars are numerous and horid, some of which its like will be given
you by Col. Marshall ; but I am convinced the Instances of high Treason
against the state are not less than forty.” '

The letter of Col. Marshall referred to was dated
Aug. 8, 1781,?’ and recited the difficulties he had en-
countered in organizing the militia into battalions,
originating out of the fact that the jurisdiction of
Virginia had not yet been withdrawn, and that he
had found it most prudent to postpone the elections
for militia oflicers until the boundary line was run,

1 IX. Penn. Archives, 324. . -
2 Prothonotary, dated April 2, 1781; see XII. Col. Records, 681.
» .3 IX. Penn. Archives, 343. ‘

concerning which he had lately received intelligence,
“ or until the armed Banditti under the general [Geo.
Rogers Clark], that then awed the good people of this
County, and were Chasing such of the Inhabitants as
Pentecost, Shepherd & Evans, the Lieuts. of Yough-
agani, Monongalia & Ohio, were pleased to point out
by way of drafting as fit persons to go with the gen-
eral, and on Missing their persons were Violating
and totally destroying their property.” Then, after
recounting outrages committed by Lieut.-Col. Gabriel
Cox and his command, under orders from‘Col. Pente-
cost, upon a number of citizens of Westmoreland
County who had been drafted for service in Clark’s
expedition, he proceeds:

“They being in Quest of John Douglass (Gent. Elected one of -our
Justices for this County), and not finding him the first attempt, broke
open his house in the night-time, Fed away and Destroyed such a part
of Rye and Corn (his property) as they thought proper. Drew their
swords upon his wife and children in order to make them Discover
where he was; that sd Cox and his party have taken and Confined at
Considerable number of the Inhabitants of this County, amongst. which
were Hugh Scott (one of the acting trustees of the County), altho’ he
was not drafted; in a word, the Instances of high treason against the
state are too many to be enumerated.”

From the record about to be produced, it will be
seen that John Douglass lived in Peters township.
Gabriel Cox, who was afterwards tried at thesecond
term of the Quarter Sessions when established, lived
below Finleyville, in what is now Union township.

In the record of the proceedings of the Supreme
Executive Council for August 24, 1781,‘ is the fol-
loWing:'

“Returns of Justices for the following townships in the county of
Washington were received and read, by which it appears that the fol-
lowing gentlemen were elected: 5 '

“ Peters township-—.lohn Douglass and Robert Thompson.

“Township of Nutting-ame—Benj-amin Parkinson and Joseph Park-
inson. '

“Strabane township—(in which is the place called Catfish Camp, or-
dered by law to be the seat ofjusticel——Daniel Leet, Henry Taylor, John
White, Nicholas Little, Alexander Eddy, and David Clark. A

“ Aimwell township-Abner Howell and John Craig.

“ Donnegal township——S-amuel Mason and_Satnuel Williamson.

“Hopewell township—William Scott and John -Marshall.

“Fallowfield township-—John Parker, John Hall, east end; and John
Stevenson and Patrick ML-Cullough, west end of said township.

“ Smith's township—Samuel Johnston and James Edgar.

“ Cecil township-«Matthew McConnell and John Read.“

4 XIII. Col. Records, 38.,

5 Pity it is we have not the tally-sheets and lists of voters at these
the first elections ever held in Washington County; but it will be un-
derstood that having no offices yet in which to file them, they would
not be preserved in our files, and they are not printed in the State
archives.

5 It will be observed that there were as yet no returns of elections
held for the townships of Bethlehem, Cumberland, Morgan, and Robin-
son, the others of the original townships; but on Nov. 21, 1781 (XIII.
Col. Records, 121), thereis this record: “A return of an election said
to have been held at the house ofEzekiel Roe [Ross], in Bethlehem town-.
ship, in Washington County, for electing Justices of the Peace for said
township, was presented and read, and on enquiry, it appeared that the
said election was not appointed by a Justice of the Peace for said
county, ‘ where a vacancy had happened,’ the case provided for by law,
but in consequence of a neglect to chuse according to the directions of
the law; wherefore the election is void.” The council then proceeded
to appoint a justice, agreeably to an act cited, and appointed and com-
missioned-Thomas Crooks, Esq., as a j nstice for Bethlehem township.

23.0

-A
v

_ 9‘ On consideration,
“Resolved. That Henry Taylor, William Scott, John Craig, John
White, Daniel Leet, John Marshall, John Douglass, Benjamin Parkin-
son, John Reed, Abner Howell, Matthew McConnell, Samuel Johnston,

' and Samuel Mason be appointed and commissioned to be Justices of the

Peace, of the Court of Common Pleas and of the Orphans’ Court, of the
county of Washington, and that a general commission be issued accord-
ing1y.?1

Before, however, the foregoing record was made,
and the commission recited issued, the following let-
ter was written and sent (though not then received),
which is copied as a further and final illustration of
the difficulties existing at the time of the organiza-
tion of the new courityil

“August 15th, 1781.

“ HONBLE. SIR, -

“ Farr from Prejudice and Party Faction disengaged, at Present, in the
following Narrative, willing to see Justice, without favour or affection
Distributed, give us Leave to trouble your, Honr. with a detail of meas-
ures at present adopted for Magistrates in this Quarter (Washington
County). ~ ‘

“ At a Time when many People in this County look’d on Themselves
bound by their oath of Fidelity to the State of Virginia, until the line
between the states should be actually run, or some other Lawful Judi-
cial Proceedings should be taken to relieve them from such Fidelity, At
a Time whenlGenl. Clark had an Expedition Carrying on for the salva-
tionof this Country, and when the Lieut. Col. had advertised Battalion
Elections should be postpon’d until the Line between the States should
be actually run, Notwithstanding all these obstructions, an Election for
Justices was held on the day Genl. Clark ordered his Rendezvous & that
by a very few, Electing men farr. Inadequate to the Task, men who have
ever Lived in obscurity. These being undeniable facts, We beg your
Honr. will postpone the Commissioning all such men until a fair and
Candid Representation can be made, and that to prevent such Fraud-
ulent mal Practices, Fair and Impartial Elections may be held, Whereof
Publick Notice shall be given. being well convinced many people in this
County never heard of the Election until the day after it was Past. We
further assure your Honr, Thus Privately have men of Ability, Fortune,
& Character been deprived of an opportunity to serve their Country, and
men elected who had no reason to Expect such oflice. We therefore, in
order to give grace to Proceedings that may come from this (‘curt &
Harmonize the People, beg no Commission may issue until our Council
& Representatives can be heard on the Occasion. We further beg leave
to Pray yr Hour. In case you find it absolutely necessary for the admin-
istration of Justice to Commission some few of those already Elected, of
those Give us Leave to give our opinion of the most able to serve, ‘to

. wit,’ James Edgar Judge, Danl. Leet, John Reid, Jos. Parkerson, John

Armstrong, Abner Howell, and James Brice.

“Pardon us for intruding on your Honour’s Patience, being moved
with Indignation at Party factions gives us the greatest reason to Ex-
pect your Honour will grant the Indulgence, With Leave to say we

remain
“ your Honors,

“Most Obdt. Hble. Servts,
I “ VAN SWEARINGEN,
“ JOHN CANON,
“ RICHARD YEATES,
"‘IsA.A.c ISRAEL,
“JAMES ALLI.~‘0N,
“ B. JOHNSTON,
“JOHN MCDOWELL,
“Geo. W. MCCORMICK,
“ THOMAS Caoox,
“ D1-mus LINDLEY,
“ GEORGE MYERS.”

The foregoing protest, signed by many names al-
ready well known to us, came to hand too late, and
was probably not received at Philadelphia until after
the letter was written by President Reed to Thomas
Scott, on Aug. 27, _178l,2 from which the following
extracts were made: '

1 IX. Penn. Archives, 355. 2 Ibid., 374.

HISTORY OF WASHINGTON COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA.

“ DEAR Sm: .
. “Your Favour of the [3l?] Ult. has been duly received, & by this
Opp’y you will receive the several Commissions requested in addition to
that already sent you. VVe also send the Commission of the Peace for
the County, & are extremely sorry that we could not consistent with
the Act of Assembly “insert Mr. Stevenson's & Mr. Parker’s name, but
by referring to both the Acts of Assembly which direct the Appointment
of. Justices, you will see that we are limited to two for each Township,
saving the Districtof the County Town. We are also of opinion that
the Return for Fallowfield is too incorrect to admit of any Appointment
& have therefore returned it; we cannot distinguish between the Ends
of that Township, as it is an entire Thing; if too large it ought to be
divided, or the Number of Magistrates increased by pursuing a Mode
directed by a late Act of Assembly. A new Election will give the People
an Opp‘y of appointing Mr. Stevenson, if they think proper, & the
Powers of the Council are sufficiently ample to place him at the Head
of the Bench agreeable to the general Desire & Opinion.
:1: :1: ac ' =1: as :1: an :1: :1:

“With Respect to Genl.‘Clark’s Proceedings we can only say that
he has no Authority from us to draught Militia, much less to exercise
these Acts [of?] Distress which you have hinted at & which other letters
more particularly enumerate. His Expedition appears to us favorable
for the Frontiers, as carrying Hostilities into the Indian Country rather
than resting totally on the defensive.

as as as as as as :1: :1: as

‘_‘ At the same Time we cannot help expressing our Fears that too
many excuse themselvas under Pretence of unsettled Boundary, some
deny any Duty & seek to transfer it entirely to t_hos_e who are willing
& active. After the general Concurrence of the Lieutenants of West-
moreland in the Expedition & agreeing to raise 300 Men, we should
have been glad to have heard that the County of Washington had as-
sisted in a measure which seems to us to have been calculated for their

own safety in particular as well as the Publick in general.”
as as as :1: as as :1: :1: ac '

The foregoing communication inclosed the commis-
sions of Thomas Scott himself as clerk of the Quar-
ter Sessions and of the Orphans’ Court, dated Aug.
24, 1781; as justice of the Common Pleas, dated Aug.
27, 1781; and also the General Commission of the‘
Peace, dated Aug. 24, 1781. This document, as it
reached Mr. Scott, is now before the writer, and as it-
sets forth the constitution of our first courts of jus-
tice it is here copied in full :

“ Pennsylvania, .93. ]
[SEAL]

Joseph Reed. A
“To Henry Taylor, William Scott, John Craig, John White, Daniel
Leet, John Marshall, John Douglass, B»-njami/n Parkinson, John Reed,

In the name and by the authority of the Free-
men of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania.

Abner Howell, Matthew McConnell, Samuel Johnston, and Samuel Ma- _

son, Esquires, of the County of Washington, Greeting:

“ Reposing especial trust and confidence in your patriotism, prudence,
integrity, and abilities, Know that we have assigned you jointly and
severally, and every of you, Justices of the peace in the County aforesaid
to keep, and all Laws and Ordinances made for the good of the peace
and for the Conservation of the same, to keep and cause tobe kept and
to chastize and punish all persons offending against those laws and Ordi-
nances within the said County as the Law doth or shall direct.

“We have also assigned you, or any three or more of you, Justices,

to inquire by the oaths or affirmations of good and lawful men of the '

said County by whom the truth of the matter may be better known of
all and all manner of felonies and other misdeeds and offences whatso-
ever of which Justices of assize, Justices of Oyer‘ and terminer or of
goal delivery, or Justices of the peace according to the Laws of this
Government may or ought to inquire. And to inspect all indictments
before you, or any of you taken, or to be taken, or taken before others,
late Justices of the Peace of the said County, and not yet determined or
discharged, and to make and continue the process thereupon, and to
hear and determine according to law all crimes and offences whatsoever
properly determinable before you according to the laws, usages, and
customs of this Commonwealth ; and to chastize and punish all persons
offending in the premises by fine, forfeiture, or otherwise, as the Law
doth or shall direct, and therefore you are hereby strictly commanded

CIVIL AND LEGAL-—-THE NEW STATE PROJECT.

231

that you attend the keeping the peace,laws, and ordinances, and all
and singular the premises, and at certain days, times, and places, which
by the Constitution and laws of the Commonwealth are appointed,» you
make inquiry upon the premises, and hear, determine, perform, and ful-
fill the same, doing therein that which to Justice according to Law shall
appertain.

“And we have also assigned you, the said Henry Taylor, William
Scott, John Craig, John White, Daniel Leet, John Marshall, John
Douglass, Benjamin Parkinson, John Reed, Abner Howell, Matthew
McConnell, Samuel Johnston, and Samuel Mason, Justices of the Court
of Common pleas for the said County of Washington,,r-equiring and
commanding you or any three or more of you to hold pleas of assize,
Sci re facias, replevins, and to hear and determine all and all manner of
pleas, actions, suits and causes, civil, personal, real, and mi-xt, now de-
pending or which shall hereafter be commenced or brought in the said
Court according to law, and to hold special courts for the more speedy
determination of all causes of such defendants as are about to depart
this Commonwealth, pursuant to the said Laws.

“ And we havealso assigned you the said Henry Taylor, William Scott,

4 John Craig, John White, Daniel Leet, John Marshall, John Douglass,

Benjamin Parkinson, John Reed, Abner Howell, Matthew McConnell,
Samuel Johnston and Samuel Mason, Justices of the Orphans’ Court for
the said County of Washington, requiring you or any three or more of
you to hold Orphans’ Courts, to hear and determine all matters and
things now depending or which shall hereafter be commenced or brought
in the said Court, make orders and do and perform all matters and
things to the said Court appertaining and by law directed.

“Given by order of the Council under the hand of His Excellency
Joseph Reed, Esquire, President, and the seal of the State at Philadel-
phia this twenty fourth day of August in the year of our Lord one
thousand seven hundred and eighty-one. *

“ Attest
“T. MATLACK, Secy.”

The New State Project:-The justices having been
commissioned, courts are now ready to be opened,
that protection to the rights of .person and of property

‘may be provided by the due and regular administra-
tion of the law. But, omitting more than a"n1ere,
‘ reference to the difliculties arising out of land titles,

occasioned‘ by the fact that settlers were claiming

. under rights acquired from two different sovereign.ties

exercising the right of eminent domain, difficulties
which have already been noticed in a previous chap-

-ter, when treating of the surveys made under Virginia

warrants du.ring this period, resulting almost in a
declaration of war by Pennsylvania against her sister
State, there must now be treated another matter of
serious contention which had its origin and existence
chiefly within the limits of Washington County, and
which has received the name of the “ New State Pro-
ject.”

The reader will recollect the pompous petition to
the Continental Congress for the erection of a new
government, copied in our “ Boundary Controversy,”
the date of which is now well fixed as in the summer
of 17 7 6.1 The proposed government was to be called
Westsylvania, and its boundaries were: “Beginning
at the Eastern Bank of the Ohio, opposite the mouth
of the Scioto, & running thence in a direct Line to

the‘Owasito Pass, thence to the top of the Allegheny_

Mountains, thence with the Top of the said Mountains
to the Northern Limitsof the Purchase made from
the Indians in 1768, at the Treaty of Fort Stanwix,
thence with the said Limits to the Allegheney or Ohio
River, and thence down the said River as purchased

1 See ante, p. 187.

from the said Indians at the said Treaty of Fort
Stanwix to the Beginning.” He will also remember
how that soon afterwards a disloyal combination was
discovered, trials for treasonable offenses were had,
and the ringleader of the conspiracy, whoever he was,
was put out of the way. This -in 1777-78. The same
condition of disaffection was developed again in 1780,
and the scheme for the establishment-of a new State
resuscitated. ,

l The writer can see no possible connection between
the new State project, as developed either in 1776 or
in 1780, with the “ proposed new government” talked
of in Dunmore’s time, called the Walpole. Grant, or
“ Vandalia ;” 2 nor has he seen any evidence whatever,
that the desire’ to set up an independent State estab-
lishment was in any way induced by the Pennsylvania

1 enactment to abolish slavery ;3 an industrious reading

has brought up no documentary proof of such fact
nor contemporaneous complaints on that score; indeed,
the time when the new State was first petitioned for,
to wit, 1776, four years before the Abolition act was

‘ passed, would seem to relieve the subject from any

doubt in that respect. . -
The Indiana Company, or grant, might have had
some connection with the origin of the new State
project.‘ Thatcompany was pressing for a recogni-
tion of its_ claims before the Virginia Assembly in

'2‘See Mr. Veech, Centenary Memorial, 347. “Mason and Dix-"on’s

- Line,” 56.

V 3 Mr. Veech, Centenary Memorial, 340. A g I
4 As there seems to be great misunderstanding relative to the Indiana
Company, and where its grant lay, a brief notice of it is proper, though

1 its lands "lay beyond the Pennsylvania boundary. If, however, the

boundary line between Pennsylvania and’Virginia. had been established

near Pittsburgh, east or west, that grant would have included the lands

now in Washington County. V

In 1763, during the French and Indian war, William Trent, with
about twenty other Indian traders, among whom was George Morgan,
then of the firm of Wharton, Baynton & Morgan, sustained losses by
the depredations of the Shawanese, Delaware, and Huron tribes, aggre-
gating a very large amount. At the treaty of Fort Stanwix, on Nov. 3,
1768, the Six Nations, as the head of the tribes, were held responsible
for these losses, the aggregate amount ascertained at £85,916 108. 8d,
New York currency, and through the influence of Sir William Johnson,
the Indian agent, the,Six Nations, as a compensation for them, executed
and delivered to “His Majesty,” etc., for the use of William Trent, in
trust for himself and the other suiferers, a deed for “ all that tract or
parcel of land beginning at the southerly side of the little Kanhaway
Creek, where it empties itself into the river Ohio, and running thence
southeast to the Laurel Hill; thence along the Laurel Hill until it
strikes the river Monongahela; thence down the stream of the said river
according to the several courses thereof to the southern boundary line
of the province of Pennsylvania; thence westwardly along the course of
the said province boundary line as far as the same shall extend; thence
by the same course to the r-iver Ohio; and thence down the river to the
place of beginning, inclusively.” It is seen that this grant does not, as
many have written, embrace the present State of Indiana. The Indiana
Company, for so the traders organized, failed during colonial times to
acquire the royal confirmation of their claim under their deed, and in
1776 endeavored to obtain a recognition of their grant by the Virginia
government, but again failed; in 1782, however, a committee of Con-
gress reported favorably, but Congress itself declined the power to recog-
nize. As late as 1791 the company was vainly attempting to obtain a
rehearing before the General Court of Virginia, and an effort was also
fruitlessly made by a bill in equity in the Supreme Court of the United
States. Thus this immense grant, containing millions of acres, amounted
to nothing. ’

28

HISTORY OF WASHINGTON COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA.

timents on it. I return you my most hearty thanks
in the name of all the nations for your brotherly Love
and cordial advice, which I promise you sincerely
(by this belt of vvampum) shall be communicated
immediately and verbatim to the Five Nations by
myself, and,'moreover, shall see it forwarded from
the Senecas’ Castle with belts from each of our own
Nations to the Indians at Ohio, to strengthen your
desire, as I am thoroughly satisfied you have our in-
terest at heart.” ‘

‘ Information of the French expedition down the
Allegheny and Ohio Rivers under Celeron having
been promptly forwarded to England, considerable
anxiety was felt there as to the effect it might have
upon the Indian tribes; and the proprietaries of
Pennsylvania wrote at once from London to Governor
Hamilton a letter, which was received in January,
1750 (during a session of the Assembly), and from
which an extract, having reference to the subject in
question, is here given, viz.:

_ “ The Account you give of a Party of French hav-
ing come to Allegheny and laid-claim to that Country,
and the Tribes of Indians with whom we have lately
entered into Treaty, a good deal alarms me; and I
hear that Party is returned to Canada, threatening to
return with a greater Force next year. I have com-
municated the French Commandant’s Letter and
Paper, with an account of the Affair, to the Duke of
Bedford and Lord Halifax, and I think something
should be done immediately, if it can by consent of
thelndians, to take possession. This, I think, you
should advise with the Council and Assembly about,
as it is of — great Import to the Trade of the Province
to have a Settlement there, and an House a little more
secure than an Indian Cabbin. "I make no doubt the
Indians would readily consent to such a Settlement;
and if there is Stone and Lime in the neighborhood,
I think an House with thick walls of Stone, with
small Bastions, might be built at no very great Ex-
pence, as it is little matter how rough it is within-
side; or a wall of that sort perhaps fifty feet square,
with a small Log House in the middle of it, might
perhaps do better. The command of this might be
given to the principal Indian Trader, and he be obliged
to keep Four or Six Men at it, who might serve him
in it, and the House be a magazine for Goods. If
something of ‘this sort can be done, we shall be will-
ing to be at the expence of four hundred Pounds
Currency for the building of it, and of one hundred
Pounds a Year for keeping some men with a few Arms
and some Pdwder; this, with what the Assembly
might be induced to give, will in some measure pro-
tect the Trade, and be a mark of Possession. How-
ever few the Men are, they should wear an uniform
Dress, that though very small‘ it may look Fort like.”

But the Assembly did not favor the project. “ Dur-
ing the course of this Session,‘ the Governor had

1 Col. Rec., vol. V. p. 516.

several private Conferences‘ with the Speaker and
some of the principal Members of the House on the
state of Indian Affairs, and was in hopes that the
Proposal of the Proprietaries would have induced
them to encourage him to order the Persons intrusted
with the Delivery of’ the Present at Ohio [George
Croghan and Andrew Montour] to, make the Indians
some overtures of this sort; but the Members ap-
peared extremely averse to it, which obliged the*Gov-
ernor to desire Mr. Croghan to do no more than sound
the Indians in a private manner, that he might know
their Sentiments before he should do anything further
in the matter, Well knowing that unless the Assembly
would go heartily into the Affair and make some Pro-

vision along with the Proprietaries for the mainte-'

nance of the Fort or Block House, and the People to be
appointed for this service, it would be to no purpose
to stir in it.” He therefore did no more than lay
before the Assembly the preceding extract from the
proprietaries’ letter, on which no action was taken.

During the year following that of Celeron’s expe-
dition the Frenchman»Joncaire was again among the
Indians on the Allegheny endeavoring to remove the
ill feeling which Celeron’s overbearing conduct_ had
occasioned, and to secure for his countrymen the
friendship and confidence of the savages." George
Croghan (who, with the half—breed, Andrew Montour,
had been sent to the Ohio by Governor Hamilton, of
Pennsylvania, with presents to the Indians in that
vicinity), in a letter dated “ Logstown, on the Ohio,
Dec. 16, 1750,” said to the Governor,-

“ Sir,—Yesterday Mr. Montour and I got to this

town where we found thirty warriors of the Six
Nations going to war against the Catawba Indians.

They told us that they saw John Coeur [J oncaire]_

about one hundred and fifty miles up the river at an
Indian town, where he intends to build a fort if he
can get liberty from the Ohio Indians. -He has five
canoes loaded with goods, and is very generous in
making presents to all the chiefs of the Indians
he meets with. He has sent two messengers to this
town, desiring the Indians here to go" and meet him,
and clear the road for him to come down the river,
but they have so little respect for his message that
they have not thought it worth while to send him an
answer as yet.”

Croghan was again among the Indians on the Ohio ‘

in the springof 1751, and kept a journal of events
which occurred during his stay. From that journal
the following extracts are given as showing some-.
thing of the movements of the French at that time,
viz.:

“May 20.——Forty warriors of the Six Nations
came to town [the Indian town of Chinique, other-
wise called Logstown, located on the Ohio some
miles below Pittsburgh] from the head of the Ohio
with Mr. J oncoeur and one Frenchman more in com-
panyf’

“May 21.—¥Mr. J oncoeur, the French interpreter,

.0

232

I HISTORY or WASHINGTON COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA.

October, 1776, and in 1781-82 was making a like
fruitless endeavor before the Continental Congress.
And as the lands claimed all lay within the bounda-
ries of the new State, it’ may have been that among
the promoters of the project under consideration were,
some of them, members of the Indiana Company.

Believing, then, that neither the old “ new govern-
ment” scheme mentioned nor the abolition of slavery
in Pennsylvania had much if anything at all to do
with the new State project of 1780, which created so
much alarm east of the mountains, it is thought that
a sufficient cause for the agitation is found in the
peculiar condition of affairs in Southwestern Pennsyl-
vania at that time.

There was, first, the unrest natural to the pioneers
of any new country, leading them, after having en-
dured the dangers and hardships of the wilderness, to
seek like trials and excitements farther away in the
backwoods. This, perhaps, carried off the early em-
igration from these parts into Kentucky and Ten-
nessee. Then again, with those who remained, the
long-extended range ‘of mountains to the eastward
formed a barrier which not only shut them out from
the seaboard markets but also weakened the protective
power of the State government (for of national power
there was none), and the people felt that, unaided
and unprotected in the past, in the future their com-
mon weal was dependent upon their own autonomy.
What one of them ever imagined that the future
would provide the force which would break down
that mountain barrier?‘ But looking westward and

1 “ The two great emigrant and pack-horse routes up to 1800,” says Mr.
Veech, “ Monongahela of Old," 37, “ were the Pennsylvania [Pittsburgh,
via.-Hanna's Town, Ligonier, Bedford] and the Virginia -[Braddock’s]
roads heretofore noticed. ‘ The writer has seen as many as thirty pack-
horses in a caravan, pass through Uniontown in a day,——an occurrence
so frequent as not to attract unusual notice. . . . They were freighted
with salt, sugar—kettles, bar iron, nail rods, glass, kegs of rum, powder,
lead, &c. &c. A good horse carrried from two hundred to three hun-
dred pounds besides provisions and feed. These they would take
up along: the way at places they had dropped them in going down;
having no other heavy down loading, merely peltry, ginseng, feath-
ers, &c. The provisions consisted generally. of pone, cheese and dried
venison. A bear skin to each horse was an indispensable accompani-

_ment for a bed to the drivers and to protect the cargo from rain.

Each horse had his bell, silent by day, but let loose at night when
browsing. Two men generally managed ten or twelve horses, one be-
fore and one behind each train, to guide them among the trees, and pro-
tect the loading from side contact. Strength was also needful to load
and unload daily. Emigrants would have their little all slung across
one, two, or more horses, according to- their abundance, surmounted by
their wives and children, or the old folk, with the little bag, or stocking
of guineas, joes, or pistareens, snugly ensconced in the salt or clothes
bag, after the manner of Joseph’s brethren on their trip to Egypt for
corn. In 1784 the freight on goods from Philadelphia to Uniontown,
was Five Dollars per one hundred pounds. In 1789, thirty shillings, (Four
Dolllars,) from Carlisle,—'-the beginning of the pack-horse transporta-
tion. . . . This state of things made goods, even the necessaries’ of life,
very high. The best of alum salt rated here at from $4 to’$5 per bushel,
of ninety six pounds; ground alum salt, at from $3 to $35.50; coffee 33
cents per pound ; sugar, 25 cents ; Jamaica spirits, $2.33 per gallon. In
1784, wheat sold for 67 cents per bushel; corn, 22 cents; rye, 50 cents.
But flour at Natches, if you could get it there, was worth $25 per barrel!
A good two horse wagon and gears could be bought for two pack-horse
loads of salt, or a good tract of land of four hundred acres for a rifle
gun and a horn of powder.”

southward they saw the broad waters of a magnificent
natural outway, inexpensive and with an unlimited
capacity, and at the farther terminus twenty-five dol-
lars per barrel for their flour. And across the Ohio
lay a boundless acreage, much of it ready for the plow;
and down the southern bank of the beautiful river a
garden-spot, an El Dorado. And remember, too, that
the people were already taught the principles of lib-
erty and self-government, and, further, that thethen
union of the ‘States, being but a confederacy, wielded
no power and couldcommand no allegiance. Beside
all, there was the unsettled state of affairs arising out
of the “ unrun” boundary, the source of many woes
for so ma.ny years. Anarchy and confusion was in-
deed the rule, order and stability the exception.
What wonder then that Col. Daniel Brodhead, in
command of Fort Pitt, should write, Sept. 23, 1780,
as quoted by Mr. Veech :2 “The emigrations
from this new country to Kentucky are incred- 1780.
ible, and this has given opportunity to disaf-
fected people from the interior to purchase and settle

their lands,” and that he should write also, on Dec.

. 7, 17 80, to Richard Peters,3 “ I learn more and more

of the disaffection of many of the inhabitants on this
side the mountains. The King of Great Britain’s
health is often drunk in companies, and I believe
those wish to see the regular troops removed frdm

‘this department, and a favorable opportunity to sub-

mit to British government!” But of this state of
public sentiment it has been wisely said,‘ ,“ This
opinion was based not solely upon the disatfection of
the people, but also upon the weakness of the govern-
ments, State and national. There was a deeply
seated, sulky disappointment at having been aban-
doned by Virginia and Pennsylvania, which readily
soured into aversion to both and to the United States,
who they thought had failed to afford them due pro-
tection against the savage foes in their rear.”

The new State project broke out afresh early in
17 80, and, as will be inferred as the history of its ree
suscitation is unfolded, was supported chiefly by the
Virginia adherents, discontented probably by the late
adjustment of the boundary by the Baltimore agree-
ment then before the Virginia Assembly for ratifica-
tion. On May 31, 1780, Alexander McClean wrote
from Redstone to Thomas Scott,5 then the member of

the Supreme Executive Council for Westmoreland

County :

“ Mr. Adams was with me the other day, who seems greatly concerned
about the progress of the new state; he informs me that a number of
the persons over the River [z'.e., in the present Washington county] who
had signed the Petitions in your hands have been prevailed upon to vote
for a new State, and he informs me that there is to be a meeting at Colo.
Cooks 6 the 25th if I mistake not of June in order to take the Sense of
the people largely. Woe unto the Virginia lawyers, for they have (I

9 Centenary Memorial, 340.

3 II. Olden Time, 378.

4 Mr. Veech, Centenary Memorial, 340.

5 VIII. Penna. Archives, 280.

5 Edward Cook's, east of the Monongahela.

CIVIL‘ AND LEGAL-——THE NEW STATE PROJECT.

233

believe) taken away the key of knowledge and are never likely to re-
turn again themselves. They have so blinded the Western world that
they will notsee, they have become so obstinate that nothing less than
a new State can come under Consideration. I hope they will at last
consider it properly. Mr. Adams was to have wrote largely, but this op-
portunity could not be made to suit us both. . . . We have had a very
dry season so far; the worms have been very destructive to flax &c., but
I think this morning will find them other employ, Viz, swimming.”

What was done at the proposed meeting, and what
further transactions there were relating to the new
State during the subsequent part of 1780, there is no
definite information; but it was during this period
that theletters of Col. Brodhead, referring to the
emigration to “ Kentucke” and the disaffection of the
inhabitants, heretofore quoted, were written.
was at this time that the Continental Congress was

s endeavoring to have the. seaboard States,——Virginia,

New York, Massachusetts, and Connecticut,—-all hav-
ing claims westward towards the “South Sea,” to
cede their claims to the United States, and that on
Oct. 10, 1780, Congress made an earnest appeal to that
end, accompanied with an assurance that out of the
Territories so ceded should be formed new States, not
less than one hundred nor more than one hundred
and fifty miles square.‘ It was at this time, too, that
a pamphlet was written by the celebrated Thomas
Paine, having the following title: “Public Good,
being an Examination into the Claim of Virginia, to
the Vacant Western Territory, and of the Right of

h the United States to the same; to which are added

Proposals for Laying ofi" a New State, to be applied
as a Fund for Carrying on the War, or Redeeming
the National Debt; written in the year 1780.” It
was not, therefore, an altogether unauspicious time to
discuss the propriety, on the part of the Monongahela
and Ohio valleys, of remainingin Pennsylvania or of

joining in the new project. Even Thomas

A 1781. Scott was not astounded at the idea of the

new State, for on Jan. 24, 1781, he wrote to
President Reed,“ referring to the measures pending
in Congress of the nature stated, and propounding
certain interrogatories:

“ lst. Does Congress expect any land off Pennsylvania? 2d. Do they
mean by the promised reimbursements to pay a just proportion of the
sum due the proprietary family as well as other expence? 3d. Wlll the
State come into the measure? 4th. Will Pennsylvania let all the settle-
ments on the “Western waters [i.e., on Monongahela and Ohio] go with

' or be part of what they will relinquish? If the two first are in the

affirmative, and the whole Plan calculated, as it appears to be, to bring
the States into a firmer bond of union than they at present are, I can
Intertain but Littell doubt of the third. And if the fourth is in the
aflirmative also, I believe it will meet but very few objectionson this side
the mountains; but should the unsettled part of Pennsylvania's claim
be relinquished,3 and the settlements Retained, the people would certainly
think themselves Intolerably ag~. ieved. Give up all and let us take our
chance, or keep all and let us grow to be a considerable part of you, is
the cry of many. Others say let us by mere dint of opposition force those

‘States [Pennsylvania and Virginia] to relinquish us to Congress (on the

present recommendation). whose procrastinated quarrel about our Coun-
try hath hung us, our wives, Children and Living,up an easy pray to the
savages these so many years,the settlement whereof hath in so many in-

1 For greater detail see Mr. Veech, Centenary Memorial, 347-49.
2 VIII. Penn. Archives, 713.
3 That is, the parts north and west of the Allegheny River.

And it I

stances been totally neglected, and at best considered as a more by busi-
ness; which will at one stroke reconcile all our Territorial differences,
and Inable us to exert our united strength against our common enemy.

. . This is the present situation of this country, all in confusion and
distraction, helpless for want of Government, and exposed to the Dayly
Inrodes of the savage tribes.” 4

The whole of this letter is worthy of being read by
him who would have full knowledge of the “ destrac-
tions” of the times. The letter of Col. James Mar-
shel to President Reed, of June 27, 1781,5 has already
been quoted, wherein the colonel expressed his fear of
“Involving the good Subjects of this State in Civil
War with Col. Penticost’s Banditti and a new Govern-
ment party that Exists here, and of Exposing our
frontier Settlements to the greatest danger from the
Indians.” In November, 1781, Brig.-Gen. William
Irvine became the commandant at Fort Pitt. He

seemed to understand the people and to know how to

deal with them much better than did his predecessor,
Col. Brodhead. On Dec. 3, 1781, he wrote to William
Moore, then president of the Supreme Executive
Council :6

“ . . . This misfortune [the_fate of Colonel Lochry’s command], added
to the failure of General Clarke’s expedition, has filled the people with
great dismay. Many talk of retiring to the east side of the mountains
early in the spring. Indeed, there is great reason to apprehend that
the savages and perhaps the British from Detroit will push us hard in
the spring; and I believe there never were posts, nor a country, in a
worse state of defense; notwithstanding, I am well informed there have
been sundry meetings of people at different places, for the purpose of
concerting plans to emigrate into the Indian country, there to estal-lish
a government for themselves. . . . From what observations I have been
able to make, I am of opinion there are many obvious reasons that no
time should be lost in running the line between Virginia and Pennsyl-
vania. Civil government will never be fairly established till then, nor
even the militia drawn out with regularity for their own defense. I
have no reason as yet to complain of the people for the refractory, un-
governable, loose manners generally ascribed to them. I assure you,
sir, my pity for their situation is rather excited than wrath or indigna-
tion kindled. . . .” 1 -

President Moore recommended a method of divert-
ing the people from their new State emigration by
employing them in an invasion of the Indian country}
On April 20, 1782, Gen. Irvine again writes from Fort
Pitt,3 this time to Gen. Washington:

“ . . . Civil authority is by no means properly established in this
country, which I doubt not proceeds in some degree from inattention in
the executives of Virginia and Pennsylvania. Not running the bound-
ary line is, I think,a proof of this, which is at present an ex-
cuse for neglects of duty of all kinds for at least twenty 1782,
miles on each side of the line. More evils will arise from this
neglect than people are aware of. Emigrations and new States are much
talked of. Advertisements are set up announcing a day to assemble at
Wheeling for all who wish to become members of a new State on the
Muskingum. A certain Mr. Johnson is at the head of this party; he is
ambitious, and some say disaffected. . . . Should these people actually
emigrate they must be either entirely out off or immediately take pro.
tection from the British, which I fear is the real design of some of the

 

4 The foregoing letter, only part of which is quoted, is one of the best
summaries of the causes for the encouragement given to the new State
project, and there is not a word about the abolition of slavery as one of
them.

5 IX. Penn. Archives, 233.

5 Washington-Irvine Correspondence, 229. .

7 Ibid., 233. Which, by the way, was done, leading to Williamgonss
and Crawford's unfortunate expeditions.

8 Ibid., 109.

234

HISTORY or WASHINGTON COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA.

party, though I think agreat majority have no other views than to ac-
quire lands.”1

There‘ is now, given an aflidavit relating to the part
taken by an old acquaintance, Dorsey Pentecost,” in
the new State project, he at that time being a mem-
ber of the Supreme Executive Council of Pennsyl-
vania for ‘Washington County :

“ WASHINGTON Conxrv, ss.

“ Personally appeared before me, the subscriber, one of the Common-
wealth’s Justices of the Peace for said County, Hugh M. Brackenridge,
Esqr., being summoned to give evidence with regard to the conduct of
Dorsey Pentecoast, Esqr., in exciting and fomenting the present disturb-
ances in the County of Washington ; saith that he heard Mr. Pentecoast

on his return from Council declare that the line, meaning that with .

Virginia and this Commonwealth, would never be run, and that this
Country never would be Pennsylvania or Virginia, but a new State. At
the time that meetings were frequently held in. the County where
matters of a seditious nature were proposed, anonymous notes in writ-
ing were circulated thro’ the County, advertising a meeting under the
pretence for consulting measures for the preservation of the County,
which notes were in Mr. Pentecoast’s handwriting.
“ On oath before me this 4th day of July, 1782. -

. “_ JOHN DoUe.LAss.”

To show that the new State advocates were not con-
fined to Washington County, or to the vicinity of
Pittsburgh, to which that county then extended, there
is a letter from Christopher Hayes, of Westmoreland
County, to President Moore, dated “September ye
20th, 1782:” 3 A . .

“ After my best Compliments to you I enform your Excellency that
the Commission for the Courts of Oyer and Terminer is Come to hand,

'and also Mr. McClean’s Instructions for the Runningof the Pennsyl-

vania line, which is now sevarlly Threatened by those who Opposed it.
before, and our Lives Much Threatened by those who formerly held to
the Government of Virginia and now to a New State. . . . As our Asses-.
sors was taking their Returns According to Law, the Opposers Assem-
bled under arms, Drove them off From their Deauty, Fired. Guns at
them, and say they will not pay any Taxes nor be Obedient to our Laws,
being they never took the oath of Fidelity to this State, But means to
support a New State.”

In a letter dated Washington County, Nov. 6, 17 82,4
directed to President Moore, Col. Pentecost, in his own
peculiar way, and with a “ Degree of warmth in Some
Expressions,” replies to the charges made against
him in the affidavit before quoted, professing, how-
ever, a want of information as to their real nature, but
dealing in truly vigorous language. A portion of his
letter is as follows: ’ '

“ . . . The gentleman tells me that if he understood Mr. Bracken-
ridge right, some depositions has reached the State House the Subject of
which He could not perfectly collect as Mr. Brackenridge dealt in that
amiable Doctrine of Enuendoes, and hislnvictives was ratherin the
Generals; However they ware (or ware made) so Consequen tial as to be
referred to a Committee, who called on Mr’. Breckenridge for Informa-
tion on the subject. ‘ That truly wise and good man (no doubt with the

‘ Sanctity of a Divine) told them that the Charges were true, but the Com-

mittee with some members of your Board Concluded that I was a Char-
acter too Insignificant for their notice. . . .”

1 See letter from same to President Moore, May 9, 1782, Wash. and
Irv. Cor., 244.

2 IX. Penn. Archives, 572.

3 Ibid., 637. A special commission had been sent July 24th to Chris-
tophelf’ Hayes, Dorsey Pentecost, and Edward Cook to hold a Court 01
Oyer and Terminer. . 1

4 IX. Penn. Archives, 661.

The result of which was, as intimated, that the
government, pursuing as heretofore a policy of con-
ciliation, instituted no proceedings against individ-
uals. - -

But soon afterwards, to wit, on Dec. 3, 1782, the
General Assembly passed an act5 upon the subject, a
portion of which is here given :

“ AN ACT to prevent the erecting any new and independent State within the
Limits of this Commonwealth. .

“ SE01‘. 1. Whereas, by the Separation of the. Thirteen United States
from Great Britain, the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania hath become a
sovereign and independent State, and, in Consequence of such Separa-
tion a Government, established solely on the authority of the People,
hath been formed ; and it being evident that every County bath by the
Constitution, or by Laws enacted for that Purpose, an incontestible
Right to send Deputies to represent them in the General Assembly, and
that they have exercised that Right, they being now actually repre-
sented in this House; therefore all the Inhabitants of this Common-
wealth, as they are under the protection of its Laws, are bound by and
do owe Allegiance thereto; ,

“SI«‘.c'r. II. And Whereas ‘great Exertions have been made for the De-
fence of the Frontiers, and large Sums expended therein, notwithstand-
ing the Embarrassments and Difliculties under which the Commonwealth
hath and still doth labour in its Finances;

“ SECT. III. And Whereas this Commonwealth is indebted to the late
Proprietaries of Pennsylvania in a large Sum of money, payable to the
End of the War, and each and every County ought to contribute its just

Part or Proportion for that End, and the unlucated Lands within this"

State are and always have been considered a valuable Fund towards pay-
ing and discharging the said Debt;

“SECT. IV. And, Whereas, notwithstanding the Premises, this house
hath received. Information that divers ill disposed Persons, setting at
naught every Principle of public Virtue, and pursuing their ambitious
and interested Views, have caused great Uneasiness among the good
people of this State, by manifesting the most criminal Design of setting
up a distinct State or Government within this Commonwealth;

_“SEc'r. V. Be it therefore enacted, . . . That if any Person or Per-2
_ sons shall erect or form, or shall endeavor to ergct or form, any new and

independent Government, within the Boundaries of this Commonwealth,

A as described in the Charter, and settled between this State and the State
L of Virginia, such Person or Persons, being thereof legally convicted

in any Court of Oyer and Terminer, shall be adjudged guilty of High
Treason.” ‘

In subsequent sections, of which there were six in

number, it was also made high treason, and punish-
able with death, to set up notices calling meetings for
the purpose of forming a new and independent gov-
ernment, orto advocate the same at any public meet-
ing; trials were authorized in any county of the
Commonwealth, and authority given the Supreme
Executive Council to call out the militia to suppress
any attempts “to set up a new and independent gov.-
ernment in any county or counties within the bound-
aries of this Commonwealth, as above mentioned.”
Then the Supreme Executive Council, through

John McDowell,“ the member from Chester County,

commissioned Rev. James Finley to observe

the condition of sentiment among the people, 1783.
and to dissuade them from the new treason-

able project. ‘ Mr. -McDowell said, “ He has frequently
Preached among them, & is expected there this spring;
he will therefore have it in his power to execute his
Commission, without incurring the least suspicion of
being employed by Council.” The person employed,

5 2 Dall. L., 82. 5 IX. Penn. Archives, 729.

CIVIL AND LEGAL-—ORGANIZA'.I‘ION OF THE COURTS.

235

the terms of Mr. McDowell’s letter, as well as of the
instructions1 supplied to Rev. Mr. Finley, indicate the
wi_sdom and prudence of the course adopted in deal-
ing with this delicate subject, especially ditficult to
deal with among’ a people distracted in so many
respects. 1

The report of Rev. Mr. Finley was as follows,”
omitting, however, the interesting circular letter he
had used among the inhabitants:

“ Cncu. CoUN'.rY, MD., April 28, 1783.

esm,

“As ye Hon’ble Council over whichyour Excellency presides was
pleased to appoint me to fulfil ye Intentions of ye Legislature by en-
deavoring to bring those deluded Citizens in ye western Counties to a
proper Sense of their duty, who seemed disposed to separate from ye

Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, & erect a new & Independent state &
left it with me to act as prudence might direct, 8:0. And, as I undertook

I this business, they doubtless’ had a right to demand, & therefore may

justly expect me to give an account of my conduct herein; which, may
it please your Excellency, was as follows:

“ Immediately upon ye receipt of ye appointment, & your Excellency’s
Instructions, which were of singular use to me, I sett oil‘ ; and endeav-
ored to gain all ye knowledge I could of ye sentiments and conduct of
ye people in ye different parts of those settlements. And, as I found yt
ye Inhabitants on ye east side of ye River Youghioganni were mostly
opposite to a New State, I passed them by. A considerable number of
those between sd River and ye Monaungehela, as well as a great part of
Washington County, I found to be fond of it; being misled by a few
aspiring, & I suspect ill-designing men, or by men, who had not thor-
owly considered ye whole matter which later was ye case of some of ye
Clergy. I also found yt ye Act to prevent ye erecting any New and In-

dependent States, &c.; and likewise ye Act for ye sale of certain lands

therein mentioned, &c.; of ye 3d of December last, quite intimidated &
discouraged ye populace, who had been buoyed up with ye hopes of

, easily obtaining, & prospects of great advantage by a New State; and ye

even ye Ringleaders were for eating in their words & putting a new face
upon their conduct; so yt ye design of ye Legislature was partly effected,
yet ye people seemed rather hushed than convinced: Therefore I called
upon a number of ye Ministers & other Gentlemen, conversed with some
& wrote to others, as well as cautioned ye people after Sermon against
having any band in such Schemes.

“The Substance of my conversation, Cautions, & letters is to be found
in ye copy of a letter I herewith send your excellency; & which is nearly

ye same with many I wrote on ye occasion; & which, in a leasure hour

your Excellency may_ give a’ glance to if it may be thought worth
while. “

“ I carefully concealed my appointment from every one; nor did any
appear to suspect it. But. while some approved of my conduct, others,
viz., ye New Statesmen alledged I was too oflicious: yet I suspect appear-
ing in a public Character in yt aifair would not have answered any
better end. I concluded however that having ye letters in their hands
& reading them one to another, as I found was the case, they would be
obliged to attend to ye arguments. I hope some good is done; & cannot
but believe yt ye New State affair is over at present. I was six weeks in
ye country; & would have tarried longer had it appeared requisite for
ye good of ye State. But I must tell your Excellency yt I fear much
opposition will be made, especially by those disappointed in their ex-
pectations about a new State, & artifice used to evade a tax. I was
greatly opposed in this; and cannot answer ye objections against a tax
in cash, otherwise than by alledgiug ye ye Assembly would surely adopt
some easy measure which ye people could comply with; and I hopethis
will be done, as those Settlementsare nearly destitute of cash.

“ If a Campaign should be carried on to your westward this summer
or fall in order to check ye insolence of ye savages, who have already

‘killed & captivated many ; ye people, I doubt not, will readily contribute

in grain or wheat, each man his share of ye tax; & by this means will
be brought into ye custom without either force or disputation. And if
it should seem good to ye legislature, until money shall circulate more
extensively, to appoint ‘active & honest men to receive ye publick dues
in flour & convey it to New Orleans to market, ye people would this way
not only pay ye public tax, but also take out patents for their lands, So

1 X. Penn. Archives, 163. 2 Ibid., 40.

that in a short time many thousands would come into ye treasury, which
otherwise need not be expected. With an ardent wish for ye peace &
prosperity of your Government this comes from your Excellency’s
“ most obedient & humble servant,
“ JAMES FINLnY.”

The reverend commissioner was much too modest
in, his expectations as to the results‘ of his mission.
The new State project troubled the government no
more, and the history of this contention is now closed
by quoting from the address of Mr. Veech :3

“Now it is presumed that Mr. Finley’s conferences with the clergy
west of the Monongahela were chiefly. if not wholly, with Presbyterians,
—Mc-Millen, Smith, Dod, and Clark. Does he mean that some of them

_ had been misleading the people? His language looks that way. And

if they did so because they ‘ had not thoroughly considered the whole
‘matter,’ who can blame them? It was a captivating scheme, and until
recently not forbidden. A_nd if they had not been as ‘ wise as serpents’
to discern its seditious origin and the mischiefs it would work,.it was
perhaps because they were as ‘harmless as doves.’ Be this as it may,
the project quickly died out, and disaffection receded. . . . And yet, in
looking back upon the new State project, one may be pardoned for the
half-drawn sigh at its decapitation. With- Pitt.~burgh for its capital, so
natural as to seem to have been made for it, how easily would it have
sat in the sisterhood of States.” -

CHA IDTER XVIII.
THE CIVIL AND LEGAL HISTORY.——( Continued.)

X.

Organization of the Courts——Returns of the First General Election-
Early Judicial Proceedings-—Reorganization of the C_ourts—Reduction
of Limits. New Counties--The Constitution of l790—Judicial Districts
—Hon. Alexander Addison—-Hon. Samuel Roberts—Hon. Thomas H.
Baird—Hon. Nathaniel Ewing—Constitution of 1838-Hon. Samuel A.
Gilmore——Amendment of 1850-Hon. James Lindsey—-Hon. J. Ken-
nedy Ewing—Hon. B. B. Chamberlin-Hon. A. W. Acheson-—Hon.
George S. Hart.

Organization of the Courts,——On the 17th day of
September, 1781, to which date the reader is asked to
return, Henry Taylor, being the first-named justice in
the general commission heretofore copied, and

therefore by long usage the president of the 1781.

courts about to be organized, issued the venire

for a grand jury, still on the files in its proper place,
which is here cdpied because it is quite different from
such venires of the present day:

“ WASHINGTON COUNTY, ss.

FA“ “The Common Wealth of Pennsylvania, To the sherifi‘
{ SEAL of Washington County, Greeting: V
\—v—" “ We command you, that you omit not, by reason of any

Liberty within your county, but that you enter therein, and that you
cause to come before our Justices assigned to keep the peace in the said
County, and also to hear and determine di_vers felonies, trespasses, and
other misdemeanors in the said countycommitted, on the Second day of
October now next Insuing, at the House of David Hoge, at Catfish Camp,
in the said county, Twenty-four good and Lawful men of the body of the
county affore said, then and there to inquire, present, do and perform, all
and singular such things, which on behalf of the said». Commonwealth
shall be injoined them; And have you then there as well the names of
the Jurors aforesaid, as also this writ: Witness Henry Taylor, Esquire,

at Catfish, the Seventeenth day of September, in the year of our Lord,"

one thousand Seven hundred and Eighty one, and in the Sixth year of
the said Commonwealth.

[Indorsed] “ HENRY TAYLOR.”

‘3 Centenary Memorial, 355.

236

HISTORY OF WASHINGTON COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA.

“ I have Sumoned the men whose names are mentioned in the Pannal

hereto annexed as within I am commanded,
“ LEVI WELLS,

“ Sub-Shemffl”
[“Pannal’-’ attached]

“ David Riddle.
Josiah Scott.
Alexander Eddy.
Nicholas Littell,
David Finley.
Alexander Karr.
Patrick Scott.
Arthur Forbes.
Patrick McCullough.
John Stephenson.
Hugh Scott.

James Furman.
Samuel Freazer.

George Vanemmon.
Henry Dunnavan.
James Scott.

_ Joseph Cowenhoven.
Henry Newkirk.
James Graham.
Larance Ralasson.
Norard Francway.
John Morison.
Geurge Gillespie.
James Clemons.
Thomas Wilon.
Samuel Stllick.”

Twenty-six in number.
On the same-day (Sept. 17, 1781) another venire
was directed to the sheriff,‘ commanding him

“ To cause to come before our Justices at Catfish Camp, at our County
Court of Common Pleas there to be held for the County of Washington,
on the Second day of October next, Twenty-four free and lawful men of
the body of your County, each of Whome has forty Shillings of Lands,
Tenements or Rents by the year at Least, by whom the truth of the
matter may be better known, and who are in no ways of kin to the par-
ties, to make a Certain Jury of the County between the parties attoresaid
in the pleas there depending, Because the. said parties, between whome
the Matters in veriance are, have put themselves upon that Jury: and
have there the names of the Jurors and this writ: Witness Henry Tay-
lor, Esquire, at Washington 2 the seventeenth day of September, Annoq.
Domini, 1781.”

The panel returned with this venire for the first
petit jury contains the following names:

David Dilly.
Peter Letherman.
George Demut.
Jonathan Markland.
Philip Lewellin.
Matthew Steen.

- Joseph Shadan.
David Clark.
John Smith.
Samuel Usburn.
James Brownlee.

David Irwin.
VVilliaIn Holmes.
VVillia'm Johnson.
Archibald Neal.
John Beard.
David Enocll.
James Fitzpatrick.
E’/.ek;t-I Rose.
John M-annon.
Nathaniel Redford.
John Varvil.

By this writ and panel of jurors provision was made
for the first Court of Common Pleas of Washington
County. ' ‘

But, as heretofore written, the Court of Quarter
Sessions of the Peace, etc., was the principal court
during theexistence of the Constitution of 1776, and
the venire first quoted is that which brought together
at “ Catfis-h’Camp” the several justices commissioned,
and who held the first term, the record of which in
the original minutes will now be laid before the
reader:

“At a Court of General Sessions of the Peace held at the house of
David Hoge,3 at Catfish Camp, for the County of \VttSl'tiltgtnn, on the

1 There was no sheriff yet in commission for Washington (Younty, but
it will be remembered that in the organic act it was provided that until
a. sheriff and coroner should be chosen for \Vasltittgt«»It County, the sheriff
and coroner of Westmoreland County should “ ofliciate and art.”

2This slums the struggle of this place for a natne,—('atfish Camp,
VVashington, Bassett Town. David Huge wtshe-l tocall his town afu-.r his
kin.-man, Richard Bassett, of Delaware, as to whom see Johnston's “ I-list.
of Cecil Co., Md.,” lot}, I77, 184-85.

3 It is thought that David Hoge never lived at Catfish Camp, though

‘ he doubtless had a cabin here. He was the brother of Jonathan Huge,

Second day of 0ctober,in the year of our Lord one Thousand Seven ‘hun-
dred and Eighty-one, before Henry Taylor, Esquire, and his associates,
Justices of the said Court.
“ Hugh Montgomery Brackem-idge,4 Samuel Irwin, and David Sam-
ple, Esquires, admitted Attorneys, and sworn in open court. ‘
“ The said David Sample,5 Esquire, appointed To prosecute for the
State. ,
“ Grand Jury: ,
Alexander Eady, Foreman.
David Riddle. -
David Finley.
Patrick Scott.
Arthur Forbes.
Patrick McCullough.
Hugh Scott.
2i: =1: :1: as :1: * at: at: :1: ,
“Alexander Eady, Thomas Hambleton, James Patterson, Abraham
Vanmidleswarth, and Nathaniel Brown, appointed to View, and if ne-
cessary Lay out a Road the Nearest and best way from Catfish Camp to
the Presbyterian Meeting-house in the forks of Chartiers creek, peti-
tioned for by a number of the Inhabitants of Strabane Township, and to
Report to Next Term. 7
“Hugh Montgomery Brackenridge, Esquire, Complains that a Road
is much wanted from Catfish Camp to Pittsburgh; Whereupon Henry
Hulce, Andrew Hood, Moses Coe, Joseph Beelor, James Bradford, Jr.,
and John White, Junr., are appointed to View, and if necessary Lay out
the Said Road, the nearest and best way from point to point, and report
to next 'l‘erm.
“Hugh Montgomery Brackenridge Complains that a Road is much

Samuel Frazer.
George Vanemon. .
Henry Dunnavan.
James Scott.

Joseph Cowenhoven.
John Morrison.

Wanted from John Cannon, Esq., his Mill to Pittsburgh; iWhereupon’
Robert ltalstone, William Long, Thomas Braken, John Springer, John '

Henry, and Nathaniel Stokes are appointed to View, and if necessary to
Lay out the said Road, by Course and distance the nearest and best way
from point to point, and report to next Term.

“ The recommendation of the Court is granted to James Wilson for
keeping a Public house of Entertainment at Catfish Camp.”

The only other item of business transacted in the
Quarter Sessions at this its first term is the binding
in a recognizance of J ohn Fisher to appear at the
next term, and in the mean time to keep the peace
“towards all the liege subjects of the Commonwealth,
and particularly towards William Bowan, Elizabeth

of Cumberland County, who was a member from that county of the Con-
stitutional Convention of1776, and also of that of 1790, and a member of
the Supreme Executive Council in 1786. But it is pretty well settled
that the first terms of the courts for Washington Count.y were held upon
the lot occupied by John Dodd ; for in the minutes of the first board of
county connnissroners for the year 1783, in which year is the first re-
corded tax levy, one item of the levy was, " Laid on to pay the Court-
House rent to Charles or John Dodd,£40.” The record of disbursements
shows that there was paid to Charles Dodd that same year, for “ Court-
house Rent, 1 year, £15." This being for the third year, the inference
is pertni~sib|e that £l5 was paid for the second year, and £10 for the first
year. John Dodd occupied, as is well established, the lot whereon at
present stands Mr. R. 14‘. Strean’s building, on the northwest corner of
Main Street and Strawberry Alley, and upon that lot doubtless was held
the first sessions of the courts. There is evidence that terms were held at
other houses also, until were erected the Public Buildings, an account of
which will appear elsewhere.

4 This was the Hugh Henry Brackenridge of a few years later. Just ‘

when or why or how his name was changed, as it undoubtedly was, is
not known. He was born at Campbleton. Scotland, in 1748; came with
his father to I’ennsylvania. at the age of five; graduated at Princeton Col-
lege. 1771, and was master of an academy in Maryland when the Revo-
lution broke out; removed to Philadelphia, studied divinity, becamea
chaplain in the army; settled at Pittsburgh in 1781; in I786 was sent to
the Legislature to have Allegheny County erected; was made ajudge in
1789, and from I799 until his death at Carlisle, June 25, 18l6,.was a jus-
tice of the Supreme Court of the State. He took a prominent part in
the VVhiske.y Insurrection (quml vide), and was the author of several
works, satirical, historical. and literary.

5 David Sample was admitted to the bar of Bedford County at the first
court in 1771.

CIVIL AND LEGrAL——ORGANIZATION on THE COURTS.

237'

Bowan, and Elce Fisher, ‘wife of the said John
Fisher.”

There was but little business transacted at the first
term of the Court of Common Pleas. The venire, as
heretofore copied, was dated Sept. 17, 1781. On that
day a suit was brought by Philip Gililan against Mary
Peters, widow. This defendant was the wife of In-
dian Peter, living on “ Indian Hill” tract, where
West Brownsville now is} The case was never
brought to trial, being non-prossed a.fter a first and
second rule to declare. No paper in the suit remains
on file, except the writ, which was a summons in tres-
pass on the case. The second suit on the docket was
Sarah Taylor 723. David Williamson. At the term
time there wa.s a special imparlance, and special bail

was entered. January term,'1782, rule to declare,

and continuance. This defendant was Col. David
Williamson, who the next month, February, 1782,
led the militia of the countyagainst the Moravian
Indians at Gnadenhiitten.

To this first term of the Common Pleas there were
fifteen causes, ten of which were ejectments. In the
first year of this court’s existence there were two hun-
dred and eighty-five causes, of which fifty-seven were
contentions about land titles. The great source of
these contentions, it will readily be surmised, was
the condition attached by Virginia, on June 23, 1780,
to her ratification of the Baltimore agreement of Aug.
31, 1779, determining the boundary controversy, in

which it was provided “that the private property

and rights of all persons acquired under, founded on,
or recognized by the laws of either country previous
to the date thereof be saved and confirmed to them,
although they should be found to fall within the
-other; and that in the decision of disputes thereon
preference shall be given to the elder or prior right,

"whichever of the said States the same shall have been

acquired under,” which humiliating condition Penn-
sylvania, in the interest of peace, on Sept. 23, 1780,
had accepted.” Hence it followed that to determine
which was the prior right, acquired under one State

' or the other, a suit at law was necessarily unavoidable,

and the Virginia jurisdiction having been terminated
the land-title contentions were left to be decided in
the Pennsylvania courts, the greater part of them in
Washington County.

At the first term of the Orphans’ Court Elizabeth
Green, minor, of the age of fourteen years, was “ put
an apprentice” to Patrick Allison, “ till she arrives

1 See Centennial Celebration of Washington County, 45.

2 Of course the terms of this condition referred entirely to land titles.
But a curious application of it was attempted. During the Virginia
usurpation, Dorsey Pentecost had held the oifice of clerk of the Court
of Yohogania County, and Benjamin Johnston had been the county
surveyor for that county, exercising that ofiice even after Washington
County was erected. These worthies, when they failed to get the corre-
sponding oflices for Washington County, complained in vigorous English
that their respective rights under the terms of the compromise condition
had been violated! See their letters: Dorsey Pentecost, Oct. 6, 1783,
X. Penn. Archives, 181; Benjamin Johnston, Nov. 1, 1784; Ibid., 611.

16

at the age of eighteen years, to learn to read and also
the art of housewifery.” George Green, a minor of
the age of two years, was “put an apprentice” to
Patrick Allison, “ till he arrives at the age of twenty-
one years, to learn reading, writing, the five rules of
arithmetic, also the art of farming.” Abraham Tea-
garden was ‘ appointed to be the guardian of the
“ affairs” of Jesse Bumgardner, a minor, “ as far
as his concerns lie in Washington County.”

In order to show the style in which our fathers
attended this term of court, it is said by Judge Wilke-
son, in his “ Early Recollections of the West,” 3 writing
of this period: “ So great was the destitution of
comfortable clothing, that when the first court of
Common Pleas was held in Catfish, now VVashington,
a highly respectable citizen, whose presence was re-
quired as a magistrate, could not attend court with-
out first borrowing a pair of leather breeches from an
equally respectable neighbor, who was summoned on
the grand jury. The latter lent them, and having no
others had to stay at home.”

But at this term of court who of the justices com-

missioned on the 24th of August, 1781, to hold ‘the’

courts came together and what their surroundings?
To this inquiry the only answer to be found is in the
letter of the truly honorable Thomas Scott to Presi-
dent‘Reed,4 portions of which are copied:

“ WASHINGTON, October 19, 1781.
“DEAR Sm,

“ I am honored with your favor dated In Council, Philada., 27 August,
1781, and the several Commissions Inclosed. Immediately on rect.
whereof I called a number of the Gent’n named in the general com-
mission [i.e., to the justices], and administered to them the necessary
oaths. Also acquainting as many as I had the opportunity of, with the
paragraff in your Letters which mentions the oaths of Citizenship to
be taken by our Electors. I am exceedingly sorry that I have to men-
tion the great disgust this [last] requisition gives many, which In-
creased from day to day until the court, when it came to be more pub-
licly spoken of, and it was with considerable ditficulty we could prevail
upon such of the Grandjury as had not, to take the oath of fidelity.
However they did, and business was done in a tolerable manner, but
the great question was about the election.5

“Our County, its true, is unhapily divided into two grand parties,
namely the Pennsylvania & Virginia, each claiming some special Indul-
gencies; the one for their steady attachment to the state, the other on
account of their Transfer, as it is called, from the other state. For my
part I think what is right is right in either party, and am well satisfied
all things prior to the agreement of the two states should be forgotten,
and every man stand or fall on the demerit of his deeds in futur. My
earnest desire to reconcile these parties, and steady adherence to nuter-
ality between them in hopes of accomplishing this end, however un-
reconciled they yet remain, hath had the effect in some measure of
softening their resentment to each other on this ocation, and bringing
the resentment of both on myself; one party alledging that of Course I
was of the other, and therefore had wrote to Council that the oath
might be urged in order to prevent the voats of those who still felt a
little sore through old prejudices. The other avering I ought of right,
to be of their party and was not, but had wrote for the said Instructions
thereby to prevent the voats of those who were religiously scrupulous
of multiplying oaths, especially as the line is not yet run, and thought
themselves intitled to voat on their known attachment to the state, and,
in a word, both declared for voating without oath, and that I was the
only cause of its being required. So jealous and so unjust is the spirit

________________________________
3 II. American Pioneer, 159.
4 IX. Penn. Archives, 438.
5.l1‘o be referred to hereafter.

238

HISTORY OF WASHINGTON COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA.

of party, Council will see no mistery in all this, and if good grow to the
County out of the mistake, I have no objection to the small sacrifice.

“ Being under an indispensable necessity of being at Westmoreland
Court the very day of the election I was not present, and know not how
it was conducted. But I conceive there is the greatest necessity of the
Legislature immediately ascertaining by publick action on what Terms
The Inhabitants of this disputed Territory shall become Lawful Jurors,
voaters, etc., which I hope the Council will think of, and if necessary
Lay it before the house of assembly. I have not the least doubt but the
people will Generally be good and faithful subjects if properly managed
and supported. -

“We still groan under the diificulty of an unrun boundary line. . . .

“I presume the Gentn who remonstrated against the commission of
the peace for the County being Issued, are on cool reflection convinced
that it was not nor could it be a private election as to time, that being
settled by act of Assembly, and as to the privity of place I believe great
part was ocationed by some persons pulling down and secreting the ad-
vertisements Which the trustees published for that purpose. However,
I think all are nearly satisfied on learning that there is a mode pro-
vided whereby those Townships that have not elected at all may be sup-
plied, and also a way to displace such as by their conduct show themselves
unworthy the honour and trust of a magistrate, some of which rank (I
am sorry I have it to tell you) I expect will shortly be told out to the as-
sembly, and that one of those recommended by these very Gentn will
be in the list. So liable to mistakes is human nature, the best proof of
mankind is Tryal ; but I confess when this proof is obtained at the
expense of disgracing an hon’ble commission or betraying the trust of
a people its too dear; but when a good man and good oflicer is found I
can’t think the discontent of a frowning, freting party too high a price.
This county is just like other parts of the world,‘ Let a petition be, formed
to burn the church and some Signers may be got to it.”

:1: :1: are as as axe :1: =1: :1: are

The General Election.——It will be observed that
although the first terms of the courts have passed,
the county is yet without representatives in Council
and in the Assembly, a sheriff, a coroner, and county
commissioners of her own; persons for these offices
had not yet been chosen.

The Constitution of 1776 1 provided that the day for
holding the general elections throughout the State
should be the “'Second Tuesday of October forever,” 2
which in 1781 was the 9th day of that month, and on
that day were chosen persons to fill the positions re-
ferred to. It was to this election Mr. Scott made
reference in the early part of his letter, and it would
seem that the oath of allegiance and fidelity required
by the instructions of the Supreme Executive Coun-
cil to be taken by each elector was dispensed with by
consent of both parties into which our people were
divided, and the result of this violation will presently
appear?

___

1 See Sections IX. and XVII., Chapter II.

2 Unchanged until the Constitution of 1874, nin ety-eight years.

3 This general election by the people of the whole county was held at
what was regarded as the court-house. Such elections were held at the
county-seat until 1787 ; see act of 1785, III. Carey & Bioren, 91. By the
act of Sept. 27, 1787 (III. Ibid., 212), the county for the first time was
divided into election districts six in number, and their boundaries de-
scribed. The places for holding the elections in each district as num-
bered were as follows :

1. House of Jacob Cline, on Muddy Creek.

2. House of Sheshbazer Bently, on Pigeon Creek.

3. House of Daniel Shaughan, on Chartiers Creek (?).

4. Court-house, Washington.

5. House of Joshua Meek, Raccoon Creek (?).

6. House of George Blazer, Kings Creek.

It would be unprofitable to follow the subsequent changes innumer-
able made in the election districts. ‘ '

The returns of this general election traveled slowly
on their way to Philadelphia, at least it was not until
Nov. 30, 1781, that there was the following record of
the proceedings of the Supreme Executive Council : *

“ A return of the general election of the county of Washington was
read, by which it appears that the following gentlemen were duly
elected, vizt.: H

“ Councellor, Dorsey Pentecost.

“ Representatives, James Ed gar. John Cannon.

“ Sherifis, Van Swearingen, Andrew Swearingen.

“ Coroners, Wm. McFarlane, Wm. McComb.

“ Commissioners, George Vallandigham, Thomas Crooks, John Mc-
Dowell.

“ On consideration}?

“ Resolved, That Van Swearingen, Esquire, be appointed Sherifi‘ of the
county of Washington, and that Wm. McFarlin be appointed Coroner of
the said county, and that they be commissioned accordingly.”5

4 XIII. Col. Records, 134.

5 So far as the elections for sheriffs and coroners were concerned,
under the Constitution of 1776 the election was but a recommendation,
as will be remembered, and the Council could commission either of the
two chosen as “ fit persons.”

6 Dorsey Pentecost and John Canon are well known to us.

James Edgar, celebrated in our early annals for his upright and influ-
ential character, was born in York County, Pa., Nov. 15,1744, was a
member from that county of the Provincial Conference which met at
Carpenter’s Hall, Philadelphia, June 18, 1776, to make provision for a
“new government in this province on the authority of the people only;”
on July 8, 1776, elected (and served) as a delegate from that -county to
the convention which framed the Constitution of 1776; a member from
that county of the Council of Safety, 1777 ; member of Sup. Ex. Council

from that county in 1777; removed to and settled in Smith, now Cross ‘

Creek township, Washington County, in the fall of 1779; with John Mc-
Dowell, member of the Board of Censors for Washington County in
1783; commissioned, with William McFarland, an associate justice, Sept.
30, 1788, and held that oflice till his death. In 1794 he was prominent
in the Whiskey Insurrection on the side of law and order. He died in.
Smith township, on June 8, 1814.

Van Swearingen. was son of John Swearingen, of Springhill township,
Fayette County, who had come from Berkeley County, Va. He was a.
justice of Westmoreland County, and resided opposite the present Green-
field until Washington County was erected, that is, when at home, as
he wa a noted frontiersman, known as “ Indian Van,” and was a cap-
tain from Aug. 9, 1776, in C01. Mackay’s regiment, the Eighth Pennsyl-
vania line, in the Revolution. Samuel Brady, his son-in-law then, or
afterward, and the famous Indian scout, was also a captain in same reg-
iment. In 1784 he was succeeded by Col. James Marshel as sheriff of
Washington County, and in 1785 removed to a tract purchased from
Capt. Isaac Cox, embracing Cox’s fort, just above Wellsburg, upon
which he resided till his death Dec‘. 2, 1793, in the fifty-first year of his
age. His will is recorded in our register’s oflice, in Book I., p.220. The
writer has a letter from Van Swearingen, dated March 17, 1791, to Capt.
Josiah Swearingen, in which b.e says, “ I am going to give you the Late

nuse in this neiborhood. The Indens lately killed & took seven people A

2 miles from‘ my fort & fore others in the woods in this neiborhood.
Brady & others 25 folowed or scouted after savedges returned with 4
skilps & a grate quantity of plunder. Thay wounded Indins that escapt
& killed a squaw By axident which may did not scalpt.” A

William McFarland, son of Col. Daniel McFarland (whosettled at the
locality of Ten-Mile village, coming from New Jersey, probably as early
as 1776 or 1777, and who died in 1817, aged eighty-seven), was born in
New Jersey about 1756, and came with his father to the West; Sept. 30,
1788, commissioned as a justice of the courts; his son James was the
father of Hon. N. C. McFarland, of the United States Land Oflice; his
daughter Sarah was the mother of Abel M. Evans, of Ten-Mile village;
his daughter Mary, the mother of Hon. John A. Dille, Morgantown, W.
Va.; his daughter Phoebe,_the mother of Miss Phoebe Clark and her
sister, the wife of William H. Underwood, late register of Wills; and
his son Samuel was well known as Maj’. McFarland, a citizen of Wash-
ington at his death in 1868. .

George Vallandigham has been known as ajustice of the extinct Vir-
ginia courts, lived at the present Noblestown, on the P. C. & St. L. Rail-
way, and is said to have been the grandfather of Hon. C. L. Vallandig-

  CIVIL AND LEGAL—EARLY JUDICIAL PROCEEDINGS.

239

Early Judicial Proceedings.—The result of hold-
ing this general election without the oath of allegiance
and fidelity was that Pentecost, Canon, and Vallan-
digham, hitherto ardent Virginia partisans, and Crooks

_and McDowell, a little identified with that side, were

elected to most important oflices. The Virginians
were in the majority.

The organization of ,Washington County as a civil
municipality, adapted for the protection and preserva-
tion of the rights of person and property, is now com-
pleted, though her troubles are not quite at an end.
It has already been seen that for several years the old
contest still survived, and there is a trace of the old
trouble in the records of the second term of the Court of
Quarter Sessions, held on the 1st day of January, 1782.

The second, third, fourth, and fifth causes entered
to that term in the said court are each entitled, Res
publica vs. Gabriel Cox. Number 2 was an
indictment for assault, on information of Isaac
Gibson ; Number 3, an indictment for assault,
on information of Richard Parkinson; Number 4, an
indictment for assault and battery, on information of
Hugh Sterling; and Number 5, an indictment for
assault and battery, on information of Hugh Scott.
The first two causes were continued, but coming up
at the next term, held April 2, 1782, were tried and
Col. Cox was acquitted. The jury in Number 2 was
composed of David Steel, Jeremiah Riggs, Nathan

1782.

-Ellis, William Howe, Thomas Bond, Edward Miles,

Brice Virgin, James Curry, James Kykendall, Rezin
Virgin, John Wall, and George Myers. The j urymen
in Number 3 were the same, except Peter Hanks in
place of Rezin Virgin. To the bills found in Numbers
4 and 5 special pleas of misnomer were filed, but
after the verdicts of not guilty in Numbers 2 and 3

.were rendered, each of the other causes was ‘ended,

with a “Noli Prosequi.” There were other indict-
ments against John Vanata and Michael Tygart, which
evidently had their origin in the same matter as those
against Gabriel Cox. »

These causes will now be explained. The arrest
of the persons named, and their trials for as-
sault and battery, brought about complaints to the
Virginia authorities, who in turn complained to the
Supreme Executive Council of Pennsylvania; where-
upon that body called upon Thomas Scott, the clerk
of the court, for a report of the facts and circum-
stances.‘ Thus called upon, Mr. Scott wrote a letter
to President Dickinson, dated Aug. 15, 17 83,2 in ex-
tracts from which a full explanation of the prosecu-
tions referred to is given:

“ . . . The case of Col. Cox is shortly thus: prosecutions were Insti-

tuted against him for assaults and Batteries in useing compulsory meas-

ham, the noted Ohio Democrat during the Rebellion. Thomas Crooks
settled near Hillsboro’, on the National road; John McDowell lived not
far from the Chartiers Presbyterian Church, near Canonsburg.

1 See for correspondence, X. Penn. Archives, 56; XI. Ibid., 499; X.
Ibid., 65, 72, 78.

2 X. Ibid., 81. .

ures to draw forth the militia of Washington County, By virtue of orders
issued by Col. Penticost in Character of Lieutenant of Yohogania
county, for the Service of Gen]. Clark's expedition down the Ohio in
1781. Which orders, as well the people who were thus compelledto
service, as the Generality of the people of the county could not conceive
to have proceeded from the authority of Virginia; not only because of
the previous agreement of the Several Legislatures, but from the orders
Given by that State on that occasion, to the Lieutenant of Monongalia
county, viz.: that he should confine his authority to the South side of
Dixon’s and Mason’s Line Extended, although the Greater part of that
county lay north of that line; on this Ground as well as on full convic-

tion of the Legal extension of the Jurisdiction of this State, the people i

very Generally disobeyed these orders, and these prosecutions were com-
menced.

“ This being the true State of this Gentn’s Case, and although his
conduct on the occasion was exceedingly disrespectful to the court, He
coming at the head of a party in a Tumultious & contemptious Manner,
continuing about the Streets in that Manner until evening, and the same
night an attempt was made upon the house in which the court was held,
and part of it Thrown down; yet so far was personal resentment and
party Spirit from mingling with the proceedings of the Court, that a
disposition to soften the prosecution was observable in most of the offi-
cers, and C01. Cox was actually acquitted. How this Can be termed a
Judgment against him for a Considerable sum, &c., I cannot understand.
It is true that on account of his behaviour already mentioned, I charged
him Clarks [clerk’s] fees. There was Indictments against one other
Gent, who was also acquitted and discharged without fees; and there is
a Suit depending against two others for things of the same nature, done
at the same time; But there never was a decision of Court against any
Virginia oificer, as such, for any cause whatever.”

Mr. Scott does not tell us, what may have been the
case, that the jurymen who sat in Col. Cox’s cases,
having been the most of them former Virginia adhe-
rents, may have been out with him the night that a
part of the house in which the court was held was
“Thrown down.”

At this the second term of court, held as stated
Jan. 1, 17 82, Thomas Smith and David Espy, resident
members of the Bedford bar, were admitted as attor-
neys. Mr. Smith afterward became a justice of the
Supreme Court. Quite a number of proceedings were
instituted for the laying out of roads,.and it seems to
have been considered that the roads previously estab-
lished under authority from the Virginia courts had
no legal existence, and that it was necessary that they
be again laid out by order of the Quarter Sessions of
Washington County. So viewers were appointed to
View aroad from “ Basset Town?’ to near Fort Pitt ;”
on another from “ Basset Town to Redstone Ferry on
Monongahela River ;” on another from “ Basset Town
to the mouth of a gut about forty pearches below the
mouth of Pigeon Creek;” on another from “Basset
Town to Fort Decker on the Ohio ;” on another from
“ John Canon Esquire’s Mill to Samuel Johnson Es-
quire’s Mill;” on another from “Body’s (or Boly’s)
Mill to Fort Pitt.” There were at this term twenty-
eight criminal prosecutions,———one felony, ten assaults,
seven tippling-houses, and there were seven prosecu-
tions against females‘ for fornication and bastardyf‘

3 The writer has been and is quoting from the original minutes; when
the record came to be fully made up afterward the name “ Washington”
is substituted for “ Basset Town” in this and other places.

4 There were many such causes in our early courts, but it was the
custom universally observed that on application to the Supreme Execu-

tive Council the fines imposed were mercifully remitted.

240

HISTORY or WASHINGTON COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA.

1783. At December sessions, 1783, is found the fol-
lowing curious and interesting record:

“ The court fix the following Rates upon Tavern Keepers :

£ 8. d
Breckfast of Tea Coffe or Chocolate, with a beef Stake Mutton
Chap or other Relish ...... ... .....................................  .... .. 0 1 6
Do. With Bread andbutter & tost, without Relish ............ .. 0 1 3
D0. of Cold Victnals '  . 0 0 10

Dinner of Roast and Boil, Consisting of more than one course,
with proper Sauce & Table Drink, viz: Small Beer, Cider or
Weak Grogg ................................................................ ..

Common Dinner of Roast and Boil, with do .......  .................. ..

Supper of Tea, Cotfe or Chocolate with other proper materials.....

D0. of other Warm Victuals ................................  ...... ..
D0. of Cold Victuals ............  ....................  ................ ..
Lodging in Good beds with Clean Sheets
A horse 24 Hours at Good Timothy or Clover Hay .................... ..
Do. at Good Pasture ...................  ..............  .............. ..

Corn or oats pr quart

Whisky full proof pr Gill ..........................  ......... ., ........... ..

Toddy pr Bowel Containing 1/2 pint Whisky with Loaf Sugar .... ..

Do. with Brown Sugar.-. .............. ..

Beer pr quart ............. .. . ......................... ..

Cider pr quart ...................................................................... ..

Half pint Good Rum made into Tody with Loaf Sugar .............. ..

Half pint Good Rum ...........  .............................................. ..

Pint of Good Medara Wine ............  ...........  ....................... .. 0 1 10

Which Rates were published by the cryer of the court and Set up to
public view according to LaW.” 1

.-i
OGEODG‘-iCDDiPl.\'.«O>Gb!-FOOODCDO

o o c o no

n o o o o o o u o o --

OOOOOOOOOCOOOOOO
r-‘-IOOI-l--‘O00:-Iocr-r-I--‘N!

By an act of Assembly passed Jan. 22, 17 77,2 in force
in 1783, the Spanish milled silver dollar was made
equivalent to 78. 6d,; the Pennsylvania shilling was
therefore 13:} cents, and the cost of a good meal and
sufficient drink can easily be ascertained.

It is not intended to follow up the records of the
courts any further or to deta.il the facts of the causes
celebres, civil or criminal, which have had their place
in our judicial history. Search is made only for those
matters which will illustrate the development of the
people into a better life. And the next inquiry is,
were the whippping-post, the stocks,the pillory and
the ducking-stool ever among the‘ civilizing institu-
tions of Washington County? As to the ducking-
stool, the only instance of its erection in any part of
the State west of the Alleghanies is the one ordered
to be erected “ at the confluence of the Ohio with the
Monongoha.le,” by the Augusta County Court on Feb.
22, 1775. No traces of the pillory have been found.
But as to the Stocks, upon the minutes of the board
of county commissioners for 1784 is found the entry
of an item for the tax levy as follow. : “Laid on for
making stocks by order of Henry Taylor, Esq., £43’

And the existence of the whipping-post in the county N

must be admitted when the following record is read :

“Pennsylvania Indictment, Larcency. A true Bill.
1784. vs. Deft. being arrd. pleads non cul. & de
C— S—-—— hoc. &c. . . . And now to wit. Dec. Ses-

sions, 1784, A jury of the County being called came. . . . who being
duly Impannelled, Tried & sworn, Upon their respectiveiOaths say that
the Prisoner C S is guilty in manner & form as he stands
Indicated. The judgment of the Court is that he restore the Goods
stolen to the owner, if not already done, pay the like sum to the State &c.,
& be publicly Whipped with 25 Lashes on his bare Posteriors well laid
on, pay the Costs of Prosecution & stand Committed till the whole be
complied with.

“By the Court.” 3

1 This and other like orders subsequently made were by virtue of an
act of Assembly passed May 31, 1718.
2 Dali. L., App., 48.

3 Copied from the original minutes. The full record to No. 3 Decem-

' ber Sessions, 1784, is in slightly different language.

Henry Taylor continued to act as the presiding
justice by virtue of being the first named in’ the gen-
eral commission. But on Oct. 6, 1783, Dorsey Pente-
cost resigned his seat as a member of the Supreme
Executive Council,‘-‘ and applied to be appointed pro-
thonotary and clerk for Washington County, and to
have Mr. Scott transferred to the like oflices for the
new county of Fayette, then lately erected? The
Council, however, appointed Gen. Ephraim Douglass
prothonotary and clerk for Fayette, and declined to
remove Mr. Scott, but soon provided a place for Col.

Pentecost, still pursuing the policy of conciliation,

toward the old Virginia partisans. The Council had

the power to commission specially an appointee as

president justice for any county,“ although such power
was not always exercised, and on Oct. 31, 17 83,7_ that
body “ Resolved, That Dorsey Pentecost, Esquire, be
appointed a Judge in and President of the Court of
Common Pleas for the county of Washington,” thus
displacing Henry Taylor as president of that court,
although he continued to act as the judge of the
Quarter Sessions. .Dorsey Pentecost held the office
conferred upon him until Nov. 29, 17 86,8 when

the Supreme Executive Council issued an 1786.
order of which the following is a copy, taken

from the original before the Writer: 3

The Supreme Executive Councilfor the Com-

[SEAL] monwealth of Pennsylvania.

Charles Biddle.
“ To all to whom these presents shall come, GREETING:

“ Know ye that——Whereas we have heretofore appointed Dorsey Pen-
tecost, Esquire, of the County of Washington, to be President of the
Court of Common Pleas, and a justice of the said Court of Common
Pleas for the aforesaid County, and commissionated him accordingly ;—
And whereas the said Dorsey Pentecost has removed from the County
aforesaid and is now settled in a Neighboring State,—-We have therefore
thought proper to Supersede the said appointment‘ and Commissions,
and do hereby supersede, revoke and make null and void the same, any-

_ thing in the said Commissions contained to the contrary hereof in any
wise notwithsta—nding. ’

“Given in Council under the hand of the Honorable Charles Biddle,
Esquire, Vice President and the seal of the State at Philadelphia this
twenty ninth day of November, Anno Domini one thousand Seven hun-
dred and eighty six.

“ Pennsylvania ss. }

“Attest,
“ JAMES TRIMBLE,
“ for J. ARMSTRONG.
“Secy.”

Reorganization of Courts.——-This last proceeding
left the courts constituted as they had been
prior to the appointment of Dorsey Pentecost 1788.
as president, and they so remained until there
was a reorganization on Sept. 30, 1788, as evidenced
by the proceedings of Council of that date : 9
“ Henry Taylor, Esquire, was appointed and Commissionated a Justice
of the,Peace for the district of the township of Strabane : James Edgar, a.
Justice of the Peace for the District of the township of Smith, and Wil-
liam M cF-arland, a Justice of the Peace for the district of the township

of Amwell, in the county of Washington, upon returns made according
to law, for the said several districts. -

4 XIII. Col. Records, 702.
6 See XII. 001. Records, 546.

5 X. Penn. Archives, 181.
7 XIII. Ibid., 732.

3 See XV.‘Ibid., 124. 9 Ibid., 552.

CIVIL AND LEGAL—-REDUCTION OF LIMITS—NEW COUNTIES.

241

“ Henry Taylor, James Edgar, and William McFarland, Esquires, were
also appointed and commissionated Justices of the Court of Common
Pleas in and for the county of Washington.

“On Motion,

“ Ordered, that said Henry Taylor, Esquire, be appointed and commis-
sionated President of the Court of Common Pleas, of the Court of Gen-.
eral Quarter Sessions of the Peace and of Jail delivery, and of the Or-
phans’ Court of the county of Washington.

“ Two returns of Justices from the districts of the townships of Cecil
and Dickinson,1 in the county of Washington, were read and not al-
lowed, as the whole of Dickinson and part of Cecil district has been
struck off to the county of Allegheny.”

Thus Henry Taylor 2 is now specially commissioned

as the president judge of the courts of this county,
which oi:fices.he held until Alexander Addison suc-
ceeded him, commissioned under the constitution of
1790.
' Reduction of Limits——New Counties.—But, as is
observed, before the adoption of that Constitution,
Washington County began to be reduced materially
in her limits, two portions of her best territory being
taken to help form two new counties on the north,
while an entire new county is carved out of her pos-
sessions on the south. These reductions will now be
made clear from the acts of Assembly authorizing
them.

The first portion taken from Washington County
was by the act of Sept. 24, 1788,3 the preamble of
which recites the inconveniences of the inhabitants
of parts of the counties of I-Vashington and West-

lmorelandr from being situated so far from the “seat

of judicature in their respective counties,” etc. ; and,
that they should be relieved in the premises,

“SECT. II. Be it enacted, &c., That all those parts of Westmoreland
and" Washington counties lying within the limits and bounds herein-
after described shall be, and hereby are, erected into a separate county,
that is to say, beginning at the mouth of Flahert/g’s rim, on the south side of
the Ohio river; from thence, by a straight line, to the plantation on which

‘Joseph Scott, Esquire, now lives, on Montour’s run, to include the same ; from

thence by a straight line to the mouth of Miller’s run, on Ohartiers creek;
thence by a straight line to the mouth of Perry’s mill run,4 on the east side
of Monongahela river; thence up said” river, to the mouth of Becket’s
run; thence, by a straight line, to the mouth of Sewickley creek, on
Youghiogheny river; thence down the said river to the mouth of

1 Dickinson township, Washington County, had been erected from that
part of Peters lying along the right bank of the Chartiers, down to the
river, in the winter of 1784-85. The return of the first constables elected
therefor was to March term, 1785, of the Quarter Sessions.

2 Henry Taylor, as we have seen, had come to the “ Rich Hills,” where
his grandson, Matthew, now resides, in the fall of 1770, from Cecil
County, Maryland. Late in life he built the brick house on the property
lately owned by William McClane, now by George Munce, where he
lived until his death, Oct. 8, 1801, sixty-three years of age. He was the
father of nine children,—-Matthew, Henry, -George, John, James, Jo-
seph, Jane (married a Daggs), Mary (married a Patton),and Eliza (mar-
ried Dr. Layton). By his son Matthew he was the grandfather of
Matthew, now on part of the old homestead, and William H. Taylor, of
Washington. J. F. Taylor, Esq., a member of the Washington bar, is a
great-grandson, as is also the present excellent prothonotary, John W.
Seaman. On the 19th April, 1793, which was during Wayne’s expe-
dition against the Indians, he was commissioned by Governor Mifllin
“ Brigadier General of the Brigade composed of the Militia of the
County of Washington, other than the Townships of Greene, Cumber-
land, Morgan, Franklin and East Bethlehem, in the said County.”
These townships, except the last named, were in what is now Greene
County. ,

3 III. Carey & Bioren, 277; II. Smith L., 448.

V 4 The Italics represent the line through Washington County.

Crawfords run ; thence, by a straight line, to the mouth of Bruh creek,
on Turtle creek; thence up Turtle creek, to the main fork thereof;
thence, by a northerly line, until it strikes Puckety’s creek; thence
down the said creek to the Allegheny river; thence up the Allegheny
river to the northern boundary of the State ; thence along the same to
the western line of the State; thence along the same to the river Ohio;
a.nd thence up the same to the place of beginning; to be henceforth
known and called by the name of Allegheny county.”

On Sept. 17, 17 89,5 another act was passed, agreeably
to the petition of the inhabitants of that part
of the county of Washington included in the 1789.
boundaries hereinafter mentioned, praying to
be annexed to Allegheny County:

_“ Sncr. II. Be it enacted, &c., That all that part of Washington County
included by the following lines, viz., Beginning at the river Ohio, where
the boundary line of the state crosses the said river, from thence in a
straight line to White’s mill,6 on Raccoon creek, from thence by a
straight line to Armstrong’s mill, on Miller’s run, and from thence by
a straight line to the Monongahela river, opposite the mouth of Perry’s
run, where it strikes the present line of the county of Allegheny, be
. . . annexed to the said county of Allegheny.”

Having lost a large portion of our possessions on
the north, an efibr.t to erect a new county out of our
southern territory, thus shutting us off from the cele-
brated Mason and DiXon’s line, is finally suc-
cessful by means of an act passed Feb. 9, 1796,7 1793-
of which there is copied:

“ SEC'.r.'1. Be it enacted, &c., That all that part of Washington county
lying within the limits and bounds hereinafter described shall be, and
is hereby, erected into a separate county, that is to say, beginning at

the mouth of‘ Ten-Mile creek, on the Monongahela river; thence up
Ten-Mile creek to the junction of the north and south forks of said

creek; thence up said north fork to Colonel William W-allace’s mills ; 3.

thence up a southwesterly direction to the nearest part of the dividing
ridge between the north and south forks of Ten-Mile creek; thence
along the top of the said ridge to the ridge which divides the waters of
Ten-Mile and Wheeling creeks; thence a straight line to the head of
Enlow’s branch of the Wheeling; thence down said branch to the
western boundary line of the state; thence south along said line to the

southern boundary line of the state; thence east along said line to the .

river Monongahela; and thence down the said river to the place 0

beginning; to be henceforth known and called by the name of Greene

county.”

On Jan. 22, 1802,” an act of Assembly was passed
modifying the Greene County line somewhat,
and returning to us a small portion of the 1802.
territory taken in 1796: V

“SECT. 1. Be it enacted, &c., That from and after the passage of this
act, the following alteration shall take place in the line between the
counties of Washington and Greene, viz.: beginning at the present
line, on the ridge that divides the waters of Ten-Mile and Wheeling
creeks, near Jacob Bobbet’s; thence a straight line to the head-waters

of Hunter’s fork of Wheeling creek; and thence down the same to the
mouth thereof, where it meets the present county line.”

But, a little prior to the act last quoted, another
new county was erected to the north of us, to
which a contribution was made by Washing- 1800.
ton County, by virtue of an act of Assembly
dated March 26, 1800 :1°

5 III. Carey & Bioren, 362; II. Smith L., 492.
5 Now Murdochsville.

7 V. Carey & Bioren, 140; III. Smith L., 262.

8 Near J. B, Wise, Esq., West Bethlehem.

9 VI. Carey & Bioren, 215; III. Smith L., 480.
10 VI. Carey & Bioren, 115; III. Smith L., 421.

THE FRENCH AND ENGLISH CLAIMS TO THE TRANS-ALLEGHENY REGION. 29

called a council with all the Indians then present in
town, and made the following speech. [Here follows
Joncaire’s speech to the Indians, in which he told
them he had come for an answer to the speech made
to them by- Celeron two years before, viz.: that
Onontio, the Governor of Canada, desired them to
turn away the English traders and deal wholly with
the French. To this one of the Six Nation chiefs

replied, saying that they would not turn the English

away, but would continue to trade with them as long
as they lived, and that if he, J oncaire, had anything
to say, and was the man he pretended to be, he should
‘ say it to that man,’ pointing to Croghan].”

“ May 25.—I had a conference with Monsieur Jon-
coeur ; he desired I would excuse him, and not think

A hard of him for the speeches he made to the Indians

requesting them to turn the English traders away
and not to suffer them to trade, for it was the Gov-
ernors of Canada who ordered him, and he was
obliged to obey them, though he was verysensible
which way the Indians would receive them, for he
was sure the French would not accomplish their de-
sign with the Six Nations without it could be done
by force, which he said he believed they would find
to be as diflicult as the method they had just tried,
and would meet with the like success.”

There was probably at that time no other French-
man who was so popular among the Indians as
was this same Joncaire, yet he found it impossible

" to accomplish the object for which he came,—to draw

the savages into alliance with the French, and procure
the expulsion of the English—speaking traders,—and
he was compelled to relinquish the design and retire
up the Allegheny, after having recorded his pro-
test, and re-notified Governor Hamilton, of Penn-

sylvania, of the French claims to the country in a‘
‘ letter of which the following is a translation:

. “ DE CHINIQUE (Loes'rowN), June 6, 1751.

“ Sir,—Monsieur the Marquis de la Galissoniere, Governor of the whole
of New France, having honored me with his orders to watch that the
English should make no treaty in the country of the Ohio, I have di-
rected the traders of your government to withdraw. You cannot be
ignorant, sir, that all the lands of this region have always belonged to
the King of France, and that the English have no right to come here to
trade. My superior has commanded me to apprise you of what I have done,
in order that you may not affect ignorance of the reasons of it; and he
has given me this order with so much the greater reason because it is
now two years since Monsieur Celeron, by order of the Marquis of Ga-

lissoniere, then Commandant-General, warned many English who were '

trading with the Indians along the Ohio against so doing, and they
promised him not to return to trade on the lands, as Monsieur Celeron
wrote you. I
(Signed) “ JCONCAIRE,
“ Lieutenant of a Detachment of the Navy.”

In the year » 1750, the “ Ohio Company” (acting
under an English charter and royal grant, obtained
in 1749, sent its agent, Christopher Gist, to the Ohio
River, to explore the country along that stream, with
a view to its occupation and settlement. Under these
instructions he viewed the country‘ along the west

bank of the river, from the mouth of the Allegheny.

« 3

southwestwardly to the Falls of the Ohio (opposite
the present city of Louisville, Ky.), and in the fol-
lowing year (1751) he explored the other side of the
stream down to the mouth of the Great Kanawha.
In 1752 he was present, as agent of the “Ohio Com-
pany,” at the Logstown treaty, already mentioned,
and took part,‘ with Col. Joshua Fry and the two
other commissioners of Virginia, in the proceedings
with the chiefs of the Six Nations.

These and other movements on the part of those

acting under authority of the British king caused
the French-to bestir themselves and move more en-
ergetically towards the occupation of the country
west of the Alleghenies. Early in 1753 they began
to move southward from Lake Ontario through the
wilderness towards the Allegheny River, and on the
21st of May in that year intelligence was received that
a party of one hundred and fifty French and Indians
“had arrived at a carrying-place leading from the
Niagara to the head of the Ohio.” On the same
day, in the Provincial Council of Pennsylvania,
“The Governor laid before the board several let-
ters fron1 Governor Clinton, inclosing accounts from
Col. Johnson, and from the commanding ofiicer at
Oswego,1 that a large Armament of French and In-
dians hadpassed by that Fort, destinated, as was sus-
pected, for Ohio, in order to take Possession of that
Country, and to build Forts on that River; where-
upon he had dispatched Messengers to the Governors
of Maryland and Virginia, and likewise Mr. West
was sent to Sasquehannah, there to procure and
send away two Messengers, one by Patowmack, and
the other by J uniata to Ohio, to give the Indians no-
tice of this, and to put them on their guard.” 2
Information was also received by Andrew Montour,
who had then just come in from the country of the
Six Nations, to the effect “ that he found the Indians
not a little intimidated at the large armament of
French and Indians which had gone by Oswego, on
their way to Ohio, especially after hearing what was
said by seven Indians who came into Council while
he was present and declared they were sent by the
Governor of Canada to inform their Council that the

K

1 The commanding olficer referred to (Lieut. Holland) wrote as fol-
lows:

“Oswneo, May 15, 1753.

“ Yesterday passed by here thirty odd French canoes, part of an Army
going to Bell Riviere to make good their claim there ; and by a French-
man who passed this also yesterday, on his way to Cajocha, gave me the
following account, which he said he learned from common Report in
Canada, viz.' That the Army consisted of Six Thousand French, com-
manded by Monsieur Martin, who is ordered to Ohio to settle the Limits
between us and them; that they lay claim on all the Lands on any of the
Rivers or Creeks descending or terminating in the great Lake; that if he
meet with any opposition, he is to make good his claim by Force of Arms,
and to build Forts in such Places as he shall think most convenient to
secure their Right; that one Fort is to be built at Kasanosaiyogo (a car-
rying Place), and another at Diontarogo; they are also to oblige all the
English they meet with, whether Traders or others, to evacuate the
Place, as they look upon all we possess now as their undoubted Right,
which they mean to support by Force of Arms. .' . .”

2 Col. Rec., vol. v. pp‘. 607-8. -

242

HISTORY OF WASHINGTON COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA.

“SEc'r. 1. Be it enacted, &c., That those parts of the counties of Alle-
gheny and Washington, included within the following boundaries, viz.:
Beginning at the mouth of Big Sewickly creek on the Ohio river;
thence up the said creek to the west line of A1exander’s district of de-
preciation lands; thence northerly along the said line and continuing
the same course to the north line of the first donation district; thence
westerly along the said line to the western boundary of the State;
thence southerly along the said boundary across the Ohio river to a point
in the said boundary, from which a line to be run at a right angle easterly will
strike White’s milll on Raccoon creek, and from such point along the said
easterly line to the said mill, leaving the said mill in the county of Beaver;
thence on a straight line to the mouth of Big Sewickly creek, the place
of beginning, be, and the same is hereby, erected into a separate county,
to be-henceforth called Beaver County; and the place of holding the
courts of Justice shall be at Beaver-town, in the said county.”

Since the erection of Greene County, and the mod-
ification of its line in 1802, there has been no change
of the limits of Washington County. With all her
losses she is still of magnificent proportions.” And
now, at the time of which we write, a new generation
of men are about to take hold of public affairs, and
our judicial system to be materially changed.

Under the Constitution of 1790.—The Constitu-
tion of 1776, Section 30, provided that out of the two
or more persons chosen for each ward, township, or
district, the president in Council should commission
one for each ward, township, or district, to serve for
seven years, removable for misconduct by the General
Assembly. All of these justices could sit in the
Quarter Sessions, though only such as were specially
selected and commissioned therefor could hear causes
in the Common -Pleas and Orphans’ Courts. Hence,
in 1788, there began to be a new set of justices of the
County Courts, who were as follows:

Henry Taylor, President, commissioned Sept. 30, 1788.

‘James Edgar, Associate, , “ Sept. 30, 17 88.
Wm. McFarland, “ “ Sept. 30, 1788.
John Reed, “ “ Nov. 8, 1788.
Hugh Scott, “ “ Nov. 8, 1788.
Wm. Smiley, “ “ Nov. 11, 1788.
Eleazer Jenkins, “ “ March 3, 1789.
Absalom Baird, “ “ March 3, 1789.
John Douglass, “ March 3, 1789.
Thomas Ryerson, “ “ April 8, 1789.
John Minor, “ “ Nov. 30, 1789.
William Smith, “ “ Dec. 21, 1789.
James Bell, “ “‘ Jan. 11, 1790.
James Archer, “ “ April 6, 1790.
Zephaniah Beall, “ “ July 28, 1790.
James Mitchell, “ ' “ Aug. 24, 1790.

1 Now Murdochsville. The Italics indicate the line through Washing-
ton County.

2 According to the Report of the Secretary of Internal Affairs for 1881,
p. 60 A., the county contains: square miles, 889; acres, 568,960; popula-
tion in 1880, 55,417. To illustrate the county’s growth in population, as

compared with the surrounding counties, the following. table is copied

from Mr. Veech, Centenary Memorial, 342:

1790. 1800. 1810. 1820.
Westmoreland ......... .. 16,018 22,726 26,392 30,540
Washington ............ .. 23,866 28,298 36,289 40,038
Fayette ................... .. 13,325 20,159 24,714 27,285
Allegheny ............... .. 10,309 15,087 25,317 35,921
Greene ..........  ................. .. 8,605 12,544 15,554
Beaver .......... ... ................ .. 5,776 12,168 15,340

In considering this table, remember that in 1800 Allegheny and West-
moreland contained parts of Armstrong, and Westmoreland the greater
part of Indiana.

John Canon, Associate, commissioned Aug. 24, 1790.
Henry Graham, “ “ Aug. 24, 1790.3

But the new Constitution, adopted in convention
on Sept. 2, 17 90,‘ made quite a radical change in the
judicial system, the nature of which was as follows:
By Section II. the judges of the Supreme Court and
of the several courts of Common Pleas were
to hold their oflices during good behavior;
removal by the Governor on the address of
two-thirds of each branch of the Legislature?

For the Court of Common Pleas, which now be-
came the principal court, by Section IV. the Gover-
nor was to appoint in each county “not fewer than
three, nor more than four, judges,” who during their
continuance in office should reside in such county.
The State was to be divided by law into circuits,
none of which to include “more than six nor fewer
than three” counties, and there was to be appointed a
president of the courts in each circuit, who during
his continuance in oflice should reside therein. “ The
president and judges, any two of whom shall be a
quorum, shall compose the respective Courts of Com-
mon Pleas.”

By Section VII. the judges of the Court of Com-
mon Pleas of each county, any two of whom should
be a quorum, should compose the Court of Quarter
Sessions of the Peace and Orphans’ Court thereof,
and the register of wills, together with the said
judges, or any two of them, should compose the
Register’s Court of each county.

Of justices of the peace, now no longer members
of the County Court, by Section X. the Governor was
to appoint a competent number, “in such convenient
districts in each county as are or shall be directed by
law.” These were to be commissioned during good
behavior, but were removable, on conviction of mis-
behavior in office, or of any infamous crime, or on
the address of both houses of the Legislature.

In the selection of sheriffs and coroners there was
no substantial change. Two persons for each oflice
were chosen by the electors; one (and either) was
commissioned to serve for three years. The sheriff

1790.

could not be twice chosen in six years. The prothon-.

otary and clerk (one person might hold these oflices)
was appointed and commissioned as heretofore by
the Governor.

By Sections III. and IV. of the schedule to this
Constitution all officers except judges of the Supreme,
Court in the appointment of the executive depart-
ment were to continue in the exercise of their duties
until Sept. 1, 1791 (unless their commissions should
sooner expire by limitation, or the oflices become
vacant by death or resignation), and no longer; and

until that date justice was to be administered in the

3 This list from III. Penn. Archives, Sec. S., 778, with a few dates cor-
rected from the original commissions.

4 IV. Carey _& Bioren, XIX.; III. Smith L., XXXV.; III. Dall. L., XXII.

5 By this Constitution consisting of a Senate and House of Represen-
tatives; the Supreme Executive Council being abolished. I

CIVIL AND LEGAL-—-HON. ALEXANDER ADDISON. 243

several counties “ by the same justices, in the same I of the public welfare led him by means of charges to the grand-juries,

courts, and in the same manner as heretofore.” -
Preparatory for the reorganization of the judiciary
system under the foregoing Constitution, the

' 1791. General Assembly on April 13, 1791, passed

an act,1 in which was provided:

“ SECT. II. And be it further enacted, etc., That, in order to render effect-
ual the provisions made in the said constitution for establishing the
courts of Common Pleas, this Commonwealth shall be, and hereby is,
divided into five districts, or circuits, to be limited as follows, that is to
say: [lst, Philadelphia, Bucks, Montgomery, and Delaware; 2d, Ches-
ter, Lancaster, York, and Dauphin; 3d, Berks, Northampton, Luzerne,
and Northumberland; 4th, Cumberland, Franklin, Bedford, Hunting-
don, and Mifliin]; and the fifth circuit, or district, to consist of the
counties of Westmoreland, Fayette, Washington, and Allegheny.”

The Section III. of this act provided that in and
for each of the said districts, or circuits, a “person of
knowledge and integrity, skilled in the laws, shall be
appointed and commissioned by the Governor to be
President and Judge of the Courts of Common Pleas
within such district,” and for the appointment and
commissioning of a number of “other proper persons,
not fewer than three nor more than four,” as judges,
Whose term of oflice should begin on Sept. 1, 1791.

Hon. Alexander Addison.——The first president
appointed for the Fifth District under this act was
Alexander Addison, whose commission bears date
Aug. 22, 1791, and who served until succeeded by
Samuel Roberts, in 1803. His associate judges dur-
ing his term were Hons. Henry Taylor, James Edgar,

' James Allison, and Matthew Ritchie, commissioned
Aug. 17, 1791; Hon. William Hoge, commissioned '

April 6, 1798; and Hon. John McDowell, commis-
sioned April 7, 1802. r

A Hon. Alexander Addison was a native of Ireland,
born ‘in’ 1759, educated at Edinburgh, Scotland, and
licensed to preach by the Presbytery of Aberlowe.

' While still young he emigrated to Pennsylvania, and

coming to the West, on the 21st day of December, 1785,
was taken under the charge of the Redstone Presby-
tery, and permission given him to preach within its
bounds? For a short time he preached at Washing-
ton, then turned his attention to the law, and, study-
ing with David Reddick, Esq., was admitted to the
bar of Washington County in March, 1787. It has
been said that he settled at Pittsburgh, but advertise-
ments and correspondence in the I/Veste1~n Telegrap/Le
in the winter of 1795 and 1796 show that he then
resided in Washington.

“ He was aman of culture, erudition, correct principles and thoroughly
imbued with love for the good of society. These characteristics are seen
in his letters, essays, charges to Grand-juries and the reports of his judi-
cial decisions. They embrace a scope of thought and strength of logic,
marking a fine intellect and extensive knowledge; and they exhibit a
patriotism of the purest lustre, set in a bright constellation of virtues.

“Judge Addison lived and executed his functions among a sturdy
people, amid the troubles, excitements, dangers and factions, which fol-
lowed the adoption of the Federal Constitution of 1787, and attended the

enforcement of the Excise law of the United States, which culminated
in the Whiskey Insurrection of 1794. His patriotic instincts and love

1 III. Dall. L., 92; IV. Carey & Bioren, 59; III. Smith L., 28.
3 Minutes of Redstone Presbytery, 20, 22.

to discuss frequently the underlying principles of government, the su-
premacy of the laws, and the necessity of due subordination to rightful
authority, a duty which he felt urgently incumbent upon him in the
disturbed condition of affairs. Though at the time controverted by par-

tisanship and hatred of authority, owing to the peculiar hardships of _

the early settlers, these efforts are at this day among the best expositions
of the principles of free government, the necessity of order and obedi-
ence to law. N 0 one can read his charge to the Grand-jury of Allegheny
county, September 1, 1794, without feeling himself in the presence of
and listening with uncovered head to a great man, whose virtues of
heart equaled his qualities of head.” 3 °

During the time of the Whiskey Insurrection and
for some years after there was a strong party rancor
existing, the political parties of the day being
the Federal and Anti-Federal or “ Repub- 1794.
lican.” Judge Addison, being identified with
the former, fell a victim to the partisan hostility of
the latter. An associate on the Allegheny County
bench was Hon. John B. Lucas, by whom and whose
friends was brought about Judge Addison’s impeach-

' ment before the Senate of Pennsylvania. The

bitterness of the day magnified a mole-hill, if 1802.
anything, into a mountain. In its full effect

the matter complained of was that Judge Addison
had interfered with Judge Lucas in the latter’s at-
tempt to instruct juries in opposition to what the
former believed to be the law. As formulated the
charges were :

“ 1st. That Judge Addison, after Judge Lucas ‘ had in his oflicial char-
acter and capacity of judge as aforesaid, and as he of right might do, ad-
dressed a petit jury then and there duly impanneled and sworn or
aflirmed respectively as jurors in a cause then pending, then and there
openly did declare and say to the said jury, that the address delivered
to them by the said John Lucas, had nothing to do with the question be-
fore them and they ought not to pay any attention to it.’

“ This ‘ question’ will be better understood by lawyers when informed
that a justification was pleaded as a defense in an action of slander, and
was unsupported by the testimony, and Judge Lucas’ charge was in-
tended to reduce the damages of the Plaintiif to a small, if not a nom-
inal sum.

“ 2nd. That the said Alexander Addison ‘ did under pretense as afore-
said of discharging and performing his official duties then and therein
time of open court, unjustly, illegally, and unconstitutionally stop,
threaten, and prevent the said John Lucas, from addressing as of, right
he might do, a Grand-jury of the said county of Allegheny then and
there assembled,’ &c.

“ A very marked omission in these articles is the intent. No malice is
averred, and no intent to act injuriously and oppressively. The first
charge is followed only by a legal inference, viz: ‘ thereby degrading or
endeavoring to degrade and villify the said John B. Lucas ;’ the second,
‘ thereby abusing and attempting to degrade the high oflice of President
judge as aforesaid.’ ” 4

The sentence of the Senate, delivered on 1803.
Jan. 27, 1803, Was: ' i
“ That Alexander Addison, President of the several courts of Common
Pleas, in the fifth district of this State, shall be, and he hereby is removed
from his oflice of President aforesaid, and also is disqualified to hold and
exercise the ofiice of Judge, in any court of law, within the common-
wealth of Pennsylvania.”
He who reads the report of this trial of Judge Ad-
dison will be filled with admiration for the true great-
ness manifested by the illustrious defendant, but none

3 Address of Ex-Chief Justice Agnew, Centennial Celebration of Wash-
ington County, 50. ‘ A
4 Ibid., 154.

‘I

244

HISTORY or WASHINGTON COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA.

 

the less with contempt for the indignities put upon
him, and will wonder that partisan zeal could so blind
the men who sat as his judges. He did not long
survive the shameful injustice of this impeachment,
dying at Pittsburgh, where he then resided, on Nov.
24, 1807.1

Hon. Samuel Roberts.-—On June 2, 1803, Samuel
Roberts was commissioned president judge of the
Fifth District, which office he held until suc-
ceeded in 1818 by Judge Baird. His associ-
ates during his term were the old associates,
still surviving, and Rev. Boyd Mercer, commissioned
Jan. 1, 1806. But soon after Judge Roberts’ term
began, by Section XII. of the act of Feb. 24,
1806,” another county was added to the Fifth
District, which was then composed of Beaver,
Allegheny, Washington, Fayette, and Greene. By
the same act it was also provided,——

1803.

1806.

“SECT. XV. And be it further enacted, etc., That if a vacancy should
hereafter happen in any county at present organized by the death, res-
ignation, or removal of any associate judge, or otherwise, the Governor
shall not supply the same, unless the number of associates shall be
thereby reduced to less than two; in which case, or in case of any county
hereafter organized, he shall commission so many as will complete that
number in each county, and no more.”

It was by the section quoted that the associate
judges of the county were reduced to two in number,
which continued until that ofiicewas abolished by the
Constitution of 1874.

Hon. Samuel Roberts was born in Philadelphia,
Sept. 10, 1761. His ancestors came to Pennsylvania
with the first emigrants, and his grandfather, Owen
Roberts, was sheriff of Philadelphia County, 1716-
21. He was educated in Philadelphia, studied law
with Hon. William Lewis, of that city, and was there
admitted to the bar in 1793. The same year, at York,
Pa., he married Miss Maria Heath. Subsequently, to
practice his profession, he removed to Lancaster,
thence. to Sunbury; and while at the latter place
was commissioned by Governor McKean to succeed
Judge Addison, after the latter’s removal by his un-
righteous impeachment, and the same year removed
to Pittsburgh. Upon the change made in the dis-

tricts by the act of 1818, directly to be noticed, he

ceased to sit as judge in Washington County, but

1 Judge Addison left to survive him his widow, who removed to Wash-
ington after his death; three sons,——-John, who died without issue;
Alexander, a brilliant young man, who studied law at Washington, and
was admitted to the bar December, 1820, and in 1822 was accidentally
killed by the falling of the chimney of a burning building in Washing-
ton; William, first studied law with Hon. T. M. T. McKennan, then
medicine at Paris, and became an eminent physician, settled at Pitts-
burgh, married a Miss Ingles, and left among other children two sons,
one of whom died abroad, the other, William, is at present a member of
‘the Pittsburgh bar; four daughters,—E1iza, married Dr. Peter Mowry,
and was the mother of four sons, none of whom survived her; Mary, mar-
ried Samuel Hughes F itzhugh, and left one son, who settled at Rochester,
N. Y. ; Jane, married first Alexander Johnston : second, Benjamin Dar-
lington, by whom she’ left two children,—Benjamin, late postmaster at

.. Pittsburgh, and a daughter who never married. Ann died about 1854,

unmarried. ‘
2 VIII. Bioren 9; IV. Smith L., 270.

continued as the president judge of the old Fifth~Dis-
trict, by that act composed of Beaver, Butler, and Al-
legheny Counties, until his death at Pittsburgh in
1820. While upon the bench he wrote and pub-

lished “Roberts’ Digest of British Statutes in force '

in Pennsylvania,” a work well known to the profes-
sion, a new edition of which was edited by Hon.
Robert E. VVright and published in 1847.3 .
As already intimated, Washington County is no
longer embraced in the old Fifth District. By
the act of March 23, 1818,‘ after the creation 1813.
of a new Fifth District, composed of Beaver,
Butler, and Allegheny Counties, it was provided by
“ SECT. 3. And be it further enacted, etc., That from and after the third
Monday of October next the counties of Washington, Fayette, and Greene
and Somerset shall be, and the same are hereby, erected into a separate
judicial district, to be called a Fourteenth District, and a person of legal

knowledge and integrity shall be appointed and commissioned by the
Governor to be President and Judge, etc.”

Hon. Thomas H. Ba.ird.—-—Thereupon, on Oct. 19,
1818, Hon. Thomas H. Baird was commissioned as
president judge, holding that oflice till he was suc-
ceeded by Judge Ewing in 1838. His associates dur-
ing his term were Rev. Boyd Mercer, John Hamilton,
and Thomas McKeever, Esqs. , I

The Fourteenth District was of long duration. It
was modified by the act of March 29, 1824;‘ in
this, that Somerset was taken to form -with
Franklin and Bedford the new Sixteenth Dis-
trict, leaving Washington, Fayette, and Greene to
constitute the Fourteenth District, unchanged until
by the act of Jan. 28, 1866, the Twenty-seventh Dis-
trict was created.‘‘ ,

Hon. Thomas H. Baird was the. third son of Dr.
Absalom Baird, one of the early and leading physi-
cians, as well as a prominent civilian, of Washington
County. Dr. Baird’s father was John Baird, a Scotch-
man, who came to America with Braddock’s army,
and shared in “ Braddock’s Defeat,” on July 9, 1755.
He is said to‘ have been killed on .Grant’s Hill (in
Pittsburgh), in the defeat of Major Grant and his
Highlanders, Sept. 14, 1758. Absalom Baird, edu-
cated by the widowed mother, studied medicine in
Chester County, became a surgeon of the Pennsylva-
nia line in the Revolutionary war, and in 1786 re-
moved with his family to Washington, Pa. He was

1824.

3Judge Roberts left eight children, five sons and three daughters.

One of the daughters was married to the late Oldham Craig, deceased, ,

for many years teller in the old Bank of Pittsburgh, and brother of the
well-known historian, Neville B. Craig, deceased. Another daughter
died many years ago, and the third resides in Michigan. Of the five
sons,—Samuel, Edward J ., Henry, Horatio, and Morgan,—al1 have died
except Henry, who practiced medicine at Brownsville, Pa., and now re-
sides in Fayette County. Edward J. wasa paymaster in the United States
army during the war of 1812, then clerk of the U. S. District Court for
Western Pennsylvania till his death, leaving three ,sons,—-Gen. Richard

Biddle Roberts, practicing law at Chicago, Edward J. Roberts, city en-

gineer for Allegheny City, Pa., and John H. Roberts, profession un-
known. I

4 7 Smith L., 108.

5 P. L. 194. ' I . . .

5 The general act of 1834 made no change in the Fourteenth District.

- constant recreation.

  1838.

CIVIL AND LEGAL—UNDER. THE CONSTITUTION OF 1838.

commissioned a justice of the Common Pleas in 1789,
was county lieutenant in 1792, sheriff in 1799, and
died on Oct. 27 , 1805.1

Judge Baird was born in Washington, Pa., Nov. 15,
1787 ; was educated at a classical school, under charge
of David Johnston, in Brooke County, Va.; studied
the law with Joseph Pentecost, and was admitted to
the bar of Washington County in July, 1808, before
he was quite twenty-one. His contemporaries at the
bar were men of such ability that he must have been
of high standing himself when he was commissioned
president judge, on Oct. 19, 1818. His activity of
mind led him much into business outside of‘ the law,
having been interested with Thomas McGiflin and

. Parker Campbell in the construction of the National

road through Washington County, as well as in a
number of manufacturing enterprises. The first sur-
vey for the Chartiers Valley Railroad, about 1830 or
1831, one of the first railroads prospected,«was made
largely, if not wholly, at his expense, so much was he

interested in the internal improvements of his
1837. county. In December, 1837, he resigned his

commission as judge, and removing to Pitts-
burgh, was engaged in the active practice of his pro-
fession there for about twelve years. He then retired
to his farm near Monongahela City, where he resided
until his death. In 1854 he was the candidate of the
Native American party for judge of the Supreme

' Court, Hon. J . S. Black, the Democratic candidate,

being the successful competitor. While_at his leisure
on his farm he was the author of many newspaper
and pamphlet publications upon different subjects of
social and political importance. Although denied a
collegiate education, yet his classical attainments
were great, and philological studies were to him a
He was somewhat impulsive
and irascible upon the bench, but always commanded
respect for his sincerity, and.confidence in his in-
tegrity. He. died at the residence of his son-in-law,

Charles McKnight, in Allegheny City, Nov. 22, 1866,

and is buried in the cemetery at Washington.”

Hon. Nathaniel EWing‘.—There being now a
-vacancy, and the office of president judge being still
filled by appointment, on'the 15th day of Feb-
ruary, 1888, Hon. Nathaniel Ewing was com-
missioned by Governor Ritner to succeed Mr.
Baird, and held the oflice until succeeded by Judge
Gilmore, in 1848. During his term his associates
were, as one set succeeded another, Rev. Boyd Mercer,

1 His children were John, George, Thomas H., William, the lawyer,

Sarah, wife of William Hodge, Maysville, Ky., and Susan, wife of Dr.
Hugh Campbell, Uniontown,
. 2 The wife of ‘Mr. Baird was Nancy McCullough, who survived him,
but has since died. His children, Ellen, widow of Hon. R. R. Reed ;
Susannah and Jane, who died young; Sarah, widow of Mr. George Mor-
gan ; Mary, widow of Joseph Patterson, mother of T. H. B. Patterson, of
Pittsburgh bar; Absalom,‘died young; Harriet; Eliza Acheson, wife of Mr.
Robert Patterson, of the Presbyterian Banner ; Thomas H., of the present
Washington County bar ; Susan C., died a young lady; Margaret; Emma,
died a young lady; and Jane, widow of Charles McKnight, of Allegheny
City. 1

Thomas McKeever, Samuel Hill, John Grayson, and
James Gordon, Esquires. ' I
Under the Constitution of 1838.—But the people
of Pennsylvania by their delegates in‘ convention, on
Feb. 22, 1838,?’ amended the Constitution of 1790, in
many particulars changing the judicial system. The
constitution as amended, however, was not to be
effective until Jan. 1, 1839.
By Article V., Section II. :

“ . . . The president judges of the several courts of Common Pleas,
and of such other courts of Record as are or shall be established by law,
and all other judges required to be learned in the law, shall hold their
oflices for the term of ten years if they shall so long behave themselves
well. The Associate judges of the courts of Common Pleas shall hold
their offices for the term of five years if they shall so long behave them-
selves well. But for any reasonable cause which shall not be sufiicient
ground of impeachment the Governor may remove any of them on the
address of two-thirds of eachbranch of the Legislature. . . .”

No substa.ntial change was made in the organiza-
tion or jurisdiction of the courts; but by Article VI.,
Sections I. and III., sheriffs, coroners, prothonotaries,
and clerks were also made elective by the people,
one for each office in the case of the sheriff and coro-
ner, though as to the others the Legislature might
provide whether they be held by one personor sepa-
rately by two. -

By Section VII. of the schedule the commissions of
the law judges who should not have held their ofiices
for ten years at the adoption of the amendments were to
expire on the 27th of February next after the end of
ten years from the date of their commissions, which
provision enabled Judge Ewing, though appointed
before the amended Constitution went into effect, to
continue in ofiice until Feb. 27, 1848. _

Hon. Nathaniel Ewing was the son of William
Ewing, Esq., and grandson of George Ewing, of
Peach Bottom, York Co., who, it is said, was a

"cousin of the celebrated Rev. Dr. John Ewing, pro-

vost of the University of Pennsylvania, at Phila-
delphia, and one of the commissioners in the bound-
ary line controversy. William Ewing, his father,
came into Fayette County as a surveyor about 17 90,
and married Mary, daughter of J ehu Conwell, and
settled in the Dunlap’s Creek neighborhood, near
Heistersburg. Nathaniel was born July 18, 1794,
educated at Washington College, under the presi-
dency of Dr. Matthew Brown, graduating with the
honors of his class; taught a year in Delaware; re-
turning to Washington studied law with Hon. Thomas
McGiffin, and was admitted to the bar of Washington
County in June, 1816. The next year he removed to
Uniontown, ]?a., where he began his professional
business, and where he resided until his death. Ap-
pointed in 1838 to fill the vacancy in the ofiice of
president judge, caused by Judge Baird’s resignation,
his appointment would have been for life had not the
amendment to the Constitution limited it to one for
ten years. While he was upon the bench it was said

3 P. L., 1840, iii.

245 J

. Whig in all political contests of his day.

246 "

HISTORY OF WASHINGTON COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA.

of him ‘by one of the judges of the Supreme Court

himself a great lawyer, that he was the best Common
Pleas judge in the State. The younger generation of
the members of our bar often hear his name as a
judge and lawyer mentioned by our elders, who prac-
ticed under him, in terms of very high respect. On
his return to the bar he engaged in trials in court
but occasionally, turning his attention to a great ex-
tent more to outside business enterprises, in which he
was successful in accumulating much wealth. He
never sought or accepted oflicial preferment of any
kind outside of his profession, though an ardent
He died
in 1874, in the eightieth year of his age} ‘ ‘

Hon. Samuel A. Gilmore.——The ten years’ term
of Judge Ewing having ‘expired by virtue of the

limitation referred to, Hon. Samuel A. Gil-
1848. more, on Feb. 28, 1848, was appointed and

commissioned by Governor Shunk to succeed
him as president judge. His associates during the
time he presided in the courts of our county were
Isaac Hodgens, William Vankirk, Abraham Wotring,
John Freeman, James G. Hart, and Jacob Slagle,
Esqs., as one set succeeded another.

Amendment of 1850.——But the Constitution as
amended in 1838 was -afterwards the subject of sev-
eral additional amendments, one of which affecting
the judiciary was that adopted by the General As-
semblies of 1849 and 1850,? and ratified by the peo-

ple in the October election of 1850, and

O 1850. which, wisely or unwisely, brought the se-

lection of all the judges of the State directly
within the power of the people. All the judges
then became elective: 7 .

“. . . The Judges of the Supreme Court by the qualified electors of
the Commonwealth at large; the president judges of the several Courts
of Common Pleas, and of such. other courts of record as are or shall be
established by law, and all other judges required to be learned in the
law, by the qualified electors of the respective districts over which they
are to preside or act as judges; and the Associate Judges of the courts
of Common Pleas by the qualified electors of the county respectively.”

There was no change made in the terms of the
president judge and of his associates, and it was pro-
vided that the first election should take place at the
next general election after the ado.ption of that
amendment, and the commissions of all the judges
then in oflice should expire on the first Monday of
December following, when the terms of the new
‘judges then elected should commence.

1 In 1822, Mr. Ewing married Jane, the second daughter of Judge
John Kennedy, of the Supreme Court of Pennsylvania; she was the
mother of one child, Hon. John K. Ewing (in late years also our presi-
dent judge), and died in 1827. His second wife, who survives him as his
widow, is the daughter of ;the late Rev. David Denny, of Chambersburg,
Pa. By this marriage there are two children, a son Alexander, and a
daughter Mary, lately married to Prof. J. J . Stephenson, who was con-
nected with the geological survey of Pennsylvania in 1876. Hon. John
Hogs Ewing, of Washington, still survives his brother, Judge Ewing,
and of him there will be a sketch given in another part of this work.

9 P. L. 1851, 758.

At the first general election held after this amend-
ment was adopted, the second Tuesday of October,
1851, Hon. Samuel A. Gilmore was chosen
by the people, commissioned by Governor 1851.
Bigler on Nov. 6, 1851, and served from the
first Monday of December of that year until‘suc-
ceeded by Judge Lindsey in 1861.

Judge Gilmore was the grandson of James Gilmore,
Esq., who many years ago occupied the farm now
owned by James G. Strean, Esq., a short distance
southwest of Washington. His father, John Gilmore,
studied the law at Washington, was admitted in
August, 1801, and removing to Butler, Pa., married a
Miss Purviance at that place, and there practiced his
profession. The son, Samuel A. Gilmore, was born
at Butler, studied the law, and was practicing there
and in adjoining counties when first appointed presi-
dent judge to succeed Judge Ewing in 1848. His first
wife was a daughter of Judge Todd, at one time of
the Supreme Court, and his second wife was a daugh-
ter of Arnold Plumer, Esq., of Venango County, who
still survives him as his widow. Upon his appointment
as president judge of the Fourteenth District he re-
moved to Uniontown, Pa., where he resided till his
death in May, 1873.

Hon. James Lindsey.-—At the general election in
1861, in a contest with Hon. James Veech, of Union-
town, James Lindsey, Esq., of the Waynes-
burg bar, was the successful candidate, and 1861.
having been duly commissioned, began his
term of service as the president judge of the Four-
teenth District on the first Monday of December,
1861. His associates during his service, too soon
ended by his death, were James G. Hart and Thomas
McCarrel1, Esqs.

Hon. James Lindsey had the blood of the first set-
tlers in his veins. Thomas Hughes, John Swan, and
Henry Vanmetre were among. the first pioneers on the
waters of Muddy Creek, coming thither from the
Shenandoah Valley in 1767-68. Charles Swan, son
of John, married Sarah, daughter of Henry Vanme-
tre, and their daughter Mary, marrying William Col-
lins, became the mother of Anne Collins, who mar-
ried John Lindsey, and became the mother of James,
the young judge. John Lindsey’s father was James
Lindsey, a Scotchman, who, coming from Lancaster
County very early, settled at J eiferson, Greene County,
and married Mary, a daughter of Thomas‘Hughes,

J r., who had married a daughter of John Swan, before '

mentioned. Hughes was Irish, Swan was Scotch,
Vanmetre German, Lindsey Scotch,-—three nationali-
ties well blendedinto one. John Lindsey, the judge’s
father, was educated at J eiferson College, at Canons-
burg, was a leading politician, once sheriff, and twice
prothonotary of Greene County.

Hon. James Lindsey was the oldest of eleven
children, six of whom survive him. He was born
Nov. 21, 1827, received his education at Greene
Academy, Carmichael’s, Greene Co., was admitted to

CIVIL AND LEGAL——HON. J. KENNEDY EWING—HON. A. W. ACHESON.

247

the bar of Waynesburg May 15, 1849, and elected
judgein October, 1861, when not quite thirty-four
years of age. At the August term, 1864, he was upon
the bench at Washington, but had been ill with what
was thought a slight attack of bilious fever before
coming hither. On his way home after the end of
the term he became too ill at Prosperity to proceed,
and there remained overnight, but recovered so as to
reach his residence, about six miles beyond Waynes-
burg, the next day. He was not considered seriously
ill till on Thursday, Sept. 1, 1864, and died late that
night. At once bar-meetings were held at Washing-
ton, Waynesburg, and Uniontown, at each of which
minutes were prepared to be filed with the records,
testifying the appreciation in which he was held by
the bar of his entire district. In the minutes ‘made
by the Fayette County bar it was said,-

“ He came to the bench at . . . an age at which few members of the
profession have more than mastered its rudiments, and scarcely any ac-
quired distinction. By those unacquainted with him misgivings were
naturally felt when the judicial ermine fell upon one so young. . . .
But whatever fears Judge Lindsey’s youth occasioned were quickly
dissipated by the masterly hand with which he laid hold of his ofiicial
duties, and by the apparent ease with which he carried his great burdens.
How he has borne himself in his high ofiice,—f-aithfully, impartially,
without fear and without favor,——with what transcendent ability he has
so discharged his grave and important duties, that upon not one act of
his can the fault-finder lay his finger, to not one act of his can those
who have the largest interest in his memory and cherish it most fer-
vently revert with other than honest pride, and with the conviction
that he did all and no more than became him, and that no man could
have done better.”

These sentiments were common to the profession of
the district upon the sudden death of Hon. James
Lindsey}

After the death of Judge Lindsey, Governor Curtin,
the war Governor of Pennsylvania, on Nov. 9, 1864,

. issued a commission to James Watson, Esq., of the

Washington County bar, to hold the office of presi-
dent judge of the district until the next general elec-
tion in 1865. ' This commission was a surprise to Mr.
Watson, as neither he nor his friends had asked for it,
and it was declined, although with gratitude for the
unsought honor.”

1 Judge Lindsey married Sarah, daughter of Dr. Arthur Inghram, a

leading physician of Greene County in his day. His widow, three sdns,

and one daughter survive him. His brother, W. C. Lindsey, was cap-
tain of Company A, Eighteenth Pennsylvania Cavalry, and was killed
in the streets of Hagerstown, Md., while leading a charge against Lee's
retreating army three days after the battle of Gettysburg. A younger
brother, R. H. Lindsey, is a successful young member of ‘the Fayette
County bar.

2 Mr. Watson was born at Canonsburg about 1809, graduated at J efi'er-
son College in 1828, and at once began the study of the law at Washing-
ton under the direction of the distinguished Hon. T. M. T. McKen'nan.
He was admitted to thebar in October, 1831, and was at once taken into
partnership with his preceptor, who then represented this district in
Congress. This partnership continued -until William McKennan, the
son of his preceptor (now circuit judge of the United States for the Third
Circuit), came to the bar, to wit, in June, 1837. He then continued the
practice without a subsequent partnership until his death at his resi-
dence in Washington on April 15, 1875. The minutes of the bar meeting
held the next day after his death very correctly state:

“ As a lawyer he was clearheaded, painstaking, laborious, full of zeal
for his clients, courteous to his opponents, pleasant and afl"able in his

Hon. J. Kennedy EWing.—There was then a va-
cancy in the oflice of president judge, whereupon, on
Nov. 19, 1864, J. Kennedy Ewing, the only
son of Hon. Nathaniel Ewing by his first wife,
the daughter of Justice Kennedy, was ap-
pointed and commissioned by Governor Curtin to fill
the oflice until the next general election in 1865.
His associates for his short term of service were
James G. Hart and Thomas_McCarroll, Esqs., and
the manner in which his duties were discharged was
satisfactory to the bar and suitors.3

At the general election Oct. 10, 1865, Hon. J. K.
Ewing and Hon. S. A. Gilmore were the candidates for
the office, the latter being successful, his next
term, the third for which he was commis- 1865.
sioned, to begin on the first Monday of De-
cember, 1865. But after th at date the first term of the
courts for Washington County was in February, 1866,
before which latter date, however, to wit, on Jan. 25,
1866, an act of Assembly4 was passed, by which Wash-
ington County was taken out of the old Fourteenth
District, created in 1818, and with Beaver County
made into a new district, called the Twenty-seventh.
By the provisions of the act the Governor was to “ ap-
point and commission a gentleman of integrity, learned
in the law, to be president judge of said district,'\vho
shall hold his ofiice until the first Monday of December
next,” and at the next general election a president
judge was to be elected under the then Constitution
and laws of the State.

1864.

' Hon. B. B. Chamberlin.——For the new Twenty-
seventh Judicial District, composed of the counties of
Washington and Beaver, on Feb. 8, 1866, Hon.
B. B. Chamberlin, of the Beaver County bar,
was appointed and commissioned by Governor
Curtin as president judge, to hold until the first Mon-
day of the following December, by which time an
elected oflicer would be chosen. He presided at the
May and August terms, 1866.

1866.

Hon. A. W. Acheson.-At the general election of
October, 1866, the competing candidates were Hon.
Alexander W. Acheson, of the Washington bar, as
the nominee of the Republican party, and Hon. B. B.

deportment to his brethren of the bar, while at all times and under all
circumstances he was strictly honorable and upright. He was fond of
his profession, few more so, but he had no ambition to make it a
stepping-stone to oflice or preferment of any kind; and although he pos-
sessed in a high degree the elements of personal popularity, he uniformly
declined political honors, and would never consent to be an applicant
or candidate for any oflice whatever. He would not even allow honors
to be thrust upon him, preferring always to be and remain in the ranks
of his untitled brethren.” V

His wife, a sister of D. T. Morgan, Esq., survived him, and he is repre-
sented in the profession now by three sons,—David T., of Pittsburgh,
James, New York City, and Wm. M., Pittsburgh.

3 Judge J. K. Ewing is still living at Uniontown, but his attention
being given to business pursuits he is not in active practice. He is
represented, however, at the bar of his native county by two promising
sons, Nathaniel Ewing, J r., and Samuel E. Ewing.

4 P. L. 1866, 1. J

248

HISTORY OF WASHINGTON COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA.

Chamberlin, who, though previously a Republican,

had been placed on the Democratic ticket. Mr. Ache-
son was elected, and on Nov. 15, 1866, was commis-
sioned by Governor Curtin, and held his full term of
ten years until succeeded by Judge Hart. His asso-
ciates during his term were, first, James C. Chambers
and John Farrer, Esqs. ; second, Dr. Thomas W.
Bradley and John Scott, Esqs. _

During the time of Judge Acheson another some-
what important change was made in the judicial sys-
tem. »On Nov. _3, 1873, a new State Constitution was

I adopted in convention, which by the terms of

1874. the schedule went into effect Jan. 1, 1874.

Article V. of this Constitution related to the
judiciary, and it was provided by

“SECT. 5. Whenever a county shall contain forty thousand inhabit-
ants it shall constitute a separate judicial district, and shall elect one
judge learned in the law, and the General Assembly shall provide for
additional judges as the business of the said districts may require.
Counties containing a population less than is suflicient to constitute sep-
arate districts shall be formed into convenient single districts, or, if
necessary, may be attached to contiguous districts as the General As-
sembly may provide. The oflice of associate judge, not learned in the
law, is abolished in counties forming separate districts, but the several
associate judges in office when this Constitution shall be adopted shall
serve for their unexpired terms.”

There was no other material change made in the
organization of the courts; the judges remained, and
will probably long remain, to be elected by the
people.

The census of 1870 having shown that Washington
County had a population of forty-five thousand six
hundred and ninety, by the foregoing section she was
entitled to be made a separate judicial district. Sec-
tion X;_III. of the schedule required the General As-

’ sembly at next session after the adoption of the Con-

stitution to designate the several judicial districts as
required by this Constitution. Whereupon by the act
of April 9, 187 4,1 the Legislature created forty—three
judicial districts, the twenty-seventh of which was to
be composed of the county of Washington. And such
is the number and composition of that district at this
day. The "time of the beginning of thejudicial term
has, however, been changed. Instead of the first Mon-
day of December, as of old, by the act of April 30,
1874,2 the term of all judges learned iii the law is to
begin on the first Monday of January next succeeding
their election. ‘

The terms of the associate judges, Dr. T. W.
Bradley and John Scott, Esqs.,.expired the last day
of November, 1876, and that office having been abol-

- _ished by the Constitution of 1874, these gentlemen

were the last to hold those positions in Washington
County. The president judge continued upon the
bench, but alone.

Hon. A. W. Acheson is the son of David Acheson,
who emigrated from the County Armagh, Ireland, in

. 1788, and came directly to Washington, Pa., to join

his brothers, John and Thomas, who had preceded

him. John was a merchant and trader in the West as‘

early as 1784; Thomas came hither in 1786,‘ and
having a turn for military affairs became a commis-
sary-general in the war of 1812. The brothers were
of Scotch lineage, sons of George Acheson, an elder
of the seceding congregation of Market Hill, County
Armagh. David Acheson in his early life was much
interested in politics, connected with the “Repub-
lican” party of that day, representing Washington
County in the Legislature in 1795, 1796, 1797, and
1804. Alexander W. Acheson was the second child
of David by his second wife, Mary, daughter of John

Wilson, Esq., who settled at Washington in 1789.‘

He was born on July 14, 1809, at Philadelphia, where
his parents [resided for a time after their marriage;
was educated at Washington College, graduated in
1827, studied the law with William Baird, brother of
Judge Baird, and was admitted to the bar in June,
1832. After a short time passed in the West he be-
gan the practice of his profession in his native town,
and with the exception of several terms of service
as deputy attorney-general for Washington County,
before by the act of. May 3, 1850,3 the election of
district attorneys by the people was required, and his

term as president judge, he has never held any public‘

office. At the end of his term he returned to the
bar, and associated with his son, Markus C., and
nephew, James I. Brownson,Jr. He is still in active
practice as the senior member of the Washington
bar, having been, either as lawyer or judge, for fifty
years employed in the courts of justice of Wash-
ington County.

Hon. George S. Hart.—At the general election in
October, 187 6, the competitors for the office of presi-
dent judge were Hon. A. W. Acheson, on the
Republican side, and George S. Hart, Es_q., on 1876.
the Democratic ticket. The latter gentleman
was chosen and took his seat as president judge on
the first Monday of January, 1877, which oflice he
occupies at the present time. The paternal grand-
father of Hon. George Scott Hart was from Eastern
Maryland, settling in Westmoreland County at an
early day. His fatherwas John Hart, born in West-
moreland County, settled in Pittsburgh, and married
a Miss Barr at that place, where, on July 29, 1824, the
judge was born. On both sides he was of Scotch-Irish
descent. The family removed to Washington in the

spring of 1833, which afforded an opportunity to Judge A

Hart to be educated at Washington College, gradu-
ating in September, 1842, with, as some of his class-
mates, Caleb Baldwin, afterwards chief justice of
Iowa, now deceased; J. Kennedy Ewing, son of Hon.
N. Ewing, and at one timethe president judge of the
Fourteenth District, and Rev. Franklin Moore, after-
wards a distinguished minister in the Methodist Epis-
copal Church. In 1867 the latter gentleman, delivering

1 P. L. 1374, 54. 2 Ibid., 118.

3 Ibid., 1850,v654.

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CIVIL AND LEGAL—PRESIDEN T J UDGES——ASSOCIATE JUDGES.

249

the class history at the reunion after twenty-five years,
described Judge Hart, then at the bar, as having been
the Sir Philip Sidney of his class. After graduation
he taught a short time in Virginia, then studied law
with Hon. John L. Gow, now deceased, and was ad-
mitted to the bar in August, 1846. At the same term
of his admission he was appointed deputy attorney-
general, succeeding Hon. A. W. Acheson in that
office. After the ofiice became elective he served a
term of three years, beginning in 1850. In May,
1853, he acquired an interest in the Washington Ex-
aminer, of which paper he was the principal editor
till the close of 1856, from which time he was_devoted
exclusively to his profession. For ten years and two
months he was continuously a member of the school

_ board of Washington, acting as their secretary all

that time, a fact always mentioned in his history in
connection with another fact, that, being a bachelor,
he has been much interested in the education of the
children of other people.

There has thus been given in this chapter a sketch
of the judicial history of Washington County from
1781, when, under the Constitution of 1776, her
courts opened with a large number of justices upon
the bench; again, under the Constitution of 1790,
with a president judge learned in the law, his associ-
ates soon reduced to two in number; so continuing,
the county with other counties in the Fifth, then the

_Fourteenth, then the Twenty—seventh Judicial Dis-

trict, under the Constitution of 1838; and finally as a
separate judicial district, as in the beginning, but with
a single judge to administer the law, under the Con-
stitution of 1874.

 

C H A P T E R X I X.
THE CIVIL AND LEGAL HISTORY.—(, Continued.)

XI.

The Court List—President J udges——Associate Jud ges—-Deputy Attorneys-
General and District Attorneys—o-Roll of Attorneys.

To close the history of the courts of Washington
County, there is now subjoined a "list of all the early
justices, "president judges, associate judges, deputy
attorneys-general and district attorneys who have
been connected with our courts from the beginning.
This list has been carefully compiled from original
sources,—the Pennsylvania Archives and Colonial
Records, the records of the several courts, and, in
many cases, from the original commissions themselves.
Following there will be the roll of attorneys. In
these lists the officers at present serving and the attor-
neys at present practicing will be designated by a *.

PRESIDENT JUDGES.
Appointed under the Constitution of 1776.
Hon. Henry Taylor, commissioned Aug. 24, 1781.
Hon. Dorsey Pentecost, commissioned Oct. 31, 1783.
Hon. Henry Taylor, commissioned Sept. 30, 1788.

Appointed under the Constitution of 1790..

Hon. Alexander Addison, commissioned Aug. 22, 1791.
Hon. Samuel Roberts, commissioned June 2, 1803.
Hon. Thomas H. Baird, commissioned Oct. 19,‘ 1818.
Hon. Nathaniel Ewing, commissioned Feb. 15, 1838.

Appointed under the Constitution of 1838.
Hon. Samuel A. Gilmore, commissioned Feb. 28, 1848.

Elected under the Amendment of 1850.

Hon. Samuel A. Gilmore, commissioned _Nov. 6, 1851.

Hon. James Lindsey, commissioned Nov. 20, 1861.

Hon. James Watson, commissioned (declined) Nov. 9, 1864.
Hon. J. Kennedy Ewing, commissioned Nov. 18, 1864/.
Hon. B. B. Chamberlin, commissioned Feb. 3, 1866.

Hon. Alexander W. Acheson, commissioned Nov. 15, 1866.

Elected under the Constitution of 1874.
Hon. George S. Hart,“*3“ commissioned Dec. 11, 1876.

ASSOCIATE JUDGES.
Appointed under the Constitution of 1776. V

Hon. William Scott, commissioned Aug. 24, 1781.
Hon. John Craig, commissioned Aug. 24, 1781.

Hon. John White, commissioned Aug. 24, 1781.

. Daniel Leet, commissioned Aug. 24, 1781.

. John Marshall, commissioned Aug. 24, 1781.

. John Douglass, commissioned Aug. 24, 1781.

. Benjamin Parkinson, commissioned Aug. 24, 1781.
. John Reed, commissioned Aug. 24, 1781.

. Abner Howell, commissioned Aug. 24, 1781.

. Matthew McConnell, commissioned Aug. 24, 1781.
. Samuel Johnston, commissioned Aug. 24, 1781.
. Samuel Mason, commissioned Aug. 24, 1781.

. Matthew Ritchie, commissioned Oct. 6, 1784.

. John Canon, commissioned Oct. 6, 1784.

. Henry Vanmetre, commissioned Feb. 11, 1785.
. William Johnston, commissioned Feb. 9, 1786.
. John Hoge, commissioned Nov. 21, 1786.

. Thomas Scott, commissioned Nov. 21, 1786.

. John Worth, commissioned Nov. 21, 1786.

. Joseph Scott, commissioned Sept. 25, 1787.

. Samuel Glasgow, commissioned May 7, 1788.

. William Wallace, commissioned June 30, 1788.
. James Edgar, commissioned Sept. 30, 1788.

. William McFarland, commissioned Sept. 30, 1788.
. John Reed, commissioned Nov. 8, 1788.

Hon. Hugh Scott, commissioned Nov. 8, 1788.

. William Smiley, commissioned Nov. ll, 1788.

. Eleazer Jenkins, commissioned March 3, 1789.

. Absalom Baird, commissioned March 3, 1789.

. John Douglass, commissioned March 3, 1789.

. Thomas Ryerson, commissioned April 8, 1789.
. John Minor, commissioned Nov. 30, 1789.

. William Smith, commissioned Dec. 21, 1789.

. James Bell, commissioned Jan. 11, 1790.

. James Archer, commissioned April 16, 1790.

. Zephania Beall, commissioned July 28, I790.

. James Mitchell, commissioned Aug. 24, 1790.

. John Canon, commissioned Aug. 24, 1790.

. Henry Graham, commissioned Aug. 24, 1790.1

Appointed under the Constitution of 1790.

. Henry Taylor, commissioned Aug. 17, 1791. ‘
. James Edgar, commissioned Aug. 17, 1791.

1 The writer had most of the original commissions before him, and
corrected erroneous dates given in III. Penn. Archives, Sec. S., 778.

.of their own Lands.

30

HISTORY OF WASHINGTON COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA.

King of France, their Master, had raised a number of
soldiers to chastise the Twightwees and drive away
all the English traders from Ohio, and take those
lands under their own care, because the Indians acted
a foolish part, and had not Sense enough to take care
It is true, Mr. Montour said,
they ordered those seven Indians to tell the Governor
of Canada they would not suffer him to build Forts
there, nor take possession of those Lands, nor drive
away the English; that those Lands belonged to the
Indians, and that neither French nor English should
have anything to do with them; that the Indians
were owners of the soil, and independent of both, and
would keep the Lands-in their own hands; but not-
withstanding this answer, Mr. Montour said he saw
plainly the Indians were frighted, and that there was
a strong party for the French among the Indians,
and the Senecas particularly were in their interest
and countenanced the proceeding.”

On the 25th of May further intelligence of the ad-
vance of the French towards the Allegheny was
brought to Philadelphia by Michael Taafe and Robert
Callender, Indian traders, who had just returned from
the head of the Ohio. Callender reported that on the
7th of that month, when he was at Pine Creek, about
twenty miles from the Indian village of Logstown, on
the Ohio, in company with Capt. William Trent, of
Virginia, George Croghan, and several other traders,
they received a letter addressed to all the traders by
John Fraser, also a trader, living at VVeningo (Ve-
nango), about one hundred miles up the Allegheny,
which letter informed ‘them that he (Fraser) had re-
ceived intelligence from the Mingo Indians “ that
there were then, and had been since March last, one
hundred and fifty French and Indians at a carrying-
place‘ which leads from Niagara to the heads of the
Ohio, building canoes and making other preparations
for the reception of a large body of French and In-
dians who were expected there every day with eight
pieces of brass cannon and a large quantity of ammu-
nition and provisions; that on the 8th of May they
received full confirmation of the above account by
two Indians who were sent by the Council at Onon-
daga to give the Ohio Indians notice of _the prepara-
tions the French were making to attack them.” When
this intelligence came to the villages on the Ohio
there was great excitement among the Indians, and
one of the Mingoes at Logstown went to a French-
man? who had been there for some time, told him of

1 At Chautauqua Lake, New York.

2 The person referred to, who was known among the Indians as “ the
White Frenchman,” was Monsieur La Force, the same one who was with
Jumonville when Col. Washington attacked and killed the latter near
Fort Necessity, in May, 1754, and who in several accounts is mentioned
as having been then in command of the French force. On this occasion
he had come among the Indians at Logstown to secure their alliance with
the French, and having failed to accomplish it had become abusive to

, them. In the Colonial Records, vol. vi. page 22, is given “A speech

made by Monsieur La Force, the French Gentleman that was at Logs
Town when Mr. Montour and I [George Croghan] left it, to the Six Na-
tions there,” viz. : .

the news, and said that he (the Frenchman) had been
amusing the Indians during the past winter with
stories “ as sweet as if his tongue was sweetened with
sugar,” but warned him that he should certainly be
the first man to lose his scalp if his countrymen
should make any attempt to attack the Indians or
their friends, the English.

The French forces which had been seen passing
through Lake Ontario and at the Chautauqua carry-
ing-place moved by the same route which had been
pursued by Celeron four years before to the Alle-
gheny, and down that river to Weningo (Venango),
where they at once proceeded to erect a stockade
fort.

Another French force disembarked at a point far-
ther west on Lake Erie, moved across the country to
French Creek, then called La Riviere aux Boeufs, and
built upon that stream the fort called by them Le
Boeuf. Both these forts were finished before the end
of September, that at Venango being completed as
early as August, as is shown by the following extract
from a letter written by John Fraser (the trader who
had formerly been located at Venango, but was driven
away from there by the French) to Mr. Young?
dated “ Forks [present site of Pittsburgh], Aug. 27,
1753,” viz.:

“ . . . Capt. Trent was here the nightbefore last,
and viewed the ground the fort is to be built upon,
which they will begin in less than a month’s time.‘
The money has been laid out for the building of it
already, and the great guns are lying at Williamsburg,
Va., ready to bring up.

“The French are daily deserting_ from the new
Fort. One of them came here the other day with
Capt. Trent; he has him along with him to Virginia;
he has given the true Account of the Number of the
French and all their Designs; there are exactly
Twenty-Four Hundred of them in all; here is in-
closed the Draught of the Fort the French built a.
little way the other side of Sugar Creek, not far from
Weningo, where they have Eight Cannon. . . . The
Captain of the French that took John Trotter from

“ Chilelren,—I came here to know your minds, whether you intend to
side with the English or not; and without asking you I am convinced
that you have thrown‘ away your fathers and taken to your brothers,
the English. I tell you now that you have but a short time to see the
Sun, for in twenty days you and your brothers the English shall all
die !”

Whereupon the speaker of the Six Nations made him this reply,—-

“Fathers,—You tell us in twenty days we and our Brethren the -

English must all die. I believe you speak true, that is, you intend to kill
us if you can ; but I tell you to be Strong and bring down your Soldiers,
for We are ready to receive you in battle, but not in Peace.‘ We are not

afraid of you, and after an Engagement you will know who are the best ,

Men, you or we.”

3 Colonial Records, v. 659.

4 Referring to a. fort which the Ohio Company were preparing to build
at the confluence of the Monongahela and Allegheny.

It was not, however, commenced “in less than a month’s time” from
that date as told in the letter, but was commenced in the following Feb-
ruary by the same Capt. Trent, and surrendered to the French before
completion, as will be noticed hereafter. It then became the historic
Fort Du Quesne.

250

Hon. James Allison, commissioned Aug. 17, 1791.
Hon. Matthew Ritchie, commissioned Aug. 17, 1791.
Hon. William Hoge, commissioned April 6, 1798.
Hon. John McDowell, commissioned April 7, 1802.
Hon. Boyd Mercer, commissioned Jan. 1, 1806.

Hon. John Hamilton, commissioned Jan. 15, 1820.
Hon. Thomas McKeever, commissioned Oct. 11, 1837 .

Appointed under the Constitution of 1838.

Hon. Samuel Hill, commissioned March 26, 1840.

Hon. John Grayson, Sr., commissioned March 18, 1843.
Hon. James Gordon, commissioned March 8, 1845.
Hon. Isaac Hodgens, commissioned March 18, 1848.
Hon. William Vankirk, commissioned Nov. 12, 1850.

Elected mider the Amendment of 1850.

Hon. Abraham Wotring, commissioned Nov. 10, 1851.
. John Freeman, commissioned Nov. 10, 1851.

. James G. Hart, commissioned Nov. 12, 1856.

. Jacob Slagle, commissioned Nov. 12, 1856.

. James G. Hart, commissioned Nov. 23, 1861.

. William Vankirk, elected Oct. 8, 1861.1

. Thomas McCarrell, commissioned June 3, 1862.
. James C. Chambers, commissioned Nov. 9, 1866.
. John Farrer, commissioned Nov. 9, 1866.

Hon. Thomas W. Bradley, commissioned Nov. 17, 1871.
Hon. John Scott, commissioned Nov. 17, 1871.

DEPUTY ATTORNEYS-GENERAL?

Hon. David Sample, appointed Oct. 2, 1781.

Hon. David Bradford, appointed December, 1783.
Hon. Henry Purviance, served from March, 1795.
Hon. Parker Campbell, served from April, 1796.
Hon. James Ashbrook, qualified May, 1801.

Hon. Thomas Baird, served from March, 1809.3
Hon. William Baird, served from March, 1814.
Hon. Walter Forward, served from June, 1814.
Hon. Thomas M. T. McKennan, served from June, 1815.
Hon. William Baird, appointed Dec. 27, 1816.4
Hon. William Baird, reappointed March 26, 1821.
Hon. William Waugh, served from June 28, 1824.
Hon. Isaac Leet, served from March, 1830.

1 But his election being contested, the seat was awarded to Judge
McCarrell.

2 Great difiiculty has been encountered in the endeavor to make this
list complete. The records often fail to disclose the date of appointment
or of qualification; sometimes only the fact of service between certain
dates appears. The list, itis thought, contains the names of all who
ever served, and by the words “ served from,” used when other informa-
tion has not been obtained, is intended to cover a period thence to the
next entry. Thus, Henry Purviance served as deputy attorney-general
from March sessions, 1795, to April sessions, 1796, though the date of his
appointment has not been obtained. A few biographical sketches may
be found as foot-notes to the Roll of Attorneys.

3 So written then by himself, without the “ H.”

_4 The following is found on record to N 0. 15, March ss., 1817:

“ To all to whom these presents shall come, I, Amos Ellmaker, attor-
ney-general of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, send greeting:

“ Know ye that I hereby constitute and appoint William Baird,
Esquire, of Washington, Attorney and counsellor at law, my Deputy, to
implead and prosecute for, in the name and on behalf of the Common-
wealth aforesaid, all criminals whatsoever for any offence done or perpe-
trated, or which may be done or perpetrated, within the County of
Washington, and to sign all Indictments in and with my name, and to
take all fees and perquisites to the same oflice belonging or appertain-
ing, during the continuance of this deputation. In testimony whereof
I have hereto set my hand this twenty-seventh day of December, in the
year of our Lord one thousand eight hundred and sixteen.

“Amos ELLMAKER.”

HISTORY OF WASHINGTON COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA.

Hon. Isaac Leet, reappointed Feb. 5, 1833.

Hon. Alexander W. Acheson, qualified Jan. 26, 1835.
Hon. Richard H. Lee, qualified March, 1836.

Hon. William McKennan, qualified Aug. 23, 1837.

Hon. Alexander W. Acheson, served from March, 1839.
Hon. William Montgomery, qualified Feb. 17, 1845.

Hon. Alexander W. Acheson, served from February, 1846.
Hon. George S. Hart, served from August, 1846.

Hon. Robert H. Koontz, qualified February, 1848.

DISTRICT ATTORNEYS.

Hon. George S. Hart, elected Oct. 8, 1850.5

Hon. William Linn, elected Oct. 11, 1853.

Hon. Alexander Wilson, elected Oct. 14, 1856.
Hon. Alexander Wilson, re-elected Oct. 11, 1859.
Hon. James R. Ruth, elected Oct. 14, 1862.
Hon. Boyd Crumrine, elected Oct. 10, 1865.
Hon. Ianthus, Bently, elected Oct. 13, 1868.

Hon. Thomas H. Baird, Jr., elected’ Oct. 10, 1871
Hon. John A. McIlvaine, elected Nov. 3, 1874.
Hon. John A. McIlvaine, re-elected Nov. 6, 1877.
Hon. Ralph C. McConnell,“*1°‘ elected Nov. 2, 1880.

ROLL OF ATTORNEYS.

[For the names and dates in the following list of the gentle-
men who have been admitted to practice in the several courts
of Washington County credit is due to the industry of some
of the junior members of the bar, each taking a part of the
work: Joseph F. McFarland, from 1781; William S. Parker,
from 1830; Robert W. Irwin, 1840; John S. Marquis, from
1850; Ralph C. McConnell, from 1860; J. F.,Taylor, from
1870 to 1882.] A

1781.

Hugh M.6 Brackenridge, Oct. Samuel Irwin, October.
David Sample, October.

1782.

George Thompson, December.
Thomas Duncan, December.
David Redick, December.3
Michael Hutfnagle, December.
 17s3.
John Woods, December.

Thomas Smith, January.
David Espy, January.
David Bradford, April.7
Robert Galbraith, April.

5 Under the act of May 3, 1850; P. L. 654.

5 The “ M” soon afterward was changed to “ H ;” why is unknown.

7 David Bradford was a native of Maryland, and had not been long in
the county when admitted. In 1783 he was appointed deputy attorney-
general for the county, and held that office for a long time. He is
chiefly noted for the prominent part he took in the Whiskey Insurrec-
tion, having been the head and front of that offending. The amnesty
proclamation issued by the government included all the insurrectionists
save him; he then fled to Bayou Sara, in Louisiana Territory, where
he died. He built the house now occupied by Mrs. Harding, on the

west side of Main Street, a few doors north of Maiden, said to have been.

the first stone house built in Washington. ‘

8 David Redick was a native of Ireland. His wife was a daughter of
Jonathan Hoge, the brother of David Hoge, the proprietor of Washing-
ton. He was elected a member of the Supreme Executive Council in
1786; represented the county in the Constitutional Convention of 1790;
was chosen vice-president of Pennsylvania in 1788; and in 1791 was ap-
pointed prothonotary of Washington County. In the Whiskey Insur-
rection he also took a prominent part, but on the side of law and order,
being one of the commissioners, Mr. Findley the other, to wait upon
President Washington when on his way out with the army, and to ex-
plain the condition of affairs in the western counties. He died at Wash-
ington, Sept. 28, 1805. A daughter was the first wife of Dr. James
Stevens, deceased.

CIVIL AND LEG‘rAL—-ROLL or ATTORNEYS.

251

17 84.

James Ross.‘
1786.
James Carson, June.
1787. A
Alexander Addison, March?
1788.
George Vallandigham, April.
1789.

John Young, June. Daniel St. Clair, September.

1790.
Henry Purviance, Marcl1.3 John Ralph, March.
1791.
Thomas Scott, September. Steel Sample, September.
. 1792.

Hugh Ross, September. Joseph Pentecost, September.‘
David McKeehan, December.
1793.

George Armstrong, June.

1794.
Arthur St. Clair, September. Henry Woods, September.
Parker Campbell, December.5
1795.

Thomas Collins, March. ‘ George Henry Keppele, Sept.
James Morrison, September.

e

1 No minute is found of the admission of Hon. James Ross in our
courts, but the records of Fayette County show that he was admitted in
the courts of that county in December, 1784, which is satisfactory evi-
dence that he was admitted here that year. Mr. Ross was born July 12,
1762, the son of Hon. George Ross, of York County. Following Dr. Mc-
Millan from the "place of the latter’s nativity, he taught in McMillan’s
school in the log cabin for a while, then upon the recommendation of

. H. H. Brackenridge began the study of the law. In 1790 he was in the

Constitutional Convention of that year, and United States senator in
1794-1803. On Aug. 8, 1794, with Jasper Yeates and William Bradford,
he was appointed on the commission to “ confer with such bodies of in-
dividuals as you may approve concerning the commotions” then exist-
ing, during the Whiskey Insurrection. He died at Allegheny City, Pa.,
Nov. 27, 1847, leaving children of deceased daughters, and one son, James
Ross, Jr., who was admitted to the bar, but never practiced. He has
also died, unmarried. During the Whiskey Insurrection Hon. James
Ross lived in Washington. See Brackenridge’s His. Wh. Ins., 70, 174.

2 The first president judge under the Constitution of 1790.

3 Deputy attorney-general, 1795-96.

4Joseph Pentecost was the oldest son of Col. Dorsey Pentecost, with
whom the reader of previous chapters is already familiar. After the
death of his father he built the brick house now occupied by John Gam-
ble, Esq., on part of the old Dorsey Pentecost estate, in North Strabane.
He was a leading lawyer of his day, and a respected citizen, and is now
represented in the county by a son, George Pentecost, of West Middle-
town. He died March 29, 1823.

5 Parker Campbell is said to have been the most distinguished lawyer
of his day, the old records of this and adjoining counties showing that
he was extensively engaged in the trial of most of the causes instituted.
He was born in Carlisle in 1768, married Elizabeth Calhoun, of Cham-
bersburg. Their children were Nancy, who married Samuel Lyon;
Elizabeth, who married first William Chambers, then the late John S.
Brady, Esq.; Ellen, married John Ritchie.-«'a?d three sons, Francis C.,
John, Parker, born in 1815, and lately Jizii at Richmond, Va. Mr.
Campbell died July 30, 1824. “In the resolutions of the bar meeting,
held immediately after his death, he is described as the “ lamented ad-
vocate, the chief leader for many years of this bar.”

1796.

James Allison, January. Joseph Shannon, July.

John Simonson, January. James Montgomery, October.
Thomas Creigh, July. Thomas Hadden, October.
Samuel Sidney Mahon, October.

1797.

John Lyon, October.
Robert Whitehill, October.

1798.

Thomas Johnston, November.
Cunningham Semple, Nov.
William Ayers, November.

1799.

Robert Callender, August.
John Kennedy, August.

1800.
Isaac Kerr, August.
1801.

Obadiah J ennin gs,6 Nov.
L James Mountain, N ovember.7

Thomas N esbit, July.
Thomas Bailey, July.

John Cloyd, August.
Thomas Mason, August.
James Ashbrook, November.

George Heyl, May.

Robert Moore, August.
John Gilmore, August.

1802.
Alexander Wm. Foster, Feb. Sampson Smith King, Feb.
- 1803.
Isaac Meason, J r., August. Jonathan Redick, November.
1805.

Elias E. Ellmaker, February. John Purviance, J r., Feb.
Hill Runyan, February. Joseph Douglass, August.
John Porter, August.

1806. e_
James Taylor, September.

1807.
Thomas McGiflin, Februaryfi

George Paul], May.

5 Obadiah Jennings was born near Baskenridge, N. J ., Dec. 13, 1778.
Educated at the Canonsburg Academy, he studied law with John
Simonson, who was also from New Jersey. He settled at Steubenville,
Ohio, where he practiced until 1811, when he returned to Washington.
Turning his attention to theology, he was licensed. to preach by the
Presbytery of Ohio in 1816. A short time before his death, which was
at Nashville, Tenn., on Jan. 12, 1832, the College of New Jersey con-
ferred upon him the degree of D.D.

7 James Mountain was a brilliant Pittsburgh lawyer of his day, but
practiced much here. In 1796 he was teaching in the Canonsburg
Academy, and an advertisement in the Western Telegraphe in June of that
year speaks in high terms of his classical attainments.

3 Thomas McGifiin was the son of Nathaniel McGifiin, a Scotch-Irish-
man, who came to America before the Revolution ; a soldier in the Penn-
sylvania line, in the battle of Brandywine and at Trenton, and suffered
at Valley Forge; settled on Ten-Mile about 1781 or 1782. The son,
Thomas, was born Jan. 1, 1784; educated at Canonsburg Academy;
studied law with Parker Campbell, and admitted as above. The same
year he went to Vincennes, Ind., where he began practice, and soon
after removed to and remained a short time at St. Louis. In 1809, having
returned to Washington, he continued in active practice here all his life.
The last case he tried was the celebrated Vanatta murder case in Greene
County. During his professional life he was at the same time much en-
gaged in outside business enterprises, among others, with Parker Camp-
bell and Thomas H. Baird, in the building of a large portion of the
National road through Washington County. He was also deeply inter-
ested in politics; was personally intimate wi-th Henry Clay, William H,
Crawford, as well as many others of the leading men of that day; repre-
sented the county in the Legislature of 1836. He died Feb. 5, 1841, in
his house on West Maiden Street, now occupied by Mr. John Baird. He
left children: Maria, married Thomas Boyd, Fayette County; Nathaniel,

252

HISTORY OF WASHINGTON v COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA.

John McDonald, December.

1808.
John Tarr, October.

John Marshel, October}

William Wilkins, March.
Thomas Baird, July.” John Shannon, October.
Charles'Wilkins, July. John White, October.
Morgan Neville, December.
1810.

Joseph Weigley, October.
David Redick, December.
Thomas Irwin, December.

1811.
Andrew Buchanan, J uly.4

Richard Carr Lane, July.
John H. Chapline, July.
Jesse Edgington, October.

Philip Doddridge, July.3
1812.
William Baird, J une.5 Joseph B. Beckett, December.
Walter Forward, December.
S 1813.

David Jennings, June.
Thomas Cunningham, June.

John C. Wright, March.
Thomas Morgan, March.
1814.

T. McK. T. McKennan, Oct.“ H. H. Brackenridge, Oct.
Samuel Lyon, October.

Mount Vernon, Knox Co., Ohio; Julia, now deceased, married Rev. Wil-
liam Hamilton; Margaret, married Rev. W. C. Mcllvaine, Peoria, Ill. ;
Thomas, admitted to the bar of Washington County in February, 1841,
never practiced much, now near Fairfield, Iowa; George Wallace, gradu-

.ated at Washington College in 1841, studied law but never practiced, died

in 1858; Norton McGiflin, born Jan. 23, 1824, graduated at Washington
College in 1841; studied law awhile, but in 1846 went to Mexican war;
returned in 1848, and was sherifi‘ 1858-61; in the war of the Rebellion
he served as captain of Company E, Twelfth Pennsylvania Regiment,
three months’ service, the first company that left the county; afterwards
as.,,lieutenant-colonel Eighty-fifth Pennsylvania Volunteers, in the three
years’ service; he represented the county in the House of Representatives

- from 1880 to 1882, and in the spring of 1882 removed with his family to

Ida Grove, Ida Co., Iowa.
1 John Marshel was the son of Col. James Marshel, the county lieuten-

ant (as to whom see biographical sketch in preceding pages), and is well‘

remembered as the cashier of the old Franklin Bank of Washington.
He never engaged in the practice of the profession.

2 This was the Hon. Thomas H. Baird, who succeeded Hon. Samuel
Roberts as presidentjudge; his name is without the “ H” at first.

3 This was the celebrated Wellsburg lawyer, who practiced much in
our courts. He was the son of John Doddridge, who settled near Mid-
dletown in 1773; a brother of Philip was Dr. Joseph Doddridge, author
of“ Notes on the Early Settlements, stc.,” written in 1824. Philip died,
a. member of Congress, at Washington, D. C., on Nov. 19, 1832.

4 Andrew Buchanan was the father of Hon. J ._ A. J. Buchanan, now
of the Waynesburg bar.

5 The brother of Hon. Thomas H. Baird.

‘6 Rev. William McKennan, of Scotch lineage, emigrated from the
north of Ireland; married Miss Wilson, Winchester, Va. ; was long pastor
of White Clay Creek congregation, Delaware, and for a large part of the
time he was also in charge of the First Presbyterian Church of Wilming-
ton, dying in 1809, at the age of ninety-four. His son, William Mc-
Kennan, was born in Delaware in 1758; in June, 1776, entered a “ Flying
Camp” Regiment as second lieutenant; on April 5, 1777, commissioned
first lieutenant Delaware regiment of foot, and served during the Revo-
lutionary war, participating in the service which compelled the surren-
der of Cornwallis at Yorktown, and being mustered out as captain, serv-
ing afterwards as colonel of militia.- He married Elizabeth Thompson,
whose father, John Thompson, married Dorothea, only sister of Gover-
nor Thomas McKean. In 1797, Col. McKennan removed to Charlestown,
now Wellsburg, W. Va., and upon the election of Thomas McKean as
Governor he removed to Washington County, and on Jan. 11, 1803, was
appointed prothonotary and clerk, serving to the end of Governor Mc-
Kean’s term. He died Jan. 14, 1810, from the effects of a wound received
.in the battle of Germantown, Oct. 4, 1777. His wife survived him till
1839. Their children were William, John Thompson, Thomas McKean

l

1815.
J. Philpot C. Sampson, June. Henry Baldwin, June.
1816.
Nathaniel Ewing, June. Samuel Stokely, September.
' 1817.

J ameshL. Bowman, January. Alexander Caldwell, June.
Charles Shaler, March. John M. Goodenow, June.
John S. Brady, June.

1818.
Alexander Brackenridge, Mar.
William Waugh, June. Walter B. Beebe, December.
Henry M. Campbell, June. James S. Craft, December.

Harmar Denny, December.
1819.

Asa Andrews, June.
Ephraim Roote, September.
Samuel H. Fitzhugh, Sept.
James Shannon, December.
1820.
Alexander Addison, Dec.
John S. Garrett, December.
1821.
Jacob B. Miller, March. James Piper, March.
William G. Hawkins, March. ‘ Thomas Gibbs Morgan, June.
1822.
Samuel Evans, March. Joshua Seney, June.
John H. Waugh, November.
1823.

Dorsey B. Pentecost, July.
John C. Campbell, November.

John Hoge Ewing, June.

Hiram Heaton, March.
William Harvey, March.
John Dawson, June.
Stephen D. Walker, June.

Isaiah Winge, September.
John M. Austin, October.

A. S. Mountain, March. "

Jonathan B. Smith, March.

William H. Brown, June. Roswell Marsh, November.

John H. Hopkins, June. James Ross Pentecost, Nov.
Thomas Ustice White, December.

1824.

James C. Simonson, February. James Todd, June.

Richard Biddle, March. George Watson, June.

Thomas L. Rodgers, June. W. W. Fetterman, November.
Charles H. Israel, November.

1825.

William W. King, January. James W. McKennan, June. '
John Louden Gow, January.7 Henry B. Tomlinson, Dec.
Richard Bard. ’

Thompson, David, James Wilson, and Anne. Thos. McK. T. McKennan
was born in New Castle County, Delaware, March 31, 1794; graduated
at Washington College; married Matilda, daughter of Jacob Bowman,
of Brownsville, in 1815; was deputy attorney-general for Washington

County 1815-16; member of the United States House of Representatives _

from 1831 to 1839, and from May, 1842, to March, 1843; and was for a
short time Secretary of the Interior during President Fillmore’s admin-
istration. He died July 9, 1852. Of his children, two are now residents
of Washington, Pa.,-—Hon. William McKennan, born Sept. 27, 1816;
graduated at Washington College in 1833; admitted to the bar in 1837;

deputy attorney-general for the county 1837 to 1839; a member of the

fruitless Peace Congress at Washington, D. C., 1861; appointed by Presi-
dent Grant United States circuit judge for the Third Circuit in 1869,
which position he still holds. The other is Thomas McKennan,' M.D.

7 Mr. Gow was born in the town of Hallowell, Me., Sept.—28., 1797. His
father, James, was a Scotchman from Glasgow; his mother, Lucy Gilman,
of Puritan stock. His education was mostly obtained in the Hallowell

Academy, but at an early age ‘he went to Boston, Mass., thence to Fred-

CIVIL AND LEGAL—ROLL OF ATTORNEYS.

1826.
Alexander Wilson, June. Isaac Leet, June.
Charles Coleman, June.
1827.
Samuel McFarland, Dec.
1828.  
George Selden, June.
1829.
Samuel Creigh, December.
Ethelbert P. Oliphant, Dec.
1830. '
Griflith J. Withey, July.
George W. Acheson, Dec.

1831.

Edward D. Gazzam, March.

John Glenn, June.
Benjamin S. Stewart, June.

Samuel Gormly, June.
Francis C. Campbell, June.

H William R. McDonald, June. Joshua B. Howell, June.

Nathaniel P. Fetterman, June. Thomas L. Shields, October.
James Watson, October.

1832.
Alexander W. Achesonfili June. Thos. S. Humrickhouse, Oct.
Charles W.1Kelso, October. Samuel Cleavinger, October.
David Walker, December.
1833.
Benjamin Patton, March.
1834.

Richard H. Lee, January.
‘ Thomas B. Beall, October.

James Veech, January.
Thomas J. Gass, January.
1835.

William Allison, September.
1836.

David Blair, June. I

R. F. McConnauley, Sept.

1837.

William McKennan, June. Thomas J. Bigham, August.

1838.

Daniel Baldwin, March. T. J. Fox Alden, December.

ericksburg, Va.., where he supported himself by teaching while he
studied the law and until he was admitted to the Fredericksburg bar.
Soon he removed to Washington, D. C., and for several years was an
assistant editor of the National Journal, a Whig paper, owned by Peter
Force. He came to Washington, Pa., in 1824, and was at once admitted
to the bar of this county. Soon afterwards, attention being attracted to
his special fitness, he was put in charge of, an English department in
Washington College, so continuing for several years, when he then de-
voted himself exclusively to the law. Full of the New England ideas
upon the subject of common-school education, when the present Penn-
sylvania system was proposed he became its earnest advocate, and when
finally adopted in 1854, he was chosen the first superintendent of com-
mon schools for Washington County, and during his whole life his in-
fluence was a strong one in the cause of popular education. His prac-
tice at the bar continued, however, first in partnership with Mr. King,
then with Thomas McGiflin, afterwards with his brother-in-law, Alex-
ander Murdock, and when he died he had been in the successful prac-
tice of his profesion for over forty years. On June 12, 1827, he married
Mary H., daughter of Alexander Murdock, by whom there were twelve
children, ten of whom at this writing are living useful lives, widely
separate from each other. He died Aug. 17,1866, and is now represented
in the profession by his sons, John L., J r., Washington, Pa., and George
L., Greenfield, Iowa. Two sonsare editors, Alexander M., Washington,
Pa., and James M., Greenfield, Iowa. A daughter, Minnie, is the wife
of M. C. Acheson-, Esq., of the Washington bar. , 

17

253

1839.
Samuel Frew, April. Daniel Leet, May.
Daniel M. Edgington, April. Joseph Henderson, May.
J. P. Avery, November.
1840.  
Robert H. Koontz, August.‘
Peter F. Ege, August.
Thomas R. Hazzard, Nov.
1841.
Seth T. ‘Hurd, May.

Lewis Roberts, February.
Isaiah Steen, February.
Robert Woods, August.

Ross Black, February.

John H. Deford, February. Samuel Kingston, August.

Thomas McGiflin, February. Simon Meredith, November.
William Montgomery, November.

1842.
Robert F. Cooper, May. John Watson, J r., August.
Francis C. Flenniken, November.
1843.

Alexander Murdoch, August.’
Wm. F. Johnston, August.
Jonathan D. Leet, November.

1844.
Henry H. Clark, May.
William Wilson, May.

Obadiah B. McFadden, Feb.
George Acheson, February.
Solomon Alter, May.

Uriah W. Wise, February.

James Dunlop, February.

John D. Creigh, February. Ebenezer Boyce, August.

J . W. F. White, May. I G. W. McIlvaine, August.
R. F. McI1vaine, August.

1845. 1
Richard J . Allison, November.
J . Bowman Sweitzer, Nov.
1846.
Elbridge G. Creacraft, Aug.
George E. Appleton, August.
Wilson McCand1es, August.
George W. McGiflin, Nov.
John P. Penny, November.

Job Johnston, February.
Alexander Miller, May.

Thomas H. Baird, J r.,9-‘i Feb.
R. C. Ingall, February.
David Reed, May.

George Scott Hart, August.
William Grayson, August.

1 Robert Hamilton Koontz was a son of John H. Koontz, who came
from Lancaster County to Washington, Pa., about 1792. He was born
June 16, 1818, and after graduating at Washington College while quite
young, studied the law with T. M. T. & William McKennan, and was
admitted as above. He never held any public office, except that of deputy
attorney-general for this county, by appointment under the old system,
from February, 1848, to December, 1850. Mr. Koontziwas a man of a
very high degree of culture, literary and legal. Full of the finest quality
of wit and humor, life to him was a bright spring morning; yet he was
a laborious student and a successful lawyer. He it was who was always
called upon for an address on public occasions, and his powers of oratory
in such efforts were not more effective than he exhibited as an advocate
at the bar. He died June 30, 1863.

2 Hon. A. Murdoch is the grandson of John Murdoch, a native of
Scotland, who removed from near Carlisle, Pa., to what is new North
Strabane township in 1778. The third son of John Murdoch was Alex-
ander, born in Carlisle in 1770; in 1803 married Elizabeth, daughter of
Rev. Matthew Henderson; was appointed prothenotary and clerk in
1809, and held those offices until 1819; built the brick house on corner
of Main Street and Pine Alley, now occupied and owned by his eldest
daughter, the widow of Hon. John L. Gow, deceased; also what is now
the principal part of the Fulton House building; in the mean time hav-
ing purchased the “ Morganza” tract, he subsequently removed thither,
where he died in 1836. The seventh of his eleven children, was Alexan-
der, admitted to the bar as above. Mr. Murdoch while at the bar prac-
ticed chiefly in partnership with his brother-in-law, Mr. Gow. In April,
1861, he was appointed by President Lincoln United States marshal for
the Western District of Pennsylvania, served four years; reappointed in
April, 1865, and served two years, and again appointed by President
Grant to same oflice in March, 1869, but resigned in December, 1872. The
family is now represented at the bar by his son, John H. Murdoch.

. William A. Stokes, May.

254

L.

1847.
Joseph S. Morrison, Nov. John McKee, November.
Andrew Hopkins, November.

1848.

David Craig, February. W. M. Farrar, May.
R. S. Moody, February.
John J. Pierson, May. George II. Oliver, November.

J. A. J. Buchanan, November.

'1s49.
Thomas W. Porter, February. William Baird, August.
Daniel Donehoo, May. . David S. Wilson, August.
Daniel M. Stockton, August. Daniel Kaine, August.
John C. Flenniken.
1850.

William Linn, May.
1851.

John M. Stockdale, May.

Huston Quail, May.

J. Lawrence J udson,‘-"“ Aug.
1852.

William L. Bowman, Nov.
Jacob F. Slagle, November.
1853.
Alexander Wilsonfiii February. John B. Kreeps, August.
George  Miller,”*“ February. Robert M. Gibson, August.
John D. Bradenfi-'5‘ February. Samuel M. Semmes, Nov.
George A. Peare, November.

1854.

Ellis Gregg, February.
Harvey J . Vankirk,“’1“ Feb.
Alfred Howell, February.

Marcus W. Acheson, May.
D. W. Bell, May.

Charles Naylor, February.
A. S. Ritchie, February.
A. P. Morrison, February.
A. S. Fuller, February.

John Nicholls, May.
Robert F. Strean, August.
B. W. Lacy, November.

1855.
Samuel N. Cochran, May. Peter B. McMahon, August.
Samuel Cole, J r., May. William Mills, August.
’ Eugene Ferero, November.

1856.
John H. Craig, May.

Jasper E. Brady, February. Addison Oliver, February.
Alexander M. Gow, May.
1858.

Thomas Ewing, February. Ira J . Lacock, August.

‘John R. Donehoo, May.
Jonathan W. Mott, Nov.

1859.

"William E. Gapen, February. ‘ Archibald McBride, August.

R. P. Lewis, May. James Lindsey, November.
1860.

‘Andrew A. Purman, February. William F. Templeton, May.
‘Freeman Brady, J r.,'*‘ May. Charles McClure Hays, Aug.
Wilson N.‘Paxton, May. H. G. Rogers, November.

1861.
James R. Ruth, May.
Boyd Crumrine,‘*«"' August.
Thomas Boyd, November.

‘John ‘G. Ruple, April.
Leroy W. Little, May.
Isaac Y». Hamiltonfi‘ May.
.Mordecai B. .Massey,’ May.
. James Murray Clark, November.

William S. Moore, November.

Samuel G. Pepper, November.

John C. Messenger, February.

Francis P. Fitzwilliams, Aug.

William J . Patton, November.

HISTORY or   WASHINGTON COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA.

1862.
David Crawford, February. William C. Lindsey, May.

Robt. A. McConnell, Feb. Isaac Bailey, August.
George W. Caldwell, August.

1863.
Hill Burgwinn, April.
James S. '-Rutan, May. A. W. Wilson, November.
Samuel B. Wilson, May. Simon Buckingham, Nov.
Wesley Wolf, August. , Daniel W. Leet, November.

Eugene Tarr, November.

1864.

A. W. Aiken, May. Samuel F. White, May.

1865.

R. Galy Barr, August.
David S. Smith, August. .
Joseph Hays, November.

Marshal Swartzwelder, Feb.
David F. Patterson, May.
Henry Gantz,*“ May.

1866.

John S. C. Weills, May.
David T. Watson, July.
J . W. Kirker, August.

John L. Gow,*° February.
Ianthus Bentley, February.
Charles M. Ruple,‘5*“ May.

1867.

John A. McIlvaine,"5" August.
John W. Wiley, August.

W. C. Moreland, August.
John W. M'cWilliams, Dec.
J. G. Wood, December.

M. L. A. McCracken, May.
George L. Gow, May.

Wm. Owens, J r., May.
Ebenezer Williams, J r., May.
George Shiras, J r., June.
Bishop Crumrine, August. Solomon Bell, December.
John W. Donnan,'3*" August. John W. Donaldson, Dec.

R. B. Patterson, December.

1868.

Alexander M. Toddfii May.
George R. Cochran, May.
W. M. N ickerson, August.

G. Cochran, February.
L. Morrison, February.
C. Hoffman, February.

AD
R.
R.
1869.
David W. Brown,"*“ August.
L. McCarrell,‘3*°‘ August.
James L. Black, August.

James P. Sayer,"-‘ii December.
John Aiken,’-""‘ December.

Marcus C. Acheson,'>3=‘ Feb.
Henry, M. Dougan,‘?="‘ May.
Joshua R. Forrest, May.
Cicero Hasbrouck, May.
J . W. McDowell,‘4"' August.

1870.

Oscar L. Jackson, August.
H. P. Mueller, August.
John Mueller, August.

Franklin Ezra Oliver, May.
John.Mi1ton Oliver, May.
Clark Riggle,"’1i August. !
«George Fetterman, May.

1871.

Jacob Davis, February. B. F. Lucas, May. 8
Joseph McK. Acheson, April. George 0. Jones,""1“ August.
Daniel N. McCracken,‘*3“ April. Leopold Becker, December.

1872.
William S. McFadden, Aug.
William Blakeley, October.
B. C. Christy, December.

1873.

J . Hanson Good, February. E. G. Creacraft, February.‘
Nathaniel Richardson, Feb. John H. Murdochfii August.
' _ J olm McCracken Hoon, August.

W. G. Guyler, January.
G. W. G. Waddle, February.
S. A. McClung, April.

Samuel 0. Taylor, November.

William McEnrue, December.

Thomas J. Duncan,“*1“ October. '

IB. Frank Montgomery, May.

, Alvan Donnan,"-'* January.
.\Vi1liam F. Wright,“’1“ January.
John M. Davis, January.

‘Ralph C. McConnell,"5" March.
John F. O’Mally, May.

George C. Burgwin, June.

_ Samue1'C. Cook, March:

,_John S. Marquis, Jr.,‘3* March.

Samuel C. Clark,"='* January. 4
L Thomas McK. Hughes,‘35"June. William G. Stewart, Sept.

‘Wm. Sanders Parker,i“' March.

_Winfield McIlvaine, June T.

JCIVIL AND LEG‘AL—-SLAVERY IN PENNSYLVANIA.

255

1874.

J. B. Jones, April.
Thomas Henry, May.
John R. Braddock,“*3=‘ June.

1875.

Charles’W. McCord, Oct.
James L. Berry, October.
George A. Hoffman, Jr.,"1* Oct.

1876.

John,W. Morehead, February. William 0. Crawford, May.
Isaac S. Vanvoorhis, February. John H. McCreary, May.
-John A. Moninger, March. A. S. Miller, August.
Julian B. Crenshaw, Dec.

1877.

David F. Enoch, May.
Joseph S. Haymaker, May.
Wm. Archibald Barr, Aug.
Ernest F. Acheson, August.
W. C. Stillwagon, August.
-William M. Boggs, October.
J. B. R. Streator,”5" October.

1878.

John Barton, July.

William M. Watson, Aigust.
James Irwin Brownson,°v’f Oct.
J. F. McFarland,"*“ October.
W. McBride Perrin,"5*" October.
James McFadden Carpenter, October.

1879. J _

Thomas J. Lazear, April.
John D. McKennan, October.
Julius P. Miller,‘*' October.
William Reardon, March. Albert S. Sprowls,'35“ October.
William H. Playford, March. James Franklin Taylor,‘3="‘ Oct.

1880.

Edgar Galbraith, January.
John Dalzell, January.
William H. White, April.

John M. Kennedy, June.
David H. Martin, April.

J. Carter Judson, January.
James M. Sprowls,‘3*“ March.

J. N. Patterson, February.
Charles C. Montooth, March.
Louis R. Smith,’3-*5‘ April.

J. H. S. Trainer,»May.

John M. Braden,"*°‘ March.

1881. . .
Hugh A. Rogers,"l’~‘ January. . Robert Wilson Irwin,/"*5 June.
Joseph M. Swearingen, June. Joseph T. Noble, June.
  1882. 1  
George W. Guthrie, February. Joseph M. Dickson,"="‘ June.
John L. Rogers,"*=‘ June.
James Q. McGiflin, June. J. M. Patterson,'3“ June.
George Peyton Miller, June.
LAVV STUDENTS.
[Term of -study required,,three years.]
1879. ' _
Geo. A.‘ Spindler, January T.
Thomas Irwin, October T.

1880.

F. A. McGi1l, June T.
Albert G. Braden, June T. John M. Birch, September T.
D. L. McConaughey, September_T.

1881." ‘
D. W. Wilie, June T.

1882. ' _
J as. McC. McBurney, Jan. T. Ernest E. Crumrine, Sept. T. .

Edwin Linton, January T.
E. G. Hemphill, January T.

\Vin. Brown Ewing, June T.

Thos. Fleming Birch,‘°="‘ June. .

THE CIVIL AND. LEGAL HISTORY.—(0'ontinued.)

XII.

Slavery and Servitude-—Slavery in Pennsylvania——Act of 1780 abolishing
Slavery—-—Slavery in Washington County-—Special Act for VVashington
and Westmoreland Counties——Supplementary Act of 1788—Re-gistry
of Slaves—Registry of Servants——Statistics of Slaves, 1790—1840—The
-Underground Railway.

Slavery and Servitude.——As a final chapter of the ~ ’

civil and legal history of our county is placed the
subject of slavery and servitude; for, though “God
has sent forth all men free, and nature has made no
man slave,” yet there was a time when, even in Wash-
ington County, human beings were held and sold as

"slaves. To show how slavery was abolished in Penn-

sylvania, and how and when it ceased to exist with
us, is the purpose of the following pages.

Slavery in .Pennsy1vania.—C'oeva1 with the grant
of the charter to William Penn, in April,.1681, and
the first settlement of Pennsylvania, slavery entered
that province. Wil1iam'Penn himselfwas a slave-
holder. Nevertheless, from the very earliest date of
the new government, the benign spirit of the Quaker
element set itself against the continuance of the evil.
The German settlers about Germantown, who were
indeed of substantially the same religious belief with
the Quakers, in the year 1688, but six years after the
establishment of Penn’s government, bore their testi-
mony against the slave traflic, as follows :1 '

“We hear," theysaid, “that the most part of such negroes are
brought hither against their will and consent, and that many of them
are stolen. Now, though they are black, we cannot conceive there is
more liberty to have them slaves as [than] it is to have other white ones.
. . . But tobring men hither, or to rob and sell them against their will,
we stand against. . . . Pray, what thing in the world can be done worse
to us, than if men should rob or steal us away and sell us for slaves to

strange countries; separating husbands from their wives and children.
Being now this is not done in the manner we would be done at, there-

' fore wecontradict and are against this traflic in men—body.”‘

This memorial was referred to the Quarterly Meet-
ing, and thence to the Yearly Meeting, but no definite
action was taken. However, subordinate meetings

still continuing to remonstrate, in 1696 the Yearly ,

Meeting advised that “Friends be careful not to en-

‘courage the bringing in of any more Negroes,” and

that those who have them be careful of their moral
training. Four years afterward, in 1700, a minute of

the Yearly Meeting of the Society of Quakers at.

Philadelphia says, 1“ Our dear friend and Governor
laid before the meeting a concern that hath laid upon
his mind for some‘ time, concerning the Negroes and

Indians.” And William Penn, in a will written about

the same time, provided for the. em,a_ncipation'.of his
own slaves, and having also made recommendations

to the Provincial Assembly looking in the same direc- '

tion, upon the ground that there was no precedent for
such legislation as he proposed, the Assembly dc-
clined toaccede to hiswishes. However, soon after

1 Sec III. Bry‘ant‘s History of the United States, 175.

256

HISTORY or: WASHINGTON COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA.

settling into regular legislative action, the Assembly
made from time to time’ frequent efforts to suppress
the slave trade, yet as long as Pennsylvania remained
an ‘English colony every attempt to interdict the im-
portation of African slaves was promptly suppressed
.by the English government.‘ '
Nevertheless the Friends, or Quakers, still. con-
tinued to bear testimony against slavery and the
slave trade, and finally, in 1755, just in the beginning
of the Indian wars which disturbed the country until
and after the Revolution, a “rule of discipline was

‘adopted for_ the disowmnent of‘ all members of the
‘Society who persisted in the practice of buying ne-
gr_o'es. Three years afterwards Friends were advised

to manumit their slaves; in .1776 this advice was en-

‘forced by discipline, and Friends were no longer per-

m'it‘ted to retain "their. membership if they continued
sla_veh'o.lders.”2 , ,

"Except in particular localities, the Friends and,
allied to them by similarityof principles, the Ger-

mans formed a majority of ‘the settlers, and naturally

it would not '-be long, after a separationfrom the
Inother-country would ‘be-cornpleted, -until the blot of
slavery, now abhorred, would be erased. Proud, the

‘early historian of the State, writing between 1760 and
‘.1770, says of the inhabitants of that period : 3

“The negroes, or black people, it is supposed, are less numerous in

‘Pennsylvania and New Jersey than in most of the other colonies, in

proportion‘ to the number of inhabitants; the Legislature at different
times having used the best endeavors .in -their power to discourage and

prevent theimpolitic and inhuman practice of the introduction ’andim-
hportation of them; a practice which has long prevailed in ‘this part of

the world, both in its nature and manner not only the great opprobrium
of Christianity, but even the shameful disgrace of human nature itself.”

~- ‘Hence there _is found in the minutes of the meeting
of theSupreme Executive Council, on Feb.-5, -177 9,‘

three years after the declaration of . independence, an

address by the Council to the General Assembly,con-

taining inter alia the following paragraph :

“We would also again bring into your view a planvfor the gradual
abolition.-of slavery, so disgraceful to any people, and more especiadly to
those who have been contending in the great cause of liberty themselves,
and upon whom Providence has bestowed such eminent marks of its
favor and protection. We think we are loudly called on to evince our
gratitude in making our fellow-man joint-heirs with us of the same in-
estimable; blessings, under such restrictions and regulations as shall not

_ injure the community, and will imperceptibly enable them to relish and

improve the station to which they will be advanced. Honored will that
State be in the annals of history which shall first abolish this violation

\ of the rights of mankind, and the memories of those will be held in

grateful and everlasting remembrance who-shall pass the l-aw to restore
and establish the rights of human nature in Pennsylvania. We feel

-ourselves so interested on this point as togo beyond what may be deemed

by some the proper line of our duty, and acquaint you that we have re-
duced this plan‘ to the form of a law, which, if acceptable, we shall in a
few days communicate witli you.”

This recommendation of the Supreme. Executive
Council, of whom Joseph Reed was president, and

1 Sec IV». Bancroft, Centenary Ed., 232', et seq.
2 III. Bry-ant’s Hist. of the U. S., 176.

3 II.vP\roud‘s Hist. of Penna., 274.

4 XI. Col. Records, 688.

George Bryan vice—president, resulted in the passage
by the General. Assembly of “An act for the gradual
abolition of slavery” on the '1st day of ‘ March, 1780‘-.
The celebrated preamble to this act, written by Vice-
President George Bryan, though of some length, will
here bejgiven, that the reader of this day who re-
members the great civil war, the slaveholders’ Re-

bellion, may see how our own forefathers regarded

the institution of slavery. It is as follows:5

“ AN Acrfor the gradual abolition of slavery.

" When we contemplate our abhorrence of that condition, to which
the arms and tyranny of Great Britain were exerted to reduce us, when
we look back on the variety of dangers to which we have been exposed,
and how miraculously our wants in many instances have been supplied,
and our deliverances wrought, when even hope and human fortitude
have become unequal to the conflict, we are unavoidably led to a serious
and grateful sense of the manifold blessings, which we have undeservedly
received from the hand of that Being, from whom every good arid per-
fect gift cometh. Impressed with these ideas, we conceive that it is our
duty, and we rejoice that is in our power, to extend a portion of that
freedom to others, which hath been extended to us, and release them’
from that state of thraldom, to which we-ourselves were tyrannically
doomed, and from which we have now every prospect of being delivered.
It is not for us to enquire why, in the creation of mankind, the inhabit-
ants of the several parts of the earth were distinguished by a difference
in features or complexion. It is sutiicient to know, that all are thework
of an Almighty hand. I We find, in the distribution of the human species,
that the most fertile as well as the most barren parts of the earth are
inhabited by men of complexions different from ours, and from each
other; from whence we may reasonably, as well as religiously, infer,
that He, who placed them in their various‘ situations, hath extended
equally his care and protection to all, and that it becometh not us to
counteract his mercies. We esteem it a peculiar blessing granted to us,
that we a.re enabled this dayto add one more step to universal civiliza-
tion, by removing, as much as possible, the sorrow of those who have
lived in undeserved bondage, and from which, by the assumed authority
of the Kings of Great Britain, no effectual legalrelief could be obtained.
Weaned, by a long course of experience, from those narrow prejudices
and partialities we had imbibed, we find our hearts enlarged with kind-
nessand benevolence towards men of all conditions and nations; and
we conceive ourselves at this particular period extraordinarily called
upon, by the blessings which we have received, to manifest the sincerity

4, of our profession, and to give a substantial proof of our gratitude.

“And whereas the condition of those persons, who. have heretofore
been denominated_,Negro and Mulatto slaves, has been attended with
circumstances, which not only deprived them of the common blessings
that they were by nature entitled to, but has cast them into the deepest
afllictions, by an unnatural separation and sale of husband and wife from
each other and from their children, an injury, the greatness of which
can only be conceived by supposing that we were in the same unhappy
case. In justice, therefore, to persons so unhappily circu-mstanced, and
who, having no prospect before them whereon they may nest their sor-
rows and their hopes, have no reasonable inducement to render their
service to society, which they otherwise might, and also in_ grateful
commemoration of our own happy deliverance from that state of uncon-
ditional submission, to which we are doomed by the tyranny of Britain,
Be it, etc.” - ‘

Section III. of the act provided that no negro or

mulatto children who should be born within the‘

State after the passage of the act should be deemed
or-considered as servants for life or slaves, and that

4 all slavery of children reason of the slavery of

their mothers should be and was utterly taken away,
extinguished, and abolished. ’ _ -

And Section IV. provided that every negro and
mulatto child born within the ‘State after the passage
of that act, who would in case the act had not been

‘.3 II. Carey & Biorren, 246; I. Dali. 1)., 838; I. Smitlfs L., 4-92.

CIVIL AND. LEGrAL—SLAVERY IN WASHINGTON COUNTY.

257

passed. been born a slave,.shou1d be deemed to be a
servant until the age of twenty- eight years, to be held
as servants bound by indentures are. holden, and to
like freedom, dues, and other privileges.

And Section V. provided that every person who
was the owner of any negro or mulatto slave should
register on or before the 1st day of November next,
with the clerk of the peace of his county, his or her
name and surname and occupation or profession, and
also the names and ages of his or her slaves, in order
to distinguish them from all other persons.

And Section VI. provided that the owners of un-
registered slaves should be liable for their support
and maintenance to the overseers of the poor.

By Section VII. negroes and mulattoes, whether

slave or free, were to be tried for criminal offenses as

other persons, except that a slave should not be per-
mitted to testify against a freeman.

By Section VIII. when sentence of death should
be passed upon a slave his value was to be found by
the jury and paid by the State.

By Section IX. rewards for the taking up of run-
away slaves and servants were to be the same as pro-
vided in cases of servants bound for years.

By Section X. it was provided that no man or
woman, of any nation or color, except negroes or
mulattoes registeredas aforesaid, should beadjudged
or held as slaves, excepting domestics attendant upon
delegates in Congress from the other American States,

.' upon foreign ministers‘ and consuls, and upon persons

passing through or sojourning in the State without
becoming residents. '

It will be seen that this act abolished slavery very
gradually indeed. ‘By its provisions -a slave born
prior to“ the act continued a slave for life, if regis-
tered. The children of registered slave mothers be-

"came servants for twenty-eight years, at the end of

which time they became free, With freedom dues and
privileges. But_ by this means slavery was certainly
to disappear with that generation. And so it was
that “ at length, in 17 80, Pennsylvania, first of all the
States, passed an act for the gradual emancipation of
all the slaves within its jurisdiction.” 1

Slavery in Washington County.—It will be re-
membered that Washington County was not erected
until _March 28, 1781, one year after the passage of
the act abolishing slavery, but still formed apart of
Westmoreland County; and also that the Virginia
‘boundary along Washington County was not finally
ascertained, run, and marked until the year 1785.
For these reasons, and the resultant contentions

‘arising out of the two jurisdictions, already discussed

in previous pages, there were difliculties notonly as
to land titles, wills, and administrations, butalso as to
slaves. A And hence it was that on April 13, 1782, the
General Assembly passed an act which, as it is not

1 III. Bryantfs Hist. of the U. S., 177.

printed in any of the editions of our laws, and is a
part of our legal history, is now printed entire:

“AN ACT to redress certain grievances within the Counties of *Westmore-
land and Washington.

“ Whereas, a number of the inhabitants of Westmoreland and Wash-
ington Counties have represented to the General Assembly that they
labor under many inconveniences by reason that Before the Boundary
was agreed to between the States of Virginia and Pennsylvania, many
of the inhabitants aforesaid, conceiving themselves under the jurisdic-
tion of Virginia, which exercised judicial Authority over them, had
taken and subscribed the oath of Allegiance and Fidelity as prescribed
by the laws and usages of the said state, are considered in many re-
spects as not intitled to all the rights of free citizens of this State; and
that for the reason above mentioned they have had no opportunity of
entering or registering their slaves agreeable to the act of Assembly of
this State for the gradual Abolition of slavery; and that a number of
the records and papers containing the proceedings of the late counties
of Yohogania, Monongalia and Ohio are now in the hands of the late
Clerks, who are not Authorized to give exemplified copies thereof :8 A

“Be it therefore enacted, &c., . . . that all and every Person or Persons
inhabitants of the said counties of Westmoreland and Washington,.whose
names shall be found in the records hereinafter mentioned, &who shall
be possessed of certified copies of their having taken the oath of Alle-
giance and fidelity as aforesaid, shall within six months after the pub-
lication of this act produce to the clerks of the General Quarter Sessions
of the said Counties, respectfully, the said ‘certified copies or certificates
of their having taken the oath of Allegiance and fidelity to the State of
Virginia before the said Boundary was agreed to, shall be and they are
hereby declaredto be, to all intents and purposes free citizens of this
State. ‘ , , ,

“ And be it enacted by the Authority aforesaid, that it shall and may be
lawful for all such inhabitants of the said counties, whowere on the 23rd
day of Sept., 1780, possessed of Negro or Mulatto slaves or servants until
the age of thirty-one years, to register such slaves or servants agreeable
to the directions of the acts aforesaid for the gradual abolition of slavery,
on or before the 1st day of January next, and the said master or masters,
owner or owners, of such slaves or servants shall be entitled to his.or
their service as by the said act is directed, and the said slaves and.ser-
vants shall be entitled to all benefits and immunities in the said act
contained and expressed. ;

“And be it further enacted by the authority aforesaid, that the clerks of
the Orphans Courts, the" Registers of the probates of wills & granting
letters of administration and the Recorders of deeds, for the respective
counties of Westmorelalndand Washington aforesaid, shall. ,be author-

ized and empowered to call on the late clerksof the said counties of

Yohogania, Monongalia, and Ohio, for all such papers and records in
their custody or possession which relate to or affect the taking of the
oath or aflirmation of Allegiance, the probates of wills-, granting letters
of administration, and the Recording of Deeds, or other Indentures of
Bargain and Sale, of any of the inhabitants of the said Counties of West-
moreland and Washington, and when they shall have received all or any
part of the said papers and records as aforesaid they shall be lodged
within their respective oflices and become part of the records of said"
counties; and the said Clerks are hereby required and enjoined on de-
mand as aforesaid to deliver up in tire and indefaced all such papers and
records as aforesaid, and in case they or either of them shall refuseor
neglect to deliver up the papers and records in manner and fo_rm afore-
said, they or either of them so neglecting. or refusing shall forfeit and pay
the sum of five hundred pounds to be recovered by action of debt in any
Court of Common Pleas within this Commonwealth, for the use of the

same.- .
“ Signed by order of the House,

V “ FREDK. A. MUHLENBERG, Speaker.” ‘
Before referring to the “ Registry” of slaves and
slave children, made under the act abolishing slavery,
and the special act just quoted, attention is called to
another act upon the subject, entitled “ An Act to ex-

plain and amend an act Entitled an Act for the grad- I

ual abolition of Slavery,” passed March 29, 1788,2
which made quite an advance in the antagonism to
slavery. I

2 III. Carey and Biolren, 269; II. Smith,L., 443; 11. Dall. L., 5.86.

1 258

HISTORY OF WASHINGTON COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA.

By Section II. slaves brought into the State by per-
sons intending to reside therein were to be deemed
free persons ; Section III., slaves or serva.nts for a term
of years were not to be removed out of the State
without their consent; Section IV., persons possessed
of children liable to serve till twenty-eight years old

were required to make entry thereof with the clerk-

of the peace, in terms provided, on or before April
1, 1789, or within six months next after the birth
of such child. By Section V. vessels builded and
‘equipped for and employed in the slave trade were to
be forfeited; Section VI., slaves or servants for terms of
years were not to be separated, parents from children,
husbands from wives ; in Section VII. severe penalties
were provided against forcibly carrying of a slave or
a servant for a term of years; and Section VIII. re-
quired the justices of the Court of Common Pleas “ to
cause this act to be read at least twice in each term
for the two terms next following the passing of this
act.”

With these several acts in mind, a small manu-
script book, yellow with a century’s age and cover
worn, but complete, becomes of great interest. The
first entry is copied verbatim: V

“ WASHING-TON COUNTY.

“ List of Negroes Registered pursuant to the Late act of assembly for
Redress of Certain Grievances in the Counties of Westmoreland and
Washington. 3 "

“ October 1st 1782.

“ William Fry of Peters Township, Miller.

“One man named Jame, aged 25 years.

“ One wench named Nell, aged 20 years.

“ One Wench named Sarah, aged 14 years.”

The following list is made up from this registry,
and shows the date of registration,-the owner’s name,
and, when given in the record, his residence and oc-
cupation, and also the _ number of slaves entered.
The spelling of names is preserved.

Oct. 1, 1782, William Fry, Peters, miller, 3; Nich-
olas Crist, Fallowfield, 4; James Fry, Fallowfield, 1 ;
Abraham Fry, Fallowfield, 2; Benjamin Fry, Fallow-
field, 1; Henry Spears, Fallowfield, 1 ; ‘William
Minor, Greene township, .4; John Minor, Greene
township, 1; Isaac Julan, Bethlehem, 2; Alexander
Boling, Strabane, 1.

_ Oct. 3, 17 82, Thomas Wells, Fallowfield, 2; William
Rankin, Smith, 5; Samuel Bealer, Smith, 7 ; Thomas
Scott, prothonotary, 1; Thpmas Cherry, Smith, 3;
John Bill, Peters, 3;,James Bill, Peters, 1; Joshua
Meeks, Nottingham, 3; Henry Heath, Nottingham,
2; Nicholas Crist, Fallowfield, 1 ; William Campbell,
Hopewell, 2; Ezekiel Ross, Bethlehem, 1; Richard
Wills, Hopewell, 1; John Kerr, Fallowfield, 2; Jesse
Morton, Hopewell, 1.

Nov. 26, 1782, Ezekiel Dewit, Hopewell, 2; Cath-
arine Atcheson, Cecil, widow, 1; George Vallandig-
ham, Robinson,~1; William Henry Tarvin Noble,
and Martha Noble, Robinson, widow, 4; John Mc-
Donald‘, Robinson,,4; Daniel McFarlin, Bethlehem,

7 ; J ames'Edgar,1 Smith, 2; Joseph Vance, Smith, 1;
the Hon. Dorsey Pentecost, 2; Dr. Benjamin John-
ston, Strabane, 2; Samuel Glasgow, Peters, wheel-
wright, 2; Zachariah Pomfrey, Strabane, 2; Elijah
Nuttell, Strabane, 6.

Dec. 2, 1782, William Crawford, Cumberland, 1;
Thomas Redman, Peters, 2; Est. of Thomas Rigby,
4 ; Charles Stewart, 1 ; Richard Baum, 1 ; Dr. Charles
Wheeler, Fallowfield, 4; Frederick Cooper, Fallow-
field, 5. ' .

Dec. 19, 17 82, Samuel Sweringin, 3; John Tonhill,
1; John Ross, 3; Samuel Frye, Fallowfield, 3; Nich-
olas Crist, Fallowfield, 1; John Swan, Cumberland,
7; William Greathouse, 1; Edward Dooling, 4; John
Marquis, Cecil, 2; James Hazelrigg, Strabane, 3;
Samuel Blackm-ore, 7; Richard Hawkins, -1 ; Joshua
Meek, 3; John Hall, 1; Charles Morgan, 1; Lewis
Peisse, 1; Nicholas Johnston, 4. is ‘

Dec. 28, 1782, James Ewing, Robinson, 3; James
Caldwell, Donegal, 2; David Shepherd. Strabane, 1;
William Mclntire, Strabane, 1; John Dickerson,
Amwell, 5; James Ellis, Fallowfield, 1; Jacob Jones,
Fallowfield, 4; Zephaniah Beall, Fallowfield, Major,
6; Benjamin White, 1; John Cunningham, Peters,
7; John Bland, Fallowfield, 5; John Darnall, Fal-
lowfield, 1 ; Matthew Laughlfn, Fallowfield, 1;
Thomas Moody, Nottingham, 4; David Evans, Am-
well, 2; Francis Wallace, Fallowfield, 11; John
Fleming, Fallowfield, 1; William Wallace, Fallow-

field, 1; Herbert Wallace, Fallowfield, 20; John

Hopkins, Fallowfield, 10 ;' Thomas Waller, Donegal,
1; Vinson Colvan, 2; John Robinson, Nottingham,
Sadler, 4; Andrew Heth, Nottingham, 1; Moses
Holliday, Nottingham, 1 ; Neal Gillespie, Bethlehem,
2; Henry Wills, 1. l

1 This entry in full is thus:

“ James Edgar, gentn., of Smiths township.
One woman named Press, Aged 21 years,
One Dto. ' Hannah, 5 Dto.”

There is on record in our recorder’s office, in Book L., vol. i., 703, this
paper:

“ Know all men by these presents that whereas I James Edgar of
Smiths township and county of Washington and State of Pennsylvania
being on the twenty-sixth day of November in the year of our Lord one
thousand seven hundred and eighty-two in the township and county
aforesaid possessed of a negroe girl as a slave and then of the age of five
years did register the said girl being of the name of Hannah on the
said day and so described in the oflice of the Clerk of the Sessions of the
said County according to the Act of Assembly of Pennsylvania for the
Gradual abolition of slavery whereby the said Negroe girl Hanna re-
mained a slave to the said James Edgar and whereas I am under a

serious conviction that involuntary servitude beyond a just compensa— .

tion for maintenance and education is incompatible with a sense of duty
to God and my fellow-creatures. I the said James Edgar do hereby re-
lease and forever quit claim to the said Hannah all my right or claim
or all right and claim which any may derive under me to the time or
service of the said Hannah after she shall have arrived at the age of
twenty-seven years and do hereby declare that the said negroe woman
Hanna as soon as she shall arrive at the age of twenty-seven years shall
be and- thereafter remain entirely free. In witness whereof I have
hereto set my hand and seal this sixth day of January in the year of

our Lord one thousand seven hundred and ninety-six.
, “ Jas. EDGAR.
“ Acknowledged before me 6th January 1796,_

' . . ‘‘ALi-:xa. Anmsou.” 1
Recorded 7th January, 1796, Book I., L. 703.

Al “ Oath made according to law

CIVIL AND LEGAL—-SLAVERY IN WASHINGTON COUNTY. .

259

Dec. 31, 1782, Richard Wells, Sr., 5; Bazil Wil-
liams, 1; William McMahon, 13; Edmond Riggs, 1 ;

‘James McMahon, 1; Samuel Agnew, Hopewell, 2;

Thomas McGuire, 1 ; Rev. Mr. J os. Smith, Hopewell,
1 ; Henry Morrison, Nottingham, 1 ; Moses Chaplain,
Donegal, 1; Robert Woods, 1 ; Absalom Wells, Hope-
well, 3; Richard Talbot, 1 ; John Timele, 10; Thomas
Suttals, Cecil, 1; Mordecai Richards, Cecil, 1 ; George
McCullough, 1 ; Thomas Rodgers, 1 ; Seshbazar Bent-
ley, 1 ; Solomon Gregg, 2; John Hopkins, Peters, 3 ;
Benjamin Mills, Peters, 2; Michael Thomas, 3;
Benjamin Bentley, Bethlehem, millwright, 1 ; Levi
Dungan, Cecil, 2 ; William Blackmore, Nottingham,
2 ; Samuel Workman, .Strabane, 2; William Mc-

_ Combs, Fallowfield, 1 ; John Neville, Cecil, 8; Pa-

trick Allison and John Swan, Amwell, 3; Robert
Hill, Amwell, 1; James Foreman, Strabane, 4; Wil-
liam J ohnstone, Strabane, 1; Joshua Harvin, 2; Eliz-
abeth Harvin, 2; Lucy Nichols, 1; George Reed,
Bethlehem, 1; James Carmichael, Cumberland, 2;
James Innis, 10; Joseph Brown, 3; William Hutton,
Fallowfield, wheelwright, 5; Christian Leatherman,
Sr., 1; Edward Geather,_Strabane, 1 ; David Duncan,
6 ; John and George Wilson, 11.

Dec. 12, 1782, Joseph Dorsey, Bethlehem, 9;
Joseph Wilson,Somerset, 1; Mr. Richard Yeates, 4;
Elizabeth Yeates, 1; Mr. Phelix Hughes, 3; Mr.

1 Thomas Hughes, 2; Mr. Philip Ross, 1; Coll. John

Campbell, 2; Rezin Pomphrey, 6. .

Dec. 26, 17 82, Jacob Long 1 ; John Swearingen,
1 ; Fergus Smith, 3. '

July 17, 1782, Col. William McCleary, 6; Mrs.
Seaton, 6; Mr. James’ Seaton, 1; Samuel Irwin, 6;
George McCormick, 5.

Total owners, 155; total slaves, 443. I

The foregoing contains all the entries made under
the act of 1780, as extended‘ by the special act of 1782,
already quoted. Itlis observed that they are not in
chronological order, though given here in their order
in the registry. This was doubtless because the pa-
pers were filed, and not put on record till afterwards,
and not in the order of date. '

After the registry, from which the above list is
abstracted, is another immediately succeeding it,
from which is here copied the heading and the first
entry :

“The following is a list of Negro and Mulatto children Recorded
agreeably to the Act of assembly intituled an Act to explain and amend
an Act intituled an Act for the gradual abolition of Slavery, passed at

Philadelphia on Saturday the twenty-ninth day of March in the year of
our Lord one thousand seven hundred and eighty-eight.”

“ July 22d, 1788.
“David Bradford of Straban Township in the County of Washington
Attorney at Law hereby makes application to Thos. Scott, Esquire,
Clerk of the Peace of the County of Washington aforesaid, that he enter
upon Record agreeably to an Act of assembly a female mulatto child
born since the 1st March 1780, named, Hesther, alias Het, aged two
years. “ _ _ _
Given under my hand the date aforesald
“ DAVID BRADFORD.

before me the date above '
“THOMAS Scorr.”

Parker, Fallowfield, 1.

Omitting the form of entry the following is a
abstract: if

July 22, 1788, David Bradford, Strabane, attorney,
1. Sept. 3d, Zephaniah Beall, Bethlehem, 1. Oct.
2d, Daniel Elliott, Peters, 1. Sept. 24th, Alexander
Wells, Hopewell, 1‘. Oct. 27th, David Bradford,
Washington, attorney, 1. Jan. 1st, 1789, Benjamin
Parkinson, Nottingham, 1. Jan. 2d, Neal Gillespie,
Fallowfield, 2. John McDonald, Robinson, 4. Jan.
14th, Thomas Scott, Prothonotary, Washington, 1‘.
Feb. 27th, William McC0mas, Fallowfield, 2. Wil-
liam Wallace, Somerset, esquire, 3. March '7th,
John Hopkins, J r., Fallowfield, 2. March 9th, Her-
bert Wallace, Fallowfield, 1. March 21st, Frederick
Cooper, Fallowfield, 4. Abraham Fry, Fallowfield,
.3. Rev. John ‘Brice, Nottingham, 1. ,March 31st,
Daniel Swearingen, Hanover, 1. Samuel Swearin-
gen, Hanover, 1. "Dorsey Blackmore, Strabane, 2.
Joseph Dorsey, Bethlehem, 1. James Innis, Fallow-
field, 2. Edward West," Fallowfield, Const., 2. Dan-
iel Jacobs, Nottingham, 1. John Swearingen, Peters,
2. Henry Morrison, Nottingham, 2.’ Samuel Glas-
gow, Hanover, esquire, 1. April 1st, Charles Bruce,
Robinson, 2. ‘Joseph Bentley, Nottingham, mill-
wright, 1. William«Henry Town Noble, Robinson,
1. Sheshbazzar Bentley, Somerset, millwright, 2.
Aug. 6th, John McDonald, Robinson, 1. Aug. 25th,
James Stephenson, Donegal, 1. Oct. 2d, Richard
Talbert, Hopewell, 1. Sept. 30th, Frederick Cooper,
Fallowfield, 1. Jan. 29, 1790, Mary Cherry, Smiths,
1. Feb. 2d, James,Gillespie, Hopewell, 1. rFeb.
29th, John Swearingen; Peters, 1. July 15th, Wil-
liam Wallace, Somerset, Esquire, 1. Sept. 2d, Zach-
ariah Pumphrie, Strabane, 1. Sept. 29th, James
Innis, Fallowfield, 1. Sept. 30th, Samuel Glasgow,
Hanover, 1. Dec. 27th, Richard Wells, Cross Creek,
1. March 31, 1791, Elizabeth Bradford, widow of
Charles, Nottingham, 1. Henry Speers, Fallowfield,
1. June 21st, Abraham Fry, Fallowfield,‘ 1. July
11th, Thomas Scott,_Washington, Esquire, 1. Sept.
19th, Basel Williams, Donegal, 1. Nov. 19th, John
McDonald, Robinson, 2. Feb. 9, 1792, James Fore-
man, Cecil, 1. Feb. 21st, John Cooke, Smiths, 1.
March 2d, John Boyer, Peters, 1. May 3d, An-
drew Swearingen, Washington, 1. June 2d, Wil-
liam Wallace, Bethlehem, Esquire, 1. Samuel Glas-
gow, Hanover, Esquire, 1. Richard Wells, Cross
Creek, 1. Dec. 19th, Nicholas Johnston, Fallow-
field, 1. Dec. 31st, James Foreman, Cecil, 1. Feb.
11th, 1793, James Boyer, Peters, 1. March 11th,,
John D_odd, Washington, “In-holder,” 1. March
15th, Thomas Catton, Amwell, 1. March 16th, John
Baldwin, Nottingham, millwright, 1. March 26th,
Samuel Swearingen, Hanover, 1. May 14th, James
June.25th, Thomas Perrin
Cherry, Smith, 1. June 29th, Abarilla Blackmore,
Peters, widow, 1. ' Aug. 9th, James Ross, Washing-
ton, attorney, 1. .Aug. 16th, Frederick Cooper, Not-
tingham, 1. Abraham Fry, Nottingham, 1. Aug.

GEORGE WASHINGTON’S VISIT TO THE FRENCH FORTS IN 13753.

31

Weningo was the White French Man that lived last
Winter at Logs Town.” This last‘ named being the
same one (La Force) before mentioned as having
been threatened by the Indian with the loss of his
scalp if his countrymen should make any attempt to
attack the Indians or their English friends.

The alarm of the Indians at the head of the Ohio was
very great when they heard of the building of the
forts at Le Boeuf and Venango, and of the large
French force which was gathered at the two posts.

I The old Half-King, Tanacharison (an Iroquois sachem

living at Logstown, and representing the power of
the Six Nations on the Ohio), immediately went up

the Allegheny to remonstrate with the French com-’
mandant at Le Boeuf against the occupation of the

country belonging to the Indians, but-the French
officer treated him very contemptuously, told him the
country was owned by the king, his master, “ and dis-
charged him home, and told him he was an Old
Woman, and that all his nation was in their [the
French] Favour only him, and if he would not go
home he would put him in Irons. He came home
and told the English to go off the place, for fear they
should be hurt, with Tears in his Eyes.” And when
other chiefs afterwards went up the river to warn the
French to abandon their designs, the commandant
treated them in much the same way in which he had
treated the Half-King. “But this I will tell you,”

said he, “ I am commanded to build four strong houses, _

viz.: at Weningo, Monongalio Forks, Logs Town,
and Beaver Creek, and this  will do.”1
On learning of the great alarm of the Indians at

. the Forks of the Ohio, and knowing them to be stead-

fast in their friendship for the English, Governor
Dinwiddie, of Virginia, immediately sent them “ One
hundred Small Arms, Powder, Shot, and some Cloath-
ing,” to be placed in charge of Capt. William Trent,
Christopher Gist, and Andrew Montour, “ who were
empowered to distribute them to the Indians as their
Occasion and Behaviour should require.” The Gov-
ernor of Pennsylvania too, on receiving the intelli-
gence conveyed in John Fraser’s letter of August
27th (before quoted), laid the matter before the As-
sembly, who thereupon voted £800, to be placed in
the Governor’s hands, and expended by him at his
discretion for the safety of the Indians and traders at
the Forks of the Ohio, the confluence of the Allegheny
and Monongahela. _

The intelligence of the aggressive movements of
the French caused the English home government to
adopt more energetic measures than had previously
been employed to meet and resist their advance into
the Ohio River country. Among the official commu-
nications addressed by the Earl of Holderness, sec-
retary of state, to the governors of the several Ameri-
can provinces was one to Governor Dinwiddie, of
Virginia, containing directions concerning the French,

1 Colonial Records, v. 667.

encroachments. The letter of the secretary was sent
by a government ship, and reached Dinwiddie in Oc-
tober, 1753. In pursuance of the instructions con-
tained,‘ the Governor appointed and commissioned2

CGEORGE VVASHINGTON, then a youth of only twenty-

one years, but one of the adjutants-general of the
military forces of Virginia, as bearer of dispatches to
the commanding oflicer of the intruding French on
the Ohio ; 3 charged, also, with the duty of ascertain-
ing the numbers and equipment of the French forces
there, what forts, if any, they had ‘erected, and vari-
ous other items of military intelligence, which are
made clear in his letter of instructions, of which the
following is a copy:

“Whereas, I have received information of a body of French forces
being assembled in a hostile manner on the river Ohio, intending by
force of arms to erect certain forts on the said river within this terri-
tory, and contrary to the dignity and peace of our sovereign, the King
of Great Britain,

“ These are therefore to require and direct you, the said George Wash-
ington, forthwith to repair to Logstown, on the said river Ohio, and,
having there informed yourself where the said French forces have posted
themselves,‘ thereupon to proceed to such place, and, being there arrived,
to present your credentials, together with my letter, to the chief com-
manding ofiicer, and in the name of his Britannic Majesty to demand
an answer thereto.

“ On your arrival at Logstown you are to address yourself to the Half-
King, to Monacatoocha, and the other sachems of the Six Nations, ac-
quainting them with your orders to visit and deliver my letter to the
French commanding ofiicer, and desiring the said chiefs to appoint you
a sufficient number of their warriors to be your safeguard as near the
French as you may desire, and to wait your further direction.

“You are diligently to inquire into the numbers and force-of the
French on the Ohio and the adjacent country ; how they are likely to be

2 Following is a copy of the commission :
“ To Gsonen WASHINGTON, EsQUIRE, om: or THEADJUTANTS-GENERAL
or THE TRooPs AND FORCES IN THE COLONY or VIRGINIA.
“ I, reposing especial trust and confidence in the ability, conduct, and

fidelity of you, the said GEORGE WASHINGTON, have appointed you my ’

express messenger; and you are hereby authorized and empowered
to proceed hence with all convenient and possible dispatch to the part
or place on the river Ohio where the French have lately erected a fort
or forts, or where the commandant of the French forces resides, in order
to deliver my letter and message to him ; and after waiting not exceed-
ing one week for an answer, you are to take your leave and return im-
mediately back.

“ To this commission I have set my hand and caused the great seal of
this dominion to be aifixed, at the city of Williamsburg, the seat of my
government, this 30th day of October, in the twenty-seventh year of the
reign of his Majesty George the Second, king of Great Britain, 850., &c.,
annoque Domini 1753. - ROBERT DINWIDME.”

And the following was the tenor of the Governor’s passport:

“ To all to whom these presents may come or concern, greeting :

“ Whereas, I have appointed George Washington, Esquire, by commis-
sion under the great seal, my express messenger to the commandant of
the French forces on the river Ohio, and as he is charged with business
of great importance to his Majesty and this dominion,

“ I do hereby command all his Majesty's subjects, and particularly re-
quire all in alliance and amity with the crown of Great Britain, and all
others to whom this passport may come, agreeably to the law of nations,
to be aiding and assisting as a safeguard to the said George Washington
and his attendants in his present passage to and from the river Ohio, as
aforesaid. ROBERT DINWIDDIE.”

3 He had previously sent Capt. William Trent on asimilar errand. In
a letter to the Lords of Trade he said, “ My last to you was on the 16th
of June, to which I beg you to be referred. . . . The person sent as a
commissioner to the commandant of the French forces neglected his
duty, and went no farther than Logstown on the Ohio. He reports the
French were then one hundred and fifty miles farther up the river, and
I believe was afraid to go to them.”

260

HISTORY ~ OF WASHINGTON COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA.

28th, John McDonald, Robinson, 1. Sept. 23d,
James McFarlane, Fallowfield, miller, 1. Oct. 31st,
John Ross, Morgan, 1. Nov. 18th, James Kerr,
Strabane, Cutler, 1. Dec. 23d, Richard Wells, Cross
Creek, 1. Feb. 25, 1794, Thomas Scott, Washington,
1. March 24th, Abarilla Blackmore, Peters, 1.
March 26th, John McDonald, Robinson, 1. March
28th, John Swearingen, Peters, 1. May 31st, Basil
Willi-ams, Donegal, 1. June 3d, James Boyer,
Peters, 1. June 24th, Abraham Fry, J r., Fallow-
field, 1. Frederick Cooper, Fallowfield, 1. Feb.
12,1795, John McDonald, Robinson, 1. Andrew
Swearingen, Washington, 1. March 10th, James
Foreman, Cecil, 1.‘ April 11th, Susannah Caton,
widow of Thomas Caton, Amwell, 1. June 4th,
James Hughes, Strabane, blacksmith, 1. June 22d,
Samuel Moore, Hanover, 1. James Bradford, Greene,
1. Aug. 18th, Thomas Rankin, Smith, 1. Sept.
28th, Richard Talbot, Hopewell, 1. James Edgar,
“farmer and one of the judges of C. P.,” 1. Oct.
14th, Thomas Hill, West Bethlehem, 1. Nov. 14th,
Mary Dodd, Washington, widow of John Dodd, 1.
Feb. 6, 1796, Richard Wells, Cross Creek, 1. April
7, Adam Wickerham, Jr., Nottingham, 1. April
-16th, James Kerr, Cutler, 1. Sept. 10th, John Cooke,
Smith, 1. Oct. 25th, James Hughes, Strabane, black-
smith, 1. Jan. 30, 1797, Susannah Caton, Amwell,
widow of Thomas Caton, 1. March 13th, Charles
Valentine, Washington, baker, 1. April 7th, Samuel
Black, Nottingham, merchant, 1. May 6th, Basil
«Williams, Donegal, 1. May 30th, John Dannell,
Cecil, 1. Sept. 26th, Andrew Boggs, Fallowfield, 1.
Oct. 23d, Absalom Baird, Washington, practitioner
of physio, 1. Feb. 28, 1798, James McCalister, Fal-
-lowfield, merchant, 1. March 26th, John McDonald,
Robinson, 1. June 14th, Henry McDonough, Som-
erset, 1. June 18th, John McDonald, Robinson, 1.
Aug. 3d, John Cook, Smith, 1. ‘Sept. 15th, Mary
Dodd, Washington, widow of John, 1. March 11,
1799, James Hughes, Strabane, blacksmith, 1. May
27th, Michael Sowers, West Bethlehem, “ In-holder,”
1.. Richard Talbot, Hopewell, 1. July 12th, Basil
Williams, Donegal, 1. Aug. 3d, Samuel Black, Not-
tingham, merchant, 1. Aug. 26th, Andrew Boggs,
Fallowfield, miller, 1. Aug. 29th, Dr. Absalom
Baird, Washington,doctor of medicine, 1. Nov. 28th,
James Edgar, Smith, Esq., 1. * March 22, 1800,
Henry Woods, Canton, 1. Aug. 20th, Robert Jack-
man, Pike Run, 1. Sept. 1, John Cooke, Smith, 1.
Sept. 6th, Alexander Sweeney, Peters, 1. Sept. 12th,
Mary Dodd, Washington, spinster, 1. Sept. 18th,
James McCallister, Fallowfield, merchant, 1. Jan.
21, 1801, Michael Sowers, West Bethlehem, “In-
keeper,” 1. March 30th, Andrew Boggs, Fallowfield,
1. April 9th, John McDonald, Robinson, farmer, 1.
Sept. 1st, Henry Conrad, Pike Run, 1. Oct. 24th,

Creorge McCulloch, "Smiths, 1. Nov. 5th, James Kerr,

Strabane, cutler, 1. Nov. 30th, John McDonald,
Robinson, 1. Dec. 14th, Hugh Wilson, VVashington,

James McDonald, Robinson, 1.

merchant, 1. May 7, 1802, John Wallace, Notting-
ham, 1. May 25th, Michael Sowers, West Bethle-
hem, inn-keeper, 1. Aug. 11th, Mary Dodd, Washing-
ton, spinster, 1. Jan. 15, 1803, Ebenezer J innings,
physician, 1. March 18th, Robert Jackman, Pike
Run, 1. March 26th, John Simonson, Washington,
attorney, 1. Sept. -1st, Henry Conrad, Pike Run, 1.
Jan. 21, 1804, Hugh Wilson, Washington, merchant,
1. May 8th, Mary Dodd, Washington, spinster,, 1.
Aug. 13th, John Arbuckle, Fallowfield, inn-keeper,
1. Oct. 17th, George Miller, Smiths, 1. Feb. 28,
1805, Ebenezer J innings, 1. March 19th, Absalom
Baird, Esquire, 1. May 4th, John Hoge, Canton,
Esquire, 1. May 29th, Frederick Cooper, Fallow-
field, 1. May 31st, James McCallister, Fallowfield,
1. June 24th, Daniel Moore, Washington, 1. Aug.
8th, John Wallace, Nottingham, 1. Sept. 11th,
Edward Todd, Somerset, 1. Nov. 1st, John McDon-
ald, Robinson, 1. Dec. 17th, Hugh Wilson, Wash-
ington, 1. Dec. 30th, Thomas Ward, Somerset, 1.
April 4, 1806,’ Mary Arbuckle, Fallowfield, 1. May
3d, Alexander Reed, Washington, 1. June 17th,
Robert J ackman, Pike Run, 1. Feb. 10, 1807, Thomas
Smith, Cross Creek, 1. April 2d, Mary Dodd, Wash-
ington, widow, 1. June 6th, Ebenezer Jinnings,
Smiths, 1. June 27th, John McDonald, Robinson,
1. Aug. 1st, John Simonson, Washington, attorney,
1. Aug. 4th, John Hoge, Washington, Esquire, 1.
Sept. 29th, Frederick Cooper, Fallowfield, 1. Nov.
24th, the Rev. Matthew Brown, Canton, 1. June
22, 1808, Robert J ackman, Pike Run, 1. Nov. 19th,
Mary Dodd, Washington, widow, 1. Jan. 2,1809,
Joseph Pentecost, Esquire, 1. Jan. 31st, Thomas
Ward, Somerset, 1. Feb. 25th, Jane Sweetman, Fal-
lowfield, widow, 1. March 30th, Hugh Wilson,
Washington, merchant, 1. Sept. 20th, Thomas Smith,

- Washington, Esquire, 1. May 7, 1810, Mary McCa-

mant, Washington, spinster, 1. July 2d, Valentine
Cooper, Fallowfield, 1. Robert J ackman, Pike Run,
1. Oct. 17th, Thomas McGriflin, Washington, attor-
ney, 1. . Nov. 1st, John McDonald, Robinson, 1.
Nov. 21st, Elizabeth Cunningham, Washington, spin-

ster, 1. Dec. 11th, Mary Dodd, Strabane, 1. March
22, 1811, John Krepps, East Bethlehem, 1. Aug. _
9th, Thomas Cherry, Mount Pleasant, 1. Oct. 8,

1812, John McDonald, Robinson, 2. May 25, 1813,
, June 21st, John
Kreps, East Bethlehem, 1. Nov. 6th, John Cooper,
Fallowfield, 1. Dec. 2d, Samuel Clark, East Bethle-
hem, 1. Jan. 8, 1814, William Hoge, Canton, 1. Dec.
13th, James Kerr, Strabane, 1. June 7, 1815, James
McDonald, Robinson, 1. June 22d, John Cooper,
Fallowfield, 1. Jan. 16th, Mary Dodd, Strabane, 1.
June 15th, Elizabeth McDonald, Robinson, 1. June
18th, James McDonald, Robinson, 1. Aug. 12, 1816,
James Bunyan, 1. May 16, 1817, Isabella Hoge, 1.
July 11th, Rev. Thomas Hoge, Washington, 1. Sept.
1st, John _Neal, Esquire, Washington, 1. Nov. 22d,
Elizabeth Cunningham, Washington, 1. Feb. 28,

CIVIL AND LEGAL——-SLAVERY IN WASHINGTON COUNTY.

261

1818, James Runyon, Cecil. 1. March 26th, Chris-
tian Krepps, East Bethlehem, 1. Dec. 11th, James
McDonald, Robinson, 1. May 5, 1819, John Mitchell,
Smith, merchant, 1. June 15th, Moses Bell, Donegal,
tanner, 1. June 26, 1820, Christian Krepps, East
Bethlehem, inn-keeper, 1. July 14th, Rev. Thomas
Hoge, Washington, merchant, 1. March 6th, Thomas
McGiflin, Washington, attorney, 1. April 28th,
Thomas Brice, Washington, merchant, 1.
Total entries, 232.1
After the foregoing there is one other entry, and but
one, which is as follows: A
“ James A. D. Henderson, of Morris township, Cumberland Presbyte-

rian Minister, enters of record, a female mulatto child named Harriet,
born of the body of Margaret, of Marion county, Kentucky, in the year

, A. D. 1836, on the 9th day of September, 1845.

“ Cognovit, September 9, 1845.
“ A. G. MARSHMAN, Cleric.”

It was slow work indeed for the people of any
country to become educated up to the idea that
slavery in any form was wrong; witness the extraor-
dinary paper executed and put upon record by Hon.
James Edgar, a judge upon the bench and a man of
the highest character in his day, found in a note to a
previous page. And there is an extraordinary pro-
ceeding recorded as having taken place before the

Provincial Council of Pennsylvania on Aug. 9, 1699.2,

Translating the record into modern English it is this:
One Samuel Hadden appeared before the Council-—

. a Quaker Council at that——-and complained that he

had bargained with one Samuel Cart, in Bristol, Eng-
gland, that if he would procure the latter seventeen
passengers for Pennsylvania, he should then have his
own passage free, and the passage for his wife and four
children for fifteen pounds; that he had secured for
Cart that number of passengers, and with them had

. brought his family and goods a distance of seventy

miles, and put his goods on board ; that then the said
Cart would not permit the wife and children to em-
bark unless the complainant would pay him five
pounds for his own passage and as much for each one
of his children ; nor would Cart re-deliver his goods;
that having but three pence left, the complainant was
forced to sell to Cart two of his children, one for nine
and the other for ten years, or else stay in England
when his whole substance was carried elsewhere:

?‘ and yfor Requesting ye Gov. & Council to Order His Children to be
returned him, or else yt they order him satisfacon some other way.

-Samuel Cart appearing and having heard ye sd petion read, and after a

tedious disput on ye matter between ye per and the sd Samll Cart.
They both submitted ye difference to ye Lt. Gov. & Council, the per
being poor & not able to go to law. Whereupon it was ordered yt the
sd Samll Cart do return to ye sd Samll Hadden his son Adam Hadden,

.& yt the sd Samll Hadden give securitie to Samll Cart to pay him 8

pounds, 850.”

1 “ Under the law of March 29, 1788, registries of children liable to
servitude continued in Fayette for more than half a century, and three
hundred and fifty-four such registries were made in the county during

the period from Feb. 5, 1789, to Jan. 12, 1839, after which latter date

none have been found in the records.”-—History of Fayette County, by
Major Franklin Ellis, 1882.
2 I. Col. Records, 564.

Here was justice for you, administered in the shape
of equity. Still, let us not look at our forefathers
with the glasses we wear to-day.

The writer has compiled from various authoritative
sources these data as to the colored people:

1790, there were, total slaves .... .. 263
1800, “ “ “ “ .......................................  84
 (6 ‘ H (6 CG 
1820, in Amwell, both females, and_over 45 .......... .. 2
“ in Cross Creek, both females, and over 45 ..... .. 2
“ in Smith, a female, and over 45 ................... .. 1 5
“ in Allegheny County, total ' 1
“ in Westmoreland County, total ......................  5
“ in Fayette County, total ...............  .................... .. 41
“ in Beaver County, total ................. .., .................... .. - 5
“ in Greene County, total  7
“ in Western District of Pennsylvania, total............... 81
“ in Eastern District of- Pennsylvania, total ............. .. 130
“ free colored in Washington County ........  .............. .. 742
1830, in Cross Creek, a female slave, and over 45 ............. .. 1
“ in Western District of Pennsylvania, total ............. .. 182
“ in Eastern District of Pennsylvania, total ............. .. 221
“ free colored in Washington County.. ...................... .. 855
1840, in Cross Creek, a female slave,3 and over 45 ........... .. 1
“ in Cecil, a female slave, and over 45 ...................... .. 1
“ in Western District of Pennsylvania, total ....  ....... .. 31
“ in Eastern District of Pennsylvania, total .............. .. 33
“ free colored in Washington County ........................ .. 1113

When slavery and servitude had ceased to exist
under the law in Pennsylvania, many of her people
turned their attention to its extermination in other
States, and there were not a few in Washington
County who were always ready to aid the slave in
his escape from his Southern master. In spite of
the terrors of the Fugitive Slave law, there were bold
men who did not hesitate to become station-agents of
the Underground Railway, which had several routes
across this county.

The roadway of this corporation was not always the
same, though the stations and agents were always to
be found. The fugitives from Virginia, below us on
the south, seldom came down the Monongahela River,
perhaps because that was a route which they would
be expected to follow, but almost always traveled with

guides across the country, along unfrequented ridges _

and valleys, until brought to a friendly station.

It is too soon to make known the names of persons
who assumed the responsibility of caring for and aid-
ing these fugitives on their way. They might be sub-
jected to the reflections of those who think that a law,
however wrong, should be obeyed until repealed. But
whatever view be held as to this, no one would im-
pute much wrong to “the colored man who became the
conductor of -his brethren from slavery to freedom.
And this enables the writer to close the subjectwith
one incident, illustrating the method of running the
Underground Railway.

In 1856 about a half-dozen sturdy fellows escaped.

3 This slave Woman was Hannah Kelly, the grandmother of Charles
C. Kelly, at this date the Republican candidate for the oflice of jury
commissioner for Washington County. She was brought from Africa
when about three years old, sold in Virginia from the ship, afterwards
bought by one John Elliott, a merchant of Pittsburgh, and by his ad-
ministrators sold to Mr. John Gardner. Mr. Gardner died in 1820, and
the woman remained with the family till the death of Mrs. Gardner, in
1820. She herself died, Jan. 31, 1863, from a burning received on the first
of that month. She was thought to be one hundred and ten years old
at her death. Communicated by Mr. James Simpson, of Cross Creek
township.

262

HISTORY OF WASHINGTON COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA.

from their owner, living near Clarksburg, Va. They
were under the guidance of an experienced conductor,
who knew to whom to bring them. Arriving at
Waynesburg, they were delivered over to a colored
barber there, who fed them at a spring in a deep
thicket across the creek, then brought them to a dry-
house and stowed them away among the lumber.
The owner was heard to be approaching, when for
greater safety they were started to Rogersville. While
the transfer was being made the owner arrived at
Waynesburg with his posse, and began to search the
town. The barber was out on the streets. Being the
regularly commissioned conductor from that place,
under the circumstances it was best he should easily
be found. The owner met him, and charged him with
a knowledge of his property. The barber trembled,
but while the owner threatened, then coaxed, then
scolded, he parleyed and joked and denied to gain
time for the fugitives. At length the owner pulled out
a roll of money and offered him three hundred dollars
per head to disclose where the slaves were. A gen-
tleman, then a student at Waynesburg College, who,
unobserved himself, saw and heard this offer from
within the door of the Hamilton House hotel, held
his breath till he heard the rejection of it, accompanied
by this remark, “ N o, sir; if I knowed where your
slaves are, all the money in the South wouldn’t git
me to tell.” That barber was Ermin Cain, the pres-
ent janitor of our court-house.

The slaves were not found. Shipped from Rogers-
ville to West Alexander, thence to West Middletown,
for a time they were kept in that neighborhood until
the owner’s watch for them along the Ohio was ended.
Then one night they were cautiously guided towards
Washington, and "at a blacksmith-shop in Canton
township put into the hands of Samuel W. Dorsey, a
colored barber at Washington, now deceased, who
well knew how to get them into Canada, and that
soon.

Let it be made known" here now that among gen-
tlemen of good position who were always ready to
aid fugitives from slavery were many connected with

the political party alleged to be in sympathy with

the “institution,” and whose uncompromising advo-
cacy of their political principles was abundantly
sufficient to conceal a most active employment as the
humble and unpaid agents of the Underground Rail-
way.

CHAPTER XX.

THE WHISKEY INSURRECTION.

IN 1794, and a few preceding years (but principally
-from 17 91 to the year first named), there occurred in
the valley of the Monongahela and region contiguous
to it a series of unlawful and violent acts, to which,

collectively, was applied the term “The Whiskey
Insurrection,” a term which in that application has
continued in use for seven-ei-ghths of a century.
These illegal and insurrectionary acts were done in the
four (then) southwestern counties of Pennsylvania,——-
Washington, Allegheny, Westmoreland, and Fayette,
—-—but of these four Washington was the chief actor,
“ the home of the Insurrection.” It was in this
county that the insurgent spirit first showed itself.
Here it lived longest, and in this county more es-
pecially than in either of the three others it was vio-
lent and reckless during its continuance. The insur-
rectionary outbreak embraced an armed resistance on
several occasions to the execution of certain State
and national laws imposing an excise tax on distilled
spirits and stills used for the manufacture of such
spirits, a measure which was generally and peculiarly
obnoxious to the people of these counties, particu-
larlybecause they regarded it as calculated to bear
with especial and discriminating severity on the
industries of this section as compared with other
parts of the country.

The first excise tax imposed in the province of
Pennsylvania was that authorized in an act of Assem-
bly passed March 16, 1684, entitled “ Bill of Aid and
Assistance of the Government.“ -As it was found to
be objectionable to the sense of the people, that part
of the bill relating to the collection of excise duties
was repealed soon afterwards, and no similar legisla-
tion was had for more than half a century. In 1738
the Provincial Assembly passed “ An actfor laying
an excise on wine, rum, brandy, and other spirits,”
but this, like its predecessor of 1684, was received
with such unmistakable disfavor that it remained in
force only a few months from the commencement of
its operation. Again, in May, 1744, the Assembly re-
newed the measure, “for the purpose of providing
money without a general tax, not only to purchase
arms and ammunition for defense, but to answer such
demands as might be made upon the inhabitants of
the province by his Majesty for distressing the public
enemy in America.” 3‘ This enactment remained in
operation but a short time. Another excise law was
passed in 1756, but failed of execution; then for
nearly sixteen years the people of Pennsylvania were
undisturbed by governmental attempts to collect im-
post duties on spirits.

In 1772 the subject came again before the Assem-

bly, and as a measure of revenue a new act was‘

passed,‘ levying a duty on domestic and foreign dis-
tilled spirits. At first this law was not executed in
reference to domes-tic liquors, nor was there any ener-
getic attempt made for that purpose, particularly in
the old counties of the province; but after Pennsyl-
vania became a State, and her necessities were greatly
increased by the Revolutionary war, then in progress,

2 Dallas, i. 293.
4 Ibid., 634.

1 Votes of Assembly, i. 29.
3 Ibid., 299.

I THE WHISKEY

INS URRECTION. 263

the law was re-enacted and put in execution} and a
very considerable revenue obtained in that way, the
measure being at that time the less obnoxious because
patriotic men were opposed to the consumption of
grain in distillation at a time when every bushel was
needed for the subsistence of the troops in the field
-fighting for liberty.” -A large part of the proceeds
collected at that time was appropriated to the “de-
preciation fund,” created in this State (as in others,
in pursuance of a resolution passed by Congress in
17 80)'for the purpose of giving to officers and soldiers
of the Revolutionary army an additional compensa-
tion, a measure which was manifestly just and neces-
sary, because the value of their pay had been greatly
lessened by the depreciation of the Continental cur-

i rency. V

After the close of the Revolution, laws imposing
excise duties on distilled spirits remained on the
Pennsylvania statute-books until 1791, but they ‘Were
not generally enforced, and were exceedingly unpop-
ular, especially in the western and southwestern por-
tions of the State. During the period mentioned
(some seven or eight years prior to their repeal in
1791), though the excise laws of the State were by no
means generally enforced, the collection of the rev-
enue tax on spirits was several times attempted, but
never successfully executed in the southwestern coun-
ties. Such an attempt was made in Washington,
Fayette, and Westmoreland Counties in the years

'17 85 and 1786, by an excise collector named William

Graham, whose ill success in the attempt in Wash-
ington County is thus narrated by Judge Veech:

‘.‘ In 1785 they [the Executive Council] sent out as
collector for the three counties a broken-down Phila-
delphia Market Street tavern-keeper by the name of
Graham. He collected some in Fayette Without any

"obstacle. He then went to Westmoreland and got a

little there, but in the darkness of the night, at his
hotel, he was called to the door of his room by a" man
in disglfise who told him he was Beelzebub, and had
called for him to hand him over for torment to a legion

1 In 1779 the Assembly enacted a law to prevent the distillation of all
kinds of grain or meal, but in the October following the law was're-
pealed so far as to permit the distillation of rye and barley.

2 Findley,‘ in his history of the Western Insurrection, says, “ In the
time of the Revolutionary war, when neither foreign rum nor molasses
could be imported, the demand for domestic distilled spirits for the
army and for general consumption became exceeding great, and the
manufacturing of it became so profitable that not only the rye, but a
great quantity of wheat was consumed by distillation. In many parts
of the country you could scarcely get out of sight of the smoke of a
still-house. The citizens became alarmed lest the army should suffer for
want of bread for the troops, and forage for the horses. The clergy
from the pulpits, and in some instances by judicial warnings of Presby-
teries, inveighed against this algrming destruction of bread from the
army and the poor, and against the still-houses, as the general nurseries
of intoxication and licentiousness. There was no law then in force to
prevent distillers from selling in small quantities, consequently those
who loved to get drunk at a small expense resorted to the stills. The
manners of our youth were »much endangered by the number of the
stills, and by associating with such as usually resorted to these recep-
tacles of vice. The army soon felt the effects of this waste of grain to
an alarming degree.”

of devils who were in waiting Without.” He saw his
danger and escaped, but was afraid to stay longer, and
“ fled with all convenient speed into what he was told
was the more sober and submissive county of Wash-
ington, then covering all west of the Monongahela.
There he fared worse than at Greensburg.” How
badly the collector fared in Washington County is
shown in a letter written by Dorsey Pentecost3 to the
Executive Council of Pennsylvania, as follows :
“ WASHINGTON COUNTY, 16th April, 1786.

“ GENTLEMEN: ,

“About ten days ago a Mr. Graham, Excise officer
for the three western Counties, was in the exercise of
his office in this County, seized by a number of People
and Treated in the following manner, viz.: His-Pis-
tols, which he carried before him, taken and broke to

pieces in his presence, his Commission and all his‘

papers relating to his Office tore and thrown in the
mud, and he forced or made to stamp on them, and
Imprecate curses on himself, the Commission, and the
Authority that gave it to him; they then cut off one-
half his hair, cued the other half on one side of his
Head, cut off the Cock of his Hat, and made him wear
it in a form to render his Cue the most Conspicuous ;
this with many other marks of_Ignominy they Im-
pos’d on him, and to which he was obliged to submit;
and in the above plight they marched him amidst a
Crowd from the frontiers of this County to Westmore-
land County, calling at all the Still Houses in their
way, where they were Treated Gratis, and expos’d
him to every Insult and mockery that their Invention
could contrive. They set him at Liberty at the en-
trance of Westmoreland, but with Threats of utter
Desolution should he dare to return to our County.
“This Bandittie I amtold denounces distruction,

vengeance against all manner of People who dare to W

oppose or even ganesay this their unparrelled beha-
vior, and that they will support every person con-
cerned against every opposition. I suppose they
depend on their numbers, for I am told the Combi-
nation is large.

“I have thought it my duty as a good citizen to

give your Honorable Board information of this match-_

less and daring Insult offered to Government, and the
necessity there is for a speedy and Exemplary pun-
ishing being inflicted on these atrocious offenders, for
if this piece of conduct is lightly looked over, no
Civil officer will be safe in the Exercise of his duty,
though some Gentlemen with whom I have conversed
think it would be best, and wish a mild -prosecution;
for my part, I am of a different opinion, for it cer-
tainly is the most audacious and accomplished piece
of outragious and unprovoked Insult that was ever
offered to a Government and the Liberties of a free
People, and what in my opinion greatly agrivates
their Guilt is that it was not done in a Gust of
Passion, but cooly, deliberately, and Prosecuted from

3.Pa. Archives, x. 757.

264

HISTORY OF WASHINGTON COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA.

day to day, and there appears such a desolute and
refractory spirit to pervade a Certain class of People
here, particularly those concerned in the above Job,
that demands the attention of Government, and the
most severe punishment. '

“I am not able to give the names of all concerned,
nor have I had an opportunity of making particular
enquiry, but have received the foregoing information
from different people on whom I can rely, neither do
I think they have as many friends as they suppose,
or would wish to make the public believe. I have
it not in my Power at this time to be as full and ex-
plicit as I could wish on this subject, as I have but
Just time to hurry up this scrawl while the carrier is
waiting.”

/This was the first actual violence committed in re-
sistance to the execution of the excise laws in Western
Pennsylvania. It occurred onthe 7th of April, 1786,
at a place near Cross Creek village. Graham made
no further attempt to enforce collections, or to remain
in Washington County; but prosecutions for riot were
instituted against twelve persons charged with being
concerned in the affair, and they were in due time
found guilty and fined; but their fines were after-
wards remitted. One of them was afterwards elected
to Congress, and three times re-elected, serving in all
eight years.

With regard to Graham and his appointment as
excise collector, Findley says, “ A person of more
fair character and greater discretion would have been
necessary for the successful discharge of that trust,
but such did not apply.” But Findley almost invari-
ably defended, or at least apologized for, the acts of
the insurgents and censured those engaged in attempts
to execute the law. Judge Veech says of him (Find-
ley), “He was an ultra partisan of the Republican or
Anti-Federal school. He was considered one of the
/leaders of the opposition to Washington’s administra-
tion, and being charged with instigating the Whiskey
Insurrection, wrote his book to defend himself and
abuse Hamilton. . . . In Garland’s ‘Life of John Ran-
dolph’ he is said to have been habitually intemperate
while in Congress, a statementwhich has some sup-
port from tradition.” _

After Graham’s maltreatment and expulsion from
the country, the ofiice of collector was accepted by
a Mr. Craig, who made some attempt to execute the
duties, but, as is said by Brackenridge, “ with no result
but that of becoming infamous with the populace.‘

1 “ Afterwards a man of the name of Craig accepted-of the office of
excise for the Western counties. Hisison, who acted as his deputy, I was

I acquainted with; he behaved himself well and appeared to be success-
'ful, but his father getting into some quarrels, near the place of his resi-

dence, complaints went against him, and he was removed. . . . There
were no riots but those-against Graham; but as all those who held the
oflice received some money, for which it was believed they never ac-
counted (probably they did not receive more than was a competent com-
pensation), those that paid at first, seeing others escape with impunity,
refused to comply. They all knew that in the old counties it was gen-
erally paid only on foreign liquors.”-—Find(ey.

Another attempt was made by a person of the name
of Hunter, who made seizures in Pittsburgh in 1790,
and instituted seventy suits against delinquent distil-

' lers; in these cases the suits were set aside for irregu-

larity, and Hunter soon after left the country and
resigned his commission.” No further attempts at col-
lection were made by oflicers in this district under the
State law during its continuance. A bill for its re-
peal was introduced in 17 90, and during its pendency
in the Assembly a numerously signed petition of in-
habitants of Westmoreland County was presented
praying for the repeal of the excise law. The memo-
rial and petition set forth: 2

“ That this is the only law passed since our Revo-
lution that has been treated with general disapproba-
tion, and reflected upon with universal abhorrence
and detestation; and such has been the resentment
of many of our fellow-citizens, which we are sorry to
have occasion to confess that they have upon several
occasions proceeded to unwarrantable lengths in op-
posing its operations. ’

“We do not deny that we are as strongly rooted
in the habits, and as much addicted to the use of
spirituous liquors as our brethren in the eastern part
of the State; having emigrated from among them, we
cannot be condemned for carrying their customs along
with us. But independent of habit, we find that the
moderate use of spirits is essentially necessary in sev-
eral branches of our agriculture.
try laborers are exceedingly scarce, and their hire
exceedingly high, and we find that liquor proves a
necessary means of engaging their service and secur-
ing their continuance through the several important
seasons of .the year when the pressing calls of labour
must be attended to, let the conditions be what they
may. For these reasons we have found it absolutely
necessary to introduce a numer of small distilleries
into our settlements; and in every circle of twenty or
thirty neighbours, one of these are generally erected,
merely for the accommodation of such neighbour-
hood, and without any commercial views whatever.
The proprietor thereof receives the grain (rye only)
from the people, and returns the stipulated quantity

of liquor, after retaining the toll agreed upon. In .

this manner we are supplied with this necessary ar-
ticle, much upon the same conditions that our mills
furnish us with flour; and why we should be made
subject to a duty for drinking our grain more than
eating it, seems a matter of astonishment to every re-'
flecting mind. ’

“ These distilleries, small and insignificant as they
are, have always been classed among the first ‘objects
of taxation, and have been highly estimated in the
valuation of property. This,"we conceive, might fully
suflice, without extending revenue to the mean and
humble manufacture produced by them. With as
much propriety, a duty might be laid on the rye we

2Penn. Archives, 1790, pp. 670, 671.

In this new coun- '

- ernment.

THE WHISKEY

INSURRECTION. 265

feed to our horses, the bread we eat ourselves, or any
other article manufactured from the products of our
own farms.

“Our remote situation from the channels of com-
merce has long ago prohibited the use of all imported
liquors amongst us, and as we are aiming at independ-
ence in our manner of living, We have neither the
abilities nor inclination to aspire to their use. We
freely resign them to our eastern neighbours whom
Providence has placed under the meridian rays of
commercial afiiuence, and whose local situation con-
fer on them many enjoyments which nature has de-
nied to us; and whilst they are revelling in the lux-
uries of the most bountiful foreign climes, we are
perfectly content with the humble produce of our
own farms, and it is our only wish to be permitted to
enjoy them in freedom.”

The repealing act‘ was passed, and approved Sept.
21, 1781; but in the mean time Congress had passed
the national excise law, which brought about the in-
surrection in the western counties of Pennsylvania.

Upon the adoption of the Federal Constitution, it
became necessary to provide ways and means to sup-
port the government, to pay just and pressing Revo-
lutionary claims, and sustain the army, which was
still necessary for the protection of the frontier against
Indian attack. “ The duties on goods imported were
very far from adequate to the wants of the new gov-
Taxes were laid on articles supposed to be
the least necessary, and, among other things, on dis-
tilled liquors, or on the stills with which they were
manufactured.” At the suggestion of Alexander
Hamilton, then Secretary of the Treasury, a bill was
framed, among the provisions of which was the impo-
sition of an excise duty of four pence per gallon on

. all distilled spirits. This bill was passed by Congress,

March 3, 1791, against the strong opposition of many
members, including all those from the western coun-
ties of Pennsylvania?

1 “ An Act to repeal so much of every act or acts of Assembly of this
State as relates to the collection of excise duties,” provided, “ Section
1. . . . That so much of every act or acts of Assembly as authorize the
collection of any duty or duties upon wine, rum, brandy, or other spirit-
uous liquors shall be, and the same are, hereby repealed.

“ Section 2. Provided always, . . . That nothing herein contained shall
be deemed or construed to prevent the recovery of all such duties upon
the said articles as are now due to the Commonwealth, nor to release or
take away any forfeiture or penalty which any person or persons may
have incurred by reason of the said acts of Assembly; but that all prose-
cutions commenced, or which may be commenced in consequence there-
of, may be prosecuted to as full effect as if such acts or parts thereof
had not been repealed.”

2 The House of Representatives of Pennsylvania, too, recorded its pro-
test against the national excise law. On June 22, 1791, it was by that body

“ Resolved, That any proceeding on the part of the United States tend-
ing to the collection of. revenue by means of excise established on prin-
ciples subversive of peace, liberty, and the rights of the citizens ought
to attract the attention of this House.

“ Resolved, That no public urgency within the knowledge or contem-
plation of this House can in their opinion warrant the adoption of any
species of taxation which shall violate those rights which are the basis
of our government, and which would exhibit the singular spectacle of a.
nation resolutely oppressing the oppressed of others in order to enslave
itself.”

It was argued that the law of 1791 bore more
heavily and unjustly on the interests of the region
west of the Alleghenies than on those of any other
part of the Union. Here a principal product of the
farmers was rye. For this there was little home de-
mand, and it could not be transported across the
mountains at a profit, except in the form of Whiskey.
“ A horse could carry but four bushels, but he could

take the product of twenty-four bushels in the shape 1

of alcohol. Whiskey, therefore, was the most import-
ant item of remittance to pay for their salt, sugar,
and iron.”3 As a result of these peculiar circum-
stances, there was in this section a greater number of
stills and a larger amount of Whiskey manufactured
than in any other region of the same population in
any part of the country. “There were very fewor
no large manufactories where grain was bought and
cash paid. There was not capital in the country for
that purpose. In some neighborhoods every fifth or
sixth farmer was a distiller, who during the winter
season manufactured his own grain and that of his
neighbors into a portable and salable article.” And
thus the people thought “they foresaw that what
little money was brought into the country by the
sale of whiskey would be carried away in the form of
excise duties.” 4

In these western counties a large proportion of the
inhabitants were Scotch”-Irish, or of that descent, a
people whose earlier home, or that of their fathers,
had been beyond the sea, in a land where whiskey
was the national beverage, and where excise laws and
excise officers were regarded as the most odious of all
the measures and minions of tyranny.5 “They also
remembered that resistance to the Stamp Act a11d
duty on tea at the commencement of the Revolution
began by the destruction of the tea and a refusal to

3 “ As late as the year of the insurrection, freight in wagons to Phila-
delphia cost from five to ten dollars per hundred pounds. Salt sold at
five dollars a bushel, while iron and steel cost from fifteen to twenty
cents per pound. In that fertile region grain was abundantly produced,
but there was no market, while farmers east of the mountains were
growing rich by means of the general war in Europe. Trade down the
Ohio, despite its danger, had then no outlet, the lower Mississippi being
in possession of the Spanish. The freight on a barrel of flour to Phila-
delphia was as much as it would bring in that market. ‘Wheat,’ says
the Rev. Dr. Carnal-ian, ‘ was so plentiful and of so little value that it
was a common practice to grind that of the best quality and feed it to
the cattle; while rye, corn, and barley would bring‘ no price as food for
man or beast.’ The only way left for the inhabitants to obtain a little
money to purchase salt, iron, and other articles necessary in carrying
on their farming operations was by distilling their grain and reducing
it to a more portable form. and sending the whiskey over the mountains
or down the Ohio to Kentucky, then rapidly filling up and affording a
market for that article.”—-Papers Relating to the Whiskey Insurrection, Pa.
Archives, vol. iv., 6. -

4 Address of Rev. Dr. Carnahan.

5 “ To resist or elude the excise is one of the hereditary prerogatives
of an Irishman, be he Protestant or Catholic. To kill an exciseman has
been reckoned among them an ample expiation for a multitude of sins.
By every native of the Emerald Isle it is regarded as the most humiliat-
ing badge of subjection which England has ever imposed; and if the
parents have nothing else to transmit to their posterity, they bequeath
to them unto the third and fourth generations a hatred of excise laws,
and of all who make or enforce them. Nor was it much better in Scot-
land.”

266

HISTORY OF WASHINGTON COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA.

use the royal stamps; that the design was not to break
allegiance to the British throne, but to force a repeal
of these odious laws. . They were, almost to a man,
enemies to the British government, and had contri-
buted their full proportion in service in establishing
‘the independence of America. To them no other tax
of equal amount would have been half so odious.”
It can scarcely be wondered at then that among a
people holding such opinions the measure was re-
garded as a most unjust and oppressive one, nor that
the more hot-headed and turbulent ones freely and
fiercely announced their determination to oppose its
execution even to the extremity of armed resistance
to the government. ‘

This rebellious sentiment Was so wide-spread, so
unmistakable in? its character, and indicated by such
open threats of violence to any officers who might be
hardy enough to attempt the collection of the excise
duty, that it became difficult to find any proper person
willing to take the risk of accepting the office of chief
inspector of the Western District. The position was
finally accepted by Gen. John Neville} of Allegheny
County, a man who above nearly all others was, on
account of his great personal popularity and unques-

, tioned honesty and patriotism, the proper man for the

place. But the confidence and respect of his fellow-
citizens proved insufiicient to screen him from their
insults and violence when against these was Weighed
the fact that he had accepted an office the duties of
Which obliged him to attempt the execution of a law

which they detested.

The popular excitement increased rapidly, the spirit
of resistance became more determined, and soon found
expression in a public act which may be said to have
marked the commencement of the famous “ Whiskey
Insurrection.” This was a preliminary meeting held
at Redstone Old Fort (Brownsville), on the 27th of
July, 1791, composed of people opposed to the exe-
cution of the law. At this meeting it was concerted
that county committees should be formed in each of
the four counties of Washington, Fayette, Westmore-
land, and Allegheny, to meet at the respective county-
seats and take measures looking to a common end,-
successful resistance to the operation of the law.
These committees were formed accordingly,and the

1 “ In order to allay opposition as far as possible,” says Judge Wilke-

son, “ Gen. John Neville, a man of the most deserved popularity, was
appointed to the iuspectorship for Western Pennsylvania. He accepted
the appointment from a sense of duty to his country. He was one of the
few men of great wealth who had put his all at hazard for independence.
At I118 own expense he raised and equipped a company of soldiers, marched
them to Boston, and placed them, with his son, under the command of
General Washington. Besides Gen. Nevi1le’s claims as a soldier and a
patriot, he had contributed greatly to relieve the sufierings of the settlers
in his vicinity. He divided his last loaf with the needy; and in a sea-
son of more than ordinary scarcity,as soon as his wheat was sufficiently
matured to be converted into food, he opened his fields to those who
were suffering with hunger. Ifany man could have executed this odious
law, Gen. Neville ‘was that man. He entered upon the duties of his ofiice
and appointed his deputies from among the most popular citizens. The
first attempts, however, to enforce the law were resisted.”

temper and ideas of the men composing them may
be judged from the proceedings had at a meeting of
the Washington County Committee, held at the
county—seat on the 23d of August, on which-occasion
resolutions were passed to the effect that any person
who had accepted or might accept an office under
Congress in order to carry the excise law into effect
should be considered inimical to the interests of the
country, and recommending to the people of their
county to treat every person who had accepted, or
might thereafter accept, any such office with contempt,
and absolutely to refuse all kind of communication
or intercourse with him, and to withhold from him
all aid, support, or comfort. The Secretary of the
Treasury (Alexander Hamilton) mentioned that
among those present at this meeting at Washington
were the following-named persons, all public officers
of Pennsylvania, viz.: James Marshel, register and
recorder of Washington County; David Bradford,
deputy attorney—general of Pennsylvania ; Henry Tay-
lor and James Edgar, associates justices of Wash-
ington County ; Thomas Crooks, William Parker, Eli
Jenkins, and Thomas Sedgwick, justices of the peace;
and Peter Kidd, major of Washington County militia.
The resolutions passed at this meeting were printed
in the Pittsburgh Gazette, the proprietor of which
paper would doubtless have feared the consequences
of a refusal to publish them if he had been so dis-
posed.

Each of the four county committees deputed three
of its members to meet at Pittsburgh on the first Tues-
day of September following, for the purpose of ex-
pressing the sense of the people of the four counties
in an address to Congress “upon the subject of the
excise law, and other grievances.” The meeting of
delegates was held at Pittsburgh, as appointed, on the
7th of September, 1791, on which occasion (according
to the minutes of the meeting) “ the following gentle-
men appeared from thecounties of Washington, West-
moreland, Fayette, and Allegheny, to take into con-
sideration an act of Congress laying duties upon
spirits distilled withinthe United States, passed the
3d of March, 1791 :

“For Westmoreland County: Nehemiah
and John Young, Esqs. '

“For Washington County: Col. James Marshall,
Rev. David Phillips, and David Bradford, Esq.

Stokely

“For Fayette County: Edward Cook, Nathaniel '

Bradley [Breading], and John Oliphant, Esqs.

“For Allegheny County: Col. Thomas Morton,
John Woods, Esq., and William Plumer, Esq.

“ Edward Cook, Esq., was voted in the chair, and
John Young appointed secretary.” , i

The meeting then proceeded to pass a series of
resolutions, censuring the legislation of the late Con-
gress, especially the obnoxious excise law, which they
characterized as “ a base offspring of the funding
system, . . . being attended with infringements on
liberty, partial in its operations, attended with great

THE WHISKEY

IN SURRE CTION .

expense in the collection, and liable to much abuse,”
and declaring that “it is insulting to the feelings of the
people to have their vessels marked, houses painted
and ransacked, to be subject ‘to informers, gaining by
the occasional delinquency of others. It is a bad pre-
cedent, tending to introduce the excise laws of Great
Britain, and of countrys where the liberty, property,
and even the morals of the_ people are sported with,_to
gratify particular men in their ambitious and inter-
ested measures.” The meeting also adopted a remon-
strance to “ be presented to the Legislature of Penn-
sylvania,” and further “Resolved, That the foregoing
representations [the series of resolutions adopted] be
presented to the Legislature of the United States.”
An address was also adopted, which , together with the

1 proceedings of the day,'was ordered to be printed in the

Pittsburgh Gazette, and the meeting then adjourned.

In reference to this meeting at Pittsburgh, and
others of similar character, Mr. Hamilton, Secretary
of the Treasury, said that, being “ composed of very
influential individuals, and conducted without mod-
eration or prudence,” they were justly chargeable
with the excesses which were afterwards committed,
serving to give consistency to an opposition which at
length matured to a degree that threatened the foun-
dations of the government.

On the 6th of September, the day before the meet-
ing of the committees’ delegates at Pittsburgh, the

opposition to the law broke out in anact of open vio-

lence, said to have been the first of the kind com-
mitted in the western counties since the outrage on
Graham, five years before. At a place near Pigeon
Creek, in Washington County, a party of men, armed
and disguised, waylaid Robert Johnson (collector of
revenue for Allegheny and Washington), cut ofi’ his

hair, stripped him of his clothing, tarred and feath-

ered him, and took away his horse, “ obliging him to
travel on foot a considerable distance in that mortify-
ing and painful situation.” He was also compelled
to resign his commission and to publish the fact in
the Pittsburgh Gazette, which he did as follows:
“Finding the opposition to the revenue laws more
violent than I expected, regretting the mischief that
has been done, and may from the continuance of
measures [continue to be done] ; seeing the opposi-
tion changed from a disguised rabble to a respectable
party, I think it my duty, and do resign my com-
mission. Robert Johnson.” It was stated that the
commission itself was surrendered by Johnson to Da-

vid Hamilton. The case was brought before the Dis- 1

trict Court, out of which processes issued against John
Robertson, John Hamilton, and Thomas‘ McComb,
three of the persons concerned in the outrage. The
serving of these processes was confided by the then
marshal, Clement Biddle,to his deputy, Joseph Fox,
who in the month of October went into Allegheny
County for the purposelof serving them ; but he was
terrified by the “ appearances and circumstances
which he observed in the course of his journey,” and

therefore, instead of serving them himself, sent them
forward under cover by a private messenger.‘ The
marshal (Mr. Biddle), in his report of this transaction
to the district attorney, said, “ I am sorry to add that
he [the deputy, Fox] found the people in general in

the western part of the State, particularly beyond‘

the Allegheny Mountains, in such a ferment on ac-
count of the act of Congress for laying a duty on
distilled spirits, and so much opposed to the execu-
tion of said act, and from a variety of threats to him-
self personally (although he took the utmost precau-
tions to conceal his errand), that he was not only
convinced of the impossibility of serving the process,
but that any attempt to effect it would have occa-
sionedthe most violent opposition from the greater
part of the inhabitants, and he declares that if he
had attempted it he believes he would not have returned
alive. I spared no expense or pains to have the pro-
cess of the court executed, and have not,the least
doubt that my deputy would have accomplished it if
it could have been done.” _

In Fayette County the collector of revenue, Benja-
min Wells, was subjected to ill treatment on account
of his oflicial position. That Mr. Wells was pecu-
liarly unpopular among the people of his district ap-
pears from the letters of Judge «Alexander Addison,”
and from other sources, and he was afterwards several
times maltreated, and his house sacked and burned.
These acts were done in 1793 and 17 94, but the first
instance of abuse to him appears to have occurred in
the fall of 1791, as the Secretary of the Treasury in
his report to the President, after narrating the cir-
cumstances of the attack on Robert Johnson, in
Washington County, on the 6th of September, con-
tinues: “Mr. Johnson was not the only ofiicer who,
about the same period, experienced outrage. Mr.
Wells, collector of the revenue for Westmoreland and
Fayette, was also ill treated at Greensburg and Union-
town. Nor were the outrages perpetrated confined to
the oflicers, they extended to private citizens who
only dared to show their respect for the laws of their
country.”3 -

1lThe messenger sent by Fox was John Conner, a simple-minded old
man, a cattle-drover, who was wholly ignorant of the dangerous charac-
ter of his errand. He was seized, whipped, tarred and feathered, and
left inthe woods in a pitiable condition. _'.l.‘he Secretary of the Treasury
said that John Hamilton (colonel of the Mingo Creek battalion) was one
of the party who committed this outrage.

2 Judge Addison, in a letter addressed to Governor Mifiiin - (Pa. Ar-
chives, 2d Series, vol. iv., p. 62), said, “ Benjamin Wells, so far as I have
ever heard him spoken of, is a contemptible and unworthy man, whom,
I believe, the people of this country would never wish to see in any oflice
or trust with an object of any importance.” But it should be remark ed
in this connection that the judge’s opinion, as above expressed,may have
been strongly biased by his own well-known personal dislike to Wells.
In a communication by Alexander Hamilton to President Washington,
the former related that on one occasion when Judge Addison was stop-
ping, during a term of court, at a public-house in Uniontown, “ Wells
went to the same tavern, but was informed by the tavern—keeper and hi
wife that he could not be received there, assigning for reason that Judge

Addison had declared that if they took him in again he would leave the

house.”--Pa. Archives, 2d Series, vol. iv., p. 292.
3 Pa. Archives, 2d Series, vol. iv. p. 88.

267‘  

268

HISTORY OF WASHINGTON COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA.

Another outrage was committed in Washington
County, in the month of October of the same year,
on the person of Robert Wilson, who was not an ex-
cise oflicer, but “ a young schoolmaster who was look-
ing for employment, and carried with him very
reputable testimonials of his character.“ It was
supposed that he was a little disordered in his intel-
lect, and having, unfortunately for himself, made
some inquiries concerning stills and distilleries, and
acted in a mysterious manner otherwise, he was sus-
pected of being in the service of the government.
On this account he “ was pursued by a party of men
in disguise, taken out of his bed, carried about five
miles back to a smith’s shop, stripped of his clothes,
which were afterwards burnt, and having been inhu-
manly burnt in several places with a heated iron, was
tarred and feathered, and about daylight dismissed,
naked, wounded, and in a very pitiable and suffering
condition. These particulars were communicated in
a letter from the inspector of the revenue of the 17th
of November, who declared that he had then himself
seen the unfortunate maniac, the abuse of whom, as
he expressed it, exceeded description, and was sufli-
cient to make human nature shudder. The
symptoms of insanity were during the whole time of
inflicting the punishment apparent, the unhappy
sufferer displaying the heroic fortitude of a man who
conceived himself to be a martyr to the discharge-of
some important duty.” For participation in this
outrage Col. Samuel Wilson, Samuel Johnson, James
Wright, William Tucker,’ and John Moflit were in-
dicted at the December Sessions, 1791; but before the
offenders were taken upon the process of the court,3
the victim, VVilson (probably through fear of further
outrage), left that part of the country,‘ and at the
June Sessions, 1792, the indicted persons were dis-
charged. .

Not long afterwards a person of the name of Rose-
berry underwent the humiliating punishment of
tarring and feathering, with some a.ggravations, for
having in conversation hazarded the very natural
but unpalatable remark that the inhabitants of
Washington County could not reasonably expect
protection from a government whose laws they so
actively opposed.

. The demonstrations above mentioned comprise all
of the more notable acts of violence which were done
in these counties by the opponents of the law during
the first year of its existence. On the 8th of May,
1792, Congress passedan act making certain changes

1 Letter of James Brison, of Allegheny, to Governor Mifliin, dated
Nov. 9, 1792.—Pa. Archives, 2d Series, vol. iv. pp. 44, 45.

2 Report of the Secretary of the Treasury; Pa. Archives, 2d Series, vol.
iv. p. 88. V

3 Pa. Archives, Brison’s letter, before quoted.

4 “ The audacity of the perpetrators of these excesses was so great that
an armed banditti ventured to seize and carry off two persons who were
witnesses against the rioters in the case of Wilson, in order to prevent
their giving testimony of the riot to a court then sitting or about to
sit.”—Ale:mnder Hamilton to President Washington; Pa. Arck., iv., p. 89.

in the excise law, among these being a reduction of
about one-fourth in the duty on whiskey, and giving
the distiller the alternative of paying a monthly in-
stead of a yearly rate, according to the capacity of
his still, with liberty to take a license for the precise
term which he should intend to work it, and to renew
that license for a further term or terms.5 This pro-
vision was regarded as peculiarly favorable to the
western section of the State, where very few of the
distillers wished to prosecute their business during
the summer. “The effect has in a greatmeasure,”
said Hamilton, in 17 94, “corresponded with the views
of the Legislature. Opposition has subsided in sev-
eral districts where it before prevailed,“ and it was
natural to entertain, and not easy to abandon, a hope
that the same thing would, by degrees, have taken
place in the four western counties of the State.”

But this hope was not realized. The modifications
made in the law, favorable as they had been thought
to be to the western counties, did not produce acqui-
escence and submission among the people of this sec-
tion. On the 21st and 22d days of August next fol-
lowing the passage of the modified law there was

held at Pittsburgh “ a Meeting of sundry Inhabitants '

of the Western Counties of Pennsylvania,” the pro-'
ceedings of which plainly indicated that the feeling
of opposition had not been lessened, but rather inten-
sified. At that meeting there were present the fol-
lowing-named delegates from the western counties,
viz.: John Canon, William Wallace, Shesbazer Bent-
ley, Benjamin Parkison, John Huey, John Badollet,
John Hamilton, Neal Gillespie, David Bradford, Rev.
David Phillips, Matthew Jamison, James Marshel,
James Robinson, James Stewart, Robert McClure,
Peter Lyle, Alexander Long, Samuel Wilson, Edward
Cook, Albert Gallatin, John Smilie, Bazil Bowel,
Thomas Gaddis, and John McClellan.

The meeting was organized by the choice of Col.
John Canon, of Washington County, as chairman,
and Albert Grallatin as clerk. The subject of the ex-
cise law was then “taken under consideration and
freely debated; a committee of five members was ap-
pointed to prepare a draft of Resolutions expressing
the sense of the Meeting on the subject of said Law ;”
and on the second day the resolutions were reported,
debated, and adopted unanimously. After a preamble

5 “ The act of May, 1792,” says Judge Veech, “ made some slight but

immaterial changes in the law of 1791. It lowered the rates a little and"

allowed distillers to take and pay for monthly instead of yearly licenses,
but raised the penalty for non-entry from $100 to $250. It also required
oflices of inspection and entry to be opened and maintained in each
county, and that entries therein of stills, etc., should be made yearly in
June, and only then. Without much time to think about it, many dis-
tillers complied with this requirement, whenever they had opportunity
by the establishment of offices. Others hesitated until too late, and in
the most deeply disaffected parts of the country many were deterred
from compliance.”

5Opposition to the law of 1791 was violent, not only in the “four
Western counties” of Washington, Fayette, Westmoreland, and Alle-
gheny, but also in several other counties of the State, notably Chester,
Bedford, Bucks, and Northumberland.

STHE WHISKEY INSURRECTION.

  269

sive upon the poor, and tending to bring immediate
distress and ruin on the western country, and -declar-
ing it to _be their duty to persist in remonstrances to
Congress, and every other legal measure to obstruct
the operation of the law, the resolutions proceeded,
first, to appoint a committee to prepare and cause to
be presented to Congress an address stating objec-
tions to the law, and praying for its repeal ; secondly,
to appoint committees of correspondence for Wash-
ington, Fayette, and Allegheny, charged with the
duty of corresponding together, and with such com-
mittee as should be appointed for the same purpose
in Westmoreland, or with any committees of a simi-
lar nature from other parts of the Union. The com-

‘ mittees appointed for this purpose for the three coun-

ties named were composed of the following-named
persons, viz. : William Wallace, John Hamilton, Shes-
bazer Bentley, Isaac Weaver, Benjamin Parkinson,
David Redick, Thomas Stokely, Stephen Grapen, J o-
seph Vanmeter, Alexander Long, William Whiteside,
James Long, Benjamin Patterson, Samuel Johnston,
William Plummer, Matthew Jameson, Thomas Grad-
dis, Andrew Rabb, John Oliphant, Robert McClure,
and James ‘Stewart.

The final declaration of the meeting was to the
effect that, “ Whereas, Some men may be found

’ amongst us so far lost to every sense of virtue and

feeling for the distresses of this country as to accept
offices for the collection of the duty; Resolved, There-
fore, that in future we will consider such persons as
unworthy of our friendship; have no intercourse or
dealings with them; withdraw from them every assist-
ance, andwithhold all the comforts of life which depend
upon those duties that as men and fellow-citizens we owe
to each other; and upon all occasions treat them with‘
that contempt they deserve; and that it be and it is hereby
most earnestly recommended to the people at large to fol-
low the same line of conduct towards them.”

It is difficult to understand how men of character
and good standing, such as were a majority of those
composing the Pittsburgh meeting, could have given
their assent to the passage of these extreme resolu-
tions. They were aimed in a general way (as appears
on their face) at all who might be even remotely con-
cerned on the side of the government in the collection
of the revenue, but in particular, and more than all,

‘ at Gen. John Neville, against whom no charge could

be brought, except that he had dared to accept in-
spectorship of the Western Revenue District.

Gen. Neville had found it almost impossible to ob-
tain the use of a building in which to open an in-

‘ spection office in Washington County; but, in the

early part of August, 1792, he finally succeeded in
renting from Capt. William Faulkner, of the United
States army, a part of his house in the town of Wash-
ington, and gave public notice that the inspection
oflice would be opened there on a certain day. But
18

-denouncing the excise law as unjust in itself, oppres- this action aroused the indignation of the people to

such a pitch, a.nd threats were so openly and freely
made against the inspector’s life, in case he should
come to Washington for the purpose named, that,
although he was a man not easily intimidated, he
had the discretion to absent himself from the county-
seat, and theioffice remained unopened. In reference
to this affair, John Wilkins, J r., said in a letter ad-
dressed to Gen. William Irvine, dated Aug. 31, 17 92,1
“ They have frightened Gen. Neville lately very_much
at Washington. ' He had advertised his office in that
town, and was to attend on certain days. On the day
he-was to come the road was waylaid- by a number

_of armed men disguised; he heard of it and did not

go; ‘and a day or two ago these came to the town of
Washington, disguised as before, broke into the place
where the oflice of inspection was kept, and made
search for him in expectation of ‘finding him there.
It is hard to tell to what lengths they might have
gone had they found him.”

The rage of the insurgents was also visited upon
Capt. Faulkner for the offense of having rented his
house to Neville for an inspection oflice. Being out
in pursuit of some deserters near Pigeon Creek, in
the same neighborhood where Robert Johnson was
maltreated in the previous autumn, he was encoun-
tered by a number of disguised men, who reproached
him with having let his house to the government
oflicers, drew a knife on him, threatened to scalp
him, tar and feather him, and burn his house if he
did not solemnly promise to prevent all further use
of it as an inspection office.” He was induced by
their threats to make the promise demanded, and on
the 21st of August gave public notice in the Pitts-
burgh Gazette that the office of the inspector should

_no longer be kept at his house.

On receiving intelligence of these occurrences, as
also of the proceedings of the Pittsburgh meeting, the

Secretary of the Treasury reported the facts to Pre'*si- A

dent Washington, who thereupon, on the 15th of Sep-
tember, 1792, issued a proclamation admonishing all
persons to refrain and desist from all unlawful combi-
nations and proceedings whatsoever having for their
object or tending to obstruct the operation of the
laws, declaring it to be the determination of the
government to bring to justice all infractors of the
law, to prosecute delinquents, to seize all unexcised
spirits on their way to market, and to make no pur-
chases of spirits for the army except of such as had
paid the duty. '

1 Niles’ Register, II. 54.

2 “I can learn,” wrote Alexander Hamilton, Secretary of the Treas-
ury, “of no instance of the conviction and punishment of any person
for a violence committed upon officers or private citizens, clearly on
account of their agency under or friendly disposition towards the laws ;
which is the more remarkable, as the rioters in Faulkner's case are
asserted to have passed in open day through the town of Washington,
to have parleyed there with the inhabitants of the town, and to have’
been afterwards entertained at two or three houses.”-—Penn. Archives,
2d Series, vol. iv., 293.

32

assisted from Canada; and what are the difficulties and conveniences of
that communication, and the time required for it.

“ You are to take care to be truly informed What forts the French
have erected, and Where; how they are garrisoned and appointed, and
what is their distance from each other, and from Logstown; and from
the best intelligence you can procure, you are to learn what gave occa-
sion to this expedition of the French; how they are likely to be sup-
ported, and what their pretensions are.

“ When the French commandant has given you the required and nec-
essary dispatches, you are to desire of him a proper guard to protect
you as far on your return as you may judge for your safety against any
straggling Indians or hunters that may be ignorant of your character
and molest you. Wishing you good success in your negotiation, and
safe and speedy return, I am, 8:30.

' “ ROBERT DINWIDDIE.
“ WILLIAMSBURG, 30 October, 1753.”

On the day of his appointment Washington left
Williamsburg, and on the 31st reached Fredericks-
burg, Va., where the employed Jacob Van_Braam as a
French interpreter. The two then went to Alexan-
dria, where some necessary purchases were made.
Thence they proceeded to Winchester, where pack-
horses were purchased; after which they rode to
Wills’ Creek (Cumberland, Md.), arriving there on
the 14th of November. “Here,” said Washington
in his journal of the tour, “I engaged Mr. Gistl to
pilot us out, and also hired four others as servitors,——
Barnaby Currin and John McQuire, Indian‘ traders,
I-Ienry Steward, and William Jenkins; and in com-
pany with these persons left the inhabitants the next
day.”

The party, now including seven persons, moved
from Wills’ Creek in a northwesterly direction, and
proceeded by way of Gist’s place’ to.Fraser’s, on the
Monongahela at the mouth of Turtle Creek. They
had found the traveling through the wilderness so
diflicult that the journey to this point from Wills’
Creek occupied a week. Referring to this part of the
route the journal says, “ The excessive rains and vast
quantities of snow which have fallen prevented our
reaching Mr. Fraser’s, an Indian trader, at the mouth
of Turtle Creek, on Monongahela River, till Thurs-
day, the 22d. We were informed here that expresses
had been sent a few days before to the traders down
t, e river, to acquaint them with the French general’s
death, and the return of the major part of the French
army into winter-quarters. The waters were quite
impassable without swimming our horses, which
obliged us to get the loan of a canoe from Fraser, and
to send Barnaby Currin and Henry Steward down the
Monongahela with our baggage to meet’ us at the Forks
of the Ohio.”

’ Crossing the Allegheny, Washington found Shin-
giss, the Delaware king, who accompanied the party

.to’Logstown, which they reached in twenty-five days

from Williamsburg._ On their arrival they found the

1 Christopher Gist, agent of the “ Ohio Company,” who, a few months
previously—in 1753—had located and built a cabin near the centre of
the territory of the present county of Fayette, at the place now known
as Mount Braddock. *

9 “ According to the best observation I could make,” said Washington
in his journal, “ Mr. Gist’s new settlement (which we passed by) bears
about west-northwest seventy miles from Wills’ Creek.” *

HISTORY OF WASHINGTON COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA.

Indian Monakatoocha, but the Half-King was absent,
hunting. Washington told the former, through his
Indian interpreter, John Davidson, that he had come
as a messenger to the French general, and was ordered
to call and inform the sachems of the Six Nations of
the fact. The Half-Kingi‘ was sent ‘for by runners,
and at about three o’clock in the afternoon of the
25th he came in, and visited Washington in his tent,
where, through the interpreter, Davidson, he told him‘
that it was- a long way to the headquarters of the
French commandant on the Allegheny. “He told
me,” says the journal, “ that the nearest and levelest
way was now impassable by reason of many large
miry savannahs; that we must be obliged to go by
V-enango, and should not get to the near fort in less
than five or six nights’ sleep, good traveling.” He
told Washington that he must wait until a proper
guard of Indians could be furnished him. “The
people whom I have ordered in,” said he, “ are not
yet come, and cannot until the third night from this;
until which time, brother, I must beg you to stay. I
intend’ to send the-guard of Mingoes, Shannoahs,
and ‘Delawares, that our brothers may see the love
and loyalty we bear them.”

Washington was anxious to reach his destination at
the earliest possible time, but, in deference to the
wishes of the friendly Tanacharison, he remained
until the 30th of November, when, as it is recorded
in the journal, “We set out about nine o’clock with
the Half—King, J eskakake, White Thunder, and the
Hunter, and traveled on_ the road to Venango, where
we arrived the 4th of December, without anything
remarkable happening but a continued series of bad
weather. This is an old Indian town, situated at the
mouth of French Creek, on Ohio, and lies near north
about sixty miles from Logstown, but more than
seventy the way we were obliged to go.” ,

On the 7th the party set out from Venango for the
French fort, and reached it on the 11th, having been
greatly impeded “ by excessive rains, snows, and bad
traveling through many mires and swamps.” On
the 12th, Washington waited on the commander (M.
Legardeur de St. Pierre,‘ a Knight of St. Louis), ac-
quainted him with the business on which he came,
and in the afternoon exhibited his commission, and
delivered the letter from Governor Dinwiddle. While

it was being translated he employed his time in tak- _

ing the dimensions of the fort and making other
observations with which he was charged.“ In the
evening of the 14th he received the answer of the
commandant to the Governor; but although he was
now ready to set out on his return, he could not get
away until the second day after that, as the French,

 

3 Tanacharison, the Half-King, was and always continued to be a firm
and steadfast friend of the English, but he lived less than a year from
the time when Washington met. him at Logstown. His death occurred
at Harrisburg, Pa. (then Harris’ Ferry), in October, 1754.

4 This was not the same commandant who had previously abused the
Half-King and called him an “Old Woman,” that oflicer having died
about two months before. ,

270

HISTORY OF WASHINGTON

COUNTY, PE N N S YLVAN IA.

A supervisor of the revenue (George Clymer) was
sent into the western counties immediately afterwards
to gain accurate information of and report on the true
state of affairs; but his mission “had no other fruit
than that of obtaining evidence of the persons who
composed the meeting at Pittsburgh, and two of those
who were understood to be concerned in the riot
[against Capt. Faulkner], and‘ a confirmation of the
enmity which certain active and designing leaders
had industriously infused into a large proportion of
the inhabitants, not against the particular laws in ques-
tion ‘only, but of a more ancient date against the govern-
ment of the United States its-el .” 1

On the 1st of June, 1793, the inspector, Gen.
Neville, gave notice in the Pittsburgh Gazette that
oflices of inspection and entry were opened at his own
house at Bower Hill, at the house of Robert Johnson
in Allegheny County, at Philip Reagan’s, in West-
moreland, and at Benjamin Wells’, in Fayette. This
Robert Johnson was the same who had been attacked
at Pigeon Creek in September, 1791, and compelled
to resign his commission as deputy inspector, Evi-
dently he had again accepted the commission and re-
opened the oflrice. Benjamin Wells, although he re-
opened his oflice as advertised by Neville, was not
permitted to do any business in it. His house on the

1 Report of Secretary Hamilton, Penna. Archives, 2d Series, vol. iv.
p. 93. _

The Secretary also said, in a communication to President Washington,
dated Sept. 2, 1794, in reference to this visit of the revenue oificer,—-

“ It is mentioned in my Report that the Supervisor of the Revenue, in
September, 1792, was sent into the refractory country, among other
things to collect evidence of the persons concerned in the Riot in Faulk-
ner‘s case. When at Pittsburgh he applied by letter to Alexander Ad-
dison, President of the court of Common Pleas, who resided in the town
of‘ Washington, to engage his assistance in taking the Depositions of per-
sons who were named to him by the Supervisor, as able to testify con-
cerning infractions of the Laws, and in causing some of’ the best informed

Witnesses to attend a Circuit Court of the United States about to be '

holden at York Town. The Judge, not content with declining an agency
in the business. in answer to the application digresses into a Censure on
the Judiciary System of the United States, which he represents as ‘im-
practicable, unless it be intended to sacrifice to it the essential principles
of the liberty of the Citizens, and the Just authority of the State Courts,’ and
afterwards declares, that were it his duty to do what was requested of
him (which, however, he states in a manner diflerent from what the Su-
pervisor seems to have intended), ‘he should do it with reluctance, because
he should be serving a cause which he thought unfavorable to the liberty and
Just authority of the State Courts.’ ,

“Without examining the sufficiency of the reasons which led to de-
clining the agency proposed to him, without commenting upon the ob-
servations which seek to derive a part of the J ustification for it from the
resentment of the people against the Laws. and the danger of losing
their confidence by a compliance with what was desired of him, the pro.
priety’ of which in the mouth of a Magistrate might well be contested, it
cannot admit of a doubt that there was great unfitness in a Judge of
Pennsylvania indulging himself Wllll gratuitous. invectives against the
Judiciary System of the Government of the Union. . . . It is difficult to
perceive in such a digression the evidence of a. temper cordial to the in-
stitutions and arrangements of the United States. The particulars of
this affair have been long since in possession of the Governor.” In ad-
dition to the above, the Secretary writes (as showing that Judge Addi-
son was a sympathizer with the insurrection in the days of its popular-
ity), that “ Mr. Stokely, a member of the Pennsylvania Legislature for
Washington, states that Judge Addison wrote a letter or letters in oppo-
sition to his election to the Legislature, and among other objections to
him, mentioned his having applied for, or having had an intention to
obtain, an oflice in the excise.”—Penn. Archives, iv. 290,. 292.

Youghiogheny was repeatedly attacked, and was
finally fired by a mob and destroyed, with all its con-
tents, about the 1st of July in the following year.
Philip Reagan’s house, in Westmoreland (in which
VVells had also opened an oflice for that county), was
attacked, and the ofiicers who occupied it were com-
pelled to surrender their books and close the office.
At about the time when Neville published the above-
mentioned notice of the opening of the several inspec-
tion offices, he “ was burned in efligy at the place, and
on the day of the public election, with much display,
and in the presence of and without interruption from
magistrates and other public oflicers.”

In the early part of 17 94 numerous’ outrages were
committed by the opponents of the law in Washington
and Allegheny Counties. In January of that year

William Richmond had his barn burned, with all his

hay and grain, in revenge for his having given infor-
mation against the rioters who committed the outrage

on Robert Wilson, the half-demented school-teacher.‘

Robert Strawhan, a distiller, who had been among the
first to comply with the law by entering his still, also
had his barn burned. Both these outrages were com-
mitted in Allegheny County.

Gen. Neville, the inspector, in a letter addressed to
the Secretary of the Treasury, dated February 27th,
said he had received information that persons living
near the dividing line of Allegheny and Washington
had thrown out threats of tarring and feathering one
William Coughran, a complying distiller, and of burn-
ing his distillery; and that it had also been given out
that in three weeks there would not be a house stand-
ing in Allegheny County of any person who had com-
plied with the laws; in consequence of which he
(Neville) had been induced to pay a visit to several
leading individuals in that quarter, as well as to as-
certain the truth of the information as to endeavor to
avert the attempt to execute such threats. It appeared
afterwards that on Neville’s return home he had been
pursued by a body of ‘men threatening vengeance
against him. On their way these men called at the
house of James Kiddoe, who had recently complied
with the laws, broke into his still-house, fired several

balls under his still, and scattered fire over and about

the house. In March,.Neville reported an increased
activity in promoting opposition to the law, and that
frequent meetings were being held to strengthen and
extend the combination for that purpose; also that

he was cognizant of a plan having been formed to col-.

lect a force to capture him, force him to resign his.
commission, and hold him prisoner, probably as a

. hostage.

In May and June new acts of violence were com-

mitted. James Kiddoe and William Coughran, the I

complying distillers before mentioned, sustained re-
peated injuries to their property. At different times
Kiddoe had parts of his grist-mill taken away, and
Coughran suffered greater injuries, having his still

destroyed,'his saw-mill rendered useless, and great-

. THE WHISKEY

IN SURRE CTION . 2 71 a

damage done to his grist-mill. On the last visit of
the law-breakers to Coughran a written note was left
requiring him to publish in the Pilttsburgh Gazette an
account of the injuries which he had sustained,
threatening in mysterious but unmistakable lan-
guage that, in case of his refusal or neglect’ to do so,
he would receive another visit, in which his property
would be destroyed by fire. The note was signed
“Tom the Tinker,”——a name which had its origin on
this occasion, but which at once went into popular
use as a significant synonym for the ruthless power
of the insurgent party,—their battle-cry and watch"-
word.1 '

Gen. Neville had, as already mentioned, found the
greatest difficulty in obtaining a place in which to

' open an inspection office in Washington County, but

he at last succeeded in renting for that purpose the
house of John Lynn, in Canonsburg. This was in
May, 1794, in time for the opening of the office for
the business of the following month, June being the
time for receiving the annual entries of stills. But
he was here met by the same trouble which had been
experienced previously in the town of Washington.
“In the night of the 6th of June,” says Secretary
Hamilton,” .“ about twelve persons, armed and painted
black, broke into the house of John Lynn, where the
oflice was kept, and after having treacherously se-
duced him to come down-stairs and put himself in

1 TOM THE TINKER was a name which the law-breakers not only used
individually for the purposes of disguise, but also applied to the insur-
gent body collectively, and to the secret and dreaded power of the or-
ganization, if organization it could be called. As to theorigin of the
name, Brackenridge says, “A certain John Holcroft was thought to
have made the first application of it at the time of the masked attack on
William Coughran, whose still was out to pieces. This was humorously
called mending Ins still. The menders of course must be tinkers, and the

name collectively became Tom the Tinker.” Advertisements were put

upon trees and in other conspicuous places with the signature of Tom
the Tinker, admonishing or commanding individuals to do or not to do
certain things under the penalty of retribution at the hands of the
mysterious Tom in case of non-compliance. Menacing letters with the
same signature were sent to the Pittsburgh Gazette with orders to pub-
lish them, and the editor dared not refuse to comply, though he did so
unwillingly. Often the persons to whom these threatening notices were
addressed were commandedvto see that they were published in the Gazet/e,
and they always complied; for they knew that refusal or neglect to do
so would bring upon them the destruction of their property and endanger
their lives. .

“ This Tom the Tinker,” says Judge Lobengier, “ was a new god added
to the mythology at this time, and was supposed to preside overwhiskey-
stills and still-houses. Whoever stoutly hurrahed for Tomxthe Tinker
was of unquestionable loyalty with the whiskey-‘boys; while those who
could not were branded as traitors to this new deity and their country.”
J ndge Veech says of the mysterious god that it was supposed “ his
Olympus was on some of the hills of Mingo or Peters Creek. But truly
he was a nxultiform deity, or at least he was Briare-an in his functions.
His mundane recreations were to destroy the stiils and mills and burn
the barns of complyin g distillers, and terrify others into non-compliance.
He sometimes warned before striking, but the warnings and blows were
always in the dark and of ditlicult detection.” Findley says it after-
wards appeared that the letter left at Conghran’s still house was not
written by John Holcroft as was first supposed, and that the person
who did write it and who thus originated the name “ Tom the Tinker”
was never discovered. " >

2 Papers relating to the Whiskey Insurrection. Report of the Secre-
tax-_v of the Treasury, Aug. 5, 1794. Pa. Arch., 2d Series, vol. iv. pp.
97, 98. '

their power, by a promise of safety to himself and
his house, they seized and. tied him, threatened to
hang him, took him to a retired spot in the neighbor-
ing wood, and then, after cutting off his hair, tarring
and feathering him, swore him never again to allow
the use of his house for an office, never to disclose
their names,‘and never again to have any sort of an
agency in aid of the excise, having done which they
bound him naked to -a tree and left him in that situa-
tion till morning, when he succeeded in extricating
himself. Not content with this, the malcontents,
some days after, made him another visit, pulled down
part of his house, and put him in a situation to be
obliged to‘ become an exile from his own home, and to
find an asylum elsewhere.”3 .
Soon after the Lynn affair in Canonsburg, Maj.
David Lenox, a United States marshal, was sent
West with a large number of writs to be served on
non-complying distillers in Allegheny, Washington,
and Fayette Counties, and a few against certain per-
sons in the last-named county who had been concerned
in the riots at the house of the excise oflicer, Benjamin
Wells. “The marshal of the district,” said Secretary
Hamilton, “went in person to serve these processes.

He executed his trust without interruption, though.

under many discouraging circumstances, in Fayette
County. He then proceeded to Washington and
Allegheny Counties, where he served all but one,
which was againsta distiller named William Miller,
who lived on Peters Creek, in Allegheny County, on
the road from Pittsburgh to Washington, and about

fourteen miles from the former place. For some:

cause which does not appear he-delayed serving this
last process, and went to Pittsburgh. On the follow-
ing day (July 15th), in company with Gen. Neville, he
rode out to serve the writ on Miller, and did so, but on

‘ their return towards Neville’s house he was beset on

the road by a party of from thirty to forty armed men,
who, after much irregularity of conduct, finally fired
on him, but, as it happened, without injury either to
him or the inspector.” This is Secretary Hamilton’s
account of the affair. Findley says of the same oc-
currence that “On leaving the place [Miller’s] ‘a
number of men were observed as if in pursuit of them,

3 Dr. Carnahan gives a different account of this affair. He says,
“ The first acts of violence were done to the deputy inspectors, men gen-
erally of low character, who had very little sensibility, and who were
willing, for the paltry emolument of the office, to incur the censure and
contempt of their fellow-citizens. These sub-excise men were seized by
thoughtless young men and received a coat of tar and feathers, more
through sport than from deliberate design to oppose the law. Of several
cases of this kind which occurred I shall mention one, which in part
fell under my notice. About the last of June or first of July, 1794, John
Lynn, a deputy inspector residing in Canonsburg, Washington 00., was
taken from his bed, carried into the woods, and received a coat of tar

and feathers, and he was left tied to a tree, but so loosely that he could '

easily extricate himself. He returned to his house, and after undergoing
an ablution with grease and soap and sand and water, he exhibited him-
self to the boys in the academy and others, and laughed and made sport
of the whole matter.” This account of Carnahan’s, however, omits, as
will be noticed, all reference to the ‘assault which, the secretary says,
was made on Lynn’s house several days afterwards.

272

HISTORY OF WASHINGTON COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA.

and one gun was ‘discharged, not, however, it is be-
lieved, with a design to do execution.” Findley,
and other apologists for the acts of the insurgents
on this and other occasions, carries the idea that the
sole cause of the firing on the marshal was that he
was accompanied by Gen. Neville. Miller, it is said,
afterwards told H. H. Brackenridge that “he was mad
with passion when he reflected that being obliged to
pay two hundred and fifty dollars and the expenses
of going to Philadelphia would ruin him, and his
blood boiled at seeing Gen. Neville along to pilot
the officer to his very door.” After being fired on by
the party of men, who were from a harvest-field near
by, the marshal and Gen. Neville pursued their way
unmolested, the former going to Pittsburgh, and the
latter to his home at Bower Hill. A
This attack proved to be but the prelude to one of
the most daring outrages committed during the con-
tinuance of the insurrection. The service of the writs
by the marshal had greatly incensed the disaffected
people; and the feeling against Gen. Neville had been
increased threefold in its bitterness by his appearance
with Maj. Lenox at William Miller’s. At the time
when the two United States officers came to Miller’s
house there was some kind of a military gathering
being held not far away, at the Mingo Creek Meeting-
house. Precisely what was the nature and object of
this gathering does not appear. One account says it
was a rendezvous of the Mingo Creek regiment, which
had met there “in order to form a select corps of
militia as their quota of the eighty thousand men
required by the Government by act of_Congress.”
Findley says, “Doctor Beard [Dr. Absalom Baird],
the brigade inspector for Washington County, was there
hearing appeals made by some of a battalion which
had. been called upon for its proportion of the eighty
thousand men required.” But the cause of the meet-
ing is immaterial. There were present at the Mingo

C Creek Meeting-house at the time mentioned a large

number of militiamen belonging to C01. Hamilton’s
“Mingo Creek Battalion,” of whom more than fifty
had their firearms with them. While they were so
gathered, but just as they were about to separate and
return to their homes, the announcement was made
to them (probably by William Miller, on whom the
process had been served that afternoon) “that the

Federal sheriff (as they styled the marshal) had been I

serving writs in Allegheny County and carrying the
people to Philadelphia for not complying with the
excise laws, and that he was then at Gen. Neville’s
house.” This announcement created among the mi-
litiamen an intense excitement, and a determination
to take vengeance on the marshal and the inspector.
During the night. a party was made up, numbering
thirty-seven 1 armed men, including their leader, John

1 This is the number given by Brackenridge. N. B. Craig says the
party was nearly one hundred strong. Findley says, “ Between thirty
and forty flew instantly to their arms and marched towards Mr. N eville’s,
about twelve miles distant, where they appeared early the next morning.”

Holcroft (the reputed original Tom the Tinker), and
before daylight on the following morning they
marched from Mingo, taking the road leading to
Neville’s house, which was about twelve miles dis-
tant.

Gen. Neville’s “Bower Hill” estate was on Char-
tiers “Creek, about seven miles in a southwesterly
direction from Pittsburgh. The mansion, situated on
the highlands which rise from the creek bottoms, was
large, and for those days an exceedingly elegantiand
aristocratic one. In its rear and upon one of its
Hanks were the outhouses, and several small build-
ings occupied by the negroes of the Neville family.
Taken together, the “Bower Hill” establishment was
the finest and most imposing to be found at that time-
in Pennsylvania south of the Monongahela. Before
this mansion, at an early hour in the morning of the
16th of July, appeared the armed party from Mingo
Creek, with John Holcroft at their head. Marshal
Lenox was not at Neville’s, as they supposed, having
gone to Pittsburgh the previous evening, as before
mentioned. Gen. Neville had intended to ride to
town that ‘morning, but when nearly ready to set out
he espied the approaching party, and surmising their
purpose he postponed the journey and immediately
made preparations for defense. When Holcroft’s
party came up they found the house closed and bolted
against them; but Gen. Neville boldly appeared at
an upper window and demanded to know the purpose
of their visit. An evasive and “suspicious” answer
being given by the party outside, “they were without
further provocation fired on from the house, and after
returning the fire they were fired on by the negroes
from the adjoining buildings.” This quotation is
from Findley, who in this instance, as in all others,
did his best to show that the insurgents were the
injured party rather than aggressors. Another ac-
count is to the effect that Holcroft’s party having
demanded the surrender of Neville’s commission and
official papers, and being answered by a peremptory
refusal, first fired on the house and received in return
from the inmates (including the negroes) so prompt
and vigorous a volley that they became intimidated
and withdrew to reorganize, gather reinforcements,
and return with augmented numbers to carry out their
original design.

In thisgfirst attack on Neville’s house no one was
killed on either side. After the departure of Hol-

crofti’s party, Gen. Neville rode to Pittsburgh, and -

there communicated the events of the morning to his
brother-in-law, Maj. Kirkpatrick, who, in view of
the probability of another attack, advised him to
obtain assistance from the garrison of the fort at
Pittsburgh. Application to that effect was made to
Maj. Butler, the commandant, who thereupon de-
tailed a subordinate oflicer and ten men for the pur-
pose. Neville then returned to his-house,‘and did
what was practicable to put it in a condition of defense
against the expected attack. Kirkpatrick came up

THE WHISKEY

‘afterwards with the eleven soldiers from the garri-

son.

When Holcroft’s party retired from Neville’s they
returned to Mingo Creek, narrating to all whom they
saw (doubtless with much exaggeration) the events
of their visit to N eville’s. The indignation of the
insurgents and their synipathizers was great, and a
large force was raised without delay to rendezvous
during the succeeding night at Couch’s fort, a few
miles from Neville’s house. At that place, on the
morning of the 17th of July, there were assembled
nearly five’ hundred men, most of them fully armed
and prepared for that which all understood to be the
object of the gathering, an attack on Neville. The
greater part of these men were from Mingo Creek and

‘ that vicinity, but there were also many from the set-

tlements farther north and west.‘ It is related that in
the midst of the excitement there appeared upon the
scene a venerable clergyman, the Rev. Mr. Clark,
who made an earnest appeal to the infuriated multi-
tude, imploring them not to become law-breakers and
criminals, and using all the power of his eloquence
to dissuade them from their purpose, but in vain.
After such slight organization as was thought neces-
sary the insurgent force moved from the rendezvous
towards Bower Hill. Its leader was James McFar-
lane, who was then a major of militia, and who had
previously done honorable service as a lieutenant in
the war of the Revolution.

The large party (or, as it has sometimes been called,
the “insurgent army”), led by McFarlane, moved rap-
idly towards the Neville mansion. The general, fully
expecting a second visitation, was on the alert, and
by some means became aware of the movements and
great strength of the approaching party while they

‘ 1 It appears, however, that all were not present who had been warned
or were expected to report at the rendezvous, and in the next issue of
the Pittsburgh Gazette there was published the following warning from
the mythical personage understood to represent the insurgent power,
viz.:
“ Advertisement.

“ In taking a survey of the troops under my command, in the late ex-
pedition against that insolent exciseman, John‘ Neville, I find there
were a great many delinquents now amongst those who carry on dis-
tilling. It will therefore be observed that Tom the Tinker will not suf-
fer any certain class, or set of men, to be excluded the service of this
my district, when notified to attend on any expedition in order to ob-
structthe execution of the law, and obtain a repeal thereof. And I do
declare, upon my solemn word, that if such delinquents do not come
forth on the next alarm, in equipments, and give their assistance, as in
them lies in opposing the execution, and obtaining a repeal of the ex-
cise laws, he, or they, will be deemed as enemies, and standing opposed
to the virtuous principles of republican liberty, and shall receive pun-
ishment according to the nature of the offence, and that atleast the con-
sumption of his distillery. A
. “ToM THE TINKER.”
“July 19, 1794.

This notice in the Gazette was prefaced by the following, addressed
to the editor and proprietor of that paper:

“ MR. SCULL,-—I am under the necessity of requesting you to put
the following in your next paper. It was found posted on a tree near

my distillery.

“JOHN REED.
“ July 23, 1794.”

IN SURRECTION . 273

were yet a considerable distance away, and believing
that his life would be in danger in the presence of
such a large and greatly excited crowd, very wisely
retired towards Pittsburgh, leaving the defense of the
house to  Kirkpatrick, the soldiers, and the ne-
groes. The insurgent party soon arrived, and finding
that the house was closed and barricaded, and also (to
their surprise) that it was garrisoned by soldiers, halted
for consultation, and finally advanced a flag of truce,
demanding that Neville should surrender himself, with
his commission, inspection-books, and official papers.
The flag ‘returned, reporting that Neville was not in
the house. Again a flag was sent, with the demand
that six persons of the besieging party be allowed to
search the house for the inspector and the papers. A
peremptory refusal was returned, whereupon the flag
wa.s sent for the third time, now with notice for the
women andchildren to leave the house. This was
complied with,_ and a desultory firing was then com-
menced on both sides, but no general assault was
made on the house, the assailants contenting them-
selves for the time with firing from cover, like In-
dians, while the defenders replied occasionally from
the windows. Finally," during a temporary lull in
the firing, Maj. McFarlane stepped out from behind
a tree which he had been using as a shelter, and on
doing so was fired on from the house, receiving a bul-
let-wound in the groin, from which he died in a few
minutes. It was alleged by the insurgents that a
white flag had been treacherously displayed at an
upper window, and which, being regarded by McFar-
lane as a signal for a cessation of hostilities, caused
him to expose himself as a target for the fatal shot,
which, as they also claimed, was fired by Maj. Kirk-
patrick himself.

At the death of McFarlane the insurgents became
furious with rage, and boldly advancing from their
cover, set fire to the barn and outbuildings. As the
flames spread it became evident that the house must
also be destroyed, and realizing this, and consequently
the hopelessness of further resistance, Maj. Kirkpat-
rick surrendered. The house was entirely consumed
with all its contents, except the liquors, which the as-
sailants were careful to save, by breaking open the
cellar and _rolling out the casks before the house was
burned. The casks were opened and most of the men
became intoxicated, but it does not appear that such
was the case with the principal leaders? Among the
contents of the house which were destroyed was a
large sum in money and bonds. All the outbuildings
were burned, except a meat-house, which was spared,
and a guard placed on it at the request of the negroes,
who said the bacon contained in it was all that they
had left to depend on for their subsistence. _

The prisoners taken by the insurgents at Bower Hill
were Kirkpatrick, the soldiers, Ensign Sample, Maj.

2 “ Notwithstanding their rolling out the liquors and drinking them,”
says Brackenridge, “ there is not to be found in the history of riots an
Instance of greater forbearance and less of savage ferocity.” l

Where they left the committee and rode into town}

274

HISTORY  WASHINGTON COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA.

Lenox the marshal, Maj. Isaac Craig, and Col. Presley
Neville, the son of the general; young Neville, with
Majs. Lenox and Craig, having come up from Pitts-
burgh, and arrived at the scene of action at about the
time of Kirkpatrick’s surrender. The soldiers were
at once liberated, and allowed to depart for Pittsburgh
unmolested. Kirkpatrick succeeded in making his
escape; being assisted to do so by David Hamilton,
of Ginger Hill, Washington C0,, who was present
with the attacking party. Maj. Craig was liberated.
Col. Presley Neville and Maj. Lenox, the marshal,
were disarmed and set at liberty on a kind of parole,
embracing (as was alleged by the insurgents) an agree-
ment on the part of the marshal that he would serve
no more writs, and would make no return of those
which had been served, and would surrender his per.-
son when such surrender should be demanded. It
was claimed that Col. Neville also agreed to hold him-
self as a prisoner on parole ; but the existence of such
an agreement was denied both by the marshal and
Col. Neville. ., ‘

Having done their work of devastation at Neville’s,
the rioters marched southward, taking with them the
body of Maj. McFarlane, which they buried in the
old graveyard at the Mingo Creek meeting-house,
Where his grave may still be seen, marked by a stone
bearing an inscription to his memory. At the time
of his burial there were present at and around the old
Mingo Creek meeting-house a great assemblage of
sympathizing people, many of them sad and thought-
ful in view of the possible consequences of the lawless
acts that had been done, but the great majority in a
half frenzied state of mind, and wild with rage against
Gen. Neville and Maj. Lenox. It was proposed and
vehemently advocated to march in a body a thousand
strong (which number of men could easily have been
raised) from Mingo Creek to attack Pittsburgh and
capture the inspector and the marshal, but this project
was opposed by the committee which had been chosen
to deliberate upon the situation and control the action
of the assemblage. The committee decided that in-
stead of the proposed plan of marching to Pittsburgh
in a body, David Hamilton and John Black should
be sent to thattown, to meet Neville and Lenox; to
demand of-the‘former a resignation of his commission,
and of the latter that the writs which he had served
should be surrendered (as it was claimed he had prom-
ised to do), in order to prevent the possibility of their
being returned. Hamilton and Black proceeded on
their way, being accompanied by the committee as
far as .Shockan’s tavern, four miles south of Pittsburgh,

1 An account of the journey of Hamilton and Black to Pittsburgh, and
of the business on which they went there, on the day following the
burning of Nevil1e’s house, is found in an afiidavit made by John Black
before William Meetkirk, a justice of the peace for Washington County,
in May, 1795, as follows:

“Being about to go to Pittsburgh, I fell in with a body of people

collecting for the burying of Captain James McFarlane, who had fallen
"at the burning of Gen. N.eville’s house; David Hamilton had been de-

Therelthey found Neville and Lenox, and made
known to them the errand on which they had been
sent by the committee. .Both the inspector and the
marshal refused compliance with the demands made
on them, the marshal positively denying that he had,
while a prisoner, promised to give up the writs.
Having received these final and decisive answers
Black and Hamilton remained in Pittsburgh over-
night, and in the morning crossed to the south side
of the Monongahela on their return to the committee,
whom they expected to find still in session at Shockan’s
tavern, but on their arrival there, found that the com-
mittee had returned to Mingo Creek, where the two
men followed them to report what they had done in
Pittsburgh.

In the evening of July 18th, a few» hours after
Hamilton and Black delivered the committee’s mes-
sage to Gen. Neville and Maj. Lenox, the latter two
fled from Pittsburgh, passing down the Ohio in a
small boat in the midst of ‘a heavy thunder-storm,
afterwards landing on the Virginia shore, and making
their way through that State and Maryland to the

East, where Neville remained until the army crossed

the mountains to quell the insurrection.

When Hamilton and Black reported, to the com-
mittee the result of their mission in Pittsburgh, a
meeting was at once called, to be held at the Mingo
Creek Meeting-house on Wednesday, the 23d of July.
It was ostensibly to be a meeting of the “committee,”
but it was notified through all the eastern and central
parts of Washington and Allegheny Counties and in
the western parts of Westmoreland and Fayette. On
the appointed day there was a great assemblage of
people at the old church. “Many of the best men

puted by a committee of these people to go to Pittsburgh to return the
pistols taken from the Marshal, and to have a fulfillment from him of
what had been agreed upon on his part. Understood from Hamilton
that he had consented to go, in order to prevent the people from coming
in themselves and doing mischief, for there was danger of their going
in at that time. Went with Hamilton to Pittsburgh, and met the Mar-
shal and Colonel Neville. Hamilton explained his business, returning
the pistols, and required a fulfillment of what was agreed upon, viz.:
that he would serve no further writs, and not return those that were
‘served. The Marshal said he had not agreed not to return the writs.
A query was then in the mind of Hamilton, what effect the returns

would have. ‘At his request I went to Mr. Brackenridge to ask his I

opinion, as a lawyer. He said it was a delicate point, and he would talk
to the Marshal. On this he went out, and came in with the Marshal
and Col. Neville. Upon that, I went out, and, after some time, re-
turned; and Mr. Brackenridge said he was not much acquainted with
the practice of the Federal courts, but would consult, and give his opin-
ion in the morning. He gave his opinion in writing; which Hamilton
thought would not be satisfactory to the committee. It was understood
that the committee would be sitting till he returned. It was proposed
to return by Neville’s house;.and it was our wish that some of the gen-
tlemen of Pittsburgh should go with us. General Gibson, Doctor Bed-
ford, Mr. Brackenridge, and others had consented to go. The day look-
ing for rain, or for other cause, some declined going. Mr. Brackenridge
came; I understood him to be about to go forward to the committee, to
see if he could not satisfy the people in respect to the Marshal. In my
conversation with Mr. Brackenridge, with respect to the burning of
General Nevi1le‘s house, he said it was an unhappy affair, and was afraid
it would turn out a civil war, that government would call out the mili-
tia, that We were the militia ourselves, and have to be at war with one
another.”

THE WHISKEY

IN SURRECTION . 275

of the land were there, some upon compulsion, others
to prevent, if possible, rash measures.” . There was a
delegation from Pittsburgh, among whom were George
Robinson, chief burgess of the borough, Col. VVilliam
Sample, Peter Audrain, Josiah Tannehill, VVilliam H.
Beaumont, and Hugh H. Brackenridge. Among those
present from Washington were David Bradford (dep-
uty attorney-general) and Col. J ames.Marshel, who
had been county lieutena.nt in the trying times of the
Revolution. Craig Ritchie was there from Canons-
burg, and Col. Edward Cook, formerly county lieu-
tenant of Westmoreland, and then associate judge in
Fayette County. Brackenridge, of Pittsburgh, at-
tended, as he says, with the expectation of finding it
a committee meeting, but he found “a large assem-

' iblage or mass-meeting,‘ some from a distance, but the

majority consisting of those who had been engaged in
the riot and outrage at the house of the inspector.”
The avowed purpose of the leaders was to commit the
whole western country “ to adoption of the crimes
already perpetrated, and by combination to procure
impunity.” ’

The meeting having been organized by the choice.
of Col. Edward Cook as chairman and Craig Ritchie
as secretary, proceeded to business, which was in a
great degree the delivery of and listening to inflam-
matory speeches. “There was,” says Brackenridge,‘
“the appearance of gloom and distrust in the counte-

nances of all, especially of those who had taken an

active part in the recent riots. The fury of the mo-
ment had passed off, but time had not yet been given
for cool reflection; those who were committed began
to have some vague idea of being involved in treason-
able acts‘. The gloom of these was not that of sorrow
or repentance; -the unextinguished fire of rage still

glowed in their bosoms, and required but little to fan

it into fierceness. No one knew how far to trust his
next neighbor; and however much he might be op-
posed to violence himself, he was afraid that the first
person he addressed might be one of the enmgé, and
himself suspected of incivism, for a vague and unde-
fined apprehension hung over all, rendering life itself
insecure. . . . Every countenance discovered a strong
sense of the solemnity of the occasion, those who had
been involved not more than those who were afraid
to be involved. It will be asked, how came any one
there who was afraid to be involved? I have ac-
counted for my being there; but how came David
Bradford, James Marshel, Edward Cook, and Craig
Ritchie there? I select these instances. _ As to Mar-
shel and Bradford, I am at a loss to say anything by
way of opinion or deduction. I can only state what
I have understood from others, or what is within my
own knowledge. Not having had the least communi-

cation with Marshel or Bradford prior to that day, or

on that day, on the subject, I have nothing of my
own knowledge. I have understood from others that

1 In his “ Incidents of the Western Insurrection.”

after the first attack on the house of the inspector,
when the adjacent country was about to be roused to
a second attack, persons went to the town of Wash-
ington and called on Marshel and Bradford to come
forward on that occasion, which they declined. The
expression of Bradford reported to me is, ‘I cannot
act; you may do as you think proper.’ He alluded,
or was supposed to allude, to his being prosecuting
counsel for the commonwealth, and in that case’ not
at liberty to do what others might.’ After the destruc-
tion of the house, persons went to Marshel and Brad-
ford, demanding of them to come out and support
what had been done, or they would burn their houses.
They had a claim upon them, as having been conspic-
uous in the deliberative committees with regard to
the excise law, and alleged that Bradford had’en-
couraged them to do what they had done by his
words when he was urged to take part before the
burning. ‘ I encourage!’ said he. ‘Good God! I
never thought of such a thing.’ ‘Yes you did en-
courage,’ said they; ‘and if you do not come forward
now and support us you shall be treated in the same
or worse manner as the excise officer.’ He found
himself thus under the necessity of taking part; and
that being the case, he would seem from that time to
have adopted the most violentcounsels. Marshel
was also obliged to take part, -and, having done so, to
pursue a violent course. I am of opinion that both
of these men acted in the first instance under a sub-
ordination to popular influence. Be this as it may, it
is not from a solicitude to make an apology for them
that I state this, but from a wish to show the truth
of the transaction. Edward Cook also came, prob-
ably at the solicitation and under the fear of the
people. Craig Ritchieand many others I know did.
They had with great difliculty avoided going to the
attack on the house of the inspector, but could not
avoid at least the appearance of being with the people
now.”

So much for the opinion expressed by the elder,

Brackenridge as to the motives which actuated some
of the principal men who were present at Mingo
Church on the 23d of July, 17 94. Now with regard
to the proceedings of the meeting held at that time
and place. In his “ History of the Western Insur-
rection,” page 60, et seq., H. M. Brackenridge says,
“ The first thing which took place after the opening of
the meeting was the reading a letter which was pre-
sented by. Benjamin Parkinson from Col. [Presley]
Neville (and which had been brought by one of the
Pittsburgh party), stating that his father and the
marshal [Lenox] had left the county; that the mar-
shal had not considered himself bound by that part
of his engagement which was to surrender himself
when demanded, and for which engagement he (Ne-
ville) had become sponsor, because, after the engage-
ment made, and the marshal dismissed upon it, he
had been again arrested and was indebted to himself
for his escape. -That with ‘regard to what had been

done by them, they had burned his father’s house,
and they might burn his, but he had enough beyond
their reach. As men of honor, he conceived, they
ought to approve-the intrepidity of Kirkpatrick in

‘defending the house of a friend. It is observed by

Mr. Brackenridge (father of the writer) that this letter
had a bad effect on those to whom it was addressed,
had better have been written in a different spirit, and,
better still, not written at all. His praise of Kirk-
patrick did not accord with public opinion, and his
allusion to the particular case only excited indigna-
tion, as it was generally believed, perhaps erroneously,
that McFarlane had fallen by his hand wh en, deceived
by a flag of truce, he stepped into the open space of
the road to command the assailants to cease firing.
Besides, the defiant tone, the boast of wealth tended
to exasperate instead of awakening within them a
proper sense of the wrong they had committed. It
added not a little to the embarrassment of the situa-
tion of those who now attended the meeting at his
solicitation}

“This and some other letters being read and re-
marked upon, Benjamin Parkinson addressed the
chair. ‘You know,’said he, ‘what has been done;
we wish to know whether what has been done is right or
wrong, and whether we are to be supported, or left to
ourselves?’ These ominous words were followed by
silence for some time. The Pittsburgh party was
struck with astonishment, and Mr. Brackenridge de-
clares that he felt in agony of mind for himself and
his associates in that assemblage of persons who ap-
peared to be excited to desperation, and feeling them-
selves thus placed in a situation to vote against a
proposition perhaps at the peril of their lives or to
give a direct sanction to treason. They felt some-
what relieved when Marshel, who followed, observed
that the question was not as to what had been done,
but what was to be done in the future? Bradford
now rose, and in a most inflammatory speech sustained
what had been done and applauded the rioters, de-
manding that it be put to vote whether those present
gave their approval, and would pledge themselves to
support those who had attacked‘ and destroyed the
house of the inspector. His violent declamation was
of considerable length, ‘and yet,’ says Mr. Bracken-
ridge, ‘from my knowledge of the man, I doubt
whether he spoke according to his wish, or according
to the humor of the people, and through fear of them.’
There was again a dead silence for some time after
he had concluded. Those who were implicated were
no doubt eager and anxious for the vote, and the
others, at least the more reflecting, were alarmed at this
unexpected predicament in which they were placed.

 

1 Meaning H. H. Brackenridge, who, as he says in his “ Incidents of the
Western Insurrection,”went to the Mingo Creek meeting only at the
earnest solicitation of Col. Presley Neville, between whom and himself
“ an apparent friendship had existed -up to this period, although there
was a different feeling on the part of some of the [Neville] connection
with Mr. Brackenridge.” -

‘ HISTORY OF WASHINGTON COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA.

“ Marshel came to Mr. Brackenridge and requested
him to speak. This gentleman had already settled in
his mind someoutline of an address, but called on so
unexpectedly, and knowing that the popular current
was strongly against him and his associates (the per-
sons who had come up with him to the meeting from
Pittsburgh), he was much at a loss what to say; but
the situation was too urgent to admit of such delay or
reflection. One of his associates, Mr. Audrain, in
his statement declared that he never felt himself in a
situation so embarrassing in his life. Mr. Bracken-
ridge, observing the eyes of the audience turned upon
him, advanced to the middle of the aisle, toward the
chair, and began in a slow, deliberate, and even hesi-
tating manner, encountering the angry scowls of the
principal leaders, who were in favor of pushing the
people to still greater acts of violence.”.

It appears from the accounts of Brackenridge’s
speech on this occasion that he (as well as his friend
Audrain) found himself in an extremely embarras-
sing situation, for although he “ had already settled
in his mind some outline of an address” which would
satisfy the excited multitude without giving utterance
to words which might be-quoted against him in case
of disaster (which, in his far-sightedness, he realized
might result) to the insurrectionary movement. But
there was no alternative ; the people expected a
speech from him, and he proceeded. “ He began by
giving a narrative of what had taken place in Pitts-

burgh, the withdrawal from the country of the mar-.

shal and the inspector, who were supposed to have de-
scended the river,” and made merry in the recital of
the hasty manner in which one of the Neville party
(Maj. Craig) had closed the inspection office in town,
tearing down the cloth or paper sign over the door,
and sending the mutilated fragments of it to the in-
surgents in proof of the fact. To Parkinson’s ques-

-tion, “ whether what has been done is right or wron g ?”

he returned an evasive answer, saying that the act of
burning Neville’s house might be morally right, it was
legally wrong and treasonable, and that the President
might call out the militia to enforce the law. At this
there was sensation of rather an alarming nature

among the audience, which the speaker made haste to -

allay by assuring them that the President, before pro-
ceeding to such a measure, would reflecton the difli-
culty of securing the obedience of the Eastern militia
to orders to march against the people in the West;
that those of the middle counties and of the upper"
parts of Virginia and Maryland would obey only with
the greatest reluctance, if at all, and that if any troops
could be obtained, it would be only those from the
seaboard portions and from New Jersey; and that
for these reasons the President would doubtless be
disposed to grant an amnesty. But the request for
such amnesty would, he said, come with better grace
from those who were not implicated than from those
who were already so, and ‘5 that it was not the inter-
est of the latter to involve others, but to let them re-

THE WHISKEY

INSURRECTION. 277

main as they were, in order to act as mediating men
with the government.‘ At this point in the speech
Parkinson and others began to show signs of exas-
peration, and therefore he attempted to restore them
to good humor by telling his hearers that the Presi-
dent had repeatedly shown himself anxious to avoid
war, especially civil war, and cited the instance in
which the United States government had receded
from its position in regard to the Presque Isle estab-
lishment, on account of the threats of the Indian
chief Cornplanter, with a few beggarly Senecas at his
back, spicing his address with a burlesque of Corn-
planter and the Secretary of War making speeches to
each other on the subject. -Finally, he proposed the
calling of a larger meeting, to include representatives

' from the whole revenue survey, and that in the mean

time a delegation (of which he. offered to be one)
be sent to the President, though the precise ob-
ject for sending such delegation does not appear. At
the end of the speech most of the audience adjourned
to the spring near by for the apparent purpose of
drinking. “In the mean time Mr. Brackenridge col-
lected his companions and advised them to leave the
ground without delay, to avoid the danger of being
again called on by the meeting; but in order to avoid
the appearance of retiring in haste, he returned to
the ground to show himself for a few moments and

i
then joined his company and departed.” By his at-V

_tendance and speech at the Mingo Creek meeting

he had identified himself with the insurgents (at least
in the estimation of the government officials) ; but if
his object had been to gain popularity with the mul-
titude, he had, for the time, failed in his object,
though he afterwards secured and held it during the
continuance of the insurrection.

In a letter written by Col. William Samplef who

lwas present with Brackenridge at the Mingo Meeting-

house on the 23d of July, he gives an account of some
of the occurrences there, as follows:

“SIR,——At your request, I shall give you a short
detail of the circumstances leading to, and of the
principal traits of your conduct at Mingo Meeting-
house. I remember that it was the general opinion
of the inhabitants of Pittsburgh, that it would be
prudent that a number of persons should be sent
from this place to meetthose who were collecting
from various parts of the country. No instructions,
to my knowledge, were given to those who went.
But I understood the general purport of our going
there, was to hear and report. You asked me if I
would make one of the number that would go. I
hesitated for some time, and until I asked the opinion
of Col. Presley Neville, which was ‘ I. see no harm in

1 Hist. West Insurrection, by H. M. Brackenridge.

2 The 1etter—dated Pittsburgh, Sept. 20, 1795—was addressed to H. H.
Brackenridge; having been procured by him for the purpose of showing
by the testimony of one present that his speech upon that occasion
proved him to be not in sympathy with, but opposed to, the acts and
purposes of the insurgents.

l

your going there if you choose to venture, and if you
do, I will thank you to carry a letter for me to the
chairman of the committee, contradicting some false
aspersions which have been industriously circulated,
respecting the Marshal and myself being released
upon our words of honor to hold ourselves as pris-
oners on demand, that night my father’s house was
burned.’ I accepted the oflice, and came back to
you, and told you I would go. When we arrived at
Jacob Friggley’s house, 11ear the meeting-house, in
the course of various conversations, a tall man there,
with red hair, frequently expressed a warmth of af-
fection for Presley Neville; seemingly commiserated
his situation, and took some credit to himself in res-
cuing him when he was made prisoner, the night
aforesaid; but at the same time, was still making
some sarcastic observations on his [Col. Neville’s]
father. I found the temper of the people was wound
up to a very high pitch, and'I took this favorable op-
portunity of delivering Col. Neville’s letter to him,
after finding his name was Parkinson and that he had
considerable influence; telling him that the Colonel
had desired me to deliver this letter to him in -case I
should find him, and requested he would deliver it to
the chairman. He readily took it and it was the first
thing brought on the carpet at the meeting. The
secretary read the letter, but no observations followed.
After some silence, a person stood up and made a mo-
tion that the burning of Gen. Neville’s house, and
those concerned, in it, should be justified and sup-
ported. I, could observe the people of the meeting
considerably agitated. Col. Marshal, of Washington,
was the first who ventured to oppose this motion, and
he appeared to do so both with fear and trembling.
After this speech was, over, David Bradford arose, and
beckoned to Benjamin Parkinson (as Capt. Josiah
Tannehill informed, who had mixed with the crowd
and happened to sit down on the forms close by him),
askedlhim if the relation Col. Neville had given in
the letter was true? To which question Parkinson
answered, putting his hand to his breast, it is true.
Mr. Bradford then dropping the subject of the letter,
began a.-most violent and'inflammatory oration in
support of the first motion. I observed Mr. Bracken-
ridge, in the course of this oration, who being seated
at the west end of the church, and opposite to the
principal part of the Pittsburghers, who had seated
themselves at the east corner by themselves, in great
agitation, often throwing his head down on his hand,
and in the attitude of study. At length, Mr. Brad-
ford’s speech being ended, Mr. Brackenridge advanced
nearly’ to the middle of the house, and opposite the
chairman, and began his speech, slowly and irregu-
larly; for the current of the people’s prejudices
seemed to be strongly against him. He first opened
the reasons why the few persons from Pittsburgh
came there; that they were not instructed, nor had
they delegated powers to agree, or to disagree, on any
proposition that might be made; they came only to

278

HISTORY OF WASHINGTON COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA.

hear and report. ' He took various methods of divert-
ing the audience from the speech that preceded his.
Sometimes he would give a sarcastical stroke at the

excise, and the inventors of it, and then tell some '

droll story thereto relating, in order, as I apprehend,
.to unbend the audience’s mind from the serious tone
to which they had been wrought up. He viewed the
subject before him in various lights; and then en-
tered warmly on his main argument, which was, to
dissuade the audience from the first proposition. He
told them in direct words that he hoped they would
not involve the whole country in a crime which could
not be called by» a less name than high treason ; that
this would certainly bring down the resentment of
the general government, and there would be none
left to intercede.

“ The audience seemed petrified, thunderstruck
with such observations, and when he had done not a
person seemed desirous ‘of renewing the arguments.
Silence ensued for some time, and then the company
broke up, and some went to drink at the spring, and
others in little knots or clubs were dispersed over the
green. Those who came from Pittsburgh, finding
that the audience was to be called to the church once
more, took this opportunity to make the best of their
way to Jacob Friggley’s. The company met again,
but I know not that they did any business of conse-
quence, for Mr. Brackenridge was soon with us, and
we took our horses and returned to Pittsburgh.”

After the departure of the Pittsburgh delegation
the meeting was re-convened, and after the delivery
of inflammatory harangues by Bradford, Marshal, and
others was dissolved, the last and most important
business of the day being the adoption of a resolu-
tionor call, which during the succeeding week was
published and widely circulated through the counties
of Washington, Allegheny, Westmoreland, and Fay-
ette, as follows :

“ By a respectable number of citizens who met on Wednesday the 23d
inst. at the meeting-house on Mingo Creek, it is recommended to the
township of the four western counties of Pennsylvania, and the neigh-
boring counties of Virginia, to meet and choose not more than five, nor
less than two representatives, to eet at Parkinson’s Ferry on the Mo-
nongahela, on Thursday the 14th - t‘ August next, to take into consider-
ation the condition of the Western Country.” -

Three. days after the meeting at , Mingo Creek
Church there was committed an act of outlawry as
bold and daring as the burning of Gen. Nevi1le’s
house, and even more momentous in its results. This
was the robbery of the United States mail, on its way
from Pittsburgh to Philadelphia. The project origi-
nated in Washington County,’ with David Bradford.
His first idea and plan wasto capture the eastern
mail_from Washington, on its way from that town to
Pittsburgh, hoping thereby to ascertain from its con-
tents the real sentiments of the citizens of Washing-
ton concerning the recent outrage at Neville’s. This
plan he made known to C01. Marshel, David Hamil-
ton, and John Baldwin, either at the Mingo meeting

or while on their way there, and asked their co-opera-

tion and assistance in carrying it out. It appears that
this proposition did not find favor with Hamilton and
Baldwin, though for what reason is not apparent, as
one of them, at least, took part in the scheme which

‘was afterwards adopted in its stead, which was to

seize the eastward-bound mail from Pittsburgh,‘
which was done on the 26th of July, on the post-road
between Pittsburgh and Greensburg, Westmoreland
Co., at a point about twenty-two miles east of the
first-named town, the robbery being done by William
Bradford (a cousin of David) and John Mitchell,
which last-named person was employed for the pur-
pose by David Hamilton. These men, having ob-
tained possession of the mail-pouch, took out the

Pittsburgh and Washington packages, and returned‘

the pouch, with its other contents, to the .carrier.
They then rode to the Monongahela, crossed the
river at Parkinson’s Ferry, and delivered the stolen
mail matter to Benjamin Parkinson. He reported
with it to Bradford, who then (in company with Park-
inson and Col. James Marshel and Alexander Fulton)
took it to the “ Black Horse Tavern/’, kept by Henry
Westbay, in Canonsburg. There it was taken to a
private room, where it was opened and examined by
Bradford, in presence of Marshel, Parkinson, Fulton,
Col. John Canon,“ and Thomas Speer, of Canons-
burg, and two or three others. The mail from Wash-

1 Concerning this mail robbery, Judge Alexander Addison, in a letter
to H. H. Brackenridge, dated Jan. 18,1795, said,-

“ I have been pursuing the plan for robbing the mail, and can trace
it no higher than Bradford. It was proposed by him to'Marshal, on
their way to the Mingo Meeting-house. Baldwin and David Hamilton
were in company, and it was put on them to execute it. The object to
be obtained was to know the opinions of the people on the business car-
ried on. The post to be robbed was the post from Washington to Pitts-
burgh; and it was onlywhen Baldwin and Hamilton sent word that
they could not perform their part, and when it was too late to inter-

cept the mail to Pittsburgh, that the plan was changed to what was .

really executed. Bradford sent his cousin William, and David Hamilton,
I believe, sent John Mitchell, who executed the business. My informa-
tion is from a good source, and may be depended on.”

In reference to the same matter, H. M. Brackenridge (son of H. H.
Brackenridge) said,-

“On the failure of the first scheme of stopping the mail from VVash-
ington, Bradford determined to intercept that from Pittsburgh to Phila-
delphia, in order to find out what was written by persons in the former
place to those at the head of the government. He sent his cousin, Wil-
liam Bradford, while David Hamilton sent an obscure, ignorant man of
the name of John Mitchell, who perpetrated the deed. The post was
intercepted when about ten miles from Greensburg, on the 26th of July,
three days after the Mingo meeting. The packets from Washington
and Pittsburgh were taken out. They were carried by Benjamin Park-
inson to Washington, and thence accompanied by Bradford and Marshal

to Canonsburg, a small village about seven miles distant. On the Wash- '

ington packet being opened, no letters on the late affairs from any indi-
viduals of that place were found, but there were some from individuals
of Pittsburgh, and as eavesdroppers seldom hear any good of themselves,
these letters contained matters which gave great offence, especially to
Bradford.”

2 “John Canon and a Mr. Speer, a store-keeper in Canonsburg, were
invited to the tavern, and the mail was opened. In thecourse of con-
versation at the tavern it was asked what will be done with those known
to be connected in the attack and burning of Neville’s house? Bradford
replied, ‘They will be hung,’ and suggested that the onlyway to protect
them was to’ involve the whole western country in the matter, and that
the numbers concerned would prevent extreme measureson the part of
the goVernment.”—O'wmahan. -

THE WHISKEY

IN SU RRECTION .

279

ington was found to contain nothing objectionable,
but in the Pittsburgh package there were discovered
five letters, the contents of which threw Bradford
into a rage, and placed the writers under the ban of
the insurgent leaders. These letters were from Col.
Presley Neville to Gen. Morgan ; Gen. Gibson to Gov-
ernor M-ifflin; James Bryson to Governor Mifflin;
Edward Day to the Secretary of the Treasury, and
from Maj. Thomas Butler (commandant at the fort)
to the Secretary at War. These letters were kept by
Bradford; the rest of the mail was re—sealed and re-
stored to the packages to be returned to the ofiice at
Pittsburgh. ,
The discovery by these letters of the strong senti-

_ ,ment of opposition that existed among the principal
men in Pittsburgh to the. lawless acts of the insur-

gents gave great alarm to Bradford and others, and he
lost no time in taking new measures calculated to fur-
ther inflame the minds of the disaffected, and to bring
the wavering ones to side with the insurrectionists.

-Seventeen days must yet elapse before the appointed

meeting of delega_tes at Parkinson’s Ferry, and during
that time the excitement might to a great extent sub-
side, and a reaction set in. Dreading such a result,

' he, with the others who were gathered at the “ Black

Horse” in Canonsburg on the day of opening of the
Pittsburgh and Washington mail, issued from that
place a circular, addressed to the militia officers of

the four western counties of Pennsylvania,‘as follows:

“ SIR,-—-Having had suspicions that the Pittsburgh
post would carry with him the sentiments of some of

the people in the country respecting our present situ-

ation, and the letters by the post being now in our pos-
session, by which certain secrets are discovered hostile
to our interest, it is therefore now come to that crisis

, that every citizen must express his sentiments, not by

his words, but by his actions. You are then called
upon as a citizen of the western country to render
your personal service, with as many volunteers as you
can raise, to rendezvous at your usual place of meet-
ing on Wednesday next, and thence you will march
to the usual place of rendezvous at Braddock’s Field,‘
on" the Monongahela, on Friday, the first day of Au-
gust next, to be there at two o’clock in the afternoon,

with arms and accoutrements in good order. If any

volunteers shall want arms and ammunition, bring
them forward, and they shall be supplied as well as
possible. ‘Here-, sir, is an expedition proposed in
which you will have an opportunity of displaying
your military talents, and of rendering service to your
country. Four days’ provisions will he wanted; let
the men be thus supplied. ‘

[Signed] “J. OANoN, B. PARKINSON,
D. BRADFORD, A. FULTON,
T. SPEARS [Speer], J. LOCKNY [Lochry],

. J. MARSHEL. A
“July 23,1794.”

~ 1 Braddock’s Field‘ was the place Where the annual brigade musters
‘were held. . . ’ V

The significance of this circular was only partially
apparent. It was evidently a call for a general ren-
dezvous of the militia at Braddock’s Field, but it did
not set forth the ulterior object of the leaders, which
was (at least with Bradford) to march on the town of
Pittsburgh, besiege and reduce the fort, seize the
magazines and all the arms, ammunition, and equip-
ments to be found in the fort and town; also to cap-
ture the writers of the obnoxious letters, and imprison
them in the jail at Washington. This part of the
plan, though not declared in the call, became imme-
diately and generally known, and it was at once ap-
parent that among the people of the county there was
a general approval of the project. “When an officer

disapproved the circular letter,” says Brackenridge, _

“he did not dare to conceal from his battalion or
company that he had received such a notice ;2 and
when communicated, it was the people commanding
the officer, and not the oflicer the people,——‘ Call us out,
or we will take vengeance on you as a traitor to the
country.’ The whole country was one inflammable
mass; it required but the least touch of fire to ignite
it. I had seen the spirit which prevailed at the Stamp
Act, and at the commencement of the Revolution
from the government of Great Britain, but it was by
no means so general and so vigorous amongst the com-
mon people as the spirit which now existed in the
country.”

With reference to the readiness‘ displayed by offi-
cers and soldiers to obey these orders, emanating as
they did from no responsible authority, Judge Addi-
son said that in consequence of the danger of Indian
incursions having often rendered it necessary in this
region to assemble the military force without waiting
for orders from the government, “it had become
habitual with the militia of these counties to assem-
ble at the call of their oflicers, without inquiring into
the authority or object of the call. This habit, well
known to the contrivers of the rendezvous at Brad-
dock’s Field, rendered the execution of their plan an
easy matter. They issued their orders to the officers
of the militia, who assembled their men, accustomed
to obey orders of this kind given on the sudden and
without authority. The militia came together with-
out knowing from whom the orders originated, or for
what purpose they met. And when met it was easy
to communicate from breast to breast more or less of
the popular frenzy, till all felt it or found it prudent
to dissemble and feign that they felt it.”

But many among the more influential and conser-
vative people disapproved of, and were alarmed at,
the intended demonstration. Several of these remon-
strated with Bradford and Marshel, protesting against

2 “Great exertions, however, were made in communicating the circu-
lar letters, and though many who probably wished to suppress them
durst not, there were some who-did keep their secret, and some clergy-
men and others, in the south of Washington County, were active and
successful with their neighbors in dissuading them from going.”—17'2'nd-
leg, p. 97. I I ' ' =

GEORGE W’ASHINGTON’S VISIT TO THE FRENCH FORTS IN 1753. 33

although treating him with the greatest outward show
of politeness, were using every artifice with his In-
dians to seduce them from their allegiance and friend-
ship to the English, and were constantly plying them
with brandy, which made the Indians loth to leave
the place. Washington could not well go without
them, and even if he could have done so, he would
have been very unwilling to leave them behind him,
subject to the dangerous influence. of the French ofli-
cers and French brandy. V

Finally, on the 16th, he induced the Half-King and
other Indians to leave, and set out from the fort for
Venango, which was reached on the 22d. There the

chiefs were determined to remain for a time, and.

therefore Washington’s party was "compelled to pro-
ceed without them, accompanied only by the Indian,

‘ Young Hunter, whom the Half-King had ordered to

go with them as a guide. The journal of Washington
narrates the events of this stage of the journey as
follows: i “ Our horses were now so weak and feeble,
and the baggage so heavy (as we were obliged to pro-

. vide all the necessaries which the journey would re-
_quire), that we doubted much their performing it.

Therefore, myself and the others, except the drivers,
who were obliged to ride, gave up our horses for packs
to assist along with the baggage. I put myself in an
Indian walking-dress, and continued with them three
days, until I found there was no probability of their
getting home in reasonable time. ' The horses became
less able to travel every day, the cold increased very
fast, and the roads were becoming much worse by a
deep snow, continually freezing; therefore, as I was

uneasy to get back to make report of my proceed-

ings tohis Honor, the Governor, I determined to pros-
ecute my journey the nearest Way through the woods
on foot. Accordingly I left Mr. Van Braam in charge
of our baggage, with money and directions to provide
necessaries from place to place for themselves and
horses, and to make the most convenient dispatch in
traveling. I took my necessary papers, pulled off my
clothes, and tied myself up in a watch-coat. Then,
with gun in hand and pack on my back, in which
were my papers and provisions, I set out with Mr.

Gist, fitted in the same manner, on Wednesday, the

26th.” » _ '
_ On the following‘ day the two travelers fell in with
a party of French Indians,‘ one of whom fired on

.1,l.Gistf,_.ho'wever, in his diary, does. not mention any party of Indians,
butlonly the one who fired on them. He says, “We rose early in the
morning and set out about two o’clock, and got to the Murderingtown,
on the southeast fork of Beaver Creek. Here we met an Indian whom
I thought I had seen at Joncaire’s, at Yenango, when on our journey up
to the French fort. This fellow called me by my Indian name, and pre-

tended to be glad to see me. I thought very ill of the fellow, but did

not care to let the Major (Washington) know I mistrusted him. But he
soon mistrusted him as much as I did. . . . It was very light and snow
was on the ground. The Indian made a stop and turned about. The
Major saw him point his gun at us, and he fired. Said the Major, ‘ Are
you shot?’ ‘ No,’ said I, upon which the Indian ran forward to a big

them, but fortunately missed. They took the fellow
in custody, and kept him with them till nine o’clock
at night, when they let him go, and they contin-
ued on their way, walking all night, to be out of
reach of pursuit. On the next evening at dark
they reached the Allegheny just above Shannapin’s
town. In crossing the river on an improvised craft,
Washington was thrown off into the icy current,
Where the water was ten feet deep, but saved himself
by catchingat the logs of the raft. They were then
obliged to land on an island, and to pass the night

, there, but in the morning found the river sufliciently

frozen to enable them to cross in safety on the ice to
the left bank of the river. They suffered severely
from cold and exposure, and Gist had his fingers
and toes frozen, but they finally succeeded in reach-
ing Fraser’s, at the mouth of Turtle Creek, on the
Monongahela, in the evening of the 30th of De-
cember.

, The journal proceeds: “As we intended to take
horses here ‘(at Fraser’s), and it required some time
to find them, I Went up about three miles, to the
mouth of the Youghiogany, to visit Queen Alli-
quippa, who had expressed great concern that we
passed her in going to the fort. I made her.a
present of a watch-coat and a bottle of rum, which
latter was thought much the better present of the
two. Tuesday, the 1st of January, we left Mr. Fra-
ser’s house, and arrived at Mr. Gist’s, at Mononga-
hela, the 2d, where I bought a horse and saddle.”
From Gist’s Washington proceeded on his return jour-
ney, and, without experiencing any notable incident
or adventure (except meeting a party bound for the

Forks of the Ohio for the purpose of building a fort.

there, as will hereafter be noticed), reached.Wi1liams-
burg on the 16th of January, 1754, and delivered

the letter of the French commandant to Governor

Dinwiddie.

The preceding narrative of the journeying of Gov-
ernor Dinwiddie’s young envoy to and from the
French fort “Le Boeuf” is given in these pages ,,at
considerable length, less on account of the import-
ance of the events and incidents related than lite-

cause it has referenceto the first appearance of George? 

Washington in the territory West of the Alleghenies,
which he afterwards frequently visited, and became
largely interested in as a property-owner. Within
this territory is the spot which has become historic
as his first battle-ground, and here were first disclosed

' his highest military abilities, in the wild and disor-

dered retreat of Braddock’s army from‘ the field‘ of
disaster on the Monongahela.

standing white-oak, and began loading his gun, but we were soon with
him. I would have killed him, but the Major would not safer me. We let
him charge his gun. We found he put in a ball, then we took care of
him.” I -

280

HISTORY OF WASHINGTON COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA.

the carrying out of their dangerous plan, and insisting

on the issuance of another circular countermanding
the march of the troops to the rendezvous} Finally
Bradford appeared to yield, and sent out circulars,
one of which was as follows:

“ DEAR SIR,—Upon receiving some late intelligence from our runners,
we have been informed that the ammunition we were about to seize, was
‘destined for Gen. Scott, who is just going out against the Indians. We
therefore have concluded not to touch it. I give you this..early notice,
that your brave men of war need not turn out till further notice. '

“ Yours &c.,
“DAv1D BRADFORD.
, “CoL. DAVID WILLIAMSON.” _

These circulars, however, were issued only two or
three days before the time appointed for the rendez-
vous, and this, together with the absurd character of
the "notice, prevented their having any effect except
in a few instances. In_ general the men were deter-
mined to march, and did march to the field.

- “ N o sooner was the news of this frivolous counter
Order rumored through the town of Washington-
which being in the midst of a farming population and
entertaining feelings more in common with them than
those of the town of Pittsburgh, where_ there was more
trade and more government influence——than the peo-
ple of Washington broke out into a furious rage, called
a meeting at the court-house, and those of the coun-
try hearing of it, came rushing in under still greater
excitement. James Ross, United States senator, who
then resided there, in a speech of great earnestness
of two hours endeavored to dissuade the populace.
Thomas Scott, of the House of Representatives,
Thomas Stokely, of the State Senate, David Redick,
prothonotary, Henry Purviance, and others of the
bar exerted themselves to effect the same object.
James Marshel was in earnest to retract, and spoke
publicly. Bradford, seeing the violence of the mul-
titude, by which he was always swayed, was more

- inflammatory than he had ever been ; denied that he

had given his consent to the countermand, and asked
with confidence who was the scoundrel who would
say he had consented. Thereihappened to be no one
present who could contradict him or was willing to
do so. It was now carried by a vote that the march
to Braddock’s Field should proceed. To show their
displeasure with Marshel, the door of his house was
tarred and feathered that night; threats of personal
injury were thrown out, and he was compelled to de-
clare his readiness to go.” 2

- 1 “ When Col. [John] Hamilton and some othershad discovered the
design of attacking the garrison f at Pittsburgh], and persuaded Bradford
and Marshel to countermand the orders, he told them that the arms were
for an expedition against the Indians, under General Scott. Bradford,
without even consulting Marshel, or answering a word to Hamilton,
wrote the countermand, and handing it to Hamilton, asked him if that
would do. He inserted in a postscript what he had been told of Scott’s
expedition as ‘a reason for the countermand; this first brought the de-
sign of the rendezvous to light; but it seems it was now given up; but
the rendezvous being carried on, some who. attended still believed that
to have been the object of it, till they were convinced of its being laid
aside by the even t.”—Findley. A ‘

2 Brackenridge’s History of the Western Insurrection, pp. 84-85.

The reported intention of the insurgent leaders to
march from the appointed rendezvous on the-1st of
August to attack the fort and idespoil the town of
Pittsburgh was generally known by the inhabitants
of that place, and they were in consequence in a state
of great anxiety, which was intensified to the wildest
consternation by the arrival there in the afternoon of
the day preceding that fixed for the mustering at
Braddock’s Field of a committee from Washington,
bringing, as it was understood, from the leaders of
the insurrection a message and demand of such im-
portance that its immediate consideration and accep-
tance was necessary if the town was to be saved from
destruction. In this alarming situation of affairs
notices-were at once sent out to the inhabitants of the
-place to attend a meeting to be held at the court-
house in the evening of that day (‘July 31st), forthe
purpose of adopting measures to insure the public
safety.

The meeting, composed of very nearly all the male
adults of the townof Pittsburgh, assembled at an
early hour in the evening, and’ an organization was
soon effected by the choice of Gen. Gibson as chair-
man, and Matthew Ernest secretary. The main
business was at once announced,—to hear and act
upon a communication brought by the committee
from Washington, viz.: Absalom Baird, William Meet-
kirk, Henry Purviance, and Gabriel Blakeney. The
mail-packets which had been taken from the post-
rider on the Philadelphia road near Greensburg, five
days before, had been delivered to them by. Bradford

and Marshel, to be returned to the Pittsburgh post- ‘

office, with all their contents except the letters of
Neville, Gibson, Bryson, Day, and Butler. But this
was not the principal object of their mission. They
brought the intelligence that Bradford and his satel-
lites had taken great umbrage at the contents of the
suppressed letters; that they were determined to take
vengeance on the writers,-and that the people who
were even then on their march to the rendezvous at
Braddock’s Field were in a state of ungovernable
fury, and apparently determined to destroy Pitts-
burgh,3—a resolve which would undoubtedly be put

3 “ The common language of the time in the country was, they were
going to take Pittsburgh; some talked of plundering the town. It was
an expression used, that as the old Sodom had been burned by fire from
heaven, this second Sodom should be burned by fire from earth. The

shop-keepers were told at their counters, by persons cheapening their '

goods, that they would get them at a less price in a few days.‘ The very

women coming in froni the country would say, ‘ That fine lady lives in V

a fine house, but her pride will be humbled by and by.’ Persons were
coming to the blacksmiths with old guns, that had lain by a long time,
to be repaired. Others were buying up flints and powder from the
stores; there were many who were supposed to be from distant parts,
no one in the town knowing them. Some were supposed to be spies, to
see the condition of the garrison or the town; without appearing to
have anything to do, they were seen to be lounging about from place
to place. . . . It was now understood that preparations were everywhere
making throughout the survey, and especially on the south [west]. side
of the Monongahela and in the neighborhood of that river, for the con-
templated rendezvous at Braddock’s Field. Maj. Butler had been in-
dustrious to improve the defenses of his garrison; Maj. Craig, the

_ means were at once taken to prevent it.

THE WHISKEY

IN SURRECTION . i ’ 281

in execution on the morrow, unless some effective
It was to
give this warning to the people of that town, and to
assist in devisingisome means toavert its destruction,
that the men of the Washington committee now came;
and it was with great difliculty that they had made
their way there at all, for they had several times been
stopped on the road by people in the interest of the
insurgents, who wished to prevent any warning as to
the true state of affairs from reaching the people of
the doomed town, as. they then supposed Pittsburgh
to be. I

These facts having been communicated to the meet-
ing by a committee who had been appointed for con-

, ference with the Washington delegation, the question

at once came up, what should be done to. avert the
stroke that ‘seemed about to fall.’ The gentlemen from
VVashington gave it as their opinion that but two
measures were practicable at best, and that either one,
or even both of these, if adopted, would be as likely
to fail as to succeed. One of these was that the pro-
scribed persons be at once banished‘ (or, in other
words, that they leave the town with the appearance
of banishment), and the fact announced without de-
lay to the insurgent l'eaders; and the other, that the
"citizens of Pittsburgh ‘should march in a body to
Braddock’s Field, there to appear. to fraternize with
the insurgents, and convince them that the people of

- Pittsburgh were not their enemies, but friends.

These propositions were at once brought before the
meeting and fully considered. All agreed tha'tsome-

thing must be done, and done immediately. If the

forces should move on Pittsburgh with hostile intent,‘
the destruction of the town was sure, for the assail-
ants would number it-housands,—the greater part

. fighting men who had seen service in the Revolution

and Indian campaigns,———while the defenders would

not exceed three hundred, including the forty or fifty '

men who formed the garrison of the fort, and it was
suspected that even among the townspeople there

‘were some who, having no property at stake, would

be likely to go over to the enemy in case of an attack
in strong force. Among the dwellingswof the town
there were none of any strength to resist an assault;
all were mere -wooden structures which could -easily
be burned over the heads of the inmates. The fort

» itself was but a slight stockade, which, although it

quartermaster, had removed into it with his family. Col. Neville had
preparedto defend himself in his own house. Under these circum-
stances it was thought advisable by the citizens to calla town-meeting,
to consider what was to be done for their own safety and that of the
place thus threatened with destruction.”—-H. M. Brackenridge’s History
of the Western Insurrection. A

1 “ We gave it as our opinion that the town was in imminent danger of
being destroyed if some of the obnoxious characters were not sent away,
for that we ourselves have been insulted on the road coming there by
some people when they understood we were going to Pittsburgh, for

‘they said we were going there ‘as spies to tell the people to get out of the

way, and that we ought to be taken prisoners, and they actually raised

a party to follow us for that purpose, as we were afterwards informed.”

—A_(fidam't of » William’ Meetkirlc, one of the - Washington Committee.

’would afford security against rifle-shots, A was but

weakly garrisoned, and could be soon carried by a
heavy assaulting force without the aid of artillery-,
and even if the enemy should decline to assault it
would fall after a siege of a few days, as it was but
lightly provisioned. It could afford little protection
to the citizens by its artillery, for the guns were light,
and the work stood a mile away from the cluster

of buildings called the town. These circumstances

being duly considered, it was evident that the idea of
resistance was not to be entertained, and thereupon
the people unanimously adopted the only course
offering a probability of safety, namely, to banish the
proscribed persons, and to march en masse to the in-
surgent rendezvous on the following day, as will be
seen by the minutes of the meeting,” which are here
given, viz.: '

“At a meeting of the inhabitants of Pittsburgh, on Thursday evening,
July 31, 1794, to take into consideration the present condition of affairs,
and declare their sentiments on this delicate crisis. A great majority,
almost the whole of theinhabitants of the town assembled. It being
announced to the meeting that certain gentlemen from the town of
Washington had arrived, and had signified that they were intrusted
with a message to the inhabitants of the town relative to present affairs,
a committee of three persons were appointed to confer with them, and
report the message to the meeting. The persons appointed were George
Wallace, H. H. Brackenridge, and John Wilkins, Jr. ‘A These gentlemen
made a report to the meeting, to wit: That in consequence of certain
letters sent by the last mail, certain persons were discovered as advo-
cates of the excise law, and enemies to the interests of the country, and
that a certain Edward Day, James Bryson, and Abraham Kirkpatrick
were particularly obnoxious, and that it was expected by the country
that they should be dismissed without delay; whereupon it was resolved
it should be done, and a committee of twenty-one were appointed-to see
this resolution carried ‘into offect. '

“ Also that whereas it is a part of the message from the gentlemen of
Washington, that a great body of the people of the country will meet
to-morrow at Braddock’s Field, in order to carry into effect measures

that may seem to them advisable with respect to the excise law, and ,

the advocates of it.

“ Resolved, That the above committee shall, at an early hour, wait upon
the people on the ground, and assure the people that the above resolu-
tion, with respect to the proscribed persons, has been carried into effect.

“ Resolved, also, That the inhabitants of the town shall march out and
join the people on Braddock’s Field, as brethren, to Earry-into effect
with them any measure that may seem to them advisable for the com-
mon cause. v

“ Resolved, also, That we shall be watchful among ourselves of all char-
acters that, by word or act, may be unfriendly to the common cause;
and, when discovered, will not suffer them to live amongst us, but they
shall instantly depart the town. i

“ Resolved, That the town committee shall exist as a committee of in-

formation and correspondence as an organ of our sentiments until our '

next town meeting. And that whereas, a general meetingof delegates
from the townships of the country on the west of the mountains will be
held at Parkinson's Ferry on the Monongahela on the 14th of August
next, '

“ Resolved, That delegates shall be appointed to that meeting, and that
the 9th of August next be appointed for a town meeting to elect such
delegates. - ‘

“ Resolved, also, that a number of handbills be struck off at the ex-
pense of the committee, and distributed among the inhabitants of the
town,'that they may conduct themselves accordingly.” '

Immediately after the passage of these resolutions
the people dispersed. The committee of twenty-one
at once warned Kirkpatrick, Bryson, and Day to leave

9 Penn. Archives, vol. iv. pp. 79-80.

V’ timated at from five thousand to eight thousandmen)

282

HISTORY OF WASHINGTON COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA. .

the town,‘ and also placed the proceedings of the
meeting in the hands of John Scull, proprietor of the
Pittsburgh Gazette, with orders to print six hundred

‘acopies, adding to the resolutions the certificate of the
 committee that the proscribed persons had already

been warned, and had complied by leaving the town.
The printed handbills to this effect were placed in the
hands of the VVashington committee to be distributed
among the people at the rendezvous. .

The people of Pittsburgh had done all in their
power to appease the wrath which was held against
them by_ a. large proportion of the insurgents and_ those
sympathizing with them among the inhabitants of the
four counties (particularly those of Allegheny and
VVashington), but there was little sleep in the town
that night, and all looked forward-with. dread to the
morrow, which was more than likely to close on the

‘smoking ruins of their homes.

At Braddock’s Field on the appointed day there
gathered a vast and excited multitude (variously es-
9
of whom_ a "large proportion were militiamen and
volunteers under arms. More than half of those
present were men of Washington County,‘as were
nearly all of the principal leaders. Among the great
throng of persons assembled there, very few were fa-
vorable to the government and to the execution of the

_law. Such as were there of this class hadcome to

the rendezvous lest their absence might be made a
cause for prescription.” But they were compelled,

1 No compulsion was necessary to induce the obnoxious persons to
leave Pittsburgh, as demanded by the insurrectionists ; but it afterwards
appeared that they did not withdraw to any great distance, or go with
any intention of remaining long away. “It was agreed,” says H. M.
Brackenridge, “that the prescribed should leave the town. ostensibly as
if banished, and that those who remained behind, some of whom would
have been banished also, should put on a mask of being with the mob
called ‘the people, and the insurgents at Braddock’s Field.’ . . .

“Two days after the alarming march of the Whiskey Boys from Brad-
dock’s_Field, it was rumored that Kirkpatrick had been seen in town.
This rumor was'traced to one of the inhabitants, on which the committee
was called upon to inquire of that person,and to admonish him, in case
he had circulated a false report. As the committee was assembling,
Major Craig and Col. Neville were met coming from the garrison,'and
on being interrogated, acknowledged that'Kirkpatrick was then in the
garrison, having returned to town. The fact caused indignation in the
committee; they considered themselves ill used, after the exertions they
.had made to save Kirkpatrick, and the dangers to which they had been
exposed on his account and that of his connections, and resolved that
Craig and Neville should be seized in his stead. The former returned to
the garrison; the latter came before the committee . . . and stated that
Kirkpatrick had returned for want of an escort, having been dogged by
a party from whom his life was in danger. The committee undertook
to furnish the escort, which was done; and he escaped by a circuitous
way, until he reached the mountains, ‘where he took the direct road to
Philadelphia. ‘

“ Edward Day had gone down the river; Bryson was concealed a few
days at the house of Robert Galbraith, Esq., the prosecuting attorney,

who resided a few miles out of town. The country getting win_d of it,

collected in a mob, and surrounded the house at night, and insisted on
searching, but in the mean time he had left the place. Gibson and
Neville, at the instance of the Pittsburgh committeeat Bracldock’s
Field,l1ad been allowed ten days to prepare for their departure, with
‘passports for their security.”—Hz'story of the Western Insurrection.

2 Mr. Brackenridge, in describing the general feeling prevailing at
that time throughout the western counties, says, “ A breath in favor of
the law was suflicient to ruin any man. ’ Is was considered as a badge of

out of regard for their personal safety, to conceal their
real sentiments ; and some of them had even assumed
the role of leaders, for the purpose (as they said after-
wards when the insurrection had been crushed) of
gaining the confidence of the disaffected multitude,
and then by organization and judicious management.
to restrain them from proceeding to outrage and re-
bellion. The Hon. Hugh H. Brackenridge was- one
of these, and there were some among the Washington
County leaders whose coursehas been similarly'ex—
plained. There were also present at Braddock’s Field
on this occasion some who went there merely as specta-
tors, without any strong feeling on either side; but by
far the greater part were in full‘ sympathy with the
insurgent cause. Mr. Brackenridge, who was a mem-
ber of the. Pittsburgh committee and -marched with
them to the field in accordance with the resolutions
of the meeting above mentioned, gave the following
description of what he saw there on the memorable
first and second days of August:

‘5 The ground where Braddock fought is on the
east side (right bank) of the Monongahela, and on
the same side with the town of Pittsburgh. The
militia from Washington had therefore to cross the
river in order to come upon the ground. They had
crossed in great numbers at the same ford where
Braddock did, and were now on the ground. They

were dressed in what we call hunting—shirts, many of

0

them with handkerchiefs on their heads ; it is in this A

dress they equipped themselves against the,Indians.
They were amusing themselves with shooting with
balls at marks, and firing in the air at random with
powder only. There was a continual discharge‘ of
guns, and constant smoke in the woods and along the
bank of the river. There appeared great wantonness
of mind, and a disposition to do anything extravagant.
We [the Pittsburgh committee] had advanced within
the camp, as it was called, when the committee halted,
and waited for Gen. Wilkins at the head of the Pitts-
burgh militia to approach." I saw him. march by us,
and discovered in his countenance a suflicient evidence
of a sense of danger. Though I knew him to be a

man of great personal intrepidity, yet I did not won.-

der at his apprehensions. Nothing but his appearing
at the head of the militia could have saved him. I
was thinking of his danger, when I turned my head
a moment and was struck with the sight of the-very
man ‘I was most afraid of, Andrew McFarlane [brother

of James McFarlane, who was killed at the burning ‘

of Gen. Neville’s house], just by me. He was dressed
in a blue coat, with a dark visage, lowering counte-
nance, and a rifle in his hand, looking "at me. I

Toryism. A clergyman was not thought orthodox i-n the pulpit unless .

against the law. A physician was not capable of administering medi-
cine unless his principles were right in this respect. A lawyer could
have got no practice without at least concealing his sentiments iffor the
law, nor could a merchant at a country store get custom. On the con-
trary, to talk against the law was the way to cflice and emolument. To

go to the Legislature or to Congress you must make a. noise against it.

It was the Shibboleth of safety, and the ladder of ambition.”

THE WHISKEY

INSURRECTION. 283

eyed him in my turn, but did not venture to speak.
. . . After some time he turned about and went away.
The next object that arrested my attention was
Bradford walking before a number of battalions that
had just crossed the river, and were ranged on the
bank to be viewed by him. . .

' “Having been some time on the ground I fell in
with Benjamin Parkinson. . . . He was in a group
of men whom I knew to be warm in the cause. . . .
All or most of them had been at the conflagration of
the house of the Inspector. . . . They sat in a group
011 the ground, each with his rifle in his hand, or
lying by him. I sat with them. The conversation
turned upon the burning of the house, and they ex-.
pressed great rage against Kirkpatrick, who had

‘been the cause of burning it, and of the death -of

James McFarlane, by his refusing to let the house
be searched for the Inspector’s commission and pa-
pers. They expressed resentment against Major
Butler for sending out soldiers to the house of the
Inspector. They had inquired for Ormsby, who had
accompanied Neville, the younger, and the Marshal
from Pittsburgh. I said he was upon the ground,
but was scarcely worth looking after. . . . I did not
know that in the mean time the young man had been
on the point of assassination. Fifteen men had
painted themselves black as the Indian warriors do
when they go to war. They had gone in search of

Ormsby. Zedick [Enoch ?j Wright, of Peters Creek,

had discovered it, and having a good will for the
family, or from motives of humanity, made" haste to
give him the intelligence of it, a few minutes, not a
quarter of an hour, when they were seen to pass by
openly in pursuit of him. He made his way to
Pittsburgh in the course of the day by devious routes,

and lay concealed in the barracks of the old garri-

son until the whole cavalcade was over. . . .
“People were coming in from every quarter all that
day, generally armed, but some without arms. It was
impossible to know the real sentiments of almost
anyone amongst the multitude, how far they were
there from necessity or of choice. Every man was
afraid of the opinions of another. Sometimes .a
word dropped, which might. be ‘construed away if not
well taken, would lead to‘a confidence. The great
bulk of the people were certainly in earnest, and the
revolutionary language and the ideas of the French
people had become familiar. It was not tarring and
feathering as at the commencement of the Revolu-
tion from Great Britain, but guillotining,——-that is,
putting to death by any way that offered. I am per-
suaded that if even Bradford himself that day had
ventured to check the violence of the people in any
way that was not agreeable to them, and had be-
trayed the least partiality for the excise law, or per-
haps even of a remission of his zeal against it, he
would have sunk in an‘ instant from his power, and
they would have hung him onthe first tree. . .

«Certain it is that his influence was great.’ I saw a

. consequences would be serious.

man wade into the river, lift cold water from the
bottom of the channel, and bring.it'in his hat to him
to drink. Applications were made to him that day
for commissions in the service} Nevertheless, what-
ever his idea might ‘have been, he would have seen
the extent of his power if he had ventured to tell the
people that they should return without going to
Pittsburgh. It was the object of all men who were
apprehensive of the consequences to dissuade from
this, but it appeared doubtful through the whole day
Whether or not it was practicable. It was afterwards
foundthat it was not.”

The troops bivouacked for the night upon the mus-

tering-ground, and when the shadows of evening fell
hundreds of fires blazed brightly in the woods and
along the slopes of the historic field. The.men
stretched themselves in careless comfort on their
blankets or upon the bare ground. Many were
hilarious, and all were good-humored and cheerful,
except the Pittsburgh people, who still felt great
anxiety in view of what might be the fate of their
town on the morrow.
source of discomfort in the fact that, not having come
with the expectation of remaining overnight, they
brought no provisions with them, and were conse-
quently suffering from hunger. Some of the Pitts-
burghers attempted (notwithstanding the order that
all should remain on the ground through the night)
to steal away and return to town to procure food, but
as they were still regarded with suspicion-their move-

ments were closely watched, and they were compelled-

to remain. “ In the evening,” said John Wilkins, of
Pittsburgh,” “I intended coming to town, and met
with some of my neighbors who wished the same; we
came as far as Judge Wallace’s. A man came after

and acquainted usthat no man should go to Pitts.- '

burgh that night,——another severe stroke. However,
the order must be obeyed. I then got into a farm-
house for the night.” They were told that, for their
own safety, aswell as that of their town, they must
stay at the rendezvous no matter how hungry they
might be, for if their absence was discovered they
would be suspected of deserting the cause, and the
At the time when
the party attempted to leave and return to town the
fact was immediately noticed, and a clamor raised,
butrCol. Marshel, who was friendly to them, sent a‘
messenger to order them back, and when they had
returned he and a few others took care to let the fact
be known among the men in all the battalions.

—.....__..

1 “ David Bradford assumed the oflice of major-general; mounted on .a
superb horse in splendid trappings, arrayed in full martial uniform. with
plumes floating in the air and sword drawn, he rode over the ground,
gave orders to the military, and harangned the multitude. Never was
mortal man more flattered than was David Bradford on Braddnck’s
Field. ‘Everything dependedun his will. The insurgvnts adored him,"
paid him the most servile homage in order to be able to control and

_ manage him.”—C'arnahan.

2 In a. letter to Gen. Irvine, dated Aug. 19, 1794; Penn..Archives, 2d
Series, vol. iv. pp. 168-72. - r r -I r

Besides this they had another ,

284

HISTORY OF WASHINGTON COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA.

“ About midnight,” says Brackenridge, “ I rode
through the camp where the people were lying at the
firesiin their blankets or without. I made a pretense
of inquiring for the Pittsburgh battalion, and with
this in View at the same time to let them, know the
Pittsburgh people were still on the ground. My
principal object was to ascertain the determination
of the people with regard to their coming to Pitts-
burgh. I found the universal sentiment to be that
they would see the town. There was little sleep in the
camp. The firing and shouting had ceased, but there
was a continued conversation. .

“ Passing on to a range of fires, I found Hamilton’s
battalion [composed of the Mingo Creek men]. This
had arrived late in the -evening. It had been long
expected, and was called the ‘ bloody battalion.’ The
greatest part of it had been at the burning of the In-
spector’s house. We expected desperate measures
when these came. It was commanded by John Ham-
ilton, a man very moderate and reasonable, and who
was disposed to restrain the people from acts of vio-
lence, and with that View had come with them.
David Hamilton, his cousin, was the first that accosted
me, and wishing to serve me with the people, called
out, ‘ This is a true Whig, but what do you think of
that d—d fellow, James Ross? He has been here,
and all through the camp, persuading the people not
to go to Pittsburgh.’ . . . Returning to a farm-house
just by the camp, where some of our committee were,
I communicated the result of my observations. Some
of them had been through the camp in the same
manner, and had the same impressions that I had
with regard to the impossibility of preventing the
people from coming to town.”

At an early hour on the following morning a coun-

’cil of oflicers was called, and a committee of three

persons from each battalion chosen to say what should
be done. The committee retired to a grove and organ-
ized, with Col. Edward Cook as chairman. They were
harangued by Bradford, who put the question what
was to be done with certain objectionable persons who
still remained in Pittsburgh,——Maj. Butler, command-
ant of the garrison, Gen. Gibson, Maj. Isaac Craig,
and others. It was decided to take no action against
Majs. Butler and Craig until the Parkinson’s Ferry
meeting, to be held on the 14th. The deliberations
of the committee were interfered with by a great
crowd of people who gathered around them. These
began to grow impatient when the cases of Craig and
Butler were under consideration, and plainly informed
the committee that they should take the matter into
their own hands if there was much more delay. Then
Bradford at once proposed that the entire body should
march to Pittsburgh, and in this he was seconded by
Brackenridge, Who, despairing of success in opposition
to the project, conceived the idea of guiding and con-
trolling the lawless movement by apparent acquies-
cence. “Yes,” said he, “by all means let us go, if
for no other reason than to give a proof to our oppo-

nents that we are capable of maintaining the strictest
order, and of refraining from all excesses. Let us
march through the town, muster on the banks of the

Monongahela, take a little whiskey with thenpeople, I

and then move the troops across the river.” The plan
was adopted. Officers were appointed,—David Brad-
ford and Edward Cook, generals, and Col. Gabriel
Blakeney, officer of the day,——and under their com-
mand the entire body moved over the Monongahela
road to Pittsburgh, Brackenridge leading the column
as guide, on account of his knowledge of the country
and the roads.

As soon as it was fully decided that the troops
should march to Pittsburgh, and some time before the
column was formed and put in motion, Bradford very

‘thoughtfully sent the Pittsburgh committee forward

to notify the ‘people of the movement. One of those
who went in advance for this purpose was John Wil-
kins, who, in the letter before quoted from, says, “I
did not go into camp [fromthe farm-house where he
had passed the preceding night] until nine o’clock
Saturday morning; the first orders I received were
that the committee of twenty-one must go immedi-

ately to town, and acquaint the women, etc., that the ‘

army was determined to march into town, but that
they were coming in peace; that all stores and tav-
erns should be shut, and no liquors sold to the men,
but that if any refreshments were given by the in-
habitants, it must be carried to the place where the
men would halt on the commons; as also to procure
all the craft and bring them to a certain part of the
river in order to carry the men over the Mononga-
hela. I was one of the first five who reached town;
we first called on Major Butler, and informed him
that the men were all marching into town, that they
intended no harm either to him or the town, but only
wished to show themselves, then march every man to
his own home. _

“ We had scarce finished our instructions until the
front appeared. I then rode to a place where I could
see the length of the line. They marched in files,
and in good order, leaving a small space in between
each Battalion. They‘ appeared to be upwards of
two and a half miles long, and by the space of ground
they took up there might be between five and six
thousand, some said seven or eight thousand. A

great number of people left them at Braddock’s

Field; one Battalion from Westmoreland went from
thence in a body.”

The insurgent column (in reality numbering fully
four thousand five hundred men) entered'Pittsburgh
at a little after twelve o’clock, and marching down
the main street of the town (keeping out of sight of
the fort) “halted at the large flat of ground opposite
Maine house.” The inhabitants were terror-stricken,
but exerted themselves to the utmost to please their
unwelcome guests, many of them setting before their
doors tables covered with such refreshments as they
had at command. The committee had ordered the

THE WHISKEY

IN SURRECTION . 285

taverns closed, but the landlords were called on, and
willingly set out their whiskey free of charge. Large
quantities of liquor were furnished by others of the
inhabitants, and H. H. Brackenridge said the amount
furnished by him individually was four barrels. “ I
thought it better,” he says, “to be employed in ex-
tinguishing the fire of their throats than of my house,
and most other persons thought in the same manner.”
Immediately after the entrance of the army into
the town the men of the Pittsburgh battalion (who
marched in the rear) left their places, and set them-
selves actively at work carrying water to the place
where the other troops were halted. “Members of
the committee,” says Brackenridge, “set the example
by carrying water and whiskey to these ‘Whiskey
Boys,’ as they have since been called.” It appears
that there was liquor in plenty, and furnished with-
out stint. The quantity consumed by four thousand
five hundred thirsty and excited men must have been
enormous, and it is a wonder that in their semi—intox-
ication they could have been prevented from firing
the town, as had been so freely threatened. But this
desirable object was accomplished, and beyond the
thorough frightening of the inhabitants very little
serious damage wa.s done during the brief stay of the
4: army.72 I ~
, There were some of the leaders (in fact, nearly all
of them) who did not wish to have the town destroyed.
It is certain that Major-General Bradford was of this
‘number, for if he had wished to see it burned, the
lightest word- from him would have caused the torch
to be applied. Another, Col. James Marshel, of
Washington, was in an agony of mind, fearing that it
would be done by the ha1f—drunken riflemen in spite
of his efforts to prevent it. He with others co-oper-
ated most earnestly with the leading people of Pitts-
-burgh to get the troops across the Monongahela to the
south side as soon as possible. If the water had been
high it would have taken many hours to cross them,
for only three or four flat-boats could be collected
from the ferries as a means of transportation; but the
river was at so low a stage that it could be forded by
the mounted men, who formed the greater part of the
army. These were piloted across by H. H. Bracken-
ridge, who knew the fording-place, a short distance
above the mouth of the Allegheny. ‘Meanwhile, the
few boats were being used for the transportation of
the infantry, and before sunset nearly the entire army

had been crossed in safety to the south side of the ‘

Monongahela. The boats were returned to the north
side, and the citizens of Pittsburgh breathed freer,
though their apprehensions were by no means entirely
removed, for there still remained on the north side
nearly two hundred of the insurgents, who could not
be induced to cross the river, being determined to re-
main overnight in the town, and any commotion
raised or shots fired by these, indicating, as it would,
a collision between them and the citizens, would cause
the horsemen of the main body to return from the
19

south side, in which case the consequences would
doubtless have been deplorable.

During the night the men who were on the south
side of the river set fire to the buildings of Maj. Kirk-
patrick, on the bluff: opposite Pittsburgh, and suc-
ceeded in destroying his barn at that place, though

the dwelling was saved. Meanwhile a part" of the,

men not included in the body which had been enticed
across the Monongahela had become somewhat riotous
in Pittsburgh, and set fire to the town residence of
Maj. Kirkpatrick. It had been their intention to de-
stroy his house, as well as those of Neville, Gibson,

' and others, but the consummation of this design had

been prevented, largely by the interference of Col.
Marshel, Col. Edward Cook,1 and Andrew McFarlane,
brother of Maj. McFarlane, who was killed inthe
attack on Neville’s house at Bower Hill, two weeks
before. A company dressed in butternut-dyed hunt-
ing-shirts and under command of a Capt. Riddle were
foremost in this attempt to burn Kirkpatrick’s house.
If they had succeeded in it, there is little doubt that
the principal part of the town would have been
burned; but after the quelling of this outbreak the
night passed without any further disturbance. In the
following morning the main body of the host that
had bivouacked on the opposite side of the Mononga-
hela marched southward from the river, and long
before sunset on that Sabbath-day the last stragglers
of the rearmost bands had crossed the stream from
Pittsburgh and disappeared from the vicinity.

An account of the turbulent proceedings at Brad-
dock’s Field and Pittsburgh was forwarded without
delay to the State and national authorities, and on
the 7th of August the President of the United States
issued a proclamation, recitingin its preamble that
“combinations to defeat the execution of the laws
laying duties upon spirits distilled within the United‘
States, and upon stills, have from the time of the
commencement of those laws existed in some of the
western parts of Pennsylvania, . . . that many per-
sons in the said western parts of Pennsylvania have
at length been hardy enough to perpetrate acts which
I am advised amount to treason, being overt acts of
levying war against the United States,” and com-

1 Concerning this affair, the following card was published in the Pitts-
burgh Gazette: “We, the undersigned, on behalf of ourselves and the
great body of the column that marched from Braddock’s Field on the
3d of August, 1794, think it necessary to express our disapprobation of
the disorderly proceeding of those of the troops who were concerned in
setting fire to the house of Abraham Kirkpatrick, on the hill opposite
the town of Pittsburgh, also of the attempt made by others of burning
his house in the town, as these acts were not Within the sentence of the
committee of volunteers in Braddock’s Field, and therefore there could
be no authority for carrying them into effect. We consider it as a
blemish on the good order of the march of the column through the town
of Pittsburgh and their cantonment in the neighborhood of it. It has
been endeavored to be removed as much as possible by repaying the
tenant of Kirkpatrick’s his damages.” The signatures to this card of
explanation and disclaimer were headed by that of Edward Cook, which
was followed by those of Col. Marshal and thirteen others prominent
in the insurrection.

286

SHISTORY or WASHINGTON COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA.

manding “ all persons being insurgents, as aforesaid,
and all others whom it may concern,” to disperse
and retire peaceably to their respective abodes on
or before the 1st of September following; moreover,
warning all persons “against aiding, abetting, or
comforting the perpetrators of the aforesaid treason-
able acts, and requiring all oflicers and other citizens,
according to their respective duties and the laws of
the land, to exert their utmost endeavors to prevent
and suppress such dangerous proceedings.” At the
same time the President called for troops to be raised
and equipped in the States of Pennsylvania, Mary-
land, Virginia, and New Jersey, and to be held in
readiness to march at shortest notice, for the purpose
of suppressing the insurrection and enforcing the
law. The quotas of the States were assigned as fol-
lows:

Infantry. Cavalry. Artillery. Total.
Pennsylvania ................... .. 4,500 500 ' 200 5,200
New Jersey ....................... .. 1,500 500 100 2,100
Maryland ......................... .. 2,000 200 ‘ 150 2,350

Virginia ........................... .. 3,000 300  3,300 -
11,000 1,500 450 12,950

On the same day Governor Mifliin, of Pennsylva-
nia, issued his proclamation directing that the State’s
quota of men be armed and equipped as speedily as
possible, “ and to be held in readiness to march at a
moment’s Warning,” and a second proclamation was
issued calling together the Assembly of the State in
special session. Previously (on the 6th of August) the
Governor had appointed Chief Justice McKean and
Gen. William Irvine to proceed immediately to the
disaffected counties, to ascertain the facts in reference
to the recent acts of violence and lawless gatherings,
and, if practicable, to induce the people to submit to
the law.

The President, on the day next following the issu-

. ance of his proclamation, appointed James Ross,

United States senator, Jasper Yeates, associate judge
Supreme Court of Pennsylvania, and William Brad-
ford, Attorney-General of the United States, com-'
missioners on the part of the United States, with full
instructions and ample powers, to repair forthwith to
the western counties, for the purpose of conferring, at
their discretion, with individuals or bodies of men,
“in order to quiet and extinguish the insurrection.”

The call for a meeting of delegates from the town-
ships of the four western counties of Pennsylvania
and the neighboring counties of Virginia, adopted
and issued by the Mingo Creek meeting of J uly-23d,
has been mentioned. This was supplemented by an-
other call, issued by Maj.-Gren. Bradford at Braddock’s
Field on the lstof August, in the following‘ circular
letter :1

1 “ Immediately after the Mingo Creek meeting, Bradford wrote to the
principal persons in the neighboring counties of Virginia, pressing them
in the most urgent manner to send delegates to the meeting which was
appointed to be held at Parkinson’s Ferry. His sending this letter, and
the style in which it was written, indubitably proves the improvement

‘State.

“To the Inhabitants of Monongahela, Virginia .-

“ GENTLEMEN,—I presume you have heard of the
spirited opposition given to the excise law in this
Matters have been so brought to pass here
that all are under the necessity of bringing their

minds to a final conclusion. This has been the ques- V

tion amongst us some days, ‘Shall we disapprove
of the conduct of those engaged against Neville, the
excise officer, or approve ‘.7’ Or, in other words, ‘ Shall
we suffer them to fall a sacrifice to Federal persecution,
or.shall we support them ‘.7’ On the result of this
business we have fully deliberated, and have deter-
mined, with head, heart, hand, and voice, that we
will support the opposition to the excise law. The
crisis is now come, submission or opposition: we are
determined in the opposition. We are determined
in future to act agreeably to system; to form ar-
rangements guided by reason, prudence, fortitude,
and spirited conduct. We have proposed a general
meeting of the four counties of Pennsylvania, and
have invited our_brethren in the neighboring counties
in Virginia to come forward and join us in council
and deliberation in this important crisis, and conclude
upon Ineasures interesting to the western counties of
Pennsylvania and Virginia. .
kind may be seen in the Pittsburgh paper. Parkin-
son’s Ferry is the place proposed as the most central,
and the 14th of August the time. We solicit you by
all the ties that an union of interests can suggest to
come forward and join us in our deliberations. The
cause is common to us all. We invite you to come,
even should you differ with us in opinion.
you to hear our reasons influencing our conduct.”

The events of the first days of August at Braddock’s
Field and Pittsburgh and of the two or three succeeding
weeks seemed to mark the culmination of the popular
frenzy on the subject of the excise law, and from the
15th of July to the last of August was the period of
the greatest excitement that exhibited itself during
the insurrection. During the interval of time be-
tween the great muster at Braddock’s and the day ap-
pointed for the meeting at Parkinson’s Ferry, great
numbers of “liberty—poles” were erected by_ the in-

surgents in various‘ parts of the four counties, and‘

upon these were hoisted flags, bearing such_ inscrip-
tions as “ DEATH _TO TRAITORS,” “ LIBERTY AND
NO EXCISE.” Few persons were found hardy enough
to refuse assistance in the erection of these poles, for
to do so was to be branded as an enemy to the cause,
and a fit subj ect for the vengeance of Tom the Tinker.
One of these “ liberty-poles” was erected in the town

he designed to make of the Parkinson congress. His robbing the mail
and directing the rendezvous at Braddock’s Field were calculated to in-
flame the minds of the people previously to that meeting and increase
the number of those who would be rendered desperate by their crimes.
In this he was but too successful, . . . and by these means the infatua-
tion was vastly extended, and the number of offenses -was increased after
the meeting_at Mingo Greek, and before that at Parkinson's Ferry.”-—
Findley.

A notification of this

We wish _

THE WHISKEY

IN SURRECTION . 28lZ

of Washington on the 24th of August, its raising being
attended by scenes of great excitement and commotion.
Similar poles were erected at about the same time at a
great number of places in different parts of the county.
They stood, bearing their threatening flags and inscrip-
tions, until the tide of insurrection began to turn before
the menace of military force, and then those who had
raised them were glad enough to see them fall, and to
deny all agency in their erection. B

On the 14th of August, according to appointment,
the meeting of delegates from the several counties
was openediat Parkinson’s Ferry (now Monongahela
City), the place of meeting being near the river-bank
“ 011 an eminence under the shade of trees,“ near
which had just been erected a tall liberty-pole, from

‘which floated a flag bearing the inscription, “ Equal

Taxation and no Excise———No Asylum for Traitors
and Cowards.” There were two hundred and twenty-
six delegates present, of whom ninety-three (more
than two-fifths of the whole number) were from the
townships of Washington County, forty-three from
Allegheny, forty—nine from Westmoreland, thirty-
three from Fayette, two from Bedford, and six from
Ohio County, Va. Gathered around the delegates as
they sat in convention was a greater number of spec-
tators, many of them armed.

The meeting was organized by the appointment of

’ Col. ‘Edward Cook and the Hon. Albert Grallatin, both

of Fayette County, respectively as chairman and sec-
retary. The proceedings were opened by a speech
from David Bradford, in which he rehearsed the
events which had occurred,—the coming of Marshal
Lenox; the service of the writs; the attack ‘on and
destruction of Gen. N eville’s house, and the death of
McFarlane; the meeting at Mingo Creek; the great
mustering of the clans at Braddock’s Field; the march
through Pittsburgh, and the expulsion from that town
of the proscribed persons, at the latter point reading
the objectionable letters which had been intercepted,
commenting on their contents in severest terms, and
in general advocating extreme measures against those
who were recreant enough to side with the govern-
ment by assisting or approving the execution of the
laws. This speech was followed by another from Col.
Marshel, which was less extreme but yet firm in sup-
port of the insurrection and its purposes.

At the time when the meeting convened, the procla-
mations of the President and Governor Mifiiin had
not been received, and neither the commissioners for
the State nor those for the United States had made
their appearance or been heard from, but during the
proceedings there came news of the calling out of the

troops, that the two delegations were on their way

from Philadelphia, and that two of the United States

1 H. M. Brackenridge says, “ The place was an open field on the banks
of the river with fallen timber ‘and stumps, witha few shade-trees in-
stead of buildings for the accommodation of this important assembly,
whose deliberations might be attended with the most serioiis conse-
quences for good or evil.”

commissioners had just arrived at Greensburg.” The
receipt of this intelligence marked the culminating
point of the insurrection. It fell like a thunderbolt
on those assembled at Parkinson’s Ferry, and the fact
became at once apparent that a reaction had com-
menced, and that the tide of opinion had, with nearly

all the leaders, begun to set against the adoption of ”

violent measures.
It was claimed for some of those who at this meet-

ing developed a strong opposition to the plans of

Bradford and other extremists that their course was
prompted by the same desire which had at first in-
duced them to range themselves among the disaf-
fected,—that of appearing to assume leadershipfor
the purpose of curbing the lawless element, and di-
verting its energies from the track leading to open
violence and rebellion.‘ But there is little doubt that
their action at this time was in no small degree due
to their late realization of the fact that the United
States government had resolved to put down lawless-
ness at whatever cost, that it would exert all its pow-
ers, if necessary, to enforce obedience, and that as
against that power the cause of the insurrectionists
was hopeless. Brackenridge, an able and far-sighted
man, had realized from the first that this result was
probable, and in his connection with the insurgent
movement, all his acts had been done, and all his
speeches made, in a manner to admit of a double in-
terpretation, so as to allow him to keep his popularity
with the insurrectionists, and yet not compromise him
with the government. Grallatin, a wily and prudent
man, had foreseen that such might be the result, a11d
his course had been much the same, though less
adroit than that of Brackenridge. Findley was a
time-server, and with all his bitterness against.the
administration of Washington, and all his love of of-
flee and popularity, he was careful to avoid advancing
to a point from which he would be unable to recede.
But nearly all the other leaders believed, or appeared
by their actions to believe, that their combination was
extensive and strong enough to defy the government
and force it to terms, but when the announcement
was made that the commander-in-chief of the Revo-
lutionary armies had invoked the military power to
crush them, they were in a single hour awakened
from their delusion, and the cry which before had
been (2 l’outromce was now sauce gm’ peat, though
each one was careful to conceal his misgivings from
the others.

2 In a letter written by William Findley to Secretary Dallas, dated
Aug. 23, 1794, he mentions that he was present at the meeting at Park-
inson’s, and says, “ Messrs. Yates and Bradford came to Greensburg the
morning of the meeting, and wrote by expness to me of their pacific in-
tentions and authority, which being communicated to the meetinglhad
a salutary effect, and a committee of discreet men were appointed to
confer with the commissioners at Pittsburgh, but unfortunately the news-
papers came next morning with the President's proclamation and the
orders for an armed force as a. substitute for judicial proceedings; this
irritated and inflamed those even who had been formerly moderate and
regular, and greatly increased the difiiculty of accommodation.”

288

HISTORY OF WAS HINGTON COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA. A

Col. James Marshel, who in the first of the meeting
had introduced a series of vefy strong resolutions, was
thoroughly subdued by the alarming news from the
East, “and from that moment,” says Brackenridge,
“he acted with the friends of the government with
sincerity.” Bradford alone, of all the leaders, stood
defiant, even more so than before. In a fiery speech
he demanded that measures be taken to prepare for re-
pelling “ invasion,” declaring in effect that a show of
vigorous military preparation would be sure to overawe
the government and enable them to dictate their own
terms. His speech found no favor with any of "the
other leaders, and was replied to in opposition by
several of them; but the insurgent rank a_nd file who
were present, sided with him almost unanimously.
“I lay that night,” says H. H. Brackenridge, “at a
farm-house in the neighborhood, with a hundred or
more of the gallery spectators and of the assembly
about me; the whole cry was war.”

At the reassembling of the meeting on the morning
of the 15th of August, a committee composed of Albert
Gallatin, H. H. Brackenridge, and Herman Husbands,
of Bedford County, who had been appointed to re-
model the resolutions previously offered by Col. James
Marshel, submitted the result of their labors, which
was read before the meeting and afterwards passed,
though somewhat modified. During the forenoon the
United States commissioners came to a house not far
from the place of meeting, which, as Findley says, “ ren -
dered the situation of the friends of order more deli-
cate,” which means that they were so placed that ifthey
flocked to the commissioners, each one anxious to have
the first word, and to record himself as a “ friend of or-
der,” the fact would at once be known to the body of the
insurgents, and a loss of popularity would be the result ;
whereas if they kept aloof from the commissioners it
might place the ban of the government upon them as
obdurate adherents to the insurgent cause. Most of
them, however, forgot in their fears, all considerations
of popularity with the masses, and the hopes of future
election to office, and some of them insisted that the
meeting should never adjourn until terms had been
made with the commissioners, but this result was not
accomplished.

The resolutions reported by the committee were
passed in a modified form as before stated. The sec-
ond of the series provided for the appointment of a
standing committee, to consist of one member "from
each township, charged with various . duties, among
which was the drafting of a remonstrance to Congress,
praying for a repeal of the excise law. They were
also “ to have power to call together a meeting, either
of a new representation of the people or of the depu-
ties here convened, for the purpose of taking such
further measures as the future situation of affairs may
require; and in case of any sudden emergency to take

‘such temporary measures as they may think neces-

sary.” The closing resolution was to this effect,
“ That a committee, to consist of three members from

each county, be appointed to meet_any commissioners
that have been or may be appointed by the govern-
ment, and report the result of this conference to the
standing committee.” The standing committee (con-
sisting of sixty persons) met, and appointed the com-
mittee to meet the commissioners of the United States
and ‘those of Pennsylvania, as provided by the final
resolution. This committee of conference was com-
posed as follows :

For Washington County: David Bradford, James
Marshel, and James Edgar.

For Allegheny County: Hugh H. Brackenridge,
Thomas Moreton, and John B. C. Lucas.

For Fayette County : Albert Gallatin, Edward
Cook, and James Lang. 4

For Westmoreland County: John Kirkpatrick,‘

George Smith, and John Powers.

For Bedford County : ,Herman Husbands.

For Ohio County, Va., William Sutherland.

The meeting of the delegates at Parkinson’s Ferry
adjourned at two o’clock P.M. on the 15th of August.
The Committee of Sixty, after having appointed and
instructed the committee of conference, adjourned to
meet at Redstone Old Fort (Brownsville) on the 2d
of September.

The commissioners for the State arrived at Pitts-
burgh on the 17t_l1 of August, and those appointed by
the President came immediately afterwards. On the
20th the two bodies met the committee of conference
which was appointed at Parkinson’s Ferry. At this
meeting preliminary proceedings were taken, which
resulted in propositions by both bodies of commis-
sioners, who declared explicitly that the exercise of
the powers vested in them to suspendsprosecutions,
and to promise a general amnesty and pardon for past
offenses, “must be preceded by full and satisfactory
assurances of a sincere determination in the people
to obey the laws of the United States.” The members

of the committee who took the most ‘prominent part

in the proceedings were Bradford and Marshel, of
Washington; Crallatin and Cook, of Fayette; and
Brackenridge, of Allegheny County. All these, with
the exception of Bradford, were in favor of acceding

to the propositions of the commissioners, and this.

was found to be the sense of the committee; but they
had no power to act, further than to report the result
of ' the conference to the standing Committee of Sixty.
That committee had adjourned to meet at Bedstone Old
Fort on the _2d of September, as before mentioned, but
upon the conclusion of the conference with the commis-
sioners at Pittsburgh the time of their meeting was
changed and made five days earlier,‘ though this change

1 Following are extracts from a communication addressed by the com-
mittee of conference to the United States commissioners:

“ PITTSBURGH, Aug. 22, 1794.

“ GEN'rLEMEN,—-Having in our conference at considerable length stated‘ 

to you the grounds of that discontent which exists in the minds of the
people of this country, and which has lately shown itself in acts of op-
position to the excise law, you will consider us as waiving any question

‘the disturbance. .

THE WHISKEY

IN SURRECTION . 289

of time gave great offense to Bradford and other ex-
tremists. The change of time was made in deference
to one of the conditions imposed by the commissioners,
viz.: “ It is expected and required by the said com-
missioners that the citizens composing the said stand-
ing committee do, on or before the first day of September
next, explicitly declare their determination to submit
to the laws of the United States, and that they will
not, directly or indirectly‘, oppose the execution of the
acts for raising a revenue on distilled spirits and
stills.”

Accordingly, on the 28th of August, the standing
committee (the “Committee of Sixty”) met at Red-
stone Old Fort (Brownsville), to receive and act upon
the report of the committee of conference. Of the

' sixty members of the committee, fifty-seven were in

attendance, of whom twenty-three were from Wash-.
ington County, thirty from the three counties of
Westmoreland, Allegheny, and Fayette, one from
Bedford, and three from Ohio County, Va. While
the members of the committee were assembling a
large military company crossed the Monongahela
from the Western side, by John Krepps’ ferry, to the
site of the present town of Bridgeport, then crossed
Dunlap’s Creek to the Old Fort. The company con-
sisted of aboutseventy men on foot, all fully armed,

of the constitutional power of the President to call upon the force of
the Union to suppress them. It is our object, as it is yours, to compose
. . We have already stated to you in conference that
we are empowered’ to give you no definite answer with regard to the
sense of the people on the great question of acceding to the law, but
that in our opinion it is the interest of the country to accede, and that
We shall make this report to the committee to whom we are to report,
and state to them the reasons of our opinion, that so far as they have
weight they may be regarded by them. It will be our endeavor to con-
ciliate not only them, but the. public mind in general to our views on
this subject. We hope to be assisted by you in giving all that extent

and precision, clearness and certainty to your propositions that may be

necessary to satisfy the understandings and engage the acquiescence of
the people. . . . As we are disposed, with you, to have the sense of the
people taken on the subject of our conference as speedily as may be,
with that view we have resolved to call the committee to whom our re-
port is to be made at an earlier day than had been appointed, to wit, on
Thursday, the 28th instant, but have not thought ourselves authorized
in changing the place at Redstone Old Fort, on the Monongahela.
“ By order of the Committee,
. “Enw‘.um Coox, Chairman.”

—Papers Relating to the Whiskey Insurrection, Pennsylvania Archives, 2d
Series, vol. iv. pp. 190, 191.

Less conciliatory but more curious was the reply of the Ohio County
(Va.) committee to the United States commissioners, viz.:

“PITTSBURGH, Aug. 23, 1794.

“ GEN'1'I..—Having Concidered your Letter of this Date since the De-
parture of the speachel Comatie delegated from Westmoreland, Wash-
ington, Featt & Aleganie countis, in Pensilvenea, & Considering our
Selves a Justifyable repsentation of those inhabtents of Ohio County by
whome we were deligated, & a part of that speachell Comitie to whom
your proposals wear mead and Accepted yesterday, and the day posding
and relying on the faith a1r’dy pledged by you and Acepted by the
Speachell Comatee, we d’clin entering any further on this Bussens, un-
tell we Consult our Constaituents & the Cometee of Safety.

“ We are, Gentl., with esteem,
“ Your most Obed. Humble Serv’t,
. “ Bonner STEPHENSON,
“ WILLIAM SUTHERLAND,
“ WM. McK1NLm'.”
--Ibid., p. 203.

and some of them dressed in a kind of military uni-

form, and fifteen or twenty horsemen also fully armed,
and all in the uniform of the day and region, the
principal garment of which was the omnipresent
hunting-shirt. The entire company, which was under
command of Capt. Crawford, of Muddy Creek, was
made up of ~men from that section of Washington
County. They attended the meeting for the purpose
of showing their sympathy with the insurrection and
their defiance of the government,’ and to administer
chastisement to Samuel J ackson,1 of Fayette County,
for having (as was reported) applied a contemptuous

epithet to the august Committee of Sixty, otherwise I

styled by their adherents the ‘_‘ Committee of Safety.”
As they paraded the single street of the place they
made quite a formidable appearance, and contributed
no little towards keeping up the excitement and spirit
of defiance among the mass of people; but it had no
such effect on the leaders, for nearly all of them were
thoroughly cowed and resolved on submission, making
the best terms possible for themselves. Judge Alex-
ander Addison said” “ that the minds of all men

appeared to be strongly impressed with a sense of the

critical situation of the country, and the minds of
almost all with a fear of opposing the current of the
popular opinion,” and that “these impressions were
greatly increased by the appearance of a body of
armed men assembled there from Muddy Creek, in
Washington County.” The armed party remained at

l Brownsville until night, when they were prevailed

on by the more prudent of the leaders to recross the
river and return to their homes; but Findley says
that during their stay at Brownsville, “ by their pres-
ence and threats, they overawed the meeting.”

The business of the meeting was opened by the
submission of the conference committee’s report and
a speech upon it by Mr. Grallatin, who urged the
adoption of a resolution in acceptance of the terms
offered by the commissioners’, and set forth the dan-

1 Samuel Jackson was a Quaker of great respectability, a man of some
wealth, and in part owner of a paper-mill on Redstone Creek. He was
conscientiously opposed to the use and manufacture of whiskey, and
naturally sided against the insurgents. This caused them to regard him
as a foe, and the enmity was increased by a remark which he had made
concerning the meeting at Parkinson’s Ferry, calling it a “scrub con-
gress.” It was for this offense that the Muddy Creek men now visited
him, took him prisoner, marched him to Brownsville, and arraigned him
before the Committee of Sixty. Violence might and probably would
have been done him but for the interposition of Judge Brackenridge, a
member of the committee, but an acquaintance and personal friend of
Mr. Jackson. On the appearance of the latter the judge took the matter
into his own hands. He addressed the meeting, saying that Samuel was
certainly very culpable for having applied so disrespectful an epithet to
such an august and legitimate assemblage of the sovereign people, but
that it was probably from lack of thought and reflection more than from
sinister design, and that on this account the proper punishment to apply
to him would be to pay him in his own coin by stigmatizing him as a.
“ scrub Quaker.” The effect was just what the judge had intended. Tom
the Tinker’s boys yelled with delight, and after admonishing the scrub
Quaker to be more careful of his language in the future allowed him to
depart with no other maltreatment than the jeers of the Muddy Creekers
and their compatriots. .

2 In a deposition before Richard Peters, judge of the United ‘States-
District Court.--—See Pennsylvania Archives, 2d series, vol. iv. p. 390.

PREFACE.

g.‘
‘'7

AN- apologetic’ preface is not intended by what is here written, for it is believed that in this

1. History of sWashington County there are perhaps as few errors and imperfections as any reason-4  

able critic ought to expect in so comprehensive a work. Whatever defects may appear (and
What work of inan is free from defects ?), they are certainly not chargeable to a Want of effort and
care to avoid»-them ; and those who have been engaged in the preparation of thiswork only ask the
favor that before it be su’bjected‘/co unfavorable comment it be‘ carefully examined, not in isolated
portions, but.~in~its-whole scope and character. Far from being unwilling to submit to honest and
intelligent criticism, theywill be glad to have any substantial inaccuracies pointed out. By such
criticism alone can this work be affected; captious fault-finding,-often arising out of unworthy
jealousies, cannot prevail with intelligent men. ” N  

J —   But it is rather-desired’ here to make a remark or two as tothe history of the book now de-

A livered to those for whomfit was written. And‘ in this connection it maybe premised that if

  any one individual, on his own account, could have devoted the necessary time and industry

to the preparation of a full and accurate history of the county,'covering the ground the writers
of this. history have endeavored to- cover, it is confidently believed that, there being but a
local demand for such a work, it would have been vain to hope that it could have been pub-

’ lished and sold so as to repay the author for the time, labor, and expenditure involved. To

those who wished to see something like anapproach to a complete history of Washington
County, the proposals of the enterprising publishers to publish the work after a plan and method
of their own seemed to offer the onlyiopportunity within reach, and hence it was that the Writer
of vthese lines, after the approval of good friends, on whose judgment he could rely, was led to
aid the enterprise, not only by a contribution to its pages, but by way of general‘oversigh’t and

c direction of the whole. It was soon found, however, that, beyond the chapters contributed, there ‘

was but little need of _his assistance, for Major Franklin Ellis, of New York City, the gentleman
by whom much thelarger part of the work was prepared, brought with him longexperience and

» great skill in historical investigation, an enviable facility of composition, together with laborious

industry and carefulness. And he was aided by gentlemen—one of ‘whom, Austin N. Hunger-
ford, Esq., of Ithaca, N. Y., deserves special mention—who also were possessed of special fitness
for the gathering from all sorts of sources of the innumerable and disjointed details which have
gone to make up the history of localities; and, not only that, they have all along received con-

' stant encouragement and valuable suggestions from leading men in the county, too many in
number to acknowledge by name here. It may be unusual, but, as his associates came here as

strangers, the writer desires in this place to bear Witness to all who may be interested in this

34

HISTORY OF WASHINGTON COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA.

CHAPTER III.

FRENCH OCCUPATION AT THE HEAD OF THE OHIO
—-WASHINGTON’S CAMPAIGN OF 1754.

THE result of Washington’s expedition was to show
beyond all doubt that the design of the French was
to occupy in force all the country bordering the head-
waters of the Ohio River. Thereupon Governor
Dinwiddie transmitted Washington’s statement to
England, and meanwhile, without waiting for instruc-
tions from the home government, commenced prepar-
ations, for raising a force to be sent to the “Forks of
the Ohio” (Pittsburgh), to take possession of that point,
and to construct a defensive work to enable them to
hold the position. against the French. A party had
already gone forward from Virginia across the moun-
tains for the same purpose, it being the one alluded
to in Washington’s journal of the trip to Le Boeuf,
where he says, “The 6th [of January, on his return
from Gist’s to Wills’ Creek] We met seventeen horses
loaded with materials and stores for a fort at the fork
of the Ohio, and the day after, some families going
out to settle.”

The first military force that moved westward hav-
ing the Ohio River for its objective—point was a com-
pany under Capt. William Trent, which marched
from Virginia in January, 17 54. From Wills’ Creek
Capt. Trent moved his force of about thirty-three
men‘ over the same route which Washington had
traversed to Gist’s settlement. From Gist’s he marched
to the Monongahela, at the mouth of Redstone Creek,
Where his men were for a time employed in erecting
a store-house (called the “Hangard”) for the Ohio
Company. After completing it they continued their
march to the site of the present city of Pittsburgh,
which place they reached on the 17th of February,
and there met Christopher Grist and several others.
They immediately commenced work in the construc-
tion of the fort, preparation for which had been begun
in the previous August, as has been shown by Fraser’s
letter of that date. But at that time it was the Ohio

1 That the strength of Trent’s company did not exceed thirty-three
men is stated in the deposition (elsewhere given in this work) of Ensign
(afterwards Major) Ward, the 'oflicer in command when the company
and the fort which they were building at the head of the Ohio were sur-
rendered to the French about two months later. There appears no
reason to doubt Ward's statement, as he was certainly in a position to
know the facts; and it is diflicult to reconcile it with what is found in a
letter addressed by Governor Dinwiddie, of Virginia, to Governor Ham-

ilton, of Pennsylvania, dated Williamsburg, March 21, 1754, and also in

a. letter from George Croghan to Governor Hamilton, dated March 23,
1754. In the letter first referred to Dinwiddie says, “. . . In January
I commissioned William Trent to raise one hundred men; he had got
seventy and has begun a fort at the forks of the Monongalio.” And
Croghan (who had then just returned east from the Ohio) said in his letter,

“ Mr. Trent had received a commission from the Governor of Virginia,-

and had enlisted about seventy men before I left Ohio. I left him and
his men at the mouth of Monongalio building a fort, which seemed to
give the Indians great pleasure and put them in high spirits" (Colonial
Records, vi. page 21). Perhaps Croghan included soldiers and laborers,
while Ward had reference only to the former. There seemsto be no
other explanation of the discrepancy inthe statements.

Company who proposed to do it; now it was to be
done under direction of the government of Virginia.
Not long after the commencement of the work,
Capt. Trent returned by way of the Hangard and
Gist’s to Wills’ Creek, and Lieut. Fraser went to
his home on the Monongahela, at the mouth of Turtle
Creek, leaving the other commissioned oflicer, En-
sign Ward, in charge of the men engaged in the con-
struction of the fort. i
The work progressed slowly (on account of the
severity of the weather) for about two months, when
suddenly, on the 17th of April, Ensign Ward found
himself confronted by a hostile force of about seven
hundred French and Indians, having with them eigh-
teen light pieces of artillery. This force, which had

come down the Allegheny River in sixty‘bateaux'

and a great number of canoes, was under command
of Capt. Contrecoeur, who at once demanded a sur-
render of the work and position. The responsibility
lay wholly with Ward, as he was the only commis-
sioned oflicer with the force; but the Half-King, Tana-
charison, who was present, and firm as ever in his
loyalty to the English, advised the ensign to reply to
Contrecoeur that as he was not an officer of rank, and
had no authority to- answer the demand, he hoped

that the French commander would wait until the ar-

rival of his superior officer, whom he would at once
send for. But Contrecoeur refused to accede to this,
and demanded immediate surrender, saying that, in
case of non-compliance, he would immediately take
possession by force of arms. .

It was of course impracticable for this ensign’s com-
mand of about thirty-three men to hold the position
against a force of more than twenty times their num-
ber, with artillery; and, therefore, the unfinished fort
was surrendered" without further parley. The French

2 The following from the “ Calendar of Virginia State Papers and other

’Manuscripts, 1652 to 1781, -preserved in the capitol at Richmond; ar-

ranged and edited by William Palmer, M.D., under authority of the
Legislature of _Virginia, vol. i., 1876,” gives authentic information as to
Captain Trent's operations at the head of the Ohio, and the surrender of
the partially constructed fort by Ensign Ward to the French comman-
der, viz. : _

“ Deposition taken March 10, 1777, at the house of Mr. John Ormsby,
in Pittsburgh,‘&c. Agreeable to Notice given to C01. George Morgan,
Agent for the Indiana Company, before James Wood and Charles Simms,
pursuant to a resolution of the Honble the Convention of Virginia ap-
pointing them Commissioners for Collecting Evidence on behalf of the
Commonwealth of Virginia against the several Persons pretending to
claim Lands within the Territory.and Limits thereof, under Deeds of
Purchases from Indians.

“Major Edward Ward Deposeth and saith that in the beginning of

,’ the year 1754, William Trent Esquire was appointed by Governor Din-

widdie of Virginia, Captain of a Company to be raised, of which this Depo-
nent was appointed Ensign, by the said Trent. Who assembled the Chiefs
and Deputies of the Six Nationshandjrequested of them permission to
Erect a Trading House at the Junction of the Allegheny and Mononga-
hale Rivers, to carry on a Free and open Trade, with the Six Nations,
and their dependants; which was granted by the said deputies, with this
restriction, that he was to form no Settlements or improvements on the
said Land, but on the Contrary to Evacuate the samewhen required by
the Six Nations.

“ After which the said Capt. Trent inlisted a number of men not ex-
ceeding thirty-three, and proceeded to erect a Fort at tll(~3,~‘p‘la,(¢)O- before
mentioned. That on the 17th of April following, and before the Fort

290

HISTORY OF‘ WASHINGTON COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA.

ger of using force in resistance to the law, the im-
possibility of these western counties contending suc-
cessfully against the force of the United States, and
the evident necessity of submission. “Mr. Gallatin,
although a foreigner who could with difficulty make
himself understood in English, yet presented with
great force the folly of past resistance and the ruin-
ous consequences to the country of the continuance
of the insurrection. He urged that the government
was bound to vindicate the laws, and that it would
surely send an overwhelming force against them. He

.placed the subject in a new light, and showed the

insurrection to be a much more serious affair than it
had before appeared.” 1 Brackenridge followed Gal-
latin in an argument to the same end, though urged
in a different manner. His speech was followed by a
violent one from Bradford, who scouted the idea of
“surrender,” as he called it, denounced those who

advocated the making of terms with the commission- 7

ers, and strenuously advocated continued resistance,
in which he was almost unanimously supported by
the large assembly of people present, who greeted his
speech with the most enthusiastic cheers. The busi-
ness of the day proceeded amid scenes of wild excite-
ment, and no result was reached.

On the 29th the meeting was opened by Gallatin,
who made another long and sensible speech in favor
of acceptingthe terms of the commissioners. Other
addresses to the same end were made by speakers of
the previous day. Bradford was of course prominent
in the debate, and his speech at this time was more
violent than any he had previously made. He boldly
advocated the project of erecting a new and inde-
pendent government? He cited the revolutions in
America and in France as models for imitation,
and as inducements to hope for the success of these
counties against the government, which he said was

rendered reasonably certain on account of their pecu- ‘

liar situation, as separated from the eastern country

by almost insurmountable natural barriers. He pro-

posed the immediate raising of an army to meet any

1 Judge Wilkeson.

2 With reference to this speech of Bradford, Findley says, “Reports
were circulated that Bradford, who lodged on the Washington side of
the river that night, had bound himself firmly with a number of others
to support the opposition by force of arms until government would be
brought to agree unequivocally to their own terms; it appeared by what
followed that the idea of a complete revolution was now taken up by
Bradford, and itwas certain that several of the most obstinate of those
who originated the present violent measures were among the spectators,
and perhaps some of them members of the committee; but Marshel and
others of the most respectable men among them had totally withdrawn
from their interest.” Judge McKean, one of the commissioners, in a
letter to Attorney-General Ingersoll, dated Pittsburgh, Aug. 29, 1794,
said, “In case a reconciliation and amnesty had not taken place many
(I believe a majority of the people here) threatened to become British
subjects, to remove into the Indian country, or at all events to detach
themselves from the laws of the Union, and be independent of any govern-
ment except one formed by themselves. Indeed, their speeches and actions
have been most extravagant; a frenzy seemed to be diffused through the
country; the still voice of reason drowned, and the wildest chimeras to
have taken possession of men’s minds. One might be led to think it
was the work of magic, or owing to some physical cause.” '

government force that might be sent against them, to
drive it back in rout and possess themselves of its
arms and ammunition, after which they could easily
hold their country against all invaders and secure in-
dependence beyond all doubt. His whole speech was
manifestly intended to keep up the opposition to gov-
ernment and to prevent the adoption of the resolu-
tions proposed by Grallatin. ‘

The leaders, with the exception of Bradford and a
few others of less prominence, had fully made up their
minds to abandon the wreck of the insurrection, but
the followers had apparently at that time little thought
of submission, and were as violent and determined on
opposition as ever, and so strong an influence did this
exert, even on the leaders who knew that the cause
was hopeless, that they dared not openly and fully
avow their sentiments and place themselves on record.
“ Such was the fear of the popular frenzy that it was
with difficulty that a vote could be had at this meet-
ing. No one would vote by standing up. None
would write a yea or nay, lest his handwriting should
be recognized. At last it was determined that yea

_and nay should be written by the secretary on the

same pieces of paper, and be distributed, leaving each
member to chew up or destroy one of the words while
he put the other in the box,” thus giving each mem-
ber an opportunity of concealing his opinion, and of
sheltering himself from the resentment of those from
whom violence was to be apprehended, or whom he
wished to avoid offending. In this way a balloting
was had, and in the adoption of the resolutions by a
vote of thirty-four to twenty-three, as announced,
though it was afterwards found that six votes had
been cast in the negative under a misapprehension of
its import, so that but for this mistake the vote would
have stood forty for, and seventeen against, the reso-
lution.3 When the result was declared, so strongly in

3 The following letter, in reference to this meeting and the result of
the voting, was written by the Pennsylvania commissioners to Governor
Mifllin. It is dated Pittsburgh, Aug. 30 (2 o'clock P.M.), 1794:

“ We have this moment received a copy of the proceedings of the Com-
mittee of Sixty, called the Committee of Safety, at Brownsville yesterday,
which we have the honor to enclose to you. Exclusive of the knowledge
of the sentiments of these gentlemen, to be derived from the Resolutions
they have passed, we have good information that the sense of those
present, being fifty-seven in number, was taken by ballot on the ques-
tion ‘ whether they would acquiesce in the terms of reconciliation pro-
posed by the Commissioners of the United States ;’ and that it was car-
ried in the aflirmative by thirty-four votes against twenty-three as the
votes were counted, although in reality six had put in their ballots in

the negative in a mistake, so the true state of the numbers was forty"

for, and seventeen against, submission. We have been told there were
a considerable number of Spectators there (one company of militia with
their arms), who appeared to be variously affected, though our informa»
tion is that the majority were for pacific measures.”——Pa. Arch., 2d Series,
iv., pp. 218, 219.

But the United States commissioners took a somewhat different view
of the significance of the proceedings at the Brownsville meeting. In
their report, made September 24th, they said,-— V

“ The underwritten were informed by several of the members of that
meeting, as well as other citizens who were present at it, that the report
of the committee of conference and the proposals of the commissioners
were unfavorably received; that rebellion and hostile resistance against
the United States were publicly recommended by some of the members,

‘THE WHISKEY

IN SURRECTION . 291

opposition to his views, Bradford left the meeting in
anger and disgust} Nearly all the spectators also
withdrew as soon as the vote was declared‘, and the
committee was left almost alone to complete their
business.

The main resolution adopted at the Brownsville
meeting was as follows: “Resolved, That in the
opinion of this Committee it is the interest of the
people of this Country to accede to the proposals
made by the Commissioners on the part of the United
States. Resolved, that a Copy of the foregoing reso-
lution be transmitted to the said Commissioners.”

But instead of giving the assurances required by
the commissioners, the Committee of Sixty showed a
disposition to temporize, and in the hope of obtaining

- better terms they further “Resolved, That a Com-

mittee be appointed 2 to confer with the Commission-
ers on the part of the United States and of the State
of Pennsylvania, with instructions to the said Com-
mittee to try to obtain from the said Commissioners
such further modification in their proposals as they
think will render them more agreeable to the people
at large, and also to represent the necessity of grant-
ing further time to the people before their final deter-
mination is required. . . . That the said Committee
shall publish and communicate throughout the sev-
eral counties the da.y at which the sense of the people
is expected to be taken. That on the day ‘thus pub-
lished the following question be submitted to the citi-

'zens duly qualified to vote, according to the election

law of the State, of the Counties of Westmoreland,
Washington, Fayette, Allegheny, and that part of
Bedford which lies west of the Allegheny mountains,

and that so excessive la. spirit prevailed that it was not thought prudent
or safe to urge a compliance with the terms and preliminaries prescribed

‘by the underwritten or the commissioners from the Governor of Pennsyl-

vania, . . . and the underwritten have been repeatedly assured that if
the question had been publicly put, it would have been carried in the
negative by a large majority.

“The conduct of the meeting at Brownsville, notwithstanding the
thin veil thrown over it by the resolve already mentioned [that it was
expedient to comply with the terms proposed by the commissioners], was
said to be considered by many, and especially by the violent party, as a
rejection of the terms. It was certainly a partial rejection of those pro-
posed by the underwritten, and a total one of, the preliminaries pre-
scribed by the State commissioners, who had required assurances from
the members of that meeting only, and not from the people themselves.”
——Perma. Arch., 2d Series, vol. iv. pp. 353-54.

A 1 ‘-‘ Bradford stood appalled; his power and influence were at an end;
he withdrew from the place almost immediately and was not heard of
again until some days after, when he was one of the first to hasten to
seize the horns of the altar, or, in other words, to take the benefit of the

amnesty, in the midst of his deserted followers, who now cried out,

‘Dagon, how art thou fallen l’ But being excepted, on account of his
last act, and perhaps on account of his robbery of the mail, he took to
the river and escaped .”-Braclcenridge.

2 The following letter from the chairman of the committee was ad-
dressed to the United States committee:

“ BROWNSVILLE, 29th August, 1794.
. “ GENTLnMEN,—Difliculties having arisen with us, we have thought it
necessary to appoint a committee to confer with you in order to procure,
if possible, some farther time, in order that the people may have leisure
to reflect upon their true situation. 1
“ I am, Gentlemen, your most obt. Humble Servt,
“ EDWARD Coox.”

in Pennsylvania, anidlof Ohio Wlirginia,-—

Will the people submit to the laws of the United States
upon the terms proposed by the Commissioners of the
United States .9” A

The persons appointed to form the committee under
these resolutions were John Probst, Robert Dickey,
John Nesbitt, Herman. Husband, John Corbly, John
Marshal, David Phillips, John Heaton, John McClel-
land, William Ewing, George Wallace, Samuel Wil-
son, and Richard Brown. ' ,

The meeting continued in session at Brownsville
for two days, and adjourned on the 29th of August.
It was the last meeting of the kind?’ held during the
insurrection, and virtually marked its close, as the
meeting held at the same place three years before
(July 27, 1791) had marked its opening, that being
the first public meeting held in opposition to the ex-
cise law.

The committee appointed at the Brownsville meet-
ing met the commissioners of the United States and
those of Pennsylvania in conference at Pittsburgh
on the 1st of September, at which meeting “it was
agreed that the assurances required from the citizens
of the Fourth Survey of Pennsylvania [the four west-

ern counties] should be given in‘ writing, and their

sense ascertained in the following manner:

“That the citizens of the said survey (Allegheny
County excepted 4) of the age of eighteen years and
upwards be required to assemble on Thursday, the
11th instant, in their respective townships, at the
usual place for holding township meetings, a11d that
between the hours of twelve and seven, in the after-
noon of the same day, any two or more of the mem-
bers of the meeting who assembled at Parkinson’s
Ferry on the 14th ultimo, resident in the township,
or a justice of the peace of said township, do openly
propose to the people assembled the ‘following ques-
tions: Do you now engage to submit to the laws of
the United States, and that you will not hereafter,
directly or indirectly, oppose the execution of the
acts for raising the revenue upon distilled spirits and

stills? And do you also undertake to support, as far ‘A

as the laws require, the civil authority in affording
the protection due to all officers and other citizens‘?
Yea or nay? . . . That a minute of the number of
yeas and nays be made immediately after ascertaining
the same. That a written or printed declaration of
such engagement be signed by all those who vote in
the aflirmative, of the following tenor, to wit: ‘ I do
solemnly promise henceforth to submit to the laws of

3 Two meetings were afterwards held at Parkinson’s Ferry, not, how-
ever, to consider the acceptance or rejection of terms, but to send out
ambassadors in hot haste to the President and the commander of the
army to urge the acceptance of their submission, to give assurances of
good conduct in future, and to avert if possible the march of the mili-
tary forces to the Monongahela. 1 C

4 The citizens of Allegheny County_were required to “meet in their
respective election districts on the said day, in the same manneras if
they were assembled ‘in townships.”

292

HISTORY OF WASHINGTON COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA.

the United States; that I will not, directly or indi-
rectly, oppose the execution of the acts for raising a
revenue on distilled spirits and stills ; and that I will
support, so far as the law requires, the civil authority
in affording the protection due to all officers and other
citizens.’ This shall be signed in the presence of the
said members or justices of the peace, attested by him
or them, and lodged in his or their hands.

‘ “ That the said persons so proposing the questions
stated as aforesaid do assemble at the respective
county court-houses on the 13th inst., and do ascer-
tain and make report of the numbers of those who
voted in the affirmative in the respective townships
or districts, and of the number of those who voted in
the negative, together with their opinion whether
there be such ,a' general submission of the people in
their respective counties, that an office of inspection
may be immediately and safely established therein;
that the said report, opinion, and written or printed
declarations be transmitted to the commissioners or
or any one of them at Uniontown on or before the 16th
instant.” .

On the part of the United States, the commissioners
agreed that if the assurances should be given in good
faith, as prescribed, no prosecution for treason or any

other indictable offense against the United States com-

mitted in thissurvey before the 22d of August, 17 94,
should be commenced before the 10th of July, 1795,
against any person who should, within the time lim-
ited, subscribe such assurance and engagement, and
perform the same, and that on the 10th of July, 1795,
there should-be granted “a general pardon and ob-
livion of all the said offenses ;” but excluding there-
from every person refusing or neglecting to subscribe
the assurances and engagement, or who having so sub-
scribed should violate the same, or willfully obstruct
the execution of the excise laws. On behalf of the
State of Pennsylvania, the commissioners, McKean
and Irvine, promised that if the proposed assurances
should be given and performed until July 10, 1795,
there should then be granted (so far as the State was
concerned) “an act of free and general pardon and
oblivion of all treasons, insurrections, arsons, riots, and
other offenses inferior to riots committed, counseled,
or suffered by any person or persons within the four
Western counties of Pennsylvania” subsequent to the
14th of July, 17 94, but excluding from its operation
every person refusing or neglecting to subscribe to
such agreement, or violating it after subscribing.

, The Pennsylvania commissioners left Pittsburgh on
the 3d of September, and Messrs. Yeates and Brad-
ford, United States commissioners, proceeded east
soon afterwards. Both bodies were requested by the
Governor and the President respectively to remain
until after the announcement of the result of the
popular vote ;1 but for some reason only James Ross
remained to carry the signatures to Philadelphia.

1 See Pa. Archives, 2d Series, vol. iv. pp. 260, 261.

On the day appointed, September 11th, elections
were held in (nearly) all the townships or election
districts of Washington, Westmoreland, Allegheny,
and Fayette.‘ The result was that in all the four
counties votes were cast for submission by three thou-
sand two hundred and eighty of the thirteen thousand
eight hundred taxable inhabitants. Thus it appeared
that the vote for submission was cast by less than one-
fourth the taxables, and by probably less than one-
sixth of the whole number classed as voters under the
terms granted by the commissioners, which embraced
all male citizens of the age of eighteen years old and
upwards. Yet great efforts had been made by a few
of the more thoroughly cowed leaders (such as Col.
James Marshel and some others), as well as by many
well-disposed individuals of good standing who had
never been with the insurgents, to induce the people
to sign the submission; and this was especially true
of the clergy in general. Brackenridge says they

‘ were conspicuous in this work; that “ the Rev. John

McMillan, of Washington County, and the Rev. Mr.
Porter, of Westmoreland County, very influential
clergymen, exerted themselves with their congrega-
tions and elsewhere with much effect.” Findley
says Mr. Porter “labored publicly and privately with
success from the beginning to prevent the spirit of
disorder from spreading in his congregation,” and
that Dr. McMillan, of Washington County, “ refused
to ‘administer the sacrament of the Lord’s Supper to
his congregation until they would submit to the laws.”

The result of the elections and the apparent con-
tinuance of the rebellious sentiment among the great
majority of the people was regarded as extremely un-
satisfactory by both the commissioners of the United
States and those of Pennsylvania; and that this was
especially the case with reference to the county of
Washington” is apparent in a report made by the

2 No return of the election in Washington County was made in regular
form to the commissioners. The report made and signed by David Brad-
ford and twenty-seven others, superintendents of the elections, was as
follows:

“ We, the subscribers, members of the committee who met at Parkin-
son's Ferry on the 14th August last, and justices of the peace of the

different townships in Washington County, met this 13th day of Sep- .

tember, 1794, do find ourselves under great embarrassments to express
our sentiments and opinions whether there be such a general submis-
sion of the people as that an oflice of inspection may be immediately
and safely established in the county; yet we are free to declare that no
opposition shall arise from us, the undersigned, to the excise law, or to

any officers appointed under it; and we believe and are of opinion that
a large majority of the inhabitants of the respective townships in this _

county will acquiesce and submit to the said law, under a hope and firm

belief that the Congress of the United States will repeal said law. Given ,

under our hands at Washington Court-House the 13th of September,
1794.”

This return was forwarded to James Ross at Uniontown, but was re-
garded unfavorably by the commissioners, as being evasive and indirect,
not stating the number of yeas and nays on the question of submission,
“ declining giving any opinion whether there is such a general submis-
sion that an ofiice of inspection may be established therein,” and merely
expressing the belief that a large majority of the people would submit
in the expectation of a repeal of the law. ‘Very naturally the commis-
sioners regarded this as being far from satisfactory evidence of a general
submission in Washington County.

, expressed a willingness to obey the laws.

THE WHISKEY

IN SURRECTION . 293

Pennsylvania commissioners, in which they said,
“From our best conjecture, the people of Washing-
ton, if governed by what appears to be the majority,
will prefer a civil war to a submission to the excise
laws, so infatuated and frantic are their leaders in
opposition; a great majority, however, of the other
three counties are friends to peace and order.” The
last part of this opinion, however, was not indorsed
by the United States commissioners with regard to at
least one other county of the survey. In their report
to the President‘ they said, “ The county of Fayette
rejected the mode of ascertaining the sense of the
people which had been settled between the under-
signed and the last committee of conference at Pitts-
burgh (September 1st). The standing committee of

that county directed those qualified by the laws of the

State” for voting at elections to assemble in their elec-
tion districts and vote by ballot whether they would
accede to the proposals made by the commissioners
of ‘the United States on the 22d of August or not.
The superintendents of these election districts report
that five hundred and sixty of the people thus con-
vened had voted for submission, and that one hun-
dred and sixty-one had voted against it; that no
judge or member of their committee had attended
from the Fourth District of the county to report the
state of the votes there. . . . But it is proper to men-
tion that credible and certain information has been

received that in the Fourth District of that county

(composed of the townships of Tyrone and Bullskin),
of which the standing committee have given no ac-
count, six-sevenths of those who voted were for re-
sistance. . . . The written assurances of submission
which have been received by the commissioners are
not numerous, nor were they given by all those who
In Fay-
ette County, a different plan being pursued, no written
assurances were given in the manner required.”

The leaders of the insurrection were seriously
alarmed by the result of the elections, for they fore-
saw the consequences that were certain to follow.
Their deluded followers too now seemed to realize for
the first time the danger that impended.3 Immedi-
ately after the result became known, the township
committees in the several counties (the same who
had composed the great meeting of the 14th of

1 Papers Relating to the Whiskey Insurrection; Pa. Archives, Series
2, vol. iv. pp. 257, 258. _

3 The agreement of the committee with the commissioners was, not

that qualified voters by the law of Pennsylvania alone should vote on the
proposition, but that the question should be submitted to “the citizens of
the said survey of the age of eighteen years and upwards.”
, 3 “ It was but a few days (in some places the very next day) after
signing that many who had been most riotous on the day of signing
came, some of them in tears, begging permission to sign. In some
places their signing was received with certification that it would not
be admitted as a claim for amnesty ; in other places they were refused
the privilege altogether. When they reflected they saw that they were
deserted by those on whom they had depended, and who perhaps had
advised them, or by their example encouraged them to mischief.”-
Findley. I

the same month.

August) became active, and appointed meetings to
be held at the county-seats for the purpose of ex-
pressing assurances to the government that resistance
to the laws was ended, and the desire for submission
general. Such a meeting, composed of the township
delegates, but also attended by a greatmultitude of
the people of Washington County, was held at the
town of Washington on the 27th of September. At

this meeting resolutions were passed declaring the

firm belief that if the submission’ was not universal,
it was largely owing to the lack of time and informa-
tion necessary to bring about that result, as well as to
the fact that a large proportion of the people, con-
scious of having taken no part in any outrage or
breaking of the laws, might and probably did regard
the signing of a declaration of submission as imply-
ing a sense of guilt which they did not entertain.
And finally it was “Resolved that a meeting of the
delegates of the townships, who met at Parkinson’s
Ferry on the 14th of August, be called to convene at
the same place on Thursday next, the 2d of October,
to take the above into consideration. And as it is of
great moment, the delegates are requested to be punc-
tual in their attendance atan early hour that day.”
The above proceedings and notice were published in
an extra issue of the Pittsburgh Gazette, and circu-
lated by express-riders through the four counties.

A similar meeting of township delegates had been
held at the county-seat of Fayette on the 17th of
Speakers at that meeting had
whiningly asserted that “whatever heat existed in
this county was chiefly owing to what had passed
in the neighboring counties,” and resolutions were
passed recommending township associations in the
four counties for the purpose of promoting submis-
sion to the-law, and reciting in their preamble that
“ It is necessary to shew our fellow-citizens through-
out the United States that the character of the in-
habitants of the western country is not such as may
have been represented to them, but that on the con-
trary they are disp()sed to live in a peaceable manner,
a11d can preserve good order among themselves with-
out the assistance of a militaryforce.” Evidently
the opponents of the law had at last begun to realize
that successful resistance to the government was
hopeless, and that voluntary submission was better
than that enforced by infantry, cavalry, and artillery.
But the knowledge came too late to prevent the ex-
ercise, or at least the menace of the military power.
Upon a full knowledge of the result of the meetings
held on the 11th of September in the townships and
election districts of the disaffected counties, the
United States commissioners reported to the Presi-
dent, narrating the events connected with their mis-
sion, and concluded by saying that although they
firmly believed that a considerable majority of the
inhabitants of the four counties were disposed to

‘ submit to the execution of the laws, “at the same

time they [the commissioners] conceive it their duty

294

HISTORY OF WASHINGTON COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA.

explicitly to declare their_opinion that such is the
state of things in that survey that there is no proba-
bility that the act for raising a revenue on distilled
spirits and stills can at present be enforced by the
usual course of civil authority, and that some more
competent force is necessary to cause the laws to be
duly executed, and to insure the oflicers and well-
disposed citizens that protection which it is the duty
of the government to afford. This opinion is founded
on the facts already stated [the accounts of the un-
satisfactory result of the township and district meet-
ings], and it is confirmed by that which is enter-
tained by many intelligent and influential persons,
officers of justice and others, resident in the western
counties, who have lately informed one of the com-
missioners that whatever assurances might be given,
it was in their judgment absolutely necessary that
the civil authority should be aided by a military force
in order to secure a due execution of the laws.”

The commissioners’ report upon the situation of
affairs in the western counties caused the President
to decide, unhesitatingly, to use the military power,
and to extinguish the last vestige of insurrection at
whatever cost. In taking this course he had (as he
afterwards said to a committee from these counties)
two great ‘obj ects in view: first, to show, not only to the
inhabitants of the western country, but to the entire
Union and to foreign nations, that a republican gov-
ernment could and would exert its physical power to
enforce the execution of the laws where opposed, and
also that American citizens were ready to make every
sacrifice and encounter every difliculty anddanger for
the sake of supporting that fundamental principle of
government; and, second, to effect a full and com-
plete restoration of order and submission to the laws
in the insurrectionary district. In pursuance of this
determination the forces were promptly put inhmotion,
and on the 25th of September the President issued a
proclamation, which, after a preamble, setting forth
that the measures taken by government to suppress
the lawless combinations in the western counties had
failed to have full effect; that “the moment is now
come where the overtures of forgiveness, with no
other condition than a submission to law, have been
only partially accepted; when every form of concilia-
tion not inconsistent with the well-being of govern-
ment has been adopted without effect/,’ proceeds,-

“ Now, therefore, I, George Washington, President
of the United States, in obedience to that high and
irresistible duty consigned to me by the Constitution,
‘ to take care that the laws be faithfully executed,’ de-
ploring that the American name should be sullied by
the outrages of citizens on their own government,
commiserating such as remain obstinate from delu-
sion, but resolved, in perfect reliance on that gracious
Providence which so signally displays its goodness
towards this country, to reduce the refractory to a

- due subordination to the law; Do hereby declare and

make known that, with a satisfaction which can be

equaled only by the merits of the militia summoned

into service from the States of New'Jersey, Pennsyl-
vania, Maryland, and Virginia, I have received in-
telligence of their patriotic alacrity in obeying the
call of the present though painful yet commanding
necessity ; that a force which, according to every rea-
sonable expectation, is adequate to the exigency is
already in motion to the scene of disaffection ; that
those who have confided or.shall confide in the pro-
tection of government shall meet full succor under
the standard and from the arms of the United States;
that those who, having offended against the laws,
have since entitled themselves to indemnity, will be

treated with the most liberal good faith, if they shall.
not have forfeited their claim by any subsequent con-‘-

duct, and that instructions are given accordingly. . . .”
The forces called out for the exigency amounted to
about thirteen thousand men, in four divisions, one

division from each of the States of Virginia, Mary--

land, Pennsylvania, and New Jersey, as before men-
tioned. The Virginia and Maryland troops (com-
manded respectively by Gen. Daniel Morgan, of the
former State, and Brig.-Gen. Samuel Smith, of Bal-
timore) formed the left wing, which rendezvoused at

Cumberland, Md. The right wing (which was ren-

dezvoused at Carlisle, Pa.) was composed of the Penn-

sylvania troops, commanded by Maj.-Gen. William-

Irvine (and accompanied by Governor Mifflin), and

. those of New Jersey, under Governor Richard Howell,

of that State. The commander-in-chief of the whole
army was Gen. Henry Lee, Governor of Virginia,
the “Light-Horse Harry” of Revolutionary fame,
and father of Gen. Robert E. Lee, the Confederate
commander in the war of 1861-65.

In his instructions from the President, the com-
mander-in-chief was directed to “ proceed as speedily
as may be with the army under your command into
the insurgent counties, to attack and as far as shall be
in your power to subdue all persons whom you may
find in arms in opposition to the laws. You will
march your army in two columns from the places
where they are now assembled, by the most convenient
routes, having regard to the nature of the-roads, the
convenience of supply, and the facility of co-opera-
tionnand union, and bearing in mind that you ought
to act, until the contrary shall. be fully developed, on
the general principle of having to contend with the
whole force of the counties of Fayette, Westmoreland,

Washington, and Allegheny, and of that part of Bed- '

ford which lies westward of the town of Bedford, and
that you are to put as little as possible to hazard.
The approximation, therefore, of your columns is to
be sought, and the subdivision of them so as to place
the parts out of mutual supporting distance to be
avoided as far as local circumstances will permit.
Parkinson’s Ferry appears to be a proper point
towards which to direct the march of the columns for
the purpose, of ulterior measures. I
“ When arrived within the insurgent country, if an

THE WHISKEY

INSURRECTION. 295

armed opposition appear, it may be proper to publish
a proclamation inviting all good citizens, friends to

' the constitution and laws, to join the standard of the

United States. If no armed opposition exist it may
still be proper to publish a proclamation exhorting to
a peaceful and dutiful demeanor, and giving assu-
rances of performing with good faith and liberality
whatsoever may have been promised by the commis-
sioners to those who have complied with the condi-
tions prescribed by them, and who have notforfeited
their title by subsequent misdemeanor. Of those
persons in arms, if any, whom you may make prisoners,

leaders, including all persons in command, are to be '

delivered t-o the civil magistrates, the rest to be dis-
armed, admonished, and sent” home (except such as

i 'may have been particularly violent and also influen-

tial), causing their own recognizances for their, good
behaviour to be taken in the cases which it may be
deemed expedient. . . . When the insurrection is
subdued, and the requisite means have been put in
execution to secure obedience to the laws, so as to
render it proper for the army to retire (an event which
you will accelerate as much as shall be consistent with
the object), you will endeavor to make an arrangement
for attaching such a force as you may deem adequate,
to be stationed within the disaffected counties in such
a manner as best to afford protection to well-disposed
citizens and the oflicers of the revenue, and to sup-

_ press, by their presence, the spirit of riot and opposi-

tion to the laws. But before you withdraw the army
you shall promise, on behalf of the President, a gen-
eral pardon to all such as shall.not have been arrested,
with such exceptions as you shall deem proper. . . .
You are to exert yourself by all possible means to
preserve discipline among the troops, particularly a

, scrupulous regard to the rights of persons and prop-

erty, and a respect for the authority of the civil mag-
istrates, taking especial care to inculcate and cause
to be observed this principle,-—that the duties of the
army are confined to attacking and subduing of armed
opponents of the laws, and to the supporting and aid-
ing of the civil officers in the execution of their func-
tions.

“ It has been settled that the Governor of Pennsyl-
vania will be second, and the Governor of New Jersey
third in command, and that the troops of the several

States in line on the march and upon detachment are

to be posted according to the rule which prevailed
in the army during the late war, namely, in moving
towards the seaboard the most southern troops will
take the right, in moving towards the north the most
northern troops will take the right. . . .”

In addition to his military duties as commanding
officer of the expeditionary forces, Gen. Lee was also
charged to give countenance and support to the civil
oflicers in the execution of the law, in bringing
offenders to justice, and enforcing penalties on delin-
quent distillers, and “the better to effect these pur-
poses” the judge of the United States District Court,

Richard Peters, Esq., and the attorney of the district,
William Rawle, Esq., accompanied the army.
President Washington, with‘ Gen. Henry’ Knox,
Secretary of War, and Gen. Alexander Hamilton,
Secretary of the Treasury, left Philadelphia on the 1st
or Qgtober, and proceeded by way of Harrisburg to
the headquarters of the right wing of the army at
Carlisle. From that place on the 11th he went to

Chambersburg, and thence by way of Williamsporti

to Fort Cumberland, where he arrived on the 14th,
and where he reviewed the Maryland and Virginia
troops, composing the left wing ; after which he pro-
ceeded to Bedford, Pa. (which was then Gen. ,Lee’s
headquarters), reaching it on the 19th, and remaining
there two or three days, then returning east, and ar-
riving at Philadelphia on the 28th. ‘

In the mean time the meeting of delegates (which i

had been called by the Washington meeting of the
27th of September, as before noticed) was held at
Parkinson’s Ferry on the 2d of October, Judge Alexan-
der Addison being made secretary.‘ At this meeting
William Findley, of Westmoreland, and David Redick,
of VVashington County, were appointed a committee to
wait on the President of the United States and to

assure him that submission and order could be re-,

stored without the aid of military force. They found
the President on the 10th of October at Carlisle, where
he had come to review the troops of the right wing of
the army, as before mentioned. They there had sev-
eral interviews with him, in which they informed him
of the great change that had taken place; “ that the
great body of the people who had no concern in the
disorders but remained quietly at home and attended
to their business had become convinced that the vio-
lence used would ruin the country; that they had
formed themselves into associations to suppress dis-
order, and to promote submission to the laws.” In
reply to this the President said that as the army was
already on its way to the western counties the orders
could not be countermanded, yet he assured the dele-
gates that no violence would be used, and that all
that was desired was to have the inhabitants of the
disaffected region come back to their allegiance.

This reply was final, and ended the mission of the.

committee. They returned and made their report at
another meeting, which was held at Parkinson’s on
the 24th of October, and of which Judge James Ed-
gar was chairman and Albert Gallatin secretary. At
this meeting of the committees of townships of the
four western counties of Pennsylvania and of sundry
other citizens” it was resolved, “ First,—That in our
opinion the civil authority is now fully competent to
enforce the laws and punish both past and future

1 “Bradford and Marshel attended the meeting; but how changed
from what they were in the same body less than one month before! The
former, particularly, was much crestfallen, and had become the most

humble in sueing for peace. He denied that he had deserted the cause;

it was the people who had deserted him.”-Eindley.

296

HISTORY OF WASHINGTON“ COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA.

offenses, inasmuch as the people at large are deter-

P ‘ mined to support every description of civil oflicers in

the legal discharge of their duty.

“Second,-—That in our opinion all persons who
may be charged or suspected of having committed any
offense against the United States or the State during
the late disturbances, and who have not entitled
themselves to the benefits of the act of oblivion,
ought immediately to surrender themselves to the
civil authority, in order to stand their trial; that if
there be any such persons among us they are ready to
surrender themselves to the civil authority accord-
ingly._a-rid that we will unite in giving our assistance
to bring to justice such offenders as shall not sur-
render. A . ‘

“ Third,———That in our opinion ofiices of inspection

_may be immediately opened in the respective coun-

ties.of this survey, without any danger of violence
being offered to any of the oflicers, and that the dis-
tillers are willing and ready to enter their stills.

“Fourth,-—-That William Findley, David Redick,
Ephraim Douglass, and Thomas Morton do wait on
the President with the foregoing resolutions.“

The four committee-men appointed by the meeting
to carry the renewed assurances to the President met
at Greensburg ‘preparatory to setting out on their
mission, but at that place they received intelligence
that the President had already left Bedford for Phila-
delphia, and that the army was moving towards the
Monongahela, and thereupon they decided to await
the arrival of the forces, and to report the action of
the meeting to the commander"-in-chief, as the Presi-
dent’s representative.

' There was no delay in the movement of the army.
The New Jersey and Pennsylvania troops, composing
the right wing, marched from Carlisle on the 22d of
October, and proceeded by way of Bedford, across that
county and Somerset, to what is now Mount Pleasant,
in Westmoreland, at which place the advance brigade
arrived and encamped on the 29th. The centre corps
(of this wing) encamped on the farm of Col. Bonnett,
in Westmoreland, near the line of Fayette County,
and the rear went into camp at Lobengier’s Mills on
the 30th. At these places they remained "encamped
about one Week. Following is an extract from a let-
ter2 written from the rear brigade, dated Jones’ Mill
(in Westmoreland County), Oct. 29, 17 84: “ I am

11“ Great indeed,” says Findley, “ was the difference ‘between the com-
plexion of this meeting, andpthat which met at the same place on the
14th of August preceding, and this difference was in a great measure
owing to a few men. Bradford, Fulton, Parkinson, Marshal, and others
who had contrived and promoted the meeting at Braddock’s Field had
either secured an amnesty by submitting in due time or fled out of the
country, and others, who perhaps had done neither, were ashamed to ap-
pear at this meeting, though the terror of them and their friends had
overawed the first; and a great number of respectable citizens attended
at this meeting who did not think it prudent to countenance the first.”

2 Papers Relating to the Whiskey Insurrection; Pennsylvania Ar-
chives, 2d Series, vol. iv. p. 433.

distressed at the ri,dicul_ous accounts sometimes pub-
lished in.our papers. I assure you that there has not
been a single shot fired at our troops to my knowl-
edge. The whole country trembles. The most tur-
bulent characters, as we advance, turn out to assist us,
supply forage, cattle,'etc. From Washington we hear
of little but fear and flight; a contrary account as to
one neighborhood (Pidgeon Creek) has been sent
down, but no appearance of an armed opposition, and
this the only part of the country where the friends of
government are not triumphant. Our army is healthy
and happy ; the men exhibit unexpected fortitude in
supporting the continued fatigues of bad roads and
bad weather.”

The left wing of the army moved from "Fort Cum-
berland on the 22d of October, and took the route
marched over by Gen. Braddock thirty-nineyears be-
fore to the Great Meadows, and from there to Union-
town, at which place Gen. Lee arrived on the last
day of October, and the main body of the left wing
came up and encamped there the same evening.
With this wing of the army came Col. Presley Ne-
ville, and with the right wing was Gen. John Neville,
who had fled from Pittsburgh on the 18th of July,
and had remained in the East from that time until
the marching of the army.

The committee-men, Findley, Redick, Douglass,
1 and Morton, who, as before mentioned, had been met

at Greensburg with the intelligence of the departure
of the President from Bedford, which decided them
to wait the arrival of the army, went to the head-
quarters of the right wing at Bonnett’s farm on the
30th of October, and presented the resolutions of as-
surance to Secretary Hamilton, who accompanied the
division of Governor Mifliin. The secretary examined
them and returned them to the committee, with the re-
mark that, “ for the sake of decorum, it would be best to
present them to the commander-in-chief.” This was

what the committee had intended to do, and learning

that Gen. Lee was then at or near Uniontown they
immediately left for that place, and arriving there on
the 31st of October,laid the business of their mission
before him, he having full power to act in the name
of the President. Secretary Hamilton also came over
from theright wing, and arrived at Uniontown on
the same evening.’

Gen. Lee received the committee with great polite-
ness,3 and requested them to call on him in the follow-

ing morning. At the appointed time he gave them -

his reply, which they embodied in their report, dated
Uniontown, Nov. 1, 17-94.‘ It was as follows:

3 The committee, however, were not very well pleased with their re-
ception by Gen. Lee. One of their number, Mr. Findley, said (in his
“ History of the Insurrection,” p. 199), “ Indeed, though we were treated
politely irf other respects and employed to assist in the fixing of neces-
saries for the army, and consulted about the ground on which it should
encamp when it advanced farther into the country, yet we did not meet
with that candour and frankness with which we had been treated by the
President at Carlisle.”

4 Penna. Archives, 2d Series, vol. iv. p. 437.

THE WHISKEY

IN SURRECT-ION . 297

“ GENTLEMEN,—The resolutions entered intoat the late meeting of the
people at Parkinson's Ferry, with the various papers declaratory of the
determinationof the numerous subscribers to maintain the civil authority,
manifest strongly a change of sentiment in the inhabitants of this dis-
trict. To what cause may truly be ascribed this favorable turn in the
public mind it is of my province to determine. Yourselves, in the con-
versation last evening, imputed it to the universal panic which the ap-
proach of the army of the United States had excited in the lower orders
of the people. If this be the ground of the late change,—and my respect
for your opinions will not permit me to doubt it,—the moment the cause
is removed the reign of violence and anarchy will return.

“ Whatever, therefore, may be the sentiments of the people respecting
the present competency of the civil authority to enforce the laws, I feel

.myself obligated by the trust reposed in me by the President of the
United States to hold the army in this country until daily practice shall '

convince all that the sovereignty of the Constitution and laws is unalter-
ably established. In executing this resolution I do not only consult the
dignity and interest of the United States, which will always command
my decided respect and preferential attention, but I also promote the
good of this particular district.

“ I shall, therefore, as soon’ as the troops are refreshed, proceed to some
central and convenient station, where I shall patiently wait until the
competency of the civil authority is experimentally and unequivocally
proved. No individual can be more solicitous than I am for this happy
event, and you may assure the good people whom you represent that
every aid will be cheerfully contributed by me to hasten the delightful

' epoch.

“On the part of all good citizens I confidently expect the most active
and faithful co-operation, which in my judgment cannot be more effect-
ually given than by circulating in the most public manner the truth
among the people, and by inducing the various clubs which have so suc-
cessfully poisoned the minds of the inhabitants to continue their usual
meetings for the pious purpose of contradicting, with their customary
formalities, their past pernicious doctrines. A conduct so candid should
partially atone for the injuries which in a great degree may be at-
tributed to their instrumentality, and must have a propitious influence
in administering a radical cure to the existing disorders. /

“ On my part, and on the part of the patriotic army I have the honor ‘

to command, assure your fellow-citizens that we come to protect and not
to destroy, and that our respect for our common government, and respect
to our own honor, are ample pledges for the propriety of our demeanor.
Quiet, therefore, the apprehensions of all on this score,and recommend
universally to the people to prepare for the use of the army whatever
they can spare from their farms necessary to its subsistence, for which
they shall be paid in cash at the present market price; discourage ex-
action of every sort, not only because it would testify a disposition very
unfriendly, but because it would probably produce very disagreeable
scenes. It is my duty to take care that the troops are comfortably sub-
sisted, and I cannot but obey it with the highest pleasure, because I in-
timately know their worth and excellence.
“ I have the honor to be, gentlemen,
“Your most obedient servant,
“ With due consideration,
“ HENRY LEE.”

This reply, or address to the people, was printed
and circulated extensively in every part of the four
counties.

_ After a stay of a few days at Uniontown and Mount
Pleasant respectively, the two columns of the army
moved on in obedience to the general orders of the
commander-in-chief, as follows: ' '

“ HEADQUARTERS,
“ UNION (BEEsoN’s) TowN, Nov. 2, 1794.

“ The army will resume its march on the morning of the 4th, at the
hour of eight, when a signal-gun will be fired. They will advance in
two columns, composed of the respective wings. The right column will
take the route by Lodge’s to Budd’s Ferry, under the command of his
Excellency Governor Mitflin, who will please to take the most conven-
ient situation in the vicinity of that place for the accommodation of
the troops and wait further orders. The left column will proceed on

- the route to Peterson’s, on the east side of Parkinson's Ferry, under the

orders of Major-General Morgan; they will march by the left in the
following manner: Light corps, cavalry, artillery, Virginia brigade,

Maryland brigade, the baggage to follow each corps, and the public
stores of every kind inthe rear of the Virginia. brigade. On the first
day the light corps and artillery will march to Washington Bottom,
fourteen miles; the Virginia brigade to Peterson's farm, twelve miles;
the cavalry under Major Lewis will move with the commander-in-chief ;
the bullocks to precede the army at daylight. On the second day the
column will proceed to the camp directed to be marked out between
Parkinson’s and Budd’s Ferries.

“ Should Brigadier-General Smith find the second day’s ‘march rather
too much. he will be pleased to divide the same into two days. The
quartermaster-general will immediately take measures for the full sup-
ply of forage and straw at the diflerent stages. The commissary will
place the necessary supply of provisions at particular intermediate
stages where issues will be necessary; guards over the straw as soon as
the vanreaches the ground, and to see the same fairly divided amongst
the troops. [Here follows the assignment of straw to each brigade, to
the cavalry and artillery, and directions for making out the pay-rolls
for one month’s pay from the commencement of service.] The inspector
and muster-master-generals of the respective line will also make pay-rolls
for the general staff, to be countersigned by the commander-in—chief
previous to payment. . HENRY LEE.

“ By the Commander-in-Chief,

“ G. H. TAYLOR, Aide-de-Oamp.”

Under these orders the left wing marched from
Uniontown, and the right wing from its camps at
Mount Pleasant, Bonnett’s, and Lobengier’s, at the
appointed time, and moving. to the vicinity of the
Monongahela and Youghiogheny Rivers, in West-
moreland County, went into camp at the place desig-
nated, between Parkinson’s and Budd’s Ferries. From
his headquarters, “near.Parkinson’s Ferry,” on the
8th of November, the commander-in-chief issued an
address or proclamation to the inhabitants of certain
counties lying west of the Laurel Hill, in the State
of Pennsylvania, the tone of which was a little after
the manner of a conquering chieftain addressing the
people of a subjugated province. “ You see,” he said,
“ encamped in the bosom of your district a numerous
and well-appointed army, formed of citizens of every
description from this and the neighboring States of
New Jersey, Maryland, and Virginia, whom the vio-
lated laws of our common country have called from
their homes to vindicate and restore their authority.
. . . The scene before your eyes ought to bean in-
structive one; it ought to teach many useful truths,
which should, for your own happiness, make a deep
and lasting impression on your minds. . . . Those
who have been perverted from their duty may now
perceive the dangerous tendency of the doctrines by
which they have been misled, and how unworthy of
their confidence are the men by whom, for personal
and sinister purposes, they have been brought step by
step to the precipice from which they have no escape
but in the moderation and benignity of that very
government which they have vilified, insulted, and
opposed. The friends of order may also perceive in
the perils and evils that have for some time sur-
rounded them how unwise and even culpable is that
carelessness and apathy with which they have
permitted the gradual approaches of disorder and
anarchy.”

The general then proceeded to recommend to -the
people to manifest their good intentions by taking and
subscribing an oath (the form of which he prescribed)

-298

HISTORY OF WASHINGTON COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA.

to support the constitution and obey the laws, and
by entering into associations to protect and aid all
government oflicers in the execution of their duties.
He further recommended to all men able and willing
to do military duty, and truly attached to their gov-
ernment and country, “ to array themselves into
regiments, one for each county, and to place them-
selves under such oflicers as may be selected by the
Governor of the State, known to be firm friends to
order and right, upon the express conditions of hold-
ing themselves in constant readiness to act in defense
of the civil authority whenever called upon, receiving
for their services the same pay and subsistence as is
allowed to the militia of the United States when in
actual service.” He then concluded his proclamation
as follows: “ In pursuance of the authority vested in
me by the President of the United States, and in
obedience to his instructions, I do moreover assure
all who may have entitled themselves to the benefit
of the amnesty proffered by the commisioners hereto-
fore sent by him to this district, and who may not
have forfeited their title by subsequent misconduct,
that the promise will be faithfully and liberally ob-
served, and that all possible endeavors will be used
to prevent injury to the persons or property of peace-
able citizens by the troops, whose sole province it is
to subdue those, if any there should be, hardy enough
to attempt an armed resistance, and to support and
aid the civil authority as far as may be required. To
the promulgation of these, my orders, I with pleasure
add my assurances that every exertion will be made
by me——and, from my knowledge of the officers and
soldiers of the army, I am persuaded with full suc-
cess——to carry these Wise and benevolent views of the
President into complete effect.”

The entire army‘ remained in the neighborhood of
Parkinson’s Ferry for about ten days, after which the
main part of the troops moved down the Mononga-

hela River, and on the 15th of November a detach- "

ment was marched from the vicinity of Parkinson’s
to the town of Washington, accompanied by Secretary
Hamilton and Judge Peters, and taking with them a
large number of prisoners which had been taken in
the eastern part of Washington County. All the
prisoners taken by the army, excepting three, were
taken in that county and Allegheny, under Gen.
Lee’s special orders,‘ issued for that purpose to Gen.
Irvine and other ofiicers.

1 The following are extracts from Gen. Lee’s orders to Gen. William
Irvine:

' “ HEAD QUARTERS NEAR PARKINSON’S FERRY,
“ November 9th, 1794.

“ SIR,—From the delays and danger of escape which attend the pres-
ent situation of judiciary investigations to establish preliminary pro-
cesses against offenders, it is deemed advisable to proceed in a summary
manner in the most disaffected scenes against those who have notori-
ously committed treasonable acts; that is, to employ the military for the
purpose of apprehending and bringing such persons before the judge of
the district [Judge Peters], to be by him examined and dealt with ac-
cording to law; to you is committed the execution of this object within
that part of Allegheny County to which you are advancing. . . . The

The I time indicated in these orders (Thursday
morning, November 13th) was the time. when most
of the arrests were made by the military. During
the night following these arrests the prisoners suffered
greatly from cold, wet, hunger, and other causes, and
on this account‘ it has been called by Brackenridge
and others “ the terrible night,” though Why that
term was applied to the night of the 13th more than
to that of the 14th does not appear, as the condition
of the prisoners was fully as bad 011 the latter as on
the former night.
rection have given so much of notoriety to these
arrests and the manner in which they were made that
it seems proper to mentionthem here at some length.
The Rev. James Carnahan, afterwards President of
Princeton College, but at that time a student in the
academy at Canonsburg, gave the following account
of some of them:

“ Companies of horsemen were scattered in different
directions over the country, and as there was no oppo-
sition, it was thought the army were about to return.
On the night of the 13th of November,” a frosty night,
about one o’clock, the horse was sallied forth, and be-
fore daylight arrested in their beds about two hundred
men. A company of Virginia horse were stationed
for several days near Canonsburg, and I give the man-
ner of their proceedings as a sample of what probably
occurred in other places. About two o’clock in the
morning they surrounded the house where I lodged,
and some came in and ordered my landlord, an old

persons apprehended ought to be leading or influential characters or
particularly violent. You will find a list (N o. 3) ; this paper comprehends
witnesses. The individuals are to be brought forward and treated as
such. Direct all who may be apprehended by you to be conveyed to
your camp until further orders. Send off your parties of horse with good
guides, and at such a period as to make the surprises, however distant or
near, at the same moment, or intelligence will precede them and some
of the culprits will escape. I presume the proper hour will be at day-
break on Thursday morning, and have therefore desired the operation
to be then performed in every quarter.
“ I have the honor to be, sir,
“ With great respect,
“ Your most obedient servant,
“ HENRY LEE.”

The following, purporting to be a letter from Gen. Lee to Gen. Mor-
gan, is in possession of Judge Cranmer, of Wheeling. It does not have
the appearance of a letter of instructions from a commanding general,
but it may have been such. It is given for what it is worth, viz.:

“DEAR SIR,—Biggs‘went away yesterday charged with instructions
relative to the Ohio culprits. Dic-k’s is sent to Morgantown with similar
instructions; you will receive herewith the plan and business as it re-
spects the county of Washington.

“ Mr. Williams tells me that the people will not thresh out their wheat"

and therefore that the army may be reduced to want unless they are im-
mediately made so to do. This furnishes an excellent pretext on the
present occasion. Your horse can be assembled for the purpose of visit-
ing the farmers with orders to insist on their getting out their grain.
In executing this order publicly they can well accomplish the other
business——farewell. ‘
I “ Yours,
“HARRY LEE,
, “ 11th Nov.',1794, H. Quarters,”

2 Dr. Carnahan is evidently mistaken in the date. He gives the im-
pression that the arrests were made in the night of the 13th and morn-
ing of the 14th. They were made in the morning of the 13th, most of
them between three o’clock and sunrise.

The various histories of the insur- ’

THE WHISKEY INSURRECTION.

man, to rise and guide them to a neighborhood about
eight miles distant, where he was well acquainted.
He had no horse. They inquired where a horse could
be found. He named two or three places. They
wanted a guide to the stables. The old man had no
servant in the house. Two boys belonging to the
academy lodged in an upper chamber. The older
one, of an impetuous temper, had talked big in favor
of the insurgents, a11d he believed the horsemen had
come to arrest him, and he lay trembling in bed.
The younger, more considerate, had always con.-

demned the insurgents. Conscious of innocence, he

jumped up and ran down-stairs, half dressed, to see
what was going on. The horsemen slapped him with
their scabbards, and ordered him to show them the

- stables. He had to go, and run about a quarter of a

mile without shoes, frosty as it was. N 0 horse was to

be found at the first stable, and then he had to run as-

far in a different direction, and happily found a horse.

‘The epithet ‘young insurgent,’ with additional hard’

words, were liberally applied, with an occasional slap
to quicken his steps. This lad was afterwards the
Rev. Dr. 0. Jennings, of Nashville, Tenn.

“ In justice to the Virginia, Maryland, and Phila-
delphia horsemen, it must be said they made i arrests

' and treated their prisoners with as much gentleness

and humanity as practicable. Yet we can easily im-
agine what terror seized mothers, sisters, and wives
when their sons and brothers and husbands were

' taken out of bed and carried off, they knew not

whither. That night was afterward called ‘the
dreadful night.’

.“A large number of prisoners from Washington
County were collected together at the county town,
and taken thence to Pittsburgh under guard. The
object in taking them .to Pittsburgh was that they

‘ might be examined by a district judge, so as to ascer-

tain which of them ought to be taken to Philadelphia
for trial. I saw them on their way as they entered

Canonsburg, and were placed in a large upper room‘

in the academy to lodge for the night. They were
conducted by the Philadelphia and New Jersey cav-
alry. The contrast between the Philadelphia horse-
men and the prisoners was the most striking that can
be imagined.” Then, after describing the splendid
appearance of the Philadelphia troopers, with their
fine blue uniforms and flashing sabres, and all
mounted on beautiful bay horses, superbly capari-
soned and glittering with silver trappings, he pro-
ceeds, “The prisoners were also mounted on horses,
of all shapes, sizes, and colors; some large, some
small, some long tails, some short, some white, some
black, some fat, some lean, some of every color and
form that can be named. Some had saddles, some
blankets, some bridles, some halters, some with stir-
rups, some with none. The riders were also various
and grotesque in their appearance. Some were old,
some young, some hale, respectable-looking men;
others were pale, meagre, and shabbilydressed. Some

had great-coats, others had blankets on their shoul-
ders. The countenance of some was downcast, mel-
ancholy, dejected; that of others stern, indignant,
manifesting that they thought themselves undeservin g
such treatment. Two Philadelphia horsemen rode'in
front, and then two prisoners, and so two horsemen
and two prisoners alternately throughout a line ex-
tending perhaps half a mile. I have more than once
seen gangs of fifty or sixty negroes tied to a long rope,
two and two opposite to each other, and marched to a
distant slave-market; but their anguish and indigna-
tion was not to be compared to that manifested by
these Western men. If these men had been the ones
chiefly guilty of the disturbance, it would have been
no more than they deserved. But the guilty had
signed the amnesty, or had .left the country before
the army approached. It has been estimated that be-
tween one and two thousand men, with rifles in their
hands, had withdrawn, and remained absent until the
army left the country.” V l

The following account of the capture of a large
number of prisoners on Mingo and Peters Creeks by
Brig.-Gen. Anthony M. White, of New Jersey, and
their brutal treatment at his hands, is related by
Findley in his “ History of the Western Insurrec-
tion;” but it is not improper to say here that his
statements may have been a good deal exaggerated,
as there is to be seen through all his narrative an
unmistakable disposition to place in the worst pos-
sible light every occurrence or act done by the army,
particularly all which could by any assumption be
supposed to have been authorized, encouraged, or
countenan-ced by Secretary Hamilton or executed by
Brig.-Gen. White. —

“ On Thursday, the 13th of November, there were
about forty persons brought to Parkinson’s house,- by
order of Gen. White. He directed to put the damned
rascals in the cellar, to tie them back to back, to make
a fire for the guard, but to put the prisoners back to
the farther end of the cellar, and to give them neither
victuals nor drink. The cellar was wet and muddy,
and the night cold; the cellar extended the whole

length under a large new log house, which was neither .

floored. nor the openings between the logs daubed.
They were kept there until Saturday morning, and
then marched to the town of Washington. On the
march one of the prisoners, who was subject to con-
vulsions, fell into a fit, but when some of the troops
told Gen. White of his situation’ he ordered them to
tie the damned rascal to a horse’s tail and drag him
along with them, for he had only feigned having the

fits. Some of his fellow-‘prisoners, however, who had '

a horse, dismounted and let the poor man ride. He
had another fit before. he reached Washington. This
march was about twelve miles. The poor man who
had the fits had been in the American service during
almost the whole of the war with Great Britain.

“ Having heard much aboutthis inhuman business,
and having occasion last summer [17 96] to go to Wash-

299,

WASHINGTON’S CAMPAIGN -OF 1754.

35

commander received Ensign VVard with great polite-
ness, invited him to supper that evening, and enter-
tained him for the night. On the morning of the 18th,
Ward took his departure, marched his men up the
valley of the Monongahela, and on the 19th arrived
at the mouth of Redstone. Creek. From that point
he pushed on by_way of Gist’s, and thence to the Great
Crossings of the Youghiogheny, and arrived at Wills’
Creek on the 22d of April. The fort which Ward
had been compelled to surrender to Contrecoeur was
completed by the French force with all practicable
dispatch, and named “ Fort Du Quesne” in honor of
the Marquis Du Quesne, the French Governor-Gen-
eral of Canada. *

While the events already related were in progress,
troops, intended for the occupation of the “ Forks of
the Ohio,” were being raised and organized under the
authority of Governor Dinwiddie, in Virginia, and
the first detachment of these was sent forward under
command of Lieut.-Col. George Washington, who, on
the 31st of March, had received from the Governor a
commission (dated March 15th) of that grade, in the
Virginia regiment of which Col. Joshua Fry was the
commanding officer, with orders to take the troops
then quartered in Alexandria, and to march them to
the Ohio, “there to help Capt. Trent to build forts,
and to defend the possessions of his Majesty against
the attempts a11d hostilities of the French.”

The detachment thus ordered forward under Wash-
ington consisted of two companies of infantry, com-
manded respectively by Capt. Peter I-Iogg and Lieut.
James Van Braam} Besides the commanding officer
and the two company commandants, the force con-
sisted of “ five subalterns, two sergeants, six corporals,
one drummer, and one hundred and twenty soldiers,

was nearly completed, this Deponent, who commanded in the absence
of- Capt. Trent, was put to the necessity of V surrendering the possession
to a Superior number of Troops, commanded by a French Oflicer, who
demanded it in the name of the King of France; at which timethe Half-
King, and a number of the Six Nations in the English Interests were
present. This deponent further saith that in the year 1752, and before
his surrender to the French, there was a small Village, Inhabited by the
Delawares, on the South East side of the Allegheny River, in the neigh-
borhood of that place, and that old Kittanning, on the same side of the
said River, was then Inhabited by the Delawares; that about one-third
of the Shawanese Inhabited Loggs Town on the West Side of the Ohio,
and tended Corn on the East Side of the River--and the other part of
the nation lived on the Scioto River. That the Deputies of the Six Na-
tions after the surrender Joined the Virginia Forces, Commanded by
Colonel George Washington, who was then on his march at the Little
Meadows, and continued with him in the service of Virginia till after
the defeat of Monsieur La Force and a party of French Troops under his
Command. And the deponent further saith that subsequentto the de-
feat of Colo. Washington at the great Meadows, the Shawanese, Dela-
wares, and many of the Western Tribes of Indians, and an inconsider-_
able number of Renegades of the Seneca,Tribe, one of the Six Nations,
joined the French, and Prosecuted a War against the Frontiers of the
States of Virginia, Maryland, and Pennsylvania, till the conclusion of
the Peace with the Indians in the year 1759, but that he ever under-
stood that the Body of the Six Nations continued the firm Friends of
the English. . . .”

1 The same person who. in the preceding autumn, had accompanied
Washington to Fort Le Boeuf as French interpreter.

one surgeon,’ and one Swedish gentleman, who was a
volunteer.”

On Tuesday, the 2d of April, at noon, the force
marched out of Alexandria with two wagons, and
camped that night six miles from the town. From
that time nothing of note occurred in fifteen days’
marching, except that the detachment was joined by
a small company under Capt. Stephen,3 bringing the

total strength of the command up to about one hun-

dred and fifty men.

Washington kept no regular journal on the expe-
dition, but he made hasty notes of many occurrences ;
which notes were captured by the French at the bat-
tle of the Monongahela in 1755, and were by them
preserved and published, though Washington said
afterwards that they had distorted parts of them.
One memorandum, dated April 19th, is to this effect:
“ Met an express who had letters from Capt. Trent, at
the Ohio,‘ demanding a reinforcement with all speed,
as he hourly expected a body of eight hundred French.5
I tarried at Job Pearsall’s for the arrival of the troops,
where they camethe next day. When I received the
above express, I dispatched a courier to Col. Fry, to
give him notice of it.

“ The 20th.—Came down to Col. Cresap’s [Old Town,
Md.] to order the detachment, and on my route had
notice that the fort was taken by the French. That
news was confirmed by Mr. Ward, the ensign of Capt.
Trent, who had been obliged to surrender to a body
of one thousand French and upwards,“ under com-
mand of Capt. Contrecoeur, who was come down from
Venango with sixty bateaux and three hundred-
canoes, and who, having planted eighteen pieces of
cannon against the fort, afterwards had sent him a
summons to depart.”

Ensign Ward, as before mentioned, arrived at Wills’

Creek on the 22d. Washington, on receiving Ward’s

account of the surrender of the fort to the ‘French,
convened a council’ of war at Wills’ Creek to'deter-
mine on the proper course to be pursued in this exi-
gency. The council was held on the 23d, and decided"
“that it would be proper to advance as far as Red-

2 Dr. James Craik, afterwards the family physician of Washington, and
his intimate and life-long friend. .

3 Afterwards Gen. Stephen, of the Revolutionary army, under Wash-
ington. _

4 Capt. Trent appears to have attempted to conceal the fact that he had
absented himself from his command at the Forks of the Ohio, leaving
Ensign Ward in charge, an offense .for which he was severely censured
by Governor Dinwiddie, who, on discovering it, proposed to have him
court-martialed for it.

5 Reinforcements had gone on about that time from Canada to the
French on the Allegheny. On the 27th of March the commanding
oflicer at Oswego (Lieut. Holland) had sent notice that “ an Indian from
Cataraqui had seen a few days before four hundred French on their way
to the Ohio, and understood that two hundred more were tofollow.”
Information was also brought to Philadelphia by Conrad Weiser from
the Ohio that the Six Nations had sent word of three columns of French
passing Lake Ontario on their way to the Ohio, the first column having
four hundred men, the second three hundred, and the third four hun-
dred, and that more were to come.

_5 Ward overestimated the numbers of Contrecoeur’s force, as it was
very natural that he should do under the circumstances.

300

HISTORY OF WASHINGTON COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA.

ington, I traveled that road for the first time that I
had ever been in that settlement and lodged a night
at the place. The plantation is the property of Ben-
jamin Parkinson, but rented by him to a Mr. Stock-
dale, who keeps tavern at it, and who seems to be a
decent man, and one against whom there is no charge.
He not only confirmed what I have stated above, but
added a variety of other particulars equally shocking.
Stockdale was forbid, on the peril of his life, to ad-
minister any comfort to his neighbors, though they
were perishing with cold and famishing with hunger.
The general treated the prisoners as they arrived with
the most insulting and abusive language, causing
them all to be tied back to back except one man, who
held a respectable rank, and who, however, was said
to be one of the most guilty in his custody. One of
the nearest neighbors, who had a child at the point

of dying, and observing that they were bringing in r

the whole neighborhood prisoners, without regard to
guilt or innocence, went and gave himself up to Gen.
White, expecting, as he was conscious there was no
charge against him, that he would be permitted to
return to his family on giving bail, but he also was
inhumanly. thrown into the cellar, tied with the rest,
and refused the privilege of seeing his dying child;
nor washe permitted to attend its funeral until after
many entreaties he obtained that liberty, accompanied
with the most horrid oaths and imprecations.

“ The most of these prisoners were found to be in-
nocent men, and were liberated. There were but
three sent to Philadelphia for trial; one of them,
after having been dismissed at Pittsburgh, and per-
haps having taken a hearty grog, through joy at
regaining his liberty, expressed himself unbecom-
ingly to some of the light-horsemen. He was after-
wards pursued near thirty miles, and taken to Phila-
delphia; but there was no cause of action found
against him at the court. He had served with ap-
probation in the army during the war; his name was
Samuel Noy.

“ A captain, with a detachment of the army, who
took a number of prisoners in the southern part of
Washington County, is asserted to have driven his
prisoners like cattle, at a trot, through creeks, up to
their middle in water, and to have impounded them
in a wet stable at night, and otherwise to have mal-
treated and insulted them; though this fact has been
confidently asserted, and never contradicted, yet not
having the vouchers for it before me, I shall pass it
over without being more particular.

“ Capt. Dunlap, of Philadelphia, and his company
were sent to Muddy Creek in the upper end of Wash-
ington County ; they took Colonel Crawford and son,_
Mr. Sedgwick, a justice of the peace,'Mr. Corbly,'a
clergyman of the Baptist .persuasion, and others.
Theywere taken early in the morning, and had no,
opportunity of » making resistance. Capt. Dunlap
and his party, while -they behaved with the greatest
dexterity in taking the prisoners, treated them with

as much politeness and attention as their situation
would admit of, and engaged their gratitude by ac-
companying unavoidable severity with humanity.‘
Capt. Dunlap had a discrimination made in his or-
ders between witnesses and supposed criminals, but
treated them all with humanity, and had them com-
fortably lodged and provided with victuals and drink
previous to his taking refreshments himself. By the
orders given to Gen. Irwin [Irvine ?] he was obliged
to take and treat them all as criminals, but he did
not insult any of them himself, nor permit them
to be insulted by others in his hearing, and he pro-
vided for them as well as the camp would permit, and
that being a very uncomfortable situation, he had
them removed from it as soon as he could. . . . Gen.
White was himself the leading, or perhaps the only
man of his corps who insulted the prisoners with the
most opprobrious language, and punished them in the
most shocking manner, short of inflicting death.”
An account of the arrest of one of the elders of the
Associate Presbyterian Church in Chartiers township
at that time is related by Alexander Murdoch, Esq.,
of Washington borough, as follows: “In one of the

last conversations I had with my mother, who was a

daughter of the Rev. Matthew Henderson, of the As-
sociate (now United Presbyterian) Congregation of
Chartiers, she related the following incident touching
the Whiskey Insurrection in Western Pennsylvania.
On a certain Sabbath morning [probably Sunday,
Nov. 16, 1794] Mr. Henderson, with my mother
(who was then a little girl) riding behind him, on
horseback, started for the old church on the hill.
When they reached the road leading to Pittsburgh,
they saw, in advance of them, a jumper, made of
hickory poles, hauled by a horse; and on this sled
was a copper still and the different appliances for the
manufacture of whiskey. This was a most unusual
sight on a quiet Sabbath morning in that religious
and orderly community. But in a moment after
they were horrified by seeing a file of United States
soldiers, and in their midst, a close prisoner, was one
of the elders of Mr. Henderson’s congregation, the
owner of the confiscated still. When the elder saw
his preacher he exclaimed in most piteous tones,
‘Ah, Meester Henderson, ain’t this terrible?’
Henderson being a law-abiding man proceeded to
his church in discharge of his sacred duties, leaving
his poor elder to answer the charge of distilling
liquors without the payment of a government tax.”

1 “ These prisoners,” says Findley, “ assert that they had not the oppor-
tunity of signing the terms bf the commissioners until the appointed
day was past. They were admitted to bail after several months’ impris-
onment, and though two of those persons were reported to have been a
good deal inflammatory, there was no bill found against any of them
on their trial. They were not engaged in the outrages against excise
oflicers, or at the rendezvous at Braddock’s Field. I cannot find that
Sedgwick, the justice of the peace, had done anything to lay a founda-
tion even for suspicion. Crawford, the younger, had been one of the
armed party who appeared at the Redstone meeting with a design to
punish Jackson; but he was dismissed at Pittsburgh.” ’

Mr. ‘

'nor daubing in the cabin.

THE WHISKEY

_.j._.......

INSURRECTION. 301

Among the prisoners taken (and afterwards n1arch.ed

to Philadelphia) was Capt. Robert Porter, of Wash-
ington County. He found that his name was in the
list of those who had been denounced as participants
in the insurrection, and, without waiting for arrest,
he, on the 13th of November, proceeded to the mouth
of Mingo Creek, where the Virginia brigade. of Gen.
Matthews was encamped, and delivered himself up
to C01. Campbell, asking for an examination. A
man named Pollock appeared and made some charges
against him, but as he was intoxicated .and could bring
no facts to support his accusations, no notice was taken
of them, and he was ordered out of the camp as a vag-
abond, but Capt. Porter was still held in custody. A
narrative of events which followed (gathered from

entries in Capt. Porter’s journal, written by his own

hand) was furnished by his grandson, J. M. Porter,
to H. M. Brackenridge, and by him published in his
“ History‘ of the Western Insurrection,” from which
the following extracts are taken : '
“On the night of the 13th November,‘ 17 94, James
Stewart, Joseph Chambers, Jacob Forwood, Joel
Ferree, George Swasick, Sr., George Swasick, Jr.,
James Swasick, George Sickman, and James Mc-
Bride were brought into camp, handcuffed, and deliv-
ered over to the provost-guard. On the 14th, Col.
Lane’s regiment, with the prisoners, marched down
the river to Benjamin Bentley’s, the balance of the

' army, with the baggage, marching by Esquire Bar-
’clay’s, the army constantly swearing and heaping

imprecations against the rebels that occasioned their
coming so far over hills and mountains without the
satisfaction of a man to oppose them or a gun fired

upon them. At Bentley’s the prisoners were confined .

in a log cabin overnight without fire, though it was
a cold, snowy, stormy night, and neither chunking
On the 15th they were
ordered down to the Governor’s. [Lee’s] body-guard,
and by them delivered over to Capt. George Denial,
and were marched the same daythrough the snow-
storm toward Pittsburgh, where they arrived on the

16th. On the 17th they were conducted to the gar-1

risen, and delivered to the care of Col. Butler.”

The commander—in-chief, at Uniontown, on the 1st
of November, had announced his intention “ to‘ hold
the army in this" country until daily practice shall
convince all that the sovereignty of the Constitution
.and laws is unalterably established.” In a few days
after his forces marched northward from that place he
became so convinced, and at once began to make ar-
arrangements for the return of the army. The notifi-
cation of the reopening of the inspection oflices was
made on the 10th,1 and they were accordingly re-

1 “ The announcement by Inspector Neville was as follows: ,

“ Notice is hereby given that on Thursday, the 20th instant, an office
of inspection will be opened at Pittsburgh for the county of Allegheny, at
the town of Washington for the county of Washington, at Greensburg
for the county of Westmoreland, and at Union Town for the county of
Fayette. All distillers are required forthwith to enter their stills at the

20

opened ten days later without opposition at the prin-
cipal towns of the four counties. The withdrawal of
the army was announced, and the order of its return
march directed, in orders by Gen. Lee, dated “ Head-
quarters, Pittsburgh, Nov. 17, 1794,” viz.:

“-The complete fulfillment of every object dependent on the efforts of
the army makesit the duty of the commander-in-chief to take measures
for the immediate return of his faithful fellow-soldiers to their respec-
tive homes, irf execution of which no delay will be permitted but that
which results from the consultation of their comfort.

“ On Tuesday morning, at the hour of eight, the Pennsylvania Cavalry
will be ready to accompany his Excellency Governor Mitflin, whose ofli-
cial duties renders his presence necessary at the seat of government.

“On the next day the first division of the right column, consisting of
the Artillery and Proctor’s Brigade, under the orders of Maj.-Gen. Irvine,
will commence their march to Bedford, on the route commonly called
the Old Pennsylvania road.

“ The following day at the same hour the New Jersey Line will move
under the command of his Excellency Governor Howell, who will be
pleased to pursue from Bedford such routes as he may find convenient.

“ On the subsequent day at the same hour the residue of the Pennsyl-
vania Line now on this ground will march under the command of Brig..
Gen. Chambers, taking the route heretofore mentioned, and making the
same stages as shall have been made by the leading division. Maj.-Gen.
Frelinghuysen, with the Elite Corps of the right column, will follow the
next dayand pursue the same route. _

“ Brig.-Gen. Smith, with the Maryland Line, will move to Uniontown,
agreeably to orders heretofore communicated to him, and from thence
to proceed on Braddock’s road to Fort Cumberland, where he will adopt
the most convenient measures in his power for the return of his troops
to their respective counties.

“ Brig.-Gen. Matthews will move on Wednesday ‘next to Morgan
Town, from thence to Winchester by way of Frankfort. From Winches-
ter the troops will be marched to their respective brigades under the
commanding oflicers from each brigade.

“ As soon as the public service will permit afterwards, the Elite Corps
of the left column, under Gen. Dark, will follow on the route prescribed
for Brig. Matthews, and be disbanded as they reach their respective
brigades.

“ . . . The corps destined for the winter defense will move without
delay to Bentley’s Farm, on the west side of the Monongahela, near
Perry’s Ferry, where they will receive orders from Maj .-Gen. Morgan.

“The Virginia Cavalry will take the route by Morgan Town, from
thence to Winchester by Romney’s; the commandant will receive par-
ticular instructions as to their time and manner of march.

“The right column will receive their pay (still due) at Bedford, the
Maryland Line at Fort Cumberland, and the Virginia Line at VVinches-
ter. . . .”

The army moved on its return in accordance with
these orders. The right column marched from Pitts-
burgh, by way of Greensburg, Ligonier, and Stony
Creek, to Bedford, and thence by way of Fort Lyt-
tleton, Stradsburg, and Shippensburg to Carlisle. The
troops of the left column returned by different routes,
the Virginians marching up the Monongahela valley

office of the county in which they respectively reside, and to do further
what the laws prescribe concerning the same, of which they may receive
more particular information from the oflicer of inspection with whom
entry is made.

“ JOHN NEVILLE,

“ Inspector of the Revenue, District of Pennsylvania, Fourth Survey.
“ Nov. 10, 1794.”

On the 27th of November the inspector announced that he was “di-
rected to notify all persons in the counties of Allegheny, Fayette, and
Bedford against whom suits have been commenced in the court of the
United States for neglecting to enter their stills that upon their coming
forward immediately to the collectors of each county and paying one
year’s arrearages upon the capacity of the. still and the costs, of suit, a
bill of which will be furnished, the actions will be discontinued.”-
Penna. Archives, iv., pp. 449, 4.81. ‘

302

HISTORY OF WASHINGTON COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA.

into their own State, and passing 011 by way of Mor-n

gantown to Winchester; and the Maryland brigade
starting from its camp at Pierce’s Ferry, thence mov-
ing southeastwardly through Fayette County and its
county town to the Great Crossings of the Youghio-
gheny, and from there to Fort Cumberland by the
same route over which it had advanced.

The corps left under command of Gen. Morgan, to
remain in this region through the winter for the pres-
ervation of. order, and to assist, if necessary, in the
execution of the laws, was placed in camp at Bent1ey’s
on the southwest side of the Monongahela. This force
was composed in partvof troopswho had come from
the East under Gen. ‘Lee, and partly of men enlisted
in the western counties, as advised in the proclama-
tion of the commander-in-chief of November 8th, and
authorized to the number of two thousand five hun-
dred men by an act of Assembly of the 29th of the
same month. Of those who were thus enlisted, Find-
ley says that many of them were reported to have
been among the most troublesome of the insurgents;
that the people in the neighborhood complained
“ that many of them, for some time at first, demanded
free quarters and such things as they stood in need of
without pay, and that some of the officers committed
indictable offenses; but when the persons against
whom the offenses were committed commenced pros-

_ ecutions they settled the disputes amicably and be-

haved well for the future. And when the people
took courage to refuse to submit to impositions, the
soldiers ceased to demand free quarters, or to be
otherwise troublesome.” But the tenor of the orders
issued by Gen. Morgan1 to the troops under his com-

mand, and the well-known character of that gen?

eral in the matter of the enforcement of discipline,
render it probable that the above statements of Mr.
Findley, like others made by him in disparagement
of the army and its oflicers, ought to be received with
some degree of incredulity.

Gen. Morgan’s forces continued in their canton-

1 They were as follows:
“ General Orders.
“ CAMP, BENTLEY’s FARM, Nov. 30, 1794.

“ The General anticipates the happiest issue that the army he has the
honor to command will aiford to the laws and friends of good order and
government in the four western counties of Pennsylvania. The will-
ingness with which the citizens have enrolled themselves to co-operate
with the army in the restoration of obedience to the laws are pleasing
evidences that the unhappy delusion which lately pervaded this country,
under the auspices of the friends of anarchy, are at an end.

‘‘ The General hopes that the army now hutting for winter-quarters
will. consider themselves as in the bosom of their friends,_& that they
will vie with each other in promoting the love and esteem of their fel-
low-citizens, and pointedly avoid every species of spoilation on the
property of the inhabitants. »

“ The officers commanding fatigue parties are particularly directed
not to suffer the sugar or other trees producing fruit or comfort to the
farmer to be cut down for building, or any other purpose whatever.
The burning of fencing, where there is such an abundance of fuel so
easily procured, is strictly forbid, and a violence offered to the person or
depredation on the property of any individual by the soldiery will be
punished in the most exemplary and summary manner.

‘ “ DANIEL MORGAN.”

ments at Bentley’s Farm (with detachments at Pitts-

burgh and Washington) until the following spring,
when, order being apparently fully restored and es-
tablished, the last of the eastern troops marched
homeward across the Alleghenies, and the western
counties were left in full possession and exercise of
their former rights and powers, though a small force
(a part of the twenty-five hundred men enlisted in the

AWest under Gen. Lee’s proclamation of November

8th) was left in organization, as a precaution against
the possibility of further outbreak, until experiment
should have proved the civil power’ to b.e unquestion-
ably sufficient for all emergencies without military
aid._ This small force, which was left in command of
Col. Gabriel Blakeney, of Washington, was quartered
in that town, on the ground which during the pre-
vious winter had been occupied by the cantonments
of a detachment of Gen. Morgan’s command, the lo-
cation being on and in the immediate vicinity of the
present grounds of the Washington and Jefferson Col-
lege.

Gen. Lee remained in the West for a considerable
time after the departure of the main body of the army,
and on the 29th of November, in pursuance of au-
thority delegated to him by the President, he issued
a “proclamation of pardon” as follows:

“ By HENRY LEE, Governor of the Commonwealth-of Virginia, Major-
General therein, and Commander-in-chief of the Militia Army in the
Service of the United States.

“A PROCLAMATION.
“ By virtue of the powers and authority in me vested by the President

of the United States, and in obedience to his benign intentions, there-

with communicated, I do by this, my proclamation, declare and make
known to all concerned that a full, free, and entire pardon (excepting
and providing as hereinafter mentioned) is hereby granted to all persons
residing within the counties of Washington, Allegheny, Westmoreland,
and Fayette, in the State of Pennsylvania, and in the county of Ohio, in
the State of Virginia, guilty of treason or misprision of treason against
the United States, or otherwise directly or indirectly engaged in the
wicked and unhappy tumults and disturbances lately existing in those
counties, excepting nevertheless from the benefit and effect of this par-
don all persons charged with the commission of offenses against the

United States, and now actually in custody or held by recognizance to ‘

appear and answer for all such offenses at any judicial court or courts,

' excepting also all persons avoiding fair trial by abandonment of their

homes, and excepting, moreover, the following persons, the atrocity of
whose conduct renders it proper to mark them by name, for the purpose

of subjecting them with all possible certainty to the regular course of '

judicial proceedings, and whom all oflicers, civil and military, are re-
quired to endeavor toapprehend and bring to justice, to wit: [Here fol-
lows the list of the excepted persons, given below.]

“ Provided,—That no person who shall hereafter wilfully obstruct the
execution of any of the laws of the United States, or be in anywise aid-
ing or abetting therein, shall be entitled to any benefit or advantage of
the pardon hereinbefore granted; and provided, also, that nothing herein
contained shall extend or be construed to extend to the remission or miti-
gation of any forfeiture of any penalty incurred by reason of infractions
of, or obstructions to, the laws of the United States for collecting a reve-
nue upon distilled spirits and stills.

“ Given under my hand, at Head Quarters in Elizabeth Town, this
twenty-ninth day of November, 1794.

“ HENRY LEE.
“By order of the commander-in-chief.

“ G. K. Taylor, Aide-de-Camp.”

The names of the persons excepted by the terms of
this proclamation were

THE WHISKEY

IN SURRECTION . 3033

Benjamin Parkinson,
Arthur Gardner, ‘
John Holcroft,
Daniel Hamilton,
Thomas Lapsley,
William Miller,
Edward Cook,
Edward Wright,
Richard Holcroft,
David Bradford,
John Mitchell,
Alexander Fulton,
Thomas Spiers, I

George Parker,
William Hanna,
Edward Wagner, J r.,
Thomas Hughes,
David Lock,
Ebenezer Gallagher,
Peter Lyle,

John Shields,
William Hay,
VVilliam McIlhenny,
Thomas Patton,
Stephenson Jack,
Patrick Jack, and

I ‘William Sutherland, '

William Bradford, _ Andrew Highlands,
of the State of Pennsylvania.
John Moore, and
Robert Stephenson, John McCormick,
William McKinley,

of Ohio County, Va.

The charges against these excepted persons are -

nearly all mentioned and explained in the following
letter from .District Attorney Rawle to Judge Alex-
ander Addison,‘ viz. :

. “ PHILADELPHIA, December 24, 1794.
“DEAR SIR,——I have just now the pleasure of re-
ceiving yours of the 5th inst. Agreeably to your re-
quest, I proceed to make as full a statement of the

‘reasons for excepting thepersons specified in the

proclamation as the present opportunity will admit.
“The offences of B. Parkinson,* John Holcroft,*

Daniel Hamilton,* and David Bradford are too gen-

erally known to require a particular enumeration.

V Arthur Gardner,* one of those who, on the 4th of July,

at the meeting of Col. Hamilton’s battalion agreed

' to oppose excise law by arms, etc.; met at Couch’s ;

united in the attack on Gen. Nevi1le’s; issued orders
for the meeting at‘ Braddock’s Field; of assisting at
Catfish the 14th of August in raising a liberty-pole.
“ Thomas Lapsley, action at Neville’s.
“ VVilliam Miller, action at Neville’s, and opposed
to signing the papers; very contemptuous of the law

and processes of the United States.

“ Edward Wright, at Neville’s ; at Braddock’s Field ;
opposed to signing submission. _
“ John Mitchell,* at Neville’s, and robbed the

-mails?

1 Penna. Arch., 2 Ser., vol. iv. pp. 500-2.

2 “ A certain John Mitchell, who, with the assistance of another per-
son, had robbed the Pittsburgh mail, gave himself up to Gen. Mor-
gan after the judiciary had left the country. This man’s evident sim-
plicity induced the general to wish him to escape, and to discredit his
being the person; but Mitchell insisting that he was one of the persons
who robbed the mail, the general, instead of confining him, gave him a
pass to go to Philadelphia, thereby putting it in his power to reflect on
the situation and make his escape; but he went to Philadelphia, sur-
rendered himself to be committed, and, being found guilty on his trial,
he was condemned to be hanged. This result was unavoidable on the
fact being established; but the President, in great propriety, first re-
prieved for a time, and then pardoned him.”-Findley. -

“ Alexander Fulton, at Neville’s ; privy to robbing
the mail ; signed circular letter to convene the meet-
ing at Braddock’s Field.

“Thomas Spiers, same as Fulton, except being at
Neville’s.

“William Bradford, robbing the mail.

“ George Parker,* at Couch’s*Fort, Neville’s, Brad-
dock’s, and militia meeting, July 4th, at Col. John
Hamilton’s. ,

“ William Hanna, atrocious conduct at Neville’s
house; shotat Gen. Neville.

“ Edward Wagner, at Neville’s, and menaces against

those who signed the paper.

“Thomas Hughes, one of the men with blackened
faces who attacked Faulkner, &c. V

“ John Shields, a principal in the affair at Neville’s.

“William Hay, went to Couch’s, and then to Ne-
ville’s, and menaced one man if he would not go;
also at Braddock’s.

“ William Mcllhanny, at N eville’s.

“ Thomas Dalton* is, I fear, a mistake either of the
clerk or the press ; at least I do not at present recollect

nor can I lay my hands on the papers relative to such.

a person. .

“Patrick Jack,* S. Jack, and A. Highland, con-
cerned in the outrage on Regan, and the destruction
of Wells. ‘ ' .

“ The others are the three fugitives already ex-
amined by Judge Peters and ordered for trial, and the
Virginians, who will probably be apprehended in the
State where they reside. -

“ The youth of George Parker was not known when
his name was inserted. In respect to these submis-
sions, it is understood not to avail those who fly from
home. It cannot be a bona fide submission in such
cases. This also applies to Shields and Lapsley, yet
it is open to them all to explain the reasons of their
absences; if proved to be of a justifiable nature, then
right to present immunity will be restored. I am,
with sincere respect, yours, &c.,

“ W. RAWLE.”

“To the Hon. A. Addison.”

(Those marked with a * delivered themselves to I

Gen. Morgan, under the direction of Judge Peters.)
David Bradford, whose name appears on the list of
persons excepted from the operation of the amnesty,
and who was properly regarded as chief among the
leaders of the insurrection, fled the country upon the
advance of the army. His last act of rebellion and
defiance was done at the Brownsville meeting, where,
on the 29th of August, he in violent terms advocated
war, and the formation of a separate government.

Upon the declaration of the vote, which showed the '

general sentiment to be heavily against his views, he
left that meeting in anger, disgust, and despair, real-
izing that his power was finally overthrown. Two
weeks later (September 18th), at the court-house in
Washington, he, with twenty-seven others, signed a
declaration “that no opposition shall come from us,

304

HISTORY OF WASHINGTON COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA.

the undersigned, to the excise law or to any oflicer
appointed under it.”

At the Parkinson’s Ferry meeting, on the 2d of Oc-
tober, he was present, but crestfallen and subdued.
On the 4th of the same month he wrote Governor
Miftlin, of Pennsylvania, embodying a long argument
in extenuation of his course during the progress of
the insurrection, but finding that this did notavail,
and that the army was on the march from Carlisle, he
left Washington about the 25th of October, and rode
to the Ohio River, where it was his intention to em-
bark and make his way down that stream and the
Mississippi to Louisiana. “ A small Kentucky boat

had been prepared,” says Brackenridge, “ which was

to have received him at Grave Creek, but being pur-
sued by a man from Whom he had liberated a negro,
under the abolition law of Pennsylvania, he was
obliged to leave his horse and take a canoe. De-

‘ scending in this and passing Grallipolis, he was pur-

sued by a party of five men dispatched from Gal-
lipolis by D’Hebecourt, the commandant of the mi-
litia at that place. He hadlain all night in his canoe
at Sandy Creek, and had got into a coal-boat in the
service of the contractor, cold and hungry, about two
hours before the party in pursuit of him came up.
They entered the boat, demanded Bradford, and took
hold of his arm to drag him away. He made no re-
sistance, but a lad from Washington County seized a
rifle and singly defended him, obliging the party to
relinquish their design and withdraw. This youth
had himself absconded under apprehensions from
having painted the device of a liberty-pole. Brad-
ford continued his course, pursued by Capt. Jolly as
far as Red Bank, which he passed two days before.”
Capt. D’Hebecourt’s report‘ of this affair to Gen. Lee,
and the general’s reply, are given below :

“ HEAD Quxnrnas,
“ GALLIOPOLIS Nov’r 10, 1794.

“ SIR,——I have the honor to inform your Excellency that on the 30th
of October, having understood that David Bradford, of Washington, was
going down the river in a small canoe by himself, and had passed oppo-

ite to Galliopolts but a little while ago, I thought it was my duty, as
being a public officer at this post to give orders to stop him. Conse-
quently I sent three of the spies and a subaltern oflicer, with orders to
take him and deliver him to my possession at Galliopolis, where I in-
tended to keep him under a strong guard till I had been honored with
your orders. My men overtook him on the 31st, about eleven in the
morning thirty miles below the Big Scioto; but unluckily for them, he
had two hours before got into a boat of the Contractors, where they
found thirteen men, all ready to protect Bradford, and massacre any who
would undertake to take him away. My men after having used their
best endeavors, and exerted all measures which prudence and inferiority
could suggest in such occurrences, compelled to give up to the majority,
and follow the boat as long as possible to try to get a reinforcement from
some of the stations on the river; they offered 50 dollars to any man
who would turn out with them to take Bradford; but they found the
most part of the people disposed in ‘his favor, and inclined to serve his
cause.

“ By several reports, I have a right to conjecture that Bradford landed
at Limestone [Maysville, Ky.] and was conducted to some part of the
country where he could safely preach his doctrines, and spread the flame

' of a new insurrection‘. It will be almost impossible to take him alive in

country where the majority is in favor, and a matter of great chance

1 Pa. Arch, 2d Series, vol. iv. pp. 450, 470-71.

if he can be killed without any fatal consequences; I yesterday saw
Capt. Jolly of the mouth of Whelen, who communicated to me the orders
issued by your Excellency to take Bradford or to kill him, rather than
to suffer him to escape. I gave to Capt. Jolly all the information which
I had, and ordered him to proceed to Limestone where he could receive
some directions favorable to his purpose.

“ That boat of the Contractors aboard which Bradford was found, was
bound to Fort Washington, under the command of a certain Samuel
Duncan, and loaded with coal; there were several passengers on board,
who by their hostile disposition appeared to be particularly attached to
Bradford. All the information you may wish to have on this important
subject can be easily obtained at Fort Washington where S. Duncan
delivered his boat. ’

“ I am mortified that my undertaking has been unsuccessful, when I
would have been happy to have my attachment for this country fully
manifested. And if your Excellency thinks that I could be of any ser-
vice in this affair, and would honor me with some orders, they should be
performed with the greatest vigilance and punctuality.

“ I am Your Excellencys _
“ most Humble and obedient Servant
“ D’HEBEcoUar
“ Captain Commanding Militia at Galliopolis.
“ HIS EXCELLENCY GOVERNOR LEE, Commander in Chief
of the Army at Pittsburgh.”
“ HEAD QUARTERS,
“ PITTSBURGH, Nov 22, 1794.

“ SIR,——I have received your letter of the 10th inst. and maturely
considered its contents. I am concerned that the party in pursuit of
Mr. Bradford were unsuccessful in efforts to arrest him inasmuch as I
fear the late convulsions of this part of the country, may in a great de-
gree, be ascribed to his counsels, and efforts.
that he will yet be delivered into the hands of justice ; that he may ex-
piate by his punishment, those offenses which he is supposed to have
committed against that country from which he derived his existence and
support; but while I wish that he should be taken, I wish not that he
should be destroyed; on the contrary, I should be affected with great
concern, should I hear that he had been killed, or even treated with
unnecessary severity or cruelty. It is the happiness as it is the pride of
America that no person can be deprived of his property or existence but
by law. The principles of justice, on which are founded those of the
law, pronounce that before he shall be deprived of the latter, he shall
be confronted with his accusers, allowed the benefit of exculpatory tes-
timony, and permitted to urge whatsoever he may think necessary for
his defense. Conformably to this idea, the several offenders who have
been seized in this deluded country, have been regularly delivered to the
civil power which will deal with them according to their merits.

“ Permit me therefore, to assure you, Sir, that the information you

‘ have received, that I wished Bradford to be killed rather than suffered

to escape, is erroneous, and that I shudder at the idea of hunting to
death a fellow being. If by your exertions, he could be sent to this
place alive you would confer an obligation on me, and on the United
States; at the same time, in that event, I should wish him to be treated
with every civility consistent with his safe custody.
“ I am &c &c.

“ HENRY LEE.
“ D’HEBEcoUa'r.”

After his escape from capture by the party sent out _

by D’Hebecourt for that purpose, Bradford went on

. the contractors’ boat to Fort Washington (Cincinnati),

from which place he made his way in safety down the
river to Louisiana, which was then under Spanish rule.
Obtaining a grant of land from that government, he
located on Bayou Sara, where he became a planter
and a man of wealth, and where he spent the remain-
ing years of his life. In estimating the character and
abilities of Bradford, Brackenridge says, “ He was a,
vain, shallow man, with some talent for popular dec-
lamation, which in the present state of the public
mind might be productive of mischief. Fortunately
he had not the capacity to form any deep consistent
plan which looked beyond the present moment with
a foresight of all consequences. It seemed to be his

I hope, at the same time, '

THE WHISKEY

IN SURRECTION . 305

passion to ride on the popular wave, elated iwith-popu-
lar applause, and at the same time fearful of popular
displeasure.” This does not appear to be true, as re-
garded his capacity for planning. His schemes were
deeply laid, and he prosecuted them with a boldness
which was not found in the other leaders, and which
very naturally made him their chief. If he had been
successful they would doubtless have been as eager to
share in his success as they showed themselves ready
to abuse and defame him after his (and their) failure.

With reference to the cases of those who were made
prisoners by the cavalry, as Well as of many pro-
scribed but not captured, formal investigations were
made under the direction of Judge Peters, in the

- -course of which it was made apparent that informa-

tion had been made against many who had really
been guilty of no offense against the government.
Many of those arrested were taken to Pittsburgh.
Some were released through the interposition of in-
fluential friends, while others less fortunate were sent
to Philadelphia, where they were imprisoned for some
months. it

Of those who were arrested by the army in this
region, Findley says that only eighteen were sent to

Philadelphia, and none of these were convicted on

trial. A list of those who were sent to Philadelphia
under military guard, and an account of their long
and dreary march from Pittsburgh across the moun-

tains to the first-named city, is found in the narrative

taken from the journal of Capt. Robert Porter, from
which a quotation has already been given, embracing
the account of the taking. of a number of prisoners
(of whom Capt; Porter was one), taken on the 13th
of November, and afterwards marched to Pittsburgh,
where on the 16th they were delivered in charge of

Col. Butler at the fort. From this the narrative pro-

ceeds:

“ On the 25th the prisoners were called out of the
garrison and surrounded by forty of the garrison
soldiers, under the command of Ensign McCleary,
and paraded before a detachment of Maj. James Dur-
ham’s troop of calvary, to whose charge they were to
be delivered at Greensburg. The following is a list
of the prisoners;

“Rev. John Corbly, Washington County.

Col. John Hamilton, “ “
Col. William Crawford, “ “
John Black, “ .“
‘ David Bolton, “ “
James Kerr, “ “
Thomas Sedgwick, “ “
John Burnett, “ “
Capt. Robert Porter, “ “

Marmaduke Curtiss, Allegheny County.
Joseph Scott, “ “

James Stewart, _ “ “
Thomas Miller, “ “
Thomas Burney, “ “

Isaac Walker, Allegheny County.

John Laughery, Ohio Co., Va.

Caleb Mounts, Fayette County.

“ On the 25th, about ten o’clock, being formed rank
and file, and placed in the centre of the aforesaid
forty soldiers, commanded by McCleary, they started
for Grreensburg, where they arrived on the 27th,
and were lodged in jail. There they found Samuel
Nye (who had been placed there for some rash expres-
sion against the oflicers and government, made when
in a drunken frolic), Philip Wylie, and Joseph Parey,
which augmented their number to twenty. On the
29th they were drawn out and paraded in the street,
and compelled to stand mid-leg deep in mud and snow,
and were formally delivered over to the charge of Maj.
Durham. They then proceeded on their weary march
to Philadelphia. ~

“ The order of marching was, each prisoner march-
ing on foot between two of the troop or guard, who
were on horseback, and who were ordered by Black-
beard (Gen. Anthony M. White) to keep their swords
always drawn, and that if any attempt should be
made to rescue, that the heads of the prisoners should
be cut off and brought to Philadelphia. At night
they were placed in cellars; barns, and such other
places as suited the disposition or fancy of our guard.
Suchwas the order of their weary and dismal march
to Philadelphia, for thirty days, through snow and
mud, in the most inclement time of the year. On the
25th December, paraded at half-past eleven before the
Black Horse tavern [in Philadelphia]. The prisoners,
drawn up rank and file, were presented with slips of
White paper by the major as cockades, to be put in
their hats to -distinguish them from the rest of the
crowd they were to march through, or as trophies of
victory. This was done by the express command of
Gen. White, alias Blackbeard; though the major re-
monstrated with White, but to no purpose.” The

prisoners, after having been marched through the '

streets, in view of a great concourse of spectators,
were lodged in the new jail. The Rev. John Corbly
was admitted to bail on the 4th of March. The trial
of Capt. Porter took place on the 18thday of May,

1795, when, no evidence having been brought against 4

him, the case was, without argument, given to the
jury, who in two minutes returned a verdict of ac-
quittal, and he was liberated after having been a
prisoner for more than six months. None of these
prisoners were convicted. The case of John Mitchell,

own confession was convicted of robbing the mail on
the 26th of July, and sentenced to death, but after-
wards pardoned, by President Washington, has already
been noticed. One other person was convicted; the
crime being setting fire to the house of Benjamin
. -Wells, in Fayette County. .

In reference to the case of Col. John Hamilton, who
was one of the party of prisoners marched to Phila-

delphia, and who was also sheriff of Washington

who gave himself up to Gen. Morgan, and who on his.

306

HISTORY OF WASHINGTON COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA.

County, and commandant of the “bloody battalion”
of Mingo Creek, Findley says that “though a number
of this regiment were known to have had an active
hand in the attack on the inspector’s house, and were
in fact considered as the greatest promoters of the
insurrection, yet he [Hamilton] not only ‘kept himself
free from those outrages, but endeavored, as soon as
he heard of the design, to prevent the rendezvous at
Braddock’s Field. It was he who informed Bradford
that the arms and ammunition in the garrison at
Pittsburgh were designed for Gen. Scott’s expedition
against the Indians, and with the assistance of some
others persuaded him to countermand the orders,'and
procured his promise‘ to prevent the march. When
he could not prevent the march to Braddock’s Field,
he put himself at the head of his regiment, and was
very instrumental in preventing further outrages from
being committed. At the court that was held for the
county of Washington, a short time after the commis-
sioners left the country, he proposed to take any
twenty of the leading insurgents and lodge them in
the county jail, if writs were issued for that purpose.
. . . The sheriff, to give testimony that he could have
accomplished what he proposed, executed every writ
of capias that he had in his hands without difficulty.
He attended all the meetings for restoring order, with
a view to prevent outrages. His being a friend to
order, and living where he did [among the Mingo
Creek insurrectionists], merited higher approbation
than if he had resided where the citizens generally
were less disposed to riot.”

Information of the intention to arrest him was
communicated by a friend to C01. Hamilton in time
to enable him to make his escape, if he had been so
disposed; “but, conscious of his innocence, he pre-
ferred traveling above thirty miles to where the
judiciary then was, and presenting himself to Judge
Peters, informed him that he had heard there was a
charge against him, and requested to have it exam-
ined. The judge said he was then too much engaged,
but would call on him presently; that day, however,
passed till evening, when Maj. Lenox, the marshal,
‘in the most delicate manner he could, told him he
must put him under guard.” ,'

Two days afterwards he was marched, under escort
of a party of cavalry, to the town of Washington, to
which place Judge Peters had removed. Here he
again applied to the judge to have his case examined,
but he was put off on some pretext from time to time,
and “on the ninth day after he first applied to the

judge he was sent close prisoner to Philadelphia, »

paraded through the streets with an ignominious
badge on his hat, and thrown into the cells without
his case having ever been examined. After an im-
prisonment of near two months and a half he had his
case brought before. the Supreme Court on a writ of’-
habeas corpus, and on examination, nothing being
found against him, he was [on the 20th of January,
17 95] admitted to bail. At the Circuit Court held in

Philadelphia in June following a bill for misprision
of treason was sent to the Grand Jury against him,
but every witness that was sworn testified in his favor.
There was not even a suspicious circumstance found
against him.”

General pardons to those who had been implicated
in the insurrection, and who had not subsequently
been indicted or convicted of crimes committed in it,
were proclaimed by President VVashington and Gov-
ernor Mifilin‘ in August, 17 95, in pursuance of the
agreement made in the previous year at Pittsburgh
by the United States and Pennsylvania commission-
ers. A large number of other persons also received
special pardons. “

In January, 1795, the Senate and House of Repre-

, sentatives of Pennsylvania declared the elections held

in the counties of Washington, Allegheny, Westmore-
land, and Fayette, on the second Tuesday of the pre-
ceding October, to be unconstitutional and void, for
the reason that a majority of the inhabitants of those
counties were then in a state of insurrection and op-
position to the laws of the commonwealth. By this
action fifteen persons then elected, viz., eleven mem-
bers of the House of Representatives and four senators,
were excluded from seats in the Assembly. A special

“election to fill these vacancies was held in the four

counties in February, 1795, when the same persons
were again elected, and duly took their seats, except
one (Mr. Moore, a senator), who declined the new
election.

0 H A P T E R X X I.
WAR or 1812-15--TEXAIN AND MEXICAN WARS.

IN the war of 1812-15 between the United States
and Great Britain, soldiers from Washington County

took an active and honorable part, and all classes of ’

the people of the county gave unmistakable evidences
of patriotism from the commencement to the end of
the struggle. War was formally declared by the
United States on the 18th of June, 1812, but the
raising of troops had commenced in Washington
County prior to that time, in anticipation‘ of the con-
flict which was known to be inevitable. On the 22d
of May the brigade inspector,issued the following
order and call for volunteers : A

“ BRIGADE ORDERS.

“ Orders having been received from the Adj utant-General of this State,
requiring me to furnish my quota of men (three hundred) from the First
Brigade 14th Division P. M., to be furnished by Volunteers, if not drafted
Militia.—Notice is hereby given to the Regiments to parade in the fol-
lowing order, to wit: 1

“ The Twenty—third Regiment, commanded by Lieut.-Co1.John Vance, P

will meet in Burgettstown on Monday the 1st of June.

“ The Eighty-second Regiment, commanded by Lieut.-Col. Joshua
Dickerson, will meet on Tuesday, the 2d day of June, at the house of R.
Graham. V

“The Twenty-second Regiment, commanded by Lieut.-Col. Samuel
Scott, will meet on Wednesday the 3d of June in the borough of Wash-
ington. ‘

WAR OF 1812—l5——TEXAN AND MEXICAN WARS.

307

“The Fifty-third Regiment, commanded by Lieut.-Col. Joseph Barr,
will meet on the Thursday following at the house of John Love, where
oflicers and soldiers are ordered to be on the ground at 10 o’clock A. M.

“The quotas of «the different regiments are as follows :

“ The Twenty-second Regiment shall furnish ninety "men.

The Twenty-third Regiment “ “ eighty “
The Eighty-second Regiment “ “ seventy “
The Fifty-third Regiment “ “ sixty “

With these orders there was issued the following
call for volunteers _: l

“ VOLUNTEERS or 1807 AND 1809.1—You are about to be called into
the field for the purpose expressed in the above orders. The cause lead-
ing to this must be familiar to every soldier in the brigade. The tyrants
of the belligerents have since the first and second tender of your service
perpetually plundered our ships at sea and impressed our sailors, and by
their bribes induced the Indians to commence murder and rapine on our
frontiers. Our government failing in all her efforts to establish a peace

, honorable to all, have found it absolutely necessary to have a solemn

appeal to physical force for the support of our independence from fur-
ther insult and disgrace. And hence I call upon you as freemen once
more to tender your services.

“Now, my fellow-soldiers, here offers an opportunity of displaying
your love of liberty, your determination to be free. Let it not be said
that a draft must be the resort. I judge from former examples that the
patriots of this brigade will not shrink from the real test, and the con-
test alone in the case will be who shall be foremost in stepping out as a
volunteer. As this brigade bears the palm for its attachment to the
State and general government, it would be degrading to the members
composing it not to give a voluntary tender when called upon as a tes-
timonial of its co-operation in these acts.

“ I request your attention to the glorious example set by our infant
sister State, Ohio, in her late tender of volunteers, and the ever-memor-
able conduct of the volunteers of the State of Kentucky and the Terri-
tories on the morning of the 7th Nov. last at the battle of Tippecanoe
on the Wabash. To your arms, brother soldiers, and convince tyrants

. and the blind, deluded savages that you will by a voluntary act support

the liberty achieved by the wisdom of the immortal Washington and
the strong arm of union with the hope of success in a virtuous cause.

“Confidence in you as cit.izen-soldiers prompts a belief that I shall .

have the pleasure of meeting you on parade on the different days ap-
point.ed,then ready and willing to fulfill my fond expectations, and most
sanguine hopes.
' “ JAMES ' DEINLAP,

“ Brigade Inspector, 1st B., 14 D., W. G’-. P. M.

“ WASHINGTON, May 22, 1812.”

The result of the order and call for volunteers ap-
pears in a communication published in the Washing-
ton Reporter of June 15th, inwhich it is stated that the
number of volunteers “‘ far exceeds the demand of Maj.
James Dunlap, the brigade inspector. The detach-
ment will consist of five flank companies, among
which are the Williamsport Rangers, the second
‘flank company attached to the 53d Regiment. The
brigade inspector has in two weeks organized, in-
spected, and put in readiness for marching orders
his quota of the fourteen thousand required in Penn-
sylvania, and made the necessary return to the adju-
tant-general.”

On Wednesday, June 22d, four days after the formal
declaration of war, a spirited public meeting of citizens

1 This allusion by the brigade inspector to the ‘‘volunteers of 1807
and 1809” has reference to the fact that in August of the former year
three hundred and five men of the Washington County militia volun-
teered and tendered their services under the call made by President
Jefferson for ten thousand men, on account of the outrage committed
by the English on the United States frigate “ Chesapeake,” and also to
a similar volunteering and proffer of services which was made by men
of Washington County for duty in the field in 1809.

of Washington County was held at the court-house for

, the purpose of expressing the determination of the in-

habitants to support the government and send men to
the field. Thomas Acheson, Robert Anderson, Alex-
ander Murdoch, Parker Campbell, and Thomas H.
Baird were appointed a committee to prepare» resolu-
tions and an address to be presented on the27th, to
which day the meeting was adjourned; At the ad-
journed meeting the attendance was very large from
all parts of the country, and the enthusiasm ran high,
but it does not appear that any actual business was
done beyond the delivery of eloquent speeches by

Parker Campbell, William Hoge, and others, and the-

adoption of patriotic resolutions, and an equally pa-
triotic address to the people. ,

On Sunday, July 26th, information was received in
Washington of the infamous surrender by Gen. Hull
of the post of Detroit and the force under his com-
mand, amounting to nearly fifteen hundred men, to an
inferior number of British and Indians. On the re-
ceipt of this disastrous» intelligence a further call was
made, and among those who came forward to volun-
teer was a full company called the Washington In-
fantry, commanded by Capt. William Sample, with
James Ruple as lieutenant, and George Taylor ensign;
also the “ Williamsport Rangers,” under Capt. James
Warne and Lieut. William Hunter. The Washing-
ton County troops, mustered for a six months’ term of
service, marched for the Canadian frontier under the
following '

“BRIGADE STANDING ORDERS.

“ The following rules and regulations will be strictly observed by the
Oflicers and Soldiers composing the detachments from the 1st Brigade,
14th Division, Pennsylvania Militia, on their march from this place to
Head-Quarters :

“1st. Line of march to be as follows, viz.: Capt. William Sample’s
company, on the right; Capt. Thomas Mi1ler’s, second; Capt. Edmund
Thomas’, third; Capt. James Warner’s, fourth; and Capt. David Bu-
chanan’s, on the left.

“ 2d. The person and property of our fellow-citizens shall remain in-
violable. Disobedience of orders, intemperance, profane language must
be peremptorily and rigidly punished.

“ 3d. Morning reports to be made, and by the proper subalterns, cor-
rectly, and returned regularly.

“ Fellow-Soldiers,——We have here to establish our character in a mili-
tary point of view. It has been asserted by the enemies of our system
that the militia are inefficient, and that subordination amongst that
description of force is impracticable. We now have a fair opportunity
of proving the falsity of both these assertions. In our capacity as sol-
diers let us refrain from every act which would be considered as dishon-
orable in a citizen. The circumstances of our being embodied does not
change the rules of honor and decorum. Therefore let all our acts be
such as comport with those of the soldier and gentleman. Having the
fullest confidence that the above orders will be strictly observed, it only
remains for me to add that the most particular attention .shall be paid
in the providing of every necessary accommodation for the comfort and
convenience of the troops on their march to head-quarters.

“ JAMES DUNLAP,
“ Brigade Inspector, 1st B., 14th D., P. M.
“RnNDEzvoUs AT WASHINGTON, PA., - ‘
‘‘September 8th, 1812.”

At Meadville, Pa., this battalion of Washington
County troops was joined by the Bedford County
volunteers under Col. Piper. A consolidation of the
forces from the two counties then took place, and of

308

mm

the regimental organization formed, Capt. James
Warne, of the “ Williamsport Rangers,” became the
major, and Lieut. William Hunter became captain of
the “ Rangers.” Following is the oflicial roll of that
company at the expiration of its service, signed by
Capt. Hunter and Lieut.-Col. Jeremiah Snyder, viz.:

“ Roll and muster of Capt. William Hunter’s company of infantry, at-
tached to the First Regiment of Infantry, commanded by Col. Jeremiah
Snider, in the service of the United States from the State of Pennsylva-

nia, Brig.-Gen. Adamson Tannehill commanding, commencing the 25th

of September and ending the 24th of November, 1812, both days in-
cluded.

Name. Rank. Present.
William Hunter. Captain. William Hunter.
John Eckells. Lieutenant. - John Eckells.
Robert McGreW. Ensign. Robert McGrew.

James Freeman. 1st Sergeant. James Freeman.

William‘Chalfant I 2d "‘ William Chalfant.
Jesse Robb. ’ 3d “ Jesse Robb.

John Watkins. 4th “ John Watkins.
Washington Palmer. 1st Corporal. Washington Palmer.
Frederick Layman. 2d “ Frederick Layman.
William Crookham. 3d “ William Crookham.
Johnson Chalfant. 4th “ Johnson Chalfant.
William P. Biles. Fifer. William P. Biles.
Henry Pinkney. Drummer. Henry Pinkney.
John Bridge. Private. John Bridge.
Francis Scott. “ Francis Scott.
Samuel Barnett. “ Samuel Barnett.
Joseph Butler. “ Joseph Butler.
Alexander Jones. “ Alexander Jones.
William Dalrymple. “ William Dalrumple.
James Dougherty. . “ James Dougherty.
Andrew Nicholson. “ ~ Andrew Nicholson.
Groiford Dally. “ Crofford Dally.
Israel Pancoast. " Israel Pancoast.
John Lefler. “ John Lefler.
William Doyle. “ William Doyle.

Samuel Speaker. “
William Wallace. “

Samuel Speaker.
William Wallace.

The Washington County battalion marched to the
Niagara River in the vicinity of Black Rock, below
Buffalo, N. Y., where they remained on duty as part
of the command of Gen. Tannehill until the follow-
ing December, when, before the expiration of their
term of service, the six months’ troops, including the
Washington Infantry, the Williamsport Rangers, and
other Washington County men, were allowed to return
home, either by dismissal or on furlough, till again
called.  

On Monday, Aug. 24, 1812, information
express to Washington County that a large force of
British and Indians (estimated at five thousand) had
landed from Lake Erie at the mouth of Huron River
in Ohio, and had advanced to within a few miles of
Cleveland, having, as was supposed, the intention of
marching on Pittsburgh. The alarm was sounded
through all the county, producing the most intense
excitement, which resulted in the raising of nearly
one thousand men in the county ready for duty,
among whom were the infantry companies of Capt.
Buchanan, Capt. Thomas, and Capt. Benjamin An-
derson; the cavalry troop of Capt. Shouse, of‘Mo-
nongahela City (then Williamsport), and two other
companies of cavalry from the central and western
part of the county. Under a call for a further quota

_came by

HISTORY OF WASHINGTON COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA.

of troops that was made immediately afterwards most
of the men who thus volunteered joined the command
of Gen. Richard Crooks, which rendezvoused at Pitts-
burgh, destined for duty in the West under Gen. Wil-
liam Henry Harrison. A small battalion, however
(about three hundred men), which was -quickly raised
in thenorthwest part of the county,———composed of
three companies of infantry, respectively, under com-
mand of Capts. Thomas Patterson, Samuel Rankin,
and John Vance, and two small companies of mounted
men, commanded by Capt. Robert Withrow and Capt.
Shouse, of Williamsport,—-—did not wait for the call
and the rendezvous at Pittsburgh, but marched at
once (independent, as it appears, of any superior
command) to meet the invading British and Indian
force. Rendezvousing at what_is now the village of

_Florence, in Hanover township, the command of the

detachment was given to the ranking captain (Pat-
terson), and Capt. Vance was made acting major.
They proceeded to the Ohio, crossed that river at
Georgetown, and marched in Ohio as far as New
Lisbon, where, for some cause, probably on account
of information received there that the story of the
British and Indian invasion was without foundation,
after a Sabbath-day’s rest, they faced to the rear and
returned home over the same route by which they
had advanced. It has been stated in some accounts
that the reason for_tl1eir turning back was because
on their outward march, near New Lisbon, they re-
ceived information of Hull’s surrender at Detroit.
This is clearly a mistake, for the news of the sur-
render was announced at Burgettstown on the 26th
of July, and was known to every male adult in Wash-
ington County. four weeks before they left their homes
for the march to Ohio.

The company known as the “Ten-Mile Rangers,”
from the southern part of the county, volunteered for
a six-months’ term of service, and were on duty at
Buffalo, N. Y. Mr. Joseph Miller, Sr., now a pen-
sioner living in Amwell township at the age of
ninety-two years, and who was the first corporal of
the Rangers, furnishes the following account of the
movements and service of the company in 1812:

“The Ten-Mile Rangers were a company of resi-

dent militia, and were accustomed to muster three"

times a year. -At the time they enlisted in the strug-
gle of 1812 the organization was as follows, to wit:
William Patterson, captain; Elijah Rees, lieutenant;
Simeon Brown, ensign; Jacob Cook, brigade major;
John Miller, son of John Miller, who built the old
Hallam mill and the primitive hewed-log meeting-
houses of Upper and Lower Ten-Mile, was orderly
sergeant. The other sergeants were Ichabod Clark
and Daniel Cook [the Cooks were sons of Stephen
Cook, and their mother was a McFarland. They
lived on thefarm afterwards owned by the McGiflins].
The corporals were Joseph Miller (1st), Henry Ustock,
and Samuel McCullough. Of the privates, Billy Cook,-
Stephen Cook, and Benj. Miller are best remembered.

' thence to march into the interior of Canada.

WAR OF 1812-15——TEXAN AND MEXICAN WARS.

309

“ The Rangers left Ten-Mile on the 11th of Septem-
ber, 1812, and arrived at Meadville, Pa., the place of
general rendezvous, on the 25th of the same month.
Here the brigade was organized by electing [?] Adam-
son Tannehill (who was reputed to have been an aide
to Gen. Washington) brigadier—general, William Piper,
colonel, and William McGeary, major. After remain-
ing at Meadville about a month, we received march-
ing orders, the obj ective-point being Black Rock. We

struck the lake at Erie, and marched thence alongr

the beach about ninety miles. to Buffalo, N. Y. The
army remained at this point about three weeks,
during which time on three occasions volunteers
were called for to cross the. river to make an assault
on the fortifications opposite to Black Rock, and
Each
time the Ten-Mile Rangers all stepped to the front,
volunteering for a dangerous service, which no one
had a right to command, and which could only be
entirely voluntary. A force of regulars and sailors
crossed the river (date not remembered) and made a
night assault, which was successful. A number were
killed and wounded, and the British guns of the
shore batteries were all spiked. In our camp we
heard the noise of the assault, and next morning we
saw the killed and wounded brought back.

“There being no force of the enemy at hand to op-
pose a crossing, the whole force was moved to the
shore, to be taken over in transports to follow up the
‘victory. The regulars and sailors were to cross first,
and the volunteers were to follow. Accordingly about
twenty transports were proceeding with the first em-
barkation, and had got about one—third of the way
over the river when, to the utter surprise and disgust
of every one, Gen. Smythe ordered their return, and‘
with his army of eleven thousand men ignominiously
retired from a battle that was more than half fought.
As the several commands were retiring to their old
encampments in the neighborhood of Buffalo, an in-
cident occurred which is worth relating, to show the
feeling of the soldiers toward their chief. As Gen.
Smythe and staff were riding through the demoralized
columns on their return, a Dutchman in the ranks
looked up into the general’s face and exclaimed,
‘ Hoorafor Gen. Smyt——— Cot tam Tory !’ In an instant
the general snatched a pistol from his holster to fire
into the face of his Teutonic admirer, but it flashed
in the pan. ‘ Tory powter ton’t purn coot I’ was the
only reply the doughty general’s fierce attack elicited.

“The army became demoralized and greatly dis-H

couraged, the Rangers participating in thelgeneral
discontent. Thus midwinter found uswith little
prospect of any active operations, and illy provided
for wintering in so rigorous a climate. Under these

circumstances the Rangers were granted a company

furlough, permitting them to return home, but to hold
themselves ready at a minute’s warning to respond to
orders calling them back. There were a number of
desertions, but our company remained together until

thy received their leave. About the middle of De-
cember the company formed, and started on the march
for home. On arriving at Buffalo bridge we found
Capt. Sample, of Washington, with his company,
doing provost duty. Our passports were demanded,
and on Ens. Brown presenting our furlough we were
permitted topass peaceably. This was well, for our
pieces were loaded, and, having turned our backs

upon the inhospitable shores of Lake Erie, it was our .

intention to pass at all events. The company now
broke into squads, and passed weary days of marching
through snow from three to four feet deep, our squad
arriving at home the day before Christmas. Capt.
Patterson, Lieut. Reese, and Samuel Herod, of the
staff, remained with the army till regularly discharged.
The Rangers were never ordered out again. Under
all the circumstances, it is not strange that rumors
soon became rife that the Ten-Mile Rangers had not
greatly distinguished themselves, and that they had
left the front without the proper leave.

“ The next winter a court-martial was convened in
Jefferson, Greene Co., consisting of Gens. Calohan (‘.7)
and Sutton, and Cols. Thomas Vaneman, Dickison,
Roberts, and Thomas Ringland, the latter being
judge-advocate. Before this court we-were cited to
appear to answer a charge of desertion. On pre-
senting the company furlough the court, without
further investigation, dismissed the charge, and de-
clared the company honorably discharged. Thus
closed a severe and trying campaign, that failed in
splendid results only through the cowardice or in-
capacity of the general in command.”

It has been stated in some accounts of the war of
1812 that Joseph Ritner, who was then a citizen of
Washington County (afterwards Governor of Penn-
sylvania), commanded a company of Rangers from
this county, who served in the West under Gen. Har-
rison. Another account is to the effect that he was
one of those who marched from Briceland’s Cross-
Roads to Ohio and then marched back, as before nar-
rated. There is nothing improbable in this latter
account, but the former statement (that he served in
the war as captain of a company) is rendered very
improbable by an affidavit made by Ritner, and now
on file at Harrisburg, from which the following is an
extract:

“ Joseph Ritner declares thathe is the identical
Joseph Ritner who was a private in the company
commanded by Capt. Benjamin Anderson in first
regiment commanded by Col. Joel Ferree, of the
brigade commanded by Gen. Richard Crooks, in the
war with Great Britain declared by the United States
on the 18th day of June, 1812, for the term of six
months,'and continued in actual service in said war
from the 2d day of October, 1812, until the 2d day of
April, 1813.” V

The Washington County troops under Gen. Rich-
ard Crooks performed good service in Gen. Harrison’s
‘Western campaigns, and were honorably discharged

36

HISTORY OF WASHINGTON COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA.

stone Creek, on Monongahela, about thirty-seven letters informing him that Col. Fry was at Winchester

miles on this side of the fort, and there to raise a for-

tification, clearing a road broad enough to pass ‘with f
all our artillery and baggage, and there to wait for [

fresh. orders.” The reasons for this decision were,
“ First, That the mouth of Redstone is _the first con-
venient place on the river Monongahela. Second, That
‘stores are already built at that place for the provisions
of the company, wherein our ammunition may be
laid up; our great guns may be also sent by water
whenever we should think it convenient to attack the
fort. ~ Third, We may easily (having all these con-
veniences) preserve our people from the ill conse-
quences of inaction, and encourage the Indians, our
allies, to remain in our interests.” When the council
had arrived at this decision, Ensign VVard was sent
forward to acquaint Governor Dinwiddie with the
facts as well as to make his own report, taking with
him an interpreter, and one of the young Indians,
while anotheriIndian runner was sent to the Half-
King, at the Ohio, to notify him of the projected ad-
vance of the Virginians.‘ “ I thought it proper also,”
said Washington, “to acquaint the Governors of
Maryland and Pennsylvania of the news.”

After a few brief preparations Washington’s forces
moved out on the path leading to the Great Crossings
of the Youghiogheny, cutting out the road as they
‘proceeded; so that it was not until the 9th of _May
that they reached the Little Crossings (Castleman’s
River). While they were at this place (May 11th)
Washington sent out a reconnoitring party of twenty-
five men, under command of Capt. Stephen and En-
sign Peyronie, with orders to scout along the line of
advance, as far as Gist’s place, “ to inquire where La
Force 2 and his party were ; and in case they were in
the neighborhood, to cease pursuing, and take care of
themselves;’’ and, also, “to examine closely all the
woods round about,” and if any straggling French-
man should be ‘found away from the others, t_o capture,
and bring him in to be examined for information.
“ We were exceedingly desirous,” said Washington,
“ to know if there was any possibility of sending down
anything by water, as also to find out some convenient
place about the mouth of Redstone Creek, where we

‘could build a fort.”

Washington’s force left the Little Crossings May
12th, and on the same day he received, by courier,

1 The Half-King had sent by some of his Indians to Washington, at
Wills’ Creek, an address or speech with belts of Wampum. To that
speech Washington now sent back by the runner a written reply, as-
suring him of the friendship and gratitude of the English, and that they
were moving towards the Ohio in _.force, and clearing a road for a much
largerarm y with great guns. He also requested the Halt’-King to come
up and meet him on the way, to assist him by his wise counsel. To this
request Tanacharison responded by meeting Washington between the
Youghiogheny and Gist’s, as will be seen. _ '

2 La Force was a Frenchman, who had been sent out from Fort_Du
Quesne about the 1st of May with a small party of French and Indians,
ostensibly for the purpose of capturing deserters; but Washington, who
had received information from an Indian runner sent by the Half-King,
believed they had other purposes in view,"-and.-therefore rendered the
reconnaissance. ‘ s

with upwards of one hundred men, and would start in
a few days to join the advance detachment; also that
Col. Innis was on the way with three hundred and
fifty Carolinians. On the 16th the column met two
traders, who said they were fleeing for fear of the
French, parties of whom had been seen near Gist’s.
These traders told Washington that they believed it
to be impossible to clear a road overwhich wagons or
artillery-pieces could be taken to the mouth of Red-
stone Creek. On the 17th, Ensign Ward rejoined
Washington, having come from Williamsburg, with
a letter from the Governor, notifying him that Capt.
Mackay, with an independent company of one hun-
dred men, exclusive of officers, was on the way, and
that he might expect them at any day. Two Indians
came in from “the Ohio” the same evening, and re-
ported that the French at Fort Du Quesne were ex-
pecting reinforcements suflicient to make their total
force sixteen hundred men. Washington reached the
Youghiogheny on the 18th, and remained there five
days. On the 24th, at two o’clock in the afternoon,
his force arrived at the Great Meadows, in what is
now Fayette County. , In the morning of that day,
when the column was a few miles southeast of the
Meadows, two Indian runners came in from the Ohio
with a message from the Half-King saying that,“ the
French army” was already on the march from Fort
Du Quesne to meet the advancing force of Washing-
ton, and also notifying him that Tanacharison and
the other chiefs would soon be with him to hold a
council, as Washington had requested in the dispatch

‘sent to him from Wills’ Creek.

On the same afternoon that the troops arrived at the
Great Meadows, a trader came in saying that he ‘had
come from Gist’s, where the evening before he had
seen two Frenchmen; he also knew that a strong
French force was in the vicinity of Stewart’s Cross-
ings on the Youghiogheny. This report confirmed
the news received from the Half-King, and thereupon
Washington decided to remain for a time at the

Meadows, and avail himself of the advantage offered,

by the position. There were. here, as he said in his
notes, “ two natural intrenchments,” which he caused
to be strengthened to some extent artificially, and
within these slightdefenses he placed a part of the
troops with the wagons. The troops worked two or
three days in strengthening the position, and on the
27th of May Washington wrote, “We ha-ve with
nature’s assistance made a good intrenchment, and by
clearing the bushes out of the meadows prepared a
charming field for an encounter.” Probably he never

afterwards used so unmilitary an adjective in describ-

ing the construction and surroundings of a fortification.

On the 25th several ‘small detachments were sent
out from the camp with orders to reconnoitre the
road 3 and the Indian trails, to examine the woods and

3 That is, the path which had been -slightly cleared by Capt. Trent

and the Ohio Company's party in the previous winter.

310

HISTORY OF WASHINGTON COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA.

in 1813, at different times, from April to September
of that year. After that time, during the,war, the
military organizations of Washington County were
kept in constant readiness for the field when their
services might ‘be required. In the fall of 1814 the
county was called on for men, to report at Baltimore,
Md., for service against the British forces on the
Chesapeake. The quota was promptly filled, and the

troops marched under Maj. James Dunlap, but while’

on their way to the place designated the commanding
officer received notice from Governor Snyder, of Penn-
sylvania, that theirservices would not be required.
They accordingly returned to the county and were
dismissed to their homes.

In 1836, when Texas was at war with Mexico for
the purpose of gaining her independence from the
latter country, Maj. Thomas Jefferson Morgan, of
Washington, conceived a project to raise a body of
men to fight in the Texan army under his command,
and when the war should be ended successfully for

Texas, these men to ‘settle there on ample tracts of .

land which, as he was assured by President Houston,
would be granted to them in payment for their mili-
tary services. With this plan in view he issued an
address - '
“ To ALL PATRIOTIC AND ENTERPRISING MEN,
“ EMIGRANTS FOR TEXAS.
“ To Rendezvous at Washingtoh, Pa., on 6th September,
. -1836.”
In this address, which was from beginning to end
an extremely florid and highly-colored one, he said,

“ History does not furnish so wide and fertile a field.

for enterprise, as ever having been presented to the
View of any people. Those individuals who have no
other aim in this life than the mere accumulation of
riches, where will they have so favorable an opportu-
nity to realize their‘hopes as isnow offered upon the
plains of Texas? If wealth then be your sole desire,
go to Texas, the fairest of a thousand lands.” . . . “ The
undersigned has been authorized to recruit two hun-
dred and eighty volunteers, and in accordance with
this authority I now call upon the freemen of West-
ern Pennsylvania, and of the surrounding districtsof
Ohio and Virginia, and upon all patriots, wherever
may be their habitation, to join me in my undertak-
ing. It is my desire that all volunteers should ren-
dezvous at Washington upon the 6th of September,
or as speedily afterwards as practicable. . . .”

The result of this appeal was the enrollment of thirty
men, who were formed into a company which was called
the “ Morgan Rifles,” and of which T. Jefferson Mor-
gan was made captain by the votes of the members.
The time of their march from Washington, as desig-
nated in published orders, was Monday, September
19th. They marched on the 20th, and proceeded by
way of the Ohio River to Louisville, Ky., receiving
some accessions to their numbers on the way. From
Louisville they continued down the river to New

Orleans, and thence proceeded to Texas, but did not A

arrive there until after the war had been closed by

Gen. Houston’s final battle and victory of San J a- S

cinto, which gave independence to Texas. Whether
the men of Morgan’s command .carried out their
original idea of becoming settlers there or not is
not known. Only a small proportion of. those who
marched from Washington were actual residents of
this county. /

In the Mexican war of 1846-48, not more than
six men from Washington County entered into the
United States service, the principal one of whom
was Col. Norton McGiflin, whose record in .it was an
honorable one. Of the others nothing is known.

CHAPTER XXII.

WAR OF THE REBELLION.

Opening of the War—First Companies from Washington Ceunty—The
Twelfth Regiment——-Pennsylvania Reserves——Eighth and Tenth Re-
serve Regiments.

THE military history of Washington County for the
period embracing the great war of the Rebellion com-
menced in those spring days of 1861, when the signal
to arms came booming from the guns of beleaguered
Sumter and reverberated across the rivers and moun-
tains,_ from ocean to lake. And it is a history of
which the people of the county may well be proud.
From the time when the first call for troops was made
known until the surrender of the principal hostile
army made further calls unnecessary the young men,
the middle-aged men, and sometimes the old men of
Washington responded to each appeal with an alac-
rity and patriotism not excelled in any other county
of the State or Union.

The war was commenced in the harbor of Charles-
ton, S. C., at daylight in the morning of Friday, April
12, 1861, by the opening of a heavy fire on Fort
Sumter from the formidable Confederate earthworks
which encircled it. The bombardment was continued

incessantly during all that day and the forenoon of I

the next, and at about one o’clock P.M. on the 13th
the fort surrendered, the buildings Within its incle-
sure being on fire. On Monday, the 15th of April,
the President of the United States issued a proclama-
tion, declaring the South in a state of rebellion, and

calling on the Northern States of the Union for a

force of seventy-five thousand men to suppress it. To
this call Washington, like nearly all other counties
of the State, responded with promptness and enthu-

, siasm, and within the week following the issuance of

the President’s proclamation two companies (one
.from Washington borough, and one from Mononga-
hela City) had been filled and were on their way to
Pittsburgh to join the Twelfth Pennsylvania Regi-

C

WAR OF THE REBELLION.

311

ment, then forming for service in the field. Another
company (called the “McKennan Infantry”) was
also in process of recruitment at Washington, but
when its ranks were filled-—only a few days later—it

failed to secure acceptance from Pennsylvania (the

quota being already full), and thereupon marched to
Wheeling, where its services were tendered to, and
accepted by,the Governor of West Virginia, and it
was credited to the quota of that State. The oflicers
of this company were Capt. Lewis  Smith, First
Lieut. A. A. Devore, and Second Lieut. N. W. Trux-
all. ‘

The companies‘ which marched from Washington
borough and Monongahela City to join the Twelfth
Regiment, as before mentioned, were commanded

‘respectively by Capt. Norton McGiffin and Capt.

Robert F. Cooper. These companies, like the others
forming the regiment, were raised for three months’
service, a term which at that time was thought to be
ample for the suppression of the Rebellion. The
Twelfth was one of the earliest regiments to enter the
field. It was organized at Pittsburgh, under super-
vision of Brig.-Gen. James S. N egley, of that city,
and included in its organization several Pittsburgh
military companies already formed, viz., the Du-
quesne Grays, Independent Blues, Zouave Cadets, and
City Guards. These forming a nucleus, volunteers
came in so rapidly that the ranks were filled and

regimental oflicers elected on the 22d of April, viz.:

colonel, David Campbell, of Pittsburgh; lieutenant-
colonel, Norton McGiflfin, of Washington; major,
Alexander Hays, of Pittsburgh. Two days later the
regiment left Pittsburgh for Harrisburg, where on the
25th it was reviewed by Governor Curtin and mus-
tered into the service of the United States.

The regiment moved from Harrisburg to Camp

Scott, near York, Pa., where it remained till May

25th, when it was ordered to Maryland to guard the
line of the Northern Central Railroad from Pennsyl-
vania to the city of Baltimore. On this duty it re-

imained, posted by detachments along the road, during '

the entire term of its enlistment. It was mustered
out of service at Harrisburg, Aug. 5, 1861.

In reference to the Twelfth, and the bloodless duty
it performed, Bates, in his “History of Pennsylvania
Volunteers,” says, “ The service rendered by this regi-
ment was devoid of stirring incident, but was, never-
theless, exceeding laborious, was faithfully performed,
and was of great moment to the government. The
highest expectations were entertained of its heroic
conduct in the face of the enemy ; but no enemy was
seen, and no occasion presented for firing a gun. It
was a noiseless and inglorious campaign, but a highly
useful one, for not only was an important and vital
line of communication with the national capital pre-
served and protected, but a fine body of men was
thoroughly drilled and perfected in the school of
arms, and many who here received their first instruc-
tion afterwards led, with great skill, in the most

deadly encounters. The field-officers had all received
a military training. Maj. (afterwards.brigadier~gen-
eral) Hays, who was killed while gallantly leading
his brigade in the battle of the Wilderness, was a
graduate of the United States Military Academy.”
Lieut.-Col. Norton McGiflin, of VVashington, was a
veteran of the Mexican war, as were also many mem-
bers of the two old Pittsburgh companies (“which
formed a part of the regiment. The two "Washington
County companies of the Twelfth’ were designated in
the regimental organization as “E” and “G” com-
panies. Lists of their officers and enlisted men are
given below : ‘

COMPANY E.

(Recruited at Washington .)

Norton McGiffin, capt., pro. to lieut.-col.; James Armstrong, capt.;
William F. Templeton, 1st lieut.; Samuel F. Griflith, 2d lieut.;
Oliver R. McNary, 1st sergt.; David Brady, 2d sergt.; John Q. A.
Boyd, 3d sergt.; David Acheson, 4th sergt.; John D. McKahan, 1st
corp.; Henry Brown, 2d corp.; Robert B. Elliot, 3d corp.; George B.
Caldwell, 4th corp.; William A. McCoy, Simeon W. Lewis, musi-
cians. ' ,

Privates.

John Loughman.
Taylor McFarland.
Thomas M. McKeever.
John McKeever.
Caleb I. McNulty.
James W. Montford.
William M. Morrison.
Henry C. Odenbaugh.
George A. Perrett.
Rollin 0. Phillips.
Henry A. Purviance.
Alexander Rankin.
George W. Reed.
Samuel B. Rickey, died.
John B. Ritner. A
Alexander W. Scott.
Cephas D. Sharp.
David Shepherd.
James Stocking.
Andrew J. Swart.
John R. Sweeny.
Samuel M. Templeton.
Joseph H. Templeton.
Robert Thompson.
Robert L. Thompson.
William H.’ Underwood.
Isaac Vance.

George I. Walker.
Andrew W. sWilson.
James B. Wilson.
Robert T. Wishart.
Wesley Wolf.

John W. Acheson.
Henry H. Alter.
James Barr.

Edwin W. Bausman.
Peter Blonberg.
Hugh P. Boon.
John V. Brobst.
John A. Byers.
John L. Cook.
Henry M. Dougan.
Horace B. Durant.
Tertius A. Durant.
Henry Erdman.
Hardman Gantz.
John L. Gettys.
James Grier.

John M. Grifiith.
Charles Hallam.
William T. Hamilton.
Alexander 0. Hamilton.
William Hart.

Eli Hess, died.
William H. Horn.
Robert P. Hughes.
Andrew J. Hyde.
James B. Kennedy.
John Kendall.
Philip P. Kuntz.
John Lawton.
Joseph Lane.
Matthew P. Linn.
Charles L. Linton.

COMPANY G (MONONGAHELA .AR'r1LLEnY).
(Recruited at Monongahela City.)

Robert F. Cooper, capt.; John S. McBride, 1st 1ieut.; Jesse C. Taylor, 2d
lieut.; William W. Thompson, 1st sergt.; John Myers, 2d sergt.;
Owen Bullard, 3d sergt.; John S. Slanger, 4th sergt.; Rees Boyd,
1st corp. ; Benjamin F. Scott, 2d corp.; John H. Woodward, 3d corp.;
Alexander 0. D. 0’Donovan, 4th corp.; Frederick Layman, musician ;
James S. Scott, musician.

Privates.

William Baxter, Jr.
Samuel W. Beazell.
Michael Barry.

Francis Allen.
Isaa.c,R. Beazell.
Harrison Remington.

John Boyd. Patrick Collins.
VVi1liam B. Brooks. Sylvester Collins.
John Bellas. William S. Cooper.

312

HISTORY OF WASHINGTON COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA.

Benjamin D. Dickey.
John C. Dougherty.
Andrew Elliot.

William H. H. Eberhard.
Andrew Grant.

Thomas Mack.

. William Mack.
Daniel Mockbee.
Jacob S. Miller.
Augustus J. Miller.

Alexander Gregg. Hillery Miller.
John M. Gibbs. John Merrick.
Joseph D. V. Hazzard. VVilliam Ong.

S. Bently Howe.
William H. Howe.
James S. Harris.
William H. Heath.
William J. Hoffman.
Alexander Haney.
David Kearney.
Henry B. King.
William G. Kennedy.
James L. Long.
Andrew Louderback.

Charles Oliver.
William Oliver.
George W. Potts.
Samuel B. Paxton.
Samuel Pritchard.
Joseph G. Reager.
John Rinard.
Reuben Sutton.
George Stewart.
Alfred M. Sickman.
J efi'erson G. Vangilder.

Ellis N. Lilley. , Theophilus Vankirk.
George C. Leighty. Robert S. Wilson.
David Morton. William Woodward.

James Mehafiy.
Charles McCain.
William T. Meredith. v
Thomas Morgan. '

William H. H. Wickerham.
James S. White.

Samuel Young.

Daniel D. Yates.

After the filling of the first quotas the War De-
partment changed its policy and ceased to accept
three months’ men, the term of service required being
three years or during the war, with some exceptions
of two years’ regiments. During the long struggle
Washington County furnished large numbers of troops
for the armies of the United States. They served in
various commands, but were most numerous in the
Eighth and Tenth Reserves, .the Seventy-ninth,
Eighty-fifth, One Hundredth, and One Hundred and
Fortieth infantry regiments, and the First, Four-
teenth, Sixteenth, and Twenty—second regiments of
cavalry of Pennsylvania. Of_ the movements and
services of these regiments separate historical sketches
will be given, with lists of their Washington County
members. It is admitted, however, that the lists given
are not entirely accurate or complete, but they are as
nearly so as it is practicable to make them from the
records of the adjutant-general’s oflice.

The Pennsylvania Reserves.—The fact that Penn-
sylvania, by reason of her extended southern frontier
bordering on Mason and Dixon’s line, was peculiarly
exposed to the danger of invasion by the forces of the
Confederacy, was at once recognized by Governor
Curtin, who on the 20th of April, just one week after
the fall of Fort Sumter, called an extra session of the
Legislature, which convened on the 30th. In his
message to that body he said, “ To furnish ready sup-
port to those who have gone out and to protect our
borders we should have a Well-regulated military force.
I therefore recommend the immediate organization,
disciplining, and arming of at least fifteen regiments
of cavalry and infantry, exclusive of those called into
the service of the United States. As we have already
ample Warning of the necessity of being prepared for
any sudden exigency that may arise, I cannot too
much impress this upon you.”

In pursuance of this recommendation of the Gov-

4

ernor a bill was introduced on_ the 2d of May, and
became‘ a law on the 15th, having among its pro-

visions one authorizing and directing the commander-

in-chief to raise and organize a military force, to be
called the “Reserve Volunteer Corps of the Com-
monwealth,” to be composed of thirteen» regiments
of infantry, one of cavalry, and one of light artillery;

, to be enlisted in the service of the State for the term

of three years, or during the continuance of the war,
unless sooner discharged, and to be liable to be called
into service at the discretion of the commander-in,-
chief for the purpose of suppressing insurrection or
repelling invasion, and, further, to be liable to be
mustered into the service of the United States under
requisition made by the President on the State of Penn-
sylvania. The regiments and companies composing
the corps so authorized were entitled to elect, and the
Governor was directed to commission, officers similar
in rank and equal in number to those allowed to
troops in the United States army.

The corps formed under the provisions of this act
was quickly and easily recruited, for the enthusiasm
and desire to enlist in its ranks was general in every
part of the State. The camps of instruction were four
in number,——one at Easton, one at West Chester, one
at Pittsburgh, and one at Harrisburg. The exigency
foreseen by Governor Curtin having arisen, orders
were received (July 19th) from the Secretary of War
directing all the regiments, excepting the Fifth and
Thirteenth} of the Reserves to be assembled at Har-
risburg, and there, immediately after the disastrous
battle of _ Bull Run, they were mustered into the
United States service. From Harrisburg, “ moving
rapidly to the points designated by the commander of
the national army, the several regiments remained-on
duty until all danger from a sudden incursion of the
enemy was passed,” when all of them were rendez-
voused at Tenallytown, Md., in the immediate vi-
cinity of the District of Columbia. There they were

‘formed into three brigades, composing one division,
under command of Maj.-Gen. George A. McCall. This

was the far-famed division of the Pennsylvania Re-
serves, Which, after the requisite tour of drill and
discipline at Tenallytown, moved into Virginia with
the forces of Gen. McClellan, and afterwards won im-
perishable renown on nearly all the principal battle-
fields of the Army of the Potomac. .
Eighth Reserve Regiment:-The Eighth Reserve,

or Thirty-seventh Regiment of Pennsylvania (en-*

listed for three years’ service), was composed of com-
panies raised in the counties of Washington, Fayette,
Allegheny, Greene, Armstrong, Butler, and Clarion,
all or nearly all of which had been raised for the
three months’ service, but had failed to secure accept-
ance by the government for that term. One of its

companies (“K,” previously called the “Hopkins

1 These two regiments were already in the

field in the vicinity of
Cumberland, Md. '

' encamped at Meridian Hill.

WAR OF THE REBELLION.

313

Infantry,” and commanded by Capt. Alexander
Wishart) was recruited in Washington County.

The rendezvous of the Eighth was at “ Camp Wil-
kins,” Pittsburgh, to which camp the companies were
ordered early in June, 1861, and on the 28th of the
same month the regiment was formally organized,
under the following-named field-ofiicers, viz. : Colonel,
George S. Hays, M.D., of Allegheny County; Lieut-
tenant—Colonel, S. Duncan Oliphant, of Fayette; Ma-
jor, John W. Duncan; Adjutant, Henry W. Patter-
son. *

On the 20th of July the regiment left for Washing-
ton, D. C., by way of Harrisburg and Baltimore.
Receiving equipments at the former place, and tents
at the latter, it arrived at Washington on the 23d, and
On the 2d of August it
moved thence to Tenallytown, Md., where it en-
camped with other regiments of the Reserve Division
under Maj.-Gen. George A. McCall. The Eighth, to-
gether with the First Reserve, Col. R. Biddle Roberts;
the Second, Col. William B. Mann; and the Fifth,
Col. Seneca G. Simmons, formed the First Brigade,
under command of Brig.-Gen. John F. Reynolds.

The regiment remained at Tenallytown about two
months, a period which was passed in camp routine,
picket duty, and frequent alarms along the line of the
Potomac, and on the 9th of October moved with its
brigade and division across that historic stream, and

. took position in the line of the Army of the Potomac

at Langley, Va., at which place the Reserve Corps
made its winter-quarters. In the battle of Dranes-
ville, which was fought on the 10th of December by

4 the Third Brigade (Gen. Ord’s) of the Reserves,

neitherthe Eighth Regiment nor any part of Rey-

-' nolds’ brigade took part, being absent on a reconnois-
, sance to Diflicult Creek.

On the 10th of March, 1862, the Eighth, with the
entire division, moved from the winter-quarters at
Camp ‘Pierrepont (Langley) to Hunter’s Mills, Va.,
with the expectation of joining in 5- general advance
of the army on the Confederate position at Manassas.
But it was found that the enemy had evacuated his
line of defenses and retired towards Gordonsvillle,
and thereupon the plan of the campaign was changed
by the commanding general, McClellan, and the Re-
serve regiments were ordered back to the Potomac.
On the 12th the retrograde march was commenced,
and continued through mud, darkness, and a deluge
of rain to Alexandria, where it was expected that
the division would embark with the rest of the Army

of the Potomac for the Peninsula; but this was not ‘
- the case.

The division of McCall was assigned to
duty with the First Corps, under Gen. McDowell,
which, with the exception of Franklin’s division, was
held between the Potomac and Rappahannock Rivers
for the protection of the city of Washington.

,From Alexandria, ‘the Eighth with its brigade
marched back to Manassas, thence to Warrenton
Junction, to Falmouth, and (May. 24th) across the

Rappahannock to Fredericksburg, of which place
Gen. Reynolds was appointed military governor. An
advance from Fredericksburg along the line of the
railroad towards Richmond was intended, but this was
found to be inexpedient, and as Gen. McClellan was
calling urgently for reinforcements in the Peninsula,
Reynolds’ brigade was recalled from its advanced po-
sition on the railroad; the entire division was marched
to Gray’s Landing, and there embarked for White
House, on the Pamunkey River,'where it arrived on
the 11th of June. There had, been a vast quantity of
stores collected at White House for the use of the
army on the Chickahominy, and the timely arrival of
the Reserves prevented the destruction of these stores
by a strong detachment of Confederate cavalry under
Fitzhugh Lee, who was then on his way towards the
Pamunkey for that purpose. '

From White House the Eighth marched with the
division by way of Baltimore Cross-Roads to join the
Army of the Potomac in the vicinity of Gaines’ Mill.
Thence the division was moved to the extreme right,
where it took position at Mechanicsville and along
the line of Beaver Dam Creek. A

On Thursday, the 26th of June, was fought the bat-
tle of Mechanicsville, the first of that series of bloody
engagements known collectively as the Seven Days’
Fight, and also (with the exception of the severe
skirmish at Dranesville in the previous December)
the first engagement in which the Pennsylvania Re-
serves took part. In this battle the Eighth (having
in the morning of that day relieved the Second) occu-
pied the left of its brigade line, and about the centre
of the line holding the bank of Beaver Dam Creek.
The First Reserve Regiment was on its right. On a
crest of ground northeast of the creek was posted
Easton’s Battery. At the margin of the swamp which
skirts the creek the Eighth was deployed, Companies
A, D, F, and I being thrown forward as skirmishers
under command of Lieut.-Col. Oliphant. The battle
commenced at about three o’clock in the afternoon,
the Georgia and Louisiana troops of the enemy wad-
ing the stream and rushing forward to the attack.
“ A brief artillery contest, in which the shells burst
in rapid succession in the very midst of the infantry,
was followed by the advance of the rebel columns, and
the battle became general. A charge of the enemy
below the swamp, with the design of capturing Eas-
ton’s Battery, caused the skirmishers to be recalled,
and the ‘regiment moved to its support. But the
enemy being repulsed by other troops it returned to
its former position. Three times the close columns
of the enemy charged down the opposite slope with
determined valor, but were _as often repulsed and
driven back. At. night the men rested upon the
ground where they had fought. The dead were col-
lected, wrapped in their blankets, and consigned to
the earth, and the Wounded were sent to the rear.
The loss of the regiment in killed, wounded, and
missing was nearly one hundred. Company F being

314

HISTORY OF WASHINGTON COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA.

upon the skirmish line, and not comprehending the
order to withdraw, remained at its post, and fell into
the hands of the enemy.”

At daylight in the morning of the 27th of June the
Eighth, with its companion regiments of the Reserve
Corps, was withdrawn from the battle-ground of the
previous day, and moved down, parallel with the
Chickahominy, some two or three miles, to Gaines’
Mill, where Gen. Fitz John Porter’s corps (of which
the Reserves formed a part) was placed in line of
battle for the renewed conflict which was inevitable.
Butterfield’s brigade occupied the extreme left, Sykes’
division of regulars the right, and McCall’s Pennsyl-

vanians were placed in the second line. Approaching '

them were the Confederate commands of Gens. A. P.
Hill, Longstreet, D. H. Hill, and the redoubtable
“ Stonewall” Jackson, in all more than fifty thousand-
men, against half that number on the Union side.
The battle opened by a furious attack on the regulars
composing Porter’s right. These, after having re-
pulsed the enemy in his first_ attack, finally gave way
before a renewed assault. The Eighth Reserve, in the
second line, was posted where a road was cut through
rising ground, and the excavation afforded some shel-
ter, but the regiment suffered quite severely from the
shells of the enemy, which were directed at a battery
which it was posted to support. ’ The battle raged
furiously during all the afternoon. At about five
o’clock the enemy advanced in heavy masses from
the woods, and the Eighth Reserve, with the Second
Regulars, were advanced to meet the assault in their
front. The hostile line recoiled before them, and was
swept back to the woods, but they rallied in superior
numbers, and the two regiments were in turn driven
back, with a loss to the Eighth of twenty-four in
killed and wounded. During the battle the heroic
Reynolds, the brigade commander, was taken pris-
oner by the enemy. ‘

- The day of Gaines’ Mill closed in blood and defeat
to the Union forces, and duringthe night the shat-
tered Pennsylvania Reserves, with the other troops,
succeeded in crossing the Chickahominy and destroy-
ing» the bridges behind them, though two bridges
farther down the stream (Bottom”s and Long Bridges)
still remained, and it was not long after sunrise on
Saturday morning when the Confederate force under
the indomitable Jackson was massed at the upper
one of these and making preparations to cross to the
south side. Other hostile forces were also advancing
directly on McClellan’s left wing, and in view of this

. rather alarming situation of affairs, the general had,
' as early as Friday evening, decided on a retreat by

the whole army to James River, where a base of sup-
plies could be held, and communication on the river
kept "open by the co-operation of the Union gunboats.
The troops were informed of the proposed change by
an apparently triumphant announcement (intended
merely to encourage the soldiers and lighten in some
degree the gloom of the great disaster) that a new and

mysterious flank movement was about to be executed
which would surely and swiftly result in the capture
of Richmond. _ No such assurance, however, could
conceal from the intelligent men. who formed the
Army of the Potomac thatvtheir backs and not their
faces were now turned towards the Confederate cap-
ital, and that the much-vaunted “change of base”
was made from necessityrather than choice.

During all the day succeeding the battle (Saturday,
June 28th) the Eighth lay at Savage Station, on the
York River Railroad. On Sunday it moved with the
other regiments to and across White Oak Swamp,
and at about sunset came to the vicinity of Charles
City Cross-Roads, where on the following day a fierce
battle was fought, in which the Eighth took gallant
part. The first assault of the enemy was received at
about one o’clock in the afternoon. “ In the forma-
tion of the line the First Brigade was held in re-
serve, but as the struggle became desperate the
Eighth was ordered in. Its position fell opposite the
Sixth Georgia, which was upon the point of charging,
when Gen. McCall gave the order for the Eighth to
charge upon it, and Col. Hays leading the way with
a shout that rang out above the deafening roar of the
conflict, it dashed forward, scattering the Georgians
and driving them beyond the marsh in front. A few
prisoners were taken. Later the enemy pressed
heavily upon that part of the field, and the line was
forced back, the Eighth gradually retiring until it
reached a new line which had been established, where
it remained till darkness put an end to the conflict.”
The loss to the regiment at Charles City Cross-Roads
was sixteen killed and fourteen severely and many
others slightly wounded.  -

In the terrific battle of Malvern Hill, which was
fought in the afternoon of the following day, the
Eighth, being held with the division in reserve, did
not become engaged. The battle was opened at
about four o’clock ]?.M., and from that time until
darkness closed, the roar of musketry, the crash of
artillery, and the howling of canister was unintermit-
ting. Finally the carnage ceased, and the men of
the North lay down on the field (as they supposed)

of victory. But at about midnight orders were re- .

ceived to fall in for a march, and the Pennsylvania
Reserves, with other commands of the Army of the
Potomac, moved silently down the hill and away on

the road to Berkeley (or Harrison’s Landing), where I
they arrived and encamped on July 2d. The loss of A

the Eighth Reserve Regiment in killed, wounded,
and missing during the Seven Days’ battles was two
hundred and thirty. -

After a dreary stay of more than a month at Har-
rison’s Landing, the Eighth was embarked on the
11th of August, and with the other Reserve regiments
proceeded to Acquia Creek, on the Potomac, under
orders to reinforce Gen. Pope. The division (except
the Second Regiment) was moved to the vicinityof
Kelly’s Ford, and there joined to the Third Corps,

under Gen. McDowell. In the engagements of the
29th and 30th of August the regiment took part,
losing five killed, seventeeniwounded, and about
thirty missing, out of a total strength of about one
hundred effective men with which it entered the
campaign.

Immediately after the close of Pope’s disastrous
campaign the Reserve division moved with thearmy
into Maryland and fought at South Mountain and
Antietam. In the former battle the Eighth lost
seventeen killed and thirty-seven wounded, -and in
the latter twelve killed and forty—three wounded. In
this battle (Antietam) the Reserves, being in the corps
of Hooker, moved across the creek with that fighting
general in the afternoon of September 16th and

opened the fight, the position of that corps being on

the right of the army. On the following morning
the battle opened early, and the First Brigade moved
forward, passed through a small wood, and formed
line in a large cornfield beyond. The Eighth was
ordered into a grove to the left, to dislodge a body of
the enemy who had sheltered themselves" there, and
were engaged in picking off the Union artillerymen.
This duty was well and gallantly performed.‘ “The
grove was soon cleared, and from it a steady and
effective fire at close range was delivered upon the
rebel line concealed in the cornfield. For four hours
the battle raged with unabated fury and with varying

.success, when the Reserves were relieved by fresh

troops.” On the following day the enemy commenced
his retreat to the Potomac, covering his design by the

feint of bringing in fresh troops from the direction of

Harper’s Ferry.
At the battle of Fredericksburg, Va., on the 13th
of December, 1862, the Eighth again fought with the

greatest gallantry, and experienced a heavier loss

than on any previous field. In the crossing of the
Rappahannock the Reserves covered the laying of
the pontoons for the passage of Gen. Franklin’s
grand division, and after the crossing they were
selected to make the first attack on that part of the
field. “ In the heroic advance of this small division
in the face of the concentrated fire of the enemy’s
intrenched line, in scaling the heights, and in break-
ing and scattering his well-posted force, the Eighth
bore a conspicuous and most gallant part. Never
before had it been subjected to so terrible an ordeal,
and when after being repulsed and driven back by
overwhelming numbers it again stood in rank beyond
the reach of the enemy’s guns, scarcely half its num-
bersiwere there. Twenty-eight lay dead upon that
devoted field, eighty-six were wounded, and twenty-
two were captured.”

Early in February, 1863, the Reserve regiments
were ordered to the defenses of Washington to .rest
and ‘to’ receive recruits, which were being sent
forward from Pennsylvania to fill their decimated
ranks. There the Eighth remained until the open-
ing of the spring campaign of 1864, when it was

WAR OF THE REBELLION.

315

again ordered to the front, and rejoining the Army of
the Potomac moved forward with Gen. Grant into the

Wilderness. It left Alexandria on the 19th of April, ,

proceeded to Bristow Station, and thence on the 29th
marched to Culpeper Court-House.
May it crossed the Rapidan, and on the 5th was once
more engaged with the enemy, losing six killed and
twenty-seven wounded. On the 8th it moved to

Spottsylvania, and in the series, of conflicts which

continued until the 15th it was almost constantly
under fire, and behaved with its accustomed steadi-
ness, though its loss during that time was but three
killed and sixteen wounded. Its three years’ term of
service having now expired, an order of the War
Department was received on the 17th of May reliev-
ing it from duty at the front, directing the transfer of
its recruits and re-enlisted veterans to the'One Hun-
dred and Ninety-first Regiment, and the mustering
out of its other men and oflicers. Under this order
those whose terms had expired proceeded to Wash-
ington, and thence to Pittsburgh, where the remnant
of the Eighth Reserve Regiment was mustered out of
service. - 

Following is a list of the officers and enlisted men
of the Washington County company of the Eighth:

COMPANY K.

Alexander Wishart, capt., must. in June 22, 1861; wounded at Gaines’
Mill June 27,1862; res. Sept. 10, 1862. - '

Samuel S. Bulford, capt., must. in June 22, 1861; pro. to 1st lieut. July
24. 1861 ; to capt. March 1, 1863; must. out with company May 24,
1864.

Alexander Hart, 1312’ lieut., must. in June 22, 1861; pro. from sergt. to
1st sergt. ; to 1st lieut. March 1, 1863; must. out with company May
24, 1864.

Thomas Foster, 2d lieut., must. in June 22, 1861; res. Dec. 31, 1862.

A. S. Eagleson, pro. from sergt. to 2d lieut. March 1, 1863; must. out
with company May 24, 1864. ’

Peter Kennedy, 1st sergt., must. in June 22, 1861; disch. on surg. certif.
Nov. 24, 1862. '

Nelson R. McNeal, 1st sergt., must. in June 22, 1861; pro. to 1st sergt.;
must. out with company May 24, 1864.

R. John Mcllwaine, sergt, must. in June 22, 1861; wounded at Bull Run
Aug. 28, 1862 ; disch. on surg. certif. Nov. 29, 1862.

James S. Denison, sergt., must. in June 25, 1861; pro. to sergt.; must,
out with company May 24, 1864.

M. L. A. McCracken, sergt., must. in June 23, 1861; pro. from corp.;
must. out with company May 24, 1864.
Hugh Gettiens, sergt., must. in June 22, 1861; pro. to corp.; to sergt.;
detailed as provost-guard, Philadelphia; absent at muster out.
Hugh Moore, corp., must. in June 23, 1861; disch. on surg. certif. Dec.
18, 1862. .

Andrew J , Luellan, corp., must. in June 22, 1861; disch. at Camp Pier-
pont, Va., June 29, 1862.

Theodore J. Dye, corp., must. in June 22, 1861 ; killed at Antietam Sept.
~17, 1862. ‘ ‘ ’

Daniel Day, corp., must. in July 26, 1861 ; disch. on surg. certif. Jan. 30,
1863. ‘ _ - .

William Loafman, corp., must. in J une 22, 1861 ; died Sept. 24, 1862, of
"wounds received at South Mountain Sept. 14, 1862.

John M. Griflith, corp., must. in March 25, 1862; trans. 191st Regt. P. V.
May 15, 1864.

Peter McCreary, corp., must. in July 16, 1861 ; must. out with company
May 24, 1864.

Thomas M. Steep, corp., must. in July 22, 1861; must. out with company
May 24, 1864. ‘ .

John M. Oliver, corp., must. in June 22, 1861; must. out with company
May 24, 1864.

On the 4th-of '

316

HISTORY OF WASHINGTON COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA.

Privates.

A1. W. Anderson, must. in June 22, 1861 ; died Dec. 17, 1862, of wounds
received at Fredericksburg Dec. 13, 1862.

David Bambarger, must. in July 9, 1861; wounded at Wilderness May
6, 1864; absent at muster out.

William B11rk, must. in June 22, 1861; disch. on surg. certif. July 12,
1862. ‘

James D. Brownlee, must. in June 22, 1861; wounded Dec. 14, 1862';
disch. on surg. certif. Jan. 15, 1863.

J as. L. Boardman, must. in June 22, 1861 ; disch. on surg. certif. Dec. 16,
1862. . _

George W. Brice, must. in June 22, 1861; disch. by sentence G. C. M.
July 27,1863. '

William Barnes, must. in Feb. 3, 1864; trans. to 191st Regt. P. V. May
15, 1864.

John Brotherton, must. in Sept. 10, 1862; trans. to 191st Regt. P. V. May
15, 1864.

John Bulford, must. in Oct.‘5, 1862 ; trans. to 191st Regt. P. V. May 15,
1864.

William H. Barnet, must. in Feb. 22, 1862 ; killed at Gaines’ Mill June
27, 1862.

Dennis Butler, m11st. in June 22, 1861; killed at Wilderness May 6,1864.

John L. Butts, must. in July 21, 1861. '

William Conley, must. in June 25, 1861 ; must. out with company May
24, 1864.

Ezekiel Clark, must. in June 22, 1861; must. out with company May 24,
1864.

Samuel A. Davis, must. in June 22, 1861 ; disch. date unknown.

7Andrew Daly, must. in June 22,1861; disch. on surg. certif. Feb. 14,
1863.

George M. Davis, must. in June 25, 1861 ; trans. to 5th U. S. Cav. Nov.
1, 1862.

Samuel Dickinson, must. in April 13, 1864; trans. to 191st Regt. P. V.
May 15, 1864.

George W. Dye, must. in June 22, 1861; died Sept. 1, 1861; buried in
Military Asylum Cemetery, D. C.

Sylvester S. Durbin, must. in May 8, 1861; killed at Fredericksburg
Dec. 13, 1862. - -

James M. Evans, must. in June 22, 1861; disch. on surg. certif. Feb. 13,
1863.

Samuel Eckels, must. in June 22, 1861; died at Alexandria, Va., Aug.
29, 1863.

James Eckels, must. in Jan. 27, 1864; killed at Wilderness May 6, 1864.

George W. Freeby, must. in June 22, 1861; died at Georgetown, D. 0.,
Aug. 30, 1861.

Andrew D. French, must. in July 9, 1861; killed at Fredericksburg Dec.
13, 1862.

John W. Greer, must. in June 25, 1861 ; must. out with company May
24, 1864.’

David Gilmore, must. in June 22, 1861 ; wounded at Charles City Cross-
Roads June 30, 1862; disch. on surg. certif.. Sept. 22, 1862.

Andrew Harshman, must. in June 22, 1861; must. out with company
May 24, 1864. _ .

Christian Hornish, must. in July 9, 1861; disch. on surg. certif. April 3,
1862.

Henry A. Herrick, must. in July 22, 1861; disch. on surg. certif. Aug.
23, 1862.

William Hart, must. in Sept. 3, 1861; disch. on surg. certif. June 17,
1862. ‘ '

Vfilliam Immel, must. in July 10, 1861; died Nov. 29, 1861; buried in
Military Asylum Cemetery, D. C.

William H. H. Link, must. in June 22, 1861; trans. to 191st'Regt. P. V.
May 15, 1864; veteran.

Joseph M. Lennon, must. in June 22, 1861; trans. to 191st Regt._P. V.
May 15, 1864; veteran.

Antonio Morales, must. in June 22, 1861 ; must. out with company May
24, 1864. '

George W. Martin, must. in June 22, 1861; absent, sick, at must. out.

George V. Miller, must. in July 8, 1861; disch. on surg. certif. Aug. 20,
1861.

William M. Middleton, must. in June 22, 1861; disch. on surg. certif.
Feb. 22, 1863. ‘

Joseph MoCreary, must. in July 26, 1861;disch. on surg. certif. Aug. 20,
1861. , .

James McVeehill, must. in June 22, 1861; disch. on surg. certif. July 21,
1862. -

Robert McMil1en, must. in June 22, 1861; Wounded at Antietam,Sept. 17,
1862 ; disch. on surg. certif. March 11, 1863.

M. T. McFarland, must. in Oct. 1, 1861; trans. to 191st Regt. P. V. May
15, 1864; veteran. '

Thomas H. Marshall, must. in June 22, 1861; killed at Fredericksburg,
Dec. 13, 1862.

James D. l\1cMillen, must. in June 22, 1861; killed at Charles City Cross-
Roads June 30, 1862.

L. E. Ozenbaugh, must. in June 22, 18 61 ; killed at Fredericksburg, Va.,
Dec. 13, 1862.

Francis W. Orr, must. in June 25, 1861; must. out with company May
24,1864. . ‘

Joseph “W. Oliver, must. in June 25,1861; disch. on surg. certif. July 11,
1862.

James Plymire, must. in June 22,1861; must. out with company May
24, 1864.

Robert M. Poland, must. in June 22, 1861; disch. on surg. certif. Jan. 2,
1862. .

Michael Rush, must. out June 22, 1861 ; disch. on surg. certif. March 3,
1862. ' _ '

Cephas A. Ryan, must. in June 22, 1861 ; died Nov. 30, 1861; buried in
Military Asylum Cemetery, D. C.’

Randolph Rush, must. in June 22,1861; died at Washington, D. C., May
25, 1862. _

James C. Spriggs, must. in June 22, 1861; must. out with company May
24, 1864.

William A. Sprouls, must. in June 22, 1861; wounded Dec. 14, 1862;
disch. Dec. 1, 1862. _

Robert M. Scott, must. in June 22, 1861; trans. to U. S. Reg. Army Nov.
1, 1862. ‘

Francis J. L. Steep; Ihust. in June 19, 1863 ; trans. to 191st Regt. P. V.
May 15, 1864.

Leander Sinclair, must. in July 8, 1861 ; died at Washington, D. C., Nov.
29,1862. ' V ‘

Griflith D. Taylor, must. in June 22, 1861 ; killed at Fredericksburg Dec.
13,1862. V

William Wiler, must. in June 22, 1861; wounded at Wilderness May_S,
1864; must. out with company May 24, 1864.

George W. C. Wilkins, must. in June 22, 1861; trans. to 191st Regt. P. V.
May 15, 1864; veteran.

Francis L. Wheatly, must. in June 22, 1861 ; trans. to 5th U. S. Cavalry
Oct. 28, 1862. !

Tenth Reserve Regiment.—This regiment, num-
bered the Thirty-ninth of the Pennsylvania line,
contained one Washington County company, viz.,
the “Jefferson Light Guard,” recruited at Canons-
burg, commanded by Capt. James T. Kirk, and desig-
nated in the organization of the regiment as “D”
company. It left Canonsburg on the 6th of June,
and at the regimental rendezvous was joined by the
other companies of the regiment, which were recruited
_in Warren, Crawford, Mercer, Venango, Lawrence,
Clarion, Beaver, and Somerset Counties.

The regiment was organized at Camp Wilkins, near ‘

Pittsburgh, in the last part of June, 1861, the field-
officers being Col. John S. McCalmont, of Venango
County (a West Point oflicer) ; Lieut.-Col. James T.
Kirk, of Washington County (promoted from captain
of “ D” company) ; and Maj. Harrison Allen.

On the ].st of July the regiment moved to Camp
Wright, on the Allegheny, from which place on the
18th it proceeded to Harrisburg, where on the 21st
it was mustered into the United States service for
three years. On the 22d it moved to Baltimore, and
on the 24th proceeded to Washington, D. C. ' On the
1st of August it marched from the capital to Tenally-
town, Md., where it encamped with the other regi-
ments forming the Reserve Division ,under command

WAR OF THE REBELLION.

317

of Maj .-Gen. George A. McCall, and was assigned to
duty in the Third Brigade under Gen. Ord.

The history of the Tenth is much the same as that
of the Eighth Reserve Regiment, both being in the
same division (though in different brigades) during
their terms of service. For the general movements
of the Reserves, therefore, reference may be had to the
history of the Eighth, already given. The latter regi-
ment, however, was not in the battle of Dranesville,
Dec. 20, 1861, where four companies of the Tenth
took part in the engagement, but without loss. In
March, 1862, the regiment moved with the division
to Hunter’s Mills, Va., to*Fairfax Court-House, to
Centreville, to Manassas Junction, and to Fredericks-
burg, Va., where it joined the forces of Gen. Mc-

‘ Dowell, and where Gen. Seymour succeeded Gen. 0rd

in command of the Third‘ Brigade. From Fredericks-
burg it moved with the division to the Virginia Pe-
ninsula, marching from White House Landing to
Mechanicsville, where it became a part of the corps

of Gen. Fitz John Porter.

"In the battle of Mechanicsville, June 26, 1862, the
Tenth occupied rifle—pits, and sustained but small loss
in the terrible conflict of the afternoon. At three
o’clock in the morning of Friday, the 27th, it retired
to Gaines’ Mill. In the battle that followed it was
not engaged until about 3 o’clock P.M., when it was
brought under a very heavy artillery fire, and later

, in the day made a gallant charge, clearing the field

in front of its position, and holding it against re-
peated assaults of the enemy. Its loss in this battle
was very heavy. On the 28th of June the Tenth was
on picket along the Chickahominy. At 3 o’clock A.M.
on Sunday, the 29th, it moved on the road to VVhite
Oak Swamp and the James River. In the afternoon

of the 30th it was engaged, as was also the Eighth

Reserve, in the battle of Charles City Cross-Roads.
In this engagement the Tenth captured sixty prisoners
and a stand of colors. Later in the day it was fiercely
attacked by the Confederates, and compelled to give
way, but it was done in good order, and the ground
was afterwards recovered and held during the night.
In the battle of Malvern Hill, July 1st, the Tenth
was not engaged. In the latter part of the night suc-
ceeding the battle it marched with the division for
Harrison’s Landing, where it arrived in the forenoon
of July 2d. This was the ending of the series of bat-
tles known as the Seven Days’ Fight, in which the
Tenth lost over two hundred men.

On the evacuation of the position at Harrison’s
Landing the regiment moved to the Rappahannock
and fought under Gen. Pope in the Second Bull Run
battle, Aug. 29, 1862. On the 30th it was again en-
gaged, and compelled to retreat towards Centreville.
Thelloss of the regiment on the 29th and 30th was
forty-six killed and wounded (among the latter being
Lieut.-Col. Kirk) and nineteen missing. Crossing
into Maryland, the Tenth was engaged in the battle
of South Mountain, losing twenty-three killed and

21

wounded. The men fought here with the greatest
determination, forcing their way up the mountain-
side in the face of the enemy, and bivouacked for the
night on the summit. At Antietam, on the 17th of
September, the regiment was again engaged, though
not heavily, and its loss was but light.

In the great battle of Fredericksburg, on the 13th
of December, the Tenth suffered the severe loss of
eighty-six killed and wounded and fifty-one taken
prisoners. Its position was withthe brigade on the
extreme left, three miles below the town of Freder-
icksburg, where it crossed the river on pontoons: On
the 13th a fierceassault was made on the enemy’s
works, and they were carried, but no support was at
hand, and the brigade was forced back, with loss to
the Tenth as above stated. After the battle the regi-
ment recrossed the river with the army, and reoccu-
pied its previous camp. It took part in the dreary
“Mud March” made by the army under.Gen. Burn-
side, and was soon after ordered to the defenses of
Washington to rest and recruit, its position there
being at Upton’s and Hall’s Hills.

Marching northward ' from the Potomac in the
Gettysburg campaign of 1863, the regiment arrived
on the historic field at nine A.M., July 2d. At two
P.M. it was ordered into the fight at Little Round Top,
and there made a vigorous charge, driving the enemy
from his position. During the following night the
men threw up defensive works. On the 3d the regi-
ment occupied a position between the two Round
Tops, where it lay for a long time under an exceed-
ingly heavy artillery fire, and afterwards received and
repelled a most determined charge by a heavy body
of infantry, holding the ground first occupied. The
loss of the regiment at Gettysburg was but slight. On
the 18th of July the Tenth crossed the Potomac into
Virginia, and marched to Warrenton. It was after-
wards slightly engaged at Broad Run, and on the 26th
of October at New Hope Church. During most of
the succeeding winter it was engaged’ in guarding the
railroads, its quarters being first at Warrenton Junc-
tion, and afterwards at Manassas Junction.

On the 29th of April, 1864, the Tenth left its win-
ter-quarters, and marched towards the Rapidan,
which it crossed at midnight on the 3d of May, and
on the night of the 4th made its fireless bivouac in
the Wilderness. On the 6th the regiment was en-
gaged with the enemy, losing one killed and several
wounded. On the 8th, 9th, and 10th it was again
engaged near Spottsylvania Court-House, with con-
siderable loss. On the 28th it crossed the Pamunkey,
and on the 29th moved to Tolopotomoy. On the 30th,
at Bethesda Church, the enemy made a furious attack
in heavy force, but was repulsed with very heavy loss,
the Tenth taking a prominent part in the engage-

-ment, and capturing a large number of prisoners.

This was the last battle of the Tenth Reserve Regi-
ment, its term of service having expired. Many of
the men re-enlisted, who, with those recruited at

318

HISTORY OF WASHINGTON COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA.

various times after the original muster in, were as-
signed to the One Hundred and Ninetieth and One
Hundred and Ninety-first Regiments. Those whose
terms had expired, and did not re-e11list, were ordered
to Washington, and thence to Pittsburgh, where they
were mustered out of service June 11, 1864.

Following is a list of oflicers and enlisted men of
the Washington County company of the Tenth Re-
serve Regiment, viz. _:

COMPANY D.

James T. Kirk, capt., must. in June 19, 1861 ; pro. to lieut.-col. June 21,
1861.

Charles W. McDaniel, capt., must. in June 19, 1861; pro. to capt. June
21, 1861; to brev. maj. March 3, 1865; must. out with company
June 11,1864. ’ '

George H. McNary, 1st lieut., must. in June 19, 1861; detached for duty

1 in Signal Corps ; must. out with company June11, 1864.

Frank Coleman, 2d lieut., must. in _June 19, 1861 ; res. Aug. 1, 1862.

Charles Davis, 2d lieut., must. in June 19, 1861; pro. from sergt. to 2d
lieut. Aug. 1, 1862 ; must. out with company June 11, 1864.

Frank C. Ritchey, lst sergt., must. in June 19, 1861; disch. July 7, 1863,
to receive promotion in the U.‘S. colored troops.

Robert Brady, 1st sergt., must. in June 19, 1861 ; V must. out with com-
pany June 11, 1864. -

Benjamin Anderson, sergt., must. in June 19, 1861; wounded at White
Oak Swamp, June 30, 1862; must. out with company June 11, 1864.

William S. Huston, sergt., must. in June 19, 1861 ; missing at Wilderness
May 8, 1864.

Shadrack Beck, sergt., must. in June 19, 1861; disch on surg.certif. Aug.
18, 1862. - '

Samuel G. Hodgens, sergt., must. in June 19, 1861 ; disch. Dec. 2, 1863,
for wounds received at White Oak Swamp, June 30, 1862.

William P. McNary, sergt., must. in June 19, 1861; pro. to adj t. 123d Regt.
P. V., Nov. 15, 1864.

William Harlin, sergt., must. in Aug. 21, 1861; trans. to 191st Regt. P. V.,.
June 1, 1864.

John Gundy, sergt., must. in June 19, 1861, died at Richmond, Va., of
wounds received at White Oak Swamp, June 30, 1862.

James Hughes, sergt., must. in June 19, 1861; died at Washington, D.
C., of Wounds received at Wilderness, May 10, 1864.

Thomas Paxton, sergt., must. in June 19, 1861; killed at Wilderness
May 8, 1864.

William Meggs. corp., must. in June 19, 1861 ; must. out with company
June 11, 1864. '
John V. Cook, corp., must. in June 19, 1861; must. out with company

June 19, 1864.

James McCahan, corp., must. in June 19, 1861; missing in action at Wil-
derness May 8, 1864.

Wallace Scott, corp., must. in Aug. 21, 1861 ; trans. to 191st Regt. P. V.,
June 1, 1864. '

James M. Scott, corp., must. in Aug. 21, 1861: trans. to 191st Regt. P. V.,
June 1,1864. 3 ,

William Glass, corp., must. in June 19, 1861 ; died at Richmond, Va., of
wounds received at White Oak Swamp, June 30, 1862.

Robert N. Lang,,corp., must. in June 19, 1861; died at Alexandria, Va.,
of wounds received at Wilderness May 6, 1864.

Robert N. McPake, corp., must. in June 19, 1861; killed at Spottsylvania
Court-House May 10, 1864.

James McPake, mus., must. in June 19, 1861 ; must. out with company
June 11, 1864.

James Merriman, mus., must. in June 19, 1861; dich. on surg. certif.
May 3, 1863.

Josiah Chambers, mus., must. in June 21, 1861; pro. to principal mus.;
date unknown.

Privates .

Samuel Anderson, m11st. in June 19, 1861 ; must. out with company June
11, 1864. .

Alfred Akey, must. in June 19, 1861; disch. on surg. certif. Dec. 1, 1861.

Wash. L. Atler, must. in July 21, 1861; pro. to hospital steward May 1,
1863. ‘ A V

Garland Briceland, must. in June 19, 1861; must. out with company
June 11, 1864.

James L. Bla.ck, must’-. in June 19, 1861; wounded at White Oak June ,

30, 1862; must. out with company June 11, 1864.

T. Julius Black, must. in June 19, 1861; wounded at Wilderness May 8
1864; absent at must. out.

Samuel Brown, must. in June 19, 1861 ; disch. on surg. certif. June 18,
1862.

Joshua Brady, must. in Aug. 21, 1861; trans. to 191st Regt. P. V. June
1, 1864.

William Cain, must. in June 19, 1861; must. out with company June 11,
1864.

William S. Caldwell, must. in June 19, 1861; must. out with company
June 11, 1864. ’ 6

Wilson Cochran, must. in June 19, 1861; must. out with company June
11, 1864. ,

David Crum, must. in June 19, 1861; wounded at Bethesda Church May
30, 1864 ; died at Washington, date unknown.

George Cain, must. in June 19, 1861; disch. on surg. certif. Jan. 15, 1862.

John S. Chambers, must. in June 19, 1861; disch. on surg. certif. Feb.
15, 1863. ,

John Cowan, must. in June 19, 1861 ; wounded at Gaines’ Mill June 27,
1862; disch. on surg. certif. March 8, 1863. .

Hugh Cochran, must. in June 18, 1861; disch. on surg. certif. May 5,
1863.

Joseph C. Culver, must. in Sept. 8, 1862; disch. by order War Department
to receive commission in colored troops.

Samuel Cook, must. in Aug. 12, 1862; killed at Manassas Junction April
15, 1864.

7

Nathaniel. E. Dickey, must. in June 19, 1861; must. out with company A

June 11, 1864.

William Deval, must. in July 28, 1861; disch. on surg. certif. 1862.

James B. Dulf, must. in June 19, 1861; trans. to Signal Corps August,
1861.

William Donaldson, must. in Aug. 12, 1862; trans. to 191st Regt. P. V.
June 1, 1864. ‘ .

Benjamin Evans, must. in June 19, 1861; must. out with company June
11, 1864.

Frank B. Eton, must. in June 19, 1861; must. out with company June
11, 1864.

Luther C. First, must. in June 19, 1861 ; trans. to Signal Corps.

James Furguson, must. in Feb. 22, 1864; trans. to 191st Regt. P. V. June
1, 1864. '

Thomas Ford, must. in June 19, 1861; killed at Manassas Junction April
15, 1864.

George S. Graham, must. in June 19, 1861; must. out with company
June 11, 1864. J

Matthew Greer, must. in June 19, 1861; Wounded and died at Munson’s
Hill, Va., April 8, 1863.

D. V. Hammond, must. in June 19, 1861; captured Dec. 18, 1863; died
in Libby Prison, date unknown.

Charles Horn, must. in June 19, 1861; must. out with company June
11, 1864.

William Hollingshead, must. in June 19, 1861; must. out with company
June 11, 1864.

Matthew Harlin, must. in June 19, 1861; disch. on surg. certif. Dec. 5,
1861.

Daniel Hallas, must. in Aug. 12, 1862 ; trans. to 191st Regt. P. V., J une
1, 1864; veteran. '

George Hallas, must. in Aug. 12, 1862; trans. to 191st Regt. P. V. June
1, 1864. ' -

William Hallas, must. in Aug. 21, 1861; trans. to 191st Regt. P. V. June
1, 1864.

Alexander Huston, must. in Aug. 21, 1861; trans. to 191st Regt. P. V.
June 1, 1864.

William Harsha, must. in Aug. 21, 1861; trans. to 191st Regt. P. V. June
1, 1864.

George Hiles, must. in Feb. 25, 1864; trans. to 191st Regt. P. V. June 1,
1864.

William Hunter, must. in June 19, 1861 ; died at Belle Plain, Va., Jan.
31, 1863.

John Jackson, must. in June 19, 1861; must. out with company June 11,
1864. ' V .

William Jackson, must. in June 19, 1861; disch. on surg. certif. Sept. 9,
1861.

Joseph Jackson, must. in Aug. 21, 1861; trans. to 191st Regt. P. V. J une A

1, 1864.
Thomas Jackson, must. in Feb. 22, 1864; trans. to 191st Regt. P. V. June
1, 1864. '

WAR OF THE REBELLION.

319

John Jefiers, must. in June 19, 1861 ; died at Richmond, Va., of wounds
receivedat White Oak Swamp, June 30, 1862.

John E. Lang, must. in June 19, 1861; missing at Wilderness May 8,
1864.

James Mackey, must. in June 19, 1861; must. out with company June
11, 1864. A -

Alexander Musser, must. in June 19, 1861; wounded at White Oak
Swamp, June 30, 1862; must. out with company June 11, 1864.

Samuel Mackey, must. in June 19, 1861 ; died,date unknown,of wounds
received at Gaines’ Mill, June 27, 1862.

John McCullough, must. in June 19, 1861; must. out with company
June 11, 1864.

John E. McPake, must. in June 16, 1861; wounded at Wilderness; must.
out with company June 11, 1864.

H. McJames, must. in June 19, 1861; must. out with company June 11,
1864.

William McWilliams, must. in June 19, 1861; must. out with company
June 11, 1864. *

James McFadden,must. in June 19, 1861 ; must. out with company June

» 11, 1864.

John P. McCord, must. in June 19, 1861; disch. on surg. certif. May 3,
1863.

John McClusky, must. in June 19, 1861; trans. to 191st Regt. P. V. June
1, 1864; veteran.

James Perry, must. in June 19, 1861 ; must. out with company June 11,
1864. ,

Henry Pettit, must. in June 19,1861 ; must. out with company June 11
1864.

William Pennell, must. in June 19, 1861; must. out with company June
11, 1864. ‘

James Patton, must. in June 19, 1861 ; disch. by order War Department
to receive promotion, date unknown.

J. Fulton Philips, must. in June 19, 1861; disch. on surg. certif. Dec. 22,
1862.

James Quail, must. in June 19, 1861; disch. on surg. certif. Aug. 10,
1861. ,

William Roberts, must. in June 19, 1861 ; must. cut with company June
11, 1864.

James Rinehart, must. in June 19, 1861; must. cut with company June
11, 1864. V

Benjamin F. Ryan, must. in Aug. 12, 1861; disch., da_te unknown.

John Sutton, must. in June 19, 1861; wounded and prisoner at White
“Oak Swamp, June 30, 1862; must. out with company June 11, 1864.

A. J. Strosnyder, must. in June 19, 1861 ; must. out with company June
11, 1864. .

John Stowrend,must. in June 19, 1861; must. out with company June
11, 1864.

John Sarver, must. in June 19, 1861; must. out with company June 11,
1864. ’

Henry H. Sheaif, must. in June 19, 1861; must. out with company June
11, 1864.

Brown Scott, must. in Feb. 28, 1862; disch. on surg. certif., date un-
known.

John H. Thompson, must. in Feb. 24, 1862; trans. to 191st Regt. P. V.
June 1, 1864. 1

James E. Wilson, must. in June 19, 1861; must. out with company June
11, 1864. -

Robert Wilson, must. in June 19, 1861; wounded at Wilderness, May 6,
1864, absent at muster out.

Joseph Wallace, must. in June 19, 1861; disch. on surg. certif., date un-
known.

Anthony Williams, must. in June 19, 1861 ; trans. to 191st Regt. P. V.

\ June 1, 1864; veteran.

William Williams, must. in June 19, 1861; killed at Wilderness May 8,
1864.

James Young, must. in June 19,1861; must. out with company June 11,
1864.

CHAPTER XXIII.
WAR or THE REBELLION.—-( Continued.)

Seventy-ninth Regiment.—The Seventy-ninth
Regiment of Pennsylvania, of which one company
was raised in Washington County, and all the re-

mainder of the command in Lancaster, was recruited
in August and September, 1861, and organized in the
early part of the following month, under the follow-
ing-named field-oflicers, viz.: Col. Henry A. Ham-
bright, of Lancaster; Lieut.-Col. John H. Duchman,
of Lancaster; and Maj. William S. Mellinger, of
Monongahela City, Washington County. The Wash-
ington County company of the regiment was that
designated as “D” company, of which the original
commissioned officers were 2 captain, John S. McBride;
first lieutenant, Brisbin Wall; second lieutenant, J.
D. V. Hazzard.

The regiment was rendezvoused at'Camp Wilkins,
near Pittsburgh, and on the 18th of October left the
city with its brigade (which included also the Seventy-
seventh and Seventy-eighth Pennsylvania, and was
under command of Brig.-Gen. James S. N egley), em-
barked on steamers, and went down the river to Louis-
ville, Ky., whence it was moved by.railroad into the

interior of the State, and was encamped successively .

at Camp Nevin, Camp N egley, and Camp Wood; the
last named being situated near Munfordsville, on
Green River. The following winter was passed in
camp duty, drill, and picketing, the brigade in the
mean time having been assigned to the division of
Gen. A. McD. McCook. In the spring of 1862 it was
encamped near Nashville, Tenn. On the 30th of
March the Seventy-ninth was ordered thence to Co-
lumbia, Tenn., from which place, early in April, a
detachment of the regiment, under Maj. Mellinger,
with a squadron of cavalry and a section of artillery,
were sent out to Pulaski, in pursuit of John H. Mor-
gan’s guerrillas, who had captured some soldiers of
the Seventy-ninth. The detachment occupied the
town without_ much opposition., but accomplished
nothing further. After this the regiment remained
guarding the Nashville and Decatur Railroad till May
10th, when it moved with a force, under Gen. Negley,
to Rodgersville, Tenn., and Florence, Ala., in which
expedition it was slightly engaged, but without loss,
and returned from Florence to Columbia.

On the 30th of May, Gen. Negley set out with a-

force of infantry, cavalry, and artillery to make show
of an offensive movement against the enemy at Chat-

tanooga. The force arrived opposite the town on the -

7th of June, drove the enemy from some intrench-
ments which he had held there, and having done
this, N egley returned to Shelbyville, Tenn., having
marched two hundred and eighty-four miles in four-
teen days. The Seventy-ninth (then under command
of Maj. Mellinger) took part in this expedition, and
did some little fighting at Sweden’s Cove and at
Chattanooga, but without loss except one man
wounded. The strength of the regiment was then
about nine hundred, of whom fifty were in hospital.
In July the regiment (then at Tullahoma, Tenn.)
was assigned to a brigade composed of the Seventy-
ninth and the Fifteenth, Sixteenth, and Nineteenth
United States Infantry, under command of Gen.

V considerable depredation there.

WASHINGTON’S CAMPAIGN OF 1754.

37

every part of the country thoroughly, “ and endeavor
to get some news of the French, of their forces, and
of their motions.” But these parties returned in the
evening of the same day without having made any
discoveries.

Early on the morning of t*he27th, Christopher Gist
arrived from his plantation, and reported that at about
noon on the preceding day a French detachment of
about fifty men had visited his house and committed
He also said he had
seen their tracks within five miles of the Virgin-
ians’ camp. On receipt of this information, VVash-
ington sent out a detachment of seventy-five men
under Capt. Hogg, Lieut. Mercer, and. Ensign Pey-
ronie in search of the French force. Information

had already been received that a party of Indians,

under the friendly Half-King, had come up the Mo-
nongahela, and was probably not very far from the
Great Meadows. On the evening of the 27th, an In-
dian messenger from Tanacharison came to Wash-
ington with the information that the Half-King—
whose camp, he said, was only six miles away———had
seen the tracks of two Frenchmen, which he followed
stealthily, and had thereby discovered the French
party encamped in a rocky ravine, secluded, and diflEi-
cult of access, and situated about half a mile from the

trail}

On receiving this intelligence, Washington was

, suspicious that the secret movements of the French

were part of a stratagem to draw some of his forces
away from the camp and then attack it. He there-

-fore ordered the ammunition to be placed in a safe

position, under a guard strong enough to prevent it
from "capture in case of attack, and then set out im-
mediately, with the rest of his men,” for the camp of
the Half-King. The night was rainy and very dark;

' the path over which they traveled was narrow, rough,

and hard to distinguish ; but they persevered, and in
the morning at a little before sunrise reached the Half-
King’s camp, where, at a council held with the old.
sachem, it was determined. to proceed at once to at-
tack the French camp. °

The party whose movements had been reported by

1 “ On the 27th of May the Half-King sent Col. Washington Notice that
a Party from the French Army was hankering about his Camp; if he
would march some of his People to join them, he did not doubt of cutting
them off. 001. Washington marched that Night and came up to the In-
dians; one of the Indian Runners tracked the French Men's Feet and
came up to their Lodgment; they discovered our People about one hun-
dred yards distant, flew to their Arms, and a small Engagement ensued.
We lost one Man and another wounded; the French had Twelve killed
and Twenty-one taken Prisoners, who are now in our Prison; the In-
dians scalped many of the dead French, took up the Hatchet against
them, sent their Scalps and a String of black Wampum to several other
Tribes of Indians, with a desire that they should also take up the
Hatchet against the French, which I hope they have done.—Letter of
Gov. Dinwiddie to Gov. Hamilton, of Pennsylvania, dated June 21, 1854.-
Oolonial Records, vi. p. 55.

9 Most accounts have it that -the force which Washington took with
him on that night consisted ofonly forty men ; but the language of his
notes, though not entirely clear, indicate that the number-left to guard-
the ammunition was about -forty, and that the remainder» of his force
accompanied him on the expedition.

Gist and others was the “French army,” of whose
departure from Fort Du Quesne Washington had

been apprised. In some historical accounts of the-

campaign it has been stated that it was under com-
mand of M. La Force, but this was not the case; it
was-commanded by M. de J umonville,3 a French en-
sign, who was accompanied by La Force, but the lat-
ter was simply a volunteer, and held no military
command in the expedition. Afterwards the French
authorities and writers claimed that J umonville him-
self was not engaged in a military enterprise, but that
he was merely an envoy or bearer of dispatches,
charged by the commandant at'Fo_rt Du Quesne with
the duty of delivering a communication to the com-
manding officer of the English force, and that the

military party which accompanied him was acting.

simply as his guard while performing this service.
But if it was simply a guardto a peaceful envoy, then
certainly its leader adopted a very strange course in

lurking near Washington’s encampment for two days,

and hiding his men in an obscure and gloomy glen

-among rocks and brushwood.

It having been determined to attack J umonvil1e’s
party, Washington’s men and Tanacharison’s Indians
left the headquarters of the latter, and marched “ In-
dian file” to near the French camp, where a line was
formed, with the English on the right and the Indians
on the -left, and in this order the combined forces
moved to the attack. It was not a complete surprise,
for the French discovered their assailants before they
were within rifle-range. The right, under Washing-
ton, opened fire, and received that of the French.
The conflict lasted only about a quarter of an hour,

3 Following is a translation of the orders given by M. de Contrecoeur
to Jumonville for this expedition:

“Be it known that the captain of a company belonging to the detach-
ment of marines, commander-in-chief at the Ohio Fort Du Quesne,
Prequ’ Isle, and Riviere aux Boeufs, hath given orders to M. de J umon-
ville, an ensign of the troops, to depart immediately, with one officer,
three cadets, one volunteer [La Force], one English interpreter, and
twenty-eight men, to go up as far as the High Lands, and to make what
discovery he can; he shall keep along the river Monongahela in Perla-
guas as far as the Hangard, after which he shall march along until he
finds the road which leads to that said to have been cleared by the Eng-
lish. As the Indians give out that.the English are on their march to
attack us (which we cannot believe, since we are at peace), should M.
de Jumonville, contrary to our expectations, hear of any attempt in-
tended to be made by the English on the lands belonging to the French
King, heshall immediately go to them and deliver them the summons
we have given him. We further charge him to dispatch a speedy
messenger to us before the summons be read, to acquaint us of all the
discoveries he hath made, of the day he intends to read them the sum-
mons, and also to bring us an answer from them, with all possible dili-
gence, after it is read.

“ If M. de Jumonville should hear that the English intend to go on
the other side of the Great Mountain [the Alleghenies] he shall not pass
the High Lands, for we would not disturb them in the least, being de-
sirous to keep up that union which exists between the. two crowns.

“ We charge M. de Jumonville to stand upon his guard. against every
attempt, either from the English or the Indians. If he should meet any
Indians, he shall tell them he is traveling about to seevwhat is transact-
ing on the King's territories, and to take notice of every road, and shall
show them friendship. - Done at the camp at Fort Du‘ Quesne, the 23d of
May, 1754. (Signed) Com-nsctEUn.”

_ of the latter place.

320

HISTORY OF WASHINGTON COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA.

William S. Smith. Early in August this brigade
was ordered to Nashville, and on the 8th encamped
in the southern part of the city, on College Hill.
Here, soon afterwards, the regiment was assigned to
Starkweather’s (Third) brigade of the division of
Gen. Lovell H. Rousseau, in the Fourteenth Army
Corps. With this corps and the army of Gen. Buell
the regiment moved northward from Nashville early
in September, in pursuit of the Confederate army,
which was marching on Louisville, Ky., under Gen.

_ Bragg. The army arrived at Louisville on the 26th,

and thus foiled Bragg, who thereupon turned and
marched back towards Tennessee. The army of
Buell followed, and overtook the Confederates at
Perryville, Ky., where, on the 8th of October, a
severe‘ battle was fought, resulting in Bragg’s defeat
and the retreat of his army. In this battle Rous-
seau’s division was heavily engaged during the entire
afternoon, and the Seventy-ninth fought with great
bravery, losing in this (its first fight of any import-
ance) thirty-seven killed and one hundred and forty-
nine wounded. In the pursuit which followed this
battle the regiment passed through Drainsville, Stan-
ford, Lancaster, Crab Orchard, Danville, Lebanon,
Bowling Green, ‘Franklin, Ky., and Mitchellsville,
Tenn., ‘stopping a considerable time six miles south
In December it moved to Nash-
ville, where (as part of Thomas’ corps) it joined the
army then about moving forward towards Nolansville
and Murfreesboro’. In the great battle of Stone
River, which commenced by heavy skirmishing on
Tuesday, December 30th, and continued till the night
of Friday, January 2d, the regiment was slightly en-
gaged,’ losing twelve killed and wounded. It num-
bered at that time seven hundred and twenty—three
officers and enlisted men present for duty. After the
battle it lay at Murfreesboro’ more than five months,
but taking part during that time in a successful ex-
pedition to.McMinnville and Liberty, Tenn.

On the 24th of June, 1863, the regiment moved with
the army towards, the Tennessee River, and, crossing
that stream at Bridgeport, Ala., marched southeast
into Georgia on the campaign which culminated in
the bloody and disastrous battle of Chickamauga,
September 19th and 20th. In that terrible conflict the
Seventy-ninth fought bravely on both Saturday and
Sunday, losing sixteen killed, sixty-six wounded,
and forty-seven missing, a total of more than one-

the fight._ On the night of the 21st it retreated with
its division to Chattanooga. It was there posted in
the works, and took no active part in the great bat-
tles of the 23d, 24th, and 25th of November, at Look-
out Mountain and Mission Ridge. On the -9th of
February following, at this place, a large part of the
regiment re-enlisted as veterans, and while daily ex-
pecting the usual furlough the regiment was ordered
forward with its division to Tunnel Hill and Buz-
zard’s Roost, Gra., on a reconnaissance in force.

Some fighting ensued, ‘the regiment losing two
wounded. The veterans left on furlough on the 8th
of February, returning at its expiration to Chat-
tanooga. On the 9th of May the Seventy-ninth
started out on the Atlanta campaign, and accompa-
nied the army iii the various movements, and fought
in several of the engagements that resulted in the
capture of the Confederate stronghold. In this cam-
paign the losses of the regiment were ninety-two killed
and wounded. '

From Atlanta, on the 16th of November, the regi-
ment moved out with the other commands of Sher-
man’s army on the famous march to the sea. . No
battles were fought on the way, and on the 21st of
December it entered Savannah. Immediately after-
wards it went into camp a few miles from the city,
and remained there until the 18th of January, when
it moved northward on the march through the Caro-
linas. No fighting of any moment took place in the
passage through South Carolina, but on the 19th of
March the enemy was found in heavy force and
strongly posted near Bentonville, N. C., and a se-
vere battle was fought, in which the Seventy-ninth
was engaged, charging the strong works of the en-
emy, though unsuccessfully, and afterwards receiv-
ing and repelling a furious and most determined
charge of the Confederates. Its loss on this day was
fifty-nine killed and wounded.,, This was the last
battle of the Seventy-ninth. From Bentonville it
moved to Croldsboro’, thence to Raleigh, and to a
camp at a place called Martha’s Vineyard, where
J ohnston’s surrender and the close of the war was
announced. Then the men turned their faces home-
ward, passing through Richmond, Va., to VVashing-
ton, D. C., where the regiment was mustered out of
service on the 12th of July, 1865.

Following is a list of officers and enlisted men of
the Washington County company, of the Seventy-
ninth, viz. : 6

COMPANY D.

John S. McBride, capt., must. in Sept. 21, 1861: com. maj. Dec. 20, 1864;

not must. out with company July 12, 1865.

Brisbin Wall, 1st lieut., must. in Sept. 21, 1861; res. April 25, 1862.

J. D. V. Hazzard, 1st lieut., must. in Sept. 21, 1861 ; pro. from 2d to 1st
lieut. April 30, 1862; Wounded, with loss of arm, at Perryville, Ky.,
Oct. 8, 1862; com. capt. Dec. 20, 1864; not must. out with company
July 12, 1865.

Samuel P. Keller, 2d lieut., must. in Sept. 16,1861; pro. from 1st sergt.

May 1, 1.862; res. Feb. 17, 1863.

. _ . _ I Alex. 0. Donovon, 2d lieut., must. in Sept. 7, 1861; pro. from sergt.
third the number with Wll1Cl1 the regiment entered . 1

March 29, 1863; disch. Oct. 14, 1863.

Luke P. Beazel, 2d lieut., must. in Sept. 16, 1861; pro. from sergt. to 2d A

lieut. April 23, 1865; com. 1st lieut. Dec. 20, 1864; not must. out
with company July 12, 1865; veteran.-

‘ Michael Berry, 1st sergt., must. in Sept. 2, 1861; disch. Oct. 3, 1864, at

expiration of term.

John Myers, 1st sergt , must. in Sept. 7, 1861; must. out with" company
July 12, 1865; veteran. - .

William B. Brooks, sergt., must. in Sept. 16, 1861; must. out with com-
pany July 12, 1865; veteran.

Christopher Galloway, sergt., must. in Sept. 7, 1861; must. out with com-
pany July 12, 1865; veteran.

William Shields, sergt., must. in Sept. 11, 1861 ; must. out with company
July 12, 1865.

WAR or THE REBELLION. 321

’ Hugh Pace, sergt., must. in Sept. 16, 1861; pro. to corp. April 1, 1865; to

/ sergt. J11ne 14, 1865 ; wounded in action March 19, 1865.

John A. Watson, sergt., must. in Sept. 11, 1861; disch. Feb. 10, 1863, for
wounds received in action.

Janthus Bently, sergt.,must. in Sept. 11, 1861 ; disch. on surg. certif. Feb.
26, 1863.

Samuel Jester, corp., must. in Sept. 10, 1861; must. out with company
July 12, 1865; veteran.

Joseph W. Wolf, corp., must. in Sept. 2, 1865; must. out with company
July 12, 1865; veteran.

John A. Long, corp., must. in Feb. 23, 1865; drafted; must. out with

company July 12, 1865.

William Miller, corp., must. in Sept. 16, 1861; pro. to corp. June 16, 1865 3
disch. by G. 0. July 21, 1865; veteran.

Henry B. Hart, corp., must. in Sept. 7, 1861; disch. Jan. 6,-1863, for
wounds received in action.

Abraham Fry, J r., corp., must. in Sept. 2, 1861; trans. to Vet. Res. Corps
Dec. 15, 1863. '

William Woodward, corp., must. in Sept. 16, 1861 ; disch. Feb. 6, 1863,
for wounds received in action.

James W. Downer, corp.,must. in Sept. 12, 1861; died at Tennessee
April 15, 1862.

John M. Gibbs, corp., must. in Sept. 16, 1861; disch. Jan. 13, 1863, for
wounds received in action. I

Amzi Eckels, corp., must. in Sept. 11, 1861; disch. Oct. 3, 1864, at ex-
piration of term.

Privates.

William D. Abbott, must. in Oct. 7, 1864; must. out with company July
12, 1865.

James Allen, substitute, must. in Feb. 14, 1865; must. out with company
July 12, 1865. '

Christian Anderson, must. in Sept. 2, 1861; absent, sick, since July 8,
1862.

George B. Althouse, must. in Sept. 9,1861; trans. to U. S. Eng. Corps
Aug. 16, 1864; veteran. v

John Anderson, must. in Sept. 16, 1861; captured; died at Anderson-

ville, Ga., July 27, 1864; grave 4055.
Hiram H. Blain, must. in April 14, 1864; must. out with company July
12, 1865.

. Ishmael Baer, must. in Sept. 7, 1864; must. ‘cut with company July 12, '

. 1865.
William Baer, must. in Sept. 7, 1864 ; must. out with company July 12,
1865. .
William Brown, must. in Feb. 4, 1865; must. out with company July
12, 1865. ‘ 1

- Hiram Beal, must. in Sept. 1,1864; must. out with company July 12,

1865.

Simon Brownewell, substitute, must. in March 9, 1865 ; must. out with
company July 12, 1865.

Daniel J. Bussard, substitute, must. in March 9, 1865; must. out with
company July 12, 1865.

Henry Blayer, substitute, must. in Feb. 14, 1865; must. out with com-
pany July 12, 1865.

Michael Brauman, must. in Sept. 11, 1861 ; disch. Oct. 5, 1864, at expira-
tion of term. ‘

William Bageley, must. in Sept. 2, 1864; drafted; absent, in arrest at
muster out.

John Boyd, must. in Sept. 23, 1861; died at Columbia, Tenn., May 24,

- 1862.

James Buhanah, must. in Sept. 23, 1861 ; disch. on surg. certif. Oct. 29,
1863.

William Barringer, must. in Sept. 7, 1861; trans. to Marine. Brigade
May 1, 1863.

John Barringer, must. in Sept. 7, 1861 ; not on must.-out roll.

George Barringer, must. in Sept. 9, 1861 ; trans. to Vet. Res. Corps Sept.

5, 1863.

Francis Burgan, must. in Sept. 7, 1861; died at Munfordsville, March 5,
1862.

Vulkert. Brooks, must. in Sept. 7, 1861; disch. on surg. certif. March 26,
1863.

William B. Butler, must. in Sept. 7, 1861 ; disch. Oct. 3, 1864, at expira-
tion of term. ‘ ,
Benjamin Brubaker, must. in Sept. 11, 1861 ; captured; died at Ander-

sonville, Ga., Nov. 26, 1864; grave 12,168.
William Bennington, must in Sept. 12, 1861; disch. on snrg. certif.
March 20, 1864.

D. C. Betling, must. in 1861; died at Perryville,- Ky., Oct. 12, 1862, of
wounds received in action.

Thomas Butchard, must. in 1861; disch. Dec. 30, 1862, for wounds re‘
ceived in action.

Samuel Bowermaster, must. in 1861; disch. Sept. 5, 1864, at expiration
of term.

David F. Barkley, must. in 1861 ; disch. Sept. 24, 1864, at expiration of
term.

Bernard J. Conner, must. in Feb. 8, 1865; must. out with company July
12, 1865.

John Cusworth, must. in Sept. 13, 1861; disch. on surg. certif. Feb. 24,
1863. '

Lewis Chester, must. in Sept. 7, 1861; not on muster-out roll.

Ephenetus Craven, must. in Sept. 7, 1861; trans. to Vet. Res. Corps Dec.
6, 1863. 2

William S. Cooper, must. in Sept. 9, 1861 ; disch. Oct. 3, 1864, at expira-
tion of term.

Hezekiah D. Cooper, must. in Sept. 11, 1861; trans. to Vet. Res. Corps
Dec. 6, 1863.“ ~

Sylvester Collins, must. in Sept. 11, 1861 ; killed at Perryville, Ky., Oct.
8, 1862.

Lafay Culbertson, must. in Sept. 16, 1861 ; disch. Oct. 3, 1864, at expira
tion of term. '

William Caldwell, must. in Oct. 12, 1861; disch. Oct. 29, 1864, at expira-
tion of term.

Daniel Donaghy, must. in Feb. 24, 1864; must. out with company July
12, 1865.

John M. Ducas, substitute, must. in Feb. 17, 1865; must. out with com-
pany July 12, 1865.

James Dutton, must. in Sept. 11, 1861; wounded at Perryville, Ky., Oct.
8, 1862; absent at muster out. 1 "

Joseph Demott, substitute, must. in Feb. 17, I865; absent, on furlough,
at muster out. _

William Devlin, must. in Sept. 5, 1861 ; not on muster-out roll.

Michael Dougherty, must. in Sept. 16, 1861 ; disch. Oct. 27, 1864, at ex-
piration of term. '

John G. Evans, must.~in Aug. 9, 1864; must. out with company July 12,
1865.

August Enders, substitute, must. in Feb. 13, 1865; must. out with com-
pany July 12, 1865.

Alfred.Eckels, must. in Sept. 13, 1861; absent, sick, at muster out.

‘Samuel Flowers, must. in April 2, 1864; must. out with company July
12, 1865.

William Fundston, drafted, must. in Feb. 22, 1865; must. out with com-
pany July 12, 1865. I A

John Flowers, must. in Sept. 7, 1861 ; absent, sick, at muster out; veteran.

Henry Fry, must. in Sept. 16, 1861; Oct. 1, 1862 : not on muster-out roll.

Thomas Fry, must. in Sept. 10, 1861; died at Louisville, Ky., Feb. 9,
1862; buried in National Cemetery, section A, range 6, grave 25.

Malcomb Furgason, must. in Sept. 14, 1861; died at Perryville, Ky., Oct.
13 , 1862 . «

Edward Fuller, must. in Aug. 11, 1864; not on muster-out roll.

Jacob Fox, must. in —, 1861; disch. Oct. 26, 1864, at expiration of
term. '

James A. Green, substitute, must. in March 7, 1865; must. o11t with
company July 12, 1865.

Jeremiah Gossert, drafted, must. in Feb. 22, 1865; mustered out with
company July 12, 1865.

William P. Gilmer, must. in Sept. 16, 1861 ; paroled prisoner; absent at
muster out.

John Gilmer, must. in Sept. 7, 1861; absent, sick, at muster out.

Phineas Green, drafted, must. in Feb. 23, 1865; disch. by G. O. July 14,
1865. ,

William H. Graham, must. in Sept. 7, 1861 ; died March 18, 1865; buried
in Cypress Hill Cemetery, Long Island; veteran.

William Galbraith, must. in March 17, 1865; disch. Oct. 3, 1864, at ex-
piration of term. ‘

John.H. Grundy, must. in Sept. 7, 1861; died at Cincinnati, 0., Dec. 14,
1861.

George W. Gibson, must. in Sept. 7, 1861 ; disch. Oct. 3, 1864, at expira-
tion of term.

Benjamin F. Hoch, substitute, must. in Feb. 16, 1865; must. out with
company July 12, 1865. . A

Samuel Heller, drafted, must. in Feb. 22, 1865; must. out with com-
pany July 12, 1865,

1

- James Hook, drafted, must. in Sept. 21, 1864; must. out with company

July 12 , 1865.

WAR or THE REBELLION.

321

Hugh Pace, sergt., must. in Sept. 16, 1861; pro. to corp. April 1, 1865; to
J sergt. June 14, 1865 ; wounded in action March 19, 1865.

John A. Watson, sergt., must. in Sept. 11, 1861; disch. Feb. 10, 1863, for
wounds received in action.

Janthus Bently, sergt., must. in Sept. 11, 1861 ; disch. on surg. certif. Feb.
26,1863.

Samuel Jester, corp., must. in Sept. 10, 1861; must. out with company
July 12, 1865; veteran.

Joseph W. Wolf, corp., must. in Sept. 2, 1865; must. out with company
July 12, 1865; veteran.

John A. Long, corp., must. in Feb. 23, 1865; drafted; must. out with

company July 12, 1865.

William Miller, co rp., must. in Sept. 16, 1861; pro. to corp. June 16, 1865 3

' disch. by G. 0. July 21, 1865; veteran.

Henry B. Hart, corp., must. in Sept. 7, 1861; disch. Jan. 6,1863, for
wounds received in action. .

Abraham Fry, J r., corp., must. in Sept. 2, 1861; trans. to Vet. Res. Corps
I)ec.15,l863. ' -

William Woodward, corp., must. in Sept. 16, 1861 ; disch. Feb. 6, 1863,
for wounds received in action.

James W. Downer, corp.,must. in Sept. 12, 1861; died at Tennessee
April 15, 1862. .

John M. Gibbs, corp., must. in Sept. 16, 1861; disch. Jan. 13, 1863, for
wounds received in action. I

Amzi Eckels, corp., must. in Sept. 11, 1861; disch. Oct. 3, 1864, at ex-
piration of term.

Privates.

William D. Abbott, must. in Oct. 7, 1864; must. out with company July
12,1865.

James Allen, substitute, must. in Feb. 14, 1865; must. out with company
July 12, 1865. 4

Christian Anderson, must. in Sept. 2, 1861; absent, sick, since July 8,
1862. '

George B. Althouse, must. in Sept. 9, 1861; trans. to U. S. Eng. Corps
Aug. 16, 1864; veteran. «

John Anderson, must. in Sept. 16, 1861; captured; died at Anderson-
ville, Ga, July 27, 1864; grave 4055.

Hiram H. Blain, must. in April 14, 1864; must. out with company July
12,1865. .

Ishmael Baer, must. in Sept. 7, 1864; must. out with company July 12,-
1865.

William Baer, must. in Sept. 7, 1864 ; must. out with company July 12,
1865.

William Brown, must. in Feb. 4, 1865; must. out with company July
12, 1865. ‘

, Hiram Beal, must. in Sept. 1,1864; must. out with company July 12,

1865.

Simon Brownewell, substitute, must. in March 9, 1865 ; must. out with
company July 12, 1865.

Daniel J. Bussard, substitute, must. in March 9, 1865; must. out with
company July 12, 1865.

Henry Blayer, substitute, must. in Feb. 14, 1865; must. out with com-
pany July 12, 1865.

Michael Brauman, must. in Sept. 11, 1861 ; disch. Oct. 5, 1864, at expira-
tion of term. ‘

William Bageley, must. in Sept. 2, 1864; drafted; absent, in arrest at
muster out.

John Boyd, must. in Sept. 23, 1861; died at Columbia, Tenn., May 24,
1862.

James Buhanah, must. in Sept. 23, 1861 ; disch. on surg. certif. Oct. 29,
1863.

William Barringer, must. in Sept. 7, 1861; trans. to Marine. Brigade
May 1, 1863.

John Barringer, must. in Sept. 7, 1861 ; not on must.-out roll.

George Barringer, must. in Sept. 9, 1861 ; trans. to Vet. Res. Corps Sept.

5,1863.

Francis Burgan, must. in Sept. 7, 1861; died at Munfordsville, March 5,
1862.

Vulkert. Brooks, must. in Sept. 7, 1861; disch. on surg. certif. March 26,
1863.

William B. Butler, must. in Sept. 7, 1861 ; disch. Oct. 3, 1864, at expira-
tion of term.

Benjamin Brubaker, must. in ‘Sept. 11, 1861 ; captured; died at Ander-
sonville, Ga., Nov. 26, 1864; grave 12,168.

William Bennington, must in Sept. 12, 1861; disch. on surg. certif.
March 20, 1864.

D. C. Betling, must. in 1861; died at Perryville, Ky., Oct. 12, 1862, of
wounds received in action.

Thomas Butchard, must. in 1861; disch. Dec. 30, 1862, for wounds re‘
ceived in action.

Samuel Bowermaster, must. in 1861; disch. Sept. 5, 1864, at expiration
of term.

David F. Barkley, must. in 1861 ; disch. Sept. 24, 1864, at expiration of
term. _

Bernard J. Conner, must. in Feb. 8, 1865; must. out with company July
12, 1865.

John Cusworth, must. in Sept. 13, 1861; disch. on surg. certif. Feb. 24,
1863. V

Lewis Chester, must. in Sept. 7, 1861; not on muster-out roll.

Ephenetus Craven, must. in Sept. 7, 1861; trans. to Vet. Res. Corps Dec.
6, 1863. ’

William S. Cooper, must. in Sept. 9, 1861 ; disch. Oct. 3, 1864, at expira-
tion of term.

Hezekiah D. Cooper, must. in Sept. 11, 1861; trans. to Vet. Res. Corps
:Dec.6,1863.‘ A

Sylvester Collins, must. in Sept. 11, 1861 ; killed at Perryville, Ky., Oct.
8, 1862.

Lafay Culbertson, must. in Sept. 16, 1861; disch. Oct. 3, 1864, at expira-
tion of term.

William Caldwell, must. in Oct. 12, 1861; disch. Oct. 29, 1864, at expira-
tion of term.

Daniel Donaghy, must. in Feb. 24, 1864; must. out with company July
12, 1865.

John M. Ducas, substitute, must. in Feb. 17, 1865; must. out with com-
pany July 12, 1865.

James Dutton, must. in Sept. 11, 1861 ; wounded at Perryville, Ky., Oct.
8, 1862; absent at m11ster out. v ' "

Joseph Demott, substitute, must. in Feb. 17, 1865; absent, on furlough,
at muster out. _

William Devlin, m11st. in Sept. 5, 1861 ; not on muster-out roll.

Michael Dougherty, must. in Sept. 16, 1861 ; disch. Oct. 27, 1864, at ex-
piration of term. ‘

John G. Evans, must.»in Aug. 9, 1864; must. out with company July 12,
1865.

August Enders, substitute, must. in Feb. 13, 1865; must. out with com-
pany July 12, 1865.

Alfred.Eckels, must. in Sept. 13, 1861; absent, sick, at muster out.

Samuel Flowers, must. in April 2, 1864; must. out with company July
12,1865.

William Fundston, drafted, must. in Feb. 22, 1865; must. out with com-
pany July 12, 1865. I

John Flowers, must. in Sept. 7, 1861 ; absent, sick, at muster out; veteran.

Henry Fry, must. in Sept. 16, 1861; Oct. 1, 1862 ; not on muster-out roll.

Thomas Fry, must. in Sept. 10, 1861; died at Louisville, Ky., Feb. 9,
1862; buried in National Cemetery, section A, range 6, grave 25.

Malcomb Furgason, must. in Sept. 14, 1861 ; died at Perryville, Ky., Oct.
13 , 1862 . -

Edward Fuller, must. in Aug. 11, 1864; not on muster-out roll.

Jacob Fox, must. in —--, 1861; disch. Oct. 26, 1864, at expiration of
term. 5 6

James A. Green, substitute, must. in March 7, 1865; must. out with
company July 12, 1865.

Jeremiah Gossert, drafted, must. in Feb. 22, 1865; mustered out with
company July 12, 1865.

William P. Gilmer, must. in Sept. 16, 1861; paroled prisoner; absent at
muster out.

John Gilmer, must. in Sept. 7, 1861; absent, sick, at muster out’.

Phineas Green, drafted, must. in Feb. 23, 1865; disch. by G. 0. July 14,
1865. ,

William H. Graham, must. in Sept. 7, 1861 ; died March 18, 1865; buried
in Cypress Hill Cemetery, Long Island; veteran.

William Galbraith, must. in March 17, 1865; disch. Oct. 3, 1864, at ex-
piration of term. ‘

John H. Gundy, must. in Sept. 7, 1861; died at Cincinnati, 0., Dec. 14,
1861.

George W. Gibson, must. in Sept. 7, 1861 ; disch. Oct. 3, 1864, at expira-
tion of term.

Benjamin F. Hoch, substitute, must. in Feb. 16, 1865; must. out with
company July 12, 1865. . *

Samuel Heller, drafted, must. in Feb. 22, 1865; must. out with com-
pany July 12, 1865.

I

A James Hook, drafted, must. in Sept. 21, 1864; must. out with company

July 12, 1865.

"WAR OF THE REBELLION.

323

H vous was established at “Camp La Fayette,” at

Uniontown, Fayette County. Recruiting was com-

'menced immediately, and completed in less than

three months. The companies composing the regi-
ment were recruited as follows-: Three companies in
Washington County, one company in Washington
and Fayette, one company in Washington, Fayette,
and Somerset, three companies in Fayette, one com-
pany in Greene, and one company in Somerset. The
three Washington County companies were “ A” com-

pany, Capt. Harvey J. Vankirk; “ B,” Capt. Morgan W.
Zollars; and “D,” Capt. William H. Horn; the re- U

cruiting names of these companies being respectively
“ Union Guards,” “ Ellsworth Cadets,” and " Lafay-
ette Guards.” The Washington and Fayette com-

" pany was first known as the “ Washington Guard,”

but designated in the regimental organization as “ E”
company, Capt. Harry A. Purviance. The company
recruited in Washington, Fayette, and Somerset was
known as the -“Independent Blues,” afterwards “ C”
company of the regiment, and mustered in under
command of Capt. John C. Williamson. is
A The regiment was organized at Camp La Fayette
on the 12th of November, under the following-named
fleld- and staff-ofiicers, viz. : Joshua B. Howell, colo—
nel; Norton 'McGifIin, of Washington, lieutenant-
colonel; Absalom Guiler, major; Andrew Stewart,
J r., adjutant; John Murphy, J r., of Washington
County, quartermaster; John Laidley, surgeon; Rev.
John N. Pierce, chaplain.

About the 25th of November the regiment broke
camp, and proceeded under orders to Washington by

way of Harrisburg, where it received the State colors,

presented by Governor Curtin. Soon after its arrival

’ at the national capital it was moved across the Ana-

costia Bridge, and encamped at “ Camp Good Hope,”

where it remained during the succeeding winter, en-

gaged in the construction of earthworks for the de-
fense of Washington.

In March, 1862, the Eighty-fifth was brigaded with
the One Hundred and First and One Hundred and
Third Pennsylvania and the Ninety-sixth New York
Regiments, forming the Second Brigade (Gen. Keim’s)
of Casey’s (Third) division of the Fourth Army Corps,
under command of Maj.-Gen. Erasmus D. Keyes.
With that corps the regiment embarked at Alexan-

‘dria on the 29th of March, and gproceeded down the

Potomac and Chesapeake Bay to Fortress Monroe,
arriving there on the 1st of April, and joining the
Army of the Potomac, which then lay encamped on
a l_ine extending from the Fortress to Newport News,
preparatory to the march up the Peninsula. The

‘movement commenced on the morning of the"4th, and

in the evening of the following day Keyes’ corps con-
fronted the enemy’s lines at and in the vicinity of
Warwick Court-House. There it remained until the

‘morning of Sunday, ‘the 4th of May, when it was

found that the enemy had during the previous night
evacuated hisworks at Yorktown, and along the line

of Warwick River, and the Union army at once moved
on in pursuit.

On the morning of Monday, May 5th, the Con-
federate forces were found strongly intrenched at
Williamsburg. They were attacked soon after day-
light, and the battle raged through the entire day,
resulting in victory to the Union arms, the enemy
retreating during the night, leaving his woundedon

the field. In this, its first battle, the Eighty-fifth was

but slightly engaged, and suffered a loss of only two
wounded. 6
Moving up from Williamsburg towards Richmond
in pursuit of the retreating enemy, the regiment, with
its brigade, crossed the Chickahominy at Bottom’~s

Bridge on the 20th of May, and marched thence toa '

position in the army line at Fair Oaks, within about
five miles of Richmond. There at a little past noon

‘on Saturday, the 31st of May, Casey’s division was

suddenly attacked by an overwhelming force of the
enemy, and though fighting most stubbornly, was
-forced back. with great loss and in some disorder.
The battle continued through the afternoon of the
31st, and the attack was renewed by the enemy on
Sunday -morning, but resulted in less success to him
than that of the previous day. In the battle of Satur-
day the Eighty-fifth occupied rifle-pits and held them
bravely, but was driven from them by assaults from
superior numbers. “ To be brief,” said Gen. Casey,
in his report, “the rifle-pits were retained until they
were almost enveloped by the enemy, the troops with
some exceptions fighting with spirit and gallantry.”

In the series of engagements known as the Seven
Days’ battles, commencing at Mechanicsville, on the
Chickahominy, on Thursday, the 26th of June, and
ending at Harrison’s Landing, on the James, on
Wednesday, the 2d of July, the Eighty-fifth was not
actively engaged and suffered but little. Its total loss
during the Peninsula campaign was eighty-seven
killed and wounded, the principal part of this loss
being sustained in the battle of Fair Oaks.

When the Army of the Potomac evacuated the

Peninsula in August, 1862, the corps of Gen. Keyes

was left stationed at Fortress Monroe. From that
place the Eighty-fifth with other troops was moved to
Suffolk, Va., and remained there until the commence-
ment of winter. ,At this time its brigade (to which
the Eighty-fifth and Ninety-second Regiments had
been added) was under command of Gen. Wessells.
On the 5th of December this brigade left Suffolk
under orders to move to Newberne, N. C., to reinforce
Gen. Foster’s (Eighteenth) Corps. It was ‘embarked
on transports on the Chowan River, and reached its
destination on the 9th. It remained in North Caro-
lina about seven weeks, during which time it was sev-
eral times engaged,—at VVest Creek, Kinston, White
Hall, and Goldsboro’,—the Eighty-fifth "sustaining
slight loss. I " I f
In the last part of January, 1863, the regiment with
its brigade and others of Foster’s command was

324

HISTORY OF WASHINGTON COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA.

transported from Newberne to Hilton Head, S. C.,
where it arrived on the 1st of February. The brigade
was then under command of Col. Howell. Early in
April it was moved to- Cole’s Island, and thence across
Folly River to Folly Island. There the men witnessed
the bombardment of Fort Sumter by Admiral Dupont,
and after its unsuccessful close, the brigade of Col.
Howell was left to garrison the works on the island,
the other troops as well as the fleet being withdra.wn.
It remained on duty on Folly and Morris Islands
through the remainder of the spring and the entire
summer and fall. During this time the Eighty-fifth
Regiment suffered very severely, both from the mis-
siles of the enemy and the excessive heat of the

‘weather. From the 20th of August,» when it was

placed in the advanced trenches in front of the rebel
Fort Wagner (which Gen. Gillmore was attempting to
take by regular approaches), until the 2d of Sep-
tember its losses were fifty-six killed and wounded
by the enemy’s shells, andthe losses by sickness were
still greater. It went on the outer works (August 20th)
with an aggregate strength of four hundred and fifty-
one, and when relieved (September 2d) it could mus-
ter but two hundred and seventy fit for duty._ Imme-
diately after this Fort Wagner was subjected to a
bombardment of forty hours’ duration, which com-
pelled its evacuation by the enemy and the abandon-
ment of the entire island, which was then at once oc-
cupied by the Union troops. There the Eighty-fifth
remained until about the 5th of December, when it
was transported to Hilton Head, and went into camp
near Port Royal, S.  During its stay of more than
four months at that place and its vicinity the health
of the men was greatly improved, and the effective
strength of the regiment largely increased. It was
not called on to take part in any engagement, but sus-
tained a loss of two wounded and one made prisoner
in a skirmish at White Marsh,.near -Savannah,in
February, 1864. '

In April following, three divisions of Gen. Grill-
more’s troops were ordered to the James River, Va., to
reinforce the army under Gen. Butler. The divisions
designated were Ames’, Turner’s, and Terry’s, in
which last named was Howell’s brigade, containing
the Eighty.-fifth Pennsylvania. On its arrival in
Virginia its strength was increased by the return of
the veterans of the ‘regiment, who had been home on
furlough, also by the accession of a considerable num-
ber of conscripts. It was removed to Bermuda Hun-
dred, and there went into position in the army line.

_Its first engagement with the Army of the James was '

on the 20th of May, when in an assault on the
enemy’s rifle-pits in its front it sustained a loss of
tWenty- three killed and wounded.

On the 14th of June the Army of the Potomac,
under Gen. Grant, began crossing the James from the
Peninsula. Two‘ days later the Confederate army of
Northern Virginia, under Lee, crossed the same river
above Drury’s Bluff, and the opposing forces at once

commenced the long and deadly struggle in front of
Petersburg. On the 17th the enemy assaulted a part
of the works held by the Eighty-fifth, and the regi-
ment was compelled to retire with a loss of seventeen
killed and wounded. On the 9th of July it lost one
killed and three wounded by theaccidental explosion
of a shell. Again, on the 14th and 15th of August,
at Deep Bottom and Strawberry Plains, the regiment
was engaged, charging with Terry’ s division, capturing
the enemy’s works, and sustaining a loss of twenty-
one killed and wounded. On the following day (Au-
gust 16th) it lost nine killed and fifty-four wounded
-in a charge upon another part of the hostile works,
the regiment capturing three stands of colors and a
number of prisoners. The troops recrossed to the
right bank of the James on the 20th, and four days
later the Eighty-fifth, with its corps (the Tenth), was
moved to the south side of the Appomattox, where it
occupied a line of works. On the 13th of September
it was ordered to occupy Fort Morton, a work mount-
ing fourteen heavy guns.

A short time previous to this last-named movement
Col. Howell had been assigned to the command of ‘a
division of colored troops. On the 12th of Septem-
ber, while returning at night .from the corps head-
quarters, he was thrown from his horse and so severely
injured that he died soon after. He was a brave and
faithful officer, and his loss was keenly felt, not only
by his own regiment, but by the officers and men of
the entire brigade which he so long commanded.

On the 27th of September the regiment was relieved
from duty at Fort Morton and returned to its division,
with which it took part in the movement of the Tenth
and Eighteenth Corps across the James which re-
sulted in the capture of Fort Harrison and a long
line of other works of the enemy. In this series of
operations it was engaged with the enemy on the 1st,
7th, and 12th of October, and twice advanced to
within three miles of Richmond, but sustained no
heavy loss. '

Theterm of service of the Eighty-fifth was now
drawing to its close. On the 14th of October it was
relieved from duty in front of Petersburg, its veterans
and recruits were transferred to the One Hundred

and Eighty-eighth Pennsylvania, and the remainder, _

whose time was soon to expire, were moved to Ports-
mouth, Va., and there encamped. About the middle
of November the remnant of the regiment was ordered

home, and on the 22d of that month it was mustered ‘ C

out of service at Pitts-burgh.

Below are given lists of the oflicers and enlisted
men of the three Washington County companies of
the Eighty-fifth, also of the company raised in Wash-
ington and Fayette, and a list of the commissioned
and non-commissioned officers of the company (“ C”)
recruited in Washington, Fayette, and Somerset, the
names of the enlisted men of the last-named com-
pany beingomitted because the greater part of them
were from the two other counties.

WAR OF THE REBELLION.

325

COMPANY A.1

Harvey J. Vaukirk, capt.; res. Nov. 7, 1862.

William J. Kerr, capt., must. in Oct. 1, 1861; pro. from 1st lieut. Nov. 7,
1862; capt. Aug. 16, 1862; must. out with company Nov. 22, 1864.

Socrates McGregor, 1st lieut.; pro. from sergt. to 1st sergt. April 8, 1862;
to 1st lieut. Nov. 7, 1862; must. out with company Nov. 22, 1864.

John Rowley, 2d lieut.; res. April 7, 1862.

John W. Acheson, 2d 1ieut., must. in Oct. 14,1861 ; pro. to ‘1st sergt. Jan.
1, 1862; to 2d lieut. April 7, 1862 ; to 1st lieut. Co. C Aug. 2, 1862.

Robert T. Wishart, 2d 1ieut.; pro. from sergt. Nov. 20, 1862; disch. on
surg. certif. Aug. 14, 1863. _

Andrew Gilkison, 1st sergt.; pro. to sergt. Nov. 20, 1862; to 1st sergt.
Aug. 20, 1864; must. out with_company Nov. 22, 1864.

Alex. W. Pollock, 1st sergt.; pro. to 1st sergt. Nov. 20, 1862; disch. on
surg. certif. May 28, 1863.

Samuel L. McHenry, lst sergt.; pro. to sergt,-maj. Jan. 1, 1862.

Robert Caldwell, sergt. ; pro. to sergt. April 8, 1862; wounded at Deep
Bottom, Va., Aug. 16, 1864; must. out with company Nov. 22, 1864.

William D. Shaw, sergt.; pro. from corp. Nov. 20, 1862; must. out with

’ company Nov. 22, 1864. . ‘

Robert W. Cresswell, sergt.; pro. from corp. ‘Aug. 18, 1862 ; must. out
with company Nov. 22, 1864.

Greer Hair, sergt.; pro. from corp. Aug. 29, 1863; must. out with com-
pany Nov. 22, 1864. '

John A. Rowley, corp.; pro. to corp. Jan. 12, 1863; must. out with com-
pany Nov. 22, 1864.

Matt. Templeton, corp., wounded Aug. 21, 1863; must. cut with company
Nov. 22, 1864. .

Jonathan Beatty, corp.; pro. to corp. Nov. 20, 1862; must. out with com-
pany Nov. 22, 1864. J

Thomas Griffith, corp.; pro. to corp. Nov. 20, 1862; Wounded Aug. 21,
1863; must. out with company Nov. 22, 1864.

John S. Butterfoss, corp.; pro. to corp. Nov. 20, 1862; must. out with
company Nov. 22, 1864.

Alexander M. Ross, corp.; pro. to corp. Oct. 1, 1863; must. out with com-
pany Nov. 22, 1864. —

Oscar F. Lyon, corp.; pro. to corp. Nov. 23, 1863; must. out with com-

pany Nov. 22, 1864.

John N. Brown, corp.; pro. to 2d lieut. Independent Battery H, Pennsyl-
vania Artillery, Oct. 24, 1862.

John M. S. Cratty, corp.; disch. on surg. certit'. March 17, 1863.

William Milligan, corp. ; pro. to corp. Nov. 20, 1862 ; disch. Oct. 20, 1864,
at expiration of term.

John M. Moore, corp.; pro. to corp. Jan. 1,1862; to sergt. Co. K Oct. 1,
1863.

John M. Morrison, corp.; died at Crany Island, Va., Sept. 14, 1862.

»Robert B. Thompson, musician; must. out with company Nov. 22, 1864.

John W. Ingles, musician, must. out with company Nov. 22, 1864.

Privates.

James Allison, must out with company Nov. 22, 1864.

Joseph W. Andrew, must. in Nov. 11, 1861; must. out with company
Nov. 22, 1864. .

James H. Bell, must. in Nov. 13,1861; wounded Aug. 21, 1862; must.
out with company Nov. 22, 1864.

Andrew Brownlee, must. out with company Nov. 22, 1864.

Jonathan L. Bebout, must. out with company Nov. 22, 1864.

Thomas Briggs, must. out with company Nov. 22, 1864.

John B. Bell, pro. to com.-sergt. July 22, 1863.

Collins W. Barr, killed at Fair Oaks, Va., May 31, 1862.

Robt. H. Byers, died at Annapolis, Md., June 16, of wounds received at
Fair Oaks, May 31, 1862.

James S. Craig, must out with company Nov. 22, 1864.

, James Carothers, disch. on surg. certif. June 3, 1862.

John Curren, must. in July 19, 1862; disch. on surg. certif. Aug. 21,
1862.

Wm. A. H. Chicks, absent, sick, at must. out ; veteran.

Joseph Campsey, wounded Aug. 21, 1863; trans. to Co. C, 188th Regt.
P. V., June 28, 1865; veteran. _

Charles Caldwell, trans. to Co. C, 188th Regt. P. V., June 28, 1865; vet-
eran.

Samuel R. Caldwell, trans. to Co. C, 188th Regt. P. V., June 28, 1865; .

veteran. *

1 Date of muster is Oct. 16, 1861, except where noted.

John Carothers, trans. to Co. C, 188th Regt. P. V., June 28, 1865; vet-

eran.
William Crosson, wounded Aug. 16, 1864; trans. to Co. C, 188th Regt.
P. V., June 28, 1865; veteran.

George F. Cary, died at Baltimore, Md., Nov. 22, 1862.

Samuel L. Coulter, died at Beaufort, S. C., Nov. 27, 1863. «
Nathan A. Day, must. in Oct. 7, 1861; disch. on surg. certif. June 14,

1863.
Franklin B. Dillen, died at Yorktown, Va., May 14, 1862. I 1
Walter 0. Donald, accidentally killed at Bermuda Hundred, Va., Jul
9, 1864.

Thomas K. Fulton, must. out with company Nov. 22, 1864.

Hugh D. Furgus, died at White House, Va., June 19, 1862.

Hugh Ferguson, must. in Nov. 14, 1861; died at Pittsburgh, Pa., Jan. 8,

1864.

Dennis Farrell, killed at Deep Run, Va., Aug. 15, 1864; veteran.

Cyrus Greaves, disch. on surg. certif. Feb. 28, 1863.

Robert Greer, died at White House, Va., June 23, 1862.

Andrew J. Hutchison, must. out with company Nov. 22, 1864.

Frank Henderson, disch. on surg. certif. April 8, 1862.

James Heigby, disch. on surg. certif. Oct. 31, 1862.

S. Hendrickson, disch. on surg. certif. Feb. 16, 1863.

James W. Hardy, died at White House, Va., June 14, 1862.

William H. Hines, killed at Deep Run, Va., Aug. 16, 1864; veteran.
Adam Johnston, disch. on surg. certif. Nov. 13, 1861.

Patterson Jobes, killed near Petersburg, Va., June 17, 1864.

Joseph Kerr, must. out with compan y Nov. 22, 1864.

John R. Kline, must. out with company Nov. 22, 1864.

Hamilton Lyon, must. out with company Nov. 22, 1864.

Andrew W. A. Lovejoy, disch. on surg. certif. April 8, 1862.

Matthew Linn. died at Good Hope Hospital, D. C., Dec. 31, 1861.

John Low, died at Annapolis, Md., June 23d, of wounds received at Fair

Oaks, May 31, 1862.
Philip Martin, wounded Aug. 21, 1863; must, out with company Nov. 22,
1864.

William H. Morrison, must. out with company Nov. 22, 1864.

John A. Mansfield, disch. on surg. certif. Oct. 13, 1863.

James H. McEwen, must. out with company Nov. 22, 1864.

Joseph E. McCabe, disch. on surg. certif. Sept. 1, 1863.

John A. McMi1lin, died at Washington, D. C., June 10th, of wounds re-

ceived at Fair Oaks, May 31, 1864.

Henry N ickerson, disch. on surg. certif. March 19, 1863.

John Neill, trans. to Vet. Corps, date unknown.

John Patterson, must. out with company Nov. 22, 1864.

John Park, disch. on surg. certif. Nov. 1, 1862.

Joseph Palmer, disch. on surg. certif., date unknown.

James Proudfitt, disch. on surg. certif. Nov. 15, 1862.

David G. Paschal, died at Crany Island Sept. 28, 1862.

William H. Randolph, must. out with company Nov. 22, 1864.

Jacob Richardson, must. out with company Aug. 22, 1864.

Moses Ross, disch. on surg. certif. May 2, 1863.

Matthew Ross, J r., disch. on surg. certif. Oct. 31, 1861.

Henry T. Reynolds, missing in action near Petersburg, Va., June 17, '

1864.
William Sias, must. out with company Nov. 22, 1864.
Joseph L. Shell, must. out with company Nov. 22, 1864.
Joseph Shaw, must. out with company Aug. 22, 1864.

,William A. Scott, must. out with company Nov. 22, 1864.

Thomas H. Sawhill, disch. on surg. certif. Nov. 3, 1862.

Jacob L. Thompson, must. out with company Nov. 22, 1864.

Andrew Thompson, died at Yorktown, Va., June 30, 1862; buried in Na-

tional Cemetery, sect‘. 3, grave 143.

Thomas Thompson, died at Hampton, Va., Oct. 4, 1864.

Alexander H. Vance, must. out with company Nov. 22, 1864.

William Wibley, must. out with company Nov. 22, 1864.

John Wibley, disch. on surg. certif. May 1, 1862.

William J. Wilson, disch. on surg. certif. April 4, 1863.

John Wibley, must. in March 1, 1864; disch. by G. 0. June 10, 1865.
Alexander P. Welsh, drafted, must. in Aug. 22, 1864; trans. to Co. C,

188th Regt. P. V., June 28, 1865.
Joseph Welsh, must. in Oct. 16, 1861 ; killed at Deep Run,Va., Aug.

16, 1864; veteran.
COMPANY B.2

Morgan W. Zollars, capt., disch. on surg. certif. May 19, 1862.

.George H. Hooker, capt., pro. from 2d lieut. May 19, 1862; wounded at

2 Date of muster is on Nov. 12, 1861, except where noted.

326

Strawberry Plains, Va., Aug. 16, 1864; must. out with company Nov.
22, 1864.

. Robert P. Hughes, 1st lieut., pro. to capt. Co. G Aug. 21, 1862.

Richard W. Dawson, 1st lieut., pro. to capt. Co. I Aug. 21, 1862 ; killed.

Abraham S. Dial, lst 1ieut., pro. to 2d lieut. May 19, 1862; died June 30,
of wounds received at Fair Oaks May 31, 1862; burial record, April
12, 1865, at Richmond; buried in National Cemetery,section A, divi-
sion 2, grave 15.

Julius A. Smith, 2d lieut., pro. to 2d lieut. Aug. 4, 1862 ; to 1st lieut. Dec.
4,1862; wounded at Strawberry Plains, Aug. 16, 1864; must. out
with company Nov. 22, 1864."

David W. Shields, 2d lieut., must. in Sept. 4, 1861; pro. to 2d lieut. Dec.
4, 1862; to adjt. May 31, 1864.

James R. Kean, 1st sergt., wounded at Strawberry Plains, Va., Aug. 16,
1864; absent in hospital at must. out.

Samuel Stevenson, lst sergt., disch. to accept promotion June 9, 1864.

Isaac F. Overholt, sergt., must. out with company Nov. 22, 1864.

John B. Norris, sergt., must. out with company Nov. 22, 1864.

Benjamin Orbin, sergt., wounded at Morris Island, S. C., August, 1863;
must. out with company Nov. 22, 1864.

Adam Harbison, sergt., disch. on surg. certif. April 15, 1862.

James F. Spear, sergt., wounded Aug. 16, 1864; disch. at expiration of
term.

Manam Sharp, sergt., disch. on surg. certif. April 15, 1862.

Joseph C. Dowds, sergt., must. in Oct. 11, 1861; pro. to sergt.-maj. Aug.
12, 1862. ,
Walter B. Smith, sergt., must. in Oct. 11, 1861; died at Washington, D. C.,

May 21, 1862.

John W. Bigler, sergt., must. in Feb. 25, 1863.

David Watson, sergt., not on must.-out roll.

Davis Miller, corp., must. out with company Nov. 22, 1864,

William McCullough, corp., must. out with company Nov. 22, 1864.

Jackson Crumrine, corp., must out with company Nov. 22, 1864.

Cephas Dodd, corp., must. out with company Nov. 22, 1864.

George K. Strawn, corp., absent, in hospital, at must. out.

J. S. Shollenberger, corp., absent, on detached duty, at must. out.
Abram B. J iams, corp., died at Fortress Monroe, August 28, of wounds
received at Deep Bottom, Aug. 14, 1864. ,
John B. Clayton, corp., must. in Nov. 14, 1861; died at Annapolis, Md.,
Sept., 1864, of wounds received at Deep Bottom, Aug. 14; burial

record, Hampton, Va., Aug. 28, 1864.

A. W. Hutchinson, corp., must. in May 31, 1862.

A. B. Croner, corp., not on must.-out roll.

Eli Crumrine, musician, must. out with company Nov. 22, 1864.

William Barker, musician, must. out with company Nov. 22, 1864.

Privates.

Christopher Anderson, must. out with company Nov. 22, 1864.

Alexander Bane, must. out with company Nov. 22, 1864.

James B. Bair, must. out with company Nov. 22, 1864.

Amos Bane, disch. on surg. certif. Oct. 16, 1862.

John Ballentine, disch. on surg. certif. April 9, 1862.

James Brownlee, disch. on surg. certif. Oct. 15, 1862.

David W. Baker, must. in Feb. 16, 1862; wounded Oct. 13; trans. to
199th Regt. P. v. Oct. 14,1864. 6

James H. Bryan, must. in Feb. 25, 1864; disch. by G. 0. May 22, 1865.

Joseph S. Beattie, must. in Jan. 4, 1864; trans. to 199th Regt. P. V. Oct.
14, 1864. .

James Ballentine, must. in Nov. 14, 1861; died at Harrison’s Landing,
Va , July 28, 1862.

William Braden, must. in Nov. 14, 1865; died at Fortress Monroe, Va.,
December, 1862. .

Cephas Brooks, must. in Feb. 12, 186-1; died at Fortress Monroe, Va.,
May 22, of wounds received May 20, 1864.

William H. Butler, must. in Feb. 12, 1864; died at Yorktown May 6,
1862; burial record, Hampton, Va., May 22, 1864.

Robinson Bair, not on must.-out roll.

John H. Candy, wounded Aug. 14; must out with company Nov. 22,
1864. ' —

Matthew Cain, disch. on surg. certif. Oct. 7, 1862.

Duncan C. Chalfant, disch. on surg. certif. Oct. 19, 1862.

Abram B. Croner, disch. on surg. certif. Feb. 23, 1862.

Thomas Cusick, disch. on surg. certif., date unknown.

Eli Coder, must. in Feb. 26,1864; trans. to Co. A, 188th Regt. P. V., June
28, 1865.

James C. Cage, must. in Feb. 27, 1864; trans. to 199th Regt. P. V. Oct.

V 14, 1864.

HISTORY OF WASHINGTON COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA.

. .

Boyd Crumrine, must. in Oct. 11, 1861; pro. to q.m.-sergt. Dec. 1, 1861.

John C. Campbell, died at Fortress Monroe, Va., August, 1862.

Addison W. Coleman, must. in Nov. 8, 1861.

John Dobbins, must. in Nov. 20, 1861; disch. on surg. certif. April 9,
1862. ’

George W. Elwell, must. in Nov. 20, 1861; died at Annapolis, September
24, of wounds received at Fair Oaks, Va., May 31, 1862; burial
record, May 6, 1862, National Cemetery, Yorktown, Va., sect. B,
grave 258. I

John Guthrie, absent, on detached service, at must. out.

Thomas Gibbons, disch., date unknown.

James Gray, disch. on surg. certif. July 4, 1863.

John L. Grifiith, disch. on surg. certif. Jan. 31, 1863.

Leonard Hammers, must. out with company Nov. 22, 1864.

Thomas Hanlin, disch. on surg. certif., 1863.

F. W. Householder, disch. on surg. certif. 1862.

G. W. Hagermaver, must. in Feb. 25, 1864: trans. to Co. A, 188th.Regt.
P. V., June 28, 1865. V

W. F. Hagermaver, must. in Feb. 25, 1864; trans.to Co. A, 188th Regt.
P. V., June 28, 1865.

John H. Howard, must. in Feb. 25, 1864; trans’. to Co. A, 188th Regt. P.
V., June 28, 1865. .

John B. Hayden, killed at Fair Oaks May 31, 1862; burial record, Sept.
24, 1862. ‘

William G. Howard, died at Newberne, N. 0., February, 1863.

Thomas Jackson, disch. on surg. certif. November, 1861.

John Knight, disch. on surg. certif. August, 1862.

Isaac Kelley, must. in Feb. 26, 1864; trans. to 199th Regt. P. v. Oct. 14
1864.

John A. Lynn, disch. on surg. certif. November, 1864.

Martin E. Layton, must. in Feb. 25, 1864; trans. to Co. A, 188th Regt.
P. V., June 28, 1865. 4

Daniel Martin, wounded near Deep Bottom Aug. 14, 1864; absent at
must. out.

John Magee, disch. Jan. 24, 1865, to date Nov. 22, 1864. ' T

John H. Morrow, must. in Feb. 25, 1864; trans. to Co. A, 188th Regt. P.
V., June 28, 1865. .

J. W. McCullough, absent, on detached duty, at must. out.

Hugh McGill, disch. on surg. certif. November, 1861.

James McCracken, disch. on surg. certif. July 4, 1863.

John McGill, must. in Oct. 14, 1861 ; must. out Nov. 8, 1861.

Joseph L. Newcomer, must. out with company Nov. 22, 1864.

Thomas Orbine, missing in action near Petersburg June 17, 1864.

John F.'Overholt, must. in Feb. 24, 1864; trans. to Co. A, 188th Regt.
P. V., June 28, 1865. .

Thomas Orricks, died at Newport News, Va., April 24, 1862 ; burial record,
Newberne."N. 0., April 6, 1863; buried in National Cemetery.

John Parks, disch. on surg. certif. 1862.

William L. Pershing, pro. to q.m.-sergt. May 16, 1863.

Thomas H. Phillips, must. in Nov. 8, 1861.

Presley Ruffconn, absent, on detached service, at muster out.

John Rowland, must. out with company Nov. 22, 1864.

Evan Ryan, must. out with company Nov. 22, 1864.

Joseph S. Reager, disch. on surg. certif. April 27, 1862.

John V. Rossell, must. in Feb. 25, 1864; trans. to Co. A, 188th Regt. P. V.,
June 28, 1865.

John Riley, died at West Point, Va., June, 1862.

George  Snyder, absent, on detached service, at muster out.

John G. Sedgwick, must. out with company Nov. 22, 1864.

David Shuppe, wounded Aug. 16, 1864; absent, on detached service,.at
muster out. I — C

James Smith, must. out with company Nov. 22, 1864.

T. J. Stephenson, absent, on detached service, at muster out.

William Stewart, absent, on detached service, at muster out. ,

Moses Smith, prisoner from J une 17th to Nov. 26, 1864; disch. April 26,
1865, to date Dec. 3, 1864.

Josiah Sterritt, disch. on surg. certif. April 15, 1863.

Jacob W. Strickler, disch. on surg. certif. Nov. 21, 1863.

Benedict F. Strouch, must. in Feb. 25, 1864; wounded Aug. 14, 1864';
trans. to Co. A, 188th Regt. P. V., J mm 28, 1865.

Jacob H. Strawn, must. in Feb. 25, 1864; wounded Aug.'16, 1864; trans.
to Co. G, 188th Regt. P. V., June 28, 1865. '

Enos K. Strawn, must. in Feb. 25, 1864; trans. to Co. A, 188th Regt. P. V.,
June 28, 1865.

John W. Smith, must. in Feb. 27, 1864; trans. to Co. A, 188th Regt.
P. V., June 28, 1865.

John Smith, died at Point of Rocks, Va., July 31, 1864. '

3

WAR OF THE REBELLION.

327

Elias Spencer, died at Beverly, N. J., Aug. 28, of wounds received at

Deep Run, Aug. 16, 1864.

William H. Steepy, must. in Feb. 23, 1864; died at Fortress Monroe,
date unknown; buried in National Cemetery, City Point, sect. A,
division 4, grave 48. 7

James Stewart, died at Beaufort, S. C., June 24, 1863.

Thomas J . Smith, died May, 1862; burial record, Aug. 18, 1862, Cypress
Hill Cemetery, L. I.

George W. Saunders, wounded at Petersburg, Va., June 15, 1864; not on
muster-out roll. ,

James A. Shook, must. in Feb. 23, 1864; disch. by G. 0. June 24, 1865.

James Torrence, wounded Aug. 24, 1863; must. out with company Nov.

23, 1864. J

. Joshua Torrence, prisoner from June 17, 1864, to April 9, 1865'; disch.

June 5, to date May 17, 1865.

. Henry Taylor, disch. on surg. certif. April 18, 1863.

Owen Turner, trans. to Vet. Res. Corps Aug. 22, 1863.
John Walton, must. out with company Nov. 22, 1864.
Silas Wright, must. out with company Nov. 22, 1864.

- Samuel L. Walton, absent, on, detached service, at muster out.

David Walton, must. out with company Nov. 22, 1864.

John Wilkes, must. in Feb. 25, 1864; trans. to Co. A, 188th Regt. P. V.,
June 28, 1865.

Henry Walker, died at Beaufort, S. C., June 24, 1863.

Thomas J . W'right, died of wounds received at Fair Oaks, Va., May 31,
1862.

Joseph H. Wilgus, died June 13, of wounds received at Fair Oaks, May
31, 1862. .v

Jacob Younkin, killed at Fair Oaks, Va., May 31, 1862.

COMPANY 0.1

John C. Williamson. capt.; res. July 5, 1862.

Robert P. Hughes, capt.; must. in Nov. 12, 1861; pro. from 1st lieut. Co.
B Aug. 21, 1862; to lieut.-col. 199th Regt. P. V. Nov. 28, 1864.

Isaac R. Beazell, 1st lieut.; res. June 24, 1862.

John W. Acheson, lst lieut.; must. in Nov. 14, 1861; pro. from 2d lieut.
Co. C Aug. 2, 1862; to capt. and A. A. G. Feb. 29, 1864.

' William H. Davis, lst lieut.; pro. from 1st sergt. to 2d lieut. March 6,

1863; to 1st lieut. May 21, 1864; must. out with company Nov. 22,
1864. ' ,

George J . Van Gilder, 2d lieut.; res. July 31, 1862.

David H. Lancaster, 2d lieut.; pro. to 2d lieut. J ully 19, 1862; res. March
6, 1863. J

James A. Swearer, 1st sergt.: must. out with company Nov. 22, 1864. ‘

Michael Drumm, 1st sergt.; killed in action Aug. 16, 1864.

William A. Former, sergt.; must. out with company Nov. 22, 1864.

' James B. Collins, sergt.; wounded Aug. 16, 1864; must. out with com-

pany Nov. 22, 1864.

George W. Smith, sergt.; disch. on surg. certif. March 26, 1863.

Franklin D. Condon,'sergt.; wounded Aug. 16, 1864; trans. to Co. D,
188th Regt. P. V., June 28, 1865; veteran.

Walter C. Cravin, sergt.; trans. to Co. D, 188th Regt. P. V., June 28, 1865 ;
veteran.

John T. Norris, sergt.; trans. to Co. D, 188th Regt. I’. V., June 28, 1865;
veteran. ~

John G. Woodward, sergt.; died June 22d of wounds received near Pe-
tersburg, Va., June 17, 1864; buried in National Cemetery at City
Point, Va., sec. A, div. 4, grave 179.

Robert F. Holmes, sergt. ;, killed at Deep Bottom, Va., Aug. 16, 1864.

George S. Groif, corp.; must. out with ‘company Nov. 22, 1864.

Lewis Reimel, corp.; must. out with company Nov. 22, 1864.

Benjamin F. Durbin, corp.; disch. on surg. certif. Sept. 13, 1862.

John B. Groif, corp.; disch. on surg. certif., date unknown.

George W. Sherwan, corp.; disch. on surg. certif. Jan. 5, 1863.

Robert M. Fields, corp.; trans. to Co. D, 188th Regt. P. V., June 28, 1865 ;
veteran.

James R. Cook, corp.; trans. to Co. D, 188th Regt. P. V., June 28, 1865;
veteran.

John Wood, corp.; died at Hampton, Va., May 25th, of wounds received
May 20, 1864.

John Mann, corp.; killed at Deep Bottom, Va., Aug. 16, 1864.

Richard Coates, corp.; killed at Deep Bottom, Va., Aug. 16, 1864.

Lemuel Thomas, musician; died at Hampton, Va., Aug. 16th, of wounds
received at Deep Bottom Aug. 15, 1864.

COMPANY D.2

William H. Horn, capt., res. July 6, 1862.

Rolla 0. Phillips, capt., pro. from 1st lieut. J uly‘6, 1862; must. out with
company Nov. 22, 1864.

John E. Michener, lst lieut., pro. from 2d lieut. July 6, 1862; com. capt.
Co. K Dec. 3, 1863; must. out with company Nov. 22, 1864.

William H. Myers, 2d lieut., pro. from 1st sergt. July 6, 1862, to capt. Co.
G, 188th Regt. P. V., April 29, 1864.

George S. Fulmer, 1st sergt., pro. from corp. to sergt. Sept. 1, 1862; to
1st sergt. March 1, 1864; com. 2d lieut. June 20, 1864; not mustered;
must. out with company Nov. 22, 1864.

Harrison H. Spohn, lst sergt., pro. from corp. to sergt. July 6, 1862; to
1st sergt.; disch. on surg. certif. Feb. 9, 1863.

Hiram S. Myers, lst sergt., pro. from corp. to sergt. Sept. 1, 1862 ; to 1st
sergt. March 1, 1863 ; died at David's Island, N. Y., Feb. 23, 1864.

Howard Kerr, sergt. ; absent, on detached service, at muster out.

Jacob B. Speers, sergt., pro. from corp. April 1, 1863; must. out with
company Nov. 22, 1864.

Barnet F. Johnson, sergt., pro. to corp. April 5, 1862; to sergt. July '1,
1863; must. out with company Nov. 22, 1864.

John Milliken, sergt., pro. to corp. Nov. 1, 1862; to sergt. Oct. 10, 1864;
must. out with company Nov. 22, 1864.

George W. McGiflin, sergt., disch. on surg. certif. March 5, 1863.

John Horn, sergt., disch. on surg. certif. July 27, 1862.

Thomas M. Harford, sergt., pro. from corp. March 1, 1863; trans. to non-
com. stafi‘ July 1, 1863; must. out with company Nov. 22, 1864.
John N. Donagho, sergt., captured; died at Salisbury, N. C., Nov. 7, 1862.
Abram S. Tinley, corp., pro. to corp. March 1, 1863; wounded Aug. 21,

1863; must. out with company Nov. 22, 1864.

Alexander C. Hathaway, pro. to corp. April 1, 1-863; wounded at Deep \

Bottom, Va., Aug. 16, 1864; must. out with company Nov. 22, 1864.

Joseph W. Burson, corp., pro. to corp. March 1, 1864; wounded at Deep
Bottom Aug. 16, 1864; absent at muster out.

George W. Dales, corp., pro. to corp. Oct; 10, 1864; absent on detached
service at muster out. ”‘ '

Benjamin Marshall, corp.; wounded Aug. 30, 1863; disch. Nov. 11, 1864,
at expiration of term.

Benjamin F. Hathaway, corp., pro. to corp. Oct. 10, 1864; trans. to Co.
0, 188th Regt. P. V., June 28, 1865.

George Ketchum, corp., pro. to corp. July 6, 1862; died at Hampton,
September 26th, of wounds rec. at Deep Bottom Aug. 16, 1864; vet.

Abraham Miller, corp., pro. to corp. July 1, 1864; died at Beverly, N. J .,
of wounds rec. at Deep Bottom Aug. 16, 1864.

William W. Garber, corp., killed at Morris Island, S. C., Aug. 30, 1863.

Alexander C. Morgan, corp., missing inaction at Fair Oaks May 3, 1862.

Isaiah Jordan, musician, must. outwith company Nov. 22, 1864.

James T. Wells, musician, disch. on surg. certif. March 18, 1863.

Privates. _

Joseph E. Amer, absent, on detached service, at muster out.

George Amer, must. out with company Nov. 22, 1864.

William Allmann, disch. on surg. certif. March 25, 1863.

‘Enoch Brooks, absent, on detached service, at muster out.

John Bratton, absent, on detached service, at muster out.

William A. Bell, disch. on surg. certif. July 8, 1862.

Josiah Bratton, disch. on surg. certif. Oct. 26, 1863.

Henry Bush, disch. June 30, 1864, for wounds received at Morris Island,
N. C. .

Robert W. Baldwin, disch. on writ of habeas corpus, date unknown.

James W. Burgan, absent, sick, at muster out.

David Baldwin, must. in Oct. 16, 1861; missing in action near Deep Bot-
tom Aug. 17, 1864.

Stephen Clendaniel, absent, on detached service. at muster out.

Daniel W. Crumrine, must. out with company Nov. 22, 1864.

Harvey Cox, wounded Aug. 30, 1863; must. outwith company Nov. 22,
1864. .

John Clendaniel, must. in Aug. 13, 1862; wounded at Petersburg June
18,1864; disch.by G. 0. June 10, 1865.

Israel Cnmpson, died at Poplar Hill June 24,1862.

Hiram Crouch, died at Folly Island, N. 0., Nov. 20, 1863.

Joseph A. Demuth, must. out with company Nov. 22, 1864.

Henry G. Dales, disch. on surg. certif. Nov. 6, 1862.

Mahon C. Donagho, disch. for wounds received in action.

Alfred Dougherty, must. in Feb. 22, 1862; disch. by G. 0. May 12, 1865.

1 Must. in Oct. 31, 1861, except where other dates are given.

2 Date of muster Nov. 11, 1861, except where noted. ’

328

HISTORY OF WASHINGTON COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA.

Hiram_ H. Fulmer, disch. on surg. certif. Oct. 29, 1862.

George W. Fisher, pro. to hosp. stew., U. S. A., March 8, 1864.

George Garber, died at'Philadelphia, July 18, 1862.

Thomas S. Gage, must. in Dec. 10, 1862.

Hezekiah Horn, must. out with company Nov. 22, 1864.

Hiram Haver, wounded Aug. 30, 1863, June 18, 1864; must. out with
company Nov. 22, 1864.

Jacob Haver, absent, on detached service, at must. out.

George Helleck, disch. on surg. certif., date unknown.

Jonas Horn, disch. on surg. certif. Nov. 24, 1862.

Elias ‘Horn, trans. to Vet. Res. Corps_March 16, 1864.

T. P. Hathaway, died June 12, 1862.

Richard Hathaway, died at Newberne, N. C., March 2; burial record,
March 7, 1863. —

William M. J ackman, d.isch. on surg. certif., date unknown.

Leonidas F. Sones, disch. on surg. certif. Nov. 4, 1862.

Alfred R. Lucre, must. out with company Nov. 22, 1864.

William B. Lush, must. out with company Nov. 22, 1864.

Jasper Morgan, disch. on surg. certif. Sept. 18, 1862.

Jesse S. Moore, died at Suifolk, Va., Nov. 9, 1862.

James Meeks, missing in action near Deep Bottom, Va., Aug. 17, 1864.

Alexander McCay, must. out with company Nov. 22, 1864.

Oliver McVay, disch. on surg. certif. Sept. 18, 1862.

John McChain, disch. on surg. certif. Oct. 18, 1862. _

William McCormick, must. in March 4, 1862 ; disch. on surg. certif.
June 1, 1863.

John Mcllvain, trans. to Co. C, 188th Regt. P. V., June 28., 1865; vet-
eran. _ '

William H. McGifiin, died at Harrison's Landing June 8, 1862.

M. E. McJunken, died at Harrisburg, Pa., Oct. 25, 1864.

Wilson Pryor, disch. on surg. certif. Nov. 17, 1862. ,

Robert Pryor, killed at Deep Bottom, Va., Aug. 16, 1864.

Edward Roberts, must. out with company Nov. 22, 1864.

William A. Rider, disch. on surg. certif. Dec. 1, 1862. A

James M. Roach, disch. on surg. certif. Sept. 16, 1862.

Bowen Reese, disch. Nov. 16, 1864, at expiration of term.

John Reese, trans. to Co. C, 188th Regt. P. V., June 28, 1865; veteran.

William Rice, must. in Aug. 13, 186_2; disch. by G. 0. June 10, 1865.

William L. Stull, must. out with company Nov. 22,1864.

Eli Smith, disch. on surg. certif. Sept. 16, 1862.

Adam Staub, disch. on surg. certif. March 16, 1864.

J. L. Sondeckor, died at Philadelphia July 12, 1862.

Samuel 0. Thomas, disch. on surg. certif., date unknown.

William H. Virgin, must. out with company Nov. 22, 1864. _

Samuel Vandegrift, disch. Nov..11, 1864, at expiration of term.

Theophilus Wilson, must. out withcompany Nov. 22, 1864.

Amos G. Walton, died at David’s Island, N. Y., Feb. 29, 1864.

Henry C. Yorts, must. out with company Nov. 22, 1864.

James Yorders, must. in Aug. 13, 1862; disch. on surg. certif. Oct. 7,
1862.

COMPANY 131.1

Harry A. Purviance, capt., pro. to lieut.-col. May 15, 1862.

Edward Campbell, capt., pro. from 2d lieut. May 15, 1862; to maj. Sept.
6,1862. , V . ‘

Lewis Watkins, capt., must:in Oct. 15, 1861; pro. from 1st lieut. Sept. 6,
1862; died Sept. 28th of wounds received at Deep Bottom, Va., Aug.
16, 1864.

Jacob Davis, 1st lieut., must. in Oct. 15, 1861; pro. from 1st sergt. to 2d
lieut. May’1, 1863; to 1st lieut. May 5, 1864; com. capt. Sept. 28, 1864;
not mustered; must. out with company Nov. 22, 1864.

T. S. Purviance, 2d lieut., pro. from sergt. May 15, 1862; killed at Fair
Oaks, Va.,‘ May 31, 1862.

Robert G. Taylor, 2d lieut., res. Nov. 22, 1862.

Samuel Marshall, lst sergt., must. in Nov. 15, 1861 ; disch. Oct. 31, 1864.

Oliver P. Henderson, 1st sergt., died at Baltimore, Md., May 25, 1862.

William J. Graham, 1st sergt., died at Beaufort, August 30th, of wounds
received at Morris Island, S. C., Aug. 21, 1863.

William M. Linn, sergt., pro. from private Aug. 18,1862; must. out with
company Nov. 22, 1864.

John D. Heckard, sergt., disch. on surg. certif. Aug. 18, 1862.

Moses McKeag_, sergt., disch. for wounds received at Fair Oaks, Va., May
31, 1862.

Jacob D. Moore, sergt., disch. on surg. certif. Aug. 18, 1862.

Charles E. Eckles, sergt., wounded Oct. 13, 186-1;,trans. to 199th Regt.
P. V. Oct. 14, 1864; veteran.

1 Date of muster in Nov. 12, 1861, except as noted.’

Henry M. Hand, sergt., absent (wounded) at muster out.

William G. Miller, sergt., trans. to Co. E, 188th Regt. P. V., June 28,
1865; veteran.

James R. Peters, sergt., killed at Deep Bottom, Va., Aug. 16, 1864;
veteran.

George Fisher, corp., wounded Aug. 27, 1863; pro. to corp. Sept. 1, 1864;
must. out with company Nov. 22, 1864. .

Jacob Hand, ‘corp., disch. on surg. certif. April 18, 1862.

Hugh B. McNeil, corp., pro. to corp. June, 1862; disch. on surg. certif.
July 4, 1863.

James Watkins, corp., disch. on surg. certif. Dec. 19, 1862.

Adolphus J. Inks, corp., trans. to 199th Regt. P. V. Oct. 14. 1864; veteran.

Jeremiah Dorson, corp., absent (sick) at muster out; veteran.

George W. Downer, corp., trans. to 199th Regt.  V. Oct. 14, 1864; vet-
eran. - ,

Robert M. Mitchell, corp., trans. to 199th Regt. P. V. Oct. 14, 1864; vet-
eran.

H. J. McCallister, corp., trans. to 199th Regt. P. V. Oct. 14, 1864; vet
eran.

Martin Pope, corp., trans. to 199th Regt. P. V. Oct. 14, 1864; veteran.

Davis Himmegar, corp., died at Baltimore, Md., May 26, 1862.

Henry M. Taylor, corp., died at Hilton Head, S. C., February 5th.

William Remmell, musician, trans. to 199th Regt. P. V. Oct. 14, 1864;

veteran. '
Privates.
Matthew C. Axton, trans. to Co. E, 188th Regt. P. V., June 28, 1865;
veteran. I ‘

Joseph Andrews, died at Fortress Monroe, Va., Nov. 6, 1862; burial rec-
0rd, Nov. 8, 1862; buried in Cypress Hill Cemetery, Long Island. »

John Adams, must. in March 30, 1862.

James Byers, disch. by general court-martial Nov. 4, 1862.

Thomas Byers, trans. to 199th Regt. P. V. Oct. 14, 1864; veteran.

John Clark, disch. on surg. certif., date unknown.

Clark Chew, disch. on surg. certif. June 12, 1862.»

Elbridge Collins, disch. on surg. certif. Nov. 28, 1862.

Josiah W. Crawford, disch. on surg. certif.-June 14, 1863.

Joseph C. Chase, disch. on surg. certif., date unknown.

Newton W. Chase, trans. to 199th Regt. P. V. Oct. 14, 1864; veteran.

Sherman Chase, must. in Oct. 17, 1862; disch. by G. 0. May 27, 1865.

Milton B. Chase, must. in April 11, 1864; trans. to Co. E, 188th Regt. P.
V., June 28, 1865.

Greensbury Crosslafld, must. in Nov. 11, 1861; killed at Deep Bottom,-
Va., Aug. 16, 1864.

William J. Crow, died Sept. 12, 1862; burial record Aug. 30, 1862; buried
in Cypress Hill Cemetery, Long Island.

Simeon D. Chase, must. in April 11, 1864; must. out. Aug. 26, 1864.

John Dean, disch. on surg. certif. Dec. 3, 1863. .

James C. Davis, must.in Aug. 9, 1864; disch. by G. 0. May 27, 1865.

Andrew Devore, died at Baltimore, Md., July 29, 1862. _

Jacob Deselms, killed near Petersburg, June 18, 1864 ; buried in National
Cemetery, Sec. A, Div. 1, Grave 5.

John Dongon, died July 16, 1862 ; buried in Cypress Hill Cemetery, Long
Island, grave 220. ‘

James M. Edingfield, died at Morris Island, S. C., October 2d, of Wounds
received at Fort Gregg, Sept. 23, 1862.

John Flinder, disch. on su rg. certif. Sept. 10,- 1862.

John Finnegan, disch. on surg. certif. Feb. 24, 1863.

Isaac Fisher, trans. to 199th Regt. P. V. Oct. 14, 1864; veteran.

John Fordyce, trans. to Vet. Res. Corps July 27, 1863.

Benjamin Gill, disch., date unknown.

Jacob Grover, died at Fortress Monroe, Va., Jan. 31, 1864.

Eli F. Huston, must. out with company Nov. 22, 1864.

Thomas Hennessy, must. out with company Nov. 22, 1864. .

Edward M. Hall, wounded Aug. 27, 1863; absent, on detached service, at
must. out. V , J

William Hand, disch. on surg. certif. Sept. 2, 1862.

William B. Hays, trans. to 199th Regt. P. V. Oct.,14, 1864; veteran.

Jeremiah Hartzell, wounded Oct. 7, 1864; absent at mustfout; veteran.

James H. Hufi°, trans. to 4th U. S. Art. Nov. 14, 1862. V

William Hartman, trans. to Vet. Res. Corps July 10, 1863.

William M. D. Hill, died Dec. 5, 1861 ; buried in Military Asylum Cem-
etery, D. C. ' . _

Andrew J. Huff, died near Washington, D. C., Dec. 13, 1861.

Lindsay Hartman, killed at Fair Oaks, Va., May 31, 1862.

Milton D. Hall, must. "in ‘May 25, 1862. .

Thomas B. Jenkins, must. in Nov. 11, 1861; absent (wounded) at must.
out.

WAR OF THE REBELLION.

329

James Jordan, must. in Oct. 17, 1862; disch. by G. 0., June 10,1865.

Michael Keenan, trans. to Co. E, 188th Regt. P. V., June 28, 1865; vet-
eran.

Gideon Knight, trans. to Vet. Res. Corps, date unknown.

Frederick Lowery, must. out with company Nov. 22,1864.

Mordecai S. Lincoln, disch. on surg. certif. Aug. 15, 1862.

J efierson Lowe, trans. to Co. E, 188th Regt. P. V., June 28, 1865 ; veteran.

John P. Lucas, must. in Aug. 19, 1864; disch. by G. 0. June 10, 1865.

John H. Linn, killed at Fort Wagner, S. C., Aug. 27, 1863.

John R. Means, absent (sick) at muster out.

Thomas Malone, must. in March 2, 1862; disch. on surg. certif. Sept. 23,
1862. A

Henry Marret, trans. to 2d U. S. Art., date unknown; veteran.

James N. Mayhorn, wounded Aug. 21, 1863; trans. to Co. E, 188th Regt.
P. V., June 28, 1865; veteran.

William Mahaffey, trans. to Co. E, 188th Regt. P. V., June 28, 1865.-

William H. Marquis, must. in March 25, 1862; died at Beaufort, S. C..
September 12th, of wounds received at Fort Wagner, Aug. 27, 1863.

John McLean, disch. on surg. certif. April, 1862. .

David C. McKeag, trans. to Co. E, 188th Regt. P. V., June 28, 1865;

I veteran. _ V

William McConn, wounded Aug. 27, 1863; trans. to Co. E, 188th Regt.
P. V., June 28, 1865.

John F. McCoy, trans. to 199th Regt. P. V., Oct. 14, 1864; veteran.
Benjamin McCallister, must. in June 20, 1864; trans. to Co. E, 188th
Regt. P. V., June 28, 1865; veteran. .

S. W. McDowell, died at Fortress Monroe, July 2, 1864; burial record,
July 21, 1864.

Robert Neely, must. in July 25, 1862; disch. on surg. certif. Sept. 20,
1863.

Joseph Neely, killed at Fort Wagner, S. C., Aug. 27 , 1863.

David R. Parker, died at White House, Va., J une 15, 1862.

George C. Rocky, absent (sick) at must. out.

Henry J. Rigdon, must. in Dec. 31, 1861; disch., date unknown, for
wounds received at Morris Island, S. C., Aug. 27, 1863.

Wesley Ralston, must. in Aug. 9, 1864; disch. by G. 0. June 10, 1865.

A Jacob Rockwell, trans. to 4th U. 8. Art. Nov. 21, 1862.

Elijah Rockwell, died at Harrison’s Landing, Va., Aug. 16, 1862.
Cyrus Sproul, disch. on surg. certif. April 11, 1863 ; died April 14, 1863.
Henry Smith, disch. on surg. certif., date unknown.

- Rudolph Smith, date unknown.

Charles Vorndal, disch. on surg. certif., date unknown.

John Woodward, must. out with company Nov. 22, 1864.

Christy Welsh, died at Washington, D. 0., March, 1862; burial record,
Aug. 3, 1862; buried in Military Asylum Cemetery.

John J. White, died August 30th, of wounds received at Fort Wagner
Aug. 27, 1863.

CHAPTER XXV.

WAR OF THE REBELLION.—(Continued.)

One Hundredth Regiment.——The “Round Head
Regiment,” designated as the One Hundredth in the
Pennsylvania line, was raised in August, 1861, in
the counties of Washington, Westmoreland, Beaver,
Lawrence, Butler, and Mercer, “from among the de-
scendants of the Covenanters and of the men who
had followed Cromwell, whose leading characteristics
had been a devotion to the principles of liberty of
person and of conscience.“ To the composition of
this regiment Washington County contributed one
company (“ A”), of which the original commissioned
officers were: Capt., James Armstrong; 1st Lieut.,
William F. Templeton ; 2d Lieut., Joseph H. Pente-
cost. This company was mustered into the service

1 Bates.

' frigate “ Wabash.”

Aug. 27,1861. There was no other company made
up wholly or principally of Washington County men,
though volunteers from this county served in several
other companies of the regiment.

On the 2d of September the Round Head compa-
nies were ordered to Washington, D. C., and upon
arrival at the capital went into camp at Kalorama
Heights,where the regiment became fully organized
under the following field-officers, viz. : Colonel, Dan-
iel Leasure ; Lieutenant-Colonel,’ James Armstrong
(promoted from captain of “A” company of Wash-
ington County) ; Major, David A. Leckey.‘

On the 9th of October the regiment with others
moved from VVashington to Annapolis, Md., where it
encamped on the grounds of the Naval Academy as
part of a large expeditionary force which was col-
lected there under command of Gen. W. T. Sherman,
destined for a then unknown field of operations (which

' afterwards proved to be the coast of South Carolina).

On the 19th of October the regiment was embarked
with five companies of A the Fiftieth Pennsylvania
Regiment on board the transport-steamer “ Ocean
Queen” and proceeded, down the Chesapeake. When
they arrived at Fortress Monroe they found the road-
stead crowded with a fleet made up. of war-steamers
and transports filled with troops. This fleet, includ-
ing the “ Ocean Queen,” went to "sea in the morning
of October 29th, and the sight was grand and inspir-
iting. For a time the winds favored, and the sea was
comparatively smooth, but afterwards a heavy gale
came on in which the vessels were scattered, and
three or four of them were lost. During this time
the troops suffered greatly from sea-sickness and over-

crowding on the transports. The fleet had sailed-

under sealed orders, and its destination was as yet
unknown except to the chief naval and military
commanders. The “Ocean Queen” having been
driven by the gale entirely away from and out of
sight of the other vessels of the fleet, the sealed orders
were opened and it was found that the destination
was Port Royal Entrance, S. C. At last the storm
abated, the vessels one by one returned within sig-
naling distance of each other, and the low shores of
South Carolina became visible on the starboard hand.
Six days (which seemed as many weeks) from the
time of its departure from Fortress Monroe the fleet
arrived off Hilton Head, S.-C., Nov. 4, 1861. The
object of the expedition was now apparent, and, with

,a smoother sea and an enemy almost in sight, sea- 9

sickness and dejection -gave place to buoyant spirits
and eager enthusiasm.

The fleet was composed of fourteen armed vessels,
twenty-two first-class steamers, twelve smaller steam-
ers, and twenty~six sailing-vessels. The commander
of the fleet was Commodore (afterwards Admiral) S.
F. Dupont, whose flag-ship was the splendid steam-
The land forces consisted of
thirteen regiments of volunteers, in three brigades,——-
in all about eleven thousand men,-——under command

38

HISTORY OF WASHINGTON COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA.

when the French surrendered. Their loss was ten
killed and one wounded. Among the killed was M.
de J umonville} A All the dead men were scalped by
Tanacharison’s Indians. Wasl1ington’s loss was one
man killed and two wounded.

The prisoners, twenty-one in number (among whom
were La Force, M. Drouillard, and two cadets), were
marched to the Half-King’s camp, and thence to the
Great Meadows. Two days later they were sent to
Winchester, Va., with a guard of twenty men, under
command of Lieut. West, who was also accompanied
by Mr. Spindorph‘.

On the 30th, Washington “began to raise a fort
with small palisadoes, fearing that when the French
should hear the news of that defeat we might be at-
tacked by considerable forces.” The defenses which
his men had constructed at the Great Meadows camp
prior to this probably consisted of parapets, formed
of logs (laid horizontally) and earth, along the crests
of the “two natural intrenchments,” which have al-
ready been mentioned, and the discovery of which
at the Great Meadows, together with the advantage
of a small stream that flowed ‘near them, seems to
have been a principal reason for his selecting that
place as a site for his fortified camp and temporary
base of operations.

The little stockade which Washington built after
the fight at J u'monville’s camp was evidently a very
slight and primitive affair, for on the 2d of J un'e it was
completed, and religious services were held in it. In
the previous evening the Half-King had arrived,
bringing with him some twenty-five or thirty families

of Indians, who had fled from the lower Mononga-.

hela and the neighborhood of Logstown for fear of
the vengeance of the French. The fugitive party
numbered between eighty and one hundred persons,
including women and children. Among them was

_ “Queen” Alliquippa and her son. Her heart had

evidently been touched in its tenderest chord by
Washington’s present of a bottle of rum to her in the
preceding December, and now she came to place her-
self under-his protection, and she doubtless had visions

of future favors from him. But the presence of these i

refugees was very embarrassing to the young com-
mander on, account of prospective scarcity of pro-
visions, and for many other reasons, and the incon-
venience was afterwards increased by the arrival of
other parties of non-combatant Indians. One of
these was a party of Shawanese, who came to the fort
on the 2d of June, and others came in on the 5th and
6th. Washington wished to be disencumbered of
these hangers-on, and tried to have a rendezvous of
friendly Indians established at the mouth of the Red-

1 The killing of Jumonville was stigmatized by the French as the
assassination of a peaceful envoy, and their writers have covered thou-
sands of pages with accusations against Washington as commander of
the attacking force. Even a greater amount of Writing has been done
by American historians to refute those false allegations. But the
character of WASHINGTON needs no vindication, and certainly none will
be offered in these pages. V

stone Creek, but did not succeed in effecting his pur-
pose. ~

On the 6th of J une, Christopher Gist arrived from
Wills’ Creek, with information that Col. Fry, com-
manding officer of the Virginia regiment, had died at
that place on the 30th of May while on his way to the
Great‘ Meadows with troops. By his death Washing-
ton succeeded to the command of the regiment. On
the 9th, Maj. Muse arrived from Wills’ Creek with
the remainder of the regiment and nine small swivel-
guns, with ammunition for them. But although the
last of the regiment had now arrived, the total force
under Washington was but little more than three
hundred men, in six companies, commanded‘ respec-
tively by Capts. Stephen, Jacob Van Braam, Robert
Strobo, Peter Hogg, Andrew Lewis,” Polson, and
George Mercer. Among the subalterns were Lieuts.
John Mercer and Waggoner, and Ensigns Peyronie-
and Tower. Maj. Muse, as a man of some military
experience, was detailed as quartermaster, and Capt.
Stephen was made acting major.

Maj. Muse, on his arrival, reported that Capt.
Mackay, of the South Carolina Royal Independent
Company, had arrived with his command at Wills’
Creek, and was not far behind him on the march to
Great Meadows. He (Mackay) arrived on the follow-
ing day (June 10th), having with him a force of about
one hundred men, five days’ rations of flour, sixty
cattle on the hoof, and a considerable supply of am-
mun-ition. As Capt. Mackay was a regular oflicer in
the royal service, he displayed from the first a disin-
clination to act under the orders of a “buckskin
colonel” of Virginia provincial troops. This feeling
extended to the private soldiers of the Carolina com-
pany, but no act of pronounced insubordination
resulted from it.

Two days after the arrival of Capt. Mackay, some
of Washington’s scouts brought in word that they had
discovered a French party, numbering, by estimate,
about ninety men, between Gist’s and Stewart’s Cross-
ings of the Youghiogheny. This intelligence caused
the colonel to start out with about one hundred and

thirty men and thirty Indians to find them; but

before leaving the Meadows he took the same pre-
caution that he observed when he went out to attack
the party under J umonville,——-that is, he directed all
his ammunition and stores to be placed in the safest
possible position within the palisade, and set a strong

guard over it, with orders to keep the strictest watch '

until his return ;, for he still feared that the reported
movement by the French was part of a stratagem by
which they hoped to capture the work in the absence
of a large part of its defenders. On moving out with
his party, however, he soon met an Indian party, who

2 Afterwards Gen. Lewis, who fought the battle of Point Pleasant
in Dunmore’s war of 1774. He was a relative of Washington, and it is
said that in 1775 the latter recommended him for the appointment which
he himself soon‘ after received, that of commander-in-chief of the Ameri-
can armies.

330

HISTORY OF WASHINGTON COUN TY, PENNSYLVANIA.

of’Gen. W. T. Sherman. The Second Brigade, com-
posed of the Fiftieth and One Hundredth Pennsyl-
vania, Eighth Michigan, and Seventy-ninth New
York, was under command of Brig.-Gen. Isaac I.
Stevens. ’

The channel connecting Port Royal harbor with the
sea was guarded on either side by a strong rebel forti-
fication. These were known as Forts Walker and
Beauregard, and the reduction of these, by the navy,
was the first work to be done. For three days after
their arrival the vessels remained in quiet, below, as
the weather was not considered sufficiently favorable
for operations ; but on the 7th the “ Wabash” "set her
signal for battle, and advanced to the attack, followed
by the other armed ships in their proper order. They
moved in a circular line, up past one fort, and down
past the other, delivering their tremendous broad-
sides into each as they came abreast of it. With the
fire from the ships, and the responses from‘ the forts,
it was almost a continuous volley of artillery, which
shook the earth, and made the very waters tremble.
But at length the fire of the forts began to slacken,
their replies grew more and more feeble, and finally
the Stars and Bars above their ramparts gave place to
the white flag. A little later the standard of the
Union floated above the captured works on both sides
of the channel. ,

On the following day the brigade landed at Hilton
Head, and a part of it occupied Fort Walker. On
the 17th of December it moved to Beaufort, a place
of surpassing beauty, where many of the wealthy
people of Charleston had, in the old days of peace,
made their summer residences. It was now found
deserted by nearly all its. inhabitants except negroes.
On the morning of the 1st of January, 1862, the troops
of Stevens’ brigade, supported by two. gunboats,
crossed the Coosaw River to attack the works of the
enemy at Port Royal Ferry, but the Confederates
withdrew after slight skirmishing, in which the Round
Heads suffered little if any loss, and on the following
day the troops returned to camp. Then for five
months, which included the delightful winter season
of lower South Carolina, the troops remained occu-
pying Beaufort, Barnwell’s, Port Royal, Ladies’, and
other adjacent islands, engaged chiefly in drill and
picket duty. This was to them the most agreeable
period in all their war experience, except for the fact
that there was a considerable amount of sickness in
the command, resulting from change of climate. ‘

On the 1st of June Stevens’ division‘ was moved
from Beaufort, and proceeded by transports through

Stono River to Legareville, on James Island, where-

the enemy was occupying defensive works, which
were carried, June .3d, after a brisk engagement, in
which the Round Heads suffered a loss of nineteen,
killed and wounded, and fifteen men and a captain.

1 Stevens then commanded a division, his old brigade being tempo-
rarily under command of Col. Fenton, of the Eighth Michigan.

(of Co. “ F”) taken prisoners. Then the regiment lay
in comparative quiet (but often under heavy artillery
fire) until the night of the 15th, when orders were
issued and preparations made for an attack on Tower
Fort, a strong work of the enemy near Secessionville,
on James Island.

Secessionville, the scene of the battle which took

place on the following morning, was described by Dr. J. j

C. Wilson, surgeon of the Eighth Michigan, which was
one of the regiments engaged, as “ a village composed
of a few houses whose owners have seceded from
them, situated on a narrow neck of land jutting into
the stream on the east side of James Island, skirted
bytidal marshes and swamps on either side, and diffi-
cult of approach, except from the westward, where
is a rebel fort which commands this entrance.” The
fort was a formidable earthwork, with a parapet nine
feet in height, surrounded by a broad ditch seven feet
deep, and protected. by a broad and almost impenetra-

ble abatis. The neck of dry land over which (alone)

it was approachable was barely two hundred yards in
width, and every inch of it could be swept at close
range by canister from the six heavy guns of the fort
and by musketry from its defenders. And it was
over such ground, and to the assault of such a work,
that the troops of Stevens’ division moved forward at
four o’clock in the morning of that bloody and event-
ful 16th of June, 1862. '

The assaulting column was made up of two small
brigades, one, composed of the Round Heads, with
the Forty-sixth and Seventy-ninth (Highlanders)'of
New York, under command of Col. Leasure, and the
other composed of the Eighth Michigan, Seventh Con-
necticut, and Twenty-eighth Massachusetts, under Col.

Fenton, of Michigan. Four batteries of artillery ac- ,

companied the brigades, and the entire attacking force
numbered three thousand three hundred and thirty-
seven men. The troops were in line at two o’clock
A.M., and it was expected they would move forward
at once, but for some unaccountable reason the ad-
vance was delayed until nearly sunrise. A correspond-
ent of the New York Tribune, who was present, wrote
a communication descriptive of the battle to his paper,

in which he said, “It appears, from the statements of .

some of the oflicers and men in the regiments, that

about one-half mile from the fort there was a narrow‘
pass through a hedge, and the men were compelled to ,

pass through a very few abreast, thus delaying their
advance. The Eighth Michigan got through and‘
pushed on with great vigor up to the fort, which they
assaulted with a shout. They were met with a mur-
derous fire from the fort in front, and from flanking
batteries. A few of these brave men overcame all
dangers and difliculties, and, rushing over the dead
bodies of their slaughtered comrades, actually climbed
into the fort; but it was impossible for them to main-
tain their ground there against the fearful odds whcih
opposed them, the men who should have supported

: them being delayed in passing through the hedge.”

WAR OF THE REBELLION.

Just as the Eighth Michigan was beaten back the
Highlanders and Round Heads came up, having
passed over a wide space, swept by the enemy’s can-
ister and musketry.' Both the Pennsylvania and the
New York regiment rushed on regardless of the'fire
which met them, and many men of both regiments
actually forced their way into the work, but it did not
avail. After a struggle of an hour’s duration‘ Gen.
Benham ordered a retreat, which was then made,
the Round Head regiment having sustained a loss of
forty-one killed and wounded out of a total strength
of four hundred and twenty-one officers and men with
which it went into the fight.

“At about nine o’clock,” says the Tribune corre-
spondent, “ which seemed to be the crisis of the bat-
‘tle,’and when the generals seemed to be consulting
whether they should again advance upon the fort or
retire, the gunboats decided the question by opening
a heavy cannonade in our rear, which, instead of tell-
ing upon the rebels, threw their shot and shell into

our own ranks. This must have resulted from ignor-..

ance on their part as to our precise position, owing to
the rapid changes on the field and in the intervening
timber. The shells fell and burst on every side in the
very midst of our men, several exploding near the
commanding gen-eral and his staff. The effect of this
unfortunate mistake was an order for the troops to

retire, which they did in perfect order, taking position

on the old picket-line.” '

A Gen. Stevens’ division evacuated James Island on
the 4th and 5th of July, and moved by transports to
Hilton Head, where orders were received from the
Executive of Pennsylvania designating the Round
Head regiment as the One Hundredth of the line.
On the 12th the regiment moved with its brigade to
Beaufort, where immediately after its arrival it was
embarked on the steamer “ Merrimac,” and sailed for
Fortress Monroe, where it duly arrived, and on the
18th moved to a camp at Newport News. The officers
and men knew they were destined to reinforce the
armies in Virginia after the disasters of the Seven
Days’ fight, and they did not like the change, for they
preferred to remain in the South where their laurels
had been won. The command remained three weeks
in camp at the News, and left on the 4th of August,
moved up the bay and the Potomac to Acquia Creek;
thence by railroad to the Rappahannock, and took
part in the campaign of Gen. Pope, being desperately
engaged in the second battle of Bull Run, August
29th, where “of the four hundred and fifty who had
joined in the last charge but one hundred and ninety-
ei-ght came back unhurt.” Among the killed of the
regiment in this action was Capt. William F. Temple-
ton, of the Washington County company. .

The fight was renewed on the following day, but
without heavy fighting for the Round Heads. On the
1st of September they again fought bravely at Chan-
tilly, losing thirty-six in killed and wounded. At
South Mountain, September 14th, it lost thirty-six

3-31

killed and wounded. It was present at the great
battle of Antietam, but not engaged, except in -a skir-
mish in which it lost five killed and wounded. Soon
afterwards its strength was increased about two hun-
dred by the return of furloughed men and conva-
lescents. Late in October the regiment marched to
Weverton, and thence to Berlin, Md., where it
crossed the Potomac into Virginia. It passed through

Lovettsville, Waterford, Slack’s Mills, Rectortown,

and Salem to Waterloo, where, on the 11th of No-
vember, it received the announcement of Gen. Burn-
side’s promotion to the command of the army. On
the 15th it was at Sulphur Springs, and moved thence,
by way of Fayetteville and Bealton Station, to a camp
about ten miles east of the latter place, where was
read the order forming the “ right grand division” of
the army, by uniting the Second and Ninth Corps,
under command of Gen. E. V. Sumner. On the 18th
the regiment marched towards the Rappahannock,
and onithe 19th reached Falmouth, opposite Fred-

ericksburg, where the army" was rapidly concen-
trating. Here it remained until the 12th of Decem- »

ber, when it crossed the Rappahannocka to Fred-
ericksburg, but was not engaged in the great battle

of the 13th. It recrossed on the 15th, and remained -

at Falmouth until Feb. 13, 1863, when it moved with
the Ninth Corps (which had been detached from the
Army of the Potomac) to Newport News, Va., and
there camped, evidently waiting orders for a further
movement, which the oflicers and men hoped might
take them back to the Department of the South. The
regiment remained in camp at Newport News for
more than a month.

On the 20th of March the regiment, being again

under marching orders, embarked at Newport News,
and leaving there on the 21st, arrived at Baltimore on

the 22d, and proceeded thence by the Baltimore and —

Ohio Railroad to Parkersburg, W. Va., reaching there
on the 24th, and embarking on steamers, moved down
the river, and landing in Kentucky, marched to Camp
Dick Robinson, and afterwards to Columbia.

About the 1st of June the Ninth Corps, which had
been scattered in detachments at various points in
Kentucky, was ordered to move to Mississippi to rein-

force the army of Gen. Grant, then operating against '
Vicksburg. The Round Head regiment moved with-

the corps, going to Cairo, Ill., by rail, and then, em-
barking on boats on the Mississippi River, was trans-

ported to Haynes Bluff, Miss. From there it moved =

to Milldale, Miss., and remained there and at Flower
Dale Church, near Vicksburg, until the operations
against that stronghold ended in its capitulation, July

4th. Then it moved with the corps towards Jackson, ‘

Miss., in pursuit of the army of Johnston, who had

been hovering in Gen. Grant’s rear, attempting to‘

raise the siege of Vicksburg. In the several engage-
ments which occurred from the 10th to the 16th of
July the regiment participated, but suffered little loss;
and after the evacuation of Jackson, on the 16th, it

332

HISTORY OF WASHINGTON COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA.

returned to its former camp at Milldale, remaining
there till August 6th, when it again took boat on the
Mississippi and moved north with the corps. It
reached Memphis in the night of the 11th, and passed
on to Cairo and thence to Cincinnati, where it arrived
on the 18th, and crossed the river to Covington, Ky.
From Covington it moved by way of Nicholasville to
Crab Orchard, Ky. On the 10th of September it was
again on the march, and moved by way of Cumber-
land Gap to Knoxville, Tenn., reaching there on the
26th.

The regiment was slightly engaged with the enemy
at Blue Springs, October 10th, and, after considerable
marching and countermarching, went into camp, Oc-
tober 29th, at Lenoir Station, where it remained most
of the time until November 14th. It was then, with its
division, ordered to Hough’s Ferry, on the Holston
River, to check the advance of Longstreet, who was
reported moving up from Georgia towards Knoxville.
He was found in strong force, and the Union troops
retired before him, and, passing back through Lenoir,
continued the retreat to Knoxville. Being hard
pressed, however, a stand was made at Campbell’s
Station on the 16th, and a battleensued, lasting from
about one P.M. until dark. During the night the re-
treat was continued, and the regiment reached Knox-
ville in the morning of the 17th, after an almost con-
tinuous march of two days and three nights, including
a» battle of several hours’ duration, moving over the
worst of roads through mud and rain, and with less
than quarter rations.

Then followed the siege of Knoxville by Long-
street, which continued eighteen days, during all
which time the Round Headsoccupied the front line
of works, and with other regiments suffered severely
for lack of food and sufficient clothing." On Sunday,
November 29th, two veteran Georgia brigades belong-
ing to McLaws’ rebel division made a furious assault
on Fort Saunders (one of the principal works in the
line of fortifications inclosing Knoxville), and were
repulsed and driven back with a loss of nearly eight
hundred men, the One Hundredth Pennsylvania be-
ing one of the regiments which received and repelled
the assault. In the night of the 4th and 5th of
December, the enemy withdrew from before Knox-
ville. V

In the pursuit which followed, the Round Heads
took part, but with no results, and on the 18th it en-
camped at Blain’s Cross-Roads. This proved to be the
last camp which it occupied for any considerable
length of time in Tennessee. It remained here about
three weeks, and during that time (Jan. 1, 1864),
“While subsisting on less than two ears of corn per
day per man, the entire regiment, with the exception
of twenty-seven, re-enlisted, to the number of three
hundred and sixty-six, for a second term of three
years, and soon started for home on veteran fur-
lo_ugh.” On the 8th of January, 1864, the veteranized

command, under orders to report at Pittsburgh, left

its camp, and took the road across the Cumberland
Mountains for the railroad at Nicholasville, Ky.,
nearly two hundred miles distant. It reached that
place in ten days, having ‘ made an average of nearly
twenty miles a day over miserable roads and through
the snow and ice of the mountain-passes, It reached
Pittsburgh on the 8th of February. At the end of
the specified time the men reassembled at the rendez-
vous (“ Camp Copeland,” near Pittsburgh), and with
recruits which had been gathered in the mean time
the regiment now numbered nine hundred and sixty-
nine men. From Camp Copeland they moved to An-

napolis, Md., to rejoin the ‘Ninth Corps, which had,_

after the regiment had left Tennessee, been ordered
East to reinforce the Army of the ‘Potomac. At An-
napolis the regiment was brigaded with‘ the Third

,Maryland and Twenty-first Massachusetts as the

Second Brigade, First Division. Col. Leasure was
the brigade commander. ‘

The regiment remained at Annapolis until April
23d, when it moved to Washington, -and thence across
the Potomac to Bealton Station. On the opening of
the campaign of 1864 it moved with the army on the
4th of May, crossed the Rapidan, and on the 6th was
hotly engaged in the Wilderness, charging gallantly
with the Twenty-first Massachusetts (supported by
the Third Maryland), recapturing an earthwork
(which had been before captured, but retaken by the
enemy), taking a large number of prisoners, and re-
ceiving complimentary mention from Gen. Hancock
for its share in the work of the day. On the 9th the
regiment fought at the N y River; on the 12th at
Spottsylvania Court-House; on the 28th at North
Anna, and on the 2d of June in the general battle of
Cold Harbor. ,

Moving across the Chickahominy and the James
the regiment arrived in front of Petersburg on the
16th of June, and on the following day participated
in an assault on the Confederate fortifications. In the
long series of operations which succeeded, extending
through almost ten months until the time of the sur-
render, the One Hundredth Regiment fought well,
and sustained its part honorably. It was engaged at
the Mine Explosion, July 30th; was in the actions at

the Weldon Railroad, August 19th and 21st; at Pop- 9

lar Grove Church, September 30th and October 2d;
at Hatcher’s Run, October 27th; at Fort Steadman,
March 25, 1865 (in which action Lieut.-Col. Joseph
H. Pentecost, of Washington County, was killed);
and in the final assault on Petersburg, April 2d. The
last-named action closed the battle experience of the
Round Heads. A week later came the great surrender
which ended the war. The One Hundredth Regi-
ment marched to City Point; was_transported thence
to Washington, D. C., and there mustered out of
service. .

Following is a list of oflicers and enlisted_ men of
the company recruited in Washington County for the
Rdund Head regiment:

  WAR OF THE REBELLION.

333

I

COMPANY A.1

James Armstrong, capt., pro. to lieut.-col. Sept. 10, 1861; res. July 18,
.1862.

William F. Templeton, capt., pro. from 1st lieut. Sept. 11, 1861 ; killed at
Bull Run, Va., Aug. 29, 1862. ,

Joseph H. Pentecost, capt.; wounded at Wilderness, Va., May 6, 1864 ;‘
pro. from 2d to 1st lieut. Sept. 15, 1861; to capt. Sept. 9, 1862; to
lieut.- col. Oct. 16, 1864; killed March 25, 1865, at Fort Steadman, Va.

James W. Montford, 1st lieut., pro. from sergt. to 1st lieut. Sept. 9, 1862;
wounded Sept. 14, 1862 ; disch. on surg. certif. Sept. 3, 1864.

James S. Stocking, 1st lieut., pro. from corp. to sergt. Feb. 1, 1863; to 1st
sergt. Sept. 1, 1864; to 1st lieut. Oct. 16, 1864 ; wounded, with loss of
arm, at Boydton Plank-Road Oct. 27, 1864; disch. on surg. certif.
Jan. 10, 1865; veteran.

William H. Billings, 1st lieut., pro. to corp. Feb. 1, 1863; to sergt. Sept.
1, 1864; to 1st sergt. Feb. 3, 1865; to 2d lieut. March 7, 1865; to 1st
lieut. May 12, 1865; must. out with company July 24, 1865; veteran.

William Ocker, 2d lieut., must. in Sept. 16, 1861 ; res. Nov. 26, 1862.

Edwin W. Bausman, 2d lieut., pro. to 1st sergt. N ov. 29, 1861; to 2d lieut.
Nov. 28, 1862; res. March 16,1864. "

George M. Metzner, 2d lieut., pro. to corp. Feb. 1, 1863; to sergt. Oct. 26,
1864; to 1st sergt. March 7, 1865; to 2d lieut. May 12, 1865; must.
out with company July 24, 1865.

William H. Underwood, 1st sergt., must. in Jan. 1, 1862; pro. to 1st
sergt. May 12, 1865; wounded Nov. 29, 1863, and June 2, 1864; must.
out with company July 24, 1865; veteran.

James B. Kennedy, 1st sergt., pro. to 1st sergt. Nov. 28, 1862; Wounded
Nov. 29, 1863 ; must. out Aug. 30, 1864, at expiration of term.

Benjamin S. Stuart, lst sergt.: killed by accidental explosion of shell
at Hilton Head, S. 0., Nov. 28, 1861.

William A. Gabby, sergt., pro. to sergt. Feb. 3, 1865; must. out with
company July 24, 1865. J

Joseph H. Templeton, sergt., pro. to sergt. March 7, 1865 ; wounded July
30, 1864; must. out with company July 24,1865.

Robert B. Elliot, sergt., pro. to sergt., Nov. 29, 1861; must out with com-
pany July 24, 1865; veteran.

'M. D. Dewire, sergt., must. in Aug. 2, 1862 ; pro. to sergt. May 12, 1865;

taken prisoner Oct. 2, 1864; must. out with company July 24, 1865.
Eleven Alvey, sergt., pro. to sergt. Sept. 9, 1862; must. out Aug. 30,
1864, at expiration of term.
John Cook, sergt.; disch. Jan. 12, 1863.
Alexander Adams, corp., must. in Jan. 6, 1862; wounded May 6, 1864;
. ' pro. to corp. Oct. 26, 1864; must. out with company July 24, 1865.
James Mcllvaine, corp., must. in March 14, 1862; wounded June 2, 1864;
pro. tocorp. Feb. 3, 1865; must. out with company July 24, 1865.

D. A. Templeton, corp., mustered in Feb. 26, 1864; pro. to corp. March
7, 1865; mustered out with company July 24, 1865.

John C. Ralston, corp., pro. to corp. March 7, 1865; mustered out with
company July 24, 1865. _

William Claffey, corp., wounded June 16, 1862; prisoner from May 6,
1864, to March, 1865; pro. to corp. May 13, 1865; mustered out with
company July 24, 1865. '

Isaac H. Richmond, corp., mustered in Feb. 26, 1864; pro. to corp. May

20, 1865; mustered out with company July 24, 1865.

Morris B. McKeever, corp., wounded Aug. 19, 1864; mustered out with
company July 24, 1865. .

William M. Horn, ‘corp., wounded July 27, 1864; pro. to corp. Sept. 9,
1862; mustered out Aug. 30, 1864, at expiration of term.

John W. Kerr, corp., pro. to corp. March 7, 1865; taken prisoner June
3, 1862; also prisoner from May 6, 1864, to Feb. 27, 1865; discharged
by G. 0. June 8, 1865.

Horace B. Durant, corp., pro. to asst. surg. March 23, 1864.

John V. Brobst, corp., discharged Nov. 29, 1862.

-George B. Caldwell, corp., discharged for promotion Aug. 12, 1862.

James P. Hays, musician, mustered out with company July 24, 1865.
William H. Walker, musician, died Oct. 4, 1861.

Privates.

Thomas Action, mustered in Feb. 23, 1864; mustered out with company
July 24, 1865.

Joseph M. Aiken, mustered in Oct. 8, 1861; wounded Aug. 29, 1862; dis-
charged. ‘ A

James Barr, mustered out with company July 24, 1865.

Thomas F. Boon, mustered outwith company July 24, 1865.

1 Date of muster in is Aug. 27, 1861, except as noted.

22

Stephen Billings, mustered out with company July 24, 1865.

Mpses M. Bell, must. in Dec. 1, 1861; mustered out with company July
24, 1865.

Benjamin M. Best, mustered in Feb. 26, 1864; Wounded at Poplar Grove
Church, Va., Oct. 2, 1864; absent at muster out.

John G. Brice, wounded Sept. 14, 1862; prisoner from July 30, 1864, to
Feb. 27, 1865; disch May 23d, to date March 4, 1865.

Peter A. Blomberg, died at Beaufort, S. C., Feb. 15, 1862.

Nelson Baker, must. in Sept. 13, 1861; disch. Sept. 16, 1862.

John C. Caldwell, must. out with company July 24, 1865; veteran.

John Clarke, wounded June 17, 1864; must. out with company July 24,
1865; veteran. V

Michael Curran, wounded at Petersburg July 30, 1864; absent at must.
out; veteran.

Thomas Conboy, wounded June 17, 1864; must. out Sept. 9, 1864, at ex-
piration of term.

John Clemens, killed at Petersburg, Va., June 17, 1864.

Charles D. Chase. must. in Sept. 16, 1861; disch. Oct. 20, 1862.

Tertius A. Durant, must. out with company July 24, 1865; veteran.

Samuel M. Decker, must. in March 18, 1864; taken prisoner July 30,
1864; must. out with company July 24, 1865; veteran.

Henry M. Dongan, must. in Sept. 13, 1861; pro. to adjt. Nov. 26, 1864;
veteran.

Thomas Donley, must. in Feb. 13, 1864; died at David's Island, N. Y.,
Sept. 8, 1864.

William L. Durant, must. in Sept. 9, 1861; disch.Jan. 10, 1863.

James C. Eckels, taken prisoner Aug. 30, 1862; deserted.

Samuel P. Ewing, died Sept. 19, 1861, at Washington, D. C.

Sylvester G. Fowler, must. out with company July 24, 1865; veteran.

Samuel M. Fowler, wounded June 17, 1864; must. out with company
July 24, 1865; veteran.

Leonidas A. Fowler, must. in Feb. 8, 1865; must. out with company July I

24, 1865.

John D. France, wounded Sept. 17, 1862; disch. and re—enl.; wounded
March 25, 1865; must. out with company July 24, 1865; veteran.

VVilli-am Greer, must. in Feb. 13, 1864; wounded at Weldonfkailroad
Aug. 19, 1864; disch. by G. 0. Aug. 16, 1865. ‘H

Thomas‘Greer, must. in Feb. 29, 1864; must. out with company July 24,
1865.

William Grey, wounded Aug. 29, 1862; killed at Petersburg June 17,
1864; buried in Poplar Grove National Cemetery, Va., Div. A, Sec.
C, Grave 272 ; veteran.

Isaac R. W; Garretson, must. in Sept. 16, 1861; killed Nov. 29, 1863;
buried in National Cemetery, Knoxville, Ten 11., grave 114.
Daniel Hall, wounded at Weldon Railroad Aug. 19, 1864; absent at must.
cut; veteran. , _
Jeremiah L. Hanen, must. in Feb. 23, 1865; disch. June 20, 1865, for
wounds received in action.

Louis Hager, wounded Aug. 29, 1862; killed at Petersburg July 30, 1864;
veteran.

Horatio Hamilton, must. in Feb. 13, 1864; died June 20, 1864, of wounds
received in action.

John E. Howe, must. in Feb:11,1864; died at Pittsburgh, Pa.

Jacob Hartsein, died at Beaufort, S. C., April 5, 186:.

Alexander Howell, must. in Sept. 13, 1861 ; died at Beaufort. S. 0., Dec.
19, 1861.

Charles Heer, killed at Bull Run Aug. 29, 1862.

Thomas Hutchinson, disch. March 1, 1863.

James Hart, disch. Dec. 19, 1862.

George 0. Jones, must. in Feb. 26, 1864; wounded May 6, 1864; must.
out with company July 24, 1865. ’

John S. Jeffrey, must. in” Feb. 23, 186-1; wounded May 12, 1864; must.
out with company July 24, 1865. _

Robert D. Jobes, must. in Feb. 11, 1864; captured; died at Anderson-
ville Aug. 16, 1864; grave 5871.

John S. Johnston, must. in Sept. 9, 1861; disch. Oct. 3, 1861.

Alexander Kerns. wounded at Petersburg June 17, 1864; arm ampu-
tated; absent at must. out; veteran.

John B. Kendall, must. in Dec. 2, 1861; wounded May 6, 1864; must.
out with company July 24, 1865; veteran.

Ferdinand Kluvis, disch. Oct. 15, 1862. V

John Klotzbaiker, taken prisoner June 3, 1862; disch. J an. 11, 1863.

John W. Langfitt, wounded at Spottsylvania Court-House May 12, 1864;
leg amputated; absent at muster out; veteran:

John W. Koontz, taken prisoner Aug. 27, 1862; disch. Jan. 11, 1863.

Addison Liggett, must. in March 8, 1865; must. out with company July
24, 1864. ‘ ‘

3%,

HISTORY OF WASHINGTON COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA.

Henry H. Linley, must. in May 27, 1863; died Feb. 14, 1864; buried in
National Cemetery, Ky., Sect. D, Grave 88.

John W. Lavery, must. in Feb. 27, 1864; died of Wounds received at
Petersburg, Va., March 25, 1865.

James Lowrie, died at Beaufort, S. C., Dec. 30, 1861.

William Lange, disch. March 23, 1862.

Elijah Linsley, disch. April 19, 1862. ,

Simon W. Lewis, must. in Dec. 6, 1861 ; killed accidentally by falling off
cars, between Covington and Paris, Ky.

Samuel J. Melvin, must. in Oct. 21, 1862; must. out withcompany July
24,1865.

Josiah Mullen, must. in Aug. 27, 1861‘; wounded Dec. 1, 1863, and June
17, 1864; must. out with company July 24, 1865: veteran.

William T. Magill, must. in Aug. 31, 1861; must. out at expiration of
term.

Julius P. Miller, must. in Oct. 8, 1861 ; must. out at expiration of term.

Enoch Mountz, must. in Feb. 16,_1864; wounded May 6, 1864; disch. by
general order June 2, 1865.

Daniel B. Mowery, disch. Aug. 5, to date July 24, 1865; veteran.

John Moloney, disch. Dec. 19, 1863.

Alexander C. Mi-Keever, absent (sick) at must. out.

Joseph H. McGill, wounded June 17, 1864; must. out with company
July 24, 1865.

Ebenezer B. M cElroy, must. in Feb.’ 23, 1864; must. out with company
July 24,1865.

Maxwell K. McCaus1in, must. in Feb. 23, 1864; Wounded June 17, 1864;
must. out with company July 24, 1865.

Benjamin F. McClure, must. in’ Feb. 23, 1864; wounded at Petersburg
July 31, 1864; absent at muster out.

George W. McFarland, must. in Feb. 29, 1864; absen t (sick) at muster out.

George VV. McClelland, must. in Aug. 31, 1864; taken prisoner June 2,
1864; never heard of afterward.

John L. M(_3Cull(mgh, must. in Aug. 29, 1862; wounded July 30, 1864;
disch. by G 0. May 24, 1865.

N. N. McCullough, must. in Feb. 26,1864; wounded June 2, 1864; disch.
by special order Jan. 8. 1865.

Samuel McCullough, must. in Feb. 27, 1864; prisoner from May 6, 1864,
to Feb. 27, 1.865; disch. by G. 0. July 5,1865.

James McKeever, must. in Feb. 23, 1864; trans. to Vet. Res. Corps by
special order dated Sept. 22, 1864; disch. by G. 0. Sept. 29, 1865.
Jacob L. l\lcCullough, must. in Aug. 31, 1861; killed at Gold Harbor June

2, 1864; buried in National Cemetery, Sec. B.

‘Joseph E. McCullough, must. in March 31, 1864; wounded accidentally

June 26, 1864; died July 19,1864; buried in National Cemetery,
6 Arlington, Va. I
John B. McKeever, must. in Oct. 18, 1861; taken prisoner May 6, 1864;
died at Anderson ville, Ga., J uly_,30, 1864; grave 4407.
Daniel Mctfann, must. in Aug. 27, 1861; disch., date unknown.

‘Charles B. McCollum, trans. to regt. band; disch.

Thomas McKee\'er, wounded June 3, 1862; drowned Aug. 12, 1862; not
on muster-out roll. 

Andrew McPeak, disch. April 5, 1862. .

John R. McClure, must. in March 14, 1862; disch., date unknown.

H. C. Udenbaugh, killed Sept. 14, 1862; buried in National Cemetery at
Antietam, Sec. 26, Lot —, Grave 305.

Samuel Putter. must. in Feb. 29,1864; taken prisoner March 25, 1865;
must. out with company July 24, 1865.

Morgan Pyle, must. in Dec. 9, 1861 ; disch. Jan. 26, to date Jan. 15, 1865,
at expiration of term‘. ‘

‘Jacob C. Pry, wounded Sept. 14, 1862: disch. Feb. 4, 1863.

Franklin A. Rose, must. in Aug. 26, 1861 ; must. out with company July
24, 1865.

George W. Robertson, must. in Feb. 24, 1864; captured at Petersburg

‘ July 30, 1864; died at Danville Sept. 16, 1864.

Theodore Robertson, must. in March 4, 1865 ; must. out with company
July 24, 1865.

Simon S. Russell, wounded Aug. 29, 1862, and died Sept. 8, 1862.

Frederick Rau, must. in Feb. 26, 1862; died Sept. 8, 1862; buried in Mili-
tary Asylum Cemetery, D. C.

George W. Smith, must. out with company July 24, 1865.

William S. Simcox, killed at Petersburg, Va., March 25, 1865; buried in
’Nation'al' Cemetery, Meade Station, Va.

‘David Shepherd, must. in Sept. 13. 1861; disch., date unknown.

Isaac N. Stan ger, must in March 14, 1862; disch. to receive promotion
‘Nov. 19, 1862. 1 ‘
George W. Thompson, must. in Dec. 6, 1862; must. out with company

July 24, 1865; veteran. , '

Samuel F. Thompson, wounded Aug. 3, 1864, and at Petersburg, Va.,
March 25, 1865; absent at muster out; veteran. ,

James B. Thompson, must. in Aug. 31, 1861; wounded and captured
June 2, 1864 ; died at Andersonville, Ga., Aug. 17, 1864; grave 5966.

T. B. Templeton, must. in Feb. 23, 1864; died at Washington, D. C., Aug. ~

19, 1864; buried in National Cemetery, Arlington, Va.

Andrew Thompson, wounded Sept. 14, 1862; died Nov. 3, 1863; buried
in Cypress Hill Cemetery, Long Island.

Aaron Templeton, killed Nov. 29, 1863; buried in cemetery at Buffalo
Village, Pa.

Robert J. Taggert, disch., date unknown.

John Wherry, killed at Poplar Springs Church, Va., Oct. 2,1864; veteran.

Jackson Wimer, must. in Feb. 26, 1864; captured; died at Anderson-

ville, Ga., Sept. 24, 1864 ; grave 9634.
John L. Weirich, died at Beaufort, S. C., date unknown.

CHAPTERIXXVL

WAR OF THE REBELLION.——(0ontz'nueol.)

One Hundred and Fortieth Regiment.—~The One.
Hundred and Fortieth Regiment of Pennsylvania, of
which the honorable record extends through the
campaigns of the Army of the Potomac from 1862 to
1865, contained five companies raised in Washington
County, one company from Greene, one from Mercer,
and three from Beaver County. The Washington
County companies were designated in the organiza-
tion of the regiment as follows: “C” Company (Capt.
David Acheson), “D” Company (Capt. Silas Parker),
“E” Company (Capt. Aaron T. Gregg), “G” Com-
pany (Capt. John Fraser), “K” Company (Capt.
William A. F. Stockton). The several companies
rendezvoused at Camp Curtin, where, on the 21st
and 22d of August and 4th of September, 1862, they

were mustered into the United States service for

three years. On the 8th of September they were
joined in the organization of the One Hundred and
Fortieth Regiment, of which the field-oflicers were:
Colonel, Richard P. Roberts, of Beaver County; Lieu-
tenant-Colonel, John Fraser, of Washington County
(promoted to that grade from captain of Company
“ G”) ; Major, Thomas B. Rogers, of Mercer County.

On the day following the organization the regiment
was ordered to the field, and on the 10th of Septem-
ber it moved from the rendezvous and proceeded to
Parkton Station, Md., on the Northern Central Rail-
way. .- With headquarters at that place, it was posted
in detachments along the railroad, to guard the line
and keep it open, as the Confederate army was then

in Maryland, and threatening Baltimore and its

communications. On this duty the regiment re-
mained until after the battle of Antietam and the
retreat of the enemy across the Potomac. From
Maryland the regiment was ordered to join the Army
of the Potomac on the Rappahannock in Virginia,

and arrived there on December 16th, three days after

the great battle of Fredericksburg. It was assigned
to duty in the Third Brigade, First Division, of the
famous Second Army Corps, and went into winter-
quarters near Falmouth, where, with the exception

WAR OF THE REBELLION.

335

of a few days spent in the historic “mud march” of
Burnside’s army, it remained until the opening of
the spring campaign of 1863. On the 28th of April
it moved out with the other commands of the army,
and crossed the Rappahannock, bound on the cam-
paign of Chancellorsville. In that ill-starred cam-
paign this regiment, with its brigade, took a brave
part during the" progress of the great battle, from
May 1st to 4th, most of the time in line of battle and
under fire during the day, and throwing up intrench-
ments by night. On the 3d, for more than four- hours
it sustained attack after attack by the enemy’s in-
fantry, and a heavy and incessant fire of his artillery.
The assaults were made with the greatest fierceness

‘and determination on the part of the enemy, but
were all successfully repelled. During the 4th and

5th of May the regiment held its position on the field,
frequently under heavy artillery fire, but not engaged
in any general assault by infantry. Inthe morning
of the 6th the brigade recrossed the Rappahannock
and returned to the previous camping-place near
Falmouth. ' _

In June following, the regiment marched with the
other commands of the Army of the Potomac in pur-
suit of the Confederate forces, then moving to the
invasion of Maryland and Pennsylvania. With Han-
cock’s corps, of which it was a part, it crossed the

.Potomac on the 24th of June, moved rapidly through
. Maryland, and reached the field of Gettysburg on the
morning of the 2d of July, the battle having been

opened by Reynolds on the previous day. The Second

‘Corps took position on the left centre of the line of

battle of the army. The Third Corps, joining it on
the left,. was fiercely assaulted and driven back. A
division of the Second Corps was sent in aid of the

. Third. Two brigades of the succoring division went

into the fight and were driven back with great loss.
Then Gen. Zookfs brigade (in which was the One
Hundred and Fortieth Regiment) was ordered in.
It advanced rapidly across a wheat-field, and Zook
fell almost immediately, mortally wounded. The
command of the brigade then fell on Col. Roberts, of
the One Hundred and Fortieth. The brigade charged
with the greatest impetuosity, and drove the enemy
from his sheltered position beyond the wheat-field,
but could not hold the ground after gaining it, and
was compelled to retire. In carrying the position and
attempting to hold it, the fighting was terrific, the One
Hundred and Fortieth Regiment losing, in killed and
wounded, two hundred and sixty-one, among the
former being Capt. David Acheson of “ D” Company,
and Second Lieut. Alexander M. Wilson of Company
“Or,” both of Washington County. Col. Roberts was
also among the killed. The regiment, now reduced
by the losses of the day to less than one-half its effec-
tive strength, was not again ordered into the thickest
of the fight at Gettysburg, but remained on the left
centre under a heavy artillery fire during the night
and following day. The command of the regiment

now devolved on Lieut.-Col. John Fraser, who was
promoted to colonel in place of Col. Roberts, who was
killed in the charge as before mentioned.

In the later movements of the Army of the Potomac
during the summer and fall of 1863,——-the crossing of
the Potomac, the advance into Virginia, the opera-
tions along the line of the Rapidan, and the fruitless
campaign of Mine Run, which closed the year,——the
regimentmoved with its corps and performed such
duty as it was assigned to, being slightly engaged at
Bristow Station,-October 14th, taking part. in-skirmish-
ing at Mine Run, and at.severa1 other points, and
suffering a small loss, but participating in no general
engagement. It went into winter-quarters with the
army on the line of the Rapidan. On the opening of
the campaign of 1864 it moved from its camp on the
night of the 3d of May, crossed the Rapidan at Ely’s
Ford and entered the Wilderness, where on the 5th it
stood in battle line in front of the first strong position
of the Confederate forces. It soon became heavily
engaged and suffered severe loss, but held its position
through the night. On the 6th and 7th it lay under
an artillery fire, but was not engaged. Advancing
with its corps it crossed the Po River on the 9th,
where works were thrown up, and where it remained
till the night of the 11th, when it ‘moved with the
corps towards the left, in the direction of Spo ttsylvania
Court-House. At two o’clock in the ‘morning of the’
12th the troops had reached the front of the position,
where the enemy lay behind a triple line of very
strong defenses. At daybreak the men of the Second
Corps moved forward to the assault, covered to some
extent by a dense fog which lay over thicket and
glade. The enemy was partially surprised, but stood
resolutely to the work of defense, and the Union loss
was heavy before the first,line of works was carried.
At thesecond line the Confederates rallied, fought
desperately, and held their own. The next day the
enemy attacked again and again to recover the line
lost on the 12th, but without avail. Fighting con-
tinued, but without a general battle, until the 18th,
when the heroic leader of the Second Corps again
moved his whole force against the Confederate works
and a tremendous conflict ensued, but the enemy’s
position proved too strong and was too heroically de-
fended to be carried even by the veterans of Hancock’s
corps. Through all these operations in front of Spott-
sylvania the One Hundred and Fortieth Regiment
sustained its part nobly and well, and at the close of
the last day of battle at this point the regiment had
lost about one hundred and eighty men since it

plunged into the Wilderness in the morning of the

4th of May. On the night of the 20th the regiment
with its brigade and corps moved quietly away from
the enemy’s front and marched towards the North
Anna River, which stream was crossed on the 23d, and
after some manoeuvring the march was resumed south-
ward. A severe action was fought at Tolopotomoy
Creek, where the regiment sustained some loss. Again

I doomed citadel.

_ and beaten.

' limits of the city.
' there, but their general refused to sacrifice them with-

336

HISTORY OF WASHINGTON COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA.

it fought bravely in the dreadful battle of Cold Har-
bor, losing about sixty men, and bringing its total
loss to over two hundred and fifty since the opening
of the campaign.

From Cold Harbor the army crossed the Chicka-
hominy andmarched towards the southeast, having
Petersburg for its objective point. The regiment
with its brigade crossed the James River in the night
of the 14th or early morning of the 15th of June, and
in the afternoon of the 16th took part in a general
assault on the bristling lines of the enemy in front of
Petersburg. The Second Corps renewed the attack on

the 17th, and forced the enemy to yield some of his

outer works. From this time the history of the in-
vestment of the Confederate works encircling the city
of Petersburg, Va., is a dreary story of persistent fight-
ing and slaughter such as is seldom found in the an-
nals of warfare; a story which shows that the Southern
leaders and soldiers were determined to fight and die
to the last man before they would yield this their last
stronghold, and that the Union general and his army
had resolved never to recross the‘ James until the he-
roic Confederates had laid down their arms, and the

Stars and Bars had been lowered from above every

hostile parapet along the Appomattox. For many
weary months of blood and terror each army strug-
gled to make good their resolves. Day by day the
Union lines were drawn closer and tighter around the
No week passed without witnessing
a brave and desperate assault on the grim earthworks
on right, left, or centre. Often the Confederates
yielded, but sometimes the assailants were repulsed
But when the Southern men were driven
from one line, they bravely stood for battle at the next

V as defiantly and with as much confidence and courage
- as if they had never known aught but victory. At

last there came a time when the veterans who had
stood against McClellan at Williamsburg, at Fair
Oaks, at Malvern Hill, South Mountain, and An-
tietam, who had repelled Burnside’s hosts at Marye’s
Heights, had defeated “Fighting Joe Hooker” at
Chancellorsville, and joined in Pickett’s earthquake
charge at Gettysburg, stood gathered together within
their inner works at Petersburg, hardly outside the
They were willing to stay and die

out hope of ultimate success, so he withdrew from the
works and retreated with his forces towards the south-
west. The Union army pursued, and a few days later
the strife was closed, by the surrender of the Con-

P federate army at Appamattox.

During all these long months of suffering and car-
nage on the fiery circle around Petersburg, the One
Hundred and Fortieth Regiment participated in the
various movements of its brigade and division, and
performed its ‘part honorably and well, laboring in
the trenches and on the fortifications, charging with

the-assaulting columns, and making long marches

from point to point by night and day. It took part.

in the engagements at Jerusalem Plank-Road, Deep
Bottom, Strawberry Plains, Boydton Plank-Road,

' Poplar Spring Church, Ream’s Station (two actions),

Hatcher’s Run, Dabney’s Mills, Sutherland’s Station,
Sailor’s Creek, and at Fa.rmvil1e, where, on the 7th of
April, 1865, the regiment fought its last battle. Two
days later came the historic surrender of the Confed-
erate Army of Northern Virginia, which virtually
closed the war. The regiment remained a short time
in Virginia, then moved northward, and was mus-
tered out of service‘ at Washington on the.31st of
May.“ "H

The One Hundred and Fortieth Regiment had
among its officers Gen. Harry Bingham, member of
Congress from Philadelphia, who commanded Com-
pany G, until Gen. Han-cock promoted him to his
staff and made him judge-advocate, and who rode
with the general along the wavering line at Gettys-
burg just before it received and repulsed Longstreet’s
celebrated charge; W. S. Shallenberger, member of
Congress from Beaver, who was adjutant of the regi-
ment; Capt. George Shallenberger, lately superin-
tendent of the State Reform School; Capt. James Dar-
ragh, of Beaver, well known in Washington; John L.
Gow, Esq., late prothonotary of Washington County ;
Capt. Harah, late prosecuting attorney of Beaver
County. Dr. J. W. Wishart, of Pittsburgh, was its
surgeon, and was chief surgeon of the First Division
of the Second Corps at the close of the war. The
Rev. J. L. Milligan, since chaplain of the Western

Penitentiary, was chaplain of the One Hundred and ‘

Fortieth. Capt. W. N. Paxton and First Lieut. R.
B. Parkinson, of Company B, and J. W. VViley, Esq.,
of the firm of Slagle & Wiley, three Pittsburgh law-
yers, servedin the regiment from the time it entered
the service until it was mustered out at the close of
the war. R. B. Parkinson served for two and a half
years as a private, and was promoted to the rank of

. first lieutenant, December, 1864, and served as such

until the regiment was mustered out. He was one of
a few Pittsburghers who enlisted in Company G as it
passed through that city on its way to the front. The
Rev. John R. Paxton, now of Washington, D. C., while

attending Jefferson College, a boy of seventeen years, _ ‘

enlisted in Company G, went out with the regiment,
served to the close, returned to college, graduated,
became pastor of one of the leading churches in
Washington, D. C., and is now pastor of the West
Forty-second Street Presbyterian Church in the city
of New York.

Lists are given below of ofiicers and enlisted men

. serving in the five Washington County companies of

the One Hundred and Fortieth Regiment, viz. :

COMPANY C.1

David Acheson, capt., killed at Gettysburg, Pa., July 2, 1863. .
Isaac N. Vance, capt., wounded, with loss of arm, at Gettysburg, July 2,
- 1863; pro. from 1st lieut. Sept. 23, 1863; disch. on surg. certif. Jan.
12, 1864. Y

1 Date of muster in is Aug. 22, 1862, except where noted.

WAR OF THE REBELLION.

337

Alexander VV. Acheson, capt., pro. from sergt. to 1st sergt. July 2, 1863;
to 1st lieut. Sept. 22, 1863; to capt. Jan. 30, 1864; wounded at Spott-
sylvania Court-House, Va., May 12, 1864; disch. on surg. certif. Dec.
9, 1864.

John M. Ray, capt., pro. from sergt. to‘ 1st sergt. Sept. 23, 1863; to 2d
lieut. Nov. 2, 1863; to 1st lieut. Jan. 30, 1864; to adjt. Dec. 10, 1864;
to capt. Dec. 13, 1864; must. out with company May31, 1865.

W. J. Cunningham, 1st lieut., pro. from sergt. to 1st sergt. Nov. 3, 1863;
to 1st lieut. Dec. 13, 1863; killed at Farmville, Va., April 7, 1865.

Charles L. Linton, 2d lieut., pro. to capt. Co. D May 1, 1863.

Robert R. Reed, 2d lieut., pro. from 1st sergt. May 14, 1863; died at
Georgetown, D. C., July 10, 1863.

James Blake, lst sergt., pro. from corp. to sergt. Sept. 1, 1863; to 1st
sergt, Dec. 13, 1864; must. out with company May 31, 1865.

J. D. Campbell, lst sergt., pro. from sergt. May 1, 1863; killed at Gettys-
burg July 2, 1863.

James McFarland, sergt., pro. from private May 1, 1863; wounded at
Gettysburg July 2, 1863 ; must. out with‘ company May 31, 1865.
John S. Martin, sergt., pro. from corp. Nov. 11, 1864; wounded at P0

River May 10, 1864; must. out with company May 31, 1865.

Alexander F. Hulfert, sergt., pro. to corp. Sept. 23, 1862; to sergt. Nov.
10, 1864; must. out with company May 31, 1865.

William Vankirk, sergt., pro. to corp. Sept. 23, 1863; to sergt. Nov. 10,
1864; must. out with company May 31, 1865.

Eli H. Linton, sergt., must. in Sept. 4, 1862; pro. from corp. Sept. 22,’

1863: to lieut. 39th Regt. U. S. C. T., April 9, 1864; to capt. Aug. 14,
1865; must. out Dec. 4, 1865. ' '

James P. Sayer, sergt., pro. from corp. Nov. 2,1863; wounded four times
at Gettysburg July 2, 1863; disch. on surg. certif. Oct. 25, 1864.

John W. Wiley, sergt., must. in Feb. 29, 1864; com. 2d lieut. Dec. 18,.

1864; not must.; pro. to quartermaster-sergt. Dec. 23, 1863.
Richard Jones, corp., pro. to corp. May 1, 1863; wounded at Wilderness
May 5,1864; disch. by G. 0. May 31, 1865.

William J. Radclilf, corp., pro. to corp. July 14, 1864; must. out with
company May 31, 1865. ~ '
Hugh B. McNeil, corp., pro. to corp. July 14, 1864; wounded at North

Anna River May 23, 1864; must. out with company May 31, 1865.

' Philip Alcooper, corp., pro. to corp. Sept. 1, 1864; must. out with com-

' pany May 31, 1865.
Silas A. Sanders, corp., pro. to corp. Nov. 10, 1864; wounded at Tolo-
potomoy, Va., May 31, 1864; must. out with company May 31, 1865.

lAaron D. Gunn, corp., pro. to corp. Dec. 13, 1864; wounded at the battle

of the Wilderness May, 1864; must. out with company May 31,
1865. R

John Smalley, corp., pro. to corp. Dec. 13,1864; wounded at Tolopotomoy
May. 31, 1864; must. out with company May 31, 1865.

. John Culley,lJr., corp., disch. on surg. certif. June 18, 1863.

Samuel Fergus, corp., pro. to 2d lieut. 27th Regt. U. S. C. T. Nov. 16, 1864;
must. out Sept. 21, 1865.

David L. Rubble, corp., captured at Chancellorsville May 1, 1863;
wounded at North Anna River May 23, 1864; disch. by G. 0. May
15, 1865.

William Horton, corp., pro. to corp. May 1, 1863; killed at Gettysburg,

‘ Pa., July 2, 1863.

E. C. Brown, corp., pro. to corp. Sept. 1, 1863; killed at Wilderness, Va.,
May 5, 1864. ‘

William Stockwell, corp., pro. to corp. Sept. 1, 1863 ; killed at Wilderness,
Va., May 5, 1864.

Walter D. Cleaver, corp., must. out with company May 31, 1865.

Privates.

William Armstrong, captured at Gettysburg, Pa., July 2, 1863; died at
Richmond Dec. 1, 1863.

William Amon, must. in Jan. 28, 1864; killed at Spottsylvania Court-
House, Va., May 12, 1864.

Jerry K. Bishop, ‘wounded at Chancellorsville May 3, 1863; disch. on
surg. cert-if. Oct. 3, 1968. . '

John Blair, wounded at Gettysburg July 2, 1863 ; disch. on surg. certif.
March 11, 1864.

Samuel Baird, trans. to Vet. Res. Corps March 16, 1864.

James Baird, trans. to Ind. Battery C, Pa. Artillery, May, 1863.

John Billick, trans. to Vet. Res. Corps Jan. 15, 1864.

Henry J . Boatman, pro. to sergt.-maj. Sept. 12, 1862.

Julius S. Black, must. in Feb. 13, 1864; wounded at Todd's Tavern May
8, 1864; trans. to Co. D, 53d Regt., May 30, 1865.

Samuel Bonnel, must. in Feb. 8, 1864; wounded at P0 River May 10,
1864; trans. to Co. D, 53d Regt., May 30, 1865.

Lewis  Cleaver, wounded at Tolopotomoy May 31, 1864; must. out with
company May 31, 1865.

James B. Clemens, captured June 8,1864; disch. by G. 0. July 17, 1865. J
Ellis J. Col e, died at Philadelphia August 2d of wounds received at Get-_,

tysburg, Pa., July 2, 1863.

Isaac Cleaver, Jr., died June 20, 1864.

Samuel Curry, captured at Tolopotomoy May 31, 1864; died at Anderson-
ville Sept. 2, 1864 (grave 7617).

Alexander S. Duncan, must. out with company May 31, 1865.

John A. Dickey, wounded at Gettysburg July 2, 1863, and at Deep Bot- 1

tom Aug. 16, 1864; disch. by G. 0. May 15, 1865.

John W. ‘Duncan, trans. to Vet. Res. Corps Nov. 13, 1864. _

Joseph M. Dye, trans. to Ind. Battery C, Pa. Artillery, May, 1863.

Daniel Dowling, died in Washington Co., Pa., Nov. 3, 1863.

J . N. Dowling, killed at North Anna River, Va., May 23, 1864.

Benton Devon, killed at North Anna River, Va., May 23, 1864.

James Eckert, must. in Jan. 28, 1864; killed at Spottsylvania Court-
House, Va., May 12, 1864.

Nehemiah Gilbert, wounded at Gettysburg July 2, 1863; disch. on surg.
certif. Feb. 20, 1864.

Mason Hart, must. out with company May 31, 1865.

Thomas Hardesty, trans. to Ind. Battery"C, Pa. Art., May, 1863.

Lewis Henry, died at Harrisburg, Pa., date unknown, of wounds received
at Petersburg June 10, 1864.

William Howard, must. in Sept. 5, 1862; trans. to another regiment.

Clark Irey, wounded at Gettysburg July 2, 1863, and at Wilderness May
5, 1864; trans. to Vet. Res. Corps; disch. by G. 0. July 19, 1865.

John J . Jordan, trans. to U. S. N., date unknown.

Thomas Jones, killed at Chancellorsville May 3, 1863.

David Jones, must. in July 1, 1863.

James S. Kelley, killed at Gettysburg, Pa., July 2, 1863. ,

Daniel L. Keeny, died at Philadelphia, August 20, of wounds received
at Gettysburg July 2, 1863.

Thomas Lucas, killed at Gettysburg, Pa., July 2, 1863.

Thomas W. Long, died August 20, of wounds received at Spottsylvania
Court-House, Va., May 12, 1864.

Robert Lindsay, captured at Gettysburg July 2, 1863; died at Richmond
Nov. 12, 1863; burial record, N ov. 22, 1863. .

John Morn, must. out with company May 31, 1865.

Samuel Mills, must. out with company May 31, 1865.

James L. Martin, disch. on surg. certif. March 18, 1863.

Tillinghast Mowry, wounded at Gettysburg, Pa., July 2, 1863; trans. to

Vet. Res. Corps Feb. 15, 1864.

Morton Mumbower, must. in Jan. 28, 1864; trans. to Vet. Res. Corps
Feb. 15, 1864. . . ‘

Newton Mumbower, must. in Jan. 28, 1864; trans. to Co. D, 53d Regt.l
P. V., May 30, 1865.

Anthony Mull, killed at Gettysburg, Pa., July 2, 1863.

Richard Miller, died July 26, of wounds received at Gettysburg July 2,
1863; buried in National Cemetery, See. B, Grave 42.

' John E..McCul1ough, absent, sick, at must. out.
i Thomas McCune, disch. by G. 0. June 3,1865.
1 David Mc-Coy, disch. by G. 0. June 3,1865.

Frank B. McNear, wounded at Gettysburg July 2, 1863; trans. to Vet.
Res. Corps Jan. 15, 1864.
Daniel McClain, trans. to Vet. Res. Corps Aug. 1, 1863.

‘ John McConn, died at Wheeling, W. Va., May 30, 1864, of Wounds re-

ceived at Spottsylvania Court-House May 12, 1864.

George Norris, wounded at Chancellorsville May 3, 1863; must. out with
company May 31, 1865.

Alvin Newman, died at Philadelphia August 13th of wounds received
at Gettysburg July 2, 1863. .

John-Pattison, must. out with company May 31, 1865.

Andrew Plants, must. out with company May 31, 1865.

Esau Powell, captured at Tolopotomy May 31, 1864; must. out with com-
pany May 31, 1865. ‘

VVilliam H. Pol-lock, wounded at Deep Bottom Aug. 16, 1864 ; must. out
with company May 31, 1865.

William Pollock, must. out with company May 31, 1865.

William B. Post, must. in Feb. 27, 1863; wounded at Spottsylvania
Court-House, Va., May 12, 1864; trans. to Co. D, 53d Regiment, ‘May
30, 1865. .

Albertus Patterson, killed at Gettysburg, Pa., July 2, 1863.

Jackson Pratt, killed at North Anna River May 23, 1864.

Robert Patterson, must. in July 1, 1863.

Charles Quail, captured at Cold Harbor, Va., June 6, 1864 ;‘ disch. by

v G. 0. June 14, 1865.

338

Hisroar or WASHINGTON COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA.

Charles Rentz, must. out with company May 31, 1865.

Samuel Rettig, must. out with company May 31, 1865.

Henry W. Richards, must. out with company May 31, 1865.

Austin M. Richards, wounded at Wilderness May, 1864; trans. to Co. A,
9th Regt. Vet. Res. Corps, Jan. 10, 1865; disch. by G. 0. June 24,
1865. »

William L. Ruble, must. in Feb. 27, 1864; trans. to Co. D, 53d Regt.
P. V., May 30, 1865. ’

William Ravenscraft, wounded at Tolopotomoy May 18, 1864; trans. to 53d
Regt. P. V. May 30, 1865.

Gales Rose, died May 29th of wounds received at Spottsylvania Court-
House,.Va., May 12, 1864; buried in National Cemetery, Arlington.

John Stockwell, must. out with company May 31, 1865.

Presley H. Shipley, wounded at Gettysburg July 2, 1863; disch. on surg.
ce_rtif.,_ date unknown.

James S. Stockwell, trans. to Vet. Res. Corps Sept. 30, 1863.

William H. Simpson, must. in Feb. 16, 1864; trans. to Co. D, 53d Regt.
P. V., May 30, 1865. ‘ _

Jonathan Tucker, must. out with company May 31, 1865.

Simeon Vankirk, killed at Gettysburg, Pa., July 2, 1863.

Colin VValtz, wounded at Chancellorsville, Va., May 3, 1863, and at Get-
tysburg, Pa., July 2, 1863; disch. on surg. certif. Dec. 19, 1863.
Hugh Weedham, must. in Feb. 26, 1865; trans. to 53d Regt. P.V. May 30,

1865.

Samuel Wise, wounded at Gettysburg, Pa., July 2, 1863; trans. to Ind.
Bat. C, Pa. Art., Dec, 17, 1863.

James Wise, killed at Tolopotomoy, Va., May 3, 1863.

Isaac Wall, killed at Chancellorsville, Va., May 3, 1863.

Jeiferson Yonker, wounded at Gettysburg, Pa., July 2, 1863; trans. to
96th Co., Vet. Res. Corps, date unknown; disch. Aug. 2, 1865, expi-

‘ration of term.
COMPANY D.1

Sila.s Parker, capt., disch. on surg. certif. April 16, 1863.

Charles L. Linton, capt., pro. from 2d lieut. Co. C May 1, 1863 ; wounded
at Petersburg, Va., June 17, 1864; disch. on surg. certif. May 17,
1865.

James Mannon, lst lieut., disch. Jan. 16, 1863.

James B. Vandyke, 1st lieut., wounded at‘Chancellorsvil1e, Va., May 3,
1863; pro. from 1st sergt. to 2d lieut. Nov. 2, 1863; to 1st lieut. Nov.
6, 1863; disch. on surg. certif. May 6, 1864.

J. F. Bell, 1st lieut., pro. from corp. to sergt.,June 1, 1863 ; to 1st sergt.

' Nov. 1, 1863'; to 1st lieut. July 20, 1864; must. out with company
May 31, 1865.

Matthias Minton, 2d lieut., disch. on surg. certif. Aug. 19, 1863.

James M. Hughes, 1st sergt., pro. from corp. to sergt. Nov.1, 1863; to 1st
sergt. July 20, 1864; wounded at Gettysburg, Pa., July 2, 1863; must.
out with company May 31, 1865.

Henry C. Swart, sergt., wounded at Spottsylvania Court-House May 12,
1864; absent at muster out. -

John Closser, sergt., pro. to corp. Nov. 1, 1863; to sergt. Sept. 1, 1864;
must. out with company May 31, 1865.

Charles Guttery, sergt., pro. to cbrp. Nov. 1, 1863; to sergt. Sept. 1, 1864;
must. out with company May 31, 1865.

John L. Hathaway, sergt., pro. to corp. Nov._ 1, 1862; to sergt. Oct. 24,
1864; wounded at Cold Harbor, Va., June 2, 1864; absent at must.
cut.

Isaac Sharp, sergt., pro. from corp. Nov. 1, 1863; disch. on surg. certif.,
date unknown. i A ,

Moses McCollum, sergt., died at Washington, D. C., May 17th, of wounds
received at Chancellorsville May 3, 1863.

Cephas D. Sharp, sergt., died August 2d of wounds received at Gettys-
burg, Pa., July 2, 1863. -

Luster Beabout, sergt., died at Pittsburgh September 1st of wounds re-
ceived at Tolopotomoy, May 31, 1864. ' A

John A. Black, corp., captured at Gettysburg, Pa., July 2, 1863; disch.
by G. 0. June 19, 1865.

George S. Moore, corp., pro. to corp. Nov. 1, 1863; trans. to Signal Corps
May 10, 1864.

Zachariah Baker, corp., pro. to corp. Sept. 1, 1864; wounded at Spottsyl-
vania Court-House May 12, 1864; absent at must. out.

Nathan B. Evans, corp., prisoner from July 2d to Dec.\28, 1863 ; pro. to
corp. Sept. 1, 1864; disch. by G. 0. June 21, 1865.

John Kelly, corp., pro. to corp. Jan. 1, 1865; must. out with company
May 31, 1865. .

1 Date of muster in is Aug. 22, 1862, except where noted.

James Miles, corp., pro. to corp. Jan. 1,1865; must. out with company
May 31, 1865.

Leroy Woods Day, corp., disch. on surg. certif. Jan. 4, 1864.

Franklin F. James, corp., pro. to corp. Sept. 1, 1863; wounded at Peters-
burg; disch. on surg. certif. April 1, 1865.

Jacob McAfee, corp., pro. to corp. Nov. 1, 1863; disch. by G. 0. March 13,
1865.

Calvin Ramsey, corp., must. in Sept. 4,1862; trans. to Vet. Res. Corps

June 18, 1863.

James A. Beabout, corp., killed at Gettysburg, Pa., July 2, 1863.

Beden Beabout, corp., died July 10th of wounds received at Gettysburg,
Pa., July 2, 1863.

Samuel B; Evans, corp., pro. to corp.'Jan. 1, 1864; died at Washington,
D. C., June 13th, of wounds received at Gettysburg July 2, 1863.

Parker Hamilton, musician, must. out with company May 31, 1865.

Alps Cunningham, musician, disch. by G. 0. Feb. 20, 1865.

James McCleaIy, musician, must. in Feb. 26, 1864 ;. trans. to Co. H, 53d
Regt. P. V., May 30, 1865.

Privates.

Robert Birch, disch. September 19th for wounds received at Gettysburg,
Pa., July 2, 1863.
Ira Baldwin, disch. on surg. certif. Oct. 18, 1863.
‘William Beabout, disch. on surg. certif. May 23, 1863.
Sample S. Bell, disch. on surg. certif., date unknown.
Hazlett Bell, wounded at Chancellorsville May 3, 1863; trans. to 37th
Co., 2d Bat. Vet. Res. Corps, March 16, 1864; disch. by G. 0. June
28, 1865.
Enoch Baker, captured at Bowling Green, Va., June 2, 1862.
Abner L. Birch, died at Pittsburgh, Pa., Oct. 4, of wounds received at
Wilderness, May 5, 1864.
James Birch, must. in Sept. 4, 1862; died May 12, of wounds received, at
Wilderness, Va., May 5, 1864.
Miller Blatchly, died at Beverly, N. J .,_ Oct. 4, 1864; burial record, Oct.
9, 1864. ,
John L. Brannan, killed at Spottsylvania Court-House, Va., May 12,
1864. -
Charles Cunningham, wounded at Gettysburg July 2, 1863; disch. on
surg. certif. Feb. 22, 1864.
Levi Curry, disch. on surg. certif. Feb. 8, 1863.
Silas M. Crispin, must. in Sept. 4, 1862; wounded at Gettysburg July 2,
1863; trans. to Vet. Res. Corps Jan. 10, 1865.
Milton Clutter, died at Washington March 20, 1864; burial record, Feb.
20, 1864; buried in Harmony Burial-Grounds, D. C.
John W. Cooper, died at Prosperity, Pa., Nov. 7, 1864. .
Andrew Curry, wounded and captured at Chance-llorsville May 1,1863;
died, date unknown; buried in Lawton National Cemetery, Millen,
Ga., Section A, Grave 85. -
Wilson Doty, wounded at Gettysburg July 2, 1863; disch. by G. 0. May
25, 1865.
Lewis Dilly, died July 19 of wounds received at Gettysburg July 2, 1863;
buried in National Cemetery.
Thomas Doty, killed at Spottsylvania Court-House, Va., May 12, 1864.

' Joseph E. Evans, disch. by G. 0. May 13, 1865.
- Abner Enox, disch. on surg. certif. Oct. 14, 1863.

Enoch French, disch. by special order Sept. 14, 1863.

Jacob Frazer, trans. to Ind. Battery C, Pa. Art., Dec. 17, 1863.

Thomas Glenn, must. in Sept. 4, 1862; trans. to Ind. Battery C, Pa. Art.
Dec. 17, 1863.

James L. Gunin, must. in Feb. 29, 1864; not accounted for.

James Hathaway, wounded at Spottsylvania Court-House May 12, 1864;
disch. by G. 0. May 30, 1865. C

James Hilton, disch. on surg. certif. March 31, 1863.

Robert D. Hatfield, must. in Dec. 29, 1863; trans to Co. H, 9th Regt. Vet.

Res. Corps, Jan. 18, 1865.; disch. by G. 0. July 21,1865.

Jacob Hatfield, died at Washington, D. C., Dec. 31, 1864; buried in Na-
tional Cemetery, Arlington, Va.

Jonathan W. Hughes, died at Amity, Pa., Nov. 5, 1864.

James A. Jackson, disch. on surg. certif. Dec. 31, 1863.

Samuel Johnson, disch. on surg. certif. Feb. 8, 1863.

Charles H. Kaine, must. cut with company May 31, 1865.

George Keeny, must. in Sept. 14, 1862 _; disch. on surg. certif. March 9,
1863.

Amos Kenstrick, disch. on surg. certif. March 23, 1863.

Cornelius D. B. Kirk, disch. by G. 0. May 15, 1865.

Cyrus Lindley, must. out with company May 31,1865.

WAR OF THE IREBELLION.

339

Isaac Lacock, wounded with loss of leg at Gettysburg July 2, 1863 ; disch.
on surg. certif. Oct. 25, 1864.

William Lloyd, disch. on surg. certif. Sept. 3, 1863.

John W. Lewis, died at Pittsburgh July 13, of wounds received at Gold
Harbor June 1, 1864.

Milton Lindley, must. in Nov. 20, 1862.

James Lore, must. in March 14, 1864; not accounted for.

Enoch G. Martin, must. in Feb. 27, 1864; wounded Jan. 4, 1865; disch.
by G. 0. June 2, 1865.

Lyman S. Miller, must. in Feb. 26, 1864; trans. to Co. H, 53d Regt.,
P. V., date unknown.

Joseph Meeks, captured at Bristow Station, Va., Oct. 14, 1863; died at
Annapolis, Md., May 13, 1865.

James M. Miller, must. in Sept. 4, 1862; died at Washington, D. C., May
20, of wounds received at Spottsylvania Court-House, Va., May 12,
1864; buried in National Cemetery, Arlington.

James Montgomery, died July 15, of wounds received at Spottsylvania-

Court-House May 12, 1864. .
John B. McDonald, must. out with company May 31, 1865.
Winder McKinney, trans. to Vet. Res. Corps Nov. 1, 1862.

C Albert G. Parker, disch. on surgt. certif. May 31, 1863.

Jackson W. Paden, killed at Spottsylvania Court-House May 12, 1864.

Philo Paul, killed at Spottsylvania Court-House May 12, 1864.

Peter Phillips, died May 10, 1864, of wounds received at P0 River, Va.

Harvey Pope, died at Windmill Point, Pa., Feb. 2, 1863.

John Quinn, must. in Dec. 29, 1863; trans. to Co. H, 53d Regt. P. V.,
May 30, 1865.

George Redd, must. in Sept. 4, 1862; must. out with company May 31,
1865.

William Rutan, died at Washington, D. C., June 10, 1864; buried in
National Cemetery, Arlington.

John Sibert, must. out with company May 31, 1865.

Joseph Sherrick, wounded at Chancellorsville May 3, 1863; must. out _

with company May 31, 1865.
Joseph Swihart, must. out with company May 31, 1865.
Harvey Swart, must. out with company May 31, 1865.
James Sibert, disch. on surg. certif. Feb. 24, 1863.

, Andrew 'J. Swart, wounded at Gettysburg July 2, 1863; disch. on surg.

certif. Sept. 19, 1864.

John Swartz, must. in Feb. 27, 1862; trans. to Co. H, 53d Regt. P. V.,
May 30, 1865; disch. by G. 0. June 17, 1865.

Simon Sanders. must. in Sept. 4, 1862; ‘killed at Gettysburg, July 2, 1863.

Emmet Smalley, killed at Wilderness, Va., May 5, 1864. _

Amos Swart, killed at Spottsylvania Court-House May 12, 1864.

John W. Sanders, died at Potomac Creek May 16th, of wounds received
at‘Chancellorsvil1e May 3, 1863.

George W. Teegarden, wounded at Five Forks April, 1865 ; must. out with

company May 31, 1865.

William Teegarden, died at Washington, D. C., June 7th, of wounds re-
ceived at Spottsylvania Court-House, May 12, 1864.

Andrew J. Vankirk, disch. April 15, 1865, for wounds received at Spott-
sylvania Court-House, May 12, 1864.

William Watson, must. in Sept. 4, 1862 ; absent, sick, at muster out.

John A. Wright, wounded at Chancellorsville May 3, 1863 ; must. out with
company May 31, 1865.

Harvey Watson, captured at Gettysburg July 2, 1863; disch. by S. 0.

April 1, 1865.

Christ. C. Welsh, disch. by S. 0. April 1, 1865.

William Williams, must. in Sept. 4, 1862; died at Alexandria, Va., Dec.
18, 1864.

Jacob Yoders, wounded at Spottsylvania Court-House May 12, 1864;
trans. to Vet. Res. Corps Jan. 10, 1865.

COMPANY E.1 -

Aaron T. Gregg, capt., must in Aug. 23, 1862; disch. on surg. certif. June
5, 1863.

Irvin F. Sansom, capt., must. in Aug. 26, 1862 ; pro. from 2d, to 1st lieut.
March 1, 1863 ; to capt., Sept. 1, 1863; disch. Aug. 17, 1864.

Jesse T. Power, capt., must. in Sept. 4, 1864; pro. from corp. to sergt.
Nov. 10, 1863, to capt., Feb. 10, 1865; wounded at Spottsylvania Court-
House May 12, 1864; must. out with company May 31, 1865.

Thomas A. Stone, lst lieut., must. in Aug. 23, 1862 ; disch. on surg. certif.
Feb. 7, 1863. .

James A. Russell, lst lieut., must. in Sept. 4, 1862; wounded at Spott-
sylvania Court-House May 12, 1864; pro. to sergt. Nov. 6, 1862.

1 Date of muster in is Aug. 22, 1862, except when noted. '

William D. Lank, lst lieut., must. in Sept. 4, 1862: pro. from 1st sergt.
Feb. 10, 1865; killed at Sailor's Creek April 6, 1865; buried in Pop-
lar Grove National Cemetery, Division A, Section D, Grave 14.

William A. McMillin, 2d lieut., must. in Aug. 23, 1862; pro. from. lst.
sergt Co. I, April 18, 1863; must. out with company May 31, 1863.

Francis R. Stroer, 2d lieut., must. in Sept. 4, 1862; pro. from 1st sergt.
March 30, 1863; disch. by S. O. Dec. 14, 1863.

John Barkley, lst sergt., pro. from corp. to sergt. April 10. 1863, to 1st

-sergt. Feb. 10, 1865; must. out with company May 31, 1865.

Samuel Potter, lst sergt., pro. from corp. April I0, 1863; wounded at
Spottsylvania Court-House May 12, 1864 ; disch. on surg. certif. Nov.
25, 1864.

Isaiah Collins, sergt., pro. to corp. Jan. 24, 1864, to sergt. Feb. 11, 1865
must. cut with company May 31, 1865.

William P. McMasters, sergt., pro. to corp. Dec. 22, 1864; to sergt. Feb.
10, 1865; must. out with company May 31, 1865.

George B. Kistler, sergt.; wounded at Potomac River May 10, 1864 ; pro.
from private Feb. 10, 1865; must. out with company May 31, 1865.

James Shaw, sergt. ; disch. on surg. certif. Feb. 22, 1863.

A. G. Beeson, sergt., pm. from corp. Feb. 23, 1863; wounded at Gettys-
burg July 2, 1863; trans. to Vet. Res. Corps Jan. 1, 1865.

R. G. S. Smith, sergt., pro. to qr.-mr. sergt. ; date unknown.

B. F. O’Bryon, sergt.; killed at Tolopotomoy May 31, I864.

Abraham Moore, corp.; must. out with company May 31, 1865.

Samuel Pritchard, corp.; captured; died at Charleston, S. C., Oct. 23,
1864. ‘

Simon Inks, corp., pro. to corp. April 10, 1863; absent, sick, at must. cut.

George Lafferty, corp., pro. to corp. Nov. 10, 1863; wounded at Peters-
burg July 4, 1864; died, date unknown.

Thomas Kelley, corp., pro. to corp. Aug. 1, 1864; must. out with com-
pany May 31, 1865.

Plumer F. Hall, corp , pro. to corp. Dec. 22, 1864; must. out with com-
pany May 31, 1865.

Harvey Rose, corp., pro. to corp. April 10, 1863; disch. on surg. certif.
Sept. 22, 1863.

James Ranken, corp., died at Washington, D. C., Jan. 10, 1863; buried
in Military Asylum Cemetery.

Robert Russell, corp., pro. to corp. Oct. 9, 1863 ; killed at Spottsylvania
Court-House, May 12, 1864.

Albert Herron, corp., pro. to corp. April 10, 1863; killed at Tolopotomoy
May 31, 1864.

Charles F. King, musician, must. in Oct. 29, 1862; must. out with com-
pany May 31, 1865. ’

V Privates.

Jackson Ballsinger, wounded at Gettysburg July 2, 1863; must. out
with company May 31, 1865.

Harvey Ballsinger, wounded at Gettysburg July 3, 1863; absent at must.
out.

Benjamin Behannah, must. out with company May 31, 1865.

George Behan nah, disch. on surg. certif. Feb. 22, 1863.

Alexander Boniface, wounded at Petersburg, 1864; disch. on surg. cer-A

tif. Dec. 29, 1864.

William Ballsinger, trans. to Vet. Res. Corps Sept. 1, 1863.

George Ballsinger, accidentally killed at White Hall Sept. 27, 1862.

Franklin Barringer, died July 15, 1864, of wounds received in action;
buried in National Cemetery, Arlington, Va.

A. S. Black, died at Parkton, Md., Nov. 12, 1862.

Ely Cady, wounded at Petersburg June 18, 1864; trans. to Vet. Res.
Corps; disch. by general order July 14, 1864.

Lindsey Cady, discharged by G. 0. July 14, 1864. _

Samuel Cashdollar, wounded at Gettysburg July 2, 1863; at Wilderness
May 8, 1864; absent at muster out. a

James Chubbic, mustered out with company May 31, 1865.

James Colvin, absent on detached service at muster out.

Andrew N. Crawford, disch. on surg. certif. Feb. 7, 1863.

William E. Chester, disch. on surg. certif. May 15, 1865.

Samuel W. Cady, died July 1, 1864.

James Caskey, died, date unknown.

Thomas Cole, July 1, 1863. _

H. C. Diffenderifer, mustered out with company May 31, 1865.

Stephen Daniels, mustered out with company May 31, 1865.

Francis M. Daniels, captured at Gettysburg July 2, 1863; killed at Cold
Harbor June 5, 1864.

John Fell, wounded at -Petersburg June 18, 1864; mustered out with
company May 31, 1865.

Zenophon Gamble, discharged by G. O. J une 12, 1865.

.WASHINGTON’S CAMPAIGN OF 1754.

39

informed him that the alarm was unfounded, for, that
instead of the reported party of ninety, there were but
nine Frenchmen, and these were deserters. There-
upon he returned to the camp, leaving a small party
to take the deserters and bring them in, which they
accomplished soon afterwards.

Finding that there was as yet no French force in

his vicinity, Washington now resolved to advance
towards Redstone, and accordingly on the 16th
moved out on the path towards Gist’s, taking with
him his artillery pieces, some of the wagons, and all
his men except the Carolinians under Mackay, who
were left behind at the fort to guard the stores. This
was done to avoid a possible conflict of authority
with Mackay, who was indisposed to have his com-

pany. perform its share of labor in clearing the way

for the passage of the train.

This labor was found to be so great, that the force
under Washington was employed thirteen days in
making the road passable from the fort to Gist’s,
though the distance was only thirteen miles. Before
reaching Gist’s (on the 27th), Capt. Lewis was sent
ahead, with Lieut. Waggoner, Ensign Mercer, and a.
detachment of seventy men, to attempt the opening
of a practicable road beyond Gist’s towards Redstone.
Another detachment, under Capt. Polson, was sent
out in advance to reconnoitre.

On the 29th of June, Washington arrived at Gist’s,
and there received information that a strong French
force was advancing up the Monongahela. Thereupon
he at once called a council of war, at which it was re-

solved to concentrate all the forces at that point, and

there await the French attack. Intrenchments were
immediately commenced and pushed with all possible
vigor; a messenger was sentto call in Lewis’ and
]_?olson’s detachments, and another to the Great Mea-
dows with a request to Capt. Mackay to march his
force without delay to Gist’s. "He promptly responded,
and Lewis and Polson also came in the next morning.
On their arrival Washington called a second council
of war, which reversed the decision of the. first, and
resolved, without a dissenting voice, to abandon the
work at Gist’s and retreat to Wills’ Creek, over the
route by which they had advanced. This decision was
at once acted on. g

In the retreat, the. means of transportation being
very deficient, it is said that “ Colonel Washington set
a noble example to the oflicers by leading his own
horse with ammunition and other public stores, leav-
ing his baggage behind, and giving the soldiers four
pistoles to carry it forward. The other officers followed
this example. There were nine swivels, which were
drawn by the soldiers of the Virginia ‘regiment over
a very broken road, unassisted by the men belonging
to the Independent Company [Mackay’s], who refused
to perform any service of the kind. Neither would
they act as pioneers, nor aid in transporting the public
stores, considering this a duty not incumbent on them

as king’s soldiers. This conduct had a discouraging 1

effect upon the soldiers of the Virginia regiment, by
dampening their ardor and making‘ them more dis-
satisfied with their extreme fatigue.” 1 l

The journey between Gist’s and the Great Meadows,
which Washington, on his outward march, had been
unable to perform in less than thirteen days, was now
made in less than two days, notwithstanding the
insufficiency of transportation and the severe labor
which the men were obliged to perform in hauling
the artillery pieces and military stores, and the re-
treating column reached the fortified camp at Great
Meadows on the 1st of July.

It had been the intention, as before noticed, to con-
tinue the retreat to Wills’ Creek, but on the arrival

at the Meadows, Washington found that it was im-

practicable to go on, for, says Sparks, “ His men had
become so much fatigued from great labor and a de-
ficiency of provisions, that they could draw the swivels
no farther, nor carry the baggage on their backs.
They had been eight days without bread, and at the
Great Meadows they found only a few bags of flour.
It _was thought advisable to wait here, therefore, and
fortify themselves in the best manner they could till
they should receive supplies and reinforcements.

They had heard of the arrival at Alexandria of two '

independent companies ‘from New York twenty days
before, and it was presumed they must by this time
have reached Wills’ Creek. An express was sent to
hasten them on with as much dispatch as possible.”
When it had been decided to make a stand at the
fortified camp at Great Meadows, Washington gave
orders for the men to commence without delay to
strengthen the rude defenses which had already been
erected. More "pal-isades were added, the stockade
was extended and salient angles formed, and a broad
but shallow ditch was made outside the fort, materi-
ally adding to the strength of the work. Outside this
ditch there was constructed a line of defense similar
in character to the modern rifle-“pits, but all joined
in one extended trench, further protected in front
by a low parapet of logs, embanked with the earth
thrown from the trench. The work was done under the
supervision of Capt. Robert Stobo, who had had some
experience in military engineering. When completed,
Washington named it “Fort Necessity,” as expressive
of the necessity he was under to stand there and fight,

because of his inability to continue the retreat to -
Wills’ Creek, as he had intended. The extreme scar-‘
city of provisions, and other supplies too, made the «

name appropriate. I V I

Washington’s selection of a site for his fortification
has been often and severely criticised by military
men as being badly calculated for defense, and com-
manded on -threesides by high ground and closely
approaching woods. The location was undoubtedly
chosen partly on account of the peculiar conforma-
tion of the ground, which Washington called “natural

1 Sparks.

340  

HISTORY OF WASHINGTON COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA.

Charles Guter, wounded at Spottsylvania Court-House May 12, 1864;

8 absent at muster out.

John Gawley, Aug. 25, 1863.

John S. Hindman, wounded with loss of arm June 18, 1864; disch. on
surg. certif. Jan. 19, 1863.

Josiah Holdman, disch. on surg. certif. Jan. 19, 1863.

Daniel Handlin, trans. to Vet. Res. Corps June 9, 1865. _

Francis M. Hansel, killed at Gettysburg July 3, 1863; buried in National
Cemetery, grave 24.

William Hirst, killed at Cold Harbor, Va., June 3, 1864.

James Hurley, died at Falmouth, Va., June 18, 1864.

Jeremiah Huttenhour, killed at Petersburg, Va., June 18, 1864.

Benjamin Ingles, mustered out with company May 31, 1865.

Nathan T. Inlay, trans. to Vet. Res. Corps Sept. 30, 1863.

John Johnson, mustered out with company May 31,_ 1865.

Andrew Johnson, wounded at Gettysburg, Pa., July 2, 1863; disch. on
surg. certif. April 16, 1865.

Jesse L. Jones, disch. on surg. certif. April 10, 1863.

William B. Jobb, must. in Oct. 29, 1862; trans. to Co. A, 3d Regt. Vet.
Res. Corps, Jan. 10, 1863; disch. by G. 0. July 6, 1865.

Levi Keenan, wounded at Gettysburg, July 2, 1863; disch. on surg.
certif. Jan. 23, 1864. ‘_

Christopher Lickle, trans. to Vet. Res. Corps Jan. 10, 1865.

C. A. Lank, died at Falmouth, Va., March 24, 1863.

Bart. Lancaster, died at Washington, D. C., Dec. 22, 1862.

James Lytle, died at Andersonville.

Calvin B. Malaby, must. in June 30, 1863.

And. McWi1liams, missing in action at Spottsylvania Court-House, Va.,
May 12, 1864.

Henry McKnight, must. in Oct. 29, 1862; disch. on surg. certif. July 15,
1863.

George McMillin, died at Pittsburgh, Pa., Nov. 28, 1864; buried in Alle-
gheny Cemetery.

William Pyle, disch. by G. O. June 27, 1865.

George W. Pritchard, disch. by G. 0. June 7, 1865.

John W. Pearce, wounded at Chancellorsville May 3, 1863; disch. on
surg. certif., date unknown.

Jesse Pearce, trans. to Vet. Res. Corps Aug. 1, 1863.

Hugh Patterson, died at Washington, D. C., Aug. 10, 1863; buried in
Military Asylum Cemetery.

Harry Pierce, died at Philadelphia, Pa., Oct. 1, 1864.

Robert G. Roberts, wounded at Spottsylvania Court-House May 12, 1864;
disch. by G. 0. June 15, 1865.

Alden Rose, must. out with company May 31, 1865.

Robert Rudge, wounded at Spottsylvania Court-House May 12, 1864;
trans. to Co. H, 12th Regt. Vet. Res. Corps; disch. by G. 0. June 29,
1865. '

William Reynolds, disch. on surg. certif. Jan. 19, 1863.

William R. Roberts, must. in Oct. 29, 1862; disch. on surg. certif. May 8,
1863. ‘

Francis Russell, disch. on surg. certif. Feb. 17, 1863.

Sparks. C. Roberts, died at Philadelphia, Pa., Oct. 24, 1864.

Jesse Stricklin, must. out with company May 31, 1865.

A. B. Smiley, disch. on surg. certif. Jan. 19, 1863.

William H. Sickler, died at Point Lookout, Md., Oct.14, 1864.

William Turner, wounded at Gold Harbor June 3, 1864; disch. by G. 0.
June 17, 1865. '

John W. Thorp, died at Washington, D. C., Jan. 31, 1863.

Robert Wall, wounded at South Side Railroad, Virginia, May 12, 1864;
absent at muster out.

William F. White, wounded at Spottsylvania Court-House May 12, 1864;
absent at muster out.

Joseph Wiltser, wounded at Sailor’s Creek, Va., April 6, 1865 ; _must. out
with. company May 31, 1865. ‘ V 1

George Windhurst, wounded at Petersburg June 18, 1864 ; must. out with
company May 31, 1865.

Lowrie Williams, must. out with company May 31, 1865.

Solomon Williams, died at Alexandria Oct. 31, 1864, of wounds received
in action.

Joseph J. Woodward, killed at Tolopotomoy, ‘Va., May 31, 1864.

COMPANY G.1
John Fraser, capt., pro. to lieut‘.-col. Sept. 4, 1862.’

Henry J. Bingham, capt., pro.from lst lieut. Sept. 9, 1862 ; wounded at '

Gettysburg, Pa., July 2, 1863, at Spottsylvania Court-House May 12,

1 Date of muster in is Aug. 22, 1862, except where noted.

1864, and at Farmville April 7, 1865; captured at Boydton Plank-
Road Oct. 27, 1864; pro. to maj. and judge advocate U. S. V. Sept. 20,,
1864; brevet lieut.-col. and col. and brevet brig.-gen. April 9, 1865;
must. out with company July 2, 1866.

John F. Wilson, capt., pro. to 1st sergt. May 4, 1863; to 2d lieut. Sept. 1,
1863; to capt. Dec. 10, 1864; wounded at Gettysburg July 2, 1863;
died at City Point April 14,of wounds received at Petersburg March
25, 1865. A

Wilson  Paxton, 1st lieut., pro. from 2d lieut. Oct. 7, 1862; captured
at Gettysburg July 2, 1863 ; disch. May 17, 1865.

Joseph W. McEwan, 2d lieut., pro. from 1st sergt. Oct. 7, 1862; killed at
Chancellorsville, Va., May 3, 1863.

Alex. M. Wilson, 2d lieut., pro. to sergt. Sept. 8, 1862; to 2d lieut. May
4, 1863; killed at Gettysburg July 2, 1863.

John R. Paxton, 2d lieut., pro. to sergt. Aug. 7, 1863; to 1st sergt. Sept.
1, 1863; to 2d lieut. Dec. 10, 1864; com. lst lieut. April 16 and capt.
May 16, 1865, not must. ; must. out with company May 31, 1865.

William Pollock, 1st sergt., pro. to sergt. Sept. 30, 1862; to 1st sergt. Dec.
10, 1864; must. outwith company May 31, 1865.

James M. Patton, sergt., pro. to sergt. Nov. 1, 1863; wounded at Robin-
son’s Cross-Roads; must. out with company May 31, 1865.

James P. Kerr, sergt., pro. to sergt. June 18, 1864; must. out with com-
pany May 31, 1865.

David L. Taggart, sergt., pro. to corp. May 16, 1864; must. out with com-
pany May 31, 1865.

James L. Berry, sergt., pro. to corp. Sept. 1, 1864; to sergt. Dec. 10, 1864;
must. out with company May 31, 1865.

Jasper E. Brady, sergt., pro. to sergt. Sept. 9, 1862; disch. on surg. certif.,
date unknown.

Thomas A. Perrine, sergt., pro. to sergt. April 2, 1863 ; lost arm at Chan-
cellorsville May 3, 1863; disch. on surg. certif. Aug. 7, 1863.

James B. Jackson, sergt., trans. to 119th Co., 2d Bat., Vet. Res. Corps;
disch. by G. 0. April 26, 1865. ‘

Thomas J. Weaver, sergt., died at Harrisburg, Pa., Sept. 9, 1862.

Benjamin B. Black, sergt., killed at Gettysburg, Pa., July 2, 1863.

Bankhead D. Barr, sergt., pro. to sergt. Sept. 1, 1863; died May 18th, of
wounds received at Wilderness May 9, 1864.

James Voltenburg, sergt., wounded at Chancellorsville May 3, 1863;
killed at Petersburg June 17, 1864; buried in Poplar Grove National
Cemetery, Div. C, Sec. C, Grave 77.

James G. Sloan, corp., pro. to corp. June 1, 1863; must. out with company
May 31, 1865.

John C. Davis, corp., pro. to corp. July 4, 1864; must. out with company
‘May 31, 1865.

James S. Rankin, corp., pro. to corp. Sept. 1, 1864; prisoner from July 2d.‘
to Sept. 20, 1863; must. out with company May 31, 1865. -

Ebenezer G. Emery, corp., pro. to corp. Nov. 1, 1864; must. out with
company May 31, 1865. ,

John Gilkinson, corp., pro. to corp. Dec. 10, 1864; wounded at Sailor’s
Creek April 6, 1865; absent in hospital at muster out.

Robert L. Stewart, corp., pro. to corp. Dec. 18, 1864; mustuout with com-
pany May 31, 1865.

William J. P. Patton, corp., pro. to corp. March 25, 1865; must. out with
company May 31, 1865. ‘

Joseph L. Moore, corp., pro. to corp. June 10, 1863 ; to capt.

Samuel R. Charlton, corp., Feb. 6, 1864; trans. to Co. F, 53d Regt. P. V.,
May 30, 1865. A

John R. Mitchell, corp., trans. to Signal Corps Nov. 1, 1863.

Dunning Hart, corp., pro. to corp. Aug. 24, 1862‘; wounded at Gettysburg
July 1, 1863; trans. to Vet. Res. Corps Oct. 18, 1864.

Ebenezer H. Martin, corp., trans. to Signal Corps April 1, 1864.

Joseph Wilson, corp., pro. to corp. June 20, 1864; trans. to Co. G, 6th
Regt. P. V. R., Feb. 15, 1865; disch. by G. 0. July 14, 1865.

Henry G. McGinnis, corp., died at Falmouth, Va., June 1, 1863.

Frank Jones, corp., pro. to corp. April 1, 1864; killed at Tolopotomoy, Va.,
May 31, 1864.

Alexander Gaston, corp., pro. to corp. June 1, 1864; killed at Petersburg
June 17, 1864; buried in Poplar Grove National Cemetery, Division
A, Sect. F, Grave 1. ‘

David W. Berry, corp., pro. to corp. July 14, 1864; died July 4, of Wounds
received in action June 21, 1864. J

Robert L. Speer, corp., pro. to corp. Sept. 1, 1864; died Feb. 19, 1865.

Josiah _H. Carroll, musician, pro. to principal musician March 1, 1864.

Privates. '

James Allison, must. out with company May 31,1865.
John Arnold, must. out with company May 31, 1865.

WAR or THE REBELLION.

William Armstrong, killed at Spottsylvania Court-House May 12, 1864.

Boyd E. Atkinson, killed at Chancellorsville, Va., May 3, 1863.

Simon Arnold, killed_ at Gettysburg, Pa., July 2, 1863.

William Armstrong, killed at Spottsylvania Court-House May 12, 1864.

John M. Berry, wounded at Spottsylvania Court.-House May 12, 1864;
trans. to Co. A, 188th Regt. Vet. Res. Corps; disch. by G. 0. June 28,
1865. ' .

John Barr, killed at Gettysburg, Pa., July»2, 1863.

David Boyce, killed at Chancellorsville, Va., May 3, 1863.

David VV. Boyd, killed at Gettysburg July 2, 1863 ; buried in National
Cemetery; grave 55.

Addison A. Coleman, must. out with company May 31, 1865.

James M. Crawford, must. out with company May 31, 1865.

Stephen Champ, disch. on surg. certif. Feb. 8, 1864.

Vincent Crawford, died at Falmouth, Va., May 31, 1863.

Eli Crawford, must. in Sept. 7, 1862.

James S. Daggs, wounded at North Anna River May 24, 1864; disch.
May 18, 1865.

George Davis, prisoner from July 2 to Sept. 23, 1863; disch. by G. O.

' June 20, 1866. , ‘ -

Charles R. Donaldson, died at Parkton, Md., Sept. 17, 1862.’

W. G. Donaldson, killed at Chancellorsville, Va., May 3, 1863.

John L. Gow, absent, on detached service, at must. out.

James W. Griflith, wounded at North Anna River May 24,1864; absent,
in hospital, at must. out. .

William S. Greer, wounded at Gettysburg July 2,1863 ; disch. on surg.
certif. Sept. 26,1863.

George Grier, died at Falmouth, Va., Feb. 16, 1863.

Levi Grifiith, died June 25, of wounds received at Petersburg June 18,
1864; buried in National Cemetery.

David Havlin, must. out with company May 31, 1865.

James Hemingar, wounded at Gettysburg July 2, 1863 ; disch. by G. 0.
May 27, 1865.

John W. Hodgson, pris. from June 2, 1864, to April 1,1866; disch. by G. O .
June 10,1865.

William A. Helt, wounded at Gettysburg July 2, 1865; disch. by G. 0.
May 12, 1865. ‘ ‘

‘ Joseph Hemphill, trans. to Ind. Bat. C, Pa. Art., Dec. 17, 1863.

James Hamilton, died at Parkton, Md., Sept. 23, 1862.

Robert S. Jackson, prisoner from July 2 to Dec. 27, 1863; disch. by G. 0.
July 1, 1865.

William H. Jackson, disch. on surg. certif. Feb. 7, 1863.

Joseph B. Johnson, trans. to Signal Corps April 1, 1864.

William A, Kerr, wounded at Bristow Station Oct. 14, 1863; disch. on
surg. certif. March 21, 1864. '

Cornelius D. B. Kirk, wounded at Deep Bottom ; disch. by G. 0. May 15,
1865. '

James Lynn, killed at Gettysburg July 2, 1863; buried in National Cem-
etery. ‘

Joseph Lawson, reported killed at Gettysburg July 2, 1863.

William H. Lenom, wounded and captured at Wilderness May 5, 1864;
died at Andersonville Aug. 25, 1864; burial record Oct.‘ 3, 1864 ; grave
10,273.

George B. Murray, Wounded at Gettysburg July 2, 1863; must. out with
company May 31, 1865.

George W. McGibbony, must. out with company May 31, 1865.

James S. McGlumphy, wounded. at Petersburg March 25, 1865 ; absent,
in hospital, at must. out.

John W. McMeans, must. out with company May 31, 1865.

Thomas M. McNary, must. out with company May 31, 1865.

Samuel B. McBride, disch. on surg. certif. Dec. 18, 1863.

Robert R. McJenkin, died at Parkton, Md., Nov. 6, 1862.

John McNutt, killed at Gettysburg July 2, 1863; buried in National
Cemetery; g-rave 28. '

James W. Pollock, must. out with company May 31, 1865.

David B. Phillips, wounded; disch. by G. 0. May 15, 1865.

Robert B. Parkinson, pro. to q. m.-sergt. Oct. 11, 1864. V

Wayne J. Phillips, wounded at Gettysburg July 2, 1863; trans. to Vet.
Res. Corps Nov. 12, 1863.

John M. Speer, must. out with company May 31, 1865.

John M. Stewart, must. out with -company May 31, 1865.

David H. Summay, must. out with company May 31, 1865.

William B. Stewart, disch. on surg. certif. Sept. 7, 1862.

William Shutz, trans. to Vet. Res. Corps Feb. 15, 1864.

John T. Summey, trans. to Vet. Res. Corps Sept. 20, 1864; disch. by G. 0.
July 5, 1865.

Cyrus Townsend, pro. to q. m.-sergt. July 13, 1863.

James Thomas, died at Washington Aug. 18, 1863; burial record Aug.
12, 1863 ; buried in Military Asylum Cemetery.

John M. Watson, must. out with company May 31, 1865.

Joshua Weaver, must. out with company May 31, 1865.

David White, must. out with company May 31, 1865.

James P. Weaver, trans. to Vet. Res Corps Nov. 11, 1863.

Hugh VVeir, killed at Gettysburg, Pa.,.July 2, 1863.

Thomas Weaver, captured at Gettysburg July 2, 1863; died at Richmond
Nov. 2, 1863.

James Young, trans. to Ind. Battery C, Pennsylvania Artillery, Dec. 17,
1863. V

COMPANY K.1

W. A. F. Stockton, capt., brevt. maj. April 9, 1865; must. out with com-
pany May 31, 1865.

Alexander Sweeney, J r., lst lieut., brevet capt. March 13, 1865 ; absent on
detached service at muster out.

William B. Cook, 2d lieut., capt. at Gettysburg July 2, 1863 ; disch. May

17, 1865. 1

George Ralston, 1st sergt., must. out with company May 31, 1865.

Benjamin F. Powelson, 1st sergt., pro. to lieut. 41st Regt. U. S. C. Troops
Sept. 22, 1864; disch Sept. 30, 1865.

Milton R. Boyd, sergt.; disch. by G. 0. May 27, 1865.

Ed. S. Alexander, sergt., must. out with company May 31, 1865.

W. R. H. Powelson, sergt., wounded; date unknown; must. out with
company May 31, 1865.

John A. McCalmont, sergt., pro. from corp. March 26, 1865; must. out
.with company May 31, 1865.

Thomas C. Hays, sergt., killed at Gettysburg, Pa., July 2, 1863.

Samuel K. Shindle, sergt., captured at Gettysburg July 2, 1863 ; died at
Andersonville March 17, 1864; burial record May 15, 1864; grave
1114. , ' "

Joseph S. Graham, sergt., killed at Petersburg, Va., March 25, 1865.

Silas Cook, corp., wounded at Spottsylvania Court-House May 12, 1864;
absent at muster out.

James K. P. McGill, corp., must. out with company May 31, 1865.

William Porter, corp., must. out with company May 31, 1865.

George Hanlin, corp., must. out with company May 31, 1865.

Marshall Wright, corp., wounded at Spottsylvania Court-House May 12,
1864; must. out with company May 31', 1865.

V James C. Lyle, corp., pro. to corp. May 12, 1865; must. out with com-

pany May 31, 1865.
Abraham Andrews, corp., pro. to corp. March 16, 1865; must. out with
company May 31, 1865.
John D. McCabe, corp., disch. on surg. certif. Feb. 23, 1863. V
William Hanlin, corp., wounded at Gettysburg July 2, 1863; disch. by
G. 0. May 15, 1865. .
Isaac Donaldson, corp., died at Falmouth Feb. 14, 1863.
William Miller, corp., killed at Gettysburg July 2, 1863. V
William L. Pry, corp., wounded at Chancellorsville May 3, 1863; died at
Falmouth May 21, 1863. ' _
George W. McConnell, 1nus., must. out with company May 31, 1865.
Jesse J . Morris, mus., pro. to prin. musician Dec. 22, 1,864.

Privates.

James B. Allison, must. out with company May 31, 1865.

Peter Andrews,_must. out with company May 31, 1865.

James Arthurs, must. out with company May 31, 1865.

James S. Berryhill, must. out with company May 31, 1865.

Lazarus Briggs, must. out with company May 31, 1865.

Daniel J . Butterfoss, absent, sick, at must. cut.

Benjamin Buchanan, disch. on surg. certif. March 20. 1863. V

George W. Carter, wounded at Spottsylvania Court-House May 12, 1864;
must. out with company May 31, 1865. .

Jesse M. Carter, wounded at Spottsylvania Court-House May 12, 1864;
must. out with company May 31, 1865.

Andrew Cester, wounded at Cold Harbor June 7, 1864; absent at must.
out.

James E. Cochran, must. out with company May 31, 1865.

Ezra Conway, must. out with company May 31, 1865.

Joseph A. Corbin, wounded at Gettysburg July 1, 1863; disch. by G. 0.
May 15, 1865.

Isaac W. Chisholm, wounded at Gettysburg July 1, 1863; trans. to Co.
G, 9th Regt. Vet. Res. Corps, March 20, 1864; disch. by G. 0. June
26, 1865. —

1 Date of muster in Sept. 4, 1862, exceptwhere noted.

341

342

HISTORY OF WASHINGTON COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA.

Thomas Carter, killed at Gettysburg July 2, 1863.

David W. Corbin, must. in Sept. 4, 1862; died April 21, 1863 ; buried in
Military Asylum Cemetery, D. C.

Benjamin Cummings, must. in Sept. 4. 1862; killed at Spottsylvania
Court-House May 12, 1864.

James A. Cummings, must. in March 27, 1864; killed at Spottsylvania
Court-House May 12, 1864.

Robert B. Dugan, disch. by G. 0. May 29, 1865.

John M. Day, disch. on surg. certif. Dec. 12, 1863.
Henry Dickson, wounded at Spoltsylvania Court-House May 12, 1864;
trans. to Vet. Res. Corps, date unknown. ‘
Michael Dougherty, died at Brandy Station March 18, 1864; buried in
National Cemetery, Culpeper Court-House, Block 1, Section A, Row
4, Grave 117.

Andrew B. Davis, died at Parkton, Md., Dec. 9, 1862.

Benjamin F. Earnest, wounded at Gettysburg July 2, 1863; died at
Brandy Station Dec. 14, 1863.

James H. Fordyce, must. out with company May 31, 1865.

Joseph C. Fraser, disch. on surg. certif. Sept. 30, 1863.

John Fulton, must. in Dec. 31, 1862.

William M Geary, must. out with company May 31, 1865.

George Gardner, disch. March 20, 1863.

John Gardner, trans. to Ind. Bat. 0, Art., Dec. 17, 1863.

Joseph Guess, killed at Spottsylvania Court-House, Va, May 12, 1864.

Isaac Golden, died at Washington, D. C., April 15, 1863 ; buried in Mil-
itary Asylum Cemetery.

Benjamin F. Hawthorn, wounded at Spottsylvania Cou rt-House May 12,
1864; trans. to Co. E, 9th Regt. V. R. 0., date unknown; disch. by
G. 0. June 26, 1865.

John Henderson, died at Parkton, Md., Dec. 7, 1862.

Robert Hull, killed at Gettysburg, Pa., July 2, 1863.

George W. Johnson, wounded at Petersburg June 14, 1864; must. out
with company May 31, 1865.

William A. Jackson, captured,date unknown ; disch. by S. 0. Nov. 2,1864.

Robert Lyle, disch. on su rg. certif. March 14, 1863.

John M-akeown, absent, sick, at muster out.

Isaac Miller, wounded and captured at Wilderness, May, 1864; absent,
sick, at muster out.

Enoch Mounts, disch. on surg. certif. May 23, 1863.
George Morrow, disch. on surg. certif. May 22, 1863; died at Philadel-
phia May 27, 1863. -
Robert Meldoon, wounded at Gettysburg July 2, 1863; disch. by G. 0.
May 15, 1865. ~

John Maloy, killed at Todd’s Tavern, Va., May 8, 1864.

John Marshal, died at Parkton, Md., Nov. 17. 1862.

Morris Metcalf, died at Washington, D. C., March 17, 1865.

Robert McClurg, must. out with company May 31, 1865.

Benjamin l\IcCullough, must. out with company May 31, 1865.

Owen McElfish, must. out with company May 31, 1865.

James K. McCurd y, trans. to 153d Regt. P. V. Feb. 25, 1864.

Harrison McConnell, must. out Feb. 13, 1863.

Colin R. Nickerson, wounded at Gettysburg July 2, 1863; must. out
with company May 31, 1865. '

John W. N ickerson. wounded at Chancellorsville May 3, 1863; trans. to
Vet. Res. Corps Nov. 16, 1863.

Thomas L. Noble, pro. to com.-sergt. Sept. 18, 1862.

James L. Noah, trans. to Ind. Bat. C, Art., Dec. 17, 1863.

Robert A. Pry, must. out with company May 31, 1865.

David McPry, trans. to Vet. Res. Corps Feb. 6, 1865.

William Rea, wounded, with loss of a leg, at Todd’s Tavern May 8, 1864;
absent at must. cut.

William A. Rufner, disch. on surg. certif. May 20, 1864.

George Reed, must. in Feb. 5, 1865; trans. to Co. F, 53d Regt. P. V.,
May 30, 1865.

William Scott, must. out with company May 31, 1865.

Nathaniel Sease, must. out with company May 31, 1865.

George Sprowels, absent, sick, at must. out. C

Oliver Staley, must. out with company May 31, 1865.

William Stoller, wounded, date unknown ; must. cut. with company May
31, 1865. ‘

Frank Stiver, must. out with company May 31, 1865.

Henderson Scott, disch. by S. 0. March 12, 1863.

Jesse M. Sprowels, killed at Gettysburg, Pa., July 2, 1863.

George Stare, must. in-July 1, 1863.

Johnson Toppin, wou.nded at Gettysburg July 1, 1863; trans. to Vet.
Res. Corps Feb. 6, 1864. ’

John W. Tucker, must. in Feb. 29, 1864; killed at Todd’s Tavern, Va.
May 8, 1864.

Robert Virtue, killed at Gettysburg, Pa., July 3, 1863.

Ulysses Wh_eeler, must. out with company May 31, 1865.

Thomas Wilkins, wounded, date unknown; must. out with company
May 31, 1865.

James Worstell, wounded at Wilderness May 8, 1864; trans. to Co. K,
6th Regt. Vet. Res. Corps., date unknown; disch. by G. 0. July 5,
1865.

CHAPTER XXVII.

WAR OF THE REBELLION.—((/lontinued.)

First Pennsylvania Cavalry.~The First Cavalry,
designated _as the Forty-fourth Regiment of the Penn-
sylvania line, and the Fifteenth of the Reserves,
was made up of companies raised in Washington,
J uniata, Montgomery, Mifllin, Cameron, Clinton,
Centre, Clearfield, Greene, Blair, Fayette, Berks,
Lebanon, and Lancaster Counties, in the summer and
fall of 1861. One company (“I,” Capt. William H.
McNulty) was recruited wholly in ‘Washington
County. Company “K,” Capt. William Boyce, was
raised in the counties of Allegheny and Washington.
These last-named companies (together with Company
“ H”) rendezvoused at Camp Wilkins, Pittsburgh,
and were mustered into the service in August and
September, 1861. _

The organization of the regiment was effected Sept.
1, 1861, under Col. George D. Bayard (previously of
the Fourth United States Cavalry), Lieut.-Col. Jacob
Higgins, and Maj. Owen Jones. The regiment joined
McCall’s division of Pennsylvania Reserves at the
camp at Tenallytown, Md., in September, and re-
mained there engaged in drill and camp duties until
October 10th, when it moved to “Camp Pierpont,”
Va., where it remained during the succeeding winter,
participating in the mean time in the battle of Dranes-
ville and in several encounters with the enemy’s cav-
alry and guerrillas, and being constantly engaged in
scouting, picket duty, and drill.

On the opening of the spring campaigntof 1862
under Gen. McClellan, the First Cavalry moved with
the army to Manassas and Centreville. It is always
difficult to follow in detail of description the move-
ments of a cavalry command, so numerous are the
marches, countermarches, and changes of position,
and such is the case with regard to the history of the

marching and fighting of the First Cavalry. During '

the year 1862, after the advance to Manassas and the
transfer of the Army of the Potomac from the front
of Washington to the Virginia Peninsula, the regi-
ment might be said to have been continually in the
saddle, marching thousands of miles, always on the
alert and frequently in action, though from the nature
of the cavalry service seldom participating in the
dangers and glories of a great battle. This regiment
was in the _early part of May employed in picketing
the line of the Rappahannock, attached to the com-

. Republic.

WAR on THE REBELLION.

343

mand of Gen. McDowell, and when, on the 25th of
that month, he advanced by way of Bowling Green
towards Richmond, the First formed part of the cav-
alry force which preceded the infantry corps in its
march (as was then supposed) to reinforce McClellan
on the Peninsula. Reaching the Pamunkey River,
having driven the enemy’s cavalry to that stream, it
was there recalled, to move to the Shenandoah Val-
ley against Stonewall Jackson. By way of Catlett’s
Station and Thoroughfare Gap it marched to Front
Royal, thence to Strasburg, where on the 1st of June
it was heavily engaged with the enemy, driving him
in some confusion, and fighting again at Harrison-
burg, Va., against a greatly superior force. On the
8th and 9th it fought well at Cross Keys and Port
On the 10th it turned eastward again,
passed through Mount Jackson and Front Royal, and
came to Manassas on the 23d, after a month of con-
tinuous riding, skirmishing, and fighting, over a route
of nearly four hundred miles. Two weeks it remained
at Manassas, then movedpwith the Army of Virginia
under Gen. Pope. Here the service was the same,——

‘skirmishing, scouting, picketing, and duty in saddle

constantly, by night and day. At the battle of Cedar
Mountain it performed invaluable service, charging,
fighting its way back through the enemy’s infantry,
charging again, saving a battery from capture by the
enemy, and incurring heavy loss.

When Pope retreated towards Washington, the

‘First Pennsylvania, with the First New Jersey Cav-

alry, under Col. Sir Percy Wyndham, did more than
any other two regiments to protect the rear of the
beaten Army of Virginia, routing the enemy, who
came 011 exultantly at the crossing of the Rappahan-
nock, confidentof cutting off the retreat of the Union
forces. A day later, in conjunction with a division

"of infantry, it held Thoroughfare Gap turnpike for

six hours against the assaults of a heavy force of the
enemy under Gen. Longstreet. Finally the regiment
fought a good fight at the second battle of Bull Run,
August 29th and 30th ; and then, when the campaign
was closed, it moved with only two hundred men (of
whom fully half were dismounted) to a camp at
Munson’s Hill, in front of Washington, and then
spread out its feeble force of videttes across the high-
ways and byways‘ of the vicinity, guarding against
the approach of Confederate foes towards the national
capital. There it remained on'such duty for nearly
six weeks, and was then again moved southward, to
guard the front and flanks of the Army of the Poto-
mac, which was moving from Antietam, by way of
Berlin and Warrenton, to the Rappahannock at Fal-
mouth, from which point, in the evening of the 12th
of December, the two Washington Countycompanies
of the regiment were thrown across to the south side
of the river, to picket the space between the enemy’s
position and the pontoon bridges which were then
thrown across for the passage of the troops of Frank-
lin’s corps in the then contemplated. advance. In

the great battle of Fredericksburg, which was fought
on the 13th, the regiment did some skirmishing, and
was for a time under a heavy fire of artillery, but
was not called on to take part in the general engage-
ment, After the battle, the First went into winter-
quarters at Belle Plain. It took part in the great.
“mud march” of January, 1863, and otherwise was
employed during the winter in picketing, scouting,
and minor raiding in the neighborhood of the Rap-_
pahannock. In the spring campaign it was employed
in picketing and guarding the fords of the river, but
took no part in the battle of Chancellorsville. On
the 28th of May it moved to Warrenton Junction.
June 10th it took part in the cavalry fight at Brandy
Station under Gen. Pleasonton, losing fourteen killed
and wounded. On the 22d it was again engaged at
Aldie. On the movement from that point towards
Gettysburg it was the rear-guard’ of the cavalry
column. In the great battle of Gettysburg it was
not engaged, but acted as a guard to the headquarters
of the commanding general. In the pursuit of the
enemy after the battle the regiment was first engaged
at Shepherdstown on the 16th of July. In this action
the Washington County companies fought dismounted,
and contributed in a great degree to the enemy’s re-
pulse. After the fight the regimental camp was made
at Bolivar Heights, from which, on the 19th, the First
marched eastward, and reached Warrenton on the
27th. Picketing, skirmishing, and continual march-
ing succeeded until the 14th of October, when the
regiment was fiercely engaged at Auburn, Va. In
the Mine Run campaign it fought dismounted at
New Hope Church, and captured twenty-eight pris-
oners. ,The winter-quarters were made at Stevens-
burg, and during the entire winter the regiment fur-
nished one-fourth of its effective strength for constant
duty on picket and in" the saddle. ‘

In the opening of the campaign of 1864 the cavalry
moved on the 21st of April. This regiment was en-
gaged in scouting along the Rappahannock for ten or
twelve days, and on the 3d of May crossed the Rappa-
hannock, and on the 4th the Rapidan at Ely’s Ford.
On the 5th it was sharply engaged at Todd’s Tavern,
and drove the enemy. Again, on the 7th, it was en-
gaged near the same place, charging and taking a
considerable number of prisoners. On the 9th it
moved with the cavalry column of Gen. Sheridan on
his great raid to the defenses of Richmond, and before
night was hotly engaged. It fought at Ashland, Hun-
gary Station, Yellow Tavern, and Meadow Bridge,
near Richmond, then twice crossing the Chicka-
hominy, reached James River at Haxall’s, and after
a stay of three days there returned to the Army of
the Potomac, arriving at Chesterfield on the 25th of
May. In the advance of the army the First fought
with great determination and with severe loss in the
engagement at Hawes’ Shop, May 28th, and again at
Barker’s Mills. From this time the marches and
movements of the regiment and its brigade were too

344

HISTORY OF WASHINGTON COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA.

continuous and complicated to be followed in detail.
It fought in the engagement at Trevillian Station,
in ‘Sherid‘an’s second raid, and again at ‘St. Mary’s
Church, June 24th. Three days later it crossed the
James River. On the’12th of July it was engaged
at Ream’s Station, and on the 27th at Malvern
Hill, where it was opposed by the enemy’s infan-
try, and fought dismounted, losing eighteen killed
and wounded. On the 30th it fought at Lee’s Mills,
and soon after at Gravel Hill. It then returned to
the south side of the James, and, moving to the
Weldon Railroad, fought at Ream’s Station, which
was the last action in which the First Cavalry was
engaged. On the 30th of August, the regiment being
then in camp at‘ Jerusalem Plank—Road, the order for
its relief from duty was received, its time of service
having expired. On the 1st of September the regi-
ment (excepting veterans and recruits) was withdrawn
from the front, and proceeded-to Philadelphia, where
it was mustered out of service Sept. 9, 1864.

A list is given’ below of officers and enlisted men of
Companies I and K of the First Cavalry, the first of
which was . recruited wholly in Washington County,
and the latter in Washington and Allegheny.

« Commxr I.

William W. McNulty, capt., must. in Sept. 6, 1861 ; res. Sept. 6, 1861, to
accept promotion. '_

John W. Ross, capt., pro. 1st lieut. Aug. 24, 1861; res. Nov. 23, 1861.

George T. Work, capt., pro. from 1st lieut. Nov. 23, 1861; res. June 21,
1862.

James M. Gaston, capt., must.»in August, 1861; pro. from sergt. to 2d
lieut. Aug. 24, 1861; to 1st lieut. Nov. 23, 1861; to capt. J uly12, 1862;

' to maj. March 1,1863.

Thomas C. McGregor, capt., must. in Aug. 19, 1861; pro. from sergt. to

_2d lieut. May 10, 1862; to 1st lieut. July 12, 1862; to capt. March 1,
7 1863; trans. to batt. Sept. 1, 1864; must. out by consolidation June
20, 1865.

Francis S. Morgan, lst lieut., must. in Aug. 12, 1861; pro. from sergt. to
1st lieut. Feb. 25, 1863; trans. to batt. Sept. 1, 1864; must. out Sept.
26, 1864. '

George W. Seigrist, 2d lieut., must. in Aug. 10,1861; pro. from sergt.-

f maj. Nov. 23, 1861; res. May 10, 1862.

Joseph B. Richey, 2d lieut., pro. from sergt. July 12, 1862 ; dis. Feb. 18,
1863.

George W. Lyon, 2d lieut., pro. from sergt. Feb. 25, 1863; killed Sept. 6,
1863. .

Samuel C. Work, 1st sergt., must. in Aug, 13,1861; pro. to corp. Aug. 20,
1861 ; to sergt. Sept. 1, 1861 ; to 1st sergt. Feb. 25, 1863 ; wounded in
action Aug. 14, 1864 ; must. out with company Sept. 9, 1864.

Samuel W. McKee, q.m., must. in Aug. 13, 1861; pro. to corp. Aug. 20,
1861; to sergt. Dec. 11, 1862; wounded and missing at St. Mary’s

' Church, Va., June 24, 1864. ~
Patrick H. McNu1ty, com.-sergt., must. in Aug. 13, 1861; pro. to corp.

Sept. 6, 1861; to sergt. Dec. 1, 1862; wounded May 28, 1864; must. '

out with company Sept. 9, 1864.

Alexander B. Wythe, sergt., must. in Aug. 13, 1861; disch. on surg. cer-
tif. Sept. 30, 1861. 1 1 ’

John G. Wells, sergt., must. in Aug. 13, 1861; died Feb. 26,1862; buried
in Military Asylum Cemetery, D. C.

John Richmond, sergt., must. in Aug. 13, 1861; disch. on surg. certif.
Oct. 6, 1862. - ‘

William Denniston, sergt., must. in Aug. 20, 1861 ; disch. on surg. certif.
April 2,1863. ‘

James D. Scott, sergt., must. in Aug. 13, 1861 ;' pro. to corp. Aug. 20, 1861;
to sergt. Sept. 1, 1.861 ; must. out with company Sept. 9, 1864.

‘John L. Mustard, sergt., must. in Sept. 9, 1861; pro. to corp. Dec. 6, 1861;

to sergt. Feb. 18, 1863; wounded in action June 21, 1864 ; must. out
. . with company Sept. 9, 1864. » 1

Robert D. Wilkin, sergt., must. in Aug. 13, 1861; pro. to corp. Aug. 20,
1861; to sergt. Feb. 25, 1863,; must. out with company Sept. 9, 1864.

David Pollock, sergt., must. in Aug. 20, 1861; pro. to corp. March 1,1862;
to sergt. Feb. 25, 1863 ; mdst. out with company Sept. 9, 1864.

Alexander C. Elliott, sergt., must. in Aug. 23, 1861; wounded in action
June 21, 1864 ; trans. to Co. L Batt. Sept. 9,1864; must. out as sergt.
Co. A, by S. 0., June 20, 1865 ; veteran.

Thomas R. Starer, corp.,must. in Aug. 21, 1861; pro. to chief bugler Oct.
16,1861. "

John H. Gaston, corp., must. in Aug. 20, 1861 ; disch. on surg. certif. Oct.
20, 1862.

David Ackelson, corp., must. in Aug. 13, 1861; disch. on surg. certif.
Oct. 20, 1862.

Moses Hastings, corp., must. in Aug. 13, 1861 ; killed at Oak Grove, Va.,
April 26, 1863.

Eli Lescallet, corp., must. in Aug. 14, 1861; killed at Oak Grove, Va.,

April 26, 1863. ,

James Barry, corp., must. in Aug. 26, 1861 ; killed on picket at Carter’s
Run, Va., Sept. 6, 1863.

Smithson McConkey, corp., must. in Aug. 12, 1861; killed at Milford Sta.-
tion, Va., May 21, 1864; veteran.

Thomas Richmond, corp., must. in Aug. 13, 1861; killed at Enan Church,
Va., May 28, 1864.

Hillary Wilson, corp., must. in Aug. 25, 1861; pro. to corp. July 1, 1862;
must. out with company Sept. 9, 1864.

John McKinley, corp., must. in Aug. 13, 1861; pro. to corp. Feb. 25, 1863;
captured Sept. 6, 1863; -absent at must. cut.

David McGuigan, corp., must. in Aug. 13, 1861; pro. to corp. Feb. 25,

1863; wounded in action May 28, 1864; must. out with company

Sept. 9, 1864.

Lewis Cramer, corp., must. in Aug. 20, 1861; pro. to corp. March 1, 1863;
must. out with company Sept. 9, 1864.

Thomas H. Cowan, corp., must. in Aug. 22, 1861; pro. to corp. May 1,
1864; must. out with company Sept. 9, 1864.

William J. Rippey, corp., must. in Oct. 4, 1861; pro. to corp. Aug. 1, 1864;
must. out with company Sept. 9, 1864. F

William H. Rose, bugler, must. in Aug. 13, 1861 ; disch. on surg. certif.
April 15, 1862. ’

Chester P. Murray, bugler, must. in Oct. 4, 1861; must. out with com-

A pany Sept. 9, 1864. A

Privates.

Samuel F. Bitts, must. in Aug. 26, 1861; twice captured ; must. out with
company Sept. 9, 1864.

George Becroft, must. in Aug. 13, 1861; must. out with company Sept. 9,
1864.

John Becroft, must. in Oct. 2, 1861; disch. on surg. certif. Dec. 24, 1861.

Alexander Berwick, must. in Aug. 22, 1861 ; disch. on surg. certif. April
15, 1862. '

Frank Berwick, must. in Aug. 20, 1861; trans. to Co. L Batt. Sept. 9,
1864; veteran. A

John A. Bingham, must. in March 5, 1864; wounded in action May 9,
1864 ; trans. to batt. Sept. 9, 1864. A ,

William Crider, must. in Aug. 13, 1861; must. out with company Sept.
9, 1864. '

John Clyde, must. in Aug. 13, 1861; must. out with company Sept. 9, A

1864.

Andrew Crouch, must. in Oct. 2,1861; disch. on surg. certif. April 15,
1862.

William A. Curtis, must. in Aug. 20, 1861; trans. to Co. L . Batt. Sept. 9,
1864; veteran. .

Thomas H.’ Conan, not on must.-out roll. A

Thomas Dunkle, must. in Aug. 13,1861; disch. on surg. certif. Jan. 1,‘

1862.

Robert 0. Elliot, must. in Feb. 22, 1864; trans. to Co. L Batt. Sept. 9,‘

1864.

Rudolph Essick, must. in Aug. 11, 1862; trans. to Co. L Batt. Sept. 9,
1864 ; must. out with Company A, by G. 0., June 6, 1865.

John F. Foust, must. in Aug. 20, 1861; disch. on surg. certif. April 15,
1862. V 4

Samuel A. Garrett, must. in Aug. 13, 1861; must. out with company
Sept. 9, 1864.

John H. Groff, must. in Aug. 13, 1861 ; must. out with company Sept. 9,
1864. 1

Moses F. Gaumer, must. in Aug. 13, 1861 ; missing in action, date un-
known.

WAR OF THE REBELLION.

345

 

John Gibson, must. in Aug. 20, 1861; trans. to Co. L Batt. Sept. 9, 1864;
veteran. '
George W. Gist, must. in Aug. 20, 1861 ; died Dec". 6, 1861.
Jacob George, must. in Aug. 14, 1861 ; died Dec. 17, 1861.

‘ Joshua J. Hunter, must. in Aug. 13, 1861; disch. on surg. certif. April

28, 1862.

Walter Johnson, must. in Aug. 13, 1861 ; must. out with company Sept.
9, 1864.

John B. Loughead, must. in Aug. 26, 1861 ; trans. to batt. Sept. 9, 1864;
pro. to sergt. Co. L Nov. 5, 1864; must. out June 20, 1865; veteran.

George J. Labarre, must. in Feb. 3-, 1862 ; trans. to Co. L Batt. Sept. 9,
1864; pro. to sergt. Co. A, date unknown ; veteran.

William J. Lowry, must. in Sept. 15, 1864; must. out in Co. L Batt.., 1st

, Penn. Cav., by G. 0. June 15, 1865.

William McElroy, must. in Sept. 4, 1861; must. out with company Sept.
‘9, 1864. ‘ ’

William McCall, must. in Aug. 13, 1861; must. out with company Sept.
9, 1864.

William S. McCormick, must. in Aug". 13,1861; must. out with company
Sept. 9, 1864. ‘

William McCarrel1, must. in Oct. 4, 1861; must. out with company Sept. ‘

9, 1864.

Peter Mulligan, must. in Aug. 15, 1861; captured Sept. 6,1863; must.
out with company Sept. 9, 1864. _

Andrew F. McClure, must. in Oct. 5, 1861; disch. on surg. certif. Jan.
15, 1863.

James Miller, J r., must. in Aug. 13, 1861; disch. on surg. certif. Dec. 23,
1862; burial record, died Dec. 25, 1862 ; buried in Military Asylum
Cemetery, D. C. ,

James Miller, Sr., must. in Aug. 13, 1861 ; disch. on surg. certif. Feb. 18,
1862.

Isaac McConkey, must. in Aug. 13, 1861; trans. to Co. L Batt. Sept. 9,
1864; pro. to sergt. Co. A; veteran.

Charles Morrow, must. in Aug. 20, 1861; trans. to Co. L Batt. Sept. 9,
1864; veteran.

James W. McKee, must. in Aug. 13, 1861; died at Camp Pierpont, Va.,
Jan. 1, 1862, of wounds received accidentally.

Hugh McGowan, must. in Aug. 29, 1864; must. out in Co. A by G. 0.

June 6, 1865-

Archibald N ewell, must. in Aug. 13, 1861; must. out with company Sept.
9, 1864. A

William F. Patton, must. in Aug. 20, 1861; disch. on surg. certif. Feb.

. 18, 1862.

William P. Patton, must. in Aug. 24, 1862; trans. to Co. L Batt. Sept.
9, 1864; must. out in Co. A by G. 0. June 6, 1865.

Thomas Parks, must. in Aug. 20, 1861; died Jan. 18, 1862.

William M. Porter, must. in Sept. 1, 1861; died at Fairfax, Va., Sept. 8,
1862.

Thomas Patterson, must. in Aug. 13, 1861; captured Sept. 6, 1863; died
at Annapolis, Md., March 30, 1864.

Lewis W. Quilland, must. in Aug. 20, 1861; disch. on surg. certif. June
15, 1863. ,

David Richmond, must. in Sept. 4, 1861; must. out with company Sept.
9, 1864.

A. B. Rosenberger, must. in Aug. 13, 1861; prisoner; returned; must.
out Sept. 27, 1864.

Lorenzo A. Rice, must. in Feb. 3, 1862; disch. on surg. certif. June 2,
1862.

John L. Robertson, must. in Aug. 13, 1861 ; trans. to Co. L Batt. Sept. 9,
1864; must. out as sergt. Co. A, by S. 0., June 20, 1866.

James Smiley, must. in Aug. 13, 1861; must. out with company Sept. 9,
1864. ‘

John G. Sauppe, must. in Sept. 5, 1861; must. out with company Sept. 9,
1864.

William F. Smith, must. in Aug. 13, 1861; disch. on surg. certif. March

27, 1862.

Alexander L. Williams, must. in Aug. 13, 1861; disch. on surg. certif.
Aug. 16, 1862.

Grafton Wells, must. in Aug. 13, 1861; trans. to batt. Sept. 9, 1864;
veteran. . ‘

Jacob Wolf, must. in Aug. 13, 1861; pro. to veterinary surg. May 1,
1863.

COMPANY K.

William Boyce, capt., must. in Sept. 6, 1861; res. Dec. 27, 1861.

Joseph H. Williams, capt., must. in Sept. 6, 1861; pro. from private to
1st sergt. Oct. 1, 1861; to capt. Jan. 1, 1862; trans. to batt. Sept. 1,
1864; must. out Sept. 27,1864.

William A. Kennedy, 1st lieut., must. in Sept. 6, 1861; wounded at
Hawes’ Shop, Va., May 28,1864; must. out with company Sept. 9
1864. .

Samuel Morgan, 2d lieut., must. in Sept. 6, 1861; wounded in action
Sept. 15, 1863; must. out with ‘company Sept. 9, 1864. ,

William J. McEwen, 1st sergt., must. in Sept. 6, 1861; disch. on surg.
certif. Sept. 15, 1862. '

9

_ John F. Kennedy, lst sergt., must. in Sept. 6, 1861; died July 26, 1863.

Arch. B. Darragh, lst sergt., must. in Sept. 6, 1861; pro. to 1st sergt. July
27, 1863; must. out with company Sept. 9, 1864.

John A. Latimer, sergt., must. in Sept. 6, 1861; must. out with company
Sept. 9, 1864.

William S. Foster, sergt., must. in Sept. 6, 1861; pro. to batt. adjt. March
1, 1862.

Joseph Wright, sergt., must. in Sept. 6, 186] ; disch. on surg. certif. June
5, 1862.

John W. Gault, sergt., must. in Sept. 6, 1861; died Dec. 7, 1862.
Robert Boyce, sergt., must. in Sept. 6, 1861: pro. to corp. Sept. 8, 1861
to sergt. June 14, 1862; must. out with company Sept. 9, 1864.
John W. Boyce, sergt., must. in Sept. 6, 1861; pro. to corp. Sept. 8, 1861 ;
to sergt. Nov. 1, 1862; must. out with company Sept. 9, 1864. ‘
John Patterson, sergt., must. in Sept. 6, 1861; pro. from private Nov. 1
1862; must. out with company Sept. 9, 1864. V

Billingsby Morgan, sergt., must. in Aug. 28, 1862; pro. to sergt. July 1,
1864; trans.‘to battery Sept. 1, 1864; must. out with Co. M May 27,
1865.

Jacob Hanna, sergt., must. in Aug. 28, 1862; pro. to sergt. July 1, 1864;
trans. to battery Sept. 1, 1864. '

Joseph Boyce, corp., must. in Sept. 6, 1861 ; disch. on surg. certif. Feb.
1,1862.

Andrew G. Happer, corp., must. in Sept. 6, 1861; pro. to 1st lieut. Co.
G, 11th Regt. Pa. Vols., March 11, 1862.

Samuel Morton, corp., must. in Sept. 6, 1861; disch. on surg. certif. Aug.
18, 1862. ,

Thomas Conner, corp., must in Sept. 6, 1861; disch. on surg. certif. April
11, 1863. , - ‘

John M. Boyce, corp., must. in Sept. 6, 1861; captured June '21, 1864;
must. out Feb. 4, 1865.

Samuel F. Ralston, corp., must. in Sept. 6, 1861; pro. to corp. Nov. 1,
1862; must. out with company Sept. 9, 1864.

Joshua Connelly, corp., must. in Sept. 6, 1861; pro. to corp. Nov. 1, 1862;
must. out with company Sept. 9, 1864.

Thomas Westerman, corp., must. in Sept. 6, 1861 ; pro. to corp. Nov. 1,
1862; must. out with company Sept. 9, 1864.

Samuel R. Patten, corp., must. in Sept. 6, 1861; pro. to corp. Nov. 1,
1862 ; must. out with company Sept. 9, 1864.

Samuel Brown, bugler, must. in Sept. 6, 1861; disch. on surg. certif.
April 28, 1863.

John C. Keifer, bugler, must. in Sept. 6, 1861; captured at Sulphur
Springs, Va., Aug. 22, 1862; killed in action May 28, 1864.

3

Privates.

John A. Anderson, must. in Sept. 6, 1861; must. out with company Sept.
9,1864. .

James Beaumont, must. in Sept. 6, 1861; disch. on surg. certif. Feb. 1,
1862.

Thomas D. Boyce, must. in Aug. 28, 1862; trans. to battery Sept. 1, 1864;
died Oct. 10, 1864.

Isaac N. Boyce, must. in Feb. 17, 1864; not on muster-out roll.

Robert Cain, must. in Sept. 6, 1861; disch. on surg. certf. May 21, 1862.

Edward Curran, must. in Oct. 15, 1861; trans. to battery Sept. 1, 1864.

Charles A. Calighan, must. in Oct. 2, 1861; trans. to battery Sept. 1, 1864.

Abraham Cox, must. in Oct. 15, 1861; trans. to battery Sept. 1, 1864.

George W. Coup, must. in Oct. 15, 1861; trans. to battery Sept. 1, 1864.

Jacob Coup, must. in Jan. 22, 1864; trans. to battery Sept. 1, 1864; died
Sept. 26. 1864; buried in Cavalry Corps Cemetery, Va. ’

William Coup, must. in April 14, 1864; wounded in action July 28, 1864;
trans. to battery Sept. 1, 1864; died N ov.8, 1864; buried in National
Cemetery, Arlington.

John Douglass, must. in Aug. 22, 1862; disch. Jan. 12, 1863.

John M. Duncan, must. in May 25, 1863; trans. to battery Sept. 1, 1864.

Charles P. Dilks, must. in Oct. 15, 1861; missing in action Nov. 17, 1863.

James F. Dodd, must. in Oct. 15, 1861 ; trans. to Vet. Res. Corps Sept. 1,
1863. _

William Ewing, must. in Oct. 15, 1861 ; disch. on surg. certif. April 28,
1862. ‘

James Ewing, must. in" Aug. 29, 1862; died Nov. 22, 1863.

346

HISTORY OF WASHINGTON COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA.

Hugh Flanagan, must. in Sept, 6, 1861 ; absent in hospital at muster out.

Joseph B. Flitterer, must. in Oct. 15, 1861; trans. to battery Sept. 1,
1864. ’

Joseph Feather, not on muster-out roll.

William Gordon, must. in Oct. 15, 1861; must. out with companypsept.
9, 1864.

John H erriot, must. in Sept. 6, 1861; must. out with company Sept. 9,
1864. ,

Samuel Hooper, must. in Feb. 2, 1864; trans. to battery Sept. 1, 1864;
must. out in Co. M by G. O. Oct. 4, 1865.

Hamilton Ingram, must. in Oct. 15, 1861; disch. on surg. certif. April 10,
1863.

John Jamison, must. in March 31, 1864; trans. to battery Sept. 1, 1864;
must. out in Co. M by G. O. Oct. 4, 1865; '

Thomas Jones, must. in March 31, 1864 : missing in action June 21,1864;
veteran.

Joseph M. Kennedy, must. in Sept. 6, 1861; must. out with company
Sept. 9, 1864. —

Samuel Keifer, must. in Oct. 15, 1861 ; trans. to battery Sept. 1, 1864.

Richard Lesnet, must. in Sept. 6, 1861; killed in action May 28, 1864.

John H. Morgan, must. in Sept. 6, 1861; must. out with company Sept.
9, 1864.

Hamilton R. Morrison, must. in Sept. 6, 1861; must. out with company
Sept. 9, 1864.

John L. McAllister, must. in Sept. 6, 1861 ; must. out with company Sept.
9, 1864. .

Matthew McCombs, must. in Sept. 6, 1861; must. out with company Sept.
9, 1864.

Jacob C. McDowell, must. in Sept. 6, 1861; must. out with company
Sept. 9, 1864.

John McDonald, must. in Sept. 6, 1861 ; must. out with company Sept.
9, 1864. .

William McDonald, must. in Sept. 6, 1861 ; must. out with company Sept.
9, 1864.

George McFeeley, must. in Sept. 6, 1861 ; must. out with company Sept.
9,1864. ' -

James M. C. Mouck, must. in Sept. 6, 1861; disch. on surg. certif. Feb. 9,
1863.

Thomas McCombs, must. in Sept. 10, 1861; trans. to battery Sept. 1,
1864. . ‘
John Meredith, must. in Oct. 15, 186] ; captured at Bealton Station,Va.,

Oct. 14, 1863; trans. to battery Sept. 1, 1864.
Marshall McBride, must. in Oct. 15, 1861 ; trans. to battery Sept. 1, 1864.
William McMurray, must. in Feb. 17. 1864; trans. to batt. Sept. .1, 1864.

William H. Meanor, must. in Oct. 15, 1861; trans. to batt. Sept. 1, 1864."

Joseph Morrison, must. in Sept. 6, 1861; died July 9, 1864, at Alexan-
dria, Va.; grave 2365. 1

Joseph McClanahan, must. in Sept. 6, 1861; killed at Gettysburg July
3, 1863.

William‘J. McClure, not on muster-out roll.

Sanford C. Obony, must. in Oct. 15, 1861 ; disch. on surg. certif. Jan. 23,
1862.

' John C. Phillips, must. in Feb. 26, 1864; trans. to batt. Sept. 1, 1864.
, Frederick Qnigg, must. in Sept. 6, 1861 ; must. out with company Sept.

9, 1864.
John M. Reignaman, must. in Oct. 15, 1861; disch. on surg. certif.» Jan.
23, 1862.

William Roberts, must. in Sept. 6, 1861; disch. on surg. certif. Nov. 1,

1861.
George W. Reed, must. in Feb. 2, 1864; trans. to batt. Sept. 1, 1864.
David Schaifer, must. in Sept. 6, 1861 ;. must. out with company Sept. 9,
V 1864.
William Stewart, must. in Sept. 6,1861; disch. on surg. certif. Sept. 29,
1862.
Joseph M. Sample, must. in Sept. 6, 1861; disch. on surg. certif. Jan. 29,
1863. ’
Benjamin F. Shields, must. in Oct. 15, 1861 ; disch. on surg. certif. Aug.
31, 1863. ' _ ‘
Joseph M. Shaffer, must. in Oct. 15, 1861 ; died Sept. 10, 1862.

' John Trimble, must. in Sept. .6, 1861; must. out with company Sept. 9,

1864.
George Thompson, Sr., must. in Oct. 15, 1861; disch. on surg. certif.
March 1, 1862.

_ George Thompson, Jr.,_must. in Oct. 15, 1861; disch. on surg. certif.

March 1, 1862.
Henry Vance, must. in Oct. 15, 1861; trans. to batt. Sept. 1, 1864.

J. H. Westerman, must. in Sept. 6, 1861; must. out with company Sept.
9, 1864. '

Samuel Wallace, must. in Oct. 15, 1861; disch. on surg. certif. Feb. 1,
1862.

James Williams, must. in Oct. 15, 1861 ; trans. to batt. Sept. 1, 1864.

CHAPTER XXVIII.

WAR OF THE REBELLION.--(Uontimied.)

The Fourteenth Cavalry.—-The Fourteenth Cav-
alry, or One Hundred and Fifty-ninth Regiment of
the Pennsylvania line, was raised in the summer

and fall of 1862, under authority given by the War -

Department, August 18th of that year, toJames M.
Schoonmaker, of Pittsburgh, who was at that time a
line—officer in the First Maryland Cavalry. The regi-
ment was principally made up of men recruited in
the counties of Washington, Fayette, Allegheny, Arm-
strong, Lawrence, Warren, Erie, and Philadelphia.
Washington County contributed one company (“ H ”),
commanded by Capt. John J. Shutterly, of Canons-
burg.

The regimental rendezvous was first at Camp Howe,
and afterwards at Camp Montgomery, near the city
of Pittsburgh. There, on the 24th of November, the
Fourteenth completed its organization under the
following-named field-oflicers: Colonel, James M.
Schoonmaker ; Lieutenant-Colonel, William Blake-
ley; Majors, Thomas Gibson, Shadrach Foley, and
John M. Daily. On the same day the regiment left
its camp and proceeded to Hagerstown, Md., where
the men were mounted, armed, accoutred, and drilled.
On the 28th of December it moved to Harper’s Ferry,
and encamped on the road leading thence to Charles-
town. In that vicinity it passed the winter, engaged
in .picketing, scouting, and occasionally skirmishing
with the enemy’s guerrilla bands which infested the
Shenandoah Valley and the passes of the Blue Ridge.

In May, 1863, the Fourteenth moved to Grafton,
W. Va., I where it was attached to Gen. Averill’s
cavalry division, and for two months succeeding was
engaged in constant marches and skirmishings with
the forces of the enemy under “ Mudwall” Jackson,
Jenkins, and other Confederate leaders, but without
incurring much loss. On the eveningof the 4th of
July information of the great battle of Gettysburg
was received, and the regiment thereupon was moved
at once to Webster, W. Va., thence to Cumberland,
Md., and from there, after two or three days’ delay,
to Williamsport, Md., where it joined the Army of
the Potomac. Advancing on the track of Gen. Lee’s
retreating columns, on the 15th of July it skirmished
with the rear-guard of the enemy near; Martinsburg,
and a few days later marched to Winchester. On
the 4tl1 of August it moved with Averill on his raid
to Rocky Gap. It was slightly engaged at Moorfield,
W. Va., again more heavily at Warm Springs, and on
the 26th and 27th of August took gallant part in an

WAR or THE REBELLION.

347

action with the cavalry and infantry forces under the
Confederate Gen. Jones, near Greenbrier, VVhite Sul-
phur Springs, holding its ground most obstinately,
but at last compelled to retreat with a loss of eighty
in killed, wounded, and missing. On the 31st the

‘command reached Beverly, having been on the march

or engaged with the enemy constantly for twenty-
seven days, traveling during that time more than six
hundred miles. '

After some weeks of comparative rest, the regiment
again moved (November 1st) with Gen. Averill on
another long raid to the southward. Passing through

Huntersville, Pocahontas Co._. on the 4th, it proceeded .

to Droop Mountain, where the enemy was found in-
trenched and prepared to fight, but was driven from

‘ his position with considerable loss and pursued to

Lewisburg, but not overtaken. The regiment, with
the rest of Averill’s command, returned to New Creek,
on the Baltimore and Ohio Railroad. Again, on the
8th of December, the Fourteenth was faced south-
ward, bound for Salem, on the Virginia and Tennes-
see Railroad, which point was reached on the 16th.
There the troops destroyed railroad track, bridges,

‘and an immense quantity of army stores gathered

there for the use of the Confederate army, in allmore
than three million dollars in value. Having thus
accomplished the object of the expedition, and know-
ing that the enemy would concentrate in force for his

‘destruction, Averill at once commenced his retreat

northward, but this was only accomplished with the
greatest difficulty. “ On the 20th, at J ackson’s River,
the Fourteenth, while in the rear struggling with the
trains, which could with difiiculty be moved, the
horses being worn out with incessant marching, was
cut off from the column by the destruction ofthe

bridge, and was supposed at headquarters to have

been captured. Gen. Early [Confederate] had de-
manded its surrender under a flag of truce, but setting
fire to the train, which was completely destroyed, it
forded the stream and made good its escape, rejoining
the main colu_mn between Callahan’s and White Sul-
phur Springs. That night the command swam the
Greenbrier, now swollen to a perfect torrent, and
crossing the Allegheny Mountains by an old,bridle-
path, and moving the artillery by hand, it finally
reached Hillsboro’, at the foot of Droop Mountain, at
midnight and encamped/’1 The regiment reached
Beverly on the 25th, having lost in the expedition
about fifty men killed, wounded, and missing. From
Beverly it moved to Webster, and thence by railroad
to Martinsburg, where it went into winter-quarters.
During the winter, however, its duties were nearly as
arduous as ever, being employed on picket, guard,
and in scouting almost incessantly. It was now a
part of the First (Col. Schoonmaker’s) Brigade of
Averill’s division.

Movingfrom winter-quarters on the 12th of April,

1 Bates.

1864, the command was transported to Parkersburg,
on the Ohio, and thence set out on a raid southward
through West Virginia to the Virginia and Tennessee
Railroad, and having also in View the destruction of
the Confederate salt-works at Saltville. The latter

was 11ot accomplished, but a great amount of damage‘

was done to the railroad in the vicinity of Blacksville.

At Cove Gap, on the 10th of May, the column was

attacked by the enemy, and a battle of four hours’
duration ensued, in which the Fourteenth lost twelve
killed and thirty-seven wounded.- Joining Gen.
Crook, the combined forces moved to Lewisburg. On
the 3d of June they were ordered to move thence to
Staunton, Va., to join Gen.'Hunter in his campaign
against Lynchburg.

At Staunton the regiment was rejoined by a detach-

ment which (being then dismounted) was left behind,

at Martinsburg when the command moved from its
winter-quarters in April. This detachment was under
command of Capt. Duncan, of “E” company. The
men were soon afterwards armed and mounted, and
assigned, by order of Gen. Sigel, to Stah1’s brigade.
At New Market, May 15th, this detachment was en-
gaged and sustained considerable loss. Soon after-
wards it moved with Gen. Hunter on his campaign.

At Piedmont, on the 5th of June, Capt. Duncan’s ‘

detachment, being in the advance, suddenly encoun-
tered the enemy. ‘In the battle which followed, it
advanced, dismounted, and carried an earthwork,
taking a number of prisoners, and afterwards receiv-
ing high commendation from the superior officers for
its gallantry in action.

Marching from Staunton on the 9th of June, the
forces reached Lexington on the 11th, and Buchanan

‘on the 13th. On the 15th the column moved to New

London, on the Virginia and Tennessee Railroad,
and thence towards the objective-point of the expe-
dition, Lynchburg. But the enemy was encountered
nearthe city, and during the succeeding night an en-
tire Confederate corps arrived from the Army of
Northern Virginia, which made it impracticable to
capture the place. Gen. Hunter then ordered a re-
treat, in which Schoonmaker’s brigade, being then
the rear-guard, was attacked by the enemy at Liberty,
and sustained the assault alone for four hours, the
Fourteenth Regiment losing twenty-four killed and
wounded. It was again engaged north of Salem
with Rosser’s cavalry, losing eight killed and wounded.
Finally, after an excessively toilsome march, and

being at one time five days without food, it reached

Parkersburg, and from there moved by rail to Mar-
tinsburg.

The enemy’s forces under Early were now marching
down the valley to the invasion of Maryland. Aver-
ill’s troops were again put in motion, and a battle
took place between them and the rebel force at Win-
chester on the 20th of July, the Fourteenth being
engaged with some loss. On the 24th, Early’s com-
bined forces attacked Averill and Crook, and drove

348

HISTORY or WASHINGTON COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA.

them to the Potomac, which theycrossed and retired
to Hagerstown. When the enemy, under Gen. Mc-
Causland, was retiring from the destruction of Cham-
bersburg, Pa., he was overtaken by Averill’s forces at
Moorfield, W. Va., and a severe battle ensued, result-

_ ing in the defeat of the enemy and the capture of

several cannon and a large number of prisoners. In
this action the Fourteenth, which had the right of
the first line, lost thirty-five killed and wounded.
After this fight the command returned to Martins-
burg, and thence to and across the Potomac, guarding

the ~ fords.

During Sheridan’s brilliant campaign in the Shen-
andoah Valley in the fall of 1864 the Fourteenth
was active and frequently engaged. In the action of
September 14th it fought well, capturing an earthwork
and losing heavily. At Fisher’s Hill it was again en-
gaged, but with light loss. On the 27th of September
it fought with a spirit and bravery which caused an
order to be issued that the name of the battle (Weyer’s
Cave) be inscribed on its flag. It was again engaged
at Cedar Creek, October 19th, and did excellent ser-
vice on that field. On the 24th, in the Luray Valley,

‘it fought in a brisk encounter, taking some prisoners, ’

and was again engaged with the forces of McCaus-

land at Front Royal on the 12th of November, losing

fifteen killed and wounded. Soon after this it went

into winter-quarters, but was employed in constant,

and arduous dutythrough the winter. The spring
campaign was opened on the 4th of April, 1865, when
the regiment with its brigade moved up the valley,
but met no enemy and returned to Berryville on the
6th. Gen. Lee’s surrender immediately, after virtu-
ally ended the war, and on the 20th of April the
regiment was ordered to Washington, and remained
there for about six weeks, taking part in the grand
reviews of the armies of“ Grant, Sherman, and Sheri-

dan in May. On the 11th of June it was ordered

West, and proceeded to Fort Leavenworth, Kansas,
where it was consolidated into six companies, the
surplus oflicers being mustered out. The men were
mustered out of the service at Fort Leavenworth on
the 24th" of August,‘ 1865, and returned in a body to
Pittsburgh, where they were discharged. 1

OFFICERS AND MEN IN THE FOURTEENTH CAVALRY FROM
WASHINGTON COUNTY. .

COMPANY 11.1

John J. Shutterly, capt., must. in Nov. 24, 1862; res. Oct. 2, 1863.

Joseph A. Crawlord, capt., must. in Nov. 24, 1862; pro. from 1st lieut.
Nov. 23,1863; disch. by G. 0. July 31, 1865. '

William D. Mcflallum, 1st 1ieut., must. in April 1, 1864; disch. by S. 0.
March 18, 1865. ’

Henry McMurray, lst lieut., pro. from 1st sergt. to 2d lieut. June 15,
1864; to 1st lieut. Jan. 6, 1865; trans. to (?o. A July 3!, 1865.

A John E. Bready. 2d lieut.,_must. in Dec. 8, 1862; disch. April 22, 1864.

James B. Johnston, ht sergt., pro. from 2d sergt. May 28, 1865; com.
2d lieut. June 6, 1865 ; not must.; disch. by G. 0. July 31, 1865.

James Pilling, 1st sergt., not accounted for.

David W. White, 2d sergt., pro. from corp. May 28, 1865; disch. by G. 0.
July '31, 1865. I

1 Date of muster Nov. 23, 1862, except as noted.

David S. Orr, sergt., trans. to Co. A July 31, 1865.

John W. McCrunch, sergt., trans. to Co. A July 31, 1865.

Benjamin F Craig, sergt. '

Samuel Auth, sergt.

Calvin Donavan, sergt.

James V. Waddle, sergt., killed at White Sulphur Springs, Va., Aug. 26,
1863. I , .

Alfred W. Murray, sergt. A ’

John R. White, sergt., must. in Feb. 23, 1864; died at Annapolis, Md.,
Jan. 17, 1865.

George Dunlap, corp., disch. by G. 0. July 25, 1865.

Albert H. Artman, corp., must. in Feb. 16, 1864; trans. to Co. A July 31,
1865. '

Lardner J. McCrum, corp., must. in Feb. 16, 1864; trans. to Co. A July
31,1865.

John L. Josephs, corp., trans. to Co. A July 31, 1865.

Charles H. Myers, corp.

Thomas Thompson, corp.

James P. McClure, corp.

James M. Adoo, corp.

Daniel Mcltoberts, corp.

Charles Campbell, farrier, trans. to Co. A July 31, 1865.

Privates. I

John H. Anderson.

George Archer, must. in Feb. 16, 1864.

William G. Banks, must. in March 31, 1864; disch. July 11, 1866, to date

Nov. 2, 1865.

James R. Barber.
Colin'Buchanan.
Joseph Beadleam.
Henry Bish.
George W. Bowie, must. in Dec. 2, 1863; trans. to Co. F, date unknown.
Henry Burns, must. in Dec. 2, 1863; trans. to Co. F, date unknown.
John Baker, must. in Oct. 7, 1864; trans. to Co. F, date unknown.
William H. Bates. must. out Feb. 23, 1864.

James M. Chamy, disch. by G. 0. May 29, 1865.

James Campsey, captured; died at Andersonville‘March 25, 1864; grave

156.

John F. Brown.
David R. Burs.
William Bolen.

- Thomas B. Callihan, captured; died at Andersonville June 7, 1864;

grave 1702. .
Thomas Cain, died; buried in National Cemetery, Winchester, Va.,
* lot 17.

Francis Cooley, must. in Nov. 28, 1862.

John G. Coleman. Joseph Colling.

Emanuel Crawford. . James Colling.

Jacob Casper. ,

Lewis Carspicker, must. in Aug. 29, 1864.

Simon Donovan. John Deahl.

Jacob B. Eleberger, disch. by G. 0. July 13, 1865.

William Ervay.

Frederick M. Fleming, must. in Jan. 4, 1864; disch. by G. 0. July 25,

1865. ' .

Frank C. Forbes, must. in Oct. 18, 1862; trans. to Co. A July 31, 1865.
Jonathan W. Fox. Carl Fulk. '

James Foster, must in March 21, 1864; died April 19, 1864; buried in

National Cemetery, lot 26. .

Jacob Fry, must. in Feb. 22, 1864; trans. to Co. D, date unknown.

John Frank, must. in April 20, 1863; trans. to Co. D, date unknown.

C. O. Fitch, must. in Feb. 27, 1864.

Jacob Fry, must. in Feb. 22, 1864.

John Gilmore, trans. to Co. D, date unknown.

Samuel Gravatt, must. in Feb. 22, 1864.

Leander Hart. .
Benjamin F. Hill, Jr., killed at White Sulphur Springs Aug. 26, 1863.
John Harrison. James Hiatt.

Samuel K. Isett, must. in Feb. 16, 1864.

Jasper Jenny. Henry Jackson.

James Jordan. A

Adam Lawhead, trans. to Co. A July 31, 1865.

Jacob Lubold.

Robert Lindsey, must. in Feb. 16, 1864.

Hiram Masenas, must. in Feb. 22, 1864; disch. by G. 0. June 5, 1865.
William Mossman, must. in Feb. 16, 1864; disch. by G. 0. June 15, 1865.
Adam Miller.’ James C. Martin. 8
John Moon. Franklin Martin.

Chris. Mumbleding.

l

6 Philip Rosenberger, must. in March 29, 1864; disch. by G. 0. June 2

WAR OF’ THE REBELLION.

William Murray, must. in Sept. 22, 1864; captured; died at Anderson-
ville Dec. 8, 1864, grave 12,248. '

Samuel McGee, must. in March 24, 1864; disch. by G. 0. May 27, 1865.
John J. McGee, must. in March 24.-, 1864; disch. by G. 0. May 27, 1865.
Thomas A. McPeak, trans. to Co. A July 31, 1865:

Sylvester McEllfish*, trans. to Co. A July 31, 1865.

Sylvanus McAdoo. Robert McCombs.

Matthias McClure. John C. McClain‘.

Wilson McMurray. Edward McLaughlin.’

Andrew J. McPeak. I

John McDonald, trans. to Co. D, date unknown.

Samuel Newhouse, must. in Oct. 29, 1862; dishonorably disch. July 15,

1868, to date Oct. 29, 1865.

John Newport. Charles Nolan.
Thomas O’Day, disch. by G. 0. May 16, 1865.
Joseph Oliver.

Adam Pifer, must. in Feb. 22, 1864; trans. to Co. D.
Michael Panner, trans. to Co. A July 31, 1865.
David Pecker. John A. Palm.
Lambert Parkhill, must. in Jan. 19, 1864.

1866. ,

David Roberts. George W. Ryan.
James G. Sees. James Simnes.
John Stifen. 6 John Sikup.
David Siler. Ludwig Tett.
John S. Todd. George Trussell.

William J. Wilson, trans. to Co. "A July 31, 1865.

Patrick Welsh, trans. to Co. A July 31, 1865. V ,

John H. Wilson, captured; died at Andersonville April 27, 1864; grave
764. .

Jonathan L. Wilson. Andrew Wilson.
James M. Wright. David Woods.
James M. White. John Watson.
Thomas White. Thomas B. Wilson.
Gustavus Walter. Christian Wool.

Winfield S. White.

_ Matthew White, must. in Oct. 23, 1863. I "

James Yokes, must. in March 25, 1864.

VCHAPTER XXIX.
WAR OF THE REBELLION.-——( Conitlinued.)

The Sixteenth‘ Cava1ry.——The Sixteenth Cav-
alry, numbered the One Hundred and Sixty-first
of the Pennsylvania line, and oneof the most re-
nowned cavalry regiments in the service of the
United States"in the war of the Rebellion, was raised
in the fall of 1862, and composed of men from twenty
counties of the State" of Pennsylvania. The rendez-

vous was first established at Camp Simmons, near

Harrisburg, but ‘Was afterwards removed to Camp

McCle1lan,,wh-ere the regimental organization was.
' completed about the middle of November.

The field-
oflicers of the Sixteenth at its organization were: Col-

onel, John Irvin Gregg,'a veteran of the Mexican war '

and a line-officer in the regular army; Lieutenant-
Colonel, Lorenzo D. Rodgers, of Venango County;
Majors, William A.vWest, of Fayette County, Wil-
liam H. Fry, of Philadelphia, and John , Stroup, of
Mifliin. One‘ company of this regiment (“K” Com-
pany, commanded by Capt. Robert W. Parkinson)
was raised in Washington County. _

On the 30th of November the regiment proceeded
to Washington, D. C., and was moved thence to a

23      

1

1

camp near Bladensburg, Md. On the 3d of January,
1863, it moved to the Rappahannock, and went into
winter-quarters near the railroad bridge over Potomac
Creek, being assigned to dutylwith Averill’s brigade,
which was then attached to the Army of the Potomac.
Its winter duty was severe, it being almost continually
on picket duty on a line nearly eight miles from the
regimental camp.- On the 17th of March, 1863, the

Sixteenth fought its first battle at Kelly’s Ford, on‘

which occasion it occupied the right of the line and
did its duty well, though with slight loss. ‘

In the spring campaign of 1863, which culminated
in the battle of Chancellorsville, the Sixteenth was
constantlyactive, the men being almost continually
in the saddle from the 13th of April, when they left
their winter-quarters, until the 5th of May, when the
Army of the Potomac recrossed the Rappahannock
after the disaster of Chancellorsville, During this
time the regiment skirmished with the enemy’s‘ cav-
alry at Brandy Station (April 29th) and at Ely’s Ford
(May 2d), but in these affairs lost only one man killed.
On the 25th of May the cavalry of the two armies

_were hotly engaged at Brandy Station, but the Six-

teenth, being without saddles, did not take an active
part in the fight. On the llth of June it was ‘brigaded
with the Fourth Pennsylvania, Tenth New York, and
First Maine Regiments of cavalry, forming the Sec-

. ond Brigade‘ (under Col. J. I. Gregg) of the Second

Division of the cavalry corps under Gen. Pleasonton.
The Confederate army under Gen. Lee was moving
to_the invasion of Pennsylvania, and on the 13th of

June the cavalry corps commenced the northward.

march which led to the battle-field of Gettysburg.
On the 18th the Sixteenth took the advance, and was
compelled to fight its way through nearly the entire
day. On the following -day it was the same, the Six-
teenth fighting dismounted and taking the enemy’s
positions one after another, but only losing" eleven
killed and wounded. On the 21st the enemy again
disputed the way, and were driven in some disorder
through Ashby’s Gap. .

In the conflict at Gettysburg the regiment with its
brigade was partially engaged on the 2d of July, but
suffered very slight loss. On the 3d it was in line
and under artillery fire, but not actively engaged.
In the pursuit of Lee’s retreating army, after the
battle, it' took active part, and on the 16th of July,
beyond Shepherdstown, Va., it stood in line for eight
hours, during a part of which time it bore the Weight
of ai fierce attack of the Confederate cavalry, losing
twenty-one killed and wounded.  ,

After the escape of Gen. Lee and the crossing of

the Army of the Potomac into Virginia, the Sixteenth ’

took part in nearly all the marches, countermarches,
skirmishes, and fights of the cavalry corps during the
remainder of the year downto the movement against
the enemy’s strong works at Mine Run, its aggregate

«losses in these operations being quite large. After

the abandonment of the Mine Run campaign it re-

349 '

40

HISTORY OF WASHINGTON COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA.

. intrenchments,” and which materially lightened the

labor of construction, and still more on account of
the small stream which flowed by the spot, and across
which at one point the palisade was extended, so as
to bring it within the work, and furnish the defenders
with an abundant supply of water, a consideration of
vital importance if the fort wasto be besieged. .
Sparks, in describing the fort and its location, says,
“ The space of ground called the Great Meadows is a
level bottom, through which passes a small creek,
and is surrounded by hills of moderate and gradual
descent. This bottom, or glade, is‘ entirely level,
covered with long grass and small bushes [Wash-
ington mentioned the clearing away of the bushes
which covered the ground when the work was com-
menced], and varies in wid.th. At the point where
theifort stood it is about two hundred and fifty yards
wide from the base of one hill to that of the opposite.

The position of the fort was well chosen, being about-

one hundred yards from the upland or wooded ground
on the one side, and one hundred and fifty on the
other, and so situated on the margin of the creek as
to afford easy access to the water. At one point the
high ground comes within sixty yards of the fort, and
this was the nearest distance to which .an enemy
could approach under shelter ‘of trees. The outlines
of the fort were still visible when the spot was visited
by the writer in 1830, occupying an irregular square,
the dimensions of which were about one hundred
feet on each side. One of the angles was prolonged
farther than the others, for the purpose of reaching
the water in the creek. On the west side, next to the
nearest wood, were three entrances, protected by stout
breastworks or bastions. The remains of a ditch,
stretching round the south and west sides, were also
distinctly seen.” If Sparks had __been in the least ac-
quainted with military matters, he probably would
not have spoken of a fortified position as being “ well
chosen” when it was commanded on three sides by
higher ground, in no place more than one hundred
and fifty yards distant, with the opportunity for an
enemy to approach on one side within sixty yards
under cover of woods.

Leaving Washington and his little army in occu-
pation of their frail defenses at the Great Meadows,
let us take a brief glance at the enemy which was
approaching them from Fort Du Quesne by way of
the Monongahela Valley.

The French force which was marching in pursuit‘

of Washington was commanded by M.- Ooulon de
Villiers,‘ from whose journal of the campaign a few
extracts are here given : “June the 26tl1.——Arrived at
Fort Du Quesne about eight inthe morning, with the
several [Indian] nations, the command of which the
General had given me. At my arrival, was informed
that M. de Contrecoeur had made a detachment of

1 Both De Villiers and Contrecoeur had been with Cc-1eron’s expedi-
tion five years before.

five hundred French, and eleven Indians of different
nations on the Ohio, the command of which he had
given to Chevalier le Mercier, who was to depart the
next day. As I was the oldest officer, and com-

inanded the Indian nations, and as my brother2 had

been assassinated, M. de Contrecoeur honored me
with‘ that command, and M. le Mercier, though de-
prived of the command, seemed very well pleased to
make the campaign under my orders. . . .

“ The 28th.——M. de Oontrecoeur gave me my orders,
the provisions were distributed, and we left the fort
at about ten o’clock in the morning. I began from
that instant to send out.some Indians to range about
by land to prevent being surprised. Iposted myself
at a" short distance above the first fork of the river
Monongahela, though I had no thought of taking that
route. I called the Indians together. and demanded
their opinion. It was decided that it was suitable to
take the river Monongahela, though the route was
longer. ‘ .

“ The 29th.—Mass was said in the camp, after which
we marched with the usual precaution.

“30th.——Came to the Hangard, which was a sort of
fort built with logs, one upon another, well notched
in, about thirty feet in length and twentyin breadth;
and as it was late, and would not do anything without
consulting the Indians, I encamped. about two mus-
ket-shots from that place. At night I called the sa-
chems together, and we consulted upon what was best
to be done for the safety of our periaguas (large ca-
noes), and of the provisions we left in reserve, asalso
what guard should be left to keep it.

“ July the 1st.-—Put our periaguas in a safe place.
Our effects, and everything we could do without, we
took into the Hangard, where I left one good sergeant,
with twenty men and some sick Indians. Ammuni-
tion was afterwards distributed, and we began our
march.” . - Y .

The force of De Villiers consisted of five hundred
Frenchmen and about four hundred India,ns.3 March-
ing from the Hangard in the morning of the 1st of
July (at which time Washington’s force was approach-
ing the Great Meadows on its retreat from Gist’s plan-

tation), the French andlndian column moved towards .

Gist’s, where De Villiers expected to find Washing-
ton, his Indian scouts having reported the English
force to be at that place.

"‘ At about eleven o’clock,” continues the journal,

“ we discovered some tracks, which made us suspect
we were discovered. At three in the afternoon, hav-
ing‘ no news of our rangers, I sent others, who met
those sent before, and not knowing each other, were
near upon exchanging shots, but happily found their

2 Meaning M. de Jumonville, who was Villiers’ half-brother.

3 The force of “-five hundred French and, eleven Indians” which De
Villiers-mentions in his journal as having been detached under com-
mand of ~;-M-erciemfor this expedi.tion,had been augmented by the large
Indian force which De Villiers brought with him down the Allegheny to
Fort Du Quesne. ,, '

350

 

crossed the Rapidan and encamped near Bealton
Station. From the 21st to the 31st of December it
was employed with the brigade in an expedition to
Luray, where some factories and .a large amount of
Confederate stores were destroyed. Immediately
after this it took part in a raid to Front Royal, from
which it returned by way of Manassas ‘Gap, and
about the middle of January, 1864, went into winter-
quarters at Turkey Run, near Warrenton.

In the spring campaign of 1864 the brigade of
which the Sixteenth was a part crossed the Rapidan
and entered the Wildernesswith the Second Corps
of the Army of the Potomac. It-became engaged on
the 6th of May, and again on the 7th, when the Six-
teenth fouglit dismounted, and bravely held its posi-
tion against determined attacks of the enemy. On
the 8th eight companies of the regiment, mounted,
charged with the sabre, suffering considerable loss.
On the 9th the cavalry, under Gen. P. H. Sheridan,
moved around the right flank of Lee’s army, destined
for a raid against Richmond. A large number of
Union -prisoners on their way from the Wilderness

battle-grounds to the Southern prisons were released, _

and the cavalry column destroyed immense quantities
of stores at the Beaver Dam Station of the Richmond
and Potomac Railroad. On the morning of the 11th,
at Hanover Church, the enemy attacked furiously,
but was repulsed. In the fighting of that day the
Confederate cavalry general J. E. B. Stuart was killed.
On the 12th, at daybreak, the Union cavalry entered
the‘ outer works of Richmond, but the position could
not be held. . The enemy closed in overwhelming
numbers on three sides of the Union force, whose

situation became hourly more critical, but Sheridan i

released himself by ‘desperate fighting, and crossing
the Chickahominy, rejoined -the main armyon the
25th of May.

A movement by Gregg and Merritt down the Pa-
munkey, on the 26th, resulted in a heavy engagement
at Hawes’ Shop in the afternoon of the 28th, in which
action the Sixteenth lost twenty-four killed and
wounded. A few days later the regiment with its
brigade accompanied Sheridan in his, expedition
towards Lynchburg, and in a sharp fight which re-
sulted at Trevillian Station the Sixteenth lost sixteen
killed and wounded. Unable to reach Lynchburg,
Sheridan turned back and made his way to White
House, on the Pamunkey, from which place with his
own train and eight hundred additional wagons be-A
longing to the Army of the Potomac he marched on
the 25th of June for the James River.- The enemy
was ‘determined to capture the trains if _possible,,and

for that purpose made a most desperate assault in '

greatly superior numbers at St. Mary’s Church, but
were repelled and finally driven -back by Gregg’s
command, which covered the right on the roads_'lead-
ing from Richmond. In this engagement the Six-
teenth took prominent part, and fought with its cus-
tomary stubbornness and gallantry, repelling repeated

I

L-

HISTORY OF WASHINGTON COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA.

charges of the enemy. Crossing the James, the com-
mand was sent on the 1st of July to the relief of Gen.
Wilson, who was in a critical situation on the Weldon

Railroad, but he escaped from his perilous position ’

0

without assistance.

Late in July the regiment with its division and a
column of infantry recrossed the James on a recon-
noissance in force, in which’ the Sixteenth became

I engaged near Malvern Hill, charging,and lost nine

killed and wounded. The expedition returned.on the
30th. About the middle of August the division again
crossed to the north side of the James, and fo.ught at
Deep Run and White’s Tavern. ‘In the latter fight
the Sixteenth lost thirty-one killed and wounded out
of a total of less than two hundred men which it
took in. ‘Again, on an expedition to the Weldon
Railroad, it was engaged on the 23d, 24th, and 25th
of August, losing in the three days’ skirmish twelve
killed and wounded. On the 15th and 16th of "Sep-
tember it was again.._skirmishing with the enemy’s
cavalry near Poplar Spring Church. About. this time
the regimentwas armed with the Spencer repeater in
place of the Sharp’s carbine-previously used. 1’ On the
27th of October it was heavily engaged at Boydton
Plank-road, losing thirty-‘one killed and wounded.
From the 1st to the 7th of December it was engaged
in raiding along the .We1don Railroad, but suffered
no loss. On the 12th it returned to camp, and soon
after went into winter-quarters at Hancock’s Station.
During the winter (February 6th) it fought in the
battle of Hatcher’s Run, dismounted, and sustained

‘a loss of fifteen killed and wounded.
In the closing campaign of 1865, the Sixteenth, like I

the rest of the cavalry, was in constant activity. On
the 31st of March, in an engagement -at Dinwiddie
Court-House, it lost eighteen killed and wounded. In
the fight at Five Forks, April 2d, .it lost seven killed
and wounded. On the 5th, at Amelia ‘Springs, and
on the 6th, at Sailor’s Creek, its loss was eighteen
killed and wounded. ' 2

After the surrender of Lee (April 9th) the regiment
was moved to Petersburg, and thence to North Caro-
lina, to support the advancing columns of Sherman,
but soon returned, and was sent to Lynchburg to

guard the captured stores and preserve order. It re- ’

mained there till the beginning of August, when it

was moved to Richmond, and there mustered out of
the service on the 7th of that month. A list of ofii- "
cers and enlisted men of the Washington County -

company is here given, viz. : '
CoMPANvJK.1

Robert W. Parkinson, capt., must. in Oct. 25, 1862; res. April 12, 1863.

Jonathan B. Day, capt., must. in Sept. 20, 1862 ; pro. from adjt. April 30,
1863; brev. maj. March 13, 1865; wounded at Malvern Hill, Va.,
July 28, 1864; disch. by S. 0. July 25, 1865. . 1

Lester Phelps, capt., must. in Sept. 3, 1861 ; must. out with company Aug.
11, 1865.

Henry Granville, 1st 1ieut., pro. from Nov. 20, 1862; disch. March 18,,
1863. v

 

. 1 Date of muser Septt. 19, 1862, except as noted.

WAR   or THE RE BELLION.

Edmund Dunn, 1st Iieut., pro. from sergt. to 2d \lieut. March 1, 1863; to
1st lieut. March 29, 1864 ; brevet capt. March 13,1865; trans to Co.
A~July 24, 1865. I A _ A

William H. Bentz, 1st Iieut., must. in Aug. 29, 1861 ; must. out with com-
pany Aug. 11, 1865.

' Alexander A. Gunn, 2d Iieut., must. in Oct. 25, 1862; disch. March 4,

1863."

Luther Day, 2d Iieut., wounded at Deep Bottom Aug. 16, 1864; pro. from
1st sergt.‘ Sept. 27, 1864; killed at Stony Creek Dec. 1, 1864.

John N. Minton, 2d Iieut., pro. from 1st sergt. Dec. 23, 1864; trans. to
Co. C July 24, 1865.

Edward G. Wright, 2d Iieut., must. out With company Aug. 11, 1865; vet.

Christian Gohl, lst sergt., must. in Sept. 27, 1861 ; must. out with com-
pany Aug. 11, 1865; vet.

William F. Davis, lst sergt., must. in Jan. 4, 1864; pro. to corp. June 1,
1865; to 1st sergt. June 20,1865; disch. by G. 0. July 24,1865.

M. W. Wood, lst sergt., pro. from sergt. Jan. 1, 1865; disch. by G. 0.
July 24, 1865.

Charles A. Winkworth, 1st sergtz, must. in Aug. 18, 1862; disch. by G. 0.
May 15, 1865. ’
Joseph H. Bell, qrmr.-sergt., must. in Sept. 17, 1861 ; must. out with com-

pany Aug. 11, 1865. '
Charles H. McVay, qrmr.-sergt., disch. by G. 0. June 17, 1865.
Noah D. Clutter, qrmr.-ser'gt'., must. in Oct. 2, 1862; not on must.-out roll.
Mahlon Tonny, com. sergt., must. in Sept. 7, 1861 ; must. out with com-
pany Ang. 11, 1865.
Stephen D. Waddle, com.-sergt., not on must.-out roll.

James B. Denwortli, sergt., must. in Sept. 27, 1861; must. out with com- '

pany Aug. 11, 1865 ; vet. -

John Roser, sergt., must. in Sept. 2, 1861; must. out with company Aug.
11, 1865; vet. -
William F. Crane, sergt., must. in Sept. 20, 1861 ; must. out with com-
pany Aug. 11, 1865; vet. _
Henry C. Devall, sergt., must. in Sept. 21,1861; must. out with company
Aug. 11, 1865; vet. . .
George Lissaw, sergt., must. in Sept. 9, 1861; must. out with company

Aug. 11, 1865 ; vet. ‘

' Collin M. Lindsey, sergt., must. in Aug. 6,1864; pro. to corp. June 1',

1865; to sergt. June 20, 1865; disch. by G. 0. July 24, 1865.

Benjamin S. Craig, sergt., must. in Dec. 31, 1863; pro. to corp. May 1,
1865; to sergt. June 20, 1865; disch. by G. 0. July 24, 1865.

Sa_mu,el A. Carter, sergt., must. in Oct. 2, 1862 ; pro. to corp. June 1, 1865;
to sergt. June 20, 1865; disch. by G. 0. July 24, 1865.

Byard McVay,‘sergt., must. in Feb 18,1864; pro. to sergt. June 20, 1865;
disch. by G. 0. July 24, 1865. ‘

Thomas J. Penn, sergt., pro. from corp. Jan. 1, 1865; disch. by G. 0.
June 17, 1865. .

William S. Craft, sergt., disch. by G. 0. June 17, 1865.

Orville L. Garrett, sergt., pro. from corp. March 1, 1864; disch. by G. 0.
June 17, 1865. A A

Hiram Litle, sergt., pro. from corp. May 1, 1865; disch. by G. 0. June
17, 1865.

William N. Lewis, sergt., pro. from corp. May 1, 1865; disch. by G. 0.
June 17, 1865.2 ' '6 A

Theo. S. Wingett, sergt., pro. from Feb. 1, 1865; to sergt. June 1, 1865;
disch. by G.  June 17, 1865. A

Herschell P. Day, sergt., killed at Sulphur Springs, Va., Oct. 12, 1863.

Erskine M. Black, corp., must. in Sept. 27, 1861; must. out with com-
pany Aug. 11, 1865; veteran.

John W. Hawkins, corp., must. in Sept. 3, 1861; must. out with company
Aug.11, 1865; veteran.

Patrick McConnell, corp., must. in Aug. 29, 1861; must. out with com-

pany Aug. 11, 1865; veteran.
John W. Booz, corp., must. in Feb. 13, 1864; must. out with company
Aug. 11., 1865.
Washington A. Bile, corp., must. in Feb. 11, 1864; must. out with com-
pany Aug. 11, 1865. ‘ 2 -
William Betzel, corp., must. in Sept. 21, 1861 ; must. out with company
~Aug. 11, 1865 ; veteran. . _
Eugene Helmbold, corp., must. in Sept. 17, 1861; must. out with com-
’ pany Aug. 11, 1865.
Ivan C. Momous, corp., must. in Feb. 23, 1864; must. out with company
Aug. 11, 1865. g .
John L. Brownler, corp., must. in Dec. 30, 1863; pro. to corp. June 20,
1865; disch. by G. 0. July 24, 1865.
Flavius J. Jennes, corp., must. in Dec. 29, 1863; pro. to corp. June 20,
1865; disch. by G. 0. July 24, 1865.

351.

James  Carter, corp., must. in Oct. 2, 1862 ; pro. to corp. June 20,1865;
disch. by G. 0. July 24, 1865. ‘

,HarveyK. Lyon, corp., must. in Feb. 2, 1864; pro. to corp. June 20,_

1865; disch. by G. 0. July 24, 1865.
David Liephart, corp., must. in Jan. 26, 1864; pro. to corp. June 20,
1865; disch. by G. 0. July 24, 1865.
Jacob S. Baldwin, corp., pro. to corp. March 1,1864; disch. by G. 0.
June 17,1865. A
James.Ackley, corp., pro. to corp. Feb. 1, 1865 ; disch. by G. 0. June 17,
1865. ‘

William Chester, corp., pro. to corp. Feb. 1, 1865 ; disch. by G. 0. June
17, 1865. _ '

George F. Simpson, corp., disch. on surg. certif. Dec. 22, 1862.

George W. McDavid, corp., not on muster-out roll.

George W. Conger, corp., disch. on surg. certif. April 9, 1863.

Joseph Dunn, corp., not on muster-out roll.

Joseph England, corp, not on muster-out roll. '

Edward C. J. Lowry, corp., killed near Petersburg, Va., Jan. 10, 1865.

Samuel Hurst, bugler, must. in Aug. 1,1861; must. out with company
Aug. 11, 1865; veteran. ' . ‘

John Bickner, bugler, must. in Sept. 9, 1865; must. out with company
Aug. 11, 1865; veteran. '

Evan Thomas, blacksmith, must. in Sept. 11, 1861 ; must. out with com-
pany Aug. 11, 1865; veteran. ‘

Lausman Beisher, farrier, must. in Sept. 30, 1861; must. out with com-
pany Aug. ll, 1865 ; veteran.

John B. Shute, farrier, died at Dumfries, Va., May 25, 1863.

James W. Walker, farrier, not on muster-out roll. -

John McLaughlin, saddler, must. in Sept. 17, 1861; must. out with com-
pany Aug. 11, 1865 ; veteran. ‘

Privates.

William Aul, must. in March 3, 1864; never joined company.

William A. Axtell, must. in Sept. '13, 1864; disch. by G. 0. June 17,
1865. .. ' .

David C. Archer, died Jan. 4, 1863; buried in Military Asylum Ceme-
tery, D. C. '
Henry K. Bricker, must. in Feb. 25, 1864; must. out with company Aug.
11, 1865. .
Frederick M. Bricker, must. in Feb. 25, 1864; must. out with company
Aug. 11,1865. ‘

Orin D. Beach, must. in March 22, 1864; must. ou-t with company Aug.
11, 1865. ,

Joseph Bry, must. in Feb. 29,1864; must. out with company Aug. 11,
1865. ’ ‘

F. C. Baumgardner, must. in Sept. 5, 1864; wounded at'Farmville, April

7, 1865; absent, in hospital, at muster out. ‘
Daniel R. Baker, must. in Feb. 16, 1865; absent, in hospital, at muster
out.

Henry Barto, must. in Feb. 15, 1865; must. out with company Aug. 11,
1865. .

George Baldwin, disch. by G. 0. May 15, 1865.

Oliver G. Boord, disch. by G. 0. March 12, 1864.

Samuel Birch, disch. by G. 0. June 17, 1865‘.

James A. Brooks,‘ not on muster-out roll.

Franklin A. Brice, must. in March 2, 1865; died May 30,1865; buried in
Cavalry Corps Cemetery, Virginia. ‘

Joseph Brown, must. in Sept. 13, 1864.

Charles Connell, must. in Feb. 18, 1864; must. out with company Aug.
11,1855. -* ‘
Edward Conaley, must. in Feb. 26, 1864; must. out with company Aug.
11, 1865. , ' .
Peter Coyle, must. in Feb. 18, 1865; must. out with company Aug. 11,

1865.

Joseph B. Clark, must. in Oct. 21, 1862; absent, in hospital, at must. out.
Thomas C. Cooper, must. in Feb. 25, 1864; died Jan. 1, 1865. ‘

John M. Craft, must. in Aug. 18, 1862; disch. by G. 0. June 29, 1865.
David Cooper, disch. by G. 0. June 17, 1865.

Robert Chester, disch. by G. 0. June 17, 1865.

William D. Carroll, disch. by G. O. June 17, 1865.

Noah Chew, died at Potomac Creek, Va., Dec. 7, 1863.

John Caldwell. James K. Cracraft.

Oliver S. Conklin, disch. on surg. certif. April 9, 1863.

Abraham Clutter, must. in Aug. 2, 1862. 6

George W. Clutter, must. in Aug. 2, 1862; disch. on surg.icertif. April 10,

1863.

352

HISTORY OF WASHINGTON COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA.

Albert C. Douglass, must. in Feb. 27, 1864; wounded at Farmville, Va.,
April 7, 1865; absent at must. cut.

Henry Derr, must. in Feb. 17, 1865; must. out with company Aug. 11,

1865.
William W. Daken, must. in Oct. 6, 1862_; must. out with company Aug.
11,1865.
James M. Dille, disch. by G. 0.June 20, 1865.
David M. Dailey, must. in April 11, 1864; disch. by G. 0. July 10, 1866.
Samuel Day, disch. by G. 0. June 17, 1865. - _
Joseph Day, must. in Oct. 2, 1862; disch. on surg. certif. April 10, 1863.
Milton Day, must. in Oct. 25, 1862; disch. on surg. certif. Feb. 24, 1863.

. Joshua Dickson, died at Potomac Creek, Va., April 6, 1863.

Henry Dickson. V

James Dougherty, trans. to Vet. Res. Corps Sept. 25, 1863.

John Dailey, must. in Oct. 2, 1862; died at Potomac Creek, Va., April
6, 1863.

James Demberg. ,

Theodore Eastwood, must. in Feb. 26, 1864 ; must. out with company
Aug. 11, 1865. 6

George Eastwood, must. in March 5, 1864; must. out with company Aug.
11, 1865., .

Patrick'Ear1es, must. in Feb. 18, 1864; must. out with company Aug.
11, 1865.

Conrad Egner, must. in Feb. 6, 1865; disch. July 26th for wounds re-
ceived at Farmville, April 7, 1865.

James W. Fink, must. in’ Feb. 27, 1864; must. out witlrcompany Aug.
11, 1865. ., I

Aug. G. Famous, must. in Feb. 11, 1865; must. out with company Aug.
11, 1865.

George C. Fithian, must. in Feb. 13, 1865; must. outwith company Aug.
11, 1865.

George Fisher, must. in Feb. 28, 1864; must. out with company Aug.
11, 1865.

John. R. Fields, must. in Feb. 16, 1865; must.\out with company Aug.
11,1865. .

George W. Force, must. in Nov. 22, 1862; absent, sick, at must. cut.

Alexander Frazier, disch. by G. 0. June 17, 1865.

Benjamin Fry. . _

Frederick Gohl, ‘must. in Sept. 5, 1864; wounded at Amelia Springs,
April 5, 1864; absent, in hospital, at must. out.

Jacob L. Hart, must. in Feb. 27, 1864; must. out with company Aug.
11, 1865.

William E. Hagerman, must. in Feb. 27, 1864 ; must. out with company
Aug. 11, 1865.

Harrison Handford, must. in Feb. 27, 1864; must. out with company

‘ Aug. 11, 1865. ‘ _

Samuel Hill, must. in Feb. 18, 1865; must. out with company Aug. 11,
1865. ~

James Henry, must. in Feb. 21, 1865; must. out with company Aug. 11,
1865. V -

Jacob Hand, must. in March 2, 1865; disch. by G. 0. June 17, 1865.

John M. Hazlett, disch. by G. 0. June 17, 1865.

Henry Howell, disch. by G. O. June 17, 1865.

John V. Hanna, disch. by G. O. June 17, 1865.

James Henry, must. in Aug. 20, 1864; disch. by G. 0. June 17, 1865.

Samuel Hardsock, must. in Sept. 15, 1864; disch. by G. 0. June 17, 1865.

Andrew J. Hagerty, must. in Oct. 25, 1862; trans. to Company 0, date

unknown.

Adam H. Hewitt, died at Philadelphia, Pa., Oct. 23, 1863.

George W. Hays, must. in.Oct. 2, 1862 ; not on must.-out roll.

James Johnson, must. out March 4, 1864; must. out with company Aug.
11, 1865. . ‘

Isaac Johnson. must. in March 3, 1864; disch. by G. 0. Feb. 25, 1865.

Wilson Jones, must. in Sept. 15, 1864; disch_. by G. 0. June 15, 1864.

Morgan V. Jones, disch. by G. 0. June 17, 1865.

Peter Kom, must. in Sept. 9, 1864; must. out with company Aug. 11,

H 1865; veteran. A

Lewis Kendall, must. in Oct. 2, 1862; disch. on surg. certif. June 2, 1863.

John Knight, must. in Dec. 31, 1863; died September 19th of wounds re-
ceived in action. , '

William Lancaster, m11st. in March 3, 1864; must. out with company
Aug. 11, 1865. ‘

John Lambert, must. in March 3, 1864; never joined company.

Thomas H. Locke, must. in Feb. 15, 1865; must. out with company Aug.
11, 1865. » ' ‘

B. F. Lambertson, must. in Feb. 17, 1865; must. out with company Aug.
11, 1865.

Samuel B. Lindley, disch. by G. 0. June 17, 1865.

Nathan Little, died at Potomac Creek, Va., March 9, 1863.

Nathaniel Lightner, must. out Oct. 2, 1862.

Simon S. Luellen, must. in Dec. 29, 1863 ; died at Alexandria, Va., date
unknown. I

William A. Lyon, must. in Jan. 19, 1864; died June 1, 1864, of wounds
received in action. ’ -

William H. Lively, must. in Feb. 18, 1864.

Charles Marsh, must. in Feb. 18, 1865 ; must. out with company Aug. 11,
1865.

Robert R. Milser, must. in Feb. 29, 1864; must. out with company Aug.
11, 1865. ’
Perry Miller, must. in Feb. 27, 1864; must. out with company Aug. 11,

1865.
Jacob Mahl, must. in Feb. 27, 1864; must. out with company Aug. 11,
1865. ’
William Myers, must. in Feb. 25, 1864; must. out with company Aug.
11, 1865.

John Matthews, must. in Feb. 24, 1864; must. out with company Aug.
11, 1865.

Thomas J. Mooney, must. in Feb. 12, 1864; must. out with company
Aug. 11,1865. ‘

_ Peter Mack, must. in Feb. 21, 1865; must. out with company Aug. l1,_

1865.

, Birney Marshman, disch. by G.O. June 17, 1865.

Robert Marshman, disch. by G. 0. June 17, 1865.

William Medlen, disch. by G. 0. June 17, 1865.

Alexander H. Miller, disch. by G. 0. June 17,1865.

Joseph W. Miller, must. in Oct. 2, 1862; pro. to hospital steward Jan. 28,
1863.

Elias H. Mattox, died August 19th of wounds received at Shepherdstown
July 16, 1863. '

Thomas J. Marshall.

Isaac Milligan.

James W. Milligan, trans. to Co. A, 9th Regt., Vet. Res. Corps; disch. by
G. 0. June 24, 1865. V ‘ A

John Milligan, trans. to Vet. Res. Corps; disch. by G. 0. July 3, 1865.

John McIntyre, must. in Feb. 16, 1864; must. out with company Aug.
11, 1865. ‘ ' ‘

William McCruddeu, must. in Feb. 16, 1864; wounded at Trevillian Sta-
tion June 11, 1864; must. out with company Aug. 11, 1865.

Michael McMachan, disch. by G. 0. June 17, 1865.

Samuel McDaniel. ‘

John McCully, must. in Feb. 10, 1865; n1ust. out with company Aug. 11,
1865. '

James McCullon, must. in Feb. 2331364.

Thomas McCoy, must. in Dec. 15, 1862.

George Pipher, must. in Feb. 27, 1864; must. out with company Aug. 11,
1865. ’

Samuel B. Painter, must. in Feb. 26, 1864; must. out with company Aug.

_ 11, 1865. ‘

James Petitt, must. in July 23, 1861; must. out with company Aug. 11,
1865. ’

Thomas J. Peck, must. in Feb. 24, 1864; must. out with company Aug.
11, 1865.

A. Pepperman, must. in Feb. 23, 1863; absent in hospital at muster out.

John Pierce, must. in May 8, 1864; must. out with company Aug. 11,

‘ 1865. , A '

Valentine Price, must. in Feb. 8, 1864; must. out with company Aug. 11,
1865. ’ ,

Jeremiah Post, disch. by G. 0. Aug. 1, 1865.

Mark Patterson, disch. by G. 0. Aug. 1, 1865.

William Potter, disch. by G. 0. June 17, 1865.

Stephen Pipis. ' 8

Samuel S. Porter, pro. to regt. com.-sergt. Sept. 29, 1863.

Solomon T. Park, disch. on surg. certif. Nov. 5, 1862. .

John Righter, must. in Feb. 27, 1864; wounded at Farmville April 7,
1865; absent in hospital at must. out.

William S. Ramsey, must. in Feb. 26, 1864; wounded at Deep Bottom

_ Aug. 15, 1864; must. out with company Aug. 11, 186.5. '

John 0. Reed, must. in Feb. 14, 1864; must. out with company Aug. 11,,
1865. .

Thomas A. Robertson, prisoner from Oct. 14, 1864, to April, 1865; must.
out with company Aug. 11, 1865.

Aaron H. Regertes, must. in March 2, 1865; disch. by G. 0. June 16,
1863. ' 1

Zenas C. Riley.

Cephas Mears.

(WAR OF“ THE REBELLION.

353

James Roney, died at Annapolis, Md., March 24, 1863.

John Riley, disch. on surg. certif. April 10, 1863.

John Roseleib, must. in Oct. 24, 1862; trans. to 00. C, date unknown.

James Riley, must. in Feb. 23, 1864.

Robert Sulfridge, must. in Feb. 25, 1864; must. out with company Aug.
11, 1865. ’

Charles Shock, must. in Feb. 27, 1864; must. out with company Aug. 11,
1865. V

Charles Seely, must. in March 2, 1864; must.out with company Aug. 11,

» ‘1865.

William Shivers, must. in Feb. 6, 1865; must. out with company Aug. 11, \

1865.

Thomas Stonecypher, must. in Feb. 17, 1865; must. out with company
Aug. 11, 1865. A

George Sobers, must. in Feb. 5, 1865; must. out with company Aug. 11,
1865.

Isaac Saunders, must. in Aug. 16, 1862; died at Harrisburg Dec. 4, 1862.

Montgomery" Sprowels, must. in Sept. 13, 1864; disch. by G. 0. June 17,
1865.

. Samuel Saunders, must. in Oct. 2, 1862.

Addison Stillwell, must. in Sept. 19, 1862; disch.on surg. certif. April
10,1863. 5

William Smith, must. in March 4, 1864; killed at Trevillian Station June
11, 1864.

' J ud. Throgmorton, died at Harrisburg Nov. 1, 1862.

Abraham C. Teagarden, died July 20, of wounds received at Shepherds-
town July 16, 1863.

James W. Williamson, must. in Feb. 27, 1864; must. out with company
Aug. 11, 1865. .

Samuel 0. Watts, must. in Feb. 27, 1864; absent in hospital at must.
cut.

George White, must. in Feb. 17, 1865; must. out with company Aug. 11,
1865. _ .

George Wagner, must. in Feb. 13, 1865; must. out with company Aug.
11, 1865.

Samuel L. Williams, must. in Feb. 28, 1865: must. out with company
Aug. 11, 1865.

1 Samuel Woods, must. in Feb. 23, 1865; disch. by G. 0. Aug. 4, 1865.

James R. Wright, disch. by G. o.'June 17, 1865.

, Samuel Wilson, disch. by G. 0. June 17, 1865.

Jacob Wilson, disch. by G. 0. June 17,1865.
Silas Wingett, disch. on surg. certif. Feb. 2, 1863.
George W.’ Zeachman, must. out with company Aug. 11, 1865.

CHAPTER XXX.

WAR OF THE REBELLION.—(Uontinaedf)

Twenty-second Cavalry.-—The Twenty-second
Cavalry, otherwise designated as the One Hundred
and Eighty-fifth Regiment of Pennsylvania troops,
contained seven companies (lettered from A to G,
inclusive) which -were recruited in Washington
County, the first two,'A and B, having been raised
in the spring and summer of 1861-, and the others in
the summer and early fall of 1862. The‘ company
designated as “ A” in the formation of the Twenty-
second Cavalry, but previously known during the
period of its recruitment as the “Ringgold Cavalry,”
was first commanded by Capt. John Keys, and was
mustered into service June 29, 1861. Company “B”
of the Twenty-second . was originally called the
“Washington Cavalry,” commanded by Capt. An-
drew J. Greenfield, and mustered into the service of
the United States Aug. 19, 1861. Company C, called
in recruitment the “Keystone Cavalry,” was com-
manded by Capt. George T. Work, and having been

' Churches, and Rood’s Hill.
ber, 1862, the Ringgold Battalion fought at Dabn_ey’s _

filled between July 25, 1862 (when Capt. ‘Work was
authorized by Governor Curtin to raise the company),
and Sept. 6, 1862, was on the last-named date mus-
tered into the service of the United States. Company
“D,” locally known as the “Beallsville Cavalry,”
was commanded by Capt. Harvey, H. Young, and
mustered into service-Sept. 6, 1862. “Company “ E”
(called in recruitment the “ Independent Cavalry”)

was mustered at Wheeling, Va.,, under Capt. Milton‘

W. Mitchener, Oct. 13, 1862. Company “F” (local
name, “Patton Cavalry”) was commanded by Capt.
Andrew J. Barr, and mustered Oct-. 14,1862. Com-
pany “G” (recruiting name, “Lafayette ,Cavalry”)

was mustered Oct. 22, 1862. The commanding oflicer ,
_ of this company was Capt. Alexander V. Smith.

These companies left Washington County succes-
sively immediately after their organization, and went

forward into VVest Virginia. where the first two com-

panies saw immediate service, and where, upon the
arrival of the others, all were formed into the “ Ring-
gold Cavalry Battalion,” under command of the senior
oflicer, Capt. John Keys, of the first company. That
first company, mustered in June, 1861, under Capt.‘
Keys, hadarrived in Virginia in time to take part,
in the following month, in the battle of Rich Moun-
tain, where the enemy’s forces under Gen. Lee were
defeated with severe loss. Again, November '14th,
they fought atiFrench’s Gap, Va., with slight loss.
At Blue Gap, near Romney, Jan. 7, 1862, the two
companies (Keys’ and Greenfield’s) were engaged,
and the enemy was driven from the field, with the

loss of two pieces of artillery, wagons, and camp V

equipage, and with a considerable number killed,
wounded, and taken prisoners. D_uring the month
of February they fought at Bloomery Gap, at Stras-
burg, and at Winchester, under Gen. Shields. In
April they were engaged at Columbia Furnace, Two
On the'9th of Novem-

Mills, and during the following winter and spring
the companies composing the battalion were actively
and constantly employed in scouting and picket duty,
in which they performed excellent service. When
the Confederate army advanced into Maryland and
Pennsylvania, in June, 1863, the troops in West Vir-
ginia were ordered to that quarter to co-operate with
the Army of the Potomac in the general defense.
Among them was the Ringgold Battalion, which was
hastened towards the Potomac, but did not reach the
river until July 8th, four days after the close of . the
battle of Gettysburg, when the battalion became en-
gaged with the cavalry of the enemy at Williams-
port, Md. On the following day they fought at Fair-
view, on July 17th at Martinsburg, and on the 22d at
White Hall. After the escape of the Confederate
army the Ringgold Battalion was employed ‘ in
marches, raids, and scoutings during the summer
and fall of 1863, but was engaged in no general
battle. On the opening of the campaign of 1864 it

-354

HISTORY or WASHINGTON COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA.

was engaged, January 3d, at Petersburg, W. Va., and
early in February at Lexington and Moorefield. '

The Ringgold Cavalry Battalion became merged in
the Twenty-second Pennsylvania Cavalry, which was
organized Feb. 22, 1864. It was composed of the
seven companies already mentioned and five other
companies (designated as Companies H, I, K, L, and

M) which had been reorganized from the companies ’

of a Pennsylvania six-months’ battalion, raised in the
summer of 1863 to assist in repelling Lee’s.invasion of
the State, and whose term of service had now just ex-
pired. The field-officers of the new regiment were
Col. Jacob Higgins, Lieut.-Col. Andrew J. Greenfield
(promoted from captain of Company B), and Majs.
George T. Work (previously captain of the “Key-
stone Cavalry,” of Washington County, which became
“ C”ACompany of the Twenty-second Regiment), Elias
S. Troxell, and Henry A. Myers. The Ringgold Bat-
talion and the five other companies forming the new
regiment joined forces and consolidated as the Twenty-
second at Cumberland, Md., on the 5th of March,
1864. The entire regiment remained at Cumberland
until April, when the dismounted part of the com-
mand (amounting to more than half the regiment)
moved, under command of Lieut.-Col. Greenfield, to
Pleasant Valley, Md., where the men were mounted,
and about the middle of May moved thence to Camp
Stoneman, near Washington, D. C. A month later
the battalion, under Lieut.-Col. Greenfield, was or-
der_ed ‘to Martinsburg, where it was assigned to duty
with the brigade of Col. Mulligan, the battalion
being now placed under command of Maj. Troxell.
During the month‘ of July it fought bravely at Lee-
town, at Maryland Heights, Snicker’s Gap, and
Snicker’s Ferry. In August, being then under com-
mand of Lieut.-Col. Greenfield, it joined the cavalry
division of Gen. Torbert, in the army of the Shenan-
doah, under Gen. Sheridan, and fought in numerous

. actions, including Kernstown, Opequan, Berryville,

and Charlestown, Va. -

The other detachment, «or battalion, of the Twenty-
second, which had remained at Cumberland when
the dismounted men marched for the Pleasant Valley
camp, in April, 1864, as before mentioned, soon left
Cumberland, and joining the forces of Gen. Hunter,
took part in that general’s campaign against Lynch-"

pburg, Va., where they fought on the 12th of July,

and afterwards fought in the battles of Kernstown
and New Market, July 25th, it being then under com-
mand of Maj. Work, and in the brigade commanded
by Col. Higgins, of the Twenty-second. Afterwards
it formed partof the forces which under Gen. Averill
pursued the Confederate Gen. McCausland on his re-
treat from the burning of Chambersburg, Pa., and
overtaking him at Moorefield, Va., fought a decisive
battle, totally routing the enemy and capturing all
his artillery. - In this engagement the battalion under
Maj. Work performed very valuable service, and be-
haved with marked gallantry.

Soon after this, the two detachments of the Twenty-

second were united at Hagerstown, Md., and the en-
tire regiment, then under command of Lieut.-Col.
Greenfield, moved with the cavalry forces of Gen.
Averill across the Potomac into Virginia, where the
enemy was encountered on the 81st of August. In
this engagement Averill’s division was outnumbered
and compelled to retire towards Falling Waters, Va.
Again advancing, the cavalry division met the enemy
at Darkesville, September 2d, and gained a decided

advantage, capturing the Confederate wagon-train.

On the two days next succeeding, the Twenty-second
with its division fought the enemy, who were found in
superior force at Bunker Hill and Stephenson’s Sta-
tion, no decisive advantage being gainedby either
side.__ ‘On the 7th, at Darkesville, another battle was
fought, and the Confederate force defeated with heavy
loss. Again, on the 12th and 15th of the same month,

at Bunker Hill and Buckleytown respectively, Aver- .

ill’s forces were engaged, and the Twenty-second
showed its usual gallantry. On the 18th the regiment
made a grand charge on the Southern line at Mar-
tinsburg, ending in the defeat of the enemy, who was
on the following day driven in some disorder towards
Winchester. Late in the day the Twenty-second,
then commanded by'Maj. Troxell, tooklpart in the
furious charge of the cavalry at Opequan, which

ended in the entire rout of the Confederate forces 1

under Early, and sent them “whirling up the val-.
ley.” In this the’.Twenty-second captured a battery
and a large number of prisoners. At Fisher’s Hill
Early again stood for battle and again’ hewas routed,

the Twenty-second sustaining its full share, of the

fighting, as it also did on the 26th at Mount Vernon
Forge. On the 27th, Early’s forces attacked in supe-
rior numbers, and the regiment suffered severely, but
held its ground in the face of overwhelming odds, and

did at least as much as any other regiment towards

averting general disaster and saving the wagon-trains
of the whole division. In the action of this day Maj.
Work and Adjt. Isenberg were seriously wounded,
and several oflicers of the regiment taken prisoners.
Lieut.-Col. Greenfield was on this occasion in com-
mand of the brigade. On the 19th of October the
regiment fought splendidly and sustained severe loss
in killed and wounded in the‘ historic battle of Cedar
Creek, where the day was barely saved by the arrival
of Sheridan “from Winchester, twenty miles away.”

1 A few days later the Twenty-second went into camp

at Martinsburg, remaining there about two months.-
From about the 20th of December through the winter
of 1864-65 the regiment was constantly engaged in
scouting and operations against Confederate guerril-
las in the mountain regions of West Virginia, in
which service the men were kept almost continually
in the saddle, exposed to every -kind of hardship and
privation. .

Of the two companies raised in 1861 many of the
men had re-enlisted as veterans in 1864, and those

WAR OF THE BEBELLION.

355

who did not so re-enlist were mustered out at the
expiration of their term of service, those of Com-
pany “A” being honorably discharged in August,
1864, and Company “ B” being mustered out on the

7th of October following. ‘In April, 1865, nearly one- ,

half of those remaining in the regiment were mus-
tered out, their terms of service having expired. The
rest remained in service till after the close of the war,
and in the latter part of June, 1865, the remnant was
consolidated with a part of the Eighteenth Cavalry,

forming what was known as the Third Provisional

Cavalry, which remained on duty in West Virginia
about four. months longer, and was mustered out of
service on the last day of October at Cumberland,
Md. A list of officers and men of the Washington
County companies in the Twenty-second Cavalry is
here given, viz. :
' COMPANY A.1

John Keys, capt., died at Beallsville, Pa., Nov. 10, 1863.

.Henry A. Myers, capt., pro. from 1st lieut. Jan. 8, 1864; to maj. March

24, 1864. . '

James P. Hart, capt., pro. from 2d to 1st lieut. Jan. 8, 1864; to capt. May
14, 1864; brevet maj. March 13, 1865 ; must. out with Co. A, 3d Regt.,
Oct. 31, 1865. _ ,

Henry Annisansel, 1st 1ieut., pro. to col. 1st Regt. Virginia Cavalry Sept.
6, 1861; res. Aug. 6,1862. '

John Holland, lst lieut., pro..from 1st sergt. to 2d lieut. Jan. 8, 1864: to
1st lieut. May 14, 1864; disch. Aug. 23, 1864, expiration of "term.

George Glass, lst lieut., pro. from 1st sergt. to 2d lieut. May 15, 1864;
to‘ 1st lieut. Dec. 22, 1864: wounded at Fisher’s Hill Sept. 22, 1864;
must. out with company Oct. 31, 1865.

Thomas Nutt, 2d 1ieut., wounded at Romney Nov. 4, 1864; pro. from 1st
sergt. Dec. 22, 1864; must. out with Co. A, 3d Regt. Pro. Cav., Oct. 31,
1865.

Hopkins Moffat, 1st sergt., disch. by G. 0. July 23, 1865; veteran.

‘ Michael H. Core, 1st sergt., must. out with Co. A, 3d. Regt. Pro. Cav., Oct.

23, 1865; veteran.

David Hart, qrmr.-sergt.,‘ must. "in Aug. 2-2, 1862 ; pro. to regimental
qrmr.'-sergt.; date unknown. ‘ 3

John N. Abell, com.-sergt., must. out with Co. A, 3d Regt. Pro. Cav., Oct.
31, 1865; veteran.

Isaac T. Dawson, com.-serg't., disch. by G. 0. July 23, 1865; veteran.

Hugh B. Hedge, com.-sergt., disch. Aug. 23, 1864; expiration of term.

Benjamin F. Litzenberg, com.-sergt., must. in April 10, 1865; disch. by
G. 0. July 23, 1865. .

Louis Arthur, sergt., must. in Feb. 10, 1864; must. out with Co. A, 3d Regt.
Pro. Cav., Oct. 31, 1865; veteran.

Chauncy B. Deever, sergt., must. in March 23, 1864; must. out with Co.
A, 3d Regt. Pro. Cav., Oct. 31, 1865; veteran.

John’W. Gray, sergt.. pro. to sergt. Oct. 25, 1865 ; must. out with Co. A,
3d Regt. Pro. Cav., Oct. 31, 1865.

John T. Corbitt, sergt., died at Moorefield, W. Va., July 20, 1865; veteran.

John W. Elwood, sergt, wounded at Harper’s Ferry July 8, 1864 ; disch.

V by G. O.July 23, 1865; veteran. . , ‘

George E. Parshall, sergt., disch. by G. 0. July 23, 1865'; veteran.

Joseph Abell, sergt., disch. on surg. certif. Jan. 21, 1865 ; veteran.

Christopher C. Krepps, sergt., not on muster-out roll.

John C. Myers, corp., must. in Feb. 10, 1864; must. out with Co. A, 3d
Regt. Pro. Cav., Oct. 31, 1865; veteran. , ,

Isaac T. Crouch, corp., must. in Feb. 12, 1864; must. out with Co. A, 3d
Regt. Pro. Cav., Oct. 31, 1865.

Harrison Linn, corp., pro. to corp. Sept. 7, 1865 ; must. out with company
Oct. 31, 1865.

John Crouch, corp., pro. to corp. Oct. 20, 1865; must. out with company
Oct. 31, 1865.

Joseph F. Barnett, corp., must. in March 18, 1864; pro. to corp. Oct. 25,
1865; must. out with company Oct. 31, 1865. .

Frank Fitzimmons, corp., must. in Feb. 10, 1864; Sept. 6, 1865.

1 Date of muster in is June 29, 1861, except where noted.

Francis M. Hirst, corp., must. in July 22, 1861; disch. by G. 0. July 23,
1865; veteran. '

Andrew B. Grant, corp., must. in Feb. 10, 1864; disch. by G. 0. July 23,
1865. A v

T. C. Buckingham, corp., must. in Feb. 10, 1864; disch. by G. 0. July 23,
1865. '

John M. Sinclair, corp., must. in March 31, 1864; disch. by G. 0. July 23,
1865. .

H. C. McGunkins,.corp., must. in Aug. 16, 1862 ; disch. by G. 0. July 23,
1865. .

Joeph A. Nichols, corp., must. in March 6, 1865; disch. by G. 0. July
23,‘1865. ,

Eli Buckhart, corp., n1ust. in April 10, 1865; disch. by G. 0. July 23,
1865.

Thomas II. Reeves, corp., not on must.’-out roll. _

Stephen P. Beaty, corp., must. in June 28, 1861 ; not on must.-out roll.

Harvey H. Young, corp., not on must.-out roll. ' '

George Snyder, corp., not on must.-out roll.

William M. Morrison, bugler, must. in Feb. 10, .1864; must. out with
company Oct. 31, 1865.

‘Napoleon B. Riglon, bugler, must. in Aug. 24, 1861 ; disch. Aug. 23, 1864;

expiration of term. ., _
John H. Linn, blacksmith, must. in Dec. 31, 1862; must. out with Co.
A, 3d Regt. Pro. Cav., Oct. 31, 1865.

‘ Jacob Dickinson, blacksmith, disch. by G. 0. July 23, 1865; veteran.
Daniel W. French, blacksmith, disch. Aug. 23, 1864, expiration of term. ’

James McDow, farrier, must. in July 2, 1861.

._ Privates.

Alexander Artist, must. in July 11, 1861 ; disch. Aug. 23, 1864, expiration
8 (if term. _
George W. Bumgarner, must. in Feb. 10, 1864; must. out with Co. A,
3d‘Regt. Pro. Cav., Oct. 31, 1865; veteran.

,William Black, must. in Feb. 29, 1864; must. out with Co. A, 3d Regt.

Pro. Oav., Oct. 31, 1865. ‘

Madison Blackburn, disch. Aug. 23, 1864, expiration of term.

George W. Brevard, disch. Aug. 23, 1864, expiration of term.

Samuel Bane, must. in Aug. 12, 1861 ; captured; died at Andersonville,
April 1, 1864.

Samuel Burres, must. in March 31, 1864; June 2, 1865.

John Conger, must. out with Co. A, 3d Regt. Pro. Cav., Oct. 31, 1865.

John B. Carter, must. in March 31, 1864; must. out with Co. A, 3d Regt.
Pro. Cav., Oct. 31, 1865. .

William J . Charlton, must. in Feb. 29, 1864; disch. by G. 0. June 9,
1865. ‘ - '

Samuel D. Condit, must. in June 22, 1862 ; disch. by G. 0. June 9, 1865.

James Crouch, must. in Aug. 20, 1862; missing in action at Cedar Creek
Oct. 19, 1864. _

Francis Clark, must. out June 10, 1865. ' . .

Joseph H. Dagne, must. in March 9, 1864; must. out with Co. A, 3d Regt.
Pro. Cav., Oct. 31, 1865. " “ ‘ ,

George Dickinson, must. in Feb. 26, 1864; must. out with Co. A, 3d Regt.
Pro. Cav., Oct. 31, 1865.

James Dunn, must. in Feb. 28, 1864; must. out with Co. A, 3d Regt. Pro.
Cav., Oct. 31,1865. ' '

Jesse Duval, must. in March 31, 1864; must. out with Co. A, 3d Regt.
Pro. Cav., Oct. 31, 1865.

Aingier Dobbs, must. out with Co. A, 3d Regt. Pro. .Cav., Oct. 31, 1865.

James Dorsey, must. in Aug. 10, 1862; disch. by G’. 0., date unknown.

James Drayden, must. in March 9, 1864.; disch. by G. 0. May 15, 1865.

James A. Dudgeon, disch. Aug. 23, 1864, expiration of term.

Andrew J . Davis, must. out June 2, 1865; veteran. .

John T. Eckels, must. in Feb. 26, 1864; died at Baltimore Oct. 18, 1864,
of wounds received in action. ‘ ,

Isaac Eaygye, must. in Feb. 28, 1865; disch. by G. 0. June 13, 1865.

Joseph D. Flenniken, must. in March 9, 1864; must. out with Co. A, 3d I

Regt. Pro. Cav., Oct. 31, 1865.
George W. Frederick, must. in Feb. 27, 1864; disch. by G. 0. May 30,
1865. ' ,
William M. Freeland, must. in March 31, 1864; disch. by G. 0. May 13,
1865. _ »
Andrew J . Floyd, died at Centreville, Pa., Jan. 11, 1865 ; veteran.
William H. French.
Andrew S. Frazee, must. in July 11, 1861. -
James Ganoe, must. in March 9, 1864; must. out with Co. A, 3d Regt.
Pro.,Cav., Oct. 31,1865. ' '
John Ganoe, must. in March 9, 1864; _must. out Sept. 6, 1865.

356

HISTORY OF WASHINGTON ‘COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA.

George L. Grant, disch. Aug. 23,1864, expiration of term.
Irvin K. Gregg, disch. Aug. 23, 1864, expiration of term.

, John K. Gregg, disch. Aug. 23, 1864, expiration of term. -
James Gray, missing in action Sept. 26, 1864; died at Salisbury, N. C.‘
Samuel Hill, must. in March 31, 1864; must. out with Co. A, 3d Regt.

Pro. Cav., Oct. 31, 1865.
Henry A. Huston, must. in March 9, 1864; must. out with Co. A, 3d
Regt. Pro. Cav., Oct. 31, 1865.
Samuel H. Hodges, must. in March 9, 1864; must. out with Co. A, 3d
Regt. Pro. Cav., Oct. 31, 1865.
George Hanan, must. in March 12, 1864; pris. from July 3, 1864, to April
20, 1865; disch. by G. 0. June 23, 1865. v
Norval Hartman, must. in April 18, 1864; disch. Sept. 26, 1867, to date
Oct. 31, 1865.
Archibald Hill, must. out Sept. 8, 1865.
Jacob Hoover, disch. Aug. 23, 1864, at expiration of term.
William Harford, disch. Aug. 23, 1864, at expiration of term.
Michael Himler, disch. Aug. 23, 1864, at expiration of term.
David A. Huston, disch. Aug. 23, 1864, at expiration of term.
Samuel BJ Holland, disch. Aug. 23, 1864, at expiration of term.
James A. Harrison, disch. on surg. certif. May 31, 1865; veteran.
Joseph Householder, disch. on surg. certif. June 27, 1865; veteran.
William W. Holland, mustr in Sept. 24, 1862; disch. by G. 0. May 16,
_ 1865. ‘ ‘
Emory Hall, must. in March 8, 1864;
1864.
John S. Hart, must. in Feb. 26, 1864; died at Cumberland, Md., April 26,
1864.
William M. Hartranft.
William T. Hays, trans. to Co. A, 6th Regt. Vet. Res. Corps; died at
Johnson’s Island April 17, 1865.
Josiah L. Jamison, must. in March 9, 1864;-must. out with Co. A, 3d
Regt. Pro. Cav., Oct. 31, 1865.
Samuel Kearns, must. in May 18, 1862; disch. by G, 0., date unknown.
Christ. L. Kinder, must. in Aug. 12, 1861 ; prisoner from May 10, 1864,‘to
March 1, 1865; disch. by G. 0. May 8, 1865. /
William Kear, must. in Aug. 16, 1864; disch. July 25, 1865, at expiration
of term.  '
James Knabb, must. in Feb. 29, 1864; disch. by G. 0. May 30,1865.
Thomas Kerns. A
Thomas M. Lynn, must. in Oct. 31, 1861 ;“ disch. at expiration of term.
Joseph W. Little, must. in Feb. 29, 1-864; disch. on surg. certif. May 19,
1865. ‘
Benjamin S. Love, must. in March 9, 1864: disch. by G. 0. June 19,1865.
John S. Lever, must. in June 29, 1861; died at Cumberland, Md., June
6, 1865; veteran.
James H. Lever, must. in May 22, 1862 ; died at Baltimore May 3, 1864;
buried in London Park Cemetery.
William Laferty, must. in Oct. 31, 1861 ; captured ; died at Andersonville
June 9, 1864; grave 1772.
Joseph Lever, must. in'Aug. 20, 1862; captured in action‘ Aug. 9, 1864.
Harrison Long, must. in March 11,1865; disch. by G30. May 30,1865.
James W. Mundell, must. in" March 9, 1864; must. out with Co. A, 3d
Regt. Pro. Cav., Oct. 31, 1865.
Theodore F. Martin, must. in March 9, 1864; must. out with Co. A, 3d
Regt. Pro. Cav., Oct. 31, 1865.
Spencer B. Milliken, must. in Feb. 29, 1864'; must. out with Co. A, 3d
Regt. Pro. Cav., Oct. 31, 1865. » .
G. V. L. Millinger, must. in April, 13, 1864; must. out with Co. A, 3d
Regt. Pro. Cav., Oct. 31,1865. ‘
John A. Meeks, must. in June 29, 1861; absent, on detached service, at
4 must. out. '
James Morris, must. in Feb. 27, 1864; Sept. 15, 1865.
William J. Mason, must. in June 29, 1861; disch. Aug. 23, 1864, at ex-
piration of term.
Henry Mitchell, must. in June 25, 1861; disch. Aug. 23, 1864, at expira-
tion of term. '
Joseph B. Morton, must. in July 11, 1861; captured; disch. March 20,
1864.
John Q. Manning, must. in June 29, 1861.
Joseph B. Morton, must. in June 29, 1861.
Andrew J. Manning. «
T. M. T. McKennan, must. in April 5, 1864; disch. by G. 0. July 22, 1865.
H. McGlumphy, must. in March 31, 1864; disch. by G. 0. May 10, 1865.
David McGinnis, must. in March 11, 1865; disch. by G. 0. May 31, 1865.
Thompson McKinley, disch. on surg. certif. Feb. 26, 1863.‘
John'McGovern. ‘

killed at Lynchburg, July 12,

James McBride, must. in July 2, 1861. “
' Lewis Noel, must. in July 11, 1861 ; disch. Aug. 23, 1864, at expiration
of term. V
Asa M. Nicely, must. in March 31, 1864 ; captured; died at Salisbury,
N. C., Dec. 23, 1864. .
Jacob L. Pierce, absent, sick, at must. out. H
David Phillips, must. in March 2, 1864; disch. by G. 0. Aug. 10, 1865.
James Patterson, disch. Aug. 23, 1864, at expiration of term.
Benjamin Province, disch. Aug. 23, 1864, at expiration of term.
James T. Parshall, must. in Aug. 16, 1862; disch. by G. 0., date unknown.
Levi S. Patterson, must. in Feb. 29, 1864; disch. by G. 0. July 11, 1865.
James H. Patterson, must. in Feb. 29, 1864; disch. by G. 0. ‘May 30,
1865. . ,
William Parshall, disch. on surg. certif. June 20, 1865; veteran.
John H. Penn, must. in Feb. 29, 1864; disch. by G. O.June 2, 1865.
Amos Queen, must. out with Co. A, 3d Regt. Pro. Cavalry, Oct. 31, 1865

veteran. -
Daniel Rohrer, must. out with Co. A, 3d Regt. Pro. Cav., Oct. 31, 1865 '
veteran. ‘ A

A. B. Richardson, disch. on surg. certif., date unknown.

James Robinson, disch. Aug. 23, 1864, expiration of term. 5

James K. Robinson, must. in Aug. 12, 1861; prisoner from May 10, 1864,
to March 1,1865; disch. May 30, 1865,_explration of term’. ,

Seth B. Richardson, must. in March 9, 1864; disch. by G. 0. May 30,
1865. V *

Robert H. Ramsey, must. in Feb. 26, 1864; disch. by G. 0. June 20, 1865..

George Roum, must. in Sept. 13, 1864; "disch. by G. 0. June 10, 1865.

Leonard A. Roberts. ‘ J

Edward Runk, disch. by S. 0. March 12, 1864. A

John L. Shultz, must. in March 31, 1864; must. out with Co.A,3d_ Regt.

_ Pro. Cav., Oct. 31, 1865. - I _ _

John H. Snyder, must. in Feb. 29, 1864; absent, sick, at must. out.

John P. Simpson, must. in Feb. 29, 1864; disch. by G. 0. May 19, 1865.

John McK. Smith, must. in March 9, 1864; disch. by G. 0. May 21,
1865.

Morris Smith, must. in.March 8, 1864; must. out July 28, 1865.

James Smith, must. in Sept. 12, 1864; disch. by G. 0. June 10, 1865.

Herman Sherholts, must. in Feb. 22, 1862; disch. Feb. 27, 1865, expira-
tion of term. /

‘George W. Snyder, must. in Aug. 12, 1861 ; -disch. Aug. 23, 1864, expira-

' tion of term. 1

John Stryner, disch.‘ Aug. 23, 1864, expiration of term.

Gottleib Shaaf, must; in Feb. 29, 1864; disch. by G. 0. June 2, 1865.

Owen L. Shrayer, must. in Feb. 12, 1864; disch. by G. 0. July 5,1865.

Christian S. Snyder. ‘

Aaron Waters, must. in Feb. 9,1864; must. out with Co. A, 3d Regt.
Prov. Cav., oot. 31, 1865. - , .

Lor. Worthington, must. in Feb. 9, 1864; must. outwith Co. A, 3d Regt.
Pro. Cav., Oct. 31, 18%. ~

Jacob Weaver, must. in Feb. 27, 1864; disch. by G. 0. June 2, 1865.

James Wise, must. in March 31, 1864; disch. by G. 0.‘ May 29, 1865.

Adam Wickerham, disch. Aug. 23, 1864, at expiration of term.

Elliot F. Weaver, must. in July 2, 1861 ; disch. Aug“. 23, 1864, at expira-

V tion of term. . , H .

David D. Williams, must. in Aug. 3, 1861; disch. Aug. 23, 1864, at expi-
ration of term. ' '

Leman Williams, must. in Aug. 24, 1861'; disch. Aug. 23, 1864, at expi-
ration of term.

Thomas Williams, must. in Aug. 12, 1861; disch. Aug. 23, 1864, at expi-
ration of term. ,

Francis M. White, died at Beallsville, Pa., July 5,1865.

William White, must. in Sept. 2, 1864.

Israel Yeomans, disch. on surg. certif. Aug. 7, 1865.

John Yoders, must. in March 4, 1864; disch. by G. 0. May 30, 1865.

COMPANY R1

Andrew J. Greenfield, capt., pro. to lieut.-col. March 24, 1864.

George W. Jenkins, capt., pro. from 2d lieut. May 15, 1864; must. out
with company Oct. 7, 1864.

William E. Griflith, capt., must. in Jan. 4, .1862; pro. .to qrmr.-sergt. Feb.
1, 1863. '

John Debinett, 1st lieut., must. out with company Oct. 7, 1864.

John B. Henderson, lst lieut., must. in Aug. 26, 1862; pro. from sergt.
May 14, 1864; must. out with company Oct. 7, 1864. ' l

1 Date of muster in is Aug. 19, 1861, except as noted.

, .

WAR or   THE REBELLION.

William Brown, 2d lieut., pro. from 1st sergt. May 14, 1864; must. out
with company Oct. 7, 1864.

Joshua B. Deems, 2d lieut., must. in.Aug. 15, 1862; pro. from 1st sergt. I

March 18, 1865 ; disch. May_18, 1865.

W. W. Gaither, 1st sergt., must. in March 17, 1865; must. out with Co.
A, 3d Regt. Pro. Cav., Oct. 31, 1865.

William R. Dedrick, qrmr.-sergt., must. in Feb. 20, 1863; disch. Sept.
26, 1867,‘ to date Oct. 31, 1865.

Joseph W. Hill, qr.mr.-sergt., must. out with company Oct. 7, 1864.

Eri Molfit, com.-sergt., pro. to corp. Oct. 1,1862; must. out with company
Oct. 7, 1864. ‘

Solomon H. Myers, sergt., must. in Feb. 24, 1864; must. out with Co. A,
3d Regt. Pro. Cav., Oct. 31, 1865. , . -

Isaac Hill, sergt., must. in Jan. 1, 1864; pro. to sergt. Sept. 7, 1865 ; ab-
sent, sick, at muster out.

Thomas J. Fee, sergt., must. in Oct. 4, 1864; disch. Oct. 25, 1865, at ex-
piration of term. , ' ,

Armour Thompson, sergt., must. out with company Oct. 7, 1864..

Andrew Axton, sergt., pro. from private Oct. 1, 1862; must. out with
company Oct. 7, 1864.

‘ Hugh W. Horn, sergt., pro. from private Oct. 1, 1862; must. out with

company Oct. 7, 1864.

William H. Worchester, sergt., pro. to corp. April 30, 1863; must.-out
with company Oct. 7, 1864. . '

Clinton Squires, sergt., must. in March 26, 1862; pro. tobcorp. Nov. 1,
1862; to sergt. May 15, 1864 ;' absent at muster out.

Samuel Sinclair, sergt., disch. Aug‘. 23, 1862. ,

William Oller, corp., must. in Feb. 28, 1865; must. out with Co. A, 3d
Regt. Pro. Cav., Oct. 31, 1865. ' '

Robert Stewart, corp., must. in March 20, 1865 ; must. out with Co. A, 3d
Regt. Pro. Cav., Oct. 31, 1865. ‘

Israel N. Griflith, corp., must. in April 12, 1865; absent, sick, at muster
out. A 3

William H. Shaffer, corp., must. out with company Oct. 7, 1864.

Harvey Kinder, corp., must. out with company Oct. 7, 1864.

Clark Newcomer, corp., pro. to corp. Feb. 18, 1862 ; must. out with com-
pany Oct. 7, 1864. '

,_William,H. Watkins, corp., pro. to corp. Nov. 1, 1862; must. out with

company Oct. 7, 1864. .
Job P. Butz, corp., pro. to corp. Feb. 17,1864; absent, sick, at muster
out. A

‘ Eli Burkhart, corp., must. in Jan. 4, 1862; pro. to corp. April 30, 1864;

3 absent at muster out. ,
Wade J. Day, corp., must. in Jan. 14, 1862; pro. to corp. May 15, 1864;
absent at muster out. - ' .
Thomas Sargeant, corp., disch. Oct. 14, 1861. _
Hardman Gantz, corp.,, captured Aug. 4, 1863; died at Annapolis, Md.,
April 5, 1864. 3 ,
S. T. McFarland, bugler, must. out with Co. A, 3d Regt. Pro. Cav., Oct. 31,
1865. ‘ 4

A John W. Bayne, bugler, absent at muster out.

John R. Dunn, bugler, absent at muster out.

Harrison Bennington, bugler, pro. to chief bugler April 10, 1864.

Daniel Hickman, blacksmith, must. in Feb. 28, 1865; must. outwith
Co. A, 3d Regt. Pro. Cav., Oct. 31, 1865. , *

Arthamer Ames, blacksmith, must. in Aug. 26,1862; absent, on detached
service, at muster out.

John S. Smith, blacksmith, must. in Feb. 14, 1862; missing

1 in action at
Newtown, Va., June 1, 1864. ’

A Thomas H. Jones, saddler, must. in Aug. 26, 1862; absent, on detached

service, at muster out.

Privates.

Demas Ames, must. in March 11, 1865 ; must. out with Co. A, 3d Regt.
Pro. Cav., Oct. 31, 1865.

Ross T. Adams, must. out with company Oct. 7, 1864.

Erastus H. Ames, must. in Aug. 26, 1862; absent at muster out.

William H. Beall, must. in Feb. 28, 1862; must. out with Co. A, 3d Re.gt.
Pro. Cav., Oct. 31,1865. ’

Jacob B. Bollinger, must. in Feb. 27, 1864; must. out with Co. A, 3d Regt.
Pro. Cav., Oct. 31, 1863. ‘

William H. Beatty, must. in March 6, 1865; must. out with Co. A, 3d
Regt. Pro. Cav., Oct. 31, 1865.

Cyrus K. Baxter, must. in Feb. 24, 1864; must. out with Co. A, 3d Regt.
Pro. Cav., Oct. 31, 1865.

" Isaac N. Bughley, must. in Feb. 24, 1864; must. out with Co. A, 3d Regt.

Pro. Cav., Oct. 31, 1865. ‘

Deacon W._ Bell, must. in March 29, 1864; must. out with Co. A, 3d Regt.
A . Pro. Cav., Oct..3l, 1865. ' ' "

John H. Baker, neverjoined company.

William T. Booth, must. out with company Oct. 7, 1864.

Fred. Brenner, must. out with company Oct. 7, 1864.

Robert L. Baldwin, must. in June 24, 1862; absent, on detached service,
at muster out. I

William Blacker, must. in June 16, 1862; absent at muster out.

Daniel .1‘. Bell, must. in Aug. 26, 1862 ; absent at muster out.

Charles W’. Bayne, must. in Aug. 26, 1862; absent on detached service

A at muster out. 1

James P. Brock, disch. Nov. 14, 1862. A _

Luke Burncrots, must. in May 26, 1862; capturedat Moorefield, W. Va.,
June 20, 1864. _

Demas Bernard, must. in Sept. 3, 1861; died Feb.‘ 12, 1863, of wounds

. received in action. A

James Bell, must. in Feb. 22, 1864; died, date unknown; buried in Na-
tional Cemetery at Winchester, Va., lot 25.

Jabez A. Condit, must. in Feb. 26, 1864; must. out with Co. A, 3d Regt.
Pro. Cav., Oct. 31, 1865. I

William Campsey, must. in Feb. 26, 1864;‘ must. out with Co. A, 3d Regt.
Pro. Cav., Oct. 31, 1865. .

William Chambers, must. in Feb. 3, 1864; must. out Sept. 6, 1865.

John F. A. Carlteus, must. in Jan. 4, 1862; absent at muster out.

3 Hiram Cox, must. in Aug. 26, 1862; disch. by G. 0. May 11, 1865.

Harvey Cox, “must. in Aug. 26, 1862 ; absent, on detached service, at
muster out. . .

Joseph Cornell, must. in Aug. 26, 1862; absent, sick, at muster out.
David Claify, disch. Feb. 1, 1862.

Newton Cox, must. in Aug. 26, 1862; died at Petersburg, Va., Nov. 24,

1863. ' ‘

Harrison Deems, must. out with company Oct. 7, 1864.

Stephen B. Day, must. out with company Oct. 7, 1864.

Theodore Day, must. out with company Oct. 7, 1864.

Granville T. Dwyre, must. out with company Oct. 7, 1864.

John A. Dage, must. out with company _Oct. 7, 1864.

Silas B. Drumm, must. out with‘ company Oct. 7, 1864.

Joseph Dunn, must. in.Aug. 26, 1862; absent at muster out.

Samuel Drumm, killed at French’s Gap, Va., Nov. 14, 1861.

John D. Ewing, must. in Feb. 26, 1864; must. out with Co. A, 3d Regt. '

‘Pro. Cav., Oct. 31, 1865.

Robert Fogler, must. in Feb. 29, 1864; must. out with Co. A, 3d Regt.
Pro. Cav., Oct. 31, 1865. .

James S. French, must. out with company Oct. .7, 1864.

Patrick D. Grace, must.-out with company Oct. 7, 1864.

Neal G. Gormley, must. in May 24, 1862; absent at muster out.

Simon _S. Garber, must. in Aug. 26, 1862: absent, sick, at muster out.

William Greenfield‘, must. in Aug. 30, 1862; absent, on detached service,
at muster out. ,

James W. Greenfield, must. in Aug. 30, 1862; absent, sick, at muster out.

Raymond Gouse, must. in "Aug. 26, 1862; captured at Lost River Gap
May 10, 1864; died at Andersonville, Ga., Oct. 27, 1864, grave 11,573.

John Himler, must. in Feb. 18, 1865; must. out with Co. A, 3d Regt.
Prov. Cav., Oct. 31, 1865.

Benjamin _F. Harrison, must. inVApril 8, 1865; must. out with Co. A, 3d’

11"’

rov. Cav., Oct. 31, 1865.
A. L. neron, must. in Feb. 27, 1864 ; must. out with Co. A, 3d'Regt-. Prov.
Cav., Oct. 31, 1865.
William Hunter, must. in Feb. 22, 1864; must. out with Co. A, 3d Regt.
Prov. Cav., Oct. 31, 1865. A

F. M. Henderson, must. in Feb. 17, 1864; absent, sick, at muster out.
Andrew J. Hamilton, must. in March 10, 1864; absent, sick, at muster out.
Robert Harris, must. in Oct. 18, 1864; disch. Oct. 24, 1865.

John H. Hill, must. in March 6, 1865; disch. by G. 0. Aug. 5, 1865.

C. Himmelbaugh, must.’in Feb. 25, 1864; must. out Oct. 25, 1865.

Peter Hickman, must. out with ‘company Oct. 7, 1864.

James W. Hendrix, must. out with company Oct. 7, 1864.

. Archibald Hickman, absent at muster out.

‘Charles Hickman, absent, sick, at muster out.

' Levi D. Harden, must. in Aug. 30, 1862; wounded at Martinsburg July

25, 1864 ;‘ absent at muster out. ~ .
Thomas T. Hill, must. in Aug. 26, 1862; absent, sick, at muster out.
Henry Haeler, must. in Aug. 26, 1862; disch. Feb. 1, 1862.

- John Haashman, must. in Sept. 3, 1861; died at Petersburg Dec. 15, 1863.

Jacob Horn, died at Clarysville, Md., Aug. 20, 1864.
Harvey Jenkins, must. in Feb. 28, 1865; must. out with Co. A, 3d Regt.
Prov. Cav., Oct. 31, 1865. 4 A

357  

\

358

‘HISTORY or WASHINGTON COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA.

Phineas Judd, must. in Aug. 14, 1862; absent at muster out.

John H. Jenkins, must. in Dec. 3, 1861; disch. July 21, 1862.

Thomas Keys, must, in Feb. 28, 1865; must. outwith Co. A, 3d Regt.
Prov. Cav., Oct. 31, 1865. —

Lewis Kinder, must. in March 11, 1865; must. out with Co. A, 3d Regt.
Prov. C_av., Oct. 31, 1865.

John T. Kinder, must. in March 6, 1865; absent, sick, at muster out.

John Kann, must. in Jan. 10, 1864; must. out Sept. 6, 1865.

Joseph Knight, m11st. out with company Oct. 7, 1864.

Jacob Klinfelter, disch. Aug.- 23, 1862.

Edward\Lane, must. in Sept. 15, 1863; must. out with Co. A, 3d Regt.
Prov. Cav., Oct. 31, 1865. , "’

George Loss, must. out with company Oct. 7, 1864.

Benjamin F. Litzenburg, must. out with company Oct. 7, 1864.

Eli Leonard, must. in Jan. 4,1862; absent, on detached service, at muster
out.

John S. Lindley, must. in May 24, 1862; captured at New Market? May

15, 1864.

Frank N. Laycock, must. in Aug. 30, 1862 ; died July 28th of -wounds re-
ceived at Kernstown J u] y 24, 1864. '

'1‘. F. Montgomery, must. in March 6, 1865; must. out with Co. A, 3d
Regt. Prov. Cav., Oct. 31, 1865. -

John Mitchell, must. in Feb. 27, 1864; must. out with Co. A, 3d Regt.

‘ Prov. Cav., Oct. 31, 1865.

David Machamer, must. in Feb. 25, 1864; must. out with Co. A, 3d Regt.

Pro. Cav., Oct. 31, 1865. F
George W. Miller, must. in March 11, 1865; disch. by G. 0. Aug. 18,

1865. ‘ i .
Michael Murphy, must. in Feb. 23, 1864; must. out Sept. 16, 1865.
George H. Murray, must. out with company Oct. 7, 1864.
Morgan Matthews, must. in Jan. 4, 1862 ; absent at must. out.
Solomon Matthews, must. in Aug. 26,1862 ; absent, sick, at must. out.
Nicholas Miller, disch. Feb. 1, 1862. , I
Samuel M'cPhern, must. in Feb. 15, 1864; must. out with Co. A, 3d

Regt. Pro. Cav., Oct. 31, 1865.
Joseph A. Nicholls, must. out With company Oct. 7, 1864.
William Nicholls, must. in Aug. 26, 1862; absent, sick, at must. out.
Erastus Nicholls, must. in Sept. 10, 1864; not accounted for.
Robert Paterson, must. in Aug. 16, 1862; absent at must. cut.
William Plymire, disch. Nov. 14, 1862.
Samuel Potter, disch. Aug. 23, 1862.
Robert E. Ross, must. in Feb. 25.1864; must. out with Co. A,. 3d Regt.

Pro. Cav., Oct. 31, 1865.
Samuel G. Rogers,must. out with company Oct. 7, 1864.
William B. Ross, must. in Aug. 26, 1862 ; absent, sick, at must. out.
Andrew J. Riggle, must. in Aug. 26, 1862; absent, on detached service,

V at must. out. A L .

Wesley Roberts, must. in Aug.‘ 26, 1862; absent, sick, at must. cut.
Andrew Reed, must. in Oct. 22, 1.861; missing in action Aug. 4, 1863.
Albert M. Stanger, must. in Feb. 22, 1865; must. out with Co. A,'3d

Regt. Pro. Cav., Oct. 31, 1865. '
Andrew J. Sargeant, must. in March 6, 1865; must. out with Co. A, 3d

Regt. Pro. Cav., Oct. 31, 1865. ‘
Henry Snyder, must. in Jan. 14, 1864; must. out with Co. A, 3d Regt.

Pro. Cav., Oct. 31, 1865.
John A. Starry, must. in Feb. 20, 1865 ; must. out with Co. A, 3d Regt.

Pro. c..v., Oct. 31, 1865. ' . . ‘
Samuel C. Scott, must. in Feb. 26, 1864; must. out with Co. A, 3d Regt.

Pro. Cav.,.Oct. 31, 1865.
Jacob Starliper, must. in Feb. 25, 1864; must. out July 20, 1865. 8
James M. Sinclair, must. out with company Oct. 7, 1864.
Charles Sinclair, must. out with company Oct.,7, 1864.
John H. Smith, must. out with company Oct. 7, 1864.
Amos Smith, must. out with company Oct. 7, 1864.
Hiram Sargcant, must. out with company Oct. 7, 1864.
Henry Storer, disch. Aug. 23, 1862. _ G -
Andrew Smith, captured at Lost River Gap, Va.,‘May 10, 1864; died at

Andersonville, Ga., Oct. 17, 1864, grave 11,044.
George W. Shaw, must. in Aug. 16, 1862; must. out July 25, 1864.
Demas L. Snyder, died at Cumberland, Md., Jan. 24, 1862.
William Stathers, died at Cumberland, Md., Feb. 27, 1862.
Grifiith A. Taylor, must. in Feb. 24, 1864; must. out with Co. A, 3d

Regt. -Pro. Cav., Oct. 31, 1865. ’

Joseph Thompson, must. in Feb. 28, 1864; must. out with Co. A, 3d"

Regt. Pro. Cav., Oct. 31, 1865. L. —
Robert Taylor, must. in Sept. 17, 1864; disch. by special order Dec. 1,,
1864.

L George R. Chambers.

Lewis Upperman, disch. Aug. 23, 1862. _

Abraham Van Voorhis, must. in Sept. 3, 1861; disch. Aug. 23, 1862.

David Victor, must. in "May 24, 1862; must. out July 5,1863.

William Wright, must. out with company Oct. 7, 1864.

Thomas Welsh, must. out with company Oct. 7, 1864.

John West, must. out with company Oct. 7, 1864.

Luke Wright, must. in Jan. 4,1862; absentat must. out

Samuel Wright, must. in Aug. 16, 1862; absent at must. out.

Casper S. Wyland, must. in Aug. 26, 1862; absent, sick, at must. out.

John B. Wheeler, must. in Aug. 26, 1862; absent at must. cut.

William Williams, must. in Aug. 30, 1862; wounded at Kernstown July
22,1864; absent at must. out. . ‘ - v

James Williams, must. in Aug. 30, 1862; absent, on detached service, at
must. out. 1 ' L ' ‘ '

James Wherry, must. in Aug. 30, 1862 ; absent’, sick, at must. out.

Robert F. B. Wilson, must. in Aug. 30, 1862 ; absent at must. out.

James M. Weaver, disch. Nov. 14, 1862. - '

James White, disch. Aug. 23, 1862. -

William C. Wheeler, must. in Aug. 26, 1862; missing in action at New
Market May 15, 1864. '. _

Marion A. Weaver, must. in Aug. 26, 1862 ; died at Cu_mberland,'Md., Oct.
14, 1863. - ‘

Joseph Wright, must. in Aug. 16, 1862; killed at Moorefield, West Va.,
June 6,1864. 3 .

James H. Yates, must. in Oct. 19, 1864; disch. Oct. 24, 1865, expiration
of term. ,

David G. Zook, must. in Sept. 5, 1864’; disch. by G. 0. May 13, 1865.

COMPANY 0.1

George T. Work, capt., pro. to maj. March 25, 1864. _

Caleb J. McNulty, capt., pro. from 1st lieut. May 15, 1864; wounded at
Burlington Feb. 1, 1864; disch. June 1, 1865. ' '

Robert C. Welch, lst lieut., pro. from 2d’ lieut. May 15, 1864; disch.June
1, 1865.

Joseph J. Lane, 2d lieut., pro. from 1st sergt. May 15,1864; disch.June 1,
1865. .

Simeon W. French, sergt., pro. to com. sub. April 5, 1864.

William R. Galbraith, 1st sergt. «

William L. Oliver, sergt., disch. by special order Feb. 27, 1864.

Privates.

Samuel C. Adams. Joseph Armstrong.

S. S. Armstrong, disch. by G. O. May 24, 1865.

Abraham Ashbrook, must. in Feb. 14, 1863.

Stephen J. Bane, died March, 1864; buried in National Cemetery.
J. F. Bell. — .-

D. W. Bell, must. in February, 1864.

I. N. Beighly, must. in February, 1864.

Charles Black. ' Robert Boone.

Francis Boles. Joseph W. Brownlee.
M. M. Brockman, must. in February, 1864. ‘
Samuel C. Brownlee. John S. Clark.
William Barnett. ' Daniel s. Crider.
Thomas Campsey. Thomas B. Craig.

William H. Cowen John S. Cummins.

C. C. Colle. David Cummins.

Robert J. Cully, must. in February, 1864.

Nelson M. Cornell. V ’ . ‘
Milton J. Davis, captured; died at Andersonville July 5, 1864.
Michael L. Essick. '

John D. Ewing, must. in February, 1864.

S. Clark Farrar, must. in February, 1864.

Richard Fisher. Joseph Fuller. ’

Samuel Forrister. Benjamin Fuller.

' William R. Galbraith, pro. to'1st sergt.

John Gardner.

David Grifiith.

Joseph Guina.

William Hair.‘

George Hardee.

Peter Hoy. .

B. Herron, must. in February, 1864.
William J ennison.

Joseph Hunter.
Joshua Hunter.

John W. Huston.

R. A. Henderson.
Benjamin F. Helmick.
Edward Hervey.

S. F. Kistner.

1 Date of muster in Sept. 6, 1862, except as noted. Company mustered
out at New Creek, West Va., June 2, 1865. '

. John Patterson.

‘John G. Stewart.

WAR OF THE REBELLION.

S. F. Kelley. Andrew Kimble.
Edward S. Lane, must. in February, 1864.

Lemuel Liggett. G. W. Mitchell.
Edward Linton. John Mitchell.

Edward Linn. John F. Milligan.

Jacob Loughman. E. C. Miller.

Robert Loughman. ’ Richard Mountz.‘

Andrew B. Means, must. in Feb. 14, 1863; disch. by G. 0. May 22, 1865.

John Murrey. 1
Richard Morris.

Alexander W. McConnell, disch. by G. 0. May 14, 1865.
Archibald McClelland. James McFait.

D. N. McFarland, must. in February, 1864.

ST. McFarland, must. in February, 1864.

Ebenezer McGriffin. ' C, B, M cKeever. .
John McEw'en. James C. McSwiggin. A
S. H. Myers, must. in February, 1864. ’
R. D. Nesbit. Joseph Porter.
Thomas O’Donald. Hugh Porter. .
G. W. Ramsey.

William McCarty.

Henry Pence.

David Riser. William E. Richards.

. Robert G. Rush.

Samuel D. Richards, disch. by G. 0. May 24. 1865.

David H. Ralston, disch. by G. 0. May 14, 1865.

G. W. Richey. . Levi Scott.

David Scott. A ’

S. C. Scott, must. in February, 1864.

William Sears. R. P. Shipley. A

James B. Sennett. \
James C. Smith, captured; died at Andersonville Oct. 1, 1864.
Thomas Stewart. Joseph Starr.

James H. Stewart,
Isaac Thomas, must. in February, 1864. ,

A. A. Thornburg. William T. White.

John S. Thornburg. A. H. Wilkin.
Samuel Turner. D. H. Wilson. _ j
-T. J. White. Samuel Williamson. ‘

John Work, killed in skirmish.

James R. Woodburn. William Woodburn.

Thomas Whitehead, must. in July 7, 1863; disch. by G. 0. June 22, 1865.

_ COMPANY D.1
Harvey H. Young, capt., disch. Feb. 25, 1864.
Hugh Keys, capt., pro. from 1st lieut. Sept. 7, 1864.

Felix H. Crags, 1st lieut., pro. from 2d lieut. Sept. 7, 1864; disch. May
24, 1865. “ ‘
Isaac M. Regester, 2d lieut., pro. from 1st sergt. Sept. 7,1864; disch.

May 24, 1865.
Privates.
Joseph E. Bane.

‘ George Bower, died Aug. 5, 1865; buried in London Park National\Cem-

etery, Baltimore, Md.

John D. Burk, capt’d; died at Andersonville Nov. 8,1865, grave 11,929. A

Alfred Burkhart. « _ .
Jesse Benner, disch. by G. 0. June 19, 1865.

Lawrence W. Bower.

Lewis J. Baker, disch. by G. 0. June 19, 1865.

John L. Cook. R Simon S. Condit.
William C. Condit, disch. by G. 0. May 13,1865.

Daniel W. Condit. Richard Crawford.
Joseph F. Craven. Samuel R. Crawford.
James M. Crawford.
Ady Crouch.

Henry Dague.
George W. Eagye. 8
Robert Galbraith, wounded at Harper’s Ferry July 8, 1864. ,
William Gardner.

James B. Grooms, must. in Feb. 14, 1863.

Joseph Hamilton.
Jonah Harris.
Gideon H. Hawkins.
John W. Hawkins.
Andrew H. Holmes.
Levi Horne.

Sebastian Elliott.
Benjamin F. Floyd.

Joseph Jennings.
John C. Jennings.
Joseph S. John.
George Keihl.
Freeman Kelly.
William Lee.

1 Date of muster in Sept. 6, 1862, except as otherwise noted. .

John N. Horne.

William S. Horner.

Cyrus Hufi‘'man. -.
Charles Luellen, disch. by G. O.June 9, 1865.

Benjamin F. Leonard, disch. by G. 0. May 11, 1865.

Peter Malone. *

Jacob R. Maxwell. - «
Emmer H. Miller, captured at Lost River Gap, W. Va., May 10,1864.
Isaac J. Mitchell.‘ Thomas H. McLane.

Adam S. Morton. Alexander C. Powell.
William H. Moser. Albert G. Powell.

James McCloud. I Taylor Pyle.

Samuel B. McLean.‘ James M’. Quiry.

John R. Rigester, wounded near Winchester, Va., and died.

S. C. Richardson. ‘ 6' J .. B. Shallenburger.
Joseph H. Rogers. William Sheets. ‘ ‘
John Smith, die.d June 6, 1864; buried in National Cemetery, Va
David M. Snyder. James A. S. White.

John B. Taylor. Samuel H. White.
Benjamin L. Taylor. William P. ‘White. .
William A. White. James M. Wheeler.

David A. White. James H. VVickersham.

W. H. Wickersham, captured at Burlington Feb. 2, 1864.

Christopher Long.
Francis J. Luellen.

COMPANY E.2
Milton W. Mitchner, capt., res. April 1, 1863. j ,
James Y. Chkessroun, capt., pro. from 1st lieut. April 1, 1863; disch. by‘
S. O. Ma1'chl8, 1865. -

. Felix Boyle, capt., pro. from 1st sergt. to 2d lieut. Feb. 13,1863; to 1st
lieut. April 1, 1863; to capt. June 9, 1865 ;‘ wounded at Martinsburg

Sept. 18, 1864. J
Robert S. H. Keys, 2d lieut., res. Feb. 12, 1863. A
James B. Gibson, 2d lieut., pro. from 1st sergt. April 1, 1863; wounded

July 15, 1864; res. June 8, 1865. »
Clinton Teeple, 2d lieut., pro. from 1st sergt. June 9, 1865; must. out

with company July 19, 1865.  A
James E. Rial, lst sergt., must. out with company July 19, 1865.

7 Jesse M. Teeple, 2d qrmr.-sergt., must. out with company July 19, 1865.

Thomas Flanigan, com .-sergt., must out with company July 19, 1865.
‘David H. Williams, com.-sergt., pro. to reg. com.-sergt. May 24, 1865.
‘George Robson, sergt., must. out with company July 19, 1865.

John McCracken, sergt., must. out with company July 19,1865.

John Behana, Sr., sergt., wounded at Martinsburg Sept. 18, 1864; must.

out with company July 19, 1865.

Robert White, sergt., must. out with company July 19,1865.

James F. Henry, sergt., must. out with company July 19, 1865.

Isaac Loman, sergt., disch. on surg. certif. March 12, 1864.

Thomas McColister, corp., must. in Feb. 19, 1864; must. out with Co. M, .

3d Regt. Pro. Cav., Oct. 31, 1865.
David S. Behana, corp., must. in Feb. 5, 1864; must. out with Co. M, 3d
Regt. Pro. Cav., Oct. 31, 1865.
William W. Hess, corp., must. in O'ct.19, 1862; disch. Oct. 23, 1865, at
expiration of term.

Peter Stacker, corp., must. out with company July 19, 1865.

John S. Yohe, corp., must. out with company July 19, 1865.
Samuel Wright, corp., must. out with company J uly.19, 1865.
James Kearney, corp., must. out with company July 19, 1865.
John Leyda, corp., must. out with company July 19, 1865.

Enoch J. Newkirk, corp., must. out with company July 19, 1865. '
Vear E. Porter, corp., must. out with company July 19, 1865.
Christ. Z. Keochline, corp., disch. by G. 0. May 10, 1865.

Andrew McDonald, co-rp., disch. by G. 0. May 10, 1865.

Hiram Myers, corp., disch. by G. 0. June 2, 1865. ”
William White, corp., killed at Moorefield, W. Va., May 8, 1864.
Aaron Sutman, corp., died at New Creek, W. Va., May 30, 1865.
Henry Robson, bugler, must.‘out with company July 19, 1865.
Joseph A. McClure, bugler, must. out with company July 19, 1865.
John Lutes, blacksmith, must. out with company July 19, 1865.
George Lutes, blacksmith, must. out-with company July 19, 1865.
Joseph A. Scott, saddler, must. out with company July 19, 1865.

Privates.

Andrew Amos, must. out with company July 19, 1865.
Vincent Amos, must. out with company July 19, 1865.
Abraham Anderson, must. out with company July 19, 1865.

2 Date of muster in Oct. 13, 1862. except as noted. ,

"lost his life five weeks before.

WASHINGTi‘ON’S CAMPAIGN or 1754.

41

mistake; they returned to us and declared to have

been at the road which the English were clearing;
that they were of opinion no body had been that way
for three days. “We were no longer in doubt of our
proceedings being known to the English.”

At daybreak in the morning of the 2d the French
force left its bivouac of the previous night and
marched towards Gist’s. “ After having marched
some time we stopped, for I was resolved to proceed

_ no farther until I had positive news; wherefore I sent

scouts upon the road. In the meanwhile came some
of the Indians to me whom we had left at the Han-
gard; they had taken a prisoner, who called himself
a deserter. I examined him, and threatened him
with the rope if he offered to impose on me. I learned

- that the English had left their post [at Gist’s] in

order to rejoin their fort, and that they had taken

‘back their cannon. Some of our people finding that

the English had abandoned the camp we went
thereto, and I sent some men to search it through-
out. They found several tools and other utensils
hidden in many places, which I ordered them to
ca.rry away. As it was late I ordered the detach-
ment to encamp there. . '. . We had rain all.night.”
When day broke on the morning of the 3d of July
the weather was still wet and gloomy, but De Villiers
moved forward" at once with the main body, scouting

« parties having been sent in advance the previous

evening. The rain continued, and increased during

‘the long hours of the march towards Fort Necessity,

but the French column pressed on with energy, and
with all possible speed, for, said De Villiers, “ I fore-
saw the necessity of preventing the enemy in their
works.” It also appears that he took the pains to
ride away from-the road into the woods, to make a
flying visit to the rocky defile where J umonville had

“at the place where my brother had been assassin-
ated, and saw there yet some dead bodies,” and then
proceeds : “ When I came within three-quarters of a
league from the English fort I ordered my men to
march -in columns, every officer to his division, that
I might the better dispose of them as necessity would
require.” His column was now within striking dis-
tance of the fort, after a drenching and dreary march
of seven hours from Gist’s.

Meanwhile, at Fort Necessity, Washington had
been apprised of the arrival of the French at Grist’s
on the 2d, and had been constantly on the alert during
the night. Not long after sunrise on the 3d some of
the advance scouts of the French were seen, and
one of Washington’s men on picket was brought in
wounded, but after this, three or four hours passed
without further demonstrations. In the middle of
the forenoon word came by scouts that the enemy in
strong force was within two hours’ march, and after-
wards reports of their progress were brought in from
time to time. Washington formed his forces in line

“ I stopped,” he says, -

of battle outside the defenses, awaiting the enemy’s
appearance, and hoping to induce him to attack in the
open field. Finally, at a little before noon, the French
appeared in the edge of the woods towards the north-
west and began firing at long range, but did no execu-
tion. After a time, finding that the enemy manifested
no disposition to make a general attack, Col. Wash-
ington withdrew his men within the defenses, the

Carolinians occupying the rifle-pit trenches behind the A

low log pararet which formed the’ outer line (though
they were afterwards driven out, not by the enemy’s
fire, but the torrents of rain that inundated the
trenches in which they were posted). The French,
finding their fire ineffectual from their distant posi-
tion in the woods to the northwest,‘ moved to the left,
where, on the eastern and southeastern side of the
fort, the forest line was within fair musket-range of the
work. From this new position they opened fire with
more effect; the battle became general, and continued
through the remainder of the day. An account of the
conflict at Fort Necessity is thus given by Sparks :
“At eleven o’clock ‘they [the French] approached
the fort and began to fire, at the distance of six hun-
dred yards, but without effect." Col. Washington had
drawn up his men on the open and level ground out-
side of the trenches, waiting for the attack, which he
presumed would be made as soon as the enemy’s
forces emerged from the woods, and he ordered his

"men to reserve their fire till they should be near

enough to do execution. The distant firing was sup-
posed to be a stratagem to draw Washington’s men

into the woods, and thus take them at a disadvantage. V

He suspected the design, and maintained his post till
he found the French did not incline to leave the
woods and attack the fort‘ by an assault, as he sup-
posed they would, considering their superiority of
numbers. He then drew his men back within the
trenches, and gave them orders to fire according to
their discretion, as’ suitable opportunities might pre-

' sent themselves. The French and Indians remained on
the side of the rising ground which was nearest to the

fort, and, sheltered by the trees, kept up a brisk fire of
musketry, but never appeared in the open plain below.

1 De Villiers’ account of the opening of the fight was as follows: “As
we had no knowledge of the place, we presented our flank to the fort,
when they began to fire upon us, and almost at the same time I perceived
the English on the right,in order of battle, and coming towards us. The
Indians, as well as ourselves, set up a great cry, and advanced towards
them, but they did not give us time to fire upon them before they shel-

tered themselves in an intrenchment which was adjoining to their fort, H

after which we aimed to invest the fort, which was advantageously
enough situated in a meadow within a musket-shot from the woods. We
drew as near to them as possible that we might not exposeihis Majesty’s
subjects to no purpose. The fire was very brisk on both sides, and I
chose that place which seemed to me the most proper in case we should
be exposed to a sally. We fired so briskly as to put out (if I may use
the expression)_the fire of their cannon with our musket-shot.” But,
concerning the first part of the above account by De Villiers, Washington
afterwards wrote, “ I cannot help remarking on Villiers’ account of the
battle of and transaction at the Meadows, as it is very extraordinary,

and not less erroneous than inconsistent. He says the French received.

the first fire. It is well known that we received it at six hundred paces’
distance.” A

4 360

John Atcheson, must. out with company July 19, 1865.

Samuel Atcheson, must. out with company July 19, 1865.

Francis Allen, must. out with company July 19, 1865.

James W. Baxter, must. in Feb. 6, 1864; must. out with Co. M, 3d Regt.

Pro. Cav., Oct. 31, 1865.‘
George W. Bowen, must. in Feb. 18,‘ 1864 ; must. out with Co. M, 3d Regt.
Pro. Cav., Oct. 31, 1865. ’
Benjamin F. Bowen, mustered in Feb. 11, 1864;
Aug. 15, 1865. .

Jacob W. Beck, must. out with company July 19, 1865.

Alexander Behana, must. out with company July 19, 1865.

Samuel Behana, must. out with company July 19, 1865.

Charles Behana, must. out with company July ‘19, 1865.

John Behana, must. out with company July 19, 1865.

Samuel Black, must. out with company July 19, 1865.

John Boyle, Jr., must. out with company July 19, 1865.

David Byers, must.-out with company July 19, 1865. .

James Boyd, must. out with company July 19, 1865.

Jacob Baker, disch. by G. 0. June 9, 1865.

Richard Burns, disch. by. G. 0. June 9, 1865.

Jerome G.‘ Byers, must. in Feb. 25, 1864; captured; died at Anderson-

ville Oct. 2, 1864; grave 10,226.
James Craven, must_. in Jan. 5, 1864; must. out.with
Cav., Oct. 31, 1865.

Samuel Caldwell, must. out with company July 19, 1865.
John W. Craven, must. out with company July 19, 1865.
Abner J. Craven, must. out with company J uly'19, 1865.
John A. Crouch, disch. by G. 0. May 25, 1865.

David Clark, died at Ginger Hill Aug. 10, 1863.

David Craven, died at Cumberland, Md., Nov. 16, 1863.
John Dolen, must. out with company July’19, 1865. '
W. H. H. Degarmo, disch. by G. 0. May 24, 1865.

disch. on surg. certif.

Co. M, 3d Regt. Pro.

» Holladie Donaldson, must. in Feb. 19, 1864; must. out June 30, 1865.

‘Hi ram Degarmo, dishon. disch. July 19, 1865.
John Hamilton, must. in Feb. 28, 1864; disch. on surg. certif. Aug. 9,
1865. 1

Era’n Hendrickson, must. out with company July 19, 1865. -

Edw. Hendrickson, must. out with company July 19, 1865.

Henry Hillman, must. out with company July 19, 1865.

Noah Henry,
Will Hendrickson, disch. by G. 0. June‘ 9, 1865.

Benjamin F. Helmick, must. in Nov. 27, 1863; must. out July 3, 1865.
Henry L. Hagerty, must. in Oct. 26, 1862.

Robert Jones, must. out with company July 19, 14865.

John B. Jordan, must. out with company July 19, 1865.

Cordemia Jordan, must. out with company July 19, 1865.

Andrew Kemble, must. in Nov. 26, 1863; must. out with Co. M, 3d Regt.

Pro. Cav., Oct. 31, 1865. :

James Kerns, must. out with company July 19, 1865.

John M. Kiehl, disch. by G. 0. July 14,1865.

Benjamin F. Leonard, disch. by G. 0. May 12, 1865.

Henry Lever, died at New Creek, W. Va., June 28, 1863.

Isaac Leyda, must. in Oct. 24, 1862; not on must.-out roll. E
Joseph Marker, must. in March 22, 1864; must. out with Co. M,’3d Regt.

Pro. Cav., Oct. 31, 1865.
Marcus Mellinger, must. out with company July 19, 1865.
Samuel Marker, must. out with company July 19, 1865.

, Robert Molden, must. out with company July 19, 1865.

Jacob Molden, must. out with company July 19, 1865.

William Mitchell, must. out with company July 19, 1865.

Jeremiah Myers, must. out with company July 19, 1865.

Thomas H. Moflitt, must. out with company July 19_, 1865.

Eli W. Mancha, must. out with company July 19, 1865.

Eli A. Miller, must. out with company July 19, 1865.

Samuel A. Munn, disch. on surg. certif. April 25, 1865.

Henry Mmizs, must. in Aug. 20,1864; disch. by G. 0. May 24, 1865.
John S. Manown, disch. by G. 0. June 2, 1865. .
Alexander K. McKee, must. in Aug. 20, 1864; disch. by G. 0. May 24,

1865.

George W. McClain, disch. by G. O. June 2, 1865.

John S. McDonald, disch. by G. O’. May 10, 1865.

James H. McAlaster, not on must.-out roll.

George W. Orbin, must. out with company July 19, 1865.
Joseph Ostrander, not on must.-out roll.

Clark Preston, disch. on surg. certif. March 6, 1863.
Elymas Petit, disch. by G. 0. June 2, 1865.

John Purcill, absent, in arrest, at must. cut.

I

I

must. out with company July 19, 1865. .

HISTORY OF ;WASHINGTON COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA.

Enoch S. Pollock, died at New Creek, W. Va., Jan. 20, 1864.

Marshall Robinson, must. out with company July 19, 1865.

George W. Robb, disch. by G.‘O. June 2, 1865. «

Charles E. Rose, accidentally killed at Romney Jan. 7, 1863.

John Stacker, must. in Feb. 29, 1864; must. out with Co. M, 3d Regt. Pro.

Cav., Oct. 31, 1865. ’

Frederick Surg, disch. Oct. 23,’ 1865, expiration of term.

John M. Sutman, must. out with company July 19, 1865.

John Snyder, disch. by G. 0. June 2, 1865.

Boyd E. Sumney, died at Cumberland, Md., June 14, 1864.

James B. Smith, died June 10, of wounds received at Moorefield June 6, /

1864. V
William P. Starr, died October 25, of wounds received _at Winchester
Oct. 19, 1864; buried in National Cemetery:

Thomas W. Teeple, must. out with company July 19, 1865.

John C. Thompson, must. out with company July 19, 1865.

Charles F. Troescher, must. out with company July 19, 1865.

John Trushler, must. out with company July 19, 1865.

James M. Williams, must. out with company July 19, 1865.

Peter Young, must. in Feb. 29, 1864; disch. by G. 0. May 24, 1865.

COMPANY F.1

Andrew J . Barr., capt., disch. Feb. 25, 1864.

David Wishart, 1st lieut., pro. from 1st sergt. Sept. 7, 1864; disch. May
16, 1865. S’ V '

G. T. Hammond’, Sr., 2d lieut., captured; disch. by special order Nov. 29,
1864. ' I -

Benjamin F. Hasson, 2d lieut., pro. from sergt. Sept. 7, 1864; captured
September, 1863; escaped while being removed from Richmond to
Andersonville in March, 1864; must. out with Co. G, 3d Regt. Pro.
Cav., Oct. 3], 1865. l V ‘

William Hedge, 1st sergt., com. 2d lieut. May 17, 1865; must. out with
company July 19, 1865.

Harvey H. Eller, 1st sergt., captured; died at Richmond, Va., Dec.’16,
1864. , 8

Samuel H. Doak, qrmr.~sergt., must. out with company July 19, 1865.

Samuel H. Gayman, com.-sergt., must. out with company July 19, 1865.

John N. Braddock, sergt., pro. from corp. May 1, 1864; disch. Oct. 24,
1865. - . ‘

Leet S. Moore, sergt., wounded at Stevenson’s Depot Sept. 5, 1864 ; must.
out with company July 19, 1865. Y .

George Johnson, sergt., must. out with company July_19, 1865.

Jacob L. Wise, sergt., must. out with company July 19, 1865. V

Samuel  Barnard, sergt., pro. to corp. June ,1, 1865; must. outwith
company July 19,1865.

Samuel T. Dodd, sergt., pro. to hospital steward May 29, 1864.

Samuel K. West, sergt., pro. to regt. qrmr.-sergt. May 25, ‘1865.

G. T. Hammond, J r., corp., pro. to corp. May 1, disch. Oct. 24, 1865, ex-
piration of term. 7 '

Theodore C. Enock, corp., must. out with company July 19, 1865.

Andrew J . Sowers, corp., must. out with company July 19, 1865.

William Van Kirk, corp., captured, died at Andersonville Sept. 21, 1864.

Robert Morton, corp., must. in March 2, 1864 ; "killed at Berryville, W.
Va., Aug. 30, 1864.

Solomon S. Bayne, bugler, must. out with company July 19, 1865.

Christian Garrett, blacksmith, disch. Oct. 24, 1865, at expiration of term.

Charles Hallam, farrier, must. out with company July 19, 1865.

Privates.

Daniel Ames, must. in November, 1863.

J. B. Buckingham, disch. by G. 0. May 30, 1865.

Samuel Barr, must. out with company July 19, 1865.

William Burk, disch. by G. 0. May 30, 1865.

James Bradley, died, date unknown.

David Braden, died in Washington County, Pa., Feb. 22, 1864.
Alexander Crumrine, must. out with company July 19, 1865.
Silas Cowan, must. out with company July 19, 1865.

Samuel T. Crouch, must. in Feb. 5, 1864; disch. by G. 0. June 5, 1865.
David Campbell, captured; died at Andersonville April 26, 1864.
Judson Craighead, disch., to date Oct. 31, 1865. .
Sylvester F. Dodd, must. out with company July 19, 1865.
Folliver Dotts, must. out with company July 19, 1865.

Peter Deems, captured ; died at Andersonville April 26, 1864. 7
Andrew Elliott, captured; died at Richmond Dec. 23, 1864.

 

1 Date of muster in is Oct. 14, 1862, except as noted.

.WAR OF THE REBELLION.

361

John Fulton, captured; must. out with Co. G, 3d Regt. Pro. Cav., Oct. 31, I

1865.

Martin V. Frazee, must. out with company July 19, 1865.

John Flowers, must. out with company July 19, 1865.

Stephen J. Guinia, disch. by G. 0. May 24, 1865.

Samuel P. Hallam, must. out with company July 19, 1865.
William P. Hayner, captured; died at Richmond, date unknown
Andrew H. Holmes, must. in February, 1864.
Benjamin Hardin, captured; died in prison.
John Jams, must. in Feb. 29, 1864; disch. by G. 0. June 3, 1865.
VVi1liam Jenkins, captured; died at Richmond, Va.,, date unknown.
Dallas Lank, must. out with company.

Atlas Lacock, must. out with company.

George W. Moninger, disch. Oct. 24, 1865, at expiration of term.

John W. Manning, must. out with company.

James S. Margerum, must. out with company.

Nathan B. Marsh, captured; died at Richmond, date unknown.
Michael G. Moore, captured; died at Andersonville July 29, 1864. I
Abel Moore, captured; died at Richmond, date unknown.

John A. Prall, must. out with company July 19, 1865.

'\

' Henry L. Prall, must. out withcompany July 19, 1865.

Thomas Patterson, pro. to chaplain June 15, 1864.

John N. Prall, disch. by G. 0. July 10, 1865.

Levi H. Pope, died at Cumberland, Md., Sept. 28, 1864.

Joseph R. Province, must. in May 1, 1864.

Jocephas Ross, must. out with Co. G, 3d Regt. Pro. Cav., Oct. 31, 1865.
William F. Rigg, must. out with company July 19, 1864.

George H. Reynolds, disch. by G. 0. May 22, 1865. -
Jefferson T. Simpson, must. in Feb. 29, 1864; must. out with Co. G, 3d

Regt. Pro. Cav., Oct. 31, 1865.

Samuel Simmons, disch. Oct. 24, 1865, at expiration of term. I

Henry Slusher, must. out with company Oct. 31, 1865.

Joseph Sutman, disch. by S. 0. Feb. 9,1863. ‘

R. D. Thompson, must. in_Feb. 21, 1864; .must..out with Co. G, 3d Regt.

Pro. Cav., Oct. 31, 1865.

. Hiram Tharp, must. out with company.

Everhart Tegarden, must. out with company.
Robert Thompson, must. out with company.
Samuel Trusler, must. out with company.

"Jacob Ulery, must. out with company.

George M. Vankirk, 'must. in Jan. 27, 1864; must. out with Co. G, 3d
Regt. Pro. Cav., Oct. 31, 1865. S
John White, must. in Jan. 5, 1864; must. out with Co. G, 3d Regt. Pro.
5 Cav., Oct. 31, 1865. ’ ’

, Samuel Wilson, must. out with company.

Samuel J . Wilson, must. out with company.
Richard D. White, must. out with company.
James Watson,‘ disch. by S. 0. Feb. 26, 1863.

COMPANY G}

Alex. V. Smith, capt., must. in Oct. 29, 1862; disch. Sept. 5, 1863.
William F. Speer, capt., must. in Oct. 1, 1862; pro. from 2d lieut. Sept.
7, 1864; brv.-maj. and lieut.-col. March 13, 1865; wounded at Ope-

quan Sept. 19, 1864; must- out with Co.tG, 3d Regt. Pro. Cav.,.Oct.'

31, 1865. *
Frank B. Smith, 1st lieut., must. in Nov. 6, 1862; wounded Aug. 2,
1864; disch. by G. 0. Dec. 31, 1864. ‘ -

J . G. Van Gilder, 1st 1ieut., must. in Oct. 21, 1862; pro. from 1st sergt. to
2d lieut. Sept. 7, 1864, to 1st lieut. Jan. 30, 1865; must. out with
Co. G, 3d Regt. Pro. Cav., Oct. 31, 1865.

James ‘C. Hubbs, 2d lieut., must. in Sept. 4, 1862; wounded at Mount Ver-
non Forge Sept. 27, 1864.; pro. from 1st sergt. Jan 28, 1865; disch.
by G. 0. May 29, 1865. —

William H. Frost, 2d 1ieut., must. in Sept. 2, 1862; pro. from 1st sergt.
June 9, 1865; must. out with Co. M, 3d Regt. Pro. Cav., Oct. 31,
1865.

Henry P. Brighley, 1st sergt., must. in Feb. 24, 1-864; captured; must.
out with Co. G, 3d Regt. Pro. Cav., Oct. 31, 1865. ’

William Laty, 1st sergt., wounded May 16, 1864; must. out with com-
pany July 19, 1865. T '

A. J . Stottlemyer, qm.-sergt., must. in Dec. 1, 1862; captured; must.
out with co.'G, 3d Regt. Pro. Cav., Oct. 31, 1865.

John C. Hufty, qm.-sergt., must._out with company July 19, 1865.

’ 1 Date of muster in is Oct. 22, 1862, except as noted.

Thomas Scott, com.-sergt., must. in Nov. 6, 1862 ;‘ must. out with Co. G,
3d Regt. Pro. Cav., Oct. 31, 1865. ,

Thomas Corwin, sergt., must. out with Co. G, 3d Regt. Pro. Cav., Oct. 31,
1865. . '_

James H. Dewalt, sergt. must. in Feb. 4,1864; pro. from corp. Sept. 1,
1865; must. out with Co. G, 3d Regt. Pro. Cav., Oct. 31, 1865. V

Smith McCall, sergt., must. in Feb. 17, 1864; pro. from corp. Sept. 1,
1865; must. out with Co. G, 3d Regt. Pro. Cav., Oct. 31, 1865.

John J. Cumley, sergt., must. in March 26, I864; disch. by G. 0. Aug.
19,1865. *

William R. Durbin, sergt., disch. by G. 0. June 1, 1865.

Samuel E. Denny, sergt., must. in Nov. 20, 1862; disch.by G. 0. May 20,
1865. ' '

William B. Rolly, sergt., date unknown.

Henry W. Cook, sergt., must. in Nov. 6, 1862; must. out April 16, 1863.
John N. Braddock, corp., must. out with Co. G, 3d Regt. Pro. Cav., Oct.
31,1865. 1 1
Albert G. Randolph, corp., must. in Feb. 24, 1864; must. out with Co. G,

3d Regt. Pro. Cav., Oct. 31, 1865.
John H. Gamble, corp., must. in Feb. 4, 1864; must. out with Co. G, 3d
Regt. Pro. Cav., Oct. 31, 1865. ‘ 1
HenryH. Hannen, corp., must. in Feb. 17, 1864; pro. to corp. Sept. 1,
1865; must. out with Co. G, 3d Regt. Pro. Cav.,,0ct. 31, 1865.

Samuel Nutting, corp., must. out with company July 19, 1865.

William H. Harrison, corp., disch. by G. 0. May 9, 1865.

Abel A. Crawford, corp., disch. by G. 0. May 24, 1865.

John A. Marshall, corp., must. in Sept. 19, 1864; disch. by G. 0. June 1,
1865.

‘David Beaty, corp., captured : died at Andersonville May 5, 1865.

Andrew Wood, corp., must. in April 16, 1863.

John Smithly, bugler, "must. b in Nov. 6, 1862; must. out’ with Co. G, 3d
Regt. Pro. Cav., Oct. 31, 1865. ‘

John Deems, blacksmith, must. out with Co. G, 3d Regt. Pro. Cav., Oct.

31, 1865.

I Matthias Walker, blacksmith, must. out with Co. G, 3d Regt. Pro. Cav.,

Oct 31, 1865.
Ananias Grifiith, saddler, must. out with Co. G, 3d Regt. Pro. Cav., Oct.
31, 1865. ~»

Privates.

Lewis Axton, must. out with company July 19, 1865.

James Amous, captured; died at Andersonville June 16, 1864.

John Anton, must. in March 2, 1863.

Asbury Anderson, must. in March 12, 1864; must. out Jan. 11, 1865.
James W. Byland, must. in Feb. 25, 1864; must. out with Co. G, 3d Regt.

Pro. Cav., Oct. 31, 1865.

Lewis Benner, missing in action at-Burlington Feb. 1, 1864.

James Bane, missing in action Oct. 13, 1863.

Simon Braddock, missing in action May 10, 1864.

James Bane, must. in April 24, 1864; must. cut Aug. 31, 1865.
Robert Brewer, must. out with company July 19, 1865.

Frederick Berthell, disch. by G. 0. May 15, 1865._

Frederick Beck, disch. on surg. certif. Oct. 30, 1863.

George Benner, disch. on surgacertif. Oct. 18, 1865. '
Lewis Boden, must. in Aug. 26, 1864; disch. on G. 0. J une 1, 1865.’

Stephen S. Braddock, must. in Nov. 6, 1862; died at -Cumberland, Md., .

Jan. 27, 1863.

James Blair, died in Washington County, Pa., Nov. 1, 1864.

Robert Bane, must. in April 21, 1864; captured; died at Salisbury, N. C.,
Nov. 22, 1864.

Thomas Bee, captured; died at Andersonville, Ga., June 14, 1864.

John Beaver, must. in Jan.v15, 1863; must. out Aug. 5, 1863.

Isaac Banks, must. in Nov. 6, 1862 ; must. out Dec. 26, 1862.

David Beckwith, must. in Jan. 4, 1865; trans. to 50th Comp., 2d Bat.,
V. R. C., date unknown. '

Albert W. Conaway, must. in Feb. 27, 1864; must. out with Co. G, 3d \

Regt. Pro. Cav., Oct. 31, 1865.
Atch’n S. Chedisten, must. in Feb. 27, 1864; must. out with Co. G, 3d
Regt. Pro. Cav., Oct. 31, 1865.

William H. Crouch, must. out with Co. G, 3d Regt. Pro. Cav., Oct. 31, C

1865.
M. Cunningham, must. out with Co. G, 3d Regt. Pro. Cav., Oct. 31, 1865.
George W. Crawford, must. in‘ Feb. 29, 1864; must. out with Co. G, 3d
Regt. Pro. Cav., Oct. 31, 1865.
George W. Craft, must. in Feb. 19, 1864; must. out with Co. G, 3d Regt.
Pro. Cav., Oct. 31, 1865.
John Cary, must. in Oct, 20,1862; disch. by G..o. Aug. 7, 1865.,

\

362

HISTORY OF WASHINGTON ~ COUNT Y, PENNSYLVANIA.

Samuel A. Chester, must. in April 2, 1864; must. out Aug. 31, 1865.
Solomon Christopher, must. out with company July 19,.1865.

G. W. Christopher, must. out with company July 19, 1865.

Thomas Cusick, must. in Nov. 6, 1862; disch. by G. 0. May 15, 1865.
Samuel Craven, date unknown.

William Coleman, must. in Feb. 20, 1863 ; must. out June 6, 1864.
George Colbert, absent, in arrest, at muster out.

Samuel E. F. Davis, must. out with Co. G, 3d Regt. Pro. Cav., Oct. 31, 1865. A

John W. Davis, must. in Feb. 24, 1864; must. but with Co. G, 3d Regt.
Pro. Cav., Oct. 31, 1865.

John F. Duvall, must. in Feb. 27, 1864 ;' must. out with Co. G, 3d Regt.
Pro. Cav., Oct. 31, 1865.

Thomas Dickison, must. in Nov. 6, 1862; must. out Aug. 10, 1865.

John Donely, must. in March 28, 1864 ; must. out Aug. 31, 1865.

Andrew S. Downy, must. in Feb. 29, 1864; died at Baltimore, Md., Nov.
1, 1864; buried in National Cemetery.

George W. Davore, must. in Oct. 27, 1862. -

George. W. Dalrymple, must-. in Feb. 25, 1864; must. out July 3, 1865.

Obadiah J. Evarts, must. in Feb. 29, 1864; must. o11t with Co.-G, 3d Regt.
Pro. Cav., Oct. 31, 1865.

Thomas Ervin, must. out with company July 19, 1865.

Daniel Ecard, must. in Aug. 30, 1864; disch. by G. 0. June 1, 1865.

Newton Ensly, must. in April 12, 1863.

William Fry, must. in Feb. 14, 1864; must. out with Co. G, 3d Regt. Pro.
Cav., Oct. 31, 1865. - ‘ V

James M. Floyd, must. in Nov. 6, 1862; disch. by G. 0. July 13, 1865.

John C. Franklin, must. in~Oct. 23, 1862.

Morgan Gaskill, must. out with company July 19, 1865.9

William Goe, disch. by G. 0. May 22,1865.

James Harden, captured ; must. out with Co. G, 3d Regt. Pro. Cav., Oct.

31, 1865.
Samuel Hammer, must in Feb. 25, 1864; ,must. out with Co. G, 3d Regt.
Pro. Cav., Oct. 31, 1865.

' Morgan Harden, Washington ‘County; missing in action Aug. 4, 1863. _
William H. Hartley, must. in Feb. 13, 1864; died at Philadelphia, Pa.,

Oct. 15, 1864.

George Hurter, must. in Jan. 15, 1863.

John Houston, must. in July 1, 1863.

Thomas Harden, must. in June 9, 1863.

John Hamnon, must. in July 3, 1865. -
Americus Infield, must. in Feb. 24, 1864; must. out with Co. G, 3d Regt.

Pro. Cav., Oct. 31, 1865. .
Andrew Johnston, must. out with Co. G, 3d Regt. Pro. Cav., Oct. 31, 1865.
George W. Johnston, must. in Feb. 13, 1864; missing in action Aug. 10,
' 1864. ‘ ‘ '
James B. Johnston, must. in Aug. 26, 1864; disch. by G. 10. June 1, 1865.
William Johnston, must. in Aug. 27,.1864; disch. by G. 0. June 1,1865.
William Kelly, must. in Nov. 6, 1862; must. out with Co. G, 3d Regt.
Pro. Cav., Oct. 31, 1865.-

James Knight, must. in Jan. 16,‘ 1863.

William Keller, must. in Nov. 6, 1862 ; must. out Jan. 9, 1863. ’

Jesse Lloyd, must. out with company July 19, 1865. »

Amos Layhew, must. out with company July 19, 1865. ,

Henry Laman, must. in Aug. 3, 1863 ; disch. by G. O. J un'e 1', 1865.
John Lininger, must. in Aug. 8, 1864; disch. by G. 0. June 1, 1865.
William Lancaster, disch. by G. O. June 9, 1865.

Joseph Lancaster, died at Petersburg Dec. 22, 1863. _

Nathan W. Little, must. in Feb. 13, 1864; killed at Stevens Depot, Va.,

Sept. 5, 1864.

Griflith Marcy, missing in action Aug. 4, 1863.

Jacob Moritz, must. out with company July 19, 1865.

Aaron Malone, must. out with company July 19, 1865. V
John Murphy, must. in March 28, 1864; disch. by G. 0. June 9, 1865.
Samuel Miller, must. in Feb. 25, 1863.

‘ William McC1aughlin, must. outwith Co. G, 3d Regt. Pro. Cav., Oct. 31,

1865.

John McCartney, must. out with Co. G, 3d Regt. Pro. Cav., Oct. 31, 1865. ,

Quinton McCottor, must. in April 2, 1864; disch. by G. 0. July 24, 1865.
Ishmael McCartney, must. in April 14, 1864; must. out June 1, 1865.
George W. McBride, must. in Feb. 20, 1864. ‘

James T. Pearse, must. out with company July 19, 1865.

Columbus Phillips, died at Annapolis, Md., April 6, 1864.

George W, Pensinger, must. in Feb. 21, 1864; must._ out June 5, 1865.
John W. Piper, must‘. in Aug. 19, 1864; not accounted for.

John Reyno1ds,must. out with Co. G, 3d Regt. Pro. Cav., Oct. 31, 1865.
Joseph H. Rankin, must. in Feb. 27.1864; must. out with Co.G, 3d Regt.

Pro. Cav., Oct. 31, 1865.

John A. Rice, must. in Feb. 19, 1864; must. out with Co. G,3d’ Regt. Pro
Cav., Oct. 31, 1865. . -

Salem Robison, must. in Feb. 26, 1864; must. out with Co. G, 3d Regt.
Pro. Cav., Oct. 31, 1865. C

Paul Roach, disch. by G. 0. May 29, 1865. . ,

George Ruifner, m11st. in Feb. 26, 1864; disch. by G. 0. May 30, 1865.

David Rom, died at Martinsburg, June 1, 1864, of wounds received in
action. ’

Frank‘Roberts, must. in Dec. 23, 1862. ,

Martin Ruthe, must. in Feb. 22, 1864; must. out June 5, 1865.

Jesse F. Smith, must. in Feb. 29, 1864; must. out with Co. G, 3d Regt.
Pro. Cav., Oct. 31, 1865. , i /

Oliver P. States, must. in March 1, 1864; captured; must. out with Co.
G, 3d Regt. Pro. Cav., Oct. 31, 1865.

Solomon Smith, must. out with company July 19, 1865.

-John Shock, must. out with company July 19, 1865.

Edward Slabaugh, must. in Sept. 18, 1864; disch. by G. 0. June 1, 1865.

Beter Smith, disch. by G. 0. May 24, 1865. '

John Stiner, captured; died at Andersonville Aug. 9, 1864; grave 5160.

George Slabaugh, must. in Sept. 7, 1864; captured; died at Salisbury,
N. C., Nov. 9, 1864. _ W

John Stevens, must. in Oct. 23, 1862.

William H. Sharp, must. in Dec. 23, 1862‘.

John Smith, must. in Aug. 4, 1864: not accounted for.

Joseph Taylor, must. in Feb. 7, 1864; must. out with Co. G, 3d Regt. Pro.
. Cav., Oct. 31, 1865.

George Tetes, absent, in arrest, at muster out.

Elijah Watters, must. in March 26, 1864; must. out with Co. G, 3d Regt.
Pro. Cav., Oct. 31, 1865. A

Lewis H. Walker, must. out with company July 19, 1865.

Joseph Walters, must. out with company July 19, 1865._

John Winder, must. out with company July 19, 1865.

James Walker, disch. by G. O. J line 6,1865.

Solomon Williams, disch. by G. 0. June 6, 1865.

David West, must. in Feb. 29, 1864; killed at Berryville, "Va.., Aug. 21,
1864. V » .

John Woolly, must. in Oct. 25, 1862

- CHAPTER XXXI.’

WAR OF THE REBELLION.—-—-(Continued.)

  Sixth Regiment of Militia..——In September, 1862,  
two companies of men from Washington‘ (many of

them past the military age) marched to the front, and
as a part of the Sixth Regiment of Pennsylvania mi-
litia, encamped at a point about two miles west of
Chambersburg, Pa., awaiting orders to move against
the Confederate army, which had crossed the Potomac
into Maryland with the evident intention of invading
Pennsylvania.
manner in whichit‘ was met, Bates says,-

“ The rebel army had no sooner achieved its _tri-
umph in the second battle of Bull Run than it hast-
ened northward and commenced‘ crossing the Potomac.
The southern border of Pennsylvania lay in ‘close
proximity, and byits rich harvests invited invasion.
The Reserve Corps, which was originally organized
for State defense, had been called away to the succor
of the hard-pressed army of McClellan upon the Pe-
ninsula, and was now upon the weary march, with
ranks sadly thinned in the hard-fought battles of Me-
chanicsville, Gaines’ Mill, Charles City Cross-Roads,
and the second Bull Run, to again meet the foe, but
powerless to avert the threatened danger. The result
of the struggleon the plains of Manassas was no

Concerning this exigency, and the .-

O

WAR OF THE REBELLION.

sooner known than the helpless condition of the State,
which had been apparent from the first, became a
subject of alarm. On the 4th of September Governor
Curtin issued a proclamation callingon the people to,
arm and prepare for defense. He recommended the
immediate formation of companies and regiments
throughout the Commonwealth, and, for the purpose

' of drill and instruction, that after three o’clock P.M.

of each day all business houses be closed. On the
10th, the danger having become imminent, the enemy
being already in Maryland, he issued a general order
calling on all able-bodied men to enroll immediately
for the defense of the State, and to hold themselves
in readiness to march upon an hour’s ‘notice ;' to select
officers, to provide themselves with such arms as could

-be ‘obtained, with sixty. rounds of ammunitionito the

man, tendering arms to_ such as had none, and prom-
ising that they should be held for service for such
time only as the pressing exigency for State defense

_ should continue. On the following day, acting under

authority of the President of the United States, the
Governorlcalled for fifty thousand men, directing them
to report by telegraph for orders to move, and adding
that further calls would be made as thelexigencies
should require. The people everywhere flew to arms,
and moved promptly to the State capital- One regi-

. ment and eight companies were sent" forward during
. the night of the 12th of September, and others fol-

lowed as fast as they could be organized. On the 14th‘
the head of the Army of the Potomac met the enemy
at South Mountain and ‘hurled him back through its
passes, and-on the evening of the 16th and day of the
17th. a fierce battle was fought at Antietam. In the
mean time the militia had rapidly’concentrated-at
Hagerstown and Chambersburg, and ‘Gen. John F.
Reynolds, who was at the time commanding acorps
in the Army of the Potomac, had assumed command.
‘Fifteen thousand men were pushed forward to Hagers-
town and Boonsboro’, and a portion of them stood in
line of battle, in close proximity to the field, in readi-
ness to advance, while thefierce fighting was in prog-
ress. Ten thousand more were posted in the vicinity
of Greencastle and Chambersburg, and ‘ about twenty-
five thousand,’ says Covernor Curtinlin his annual
message, ‘ were at Harrisburg, on their wayto Har-
risburg, or in readiness and waiting.for transportation
to proceed thither.’ The Twenty-fifth, under com-
mand of Col. Dechert, at the request of Gen. Halleck,
was sent to the State of Delaware to guard the Du-'
pont powder-mills, whence the national armies were
principally supplied. But the enemy was defeated at
Antietam, and retreated in confusion across the Po-
tomac. The emergency having passed, the militia
regiments wereordered ‘to return to Harrisburg, and
in accordance with the conditions on which they had
been called into service they were, on the 24th of

. September, mustered out and disbanded.’V’

. The Washington companies of the Sixth Regiment
were mustered into the service on the 13th of Sep-

. Henry H. Arnold, Washington.

' Samuel A. Clarke, “

; George L. Gow_, “

"John B. Hallam, “
' George 0. Jones, “

tember, and mustered out on the 28th of the same

month, the enemy having recrossed the Potomac into‘

Virginia. They had seen nothing of actual war
(though they had heard from afar the roar of the ar-
tillery Vat Antietam), but they had shown their patri-
otism by promptly responding to the Governor’s call,
and placing themselves in "a position to do all that
was required of them to repel the invader. ‘ J

Of the field and staff oflicers of the Sixth Regi-
ment, Col. James Armstrong, Quartermaster David
Aiken, and Chaplain William P. Alrich were resi-
dents of Washington.
ington County companies are here given, viz.:

, COMPANY A.

Capt, Norton McGifl‘in, Washington ; lst lieut., Samuel M. Templeton,
Washington; 2d lieut., Henry H. Alter, Washington: 1st sergt.,
James B. Wilson, Washington; sergts., Charles B. McCollum, David
Brady, John W. Wolf, James C. Acheson, Washington; corps., Jo-
seph M. Spriggs, Harvey B’. McCollum, Washington; John Steck,
Greensburg; John ‘Wiley, Thomas G. Wolf, James R. Thompson,
Henry M. Aiken, John W. Dinsmore, Washington ; musician, Charles
White, Washington. A ’ .

V Privates. ,
Jacob B. McKennan,;Brownsville.

John C. Alrich, “ Archibald B. McAllister, Washing-

William Allen, . “ V ton. _

Isaac N. Bane, “ ’ William Paul, Washington.

John B. Beatty, “ ' Samuel H. Rial, “

William S. Beatty, “ ’ James Goodrich Ruple, Washing-
Norton Braddock. “ ton.

George Rods, Washington.
John P. Reimund, Washington.
Anthony D. Rickey, “
James Seaman, “
John W. Seaman, “
Robert F. Strean, V ‘.‘

William Burke, “
Samuel Cooke, “
John L. Cooke, “

George W. Driver, “

William Greer, “ John H. Scott, “
Charles Glaun, “ Alex. M. Todd, A J . “
John Hainer, “ Theodore Turner, “
John N. Hainer, “ Robert L. Thompson, “

George Hammond, ’ “ Dan. C. Vallentine, “
William C. Vance, “
Ferdinand J. P. Varro
Thomas M. Wiley,

John W. Wiley, “

, .

Thomas G. Kerr, “ v

Joseph C. Keiser, “

Alexander H. Litle, “ Francis J. L. Wiley, “
George 0. Lindsey, “ John C. S."Weills, “
Gustavus A. Lonkert. “ William M. L. Weills, “
Jeremiah Mashall, “ David T. Watson, “

George W. Murphy, , “
William McClane, “
James McCreary, "
John E. McCullough, “

John G. Windworth, “
Samuel K. Weirich, .“
James S. Wolf, “
Frederick F. Wotring, “

. _ COMPANY F.

Capt., John H.‘ Ewing, Washington; 1st 1ieut.,_Alfred Creigh, Wash-
ington; 2d lieut., Samuel 0. Williams, Washington; '1st sergt., Jame
M. Byers, Washington; sergts., William F.'Fleming, William Hart,
Thomas D.‘ O’Hara, George W. Reed, Washington; corps., Samuel W.
Griflith, James Brown, Robert Baird Patterson, James R. Ruth, Mat-
thew P. Linn, William Phillips, William W. Smith, Frank Gabby,
Washington.

Privates.

‘ George W. Clark, Washington. A
Matthew H. Clark, «

David Aiken, Washington.
William Amon, “

Alexander Agnew, “ Boyd Crumrine, V V “
Robert W. Andrews, “ John R. Donehoo, “,
Andrew J. Buflington,Washington. Richard R. Forest, “
Nathan F. Brobst, “ Samuel Foster, ‘-
John Baird, * “ Henry Foster, “

Hugh J. Cunningham, l v“ John Gregg, , V “

r

363:

The rolls of the two Wash-‘

\ George Mitchel, “

364

HISTORY or WASHINGTON COUNTY, _PENNS¥LVANIA.

David Guinea, Washington. JohnlMcElroy, . Washington.

John J. Guinea, “ William Post, ' “
Charles Grier, “ Colin M. Reed, Sr., “
Joseph Henderson, P “ V Jacob F. Shafer, “
Joseph Holmes, “T Samuel Straller, “
Samuel Hazlett, “ Thomas Stewart, “
George S. Hart, “ John W. Scott, “
William P. Hart, “ John Scott, “
Samuel Hutson,» “ Sample Sweeney, “ V
-Joseph A. Jones, “ John R. Sweeney, “
James E. Lucas, “ James Smiley, - “

John P. Linn, ‘ “ R. J. Schaifer Thompson, “
John Lowe, Washington. John Wilson, ~ “ _ '
William Mathews, “ Edward Wilkins, “
Jacob Metzler, “ William Wiley, “

Tappan Wright Wiley, “
John Westley, “
John A. Wills, “
James S. Young, “

John H. Marshall, “

John A. Marchand, “ _ I
T. M. T. McKennan, Washington.
Thomas McKean,l “

During the War of the Rebellion a large number of
men from Washington County volunteered in military
organizations of West Virginia, Ohio, New York, and
other States, as well as in regiments and batteries of
Pennsylvania other than those which have been men-
tioned; but as they were widely scattered in many
different commands, it is obviously impracticable to
give separate accounts of the. honorable services per-
formed by, themin defense of the Union. '

War Contributions.--It is worthy of record that
the people of Washington County have ever been dis-
tinguished for their benevolence and practical sym-
pathy with the suffering. In the more prostrated and
extensive efforts to supply the pressing wants of the
government and to alleviate the sufferings and hard-
ships of the soldiers in the field during the war of the
Rebellion, a most praiseworthy, illustration of this

_ characteristic was exhibited in the ably organized

work of a’ generous and Christian" people, patiently
sustained and long continued, until the necessity was
fully past.’ It will be remembered that the first rude
shock of war found the governinentunprepared to
meetthe emergencies of the hour. Men were plenty,
but supplies of food and clothingto a large extent,
and more especially, supplies for the camprand hos-

pital, were not on hand; and experience was lacking, V

both onthe part of the government and of individuals,
to organize promptly to meet the tremendous de-
mands of that period. And even after the war had

grown to gigantic proportions, and the Whole energies

of the nation were absorbed in it, muchwas left to
individual effort, of which the government was subse-
quently glad to avail itself under a more ‘complete
and thorough organization. . The supplies of food and
clothing, medical stores, and hospital appliances fur-
nished directly from‘ the people were immense in
amount,»and their value in money from V_Vashington
County alone could never be exactly stated; and who
can" estimate how great was the moral effect of such
efforts in those dark days, more especially of the years
1863 and 1864, upon the soldiers in the field, who were
cheered and sustained by these evidences of the cour-
age, generosity, and faith of their friends at home?

Prominent among the organizations for the relief
of the soldiers in the field was the United States
Christian Commission, which had its treasurer for
Washington County in the person of Colin M. Reed,
Esq., who ablyand zealously performed the duties of
the trust.
lage,~and neighborhood of the county were generously
made. Churches throughout the county became or-
ganizations for contributions to the cause. Festivals,
fairs, entertainments, social gatherings, and even chil-
dren’s societies were all the means of gathering large
amounts of money, which by the local treasurers were
duly forwarded to the treasurer for the county. And
it may be said that almost all social and}. other gath-
erings of young and old during this period had the
cause of the soldier at heart. VVithin two years con-
tributions in money alone amounted to more than
thirty-eight thousand dollars. This amount, how-

ever, was merely that which was sentto the army ‘

committee of Western Pennsylvania, and did not em-
brace any part of the large amounts sent to Philadel-
phia, and is exclusive of any part of the hospital

stores sent to the various hospitals of the Eastern and _

Western armies. It is estimated that during the four
‘years of the Rebellion the citizens of Washington

‘County contributed in money and supplies not less
than one hundred and fifty thousand dollars, besides ‘

bearing the special burdens of taxation incident to
the war, and this fact will ever remain as an enduring
monument to the generosity and patriotism of her
people, ‘and as an example worthy the emulation of
coming generations of her sons and daughters."

In the great uprising of the people of the North
during the war of the Rebellion, in the display of

patriotism, the women of the land contributed their.

full share and shone conspicuously, and in ,VVash-
ington County large results were due to their zealous
and unflagging efforts. The Ladies’ Aid Society of
Washington County contributed large amounts of
money and ‘supplies of medicines and clothing, and
rendered important services to the armies in the field.
It was organized in the early months of the war.
Mrs. Joseph Henderson,_of Washington, was its presi-

dent, and Mrs. John L. Crow was treasurer, seconded.
and aided by many other noble-minded, large-hearted, ‘
and patriotic women of Washington and of the various '

townships as officers and members of important com-
mittees, who gave their time and money freely to the
work. The treasurer received large stores of clothing,‘
medicines, wines, hospital appliances, etc., subject to
the disposal of the society, and was commended for
the efiiciency and executive talentdisplayed in the

discharge of the duties of the office. _ Scores of large -

double store-boxes were packed with donations of
various kinds, entailing much labor and responsi-
bility, under the supervision of the officers of the

society, and forwardedto the various hospitals. They »

were filled with clothing of all kinds suitable for the
sick or wounded, together with lint, bandages, pads,

Contributions from every township, vil-r

GEOLOGY.

365

dried fruits, wines, cordials, etc. Not least in im-
portance in the earlier years of the war were the
woolen stockings which were sent from Washington
County. So great was the need of them that the
quar_termaster-general of the State was ‘compelled to
appeal to the women of the Commonwealth to supply
this pressing need. A plan was devised whereby the
women of the several counties were to furnish woolen

socks to the State at the rate of twenty-five cents per

pair, and the funds arising therefrom were to be paip
to the county treasurers of the respective counties, to
be appliedand distributed by these officers for the
relief of the soldiers’ families at home, thus mate-
rially relieving the weight of taxation from the people,
who were already burdened with the heavy demands

. incident to the war. More than three thousand pairs

of woolen socks were knit by the women of the county
for this society alone, and forwarded by it; and it is
a gratifying -fact that the treasurer of the organization
‘received an acknowledgment from the quartermaster-
general of the State congratulating the women of the
county upon the fact of their taking the lead in the
work, and stating that no other county in the Com-
monwealth had equaled her contributions in this
respect.

CHAPTER XXXII.
GEOLOGY-MINING}

STRUCTURAL .FEATURES——ECONOMIC GEOLOGY—COAL-
‘ V MINING IN THE COUNTY.

THE geology of VVashington County {presents but
little variety when compared with some of its eastern
neighbors. It rests within the subsiding folds of the
mountain chains to the east. Five of these folds or
waves are found to cross the county in a southwest
and northeast direction, parallel with the mountain
range, and parallel in a general way with each other,
each successive wave becoming lower and less distinct
as we recede from the mountains to the west. These
folds are undoubtedly a part of the mountain system,
with which they are similar in every respect excep
as to size and sharpness of folding. ‘

The axis of the Waynesburg anticlinal2 crosses
through the eastern end of the county, and is the

second fold west of Chestnut Ridge. It enters the 4

county one mile above lock No. 4, on the Mononga-
hela River, passes through the townships of Fallow-
field, East Pike Run, West Pike Run, East Bethle-
hem, near.Centreville, and crosses Ten-Mile Creek

1 By J. Sutton Wall, 0. and M. E., of Monongahela City.

2 For the sake of harmony, and convenience in description, we have
taken the liberty of using the names given to the anticlinals and syncli-
nals by Prof. J. J. Stevenson, in his able report on the geology of the
counties of Washington and Greene, recently published as part of the
series of volumes of the Second Geological Survey of Pennsylvania. I

24

in the neighborhood of Clarksville, from whence it
passes on into Greene County. ,

This anticlinal is about eight miles wide, and its
axis dips to the southwest at the rate of twenty feet
per mile.

Along the bottom of the synclinal trough at the

eastern side of this anticlinal we find the Mononga-

hela River flowing in a northeast direction from a.
point atlMillsborough, near the mouth of Ten-Mile
Creek, to a point at Allen Port, in'Allen township, a
distance of eighteen miles by the river. This trough
is called the Lisbon Synclinal. From the summit of
the Waynesburg Anticlinal to the bottom of this syn-
clinal there is an average dip of about seventy feet
per mile in an east-southeast direction. A

The Pin-hook Anticlinal is the third persistent and
well-marked fold west of Chestnut Ridge, and follows
a course nearly parallel with the Waynesburg Anti-
clinal. It crosses the southern line of Allegheny
County, into Washington, near the northeast corner
of Peters township, passes through the townships of
Nottingham, Somerset, West Bethlehem, near Vance-
ville, Amwell, near Amity, and leaves the county at
the southwest corner of the last-named township. . p

This anticlinal elevates the Pittsburgh coal seam to
a convenient height for mining for a-distance of three
miles up Peters Creek from the county line, and the
only place where the crest of this anticlinal brings
that seam of coal to the surface within. the county.
This coal seam is one hundred and eighty-five feet
higher at Finleyville than it is at Coal Bluff, on the
Monongahela River, the distance being about two
and a half miles. The Waynesburg Synclinal lies
between the Waynesburg and Pin—hook Anticlinals.

The Washington Anticlinal is the next fold of im- -

portance to the west of the Pin-hook Anticlinal, and
is named for the town of Washington, which rests
nearly on the line of its summit. It enters the county
at the north near the east end of Cecil township, and
follows a southwest direction up the valley of Char-
tiers Creek, passing near Canonsburg and Ewing’s
Mill. It is crossed by the Hempfield Railroadabout

one mile west of Washington, thence through the

southeast corner of Buffalo township, passes near the
village of East Finley, and leaves the county at the
southwest corner of East Finley township. _It brings

’ up the Pittsburgh coal a short distance below Can-.

onsburg to a convenient elevation for mining, which
it retains for about five miles up the creek. The

Nineveh Synclinal constitutes the trough or basin be-

tween the Pin-hook and the last-described anticlinal.
About five miles farther west we find another fold
called the Claysville Anticlinal, which comes into
the county near the northwest corner of Cecil town-
ship, passes a mile west of Venice, thence along the
eastern line of Mount Pleasant township, through
Hopewell and Buffalo townships about a mile West
of Taylorstown, and is crossed by the line of the
Hempfield Railroad at Claysville, and from thence

366

HISTORY OF WASHINGTON COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA.

it follows a southwest direction until it crosses the
State line into West Virginia.

A shallow trough called the Mansfield Synclinal
separates the Claysville from the Wash_ington Anti-
clinal. V

At Bulger Station another fold, called the Bulger
Anticlinal, is observed crossing the Panhandle Rail-
road. The entire line of its axis is not yet definitely
ascertained, but it is known to follow a direction ap-
proximately parallel with the last—named anticlinal.
A very shallow and indistinct trough, called the Bur-
gettstown Synclinal, has been noticed at the western
base of the Bulger Anticlinal.

The stratified rocksexposed at the surface in this
county belong to the coal measures, and are found to
occupy a place nearly,'if not altogether, at the top of
the carboniferous system. This portion of the system
is subdivided by geologists into lower productive,
lower barren, upper productive, and upper barren
coal series. ‘ i

The lower productive coal series, reaching from
the top of the seral conglomerate to the top of the
Mahoning‘ sandstone, contains several valuable seams
of coal, such as the Freeport, Kittanning, and others,
that are quite extensively mined in counties farther
north. "All of this series lies about six hundred feet
below the Pittsburgh coal seam, and at least four
hundred feet under the lowest strata found at the
surface here. Recent careful examinations go to
show that nearly the whole of this series underlies
the county at the indicated depth.

The lower barren series, reaching from the top of
the Mahoning sandstone to the base of the Pittsburgh
coal seam, is brought to the surface at many points,
especially along the Monongahela River, at Finley-
ville, on the line of the Pittsburgh Southern Railroad,
in the vicinity of Canonsburg, a.nd in the north-
western part of the county, amounting to about six
hundred feet in thickness. This series includes the
Morgantown sandstone, two or three thin seams of
coal, and but little limestone. It includes the green
crinoidal limestone, which serves as an excellent
guide for determining geological horizons in districts
where the accompanying sandstones and shales are
not distinctly defined. This limestone is found at
two hundred and fifty feet below the Pittsburgh coal.
Is is about four feet thick, highly fossiliferous, but of
no economic value.

The lowest point exposed in this series occurs at
lock No. 4, on the Monongahela River, where about
two hundred feet of it is brought to view. This is
the lowest point geologically reached within the
county. The base of the Morgantown sandstone is
but a few feet above high-water mark at this place.
It has been quarried for ballast on the railroad and
other building purposes. At the top of this sand-
stone we find a thin stratum of limestone, ontop of
which rests the little Pittsburgh coal seam. It ‘is too
thin for economic purposes, seldom reaching one

’ and weathers well.

foot in. thickness. About thirty feet higher‘, and at
the top of the series, we find the Pittsburgh lime-
stone, usually from four to six feet thick. It rests
but a few feet under the Pittsburgh coal seam, and is
a very valuable stone for the manufacture of iron. It
is used as a fiu_x, and contains some iron.

The upper productive coal series reaches from the
base of the Pittsburgh seam to the top of the Waynes-
burg sandstone.

The Pittsburgh coal seam is the most important
member, economically speaking, of this series, both
on account of its uniform thickness and its conven-
ient elevation for mining _along theMonongahela
River. Commencing at the line between Allegheny
and Washington Counties, we find this coal cropping
out at an elevation of about one hundred’ feet above-
the river, and it remains above high-water mark until
we reach a point about one mile above the town of
California, where it is under the river.
Brownsville it is about forty feet under low water,
and six miles farther up the coal is above water
again. From this point to Millsborough it is above
the river. It is from nine to ten feet in thickness,
including all its members, and averages about five
feet of merchantable coal. This coal is mined very
extensively for fuel and gas purposes, and has been
found to produce a good article of coke.

The Redstone coal seam is about sixty feet above
the Pittsburgh seam. It is four feet in thickness,
and makes a good fuel coal. ‘It has been mined for
domestic purposes to a limited extent. V

The great limestoneorests about one hundred and
twenty feet above the Pittsburgh coal seam, and is a
very important member of the series. The lower
members of this seam are well a_dapted to the manu-
facture of iron, and make an excellent lime for fer-
tilizing and cementing purposes. It is used largely
wherever accessible in the county. It is eighty feet
in thickness. ‘

The Uniontown coal seam is found at ‘twenty feet ’

above the top of the great limestone. It has been
mined for domestic purposes in some parts of the
county.

The Uniontown sandstone is quarried largely in ,

many places for building-stone, to which purpose it
is well adapted. It is quarried out in large blocks,
It is quite soft when first taken
from the quarry bed, is easily dressed, and hardens
on exposure to the atmosphere. It rests on top of
the Uniontown coal seam, and is forty feet in thick-
ness.

The Waynesburg coal seam rests one hundred feet
above the Uniontown coal seam, and is the highest
coal of economic importance in the county. It is six
feet in thickness, and is mined in many parts of the
county for house fuel, especially at points several miles
from the river or railroad. This coal is too soft to
stand the_ necessary handling in transportation to
market.

At West V

MINING.

367

Economic Ge0l0g‘y.—The first coal mined in this
county for market was taken from the Pittsburgh
seam, on the Monongahela River, in about the year
of 1830. This was previous to the construction of
the slackwater improvement, when ‘mining opera-
tions in this end of the State were conducted on a
very limited scale. In the years 1830 and 1831 we
find that John Jenkins, Enoch Cox, Samuel French,
Jesse Bentley, and a few others were operating coal-
mines at Limetown, Each of them owned a coal lot
containing from one to three acres. They would have
the coal dug through the winter season, carted or
wheeled out of the pit by hand and stocked on the
river bank, ready to load into boats when the first
freshet or rise in the river would come. They would

‘ usually get_the coal ‘off to market in the following

spring, but sometimes not until midsummer. The
boats used for loading in and conveying the coal to
market at that time were mostly called French Creeks,
and would hold from three to seven thousand bushels.
They derived this name from the fact that many of
the bottoms were built at French Creek, on the Alle-
gheny River, loaded with pig iron, floated down to
Pittsburgh, and sided up at various points along the
Monongahela River. The coal was screened or rather
sorted in the mine with an iron or steel coal rake, and
loaded into the boats by wheelbarrows run by hand
on a gangway plank. Two boats called a pair would

_be loaded at a time, lashed together by ropes, and

when ready to leave for market would each be pro-
vided with a steering oar, gouger, and two side sweeps,
and S a crew of one pilot and sixteen men for both
boats. The boats were floated to market, and required
about eight hours to reach Pittsburgh on a good stage
of water. Mr. H. H. Finley, who has had a long ex-

_ perience in coal-mining, says that during the month

of May, 1841, he loaded a pair of boats at Limetown,
holding six thousand bushels each, started for market,
lost one on the way, sold the other at Cincinnati in
the month of August at five cents a bushel for the
coal, and realized a profit of eighty dollars after pay-
ing all expenses. .
This method of conveying coal to market was soon
supplanted by one more convenient and expeditious,
that of tow-boats something like those of the present
day. The first tow-boat for towing coal was called
the “Traveler,” and built in 1842. There were also
a few small mines in operation farther up the river at
an early day; one at Whitesville and another at Green-
field. The coal business on this part of the river did
not attain any special degree of importance until after
the erection of dams No. 3 and 4 in 1844. Since then
it has been increasing rapidly, until now it has be-
come the most important industry of the valley, on
account of the great demand for it as a fuel and gas
coal, and the increased facilities for transporting it to
market. It is now mined on a more extensive scale
and in a more systematic manner. The coal is hauled
out of the mines by mule and steam-power in wagons

holding about one ton each. Tipple-houses are built
on abutments at the river or railroad, containing
machinery for hauling and screens for sorting it into
three grades, lump, nut, and dust coal, while it is being’.
run into the boats or cars for its reception. The
lump coal is weighed by scales located in the tipplew
house, and so constructed as to indicate the weight in.
bushels, seventy-six pounds being allowed to the
bushel by law. ,

According to the reports of the Monongahela Navi-
gation Company, there was shipped by water from
pools No. 3 and 4 in 1845 seven hundred and forty-
eight thousand seven hundred and two bushels of the
Pittsburgh coal, and in 1881 twenty-nine million five
hundred and ninty-six'thousand nine hundred bushels
of the same coal. More than one-half of this came
from mines in this county, besides a large quantity
now annually ‘transported. by rail.

Coal-Mines on the Chartiers Railroad.——The En-
terprise Coal-Mine, owned by V. Harding, leased and
operated by T. H. Simmons, is located about two and
one-half miles from the town of Washington. A
branch railroad connects this mine with the Pitts-
burgh Southern Railroad, and another branch road
connects it with the Chartiers Valley Railroad. The
coal is reached by two shafts, each one hundred and
fifty-five feet deep, one of which is used for hoist-
ing the coal out of the mine, and the other for ventila-
tion. The air-shaft contains a staircase for the use of
persons entering and leaving the mine. About forty
miners are employed in the workings. This coal is
shipped by rail to the Pittsburgh, Waynesburg, and
Wheeling markets, and a large part of it is used in
Washington.

The Allison Coal-Mine is owned and operated by
the Hon. Jonathan Allison. It is a drift opening,
and located on the line of the Chartiers Valley Rail-
road, about five miles from Washington by rail.

About five thousand bushels of coal are taken from
this mine daily. The coal is shipped by rail to Wash-
ington, Waynesburg, and Pittsburgh. Fifty miners
are employed. '

The Locust Grove Mine is situated near Canons-
burg, and owned by Shoaf & Co. This is a new mine
but recently opened up. The coal is shipped by rail,
and largely used as a steam and fuel coal at Canons-
burg.

The Cook Coal-Mine is owned and operated by H. ‘

Cook. It is located‘ at Canonsburg. This coal is
mainly used in the town for domestic purposes.
About twenty miners are employed at this mine.

Coal-Mines on the P. C. and St. L. R. R.-—The
Brier Hill Mines are operated by J. D. Sanders & Co.
The coal is transported by rail. The old workings
are nearly exhausted, and new ones are now being
opened. They employ seventy miners.

The Primrose Mine is operated by the Robbins
Block Coal Company, who ship by rail. Drainage is
effected by shaft and steam-pump.

368
The Walnut Hill Mines are operated by S. B. Rob-
bins & Co. The present workings are about ex-
hausted, and the company are arranging to develop a
new tract lying to the west of the old mines. Coal is
mined here on a pretty extensive scale. They give
employment to two hundred and fifty miners.

The Midway Block Coal Mines are operated by G.
W. Crawford & Co. These mines consist of two sep-
arate workings that are not connected underground.
A new shaft has been sunk and a steam-pump put in,

- which also furnishes the motive-power forventilation

purposes. About ninety men are employed here.

Coal-Mines on the Pittsburgh Southern R. R.—-
The Union Valley Mines are located two miles north
of Finleyville by rail. They are owned by Jacob
Legler and operated by Florshim & Young. The
coal is shipped to Washington. They employ about
twenty men.

The Anderson Mine is owned and operated by Dr.
David M. Anderson. It is located two and a half
miles west of Finleyville. It is a drift mine, and
employs twenty miners. The coal is transported to
Washington by the Pittsburgh Southern Railroad,
where it is reshipped and carried over the Baltimore

. and Ohio Railroad to Wheeling, and sold for the

manufacture of gas, for which purpose it is said to be
well adapted. «
Coal-Mines on the Monongahela and Mononga-

, hela Div, P, R. R.——The Shireoaks Mine is situated

near the line of Washington and Allegheny Coun-
ties. It is owned by William. Hodgson, and operated
under lease by Stone, Robbins & Co. The coal is
run on a tramway to the river, where it is loaded into
boats and shipped by water to the Southern and West-
ern .markets for gas and fuel purposes. These mines
have been in operation since 1864, and employ about
eighty miners. - '
- ‘Banner Mines Nos. 1 and 2 are owned and operated
by Gamble & Risher. The coal from these mines is
transported by both water and rail. ’ They have two
separate tipples, one for loading into cars at the rail-
road, and the other for loading into boats at the river.
They employ one hundred and seventy-five men.
The Cliff Mines are ownedand operated by Scully
& Co. They ship by both river and rail, and have

been in operation for over thirty years. This is a

drift mine, ventilated by a furnace. One hundred
and thirty men are employed.

The Old Coal Bluff Mines were owned and operated
by William and Samuel Bossley, who sold them to
J. K. Logan and Capt. Dorman. They continued to
operate them until 1846, when Dorrnan sold his'in-
terest to Logan. The coal of this mine is now about
exhausted. New mines were opened up adjoining the
old ones, and both mines are now owned by George
Logan. James K. Logan is still in charge. The coal
was shipped by river until after the completion of the
railroad in 1873, and since that time it has been trans-
ported by rail entirely. The mine is operated by the

HISTORY OF WASHINGTON COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA.

double entry system, and is ventilated by furnace-
power. The main entry is nearly one mile in length
from the pit mouth to the head of the workings. The
coal seam here rises at the rate of sixty-four feet per
mile in a northwest direction from the front. This is
one of the oldest mines on this part of the river.

The Cincinnati Mines, owned by the Fifth National
and Tradesmen’s National Banks of Pittsburgh, is
operated under lease by Jordan S. Neel. It is a very

'old mine, having been worked for nearly thirty years.

The double entry system is used, and ventilation is
produced by furnace-power. ' The coal is shipped by
the river. The output amounts to one million bushels
annuafly.

The Buffalo Mines are owned and operated by J. A.

Steitler. Superintendent, W. J. Morgan. These are
drift mines, and the coal is transported to the North-
ern and Western markets by rail. They have a ca-
pacity for running ten thousand bushels per day. This
is also a very old mine. Ventilation is produced by
a Champion fan, run by steam-power. '

The Garfield Mines are owned by Holmes Brothers
and J. S. Neel, and operated by J. S. Neel. This
mine was opened up during the last year, and the coal
is shipped by water. A furnace is being constructed
for ventilating the mine, and a new tipple is being
built. Arrangements will soon be made for extensive
operations. - .

The Black Hills. Mine is owned by John Byers,
John Scott, and J. B. Miller, and operated by J. B.
Miller & Co. It is a drift mine, and the coal is run
by rail. The coal is nearly all worked out. The run
per day amounts to two thousand bushels.

Courtney Mines, located at Courtney Station, owned
by John L. George & Co., and operated by the Court-
ney Coal Company. These mines were opened up in
1878, and the product of the mines is run by rail. Ven-
tilation is produced by furnace-power. It is a drift
mine. They run about four thousand bushels daily.

The Mingo Coal-Mines are owned by Lloyd, Black
& Co., of Pittsburgh. These mines were opened
about twenty years ago, but have not been in opera-
tion since 1873.

New Eagle Mines are owned by the Hon. James
H. Hopkins, of Pittsburgh, and are operated by Lind-
sey & McCutcheon. These mines were opened in
1863, and the coal is transported to market by water.
The coal is hauled from the pit mouth to the river by
means of a stationary engine and wire rope. About
seventy miners are employed. The mines are venti-
lated by furnace-power. - *

The Dry Run Mines have been in operation for
over twenty years on a moderate scale. The coal was
formerly run to the river trade; but since 1879 the
mines have only been operated to supply a local de-
mand. They are located in Monongahela City, and
were originally owned and operated by Biddle &
Tower, since .then by Joseph Haigh, and at present
by the Holmes Brothers, of Pittsburgh.

MINING.

369

Catsburg Mines. The old mine was owned by Rev.
John Kerr and William McClure. It was opened up
by H. H. Finley in 1857, under lease from the owners,

and operated by him until it was sold to Anderson & '
- Dravo, in 1864, the present owners. The new work-

ings are owned by Louis Staib, and were opened in
1879. Both mines are operated by Louis Staib, and
the coal is shipped to the Southern and Western mar-
kets by water. The coal from both mines is run over
one and the same tipple. A furnace supplies ventila-

tion to the mines. Adam Keil is the general super-

intendent. They have a running capacity of ten
thousand bushels per day. Situated in Monongahela
City.
. Warne Mines, owned and operated by James Jones,
are situated in Monongahela City, and were opened
in 1862 by Crowthers, Coulter & Warne. This coal
is run to the river by means of a stationary engine
and wire rope. They are also arranging to ship by
rail. Ventilation is produced by furnace. They were
formerly owned by Joseph Warne, and have a present
running capacity of ten thousand bushels per day.
The Barr Mines were opened in 1863 by J. D.
Johnson & Co., and are now owned by the Allegheny
Savings-Bank. They have not been in operation

— since 1871.

Black Diamond Mines are located a short distance
below Grant’s Run. The coal belonging to these

_ mines was bought by the Black Diamond Coal and

Mining Company.‘ This company was prganized and
chartered under the general mining laws of the State

» with a capital stock of $300,000, divided into 30,000
shares of $10 per share; 5000 shares were to be used

for working capital, and 2500 shares were to be used
for a contingent fund. ,The officers of the company

_ were Nicholas Schneider, president; Charles Seibert,

treasurer; Christian Seibert, secretary; Pittsburgh.
Lorenzo Hoffman, superintendent of mines; T. Bos-
well Phillips, general business superintendent; Phil-
adelphia, Pa. Directors, Charles Seibert, Lorenzvo
Hoffman, Joseph Reymann, Christian Seibert, T.
Boswell Phillips, Philip Eichenlaub, Joseph Seibert,
and Jacob Dressel, with their principal office at No.
89 Water Street, Pittsburgh.

The operations of this company continued until
1869, when with the death of Christian Seibert they
ceased to work the mines and sold them to William
H. Brown, who made large improvements both in and
outside of the workings. And since the death of
William H. Brown, in 1875, they have been held by
his heirs and operated under lease by Louis Staib.
This coal is run by water. Ventilation is produced
by furnace-power. They are able to run about eight
thousand bushels of coal per day.

Abe Hayes.Mine is owned and operated by Abra-
ham Hayes as a -river mine. This mine was opened
up and put in running order in 1863 by Robert Robi-
son (since deceased), who owned the property, since
which time it was sold by Robison’s heirs to the pres-

, which is shipped by river.

___._.

ent owner. It is a drift mine, ventilated by furnace,
and runs about eight thousand bushels of coal per
day. Thomas Hutchison is the superintendent.

The Victory Mines were owned and opened up by
Rodgers, Rea & Co. about 1860, and were continued
to be worked until 1874, since which time they have
been suspended. They are drift mines, and, the coal
was run to the river, and thence to Southern and
Western markets. ;

The Harlem Coal-Mines were owned and opened
up for the late Judge Thomas H. Baird by H. H. Fin-
ley in 1844. They have been operated successively
by Judge Baird, Harrison Nelson, and Greenarch,
Thomas H. Baird, J r., and until the present year by
the Harlem Coal Company. The coal is all mined
out and the mines are now abandoned. This was a
drift mine, and the coal run by river.

Stockdale Mines were put in operation by John
Stoaf and Charles Cokain under lease from Richard
Stockdale, the owner, about 1875. They are now
owned and operated by Jacob Toomer and Michael
McKinley. The coal is run to the river by an inclined
tramway. . The mine is ventilated by furnace-power,
and produces seven thousand bushels daily.

The Gilmore Mines were owned and opened up by
Mr. Bissell, who was succeeded by the present owner,
Capt. John Gilmore. These mines were exhausted
two years ago. The coal was run by river.

' Clipper Mines, owned and operated by the Clipper
Coal Company, are situated near Allenport. They
are drift mines, and produce about four thousand
bushels daily.

American Works are owned and operated by F. H.
Corson. They are drift mines, and the coal is run to
the river. They run about four thousand bushels
daily. Ventilation is produced by furnace-power.

Woo.d’s Run Mine was formerly operated by Lead-
beater & Co., but at present by VV. H. Gregg & Co.
They produce four thousand bushels daily, which is
transported to market by the river. The mine is
ventilated by furnace-power. It is owned by William
Thompson.

Champion Mines are owned by William Thompson,
and operated under leaseby Morgan, Dixon & Co.
They produce three thousand bushels of coal daily,
Furnace ventilation.

Eclipse Mine is operated by Jordan S. Neel. It is
a drift mine, and runs ten thousand bushels per day.
The coal is shipped by river. Furnace ventilation.

Caledonia Mines are owned by William Thompson,
and operated under lease by Thomas J . Wood & Co.
They ship by water. About three thousand five hun-
dred bushels is produced here daily.

Globe Mines are owned and operated by Crowthers,
Musgrove & Co. This also includes the Dexter mines
at this time. The coal is transported by river, except
what is supplied to the locomotives on the railroad.
They produce eight thousand bushels of coal daily.
The mines are ventilated by furnace-power." ‘

42

HISTORY OF WASHINGTON COUNTY. PEN N SYLVANIA.

O

“ The rain fell heavily through the day, the trenches promise to hinder his receiving any insult from us French, and to re-

were filled with water, and many of the arms of Col.
VVashington’s men were out of order and used with
difficulty. In this way the battle continued from
eleven o’clock in the morning till eight at night, when
the French called and requested a parley} Suspect-
ing this to be a feint to procure the admission of an
officer into the fort, that he might discover their con-
dition, Col. Washington at first declined listening to
the proposal; but when the call was repeated, with the
additional request that an oflicer might be sent to
them, engaging at the same time their parole for his
safety, hesent out Capt. Van Braam, the only person

’ under his command that could speak French except

the Chevalier de Peyronie, an ensign in the Virginia

regiment, who was dangerously wounded and disabled

from rendering any service on the occasion. Van
Braam returned, and brought with him from M. de

. Villiers, the French commander, proposed articles of

Capitulation. These he read and pretended to inter-
pret,'and some changes having been made by mutual
agreement, both parties signed them about mid-
night.”

It was a mortifying close to Washington’s first cam-
paign, and the scene must have been a most ‘dismal
one when he signed the capitulation at dead of night
amidtorrents of rain, by the light of a solitary splut-
tering candle,” and with his dead and wounded men
around him; but there was no alternative, and he
had the satisfaction at least of knowing that he had
done his best, and that all his officers, with a single
exceptionf’ had behaved with the greatest coolness
and bravery. »

; The articles of capitulation were of course written
in French. The following translation of them shows
the terms granted to Washington, viz.:

“ARTICLE 1.—Wc grant leave to the English commander to retire
with all his garrison, and to return peaceably into his own country, and

1 The account given by De Villiers of the closing scenes of the battle,
and of the call for a parley,'is as follows: “ Towards six at night the fire
of the enemy increased with more vigor than ever, and lasted until
light. We briskly returned their fire. We took particular care to secure
our posts to keep the English fast up in their fort all night; and after
having fixed ourselves in the best position we could we let the English

. know that if they would speak to us we would stop firing. They accepted

the proposal; there came a captain to the place where I was. I sent M.
la Mercier to receive him, and I went to the Meadow, where I told him
that as we were not at War we were very willing to save them from the
cruelties to which they exposed themselves on account of the Indians;
but if they were stubborn we would take away from themvall hopes of
escaping; that we consented to be favorable to them at present, as We
were come only to revenge my brother’s assassination, and to oblige them
to quit the lands of the king my master. . . .”

2An oflicer who was present at the capitulation wrote: “ When Mr.
Van Braam returned with the French proposals we were obliged to take
the sense of them from his mouth; it rained so hard that he could not
give us awritten translation of them, and we could scarcely keep the
candle lighted to read them by.”

3When in the following August the Virginia House of Burgesses
passed a vote of thanks to Washingtonand his officers “ for their bravery
and gallant defense of their country” at Fort Necessity, the names of all
the officers were mentioned except that of the major of the regiment,

‘ who was charged with cowardice in the battle, and Capt. Van Braam,
I who was believed to have acted a. treacherous part in interpreting the

articles of capitulation.

strain,‘ as much as shall be in our power, the Indians that are with us.

“ ARTICLE 2 -—It shall be permitted him to go out and carry with him
all that belongs to them except the artillery, which we reserve.

“ ARTICLE 3.—That we will allow them the honors of war,—-that they
march out with drums beating and one swivel gun,—being willing
thereby to convince them that we treat them as friends.

“ ARTICLE 4.-—That as soon as the articles are signed by both parties
the English colors shall be struck. '

“ ARTICLE 5.—That to-morrow, at break of day, a detachment of
French shall go and make the garrison file off, and take possession of
the fort. ' '

“ARTICLE 6.-—As the English have but few oxen or horses left, they

are at liberty to hide their effects, and come again and search for them -

when they have a number of horses sufiicient to carry them off, and
that for this end they may have what guards they please, on condition
that they give their word of honor to work no more on any buildings in
this place, or any part on this side of the mountains.

“ ARTICLE 7.-—And as the English have in their power one oflicer, two
cadets, and most of the prisoners made at the assassination of M. de

« Jumonville, and promise to send them back with a safe guard to Fort

Du Quesne, situate on the Ohio, for surety of their performing this
article as well as this treaty, M. Jacob Van Braam and Robert Stobo,
both captains, shall be delivered as hostages till the arrival of ' our
French and Canadians above mentioned. We oblige ourselves, on our

side, to give an escort to return these two oflicers in safety, and expect

to have our French in two months and a half at farthest.”

The capitulation was signed by Washington, Mac-
kay, and Villiers. The latter had cunningly caused
the articles to be so worded that the English.officers
(who knew nothing of the French language) were

_made to sign an apparent acknowledgment that the

killing of J umonville‘-‘ was an act of assassination. It
was expected that Van Braam, the so-called, inter-
preter, knowingly connived at the deception, and this
opinion was firmly held by Washington, who.after-
wards wrote in reference to it as follows: “That we
were wilfully or ignorantly deceived by ourlinter-
preter in regard to the word assassination I do aver,
and will to my dying moment, so will every officer
that was present. The interpreter was a,Dutchman,
little acquainted with the English tongue, therefore
might not advert to the tone and meaning of the
word in English; but whatever his motives were for
so doing, certain it is he called it the death or the
loss of the Sieur J umonville. So we received and so
we understood it, until, to our great surprise and
mortification, we found it otherwise in a literal trans-
lation.” A - _

The numbers of the English forces engaged in the
battle at the Great Meadows is not precisely known.
The Virginia regiment went in three hundred strong,
including ofiicers, and their loss in the engagement

was twelve killed and forty—three wounded? Capt’.-

Mackay’s company numbered about one hundred,
but its losses in killed and wounded were not of-
ficially stated. On the French side, according to the
statement of De Villiers, the losses were two French-
men and one Indian killed, fifteen Frenchmen and
two Indians seriously, and a number of others slightly
wounded.

4 “ We made the English,” said Villiers, “ consent to sign that they

had assassinated my brother in his camp.”
5 By Washington’s own oflicial statement.

370

HISTORY OF, WASHINGTON COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA.

Neel’s Mine is owned and operated by Jordan S.
Neel. The coal is shipped by river, and about ten
thousand bushels is produced daily. This is a drift
mine; furnace ventilation; located at Greenfield.

Knob Mines are located one mile above West
Brownsville. The coal here lies below water-level,
and is reached by a slope. It is operated by the
Knob Coal Company. They have a furnace and ven-
tilating shaft sixty feet deep. About five thousand
bushels of coal is produced daily, and sent to market
by water.

Sarild-W0rks.——Although the sand of the Monon-
gahela Valley had been used as a material forithe
manufacture of glass for at least half a century, its
general introduction was chiefly brought about by the
Speers family inand about Bellevernon.
deposit of this region extends on the same plane from
the Youghiogheny River, near Perryopolis, to its out-
cropping on. both sides of the Monongahela at Belle-
vernon. The sand deposit at the works of Capt. S.
C. Speers is the most extensive on‘ the river, and of a

- very superior quality, as the following analysis, made

by Otto Wuth, chemist, of Pittsburgh, will show:

= 99.104 per cent.

 

Silicic acid

Peroxide of iron = .332 “

Alumina = .104 , “

Lime ‘; .

Magnesia I = A17 “
99.957 “

It has been many years since L. M. Speers, in his

primitive mode, washed and otherwise prepared this
sand for market. The process consisted in a screen
and box about eight by three feet. The box was
filled with water, and passing through the screen the
sand was divested of all pebbles. It was then well
stirred, and finally settled in the bottom of the box
by a system of mauling the box on its sides. The
water was then drawn off, and the sand laid away in
the sand-pen ready for market.
, This primitive works was erected at a small stream
of water near the Baptist Church in the year of 1858.
A short time after this he erected, at the ravine above
where is the glass wareroom of R. C. Schmertz & Co.,
another works run by horse-power, in which-he pre-
pared sand for market. The demand for sand being
on the increase, he invented and put in operation at
the river a steam’ screen-washing machine, by which
from forty to fifty tons of sand could be washed per
day. By a patent dated June 4, 1867, issued to James
French, a new and superior washer came into use.
The necessary machinery for its operation was erected
at the river below the ferry by the Clipper Sand
Company, consisting of J. W. Clark, S. ‘ C. Speers,
and James French. This company opened and oper-
ated a sand-bank on the farm of S. C. Speer, and
found the quality of this sand to be superior to‘ that
washed by L. M. Speer in the upper part of the sand
field.

The sand ,

In 1872 this company purchased all the right and
interest of L. M. Speer in the former works.

In 1880, S. C. Speers bought out the interest of J.
W. Clark and James French, and has since then been
the sole proprietor of sand operations in this region.
From five thousand to thirteen thousand tons of sand
has been run per annum from these works. The sur-
face soil is first removed from the sand-bank, and the
sand is conveyed to the washer at the river by a nar-
row-gauge railroad, where it is washed and run into
boats on the river or cars at the railroad.

CHAPTER XXXIII.

INTERNAL IMPROVEMENTS.

NATIONAL ROAD-—TURNPIKES—NAVIGATION—
RAILRO ADS.

ROADS—THE

THE first step in the direction of public internal
improvements in all new and undeveloped sections of

country, except such as are located on navigable"

waters, is the opening of highways or practicable
routes of travel to and from the cabins and clearings
of the newly-arrived settlers. These, in the pioneer-
ing days of Western Pennsylvania, were often mere
bridle-paths or cartways through the woods, which
afterwards were either abandoned or improved to
passable roads when the country became more thickly
populated; but through some sections roads had been
opened and built at the public expense long before
the coming of white settlers. This was not, strictly
speaking, the case within the limits of Washington
County, yet her eastern boundary had been reached
by a good practicable road (for those days) from the
Potomac River, east of the mountains, nearly ten
years before it became the highway of the first set-
tlers who came to make their homes on the west shore
of the Monongahela. This was the military road
built in 1755 by Gen. Braddock forthe passage of his
army from Fort Cumberland over the Allegheny
Mountains a.nd Laurel Hill, and its extension, built
four years later by Col. Burd, from a point near the
foot of the latter range westwardto the Monongahela
where the town of Brownsville now stands.

Five years before the march of Braddock, Col.
Thomas Cresap, of Oldtown, Md., was employed by

the Ohio Company to select and mark a route for their ‘

proposed traffic between their base of operations at
Wills’ Creek (Cumberland), Md., and their objective-
point at the site of the present city of Pittsburgh;
and ‘so, in execution of this mission, he set out from
Wills’ Creek in the year mentioned, with the old
Delaware chief N emacolin as a principal guide, and
assisted by several other Indians,.and proceeded north-
westwardly over a route not materially different from
that afterwards traversed by Washington and Brad-
dock in their respective campaigns, until he reached

INTERNAL IMPROVEMENTS.

371

the west base of the Laurel Hill, in .what is now
Fayette County, from which point, instead of turning
northeast as the later military road did, he proceeded
down the valley of Bedstone Creek to its mouth,
where his work ended, forit was proposed at that
point to abandon land carriage and take transporta-
tion down the Monongahela to its confluence with the
Allegheny.

Col. Cresap, however, neither built nor opened any
part of the. proposed road, but merely selected its
route, and indicated the same by blazing and mark-
ingtrees, and occasionally rearing piles of stones as
landmarks at prominent points. But in 1753 the Ohio
Company sent out a party of pioneers, who “opened
the road,“ though they made it little more than a

bridle-path for the passage of pack-horses. A few

months later (in January, 1754) Capt. William Trent,
with a small company of men, inthe employ of the
Ohio Company, marched over the road, and further
improved it as they passed. At its western terminus,
the mouth of Redstone Creek, they built the “ Han-

gard” store-house for the company, and then passed A

on down the river to commence building a fort at the
Forks of the Ohio.

In 1754, Washington with his little army, on the
campaign which ended in the surrender of Fort Ne-
cessity on the 4th of July in that year, passed over
the same road, and improved it so that it was passable

. for wagons and light pieces of artillery to the west

side of Laurel Hill. “In 1754,” he says, “ the troops
whom I had the honor to command greatly repaired

it as far as Grist’s‘ plantation, and in 1755 it was

widened and completed by Gen. Braddock to within
six miles of Fort Du Quesne.”
In the latter part of the summer of 1759, Col.

_I-Ienry Bouquet, military commandant at Carlisle,

Pa., ordered Col. James Burd to inspect the defenses
and stores at Fort Cumberland; thence to march to
the Monongahela, there to erect a fort and to con-
struct a road from it to the most practicable point on
Braddock’s road ;2 the proposed fort being intended

1 Washington, in advocating this route in preference to the" more north-
erly one through Bedford for the passage of Forbes’ troops in 1758, said,
“ The Ohio Company in 1753, at a considerable expense, opened the road,”
etc. -

2 The substance of Col. Burd’s orders, and his procedure under them,
are explained in a journal kept by him at the time, which is found in
the Pennsylvania Archives, and from which the following entries are
extracted, viz.: -

“ Ordered in August, 1759, to march with two hundred men of my bat-
talion to the mouth of Redstone Creek, where it empties itself into the

river Monongahela, to cut a road somewhere from Gen. Braddock’s road‘

to that place, as I shall judge best, and on my arrival there to erect a
fort in order to open a communication by the river Monongahela to
Pittsburg, for the more easy transportation of provisions, etc., from the
provinces of Virginia and Maryland. Sent forward the detachment
under the command of Lieut.-Col. Shippen, leaving one oflicer and
thirty men to bring our five wagons. . . . When I have cut the road
and finished the fort I am to leave one oflicer and twenty-five men as
a garrison, and march with ‘the remainder of my battalion to Pitts-
burgh. . . . ' i

“ 10th Sept.——Saw Col. Washington’s fort, which was called Fort Ne-
cessity. . . .

as a base of supply for Fort Pitt, while the road to
be built from it to Braddock’s road would afford the
means of continuous communication from Fort Cum-
berland to a conven/lent point of embarkation onthe
Monongahela River. After concluding his inspection
at Fort Cumberland, and having previously sent for-
ward a small detachment under his chief engineer
officer, Lieut.-Col. Shippen, Col. Burd set out with

the remainder of his force (leaving his little wagon- 5‘

train to follow), and passed over the same route taken
by Braddock years before to Gist’s, now Mount Brad-
dock. This was the end of his travel over the route
pursued by the ill-fated expedition of 1755. At Gist’s
he ordered his men to commence work in opening a
road thence northwestwardly towards the Mononga-
hela, following the route which Capts. Polson and
Lewis had partially cut through for about eight miles
from Gist’s at the time when VVashington was ._in-
trenching at that place in June, 1754.

Having thus set his men at work on the road from
Gist’s to the Redstone, Col. Burd, with Col. Thomas
Cresap (who was with him as _a guide, having previ-
ously explored this region to some extent), Col. Ship-
pen, and probably Lieut. Grayson, of his command,

. rode forward through the woods to the Monongahela,

striking the valley of Redstone Creek, and following
it down to where it enters the river. It seems to have

been in contemplation to build the fort at the mouth ’

of this stream, where Capt. Trent’s men had con-
structed the old “Hangard” store-house four years
before, but the orders of Col. Burd left it in his dis-
cretion to select the site which he might regard as the
most eligible. So, after viewing the ground at the
mouth of the Redstone, and not ‘finding it to suit his
ideas as the site of a fortification, he proceeded up the
river until he came to the mouth of Nemacolin’s' or

“ 11th Sept.—Marched this morning; two miles from hence we found
Gen. Braddock’s grave, about twenty yards from a little hollow, in which
there was a small stream of water, and over it a bridge. We soon got
to Laurel Hill; it had an easy ascent on this side, but on the other very
steep. . . . We continued our march, and got to Guest’s [Gist’s] place;
here we found a fine country.

“ 13th Sept.——~Determined, if the hunters should not return before
noon, to begin to open the road along some old blazes, which we take to
be Col. Washington's. At noon began to cut the road to Redstone ; be-
gan a quarter of a mile from camp; the course N. N. W. The course of
Gen. Braddock’s road N. N. E., and turns much to ye eastward. Opened
this afternoon about half a mile. Marked two trees at the place of
beginning thus: -

“ ‘ The road to Redstone, Col. J. Burd, 1759.

“ ‘ The road to Pittsburg, 1759.’

“ 22d Oct.—This morning I went to the river Monongahela, recon-
noitred Redstone, etc., and concluded upon the place for the post, being
a hill in the fork of the river Monongahela and Nemocalling’s Creek [af-
terwards called Dun1ap’s Creek], the best situation I could find, and re-
turned in the evening to camp. The camp moved two miles, to Coal
Run. This run is entirely paved inthe bottom with fine stone-coal, and
the hill on the south of it is a rock of the finest coal I ever saw. I
burned about a bushel of it on my fire. '

“ 23d Oct.-—Continued working on the road. Had sermon to-day at
10 A.M. At noon moved the camp two and a half miles to the river
Monongahela. N o bateaux arrived.

“ 28th Oct.—Sunday.‘ Continued on the works; had sermon in the
fort.”

372

, HISTORY OF WASHINGTON COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA.

Dunlap’s Creek, about one and one—fourth miles
farther up, and determined to erect" his fort just below
the mouth of that stream, on the high ground (now
Brownsville) commanding the Monongahela, the val-
ley of the creek, and the country for some distance to
the rear; this being, as he said in the journal, “the
best situation I could find.” There, during the months
of October and November, he built the fort, and to it
from Braddock’s road he constructed a new road, six-
teen and a quarter miles in length, which was called
"‘Burd’s road.” Five or six years later it began to
be used by a few emigrants from the East bound to
the valley of the Monongahela, and it was traveled
by nine—tenths of all those who came to settle within
the present limits of Washington County prior to the
Revolution.

The first road petition to any court west of the
Allegheny Mountains was a petition of inhabitants
of Springhill township, presented at the April term
of the Court of Quarter Sessions of Westmoreland
County in 1773, on which John Moore, Thomas Scott,
Henry Beeson, Thomas Brownfield, James McLean,
and Philip-Shute were appointed viewers upon a road
“ to begin at or near the mouth of a run known by
the name of Fish-Pot Run, about two miles below the
mouth of Ten-Mile Creek, on the west side of Monon-
gahela River (it being a convenient place for a ferry
as also a,good direction for a leading road to the most
western part of the settlements), thence the nearest
and best way to the forks of Dunlap’s path and Gen.
Braddock’s road on the top of Laurel Hill.” The
viewers appointed on this road were John Moore,
Thomas Scott (the first prothonotary of Washington
County), Henry Beeson, Thomas Brownfield, James
McClean, and Philip Shute. At the October sessions,
in the same year, viewers’ were appointed to View a

-road “from the southwest side of the Monongahela

River, opposite to the town of Pittsburgh, by Dr. Ed-
ward Hand’s land on Chartiers Creek, to the settle-
ments up said creek, supposed to be at or near the
western boundary of the province of Pennsylvania.”

At January sessions, 1774, Andrew Pierce, Moses
Brady, Morgan Morgan, David Allen, Henry Taylor,
and John Kennon (doubtless John Canon) were ap-
pointed viewers, on the petition of diversinhabitants
of Springhill and Pitt townships, “ to view a road to
begin at Thomas Guess’s (Gist’s), from thence to Paul
Froman’s mill near the river Monongahela, and from
thence to another mill of the said Paul Fronian on
Chartiers Creek.” This’ last mill was in North Stra-
bane township, now Beck’s Mills.

At April sessions, 1774, “upon the petition of a
number of the inhabitants of Tyrone and Menallen
townships, setting forth that they are u11der diflicult
circumstances for want of a public road leading into
Braddock’s road on any part of the mountain; and
further we would observe to your worships that from
the natural situation of the country we, at present,
who live on the West side of the Monongahela River

are obliged frequently to carry our com the distance
of twenty miles, to the mill of Henry Beeson, near
Laurel Hill, and in all probability at some seasons of
the year will ever have to do so; and praying your
worships would be pleased to grant us a public road
to (begin 011 the east side of the. Monongahela River,
near the old fort (Brownsville), thence to Henry Bee-
son’s mill, and thence to intersect Braddock’s road
near the forks of Dunlap’s road and said read on the
top of Laurel Hill.” Richard Waller, Andrew Linn,
J r., William Calvin, Thomas Crooks, Henry Hart,
and Joseph Crrayble were appointed viewers, and the

‘road was afterwards ordered laid out.

At the first session of Lord Dunmore’s (Augusta
County, Va.) court, held at_ Pittsburgh, Feb. 22,
1775, a number of viewers were appointed, among
whom were Capt. VVilliaIn Crawford and Van Swear-
ingen (first sheriff of Washington County), to view
a road petitioned for, “to run from Providence
Mounce’s'[Mount’s] Mill, by Ausberger’s Ferry, to
Catfish Camp.” And a road was ordered to be viewed
from Gist’s settlement to Paul Froman’s, on Chartiers
Creek ; also another from Fort Dunmore (Pittsburgh)
to Paul Froman’s, on the east branch of Chartiers.
A road from the foot of Laurel Hill, by William
Teagarden’s ferry (on the Monongahela, in Washing-

ton County), to the mouth of Wheeling Creek (Vir- 

ginia), was ordered by the same Virginia court, on
the 17th of May, 1775.

The first petition for a road after the organization
of the Washington County Court was made by inhab-
itants of Strabane township at the October term of
1781, when Alexander Early, Thomas Hambleton,
James Patterson, William Huston, Abraham Van
Middleswarth, and Nathaniel Brown were appointed
viewers, with instructions from the court, “if neces-
sary, to lay out a road the nearest and best way from
Catfish Camp [Washington] to the Presbyterian meet-
ing-house in the forks of Chartiers Creek.” At the
same session Hugh Montgomery Brackenridge, Esq.,
represented to the court “that a road is much wanted
from Catfish Camp to Pittsburgh,” and the same with
regard to “a road from John Canon, Esq., his mill,

to Pittsburgh; whereupon Henry Hulse, Andrew '

Hood, Moses Coe, Joseph Beelor, James Bradford,
J r., and John White, J r., were appointed viewers of
the first-named proposed route, and Robert Ballstone,

William Long, Thomas Bracken, John Springer, ohn

Henry, and Nathaniel Stokes of the latter.”
At the January term in 1782 a petition was pre-

sented prayingfor a road from Bassett Town (Wash-
ington) to Redstone Ferry. Viewers were appointed, ,

who reported favorably, with survey of route, at the
succeeding April term, and the road was afterwards
ordered laid out.

Also, at the»January term in 1782, petitions were
presented and viewers appointed for roads as follows:
“a road from Rodgers’ Mill to Fort Pitt;” “a road
from J ohn'Canon, Esquire’s, mill to Samuel John-

INTERNAL IMPROVEMENTS.

373

son’s mill;” a road “from Bassett Town to Fort
Decker,'on the Ohio;” and a road “from Bassett
Town to the mouth of a gut about forty perches
below the mouth of Pigeon Creek.” The last-named
._1“,Q@d.-was returned in March, 1784, as havingbeen
laid out thirty-three feet Wide. Among the numerous
other roads petitioned for in the early years (many
of which, however, were never opened) the court
records show the following:

1782, October term.——“ Road from Bassett town by
Leet’s mill, and so forth.” December term, same
year, road“ from Monongahela River, opposite Pees’
mill, thence to intersect the road from the old Vir-
ginia court-house to Pentecost’s mill.”

1783, July term.——“ Petition being made by several

‘ inhabitants of this county setting forth that they la-

bour under many inconveniences for want of a public
road leading from Col. John Canon’s mill to the Sc-
ceders’ Meeting-house. The road having been for
some time altered so that it is inconvenient to pass or
get to the meeting-house, and praying the court to
appoint proper persons to review the same, and if
they see cause to alter the said road they do the same
by courses and distances, the nearest and best Way,
the least injurious to private property, and most con-
ducive to public utility.” At same time, petition
for "‘a road from Washington to Samuel J ohnson’s
mill, Esq., on Raccoon Creek. This was returned as

_ laid out in September next following. At December

term, same year, a road was ordered “from James

Crawford’s ferry (above Brownsville) to Zephaniah’

Beall’s.’’
, -1783, September.——-Ordered to View “at road from

Hyde’s Ferry, on Monongahela River, to the town of .

Washington.” Same term.—Petition for road “ from

_ Wells’ mill, on Cross Creek, to Washington.” Laid-
out and reported in following year. Same term.~—

“ Petition for a road from Wells’ mill, on Cross Creek,
to Samuel Beelor’s fort, on Raccoon Creek.” Same
term.——“ Road from McKee’s ferry, thence nearly past
the meeting-house, and to intersect the Pittsburgh
road at some convenient place near Peters Creek
Meeting-House.” Same term.--Return made of a
road laid out by order of court “from the town of
Washington to Jacob Bowsman’s, opposite to Pitts-
burgh.” December, same year.——Petition for a road
“ from Cross Creek Meeting-House to Buffalo Meeting-
House.” Returned in March following as having
been laid out thirty-three feet wide.

' 1784, March sessions.—Return of “ a road from
Washington to Waller’s Mill. Complained of by Rev.
Joseph Smith as injurious. Review ordered.” June
sessiohs, same year.-—“ Petition fora road from Canon’s
Mill to Bowsman’s ferry. Laid out and reported in
September following.” At same sessions.———“Road
from Redstone ferry to Bowsman’s ferry” confirmed at
September term, “ except ‘that part opposite William
Parker,” which was ordered reviewed.

1784, September term.—-—Petition of ‘inhabitants of

Strabane and Cecil townships for “ a road from Wash-
ington to Canon’s Mill.”
out. Same sessions.—-Petition of “inhabitants of
Ten-Mile Creek for a road from Oliver Crawford’s
ferry, on Monongahela, to J ackson’s Fort, on the
south fork of Ten-Mile Creek.” Same sessions.——
Petition from Donegal, Bufl"alo, and Canton townships
for “a road from Washington to the State Line, to
intersect the road from Wheeling to said Line.”

1786, June sessions.—-—Petition for a road “ from
Wells’ Mill, on Cross.Creek, to Canon’s Mill, on Char-
tiers Creek.” Viewers appointed and order issued.
At the March sessions, 1787, the viewers reported the
road laid out. Confirmed, and order issued to open.

17 90,-Petition for a road “ from Mr. Smith’s Meet-
ing-House, on Buffaloe, to intersect the Washington
and Pittsburgh road at Jane Weaver’s, on Chartiers
Creek.” June, 17 91.——“ Late petition for road from
Rev. Joseph Smith’s Meeting—House to where the
Raccoon road crosses Chartiers Creek.” Reported
laid out.

1791, March sessions.--Petition for a road “leading

from Muddy Creek and Whitely road by Everard
Hupp’s mill, James Crawford’s ferry, Westland Meet-
ing-House, and Nathan Heald’s mill, to intersect the
Pittsburgh road.” Reported laid out in January,
1792. »
1792, September sessions.——Road ordered .“ from or
near Bavington Mill, on Raccoon Creek, to strike the
State Line near Philip Beall’s.” Laid out in the fol-
lowing year. Same sessions.-—'-Road ordered “from
John Baldwin’s Mill to the mouth of Mingo Creek.”
Laid out and reported in June following.

1793, March sessions.—-Road ordered “ leading from
Cannonsburg road near Capt. Aaron Williams’ house
on Peters Creek, the nearest way to the forks of Mingo
Creek, into the road that leads from John Baldwin’s
mill to the mouth of ‘Mingo Creek.” Reported laid
out in June following. Same sessions.——Road ordered
“from Chartiers Creek at John White’s mill to the
Fort Pitt road near I-Iamilton’s mill.” Reported laid
out in following year. .

17 98, June sessions.——Order by court “ to lay out a
road leading along the bank of the Monongahela
River from the landing of William Nailor, Esq., at
the hatter-shop of James Nailor, to intersect the road
leading from Raccoon settlement to Devore’s ferry on
river aforesaid at or near the mouth of Mingo Creek.”
Reported laid out in following year. Same sessions.
—-Road ordered “leading from the Monongahela
River opposite the mouth of Middle Run, as a con-
tinuance of a road already laid out from Uniontown
in Fayette County to the said mouth of Middle Run,
the nearest and best way to Richard Greggs mill on
Muddy Creek to intersect a road leading to Washing-
ton.” Same sessions.——Road reported laid out “from
Robert Montgomery’s mill to James McClelland’s, on
road leading from Mr. Canon’s to Mr. Wells’ mill.”
Same ‘sessions.-—Road ordered “ from Humphrey

Persons appointed to lay it.-

374

HISTORY OF WASHINGTON COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA.

Blackway’s to Fredericktown; to be laid out about

' one mile from VVilliam McFarlane’s, and half a mile

from Caleb Baldwin’s saw-mill, to intersect the Pigeon
Creek road that leads from Bentley’s mill to Devore’s
Ferry, near Barout’s still-house.” Reported laid out
in following year. Same sessions.—Road ordered
leading from Pigeon Creek meeting-house to" the
county line near Jacob Long’s widow, or James
Mitchell, Esq. Laid out in following year. Septem-
ber sessions, 1793.—Road ordered “ from Demas Lind-
ley’s mill, to intersect at Ryerson’s road on the Divid-
ing Ridge between Wheeling and Ten-Mile Creeks.”
Reported laid out in following year. December ses-
sions, 1793.—Road ordered “ from the church near
Edward West’s to James McFarlane’s mill.” Laid
out in the following year. Same sessions.—Road or-
dered “ from near the three-mile tree on the Redstone
road to a new ferry [John Krepps’] about to be erected
on the Monongahela River above the mouth of Dun-
1ap’s Creek.” Reported laid out in following year.
Same sessions.—Road ordered “ from Valentine’s mill
on the Indian Camp Run to intersect the road leading
to the mouth of Buffalo Creek, near Charles’ Wells,
Esq.” Reported laid out in June of the following
year.

1794, March sessions.—Road ordered “from John
Brown’s mill on Brush Run to the great road leading
from Washington to Charlestown (Wellsburg), at or
near Andrew Dickey’s.” Laid out and reported in
June of same year. Same sessions.—Road ordered
“ from John Heaton’s, Esq., mill on the south fork of
Ten-Mile to C01. VVilliam Wallace’s mill on north
fork of said creek.” Reported laid out in same year.
Same sessions.—Road ordered “ from Chartiers Meet-
ing-House to Mingo Meeting-House.” Reported laid
out in June of same year. Same sessions.—Road or-
dered laid out “from Caponsburg road touching Pat-

terson’s Mills on Cross Creek, to intersect Mingo

Bottom and Cove roads, near or on the plantation of
Richard Wells.” Laid out and reported in June fol-
lowing. _ - - L

1794, June session.s.—-“Road from Headley’s Mill
to intersect the road leading from J ackson’s Fort to
Washington.” Laid out and reported in following
year. September sessions, 17 94.—Road ordered“ from

- ford at Ruff’s Creek, Hathaway’s Road, to intersect

Wheeling Road on Whitely Creek, at George Lems-
ley’s old place.” Laid out in following year. Same
sessions.—-‘Road ordered “ from James Hook’s mill to
intersect the road from Garrard’s fort to Washington,
at or near William Cree’s, in a direction to the Mo-
nongahela River, at the mouth of Little Whitely
Creek.” Laid out and reported in March following.
December sessions, 1794.—Court issued order “to
view branches of two roads from _Chartiers stone
meeting-house to Washington, or where they intersect
each other, near John Sutherland’s.” In March,
1795, the commissioners reported, declaring the north
branch “troublesome and expense, wholly unneces-

sary, and should be vacated; also a part of the south
branch.’-’ i
1795, March.—Road reported “from John Smith’s

mill to a place known by the name of Cooper’s field, ‘

on the great road that leads from the mouth of Mill
Creek to the Town of Washington.” Confirmed. Same
sessio'n.——Road reported “ from Louis Riffle’s, on Mo-
nongahela River, to the road commonly called Van
Swearingen’s Road.” Confirmed. Same sessions.--
Road reported “from George Burgett’s mill to John
Comly’s mill on Harmon’s Creek, and from thence to
strike the road to Mingo Bottom.” Confirmed. Same
sessions.—Road reported “ from James Stevenson’s
mill on Raccoon Creek to intersect the great road
leading from Burgett’s mill to Mingo Bottom.”

It would of course be impracticable, if not well-
nigh impossible, to give an account of the multitude
of roads which have been opened from time to time

in later years, butmention of some of the most im- ‘
portant ones will befound in the histories of the sev- _

eral townships.

The National, or Cumberland Road.——The pro-
ject of a great national highway to cross the Alle-
ghenies and connect the remote settlements of the
Ohio Valley with the country east of the mountains
was conceived soon after the close of the war of the

Revolution; and the first and most earnest, as he was 9

also the most illustrious of all its advocates, was Gen.
George Washington. One of the first objects to which
he gave his attention after his retirement from the
command of the Revolutionary armies was a careful
examination of the country between the Potomac and
the Monongahela, to note the advantages offered and
the obstacles to be surmounted in the great public
enterprise which he had in view. Even at that early
time he had in contemplation the possibility of a canal,
to form a water.-carriage between the Potomac and
Youghiogheny Rivers, but as such an enterprise would
involve a heavy expense (the extent of which he
probably but faintly realized) a good substitute would
be a substantially built road, the opening of which he
believed to be necessary to bind together the eastern
and western sections of the States which his sword had
made free and independent.‘

It was in the year 1784 that Washington made his
exploring-trip from the Potomac to the Ohio. From
Cumberland to the ‘Laurel Hill, he passed through a

1 The Hon. Andrew Stewart in a speech delivered by him at the village"

of Confluence, Somerset Co., on the occasion of the opening of the rail-
road from Pittsburgh to Cumberland in 1871, said that there had come
into his hands a box of papers, among which were many original re-
ports, letters, and other manuscript in the handwriting of Washington,
who had himself given the box referred to to Gen. John Mason, of
Georgetown, D. C., and that he (Mr. Stewart) had found upon examina-
tion of ‘these letters and communications——many of them addressed to
the Legislatures of Maryland and Virginia, as well as to members of
Congress and others-that Washington had constantly advocated the
building of substantial roads across the mountains to the Ohio Valley
as the only means of keeping the East and the West united, and that without

them, in the opinion of the writer, for many reasons, separation was tn-

evitable. ‘

INTERN AL IMPROVEMENTS.

region with which he had been made familiar thirty
years before, by marching through it in his own cam-
paign of 1754, and with Gen. Braddock in 1755. Ar-
riving at the Youghiogheny, he embarked in a canoe
with an Indian pilot, and passed down that river to
Ohio Pile Falls, where he landed, and thence rode
across the country to the Monongahela, and up the
valley of that stream into Virginia. It is related of
him that in September of the year named he was on

one occasion seated in a hunter’s cabin near the Vir--

ginia line, examining maps and asking questions of a
number of frontiersmen who stood around him rela-
tive to the passes of the mountains and the adapta-
bility of the country for the construction of the road
_which he had in mind, when a young man of foreign
appearance, who was among the bystanders, volun-
teered an opinion indicating a certain route which he
believed to be the best for the purpose. At this in-
terruption Washington regarded the speaker with
surprise, and with something of the imperious look
of the commander-in-chief, but made no reply, and
continued his examination. Upon its completion the
general saw that the opinion expressed by the un-
known speaker was undoubtedly well founded, and
turning to him said, in a polite but decided way,
“ You are right, "young man; the route you have in-
dicated is the correct one.” The young stranger proved

‘to be Albert Crallatin, afterwards Secretary of the

Treasury of the United States, and one of the princi-
pal promoters of the construction of the great Na-
tional road to the Ohio. It was here that Washington
first formed his acquaintance, and the friendship con-
tinued uninterrupted during the lifetime of the chief.

From the upper Monongahela, Washington passed
through the county of Washington to the Ohio River.
Four years later he was elected President of the
United States, and during the eight years of his ad-
ministration he continued a steadfast and earnest
advocate of the project of a great highway, to be con-

structed by the government, across the Alleghenies,

for the purpose of binding more firmly together the
eastern and western sections of the United States.

During the administration of President Adams (in
1797) the proposition for a road across the Alleghe-
nies, to be built by the government, was brought up
in Congress, but no action was taken. Again, in 1801,
the subject was brought to the attention of Congress
in President J efferson’s first message to that body.
Some discussion ensued, but without result at that
time. On the 30th of April, 1802, an act of Con-
gress was passed admitting Ohio into the Union as
a sovereign State, and by the provisions of that act
a one-twentieth part of the net proceeds of sales of
public lands in the new State was set apart to be ap-
plied to the construction of roads from the Atlantic
sea-board over the Alleghenies to and across the Ohio.
This was the beginning of the legislation which re-
sulted in the construction of the National road west
from Cumberland.

375

On the 30th of December, 1805, the Senate of the
United States passed a bill entitled “ An Act to regu-
late the laying out and making a Road from Cumber-
land, in the State of Maryland, to the State of Ohio.”
It was then debated and passed in the House of Rep-
resentatives, and became a law March 29, 1806. The
commissioners appointed by the President under this
act to lay out the proposed road from Cumberland to
the Ohio River were Col. Eli Williams and Thomas
Moore, of Maryland, and Joseph Kerr, of Ohio, who
proceeded to examine the country through which it
was to pass, and without having fixed upon that part
of the route west of the Monongahela, made their first
report, which was presented to Congress, with the
message of President Jefferson, Jan. 81, 1807. In a
special message to Congress, Feb. 19, 1808, referring
to the report of the commissioners, he said, “ I have
approved of the route therein proposed for the said
road as -far as Brownsville, with a single deviation,
since located, which carries it through Uniontown.
From thence, the course to the Ohio and the point
‘within the legal limits at which it shall strike that
river is still to be decided.”

- In 1811, Congress passed “ An Act in addition to the
act to regulate the laying out and making a road from
Cumberland, in the State of Maryland, to the State of
Ohio,” by which it was provided “ That the sum_of
fifty thousand dollars be, and is hereby, appropriated

in making said road between Cumberland, in the State ‘

of Maryland, and Brownsville, in the State of Penn-
sylvania, commencing at Cumberland, which sum of
fifty thousand dollars shall be replaced out of the
fund reserved for laying out and making roads to the
State of Ohio, by virtue of the seventh section of an
act passed on the 30th of April, 1802.”

The first contracts in sections for the first ten miles
from Cumberland bear date April 16 and May 8,
1811. These were finished in the fall of 1812.‘ The
next letting was of eleven miles more to Tomlinson’s
in August, 1812, which were nearly completed in 1814.
From Tomlinson’s to Smithfield, eighteen miles were
let in August, 1813, but not finished until 1817, owing
to the scarcity of laborers during the war, war prices,
and the fear of failure of some of the contractors. The
next letting was of about six and a half miles west of
Smithfield in September, 1815, in sections, to John
Hagan, Doherty, McGlaughlin and Bradley, Wil-
liam Aull, and Evans and Ramsay. In February,
1817, about five miles more were let to Ramsay and
McGravey, John Boyle, D. McGlaughlin, and Brad-
ley and Charles McKinney. And in May, 1817, it
was letabout nine miles farther, to Uniontown, to
Hagan and McCann, Mordecai and James Cochran,
Thomas McKean, and Thomas and Matthew Blake-
ley.

It has already been noticed in President J efi’erson’s
special message to Congress on the 19th of Febru-
ary, 1808, that he had approved and adopted the
route recommended by the commissioners from Cum-

376

HISTORY or WASHINGTON COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA.

berland to Brownsville, on the Monongahela, with the
exception of a part of it in Fayette County, but west-
ward from the Monongahela to the Ohio it was left
undetermined. There was great rivalry and jealousy
existing between the several eligible points on the
Ohio, for it was believed that wherever the road
should strike the eastern shore of that river there
would spring up a flourishing city. The people of the
inland towns lying between Brownsville and the Ohio
(especially those of the town of Washington‘) were
exceedingly anxious lest the road should be finally
located at a distance from them. The question of the
location of the road between the Monongahela and
the Ohio was a very delicate and diflicult one for the
commissioners to decide, and in their report to Presi-
dent Jefferson they left it open, with the remark that
“in this is to be consulted the wishes -of that populous
section of Ohio and the connections with roads lead-
ing to St. Louis under the act of 1806.”- Afterwards
(in the same year) they made, by direction of the

1 When it became known by the publication. of President J efl'erson’s
message (above referred to) that the route of the National road had been
fixed between Cumberland and Brownsville, but not west of the latter
point, the people of Washington too’k measures (as those of Uniontown
had previously done) to secure the location of the route of the road
through their town. David Acheson, Esq., who had been elected to the
State Legislature in 1795 on the Republican ticket with Albert Gallatin
to Congress, and who in that capacity represented Washington County

‘at different times during the administrations of Washington and J effer-

son, Wrote to Gallatin (who was then Secretary of the Treasury, and
always on terms of intimate friendship with Mr. Acheson), soliciting
his influence and co-operation in favor of the location of the road through
the town of Washington to Wheeling. To this letter and request of Mr.

Acheson, Gallatin replied as follows :

“ NEW YORK, Septr. 1st, 1808.

“ DAVID ACHESON, Esq.,

' “ Washington, Pa.

“ DEAR SIR : On receipt of yr letter respecting the western road, I im-
mediately transmitted it to the President at Monticello. I was under
the impression that he had previously directed the Commissioners to
examine both routes, & to report to him.—It seems however that it had
not then been yet done. But on the 6th ult. he wrote to them ‘to make
an examination of the best route through Washington to Wheeling &

' also to Short Creek or any other point on the .river offering a more ad-

vantageous route towards Chillicothe & Cincinnati, at to report to him
the material facts with their opinions for consideration.’

“ That it is the sincere wish of the President to obtain all the necessary
information in order that the road should pursue the route which will
be of the greatest public utility no doubt can exist. So far as relates
to myself, after having with much difliculty obtained the creation of a
fund for opening a great western road & the act pointing out its general
direction, it is sufliciently evident from the spot on the Monongahela
which the road strikes that if there was any subsequent interference on
my part it was not of a selfish nature. But the fact is that in the exe-
cution of "the law I thought myself an improper person, from the situa-
tion of my property, to take the direction which would naturally have
been placed in my hands, & requested the President to undertake the
general superintendence himself.

“ Accept the assurance of friendly remembrance & of my sincere
wishes for your welfare & happiness.

“ Your obedt. servt.,
“ALBERT GALLATIN.”

From this letter it appears that the action of the commissioners, prior
to the correspondence between Mr. Acheson and Mr. Gallatin, was un-
favorable to the claims of Washington, and that President Jefferson on
receipt of Mr. Acheson’s letter had promptly interfered in order to have
the route surveyed which was finally adopted, his specific instructions
to the commissioners favoring Washington as an intermediate point, and
Wheeling thus became the point of intersection with the Ohio River.

President, an examination of the route from Browns-
ville by way of the town of Washington to Wheeling;
but no final location of that part of the route was made
then, nor until several years later. When James
Madison’ became President of the United States he
confirmed the action of his predecessor, Jefferson, in
reference to the location of the road from Cumberland
to Brownsville, and in 1815, soon after the declaration
of peace with Great Britain, he directed the commis-

sioners, VVilliams, Moore, and Kerr, to proceed with

the examination and survey of the route between the
Monongahela and Ohio Rivers. This was done under
their direction in the fall of that year and in the
winter of 1815-16, by their engineer, Caspar Wever,
of Weverton, Md. Two principal routes were sur-
veyed, one through the borough of Washington, and
the other through the "south part of Washington
County, leaving the town of Washington several
miles to the northward. The topography of the
country rendered the last-named route the more fa-
vorable of the two, and it was so regarded by the
engineer and the commissioners ; but the influence of
Washington borough again prevailed (as it had done
seven years before in causing President Jefferson to
order an examination of the route by way of the
town), and President Madison, after carefully consid-
ering the commissioners’ report on the survey,-de-
cided in favor of the northern route by way of
Washington. Hisdecision was communicated to the
commissioners in a letter written by Mr. Dallas, under
direction of the Secretary of the Treasury, as follows:

“TREASURY DEPARTMENT, June 2, 1816.

“ GEN'l‘LEMEN,—The President has confirmed the road surveyed and
returned by you,—1st, so far as it runs from Cumberland through Union-
town to Brownsville, in Pennsylvania, with certain deviations which
have been made by Mr. Shriver, the superintendent, and approved by
the President; and 2d, so far as it runs from the 113th mile on your sur-
vey to Wheeling, on the river Ohio. He has also determined that the
route of the road shall run from Brownsville through Washington and
Alexandria to intersect the course of your survey at the 113th mile,

continuing thence to Wheeling. I am therefore instructed by the Pres- A

ident to request that you will proceed, as soon as you conveniently can,
with the assistance authorized by law, to explore, lay out, and report
for his consideration, upon the principles of the act of the 29th of
March, 1806, the course for the road from Brownsville to the 113th

mile, as above stated, and also the course of the deviations from the ,

original routeproposed by the commissionerswhich have been made or
are contemplated to be made between Cumberland and Uniontown. It
is the President’s object to obtain a return of the entire course of the
road to constitute a record, and to perpetuate the claim of the United
States to the ground over which it runs. To avoid delay the attend-
ance of any two or more of you is deemed suflicient for the present ob-
ject. You will be so good as to give nflce to Mr. Shriver, the superin-
tendent, of the time of your entering upon the survey, and he will be
instructed to give you all the information and assistance in his power.
As Mr. Parker Campbell and Mr. [Thomas H.] Baird, of Washington,
have made proposals to construct the road from Brownsville to Wash-
ington, I wish you also to notify them of your commencement and
progress in the survey. _
4 “ I am, very respectfully,
“ Gentlemen,
“Your obedient servant,
“ A. J. DALLAS.

“ To Messrs. Eli Williams, '

’ Themas Moore,

} Commissioners.”
Joseph Kerr,

INTERNAL IMPROVEMENTS.

377

The one hundred and thirteenth mile of the com-
missioners’ survey (meaning the route laid through
the southern part of Washington County, and not
thatpassing by Washington borough) was near the
Virginia line, west of the village of West Alexanderl
(mentioned in the above letter as “ Alexandria”).
Thus, by the decision of President Madison, as com-
municated by Mr. Dallas tothe commissioners, the
entire route of the road from Cumberland to the Ohio
was fixed as to prominent points, and only lacked the
final survey of that part lying between Brownsville
and the point indicated west.of West Alexander.
This final survey was made under direction of the
commissioners, immediately after receipt of their in-
structions to that effect, and being returned to the

-President, was by him approved and adopted.

The route of the road was divided for construction
into an eastern and a western division, the former
(which was to be first completed) extending from
Cumberland to a point about one mile east of Browns-
ville, and the western division extending from that
point through the town of Washington to the Ohio at
Wheeling. The superintendent appointed for the
eastern division was David Shriver, of Cumberland,
Md. The western division was in June, 1816, placed
in charge of Col. Eli Williams, one of the commis-
sioners, who acted as “agent of _the United States”

, for that division until the appointment of Josias

Thompson (previously engineer of the division) as
superintendent, in May, 1817.

The contract for building the road from Cumber-
land to Uniontown was awarded to Messrs. Kincaid,
Beck & Evans, by whom the work was prosecuted
with extraordinary energy. The firm of Kincaid &
Co. (composed of James Kincaid, James Beck, Gra-
briel Evans, John Kennedy, and John Miller) after-
wards contracted with Superintendent Shriver for the

construction of the road from Uniontown to the west- (

ern end of the eastern division, and also for masonry
at the Monongahela, and between that river and the
town of VVashington. '

On the 18th of November, 1816, Col. Eli Williams
advertised in The Reporter of Washington, Pa., as

follows :

“ WESTERN Ro.u).—The location of this road having been changed by
order of the President if the U. States so as to pass from Brownsville
through the town of Washington in Pennsylvania, and from thence
through Alexandria to Wheeling on -the Ohio : Proposals will be received
for making parts of that road by the mile or other section; and for that
purpose the subscriber, as agent of the U. States, will attend at the times
and places following, to receive proposals for making the following sec-
tions or parts thereof, viz.: At Brownsville on Monday the 16th day of De-
cember next, for a section extending from the east bank of the Mononga-
hela river eastwardly to the summit of the river hill, and a corresponding
section on the west side of the river, comprehending about a mile on
each side. At the town of Washington on Wednesday the 18th of the
same month, for two miles eastwardly from the intersection of Maiden
and Market [new Main] Streets, and te11 miles westwardly from the in-
tersection of Market and Chestnut Streets in that town. At Alexandria

1 The one hundred and thirteenth mile of the route, which was after-
wards surveyed, and over which the National road was actually built, is
about two miles east of West Alexander, the route through Washington
borough being considerably longer than the other.

on Saturday the 21st following, for the remainder of the distance to
Alexandria, and to the Virginia line; about six miles. And at the town
of Wheelingon Monday the 23d following, for a section extending. from
the Virginia line to the confluence of Big and Little Wheeling, nine
miles; and from thence to the town of Wheeling, or the crossing place
on the Ohio.” ,

In March,'1817, the greater part of the above adver-
tised work——viz., from two miles east of Washington
westward to the Virginia line———was let by Col. Williams
to Thomas McGifiin, Thomas H. Baird, and "Parker
Campbell, of Washington. The same gentlemen
received (but not until 1819) the contract for build-
ing the road east from their first-named section to a
point two miles west of Brownsville. The part of
this contract lying east of the town of Hillsborough
was turned over by McGiffin, Baird, and Campbell to
Messrs. William and John H. Ewing, whose names
were returned to the Treasury Department as those
of original contractors with the government, and
who finished the work at $6000 per mile. The build-
ing of the road west from Hillsborough to the point
two miles east of Washington was sublet by McCriflin,
Baird, and Campbell to a number. of small contractors.

,,The eastern portion of the road, on which work
was first commenced, was pushed so vigorously in its
construction by the energetic contractors that it was
open for travel, with scarcely a break, westward to
the Youghiogheny River in the summer of 1818.
On the 1st of August in that year the first stage-coach
from Cumberland, carrying the United States mail for
the West, left that place by the National road, and
passing over the completed part of the eastern division
to Fayette County, Pa., and also over other completed
parts of the western division, between the borough of

— Washington and the Virginia line, arrived in due time

at Wheeling on the Ohio. In a Uniontown newspaper
of Aug. 8, 1818, it was announced that “the stages
have commenced running from Frederick Town, Md.,
to Wheeling, in Virginia, following the course of the
National road westward of Cumberland. This great
road, truly an honor to the United States, will be
finished from Cumberland to this place in a few
months, and from Brownsville to Wheeling, it is ex-
pected, in the course of next summer, leaving only a
distance of twelve miles, between here and Browns-
ville.”

In the .fall of the same year the road was announced
as completed to Uniontown. For some reason which
is not wholly apparent the work had not been con-
tracted for from that place to the west end of the

eastern division (a point one mile and ninety-six rods ‘

east from the Monongahela at Brownsville), though
the section extending from this latter point to another
point about two miles west of the Monongahela
(including a large amount of heavy -work on the
approaches to the river,” particularly on the east side

2 The government did not bridge the Monongahela for the passage of
the National‘ road. The bridge which was built acrossthat river, years
after the completion of the road, for the accommodation of the immense
travel which it brought, was built by an incorporated company, mention
of which will be found in the history of the borough of West Brownsville.

378

HISTORY OF WASHINGTON "COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA.

of it) had been let by Col. Eli Williams, as agent for
the United States, in March, 1817, the same time when
he contracted with McGiffin, Baird, and Campbell for
the work west from Washington. On the 15th of May,
1819, David Shriver, superintendent, advertised for
proposals-to build the road west from Uniontown to
the vicinity of Washington, excepting the short sec-
tion ‘on both sides of the Monongahela. The work on
the west end of the eastern division was let by him to
Kincaid & Co., while McGiflin, Baird, and Campbell,
as before mentioned, took the work in Washington
County, extending from the river section westward to
their previous contract.

These contracts were the last to be let on the road
between Cumberland and the Ohio. The work was
commenced without delay, and vigorously prosecuted
during the remainder of 1819 and the spring and
summer of 1820, the road being finished and made
ready for use in its entire length in the fall of the
latter year. An announcement of the fact, dated Dec.
19, 1820, is found in a newspaper of that time, as fol-
lows: “The commissioner appointed bythe govern-
ment of the United States, Thomas McGiffin, Esq.,
has been engaged for a week or two past in examining
the United States turnpike, made under contract with
government by James Kincaid & Co., between Union-
town and Washington, who has approved of it, and
ordered the sa_me to be given up by the contractors
for public use. The National turnpike is now com-
pleted and in the use of the public from Cumberland,
in the State of Maryland, to VVheeling, in the State

of Virginia, a distance of about one hundred and

thirty miles.”

The National road to the Ohio, when completed,
had cost the United States government nearly one
million seven hundred thousand dollars, and it was
one of the best and most substantial turnpike roads
ever built in this country’. Its width, grades, and the
manner of its construction are shown by the specifi-
cations of the work required from the contractors,
among which were included the following, viz.: “The
natural surface of the ground to be cleared of trees
and other wooden growth, and also of logs and brush,
the whole width of sixty-six feet, the bed of the road
to be made even thirty-two feet in width, the trees
and stumps to be grubbed out, the graduation not to
exceed five degrees in "elevation and depression, and
to be straight from point to point, as laid off and
directed by the superintendent of the work. Twenty

‘feet in width of the graduated part to be covered
with stone, eighteen inches in depth at the centre,“

tapering to twelve inches at the edges, which are to
be supported by good and solid shoulders of earth or
curbstone, the upper six inches of stone to be broken
so as to pass through a rin'g of three inches in diam-
eter, and the lower stratum of stone to be broken
so as to pass through a seven-inch ring. The stone
part to be well covered with gravel, and rolled with
an iron-faced roller four feet in length and made to

bear three tons’ weight. The acclivity and declivity
of the banks at the side of the road not to exceed
thirty degrees.” .

It was to be expected that the opening of such an
excellent road——a main thoroughfare between the
East and the West, easy, direct, and free to the use of

any and all, without cost or charge—would attract to ~

it an immense amount of travel; but all the expecta-
tions which could have been previously entertained
of the vast volume of travel and traffic which would
pass over the National road between the Ohio and the
Potomac were trebly.verified by the result. There
were the stage-coaches carrying the mail and pas-
sengers, loaded to their utmost capacity from the first,
and constantly increasing in numberfrom that time
until the opening of the railroads banished them for-
ever. By these conveyances all the prominent public
men of the West, and many of those from the South,—+
Presidents-elect from Tennesse, Ohio, and Louisiana,
on their way to inauguration; Presidents in oflice,
passing to and fro between the city of Washington
and their Southwestern homes; ex-Presidents, on their
way to the shades of private life; Senators, members
of Congress, and numberless officials of lesser grade,
all making the National road their highway to and
from the national capital. Then there were the long,
almost interminable lines of Conestoga wagons, laden
on their eastward trips with flour, whiskey, bacon,
and other produce, and returning west with loads of
iron, salt, and every kind of merchandise, their num-
bers being swelled on the return to the West by the
addition of equally numerous trains of the same kind
of wagons, freighted with the families and household
effects of emigrants from the East, bound to new
homes beyond the Ohio. Besides these, the road was
crowded with various other descriptions and kinds of
wagons, laden and unladen, with horsemen and pri-
vate carriages innumerable. “ But thepassengers on
foot outnumbered and out—ate them all. The long
lines of hogs, cattle, sheep, and horses working their
way on the hoof by the month to an Eastern market
was almost endless and countless. They were gath-
ered in from the Wabash, the Scioto, the Muskingum,

and the Ohio Valleys, and the men, all tired and dry _

and. hungry, had to be cared for at a, great cost, for it
was like feeding an army every day and night.”

To furnish food and other accommodations for all
this vast throng of travelers, brute and human, a
great number of public-houses were needed, and these-
sprang up immediately along the road. The stage-
houses, for the entertainment of passengers by the
coaches, were located in Washington, Brownsville, and

‘other towns on the route, and at stated points between

the villages where these were distant from each other.
Then there were houses which did scarcely any busi-
ness other than the selling of whiskey to thirsty way-
farers. And there were along the route numerous
taverns which made no specialty, other than to give
fair and decent entertainment for man and beast.

INTERNAL IMPROVEMENTS.

379

These had no patronage either from the stage passen-
gers or wagoners upon the road. The latter with the
drovers always clustered together at houses having
capacious wagon-yards, and kept especially for that
class of customers. The number of public-houses of
all kinds which the National road brought into exist-.
ence was fully equal to one for each two miles of its
entire length from Cumberland to the Ohio. It was
said that in the mountain portion of the route the
average was one to every mile, but in the part west of
the Laurel Hill they were less frequent. The keepers
of these houses, like the xgagoners and the drivers of
stages, and, in fact, like the greater part of the people
living along the route, looked upon the Cumberland
road as being among the chiefest of earthly blessings,

- and would have regarded withaffright the idea that

it would ever be abandoned or superseded by other
avenues and modes of travel.

It was a general belief that the substantially built
National road, with its firm foundation of packed
stone, would remain smooth and serviceable for at
least a quarter of a century, while some thought it
would last for double that length of time, but the re-
sult proved the fallacy of this belief. In five years
from the time of its opening the ceaseless beating of
hoofs, and the never-ending roll and crunch of heavy
wheels had worn out its solid bed, so that in many
places it was almost impassable. This was particu-
larly the case in the vicinity of the Monongahela

' River, and also in the mountain region of the route,

where much -of the road-bed had been formed of soft
sandstone. An appropriation was made by Congress,
and extensive repairs were made on the road, putting
the worst parts of it in good condition. But it was
of shortduration} From that time frequent appro-
priations were called for, and continually repairs on

' the road were necessary.

It became evident that the road would be a per-
petual and ever-increasing expense to the United
States, without producing any income to pay for re-
pairs. It had been built for the purpose of satisfying
Ohio and the West generally, and thus preventing
that section from_fostering projects of secession from
the Union. But that danger was .now past, and ,the

National road had become a heavy burden upon the

government. In 1829, Gen. Jackson was inaugurated
President of the United States, and the principles of
the Democratic party became the rule of public policy.

1 “ In February of 1826 it was estimated that the sum of $278,988
would be sufiicient to repair the whole road on the McAdam plan, and
in May, 1827, a period of sixteen months, the superstratum or cover of
reduced stone had been worn and washed away to an extent almost in-
credible, and proved that too great a reliance was placed upon the layer
of large stones, as there were not many of them of as good a quality as
was first supposed. To have effected the repair in 1827, as was contem-
plated in 1826, would have required an additional sum of $50,000, making
$328,988 necessary to repair the road upon the best information to be
obtained at that period. The utter destruction of the road was foreseen
at that time unless measures were taken to repair it thoroughly,it being
then in a most wretched condition.”—Repm-t of Richard Delafield, captain
U. S. Engineers, laid before O'ongr-es: in December, 1833.

The States Rights doctrine of that party demanded
the transfer of the National road from the general gov-
ernment to the States through which its route was laid.
It was proposed that the road from Cumberland to
Wheeling be surrendered to the States of Pennsyl-
vania, Maryland, and Virginia. The people of the
sections contiguous to the road were in dread that the

United States would abandon the making of repairs A

and suffer the road to fall into disuse, but if turned
over to the States its continuance and preservation

would be assured, because, while the United States ,

could not erect toll-gates and collect tolls upon the
road, the States would have the power to do so, and
thus secure a revenue from the road to keep it in
preservation and repair. Pennsylvania, Maryland,
and Virginia would accept the road from the United
States on certain conditions, among which wasthis,
that Congress should first make an appropriation suf-
ficient in amount to put it in good conditionby ma-
cadamizing the roadway in nearly its entire length,
from Cumberland to the Ohio. J

In 1831 the Assembly of Pennsylvania passed “ an
act for the preservation and repair of the Cumberland
road,” approved April 4th in that year, reciting in its
preamble that “ Whereas, that part of the Cumber-
land road lying within the State of Pennsylvania is
in many parts in bad condition for want of repairs,
and as doubts have been entertained whether the

United States have authority to erect toll-gates on’

said road and collect toll, and as a large proportion
of the people of this commonwealth are interested in
said road and its constant continuance and preserva-
tion; Therefore” [it proceeded to declare and enact]

“that as soon as the consent of the government of V

the United States shall have been obtained, as here-
inafter provided, William F. Coplan, David Downer,
of Fayette County, Stephen Hill, Benjamin Ander-
son, of Washington County, and Thomas E-ndsley,
of Smithfield, Somerset Co., shall be and they are
hereby appointed commissioners . . . to build toll-
houses and erect toll-gates at suitable distances on so
much of the Cumberland road as lies within the State
of Pennsylvania. . . . That this act shall not have
any force or effect until the Congress of the United
States shall assent to the same, and until so much of
the said road as passes through the State of Pennsyl-
vania be first put in a good state of repair, and ap-'
propriation made by Congress for erecting toll-houses
and toll-gates thereon, tonbe expended under the au-
thority of the commissioners appointed by this act.”

Acts similar to this in effect, with regard to the accept- .

ance of the National road, were passed by the Legis-
latures of Maryland and Virginia respectively on the
23d of January and 7th of February, 1832.

These acts of ‘Pennsylvania, Maryland, and Vir-
ginia caused a decision by the government in July,
1832, to repair the road effectually from end to end,
and then to cede it to the three States, after which the
repairs were to be met by the tolls collected upon it.

' it away.”
. ordered the destructionof some barrels of rum which

WASHINGTON’S CAMPAIGN or 1754.

On the 4th of July, at break of day, the troops of
Washington filed out of the fort with drums beating
and colors flying, and (without any transportation for
their effects other than was ‘afforded by the backs and
shoulders of the men, and having no means of carry-
ing their badly wounded except on improvised stretch-
ers) moved sadly away to commence their weary jour-

ney of sixty miles over hills and streams to Wills’
Creek.

‘ Upon the evacuation of the fort by Washington the
French took possession, and immediately proceeded to
demolish the work, while “M. le Mercier ordered the
cannon of the English to be broken, as also the one
granted by capitulation, they not being able to carry
I The French commander very prudently

were in the fort, to guard against the disorder and
perhaps bloodshed which would probably have en-
sued if the liquor had been allowed to fall into the
hands of the Indians. -

De Villiers felt no little anxiety lest the expected
reinforcements to Washington should arrive, which
might place him in an unpleasant position and re-
verse the fortunes of the day. He therefore lost no
time, and took his departure from the Great Meadows
at as early an hour as possible, and marched about
two leagues ‘before he encamped for the night. On

the 5th, at about nine o’clock in the forenoon, he

arrived at Gist’s, where he demolished the stockade
which Washington had partially erected there, “ and

after having detached M. de la Ohauvignerie to burn

the houses round about,” continued on the route to-
wards Rsedstone to a point about three leagues north-
west of Gist’s, where his forces made their night

_bivouac. In the morning of the 6th they moved at

an early hour, and reached the mouth of Redstone at
ten o’clock. There they “ put their periaguas in order,
victualed the detachment,» carried away the reserve of

‘provisions which they had left there, found several

things which the English had hidden,” and then,
after burning the “Hangard” store-house, embarked
and went down the Monongahela. In the passage
down the river, says De Villiers, “ we burned down
all the settlements we found,” and about four o’clock
in the afternoon of the 7th of July they arrived at
Fort Du Quesne.

As t_o the manner of the departure of Washington’s
troops from the surrendered fort, De Villiers said,
“ The numberof their dead and wounded moved me
to pity, notwithstanding my resentment for their
having in such a manner taken away my brother’s
life. The savages, who in everything had adhered to
my wishes, claimed the right of plunder, but I re-
strained them; however, the English being fright-
ened fled, and left their tents and one of their colors.”
But Washington, commenting on these statements of
De Villiers, said, in a letter written not long after-

wards, “That we left our baggage and horses at the
Meadows is certain ; that there was not even a possi-
bility to bring them away is equally certain, as we
had every horse belonging to the camp killed or taken
away during the action, so that it was impracticable
to bring anything off that our shoulders were not able
to bear, and ‘to wait there was impossible, for we had
scarce threedays’ provisions, and were seventy miles

from a supply, yet to say that we came off precipi-4

tately is absolutely false, notwithstanding they did,
contrary to the articles, suffer their Indians to pillage
our baggage‘ and commit all kinds of irregularity.
We were with them until ten o’clock the next day’;
we destroyed our powder and other stores, nay, even
our private baggage, to prevent its falling into their
hands, as we could not bring it off. When wehad
got about a mile from the place of action we missed
two or three of the wounded, and sent a party’ back
to bring them up; this is the party he speaks of.
We brought them all safe off, and encamped within
three miles of the Meadows. These are circum-
stances, I think, that make it evidently clear that we
were not very apprehensive of danger. The colors
he speaks of as left were a large flag of immense size
and weight; our regimental colors were brought off,
and are now in my possession.”

From his camping-ground, three miles southeast

of the demolished fort, the Virginia regiment, with

Mackay_’s South Carolinians, moved, forward in the
morning of the 5th of July, and fording the Youghio-
gheny at the Great Crossings-, retraced their steps
over the route previously traveled, and reached Wills’
Creek after a slow and very toilsome journey. From
that place Washington went to Alexandria, and‘ the
Virginia troops returned to their homes. Mackay’s
Carolina company remained at Wills’ Creek, and to-
gether with two independent companies from New
York,——all under command of Col. James Innes,--
erected the fortification afterwards called“ Fort Cum-
berland.” This was then the western outpost of Eng-
lish power, and in all the country west of the moun-
tains there was left no bar to French occupation and
supremacy. .

1 “ We all know that the French are a people that never pay any re-
gard to treaties longer than they find them consistent with their interest,
and this treaty [the Fort Necessity capitulation articles] they broke im-
mediately by letting the Indians demolish and destroy everything our
people had, especially the doctor’s box, that our wounded should meet‘
with no re1ief.”—-Eactract from a letter written by Col. James Innes to Gov.
Hamilton, dated Winchester, July 12, 1754.,

2 It appears that the Half-King, Tanacharison, had a poor opinion of‘
Washington’s ability as a military commander, and freely expressed that
opinion to the Indian agent and interpreter, Conrad W'eiser, who reported.‘
it as follows:

“ The colonel [Washington] was a good-natured man, but had no ex-
perience. He took upon him to command the Indians as his slaves, and
would have them every day upon the scout, and to attack the enemy by
themselves, but would by no means take advice from the Indians. He
lay in one place from one full moon to the other, without making any
fortifications except that little thing on the Meadow, whereas had he-
taken advice and built such fortifications as he [Tanacharison] advised
him he might easily have beat off the French. But the French in the
engagement,” he said, " acted like cowards, and the English like fools.”

43,

380

HISTORY OF WASHINGTON COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA. ,

“ The system adopted,” said Capt. Richard Delafield, the engineer who
had charge of the work of repair, “was that extensively used in Eng-
land, and known by the name of its inventor, McAdam. The condition
of the road at this period made very extensive repairs necessary, com-
mencing from the grade, there being neither side drains, ditches, nor
culverts for draining the water, presenting no better condition for the
basis of repairs on the McAdam system than what is called a ‘rough
grade,’ with the large bridges. Rather than make a partial repair by
distributing the sum appropriated over the whole line of one hundred
and thirty-two miles, the parts through the mountains, being in the
worst condition, and from the face of the country most difiicult to travel,
were first commenced. The supposition of finding good stone in the bed
of the road wherewith to make macadamized metal proved fallacious:
not a perch was found through the whole mountain district, the bed
being composed of soft sandstone. This when broken tofour-ounce
pieces and used for a covering is in the course of three months reduced
to sand and washed away by the heavy rains from the road into the
ditches and drains, making it worse than useless to depend upon any of
the varieties of sandstone. Under these circumstances but one course
was left, and that was to procure the only suitable material the country
produced,—limestone. The natural position of this stone is under the
sandstone, and found only in the lowest valleys, often in the beds of
creeks covered with several feet of earth, and distant from the line of
the road. Through the mountain it is found in few positions. The ex-
pense of repairing the road with a good material, and the only one of
this character found in the country, is far greater than anticipated before
these facts were known. Another heavy item in the expense of repair
is the condition of the masonry; this having been exposed for a long
time to the weather without coping to throw off the rain and snow, is in
a dilapidated condition, requiring a considerable portion to be renewed.
Under these circumstances the cost of putting the road in such a condi-
tion as will justify toll being exacted is so far beyond that at first an-
ticipated as to make it proper to draw the particular attention of Con-
gress to the estimate for the year, based upon the facts herein stated.
It wi1l__,be perceived that the sum asked for the service of the year is to
finish all that part lying between Cumberland and the Monongahela
River and the Virginia line, and to finish the sixteen miles in Virginia,
making the sum required to repair the whole road on the McAdam plan
not less than six hundred and forty-five thousand dollars, of which the
resources of that region of -country will advantageously admit of three
hundred thousand dollars being expended during the year.”

The above is from Capt. Delafield’s report, sub-
mitted in December, 1833, having reference to the
general repairs of the Cumberland road, commenced
in 1832, and continued, under his supervision (assisted
by Capt.—afterwards General-—George W. Cass), to
the 30th of September, 1833. The further appropria-

tion which he recommends “for the service of the
year” has reference to 1834. Congress took favor-

able action on the recommendation of the engineer,
and made. the required appropriation by an act passed
in June of that year. The parts of that act relative
to the appropriation for repairs on the National road
in Pennsylvania, Maryland, and Virginia, and to the
cession of the road to those States when the proposed
repairs should be completed, are here given, viz. :
“SECTION 3. That for the entire completion of repairs of the Cumber-
land road east of the Ohio River, and other needful improvements on

said road, to carry into effect the provisions of an act of the General
Assembly of Pennsylvania, entitled ‘An act for the preservation of the

J Cumberland road,’ passed the fourth day of April, 1831, and of an act

of the General Assembly of the State of Maryland, entitled ‘ An act for
the preservation and repair of that part of the United States road within
the limits of the State of Maryland,’ passed the 23d day of January,
1832, also an act of the General Assembly of Virginia, entitled ‘ An act
concerning the Cumberland road,’ passed February the 7th, 1832, the
sum of three hundred thousand dollars be and the same is hereby ap-
propriated, to be paid out of any money in the treasury not otherwise
appropriated, to be expended under the direction of the Secretary of
War, the money to be drawn out of the treasury in such sums and at
such times as may be required for the performance of the work.

“SECTION 4.‘ That as soon as the sum by this act appropriated, or so
much thereof as is necessary, shall be expended in the repair of said
road, agreeably to the provisions of this act, the same shall be surren-
dered to the States respectively through which said road passes, and the
United States shall not thereafter be subject to any expense for repair-
ing said road.” , '

Capt. Delafield, in his report,—'-or, as it is termed,
“ Memoir on the Progress of the Repairs of the Cum-
berland Road East of the Ohio to the 30th of Sep-
tember, 1834,”——says that the “ nature and progress of
the operations” of 1833 were continued to December
of that year, “when, the available means being ab-
sorbed, a cessation was put, to the work, and all the
stock and tools collected at points on the road favor-
able for renewing the work in the spring” of 1834.
He continues that the spring proved very unfavorable,
that the road was found to have been badly washed
and damaged during the winter, that it had been
hoped means would have been available to recom-
mence work with the opening of the season, but that,
“ being disappointed in this particular, it became in-
dispensable to dispose of all the stock and every arti-
cle of property that would command cash or materials,
and apply the limited means thus raised to the drain-
age of the road ;” that “it was not until July of 1834
that funds were_ made available for continuing the re-
pairs,” but that “by about the middle of August most
of the contractors had commenced their operations,”
and that at the date of the report “ the repair on the
whole line of the road was in active progress,” that
quarries of good limestone, before unknown, had been
discovered, that “ the crops of the farmer were above
mediocrity, laborers were more numerous than usual,
owing to completion of parts of the Chesapeake and
Ohio Canal and Baltimore and Ohio Railroad,” and,
finally, that “ with the means now available the work
on the road will in all probability be brought to a
close (the bridges on the new location excepted) by

the date fixed in the contracts, the 31st of December.” ‘

The Work, however, was not completed at the speci-
fied time. The division extending from a point five

miles east of the borough of Washington Westward
to the Virginia line still lacked its macadamized
covering, a11d was not finished until late in the fol-
lowing year; but as all the work east of this division
had been done, and as this western part was then
under contract for completion without delay, it was
considered that the United States government, by
the passage of the act of Congress of June, 1834, and

by providing for the thorough repair of the Cumber- -

land road in its entire length east of the Ohio River,
nearly all of which had already been actually accom-
plished, had complied with all the conditions imposed
by the States of Pennsylvania, Maryland, and Vir-
ginia in their acts of 1831 and 1832. All that re-
mained then to be done to complete the transfer of
the road by the general government was its formal

acceptance by the States, and this was done on the

part of Pennsylvania by the passage by the General
Assembly of “ An act for the preservation and re-

1 INTERNAL IMPROVEMENTS.

381

pair of the Cumberland Road,” approved April 1,
1835, the third section of which act provided and de-
clared that “ The surrender by the United States of
so much of the Cumberland Road as lies within the
State of Pennsylvania is hereby accepted by this
State, and the commissioners to be appointed under
this act are authorized to erect toll-gates on the whole
or any part of said road, at such time as they may
deem it expedient and proper to do so.”

The two commissioners appointed by the Governor.
» under this actrproceeded, in 1835, to erect toll-gates,‘

as provided, and the collection of toll on the great
road was commenced immediately. This had the
effect to clear the road almost entirely (except in the
mountain districts of the route) of the immense droves

L of horses, cattle, sheep,’ and hogs which had passed

over it while it was a free thoroughfare. But through
the mountains there was no other route, and so the
drovers were compelled to use that part of the road
and pay the tolls. The new system also brought into
use upon this road very heavily builtwagons, with
wheels nine inches broad, drawn by six, and some-
times by eight,‘horses. Wagons having wheels of

this breadth of rim, and carrying loads not exceeding ‘

five tons"weight each, were allowed to -pass on a much
less (proportionate) rate of toll than was charged for
narrow-wheeled wagons, which were far more de-

’ structive to the road-bed. It was this discrimination

which brought the broad wheels into extensive use on
the Cumberland road. . “ I have frequently seen,”
says a former resident? on the line of the Cumberland
road, “from forty to fifty great Conestoga six-horse
teams, carrying from five to six tons each, picketed

’ around overnight [at one of the roadside taverns] in

the yards and on the commons, and all the other tav-
erns about equally full at the same time. There were
often two men with a team, who carried their own
bedding, but all these men and horses had to be fed
and cared for.” Scarcely a day passed that did not
see the main streets of the principal towns, on the
route crowded from end to end with these immense
wagons, each of which had about one-half the carry-
ing capacity of the modern railway-car. On the road
between these towns they passed in almost continuous
procession. . .

There was, as early as 1835, an “Adams Express”
running over the line of the Cumberland road, being
started in the fall of that year by Alvin Adams
(founder of the now omnipresent “Adams Express
Company”), —— Green, of Baltimore, and Maltby &
Holt, oyster dealers of the same city. It was first
known along the road as the “Oyster Line,” being
started with a main purpose of supplying the West
with fresh oysters from Baltimore during the fall and

1 Iron gates were first erected, ‘but most of these were displaced many
years ago by wooden ones. The mile-posts along the line of the road
were also of iron, and many of these are still standing.

2 A. L. Littell, Esq., new of Cleveland, Ohio.

25 T

winter of 1835-36? Soon afterwards it became a reg-
ular express, not only continuing the oyster traflic,
but carrying packages, and prosecuting a business
similar to that of the express lines of the present day.
They ran express-wagons, each drawn by four horses,
and having relays of teams at stations ten or twelve
miles apart, and the business was continued in this
way on the road until the opening of the Pennsylva-
nia Railroad. 3. -

“In 1837 a war with France was imminent, and the
government at Washington, remembering the sympa-
thy of Louisiana and New Orleans with France as
the mother-country, with a lingering dread of a West-
ern and alien combination, resolved to quicken the
mail service in that direction. Proposals were adver-
tised for to carry a light express mail-pouch, carrying
short printed slips like telegrams, drafts, and paper
money, on horseback through daily each Way on the
National road from Washington to St. Louis, and
also from Dayton, Ohio, to New Orleans, at the net

speed of ten miles an hour, and stopping only at prin-

cipal offices. It was laid off in two sections, which
were taken for a term of three years. The section
from Cumberland to Uniontown was- taken by A. L.
Littell, and that from the last-named point to the
Ohio by Benjamin L. Craven, of West Alexander.
On each of these sections the service required a relay
of nine horses on the road at once and three boy-
riders. The time between Wheeling and Uniontown
was six and a half hours; that on the eastern section
a little less, the distance being a few miles shorter.
At that time this express was the fastest overland
mail in America, and it excited as much public in-
terest as the arrival of a railroad train does now in a
new town. Each of the contractorsreceived about
five thousand dollars per annum for the service. It
was’ continued very successfully in 1837 and 1838,
when the threatened war emergency was past, and
the line was discontinued, each of the contractors
receiving a considerable remuneration from the gov-
ernment for canceling the contract.

After the withdrawal of this express mail line of
mouaited messengers there were put upon the road a
number of light mail-carriages to carry a through
mail on fast time, making as few stops as possible.
These formed what was knownalong the road as the
“Monkey Box Line.” Each carriage was furnished
with a secure box for the mail, sometimes in the
front and sometimes in the rear end, which was bal-
anced by the weight of three passengers (none beyond
that number being allowed to be taken), who paid an
extra rate of fare in consideration of the faster time
made, and the more comfortable accommodations
afforded by the “Monkey Box” than by the regular
mail—coach lines.

The passenger traflic over the route was immense

3 Jacob Wolfe, of Canton township, Washington 00., was one of the
first drivers of wagons of ‘the Oyster Line on the Cumberland road from
Wheeling in the fall of 1835. i

382

HISTORY OF WASHINGTON COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA.

and constantly on theincrease until the business of
the road received the death—blow by the opening of
railroads across the Alleghenies. The stage-lines
running when the road was surrendered to the States
were those of Stockton & Co. (Lucius W. Stockton,
Daniel Moore,‘ of Washington, Pa., and others) and
J. E. Reeside,2 of Lancaster. The mails were carried
by Stockton & Co., who in 1836 secured the contract
for four years to carry the great Western mail over
this road to Wheeling, at the speed of four miles per
hour, receiving for the service $63,000 per year.
There was for a time intense rivalry between Ree-
side’s “June Bug Line” and the “ People’_s Line” of
Stockton & Co. The competition became so spirited
that passengers were carried by both lines at rates
that were merely nominal. This was continued for
a considerable time, and until both parties became
nearly exhausted, when there came a cessation of
hostilities, a return to the old prices, and a reorgani-
zation of the stage-lines, the Reeside line becoming
the “ Good Intent” (in the proprietorship of William
Wurt, William Still, Alpheus Shriver, and others),
and the other the “ National Road Line,” by Daniel
Moore, L. W. Stockton, J. C. Acheson, and Howard
Kennedy. The former prices were re-established and
amity restored, as far as the proprietors of the two
lines were concerned, both occupying the same oflices
at the two ends of the route. But at the towns and
stations along the road the passengers by the two lines

1 Daniel Moore was one of the earliest stage-owners in Washington,
but was preceded in the business by John Scott, who was probably the
first. In the assessment roll of Washington borough for 1810 he is men-
tioned as a “stage-master,” and in 1811 he had the contract for carrying
the mails between Washington and Wheeling. Daniel.Moore was at
that time a merchant, and had no interest in stage lines until more than
five -years later. The first line of stages between Washington and Pitts-
burgh was started by him. V

In August, 1819, D. H. Blaine and James Kincaid advertised a “ New
Accommodation Line” of coaches to run tri-weekly between Washing-
ton and Pittsburgh, “leaving D. H. Blaine’s in Washington on Mondays,
Wednesdays, and Fridays at noon, and arrive at Pittsburgh at seven
o’clock P.M. same day. The above arrangement will suit the present
mail line from Wheeling, Va., to the city of Washington and Baltimore,
the whole route to be performed in four days from Pittsburgh to either
of the last-mentioned places. The fare in the coaches will be regulated
by that of the mail line.” ,

In the year following the opening of the entire line of the National
road from Cumberland to Wheeling the starting of a new stage line was
announced as follows:

“ A hack stage will commence running from Washington to Wheeling
once a week from about the middle of April, 1821. Leave Washington
at five o’clock in the morning, and arrive at Wheeling at four in the
afternoon. Return next day. John Ruth the driver.

“ J OHN FLEMING, Innkeeper.

“ WASHINGTON, March 21, 1821.”

2 “ Gen.” Reeside, as he was often called, was in his day probably the
most extensive stage-owner in the United States, having lines in opera-
tion in all parts of the country, both east and West of the Mississippi.
It was he who originated the phrase “chalk your hat,” which in time
came to be generally understood as meaning the giving of a free pass
over a stage, steamboat, or railway line. Reeside gave no written passes,
but instead would take the hat of the person on whom he wished to
confer the favor, and mark upon it with chalk a cabalistic character
which no one could counterfeit, and which would carry the wearer of
the hat, free of expense, over any of Reeside’s lines; such, at least, is the
story which is told of him.” I

still dined and supped at different a11d rival hotels,
and the old feeling of animosity was kept alive be-
tween the drivers and other subordinate adherents of
the “Good Intent” and “National Road” companies.

Upon the completion of the Baltimore and Ohio
Railroad as far west as Cumberland in 184.4, the busi-
ness of the National road, great as it had previously
been, was very largely increased on account of the
easy eastern connection thus formed. During the
succeeding period of eight years it was frequently the
case that twenty-five stages, each containing its full
complement of nine inside and a number of outside
passengers, f‘ pulled out” at the same time from
Wheeling, and the same was true of the eastern ter-
minus at Cumberland. As many as sixteen coaches,
fully laden with passengers, were sometimes seen in
close and continuous procession crossing the Monon-
gahela bridge between West Brownsville and Bridge-
port. The lines ran daily each way, and it was
sometimes the case that thirty stages, all fully loaded
with passengers, stopped at one hotel in a single day.‘

The Monongahela Navigation Company completed
its slack-water improvements to Brownsville in 1844,
and from that time, during the season of navigation
in each year, a large proportion of the passengers
coming by stage-westward from Cumberland left the

road at the Monongahela and took passage by steam- ,

boat down the river from Brownsville. This was a
severe blow to the business of that part of the road
between the Monongahela and Ohio Rivers, but be-
tween the Monongahela and Cumberland itwas more
prosperous than ever. In the year 1850 the stage-
lines on the National road ca.rried over eighteen thou-
sand passengers to and from the Monongahela River
steamboats, and the number so carried had been con-
siderably larger than this in each of the three pre-
ceding years. But the glory of the great thoroughfare
was then nearing its final eclipse. Another year of
prosperity succeeded, but from the opening of the
Pennsylvania Railroad to Pittsburgh in 1852, and the
completion of the Baltimore and Ohio line to Wheel-
ing in December of the same year, the business of the
Cumberland road suddenly and rapidly declined;
travelers to and from the West were diverted to the

new routes and easier mode of conveyance, and extra

passenger-coaches were no longer needed ; finally, the
Western mails were sent by the other routes, and the
stages were withdrawn from this; the rumble of the
broad-wheeled freight-wagons was gradually silenced-
along the rock-laid road-bed, and by rapid degrees
the famous National highway lost its importance and
became, as it is to-day, merely an avenue of local
travel.

Washington and Williamsport Turnpike Road.
—The company by which this road was built from the
borough of Washington to Williamsport (now Monon-
gahela City) was’ chartered under “An Act authoriz-
ing the Governor to incorporate four companies for
making an artificial road in the town of Washington,

INTERNAL IMPROVEMENTS.

383

in this State, to intersect the Harrisburg and Pitts-
burgh road at or near the town of Bedford.” By this
act, wh_ich was passed March 18, 1816,1 it was pro-
vided: 1

“ That for the purpose of making an artificial road from the town of
Washington, in this State, by way of Williamsport, Robbstown, Mount
Pleasant, Somerset, and the White Horse tavern, on the top of the Alle-
gheny mountain to intersect the Harrisburg and Pittsburgh turnpike
road, at or near the town of Bedford, it shall and may be lawful for the
governor to incorporate four companies on the terms and conditions
hereinafter mentioned and provided; one company for making so much
of the said road as may lie between the town of Washington and the
bank of the Monongahela River at the town of Williamsport, to be
known by the name and style of ‘ The Washington and Williamsport
Turnpike Road Company ;’ one_ company for making so much of the
said read as may lie between the bank of the Monongahela river oppo-
site the town of Williamsport and the town of Mount Pleasant, to be
known by the name and style of ‘ The Robbstown and Mount Pleasant

' Turnpike Road Company ;’ one company for making so much of the

said read as may lie between the town of Mount Pleasant and the town
of Somerset, to be called ‘ The Somerset and Mount Pleasant Turnpike
Road Company ;’ and one other company for making so much of the
said road as may lie between the town of Somerset and the intersection
of the same road with the Harrisburg and Pittsburgh Road aforesaid, to
be known by the name and style of ‘ The Somerset and Bedford Turn-
pike Road Company.’ ”

The commissioners appointed to open books for sub-
scriptions to the stock of the Washington and Wil-
liamsport Turnpike Road Company were Alexander
Murdoch, Joseph Pentecost, Thomas H. Baird, James
Mitchell, David Hamilton, Alexander Reed, John
Hill, Jacob Kintner, and Andrew Monroe, of the
county of Washington, who were required to open

‘books for the purpose on or before the first Monday

of July next following, and when eight hundred
shares or more, at fifty dollars each, should have
been subscribed for, by at least forty different per-
sons, and the fact certified to the Governor, he was
empowered and directed to “create and erect the
subscribers into a body politic and corporate, by

-the name and style of ‘The President, Managers,

and Company of the Washington and Williams-
port Turnpike Road.’ ” The company was required
to commence the road within five years, and to com-
plete it within ten years from the passage of the act;
the road to be not less than fifty, nor more than sixty,
feet in width ; “ twenty-one feet of it to be made an
artificial road bedded with stone and gravel well com-
pacted together.” ’

The usual financial difficulties were encountered in
the building of the road. On the 26th of March,
1821, an act was passed authorizing the Governor to
subscribe for the State the sum of ten thousand dollars

 

1 In the Washington Reporter of Aug. 17, 1812, is found the following
mention:

“ The location of the New State Road is finished from Washington to
the Monongahela at Williamsport. It digresses northward from the old
track at Scott’s smith—shop (21/2 miles from Washington), and passing by
Capt. Little’s, George Vanemon’s, and on the south by James Kerr’s
place, enters the old road at Todd’s old place, and thence pursuing nearly
the old track with some material amendments, passes through Ginger
Hill to the landing at Joseph Parkinson's. Thedistance precisely eigh-
teen miles. The_distance of the old road, according to the original sur-
vey, was nineteen and three quarters; and from the numerous infringing
improvements, exceeded twenty miles.”

to the stock of the road, viz., one-third the amount
when five miles should have been completed, another
third when five miles more should be finished, and

- the remainder upon the completion of the third sec-

tion of five miles. Another State subscription was
authorized by act of Feb. 18, 1836.

The road was commenced within the required time,
but not being completed (and in fact comparatively

little work having been done) at the end of the

specified ten years, an extension" of three years was
granted by act of March 18, 1826. This being found
insufiicient, two subsequent extensions were granted,
—-March 19, 1829, and Feb. 7, 1831,——-and the road
was finally completed, the work having been done by
contract by farmers and others living along the route.
It was opened in sections of five miles; toll-gates
being erected on each section as soon as com-
pleted, in accordance with a provision to that effect
in the incorporating act. The stock held by the
State was sold by the State treasurer, under authority
conferred by an act passed Feb. 10, 1859. The Wash-
ington and Williamsport turnpike is still in existence
as a toll-road, though it cannot be said that it is kept
in excellent condition for travel.

Washington and Pittsburgh Turnpike Road.—-
This road was built by a company of the same name
and style, which was chartered under an act of incor-
poration passed March 25, 1817, which required the
company to commence the road within three years,
and to complete it within ten years from the passage
of the act. Books were opened for subscription on
the 16th of June in the same year. The route having
been located and surveyed under direction of John
Hoge and Col. George Morgan, of Washington
County, and Judge William Baldwin and Mr. Cowan,
of Pittsburgh, Work was commenced and pushed with
considerable vigor, but financial difliculties inter-
vened, which were only slightly relieved by a State
subscription of twelve thousand dollars to the- stock,
authorized by act of the Legislature passed March
26, 1821. By the report made to the State Depart-
ment, dated March 23, 1822, it is shown that ten
miles of the road was then completed, of the entire
distance-of twenty-five miles. Individual subscrip-
tions had been received to the amount of fifty thou-
sand dollars, and the State subscription of twelve
thousand dollars.

At the expiration of the ten years, allowed by the

‘ charter for completion, only seventeen of the twenty-

five miles of road had been completed, viz., seven
miles out from ‘Pittsburgh, and ten miles northward
from Washington. These sections were open for
travel, and tolls were taken on them. To prevent a
forfeiture of the charter, the company procured the
passage of a supplemental act (March 20, 1827) ex-
tending the time two years, and a further extension
of two years was granted by an act passed March 19,
1829. This was found insufficient. Further exten-
sions of time were obtained, and the road was finally

384

HISTORY OF WASHINGTON COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA.

completed in 1835, by Maj. John H. Ewing, of Wash-
ington, superintendent of construction. Meanwhile

the. State had made further subscriptions to the stock‘

of the company, aggregating about forty thousand
dollars, of which the last installment dated Feb. 18,
1836. In 1843 the stock owned by the State was sold
to Judge Thomas H. Baird, of Washington, Judge
William Wilkins, of Pittsburgh, and others. Soon
after the completion of the road the property of the
company was sequestrated, Maj. John Urie being ap-
pointed sequestrator, and so remaining for many
years, No dividends were ever paid on the stock,
though the road was kept as a toll-road for many
years. The buildingof the Chartiers Valley Rail-
road destroyed all hope of more prosperous times for
the turnpike, and it was finally surrendered to the
townships on its route, except the seven miles between
Washington and Canonsburg, which part is still a
toll-road.

Pittsburgh and Steubenville Turnpike.-This
road, crossing the northwest part of Washington
County, was built by a company of the same name,
which was chartered under an act of the Legislature
passed March 3, 1818. The managers of the company
were John Bailey, J ames'McFarren, A. Scott, West
Elliott, William McCreery, A. Donaldson, B. Miller,
and Samuel E. Marks. On the 26th of March, 1821,
an act was passed by the Legislature authorizing and
directing the Governor to subscribe on behalf of the

State $12,000 to the stock of the company, to be paid

in three equal installments on sections of five miles,
as completed. In a report of the managers, made
March 23, 1822, it is mentioned that of the whole dis-
tance of twenty-eight miles, onesection of five miles
was then completed ; that the individual subscriptions
to the stock of the company‘ amounted to $30,000;
State subscription, $12,000. After much delay, arising
from financial difficulties, the road was completed and
opened, and was for some years the highway of a con-
siderable amount of travel and trafiic, which, almost
as a matter of course, was diverted from it upon the
opening of a railway connecting its termini.
Monongahela River N avigation.——The only navi-
gable water of Washington County is the Mononga-
hela River, which has been a public highway for
more than a century. On the 15th of April, 1782,
the Assembly of Pennsylvania enacted, with regard
to this river and its principal tributary, the Youghio-

gheny, “That the said rivers, so far up as they or‘

either of them have been or can be made navigable
for rafts, boats, and canoes, and within the bounds
and limits of this State, shall be, and they are hereby
declared to be, public highways.” At the time when
this was done there was in progress an immense emi-
gration to Kentucky and other Southwestern regions
bordering the Ohio, and as a consequence the chan-
nel of the Monongahela might almost have been said
to be crowded with Kentucky boats, keel-boats, flat-
boats, and a multitude of every species of river craft,

ladenwith the families, household effects, and mer-
chandise of the emigrants (who embarked principally
at Brownsville), and with produce from various points,
all bound for the lower river. This kind of travel and
transportation was kept up and increased for many
years, until the days of steamboating commenced, but
it was constantly liable to interruption and total
suspension for months at a time in the summer and
autumn seasons when the river was low and without
the artificial means of raising the water to a navi-
gable stage by locks and dams.

In 1814 the Assembly passed an act (approved
March 28th) which provided “That the Governor
be and he is hereby authorized to appoint three com-
petent and disinterested persons, citizens of this com-
monwealth, one of whom shall be a practical surveyor,
to view and examine the river Monongahela from the
junction of said river with the Allegheny River to
the point where the southern boundary of this State
crosses said river; whose duty it shall be to repair to
the borough of Pittsburgh, and to view and examine
the aforesaid river from the point hereinbefore desig-
nated at the borough of Pittsburgh to the point in
the southern boundary aforesaid, and take the courses
and distances of the several meanders of the said
river betweenthe points aforesaid, and also an accu-
rate observation and admeasurement of the distances
between the different ripples, and the elevation in feet
and parts of a foot of the said ripples progressively
above the horizon of Pittsburgh,” and “That the
commissioners shall, as soon as may be, after they
shall have made the View and examination as afore-
said, present to the Governor at the next sitting of
the Legislature an accurate plan of the same, with
its several courses and distances, accompanied with
a‘ written report of their proceedings, describing the
distances between and elevations of the different rip-
ples; also the number of dams‘ already made, and
the most suitable places for constructing other dams,
locks, works, or devices necessary to be made to render
said river navigable through the whole distance ;2 and
shall make, according to the best of their knowledge
and judgment, an estimate of the probable expense
necessary for the purposes aforesaid.”

The survey and examination of the river was not
made as contemplated by this act, and on the 11th of
March, 1815, another act was passed reviving that of

1 Meaning dams erected by individuals for mill purposes.

2 In “A History of the Monongahela Navigation Company,” prepared
by Hon. James Veech in 1873, he says, “The earliest known suggestion
of an improvement of the navigation of the Monongahela by locks and
dams was in a report of a survey made for the State by E. F. Gay, civil
engineer, in 1828.?’ It seems remarkable that Judge Veech (who was
an original stockholder in the present Monongahela Navigation Com-
pany) should have been unaware of the fact that an act of Assembly,
passed in 1817, authorized the incorporation of a company of precisely
the same name and style of the present one, and having the same ob-
j ect,—-—the improvement of the river by locks and dams ; and also of the
fact that as early as 1814 an act was passed (and another in 1815) pro-
viding for a survey of the Monongahela with a view to its improvement
by the construction of locks and dams.

INTERNAL IMPROVEMENTS.

385

1814, and continuing it, with all its provisions, in
force for the term of three years from the passage of
the last act. Under this authority commissioners
were appointed, who made an examination of the
Monongahela, but nothing resulted from it in the
way of improvement of the navigation of the river
by the State.

In 1817 the Assembly passed an act (approved
March 24th of that year) “ to authorize the Governor
to incorporate a company to make a lock navigation
on the river Monongahela,” to bear the name and
style of “The President, Managers, and Company of

the Monongahela Navigation Company.” The act

appointed Andrew Linn, Esq., and Hugh Ford, of
Freeport; "James Tomlinson, Elisha Hunt, George

' Dawson, William Hogg, Jacob Bowman, Basil Bra-

shear, Joseph Thornton, and Israel Miller, of Browns-
ville; James W.- Nicholson’and Thomas Williams,
Esq., of New Geneva; Charles Bollman, Joel Butler,
and James P. Stewart, of Williamsport (now Monon-
gahela City); Henry P. Pearson and Joseph Alex-
ander, of Fredericktown, in the county of Washing-
ton, with seven gentlemen of Allegheny County and
two of Greene County, to be commissioners to open
books for subscriptions to the stock of the company
at Pittsburgh and other points along the river. The
capital stock of the company to be seventy-eight thou-
sand dollars, in two thousand six hundred shares of

. thirty dollars each. As soon as five hundred shares

should be subscribed the Governor was directed to
issue the charter of the company, and it was enacted
“that as soon as a company shall have been incorpo-
rated by the Governor to make a lock navigation on
the Monongahela River, he is hereby authorized and
required to subscribe in behalf of this commonwealth

_ for one thousand shares of the stock of said company

at thirty dollars for each share, to be paid upon war-
rants drawn by the Governor on the State Treasurer
in favor of the President and Managers of said com-

pany.’ ’

' ‘By the terms of the act of incorporation, the com-

pany was required, in making their improvements on
the river, “to erect at Bogg’s ripple a dam of the
height of three feet six inches; at Braddock’s lower
ripple, a dam of the height of three feet six inches;
at Braddock’s upper ripple, a dam of the height of
three feet six inches; at Peters Creek ripple, a dam
of the height of four feet two inches; at Ba1dwin’s
ripple, a dam of ‘the height of four feet three inches;
at Frye’s ripple, a dam of the height of three feet ten
inches; at Forsyth’s ripple, a dam of the height of
three feet eight inches; at Brownsville ripple, a dam
of the height of four feet six inches; at Smith’s rip-
ple, a dam of the height of four feet eight and a half
inches; at Heaton’s ripple, a dam of the height of
four feet five inches; at Muddy Creek ripple, a dam
of the height of four ‘feet five inches; at Gilmore’s
ripple, a dam of the height of three feet ten inches;
at Little Whitely ripple, a dam of the height of four

feet four inches; at Geneva ripple, a dam of the

height of three feet four inches; at Dunkard ripple,.

a dam of the height of three feet six inches; and at
Cheat River ripple, a dam of the height of three feet
three inches,” with the privilege of raising any or
all the dams not to exceed six inches above the speci-
fied height,‘if it should be found necessary to do so.
Owners of dams which had been erected at certain
points on the ‘river for mill purposes prior to the pas-
sage of the act were required to raise such dams to
the ‘specified height (if they were not already up to
it), and to keep them in repair; and for so doing they
were empowered to collect tolls from boats and other
craft passing them. _

The company was required, under penalty of a for-
feiture of their charter, to “proceed to carry on the
said work” within five years from the date of the act,
and to complete the slack-water navigation of the
first section——from Pittsburgh to the mouth of Dun-
lap’s Creek—in seven years thereafter, and to com-_
plete the second section—from Dunlap’s Creek to the
mouth of Cheat River-,—in twenty-five years from the
passage of the act.- These conditions were not com-
plied with, and forfeiture resulted in 1822. Beyond
this fact, nothing has been found to show What was
the extent of the operations of the old Monongahela
Navigation Company during its existence, except that
the books were opened in August, 1817 ; that the Gov-
ernor of Pennsylvania subscribed on behalf of the
Commonwealth for one thousand shares of the stock
as required, subscriptions having previously been re-

; ceived from individuals suificient in amount to author-

ize the chartering and organization of the company
under the act. It is evident that the amount of its
capital stock, if fully subscribed and paid in, was in-
sufficient for the purposes intended, and that even if
the projected improvements had been completed, as
specified in the act, they would have been wholly in-
adequate to the requirements of navigation on the
Monongahela.

In the spring of 1822, a few days after the expira-
tion of five years from the passage of the act author-
izigg the Monongahela Navigation Company, an act
was passed by the Assembly (approved April 2d of the
year named) taking the improvement of the Monon-
gahela into the hands of the State, and providing
“That Solomon Krepps and Joseph Enochs, of Fay-
ette County, and W'illiam Leckey, of Pittsburgh, be
and they are hereby appointed commissioners, who
shall have power, and it shall be their duty, to cause

~ to be removed all obstructions which impede or injure

the navigation of said river Monongahela, by making
a slope or inclined navigation from the Virginia State
line to its junction with the Allegheny River, and
said improvement to commence at the mouth of Dun-
lap’s Creek in Fayette County, and for that purpose
to employ suitable persons to perform said work;”
and “That ten thousand dollars of the stock sub-
scribed by the Governor on behalf of this Common-

386

HISTORY OF WASHINGTON COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA.

wealth in the stock of the Monongahela Navigation
Company be and is hereby appropriated to defray the
expenses of removing the said obstructions. . . 1.”

By another section of the act it was provided and
declared “That this act shall not go into operation
until the Monongahela Navigation Company shall
have first settled all accounts of said company, . . .
and until the Monongahela Navigation Company
shall also have relinquished their shares in the stock
of said company, as well those held by individuals as
those held by companies, which relinquishment shall
have been certified and transmitted under the hand
and seal of the president and managers of said com-
pany, or a majority of them, to the Governor, stating
that they relinquish all the rights, powers, and privi-
leges in and to the navigation. of the river Mononga-
hela vested in them by an act passed the 24th of
March, 1817, entitled ‘ An act to authorize the
Governor to incorporate a company to make a lock
navigation on the river Monongahela,’ and from
thenceforth said company shall cease and determine
as if the said act had not been passed.”

The persons appointed as viewers and commission-
ers to examine the work done on the river by the
first-named commissioners, and to report to the Gov-
ernor whether or not, in their opinion, the money
granted by the State had been judiciously expended,
were John Brownlee, of VVashingto.n, Henry Heaton,
of ,Fayette,’and John VValker, of Allegheny County.
Nothing has been found showing the nature and ex-
tent of the improvements made by the commissioners

under this act, or how much the navigation of the
iMonongahela was benefited bythem, but it is evident

that the expenditure of the small sum of ten thousand
dollars on more than ninety miles of river channel
could not have produced any very great results.

A supplement to the act of April 2, 1822, for the ‘

improvement of the Monongahela by the State, was
passed and approved March 29, 1823. One of the
sections of this supplementary act provided that all
persons owning dams and locks on the Monongahela,
which were built or begun to be built, or raised to the
required height in pursuance of the provisions (before
mentioned) of the act of 1817 , authorizing the inbor-
poration of the Navigation Company, might petition
the Governor, setting forth the facts, whereupon the
Governor was required to appoint three commissioners
to view such locks and dams, and upon their report
to the Governor that the improvements‘ had been
constructed agreeably to the terms of the act, he was
required to grant to the owners of such improvements
authority to collect tolls from all boats passing such
locks and dams.

In 1828 a report was made to the Assembly of Penn-
sylvania, giving the result of a survey of the river by
E. F. Gay, and favoring its improvement by the State,
butnothing was ‘done. In 1832 thelate Hon. Andrew
Stewart made an eflbrt in the Congress of the United
States to have the work done by the national govern-

ment, as an extension, under the act of 1824, of the
improvement of the navigation of the Ohio to the
National road at Brownsville. Congress provided for
a survey of the river to Brownsville, which was made
in 1833 by Dr. William Howard, United States civil
engineer. His plan was to build locks and low dams,
eight in number, of four and a half feet lift, except

that No. 1 would be six feet, the object being to use .

them only when the river was low. Congress having
declined to authorize the work, a public meeting held
at Waynesburg, Greene Co., Nov. 18, 1835, recom-
mended and urged the improvement by the State.
The movement was at once seconded by the citizens
of Pittsburgh, Brownsville, and Williamsport, and
legislation was sought and obtained.

The actual improvement of the Monongahela by
the formation of a practical slack-water navigation
was finally accomplished by the Monongahela Navi-
gation Company (second of that name and style),
which was incorporated under an act of Assembly
approved March 31, 1836, with an authorized capital
of $300,000, in six thousand shares of $50 each, with
power “ to increase the number of shares to. such ex-
tent as shall be deemed suflicient to accomplish the
work.”

The persons appointed as commissioners to receive
subscriptions to the stock were Thomas H. Baird,
Aaron Kerr, Ephraim L. Blaine, William Briant,
Sheshbazzer Bentley, Andrew Gregg, John Bowers,

' William Vankirk, Samuel Beatty, William Hopkins,
and James Gordon, of Washington County; George,

Dawson, Benedict Kimber, George Hogg, James L.
Bowman, Israel Miller, David Gilmore, E. P. Oli-
phant, Jeremiah Davison, Thomas Wilson, Tazewell
P. Martin, George Cramer, Yates S. ConWel1,’Thomas
Beatty, Aaron Bucher, John Harshe, Andrew Stew-
art, Samuel Evans, Isaac Crow, George Vance, James
C. Etington, Robert Brown, James C. Ramsey, David
B. Rhoads, William Everhart, Westley Frost, and
Samuel J. Krepps, of Fayette County; and a number
of gentlemen of ‘ Greene and Allegheny Counties.
When two thousand shares were subscribed the com-
pany was entitled to a charter, and might organize in
not less than twenty days. Upon organization the
company was empowered “ to for-m and make, erect
and set up any dams, locks, or any other device what-
soever which they shall think most fit and convenient

to make a complete slack-water navigation’ between-

the points herein mentioned, to wit : the city of Pitts-
burgh and the Virginia State line; and that the dams
which they shall so construct for the purpose of slack-
water navigation shall not exceed in height four feet
six inches; and that -the locks for the purposes of
passing steamboats, barges, and other craft up and
down said river shall be of suflicient width and length
to admit a safe and easy passage for steamboats,
barges, and other craft up as well as down said river.”
This act, like that which was passed forthe creation

INTERNAL IMPROVEMENTS.

387

of the old company in 1817, authorized the company
to use, lease, or sell the water-power from the dams,
and conferred on the individual owners of dams pre-
viously built (if by them raised to the required height)
the right to collect toll from boats passing down or up
the river. By the terms of the act the company was
required to commence work within five years, and to
complete the improvement to the Virginia line within
twelve years -from its passage, under penalty of ‘for-
feiture of charter.

During the year 1836 sufficient stock was subscribed
to authorize the issue of a charter early in 1837, and
on the 10th of February in that year the company
was organized by the election of oflicers, as follows:

President, James Clarke; Treasurer, John D.
Davis; Secretary, Jesse H. .Duncan; Managers,
Thomas Bakewell, James L. Bowman, John H.
Ewing, John Freeman, Cephas Gregg, George Hogg,
John Lyon, John Tassey, William Wade, Samuel
VValker. ,

By the sixth section of the State act of Feb. 18,
1836, chartering the United States Bank, it was re-
quired, among other burdens imposed, to subscribe to
the stock of this company, then in prospect, $50,000
at the opening of its books, and $50,000 more when
$100,000 of stock from other sources should have been
expended on the work. The State, by act of April
14, 1838, subscribed $25,000 in stock, and by act of

V June 11, 1840, $100,000 more. A
In the summer of 1838 a careful survey of the river

was made by an engineer corps, at the head of which
was W. Milnor Roberts (afterwards engineer of the
Northern Pacific Railroad, and now or recently en-
gaged in the service of the Brazilian government),
with Nathan McDowell and Robert W. Clarke, as-

sistants.

From Pittsburgh to Brownsville was found to be

about 55% miles, and the ascent a little over 33% feet;
' from Brownsville to the Virginia line, a little over 35

miles, ascent 41 feet; totals, 90% (miles, and 7 4% feet.
This would have required seventeen dams of four and
one-half feet lift,——one, on an average, for every five
miles,—thereby causing delays and tolls which would
have been unendurably vexatious, and an expenditure
in construction and attendance which would have
made the work wholly unremunerative. Besides, on
some of the ripples the fall was three and four feet,
and one, at the mouth of Cheat River, six feet. It
was soon seen that this plan must be abandoned.
Accordingly the Legislature, by a supplemental act, ap-
proved J une 24, 1839, authorized the company to con-
struct the dams eight feet in height from pool to pool.

The supplemental act also repealed that section of
the original act-which gave to individual owners of
dams on the river the right to collect tolls from boats,
in consideration of constructing or raising their dams
to the required height and keeping them in repair,
the adoption of the later plan of higher lifts render-
ing these dams useless to the navigation.

At first it was thought that ten dams of eight feet '

in height would be required to carry the work to the
State line (five below and five above the mouth of
Dunlap’s Creek), but by an authorized increase of

_ dam No. 4 to ten feet, and those above Brownsville

(three in number) to whatever height the banks would
allow, it was ‘found that seven would be sufficient.

Dam and lock No. 1, a mile above Smithfield Street
bridge, Pittsburgh, was let by contract, Dec. 17, 1838,
to J. K. and J. B. Moorhead. No. 2, at Braddock’s
upper ripple, was contracted (re-let), May 17, 1839,
to Coreys and Adams. Both these dams were put in
use Oct. 18, 1841, though neither was entirely com-
pletedl-at the time. -

On the 15th of July, 1840, lock and dam No. 3, at
Watson’s Run, two miles above Elizabeth, was let to
Bills & Foreman; and No. 4, at Frey’s Shoals, to Fen-
lon & Pat-ton (changed in construction to Fenlon &
Lonergan). The work was under the general direc-
tion of Chief Engineer Roberts. The construction of
Nos. 3 and 4, from the commencement of work until
May, 1841, was under the personal supervision of
George W. Cass. In the contract for No. 4, the com-
pany, to provide against a (not improbable) lack of
funds, reserved the right to stop the work at any time,
paying for what had been done. In May, 1841, for
the cause which had been foreseen, they were obliged
to avail themselves of this right, and for the same
reason work on No. 3 was suspended at the samejtime.

The year 1842 brought great discouragement to the
company. The United States Bank broke, and failed
to subscribe and pay its second $50,000. Of the sec-
ond ($100,000) subscription of the State, the company
was compelled to receive a large portion in State
bonds, and having received them were compelled to
sell them at a loss of fifty per cent. Many of the
individual subscribers for stock resisted payment,
while some were unable to pay. The company owed
$40,000, and had no money to pay with. Everything
seizable was taken and sold on execution. In 1841
an effort was made to secure further aid from the
State, but this was unsuccessful, for the condition of
the State treasury would not permit the investment.
In 1842 a very strong effort was made to interest cer-
tain Baltimore capitalists and persuade them to re-
plenish the company’s treasury, so as to complete the
slack-water improvement to Brownsville, and thereby
make it a feeder to the Baltimore and Ohio Railroad,
whichlabout that time was nearing Cumberland, where
it was thought it would be obliged to make a long
halt. But the Marylanders were too intent on push-
ing their great work to the Ohio to engage in any side
enterprise, especially one which they could not con-
trol.

For two years the work made no progress, except
to decay. The whole project became a “
tion to its friends and projectors, and a nuisance to
the navigation.” Its friends were almost ready to
abandon it to the mercies of the floods and of an in-

mortifica- '

.388

HISTORY OF WASHINGTON COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA.

dignant public, when aid came from an unexpected
source. The State’s financial condition had become
so depressed that the Legislature, by act of July 27,
1842, and again by act of April 8, 1843, directed sales
of. all its corporation stocks, among them its $125,000
in this company. This induced a number of men of
capital, enterprise, and of unfaltering faith in the
ultimate success of the improvement to buy this
stock,-—of course at a low figure,——and thereupon to
engage to repair and complete the work to Browns-
ville, ‘upon ten-year coupon bonds, secured by a mort-

gage of the improvement and its revenues to be ap- I

plied first to old debts, second to interest, and then to
reimburse to themselves the principal of their actual
expenditure. These men were James K. Moorhead,
Morgan Robertson, George Schnable, Charles Avery,
Thomas M. Howe, John Graham, Thomas Bakewell,
J. B. Moorhead, and John Freeman. They did the
work, chiefly through sub-contractors,‘ under the name
of Moorhead, Robertson & Co. Their contract with
the company was made Nov. 9, 1843. It was July,

1844, before they could get effectively at work, but

they went at it with such. energy and skill, with Syl-
vanus Lathrop for engineer, a‘nd"J. B. Moorhead for
superintendent, that on the 13th of November, 1844,
—-dams N o. 3 and 4 being completed, and the breach
in N o. 1 thoroughly repaired,——the lower division of
the Monongahela improvement was formally opened
from Pittsburgh to Brownsville.

At the time of the opening there had been expended
on the improvement (exclusive of engineering and
salaries of officers) the sum of $418,000, viz.: con-
struction of dams and locks Nos. 1 and 2, $160,500;
repairing of damages on same, $35,000; construction
of Nos. 3 and 4, $222,500. ,

Before the work was opened to Brownsville in 1844,
the Baltimore and Ohio Railroad had been completed
to Cumberland. The route of travel and traffic from
that place to Brownsville was over seventy-five miles
of the hard, smooth National road, which then more
than ever before was crowded with stage-coaches laden
to the full with passengers to and from the railroad ter-

.minus at Cumberland, and the greater partof these

passengers were now delivered to or received from the
Monongahela River steamboats at Brownsville, and
this continued during the navigation season in each
year until the opening of the Pennsylvania Railroad
to Pittsburgh in 1852. Here were eight years of a
rich harvest for the slack-water and the eastern di-
vision of the National road. During that time the
Navigation carried between Brownsville and Pitts-
burgh more than two hundred and eighty thousand
through passengers, a large proportion of whom passed
by stage over the great road. In the same time more
than four hundred and sixty-two_thousand way pas-
sengers were carried between the same points; and

1 The look at No. 3 was built by Alston & Hanney, and the dam by
John Lindsay. Lock and dam N o. 4 were built by Lockhart & Thomas.

the total passenger tolls for that period amounted to
$126,100.23. From 1845 to 1847 the revenues had
almost doubled, thereby enabling the company in 1847
to nearly extinguish its old floating debt, keep down
the interest, and pay $13,500 of the principal of the
$231,500 of bonds which had been issued to Moor-
head, Robertson & Co.

About this time there arose a strong excitement in
opposition to the operations of the company, and a
general demand was madethat the coal tolls on the
slack-water should be lowered, also that the dams
should be-made low enough to be “jumped” at high
water. Many of those interested in the navigation
of the river demanded that the dams be cut down to
four and a half feet, as required by the act of 1836,
and they bitterly denounced the company and the

Legislature of 1839, whichpassed the supplemental

act authorizing the raising of the dams to eight feet.
It was foretold, with a great deal of gravity and ap-
parent wisdom, that “if the high dams are suffered to
remain as they are the coal lands up the river will always
be worthless !” The agitation failed to accomplish the
lowering of the dams, but the company reduced the
tolls onpools Nos. 3 and 4 on coal in flat-boats in-
tended to go down the Ohio. A calm succeeded, and
the people were satisfied. The relations between the
company and the coal-owners became harmonious,
and have ever since remained so. The latter found
that their predictions of the utter worthlessness of coal
lands in case the high dams were allowed to remain
were baseless, but that, on the contrary, those lands
were rising rapidly in value from year to year. This‘
appreciation has been continued and rapid, especially
in the later years, until the present time. A

Notwithstanding that the tolls from freights an
passengers continued about the same for many years,
such was the rapid increase of the coal trade that at
the end of 1853 the entire indebtedness to Moorhead,
Robertson & Co. was paid; and but for new debts in-
curred in 1850 for some additional rights ($2000), and
a second look at dam N o. 1 ($56,800), and in 1853-54
another look at dam N 0. 2, costing about $50,000,?
rendered necessary to accommodate the increased
coal trade, and the extension above Brownsville, the
company could have been free of debt.

The building of the dams above Brownsville had
been postponed from time to time on account of the
low condition of the company’s finances. From 1848-

to 1853 several attempts were made to raise the-.

necessary funds by obtaining new subscriptions to
stock, but without success. The stock was nominally
doubled in 1848, bringing it up to a total of $521,000,
but this did not add to the com pany’s available means.
The Legislature, by act of Jan. 25, 1854, made it ‘im-
perative upon the company to put locks and dams
Nos. 5 and 6 under contract, and have them com-

2 Alstons & Hannay were the contractors for the new lock at No. 1;
Ersman & Hardy for that at N 0. 2.

{hundred perches of stone.

INTERNAL IMPROVEMENTS.

389

pleted, No. 5 before June 1, 1855, and No. 6 before
Dec. 1, 1855. The improvement to the State line
was required to be completed before Dec. 1, 1857,
but this requirement was relaxed by act of April 8,
1857, so as not to require No. 7 to be begun until
locks and dams to carry the work from the State
line to Morgantown should be put under contract,
and with the completion of which No. 7 was to be
contemporaneous. ' ’

In compliance with the act of Jan. 25, 1854, the
company promptly put Nos. 5 and 6 under contract,
No. 5, just above Watkins’ Bar, two miles above
Brownsville, to Burns & Ross; and No. 6, at Rice’s
Landing, ten miles farther up, to Messrs. Dull. They
were constructed at a cost (including the raising of

‘ dam No. 4 and some dredging) of about $200,000, and

were completed and ready for use in November, 1856,
thus opening the slack-water navigation to Geneva.
All the original locks are one hundred and ninety
by fifty feet in the chambers between the points‘ or
mitres of the gates and the side-walls. The entire
length of the walls is two hundred and fifty-two feet,
and their height about twenty-five feet. They are
ten and twelve feet thick, built of heavy blocks of
dressed stone, laid in hydraulic cement and securely
clamped. Except those at Nos. 1 and 6, which have
rock bases, they are built upon heavy oak timber
deeply laid and covered with heavy oak plank. Each
of the old locks contains over five thousand three
_ The newones (put in in
addition to the original ones in_ locks Nos. 1 and 2)
are larger and contain proportionately more. These

’ are two hundred and fifty by fifty-six feet in the cham-

bers, but built in other respects as were the old ones.
To show the facility with which boats are passed
through these locks, the following quotation is given

from the report of the board of managers to the stock-

holders, presented January 12th of the present year

" (1882), viz. : “ In twenty hours between midnight of

the17th of December last and the same hour of the
ensuing night there were passed through lock No. 1
forty-two coal-boats, forty-six barges, ten flats, and

two fuel—boats, containing together an aggregate of _

1,661,000 bushels, or about 63,118 tons of coal. A
correspondingly increased amount could have been
passed during the twenty-four hours had not the pas-
sage of boats been suspended during four hours of
that day by the refusal of the pilots of some tow-boats
to pass down below out of the way of the boats seek-
ing to leave the lock.’ ’ _

“ The coal business on the Monongahela,” says the
above-quoted report, “ has increased so largely in re-
centyears that the pressure for the passage of coal-
boats in time of a rise of the river has become very

A great at dam No. 3, where there is only a single lock;

As the necessity arose, a -similar difliculty at locks
Nos. 1 and 2 was relieved by the construction of a
second and enlarged look at each of those points.

The company has, therefore, in order to meet promptly *

the demands of the coal trade and afford every facility ,

for rapid navigation, ordered a new lock, of larger
dimensions than any heretofore‘ constructed on their
improvement, to be. built alongside of the present
lock No. 3. This work will be put undercontract
and completed as speedily as possible; and they have
it also in contemplation to duplicate the lock at No.
4, also on an enlarged scale. These improvements
will fully accommodate, for many years to come, the
still rapidly-increasing coal trade out of pools Nos. 3
and 4, especially when the formation of a pool below
dam No. 1 shall have been effected. '

“ The United States government, having completed
lock and dam No. 9, at Hoard’s Rock, in West Vir-
ginia, are now proceeding with the construction of
lock and dam No. 8, near Dunkard’s Creek. If this
work were completed it would only require the erec-
tion of lock and dam No. 7 by this company to furnish
a slack-water navigation between Pittsburgh and Mor-
gantown, in West Virginia, a total distance of one
hundred and two miles. This company has accord-
ingly entered into a contract with Messrs. Harrold &
McDonald for the immediate erection of lock and dam
No. 7, which, unless the season should prove so un-
favorable ‘as to prevent it, will be completed during
the present year, and which, by connecting with the
government work now partly in process of construc-
tion and partly completed, will fulfill the obligation
of the company under its charter, and furnish a com-
plete slack-water navigation not only up to but beyond
the limit of the Virginia State line. This work, when
completed, will furnish on the Monongahela River the
longest reach of slack-water steamboat navigation in
the United States, if not in the world. . . .”

Following is a statement of the number of bushels
of coal and slack shipped" from the several pools of
the Monongahala slack-water during each month of
the year 1881,‘ viz. :

1 The following table from “ Legislative Document No. 8” shows the
number of "employees and the production of coal in Washington County
for the year ending December, 1881:

 “’3::3;‘:g 1’.‘::.i,°"“  312:2:

A. Hays Coal Company ............. .. 183 54 328,145 21,311
F. H. Coursin ................................ .. 71 11,000 13,300
D. M. Anderson ........................ .. 234 13 5,259 8,756
Gamble & Risher. ...................... .. 225 115 72,000 68,125
Harlem Coal Company .............. .. 159 224 80,000 64,306
Miller & Co .............................. .. 300 50 25,470 18,752
R. Wellington 200 34 19,000 12,000
Crowthers, Musgrave & Co.‘ ....... .. 207 120 — 45,808 42,558
Keystone Coal Company ........... .. 225 82 24,108 18,288
Knob Coal Company ............  130 76 19,643 18,497
Blackburn & Mort .................... .. 120 29 25,000 20,672
T. J. wand 100 48 13,000 10,000
Lindsey & McCutcheon ............. .. 100 48 ...... .. 10,310
J. Allison ................................ .. 250 62 26,750 30,000
Chicago Gas Coal Company ....... .. 264 150 70,037 55,968
Patterson & Santers.................... 200 125 55,000 50,000
J. S. Neel ................................. .. 220 135 62,329 48,114
Robbins Block Coal Company .... .. 250 175 75,000 75,000
Pittsburgh and Walnut Hill Coal

Company . 220 123 40,000 40,000
W. S. White & Son ................... .. 265 6 1,400 2,774
V.  270 40 12,050 12,800
G. W. Crawford & C0 ................ .. 116 80 25,000 18,000
John H. Ewing ........................ .. 156 13 1,600 125
J. V. H. Cook 290 10 3,000 4,446
A. A. Hutchinson & Bro ............ .. 275 180 100,000 125,000
George Crawford & Co ............... .. 156 78 ....... .. 8,200
Jacob Legler; ........................... .. 26 19 ....... .. 1,260

4   A PREFACE.

work that in the labor performed by the gentlemen named they have evinced at all times While
it progressed the most absolute good faith and painstaking desire for accuracy and completeness.
In explanation of‘ the method adopted, more especially in the preparation of the chapters

upon the civil and legal history, the writer would state that the idea of presenting original docu—i

ments, in full or by quotation, as they lay before him, rather than to paraphrase‘ their contents T

in his own language, was followed from deliberate choice as the best methodof presenting local
history. Thus the actors speak for themselves, and the reader is not asked to take upon faith

= the statements of another as to what is really. contained in their communications. True, a sen-

ltence often might have represented the substantial contents of a letter or paper of some length,

but the reader is supposed to desire rather to see. and read the letter or paper for himself. This

will, no doubt,be appreciated by the thoughtful.

One word as to the matter of the portraits, other illustrations, and biographical sketches not
immediately connected with the historical character of the work, a feature, however, with which
those engagedas investigators and writers have had nothing whatever to do, as being outside of
their employment. Thisfeature sometimes is made the subject of thoughtless criticism. Let it here

be said the work is intended, to some extent, to indicate the present development of the county, j

side by side with the history of its past. For obvious reasons, then, wait for twenty, thirty,

fortyyears of our future to elapse, when the present and its people shall have become more in-

teresting. Then, it is submitted, this very feature of the work in which there are presented the

portraits and biographical sketches of a few of the representative men of each condition of life,

as well as illustrations of their homes and their surroundings, showing the county of to—day,

will/of itself have become of very great interest and importance.   Time, indeed, will place this

feature of the work in its proper light.

This history,thus the work of many hands, is now with the reader, a record of oilripast,
for present and future instruction and entertainment. The longer it is possessed perhaps the
more it may be prized. Not a page has been stereotyped, and only copies enough have been

printed to supply the subscribers and ' those who labored upon it ; hence it cannot hereafter be

found in the market, and year by year it will become a possession more and more valuable to the
owner.   T T T a s
B. C‘.

I WASHINGTON, Sept. 20, 1882. T

4-}

-HISTORY OF WASHINGTON COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA.

CHAPTERIV.

BRADDOCK’S EXPEDITION IN 1755.

THE news of Washington’s defeat,. and the conse-
quent domination of the French over the broad terri-
tory west of the Alleghenies, was forwarded without
delay to England, where it produced a general alarm
and excitement, and roused the ministry to a deter-
mination to retrieve the disaster and expel the French,
at’whatever cost, from the valleys of the Mononga-
hela and Allegheny Rivers. In pursuance of this de-
termination, it was decided to send out a military
force, to march from» the Potomac to the “ Forks of
the Ohio,” there to wrest from the French, by force
of arms, their most menacing possession,—-Fort Du
Quesne}

The expeditionary force, which was intended to be
a very formidable one (for that early day), was to be
composed of the Forty-fourth and F orty-eighth Royal
Regiments of Foot,2 commanded respectively by Col.
Sir Peter Halket and Col. Thomas Dunbar, with
some other troops to be raised in Virginia and other
American provinces. The command of the expedi-
tion was given to Maj.-Gen. Edward Braddock, of the
regular British army, who was also made commander-
in chief of all his Majesty’s forces in America.

‘Gen. Braddock sailed from Cork, Ireland, on the
14th of January, with the two regular regiments, on

‘ board the fleet of Admiral Keppel, of the British

navy. The fleet arrived in Hampton Roads on the
20th of February, and the general, -with the admiral,
disembarked there and proceeded to Williamsburg,
Va., for conference with Governor Dinwiddie. There,
also, the general met his quartermaster-general, Sir
John Sinclair, who had_preceded him to America, and
had already visited Fort- Cumberland to make the
preliminary arrangements for the campaign. “ Vir-
ginia levies” had already been raised for the purpose
of being incorporated with the Forty-fourth and
Forty-eighth Regiments, and these levies had been
ordered to Alexandria, whither, also, the fleet was
ordered for disembarkation of the troops.

Leaving VVilliamsburg, Gen. Braddock, Sir John
Sinclair, and the admiral arrived ’on the 26th at Alex-
andria, which place was the headquarters of the ex-
pedition for nearly two months, during which time
(on the 14th of April) a council was held there, com-
posed of the commander-in-chief, Admiral Keppel,
Governor Dinwiddie, of Virginia; Governor Shirley,
of Massachusetts ; Governor Delancey, of New York;
Governor Morris, of Pennsylvania; and Governor

Sharpe, of Maryland; at which conference the plan A

1 There were, however, two other expeditions projected,—one against
Niagara and Frontenac, under Gen. Shirley, and another against Crown
Point, under Gen. William Johnson; but the principal one was that in-
tended for the reduction of Fort Du Quesne.

2 These regiments, however, were far from being full, numbering only
about five hundred men each. ' '

of the campaign3 was decided on, and arrangements
made to facilitate the forwarding of the provincial
troops destined for the expedition. .
Sir John Sinclair was dispatched from Alexandria
soon after his arrival with orders to proceed to Win-
chester, Va., and thence to Fort Cumberland, to com-
plete all arrangements for the army’s transportation.
By his advice Braddock adopted the plan of moving
his force from Alexandria in two divisions, viz. :. one
regiment and a portion of ‘the stores to proceed to
Winchester, whence a new road was nearly completed
to Fort Cumberland, and the other regiment, with the
re_mainder of the stores andvthe artillery, to move to
the fort (which had been designated as the general
rendezvous) by way of Frederick, Md. Accordingly,
on the 9th of April, Sir Peter Halket left Alexandria
for the fort, by way of Winchester, with six com-
panies of the Forty-fourth Regiment, leaving the
other four companies behind under command of
Lieut.-Col. Gage‘? to escort the artillery. On the 18th

.Col. Dunbar, with the Forty-eighth, marched for

Frederick, Md., and the commander-in-chief left
Alexandriafor the same place on the 20th, leaving
Gage to follow with the artillery. WhenDunbar
arrived at Frederick he found that there was no road
to Cumberland through Maryland;’’ and accordingly,
on the 1st of May, he recrossed the Potomac, struck
the Winchester route, and nine days later was in the
neighborhood of the fort. “At high noon on the
10th of May, while Halket’s command was already
encamped at the common destination, the Forty-
eighth was startled by the passage of Braddock and

his staff through theirranks, with a body of light- .

horse galloping on each side of histraveling chariot,
in haste to reach Fort Cumberland. The troops
saluted, the drums rolled out the Grenadiers’ March,
and the cortege passed by. An hour later they heard
the booming of the artillery which welcomed the gen-
eral’s arrival, and a little later themselves encamped
on the hillsides about that post.” The artillery es-
corted by Gage arrived at the fort on the 20th.
Arriving at the fort on the 10th, the general re-
mained there about one month, during which time
his expeditionary force‘ was completed and organized.
Two companies, Rutherford’s and Clarke’s, had been
stationed at the fort during the winter, and were still
there. The Forty-fourth and Forty-eighth regulars

3 The council, however, had really nothing to do with the adoption of -

the plan of operations, which was made entirely according to the mar-
tinet ideas and opinions of the commander-in-chief.

4 The same Gage who as major-general commanded the British forces
in Boston in 1775.

5 Capt. Orme, in his journal of the expedition, says, “ The general
ordered a bridge to be built over the Antietum, which being furnished
and provision laid upon the road Col. Dunbar marched with his regiment
from Frederick on the 28th of April, and about this time the bridge over
the Opeccon was finished for the passage of the artillery, and floats were
built on all the rivers and creeks.” The “ Antietum” here mentioned
is the same historic stream whose locust-fringed banks witnessed the ter-
rific battle between the Union and Confederate hosts under McClellan
and Lee, on the 17th of September, 1862.

390

HISTORY OF WAS HINGTON COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA.

Months. Igooll £30; 13:30:15 gs‘): Total.
January ........... .. 611,000 2,429,500 395,800 233,600 3,666,900
February .......... .. 214,500 3,428,000 650,000 708.200 5,001,700
March ............. .. 73,200 7,319,500 2,123,700 2,922,500 1 2,438,900
April ............... .. 1,656,000 6,211,500 2,490,900 2,511,900 12,870,300
May ................. .. 1,079,500 4,825,000 494,500 1,048,000 7,447,000
June ................ .. 1,828,460 7,072,500 1,429,000 1,708,400 12,038,360
July ................. .. 430,000 4,045,000 972,000 1,075,900 6,522,900
August ............. .. 16,000 766,500 396,800 559,000 1,738,300
September... . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .. 126,000 77,100 57,900 261,000
October ............. .. 13,000 201,000 305,100 28,400 547,500
November ........ .. 1,077,000 5,073,000 2,214,600 2,668,800 10,433,400
December ......... .. 1,714,600 6,499,000 2,599,300 2,525,500 13,288,400

Total .......... .. 8,713,260 47,944,500 14,148,800 15,448,100 86,254,660

The coke shipments by the slack-water in 1881 were
as follows:

Bushels-—from Pool No. 1 134,500
“ “ “ “ 2 .... .. 3,330,000

“ “ “ “ 4 .... .. 87,200

“ “ “ “ 6 ................................................ .. 229,000
Total number bushels coke ........................................ .. 3,780,700

I

This gives a total of ninety million thirty-five
thousand three hundred and sixty bushels of coal,
coke, and slack shipped from the several pools of the
Monongahela Navigation Company in the year 1881,
which is a total increase of a little more than six
hundred and fifty thousand bushels over the business
of 1880. The passenger business of 1881 was but little
more than one-third that of the preceding year, this
being due to the opening of the railroad from West
Brownsville to Pittsburgh in the spring of 1881. The
decrease will of course continue, and grow more
marked as the railroads now in process of construc-
tion penetrate southward to West Virginia. But the
passenger trade is an item of small and ever-lessening
comparative importance to the navigation of the
river. The natural resources of the country furnish
its main business, and this will be the case in the
future even more than it is atpresent. The mineral
treasures lying hidden beneath the everlasting hills
of -the Monongahela, and as yet hardly beginning to
be developed, will sustain and swell the navigation of
the river, and bring surpassing prosperity to its val-
ley. The Monongahela improvement, which, as its
opponents forty years ago prophesied, was to render
the coal lands of the upper river worthless, has, in-
stead‘, been largely, if not principally, instrumental
in making them accessible, enhancing their value far
beyond the wildest dreams of that day, and making
their owners wealthy. While‘ accomplishing this,
after years of disaster and discouragement, the Navi-
gation Company has also achieved success for itself,
and its present prosperity is certainly well merited.
The presidents of the company have been: James
Clarke, elected at the organization, in February, 1837,
and held till October, 1840; Thomas Bakewell, pro
tempore, from October, 1840, to January, 1841, then
elected and held till the following October ; William
Eichbaum, pro tempore, from October, 1841, to Janu-
ary, 1842, then elected and held till January, 1844;
Samuel R. Johnston, January, 1844, to January,
1845; John B.‘Butler, January, 1845, to July, 1846,
when he entered the army as paymaster in the Mexi-
can war. James K. Moorhead succeeded him as pres-

ident pro tempore, holding till January, 1847, when
he was elected, and has held the office of president of
the company from that time continuously for more
than thirty-five years. The present oflicers of the
Monongahela Navigation Company are:

President, J. K. Moorhead.

Secretary and Treasurer, William Bakewell.

Managers, John Harper, Felix R, Brunot, M. K.
Moorhead, N. B. Hogg, William Morrison, -J. B.
Murdoch, Alexander Bradley, J. B. Sweitzer, Joseph
Albree, A. C. Bakewell.

Steamboat navigation on the Monongahela was
commenced in the year 1814, when the “ Enterprise,”
which had been built at Brownsville by Daniel French
and others, left that place under command of Henry
M. Shreve, and passed down the Monongahela, Ohio,

and Mississippi Rivers to New Orleans, being the first V

boat that ever made the trip from Pittsburgh to that
city and return. The “ Dispatch” was also built by
the same parties, and went down the Monongahela
and Ohio not long after the “ Enterprise.” During
the thirty years that succeeded the building of these
two boats, before the opening of the slack-water from
Pittsburgh to Brownsville, the Monongahela was
navigated in the times of high water by a multitude
of steamboats, of which it is impracticable to give
the names or any connected account. Mention should
be made, however, of the two brothers, Capt. William
and Capt. James Parkinson, sons of Benjamin Park-
inson,‘ natives and residents of Washington County,
who were among the most famous river-men of the
early «days of Monongahela River navigation, and
who became almost as well known on the lower Ohio
and -Mississippi as on the river along whose shores
they played in boyhood. They both were engaged in
steamboat navigation on the Monongahela long before
the opening of the slack-water improvement. In
F ebrurary, 1841, Gen. Harrison (who was thenon his
way to Washington, D. C., to be inaugurated Presi-
dent of the United States) traveled on Capt. William
Parkinson’s boat, the “ Moxahalla,” from Pittsburgh

to Brownsville. The weather was exceedingly cold 1

and damp, and the President-elect being called for at
every landing, was compelled to go on shore and show
himself bare~headed to the crowds which had col-
lected to greet him. The result was a severe cold,
which Capt. Parkinson always believed and declared
to be the cause of the general’s death, which occurred
very soon after his inauguration.

Upon the completion of the slackwater improve-
ment to Brownsville, the brothers Parkinson became
prominent men in the company which placed the first
line of steamers upon it, but after some years they

1 Benjamin Parkinson, father of William and James, was an exten-
sive mill owner at the mouth of Mingo Creek, and a nephew, of Benja-
min Parkinson, whose name frequently occurs in the annals of the
“ Whiskey Insurrection,” and also of Joseph Parkinson, who founded
the settlement at Parkinson’s Ferry, now Monongahela City.

INTERNAL IMPROVEMENTS.

391

disposed of their interests on the Monongahela, and
ran a boat or boats of their own in the trade between
Pittsburgh and St. Louis.

The first regular line boat that ran upon the Mo-
nongahela slack-water after its completion between
Brownsville and Pittsburgh was .the side-wheeler
“Louis McLane,” so named for the first president of
the Baltimore and Ohio Railroad. With her, on al-
ternate days, ran the “ Consul,” also a side-wheeler.
Both these boats were regarded as fast, the “McLane”
being the more so of the two. After about four years’
service she was dismantled at Brownsville, and parts
of her used in the building of the Pittsburgh and
Wheeling packet “ Diurnal.-”

The two line boats above mentioned were succeeded

‘ by the “Atlantic” and “Baltic,” which were both

built at Brownsville, andboth very fast boats. They
came out in-1849. After three or four years’ service
the “ Baltic” was dismantled, and the other was put
in use as a tow-boat. After a time she too was demol-
ished, and her material used in building the stern-
wheeler “ Hercules.” The “ Baltic” and “ Atlantic”
were succeeded in the line by the “Luzerne” and
“ J eiferson.” _ While the former was building, in 1852,
the flood carried the hull off the ways and over the
dams. It was caught at McKeesport, and towed into
the Youghiogheny, ‘where it was completed. The
“Jefferson” was built at McKeesport, and after her

_tour of duty on the slack-water was dismantled at

Brownsville. The “ Luzerne” was taken to the Mis-
sissippi, where she ran between Rock Island and Ga-
lena, Ill., and was finally snagged near the Iowa shore,

-above Lyons. . About 1854 the “ Redstone” was built

by John. S. Pringle, now of West Brownsville. She
was put on the line, but ran only a few months, when

_ she was sold to go in the lower Ohio River trade; but

her career was ended soon afterwards by the explo-
sion of her boilers near Carrollton, Ky.

The “Telegraph,” built at California by McFall,
ran on the line for about twelve years, and was ac-
counted a “lucky” boat. After her long career on
the slackwater she was dismantled“ at Brownsville.
Some of her machinery was put in the “Scotia,” re-
cently built for the Ohio. The “Geneva,” stern-
wheeler, ran on the line for a short time about 1855.
The “Dunbar” was built by John S. Pringle about
1859 for the Monongahela trade, but being a little
too large to pass the locks conveniently, was sold to
run on the lower Ohio and Tennessee Rivers. At
the commencement of the war of 1861-65 she fell

-into the hands of the Confederates. After the fall

of Fort Henry she with several other boats was
chased up the Tennessee by the United States gun-
boats “Lexington,” “Conestoga,” and “Tyler.” She
passed Pittsburgh Landing and Eastport, and a short

distance above the latter escaped her pursuers by run-

ning hp a creek whichwas too shoal for the Federal
gunboats to follow. But she left her bones there, for
the water falling she was unable to get back to the

river‘, and was dismantled by the Confederates, who
took her machinery overland to the Chattahoochie
River, where it was used in another boat.

Among the later boats running on the line between
Pittsburgh and New Geneva there have been the
“Franklin,” the “ Gallatin,” the “ Fayette,” the
“Elisha Bennett,” “Chieftain,” “ Elector,” “John
Snowdon,” and the present boats of the Geneva line,
—the “ James G. Blaine,” “ Geneva,” and “ Ger-
mania.” The “Franklin” and “ Gallatin” ran to-
gether on the line for a few years, after which service
the “Gallatin” was sold to run as a ferry-boat be-
tween Memphis, Tenn., and the Arkansas shore of
the Mississippi, and the “Franklin” was taken to
pieces at Brownsville, her machinery being placed in
the “ Geneva,” which is still on the line. The “ Fay-
ette,” which was built at Brownsville, was one of the
finest boats ever running on the Monongahela, as well
as one of the most successful. She was sold to go in
the lower Ohio River trade, between Cairo, Ill., and
Evansville, Ind. The career of the “ Elisha Bennett”
was disastrous, ending in her total loss in 1878. . She
was carried away from her wharf at Brownsville, in
the night, by flood and ice, and crushed at dam No. 4.
The “ Chieftain” met the same fate at the same time.
This last-named boat and the “ Elector” were not put
on the river to run in the regular Geneva line, but in
the “ People’s Line,” an opposition which was put on
about 1867. This line was discontinued by their
boats being purchased by the other company and run
as boats of the regular line.

The “ Pittsburgh, Brownsville and Geneva Packet
Company” was incorporated under an act of Assem-
bly passed Feb. 21, 1868, with a capital of $150,000,
and authority to increase to $300,000. The corpora-
tors named in the act were “ Benjamin Coursin, John
J. House, Mark Boreland, William Britten, Clark

‘ Breading, Samuel H. Smith, Joseph G. Ritchie, and

their associates,” the object for which the company
was incorporated being to run steamers for the carry-
ing of passengers and freight on the Monongahela
River, which, however, they had been doing for years
before the incorporation, this being the legalization,
but not the commencement, of the enterprise. The
first president of the company was J. K. Moorhead,
who was succeeded by George W. Cass, and he by
Adam Jacobs. Nearly all the steamers already men-
tioned as having run on the Monongahela were of this
line. The present boats of the company making daily
trips each way between Pittsburgh and New Geneva
are the “James G. Blaine,” “Geneva,” and “ Ger-
mania.” The present (December, 1881) oflicers of the
packet company are: Managers, Adam Jacobs, presi-
dent; Isaac C. Woodward, Charles E. Spear, Benja-
min F. Coursin, H. B. Cock, William Parkhill, George
E. Hogg; Secretary and Treasurer, H. W. Robinson.

Railroads:-The Baltimore and Ohio Railroad
Company was the first corporation which made any

392

HISTORY or WASHINGTON COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA.

actual movement towards the construction of a rail-
way line through the valley of the Monongahela
River or any part of the territory of Washington
County. That company having been incorporated by
the Legislature of Maryland at their December session
in the year 1826, applied to the General Assembly of
Pennsylvania for authority to construct their road
through this State to or towards a terminus on the
Ohio. To this petition the Assembly responded Feb.
27, 1828,:by the passage of “ An act to authorize the
Baltimore and Ohio Railroad Company to construct a
railroad through Pennsylvania, in a direction from
Baltimore to the Ohio River.” The act recited in its
preamble that “it is-in accordance with that liberal
course of policy which has ever been pursued by this
Commonwealth to promote the facility of trade and
intercourse between the citizens of Pennsylvania and
the citizens of her sister States, and no doubt is enter-
tained but the same motives of policy will govern
the State of Maryland should an application at any
time hereafter be made by the government of this
State for leave to intersect the said railroad in the
State of Maryland by the construction of a railroad
by the State of Pennsylvania, or any company which
may by law be incorporated for such purpose.” The
company was required to complete its road in Penn-
sylvania within fifteen years from the passage of the
act, otherwise the act tobe void and of no effect.

In 1829 the engineers of the company commenced
the exploration of routes through Pennsylvania,
and this was soon followed by preliminary surveys,
extending through several years, a very thorough
examination being made of a wide range of country,
extending from the mouth of Dunkard Creek north-

_ ward as far as the northern limits of Washington

County. A report on the western part of the pro-
posed route was made by the company’s chief engi-
neer, Jonathan Wright, Esq., of Washington County,
in 1835, and, being favorable for the construction of
the road, it awakened considerable interest and enthu-
siasm among the people of the Monongahela Valley.
In some of the newspapers of November, 1835, is
found a report of a “ Great Railroad Meeting,”
held at Brownsville on the 3d of that month, “to
promote the immediate construction of a railroad be-
tween Cumberland and Brownsville, and thence to
Wheeling and Pittsburgh, at which it was announced
that the chief engineer of the Baltimore and Ohio
Company had made an examination of this section of
country, and had made his report to the effect that a
railroad could be constructed between the places men-
tioned “ without the use of any inclined plane.” The
meeting resolved that it was expedient to hold a rail-
road convention at Brownsville on Thursday, the 25th
of the same month, to be composed of- delegates from
the District of Columbia, and from towns, cities, and
counties feeling ‘an interest in the enterprise. No re-
port of such a convention has been found, nor does it
appear that any further public action was taken in the

premises. It is evident that the Brownsville meeting
of November 3d did not convene for the purpose of
adopting or considering any definite plan of action,
but merely to express in general terms, approval of
the project of a railroad line from the Potomac to the
Ohio by Way of Brownsville and Washington County.

The surveys of the Baltimore and Ohio Company
were continued in 1836 to 1838, and a route was de-
cided on as to its principal points. Crossing the
Monongahela River at Brownsville, the route was sur-
veyed thence into the valley of Ten-Mile Creek, and
up that valley to its head ; from that point, crossing
the dividing ridge to Templeton Run, itlpassed down
the valleys ‘of that stream and Wheeling Creek to
the Ohio at Wheeling.‘ Leaving the proposed main
line near the crossing of the Monongahela, a branch
road was surveyed to Pittsburgh, in accordance with
the requirement of the ninth section of the act of
Feb. 27, 1828, viz. : "‘ That, as a condition on which
this act is granted, it shall be the duty of the said
company, in case the railroad aforesaid, made in this
Commonwealth in pursuance of this act, shall not
terminate at the Ohio River in the vicinity of Pitts-
burgh, to construct a lateral railroad simultaneously,
on the same principles and plans of the main railroad,
and which shall connect the city of Pittsburgh with
the main railroad.” ’

The preparations of the Baltimore and Ohio Com-
pany for the construction of a railroad through
Pennsylvania embraced not only the making of elab-
orate surveys, but also the making of contracts for
the right of way, which they ‘did with several hun-
dred land-owners in Washington, Fayette,—and Som-
erset Counties. But at that time the attention of the
company was engrossed and their funds absorbed in
the construction of their road between Baltimore and
Cumberland, and as it had become apparent that they
could not complete the Pennsylvania part of the road
within the required time of fifteen years from the
passage of the act of 1828, they asked an extension,
which was granted by the General Assembly of Penn-
sylvania in a supplemental act approved June.20,
1839, by the provisions of which the time in which
the company were required to finish their road or
roads in Pennsylvania was extended four years, or to
the 27th of February, 1847.‘ A

When the company had completed their road west-
ward from Baltimore to Cumberland (in 1844) there
remained less than three years in which to construct"
the part lying in Pennsylvania, under the require-
ment of the supplemental act of 1839. A further ex-
tension of time was necessary, and was applied for to
the Pennsylvania Assembly; but in the mean time
the Pennsylvania Railroad was being pushed west-
ward to cross the Alleghenies and make Pittsburgh
its western terminus, and now the business men, manu-

1 Several other surveys were made, but this was the one which was
considered the most practicable, and which was adopted by Chief Engi-
neer Knight. -

INTERNAL IMPROVEMENTS.

393

facturers, and people of influence in that city, who in
1828 and in 1839 were ready to do all in their power to
secure a railroad, even if it were but a branch from a
main line, from the seaboard to Wheeling, were now,
in view of the prospective direct connection with
Philadelphia by the main line of the Pennsylvania
Railroad (in which many of them were also stock-
holders), entirely favorable to that road, and as wholly
opposed to the support of a competing line commenc-
ing at the Maryland metropolis, and to have its western
terminus not at Pittsburgh, but at the rival city of
Wheeling.’

Besides the opposition of the people of Pittsburgh,
the Baltimore and Ohio Company had to encounter
the determined hostility of the inhabitants of the

J country through which their railroad was to pass.

This arose principally from the belief that the pro-
posed railway would supersede and ruin the National
road, and consequently_ ruin themselves and the
country. This opposition, added to the combined in-
fluence of the city of Pittsburgh and of the Pennsyl-
vania Railroad, proved too powerful for the Baltimore
and Ohio Railroad Company to overcome in the As-
sembly of this State; and so that company, a.fter
repeated ineffectual attempts to obtain a further ex-
tension of time‘ for building their road through the
State of Pennsylvania, found themselves compelled
to abandon the enterprise and complete their road

from Cumberland to Wheeling through the State of

Virginia. Years afterwards, however, they accom-
plished one of the principal objects they then had in
View (the extension of their line to the city of Pitts-
burgh) by leasing roads already built by companies
holding charters from Pennsylvania. '

The “_Washington and Pittsburgh Railroad Com-

pany” was incorporated in 1831, the project for build-

ing a railroad between the places indicated in the
title having originated in Washington. It was first
brought to public notice at a meeting of the citizens
of the borough held at the court-house on the 27th of
December, 1830, and organized by the appointment
of John Johnson, Esq., president; Capt. »William
Hunter, vice-president ; and Joseph Henderson and
Thomas Morgan, secretaries. Hon. Thomas H. Baird
addressed the meeting at length, and offered the fol-
lowing resolutions, which were adopted:

“Resolved, That the town of Washington, being situated at the ex-
treme northern angle of the Cumberland Road, presents the nearest

point of practicable junction with the Pennsylvania Canal at Pittsburgh.

“ Resolved, That a connection between these great commercial avenues
is desirable, as respects the interests of this town and section of country,
and also the interests of Pittsburgh, Philadelphia, and the intermediate
line. 7 1

“ Resolved, That the inclined plane of Chartiers Creek presents a prac-
ticable and direct route for a Railway, and at the least possible expense.

“ Resolved, That a petition be addressed to the Legislature praying the
incorporation of a company to construct a Railroad from Washington to
Pittsburgh, or the bank of the Monongahela opposite the debouche of
the Pennsylvania Canal.” ’ v

A committee was appointed to circulate a petition,
to explore a route, ascertain, its practicability, ex-

_ auxiliary.

pense, local and general advantages, and to obtain
releases along the line. On the 26th of February,
1831, “a Friend to the Road,” in an article in the

Washington Examiner, gave detailed cost of material, ,

grading,’ etc., for the thirty miles (which was the
length of the proposed route) as $89,267. A bill was
brought before the Legislature of Pennsylvania ask-
ing for the incorporation of the “Washington and
Pittsburgh Railroad Company.” It passed the House
and Senate, and on the 18th of March, 1831, was
approved by the Governor. Charles De ~Hass, a civil
engineer, was employed to make a preliminary sur-
vey. Two routes were surveyed, one by Chartiers
Valley, a distance of thirty-three miles; the other
“ from a point near Mr- Cowan.’s mill up the valley
of Scrub-Grass Run to the summit between that run
and Saw-Mill Run, from thence by the latter run to
the Ohio River near the .toll-gate,” this line being
three miles shorter than the other route.

On the 30th of March, 1831, Mr. De Hass made his
report and .presented plans, maps, and draft of the
route, cuts, masonry, etc., with estimate of cost.
Thomas H. Baird, T. M. T. McKennan, James Ruple,
John K. Wilson, Isaac Leet, John Watson, and John
K. Ewing, of Washington County, and Charles
Cowan, William Lea, James Herriot, John McKee,
Francis Bailey,’ and Ross Wilkins, of Allegheny
County, were appointed commissioners to receive
subscriptions. Books were opened in Washington at
the house of David Morris, and in’Pittsburgh at the
hotel of Nicholas Griffith. The amount of subscrip-
tions obtained is not known, but it seems probable
that they were not large, as Judge Baird paid for the
survey out of his private funds. Alexander Reed
addressed a letter to Jonathan Knight, then chief
engineer of the Baltimore and Ohio Railroad Com-
pany, asking him to lay the matter before that com-
pany (who were at that time intending to run the
main line of their road through Washington County
to the Ohio) and induce them to build or aid in build-
ing the proposed road from Washington to Pittsburgh.
Mr. Knight, in his reply, said the proposition could
not be entertained, as the company had use for all
their funds and more, but that they would be glad to
connect with the proposed road and use it as an
The result was that the road was not com-
menced, and at the expiration of the specified time
the charter was forfeited. On the. 1st of April, 1837,
another act was passed incorporating the Washington)
and Pittsburgh Railroad Company, by which Daniel
Moore, William Hunter, Alexander Reed, James
Ruple, J ohn.K. Wilson, John H. Ewing, John Cook,
John Dagg, Dr. John Wishart, William Smith, Dr.
Samuel Murdoch, Robert Oflicer, John Watson,
Daniel Huston, Joshua Emery, and Samuel Hazlett,
of Washington County, and eighteen gentlemen of
Allegheny County were appointed commissioners to
open books of subscription at Washington, Canons-
burg, and Pittsburgh. The location of the road was

- eight years from the passage of theact.

394

HISTORY OF WASHINGTON COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA.

described in the act, as “beginning at some point
within the borough of Washington, in the county
aforesaid, and terminating at some suitable point at
or near Allison’s Run, in the township of Chartiers;”
and it was provided also “ that the said company shall
have power, and they are hereby authorized to con-
struct, continue, and extend in a northerly direction
the line of their said railroad from the said point at
or near Allison’s Run to a point at or near the city of
Pittsburgh.” Nothing was done under this incorpor-
ating act. A supplemental act was passed April 22,
1846, reviving a part of the original act and appoint-
ing commissioners to open books for subscriptions to
the stock on or before the 1st of December following
the passage of the supplement. Books were opened,
but this attempt was no more successful than those
which had preceded it, and the result was failure to
construct the road.

The Pittsburgh and Steubenville Railroad Company
was incorporated under an act of Legislature, ap-
proved March 24, 1849, which conferred “ power to
construct a railroad commencing on the Monongahela
River near Pittsburgh, and running in the direction

of Steubenville, on the Ohio River, to a point on the ‘
‘ Virginia State line,” the work of construction to be

commenced within three years and completed within
In 1852 a
supplemental act was passed (which became a law
April 21st in that year) authorizing the company to
connect its line with that of the Pennsylvania Rail-
road and with any other railroad at the Virginialine,
also to construct branches as deemed expedient. An-
other supplement was passed. Feb. 24, 1853, authoriz-
ing the commissioners of «Allegheny County, under a
recommendation by the grand jury, to subscribe ten
thousand dollars to the stock of the road. On the
20th of April, in the same year, the Pittsburgh and
Steubenville Railroad Company wasauthorized to
borrow not exceeding five hundred thousand dollars,
and issue its bonds therefor,and the city of Philadel-
phia was authorized to subscribe four thousand shares
of the stock of the company.

The construction of the road was put under contract
in June, 1852, and work was commenced on it soon
afterwards,but did not progress rapidly. On the 26th
of January, 1854, it was announced that “ the tunnel
at Dinsmore Summit is progressing at a rate that will
complete it by June next,” but the work was sus-
pended soon afterwards, and eleven years A elapsed
before it was completed. In September, 1857, it was
announced that arrangements had been made with
King & Thompson, by which the‘ work would be
pushed to a speedy completion. Finally, after many

8 discouraging delays, the road was finished, the trains

runni.ng for the first time over the entire length on
the permanent track in October, 1865. But the affairs
of the company were not prosperous, and the road

was sold under foreclosure Nov. 6, 1867. In May, 1868, J

a consolidation was formed of the Pittsburgh and
Steubenville, the “ Panhandle,” the Holliday’s Cove
(West Virginia), and Steubenville and Indiana Rail-
roads, all being placed under one management and
known as the Pittsburgh, Cincinnati and St. Louis

Railway, making a line of one hundred and ni.nety- ‘

three-miles in length, from Pittsburgh to Columbus,
Ohio. The same arrangement and name and style of
the road still continues. The stations on the main
line within the county of Washington are McDonald,
Midway, Bulger, Cardville or Burgettstown, Dins-
more, and Hanlan’s. '

The Hempfield Railroad Company was incorporated
under an act ( passed May 15, 1850) conferring authority

4“ to locate and construct a railroad with one or more

tracks from Greensburg, in Westmoreland County, to
some point or place at or near West Newton; in said
county, or to some point or place notmore than three
miles from West Newton, by thenearest and best
route; and the said company shall have authority to
extend said road or a branch thereof by the nearest
and best route to some point or place on the western
boundary line of Donegal township, in Washington
County, and to make and erect such warehouses, toll-
houses, carriages, cars, and all other works and ap-
pendages necessary for the convenience of said com-
pany in the use of said road.” The company was
required by the terms of the act to commence the

construction of the road within three years, and to
complete it within ten years from the passage of the '

act under penalty of forfeiture of charter. The com-
missioners appointed by the act to open the subscrip-
tion—books. of the company were S. L. Carpenter,
Henry Welty, H. T. Brady, H. D. Foster, J. M. Bur-
rell, John C. Plumer, David Fullwood, Joseph H.
Kuhns, John Morrison, A. T. King, William Jack,
and H. C. Marchand. '

An act passed April 12, 1851, authorized the com-
pany to construct branches with single or double
tracks from any points in Washington or Allegheny

County to such points as they deemed expedient, with I

such rights and franchises as were conferred in the
act of May 15, 1850; and it also authorized the com-

pany to borrow money in amount not exceeding the 1
capital stock, and to issue therefor bonds bearing .

interest not exceeding six per cent. ,An.act passed
July 24, 1852, authorized the boroughs of Washington

and Monongahela City to subscribe for stock of the.

Hempfield Railroad Company not exceeding $50,000
each, to borrow money for the purpose, and provide
for its payment by tax. The commissioners of Wash‘-
ington County were also authorized by the ‘same act
to subscribe for four thousand shares (at $50 per share)
on behalf of the county, and borrow money and issue
bonds for the amount, redeemable in not less than ten
years, and payable in not exceeding twenty-five years,
at a rate of interest not exceeding six per cent., pay-

able semi-annually. The borough of Grreensburg, 1

INTERNAL IMPROVEMENTS.

395

i\Vestmoreland Co., was authorized by act of May 6,

1852, to subscribe to the company’s stock not exceed-
ing five hundred shares.

Application was made by the company to the Leg-
islature of Virginia for incorporation in that State
for the purpose of extending the proposed road through
its territory from the west line of Washington County,
Pa., to the Ohio River. » Accordingly, on the 14th of
March, 1851, an act was passed incorporating the com-
pany in Virginia.

I The company organized under the Pennsylvania
act in January, 1851, T. M. T. McKennan being its
first president. The eminent engineer, Jonathan
Knight, of Washington County, was employed to

examine the country with a view to selection of the
' imost practicable route.

Five different routes were
surveyed, and the one selected (from Washington to
Wheeling) upon which the road was afterwards built.
Charles Ellet, J r., was appointed chief engineer of the
company, Mr. Knight being unable at the time to
accept the position.

The resources of the company, as reported Nov. 17,
.1851, were: Subscription by Ohio County, Va., $300,-
000; individual subscriptions in same county, $154,000 ;
subscription by Washington County, $200,000; indi-
vidual subscriptions in Washington.County, $100,000;
total, $754,000. ' The Washington -Review of "March 25,
1852, mentioned that “the Directors of the Hempfield

.Railroad5 Company met in this borough on Tuesday

last and agreed to put the heavy portion of the road
immediately under contract ;” and on the 13th of May
following it was announced in the same paper that
“the western end of the road has been sold to con-
tractors.” _

At a meeting of stockholders held at Washington,

, on Monday, Nov. 19, 1855, James C. Clarke, of West-

moreland County, C. M. Reed, A. W. Acheson, and
Williami McKennan, of Washington, and Thomas

‘Sweeney, J . C. Acheson, and Sobieski Brady, of

VVheeling, were elected directors of the company, and
the report of George Smith, chief engineer, was sub-
mitted, showing as follows: The first nine miles east
of Wheeling was ready for laying the rails; the first
rail on the line had been laid on the 23d of the pre-
ceding month. In the grading of the road-bed a maxi-
mum grade of sixty—six feet to the mile had been pre-
served. A locomotive had been purchased of the
Norristown Railroad Company, and was in use in the
construction of the road. The cost of work done up
to the 1st of November, 1855, was as follows: Total
expended on graduation, masonry, bridges, and rail-
way supplies bet-ween Wheeling and Greensburg,
$1,247,200. This amount included fencing, land dam-
ages, etc., but not engineers’ salaries and expenses,
which amounted to $58,600. The estimated cost of
road between Wheeling and Washington, including
stations and equipment, was placed at $1,434,000, of
which the amount then expended was $983,500.
Finally the chief engineer gave it as his opinion that

the road between Wheeling and Washington would
be completed and in running order within six months
from the date of his report. The prediction, how-
ever, was not verified; the road was not completed
ready for business until the spring of 1857 ,‘ when
freight trains commenced running between Washing-
ton and Wheeling. The first passenger trains ran
over the entire length of the road between these
termini on the 30th of September’ in the same year.
A considerable amount of work had been done on
the eastern end of the route (between Washington
and Greensburg), but this was abandoned or sus-
pended about 1854. In 1855 the company issued
bonds and mortgaged the road. In 1861 proceedings
were commenced in foreclosure, and the road placed
in charge of trustees. In the spring of 1871 the Su-
preme Court decreed the sale of the road, and in
June of that year it was sold with all the franchises
of the company to John King, Jr., of Baltimore
(vice-president of the Baltimore and Ohio Railroad),
for $131,000. The purchaser (or the persons whom
he represented)\held bonds of the road to the amount
of about $80,000, many of which had been purchased
below fifteen per cent. of their face. The trustees of
the road, Joseph H. Seal, William Workman, and
William O. Hughart, transferred the entire property
to the purchaser, John King, Jr., and he to the
Wheeling, Pittsburgh and Baltimore Railroad Com-
pany, which was the name and style adopted under

the reorganization, though the road was then and still ‘

is under the control of the Baltimore and Ohio’Rail-
road Company.

It was the intention of the new management to
make the road between Wheeling and Washington a
part of a new through line from the Ohio to Balti-
more and Washington, and under this plan to con-
nect it with the Pittsburgh Division of the Baltimore
and Ohio Road, instead of extending it from Wash-
ington to Greensburg as had been projected by the
original company, and on which route a large amount
had been done. This made it necessary to locate a
new route for the road east of Washington, and the
change of route required a new act of incorporation,

. which was obtained, and under it the “Ohio and

Baltimore Short Line Railway Company” was or-
ganized in February, 1872. A new route for the
eastern extension was adopted, leaving the original
route (from Washington to Greensburg) at a point
about four miles east of Washington; thence cross-
ing the Monongahela at Belle Vernon, Fayette Co.
(instead of at Monongahela City as by the original
route of the Hempfield Road) ; thence to the Youghio-
gheny, crossing that stream at Dawson Station, where
the connection was to be made with the Pittsburgh
and ‘Connellsville (or Pittsburgh Division of the Bal-
timore and Ohio) Road. Work on the extension was
commenced by the company in 1873, and prosecuted
with vigor until the commencement of the great finan-
cial panic of that year, when it was suspended. The

396

HISTORY OF WASHINGTON COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA.

suspension continued for so great a length of time
that it was thought best to permit the charter to
lapse and reorganize under the same title. Accord-
ingly, new articles of association were executed May
5, 1881, by the following-named corporators: Wil-
liam H. Smith, Andrew H. Happer, William Work-
man, William S. Bryson,John M. Stockdale, A. Todd
Baird, Henry M. Dougan, and VVilliam C. King, all
of Washington, Pa., and J amesB. Washington, of Al-
legheny, Pa. The capital stock is $1,000,000; com-
pany to continue five hundred years. The object of
the new “ Ohio and Baltimore Short Line Railway
Company” is nearly the same as that of the earlier
company of the same name, except that the crossing
of the Monongahela is proposed to be made at Green-
field, and instead of connecting with the. Pittsburgh
Division of the Baltimore and Ohio Road at Dawson’s
Station, the connection is to be made farther up the
line, at a point between Dawson and Connellsville.
Immediately after the organization of the new com-
pany in 1881, operations were commenced on the
extension, and were pushed with energy during the
season, and for some time in the. spring of 1882; but
as they have since been suspended, the early comple-
tion of the road does not seem to be yet assured.

The “Chartiers Valley Railroad Company” was
incorporated under an act of Legislature (approved

\Feb. 7, 1853) conferring the right “to construct a

railroad from the city of Pittsburgh, in the county of
Allegheny, by way of Canonsburg to the borough of
Washington, in Washington County ;” also to connect

' with the Pittsburgh and Steubenville Railroad at a

suitable point, and with the Hempfield Railroad at
or near the borough of Washington. ’ John H. Ewing,
John Bausman, L. P. Hitchcock,'Jacob Morgan, Wil-
liam S. Calahan, George S. Hayes, John Boyce,
Thomas Watson, John Weaver, Daniel Houston,
Robert McKnight, David P. Morgan, James O’Hara
Denny, Thomas Bakewell, Henry Grafi‘, James K.
Moorhead, Frederick Lorenz, William Larimer, Jr.,
George Ledlie, Lecky Harper, Mansfield Brown,
William M. Daniel, and Charles Paulson were ap-
pointed to receive subscriptions to the stockof the
company, which was authorized to the amount of
$500,000. The incorporating act authorized public
subscriptions to the stock, as follows: By the city of
Pittsburgh, 5000 shares; Birmingham, East Birming-
ham, and South Pittsburgh, each 500 shares; the bor-
ough of Canonsburg, 550 shares; the borough of
Washington, 500 shares} The commissioners of Al-
legheny and Washington were also authorized to sub-
scribe on behalf of their respective counties upon rec-

‘ ommendation of the grand. jury. The construction of

the road was required to be commenced within three

1 At a meeting of citizens of Washington borough, held at the court-
house Dec. 31, 1853, a resolution that the borough subscribe “500 shares
of the capital stock of the Chartiers Railroad Company” was adopted by
a vote of 84 to 3.

years, and completed within seven years from the
passage of the act of incorporation.

The route of the road was surveyed and perma-
nently located to connect with the Pittsburgh and
Steubenville Railroad at Mansfield, Allegheny Co.
It was laid off in one-mile sections, placed under
contract, and the work of grading commenced on all
parts of the line. Reports of the chief engineer (D.
Mitchell, Jr.) showed that up to Jan. 1,1856, the
sum of $162,525.26 had been expended; that from
that time to Jan. 1, 1857, the further amount of
$88,139.45 was expended, making a total of $250,
664.71; and it was believed that the grading of the
road would be completed in four months from'the
latter date, at an estimated cost of $86,309.40, exclu-
sive of ballasting, which, with superstructure, bridg-
ing, right of way, and incidentals, would require an
additional amount of $263,525.89. Total amount re-
quired to complete the road and pay indebtedness
already incurred, $382,292.62.

The usual embarrassments and delays experienced
in the building of railroads were encountered in this.
Finally the unfinished road was sold to William J .
Howard, solicitor for the Pennsylvania Railroad

"Company, for $45,100. A mortgage of $500,000 was
‘placed upon the road, with the proceeds of which it

was pushed to completion. In December, 1870, the
announcement was published that on and after the
19th of that month trains would run regularly be-
tween Pittsburgh and Canonsburg. On the 15th of
the following May trains commenced running to Wash-
ington, and on Thursday, the 18th of the same month,
the road was formally opened in its entire length by
the running of excursion trains and a celebration of
the event in the town hall at Washington; the ad-
dress of welcome being delivered by the Hon. George
S. Hart, who made reference to the long and dis-
heartening struggle which had been made to secure
the construction of the railway which ‘had that day
been formally opened; a struggle which had been
commenced forty _years before by Judge Baird,
Charles De Hass, Maj. John H. Ewing, and others.
Maj. Ewing, who was present, made some remarks in
response, and Judge Hart’s address of welcomewas
replied to by John H. Hampton on behalf of the
visitors from Pittsburgh and Allegheny City.

. On the 8th of December, 1871, the Chartiers Val-
ley Railroad was leased to the Pittsburgh, Cincinnati

and St. Louis Railway Company, and is still run in ‘

connection with that line as the Chartiers or Wash-
ington Branch. '

-The ‘Pittsburgh, Virginia and Charleston Railway
was first projected by a company which was incorpo-
rated by an act of Assembly approved April 8, 1867,
asthe Monongahela Valley Railroad Company, with
power to construct and equip a railroad from a point
at or near Pittsburgh, along the Monongahela River,

to a point at or near Rice’s Landing, in Greene County, «

INTERNAL IMPROVEMENTS.

397

Pa., and thence to Waynesburg, with the right to con-
struct any branch or lateral road, not exceeding ten
miles in length, to the coal-fields of Allegheny, Wash-
ington, Westmoreland, Fayette, and Greene Counties";
the capital stock not to exceed twenty thousand dol-
lars per mile of road constructed and equipped. .

By a supplemental act, approved March 31, 1868,
the company was “ authorized to construct its railroad
with single or double tracks from a point at or near
the city of Pittsburgh, by such route as the board of
directors may determine, to a point at or near Monon-
gahela City, in Washington County, and thence up
either bank of the Monongahela River to a point at
or near Rice’s Landing, with power to construct such
branches as the directors may deem necessary, and to

connect all or eitherof them with any railroad or

railroads now constructed, and that may be hereafter
constructed;” and the company was further author-
ized to extend its road or branches to the boundary
line of VVest Virginia. On the 4th of February, 187 0,’
an act was passed changing the corporate name of the
company to that of the Pittsburgh, Virginia and
Charleston Railway Company, which from that time
became also the name of the line of road. 1 V

The survey of the route of the Monongahela Val-
ley Railroad was commenced in the spring of 1869,
and completed during that season ; but no part of the
work of construction was done until after the name
of the company had been changed by the act of Feb-

ruary, 1870. Operations were commenced soon after-

wards and prosecuted without much of the delay
which is usual in the building of railways; and in
the fall of 1873 the road was completed and opened
to Monongahela City, and trains commenced running
regularly between that place and Pittsburgh. The
great financial panic which began in that year caused

‘serious delays and embarrassments in the construction

of the road south of Monongahela City, so that it was
not until May, 1881, that the line was opened to West
Brownsville, giving, to that borough and to the two
towns on the opposite side of therMonongahela the
first railroad communication they had ever enjoyed.
In May, 1879, this road and its,fra_nchises passed to

the control and management of the Pennsylvania’
.Railroad Company, by which’ it is now operated as

the “ Monongahela Division” of its lines. The Union-
town extension or branch of the Pittsburgh, Vir-
ginia and Charleston Railroad is now in process of
construction, having been commenced by the Penn-
sylvania Railroad Company in January, 1881. Start-
ing from the completed road west of the Monongahela
at Huntsville, it crosses that river by a bridge at the
mouth, of Redstone Creek, below West Brownsville,
and runs from that point to Hogsett’s Cut, about one
mile north of Uniontown, where it joins the South-
west Pennsylvania Railroad. It is now very near
completion, the announcement being made that it
will be opened in its entire length (sixteen miles) in
August, 1882. I ‘ 1 '

26 V

The Pittsburgh Southern Railroad (narrow-gauge)‘
connects Washington borough with‘Pittsburgh, its
route being from Washington through the northeast
part of Washington County, and thence through
Allegheny County to Temperanceville, on the south
side of the Monongahela opposit_e the city. The

project of building this road was originated by A. C.‘

Hays and John H. Miller in 1876. With them were
afterwards associated in the enterprise M. D. Hays,
T. P. Roberts, Dr. Kerr, Colin M. Reed, Sr., Joshua
Wright, W. W. Smith, and George P. Hays. A
company was formed to build the road, and incor-
porated as the “Pittsburgh, Castle Shannon and
VVashington Railroad Company.” An amendment
to the charter and a reorganization succeeded, the
corporators under the amended charter being J. H.
Miller, M. D. Hays, Joshua Wright, Joseph Phillips,
John Rogers, West Fry, Thomas McClelland, Josiah

i Reamer, Dr. Kerr, and A. C. Hays. .
The work of construction was commenced in July,

1877, at Finleyville and other points nearer Pittsburgh,
and was carried forward so rapidly that in January,
1878, the track was completed from Pittsburgh to Fin-
leyville, Washington Co., and the grading was finished
from there to Munntown, in Nottingham township.
In, the following spring the name of the road was
changed to “ Pittsburgh Southern Railroad,” and at
the same time the plan was changed so as to make
the northern terminus of the road at Temperance-
ville, Work was continued during 1878, and in the
succeeding winter the road was completed to Wash-
ington, this making a third railway line connecting
the county-seat with the Ohio River. The first reg-
ular train ran through over the entire length of the
road Feb. 24, 1879. The road soon became so much
embarrassed that it was sold at sheriff’s sale, the pur-
chaser being James H. Hopkins, of Pittsburgh, who,
as is understood, still holds a controlling interest,
and is president of the road. The stations of the

[Pittsburgh Southern in ‘Washington County are
Boyer’s, Finleyville, Peters Creek, Anderson’s, Mc- 

Comb’s, Virginia Junction, Thomas’, Gilkeson’s,

Brownlee’s, Wyland’s, Clokeyville, Zeideker, Vance’s,_

and Washington. The length of the road is thirty-
four miles. It is in contemplation by the manage-
ment of the Pittsburgh Southern to build a southern
extension of the road, commencing at Virginia J unc-
tion, and passing thence by way of Bentleyville, Hills-

borough, and other points to Morgantown, W. Va. A,
‘part of that line was placed under contract in June,

1878, and the grading was completed ready for the
iron to Hillsborough, but operations were suspended,
and nothing ‘has since been done towards carrying
through the extension.

The Waynesburg and Washington Railroad (nar-
row-gauge) connects the borough of Washington with
Waynesburg, Greene Co., being t.wenty-seven and one-
half miles in length. The company was organized

398

HISTORY OF WASHINGTON COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA.

in 1875, the following-named persons composing the
board of managers, viz.: J. G. Ritchie (president),
W. G. W. Day, S. W. Scott, VV. T. Lantz, Jacob
Swart, Henry Swart, Clark Hackney, W. S. Bryson,
John Ross. The work of construction proceeded,
and on the 6th of August, 1877, the tracklayers mov-
ing southward from Washington reached Banetown,
a distance of ten miles. On the 1st of September
following, fourteen miles south from Washington had
been completed, and trains commenced running. On
the 17th of the same month the track crossed the

Greene County line, and the locomotive “ General-

Greene” entered that county, the. first locomotive
ever within its boundaries. About the 1st of Octo-
ber in the same year the roadlwas completed, and
trains commenced running regularly over its entire
length from Washington to Waynesburg, The cost
of the road was $4975 per mile exclusive of equipment.

CHAPTER XXXIV-
RELIGIOUS HISTORY.

The Presbyterian Church in Washington County—The United Presby-
terian Church—The Associate Presbyterian Theological Seminary-
The Cumberland Presbyterian Church—The Disciples of Christ—The
Catholic Church.

The Presbyterian Church in Washington
C011nty.1—-From the first settlement of the territory
subsequently included in the limits of the county of
Washington, Pa., a part of the scattered population
consisted of persons who held to the Presbyterian

form of faith and worship. The number of these was '

la-rgelyincreased after the Penn Proprietaries, in 1769,
opened their land-office in Philadelphia for acquiring
titles to land west of the mountains. For several
years following this, notwithstanding the obstructions
arising from conflict of jurisdiction between Virginia
and Pennsylvania, a constant stream of immigration
flowed into the country, and of this inflowing popula-
tion Scotch-Irish Presbyterians constituted a princi-
pal part. Some of these were direct from North Ire-
land and VVest Scotland, a few from New Jersey and
Virginia, much the larger part from Chester, York,
and Lancaster Counties in Pennsylvania, Cecil County
in Maryland, and New Castle County in Delaware.
Coeval with this influx, church organizations began
to be formed. Rev. John .McMillan was the earliest
Presbyterian minister settled in what is now Wash-
ington County. He first visited the West in 1775,
and received urgent calls from the Chartiers and
Pigeon Creek congregations to become their pastor,
which he accepted, but did not remove his family and

locate permanently until 1778, but in the mean time '

repeatedly visited his congregations, and ordained
elders, administered the sacraments, and performed
other pastoral duties. In 1777, Rev..Thaddeus Dodd

1 By Rev. W. F. Hamilton, D.D.

visited the Ten-Mile settlement, and shortly after-
wards started to remove with his family, which, how-
ever, he did not fully accomplish until 1779. This
same year Rev. Joseph Smith became pastor of
Buffalo and Cross Creek Churches. .

At a meeting of the Synod of New York and Phila-
delphia held May 16, 1781, these three ministers,
together with Rev. James Power, of Westmoreland
County, were, at their own request, erected into a sep-
arate presbytery, to be called the Presbytery of Red-
stone. The first meeting was appointed to be held at
Laurel Hill, in what is now Fayette County; but this
was adjudged impracticable on account of Indian in-
cursions, which prevented the Washington County
ministers from going so far »away from their homes.
The meeting accordingly was held at Pigeon Creek, in
Washington County, at the time appointed, which
was Sept. 19, 1781, eleven o’clock A.M. The record
runs thus: “ Ubi post preces sederunt. The Rev.
Messrs. John McMillan, James Power, and Thaddeus
Dodd, elders; John Neil, Demas Lindley, and Pat-
rick Scott. Absent, Rev. Joseph Smith.”

In 1788 the Presbytery of Redstone became a con-
stituent part of the Synod of Virginia, which was one
of the four synods created by the division of the Gen-
eral Synod and the erection of the General Assembly,
which held its firstvmeeting in May, 1789. I

For several years Messrs. McMillan, Dodd, and
Smith were the only Presbyterian ministers in the
county. The first additions to their number were
from those educated, licensed, and ordained by them-
selves. In 17 88 Presbytery licensed John Brice,
James Hughes, and Joseph Patterson. On the 11th
of November, 1789, Mr. Patterson was ordained‘ to
the full work of the ministry, and became pastor of
the united congregations of Raccoon, in Washington
County, and Montours, in Allegheny County. On
the 21st of April, 1790, Mr. Hughes was ordained,
and became pastor of Lower Buffalo, in Washington
County, and Short Creek, now West Liberty, in Ohio
County, Va. On the 22d of April, 1790, Mr. Brice
was ordained, and became pastor of Three Ridges,

now West Alexander, in Washington.County, and of

Forks of Wheeling, Ohio Co., Va. - _

In 1793 the Synod of Virginia erected from Red-
stone Presbytery a new presbytery west of the Mon-
ongahela River, to be called the Presbytery of Ohio.
Of the five ministers composing it, all except one,

Rev. John Clark, of Bethel and Lebanon, in Alle--
- gheny County, were resident in Washington County,

viz., John McMillan, Joseph 1 Patterson, James
Hughes, and John Brice. Rev. Messrs. Smith and
Dodd had died a short time previously, and the
churches of Cross Creek, Upper Buffalo, and Ten-
Mile were without pastors. .

The first meeting of the Presbytery of Ohio was held
at Buffalo, Oct. 22, 1793. The elders present were John
Miller, Josiah Scott, John Riddle, \Vm. McCullough,
John McWilliams, Robert Lyle, and Joseph Coe.

' Stockton, John Moore, and James McKennan.

RELIGIOUS HISTORY.

399

On the 18th of June, 1794, Thomas Marquis, who
had been licensed by the Presbytery of Redstone the
year preceding, was ordained and installed ‘pastor of
Upper Buffalo and Cross Creek. On the 80th of
"November, 1796, Samuel Ralston, a graduate of Glas-
gow University, and who had been licensed in Ire-
land, was ordained by the Presbytery of Ohio and
installed as the first pastor of the united congrega-
tions of Mingo Creek and Horseshoe Bottom. In
June, 1800, Elisha McCurdy, a licentiate of the Pres-
bytery, was ordained and installed pastor of the
united ,congregations of Cross-Roads and Three
Springs. In 1802, Rev. John Anderson became pas-
tor of Upper Buffalo.

In May, 1802, the General Assembly erected the
Synod of Pittsburgh, including in it the Presbytery
of Ohio. This was the first Synod erected west of the
mountains. It met at Pittsburgh Sept. 29, 1802. Of
the sixteen ministers reported as belonging at that
time to the Presbytery of Ohio eleven were pastors
in VVashington County, viz.: the eight just named,
and Thomas Moore, pastor of Ten-Mile; Andrew
Gwinn, pastor of Pigeon Creek; John Watson, pastor
of Miller’s Run, first president of Jefferson College.

In October, 1819, the Synod of Pittsburgh erected
from the Presbytery of Ohio a new Presbytery, to be
called the Presbytery of Washington. Of the nine
ministers composing it seven were in the bounds of
Washington County, viz.: Thomas Marquis, John
Anderson, Elisha McCurdy, Joseph Stevenson, Cephas
Dodd, Andrew Wylie, and Thomas Hoge. The first
meeting was held at Three Ridges Oct. 19, 1819. The
elders present were John Henry, John Flack, John
Maxwell, Joseph Donaghy, William Brown, David
Gray, and Ziba Casterline. .

At the time the Presbytery of Washington was
erected there still _remained i11 connection with the
Presbytery of Ohio seven ministers resident in VVash-
ington County, viz.: John McMillan, pastor of Char-
tiers; Joseph Patterson, without charge ; Boyd Mer-
cer, without charge ; Samuel Ralston, pastor of Mingo
and Williamsport; Matthew Brown, pastor of VVash-
ington; William McMillan, pastor of Miller’s Run
and president of J efferson College; and Moses Allen,
pastor of Raccoon. Thus there were fourteen minis-
ters resident in the county at this time, while the
church at Pigeon Creek was without a pastor.

In 1841 the General Assembly erected a new Synod,
to be called the Synod of Wheeling, in which the
Presbytery of V\7ashington was included. At this

time twelve of the twenty-one ministers composing -.

the Presbytery resided in Washington County, viz.:
David McConaughy, Cephas Dodd, John McCluskey,
Daniel Dernelle, David Hervey, William P. Alrich,
John Eagleson, Eb. S. Graham, James M. Smith, John
At
the same time eight others who belonged to the Pres-
bytery of Ohio were also residents of Washington
County, viz., Samuel Ralston, Matthew Brown, Wil-

liam Smith, Lemuel F. Leake, John Kerr, John M.-
Smith, Alexander B. Brown, and Clement V. McKaig.-
In the general reconstruction of the Synods in

1870, consequent on the reunion of the Old and New ’

School branches of the church, the Synod of Wheeling‘
ceased to exist, and the Presbytery of VVashington
reverted to the -Synod of Pittsburgh. At the same
time the Presbytery of Ohio had its name changed to
the Presbytery of Pittsburgh.

The following statistics, taken from official records
for year ending April 1, 1881, show very nearly the
present status of the Presbyterian Church in Wash-
ington County: Within the Presbytery of VVashing-
ton,—1ninisters, 18; churches, 17. Within the Pres-
bytery of Pittsburgh,—ministers, 11 ; churches, 9.
Total, ministers, 29; churches, 26; ruling elders, 140;
communicants, 5068; Sabbath-school scholars, 4025;
funds contributed,—home missions, $2068; foreign
missions, $4055; education, $584; publication, $411;
church erection, $486; relief fund, $420; freedmen,
$516; sustentation, $242; General ‘Assembly, $420;
congregational, $85,868; miscellaneous, $1080.

The following table gives a synoptical view of the
churches and ministers within the county:

5 £23 .
8 gi
Churches. ~53 Minister. P. 0. Address.
::
O E
Z ::.
John Stockton, D.D., pastor
emeritus ........................ .. Cross Creek Vill.
Chartiers ............ .. 149 Matthew H. Bradley, pastor. Canonsburg.
Pigeon Creek ..... .. 270 John S. Marquis, pastor .... .. Dunningsville.
Upper Ten-Mile... 200 John H. Sherrard, stated
supply .......................... .. Prosperity.
Lower Ten-Mile... 140 ...................................... .. Amity.
Upper Buffalo .... .. 266 J-as. D. VValkinshaw, pastor. Bufialo.
Cross Creek ....... .. 225 Wm. H. l\1cCaughry, pastor.. Cross Creek Vill.
Raccoon ............. .. 260 Greer M. Kerr, pastor ....... .. Midway.
West Alexander... 312 Wm. H. Lester, pastor ....... .. ‘Vest Alexander.
Lower Buffalo .... .. 129,Janies L. Reed, pastor ....... .. Independence.
VVashington 1st.... 882'James I. Brownson, D.D.,
pastor ........................... .. lWashington.
Mingo ............... .. 195 ....................................... . !Finleyville.
Cross-Roads ....... .. 180 Ross Stevenson, D.D., pasto1'.lll‘1orence.
Three Springs .... .. 90 Wm. ‘I. Brugh, D.D., statedl
supply ......................... .. l Paris.
Monongahela City 254 Wm. 0. Campbell, pastor.  *Monongahela City.
Miller’s Run......... 50 VVm. Ewing, Ph.D., stated
supply ...... .; .................. .. Canonsburg.
East Buffalo ....... .. 144 Henry Woods, D.D., stated
~ supply ......................... ..!Washington.
Claysvi11e............. 214 ...................................... .. lClaysville.
Mount Prospect.... 200 Thos. R. Alexander, pastor. ,Hickory.
Centre ............... .. 156 Alex. B. Brown, pastor ..... .. [Canonsburg.
Canonsburg ....... .. 291 John M. Smith, pastor ...... ..§Canonsburg.
Pine Grove ......... .. 12
Burgett’s Town.... 340 James T. Frederick, pastor. Bnrgettstown.
Washington 278 J. G. Cowden, pastor elect.... VVashington.
Fairview ........... .. 150 Abner O. Rockwell, stated
supply ......................... .. Munntown.
Mount Pleasant...g 44,William F. Hamilton, D.D., '
' : stated supply ................. .. Vi/ashington.

California .......... .. 41lEd. P. Crane, stated supply.. California.
fWm. Speer, D.D ................ .. Washington.

€James D. Moflet, Prest. of

l .5 College ......................... .. Washington.

I lGeo. P. Beard, Prest. of Nor-

I ; mal School ................... .. California.
;\Vm. F. Brown .................. .. Canonsburg.

1 {Thomas B. Vaneman ......... .. Canonsburg.

The United Presbyterian 0hurch.l—-—The United
Presbyterian Church is a lineal descendant of the se-
cession from the Church of Scotland in the year 1784.
To comprehend aright the ground of that secession,

1 By Rev. J. T. Brownlee.

BRADDOCK’S EXPEDITICN’ IN 1755.

45

had been augmented to a total of fourteen hundred
men by the addition of Virginia and Maryland levies
at Alexandria. A"company of Virginia light-horse,
under command of Capt. Stewart, acted as the gen-
era1’s body-guard. A body of seventy provincials
was formed into two companies of pioneers, each
having a captain, two subalterns, and two sergeants,
and with these was also a very small company of guides.
A lieutenant, Mr. Spendelow, and two midshipmen
from Admiral Keppel’s fleet were present with about
thirty sailors to have charge of the cordage and
tackles, necessary for the building of bridges and the
hoisting of artillery pieces and other heavy material

over precipices. The other provincial troops brought ‘

the tozal number up to about two thousand one hun-
dred,and fifty, including oflicers, but exclusive of wag-
oners and the usual complement of non-combatant
camp-followers, among whom were a number of
women. There were eight friendly Indians who ac-
companied the expedition. The forces of Gen. Brad-
dock were brigaded by his orders as follows:

First Brigade, commanded by Sir Peter Halket, composed of
The Forty-fourth Regiment of Regulars.’

Capt. John Rutherford’
Capt. Horatio G.ates’1
Capt. William Po1son’s Company of Pioneers and Carpenters.
Capt. William Peyronie’s Virginia Rangers.

Capt. Thomas Waggener’s Virginia Rangers.

Capt. Eli Dagworthy’s Maryland Rangers.

Second Brigade, commanded by Col. Thomas ‘Dunbar, composed of
The Forty-eighth Regiment of Regulars.

Capt. Paul Demerie’s South Carolina detachment.

Capt. Dobb’s North Carolina Rangers. V

Capt. Mercer’s Company of Carpenters and Pioneers.

Capt. Adam Stephen's?
Capt. Peter Hogg’s

. Capt. Thomas Cocke’s

8} Independent Companies of New York.

} Virginia Rangers.

Capt. Andrew Lewis had been sent with his com- ’
pany of Virginians to the Greenbrier River for the

protection of settlers there, but he afterwards rejoined
Braddock’s column on its way to Fort Du Quesne.
The field-officers under Braddock were Lieutenant-
Colonels Burton and Gage; Majors Chapman and
Sparks; Brigade-Major Francis Halket; Major Sir
John Sinclair, deputy quartermaster-general; Mat-
thew Leslie, assistant quartermaster-general. The
secretary to the commanding general was William
Shirley, and his «aides-de-camp were Capt. Robert
Orme, George Washington,‘’’ and Roger Morris.

1 Afterwards Major-General Gates‘, to whom Burgoyne surrendered at
Saratoga.

2 Afterwards General Stephen, of the Revolutionary army.

3 After his return from the Fort Necessity campaign, Col. Washing-
ton’s rank, as well as that of other colonial oflicers, was reduced by
royal order, which caused him to resign his commission,and at the time
of Gen. Braddock’s arrival in America he was not in the military ser-
vice. But Braddock, well aware of the importance of securing his
services, urged Washington to take the position of volunteer aide-de-
camp on hisstafi‘, and the offer, so earnestly pressed, was accepted.

Sparks, in his “ Life of Washington” (page 58), in speaking of Wash-
ington’s acceptance of Braddock’s proposition to accompany him on the
expedition as a member of his military family, says, “ His views on the
subject were explained, with a becoming frankness and elevation of
mind, in a letter to a friend: ‘I may be allowed,’ said he, ‘to claim

. 4 ,

Christopher Gist and Nathaniel Gist, his son, ac-
companied the expedition as principal guides. George
Croghan and Andrew Montour were with the general
as Indian interpreters.

“The soldiers were ordered to be furnished with
one new spare shirt, one new pair of stockings, and
one new pair of shoes; and Csnabrig waistcoats and
breeches were provided for them, as theexcessive
heat would have made the others insupportable-; and
the commanding officers of companies were desired
to provide leather or bladders for the men’s hats.” “

The transportation which was collected at Fort
Cumberland for the use of Braddock’s force consisted
of one hundred and ninety wagons and more than
fifteen hundred horses. When he landed in Virginia
he expected that “ two hundred wagons and one hun-
.dred and fifty carrying-horses” would be furnished by
the provincial authorities, but when he arrived at
Frederick, Md., he found that not more than a tenth
part that number had been raised, and that some of
these even were in an unserviceable condition. Upon
learning this he burst out in fierce invective against
the inefficiency, poverty, and lack of integrity among
the provincials, and declared that the expedition was
at an end, for that it was impracticable to proceed
without one hundred and fifty wagons, and a corre-
sponding number of horses at the very least. But Dr.
Benjamin Franklin, who was present at Frederick,
told the general that the Pennsylvania farmers were
able to furni-sh the necessary transportation, and that
he (Franklin) would contract for a specified sum. to
deliver one hundred and fifty wagons and the neces-
sary horses at Fort Cumberland within a given time,
whereupon Braddock proceeded on his march; and
in about two weeks Franklin had caused the specified
number of wagons and animals to be at the fort. Gen.
Braddock was very grateful for this service, and he
warmly complimented Franklin in a letter which he
"wrote to the Secretary of State, dated at Wills’ Creek,
June 5th, as follows : -

“ Before I left Williamsburg the quartermaster-gem
eral told me that I might depend on twenty-five hun-
dred horses and two hundred wagons from Virginia.
and Maryland; but I had great reason to doubt it,
having experienced the false dealings of all in this
country withwhom I had been concerned. Hence,
before my‘departure from Frederick, I agreed with
Mr. Benjamin Franklin, postmaster in Pennsylvania,
who has great credit in that province, to hire one

some merit if it is considered that the sole motive which invites me to
the field is the laudable desire of serving my country, not the gratifica-
tion of any ambitious or lucrative plans. This, I flatter myself, will
manifestly appear by my going as a volunteer, without expectation of
reward or prospect of obtaining a command, as I am confidently assured
it is not in General Braddock’s power to give me a commission that I would
accept.  . Itis true I have been importuned to make this campaign
by Gen. Braddock as a member of his family, he conceiving, I suppose
that the small knowledge I had an opportunity of acquiring of the
country and the Indians is worthy of his notice, and may be useful t ,
him in the progress of the expedition.’ ” -
4 Capt. Orme’s Journal.

400

HISTORY OF WASHINGTON COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA.

it may be well to look back to a period still more re-
mote. The religious liberty which had been so largely
enjoyed during the period of the Commonwealth (1653
-58) was immediately restrained, if not wholly sup-
pressed, on the accession of Charles the Second to the
throne. Presbyterial church government was abol-
ished throughout the kingdon and Episcopacy estab-
lished. 4 Three hundred ministers, who refused sub-
mission to the prelates placed over them, were ejected
without form of trial, from their churches. By act of
Parliament the king was declared to be “ the only
lawful supreme governor of the realm as well in mat-
ters spiritual and ecclesiastical as in things temporal.”
The sore persecutionsthat followed during the reigns
of Charles and James the Second are familiar to all
readers of the annals of Scottish Presbyterianism.
But the revolution of 1688 followed, and William the
Prince of Orange, and Mary, his wife, were placed
upon the throne. Religious liberty was now pro-
claimed throughout the kingdom and Presbyterianism
restored to Scotland. . But so great was the desire of
the government to avoid ecclesiastical excitement
that the General Assembly of the church was induced
to permit several hundred Episcopal incumbents, who
during the preceding reigns had been placed in their
charges, to retain those charges on the single condi-
tion that they would now submit to that Presbyterian
system whichgthey had before been laboring to over-
throw. These men were little credit to any division
of the church. Bishop Burnet, the friend and adviser
of William and Mary, the distinguished author of the
“ History of the Reformation,” and of “ The Church

in His Own Times,” who cannot be suspected of any

groundless prejudice against these men, says of them ,»
“They were the worst preachers I ever heard; they
were ignorant to a reproach, an_d many of them were
clearly vicious. They were a» disgrace to their orders,
and were indeed the dregs and the refuse of the
northern parts. Those of them that rose above con-
tempt and scandal were men of such violent tempers

I that they were as much hated as the others were de-

spised.” -

The influence of these men was soon felt not merely
in spreading the leaven of error, but in weakening
the spiritual life and power of the church. Men in
high.places,—-the Professor of Divinity in the Uni-
versity of Glasgow, and the Professor of Ecclesiastical
History in the same institution,—when arraigned be-
fore the bar of the Assembly on the charge of teaching
doctrines in direct opposition to some of the funda-
mental principles of evangelical religion, were either
dismissed without censure, or, being censured, were
still permitted to retain their positions and all the
emoluments pertaining thereto. The spirit of mod-
eratism (a term expressive of loose morality and
worldliness of spirit) was not only abroad but was
dominant in the church. Being an ecclesiastical es-
tablishment, the settlement of pastors in the congre-
gationsof the church was by the presentation of a

corner.” (Ps. cxviii. 22.)

patron, -and not by the choice of the people. Some
may not have regarded this as oppressive, but to mul-
titudes it was a galling yoke. They regarded it as an
unrighteous and hateful imposition. Efforts in the
direction of reformation from this undesirable estate
were made from time to time, but they proved abortive.
One, somewhat more concerted and systematic than
the rest, was made about the year 1720 by the cele-
brated Thomas Boston, associated with James Hog,
the Erskines, and others, ' who were termed “the
Marrow men.” But it, too, was met by the pointed
condemnation and rebuke of the Assembly. Shut
out also from the privilege of protesting in the church
courts against the prevailing latitudinarianism of the
times, it only remained for those who would stem the
tide to use the liberty which they still had» to preach
the truth from their pulpits. It was the exercise of
this privilege that precipitated the event to which
can be traced the origin of the United Presbyterian
Church in the United States. »
On the 10th of October, 1732, it became the duty of
the Rev. Ebenezer Erskine, a prominent member of
the Evangelical party in the church, to preach a
sermon at the opening of the Synod of Perth and
Sterling. His text was the words, “ The stone which
the builders refused is become the headstone of the
The sermon, as delivered,
is found in the published works of the author, vol.

‘ii. page 593. It pleads earnestly for the exaltation

of Christ as the chief corner-stone in the spiritual
building, the church, and inveighs somewhat warmly
against any policy or practice in the church which

,might tend to degrade him to aninferior position;

but there is nothing in it that ought to be offensive
to, or that should be regarded as scandalous "by, any
right-thinking man who loves evangelical truth.
Yeta buzz of excitement immediately ensued. The
debate ran through three days, and the vote being
taken at length, by a majority of six the sermon was
condemned and the preacher adjudged to a public
rebuke at the bar of the Synod. Fourteen members
dissented from the decision, and Mr. Erskine pro-
tested and appealed to the General Assembly. This
body met in May following (1733), and the case
coming up the Assembly sustained the decision of
the Synod, and as a termination of the process ordered
the appellant to be rebuked at its own bar. He sub-

mitted to the rebuke; but immediately laid on the .
table a protest, in which he claimed that he should.

“ be at liberty to preach the same truths of God, and

to testify against the same or like defections of this

church upon all proper occasions.” In this protest
he was joined by three others, Messrs. James Fisher,
William Wilson, and Alexander Moncrief. All were
of considerable prominence in the church: Fisher, the
author of the well-known exposition of the “ Shorter
Catechism” bearing his name; Wilson, who, as the
future Professor of Theology, prepared and read his
theological lectures in the Latin language; and Mon-

RELIGIOUS Hxsronv.

401

crief, son of the Laird of Culfargie, whose thorough
education had been received in the University of
Leyden at the feet of the celebrated Marck. With
the presentation of their protest the matter would in

-all probability have terminated, as at this time it p
does not appear that there was any desire or purpose

on the part of the protesters to withdraw from the
church of their fathers. But the protest thus laid on
the table, being afterwards read by a member of the
court and its contents by him stated to the Assembly,
another scene of excitement ensued, the end of which
was that the Assembly, indignant at the protesters for
the liberty they claimed, directed its commission,

-whichvwas to meet in the autumn of the same year,

to deal with the protesters, receive the withdrawal of

their protest, and in case of refusal to withdraw to

proceed to inflict a higher censure.

‘ The commission met, and, obedient to the order of
the Assembly, the protesters appeared at their bar.
Long discussions followed, but the protesters adher-
ing to their positions were, first, “suspended from the
exercise of the ministerial functions,” and, afterwards,
it was decided to “loose the relation of the said four
ministers to their several charges, and declare them
no longer ministers of this church, and prohibit all
ministers of this church to employ them in any
ministerial function.” Direction was also given that
notices be served on the sheriffs of the districts in

p which the parishes of the protesters were located to

see that the sentence of the commission in letter and
spirit be fully’ executed. Against this action the

pr/otesters protested again, avowing their purpose to

disregard it, as to the matter of ceasing from minis-
terial functions, and closing their protest with the
memorable words: “And we hereby appeal to the
first_ free, faithful, and reforming General Assembly

' of the Church of Scotland.”

On the 5th of December following (1733) the breth-
ren thus unchurched, and thus protesting and appeal-
ing, met together at Gairney Bridge, and after much
and prayerful deliberation constituted themselves into
a court of Christ’s house, which they named “The
Associate Presbytery.” At and even before this time
a reaction in the sentiment of the church was begin-
ning to be felt. The popular talents and high attain-
ments and ‘character of the brethren protesting, in
connection with what by many was regarded as the
imperious course of the prevailing party in ‘the As-
sembly and Synod, produced an impression so marked
through the land that no less than seven of the
fifteen Synods composing the whole church had sent
up remonstrances against the suspension of the pro-
testers by the commission, and so strong had this
reactionary feeling now become that the Assembly of
1734, almost immediately after being constituted,
empowered the Synod of Perth and Sterlingto meet
on July 2d (in advance of the regular time of meet-
ing), and take action looking to the speedy reinstate-
ment of the suspended brethren into good standing

in the church. The Synod met at the time desig-
nated, and proceeding immediately to the work as-
signed by the Assembly, with unanimous consent re-
moved the sentence of suspension from the protesters
and restored them fully to Christian and ministerial
fellowship in the church. Certain members of the
Synod were‘ also appointed to convey to the brethren
now restored oflicial notice of the action now taken, and

to give notice of the same also totheir congregations.”

A critical juncture was now reached. What will

the newly-formed “Associate Presbytery” now do?. ‘

Taking the matter into serious consideration, they
made known their purpose to maintain their separa-
tion from the mother-church. A pamphlet was soon
issued, indicating their action and setting forth in
detail the reasons justifying their course. As we
assume not to denounce unqualifiedly the action of
the General Assembly, so we assume not to defend
without qualification the action of the protesters in
declining the apparently liberal terms of reconcilia-
,,tion and restoration now tendered unto them. It is
confidently believed that in the course they took they
were actuated by pure motives; nor is it .doubted that
He who “walks in the midst of the golden candle-
sticks” was able to overrule and did overrule this
unhappy division for good, both to the parent church
and also to those who by its act, at first cut off from
its communion, now chose to maintain a permanent
separation from it.

The events following need not be noticed in detail.
The membership of the new Presbytery was soon in-
creased to eight, all men of weight and influence in
ftheir respective fields of labor. In 1739 they were
summoned before the bar of . the Assembly to answer
for the sin of schism. In constituted capacity as a
Presbytery they appeared at the bar and entered a
formal declinature of the authority of the court.
Another “year of grace” was given by the Assembly,
at the end of which, in 1740, the eight members of the
“Associate Presbytery” were formally deposed from

the oflice of the ministry and cut off from the com-_

munion of the church.

They pursued the “even tenor of their way.” I
Frequent accessions to their numbers were received-

from time to time of those in the Assembly who dur-
ing the long controversy had all the while sympa-
thized with the position and principles of the pro-
testers. In 1744 the new organization contained
twenty-six ministerial members, who belonged to
three Preshyteries, constituting the “Associate
Synod.” The unhappy controversy about the Bur-
gess oaths now followed, resulting, in 1747, in the
division of the Associate Synod into two bodies
about equal in size, known as the Burgher and Anti-
Burgher Synods. The division continued for a period
of seventy years, when, in the year 1820, a union of
the long-divided parties was effected (a very few de-
clining), resulting in the formationpof the.“ United Se-

cession” Church, a body which embraced at the time

“‘ United Presbyterian Church of Scotland.”

402

HISTORY OF -WASHINGTON COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA.

of the union two hundred and sixty-two congregations.
Twenty-seven years later, in 1847, a union was formed
between the “ United Secession” and the “Relief
Church.” The latter was the result of a secession
from the Established Church in 1758, solely as a pro-

test against the principle of patronage, and on the

ground of the absolute right of every congregation to
choose its own pastor. At the time of its union with
the United Secession the Relief contained one hun-
dred and thirteen congregations, which, added to the
number in the other branch, made the whole number
four hundred and ninety-seven. The organization
thus constituted took to itself the name of the
At the
present it contains about five hundred and fifty con-
gregations, being one of the three principal organiza-
tions (Est-ablished, Free, and United) into which the
Presbyterianism of Scotland is divided.

But the object of the present sketch is to trace the
line of the “Secession,” as, about the middle of the
eighteenth century, it became shifted to the west of
the Atlantic. 2 '

From the very rise of the secession in Scotland,
many of its families following the tide of emigration
had been removing to America, settling, among other
points on the coast,_ in considerable numbers in the
counties of the province of Pennsylvania lying near
the southern border and east of the Susquehanna
River. From these petitions for supply of preaching
had been forwarded to the “ Associate Presbytery” in

Scotland as early as 1742. But, on account of the‘

scarcity of preachers, and the large demand for their
services at home, it was not till 1753 that -Messrs.
Alexander Gelatly and Andrew Arnot arrived in
Pennsylvania. Room for abundant labor was open
before them. But the labor performed was not all in
the line of public proclamation of the gospel message.
The same field" of labor to » which they came was
already pre-occupied by the Presbytery of New Castle,
subordinate to the Synod of New York and Philadel-

, phia (afterwards the General Assembly of the Pres-

byterian Church of the United States). From this
Presbytery there came at once, as it was proper there
should, an invitation to the newly-arrived preachers
to cast in their lot with them. After due considera-
tion the invitation was declined. Then followed from
the Presbytery of New Castle a published deliverance,
thepropriety of which may perhaps admit of a doubt,
warning the people under its supervision against coun-
tenancing the ministrations and some of the doctrines
of the ministers of “ the Secession.” Then followed,
as was to be expected, a rejoinder from the latter.
Two’ members of the Presbytery, Messrs. Finley and
Smith, publish their reply. To this again Mr. Gelatly
responds in an extended pamphlet of .two hundred and
six pages. And thus the warfare went on.

In the mean time the two ministers of the Secession
were organized into a Presbytery. .Mr. Arnot returned
to Scotland, but others continued to arrive from time

to time, till in 1776 the whole number was thirteen.
Three of these living in the State of New York were
in this year formed into a separate Presbytery,-—the
Presbytery of New York,——the others constituting the
Presbytery of Pennsylvania. But all the while occu-
pying substantially the same ground with these min-
isters of the Secession were certain ministers of the
Reformed Presbyterian order (or Covenanters).

In the times of persecution in the reigns of Charles
II. and James II. certain religious societies, who re-
fused submission to the powers that were then in the
land, were led and ministered to by Richard Cameron,
from whom the name Cameronians was sometimes
given them. At the head of his little band Cam-
eron was surprised and slain in 1680 at Airdsmoss.
His young and devoted associate, Donald Cargill,»

‘who succeeded to the leadership, was also hunted

down and executed in the year following, July 27,
1681. Another youthful leader was now raised up in
the person of James Renwick, but_ the spirit of perse-
cution was still rife, and though preserved from the
hands of those who sought his life for a period of
five years, he was at last captured and executed‘,
Feb. 11, 1688. The revolution following, Renwick’s
was the last life sacrificed on the altar of religious
liberty in Scotland. Three others were soon raised
up to minister to these long-persecuted bands, but
William and Mary were now on the throne. Re-
ligious liberty was restored, prelacy was suppressed,
and Presbyterianism made the established religion of
Scotland. The three ministers, therefore, and a ma-
jority of their «followers returned to the Establishment.
But a minority, mainly for the reason that the king
with all his liberality still claimed royal supremacy
over the church, maintained their ground.-. For six-
teen years they were without a minister.
length in the year 1706 they were joined by Rev.
John McMillan from the Establishment, who became
their minister, and for the long period of thirty-seven
years continued to minister to them alone. From
this, his long and solitary connection with them, they
were frequently called .McMillanites. In 1743, Mo-
,,Millan was joined by Thomas Nairne,_from the Se-
cession Church, and a Presbytery was formed which
took the name of the Reformed Presbytery. Others
were added to its membership from time to time.
Among these was Rev. John Cuthbertson, who emi-
grated to'America in 1749 or ’50, and continued to

minister alone to scattered societies of Reformed’

-Presbyterians in different parts of the country for
more than twenty years. In 1773 he was joined by
Messrs. Lind and Dobbin from the parent country,
and a Presbytery was constituted.

Between these Reformed Presbyterians and the As‘-
sociate Presbyterians negotiations with a view to
union were commenced in 1777, and were carried on
to their consummation in 1782 in the union which
originated the “Associate Reformed Church.” The
ministers of the Reformed Presbytery all entered the

But at _

, Scioto, and the Carolinas.

RELIGIOUS HISTORY.

403

new organization, and of the other side all but two,
Messrs. William Marshall and James Clarkson.
Through these, as strengthened by new arrivals from
Scotland, and by the return of two who at the first
had entered the union, the organization of the Asso-
ciate Church was continued.

Though somewhat aside from the direct purpose of
this sketch, it may be noted that while all the minis-
ters of the Reformed Presbytery entered the union,
not a few of the numerous societies of their people
stood aloof. To these pastors were sent from the
Covenanters of the old country, a Presbytery was or-
ganized, and thus the Reformed Presbyterian organi-
zationwas also perpetuated. It continues to this day,
as represented in the two Synods of the Reformed

' Presbyterian Church,‘-—the Old and the New School.

The two churches——the Associate Reformed and the
(residuary) Associate—-occupied the same territory,
and over the same territory in other parts they con-
tinued to have their progress and development.

The fourteen ministers of the Associate Reformed
were grouped in three Presbyteries, named respec-
tively the First, Second, and Third, all of which con-
stituted the Associate Reformed Synod. In twenty
years, so rapid and widely extended had been the
growth of this‘ church, that in 1802 it was found con-
venient to divide .the Synod into four, known respec-
tively as the Synods of New York, Pennsylvania,
The two latter, being far
remote from the places of meeting of the General
Synod, almost uniformly ‘held within the bounds of

- one of the two former, gradually subsided into a state

of entire independence from the two former and from
each other. A reconstruction of the Synod of Scioto
was effected in the year 1820, when it was transformed

_ into the Associate Reformed Synod of the West, in-

cluding in general all territory lying west of the
Allegheny Mountains. As thus reconstructed it grew
and prospered, and in 1839 was divided into the First
and Second Synods of the West, and in 1852 the
additional Synod of Illinois was formed from a part
of the Second Synod of the West.

Negotiations in the East for a union with the Gen-
eral Assembly of the Presbyterian Church were par-
tially successful , in 1822, but a minority declined,
through which the organization of the Synod of New
York was perpetuated, continuing its separate organ-
ization till 1855, when the breach between it and the
Synods in the West was healed. Being brought to-
gether again, the four Synods were now united under
a delegated body known as the General Synod of the
Associate Reformed Church of North America.

‘We now return to 1782. The Associate Presby-
tery remained undivided till the close of the century;
but it had become large and unwieldy, a11d was accord-
ingly erected into a Synod in 1801, which was named
the Associate Synod of North America. It was made
up of the four Presbyteries of Cambridge, Philadel-
phia, Chartiers, and Kentucky. On account of difli-

culties growing out of the connection of the churches

in Kentucky with the system of slaveholding prac- ‘

ticed in that State, the pastors of the churches and
large numbers of their people removed to the adjacent
free States of Ohio and Indiana, and thus, about the
year 1804, the Presbytery of Kentucky became extinct.
But others ‘were organized, so that notwithstanding
the extinction of the Presbytery of Kentucky the
whole number had increased in 1820 to six.
this time a correspondence was begun with a View to
union with the‘ Associate Reformed Synod of the
West. It was conducted in a becoming spirit on
both sides, but it soon became evident that the time
for the healing of the breach had not yet come, an
in 1822 the correspondence was dropped. -

The negotiations which finally resulted in the for-
mation of the United Presbyterian Church originated
in a proposition submitted by the Reformed Presby-
terian Synod (New School) to the Associate Reformed
Synod of the West in the year 1836. While the
matter was favorably regarded by the Synod ad-
dressed, it was not till the year 1838 that a convention
was held by delegates from these churches. The con-
ference thus -had was so encouraging that following
conventions were held in 1839, 1841, and again in 1842,
when, for the first time, delegates were in attendance
from the Associate Synod. Other conventions fol-
lowed from year to year. One basis of union after
another was prepared, proposed, criticised, and re-
jected. The Reformed Presbyterian brethren, with
whom themovement forunion originated, -withdrew
entirely in 1847 from the negotiations. But the others
persevered in what they regarded as a good and hope-
ful work. The result was that a basis was finally
prepared on which both branches of the long-divided
church felt that they could stand. With feelings of
pious devotion, and great joy and gladness, the union
of the two churches was consummated in the City
Hall, Pittsburgh, May 26, 1858. '

The basis of union is the Westminster Confession
of Faith, with a modification on one point,——the power
of the civil magistrate “circa word,” and a judicial
testimony covering certain points which were either
not embraced in the confession or were not so dis-
tinctly set forth and defended as the circumstances of
the church and of the times seemed to require. The
whole number of these articles in the testimony is
eighteen, of which the last five embraced the points
usually regarded as distinctive features of the church’ s
profession. They are as follows, viz. :

“ ART. XIV. Slaveholdi/ng.—-We declare, That Slaveholding--that is,
the holding of unoffending human beings in involuntary bondage, and
considering and treating them as property, and subject to be bought and
so1d—is a violation of the law of God, and contrary both to the letter
and spirit of Christianity. . A

“ ART. XV. Of Secret Societies.—We declare, That all associations,
Whether formed for political or benevolent purposes, which impose upon
their members an oath of secrecy, or an obligation to obey a code of
unknown laws, are inconsistent with the genius and spirit of Chris-
tianity, and church-members ought not to have fellowship with such
associations.

About

404

HISTORY OF WASHINGTON COUNTY. PENNSYLVANIA.

“ART. XVI. Of Commzmion..—We declare, That the church should
not extend communion in sealing ordinances to those who refuse ad-
herence to her profession, or subjection to her government and disci-
pline, or who refuse to forsake a communion which is inconsistent with
the profession that she makes; nor should communion in any ordinance
of worship be held under such circumstances as would be inconsistent
with the keeping of those ordinances pure and entire, or so as to give
countenance to any corruption of the doctrines and institutions of
Christ.

“AR'r._XVII. Of Covénanting.——VVe declare, That public social cov-
enanting is amoral duty, the observance of which is not required at
stated times, but on extraordinary occasions, as the providence of God
and the circumstances of the church may indicate. It is seasonable in
times of great danger to the church,—in times of exposure to back-
sliding, or in times of reformation when the church is returning to
God from a state of backsliding. When the church has entered into
such covenant transactions, they continue to bind posterity faithfully to
adhere to and prosecute the grand object for which such engagements
have been entered into.

“ ART. XVIII. 0f Psal-modg/.—We,declare that it is the will of God that
the songs contained in the Book of Psalms be sung in His worship, both
public and private, to the end of the world ; and in singing God's praise
these songs should be employed to the exclusion of the devotional com-
positions of uninspired men.”

The following summaries present the comparative
strength of the two churches at the time of their
union in 1858. Associate: presbyteries, 21; minis-
ters, 198; licenciates, 33; congregations, 293; mem-
bers, 23,505. Associate Reformed: presbyteries, 28;
ministers, 221; ilicentiates, 32; congregations, 367;
members," 31,284. _ A .

The comparative aggregate strength of the United
Church in the year following the union and in the
year 1881 (twenty-two years later) -is shown in the
following statement: ‘

     

Years. Ministers. gggggj UI§;:%:)I::ed Members. C°t'i’(§S:u'
1859 . 408 634  55,547 $253,150
‘1881 690 818 85 32,937 853,541

 

At what time the forefathers of the United Presby-
terians) of Washington County began first to make
their appearance within its bounds cannot now be

definitely ascertained. The earliest settlers of the
county were not men of any one religious faithto the
exclusion of others, and the reasonable probability
is that Associate and Reformed Presbyterians were
found among them. Rev. Matthew Henderson, who
had been laboring many years as pastor of a congre-
gation‘ in Chester County, made his first visit to Wash-
ington (then Westmoreland) County in 1779. This
was no doubt in response to invitations received from
those of his own religious‘ faith, some of whom may
have been living in the county many years before.
In 1782 he was permanently located as pastor of the
congregations of Chartiers and Buffalo (afterwards
called North Buffalo). Other congregations sprang‘
up in different parts of the county in years following,
as will appear in the histories of those congregations
respectively. '

Of the twenty-one United Presbyterian congrega-
tions now found in Washington County, eleven, at
the time of the union which formed the United Pres-
byterian Church, were in connection with the Associ-
ate Presbyterian branch of that church, viz.: Bur-

,gettstown,'Chartiers, Mount Hope,'Mount Pleasant,

North Buffalo, Peters Creek, Pigeon Creek, Robin-
son, South Buffalo, Washington, and Wheeling.
Four were in connection with the Associate Reformed
side of the house, viz. : Canonsburg, Chartiers Cross-
Roads, Paris, and West Middletown. Six were or-
ganized at or since the union, and are composed for
the most part of members from both sides of the
united house, viz.: Centre, McDonald, Mount Pros-
pect, Taylorstown, Venice, and" West Alexander.
The following tabulated statement will show in
alphabetical order the names of the congregations,

and in following columns township or borough, name,

of pastor, number ofmembers, Sabbath-school scholars,
aggregate contributions, and average contribution to
each member, the whole being as shown in the statis-
tical returns for the year 1881 : '

§ 3:" be ,3 _

§ '§;%  3..-E

Congregations. Township or Borough. Pastors. ‘E  Ta‘ :3 '5 :9 :3? 3 5

° 2 ‘3 +13 5 ‘E. 3 °’ §

5 -3 W 3 52.4 4
Fl)

Burgettstown ......... .. Burgettstown ....  ............... .. D. VV. Carson, D.D ...................... .. 202 195 82,62 $12.98
Canonsburg................................. North Strabane ................... .. John S. Speer ............................ .. 188 112 1,655 8.80
Centre ................. .. .............  Smith ................................ .. Jos. B. Waddle __ 143 175 1,430 10.00
Chartiers ................................... .. Canonsburg ......................... .. E. C. Simpson (pastor elect) ......... .. 274 105 2,320 8.47
Chartiers Cross-Roads ................. .. Chartiers ............................. .. James A. Grier .....  ....... .. ......... .. 216 159 1,876 8.68
McDmml'1 . .. Robinson ....................  W. D. Irous. .............................. .. 106 110 1,091 10.28
Mount Hope .............................. .. Independence ..........  ......... .. John T. Brownlee ......  ............. .. 90 75 1.299 14.43
Mount Pleasant ......................... .. Mount Pleasant William A. McConnel ................ .. 185 180 1,994 10.77
Mount Prospect.. ....................... .. Nottingham ______ __ J_ P, Davis 143 168 1,200 8.39
North Buffalo ............................ .. Buffalo ................................ .. Samuel J . Kyle .......................... .. 104 ‘ 133 1,244 11.96
Paris ........................................ .. Hanover ..................... .. ...... .. W. J. Cooper .............................. .. 94 88 935 9.54
Peters Creek Peters ................................. .. R. M. Patterson ......................... .. 156 103 1,225 7.85
Pigeon Creek ............................ .. Somerset ............................. .. D. S. Littell . . 172 120 1,785 10.38
Robinson ................................... .. Robinson ............................. .. W; R. McKee ............................ .. 192 190 1,601 8.42
South Buffalo ............................ .. Buffalo .... .. Alexander McLachlan ................ .. 107 84 1,086 10.15
Taylorstown .............................. .. Buffalo ................................ .. John Morrow ............................ .. 106 100 1,204 11.35
_Venice ...................................... .. Cecil ................................... .. A. R. Anderson 205 165 2,187 10.66
Washington .... .. Washington J. R. Johnston, D.D .................... .. 277 150 2,960 10.69
West Alexander ......................... .. VVest Alexander..................... William M. Coleman .................. .. 201 145 3,160 15.72
West Middletown ....  ................ .. West Middletown ................. .. Samuel Taggart ......................... .. 133 100 1,330 10.00
Wheeling .................................. .. East Finley ............  .......... .. James A. McKee ........................ .. 90 60 600 6.67
Congregations, 21. Pastors, 21. 3384 2747 $34,804 $10.30

RELIGIOUS HISTORY.

405

The Associate Presbyterian Theolo_gical Semi-
nary at Canonsburg.1——On the 21st of April, 1794,
the Associate Presbytery of Pennsylvania (which four
years later became the Associate Synod of North
America) elected Rev. John Anderson, D.D., as its
first theological professor. He was then, and had
been for two years, pastor of the united congrega-
tions of Mill Creek and Harmon’s Creek, now Service
and Frankfort, Beaver Co., Pa. This action of the
Presbytery of Pennsylvania resulted in the establish-
ment of what, without presumption or disregard of
truth, may be termed the earliest and oldest of the
theological seminaries of the United States. The
essential elements of a veritable theological seminary

_ were there. A seminary building, two "stories high,

was erected; a library of eight hundred theological
works, mostly obtained from Scotland, was collected ;
a professor was elected who during definite terms of
some months each year gave instruction to the stu-
dents. The number of students, of course, was not
large, generally varying from five to ten. The whole
number who finished their theological course while
the institution continued at Service, in Beaver
County, was thirty-one. Havingicontinued in the
work for twenty-four years, admonished by the gath-

ering infirmities of age, Dr. Anderson resigned his

professorship to the Synod in the year 1818. In 1819
the Synod, to save in some measure" the traveling

expenses of the students, decided to establish two

seminaries, denominated in the phraseology of the
time the Eastern Hall and the Western Hall. The

former was located, in 1820, at Philadelphia, in charge

of ' Dr. John Banks, who was at the time also a pro-
fessor in the University of Pennsylvania and pastor
of a congregation in the city. The Western Hall

.was located, in 1821, at Canonsburg, and Dr. James

Ramsay chosen as professor. Dr. Banks, under whose
supervision eleven students were educated for the
ministry in Philadelphia, died April 10, 1826, and
the Synod, instead of electing a successor to the de-
ceased professor, discontinued the institution, or, if

we may prefer so to express it, united the Eastern,

and Western into one hall at Canonsburg. Dr. Ram-
say was fifty years old when he assumed the profes-
sorial -chair, and continued to occupy it for twenty
years. His attention was mainly given to lectures on
theology and church history, and instruction in the
Hebrew language. In theology his text-book was
the Medulla of Marck, of the University of Leyden,
in Latin. On Mondays and Thursdays he read his
lectures to the students, and on Tuesdays and Fridays
catechised them on the lectures of the preceding day.
On Wednesdays discourses were delivered by the
students, which were criticised both by students and
professor. In addition to his service in the theo-
logical seminary, Dr. Ramsay occupied the post
(somewhat honorary in character) of Professor of

1 By Rev. J. T. Brownlee.

' his own house.

Hebrew in Jefferson College. Dr. Ramsay was tall
and thin, and somewhat ungainly and awkward in
his general appearance. The head was small, and
the eye rather inconspicuous, having often the ap-
pearance of being partially closed. A stranger would
not suspect, on seeing him" for the first time, that he
occupied any very prominent position in the com-
munity. Indeed, his uncommon modesty and the
great simplicity of his character, connected with his
plain and unstylish appearance, would readily dis‘-
pose those who highly appreciate elegance and style
of manner to regard him as a verycommon man.

-But views of this kind were soon corrected in the

estimation of all who came to know him well. The
essential elements of true gentlemanliness few pos-
sessed in larger measure than he. Located for almost

half a century in the midst of an intelligent and cul- ‘

tivated community, pastor of a congregation which
grew large and strong under his ministrations, prin-
cipal teacher of the theological seminary of his de-
nomination, and located all the while under the very
shadow of one of the leading colleges of the land,
no man ever stood better the test of time (one of the
very best of all tests) than Dr. Ramsay did.

For many years after Dr. Ramsay began the work
of his professorship the services were conducted in
Many of the students boarded in his
family, and their uniform testimony was said to be
that the better they became acquainted with him in
social intercourse, as well as in his public service of
preaching the gospel and theological teaching, the
better.they liked him.

The erection of a seminary building had been in
contemplation for years, but it was not till the year
1832 that the contract for the edifice was actually
made. ‘And when contracted for, by delay, the

reason of which cannot now be definitely ascertained,

the house was not complete and ready for use till the
fall of 1835. In comparison with many structures
reared for similar purposes in more recent times, the
seminary building would not be regarded as a very
grand or imposing edifice, but it was quite adequate
to the purpose for which it was erected, and when

completed was regarded asno discredit to those under

whose supervision it was built, or to the surroundings
in the midst of which it stood. The main building
was sixty-six feet in length and thi.rty-six feet wide,
connected with which was a wing in the rear forty-
five feet long and seventeen feet wide, which was
fronted through its whole length by a" porch eight feet
wide. The whole was divided into chapel, lecture-
rooms, library - rooms, apartments for a resident
family, and dormitory accommodations for about
thirty students. About five acres of ground were con-
nected with the building. The cost of ground, build-
ing, and all appurtenances was reported by the build-
ing committee as being six thousand eight hundred
and ninety-eight dollars and sixty cents, all of which
was fully paid when the house was ready for use. The

406

HISTORY OF WASHINGTON COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA.

treasurer of the building fund and the active superin-
tendent of the whole work was the late Daniel
Houston, Esq., whose economical and otherwise efli-
cient management was highly appreciated by the
church at large. Twenty students were in attendance
during the first session in the new building, and in
view of the limited room most of them had been ac-
customed to during previous terms in the doctor’s
house, they no doubt felt that now at length they had
“ been brought into a large place.”

The election of an additional professor, though
long in contemplation, was not realized till 1833. At
the meeting of Synod in the month of October of that
year, Rev. David Carson, of East Tennessee, was
chosen for the chair of Hebrew and church history.
He accepted the position, but could not enter upon
the discharge of its duties during the session then
immediately ensuing. In the month of June, 1834,
he removed. with his family to Canonsburg. The
fatigue and exposure incident to his long journey of
six hundred miles in his private conveyance aggra-
vated a disease which had given him some trouble
before, the result of which was that some weeks after
his arrival at Canonsburg he was prostrated in a pro-
tracted and painful illness, which terminated in his
death, Sept. 25, 1834. ‘ Rev. D. W. Carson, D.D., of
Burgettstown, Pa., and J. G. Carson, D.D., of Xenia,
Ohio, are his sons and his only children now sur-
viving. Though the settlement of Mr. Carson as a
pastor was in a district far remote from the centres of
the church’s strength and influence, he was reputed
to be a preacher of unusual power, and many high
expectations in regard to his public usefulness as a
preacher and professor were disappointed by his early
and, as to many, it seemed, untimely death. He died
in the thirty-fourth year of his age.

In the month of November immediately following
the death of Mr. Carson, the Synod, being in session,
elected .Rev. Abraham Anderson, of West Hebron,
N. Y., to fill the still vacant chair. He could not
see his way clear to accept the office at the meeting
at which he was elected, and at. the meeting in the
following year declined the proffered honor. And
thus Dr. Ramsay, who had been long looking for as-
sistance, was left one year more in the unaided per-
formance of his work. At the meeting of Synod in
October, 1836, Rev. Thomas Beveridge, D.D., of Phil-
adelphia, waschosen to the vacant chair. Though
the notice served upon him was somewhat sudden,
yet in View of the pressing need for his services he
moved immediately to Canonsburg, and entered on
the duties of the professorship at the opening of the
session of 1835-36, the first the exercises of which
were conducted in the new building. The first set-
tlement of Dr. Beveridge as a pastor was in the united
charge of Xenia and Sugar Creek, Greene Co., Ohio.
Having labored in this field for three years his
health became impaired, and he was laid aside for
some time from the active work of ‘the ministry.

He was afterward located for a period of seven years
in charge of the Walnut Street Church in Phila-
delphia. At the time he assumed the duties of the
professional chair he was thirty-nine years old. For
the long period of thirty-six years he continued in
this position, twenty of which were at Canonsburg,
and sixteen at Xenia, Ohio, to which place they sem-
inary was removed in 1855. He resigned the chair
Oct. 14, 1871, and died May 30, 1873, in the seventy-
seventh year of his age. 3

Dr. Beveridge was the ‘son of Rev. Thomas Bev-
eridge, Sr., a native of Scotland. He was born Oct.
9, 1796, at Cambridge, Washington Co., N. Y., grad-
uated at Union College in 1814, and studied theology
under Dr. John Anderson in the seminary at Service,
Beaver Co., Pa. He was somewhat under the medium
height, and slightly inclined to corpulency. His hair,
which was always abundant, was jet black in his
youth, but while yet in his prime was changed to
iron-gray, and continued to whiten as age increased.
The complexion was dark, and the expression of the-
countenance pleasant and agreeable. In striking
contrast with the senior professor,.his whole appear-
ance marked him at once as ‘a man of note. He was
all his life a diligent student, a man of books. Few
private libraries are ever seen so large as that which
he ‘gathered around him. His knowledge of books
was indeed quite remarkable, extending not only to
the large collection covering the walls of his own
study, but to the theological and general literature of
his own and other countries. ‘His style oflwriting
-was chaste and clear and strong. He published
no books, but contributed quite extensively and on
various subjects to the monthly periodicals of the
Associate and United Presbyterian Church. Among
the last of these contributions to the literature of the
church was as chairman of the committee by which
was prepared the revised version of the Psalms of the
Bible now in use in the United Presbyterian Church.
The sermons and theological lectures of Dr. Bever-
idge were uniformly written in full. While always
a prominent and influential member of ecclesiastical
assemblies, his habit of full preparation for his pub-
lic deliverances at other times operated perhaps to
some extent in the way of hampering him when par-
ticipating in promiscuous discussions. In addition
to his duties in the theological seminary, Dr. Bever-
idge preached regularly‘ to the church of his denom-

ination in Washington from 1835 to the fall of 1849,‘

and during the six years following, on alternate
Sabbaths, to the Associate congregation of Miller’s
Run (now Venice).

For a period of seven years the two professors,
Drs. Ramsay and Beveridge,. were associated in their
respective professorships in the seminary. But Dr.
Ramsay was growing old, and havingvlong cherished
the purpose not to continue in the professorship after
reaching his threescore years and ten, he accordingly
at the meeting of Synod in 1841 at Washington, Pa.,

RELIGIOUS HISTORY.

407

gave notice of his intended resignation of the theo-
logical chair. The purpose thus indicated was exe-
cuted the following year, 1842. With a vote of
hearty thanks for his long and valuable services, the
resignation was accepted. He continued to minister
regularly to his congregation for some years, but the
infirmities of age were gathering about him, and
after a pastorate of almost forty-five years he was re-
leased from the charge of his congregation June 12,
1849. He now removed with the aged partner of his

, life to the residence of their son—in—law, Rev. Dr.

McElwee, in Frankfort, Beaver Co., Pa., where he
spent the evening of his days. He died March 6,
1855, in the eighty-fourth year of his age.

_At the same meeting of Synod at which Dr. Ram-

I ‘say resigned (1842),, Rev. James Martin, D.D., of

Albany, N. Y., was chosen as his successor, and en-
tered on the duties of the professorship at the opening
of the session of 1842-43. His connection with the
seminary, however, was destined to be comparatively
brief. A lingering pulmonary affection, with which
he had been struggling before his removal to Canons-
burg, continued and increased during his professor-
ship, till at length severe hemorrhage ensued, from
which he rapidly sank and passed away, June 15,
1846. Four sessions in the chair of Theology and
Hebrew completed the work of Dr. Martin in the

’ seminary. But his professorship, though brief, was
-far from being. unsuccessful.

His mental faculties
were of the very highest order, and by liberal educa-
tion and much study, and full consecration to his

‘work, he seemed to be eminently fitted for the post to

which he was called. . He had remarkable facility in
giving to the students, with apparently no strain or
effort on his own part, a clear perception of the most in-

. tricate points that ca.1ne in the way in his theological

lectures. In the most artless way, also, he always
evinced a very deep interest in the welfare of all the
students, and thus secured in unusual measure their
affection for himself. The words of advice and en-
couragement addressed to many of them privately
were cherished by them as preciousmemorials. And
even his admonitions, instead of producing alienation,
served rather as cords to draw the admonished more
closely to him. -The responsibility of educating an
able and well-qualified ministry for the church seemed
always to weigh heavily on his mind. He was full of
his work. In almost every respect except physical
capacity for work he seemed to the church, and es-
pecially to his students, the “beau ideal” of a theo-
logical professor.

During his pastorate in‘ Albany, Dr. Martin was
for some years editor of the Religious Monitor, the
monthly periodical of his church. In this capacity
he wrote extensively on subjects of passing interest.
A sermon which he published in 1841 on “the duty
of submission to church rulers” attracted much atten-
tion on account of the distracted condition of the
eastern section of the church at -the time. A series

of articles which he wrote for the Religious Monitor
on the “imputation of Adam’s first sin to his pos-
terity,” suggested by the controversy which at the
time was rife in the Presbyterian Church on this and
kindred subjects, was afterwards collected and issued
in a duodecimovolume in 1834, which was regarded as
an unusually lucid and able discussion of the subject.
The temperance and anti-slavery reforms -always
found in Dr. Martin an able and fearless advocate. On
every subject he was a characteristically independent
thinker. VVhile it gave him no special pleasure to
antagonize the views of others, his own positions on
all important questions were assumed as the result of
his deliberate judgment, even though they might
sometimes be unwelcome to those whom he loved
most, and with whom he was most intimately associ-
ated. .
The death of Dr. Martin occurring immediately
after the meeting of Synod, his successor was not
elected till the following year, and thus the services
of the seminary during the session of 1846-47 were
left wholly in the hands of Dr. Beveridge. In 1847,
Rev. Abraham ‘Anderson, D.D., who had been chosen
once before, was now re-elected, and entered on the
duties of the professorship at the beginning of the
following session. Dr. Anderson was born in Cum-
berland County, Pa.; came while very young with his
parents to Chartiers township, in Washington County;
lived on the farm till after his majority; served as a
private soldier one year in the army of Gen. Harri-
son on the Northwestern frontier, in the war of 1812;
entered Jefferson College after his return, and gradu-
ated in the class of 1817; spent one winter in the the-
ological seminary at Service, Pa.; was Professor of
Languages in Jefferson College from 1818 to 1821,
during which time he read a_course in medicine
with Dr. Letherman; was licensed to preach Aug.
29, 1821; ordained 1822 by Presbytery of the Caro-
linas; pastor at Steel Creek and Bethany, N.-C., 1822 to

1833; pastor at West Hebron, VVashington Co., N. Y.,

1833 to 1847. The professorship of Dr. Anderson
began in 1847, when he was fifty-eight years old,
and continued through seven years till his death,
May 9, 1855. He was not less than six feet three
inches in height, and large in proportion. He was
not corpulent, neither was he slender. He stood
veryerect, and walked with a gait which impressed
many with the idea that his measured step and lofty
bearing were an acquirernent of his army life which
adhered to him through his future years. His dis-
courses in public and from the theological chair
were models of strength and logical accuracy, but
his elocution had little about it to make it attractive.
The voice, though not hard to hear, had little of rich-
ness or melody, and seemed almost entirely destitute
of that capability of modulation and expansion which
give to oratory so much of its charm and attractive-
ness. 3 His gestures also, which were few, had a meas-
ure of stiffness about them which gave his hearers to

408

HISTORY OF WASHINGTON COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA.

feel that little loss would have been sustained had
they been entirely omitted; but in gifts and qualifi-
cations more essential to public usefulness, and espe-
cially to efliciency in the professorial chair, there was
no deficiency. His general scholarship was good,
while in the field of New Testament Greek it was so
full and thorough that he often read in his family
devotions from the Greek, giving without hesitation
or difliculty his own literal translation. In Hebrew
and theology also (the chair which he filled) he was
quite at home. He wrote little for the press, but
after his death his theological predilections, much
as he preferred them for the students, in the form of
questions and answers, were collected and published
in an octave volume of seven hundred and sixty-seven
pages. They who desire information on almost any
point in the whole field of Bible theology can here
find it tersely and plainly stated and well supported.
Soon after the close of the session of 1854-55 an inter-
nal disease, from which Dr. Anderson had suffered less
or more for years, assumed alarming symptoms. His
sufferings became very intense, and, having a very
strong and vigorous physical system, they were quite
protracted. He died May 9, 1855.

At the meeting of Synod near the close of the
month‘ during which Dr. Anderson died, after a con-
test which excited no little interest it was decided to
remove the seminary from Canonsburg to Xenia, Ohio.
Circumstances favored the bringing about of this re-
sult. The Synod was met at the time in Xenia. Its
membership was not made up of delegates from dif-
ferent sections._ Every minister in the church and a
ruling elder from each pastoral charge was entitled to
a seat. The result would necessarily be that parts
adjacent to the place of meeting would be much more
fully represented than more distant parts. And yet
the vote was close,—fifty-seven for Canonsburg against
sixty-two for Xenia. Had the meeting of Synod been
in Pittsburgh or any of the central localities of the
church, the result would no doubt -have been different.
But while some unpleasantness of feeling resulted
from the action taken, there was no effort made to re-
consider or revoke the decision to remove. Rev.
Samuel Wilson, D.D., of Xenia, was elected to fill
the chair left vacan.t by the death of Dr. Anderson.
Dr. Beveridge removed during the summer to the new
location, and from that time forward to the present
the institution has been maintained and conducted in
Xenia. _

The seminary building in Canonsburg, after serving
the purpose of its erection for twenty years, was with
the grounds annexed now sold." The east end of the
building, including the chapel and a number of dormi-
tories, has been taken down and removed. The west
end with the wing in the rear still remains, being new
used as a dwelling and boarding-house. On the south
side of Pike Street, toward the west end, this three-
story house, somewhat antiquated in appearance as
compared with the fewer buildings around, may still

be seen, and it is all that remains of what was once
the Associate Presbyterian Theological Seminary of
Oanonsburg.

It now only remains that a list be given of students
educated for the A ministry in this seminary. The list
first given includes those trained wholly under Dr.
Ramsay up to the year 1835. Their places of resi-
dence or principal fields of labor are annexed. Those
known to be deceased are indicated by a star.

1821 to 1835.

Daniel McLean,* New Concord, Ohio.

Samuel McLean,* Poplar Ridge, Ohio. /

W. M. McElwee, D.D., Frankfort, Beaver Co., Pa.

J. Begg,* Mercer, Pa.

M. Snodgrass,* Custard. Pa.

Joseph Clokey, D.D., Professor Theological Seminary, Xenia, Spring-

field, Ohio.

William Douthet,* Glade Mills, Pa.

S. Hindman,* Iberia, Ohio.

J. Hindman,* Glade Run, Pa.

Nathaniel Ingles,* Burnett's Creek, Ind.

James McCa.rrel,* Kendal, Beaver ‘Co., Pa.

James Templeton,* Bell Brook, Ohio.

John Wallace,* Allegheny Co., Pa. I
S. Wilson, D.D., Professor Theological Seminary, Xenia, Ohio.
James C. Bruce,* Monmouth, Ill. .

James Rodgers, D.D.,* Allegheny City, Pa. -
Alexander T. McGill, D.D., Professor Theological Seminary, Prince-

ton, N. J. —

James P. Ramsay,* New Bedford, Pa.

W. McClelland,* Philadelphia, Pa.

J. M. Henderson, Oakdale, Ill.

B. Boyd,* Pigeon Creek, Washington Co., Pa.

D. Lindsey,* Bernlingham, Iowa. '

Thomas Wilson, Leavitt, Ohio.

D. Thompson, Garnett, Kan.

W. C. Pollock, New Berlin, I11.

H. H. Blair,* New York City.

J. P. Dickey, Donegal,Ireland.

Thomas Kendall, D.D.,* Willamette, Oregon.

James Patterson, D.D.,* Prest. Col. New Wilmington, Pa.
David Strang,* Peoria, N. Y.

John S. Easton, D.D.,* Allegheny City, Pa.

James Dickson,* Portland Mills, Ind.

William Galbraith, Freeport, Armstrong Co., Pa.

George M. Hall,* Duanesburg, N. Y.

The above include thirty-four in all.

The following attended the seminary after the es-
tablishment of the second professorship, and are ar-
ranged in classes according to the years in which they
received license: 5

. 1836.
William Bruce,* Mercer, Pa.
James McGill, Lexington, Mich.
Samuel Douthet,* Glade Run, Pa.
J. M. Scroggs,* Conneautville, Pa.
Joseph McKee, Los Angeles, Cal. -
C. Webster,°*‘- Philadelphia, Pa.

1837.

Robert Forrester,* Reynoldsburg, Ohio.
W. Y. Hamilton,* Philadelphia, Pa.
Samuel McArt-hur,* New Concord, Ohio.
Edward Small, Mercer, Pa.

James P. Smart,* Xenia, Ohio.

1838.

Joseph J. Cooper, D.D., Prof. Theo. Sem., Allegheny, Pa.
John W. Harsha, Argyle, N. Y.

James Law,* Philadelphia, Pa.

I. N. Laugllead, Washington, Iowa.

John L. McLean,* Hayesville, Ohio.

 Walker,* Scottsville, Pa.

RELIGIOUS HISTORY. 409

1839.

James Brown, D.D., Columbus City, Iowa.
Thomas Gilkerson,* Saltsburg, Pa.

D. R. Imbrie,* New Wilmington, Pa.
William Smith,* Bufialo, Wis.

1840.

John Bryan, Bloomington, Ind.

John M. French,* Noblestown, Pa.
Isaac Law,*'Putnam, N. Y.

D. H. A. McLean, D.D., Mansfield, Pa.
Archibald Reid,* Cambridge, N. Y.

George C. Vincent, D.D., Prest. Franklin Co1., New Athens, Ohio.

1841.

D. G. Bullious,* Cambridge, N. Y.
W. J. Cle1and,* Wilton, Minn.
J. R. Doig, D.D.,* Vinton, Iowa. ,
J. W. Logue, N orthfield, Ohio.

_ John Todd,* Brookville, Pa.

Thomas B. Wa1ker,* New ‘Orleans, La. ‘

1842.

A. Barcroft,* Apple Creek, Ill.

Titus Basfield,* London, Canada.

R. J. Hammond, Americus, Kan.

Alexander Murray,* Oakland, Venango Co., Pa.
John Scott, D.D.,* Prof. Theo. Sem., Monmouth, Ill.
B. F. Sawyer, Darlington, Pa.

1843.

J. D. Cun'ningham,* Otter Creek, Iowa.

Jacob P. Fisher,* Cherry Fork, Adams Co., Ohio.
R.W. French, Peotone, Ill. '
John Marsha1l,*iLondonderry, Ohio.

Joseph McClintock,* Worth, Pa.

T. R. Simpson, M.D., Allegheny, Pa.

O

1844.

J. G. Austin, Hemmingsford, Canada.
Cyrus Cummins, Wheeler, Mercer Co., Pa.
J. B. Forsythe,* Kingston, Iowa.

James C. Herron, Telfer, Ontario, Canada.

-S. T. Herron, Bloomington Ferry, Minn.

1845.

Moses Arnot,* South Hanover, Ind.

James McArthur, Olena, Ill.

S. F. Morrow, D.D., Albany, N. Y. '4

R. H. Pollock, D.D ,* Mount Vernon, Ohio.
J. R. Stentz,* Martinsville. Ohio.
Alexander Story, Washington, Iowa.

1846.

Abraham Anderson,* Pittsburgh, Pa.

A. M. Black, D.D., Fort Gay, W. Va.

James L. Bull, Traer, Iowa.

Samuel Collins, D.D., Washington City, D. C.
D. W. French, D.D.,* Mercer, Pa.

H. K. Lusk,* Hulton‘, Pa.

N. McDowell, Indianola, Iowa.

. Alexander McHatton, Flat Rock, Ill.

Joseph McKerahan,* Glencoe, Ohio.

George McMillan,* Hanover, Ind.

William Oburn, Galion, Ohio.

William Wishart, D.D., Hayesville, Ohio.
Joseph D. Wolf, attorney-at-law, Pensacola, Fla.

1847.

W. H. Andrew, D.D.,* Galt, Canada.

James G. Ballentine,* West Hebron, N. Y.

G. D. Henderson,* Monmouth, Ill.

James G. Rankin,* Bavington,Washington Co., Pa.

1848. '
D. W. Collins, D.D., Blairsville, Pa.
T. B. Hanna,* Clinton, Pa.
F. A. Hutchinson, N oblestown, Pa.
J. D. McNay,* Palestine, Ill.

J. C. Telford, West Lebanon, Pa.
John A. Vance,* Waukesha, Wis.
Thomas Brown, Beulah, Kan.

1849.

John T. Brownlee, West Middletown, Pa.
Hans W. Lee,* Pittsburgh, Pa.

D. S. McHenry, Santa Anna, Cal.

Byron Porter,* Elderton, Pa.

James Thompson,* New York.

1850.

S. Anderson,* College Springs, Iowa.
A. B. Cassil, Mansfield, Ohio.

David Donan, Cochranton, Pa.

S. G. Irvine, D.D., Albany, Oregon.
W. G. McElhenny,* Hoboken, N. J.

J. A. Shankland, Villisca, Iowa.

J. M. Snodgrass, Spring Branch, Iowa.
J. B. Strain, Canonsburg, Pa.

James M. Smeallie,* North Kortright, N. Y.
Hugh Sturgeon, Darlington, Pa.

J. T. Tate, Talleyrand, Iowa.

T. H. Beveridge,* Philadelphia.

D. W. Carson, D.D., Burgettstown, Pa.
Andrew Irons,* Bruce, Mich.

John A. McGill, McCoysville, Pa.

J. C. Murch,* Scotch Ridge, Ohio.
James N. Smith,* Edgarton, Kan.

W. H. Wilson, Washington Territory.

1851.

Josiah Alexander, New Wilmington, Pa.
Joseph Barclay,* Lee's Summit, Mo_.

J. B. Clark, D.D.,* Allegheny, Pa.

W. A. Black, North Hope, Pa.

Samuel Kerr, D.D., Harrisville, Pa.
James P. Lytle, D.D., Sago, Ohio.

J. S. Maughlin, Onawa, Iowa.

S. G. McNea1, Pleasant Run, Ind.
Alexander R. Rankin, Murraysville, Pa.
E. H. Stevenson,* Sealcot, North India.
J. R. Thompson,* Mount Pleasant, Pa.

1852.
Samuel Alexander, Carlton, Kan.
A. J. Allen, Carrollton, Ohio.
J. H. Andrew, Brooklyn, N. Y.
J. C. Brownlee,’? Milnersville, Ohio.
James Ingles, Scotland, Ind.
W. C. Jackson,* Philadelphia, Pa.
W. J. McGil1,* McAlevery’s Fort, Pa.
James A. McKee, East Finley, Washington Co., Pa.
Samuel -Patton,* Detroit, Mich.
J. B. Whitten, Frankford, Philadelphia, Pa.

1853 .

J. A. Leiper,* Hookstown, Pa.

J. H. Nash, Steubenville, Ohio.

James L. Purdy, King’s Creek, Pa.

J.  Scott, D.D., Monticello, N. Y.

D. H. Goodwillie, Commerce, Mich. .
William Bruce, D.D.* (Professor Theological Seminary), Xenia, Ohio.
D. K. Duff, Atwood, Pa.

A. Gordon, Gurdaspur, North India.

A. A. Rodgers,* Monmouth, Ill.

J. McNeal, East Tennessee.

Gilbert Small, Idaville, Ind.

S. C. Reid, Hookstown, Pa.

1854.
S. F. Farmer, Concordia, Kan.
William Grimes, Glencoe, Ohio.
J. B. Wilson, Otter Lake, Mich.

V 1855.
W. McGibson, New York.
J. B. Lee, D.D., Bovina, N. Y.
F. McBurney, Mexico, Pa.

46

HISTORY OF WASHING’-I‘ON, COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA.

hundred and fifty Wagons and the necessary number
of horses. This he accomplished with promptitude
and fidelity; and it is almost the only instance of
address and integrity which I have seen in all these
provinces.” C

It has been said that, in procuring the wagons and
horses from the Teutonic farmers in the Southern
Pennsylvania counties, he was "materially aided by the
presence of Braddock’s quartermaster~general.
John Sinclair‘ wore a Hussar’,s cap, and Franklin
made use of the circumstance to terrify the German
settlers with the belief that he was a Hussar, who
would administer to them the tyrannical treatment
they had experienced in their own country if they
did-not comply with his wishes.”

At a council of war held at Fort Cumberland the

order of march was determined on, viz. : the advance,

was to be led by “ a party of six hundred men,
workers and coverers, with a field-oflicer and the
quartermaster-general; that they should take with
them two six-pounders, with a full proportion of am-
munition ; that they should also take with them eight
days’ provisions for three thousand two hundred men ;
that they should make the road as good as possible,
and march five days towards the first crossing of the
Yoxhio Geni,"’ which was about thirty miles from the
camp, at which place ‘they were to make a deposit of
provisions, building proper sheds for its security, and
also a place of arms for -the security of the men. If
they could not in five days advance so far, they were
at the expiration of that time to choose an advan-

1 This same Sir John Sinclair was a man of very rough speech and
imperious and domineering character, as is made apparent by the fol-
lowing extract from’ a letter written by Messrs. George Croghan, James
Burd, John Armstrong, William Buchanan, and Adam Hoopes to Gov-
ernor Morris, of Pennsylvania, dated Fort Cumberland, April 16, 1755,
at which time some of the companies,‘ as well as Sir John himself, had
already reached the rendezvous. The writersof the letter had been
appointed to view and lay out a road over the mountains, and had re-
turned from their mission to the fort. In the letter they say, “ Last
evening we came to the camp, and were kindly received by the oflicers,
but particularly Capt. Rutherford. We waited for Sir John coming to
camp from the road towards Winchester, who came this day at three
o’clock, but treated us in a very disagreeable manner. He is extremely
warm and angry at our province; he would not look at our draughts,
nor suffer any representations to be made to him in regard to the prov-
ince, but stormed like a lion rampant. He said our commission to lay
out the road should have issued in January last, upon his first letter;

that doing it now is doing nothing; that the troops must march on the ,

first of May; that the want of this road and the provisions promised by
Pennsylvania has retarded the expedition, which may cost them their
lives, because of the fresh number of the French that are suddenly like
to be poured into the country; that instead of marchingto the Ohio he
would in nine days march his army into Cumberland County, to cut the
roads, press wagons, etc.; that he would not suffer a soldier to handle an
axe, but by fire and sword oblige the inhabitants to do it, and take every
man that refused to the Ohio, as he had yesterday some of the Virginians;
that he would kill all kind of cattle, and carry away the horses, burn
houses, etc. ; and that if the French defeated them by the delays of this
province, that he would with his sword drawn pass through the prov-
ince and treat the inhabitants as a parcel of traitors to his master; that
he would to-morrow write to England by a man-of-war, shake Mr.
Penn’s proprietaryship, and represent Pennsylvania as disaffected. . . .
and told us to go to the general,if we pleased,.who would give us ten
‘bad words for one he had given.” A s

' ’ 2 Youghiogheny.

“ Sir"

tageous spot, and to secure the provisions and men as
before. When the wagons were unloaded the field-
officer with three hundred men was to return to camp,
and Sir John St Clair with the first engineer was to
remain and carry on the Works with the other three
hundred.”3

This advance detachment was to be followed by the
remainder of the forces in three divisions, in the fol-
lowing order: First, Sir Peter Halket’s command,
with “ about one hundred Wagons of provisions,
stores, and powder ;” second, Lieut.-Col. Burton,
“with the independent companies, Virginia, Mary-
land, and Carolina Rangers,” taking the artillery, am-
munition, and some stores and-_ provisions ; third,
Col. Dunbar’s brigade, “with the provision-wagons
from "Winchester, the‘ returned wagons from the,ad-
vanced party,'and all the carrying-horses.” .

In accordance with this order, Maj. Chapman with
a body of six hundred men, and accompanied by Sir
John Sinclair,,marched at daybreak on the 30th of
May, but “ it was ‘night before the whole baggage had
got over a mountain about two miles from camp. . . .
The general reconnoitred this mountain, and deter-

mined to set the engineers and three hundred more ‘

men at work on it, as he thought it impassable by
howitzers. He did not imagine any other road could
be made, as a reconnoitring-party had already been
to explore the country; nevertheless, Mr. Spendelow,
lieutenant of the seamen, a young man of great
discernment and abilities, acquainted the general that
in passing that mountain he had discovered a valley
which led quite round the foot of it. A party of a
hundred men with an engineer was ordered to cut a
road there, and an. extreme good one was made in
two days, which fell into the other road about a mile
on the other side of the mountain.”

“ Everything being now settled, Sir Peter Halket,
with the Forty-fourth Regiment, marched on the 7th
of June; Lieutenant-Colonel Burton, with the inde-
pendent companies and Rangers, on the 8th, and Col-
onel Dunbar, with the Forty-eighth Regiment, on the
10th, with the proportions of baggage as was settled
by the council of war. The same day the general
left Fort Cumberland, and joined the whole at Spen-
delow Camp, about five miles from the fort.”4 The
camp was named in honor of Lieut. Spendelow, who
discovered the route around the foot of the ‘mountain.

«At Spendelow Camp a reduction of baggage was

made, and the surplus sent back to the fort, together -

with two six—pounders, four cohorns, and some powder
and stores, ‘which cleared about twenty wagons of
their loads, “and near a hundred able horses were
given to the public service. . . . All the king’s
wagons were also sent back to the fort, they being
too heavy, and requiring large horses for the shafts,
which could not be procured, and country wagons
were fitted for powder in their stead.” A

3 Ormels Journal. 4 Ibid,

- related in_ this brief article.

410

HISTORY‘ OF WASHINGTON COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA.

J. W. McFarland, San Francisco, Cal.

H. McHatton, Duncansville, 111.

John Patterson, Pleasant Hill, Pa.

James Price, Philadelphia, Pa.

James Sawhill, Winterset, Iowa.

James G. Carson, D.D., Professor Theological Seminary, Xenia, Ohio.
J. A. Edie, Beaver, Pa.

Whole number from 1835 to 1855, 150.

Whole number from 1821 to 1855, 184.-

The Cumberland Presbyterian Church, Its
Planting in Pennsylvania, and especially in
Washington C0unty.1—The purpose of this article
is to give a brief account of the Cumberland Presby-
terian Church, its origin and present condition, how
it differs from other Presbyterian bodies, how it was
planted in Pennsylvania, and especially in Washing-
ton County. "

This denomination of Christians is a legitimate
outgrowth of the great revival of 1800, a revival of
religion which, commencing -under the ministry of
Rev. James McGready, of sainted memory, and con-
tinuing with great power for a number of years, ex-
tended from the region of Green River in Kentucky
on the north to that of the Tennessee on the south.
This great work of grace occurred in Transylvania
Presbytery of the Presbyterian Church. The minis-
ters were. unhappily divided into revival and anti-
revival parties. The conflict between them was of
long continuance, and the history thereof cannot be
It would lead to the
discussion of ecclesiastical acts that were regarded
by the revival party as arbitrary, unwarranted, and
oppressive, and to an extended narrative of unre-
dressed grievances which finally resulted in the
organization of an independent Presbytery and a
separate denomination known as the Cumberland
Presbyterian Church. Those who desire a full ac-
count of this matter are referred to Rev. James
Smith’s “ History of the Church;” to Rev. Dr. Cos-
sitt’s “Life and Times of Ewing;” and to Rev. Dr.
Crisman’s “Origin and Doctrines of the Cumberland
Presbyterian Church.”

Passing over this stormy period and drawing the

‘veil of oblivion over its acts of violence, we find that

on the 3d day of February, 1810, Rev. Messrs. Finis
Ewing a11d Samuel King, distinguished Presbyterian
ministers of the revival party, in company with
Ephraim McLean, an intelligent and acceptable
licensed preacher, visited Rev. Samuel McAdow, an
aged minister of the same party, at his home. in Ten-
nessee. They made known to him the object of their
journey, and urgently requested him to unite with
them in constituting an independent Presbytery. ‘ Mr.
McAdow answered that the measure was one of too
great importance to be decided hastily, and asked
time for prayer and reflection. But having spent the
greater part of the night and part of the following
morning in deep reflection and solemn prayer, he at

1 By Rev. Azel Freeman,» D.D., minister of the Cumberland Presbyte-
rian Church at Old Concord, Pa.

length returned from the place of his retirement and
devotion with a most serene and heavenly counte-
nance, and said, “God has answered the doubtful
question; I believe that Providence has spared my

life to help the church out of this difficulty; I am.

now ready with your assistance to constitute a Pres-
bytery, and to ordain this young brother (McLean)
before we adjourn.” 2 Accordingly, after solemn
prayer, the following action was unanimously taken:
“ In Dixon County, State of Tennessee, at the
Rev. Samuel-McAdow’s, this fourth day of February,
1810, we, Samuel McAdow, Finis Ewing, and Samuel
King, regularly ordained ministers in the Presby-
terian Church, against whom no charge, either‘ of
immorality or heresy, has ever been exhibited before
any of the church judicatures, having waited in vain
more than four years, in the mean time petitioning
the General Assembly for a redress of grievances and
a restoration of our violated rights, do hereby agree
and determine to constitute into a Presbytery, to be
known by the name of the Cumberland Presbytery.”
This was the beginning of the Cumberland Pres-
byterian Church as a distinct denomination. The
new Presbytery adopted as its doctrinal standard the

‘Westminster Confession of Faith, excepting the idea

of fatality, which they believed to be taught therein,
and after due examination they ordained Ephraim
McLean. At the meeting of this Presbytery in the fol-
lowing March there were four ordained ministers, five
licensed preachers, and. eight candidates for the min-
istry. The constituting of an independent Presby-
tery was hailed with joy by all the churches that
were friendly to the revival. The increaseof the
church was so rapid that in three years from the or-
ganization of the first Presbytery it was thought nec-
cessary to divide that Presbytery into three, and on the
5th of October, 1813, the members of these Presby-
teries met at the Beech Church in Sumner County,
Tenn., and constituted Cumberland Synod. At this
first meeting of the Synod Rev. Messrs. William Mc-
Gee, Finis Ewing, Robert Donel, and Thomas Cal-
houn were appointed a committee to prepare a
Confession of Faith, Catechism, and Discipline in
conformity with the avowed principles of the body,
and a “ Brief View” of the doctrines and discipline
of the Cumberland Presbyterian Church having been
read before the Synod was unanimously approved,
and directed to be published in Woodward’s edition
of “ Buck’s Theological Dictionary.” 4

According to this “ Brief View,” Cumberland Pres-

byterians dissent from the doctrines of the Westmin-
ster Confession in the following particulars : “ 1. That
there are no eternal reprobates. 2. That Christ died

not for a part only, but for all mankind. 4. That all

infants dying in infancy are saved through Christ and
sanctification of the Spirit. 4. That the Spirit of

2 Crisman’s Origin and Doctrines of the Cumberland Presbyterian
Church, pp. 70, :71.

3 Smith’s History of the Christian Church, p. 639. 4 Ibid., pp. 645-48.

RELIGIOUS HISTORY.

411-

God operates on the world, or as coextensively as
Christ has made_the atonement, in such a manner as
to leave all men inexcusable.” These are the main
points in which they differ from Calvinists. ‘It may
be remarked here that they differ also from the Ar-
minians mainly in holding that all who are truly
regenerated by the spirit will freely but certainly
persevere to the end and obtain eternal life.

In its form of government the church is strictly
Presbyterian, the several judicatories being Sessions,
Presbyteries, Synods, and a General Assembly. Be-
ginning as_ a distinct denomination in 1810, it has
grown in seventy years from one Presbytery to one
hundred and seventeen, from four ordained ministers
to about fourteen hundred, and from the churches

_ that had adhered to the revival party to a member-

ship of about one hundred and twenty thousand. It
has under its care at least five colleges, one of which
is properly called a university, having, besides its col-
legiate department, well organized schools of law and
theology. It may be observed in this connection
that the practice of ordaining men to the whole work
of the ministry who have not the advantages of a col-
legiate education—a practice originating in the exi-
gencies of the great revival——is now generally dis-
countenanced, and almost entirely abandoned by the
Presbyteries. The General Assembly has under its
control various boards of Christian beneficence, as a
board°of education, a board of publication, a board
of foreign and domestic missions, and a wo1nan’s
missionary board. There are three ordained mission-
aries with their wives, and two lady "helpers in Japan,
and five ordained ‘missionaries with twenty native
helpers among the American Indians, and a great
number of home missionaries.

But I hasten to give a brief account of the planting
of the Cumberland Presbyterian Church in Pennsyl-
vania, and especially in Washington County. In
May, 1829, the first General Assembly appointed two
missionaries, Rev. Messrs. M. H. Bone and John W.
Ogden, to travel and preach-“in the eastern section
of the valley of the Mississippi.” They preached
with great power in Southern Ohio, in VVashington,
Pennsylvania, and through the State of Virginia.
“The mission of these brethren,” says Smith, in his
“History of the Church,” “paved the way for the
opening of a door for extensive usefulness to the
church in Ohio and Western Pennsylvania.” The
preaching of these men made thousands inquire,
“ Who are these Cumberland Presbyterians‘? and how
do they differ from other Presbyterians ?”
quiries were largely answered by reading the article,
“ PRESBYTERIANS, CUMBERLAND,” in Buck’s “ Theo-
logical Dictionary” (Woodward’s Edition), many
copies of which were sold in those days. _

In January, 1831, by request of the Upper Ten-Mile
Presbyterian congregation in Washington County,
Pa., five of its members wrote to Rev. F. R. Cossitt,
D.D., president of Cumberland College, Princeton,

These in- ’

Ky., saying, “ That they had lately heard of the
Cumberland Presbyterians of the West; that they
had examined the brief exposé of their doctrines and
discipline, published in Buck’s ‘Theological Diction-
ary,’ which the congregation sincerely approved; that
although they were members of a Presbyterian Church,
they could not adopt its Confession of Faith in toto,
and were solicitous to become better accquainted with

Cumberland Presbyterians, who were viewed by them .

as their brethren in Christ; and that it was their
earnest request that Mr._Cossitt should take measures
to provide them, for a short time at least, with the

ministrations of a missionary.” President Cossitt re- '

plied that he would lay their application before the
next General Assembly, that would meet in Princeton
in the following May.

To this letter of President Cossitt the same com-
mittee soon sent the following reply : “ Immediately
on the receipt of your letter We called a meeting of
the congregation, and having read your letter to
them, they expressed their gratification at the pros-
pect of becoming better acquainted with the Cumber-
land Presbyterian ministers. They entreated us to
continue our correspondence with you, and to renew
the request that your Assembly would send us a mis-
sionary for a short time. Should you succeed we wish
you to inform us as early as possible, and if practica-
ble we are solicitous for him to reach this by the 1st
of June, which will enable us (should we agree with
you in faith and practice) to obtain our dismission
from the Presbyterian Church at the session of Pres-
bytery which meets about the middle of that month.
We are also authorized to state that our minister
heartily approves our proceeding, and will with us
attach himself to your body so soon as an opportu-
nity shall offer. We think that nine-tenths of our
sister congregations of the Presbyterian Church be-
lieve as we do ; and for_some time, especially since two
of your preachers were in Washington, an anxious de-
sire has been manifested by them to become better
acquainted with your ministry. And many who
make no profession of religion are solicitous foryour
ministers to operate in this country; and we believe
that if your Assembly will send us one or more zeal-
ous preachers, they will under God prove a great
blessing to the Church of Christ. We do request
that you press this matter upon the General Assem-
bly with as much ardor as possible.”

These remarkable letters are copied from Rev.
James Smith’s “ History of the Church,” pp. 653-55.
The five men who wrote them were Odel Squier, the
father of Rev. Dr. E. K. Squier, and long an elder
of the Concord Cumberland Presbyterian Church;
Luther Day, also an elder and the first stated clerk
of the Concord Church ; Ephraim Post, the father of
Rev. W. E. Post and of several elders; Henry Cary,
the father of two eflicient ministers, Brothers John
and I. N. Cary ; and William Stockdale, the father of
Hon. J. M. Stockdale, now the editor of one of our

412

HISTORY OF WASHINGTON COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA.

county papers. The minister of the Upper Ten-Mile
congregation, referred to in the letters, was Rev.
Jacob Lindley, D.D., the father of Dr. Lutellus
Lindley, who recently died in Connellsville, Pa., and
of Rev. Daniel Lindley, a distinguished missionary,
who died at his post among the Caffres in Africa
some years since. “Father” Lindley, as he was called,
had been for some fifteen years president of the State
University at Athens, Ohio. Two of his daughters
were afterwards married to distinguished ministers
of the Cumberland Presbyterian Church, the one to
Rev. Robert Donnell, the other to Rev. Lee Roy
Woods. It may be added that after Father Lindley
connected himself with the Cumberland Presbyterian
Church, he was in his old age the author of an inter-
esting work entitled “ Infant Philosophy.”

The General Assembly receiving these letters from
the Upper Ten-Mile congregation, with other letters
of like character from Western New York, and re-
garding these pressing calls as an intimation that'the
great Head of the Church was opening to their min-
istry a more extensive field of labor, appointed Rev.
Messrs. Alexander Chapman, Robert Donnell, Reu-
ben Burrow, John Morgan, and Alfred M. Bryan
missionaries to visit the congregations that had thus
applied for ministers. Smith says, “ Soon after their
appointment Messrs. Chapman, Morgan, and Bryan
proceeded to Western Pennsylvania; Messrs. Don-
nell and Burrow passed through North Carolina and
Virginia, and in the autumn met the others in the
vicinity of Washington.” They all made the jour-
ney on horseback, and were much delayed by preach-
ing and holding meetings on the way.

On the 14th of July, Morgan and Bryan, who were

some days in advance of Chapman, reached Wash-'

ington, Pa., where, Bryan being sick, Morgan preached
several times with great power in the Methodist Epis-
copal Church, of which Rev. John Waterman was
then pastor. On the 20th of that month Morgan,
being conducted by some of the committee that had
written for the missionaries, preached at a Methodist
Church called Mount Zion, twelve miles south of
Washington. Here he first met.Rev. Jacob Lind-
ley, the Presbyterian minister at Upper Ten-Mile,
who, on being invited cordially, took his seat with
him in the pulpit. Brother Morgan in his account of
this meeting in the Union Evangelist, says, “During
the sermon there was nothing remarkable but a fixed-
ness of attention on the part of every hearer, and
many tears from many eyes which bespoke the search-
ing influence of gospel truth. Mr. Lindley closed the
meeting with an unusually feeling and powerful
prayer, the tears streaming down his eyes all the
time.” At the close an appointment was announced
for preaching the next Sabbath in a beautiful grove
of sugar-maples near the spot where the Concord
parsonage now stands.

Alexander Chapman, the mostaged of the mis-
sionaries, usually called “ Father” Chapman, ar-

rived in Pennsylvania on Thursday, July 21st, and

preached that night at West Alexander. His jour-
nal shows that he-met Morgan and Bryan the next
day in Washington, and that he rode on Saturday to
Ten-Mile Creek, Where he preached at night. (Bird’s
“ Life of Chapman,” p. 93.) On Sabbath morning,July
24th, .Morgan preached to an immense multitude col-
lected in the sugar-grove above referred to, and was‘
succeeded by Father Chapman immediately with an-
other sermon. A deep solemnity pervaded the whole
mighty assembly. One lady was so deeply convicted
of her lost condition that she fell from her seat as if
she had fainted. Dr. Henry Blatchley, the most emi-
nent physician of the neighborhood, being called to
her assistance, was unable to determine the nature of
her complaint,——-“a strong mark of the doctor’s dis-
criminating medical judgment,” says Morgan, “for,
indeed, it was a case which demanded the presence of
the Physician of souls, to whom the distressed, sin-sick
woman made fervent application in prayer; and in a
few days she was restored, and was able to tell who
had made her every whit whole.”

In the afternoon of that day Morgan preached at
the house of Mr. Marsh, an irreligious man, living
near the spot where Mr. Day’s store is now kept at
Sparta. “ Here,” says Mr. Morgan, “the mighty
power of the Holy Ghost was felt byall present, and
many of the unconverted were cut to the heart.
Truly the place was awful on account of the pres-
ence of God. Now it was manifest that the Lord had
begun a great and good work among the people.” And
he adds, “ We now continued preaching from house to
house, and fro-m grove to grove, every day during the
whole week, and convictions multiplied daily in every
direction.” There must have been a divine power in
those meetings, considering that the people were so
moved in the midst of the busy season of harvest.

Mr. Bryan, having now recovered, preached with

great power. While the solemn meetings still con- i

tinued on Ten-Mile, others of great interest were held
in Pittsburgh and in Williamsport (now Monongahela
City). The missionaries held a meeting of several
days’ continuance in a Presbyterian Church seven
miles from Washington, not far from a place now
called Van Buren.
was then pastor. They afterwards held another meet-
ing of like continuance in Dr. Lindley’s church at
Upper Ten-Mile, or Prosperity. To each of these
Presbyterian Churches Mr. Morgan says they Were,
invited by the pastor and session when their doc-
trine and manner of preaching had become well
known. The meetings at these churches were char-
acterized by deep feeling and great solemnity, and at
each of them there were many “professions of relig-
ion.” One or two incidents will illustrate the power
of these meetings. At Upper Ten-Mile Church, when
by request of Mr. Lindley the anxious were first in-
vited, on Sabbath evening, seventy-two came forward,
asking the‘ prayers of the church. On next morning

Of this church Rev. Dr. Dodd V

RELIGIOUS HISTORY.

413

Father Chapman preached one of his most powerful
sermons, that which he calls in his journal his “ac-
tion sermon,” urging sinners to immediate action with
reference to their salvation. ,He was succeeded by
Mr. Morgan, after a recess of thirty minutes. When
the audience came together, Morgan began by reading
anhymn in his most impressive and solemn‘ manner;
then, two of the elders having that morning laid in a
complaint against what they deemed too much excite-
ment, he remarked that “some thought the anxious
had been called forward the evening before under too
much excitement, and to prevent this charge being
made again he would now invite them forward at the
very commencement of the service, before singing,
praying, or any appeal to their feelings whatever.”

‘ ‘The seats then being designated and prepared for

them, one hundred and twenty came forward.
“ Those who before had found fault,” says Mr. Mor-
gan, “ now melted, and said with streaming eyes, ‘ It
is the Lord, let Him do what seemeth Him good.’ ” 1

About this time, probably before this meeting, the
first Cumberland Presbyterian Church in Pennsylva-
nia was organized. This was called by the mission-
aries “the Concord Church,” the minutes of which
begin with this record: “August 16th, 1831. This
day there was aCumberland Presbyterian Church or-
ganized by Rev. Alexander Chapman and Rev. John
Morgan, a congregation consisting of thirty-seven

‘members, who presented certificates from the Old

Presbyterian Church. And on motion the congrega-
tion proceeded‘ to the election of Ruling Elders, when
Odel Squier, Samuel Day, Luther Day, and Isaac
Connet were duly chosen and ordained Ruling Elders,
and Luther Day was chosen Stated Clerk of the Ses-
sion thus formed.” Concord congregation, having
its church. edifice at Old Concord, Morris township,

‘Washington Co., extends some distance over the line
into Greene County. Indeed, the organization, Mr. '

Morgan tells us, took place in a .grove of sugar-maple
on the farm of William Stockdale, now belonging to
James Dunn, and situated in Greene County.

“The groves were God’s first temples,” and many
of the great meetings held by the missionaries were
in the groves. Mr. Morgan, in his account of these
meetings, published in the Union Evangelist, says,
“We had no meeting-houses, of course, and indeed
if we had had they would have been of but little use
to us, unless they had covered from one-half to one
acre of ground, so large were the crowds that at-
tended.” _

There were now numerous cases of deep awakening
widely separated, and the missionaries thought that,
under the circumstances, a camp—meeting would be
the best means of drawing these together, and bring-
ing them more directly and effectually under the
means of grace. After the removal of many scru-

1 Morgan’s history of these meetings in the Union Evangelist, vol. i.
No. 7. '
- 27

ples and objections, this meeting was held in Wash-
ington County,near one of the head-springs of North
Ten-Mile, and about half a mile from the spot where
Concord Church now stands. It began on Thursday,
Sept. 1, 1831, and "continued one week. This was
probably the greatest meeting of the kind ever held
in this State.‘ Indeed, the missionaries, who had been
long accustomed to camp-meetings, never had seen

one that would compare favorably with this. There 1

were about two hundred and fifty families that tented
upon the ground. Mr. Morgan says, “We had at-
tended many meetings, but this surpassed any we had
ever seen. Several times when the anxious were in-
vited we counted some two hundred and fifty on the
‘seats at one time. Convictions of sin were more ‘gen-
eral, deeper, and more rational than we had ever be-
fore noticed, and conversions the clearest, attended
with the most overwhelming joy and peace. It was
common to see persons of age and intelligence, over-
whelmed by a sense of their sins and their lost and
miserable condition, in the deepest anguish of soul,
as if they could not possibly live, their whole appear-

ance clearly showing that the arrows of the Almighty,

had deeply wounded their hearts. From this sad and
affecting condition they would seem all of a sudden
to awake into light, and life and joy the most ecstatic
and indescribable.” Mr. Chapman says of this meet-
ing in his journal, “ There was harmony among
Christians, a.nd much conviction among the wicked.
The meeting continued seven days. The immediate
visible result was two hundred and. fifty professions of
religion.” Mr. Morgan testifies to the same result as
to the. number of converts, and he adds, “ Never, per-
haps, were there fewer spurious professions, where the
number was so great, in so short a time, since the
days of the Apostles.” '

It should be remarked that on Saturday of the
great camp-meeting, Robert Donnell and Reuben
Burrow, the other two missionaries that had been ap-
pointed by the General Assembly, arrived at the
camp-ground, and their powerful preaching added
greatly to the interest of this and of subsequent
meetings. They preached with great success in the
Upper Ten-Mile Church at Prosperity, and at many
other points in Washington County. The Concord
camp—meeting had been attended with such an out-
pouring of the Spirit, and had been so solemn and
orderly, that many requested the missionaries to hold
another “ as soon as convenient.” To these requests
the missionaries readily acceded. This second camp-
meeting was held in October, on the premises of Abel
Millikin, near what is now known as Clarktown, and
still nearer the spot on which the Pleasant Hill Cum-
berland Presbyterian Church, which sprang from this
meeting, now stands. There were some strange rumors

afloat in the vicinity of this "meeting. A few supersti- '

tious people, who believed in witchcraft, lived in that
settlement. They had heard of the mighty _work on
the head-waters of Ten-Mile, and they readily be-

414

HISTORY OF WASHINGTON COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA.

lieved the story told by some mischievous person, that
the “strange preachers,” as the missionariesiwere
called; carried about with them a certain magical
powder, which they sprinkled upon the people, thus
making them crazy. Mr. Morgan says, “ They were
actually afraid to have the preachers come nigh them,
lest some of this powder should fall on them.”

However, the second camp-meeting was a grand
success. The Spirit was graciously poured out, and
one hundred and twenty-five professed faith in Christ.
It should be remarked that many of the Presbyterians
were deeply interested for the success of this meeting.
Rev. Dr. Dodd himself became so enlisted in it that
he employed Dr. Lindley to conduct a sacramental
meeting for him at Braddock’s, now the Presbyterian
Church’, near Grayville, in Greene County,‘ while he
went with his family and camped at Millikin’s. His
faith was rewarded, for Morgan says, “ Several of his
children, as well as we remember, were hopefully
converted during the meeting.”

The time now came for the return of the older mis-
sionaries to their homes in the South. The two
younger men, Morgan and Bryan, who were still
single, had intended to labor here for a few months
only, and then cross the mountains, spend some time
in New England, and then return to the South. But
after much hesitation they at length yielded to the
entreaties of the people, and concluded to make their
homes in Pennsylvania. But before Morgan could
settle here he had to return to his father’s, in Ala-
bama, to arrange some business. And it did seem for
a time that Bryan would be left alone in this State
during the coming winter. What must have been his
joy when he heard of the coming of his friend and
fellow-presbyter, Rev. Milton Bird, then in the full
vigor of youthful manhood. As an evangelist, a
pastor, an editor of church papers, and a teacher of
probationers for the ministry, no one did more in
establishing and confirming the churches in Pennsyl-
vania than Mr. Bird. He was long pastor of the
Pleasant Hill congregation, on Lower Ten-Mile, in
this county. In regard to his coming to this State,
his esteemed widow, still living near Princeton, Ky.,

I has sent me the following extract from his journal:

“ The Green River Synod was induced to pass an
order for the organization of Pennsylvania Presbytery.
Pursuant to the appointment of Synod I proceeded to
Pennsylvania, going from Elkton, Ky., to Paris, Ky.,
where I took the stage for Maysville; thence I took
passage on the steamer ‘ William Parsons’ for Wheel-
ing; and thence by stage to Washington, Pa., where
I arrived on the morning of November 7th, 1831.”
Mr. Morgan returned to his father’s, in Alabama,
early in November, 1831. I have recently received
from his daughter, Mrs. Brown, of Nashville, Tenn.,
a letter written by him to his father a few days before
he started on this journey, and dated “Washington,
Pa., Oct. 28, 1831.” In this letter he says, in regard
to the meetings in Pennsylvania, “ We have had one

of the most powerful and glorious revivals of religion
I have ever seen. About six hundred have professed
religion since thelast of July, and many more are now
inquiring what they must do to be saved.” This pri-
vate letter shows beyond all doubt that the mission-
aries had not labored in vain in the Lord. Among
the converts at their meetings in the summer and
autumn of 1831 might be mentioned a number who
became ministers of the gospel, as Rev. E. K. Squier,
D.D., Rev. W. E. Post, Rev. Messrs. John and Isaac
Newton Cary, Rev. Messrs. Philip and Luther Axtell,
Rev. Stephen Winget, and also many distinguished
citizens of this county, as Elias Day, long a ruling

elder of the Concord Church; Col. Albert Squier,'

who recently died at Cumberland, Ohio; Stephen
Blatchley, one of the most eminent physicians of this
county; and Abram Van Voorhees, who, though a.
noted skeptic, was converted at the Concord camp-
meeting through the conversation and prayers of a
little girl ten years old, and who afterwards removed
from Washington County and became one of the dis-
tinguished legislators of the State of Ohio. If there
was space, many others might also be mentioned in
this connection. _ ’

Early in 1832, Mr. Morgan returned to Pennsylva-
nia. Green River Synod, having passed an order in
the fall of 1831 for the organization of a Presbytery
in this State, appointed four of its members to carry
this into effect. Pursuant to this order two of these,
Rev. Messrs. Alexander Chapman and William Har-
ris, par nobilefratrum, came to Pennsylvania early in
Ma.y, 1832; the other two, Messrs. Bryan and Bird,
as has been shown, came in 1831.
was now held at Millikin’s, on Lower Ten-Mile, in-
cluding the third Sabbath in May, at which there were
seventy-five professions. During this meeting Rev.
S. M. Aston, a famous Cumberland preacher, arrived
in this county from East Tennessee. On the 25th of
May, 1832, the Cumberland Presbyterian ministers,
with a few representatives from congregations "already
formed, met in Washington, Pa., and there constituted
what was at first called the Washington Presbytery of
the Cumberland Presbyterian Church. Soon after the
constituting act the name of the Presbytery was
changed to that of Pennsylvania. At this first meet-
ing of the Presbytery Mr. Aston was received into
membership ; also Rev. Jacob Lindley, D.D., and
Rev. Cornelius Loughran were received from the
Presbyterian Church.

The new Presbytery thus‘ formed was practically

without boundaries. The churches formed in Ohio
were for several years included in it. The number
both of churches and ministers rapidly increased. At
an early period ‘Lee Roy Woods, S. M. Sparks, Isaac
Shock, A. T. Reese, Felix G. Black, and other Cum-
berland Presbyterian ministers came from the South ;
Rev. David Barclay and his son, Charles R. Barclay,
who soon became an eminent minister, came from the
Presbyterian Church; Rev. A. Shearer, from the Bap-

A camp-meeting '

RELIGIOUS HISTORY.

415

tist Church ; Rev. Roderick Chapin and Rev. R.
C. Hatton, from the Methodist Episcopal Church;
and a number of young men who became efficient
ministers were trained under the care of the Presby-
tery.

In the" spring of 1887 the Pennsylvania Presbytery
was divided, pursuant to the order of Green River
Synod, Union Presbytery being struck off on the east,
including all the Cumberland Presbyterian Churches
east and north of the Monongahela River, except the
church in Pittsburgh, and Athens Presbytery being
formed on the west, including the churches in Ohio,
and from these three Presbyteries the Pennsylvania
Synod was constituted at Uniontown, Pa., in the fall
of 1838. At the second meeting of this Synod, which

' "took place in Washington, Pa., Oct. 17, 1839, there

were reported twenty-two ordained ministers, eight
licensed preachers, eleven candidates for the minis-
try, thirty-five congregations or separate churches,
with a membership of three thousand two hundred
and fifty-seven communicants. The Synod had for a
number of years under its fostering care Greene
Academy, at Carmichael’s, Pa., Madison College, at
Uniontown, and Beverly College, in Ohio. It has
had under its care for about thirty years Waynes-
burg College, a flourishing institution of learning at
VVaynesburg, Pa., many of whose graduates have be-
come eflicient ministers, two of them presidents of
colleges, and three of them missionaries in Japan.

‘In April, 1847, the northern part of Union Presby-

tery was struck off and Allegheny Presbytery was
constituted, and soon thereafter the Ohio Synod was
constituted, three Presbyteries having been formed in
that State, and Pennsylvania Synod was also recon-
structed from the three Presbyteries of this State.
The Synod thus severed from the churches in Ohio

‘contained in 1880 thirty-five ordained ministers,

forty-seven congregations, one hundred andnineteen
elders, eighty deacons, five thousand and eighty-three
communicants or regular members, and over thirty-
five hundred in its Sabbath-schools. The total con-
tributions reported during the year amounted to six-
teen thousand four hundred and seventy-eight dollars.

There are but seven congregations or separate Cum-
berland Presbyterian Churches in Washington County.
Therewere two others, one in Washington and one in
Monongahela City, which from various causes, prin-
cipally from emigration to the West, have become ex-
tinct. The church in Washington was organized in
the fall of 1831, Peter Wolf, Andrew Bell, Moses
Little, and A. M. S. Gordon being made elders. The
church in Monongahela City was organized in April,
1834, and Dr. Samuel King and Thomas McVay were
the elders. The origin of the Concord congregation
in Morris township has been already given. Organ-
ized on the 16th of August, 1831, it probably had a
larger membership in 1832 than it has ever since at-
tained. It has suffered loss at various times from
emigration, and still more by the formation of other

congregations at various outposts in its vicinity.
Thus, in 1832, a considerable part of its membership

went into a separate organization at West Union, in '

Greene County. A few years later the Windy Gap‘
congregation, near Burnsville, in West Finley town-
ship, was organized. This was originally but an out-
post of the Concord Church, but has become a large
and flourishing congregation. It is a common saying
that most of the people at Concord answer to the
name of Day, and the majority at Windy Gap to the
name of Sprowls. The next outpost of Concord that
became a separate congregation was at Nineveh, in
Greene County. And recently, at a fourth outpost in
East Finley township, the Fairview congregation was
organized, which involved the withdrawal of some
forty members from Concord. However, there are at
this time (1882) about one hundred and fifty mem-
bers in the Concord Church. .

The Bethel congregation, seven miles south of
Washington, near Van Buren, was organized by Rev.
John Morgan, May 30, 1832. It was composed in
part of Presbyterians from’ the Upper Ten-Mile
congregation. Five of its members, namely, Eph-
raim Cooper, Sylvanus Cooper, Thomas Axtell, John
Wolfe, and Samuel Day, having been elders in the
Presbyterian Church, were re-elected to that oflice at
Bethel, and Samuel Weir, Isaac Condit, and Archi-
bald McCracken were added to their number. This
is at. the present writing the largest and most flour-
ishing Cumberland Presbyterian congregation in the
county. Early in the year 1833 the Pleasant Hill
congregation, on Lower Ten-Mile near Clarktown,
was organized, and Joseph Evans, Abner Clark, and
Abel Millikin were made elders. The Greenfield

congregation was organized by Rev. S. M. Sparks,

March 28, 1836, but who were made elders is unknown
to the writer. The Millsboro’ congregation was
received under the care of Presbytery Sept. 6., 1838.

It should be remarked that all the congregations in
this county are maintaining the regular means of
grace, and that they contribute to the benevolent
enterprises of the church, especially to the cause of
missions. They all have weekly prayer-meetings and
flourishing Sabbath-schools. The exact number of
communicants in these seven churches is unknown
to the writer, but would probably not fall short of
one thousand. Three of the congregations, namely,
Concord, Bethel, and Windy Gap, have snug parson-
ages. At the present writing, Rev. ‘J. Reed Morris is
pastor at Windy Gap, Rev. Azel Freeman, D.D., at
Concord, Rev. P. H. Crider at Bethel, Rev. Luther
Axtell at Pleasant Hill, Rev. I. N. Cary at Greenfield
and Millsboro’, and James S. Keener, a licentiate, is
ministering to the Fairview congregation.

Finally, the writer hereby acknowledges his great
obligation to Rev. Philip Axtell, of East Pittsburgh,
who has long had charge of the minutes of Pennsyl-
vania Presbytery and Synod, and whose statistics of
the churches, published in the “Semi-centennial,”

416

HISTORY OF WASHINGTON COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA.

A have been relied on for many of the foregoing state-

ments. -

The Christian Church‘ or Disciples of Christ.-
The materials of this historical sketch have been
gathered chiefly from the “ Life of A. Campbell,” by
Dr. R. Richardson,and “ The History of the Disci-
ples in the Western Reserve,” by A. S. Hayden. The
purpose is to give a brief but accurate account of the
origin, principles, and progress of a powerful religious
movement that took its rise in Washington, VVashing-
ton Co., Pa., rapidly extended over the greater part
of this country, and . is now pushing onward into
other countries with an accelerating force. This gen-
eral outline must necessarily be, for the most, a com-
pilation, and the present writer, having acknowledged
his indebtedness to the above-named standard works,
will use freely the facts and the language in which
they are presented without marring this article with
quotations. -

Thomas Campbell descended from the Campbells of
Argyleshire. He was born in County Down, near
Newry, Ireland, Feb. 1, 1763. Early in life he be-gan
to exhibit a deep religiousness, which was manifest
in all his life to all who knew him. His father was a
strict member of the Episcopal Church, but the rigid
and frigid formalities of that ritualistic establishment
did not satisfy the fervid religious feelings of his
sympathetic nature. He fled to the gospels, and
found more .congenial spiritual aliment among the
warm-hearted and zealous Seceders, a branch of the
Presbyterian Church, a secession from the Kirk of
Scotland. He became deeply anxious for‘ his soul’s
salvation, and passed through mental struggles of in-
describable anguish. At length the coveted peace
dawned on his soul, and in the raptures of gratitude
for‘ so great a deliverance he resolved to consecrate
himself to the public service of the blessed Redeemer,
to whom his soul now clung with the ardor of a most
devoted love. He completed the usual classical
studies in the University of Glasgow, and also a
course in medicine and lectures in law. He next com-
pleted the theological course in'Divinity Hall, under
Archibald Bruce, D.D., a master of profound abili-
ties, and was commissioned, under the rigid and
thorough examination of the Scotch Seceder Church,
with the full credentials of the Christian ministry.

He cultivated early and ever that deep reverence
for the Bible which made. him familiar with its
‘meaning and its language, and which, by exalting
the word of God into such incomparable pre-emi-
nence above all human com-positions, laid the founda-
tions for the attempt to discard all human creeds as
bonds of union, and to unite all the true followers of
Christ into the unity of the spirit in the bond of
peace. His faith was equal to any demands upon it
from that infallible, divine authority. Simple, trust-
ingreliance on the Lord and child-like obedience to

1 By Rev. W. L. Hayden.

all His known requirements constituted the whole of
his religion practically viewed. ’

By excessive labor in teaching and pastoral duties
his health was impaired, and a sea-voyage was re-
solved upon as the necessary means of recovery. Ac-
cordingly on the 8th of April, 1807, he sailed for
Philadelphia, and arrived there after a prosperous
voyage of thirty-five days.

The Anti-Burgher Synod of North America was

then assembled in the city.’ Mr. Campbell presented -

his testimonials from the Presbytery of Market-Hill
and the church at Alrovey to the Synod, and was very
kindly received. Following the tide of emigration at
that time he was, at his request, assigned by the Synod
at Philadelphia to the Pr_esbytery of Chartiers, em-
bracing Washington County, inWestern Pennsylvania.
Upon his arrival ‘at Washington, Pa., he found him-
self in the midst of old friends and neighbors who
knew his worth, and the Seceder congregations were
much pleased at having so important an accession to
their ministry. He had not, however, been very long
engaged in his regular ministrations among . the

_ churches before some suspicions began to arise in the

minds of some of his ministerial brethren that he was

disposed to relax too much the rigidness of their ec- A

clesiastic rules, and to cherish for other denominations
feelings of fraternity and respect in which they could
not share. They were therefore induced, after a time,
to keep a wary eye upon his movements.

On a sacramental occasion Mr. Campbell felt it his
duty, in the preparatory sermon, to lament the exist-
ing divisions in the Presbyterian family, and to sug-
gest that all his pious hearers who belonged to other
branches of that family in the vicinity, and who felt
so disposed and duly prepared, should enjoy the bene-
fits of the communion season then providentially
afforded them without regard to party differences.

At the next meeting of the Presbytery a young
minister, Mr. Wilson, who had accompanied him and
was present at the communion, laid the case before
the Presbytery in the usual form of “libel,” contain-
ing various formal and specified charges, the chief of
which were that Mr. Campbell had failed to inculcate

strict adherence to the church standard and usages, ,

and had even expressed his disapproval of some things
in said standard and of the uses made of them.

The Presbytery took up the accusation and formally
propounded various questions to Mr. Campbell in
order to elicit fully his private views. He was guarded’
and conciliatory in his replies, but reiterated his con-
victions, and insisted that in the course he had pur-
sued he had violated no precept of the sacred volume.
His pleadings, however, in behalf of Christian liberty
and fraternity were in vain, and his appeals to the
Bible were disregarded, so that in the end the Pres-
bytery found him deserving of censure for not ad-
hering to the “Secession Testimony.” Against this
decision Mr. Campbell protested, and the case was
then, in due course, submitted to the Synod at its next

RELIGIOUS

HISTORY. 417

meeting. Anxious to avoid a position unfavorable to
his usefulness, and calculated to produce discord and
division, and cherishing still the desire to labor har-
moniously with those with whom he had been so long
associated, he addressed an earnest appeal to the
Synod when his case came up for consideration, in
which he defined and defended his position.

This appeal contains the first formal enunciation
of the germinal principle of his reformatory work. He
says, “ I dare not venture to trust my own understand-
ing so far as to takeupon me to teach anything as a
matter of faith or duty but what is already expressly
taught and enjoined by divine authority.” Again,
“ I refuse to acknowledge as obligatory upon myself
or to impose upon others anything as of divine obli-

‘ ‘gation for which I cannot produce a ‘Thus saith the

Lord.’ ”

After reading the appeal and hearing the case be-
fore the Synod, it was decided to set aside the judg-
ment and decision of the Presbytery, on the ground
of informalities in the proceedings in the trial of the
case, and to release the protester from the censure
inflicted by the Presbytery. _ The charges and all the
documents pertaining to the trial were then referred
to a committee, which finally reported that “there
are sufficient grounds for censure,” based on the two
first articles of the charge. _ ,

From extreme reluctance to separate from cher-

ished friends and brethren in the ministry, Mr. Camp-

bell submitted to the decision, declaring at the same
time that it was only in deference to the judgment of
the court, and that he might not give offense to his-
brethren by manifesting a refractory spirit. But this
concession did not conciliate his opponents.

By bitter and persistent A persecution he was forced

to the conclusion that bigotry, corruption, and tyranny

are qualities inherent in all clerical organizations.
Hence he finally concluded to separate himself from
all connection with a people who seemed to regard
their own particular “testimony” as practically a
more important rule of action than the Bible. He
accordingly presented to the Synod a formal renun-
ciation of its authority, announcing that he aban-
doned all ministerial connection with it, and would
hold himself thenceforth utterly unaffected by its
decisions. -

His withdrawal from the Seceders occasioned no '

interruption of his ministerial labors. From the
great personal influence he had acquired in various
portions of the counties of VVashington and Alle-
gheny, and the novelty and force of the plea he made
for Christian liberality and Christian union upon the
basis of the Bible, large numbers continued to attend
his ministrations wherever it was in his power to
hold meetings. He preached weekly, sometimes in

’ a maple-grove, but generally in the houses of his old

Irish neighbors who had settled in Washington
County, to all who chose to assemble.
Finding, after a time, that his hearers (many of

whom still held membership in the Seceder or Pres-
byterian Churches) were in constant attendance, and
apparently convinced of the correctness of the~prin-
ciples which he taught, and desirous of the success of
his efforts to form a union upon the Bible alone, he
proposed to the principal persons among them that a
special meeting should be held, in order to confer
freely upon the existing state of things, and to give,

if possible, more definiteness tovthe movement, in H

which they had thus far been co-operating without
any formal organization or determinate arrangement.
This proposition was at once gladly acceded to, and
a convenient time was appointed to meet for the pur-
poses specified at the house of Abraham Altars, who
lived between Mount Pleasant and Washington, and
who, though not a member of any church, was an

- earnest friend of the movement.

At the time appointed there was a very general
assembling at the place designated. After earnest
prayer, invoking divine guidance, Thomas Campbell
set forth the objects of their assembling. He dwelt
upon the manifold evils of divisions in_ religious
society, which divisions, he urged, are unnecessary
and injurious, since God has provided, in his sacred
Word, an infallible standard, which is all-suflicient
and alone sufficient as a basis of union and Christian
co-operation. He showed that the real occasions of
the unhappy controversies and strifes which have so
long desolated the religious world are outside of the
Bible, and therefore insisted upon a return to the
simple teachings of the Scriptures, and upon the
entire abandonment of everything in religion for
which there cannot be produced a divine warrant.
Finally, he announced the great principle or rule
upon which they were acting, and would continue to
act consistently and perseveringly to the end. “That
rule,” said he, “is this, that where the Scriptures
speak we speak, and where the’ Scriptures are silent
we are silent.” _ F

From the moment these significant words were ut-
tered and accepted the more intelligent dated the
formal and actual commencement of the reforma-
tion, which has been carried on with wonderful suc-
cess and has produced important changes in~religious
society over a large portion of the world. _

A ‘After the adoption of this basal principle there

‘were a few" defections of persons belonging to the

religious parties and fearing its application to some
of their cherished views and practices. Notwith-
standing some differences on some points, the mem-
bers were cordially united in the great object of pro-
moting Christian union and peace in the religious
world. At a meeting held on the head—waters of
Buffalo, Aug. 17, 1809, it was resolved to form them-
selves into an association under the name of “The
Christian Association of Washington,” and twenty-
three of their number were appointed with Mr. Camp-
bell to determine the proper means to carry its im-
portant ends into effect.

418

HISTORY OF WASHINGTON COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA.

As it had been found somewhat inconvenient to
hold meetings in private houses, it was thought ad-
visable by the members to provide some regular place
of meeting. Accordingly the neighbors assembled,
and in a short time erected a log building on the
Sinclair farm, about three miles from Mount Pleas-
ant, upon the road leading from Washington to that
place, at the point it was crossed by the road from
Middletown to Canonsburg. Here Mr. Campbell
continued to meet his hearers regularly, and spent
most of the week at the residence of a Mr. Welsh,
a respectable farmer and favorable to the association.
In this retired place he wrote the famous “ Declara-
tion and Address,” designed to set forth, clearly and
definitely, the object of the movement in which he
and his associates were engaged. '

At a special meeting of the chief members it was
unanimously agreed to and ordered to be printed on
Sept. 7, 1809. In this remarkable document, which
occupies fifty—four closely-printed pages, the occasion
and nature of the association are defined, and a pre-
amble and five resolutions are presented that were ac-
cepted as its constitution. A standing committee of
twenty-one members was appointed to superintend
the interests of the society, and its meetings were
held semi-annually on the first Thursday of May and
November. It did not recognize itself as a church,
but simply as a society for the promotion of Chris-
tian union and of a pure evangelical reformation by
the simple preaching of the gospel and the adminis-
tration of its ordinances in exact conformity to the
divine standard. A
. Another principal actor in subsequent events must
be introduced at this point.

‘Alexander Campbell, oldest son of Thomas Camp-
bell, was born Sept. 12, 1788, in county of Antrim,
Ireland. His ancestors on the paternal side were of
Scotch origin, but on the maternal side they descended
from the Huguenots in France. He inherited a vig-
orous and Well-balanced physical and mental consti-
tution, and was trained from his earliest years by his
learned father to habits of severe application. He
completed his course of education in the University
of Glasgow. Blessed with an exceedingly intellectual
and pious parentage, and reared in one of the strictest
schools of Presbyterianism, he early formed and cul-

tivated habits of piety and a taste for theological’

studies which gave shape to his entire life. A pro-
found reverence for the word of God was a -marked
feature of the character alike of the boy and of the
man. ‘ 8

While at Glasgow he was much interested in the
reformatory movement of the Haldanes and others

then progressing in Scotland, which wrought an_

entire revolution in his views and feelings in respect
to the existing denominations, and disengaged his
sympathies entirely from the Seceders and every other
form of Presbyterianism, This movement gave the
youthful Campbell his first impulse as a religious

reformer, and which may be justly regarded as the
first phase of that religious reformation-which he after-
wards carried out so successfully to its legitimate
issues.

‘Thus Providence was working on both sides of the
Atlantic,-—in the wild woods and superb hills of West-
ern Pennsylvania, and in the cultured fields of Scot-
land’s classic city,-——preparing father and son for the
important work in which they were destined to co-
operate. The trials and envious persecutions which
the father underwent at the hands of the Seceder
clergy on account of his broader sympathies and his
exaltation of the Holy Scriptures as the basis of Chris-
tian union fully prepared his mind to enter into the
liberal and independent views which the son had im-
bibed in old Scotland. VVhen the son Alexander

-arrived with the family at Washington, Pa., about

Oct. 22, 1809, he was fitted to enter heartily into the
work of reformation already inaugurated by his re-
vered father.

While examining the proof-sheets and discussing
the questions involved, the younger Campbell was
greatly impressed with the importance of the princi-
ples laid down in the Declaration and Address, signed
by Thomas Campbell and Thomas-Acheson. They
expressed clearly his own mature convictions, and he
was captivated by the clear and decisive presentations
of duty and the noble Christian enterprise to which
he was invited. At the sacrifice of brilliant worldly
prospects and preferments, and distinctly foreseeing
the hostility which would be provoked, he resolved to
consecrate his life to the advocacy of these principles.
They formed a step in advance of any religious refor-
mation previously attempted. Only a few seed truths,
culled from this “Magna Charta” of ecclesiastical
reform, can be "given in this sketch. 1 '

Commencing with the admitted truth that the gos-
pel was designed to reconcile and unite men to God
and to each other, the address portrays the sad divis-
ions that existed and their baleful effects, and de-
clares that Christian union can be accomplished only
in one of two ways,——either in and through the truth
and upon principle, or by compromise and accommo-
dation. It proposes to “come firmly and fairly to
original ground and take up things just as the apos-
tles left them, that thus disentangled from the accru-
ing embarrassments of intervening ages We may stand
with evidence upon the same ground on which the
church stood at the beginning.”

Here is the startling proposition to begin anew,

to begin at the beginning, to ascend at once to the
pure fountain of truth, and to neglect and disregard
the decrees of popes, councils, synods, and assemblies,
and all the traditions and corruptions of an apostate
church. Here is an effort, not so much for the ref-
ormation of the church as was that of Luther and of
Calvin, and to some extent even of the Haldanes,
but for its complete restoration at once to its pris-
tine purity and perfection. By coming at onceto

RELIGIOUS HISTORY.

419

the primitive model and rejecting all human imita-
tions, by submitting implicitly to the divine author-
ity as plainly expressed in the -Scriptures, and by
disregarding all the assumptions and dictations of
fallible men, it was proposed to form a union upon
a basis to which no valid objection could possibly be
offered. So fully and so kindly was every possible
objection considered and refuted, that no attempt
was ever made by the opposers of _the proposed
movement to contradict directly a single position
which it contained.

After the fullest preparation for the prodigious
undertaking thus opened before him in a new and
unexpected field "of action, Alexander Campbell
preached his first sermon from Matt. vii. 24~27, on

' ‘July 15, 1810, in a grove on the farm of Maj. Tem-

pleton, some eight miles from Washington. From
this time his public services were in continual requi-
sition, and in the course of the first year he preached
one hundred and six sermons at the Cross-Roads, at
VVashington, Buffalo, Middletown, and in Ohio at
Steubenville, Cadiz, and St. Clairsville.

As many members of the Christian Association
lived near Buffalo Creek, it was about this time re-
solved to erect a house of worship there. They se-
lected a piece of ground on the farm of William Gil-
christ, in the valley of Biush Run, about two miles
above its junction with Buffalo Creek, as an eligible

‘ site for the building, which was to be framed. Mean-

time a temporary stand was erected near the chosen
site, and Alexander was requested to preach the first

discourse, which he did on Sept. 16, 1810, from the

appropriate and prophetic text, Job viii. 7 : “Though
thy beginning was small, thy latter end should greatly
increase.”

About this time the elder Campbell discovered that

' his overtures met with little response, and the associ-

ation was assuming a somewhat different character

from that originally contemplated, and was grad-,

ually taking the position of a distinct religious body.
This occasioned great uneasiness. The idea that he
should be the means of creating a new party was
most abhorrent to him, and he was disposed to adopt
any measure consistent with his principles to avoid
such a result. Yielding, therefore, to the solicita-
tions of some of his friends,’though in opposition to
the views of his son Alexander, on Oct. 4, 1810, he,
as the representative of the Christian Association,
applied to the Synod of Pittsburgh, then in session

’ at Washington, to be taken into Christian and min-

isterial communion. After hearing Mr. Campbell at
length, and his answers to various questions proposed
to him, the Synod unanimously resolved not to grant
the request, for reasons assigned and “many other
important reasons.”

The next day Mr. Campbell appeared in Synod and
asked an explanation of what those “important rea-
sons” are. The Synod returned answer: “It was not
for any immorality in practice, but, in addition to the

reasons before assigned, for expressing his belief that
there are some opinions taught in our Confession of
Faith which are not founded in the Bible, and avoid-
ing to designate them ; for declaring that the admin-
istration of baptism to infants is not authorized by
scriptural precept or example, and is a matter of in-
difference, yet administering that ordinance while
holding such an opinion; for encouraging or coun-
tenancing his son to preach the gospel without any
regular authority; for opposing ‘creeds and confes-
sions as injurious to the interests of religion; and
also because it is not consistent with the regulations
of the Presbyterian Church that Synod should form
a connection with any ministers, churches, or associ-
ations.”

Thus the application resulted as the younger Camp-
bell anticipated, since it was not proposed to unite
with the Synod on Presbyterian principles, but only
to obtain its consent to Christian union on Christian
principles. The experiment illustrated the charity
of the applicants, evinced the sagacity of the youth-
ful champion of Christian freedom, and disclosed the

essential character of sectarianism, in confirmation of

the declaration “ that a book adopted by any party
as its standard for all matters of doctrine, worship,
discipline, and government must be considered as the
Bible of that party.”

Alexander Campbell, though but a youth and as
yet a novice in the field of polemics, readily took up
the gauntlet thus defiantly thrown down by that dig-
nified body, and resolved to review the proceedings
of the Synod, which his father was inhibited from
doing by his declaration.
of the association at Washington, Nov. 11, 1810,
furnished the first favorable opportunity, and his
purpose was announced in the Reporter on October
22d and 29th preceding. B

At the appointed time the preacher, “ without any
regular authority,” addressed a large assembly, and
in a masterly effort he pointed out the way of the
Lord, and triumphantly vindicated the principles of
the association against the allegations of the Synod.
In its characterization of Mr. Campbell’s plan to
promote Christian union, a controversy was initiated
which has continued for nearly three-fourths of a
century, and every encounter on a fair field has only
strengthened the cause which was then assailed.

But the Campbells were not controversial, either in
the matter or manner of their regular ministrations.
The whole spirit of their movement was that of peace
and conciliation. Their discourses were devoted to
the elucidation of portions of Scripture for Christian
edification and for the enforcement of the great duties
of the Christian life. Their aim was not so much to

repair defects in modern Christianity as to restore

that which was original and pure, both in letter and
spirit, in principle and practice. Occupying a posi-
tion that is necessarily antagonistic to all religious
parties, as such,‘ they were inevitably drawn into

The semi-annual meeting ‘

BBADDOCK’S EXPEDITION IN 1755.

47

On the 13th the column moved to Martin’s plan-
tation; on the 15th it “passed the Aligany Moun-
tain, which is a rocky ascent of more than two miles,
in many places exceedingly steep; its descent is very
rugged and almost perpendicular; in passing which
we entirely demolished three wagons and shattered
several.” That night the ‘First Brigade camped about
three miles west of Savage River. 011 the 16th the
head of the column reached the Little Meadows, ten
miles from Martin’s plantation ; but the rear did not
arrive there until the 18th. At this place they found
Sir John Sinclair encamped with three hundred men,
this being the farthest point he could reach in the
five days specified in the orders.

.At the Little Meadows the general adopted a new
plan of campaign,——to move forward with a division
composed of some of his best troops, with a few guns
and but little baggage, leaving the remainder of his
force behind to bring up the heavy stores and artillery.

This decision was taken largely through the advice
of Washington, who, although not of rank to sit in the
councils of war, possessed no small share of the gen-
eral’s confidence, by reason of the experience he had
gained in thecampaign of the preceding year. He
gave it as his opinion that the movement of the army
was too slow, on 1 account of the cumbrous wagon-
train, which on the march stretched out for a distance
of more than three miles, thus not only retarding the

. progress of the forces, but affording an excellent op-

portunity for lurking parties of the enemy to attack
and destroy some lightly-defended part of it before
help could arrive from the main body. He had from
the first urged the use of pack-horses instead of wagons
for the greater part of the transportation, and although
his advice was ignored by the general, its wisdom now

became apparent. Orme’s Journal says that by the

experience of the four days’ march from Spendelow
Camp to the Little Meadows, ‘-‘ it was found impos-
sible to proceed with such a number of carriages.
The horses grew every day fainter, and many died;
the men would not have been able to have undergone

the constant and necessary fatigue by remaining so

many hours under arms, and by the great extent of
the baggage the line was extremely weakened. The
general was therefore determined to move forward
with a detachment of the best men, and as little in-
cumbrance as possible.”

The selected force destined to move in the advance

‘consisted of between twelve and thirteen hundred

men. “A detachment of one field-ofiicer with four
hundred men and the deputy quart-ermaster-general
marched on the 18th to cut and make the road to the
Little Crossing of the Yoxhio Geni, taking with them
two six-pounders with their ammunition, three wagons

. "of tools, and thirty-five days’ provisions, all on carry.-

ing—horses, and on the 19th the general marched with
a detachment of one colonel, one lieutenant-colonel,
one major, the two eldest grenadier companies, and
five "hundred rank and file, the party of seamen, and

five days’ provisions carried on horses.”

eighteen light-horse, and four howitzers with fifty
rounds each, and four twelve-pounders with eighty
rounds each, and one hundred rounds of ammunition
for each man, and one wagon of Indian presents; the
whole number of _ carriages being about thirty‘. The
howitzers had each nine horses, the twelve-pounders
seven, and the wagons six. There was also thirty-

left behind with C01. Dunbar numbered about nine
hundred, including four artillery officers. Eighty-
four wagons and all the ordnance stores and provis-
ions not immediately needed by the advance colum
were also left in his charge. ,1
The advanced force under Braddock reached the
Little Crossings (Castlem'an’s River) on the evening
of the 19th, and camped on the west side of the
stream. At this camp Washington was taken seri-
ously ill with a fever, and-when the troops marched
the next morning he was left behind with a guard and
proper attendance1 and comforts. As soon as able he
was to come on with the rear division under Col.
Dunbar; but it has been stated that heasked and
received from Gen. Braddock a promise that the fort
should not be attacked until he had recovered and
rejoined the assaulting column. It does not, however,
seem reasonable to suppose that he would have wished
to jeopardize the success of the expedition by asking

such an indefinite delay, nor that Braddock would,”

under any circumstances, have bound himself by
such a promise. - - V _'

In four days from his departure ‘from the Little
Meadows, Gen. Braddock’s column had made nine-
teen miles, and arrived at the Great Crossings of the
Youghiogheny, which the troops crossed without
bridging? On the 24th of June they passed an In-
dian camp, recently vacated, which gave indications
that it had been occupied by about one hundred and
seventy persons. “They had stripped and painted
some trees, upon which they and the French had
written many threats and bravadoes, with all kinds

» 1 In some accounts of this sickness of Washington, it has been stated

that Dr. James Craik (who was with the expedition as a surgeon in
the Virginia troops, and who was also the life-long friend and physi-
cian of Washington) was left behind at the Little Crossings to attend
him, but such does not appear to have been the case. The Hon. James
Finley, in a letter written to the editor of Niles’ Register, dated Youngs-
town, Pa., March 27, 1818, relates some conversations which he had with
VVashington in reference to Braddock’s campaign, from which letter the
following extracts are made: “On one occasion, in a mixed company,
some question being asked of me, then sitting next the President (Wash-
ington), about the Big Meadows and Dunbar’s Run, by Col. Sprigg, of
Maryland, which I could not answer, the President, to whom I referred
the question, in answering them described Dunbar’s camp, to which the
remains of Braddock’s army retired after the defeat. . . . Looking round
seriously to me, he said, ‘ Braddock was both my general and my physi-
cian. I was attacked with a dangerous fever on the march, and he left
a sergeant [not a surgeon] to take care of me, and James’ fever powders,
with directions how to give them, and a wagon to bring me on when I
would be able, which was only the day before the defeat.’ ”

2 An entry in Orme’s Journal for this day -is to this effect: “ The 24th
of June we marched at five in the morning, and passed the second
branch of the Yoxhio Geni, which is about one hundred yards wide,
about three feet deep, with a very strong current.”

The troops ,

420

’HISTORY OF WASHINGTON COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA. p

occasional conflict with “the sects,” and then no
man ever met a more valiant opponent than the
younger Campbell, and no man——infidel, Roman, or
sectarian——ever. came out of a tilt with that knightly
defender of the faith ‘and ‘practice of primitive Chris-
tianity without being worsted in the conflict.

At the meeting of the association on May 4, 1811,
the question of changing the character of the society,
and of assuming that of an independent church, was
duly considered, and, though reluctantly, it was
finally concluded to take this step, as the attitude
which the religious parties had assumed left no other
alternative. It was history repeating itself, for such
was the case with the Reformation of Luther, of
Calvin, of Knox, and of Wesley.

At this meeting Thomas Campbell was appointed
elder, and Alexander was licensed to preach the gos-
pel. Four deacons were also chosen, viz.: John
Dawson, George Sharp, William Gilchrist, and James
Foster.

On the following day, May 5, 1811, the church held
its first communion service, and A. Campbell preached
from the words, “ I am that bread of life.”

1 On June 16, 1811, he delivered the first sermon in
the new meeting-house at Brush Run.

Up to this time the incessant labors of these great
restorers of Christian law and ordinances had so oc-
cupied their time and attention that they had not
carried their own principles to their practical results.
When they began, according to the custom of the
independent churches in Scotland, to celebrate the
Lord’s Supper weekly, the question as to who was

authorized to partake of the emblems naturally arose. -

This involved the question of baptism, particularly its
action and subject. ‘A conscientious adherence to
their manifestly correct rule held them firmly to the
word of God, and compelled them to renounce every-
thing for which they could not produce a “ Thus saith
the Lord,” either in express terms or by approved
precedent. As the unity of the church and the over-
throw of sectarianism were their leading objects, they
regarded the question of baptism as one of small im-
portance, and a matter of indifference as to its mode.

The first baptisms were administered by Thomas
Campbell on July 4, 1811, in a deep pool of Buffalo
Creek, about two miles above the mouth of Brush
Run, and on the farm of David Bryant. By this
timefimany of those who had at first been identified
with the Christian Association" had become indiffer-
ent, and many sympathizers held back from entering
into:a church relation. So the church at this period
could reckon only about thirty, regular members, who

continued to meet alternately at the Cross-Roads and

at Brush Run. On the first day of the year 1812,

Alexander Campbell was regularly ordained as min- V

ister of the gospel by Thomas Campbell;

‘ It was not until a_fter the birth of his first.child,
March 12, 1812, that infant baptism became to A.
Campbell a question of practical interest. Then

searching out critically the signification of the words
rendered baptism and baptize in the original Greek, he
became satisfied that, when used to indicate the
Christian ordinance, they could mean only immersion
and immerse. From his further investigations he
was led finally to the clear conviction that believers,
and believers only, are the proper subjects of the or-
dinance. Hence alfusion and an unbelieving subject,
whether infant or adult, were abandoned as entirely
outside of the Bible. . c

He resolved at once to obey what, in the light of
the Scriptures, he now found to be a positive divine
command. He made application to Matthias Luce, a
Baptist preacher, who lived above Washington, to
perform the rite, stipulating with him that the cere-
mony should be performed precisely according to the
pattern given in the New Testament,‘ omitting the
modern custom of giving so-called “religious expe-
rience,” and admitting the candidates on the simple
confession that “ Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God.”
Elder Luce first objected that these changes were con-
trary to Baptist usage, but finally consented, remark-
ing that he believed they were right, and he would

. risk the censure.

Wednesday, the 12th day of June, 1812, was se-
lected as the time, and the _deep pool in Buffalo Creek
where the first baptisms were administered was the
chosen place. Elder Henry Spears accompanied
Elder Luce, and upontheir arrival at the place on

the day named they found a large concourse of peo- .

ple, including the greater part ‘of the members of
Brush Run Church. '

The Campbells, in the order of age, gave lengthy
addresses, in which they reviewed the whole ground,
related their struggles with reference to this import-
ant change, presented the teachings of the Scriptures
upon the subject, and dwelt at length upon the gra-
cious promises of God to all who should obey him.
When the youngest Campbell concluded seven per-
sons were immersed, viz.: Alexander Campbell and
his wife, Thomas Campbell and his wife, Dorothea
Campbell, James Haven and his wife. The meeting
continued seven hours. Just before it commenced
Joseph Bryant had to leave to attend a muster of
volunteers at Taylorstown for the war against Great
Britain, and after attending the muster he returned
i_n time to hear an hour’s preaching and witness the
baptisms. J

_ From the moment Thomas Campbell followed the‘
example of his son in relation to baptism he con-

ceded to him in effect the guidance of the whole
religious movement. The father, having accomplished
his special mission in propounding and developing
the truebasis of Christian union, gracefully surren-
dered his position to the son, as the master-spirit in
holding up the word of God alone as the guiding
light to the pilgrim on his way to eternal life.

At the next meeting -of the church of Brush Run,
on Lord’s Day, June 16th, thirteen other members,

RELIGIOUS HISTORY.

421

and among them James Foster, requested immersion,
which was administered by Thomas Campbell, each
one making the simple confession of Christ as the Son
of God. Soon others followed in like manner, until a
great majority of the church consisted of immersed
believers, while other individuals who had been in the
association, and among them Gen. Acheson, abandoned
the cause which at first they so warmly espoused.

_ Thenceforth the Jordan flows between those enlisted

in the restoration movement and every phase and
form of pedobaptism, and the spirit of persecution
was aroused against thesenhumble learners in the
school of Christ. 1

The adoption of immersion naturally served to give
the church of Brush Run more acceptance with the

' "Baptists. Of these there were but few in the region

of country between Washington and the Ohio River.
East of Washington, along the Monongahela River,
they were quite numerous and had formed an associ-
ation of churches called “Redstone,” from an old
Indian fort of that name on the Monongahela, about
sixty miles above Pittsburgh, where Brownsville is
now situated. _ y , ,
Elders Luce and Spears belonged to that associa-
tion, and they with others often urged that the Brush
Run Church should connect itself with this body.
To this there were three obstacles in the way. First,
notwithstanding the claim of independency putforth

; in theory by the Baptist Churches, they were very

much under the control’ of the clergy, who consti-
tuted the ruling element in the Associations. ..
Second, The churches composing the Association
had adopted the Philadelphia Confession of Faith of
Sept. 25,1747, which contains a fair proportion‘ of the
unscriptural theories and speculations usually found

_ in such standards.

Third. Immersion itself was not to the church of
Brush Run precisely what it was to the Baptist
Church. To_the latter it was merely a commandment,
a sort of front door by which regularity and good
order required people to enter the church. With the
former it was the primitive confession of and putting
on Christ, and hence a gracious token of salvation“.

However, A. Campbell was often sent for, and
pressed to preach for the Baptist people, and upon
acquaintance he liked the people more and the
preachers less. He visited their Association at Union-
town, Fayette Co., Pa., in the autumn of 1812, and
returned with his previous unfavorable opinion of the
Baptist preachers confirmed. Nevertheless he often
spoke for the Baptist congregations for sixty miles
around. They all pressed him and his brethren to
join their Redstone Association. The matter was laid
before the church in the fall of 1813, and it was
finally concluded, after much discussion and prayer
for the wisdom which comes from above, to make an
overture to that effect, and accompany it with their
sentiments, wishes, and determinations fully written
out, which was done in a document of ten pages of

large dimensions... The proposition was discussed at
the Association, and after much debate it was decided
by a considerable majority to receive the Brush Run
Church, notwithstanding their remonstraiices against
human creeds as bonds of union or communion
among Christian Churches, but with their expressed
willingness, upon the conditions specified, to co-oper-
ate or to unite with the Association. Among the mi-

nority opposed to this union thus formed there was

Elder Pritchard, of Cross Creek,lVa., Elder Brown-
field, of Uniontown, Pa., and Elder Stone, of Ohio,
and his son, Elder Stone, of the Monongahela region,
who seem to have confederated to oppose the influ-
ence of A. Campbell, but for three years they could
do nothing. V .
In November, 1815, Mr. Campbell proposed to a
few members of the church residing in Wellsburg,
Va., that a meeting-house should be erected in the
town, which was then entirely without any place for
public worship, and volunteered his services for three
or four months in soliciting necessary means. The
proposition was agreed to, and Dec. 12, 1815, he left
home for an eastern tour to Philadelphia and New
York, and returned after an absence of some months,
having obtained about one thousand dollars. With
additional assistance afterwards secured in the vicin-
ity a lot was purchased, and a comfortable brick

~ IIOUSG WELS SOOI1 erected.

. The erection of ‘this house gave great offense to
Elder Pritchard, minister of the Cross Creek Baptist
Church, three miles above, who had already signal-
ized his hostility to.Mr. Campbell, and who seemed
to think his influence would be weakened and his
congregations would be diminished by the building
of the house in Wellsburg.

The Redstone Association convened at Cross Creek
on the 30th of August of this year, 1816. . On Satur-
day Elder Pritchard asserted the right of the church
where the Association was assembled, in conformity
to a rule adopted by the Baptists in Maryland, to
select the preachers for the Lord’s Day, and, regard-
less of the great anxiety of the people and some of
the preachers to hear Mr. Campbell, had Elder Stone_
substituted for the former in the arrangement for that

,day.

Next morning David Philips, of Peters Creek,
one of the oldest and best preachers in the Associa--
tion, was deputed by a large number to see Mr. Camp-
bell and to insist that he should preach, as he was
first nominated. He said he had no objections to
preach, but that he would not violate the rule of the
Association. Providentially, Elder Stone was taken ill,
and upon the personal invitation of Elder Pritchard,
Mr. Campbell preached, having asked leave to follow
Elder Cox, as he was called uponunexpectedly.

On this occasion he delivered the famous Sermon
on the Law, which created such excitement in the
Baptist community. Mr. Pritchard could not sup-
press his dissatisfaction during its delivery, and at

422

the intermission that followed he proposed a public
protest, but more prudent counsel prevailed.

At this same meeting of the Association, on Satur-
day, August 31st, a letter was presented by T. Camp-
bell from a number of baptized persons in the city of
Pittsburgh, requesting union as a church to this As-
sociation.

It was voted that as this letter is not presented
according to the constitution of this Association, the
request cannot be granted. However, Mr. T. Camp-
bell was invited to a seat, and a committee was
appointed to investigate the subject of the letter, viz.,
D. Philips, M. Luce, and Mr. Pritchard.

Though the sermon, which created an extraordinary
sensation, contained nothing but plain Scripture teach-
ing in reference to the law and the gospel, the oppo-
nents of Mr. Campbell succeeded in bringing it up
for trial and condemnation at the next Association at
Peters Creek in 1817. It was founded on Rom. viii.
3, and its general purport was simply to show that
Christians are under law to Christ and not to Moses.
The speaker, in the first place, showed that the phrase
“the law” in the text signifies the whole Mosaic
dispensation, though it does not include the two
principles which our Great Prophet teaches is the
basis of the law of Moses and of the prophets. He
then pointed out what the law could not do, and why.
It could not give righteousness and life, nor exhibit
the malignity of sin, nor furnish a suitable rule of
life to mankind in this imperfect state. He next
illustrated how God remedied these defects by the
gospel, by sending his Son to make reconciliation for
sin, and by his perfect example and teachings.

From these premises he deduced various conclu-
sions, viz.: 1. There is an essential difference be-
tween the law and the gospel,——between the Mosaic
and Christian dispensations. 2. Christians are not
under law, but under grace. 3. There is no necessity
for ‘preaching the law in order to ‘prepare men for
receiving the gospel. 4. All arguments and motives
drawn from the law or Old Testament to incite the
disciples of Christ to ‘a compliance with or imitation
of Jewish customs are repugnant to Christianity, not
being enjoined by the authority of Jesus Christ. 5.
The Lord Jesus Christ should be venerated in the

highest degree, and the most punctilious regard.

should be paid to all his precepts and ordinances.
In the fall of this year Thomas Campbell removed
his family to Newport, Ky., and left to Alexander

the entire public advocacy of the cause of restora-

tion, now struggling in its infancy in Western Penn-

sylvania and Virginia, excepting the labors of James '

Foster, which were chiefly confined to the Brush Run
Church. As yet this was the only church in the
reformation, though it met alternately at Cross-Roads
and Brush Run.

Early in the-year 1818, A. Campbell opened a
school for young men, called “Buffalo Seminary,”
which flourished n.early five years. Some of his

HISTORY OF WASHINGTON COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA.

pupils devoted themselves ardently to the study of
the Scriptures, and became able advocates of what
was termed the ancient gospel. Thus while the
reformation was but imperfectly developed or estab-
lished, and did not number more than one hundred
and fifty persons scattered among the Baptists in this
region, Mr. Campbell was training skilled workmen
to scatter the good seed in other States, and to protect
it from the devouring fowls of partisan prejudice,
bigotry, and wickedness. He was laying the founda-
tions deep and broad for years to come» by building
up an institution of learning. In 1840 he founded
Bethany College, which has sent, and still sends, out
its well-trained advocates to maintain the glorious
work since he has finished his course and received his
crown. .

The granite rock of this remarkable religious move-
ment is the acceptance of all that is divine in religion,
and the rejection of all that is human. Hence the
Alpha and the Omega of its faith is that Jesus is_ the
Christ, the Son of the living God. His will, revealed
in the New Testament through the inspired apostles,
is its only directory of worship and law of discipline.
It proclaims the largest liberty consistent with loyalty
to Christ, and repudiates all domination over indi-
viduals or churches, whether by synods, presbyteries,
conferences, associations, or local church officiaries.
It advocates the unity of the church in opposition
alike to religious sects and to the destructive heresy

of church independency, and adjusts difficulties in or '

between churches on the principle of fraternal refer-
ence to wise men among brethren chosen on occasion.
It proposes “to keep the unity of the spirit in the
bond of peace” by unity in faith, diversity in opinion,
and charity in all things. ‘

By such manifestation of the truth, commending
themselves to every man’s conscience in the sight of
God, these great leaders strove to overcome sectism
in all its forms, that the prayer of Jesus in the dark-
ening shadows of Calvary might be realized in the

actual oneness of them that believe on him through '

the word of his chosen apostles, and that the world
may believe that he was sent of God. The rock on
which they built stands like Gibraltar, against which
the waves of rationalism and sectarian intolerance
have beaten only to be turned back in harmless spray.
Men of narrow minds and wordly policies may fail

to grasp a scheme so comprehensive, and to perceive ,
aims so high and heavenly, and so fail to ‘give effect

to this matchless plea, but, in principle and exalted
position, this effort for the restoration of primitive
Christianity can never be surpassed.

The following tabulated statement was carefully
prepared in the year 1880. It is believed that the ag-
gregates are below rather than above the truth as to
the extent of this movement in this country. But
beside this it has extended into Canada, Jamaica,
Great Britain, Australia, and other foreign lands.
Missionaries are now pushing on this work in several

RELIGIOUS HISTORY.

423

cities in England, in France, in Norway, and in Con-
stantinople. A church has been planted in Japan,
and missionaries are about to go to India.

TABLE OF STATISTICS.

No. Churches. Preachers. Members.
Alabama ..................... .. 35 28 3,525
Arkansas .................... .. 112 108 5,92
California ................... .. 62 43 5,988
Colorado ..................... .. 16 12 1,750
Connecticut ................ .. 2 2 575
Dakota ...................... .. 4 3 675
District of Columbia .... .. ‘ 1 2 350
Florida ...................... . . 14 11 925
Georgia ....................... . . 95 57 10,890
Illinois ....................... .. 675 525 75.275
Indiana - ' 715 595 89,685
Iowa .......................... .. 215 115 1 8,860
Kansas ....................... . . 135 101 15,500
Kentucky ........ .., ........ .. 615 495 80,525
Louisiana ......... ... ....... .. 15 9 1,275
Maine ........................ .. 4 3 485
Massachusetts ............. .. 7 5 1,240
' Maryland ................... .. . 9 5 1,500
Michigan .................... .. 125 75 7,875
Minnesota..... .............. .. 40 15 1,725
Mississippi .................. . . 15 12 2,370
Missouri ..................... .. 585 428 65,950
Montana 3 2 429
Nebraska .................... .. 98 ' 56 15,580
New York ................... .. 49 39 5,950
North Carolina ............ .. 105 85 14,700
Ohio ........................... .. 425 219 45,500
Oregon ....................... .. 55 35 5,981
Pennsylvania .............. .. 115 97 15,600
Rhode Island ......  ...... .. 1 1 80
South Carolina ............ .. 25 18 2,925
Tennessee ................... .. 325 225 45,850
Texas ......................... .. 225 175 19,500
Vermont ..................... .. 2 2 375
Virginia .........  ........... .. 150 115 16,250
Washington Territory.... 1 1 75
‘Vest Virginia ............. .. 75 55 8,750
Wisconsin ................... .. 24 13 2,575
Wyoming Territory ..... .. 1 95
Total .................... .. 5,175 3,788 . 592,036

The list of periodicals published by the Disciples
includes thirteen Weeklies, twelve monthlies, three
‘semi-monthlies, and one quarterly review, also Sun-
day-school papers, four monthlies and eight Weeklies.

There. are more than thirty colleges under the
influence and patronage of the Christian Church.

.Truly though thy beginning was small, thy latter end

has greatly increased.

The Catholic Church1 in Washington County.-

Catholics were among the pioneer settlersof Wash- ’

ington County. Mr. Robinson, an Irish Catholic,
settled in the vicinity of where Clayville now stands
before the close of the war of independence or about
that time. Mr. Henry Montague,aalso an Irish Catho-
lic, settled in the neighborhood of West Alexander in
the year 1794, on a piece of land still occupied by his
descendants. Others settled in the vicinity not long
after, of whose Catholicity little more than the tradi-
tion is left among their descendants.

Between the years 1797 and 1801 a certain Father
Lannigan, heretofore in charge of a Catholic settle-

ment in Westmoreland County, came with a number

of his people, negotiated for the purchase of several
thousand acres of land near West Alexander, but soon
becoming dissatisfied with the location, they sold out
their land, bought another tract in Greene County,
and settled there. Father Lannigan passed through
Washington, probably on his way to West Alexander

1 By D. J. Malady.

or to Greene County, in 1801, and preached a sermon
in the court—house. The reverend gentleman stopped
overnight with Mr. Robinson, near Clayville, and at
times with Mr. Montague also; but we have no posi-
tive evidence of his holding divine service or per-
forming any ministrations among the Catholics of
this county.~ There is no mention of his name in this
region later than 1801. Nearly all the early events of
Catholicity in this county from this time centre around
the homestead of Mr. Montague.’ His original pos-
session of a hundred and forty or fifty acres was
bought from the State. The warrant of survey bears
the date of 1795, and the deed 1799._ In the year
1809 he bought an adjoining tract of one hundred and
fifty or two hundred acres from a German named
Goss, who, together with his brother, had bought it
from the original owner, a certain Gater, about two
years previously. On this purchase stood the old
Gater House, so called from the original owner of the
land. It was a log house, built on the primitive back-
woods plan, when strength and security of defense
against savage depredations were considered import-
ant points to house-building.

Mass was offered up in this primitive chapel about
the year 1811 by Father O’Brien, the first stationary
priest of Pittsburgh.

This is the first authentic account we can obtain of
the celebration of divine service in the county.

The old wagon-road from Washington, D. C., to
Wheeling and the West, which occupied nearly the
same bed as the present National pike, was a route
sometimes taken by the early Catholic missionaries to
the West. This road passed near the house of Mr.
Montague. The saintly and illustrious Fenwick, after-
wards the first Bishop of Cincinnati, passed over this
route on his first missionary journey into "the then
wilderness of Ohio in the summer of 1814. '

He came alone and unattended, stopped at the house
of Henry Montague, held divine service, ministered
to the few Catholic families around, and consecrated
or blessed a small plot of ground on the farm of his
host as a burial-place for the Catholics scattered
around. This is the oldest landmark of Catholicity
in the county. Mr. Montague, his wife and son, and
a number of the old Catholic settlers are buried there.

During the construction of the National pike——1.818
to 1821—the venerable Father Maguire came through
several times and ministered to the Catholic workmen
along the road from Brownsville down through this
county. The first Catholic chapel was built at this
time, and completed before the year 1821 had drawn
to a close. It was a frame building about twenty by
thirty feet. It was built by the contributions of the

Catholic workmen along the road, and situated near —

West Alexander, on the pike. The neighboring Cath-
olic farnilies also contributed towards its erection.
Father Rafferty from Pittsburgh attended it at regular
intervals about the year 1830. —
Father Horner,‘ tl1e first stationary priest of Wheel-

424

HISTORY OF WASHINGTON COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA.

ing, afterwards came at regular-times, covering a period
of about two or three years from 1833 to 1836. In
this year Right Rev. Bishop Kenrick, of Philadel-
phia, visited this ‘portion of his diocese, said mass,
and confirmed in the chapel at West Alexander.
The following year, 1837, he sent Rev. Father Galla-
gher to take charge of this and surrounding missions,
with headquarters in Brownsville. Father Gallagher

was thelfirst regularly appointed pastor of the Oath- ,

olic Church in Washington County. He had a large
field to labor in, but managed to attend to the church
at West Alexander once a month. He also visited
Washington monthly, and from this time we may
date the separation of the two congregations of Wash-

‘ ington and West Alexander, now Claysville.

ST. JAMEs’ CHURCH, WEsT ALEXANDER, .NOW
SACRED HEART, CLAYSVILLE.-—Al)0ut the year 1839
or 1840, Right Rev. Bishop Kenrick visited this far-
away portion of his scattered flock. a second time,
held divine service, and confirmed in the old St.
James’ Chapel at West Alexander. Father Gallagher
was succeeded in 1846 by the Rev. P. Duffy. Under
his energetic administration the old frame church was
torn down and a new brick one erected in its place,
larger than the first, being thirty-three by fifty. The
ground on which both of these churches stood was
part of a donation of two acres from Mr. Michael

.Dougherty, a Catholic, and Mr. Schaefer, a Protest-

ant, both of whose farms lay adjoining the spot. It
is a beautiful place, commanding an extensive view
of the surrounding country. The cemetery of this
congregation is -still there, and few more charming
sites can be found among the hills of Pennsylvania
than this peaceful little city of the dead.

Father Duffy remained but a short time, and was
succeeded for a brief period by the Rev. Father Gal-
lagher a second time. Rev. James Kearney came
after in 1849, and Rev. James McGowan in 1850. He
was succeeded by Rev. Henry Duff Lambert. '

In 1852, Brownsville was separated from this mis-
sion,_and the Rev. Daniel Hickey was appointed to
take charge of West Alexander, Washington, and the
Greene County missions. He took up his residence
near the church, the first resident Catholic clergyman
in Washington County. The Hempfield Railroad
was being constructed about this time, and owing to
the number of Irish Catholic workmen employed
there was a large though temporary increase of the
congregation. When this influx subsided St. James’
congregation numbered about twenty, or, at the most,
twenty-five families, made up of the descendants of
old settlers, of those who had worked on the pike, and
of some who worked on the building of the Hemp-
field road, and remained after it was done. Father
Hickey died Oct. 5, 1854, in the thirty-first year of
his age, and was buried in the church cemetery. A
beautiful marble‘ monument over his grave attests the
devotion of the people among whom the labor of his
young life was spent.

Rev. John Farren came next; then Rev. Francis
O’Shea in 1855; Rev. Jerome Kearney in 1856; Rev.

‘Francis O’Shea came a second time in 1858, and was

succeeded in the spring of 1859 by Rev. Dennis
Kearney. Rev. James Nolan came in the spring of
1860; Rev. Patrick Sheehan in the summer of 1862.
In January, 1864, Rev. James Lahaney. In October,
1866, Rev. J. Scanlan. Rev. J. McEnrue came in
the summer of 1868, and remained until 1873. The
old church, built in 1846, had become by this time un-
safe, and besides was badly located for the conven-
ience of the bulk of the congregation. Ground was,
therefore, purchased in the borough of Claysville,
about five miles from the old site, with a view of erect-
ing a new church. The foundation of the new church
was completed when Father McEnrue left in January,
1873. Rev. J. A. Canevin succeeded, but remained
only a short time, leaving early in the summer of
187 3. Rev. F. McCarthy was then appointed. Mass
was said meanwhile in private houses, and in the
school hall in the borough of Claysville. Old St.
James’ Church near West Alexander was sold for the
value of the material it contained, and some time after-
torn down.

The new church was energeticallypushed forward,

and completed in 1874. It is abrick structure, eighty A
. feet in length by thirty-five in width, with a brick

tower in the front centre, and tastefully finished
throughout. It was dedicated under the title of the
Church of the Sacred Heart by the Rt. Rev. M. Dom-
enec in the summer of 1875. Rev. F. McCarthy left
in the spring of 1877. Rev. T. Howley succeeded
him, and remained until January, 1879. Rev. J.
Malady came next.

fully for over three years, and died in Washington,
April 27, 1882, in the twenty-eighth year of his age.
The number of families belonging to the Church of

the Sacred Heart at Claysville is not perceptibly larger _

than it was twenty or thirty years ago. N 0 new indus-
try has been developed in the vicinity, and the natural

increase has been counterbalanced by death and the '

departure from time to time of much of the younger
portion for more promising fields and pastures new.
CHURCH, OF THE IMMACULATE CONCEPTION,
WAsI—IINGTON.——The first appearance of Catholicity
in this town was in the person of the Rev. Father
Lannigan in 1801, and the first public utterance of

its doctrine was doubtless his sermon in the court-'

house at the same time. Rev. C. ‘McGuire, the ven-
erable founder of St. Paul’s Cathedral, Pittsburgh,
came through several times previous to and during
the years 1820-21. Rev. P. Rafferty, of Pittsburgh,
came and held divine service in, the house of Mat-
thew Blake. The name of a certain Rev. Mazachelli
is also mentioned as coming after him. In the year
1836, Rt. Rev. Bishop Kenrick, of Philadelphia, came
at an episcopal invitation, and held divine service,
preached, and confirmed in the court-house. The

He was appointed immediately ,6
after his ordination, and labored zealously and fruit-

RELIGIOUS HISTORY.   425

congregation at this time did not number ten families.
In 1837, Rev. M. Gallagher was sent to take charge.
He visited this mission separately from that at West
Alexander, and about once a month. The history of the
Catholic Church in VVashington may be said to begin
from this time, when an independent congregation
was organized. Being, however, always . under the
care of the same pastor as the West Alexander mis-
sion, the change of incumbent was always the same
for both. Soon after this the Catholics bought a lot
on Maiden Street, opposite the present gas-works,
with a View of building a church. Their Protestant
neighbors, however, proved so decidedly hostile that
they abandoned the project, and bought the lot of the
present site, then outside the borough limits. Hap-

- -pily the spirit displayed on this occasion is now a

thing of the past, and without regard to theological
tenets the courtesies of life can be interchanged and
kindliness exist among men. The new lot purchased
was forty feet by sixty, to which was added another
piece, twenty by eighty, of adjoining lot, donated to
the church by Mr. Anthony Rentz. The lot was pur-
chased March, 1842.‘

A short time previous to this the Rt. Rev. Bishop
Kenrick visited .this part of his flock a second time
and administered confirmation. In company with
the Methodist clergyman, Rev. Mr. Holmes, he dined
at the house of Mr. Rush,‘on Chestnut Street. So
mutually agreeable did this odd association prove

that after dinner they adjourned to the minister’s

house, where the Catholic bishop passed a very pleas-

ant evening with the preacher.

From this time mass was said at different Catholic
houses in the town, and finally in the court-house
until the church was built. The Work of building a
church was begun in 1853 under Rev. D. Hickey.

"Rev. J. Farren, who succeededafter the death of
,Father Hickey, completed the work begun; and the
church was finally dedicated under the title of the

Church of the Imma.culate Conception by Bishop
Whelan, of Wlheeling, Aug. 26, 1855. About this
time, or soon after, services began to be held below
Canonsburg on the Pittsburgh pike, for a few fami-
lies scattered around in that neighborhood. It is still
attended monthly, and bids fair to increase. A new
burial—ground was purchased in 1872 by Rev. J. Mc-
Enrue. It is beautifully situatédnon the slope of a
hill about one mile from town on the Pittsburgh
pike. Under the administration of Rev. J. Malady
it was surveyed and staked off according to a well-
arranged plan, which will add much to the beauty of
the place when the improvements are carried out.
The church in Washington has steadily increased
from the beginning, so that whereas in 1852 there
were no more than twelve families, now there are
over fifty. Property is being bought next to the
church, and the, future presents an encouraging out-
look for the Catholic Church in Washington.
CHURCH OF THE TRANSFIGURATION, MONONGA-

HELA CITY.—-This church is in charge of the pastor
of the Catholic Church of Elizabeth, on the opposite
side of the Monongahela, in Allegheny County-. Its
history -is comparatively recent. Divine services were
first held in the town by Rev. J. O’Reilly, of Pitts-
burgh, 1835, although mass was said for a few years
before two or three miles back of the town for a few
families that resided there. A new church was begun
in 1865, and dedicated the following year by the Rt.
Rev. M. Domenec. It is a plain brick building,
thirty-five by sixty. The congregation is composed
principally of miners, is fluctuating in size,and never
very large. '

CHAPTER XXXV.

RELIGIOUS HISTORY.——-( Continued.)

SOLOMON SPAULDING AND THE BOOK OF MORMON.1

THE conviction has become almost universal, except
among Mormons themselves, that the,“ Book of Mor-
mon” was founded upon Rev. Solomon Spaulding’s
romance, entitled “Manuscript Found.” It is emi-
nently fitting, therefore, that a history of Washington
County, Pa., in one of whose villages Spaulding spent
his last years, and where, after a checkered life, his
wearied body found‘ its resting-place, should contain
at least a brief notice of the man whose pen has been
the guiltless cause of one of the most remarkable de-
lusions the world has ever witnessed.

Solomon Spaulding was born in Ashford, Conn., in

1761; graduated at Dartmouth College, N. H., in

1785 ; entered the ministry of the Congregational
Church; preached for three or four years, and then,
on account of impaired health, relinquished the sacred
oflice, removed to Cherry Va.lley, N. Y., and engaged
in mercantile business; in a few years failed in this en-
terprise, and in 1809 removed to Conneaut (formerly
New Salem), Ashtabula Co., Ohio, where he engaged
in building a forge. This business also proved unsuc-

cessful, and he became involved in debt. Residing at I

Conneaut for three years, his attention was arrested
by the ‘numerous Indian mounds and fortifications in
its vicinity, and being a man of literary tastes, and
particularly fond of history, he conceived the. project
of writing a romance which would purport to account
for the presence of the mound-builders on this conti-
nent, and to narrate their history. This employment
beguiled the tedious hours of his enforced leisure, and
when the romance approached completion, the idea
suggested itself that its publication, by the profits
arising from its sale, might enable him to discharge
his debts.

The time of Spaulding’s residence at Conneaut was
chiefly spent in the preparation of this historical ro-

 

1.By Robert Patterson, Pittsburgh.

.ant one.

426

HISTORY OF WASHINGTON COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA.

mance, and as the work progressed the author was
accustomed to inform his neighbors, who would gladly

- assemble to hear each new installment read. In this

small frontier settlement, where books were few and

mail facilities very limited, each additional portion of "

the romance was awaited with thesame interest with
which the reader of the modern magazine looks for
the number that will contain a. fresh installment of
the popular serial of the day. The characters and the
incidents became subjects of general discussion, the
outlines of the narrative were deeply impressed on the
minds of the hearers, and the names of the prominent
personages grew “ familiar as household words.”

At last, in 1812, with the fond hope that his day-
dreams might be converted into something more sub-
stantial, Spaulding removed to Pittsburgh, at that
time a small but rapidly-growing city (its population
in 1810 was 4768, with 767 houses in all), and took
his manuscript to the printing-oflice of V Mr. Patterson
(father of the present writer) to see if arrangements
could be made for its publication. For some reason,
probably lack of funds on the part of the author and
doubts of success on that of the publisher, it was not
given to the world. In 1814, Mr. Spaulding removed
to Amity, Washington Co., Pa., where he died Oct.
20, 1816.1 His widow removed to the home of her
brother, W. H. Sabine, Esq., at Onondaga Valley,
N. Y. I '

Thus far all accounts agree. What became of Mr.
Spaulding’s manuscript is not so clear. That it was
not published is matterfor profound regret. How
many bitter tears had remained unshed, how many
homes undesolated, how many hearts unbroken
had the printing in 1812 of Spaulding’s prose epic
rendered forever impossible the imposture under
Which, eighteen years afterwards, with many incon-
gruous additions, it saw the light!

In this discussion there are manifestly but two

points to be considered. The first is to establish the

fact that the historical portions of the Book of Mormon
are certainly derived'from Spaulding’s “ Manuscript
Found;” and the second to show, if practicable, in
what way and by whom the plagiarism was probably
effected. Of these, the first is the only vitally import-
If the identity can be determined the
imposture will be proved, even though it may not be
possible to demonstrate absolutely how the fraud was
perpetrated.

1 The headstone which formerly marked the grave of Mr. Spaulding
at Amity has almost entirely disappeared. Rev. Abner Jackson, of
Canton, Ohio, when visiting Amity in 1840, thoughtfully copied the
inscription, then entire, from the crumbling stone, and records it in his
letter published in the Washington Reporter of Jan. 7, 1881. It was as
follows: ' 4

IN MEMORY or

Solomon Spaulding, who departed this life Oct. 20th, A.l). 1816. Aged

55 years.
“ Kind cherubs, guard the sleeping clay

Until the great decision day,
And saints complete in glory rise
To share the triumphs of the skies.”

I. THE PLAGIARIsM.——In our inquiries upon the
first point a merited tribute should be paid to the
value of Mr. E. D. Howe’s “Mormonism Unveiled,”
issued by its author at Painesville, Ohio, in 1835, only
five yearsafter the publication at Palmyra, N. Y.,
of the Book of Mormon, by Joseph Smith. Mr.
Howe’s work was the pioneer upon this subject, and
though long out of print, the few copies extant are
still the store-house from which successive investiga-
tors derive their most important facts. It contains
the statements’ of eight witnesses, whose testimonials
were obtained in 1833, twenty-one years after Mr‘.
Spaulding left Conneaut, seventeen years after his
death, and three years after the appearance of the
Book of Mormon. Their authenticity has never been
impeached. Our limits permit only the extracts given
below, but as printed in full by Mr. Howe they show
the opportunities of the respective writers to become
fully acquainted with Mr. Spaulding’s romance, and
this feature, had we room for the entire statements,
would give" them great additional force. Our tran-
script is taken at second-hand from D. P. Kid'der’s
“ Mormonismand the Mormons,” Carlton & Lanahan,
publishers, New York, 1842.

1. John Spaulding, a brother of Solomon, visited
the latter at Conneaut just before his removal, and
states as follows:

“ He then told me he had been writing a book, which he intended to
have printed, the avails of which he thought would enable him to pay
all his debts. The book was entitled the ‘ Manuscript Found,’ of which
he read to me many passages. It was an historical romance of the first
settlers of America, endeavoring to show that the American Indians are
the descendants of the Jews, or the lost tribes. It gave a detailed ac-
count of their journey from Jerusalem, by land and sea, till they ar-
rived in America, under the command of NEPHIE and LEHI. They
afterward had quarrels and contentions, and separated into two distinct
nations, one of which he denominated Nephites and the other Laman-
ites. Cruel and bloody wars ensued, in which great multitudes were

slain. . They buried their dead in large heaps, which caused the mounds.

so common in this country. . . . I have recently read the Book of Mor-
mon, and, to my great surprise, I find nearly the same historical matter,

names, &c., as they were in my brother’s writings. I well remember.

that he wrote in the old style, and commenced about every sentence
with ‘ And it came to pass,’ or ‘ Now it came to pass,’ the same as in the
Book of Mormon, and according to the best of my recollection and be-
lief, it is the same as my brother Solomon wrote, with the exception of
the religious matter.”

2. Mrs. Martha Spaulding, wife of John Spaulding,
states in regard to Solomon Spaulding and his writings
as follows:

“ I was personally acquainted with Solomon Spaulding about twenty
years ago. . . . The lapse of time which has intervened prevents my
recollecting but few of the leading incidents of his writings; but the

names of Nephi and Lehi are yet fresh in my memory as being the prin- I

cipal heroes of his tale. They were officers of the company which first
came off from Jerusalem. He gave a particular account of their jour-
ney by land and sea till they arrived in America, after which disputes
arose between the chiefs, which caused them to separate into different
bands, one of which was called Lamanites and the other N ephites. Be-
tween these were recounted tremendous battles, which frequently cov-
ered the ground with the slain; and these being buried in large heaps
was the cause of the numerous mounds in the country. . . . I have read the
Book of Mormon, which has brought fresh to my recollection the writ-
ings of Solomon Spaulding; and I have no manner of doubt that the
historical part of it is the same that I read, and heard read, more than
twenty years ago. The old obsolete style,'and the phrases of ‘And it
came to pass,’ &c., are the same.”

RELIGIOUS

HISTORY. “ 427

3. Henry Lake, the partner of Spaulding in build-
ing the forge, Writes from Conneaut in September,
1833, as follows :

“ He [Spaulding] very frequently read to me from a manuscript which
he was writing, which he entitled the ‘ Manuscript Found,’ and which
he represented as being found in this town. I spent many hours in
hearing him read said writings, and became well acquainted with their
contents. He wishes me to assist him in getting his production printed,
alleging that a book of that kind would meet with a rapid sale. I de-
signed doing so, but the forge not meeting our anticipations we failed
in business, when I declined having anything to do with the publica-
tion of the book. This book represented the American Indians as the
descendants of the lost tribes, gave an account of their leaving Jeru-
salem, their contentions and wars, which were many and great. One
time when he was reading to me the tragic account of Laban I pointed
out to him what I considered an inconsistency, which he promised to
correct; but by referring to the Book of Mormon I find, to my surprise,
that it stands there just as he read it to me then. Some months ago I

— borrowed the Golden Bible, put it into my pocket. carried it home, and

thought no more of it. About a week after my wife found the book in
myicoat—pocket as it hung up, and commenced reading it aloud as I lay
upon the bed. She had not read twenty minutes till I was ‘astonished
to find the same passages in it that Spaulding had read to me more than
twenty years before from his ‘Manuscript Found.’ Since that I have
more fully examined the said Golden Bible, and have no hesitation in
saying that the historical part of it is principally if not wholly taken
from the ‘ Manuscript Found.’ I well recollect telling Mr. Spaulding
that the so frequent use of the words,‘And it came to pass,’ ‘ Now it
came to pass,’ rendered it ridiculous.”

It should be stated in explanation of the above
that the Book of Mormon, at the time of its publi-
cation, was frequently spoken of as the “Golden
Bible.” Also that an incongruity occurs in the
story of Laban, in the First Book of Nephi, where

Nephi says they “did speak many hard words unto

us, their younger brothers, and they did smite us even
with a rod.” Whereupon an angel appears and says,
“ Why do ye smite your younger brother with a rod?”
Consistency would require that the number, whether
plural or‘ singular, should be the same in both sen-
tences. The oversight is in itself a trifle, but its oc-

currence in both the Spaulding manuscript and the

Book of Mormon is an unanswerable proof of identity.
4. John N. Miller writes from Springfield, Pa.,
September, 1833, as follows :

“ In the year 1811 I was in the employ of Henry Lakeuand Solomon
Spauldin g, at Conneaut, engaged in rebuilding a forge. While there I
boarded and lodged in the family of said Spaulding for several months.
I was soon introduced to the manuscript of Spaulding, and perused it
as often as I had leisure. He had written two or three books or pam-
phlets on different subjects, but that which more particularly drew my
attention was one which he called the ‘ Manuscript Found.’ . . . It pur-
ported to be the history of the first settlement of America before dis-
covered by Columbus. He brought them off from Jerusalem under their
leaders, detailing their travels by land and water, their manners, cus-
toms, laws, wars, etc. He said that he designed it as an historical novel,
and that in after-years it would be believed by many people as much as
the history of England. . . . I have recently examined the ‘Book of
Mormon,’ and find in it the writings of Solomon Spaulding from begin-
ning to end, but mixed up with Scripture and other religious matter
which I did not meet with in the ‘Manuscript Found.’ Many of the
passages of the Mormon Book arelverbatim from Spaulding, and others
‘in part. The names of , N ephi, Lehi, Moroni, and in fact all the princi-
pal names are brought fresh to my recollection by the Golden Bible.
When Spaulding divested his history ot' its fabulous names by a verbal
explanation, he landed his people near the Straits of Darien, which I
am very confident he called Zarahemla. They were marched about
that country for a length of time, in which wars and great bloodshed
ensued. He brought them across North America in a northeast di-
rection.” ‘

5. Aaron Wright, a former neighbor of Spaulding,
writes at Conneaut, August, 1833, as follows:
“I first became acquainted with Solomon Spaulding in 1808 or 1809,

when he commenced building a forge on Conneaut Creek. When at his
house one day he showed and read to me a history he was writing of the

‘lost tribes of Israel, purporting that they were the first settlers of Amer-

ica, and that the Indians were their descendants. Upon this subject
we had frequent conversations. He traced theirjourney from Jerusa-
lem to America, as it is given in the Book of Mormon, excepting the
religious matter. The historical part of the Book of Mormon I know
to be the same as I read and heard read from the writings of Spaulding
more than twenty years ago; the names more especially are the same
without any alteration. He told me his object was to account for all the
fortifications, etc., to be found in this country, and said that in time it
would be fully believed by all except learned men and historians. I
once anticipated reading his writings in print, but littlelexpected to see
them in a new Bible. . . . In conclusion, I will observe that the names
and most of the historical part of the Book of Mormon were as familiar
to me before I read it as most modern history.”

6. Oliver Smith, another old neighbor of Spauld-
ing, writes at Conneaut, August, 1833 :

“ When Solomon Spaulding first came to this place, he purchased a
tract of land, surveyed it out, and commenced selling it. While engaged
in this business he boarded at my house, in all nearly six months.‘ All
his leisure hours were occupied in writing an historical novel founded
upon the first settlers of this country. He said he intended to trace
their journey from Jerusalem, by land and sea, till their arrival in
America ; give an account’of their arts, sciences, civilization, wars, and
contentions. In this way he would give a satisfactory account of all
the old mounds so common to this country. During the time he was at
my house I read and heard read one hundred pages or more. Nephi
and Lehi were by him represented as leading characters when they first
started for America. . . . [Mr. Smith narrates his last interview with
Spaulding, when the latter was about starting for Pittsburgh, and so-
licited Smith’s leniency as one of his creditors, not to prevent his going.
Mr. Smith then closes as follows :] This was the last I heard of Spauld-
ing or his book until the Book of Mormon came into the neighborhood.
When I heard the historical part of it related, I at once said it was the
writing of old Solomon Spaulding. Soon after I obtained the book, and
on reading it found much of it the same as Spaulding had written more
than twenty years before.”

7. Nahum Howard, another of Spaulding’s neigh-
bors in Ohio, writes from Conneaut, in August, 1833,
as follows:

“ I first became acquainted with Solomon Spaulding in December, 1810.
After that time I frequently saw him at his house and also at my house.

"I once, in conversation with him, expressed a surprise at not having any

account of the inhabitants once in this country, who erected the old
forts, mounds, etc. He then told me that he was writing a history of
that race of people, and afterwards frequently showed me his writings,
which I read. I have lately read the Book of Mormon, and believe it to
be the same as Spaulding wrote, except the religious part. He told me
that he intended to get his writings published in Pittsburgh, and he
thought that in one century from that time it would be believed as much
as any other history.”

8. Artemas Cunningham, of Perry, Geauga Co.,
Ohio, who visited Spaulding in October, 1811, at
Conneaut for the purpose of securing a debt due him
from Spaulding, found the latter “ destitute of . the
means of paying his debts,” his only hope resting
“ upon the sale of a book which he had been writing,”
and which, he thought, “would meet with a ready
sale.” Mr. Cunningham, writing in 1833, proceeds to
say: -

“ Before showing me his manuscripts he went into a verbal relation of
its outlines, saying that it was a fabulous or romantic history of the first
settlement of this country, and as it purported to have been a record

found buried in the earth, or in a cave, he had adopted the ancient or
Scripture style of writing. He then presented his manuscripts, when

428

HISTORY OF WASHINGTON COUN TY, PEN N SYINAN IA.

we sat down and spent a. good share of the night in reading them and

conversing upon them. I well remember the name of Nephi, who ap-
peared to be the principal hero of the story. The frequent repetition of
the phrase ‘ I, Nephi,’ I recollect as distinctly as though it was but yes-
terday, although the general features of the story have passed from my
memory through the lapse of twenty-two years. He attempted to ac-
count for the numerous antiquities which are found upon this continent,»
and remarked that after this generation had passed away, his account
of the first inhabitants of America would be considered as authentic as
any other history. The Mormon Bible I have partially examined, and
am fully of the opinion that Solomon Spaulding had written its outlines
before he left Conneaut.” I

The testimony of these eight witnesses was pub-
lished by Mr. Howe in 1835 at Painesville, Ohio, in
close proximity to Kirtland, then the headquarters of
rMormonism, where Rigdon in that very year deliv-
ered his seven famous lectures on faith, which are
prefixed to theMormon “Doctrine and Covenants,”
where the same year the first “ quorum of the twelve
apostles” was ordained, and where in the following
year the first Mormon temple was dedicated. ‘Through
all this portion of Ohio public curiosity in regard to
this—new fanaticism had been intensely excited, and
Mr. I-Iowe’s book was widely disseminated by his
agents. Of its contents Rigdon and Smith could not
possibly have remained in ignorance. Yet no denial,
no protest, not the slightest attempt to evade these
clear proofs of plagiarism was made, and under such
a charge, so direct and public, preferred by persons
of intelligence and of unimpeachable veracity, silence
was equivalent to a confession of guilt. So strong,
moreover, was Mr. Spaulding’s disposition to read his
history to every willing auditor, that the number of
attestants to its general character and contents could
at that date easily have been quadrupled. Other
witnesses in other places have since 1835 added their
evidence to that already given. Extracts from their
statements are subjoined:

9. Mrs. Matilda (Spaulding) Davison, the widow
of Rev. Solomon Spaulding (married in 1820 to Mr.
Davison, of Hartwick, Otsego Co., N. Y.) made a
statement in 1839 to Rev. D. R. Austin, of Monson,
Mass., which was written down by him and published
in the Boston Recorder in May of that-year. She re-
lates substantially, as already mentioned, the circum-
stances under which her late husband’s “imaginary
history” was composed, and adds,-

“It claimed to have been written by one of the lost nation, and to
have been recovered from the earth, and assumed the title of ‘Manu-
script Found.’ The neighbors would often inquire how Mr. Spaulding
progressed in deciphering the manuscript; and when he had a sufiicient
portion prepared, he would inform them, and they would assemble to hear
it read. . . . After the Book of Mormon came out, a copy of it was taken
to New Salem, the place of Mr. Spaulding’s former residence, and the
very place where’ the ‘Manuscript Found’ was written. A Mormon
preacher appointed a meeting there, and in the meeting read and re-
peated copious extracts from the Book of Mormon. The historical part
was immediately recognized by all the older inhabitants as the identical
work of Mr. Spaulding, in which they had all been so deeply interested
years before. Mr. John Spaulding was present and recognized perfectly
the work of his brother. He was amazed and afllicted that it should

have been perverted to so wicked a purpose. His grief found vent in a
flood of tears, and he arose on the spot and expressed to the meeting his

sorrow and regret that the writings of his deceased brother should be

used for a purpose so vile and shocking.”

10. Mrs. M. S.‘ McKinstry, the only child of Rev.
Solomon Spaulding, made a statement at Washington,
D. C., April 3, 1880, which was carefully taken down
by Mrs. E. E. Dickinson, and was published in Scrib-
ner’s Monthly for August, 1880, in which, speaking of
her father’s “ Manuscript Found,” she says,——

“ He read the manuscript, which I had seen him writing, to the neigh-
bors and to a clergyman—a friend of his-—who came to see him. Some of
the names that he mentioned while reading to these people I have never

forgotten. They are as fresh to me to-day as though I heard them yes-
terday. They were ‘ Mormon,’ ‘ Maroni,’ ‘Lamanite,’ ‘ Nephi.’ ”

11. William H. Sabine, Esq., of Onondaga Valley,
Onondaga Co., N. Y., a lawyer of eminence and ac-
customed to weigh evidence, was the brotherof Mrs.
Solomon Spaulding, at whose request she gave D. P.
Hurlbut authority to receive her late husband’s “ Man-
uscript Found” from Mr. Clark, at Hartwick, N. Y., in
whose careit had been left. Mrs. McKinstry, in her
statement above referred to, says that “Mr. Sabine
had undoubtedly read the manuscript while it was in
his house, and had faith that its production would
show to the world that the Mormon Bible had been
taken from it.” He based his request for the l-oan of
the manuscript to Hurlbut upon his “desire to uproot
this Mormon fraud.”

12. To these statements of members of Spaulding’s
family or connection must be added the testimony
of Joseph Miller, of Amity, Pa., born _Feb. 1, 1791,
and now in his ninety-second year. His memory,
notwithstanding his advanced age, is remarkably
clear and distinct; he has long been a ruling elder
in the Cumberland Presbyterian Church, and his
veracity is unimpeachable. He was intimately ac-
quainted with Spaulding during the entire residence
of the latter in Amity; often heard him read his ro-
mance; assisted in nursing him during his last ill-
ness, in performing the last offices to his remains, and
in settling his temporal affairs. He is the oldest of
three men who are living witnesses to the identity of
the Book of Mormon with the Spaulding manuscript
as read in their hearing by its author. Mr. Miller’s
testimony has been repeatedly published. The fol-
lowing extracts are taken from the record made, with
the utmost care to be accurate, by Dr. W. W. Sharp,
of Amity, and published in the Pittsburg/2 Telegraph,
Feb. 6, 1879. Mr. Miller says,———

“I was well acquainted with Mr. Spaulding when he lived in Amity,
Pa. . . . Mr. Spaulding seemed to take delight in reading from his
manuscript (written on foolscap) for the entertainment of his frequent
visitors. Heard him read most, if not all of it, and had frequent con-
versations with him about it. Some time ago I had in my possession for
about six months the Book of Mormon, and heard most of it read during
that time. . . . On hearing read the account from the book of the battle
between the Amlicites and the Nephites [Book of Alma, chapter i.], in
which the soldiers of one army had placed a red mark on their foreheads
to distinguish them from their enemies, it seemed to reproduce in my
mind not onlyvthe narration but the very words, as they had been im-
pressed on my mind by the reading of Spaulding’s manuscript. . . . The
longer I live the more firmly I am convinced that Spaulding’s manu-
script was appropriated and largely used in getting up the Book of Mor-
mon. I believe that, leaving out of the book the portions that may be

easily recognized as the work of Joe Smith and his accomplices, Solomon
Spauldiug may be truly said to be its author. I have not a doubt of it.”

RELIGIOUS HISTORY.

429

13. Redick ‘McKee, Esq., formerly a resident of
Washington County, Pa., afterwards of Wheeling,
W. Va., and now of Washington, D. C., a ruling
elder in the Presbyterian Church, and ‘esteemed for
his many Christian virtues, is another living witness
to the similarity of the Book of Mormon and Spaul-
ding’s manuscript. In a communication from Wash-
ington, D. C., April 14, 1869, published in the Wash-
ington (Pa.) Reporter for April 21, 1869, and suggested
by a statement then recently published in the Re-
porter by Rev. J. W. Hamilton of the reminiscences
of Mr. Joseph Miller, above mentioned, Mr. McKee
writes,——

“In the fall of 1814 I arrived inithe village of ‘Good Will,’ and for
eighteen or twenty months sold goods in the store previously occupied

- by Mr. Thos. Brice. It was on Main Street, a few doors west of Spaul-

ding’s tavern, where I was a boarder. With both Mr. Solomon Spaulding
and his wife I was quite intimately acquainted. . . . I recollect quite
well Mr. Spaulding spending much time in writing (on sheets of paper
torn out of an old book) what purported to be a veritable history of the
nati.ons or tribes who inhabited Canaan. . . . He called it ‘ Lost History
Found,’ ‘Lost’ Manuscript,’ or some such name, not disguising that it
was wholly a work of. the imagination, written to amuse himself, and
without any immediate view tb publication. . . . I was struck with the
minuteness of his details and the apparent truthfulness and sincerity of
the author. . . . I have an indistinct recollection of the passage referred
to by Mr. Miller about the Amlicites making a cross with red paint on
their foreheads to distinguish them from enemies in the confusion of
battle.” - 7

Also, in a letter to the present writer, dated Wash-
ington, D. C., April 15, 1879, Mr. McKee says,-

“ There can be no doubt that the Book of Mormon was founded on and
largely copied from the vigorous romance of Solomon Spaulding.”

14. Rev. Abner Jackson, of Canton, Ohio, in a com-
munication to the VVashington County Historical So-
ciety, dated Dec. 20, 1880, and published in the Wash-
ington Reporter of Jan. 7, 1881, gives a more minute
account of Spaulding’s romance, and a fuller outline

' of its narrative, than any of the preceding witnesses.

He also institutes a close comparison between its plot
and that of the Book of Mormon, showing the strict
adherence of the latter to the former. Just before
Mr. Spaulding’s removal to Pittsburgh he brought his
romance to Mr. Jackson’s father, read much of the
story to him, and gave him an outline of the whole.
The son, being confined to the house with a lame
knee, was present, and heard the conversation that
passed between them. He is the third surviving wit-
ness to the unmistakable resemblance between the
Book of Mormon and Spaulding’s story. Of the latter
he gives his recollections, and adds,—

“Spaulding frequently read his manuscript to the neighbors, and
amused them as he progressed with his work. He wrote it in Bible
style. ‘And it came to pass’ occurred so often that some called him
‘ Old Come-to-pass.’ . . . The Book of Mormon follows the romance too
closely to be a stranger. In both many persons appear having the same
name, as Maroni, Mormon, Nephites, Laman, Lamanites, Nephi, and
others. Here we are presented with romance second, called the Book
of Mormon, telling the same story of the same people, traveling from
the same plain in the same way, having the same difliculties and desti-
nation, with the same wars, same battles, and same results, with thou-
sands upon thousands slain. Then see the Mormon account of the last
battle, at Cumorah, where all the righteous were slain. . . . How much
this resembles the closing scene in the ‘ Manuscript Found !’ The most

28

singular part of the whole matter is that it follows the romance so
closely with this difference: the first claims to be a romance; the second
claims to be a revelation of God, a new Bible! When it was brought to
Conneaut, and read there in public, old Esquire Wright heard it and ex-
claimed, ‘ Old Come-to-pass has come to life again!’ Here was the place
where Spaulding wrote and read his manuscript to the neighbors for
their amusement, and ’Squire Wright had often heard him read from his
romance. This was in 1832, sixteen years after Spaulding’s death. This
’Squire Wright lived on a farm just outside of the little village. I was
acquainted with him for twenty-five years. I lived on his farm when I
was a boy, and attended school in the village. I am particular to notice
these things to show that I had an opportunity of knowing what I am
writing about.” A

The testimony of Esquire Wright was given above
(No. 5). The constant recurrence in Spaulding’s
romance of the phrase, “And it came to pass” has

been referred to by a number of the above witnesses,

and Spaulding himself was admonished of its undue
repetition, yet failed to remedy the defect. It is an
important coincidence, worthy of special_observation,
that in no other volume probably in the whole range
of English literature does the same peculiarity occur
with one-tenth the frequency of its appearance in the
Book of Mormon. This remarkable concurrence of a
literary blemish is itself an indication of a common
origin. The authorship of the Homeric poems, and
even of some portions of the Bible, has been disputed
by scholars on the ground of thefpresence or absence
of much slighter peculiarities.

15. Rev. Robert Patterson, to whom the Spaulding
manuscript was taken in 1812 for publication, should
certainlyhave been applied to for information among
the first. Mr. Howe, in his book already mentioned,
states that “ Mr. Patterson said hehad no recollection
of any such manuscript being brought there for pub-
lication, neither would he have been likely to have
seen it, as the business of printing was conducted
wholly by Lambdin at that time.” This statement
seems irreconcilable with the testimony of the widow
and daughter of Spaulding, and also in conflict with
the fact that the partnership of R. Patterson and
Lambdin was not formed until Jan. 1,‘ 1818. In
1812, Lambdin was a lad of fourteen in the book-
store of Patterson & Hopkins, and afterwards was
continued in the employ of R. & J. Patterson. Mr.
Howe, on being applied to for his authority for the
statement, answered, “I think Hurlbut was the per-
son who talked with Patterson about the manuscript.”
But Hurlbut himself informed the present writer

V (Aug. 19, 1879) that he had never seen Mr. Patter-

son or had any communication with him. There is
therefore no known authority for the statement in
Mr. Howe’s book. On being applied to in 1842 by
Rev. Samuel Williams, who was preparing for publi-
cation a pamphlet entitled “Mormonism EXposed,’.’
Mr. Patterson wrote the following brief certificate,
which we copy in full from Mr. Williams’ pamphlet:

“ R. Patterson had in his employment Silas Engles at the time, a fore-
man printer, and general superintendent of the printing business. As
he [S. 14].] was an excellent scholar, aswell as a good printer, to him was
intrusted the entire concerns of the oflice. ‘ He even decided on the pro-
priety or otherwise of publishing manuscripts when offered,—as to their
morality, scholarship, &c., &c. In this character, he informed R. P. that

48

HISTORY OF WASHINGTON COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA.

of scurrilous language.” The French had received
early information of Braddock’s coming, and parties
of them with their Indian allies had advanced east
beyond the Laurel Hill to meet the English ; not for
the purpose of attacking them-, but to hover along
their front and flanks, to spy out their movements,
murder stragglers, and to keep the commandant at
Fort Du Quesne informed, from day to day, of the
progress of the English forces. From the time when
the troops crossed the Youghiogheny, hostile Indians

were always near them along the route, and evidences N

of their presence multiplied with each succeeding
day’s march.

‘In fact, nearly all the savages west of the moun-
tains were now‘ ranged on the side of the French. A
few only of the Indian allies of the English had re-
mained true to them after the surrender of Fort Ne-
cessity, and among these were Monacatoocha, the
successor of the friendly Half-King,‘ and Scarooyada,
whose acquaintance Washington had made on his trip
to Le Boeuf in the previous year. These two chiefs,
with nearly a hundred and fifty Seneca and Delaware
warriors, had joined the English on their march, and
proposed to accompany them as scouts and guides.
They could without doubt have rendered great ser-
vice in that capacity, and if the warnings of their
forest experience had been listened to,'might perhaps
have saved Braddock’s. army from the disaster which
overtook it. ' But the general despised and rejected
their. services, and treated them with so much of
slight and contempt that they finally retired in dis-
gust and left him to hisfjfate. '

On the 25th of June, “at daybreak, three men who
went- without the sentinels were shot and scalped.”
Gen. Braddock was greatly incensed at these murders,
and issued an order directing that “ every soldier or
Indian shall receive five pounds for each Indian
scalp.” At their halting-place on the same evening
they found the marks of another French and Indian
camp, so lately vacated that the fires were yet burn-
ing. “ The Indians who had occupied it,” said Orme,
“had marked in triumph upon trees the scalps they
had taken two days before, and many of the French
had written on them their names and sundry insolent
expressions. We picked up a commission on the
march, which mentioned the party being under the
command of the Sieur Normanville. This Indian
camp was in a strong situation, being upon a high
rock, with a very narrow and steep ascent to the top.
It had a spring in the middle, and stood at the termi-
nation of the Indian path to the Monongahela, at the
confluence of Redstone Creek. By this path the party
came which attacked Mr. Washington last year, and
also this which. attended us. By their tracks they
seemed to have divided here, the one party going
straight forward to Fort Du Quesne, and the other

3 The Half-King, Tanacharison, had died in the preceding October, at
Harris’, Ferry (now Harrisburg), on the Susquehanna.

returning by Redstone Creek to the Monongahela.

A captain, four subalterns, and ninety volunteers
marched from the‘ camp with proper guides to fall in
the night upon that party which we imagined had
returned by the Monongahela. They found a small
quantity of provisions and a very large bateau, which
they destroyed,” but they saw nothing of the foe they
were sent to capture. I

On the 27th of June the troops reached Gist’s plan-
tation, where they found Lieut.-Col. Burton and Sir

John Sinclair, with a detachment of about four hun-

dred men, who had been sent forward to cut out the
road in advance of the main body. On the 28th the
forces moved on from Gist’s, crossed the Youghio-

I gheny on the 30th, and thence moved northward

along the route of the old Iroquois war trail, leading
to the Allegheny. On the 3d of July “ we marched,”
says Orme in his journal, “about six miles to the Salt
Lick Creek.” Sir John S‘ Clair proposed to the Gen-
eral to halt_ at this camp, and to send back all our
horses to bring up Colonel Dunbar’s detachment,”

which was then encamped at Squaw’s Fort, about ,

three miles east of the Great Crossings of the Youghio-
gheny, in the present county of Somerset. Upon.
this suggestion of Sir John, the general convened a
council of war, composed of -Col. Sir Peter Halket,
Lieut.-Cols. Gage and Burton, Maj. Sparks, and Sir
John Sinclair, D.Q.G. After due consideration of
the ‘proposition, ‘-‘ the council were unanimously of
the opinion not to halt there for Col. Dunbar, but to
proceed the next morning.” _ The camp where this
council of war was held was about one and one-half
miles below the site of the present town of Mount
Pleasant, in Westmoreland County. From this place
the column marched on to the Great Sewickley;
thence to the Brush Fork of Turtle Creek, where
Braddock halted in indecision, as the crossing of that
stream and the passage through the ravines appeared
hazardous.
originally proposed from this point along the ridges
to Fort Du Quesne, and accordingly, turning sharply
to the left, he moved towards the Monongahela, en-
camping on the night of the 8th of July about two
miles east of the river, below the mouth of the
Youghiogheny. It was at this camp that Wash-
ington (although not yet fully recovered from his ill-
ness) rejoined the army, having left Col. Dunbar’s
force near the Great Meadows, and came on “in a

covered wagon,” under protection of a detachment”

sent on to guard a pack-horse train laden with pro-
visions for.the advance column. 4

On the morning of the 9th of July the troops marched
to the Monongahela and crossed to the southwest

shore, moving thence on the left bank for about three’

miles; then recrossed the river at Fraser’s, just be-
low the mouth of Turtle Creek. The crossing was
completed at about one o’clock in the afternoon, and

9 Now known as Jacobs Creek.

He finally decided to abandon the route .

430

HISTORY  WASHINGTON COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA.

a gentleman, from the East originally, had put into his hands a manu-
script of a singular work, chiefly in the style of our English translation
of the Bible, and handed the copy to R. P., who read only a few pages,
and finding nothing apparently exceptionable, he [R. P.] said to Engles
he might publish it if the author furnished the funds or good security.
He [the author] failing to comply with the terms, Mr. Engles returned
the manuscript, as I supposed at that time, after it had been some weeks
in his possession, with other manuscripts in the office.
“ This communication written and signed 2d April, 1842.
“ROBERT PATTERSON.”

It is matter of sincere regret that so meagre a
document is all the written evidence that Mr. Patter-
son has left. Mr. Williams introduces it with the
remark (p. 16) that “Mr. Patterson firmly believes,
also, from what he has heard of the Mormon Bible,
that it is the same thing he examined at that time.”
So many errors of date have crept into this part of
the history of Mormonism that it may be well to
note the following: Mr. Lambdin died Aug. 1, 1825,
in his twenty-seventh year; Mr. Engles, July 17,
1827, in his forty-sixth year; Mr. Patterson, Sept. 5,
1854, in his eighty-second year, Messrs. Williams,
Howe, and Hurlbut are still living (March 4, 1882).

16. A coincidence may here be noted: Mr. Howe,
in 1835, had in his possession a story in Spaulding’s
handwriting, and admitted to be his, which “pur-
ported to have been translated from the Latin, found
on twenty-four rolls of parchment in a cave on the
banks of Conneaut Creek,” giving an account of a
ship driven upon the American coast, with a party
from Rome, previous to the Christian era. The Book
of Ether, which is a portion of the Book of Mormon,
purports to relate the history of a party which com-
menced its wanderings at the confusion of tongues at
Babel, found its way to America, and whose history,
written by Ether upon twenty-four plates whilst he
was concealed in the cavity of a rock, was long after-
wards discovered by the people of Limhi. Here is a
threefold resemblance: each is the history of a col-
ony not Jewish transported to this continent; each
is recorded on the same number of plates or parch-
ments; each colony seeming to have perished; and
each history is hidden in a cave and is long after-
wards discovered. That two plots so much alike
should originate so nearly about the same time and
place in two different minds seems incredible.

17. The statement which follows is accorded a place
here not because_it is entitled in its present form to
be regarded as evidence, but that attention may be
attracted to it and inquiry continued. In “Apple-
ton’s Cyclopaedia,” under the title “ Mormons,” oc-
curs the following statement: “ As early as 1813 this
work [Spaulding’s] was announced in the newspapers
as forthcoming, and as containing a translation of
the ‘ Book of Mormon.’ Spaulding entitled his book
‘ Manuscript Found,’ and intended to publish with it,
by way of preface or advertisement, a fictitious account
of its discovery in a cave in Ohio.” The author of
this article, on being interrogated, could not recall
hisatithority for the statement, but was positive that
he had ample warrant for it at the time of writing.

Few files of Pittsburgh papers of 1813 are in exist-
ence; some perished in the great conflagration of
1845; and all search for the said announcement has
thus far been unsuccessful. Any reader of this para-
graph who has access to a file of Pittsburgh news-
papers of 1813 will do well to institute a search and
report the result. 2

It should be remembered that the evidence adduced

above has reference only to the historical portions of

the Book of Mormon. Intermingled with these are
crude ideas on various theological points that were
themes of popular discussion in Western New York
about the time when this pseudo-revelation was in
preparation for the press. The opportunity of set-
tling disputed points in favor of the side maintained
by the medium of revelation was too good to be lost.
For all such interpolations, and for the constant dis-
regard of grammatical rules-, Mr. Spaulding should
not be held responsible.

The candid inquirer after truth cannot fail to be
impressed by the concurrent testimony of a dozen
witnesses, many of them personally unknown to the
others and widely separated from them, yet agreeing
in their recollections of Spaulding’s romance, its plan
and purpose, its general scope, the names of leading
characters and tribes, its grand division of the popu-
lation of this continent into two classes, the right-
eous and the idolatrous, and the discovery of the
history of these people as recorded, and the record
concealed in the earth. The same witnesses concur in
recognizing precisely the same features in the "' Book
of Mormon,”——-an identity in the names of promi-

nent persons and places; an identity in the amazing

frequency of wars_and the vast number of sanguinary
battles; an identity in events and the order of their
occurrence so great that one witness declares that the
“ Book of Mormon was familiar to him before he read
it ;” an identity of style, even the blemishes of the

, original being faithfully adhered to in the transcript;

and an identity in the alleged discovery of the record
in the earth. All this is established by the united
testimony of men and women of unimpeachable ve-
racity. Much of this evidence was published within
five years after the appearance of the “ Book of Mor-
mon,” must necessarily have been known to the Mor-
mon leaders, and was never contradicted by them.
The conclusion is irresistible that these two produc-
tions must have had a common origin. The adherents.

of Joseph Smith have never claimed that the “ Book. «

of Mormon” was the offspring of his imagination..
They freely admit that he was too illiterate and igno-
rant to accomplish such a task. They contend that.
the “Book of Mormon” was divinely inspired, as.
truly so as the Bible itself. The question is thus nar-
rowed down to a very simple alternative: either the
“Book of Mormon” was inspired or its historical por-
tion was the work of Solomon Spaulding.

II. THE .PLAGrIARIST.—-If the origin of the “Book
of Mormon” has been established by the testimony

RELIGIOUS HISTORY.

cited above, we might at this point lay down the pen,
were it not that public curiosity has been busy with
the inquiry, How was the plagiarism effected? And

' we are free to confess that all the evidence thus far

elicited creates simply a very strong circumstantial
probability. One theory has been advanced that
Smith might have stolen the manuscript from Mrs.
Spau1ding’s trunk whilst it remained for some years
unlocked in the house of her brother, William H.
Sabine, Esq., at Onondaga Valley, N. Y., Smith

being at the time, it is said, a laborer in Mr. Sabine’s

employ. "No evidence is offered that Smith was thus
employed; if so, he was not more than fifteen years
of age, scarcely able to read, and the document would
have been of no use to him; and Mrs. McKinstry’s

- statement in Scm'b'ner’s Jtlont/zly for August, 1880,

effectually disposes of this hypothesis, as she testifies
that about 1820 her mother sent to Mr. Sabine for her
effects, and “- that the old trunk with its contents
reached her in safety.” We have also the evidence
of both mother and daughter. that down to 1834 (the
date of Hurlbut’s visit and four years after the “ Book
of Mormon” was published) the alleged or suggested
theft had not been discovered. Popular opinion has
tended strongly towards the adoption of a different
theory, that the agent through whom the romance was
transformed into a revelation was Sidney Rigdon, and
the evidence both for and against that judgment will

A be _given as briefly as possible.

Sidney Rigdon was born ‘near the present village of
Library, Allegheny Co., Pa., Feb. 19, 1793; attended

in boyhood an ordinary country school; joined the

Baptist Church near his home May 31, 1817; studied
divinity with a Baptist preacher named Clark in
Beaver ‘County, Pa., in the winter of 1818-19, and
was licensed to preach; went to Warren, Ohio, where

' he was ordained, and in the winter of 1821-22 returned

to Pittsburgh; became pastor of the First Baptist

Church there Jan. 28, 1822, and for doctrinal errors 1

was excluded from the Baptist denomination Oct. 11,
1823. He continued to preach in the court-house to
his adherents, but in 1824, according to one account,
he removed to the Western Reserve, Ohio; according
to another account he engaged in the tanning busi-
ness in Pittsburgh until 1826, and then removed to

‘ the Reserve, residing for brief periods at Bainbridge,

Mentor, and Kirtland. At this time he was connected
with the Campbellite or Disciples’ Church, and
preached its doctrines, mingled with extravagant con-
ceits of his own, until in 1830 he joined the Mormons.

The theory hitherto most widely published and per-
haps generally accepted has been that Rigdon was a
printer in Patterson’s printing-oflice when the Spauld-
ing manuscript was brought there in 1812-14, and
that he either copied or purloined it. Having it thus
in his possession, the use made of it was an after-
thought suggested by circumstances many years later.
More recently another theory has been advanced,
that Rigdon obtained possession of the Spaulding

431

manuscript during his pastorate of the First Baptist
Church, or soon thereafter, 1822—24, without any ne-
cessary impropriety on his part, but rather through the
courtesy of some friend, in whose possession it re-~
mained unclaimed, and who regarded it as a literary
curiosity. The friends of Rigdon, in response to the
first charge, deny that he ever resided in Pittsburgh:

previous to 1822, or that he ever wasa printer, and in"

general answer to both chargesaflirm that he never
at any time had access to Spaulding’s manuscript.
Taking up for convenience their statement first, we
find the following evidence in its support:

1. Rigdon’s relatives at Library, Pa., Carvil Rigdon.
(his brother) and Peter Boyer (his brother-in-law), in
a written statement dated Jan. 27, 1843, certify to the
facts and dates as above stated in regard to his birth,
schooling, uniting with the church, licensure, ordina-
tion, and settlement in Pittsburgh in 1822. Mr. Boyer
also in a personal interview with the present writer
in 1879 positively affirmed that Rigdon had never
lived in Pittsburgh previous to 1822, adding that
“they were boys together and he ought to know.”
Mr. Boyer had for a short time embraced Mormonism,
but became convinced that it was a delusion and re-
turned to his membership in the Baptist Church.

2. Isaac King, a highly-respected citizen of Library,
Pa., and an old neighbor of Rigdon, states in a letter
to the present writer, dated June 14, 1879, that Sidney
lived on the farm of his father until the death of the
latter in May, 181-0, and for a number of years after-
wards, farming with very indifferent success; “it was
said he was too lazy and proud to make a good farmer ;”
received his education in a log school-house in the
vicinity; “began to talk in public on religion soon
after his admission to the church, probably at his “own
instance, as there is no record o-f his licensure ;” went
to Sharon, Pa., for a time, and was there ordained as
a preacher, but soon returned to his farm, which he
sold (June 28, 1823) to James Means, and about the
time of the sale removed to Pittsburgh.

3. Samuel Cooper, of Saltsburg, Pa., a veteran of
three wars, in a letter to the present ‘writer, dated
June 14, 187 9, stated as follows: “I was acquainted
with Mr. Lambdin, was often in the printing—office;
was acquainted with Silas Engles, the foreman of the
printing-office; hefnever mentioned Sidney Rigdon’s
name to me, so I am satisfied he was never engaged
there as a printer. I was introduced to Sidney Rigdon
in 1843; he stated to me that he was a Mormon

preacher or lecturer; I was acquainted with him dur-.

ing 1843-45; never knew him before, and never knew
him as a printer ; neversaw him in the book-store or
printing-office ; your father’s oflice was in the cele-
brated Molly Murphy’s Row.”

4. Rev. Robert P. Du Bois, of New ‘London, Pa.,
under «date of Jan. 9, 1879, writes: “I entered the
book-store of R. Patterson & Lambdin in March,
1818, when about twelve years old, and remained
thereuntil the summer of 1820. The firm had under

432

HISTORY OF WASHINGTON COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA.

its control the book-store on Fourth Street, a book-
bindery, a printing-ofiice (not newspaper, but job-
oflice, under the name of Butler & Lambdin), en-
trance on Diamond Alley, and a steam paper-mill on
the Allegheny (under the name of R. & J. Patterson).
I knew nothing of Spaulding (then dead)_ or of his
book, or of Sidney Rigdon.”

5. Mrs. R. W. Lambdin, of Irvington, N. Y., widow
of the late J. Harrison Lambdin, in response to some
inquiries as to her recollections of Rigdon and others,
writes_ under date of Jan. 15, 1882 : “ I am sorry
to say I shall not be able to give you any information
relative to the persons you name. They certainly
could not have been friends of Mr. Lambdin.” Mrs.
Lambdin resided in Pittsburgh from her marriage in
1819 to the death of her husband, Aug. 1, 1825. Mr.
Lambdin was born Sept. 1, 1798.

6. Impartial justice requires the addition to the
above testimony of the very explicit denial of Rigdon
himself, addressed to the Boston Journal, dated at
Commerce (better known afterwards as Nauvoo, Ill.),
May 27, 1839, in reply to the letter of Mrs. Davison,
published a few days before, as already mentioned.
Another extract from her letter will be found farther
on, which provoked the following rejoinder from Rig-
don:

“It is only necessary to say, in relation to the whole story about
Spaulding’s writings being in the hands of Mr. Patterson, who was in
Pittsburgh, and who is said to have kept a printing-office, and my say-
ing that I was concerned in the said office, etc., etc., is the most base of
lies, without even the shadow of truth. There was no man by the name
of Patterson during my residence at Pittsburgh who had a printing-oflice.
. . . Mr. Robert Patterson, I was told, had owned a printing-oflice before
I lived in that city. . . . This Mr. Patterson, who was a Presbyterian
preacher, I had a very slight acquaintance with during my residence in
Pittsburgh. . . . If I were to say that I ever heard of the Rev. Solomon
Spaulding and his hopeful wife until Dr. P. Hurlbut wrote his lie
about me I should be a liar like unto themselves. Why was not the
testimony of Mr. Patterson obtained to give force to this shameful tale
of lies? The only reason is that he was not a fit tool for them to work
with; he would not lie for them, for if he were called on he would tes-
tify to what I have here said.”

V A portion of this letter is too coarse for publica-
tion. The first sentence of the above extract does not
impress one with its author’s grammatical attainments.
He is certainly incorrect, also, as to there being no
Patterson’s printing-office in Pittsburgh during his
residence there, as his pastorate there began in Janu-
ary, 1822, and the firm of R. Patterson & Lambdin
was in business until Jan. 1, 1823. But whatever may
be thought of his testimony, as that of an interested
party, there can be no doubt that the five preceding
witnesses on this point have conscientiously stated
what they firmly believed to be the facts. No one
who knew them would for a moment doubt their
veracity. On the other side, however, we have the
following:

1. Mrs. Davison, in her letter of May, 1839, had
used this language, “ Sidney Rigdon, who has figured
so largely in the history of the Mormons, was at that
time connected with the printing-office of Mr. Patter-
son, as is well known in that region, and, as Rigdon

himself has frequently stated, became acquainted with
Mr. Spaulding’s manuscript, and copied it. It was a
matter of notoriety and interest to all connected with
the printing establishment.”

Rigdon’s passionate reply to this charge by Mrs.
Davison has just been given above; but her impres-
sion deserves to be considered in connection with the
statements of the four witnesses next following. The
question also suggests itself, How could Mrs. Davison
have known anything, in her remote Massachusetts
home, about Rigdon if he did not come to Pittsburgh
until 1822, eight years after her departure?

2. Joseph Miller, of Amity, Pa., In his evidence,
part of which has been already quoted, testified also
as follows:

“ My recollection is that Mr. Spaulding had left a transcript of the
manuscript with Mr. Patterson, of Pittsburgh, Pa., for publication ; that its
publication was delayed until Mr. Spaulding would write a preface, and
in the mean time the transcript was spiritedaway, and could not be
found. Mr. Spaulding told me that Sidney Rigdon had taken it, or that he
was suspicioned for it. Recollect distinctly that Rigdon’s name was used
in that connection.”

On being closely questioned whether he had not
possibly confounded subsequent impressions, derived
from. what he had read and heard, with his personal
recollections of what Spaulding had said, he emphati-
cally answered “N o l” and affirmed positively that
“ it was SpauZding’s own statement.” '

3. Redick McKee, Esq., already mentioned as an '

inmate of Spaulding’s family at Amity; says in his
letter of April 15, 187 9,—

“ Mr. Spaulding told me that he had submitted the work to Mr. Patter-
son for publication, but for some reason it was not printed, and afterwards
returned to him. I also understood he was then occasionally re-writing,
correcting, and he thought improving some passages descriptive of his
supposed battles. In this connection he spoke of the man Rigdon as an
employee in the printing or book-binding establishment of Patterson
& Lambdin, in Pittsburgh; but about him I made no special inquiries.”

Mr. McKee differs from Mr. Miller in his recollec-
tion as to the return of the manuscript, but agrees
with him as to Rigdon being an employee. These two
venerable men are above the suspicion of stating any-
thing they did not believe to be true. We are thus
confronted with the singular fact to which these wit-
nesses testify, that at least‘ fourteen years before the
completion of the plagiarism, and some ten years be-
fore even the conception of it, the future perpetrator
is an object of note, it would seem of suspicion, in
the mind of the man he is one day so deeply to
wrong. By what mysterious intuition did Spaulding
mark the rustic, uneducated youth, innocent as the
latter must then have been of any base intent, whose
name was destined to be so strangely and sorrowfully
blended with his own?

4. Rev. Cephas Dodd, who died Jan. 16, 1858, was
long the pastor of the Presbyterian Church at Amity,
also practiced as a physician, and in this capacity at-

tended Mr. Spaulding in his last illness. Of his tes-

timony Mr. George M. French, now in his eighty-
third year, residing near Amity, and whose wife was a
relative of Sidney Rigdon, retains a vivid impression.

RELIGIOUS HISTORY.

Shortly after Mr. French’s removal from Fayette i

County, Pa., to Amity in 1832, when the Mormon de-
lusion was beginning to excite remark, Dr. Dodd took
Mr. French to Spaulding’s grave, and there told him
his positive belief that Rigdon was the agent in trans-
forming Spaulding’s manuscript into the Book of
Mormon. The conviction thus expressed within two
years after the publication of the Book of Mormon,
and three years before the appearance of Mr. Howe’s
book, which attributed the plagiarism to Rigdon,

I shows that—Dr. Dodd’s judgment was formed inde-
‘ pendently of any of the testimonies cited above. As

to the plagiarism, it must have been based on his own
knowledge of Spaul_ding’s’romance and comparing it
with the Book of Mormon 1; and as to the agent, his at-
tention, like Mr. Miller’s, may first have been directed
to Rigdon by Spaulding himself. Mr. French has no
personal knowledge of Rigdon’s connection with the
printing-office.

5. Mrs. R. J. Eichbaum, of Pittsburgh, now in her
ninetieth ‘year, with a memory marvelously tenacious
of even the minutest incidents, with the vivacity of a
maiden in her teens, with health, until recently, ex-
ceptionally good for one of her years, with a still
keen enjoyment of the humorous, a clear mind, a
kindly heart, and the Christian’s hope of a better ex-
istence, seems to realize Wordsworth’s picture

“ Of an old age serene and bright,
And lovely as a Lapland night." 1

We give her reminiscence in full, dated Pittsburgh,

3 Sept. 18, 1879, only remarking that one who could

hear her relate the incidents of her youth, and specify

‘her reasons for fixing names a11d dates with unusual

distinctness, would find it difficult to resist a convic-
tion of the accuracy of her memory. She says,——

‘f My father, John Johnston, was postmaster of
Pittsburgh for about eighteen years, from 1804: to
1822. My husband, VVilliam Eichbaum, succeeded
him, and was postmaster for about eleven years, from
1822 to 1833. I was born Aug. 25, 1792, and when I
became old enough I assisted my father in attending
to the post-office, and became familiar with its duties.
Fromx1811 to 1816 I wasthe regular clerk in the
ofiice, assorting, making up, dispatching, opening,
and distributing the mails. Pittsburgh was then a
small town, and I was well acquainted with all the

‘stated visitors at the office who called regularly for

their mails. So meagre at that time were the mails
that I could generally tellwithout looking whether
or not there was anything for such persons, though I
would usually look in order to satisfy them. I was

. married in 1815, and the next year my connection

with the oflice ceased, except during the absences of
my husband. I knew and distinctly remember Rob-

ert and Joseph Patterson, J. Harrison Lambdin, Silas .
Engles, and Sidney Rigdon. I remember Rev. Mr.

Spaulding, but simply as one who occasionally called

1 Since above was written Mrs. Eichbaum has died, May 4, 1882.

433

to inquire for letters. I remember that there was an
evident intimacy between Lambdin and Rigdon.
They very often came to the office together. I par-

ticularly remember that they would thus come during

the hour on Sabbath afternoon when the ofiice was

‘required to be open, and I remember feeling sure that .

Rev. Mr. Patterson knew nothing of this, or he would
have put a stop to it. I do not know what position,
if any, Rigdon filled in Patterson’s store or printing-
office, but am well assured he was frequently, if not

constantly, there for a large part of the time when I 1

was clerk in the post-oflice. I recall Mr. Engles say-
ing that ‘Rigdon was always hanging around the
printing-ofiice.’ He was connected with the tannery
before he became a preacher, though he may have
continued the business whilst preaching.” '

These witnesses are all whom we can find after
inquiries extending through some three years who
can testify at all to Rigdon’s residence in Pittsburgh
before 1816, and to his possible employment in Pat-
terson’s printing-ofiice or bindery. Of this employ-
ment none of them speak from personal knowledge.
In making inquiries among two or three score of the
oldest residents of Pittsburgh and vicinity, those who
had any opinion on the subject invariably, so far as
now remembered, repeated the story of Rigdon’s em-
ployment in Patterson’s office, as if it were a well-
known and admitted fact; they “ could tell all about
it,” but when pressed as to their personal knowledge
of it or their authority for the conviction they had
none?

The remaining testimony which now claims con-_
sideration is independent of any connection of Rig-,

don as an employee with Patterson, and it necessitates
no charge of Rigdon’s dishonorably acquiring the
Spauldi.ng manuscript, and no suggestion of ‘such an
improbability as that a young man, not noted for
industry or application, would perform the arduous
task of transcribing so large a document, clandes-

tinely too, when he had at that time certainly no V

ulterior object in view.

6. The earliest published intimation we have seen
that Rigdon had obtained the Spaulding manuscript
occurs in Howe’s book, issued in 1835, where it is

advanced as “the strongest presumption,” and is

based on Rigdon’s residence in Pittsburgh in 1823-24,
on the probability that the manuscript had remained
in the printing-oflice until then, and on Mr. Lamb-
din’s friendship for Rigdon. Says I-Iowe, “ We have
been credibly informed that he was on terms of inti-
macy with Lambdin, being seen frequently in his
shop.” The name of his informant is not given, as it

2 If any one would learn an impressive lesson upon the transitory na-
ture of man’s hold upon the remembrance of his fellow-men, let him en-
gage in an investigation into some matter of local or personal history
dating back a half-century ago. So rapidly, in the very places Where a
man has lived and labored, does the recollection of him fade into rumor,
or myth, or oblivion, The candid reader will doubtless suspend his
judgment on this hitherto accepted theory of Rigdon’s printership, or
set it down as at most only probable, but certainly not yet proved.

434

HISTORY OF WASHINGTON COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA.

should have been. In support of the “ presumption”
of Rigdon’s connection with the Book of Mormon,
Mr. Howe states that “ some new points of doctrine”

which Rigdon had commenced preaching “were”

afterward found to be inculcated in the Mormon
Bible.” Also his frequent protracted absences from

~ his home during the year or two preceding the publi-

cation of the Book of Mormon are cited as circum-
stantial evidence pointing to his co-operation with
Smith.

7. Rev. Samuel Williams, of Castle Shannon, Al-
legheny Co., Pa., a successor of Rigdon in the pastor-
ate of the First Baptist Church, Pittsburgh, published
in .1842, as already stated, a pamphlet entitled “ Mor-
monism Exposed.” On page 4 he says, “In 1818,
and for some years afterwards, Patterson &_ Lambdin
were the principal firm engaged in printing and pub-
lishing books. The widow of Mr. Spaulding states
that it [her husband’s romance] was taken to that
printing-oflice, and Mr. Patterson and many others
of this city knew that Mr. Rigdon and Mr. Lambdin,
who superintended the printing-oflice, were very inti-
mate during Rigdon’s residence here.” On page 16,
Mr. VVilliams expresses his conviction “ that the
manuscript remained in the office with others from
1814 until'Sidney Rigdon came to this place and ob-
tained it from Lambdin.”

8. Rev. John Winter, M.D., was one of the early
ministers of the Baptist Church, laboring in Western
Pennsylvania and Eastern Ohio. ‘ During a portion
of the time when Sidney Rigdon was pastor of the
First Baptist Church in Pittsburgh, Dr. Winter was
teaching a school in the same city, and was well ac-
quainted with Rigdon. Upon one occasion during
this period, 1822—23, Dr. Winter was in Rigdon’s
study, when the latter took from his desk a large
manuscript, and said in substance, “ A Presbyterian
minister, Spaulding, whose health had failed, brought
this to the printer to see if it would pay to publish it.
It is a romance of the Bible.” Dr. Winter did not
read any part of it, and paid no more attention to it
until after the Book of Mormon appeared,'when he
heard that Mr. Spaulding’s widow recognized in it the
writings of her husband.’

The authority for the above important statement is
Rev. A. Cr. Kirk, to whom Dr. Winter communicated
it in conversation at New Brighton, Pa., in 1870—7_1.
Dr. Winter died at "Sharon, Pa., in 1878. Mr. Kirk
conveyed this information to the present writer by
letter, March 23, 1879. Mrs. Mary W. Irvine, a daugh-
ter of Dr. Winter, writes from Sharon, Pa., April 5,
1881, as follows: ‘

“I have frequently heard my father speak of Rigdon having Spaul-
ding’s manuscript, and that he had gotten it from the printers to read it
as a curiosity; as such he showed it to father; and that at that time
Rigdon had no intention of making the use of it that he afterwards did;
for father always said Rigdon helped Smith in his scheme by revising
and making the Mormon Bible out of Rev. Spaulding’s manuscript.”

Rev. A. J. Bonsall, pastor of the Baptist Church at
Rochester, Pa., and a step-son of Dr. Winter, au-

tory.

thorizes the statement that he repeatedly heard Dr.
Winter say that Rigdon had shown him the Spaulding
manuscript romance, purporting to be the "history of
the American Indians, which manuscript he had
received from the printers.

It was the impression of these three witnesses that
Dr. VVinter had himself. committed his recollections
of his above-mentioned interview with Rigdon to
writing, as he intended to do, and was even under-
stood to say he had done, but a careful search among
his papers has thus far proved unavailing to find it.
Dr. Winter was noted for his retentive memory and
for his scrupulous accuracy in treasuring up conver-
sations with brethren in the ministry and incidents in
their history, many of which he contributed to the
press in the form of sketches of Western church his-

interest of truth, related his statement to them will
be confidently vouched for by all who know them;

and Dr. Winter’s evidence, thus attested, is of itself _

sufficient to establish the certainty that Rigdon, in
1822-23, had possession of Spaulding’s manuscript.

9. Mrs. Amos Dunlap, of VVarren, Ohio, in answer
to inquiries, writes Dec. 7, 1879,-

“ When I was quite a child I visited Mr. Rigdon’s family. He mar-
ried my annt. They at that time lived in Bainbridge, Ohio. During
my visit Mr. Rigdon went to his bedroom and took from a trunk which
he kept locked a certain manuscript. He came out into the other room
and seated himself by the fireplace and commenced reading it. His
wife at that moment came into the room and exclaimed, ‘ What! you’re
studying that thing again ?’ or something to that effect. She then added,
‘I mean to burn that paper.’ He said, ‘ No, indeed, you will not. This
will be a great thing some day !’ Whenever he was reading this he was
so completely occupied that he seemed entirely unconscious of anything
passing around him.”

10. Mr. Z. Rudolph, father of Mrs. Gen. Garfield,
knew Sidney Rigdon very well, and has stated that
“ during the winter previous to the appearance of the

Book of Mormon, Rigdon was in the habit-of spend- '

ing weeks away from his home, going no one knew
where; and that he often appeared very preoccupied,
and would indulge in dreamy, imaginative talks,

which puzzled those who listened. When the Book _

of Mormon appeared and Rigdon joined in the ad-
vocacy of the new religion, the suspicion was at
once aroused that he was one of the framers of the
new doctrines, and probably was not ignorant of .the
authorship pf the Book of Mormon.”

11. Pomeroy Tucker, Esq., a native of Palmyra,

N. Y., and well acquainted with all the Smith family «
from their coming to Palmyra in 1816 from Vermont, ‘

was the editor of the paper——the Wayne Sentinel-in
the office of which at Palmyra, in 1830, the Book of
Mormon was printed. He performed much of the
proof-reading, and had frequent familiar interviews
with Smith. In 1867, Mr. Tucker published a volume
entitled the “ Origin and Progress of Mormonism,” of
which he was so well qualified to write. The facts
which he records as having occurred in his own vicin-
ity may be accepted as either personally known to
him, or as stated upon reliable and convincing testi-

The reliability of the persons who have, in the R

RELIGIOUS

HISTORY. 435

mony. After narrating Smith’s vicious and vagrant
life down to the summer of 1827, he states (p. 28),—

“A mysterious stranger now appears at Smith’s residence, and holds
private interviews with thefar-famed money-digger. For a considerable
length of time no intimation of the name or purpose of this personage
transpired to the public, nor even to Smith’s nearest neighbors, It was
observed by some of them that his visits were frequently repeated. The
sequel of these private interviews between the stranger and the money-
digger will sufiiciently appear hereafter.” [Great consternation was oc-
casioned by the theft of one hundred and sixteen pages of Smith’s trans-
lation from the golden plates, as it seems to have been impossible to

, retranslate the stolen portion. Wherupon (p. 46)] “ The reappearance of

the mysterious stranger at Smith's was again the subject of inquiry and
conjecture by observers, from whom was withheld all explanation of his
identity or purpose.” [At last the Book of Mormon was printed, Rigdon
was among the first converts, and Mr. Tucker says (p. 75):] “ Up to this
time Sidney Rigdon had played his part in the background, and his
occasional visits at Smith’s residence had been noticed by uninitiated

"observers as those of the mysterious stranger. It had been his policy to

remain in concealment until all things should be in readiness for blow-
ing the trumpet of the new gospel. . . . This man Rigdon now appeared
as the first regular Mormon preacher in Palmyra.” . . “Who can
doubt that he and Smith had become confederates in a grand scheme of
cupidity and imposture? They had surreptitiously possessed themselves
of a fabulous composition peculiarly adapted to their design. Secrecy
and falsehood were necessary to the success of such a scheme, and to
these, it is self-evident, they were mutually sworn.” (P. 121.)

12. Mrs. Dr. Horace Eaton, for the last thirty-two
years a resident of Palmyra, N. Y., has published a
brief sketch of the “ Origin of Mormonism,” in which,
after carefuland thorough study of the subject, she
concurs with Mr. Tucker. She says, “Early in the
summer of 1827 a ‘ mysterious stranger’ seeks admit-
tance to Joe Smith’s cabin. The conferences of the
two are most private. This person, whose coming
immediately preceded a new departure in the faith,
was Sidney Rigdon, a backsliding clergyman, at this

. time a Campbellite preacher in Mentor, Ohio.” Mrs.

Eaton. also mentions a theory, which has a strong
probability sustaining it, that Parley P. Pratt, a ped-
dler who “ knew everybody in Western New York and
Northern Ohio,” and who was a member of /Rigdon“’s
church, was the medium through whom Rigdon made
the acquaintance of Smith when seeking a suitable
tool for his purpose. Pratt became, of course, an im-
mediate convert to Mormonism, and one of its most
famous and successful missionaries. Through his
persuasive powers, we are told, Rigdon himself became
a Mormon ‘I

13. The “. History of Franklin County, Pa.,” by I.
H. McCauley, published by John N. Pomeroy, Cham-
bersburg, Pa., states, as if a matter too well known to
require argument (p. 198), that “Joseph Smith, the
founder of Mormonism, and Sidney Rigdon were in-
timate acquaintances for a considerable time before
Mormonism was first heard of.” _ V

14. The Jtlillennial Harb~inger, edited and pub-
lished at Bethany, W. Va., by Rev. Alexander Camp-
bell, the founder of the “ Disciples” denomination, in
the volume for 1844, p. 39, contains a letter dated
Jan. 22, 1841, from ‘Rev. Adamson Bentley, a very
intimate friend of Rigdon (their wives ‘were sisters),
and Whose testimony is beyond the imputation of
doubt or suspicion. Mr. Bentley is writing to Rev.

Walter Scott, another old and cherished companion
of Rigdon:

“I know that Sidney Rigdon told_me there was a book coming out,
the manuscript of which had been found engraved on gold plates, as much
as two years before the Mormon book made its appearance or had been
heard of by me.”

The editor of the Harbinger, the Rev. Alexander
Campbell, clinches the above as follows: '

“ Thewconversation alluded to in Brother Bentley’s letter of 1841 was
in my presence as well as in his, and my recollection of it led me, some
two or three years ago, to interrogate Brother Bentley touching his
recollections of it, which accorded with mine in every particular except
the year in which it occurred, he placing it in the summer of 1827, I in
the summer of 1826, Rigdon at the same time observing that in the plates
dug up in New York there was an account not only of the aborigines of
this country, but also it was stated that the Christian religion had been
preached in this country during the first century, just as we were preaching
it on the Western Reserve.”

According to the testimony of these two unim-
peachable witnesses, Rigdon was minutely informed
that the Book of Mormon was in process of prepara-
tion, and was thoroughly acquainted with the char-
acter of its contents, at least three, if not four, years
before its actual issue. His own personal responsi-
bility for its appearance is the only basis on which
this foreknowledge can be explained. This testimony
also shows how little reliance can be placed upon
Rigdon’s solemn and repeated asseveration that he
had never heard of Smith or of the Book of Mormon
until he received the information from Parley P. Pratt,
in August, 1830, and after a brief struggle accepted
the new faith.

15. In Hayden’s “ Early History of the Disciples
in the Western Reserve,” pp. 239-40, occurs a state-
ment from Rev. D. Atwater, a man noted for his strict
regard for truth and justice, dated Mantua Station,
April 26, 1873, from which the following extract is
taken :

“Soon after this the great Mormon defection came on us. Sidney
Rigdon preached for us, and notwithstanding his extravagantly wild
freaks he was held in high repute by many. For a few months before
his professed conversion to Mormonism it was noticed that his wild, ex-
travagant propensities had been more marked. That he knew before of
the coming of the Book of Mormon. is to me certain from what he said the
first of his visits at my father’s some years before. He gave a Wonder-
ful description of the mounds and other antiquities found in some parts
of America, and said that they must have been made by the aborigines.
He said there was a book to be published containing an account of those
things. He spoke of these, in his eloquent, enthusiastic style, as being-
a thing most extraordinary. Though a youth then, I took him to task

for expending so much enthusiasm on such a subject, instead of things
of the gospel.”

1.6. As the character established by Rigdon among
his brethren in the Baptist Church whilst he was a
member of that denomination has a direct bearing
upon the question of his probable guilt or innocence,
we make two quotations touching his reputation at
that time. (1) From Rev. S. Williams’ pamphlet,
already referred to, pp. 1, 2: “He professed to ex-
perience a change of heart when a young man, and
proposed to join the church under the care of Elder
David Philips. . But there was so much miracle about
his conversion, and so much parade about his profes-

436

HISTORY OF WASHINGTON COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA.

sion, that the pious and discerning pastor entertained
serious doubts at the time in regard to the genuine-
ness of the work. He was received, however, by the
church and baptized by the pastor, with some fears
and doubts upon his mind. Very soon, Diotrephes-
like, he began to put himself forward and seek the
pre-eminence, and was wellnigh supplanting the
tried an_d faithful minister who had reared and nursed
and fed the church for a long series of years. So
thoroughly convinced was Father Philips by this time
that he was not possessed of the spirit of Christ, not-
withstanding his miraculous conversion and flippant
speech, that he declared his belief ‘that as long as he
[Sidney] should live he would be a curse to the
‘church of Christ.’ ” (2) In the (Pittsburgh) Baptist
lVitness of Jan. 1‘, 1875, Dr. Winter, in the course of
a historical Ilbtice of the First Baptist Church of
Pittsburgh, says, “ When Holland Sumner dealt with
Rigdon for his bad teachings, and said to him, ‘ Brother
Rigdon, you never got into a Baptist Church without
relating your Christian experiences,’ Rigdon replied,
‘ When I joined the church at Peters Creek I knew I
could not be admitted "without an experience, so I
made up one to suit the purpose ; but it was all made
up, and was of no use, nor true.’ This I have just
copied from an old memorandum, as taken from Sum-
ner himself.” ‘
17. As an apology for Rigdon, and probably in re-
ply to Dr. Winter’s article, quoted above, a communi-
cation appeared in the Baptist I/Vitness two months
later, March 1, 1875, from A. H. Dunlevy, of Leba-
non, Ohio, who, giving as his authority Dr. L. Rig-
don, of Hamilton, Ohio, an elder brother of Sidney,
states as follows :
“ Sidney Rigdon, when quite a boy, living with his father some fifteen
miles south of Pittsburgh on a farm, was thrown from his horse, his
foot entangled, in a stirrup and dragged some distance before relieved.
In this accident he received such a contusion of the brain as ever after
seriously to afi'ect his character and in some respects his conduct. In

fact, his brother always considered Sidney a little deranged in his mind
by that accident. His mental powers did/‘not seem to be impaired, but

I the equilibrium in his intellectual exertions seemed thereby to have

been sadly aifected. He still manifested great mental activity and
power, but he was to an equal degree inclined to run into wild and vis-
ionary views on almost every question. Hence he was a fit subject for
any new movement inthe religious world.”

The mostskeptical reader will find it diflicult to
resist t-he conviction, after an impartial consideration
of the preceding testimony, that Rigdon as early as
1823 certainly had possession of Spaulding’s manu-
script (how he obtained it is unimportant for the
present purpose); that during his career as a min-
ister of the Disciples’ Church in Ohio he carefully
preserved under lock and key this document, and de-
voted an absorbed attention to it; that he was aware
of the forthcoming Book of Mormon and of its con-
tents long before its appearance; that the said con-
tents were largely Spaulding’s romance, and partly
such modifications as Rigdon had introduced; and
that during the preparation of the Book of Mormon
Rigdon had repeated and long interviews with Smith,

thus easily supplying him with fresh installments of
the pretended revelation. The conclusion is irre-
sistible that Sidney Rigdon was the agent by Whom
the plagiarism was effected. The memory of Lamb-

“din should, however, be relieved from any ‘charge of

complicity in Rigdon’s guilty use of the manuscript,
and of any culpable intent in allowing him to peruse
it as a curiosity in literature. Lambdin was resting
in his early grave before Rigdon had conceived his
cripninal scheme. -

III. THE Two MANUSCRIPTS.-—The question has
been propounded with ‘a somewhat triumphant air
by Mormons, Why not produce the Spaulding man-
uscript and publish it with the Book of Mormon in
parallel columns, and thus demonstrate the pla-
giarism ‘.7 ' ' A

This was the very work for which Mrs. Davison,
in 1834, gave D. P. Hurlbut an order for the delivery
to him of her copy of her husband’s “Manuscript
Found ;” and she in her lifetime was fully convinced,
as is her daughter now, that Hurlbut obtained that
invaluable document and treacherously sold it to the
Mormons. In confirmation of this opinion we quote
from “Gleanings by the Way,” by Rev. John A.
Clark, D.D., published by Robert Carter, New York,
1842. This volume is made up largely of letters pub-
lished in the (Philadelphia) Episcopal Recorder. On
page 263, Rev. Mr. Storrs, of Holliston, Mass., in a
letter dated June 28, 1841, to Rev. Dr. Clark, says,
“Dr. Hurlbut took the manuscript. _ It is reported in
Missouri that he sold it for four hundred dollars;
that the manuscript is not to be found.” On page
265, Rev. D. R. Austin, of Monson, Mass., in a letter
to Dr. Clark, dated also June 28, 1841, writes, “He
(Dr. Hurlbut) stated some time after he had re-
ceived the manuscript that he had made $400 out
of it. Mrs. Davison has not the least doubt now but
that he obtained it in order to sell it to the Mor-
mons.” This is the earliest report we have seen of
this alleged embezzlement, dating only seven years
after Hurlbut’s visit, but the statement has been
often repeated since. It should be remembered, too,
that only with the greatest reluctance did Mrs. Da-
vison authorize the lending of the manuscript to
Hurlbut at _the solicitation of her brother, 
Sabine. The present writer called on Hurlbut at his
home, and interrogated him with reference to this
charge.
the following paper, which Mr. Hurlbut signed :

l “ GIBSONBURG, OHIO, Aug. 19, 1879.

“ I visited Mrs. Matilda (Spaulding) Davison at Monson, Mass., in 1834,
and never saw her afterwards. I then received from her a manuscript
of her husband's, which I did not read, but brought home with me and
immediately gave it to Mr. D. E. Howe, of Painesville, Ohio, who was then
engaged in preparing his book, ‘ Mormonism Unveiled.’ A I do not know
whether or not the document I received from Mrs. Davison was Spauld-
ing’s ‘ Manuscript Found,’ as I never read it; but whatever it was Mr.
Howe received it under the condition on which I took it from Mrs. Da-
vison, to compare it with the ‘ Book of Mormon’ and then return it to
her. I never received any other manuscript of Spaulding’s from Mrs.
Davison or any one else. Of that manuscript I made no other use than

The result of this interview is contained in ..

RELIGIOUS HISTORY.

V to give it, with all my other documents connected with Mormonism, to

Mr. Howe. I did not destroy the manuscript nor dispose of it to Joe
Smith, or to any other person. No promise was made by me to Mrs.
Davison that she should receive any portion of profits arising from the
publication of the manuscript if it should be published. All the affi-
davits procured by me for Mr. Howe’s book, including all those from
Palmyra, N. Y., were certainly genuine.
“ D. P. HURLBU'r.”

This statement conflictswith the one given in 1834
by Hurlbut to Mr. Howe, as contained in his book,
from which it appears that Hurlbut obtained this
manuscript from “the trunk referred to by the
widow,” it being the only manuscript there in Spaul-
ding’s handwriting. When his attention was called
to this discrepancy, Hurlbut had no explanation to
offer, nor did he give any satisfactory. reason when

‘asked why, after spending months in securing testi-.

mony to the identity of the Spaulding manuscript
and the Book of Mormon, he did not avail himself of
the opportunity of settling the question beyond dis-
pute when he had, as he supposed, the very document
in his hands, without waiting for days until he gave
it to Mr. Howe, at .Painesville, and not reading it
even then. _

Whatever opinion the reader may form of Hurl-
but’s conduct, and of his refusal to account for it, it
is at least clear, from the testimony of Mrs. Davison
and her daughter, that Spau1ding’s “Manuscript

‘Fo11nd” had been with his other writings in the old

trunk at Hartwick, N. Y., and that it was abstracted
either by Hurlbut or by some one else previous to his
search. In either case it is simply adding insult to

injury to call upon Mr. Spaulding’s daughter now to

collate the Book of Mormon with her father’s manu-
script, of which she has been so shamefully robbed.
The Mormon who resorts to this dishonorable plea
only shows to what a desperate strait he has been
reduced in defending his “inspired” book.

Whether the manuscript which Rigdon had in his
possession was Spaulding’s own or a transcript made
by Rigdon, is a matter of comparatively little moment,
and it is one which it is impossible now to determine.
It would not be strange if Spaulding, being a man of
leisure, and fond of writing, had made out a revised
copy for the printer, retaining his own first sheets, and
that these latter were what he took to Amity, leaving
theother at Patterson’s ofiice, possibly with a faint
hope that some means of putting it to press might yet
“come to pass.” It is true Mrs. Davison says that
the manuscript was returned to him, but she also says
that Mr. Patterson was the “ editor of a newspaper,”
which was an error easily made, as he had a job
printing ofiice; and, in like manner, after the lapse
of twenty-five years, she might readily have forgotten
that there were two copies, if such were indeed the
case. Be this as it may, the copy passing through
Rigdon’s hands of course we cannot follow. Thus,
unfortunately, both copies (Rigdon’s and Mrs. Da-

_vison’s) of Spaulding’s now famous romance would

seem to be irretrievably lost.

In the collection of the materials for the above im-
perfect presentation of a question of no little histori-
cal interest, the writer takes pleasure in acknowledging

the courtesy of the numerous correspondents to whom -

he has applied for information, and will be pardoned
formentioning his special obligations to Dr. VV. W.
Sharpe, of Amity, Pa., to George Plumer Smith, Esq.,
of Philadelphia, and to James T. Cobb, Esq., of Salt
Lake City, at the instance of the last named of whom
he commenced this inquiry, and to whom he is in-
debted for many of _ the references made.

IV. CLOSING REMARKs.—It was not the object of
the present investigation to account for the origin of
Mormonism, or to trace its rise and growth, or to de-
scribe it as a system of belief. This would have
opened a far wider field of research, and would have
required sketches of Joseph Smith and his numerous
coadjutors, only one of whom has any connection
with the question here under discussion. The one
topic proposed for consideration was the authorship
of the historical parts, constituting much the larger
portion, of the Book of Mormon. Hence we have
left entirely out of view the absurd fables devised by
Smith—or, more probably, invented for him--to ac-
count for his possession of the Book of Mormon,
namely, that an angel showed him, Sept. 22, 1823,
where the golden plates where concealed; that four
years afterwards, Sept. 22, 1827, Smith removed them
from the place of deposit where they had remained
for fourteen -hundred years; that these plates were
covered with Egyptian characters, which he could
not understand, but by looking at them through two
transparent stones which had been deposited with
them the proper English words, one at a time, be-

came visible to him; and being himself unable to-

write a legible hand, the words were by him dictated
one by one to a scribe, who sat separated from Smith
by a blanket hung up as a screen, as it would be cer-
tain death for any one but Smith to see the golden
plates. In this way his first scribe, Martin Harris, in
1828 wrote one hundred and sixteen pages‘, which
Mrs. I-Iarris (honor to her memory) committed to the
flames. As this portion, for some reason, could not
be retranslated, the work was suspended until April
17, 1829, when a second scribe, Oliver Cowdery, un-
dertook the labor, and in June, 1829, the manuscript
was taken to the printer. To persons who accept
Joseph Smith’s statements in regard to his angelic
visitants it does not seem at all incredible that Cow-
dery could in two months perform the stupendous
task of writing out_from dictation a manuscript about
equal in magnitude to the Old Testament!
story is as probable as the other. Such is the Mor-
mon version of the origin of their sacred book, and
the intelligent reader can choose between this theory
and the only alternative offered, the Rigdon-Spaul-
ding one.

It may not be amiss, in closing this summary of the
evidence proving the fraudulent origin of the Book of

437 I

And one »

438

HISTORY OF WASHINGTON COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA.

Mormon, to remember that whilst honest indignation
cannot and ought n.ot to be suppressed against ‘those
who Wrought this wickedness, nothing but sincerest
compassion should be felt and shown for their deluded
victims. That multitudes of them are honest in the
convictions they express, incredible as at first it may
appear, cannot be denied by any one who has ac-
quainted himself with the heroic endurance and pa-
tient suffering, even unto death, which numbers of
this misguided people have shown. The heart must
be hard indeed that would not ache for them in read-
ing Col. Kane’s graphic narration of their banish-
ment from Nauvoo and their pitiful pilgrimage to
Utah, their pathway marked by the graves of those
that perished.

And still more to be commiserated than the fate of
those who fell by the way is the inexpressibly sadder
lot of those poor women who survived the hardships,
and their successors since, whose devotion to their
God has been so wroughtupon by designing men
that, in dread of disobedience to a divine command,
they have submitted to a polygamous relation against
which every feeling of their souls revolted. The hor-
rors of the hated Inquisition had no torture so terrible
for the flesh to endure as that living death of agony to
which ‘many a pure spirit has been and is still sub-
jected by this conscience - enforced union with a
beastly tyrant. Let the galling chain be broken, but
let not the innocent captive be punished for the crime
of her cruel master. Surely among these soul-
stricken sufferers the compassionate Saviour has his
hidden ones.

Should the eyes of any honest believer in the inspi-
ration of the Book of Mormon fall upon these pages,
his impartial and unbiased examination of the evi-
dence here adduced is earnestly solicited. The num-
ber of attesting witnesses is not a tenth part of what
it would have been had a thorough investigation been
undertaken even a score of years ago. This has
been made painfully manifest in the progress of this
inquiry by the frequently repeated statement that this
one and that one had -recently died who could have
given the very information ‘sought. A conviction
that the delusion would be short-lived operated, un-
fortunately, to prevent the collection of a far more
abundant mass of testimony. But what is here pre-
sented should convince every sincere searcher for
truth that the Book of Mormon, as issued by Smith,
originated in fraud, and therefore with it the Whole

Mormon superstructure falls.

It is scarcely necessary to say that Spaulding him-
self must be acquitted of all intention to deceive,
even though four of the hearers of his romance as
read by him have attested his singular presentiment
—was it prescience ?-—that in after-years his romance

would be accepted by thousands as veritable history.

But even he could not have foreseen that this coinage
of his brain would ever pass current as having been
enstamped by the authority of heaven. The uncon-

scious prophet of a new Islam, in all his imaginings.
he did not dream that his hand was outlining the
Koran of a dark delusion, that the fables which
beguiled his restless hourswould be accepted by hun-
dreds of thousands of his fell.ow—men as the oracles
of God, and that in inglorious yetlheroic martyrdom
some of them would‘ even seal with their blood their
faith in the inspiration of his phantasies. Journey-
ing to Pittsburgh in 1812, with the sanguine hope of
soon seeing his romance in print, it never entered his
mind that in threescore years and ten thereafter the
shades of Laman and N ephi, of Mormon and Maroni,
evoked by his magic wand from the sepulchral mounds
of Conneaut,—the graves of a long-forgotten race,—-
would be stalking over two hemispheres, and would
be leading through the very city of his sojourn their
myriad victims of deception to distant homes of
wretchedness and shame. Struggling to escape the
burden of his debts, he little imagined how vast the
burden he was about unwittingly to lay upon his
country. ‘
Sleep on, humble dreamer, in thy lowly bed! Thy
fond desire to win a public hearing for thy wondrous
story was denied thee in thy toilsome life. Thou

knowest not that a strange immortality awaited it '

and thee. Rest peacefully, for from thine eye, which

sought to penetrate the past alone, this saddest of .

future visions was mercifully withheld. Surely never
hitherto have passed such sorrowful processions near
the grave of so innocent an author of their woe.‘

CHAPTER XXXVI.
EDUCATIONAL IIISTORY.

Higher Education in Washington County-—Ac-ademies—'I‘rinity Hall-
Public Schools-—Norma1 School.

Higher Education in Washington County?-
Two conditions were imposed by me upon my consent
to fulfill the request to which this article is due. The
request itself simply covers the history of the colleges,
seminaries, and academies of the county, leaving the

wider but not less important field of the common 7

schools to other hands. One of these conditions was,
that instead of traversing anew ground over which I
had thoroughly gone before, I should be at full lib-
erty, so far as it might suit my present purpose, to
draw at will from my article in the Presbyterian
“Centenary Memorial,” issued six years ago. That
volume was designed to celebrate the “planting and
growth of Presbyterianism in VVestern Pennsylvania
and parts adjacent” during the century following the
settlement of John McMillan, D.D., the first pastor

1 Correction of errors or additional information will be gladly received.
Address R. Patterson, 198 Penn Avenue, Pittsburgh.
2 By Rev. James I. Brownson, D.D., Washington, Pa.

EDUCATIONAL HISTORY.

439

of his own or probably any other denomination West
of the Alleghenies. My other condition was the
cheerful agreement of my associate authors of the
volume referred to that such an appropriation of a
portion of its contents should be made for the present
more general purpose. It is enough to say that both
of the parties in question—the proprietors of the
“ Centenary Memorial” and those of the present “His-
tory of Washington County”——have heartily agreed to
this method, the one permitting and the other accept-
ing it. I shall, therefore, freely use parts of my own
previous production, with such additions, subtractions,

and modifications as may he demanded by the scope

and objects of the present work.
To those readers who are not fully instructed in the

"early history now designed to be brought out, a word

of explanation is due concerning the prominence
which this sketch must necessarily assign to one of
the religious denominations, and that my own. All
of these have done in the succeeding years a noble
work on this soil for evangelical religion, as well as
for liberty, social culture, and education; but the
truth of history requires that to Scotch-Irish Presby-
terians, who in large preponderance first occupied
this soil, the credit should be given of chiefly mould-
ing its society, of starting its religiousinfluences, and,

. as truly, of planting and fostering its educational in-
‘ stitutions.

This last they did upon an elevated and
comprehensive scale, not in the way of ecclesiastical
control, but of efficient influence, and ever inviting
the co-operation of others, whilst never failing to
share the advantages with them on equal terms. The
credit of such co-operation, so far as numerical
strength and the state of theological controversies in-

cident to the times allowed, is most due to the minis-.

ters and members of other branches of the Presbyte-
rian family descending from the same general origin,
especially to the Associate and Associate Reformed
Churches, now by a happy union constituting the
United Presbyterian Church. The same is true, in
its measure, of the Reformed Presbyterian Church.
When these excellent churches came to the double
crisisof their strength and their need, they did not
fail to adopt and vigorously prosecute an educational
policy of their own,though their excellentinstitutions
arellocated outside of Washington County. Even
yet, however, the college of our county receives a
proportion of their patronage, for which a fair com-
pensation is of course rendered to the institutions
more immediately under their influence in the re-
gions of their location. Other denominations also,
such as the Methodists, Baptists, Episcopalians, etc.,
which have come into strength since the early settle-
ment of the country, have more or less strictly fol-
lowed the same general rule of primary attention to
their own Wants with the fullest liberty of benefits to
all besides. Through the whole course of this history,

but especially at the beginning, the ministers of the '

gospel were the true and eificient leaders in this as

I out conclusive settlement.

well as other forms of public enterprise. But they
were nobly sustained by intelligent, sturdy, liberal,
and pious laymen, who were not slow to appreciate
their opportunities in behalf of their own and gen-
erations to come.

It would be unprofitable, as it would be unjust to
the memoriesof the pioneer ministers of the gospel,
the Rev. Messrs. John McMillan, Thaddeus Dodd,
and Joseph Smith, to make invidious comparisons
of their educational any more than of ‘their minis-
terial work. Like their worthy associate, the Rev.
James Power, of Westmoreland County, they were
all valued sons of the College of New Jersey, and
devoted friends of both scholarship and religion.
The elevation of society furnished a general motive,
Whilst the demand for a competent supply of Well-
trained ministers of the gospel was a felt necessity;

and neither history nor tradition has transmitted a

whisper of jealousy between them. “From the out-
set,” says Doddridge, in his “Notes,” “ they prudently
resolved to create a ministry in the country, and ac-
cordingly established little grammar schools at their
own houses or in their immediate neighborhoods.”
Each of the three above-named gentlemen estab-

lished such a school for training in the higher

branches of learning. The question of priority has
enlisted much zeal among the friends as Well as the
descendants of these venerable men, but as yet with-
Limit of space, as well as
propriety itself, must restrain us from entering that
field with the hope of a decision in which all Will
concur. A brief statement of the case must sufiice.

It is certain that the Rev. Thaddeus Dodd erected
a building on his own farm, and opened in it a clas-
sical and mathematical school in 1782, three years
after his settlement as pastor of Ten-Mile, and just
as many years before his congregation erected a
house ‘of worship. , That academy continued in oper-
ation three years and a half, until the sale of the farm
led to its suspension. It numbered among its pupils
James Hughes, John Brice, Daniel Lindley, Robert
Marshall, John Hanna, and David Smith, the first
fruits of a large native ministry gathered in the West-
ern Church.

The suspension of Mr. Dodd’s academy transferred
Messrs. Hughes, Brice, and probably others to the
school opened in the “study” at Buffalo in 1785 by
the Rev. Joseph Smith, where they were joined by
Joseph Patterson, James McGrready, Samuel Porter,
and others of like purpose. That school, claimed
by the author of “Old Redstone,” the grandson of
Mr. Smith, to be “the first school opened with ex-
clusive reference to the training of young men for the
ministry,” was successful for a few years, until the
failing health of Mr. Smith compelled its abandon-
ment, and then most of its students passed into the
“Log Cabin” school of Dr. McMillan at Chartiers.

The date of the establishment of Dr. McMillan’s
academy is the central question of the debate already

BRADDOCK’S EXPEDITION IN 1755.,

49

when the column reformed on the right bank of the
Monongahela, it was within three-fourths of a mile of
the place where the French with their Indian allies
lay hidden along the slopes of the forest defile which,
ere the sun went down on that memorable day, was
to be reddened by the blood of the bravest, and made
historic for all time as “ Braddock’s Field” of disaster
and defeat. _ . H

The bloody battle of the Monongahela has been too
often described to require repetition here. It resulted
-in the utter defeat and rout of the English, and the
headlongflight of the survivors to the south side of
the river at the point where they had crossed. The
force which entered the. defile was fourteen hundred
and sixty strong,‘ including oflicers and privates. Of
this force four hundred and fifty-six were killed and
four hundred and twenty—one wounded, making a
total of eight hundred and seventy-seven ; while only
five hundred and eighty-three escaped unhurt. Of
eighty-‘nine commissioned oflicers, sixty-three were
killed or wounded, including every officer above the
rank of captain except Col. Washington, who, how-
ever, was a colonel only by courtesy. Of the cap-
tains, ten were killed and five wounded ; of the lieu-

I tenants, fifteen killed and twenty-two wounded. Gen.

Braddock had-four horses shot under him, and while
mounting the fifth received the wound which proved
mortal. Washington had two horses shot under him.

‘ Sir Peter Halket (next in command to Braddock)

was killed instantly. Secretary Shirley was killed.
Col. Burton, Sir John Sinclair, and Lieut.-Col. Gage

(were among the wounded, also Brig.-Maj. Halket,

Dr. Hugh Mercer,” Maj. Sparks, and Capt. Orme.
Of the naval officers present, Lieut. Spendelow and
Midshipman Talbot were killed. A number of women
and oflicers’ servants were also killed and scalped,

' though every wagoner escaped. One hundred beeves

were captured by the enemy, also the general’s papers
(orders, instructions, and correspondence), and the
military chest, containing £25,000 in money, as well-
as all of Washington’s papers, including his notes -re-
ferring to the Fort Necessity campaign of the previous
year. The journal of Capt. Orme alone of all the
military papers was saved. All the artillery, ammu-
nition, baggage, and stores fell into the hands of the
French and Indians, and the dead and badly wounded

1 The force had increased by nearly two hundred men between the
time when Braddock moved forward from the Little Meadows with be-
tween twelve and thirteen hundred men and the time when they reached
the Monongahela. This increase was made principally by small detach-
ments which were detailed from the rear-guard, under Dunbar, as guards
to the trains which were sent forward with supplies to the advance.

2 Afterwards Gen. Mercer, who was killed at the battle of Princeton,
Jan. 3, 1777. The wound which he received at the battle of the Monon-
gahela was a very severe one. He was left on the field with the other
badly wounded, but managed to conceal himself behind a fallen tree,
where he witnessed the atrocities committed by the savages on the other
wounded men and on the dead. His place of concealment was not dis-
covered by the Indians, who soon left the field. When darkness came
on he crept from the woods, crossed the Monongahela, and after wander-
ing in the woods for many days with his wound undressed, and nearly
famished, he at last reached Fort Cumberland in safety.

. who had rallied near eighty men.

were left on the field to be scalped and tortured by
the savages, who, however, strangely enough, made
little show of pursuit.

Braddock, when he received his fatal wound, ex-
pressed a wish to be left to die on the field, and this
wish came near being gratified. Nearly all his panic-
stricken followers deserted him, but his aide-de-camp,
Orme, and Capt. Stewart, of the Virginia light-
horse, stood faithfully by him, and at the imminent
risk of their own lives succeededin bearing him from
the woods and across the river. On reaching the
south side of the Monongahela the general, though
suffering intense pain from his wound, gave orders
that the troops should be rallied and a stand made
at that place, but this was found impossible.‘ A few
subordinate oflicers and less than one hundred sol-
diers were all who remained around him. Of this
Capt. Orme’s journal says, “ We intended to have
kept possession of that ground till we could have
been reinforced. The general and some wounded
oflicers remained there about an hour, till most of
the men ran off. From that place the general sent
Mr. Washington to Col. Dunbar with orders to send
wagoners for the wounded, some provisions and hos-
pital stores, to be escorted by the two youngest grena-
dier companies, to meet him at Gist’s plantation, or
nearer if possible. It was found impracticable to re-
main here, as the general and oflicers were left almost
alone; we therefore retreated in the best manner we

were able. After we had passed the Monongahela '

the second time, we were joined by" Lieut.-Col. Gage,
We marched all
night and the next‘ day, and about ten o’clock that
night we got to Grist’s plantation.”

During the time when Gen. Braddock was ad-
vancing to the Monongahela, Col. Dunbar was toil-
ing slowly along with the rear division, the artillery,
and heavy stores. Leaving the Little Crossings soon
after Braddock’s departure, he came on by the same

route, passing the ruins of Fort Necessity on the 2d d

of July, and a few days later reached the place, high
up on the Laurel Hill, which is known to this day as
“ Dunbar’s Camp,” 3 and where he then encamped
his troops and parked his trains. This was the end
of Dunbar’s outward march, for he there received
from the Monongahela battle-field the fearful tidings
which forbade all thoughts of a farther advance.

It was to this camp that “ Mr. Washington” (as he
was designated by Orme, he holding no military rank
under Braddock) was ordered from the lower crossing
of the Monongahela to proceed with all possible speed,
and with peremptory orders‘ to Col. Dunbar to send

3 Col. Burd, who visited this place in 1759, when on his way to erect a
fort on the present site of Brownsville, said of Dunbar’s camp that it
was “ the worst chosen piece of ground for an encampment I ever
saw.” .

4 It was known that there was ill feeling on the part of Dunbar to‘
wards the commander-in-chief, and it was therefore thought necessary
to send the most positive orders in Braddock’s name to insure obedience.

440

HISTORY OF WASHINGTON COUNTY,,PENNSYLVANIA.

referred to. It is likely to remain an open question ;
but settle it as we may, his fame will abide as the con-
servative, thoughtful, resolute, and far-seeing leader
of his brethren in the educational as well as ecclesi-
astical work of the church. On the one hand it is
urged that, although Dr. McMillan must have given
occasional and private instructions in the classics as
early as any of his brethren, if not, indeed, before
them all, yet that his school as such only in fact
covered the common English branches until shortly
before the cessation of Mr. Smith’s school at Buffalo.
But against this view it is forcibly argued, on the
ground of popular tradition,——confirmed in probabil-
ity, as we shall presently see, by Dr. McMillan’s own
words,———that his school as an academy must have

originated as early as Mr. Dodd’s, viz., in 1782, if f

not one or two years before it.

The argument turns 

I

to meet the demand, and in view of Dr. McMillan’s
other abundant labors; to which, also, is to be added
the fact that Mr. McMillan’s charge, so prolific of
candidates for the ministry afterwards, was at first
less so than the congregations of some of his breth-
ren.. This supposition concedes priority to Dr. Mc-
Millan, which is probably the truth, whilst it brings
other facts into harmony with it else very difiicult of
explanation. In that case the subsequent collection
of the classical students at Chartiers was simply, in
this respect, a resumption.

The curious reader may find the whole question
ably argued, if not satisfactorily settled, in the ap-
pendix to Dr. Joseph Smith’s “History of Jefferson
College,” on the one side by the author himself, and
on the other by Prof. Robert Patterson, now associate
editor of the Presbyterian Banner. But whatever

somewhat, though not conclusively, upon another  may have been the origin of the “Log_ Cabin”

1’ _M°MILLAN’S LOG CABIN ACADEMY.

question, viz.: whether James Ross, the first known
teacher under Dr. McMillan, and afterwards so dis-
tinguished both as an advocate and statesman, hav-
ing reached a seat in the United States Senate in
1794, gave instruction in the classics or simply
taught English branches whilst receiving private
instruction in Latin and Greek from Dr. McMillan
himself. At least as early as 1786 he can be traced
as an attorney in vigorous practice in the courts of
Washington County.

After all might there not be a key of solution in
the suggestion that Dr. McMillan’s school was prob-
ably opened as early as 1780, and included Latin and
Greek in its design, so far as the demand for them then
existed, but that upon the beginning of Mr. Dodd’s dis-
tinctively classical academy, two years later, such in-
struction may have -been chiefly surrendered to him
for a time in View of the sufficiency of one such school

 



\\\\\\\\x

 

academy, as compared with those of Messrs. Dodd
and Smith, it survived them, and continued to supply
the demands of English, classical, and even theological
education until 1791, when its students were passed
over to the Canonsburg Academy, shortly before
erected. The spirit of McMillan in this whole en-
terprise, as well as his hearty co-operation with his
brethren in the same direction, may be discovered in
the modest statement of his letter to the Rev. Dr.
James Carnahan, under date of March 26, 1832.
“When I had determined,” says he, “to come to
this country, Dr. Smith [his theological instructor,——
the Rev. Robert Smith, D.D., of Pequea] enjoined it
upon me to look out for some pious young men and
educate them for the ministry, for, said he, though
some men of piety and talents may go to a new coun-
try at first, yet if they are not careful to raise up others

2 the country will not be well supplied. Accordingly I

. stillblazed upon. the hills.”

EDUCATIONAL HISTORY.

collected a few who gave evidence of piety, and taught
them the Latin and Greek languages, some of whom
became useful, and others eminent ministers of the
Gospel. I had still a few with me when the academy
was opened at Canonsburg, and finding I could not
teach and do justice to my congregation, I immedi-
ately gave it up and sent them there.”

Such was the state of the case when the wants of
the community rose above the supply of private en-
terprise and demanded associated effort. “It reflects

the highest honor upon these illustrious men,” says‘

Prof. Patterson, the champion of Dr. McMillan’s
priority as an educator, “ that scarce thirty years were
suffered to elapse after the first daring adventurers
had penetrated a hitherto pathless wi1derness—thirty
years not of prosperity but of painful vigilance and
struggle, of unexampled hardship and heroic endu-
rance——until the poetry and eloquence of Greece and
Rome, the truths of modern science and of sacred

‘learning had found three humble halls, three devoted

instructors, and a score of assiduous pupils, though
the war-whoop of the retreating savage still echoed
within the surrounding valleys, and his council fires
The combined move-
ment referred to found embodiment in the charter of
the Washington Academy by an act of the Legisla-
ture of Pennsylvania dated Sept. 24, 1787. The same

_act devoted, for the uses of the academy, five thousand

acres of public land north of the Ohio River, chiefly
in what is now Beaver County. That charter was
secured mainly through the influence of Dr. McMillan
and his two elders, Judges Allison and'McDowel1,
then members of the Legislature. The original list
of ‘trustees embraced all of the settled Presbyterian
ministerswest of the Monongahela, and not less than
seven or eight ruling elders and some other lea.ding
members of the same denomination, as well as a goodly
representation fromother churches. It was not until
17 89. that the academy went into operation under the
Rev. Thaddeus Dodd, who was chosen principal,
doubtless because, by common consent, he was the
finest classical and mathematical scholar of these
eminent fathers. His promise of continuance in this

' work covered only one year, though he gave an ad-

dition of three months, preaching one-third of this
period in Vl-’ashingt’on and the remaining two-thirds
in his own charge.‘ He was succeeded by his associate,
Mr. David Johnston. But the burning of the court-
house, in which the classes were heard, followed, and
then a feeling of depression, if not of indifference, in
the community, almost insuperable. The division of
sentiment among friends abroad and division of their
influence, and the suspension of operations which
ensued, might probably have been avoided had the

~ Hon. John Hoge, a trustee, and one of the proprietors

of the town, met the proposal of the Rev. Messrs. John
McMillan and Matthew Henderson, the latter of whom

- was father of the Associate (now United Presbyterian)
‘ Church in the West, for the donation of a lot for the

erection of an academy. The prompt offer of such a lot
in Canonsburg by Col. John Canon, together with the
advance of funds for the erection, turned the scale.
About this time, or in 1791, a consultation of minis-
ters and citizens concerning the establishment of an
institution on‘ a larger scale was held, which, under
like influence,- resulted in favor of Canonsburg.

Mr. Johnson having resigned at Washington, his
election as principal of the new institution was fol-
lowed by its speedy opening and the famous first reci-
tation “under the shade of some sassafras bushes,”
by Robert Patterson and William Riddle, the first
pair of a long and worthy succession of students.
The Rev. Messrs. McMillan, Smith, and Henderson
were present, and consecrated the incipient enter-
prise -in prayer. At the meeting of the Synod of

‘Virginia, in October of the same year, another great

impulse was given by the adoption of “a plan for
the education of persons for the ministry of the gos-
pel,” ivhicli recommended that two institutions should
be taken under the patronage of the Synod. One of
these was to be located in Rockbridge County, Va.,
under the presidency of the Rev. William Graham,
and special care of the Presbyteries of Lexington
and Hanover, the same which grew into Wash-
ington College at Lexington. The other was to be
established in Washington County, Pa., under the

care of Rev. John McMillan, and to be “cherished”

and’ “superintended” by the Presbytery of Redstone.
The Synod also advised that in one or other of these
institutions all the candidates for the ministry within
its bounds should be instructed. The Presbytery of
Redstone, at its meeting in Pigeon Creek, Oct. 18,
1792, unanimously agreed to make Canonsburg “ the
seat of that institution of learning which they were
appointed to superintend,” though, upon a reconsider-
ation of the subject, in the following spring,_ the way
was left open for a division of the funds, if in the fu-
ture the good of the church should require: the erec-
tion of another institution: Contributions were taken
by active agents under the influence, first, of the Pres-
bytery of Redstone, and then, after its organization, in
1793, of the Ohio Presbytery, in whose territory the
academy was located. Aid was also rendered under
the favor of the Associate Presbyterian Church, led
by the Rev. Matthew Henderson and others. These
funds were applied in part to reimburse Col. Canon
for his outlay in the erection of the academy, and in
part for current expenses. V A A

In 1794, or seven years after the incorporation of
the Washington Academy, a charter was obtained for
the institution at Canonsburg from the Supreme Court

of Pennsylvania, under the name of “The Academy 1
. and Library Company.” But at what precise time

the “ Log Cabin” school was merged into the academy,
thus fully established, it is not easy to determine. It
is certain at ‘least that, without being under direct
ecclesiastical control, the institution had the-zeal of
the ministry and the church in its favor. It was

441 .

442

HISTORY OF WASHINGTON COUNTY, 1 PENNSYLVANIA.

happy, also, in its succession of principals and assistant
instructors, such as Samuel Miller, James Mountain,
James Carnahan, and John Watson. The last of these
became the first president of Jefferson College under
the charter of 1802, while Mr. Carnahan reached
afterwards the same high place in the College of New
Jersey. Nor can such names among its pupils as
those of Cephas Dodd, Elisha McCurdy, Thomas E.
Hughes, Thomas Marques, Robert Johnston, James
Hoge, Joseph Stockton, Samuel Tait, James Satter-
field, Obadiah Jennings, William Neill, James Ram-
sey, Gilbert McMaster, and others fail to tell their
own story of benefit in requital of the offerings of the
church. At least one baptism of revival came down
upon the institution, in 1797, in answer to the prayers
of God’s people, when of forty students there was not
one who was not believed to be either an avowed
Christian or “ a subject of sharp awakening.” It was
not, however, until the year 1800 that the first legis-
lative aid came in the form of a grant of one thodsand
dollars. And this in turn stimulated the renewal of
a movement which had failed in 1796, but now found
success in the charter of Jan. 15, 1802, which trans-
formed the Canonsburg Academy into Jefferson Col-
lege, the first and in its day the most useful college
west of_ the Alleghenies. The two surviving fathers
of the Redstone Presbytery, John McMillan and
James Power, were among its trustees, Messrs. Smith
and Dodd having meanwhile gone to their rest. With
them, also, were associated Joseph Patterson, Thomas
Marques, Samuel Ralston, John McPherrin, James
Dunlap, and John Black, honored ministers, together
with a list of laymen of corresponding prominence
andworth. The officers of the institution were con-
stituted by simply elevating the teachers of the acad-
emy into members of the faculty. .
Returning now to the VVashington Academy, which,
as we have seen, was suspended in 1791, we find that
it was shortly afterwards reopened and carried on with
greater or less success until.the spring of 1805, under
James Dobbins and Benjamin Mills. Then a new era
dawned upon it in the election to its management and
instruction of the Rev. Matthew Brown, who had just
then also been chosen as the first pastor of the Pres-
byterian Church of Washington. He was ably as-
sisted, thevfirst year, by his young friend, David El-
liott, afterwards his distinguished successor both in
the college and the church, and the second year by
his honored pupil, George Baird. Success crowned
the ability and energy of the new principal, and in
due time the academy, which had led her sister at
Canonsburg by seven years in the first charter,‘ now
followed her after the lapse of four years in the second,
having received also an act of incorporation as a col-
lege dated March 28, 1806. Formal application was
made for this charter to the Legislature by the truis-
tees, but its success was due chiefly to the personal
influence of the energetic principal, aided by the great
force of Parker Campbell, Esq., the leading member

of the Washington bar. The trustees of the academy
were made the‘incorporators of the college, and to
their number, as in the Jefferson board, additions were
made from time to time from the most prominent
ministers and citizens of the surrounding country.
The proportion of numbers in both cases was always,
of course, in favor of that branch of the church
which in fact gave the breath of life to both. It is
worthy of remark that ,, during the whole subsequent
period from the charter, in 1806, until theunion of
the colleges, with the exception of two and a half
years, the presidency of the board was filled by two
venerable men, viz., the Rev. John Anderson, D.D.,
for twenty-four years, ending in 1831, and the Rev.
David Elliott, D.D., LL.D., for thirty-three years,
ending in 1865. Dr. Samuel Ralston likewise pre-
sided over the Jefferson board nearly forty-four years.
The history of Jefferson and Washington Colleges
has heretofore been given to the public with consid- ’

erable fullness. In these published memorials, and in _

the general catalogue issued in 1872, an inquirer may
partially trace the succession in each down to their
union and their consolidation. Each struggled from
first to last with poverty, and passed through various
changes of fortune. Yet each, by a divine blessing
upon indomitable energy, accomplished a work for
the country and the church beyond‘ computation.
Rival contestants they were for public favor upon the
same field of operation. Their movements were not
always without contest and bitterness. Their separate
existence was maintained for about threescore years
against an unceasing protest of the public mind,
which, together with the pressure of their own neces-‘
sities, compelled frequent though unavailing efforts
for their consolidation. And yet the history of this
or any other .country may be challenged for results in
educated men as great in proportion to the means ex-
pended as their records will show. '

John Watson, the first president of Jefferson Col-
lege, grew up an orphan in Western Pennsylvania,
almost without education, until his habits of reading
and study were discovered by the distinguished Judge
Addison. This gentleman encouraged him with books
and counsel, and doubtless commended him to Dr.

McMillan, who in turn elevated him from menial 5

service to a place in the academy at Canonsburg, first
as a pupil, and then as assistant teacher, and then se-
cured for him the benefit of a fund in Princeton Col-
lege, pledging other help besides. But his own en-
ergy won triumph over the need of further help,
having secured for him the position of teacher of the
grammar school, and thus enabling him to graduate
with distinction. Recalled to Canonsburg, he be-
came principal of the academy, and also, along with
his patron and father-in-law, Dr. McMillan, an in-
fluential agent in procuring the college charter, and
then, under it, by unanimous choice, the first in a
long line of eminent presidents. Meanwhile he had
entered the ministry, but his lamentable death, Nov. '

EDUCATIONAL HISTORY.

C 443

31, 1802, within the very year of the charter and only
three months after his inauguration, was a baptism of
aflfliction to the infant institution and the church.
With him was associated Samuel Miller, or “ Mas-
ter Miller,” as he was called from his former service
in the academy as Professor of Mathematics and Nat-
ural Philosophy. ‘ A loving pupil, Dr. Samuel C.
Jennings, describes this gentleman as a man of low"
stature, with a penetrating eye, and in old age a
smooth white head; a self-made scholar, kindly in
disposition, and rebuking oftener with the pointing
of his finger than with sharp words. He is also re-
ported as a decided Christian, and an active ruling
elder in Dr. McMillan’s church, even after his volun-
tary retirement from the college in 1830, until his peace-
ful death a year later. Dr. McMillan himself, without
actual change of the service he was wont to render,

A was made Professor of Divinity, to give instruction, as

before, to candidates for the ministry. And the very
year of the charter was signalized by the graduation
of the first class,——trained in the academy, but
crowned with college honors,-—consisting of Reed
Bracken, Johnston Eaton, William McMillan, John

, Rhea, and Israel Pickens, all afterwards ministers

of the gospel but the last, who reached the distinc-
tion of Governor of Alabama and United States
senator. This beginning of the college was small,

_but it was the beginning of an enterprise which has

accomplished mighty things, the end of which is still
among the great promises of the future.

The administration of the second president, the
Rev. James Dunlap, D.D., extended over a period of
eight years, ending in 1811. He was a son of New
Jersey College, of the class of 1773, received ordina-
tion in 1781 at the hands of the New Castle Presby-
tery, and after a pastorate of seven years over the
united churches of Laurel Hill and Dunlap’s Creek,
near Brownsville, Pa., and of fourteen more of the
latter church alone, accepted the presidency. His
discharge of the trust was not marked with special
interest, except in the way of financial struggle on
the part of the institution to maintain its existence,
and still harder struggle on the part of the president
to defray the expenses of his family and pay his
tutors on a salary of less than six hundred dollars,
with a small addition from the church of Miller’s
Run, to which he ministered. . Even his salary was
larger by one-fourth than that of his predecessor.
Such then were the country and the times. These
causes, along with a spirit perhaps too easily wounded
by the frank dealings of the board of trustees, led to
the resignation of a man said to have possessed great
excellence of character. , The average number of his
graduates was slightly over five, which was the size

~ of the only class under his predecessor.

During the interval of a year which followed, Dr.
McMillan, who had been made vice-president for this
purpose, gave to the college his general supervision.
At its close the Rev. Andrew Wylie was inducted

into the presidency,—the same Dr. Wylie afterwards
so noted in the administration of both the colleges
and in their controversies. He had been a pupil of
Dr. Matthew Brown in the Washington Academy,
but was graduated with the class of 1810 in Jefferson
College, the last year of Dr. Dunlap’s presidency.’
His succession to this high place at the age of twenty-
two years, and only eighteen months after his recep-
tion of a diploma, was a triumph of which any young
man might be proud. Perhaps we may find here the
swing of the pendulum. It-«was, at least, a very
marked return to the first policy of having a young
president after an intervening administration com-
menced at the age of sixty years. Nor was the new
president, fine scholar and energetic executive as he
was, remarkable for success during the five years of
his incumbency, as the total of his eighteen graduates
will show. But fairness demands that we look away
from Canonsburg for at least a part of the explana-
tion.

It must be remembered that during the ten years
last under review Washington College had come into
earnest operation under the Rev. Matthew Brown, its
originator and first president, as we have seen. He
was a graduate of Dickinson College in 1784. The
eight classes which received the Bachelor’s degree at
his hands in these opening years numbered in all
forty-eight, or an average of six. Like those of J effer-
son,they embraced a fine proportion of names since
high in the registry of church and State. Much of
the favor of the church, which, as has appeared, had

, been transferred to Canonsburg, was won back. The

foundations of a college were firmly laid, alike in
scholarship and government, and a presidential repu-
tation was made of which the alumni_of both colleges
are justly proud. And yet, let it be remembered,
until the last year of his term the only regular pro-
fessor associated with Dr. Brown was James Reed,
who held the chair of mathematics and natural
philosophy. Precisely the same was true of Jefferson,
which did not add a second professor until 1818, or
three years later still, when in like manner the ancient
languages were detached from the presidency and
formed into a distinct chair. So limited then were
these foundations of learning in resources, so self-
denying and laborious the agents who executed their
work. And yet so bright is the record of the men
year by year sent from them into the high places of
the land. 1

The “ College War” cannot be passed over in this
history, though even yet the time has scarcely come
for its impartial treatment. We will do no more
than state some of its prominent facts. It came to
its crisis in the transfer, by election in 1816, of Dr.
Wylie from the presidency of Jefferson to that ‘of
Washington. It raged actively for at least two years,
and then left animosities behind it which far outlived
the busy actors themselves. Happy is the disposition
of posterity to forget a strife which alienated good

' 444

HISTORY OF WASHINGTON COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA.

men, divided communities and families, filled the
press with crimination, embarrassed the cause of edu-
cation, and put the church of God itself under a
heavy stress of trouble. Well has it been said that
the survival of the colleges themselves, and of re-
ligion at the centres of the contest, was a signal proof
of the power and grace of God.

True to human nature as it is, the immediate occa-
sion of this strife was an earnest and almost success-
ful negotiation for the consolidation of the institu-
tions at one place. Committees of the boards met at
Graham's tavern, midway between the two towns, on
the 26th of October, 1815, and approximated but
did not reach a satisfactory basis of union. The
next day the following proposition was offered in
the Jefferson board, viz‘.: “Resolved, That, provided
the Board of Trustees of Washington College will
not recede from their sine qua non, viz.: ‘that the
permanent site of the reunited college should be in the
borough of Washington,’ but will give five thousand
dollars in addition to their present funds, half of the
trustees, and the casting vote in the choice of the fac-
ulty, this board will agree to give up the site to them,
and will unite with them in petitioning the Legislature
to effect the object in view.” ‘iAction, however, was
suspended on this resolution in order to hold a con-
sultation with the faculty, when President'Wylie
gave his consent, and stated his belief of Professor
Miller’s concurrence, founded on consultation with
him. But awarm debate left the board a tie upon
the resolution, whilst the president, Dr. Ralston,
“hesitated” fora time, “but afterwards he did vote
in the afiirmative,” though not until the negative
side had claimed that the crisis was passed, and the
secretary had recorded thatthe president had de-
clined voting, under which rulingthe motion was
of course lost. And thus was postponed for just half
a century a consummation often sought and surely
devoutly wished by many friends of both colleges
before and since.
we may see in these facts that it was not as yet-the
will of Providence that these streams should be joined»
until their separate benefits should have been more
fully secured, and the channel of their union better
prepared. - »

Negotiations to the same effect were soon renewed,
though excited feeling rendered their success impos-
sible. But other changes soon turned the current of
events. The resignation of Dr. Brown as president at
Washington, and the election of Dr. Wylie, with his
transfer to the vacant place, were simultaneous. His
election was secured amidst excitement by the casting
vote of the president, Dr. John Anderson, and a like
tumult prevailed at Canonsburg. In the hot strife

2 thus engendered motives were of course assailed.

Parties resorted to the public press for vindication.
Sharp lines of ‘divisionwere drawn between former
friends, extending even to ministers and churches.
Dr. Brown, retiring from the college, continued in his

Without expression of opinion, i

pastoral relation for six years longer, with the warmest
love of his church generally, as well as the sympathy
of a portion of the public drawn to him as an injured
man. During these six years, and for just the same
period afterwards, Dr. Wylie presided at Washington,
but neither his fine talents, scholarship, address, and
energy, nor the warm devotion of friends and stu-
dents could wholly raise him above the adverse influ-
ences growing out of the circumstances of his election.
Men of the highest honorwere enlisted on both sides
of that controversy, in view of which fact the judg-

ment even of this remote generation should be held in _

abeyance. Yet the evils of the warfare were clear
and abundant. In such a condition of things it is not
a little to the credit of Dr. Wylie that there was an

average of nine graduates from the college during the A

twelve years of his administration. But his retire-
ment in 1828 to take charge of the Indiana State

University at Bloomington was soon followed by the »

suspension of the college itself. He died in 1851,
having passed threescore years. Dr. Wylie’s suc-
cessor at Canonsburg was the Rev. William McMillan,
A.M., a nephew of the venerable founder of the col-
lege and an alumnus of its first class. He was a man
of rugged scholarship and force rather than of social
and literaryculture. He was measurably successful
during his presidency of five years, adding fifty-nine
names to the roll of alumni. He also supplied the
church of Miller’s Run. The chief reason of his
resignation was the alleged failure of the board to
sustain him in a controversy with certain students
charged with mutiny, sedition, and rebellion. These
charges, involving the reputation of the principal, as
he claimed, the board on investigation did not regard
as sufliciently proven. He was subsequently president
of Franklin College,'at New Athens, Ohio, and died
in 1832.

The last Wednesday of September, 1822, marks the
crisis and dawn of the true glory of Jefferson College.

The Rev. Matthew Brown, D’.D., LL.D., who then
held a call in his hand to the presidency of Centre
College, at Danville, Ky., and was favorably consid-
ering it, was elected that night to the place made
vacant by President McMillan’s resignation. A
prompt committee managed to have him brought
from Washington to Canonsburg before breakfast the
next morning, ready to preside at the commencement,
confer the degrees,‘ and deliver the baccalaureate
address, all on the same day. Confessing himself be-
wildered, as in a whirl of events, he could not resist
what seemed to him and his brethren a clear call of
the Lord. He carried into his new position the bene-
fits of his oflicial experience of ten years at Washing-
ton, and the fine reputation he had so fairly won. If
his character was not the most symmetrical, he still
had the elements of success in an eminent degree.
Opposites blended in him most remarkably. Special
eccentricities, a hasty temper, and the reactions of
mirth and depression,were all joined with a vigorous

" «or an average for the whole period of thirty-five.

EDUCATIONAL HISTORY.

--intellect, clear judgment, quick discernment, good

sense, ardent piety, and untiring energy. If his im-
petuosity sometimes involved -him in mistakes, his
students loved him, even the wildest of them, for the
depth of heart which never failed to make him a
friend of all disposed to do right. His strong hold
upon the public also, especially upon the church,
gave him a power in behalf of the college only sur-
passed by his unrivaled skill in canvassing for pat-
ronage. Finding the institution with about ‘eighty
students, he soon greatly increased the number, and
kept it at a high figure to the end of his service. In

“every other respect, also, the college was advanced.

During the twenty-three years of his presidency the
graduates numbered seven hundred and seventy-two,
In
word and deed he was a promoter of revivals, and re-
joiced in at least two of great extent through his min-
istry, both in the college and the church, of which for
fifteen years he acted as pastor. It must have been
grateful to his heart that, upon the occurrence of the
first simultaneous vacancy in the college and church

at Washington, six years after leaving that place, he

was cordially invited to resume his old position in
-each. He ever continued to love that community,
and the church of which he had been the first pastor.
And there, by his own request, his body was laid down
to rest beside beloved dust, after his spirit had been
called, July 29, 1853, at the venerable age of seventy-
seven years, to its glorious rest. A

445

two classes, numbering in all ninety-six members. A
portion of his remaining life was spent as a professor
in the Presbyterian Theological Seminary at Dan-
ville. A ‘

Next in order comes an alumnus of 1825 in the
person of that noble Christian gentleman, refined
scholar, and eloquent preacher, the Rev. Alexander
Blaine Brown, D.D., son of Dr. Matthew Brown.»
After serving for six years as Professor of Belles-
Lettres and adjunct Professor of Languages,———four
of them before the retirement of his venerable father,
——he was advanced to the presidency in 1847, and
filled it with great credit and success for nine years,
when failing health compelled the exchange of labor
for rest. He was, however, able during the remain-
der of his life to minister to a loving people as pastor
of the Centre Church. He died in 1863. He lives
still in many hearts. Four hundred and fifty—three di-
plomas bear his signature, equal to fifty for each year.

In turn two eminent gentlemen succeeded in this
important ofiice, viz., the Rev. Joseph Alden, D.D.,

LL.D., author of standard works on mental philos0- A

phy and the science of government, and the Rev.
David H. Riddle, D.D., LL.D., the former for five
and the latter for three years, extending to the union
of the colleges. Both of these presidents did honor-
able service in this office, sustaining well the prosper-
ity of the college. Dr. Riddle is an alumnus of the
class of 1823. He was a son-in-law of Dr. Matthew
Brown.

JEFFERSON COLLEGE AT CANONSBURG IN 1842.

The Rev. Robert J. Breckenridge, D.D., LL.D., I In such a sketch of sixty-three years. it would be

of? Kentucky, succeeded Dr. Brown upon his resigna— ’

tionin 1845, and for two years gave to the college the
benefit of his great _name and brilliant talents. But
the government of a college not proving congenial to
his taste any more than suitable to his gifts, he re-
turned to his beloved State in 1847, having graduated
29 A

 

impossible to do justice to the long line of professors
so identified with its history. They were generally
men of very creditable ability as well as fidelity, and
their names shall not perish from the college records
nor from the hearts of the alumni. Of such were
Samuel Miller, Abraham Anderson, John H. Ken-

446

HISTORY OF WASHINGTON COUN TY, PENNSYLVANIA.

nedy, Jacob Green, C. J. Hadermann, Washington
McCartney, Richard S. McCulloh, Henry Snyder,
Aaron Williams, Samuel R. Williams, Robert W.
Orr, John Fraser among the dead, and Robert Pat-
terson, Samuel Jones, and Alonzo Linn among the
living, a lmajority of them being distinguished sons-
of the college. The Rev. Drs. James Ramsey, Abra-
ham Anderson, and. Thomas Beveridge, of the Asso-
ciate Theological Seminary at Canonsburg, at different
times also rendered important services as professors
extraordinary, the two former in Hebrew and the
latter in evidences of natural and revealed religion.
But fidelity to truth as well as deference to the affec-
tionate memories of forty-four classes must claim
distinct mention of William Smith, D.D., a graduate
of 1819, an honored Professor of Languages from 1821
until the union of 1865, who departed this life in the
peace of the gospel July 17, 1878, at the venerable
age of eighty-four years. ,

Returning once more to the other branch before
brought down to the suspension of 1828, we may

2 trace the new life of Washington College through a

professors and some twenty boys of the vicinity ex-
alted into students. His own resolution, however,
inspired confidence ; his vigorous administration and
extensive correspondence soon made the college-
known, and the third session ended with a collegiate
roll of one hundred and nineteen young men, each
class being respectably’ filled. Meanwhile, by a visit
to Harrisburg, he had secured an annual State appro-
priation of five hundred dollars for five years, to sup-
port a department for the special education of teach-
ers. At that stage of- progress. he handed over the-
institution to the successor of his own nomination,
the Rev. David McConaughy, D.D., LL.D., an alum-
nus of Dickinson of 1795, called from the pastorate
of the Presbyterian Church at Gettysburg, Pa., in the
spring of 1882.

Dr. McConaughy’s administration partook of the ,
»moral dignity of his character, without sensational or

spasmodic effort. His resignation, in September,
1849, was followed by his peaceful death at his home-
in Washington, Jan. 29, 1852, ‘,‘ in the seventy—seventh
year of his life, and the fiftieth of his ministry.” The

period of thirty-fiveyears. The interval of suspen-

, sion had brought to Washington as pastor of the

Presbyterian Church just the man to reorganize the

college, in the person of the Rev. David Elliott, D.D., '

LL.D., a graduate of Dickinson College in 1808, then
in his forty-third year, having been a pastor at Mer-
cersburg, Pa., for seventeen years. Withthe college
as well as the church in view, he had been recom-
mended by‘ his admiring‘ friend, Dr. Matthew Brown,
upon the resignation of Dr. Obadiah Jennings to ac-
cept a call to the church of Nashville, Tenn. And

. the nobleness of both these eminent men, Drs. Brown

and Elliott, is revealed in the fact that the most un-
tiring devotion of each to these rival interests never
-cast a shadow over their confidential friendship. Dr.
Elliott peremptorily declined the offered presidency,
and only yielded at last as a temporary expedient,
until a permanent successor could be obtained. He
opened the college accordingly Nov. 2, 1830, with two

survivors of the three hundred and eighty-eight
alumni who passed under his care can never forget
the scholarly ability of his instructions nor the beauty
of his life. Copying the portrait drawn of him after
death by thehand of his discierningfriend and im-
mediate predecessor, we may well say that if indeed,
“ as it regarded direct personal activity abroad and
tactical skill in meeting sudden emergencies connected
with the government of a college, he may have lacked
some of the qualities desirable in a president, it is

’ equally certain that his commanding talents, his ex-

tensive and accurate scholarship, his unwavering in-
tegrity, his purity of motive, his paternal care and
affectionate regard for his pupils, the dignity and uni-
formity of his deportment, and the captivating benevo-
lenceof his disposition, in a word, the concentrated
force of the many and rare qualities which clustered
around. his character, gave him a power and control
over the public mind and over the hearts of the young

P EDUCATIONAL HISTORY.

‘men against which these few incidental defects ,pre-

sented but slight resistance.” .
Dr. McConaughy’s successor was the Rev. James

 Clark, D.D., (then) called from the pastorate of the

Presbyterian Church in Belvidere, N. J. He brought
to the college a high character and the accomplish-
ments of a superior education. But he resigned, in
July, 1852, after a service of two years, that he might

‘accept a call to a church in Lewisburg, Pa. At the

present writing he is a resident of Philadelphia, hav-
ing the respect of his brethren, and doing the work
of a gospel minister as occasion demands. Upon his
retirement the writer of these pages, at the age of
thirty-five years, and in the fourth year of his present
pastoral charge, was pressed into the office of presi-

« -dent by the trusteesuntil a permanent successor

could be procured. Then, as also afterwards in 1870,
he declined to allow the use of his name by influen-
tial trustees as a candidate for the permanent oflice,
ever preferring the direct work of the ministry. A
son of the college, a pupilin former years of nearly

every one of the professors, the youngest member of

the faculty, and withal carrying the weight of a la-
borious pastorate, he felt the restraint of great em-
barrassment in undertakingithis responsible trust.

But, sustained by the trustees and the professors,:and -

encouraged by the confidence of the students‘, his con-

. nection with the collegein this capacity, anxious and .

laborious as it was, was far more satisfactory than he

‘expected. It was, however, awelcome relief, upon‘
the graduation of his second class, the commencement 
of 1853, to surrender-the-reins,t0 the successorofs his .

preference and nomination.‘

The inauguration of -the-Rev. John W. Scott, D.~D_., 
of the J efferson class of 1827 , as president of Wash;- ;
ington College, upon the occasion justnamed, marks  V
"a new era in its history. _ A special relation had just f’

been formed with the Presbyterian; Synod of .Wh.eel-

ing, the object of which was to bring collegiate .edu— ‘

cation more directly under the influence of religion

A and the church. Under that system the management

of the institution was still in the hands of the trus-
tees, as before, but in consideration of the revenue
derived from an endowment of sixty thousand dol-
lars, as well as other funds raised also by the Synod,
that body had also the nomination of members of
the board of trustees and the faculty, and from the
persons thus nominated the board elected. The ar-
rangement was indeed denominational, in thesense

- of a more positive religious influence, coupled With

systematic study of the Bible, and, in the case of

Presbyterian students, a like study of the standards.

of the church. But from this last course all who so

preferred were_ excused, and beyond this also the

largest liberty and exemption from sectarian influ-
ences known in other colleges was allowed. Justice
to truth demands the statement that, under the lead

. of a very eflicient president ‘and, the instruction of a

faculty of more than usual ability, the twelve years

of this arrangement were not surpassed by any like
period in thorough scholarship, and that, too, without»
the disadvantages of denominationalism, wlfich so«
many feared. Two hundred and sixteen were added;

to the alumni, of whom one hundredand eighteenk

became ministers, including six foreign missionaries.’
During this period, several revivalsof religion ex-
tended their influence into the college as others had

done before. Profs. E. ‘C. Wines, D.D., William J. ”

Martin, William H. Brewer, James Black, D.D.,
William J. Brough, D.D., and others of this period
were worthy successors of VVilliam P. Aldrich, D.D.,
William K. McDonald, LL.D., Richard Henry Lee,
LL.D., Robert Milligan, Nicholas Murray, James W.
McKennan, D.D., and others of the preceding period
since the resuscitation. The last three named, as well
as Prof. Black, were worthy sons of the college. The
president, in his voluntary retirement preparatory to
the union of the colleges, carried with him the high
esteem of all connected with the institution.

The foregoing recital brings us down to a most in-
teresting event, several times referred to, viz., the
union,of the colleges. ‘

For this event there had been a long course of
preparation. Away from the -localities of these in-
stitutions there had always been a public sentiment

averse to their separate existence. Attempts to unite
=th'emhad__been made. at; intervals through their whole

history. ; Wevhave before seen how near that of 1815
came’ to'succeSs.l-.-‘But many causes combined at
.length to ;for'ce.th.is r'esult.- Financial pressure was

[one of the chief}. Each.-had‘-.;'been betrayed by bad
? .exaInp1e ,into .-the ruinous .,po.l-icy of endowment by
cheap scholarship‘s,,Jeffersonleading theway in 1851,
-and Washington following two years afterwards. In

each case the revenue thus provided only rose to the

.low.est~level. ofzexpenses in cheap times, with small
‘salaries,.without- any provision for expansion or prog-

ress. The injury came in the almost total displace-
ment of tuition’ fees, in the fastening ~—o%f permanent
responsibilities upon the colleges ioutof ‘all propor-
tion to their means, and in an evident lowering of the

public estimate of the pecuniary value of collegiate‘

education. The cost of living, which was doubled if
not trebled by the civil war of 1861-65, demanded as
a necessity a reduction of the working force, or else a
great increase of funds. The large ben-efactions to
colleges in the East, as the ‘fruit of fortunes accumu-
lated during the war, produced a competition in
buildings, appliances, and new professorships such as
had never been known before. Unwonted facilities
for travel and transportation also made access to all
institutions easy, and reduced their cost to substan-
tially the same level. Both Jefferson and Washing-
ton, in these circumstances, and with the experience

of reduced finances, must be speedily lifted out of .

their perils, or look the question of life or death in
the face. .
In fact, by a process of depletion, the result of the

447 S

‘ 448

i could not be overcome.

HISTORY OF WASHINGTON COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA.

change of financial condition in the country produced
by the war of the Rebellion and continued ever since,
all other assets had been sunk except the buildings,
and an endowment of Jefferson tcfl the net amount
of $56,099.39, and of Washington to the amount of
$42,689.33. The former of these endowments was
fastened for a long term of years in a loan with
interest at six per cent. ,The latter, being free,
had been for the most part invested in government
bonds, and was thus made more productive through

the high premium then, and -for some time afterwards, .

realized upon gold as compared with the value of cur-
rency. No important help coming to either, and that

for the very, reason of their hopeless condition, a do-

nation of $50,000 was offered by the Rev. Charles C.
Beatty, D.D., LL.D., on the sole condition of their
union. It was followed with a proposition of sur-
render, on the same condition, of the ecclesiastical
relation of Washington College by the Synod, and the
tender of the perpetual use of its endowment to the
united college, so long as it should continue to be
Protestant and evangelical. Even then the two boards
were reluctant, and only consented under the resist-
less force of public sentiment, concentrated by the
joint action of the alumni at the last moment of the
crisis.

The union thus effected under a legislative act,
dated March 4, 1865, was a step forward, but it
proved to be incomplete and unsatisfactory. The

corporations were merged into one, the departments -

and classes were apportioned and separately con-
ducted at the two former localities, but with the
effect of undue expense, a want of unity, and the
old rivalry more or less continued. The presidents
of the old colleges,'Drs. Scott’ and Riddle, gracefully
retired, in order -that the unity of the future might
be represented fairly in the person of a new presi-
dent, whose antecedents were identified with neither
institution.

In due time the choice fell upon the Rev. Jonathan
Edwards, D.D., LL.D., an alumnus of South Han-
over College of the class of 1835, and twenty years
afterwards its president, but then pastor of the West
Arch Street Presbyterian Church of Philadelphia, a
gentleman of the finest talents and culture. His in-
auguration, April 4, 1866, was followedby an honest
effort on his part, seconded by the faculty and trus-
tees, to make the experiment a success, but the com-
plicated system was inseparable from difficulties which
After three years of able ser-
vice the president resigned, April 20, 1869, to accept
a pastoral charge in the city of Baltimore, having in-
troduced one hundred and thirty-four graduates into
the goodly company of the alumni. Again, however,
the clamor had arisen for further change, and neither
patrons nor alumni would be satisfied without it.
Nothing would answer the demand short of absolute
consolidation at one place. The trustees again hesi-

, tated, but finally yielded to a necessity, and by care-

ful steps reached with singular unanimity a plan
which found its expression in an amended charter of
Feb. 26, 1869, which of itself settled every question
except that of location.

vania, was to be settled by a two-thirds vote of the
board within sixty days, or on their failure by the
voice of four out of five disinterested arbitrators upon
whom two-thirds of the board might agree. It was
settled, however, by a two-thirds vote of the trustees
on the 20th of April, 1869, in favor of Washington.
Among the inducements offered by that community
was a subscription of $50,000 to the funds of the insti-
tution. For a time litigation, attended with the re-

. straint of an “injunction,” arrested the progress of

the consolidation, but in due time it was sanctioned
by the highest courts of Pennsylvania and of the
United States.

During the interval of legal contest Prof. Samuel
J. Wilson, D.D., LL.D., of the Western Theological
Seminary, Allegheny, Pa., exercised t-he oflice of
president for one session at Canonsburg, and the
present writer in like manner for the following year
at Washington. But at the commencement in 187 0,
the way for permanent reorganization having been
sufficiently opened, the Rev. George P. Hays, D.D.,
pastor of the Central Presbyterian Church, of Alle-
gheny, an alumnus of the Jefferson class of 1857, was
elected president, and other corresponding changes
were made. The inauguration took place in the town
hall at Washington on the evening of Sept. 21, 1870,
in the presence of a large assembly, composed of the
trustees, faculty, students, citizens, and strangers.
The oath of office was administered by the Hon. Wil-K
liam McKennan, judge of the Third Circuit ofthe
United States. i .

The administration of Dr. Hays, extending over a”
period of eleven years, was both energetic and suc-
cessful. His resignation, previously offered chiefly

from considerations of health, was accepted by the

board at the time of the annual commencement, June

20,1881, and he shortly afterwards entered upon his

duties as pastor of the Central Presbyterian Church
of Denver, Col.’ A portion of his time, during the

first years of his presidency, was given to financial _, A

efforts in behalf of the college, in which his success

was as great as could be reasonably expected, con-' ,
sidering the monetary ‘stringency then prevalent‘
throughout the country. Besides the labor of teach-

ing, he carried his habitual activity into the several
branches of the college administration, the effect of

. which was felt in different directions. The litigation,

however, which grew out of the consolidation of the

two old colleges at one place, as previously related,

still overhung the institution with‘ its cloud of dis-
couragement. And so it remained with more or less
of hindrance until the final decision of the whole case
by the Supreme Court of the United States at the
Decemberterm, 1871, the second year of Dr. Hays’

Th-is ‘question’, after a com-'
petition opened to any place in the State of Pennsyl- _

EDUCATIONAL HISTORY. I

449

official service, and nearly three years after the act of
consolidation itself thus called in question before the
several courts of the State and the nation. But even
the clearing away of these legal strifes did not more

’ than prepare the way for the restoration of the classes

from the depression thus produced. The calm cour-

age and perseverance, however, of alunited faculty.

and board of trustees, under a divine blessing, proved
equal to the emergency. ~ It is enough to say that an
administration commencing in 1870 in the heat of
these conflicts, ended in 1881' with an institution
established,'a full faculty, and a catalogue of students
numbering one hundred and eighty-five, together
with every other token of stability and progress.
Notwithstanding the disadvantages of the legal con-

Iflict, and especially the dissolution of the higher

classes under the injunction of a court, the graduates
of these eleven years reached the number of one hun-
dred and seventy-seven, of whom twenty received the
degree of B.S., whilst one hundred and fifty-seven,
having completed the classical course, received that
of A.B. It is proper to” add that in 1871 the course
of’ study in the scientific department was enlarged so
as to cover the period of four years, the same as the
classical, and, also, that sincethat time the Greek and
Latin languages have been elective studies after the
sophomore year. ~

Since the consolidation of 1869 important additions
have been made to the endowment funds of the col-
lege. The Rev. Charles C. Beatty, D.D., LL.D., of
Steubenville, Ohio, president of the board of trus-
tees, besides the munificent donation of fifty thousand
dollars in 1865 to secure the union of the two old col-
leges, added a further gift of twenty-five thousand
dollars in 1874 for the endowment of the Greek chair.
In like manner, Francis J. Le Moyne, M.D., of Wash-
ington, an alumnus of Washington College of the
class of 1815, and for many years an efficient trustee
of the same, gave the sum of twenty thousand dollars,
March 22, 1871, to establish a professorship of agri-
culture and correlative branches, and in 1879 he gave

a like amount for a chair of applied mathematics,’

adding also the further sum of one thousand dollars,
to be divided equally between these two professor-
ships for their equipment. To the five hundred dol-
lars thus allotted to the chair of agriculture an amount
was added suflicient to purchase a set of Prof. Henry
A. Ward’s casts of plants and animals, consisting of

, three hundred and twenty-seven pieces, at a cost of

fourteen hundred dollars. Of this amount the sum
of six hundred dollars was realized from a “loan ex-
hibition.” held in the college in 1879. Thus we have
the noble examples of these benefactions——that of Dr.
Beatty to the amount of seventy-five thousand dollars,

and that of Dr. Le Moyne to the amount of forty-one

thousand dollars——as abiding and powerful appeals to
men of means and public spirit so to devote a portion
of their substance that after their decease it may be a
blessing to coming ‘generations. Other gifts, both by

subscription and legacy, have also reached the treas-
ury in smaller amounts. Among these it is proper to
mention a memorial gift in 1871 of four hundred and
sixty-nine dollars and seventy cents by the Sabbath-
school of the First Presbyterian Church of Washing-
ton, for the improvement of the scientific apparatus
of the college. That the college is able to keep its

- expenses within its income is largely due to the emi-

nent skill and vigilance of its treasurer, Mr. A. T.
Baird.

An additional token of progress, not less marked,
is the fine improvement of the college buildings by
reconstruction and enlargement, begun in 1873, and
finished in time for dedication at the close of the
exercises of the commencement, June 30, 1875, at a
cost of seventy-nine thousand and fifty-three dollars
and forty-five cents.
improvement were derived in part from the subscrip-
tions of the citizens of Washington and vicinity in
1869 to secure the location of the consolidated col-
lege at this place, and in part from other resources in
the hands of the board, including some special dona-
tions for this purpose. The halls of the Philo and
Union and the" Franklin and Washington literary
societies were dedicated on the day preceding the
commencement with appropriate exercises, in the

' presence of a large number of their respective alumni.

But on the afternoon of commencement-day a vast
assembly of citizens and strangers convened in the
campus to witness the dedication of the capacious
and elegant new college building. The Hon. Thomas
Ewing, president judge of the Court of Common Pleas,
_No. 2, of Allegheny County, presided. On the plat-
form were many distinguished gentlemen from sev-
eral States. The dedicatory address was delivered
by the Rev. James I. Brownson, D.D., vice-president
"of the board of trustees; after which the prayer of
dedication was opened by the venerable Charles C.
Beatty, D.D., LL.D., president of. the board. Stir-
ring addresses followed from Governor Hartranft, of
Pennsylvania, Governor Jacobs, of West Virginia,
the Hon. Simon Cameron, the United States senator
from Pennsylvania, Gen. H. H. Bingham, of Phila-
delphia, the Rev. William S. Plumer, D.D., LL.D.,
of South Carolina, and others. Each of these gentle-
men, tracing the evidences of progress, offered the

warmest congratulations to the authorities of the col- '

lege and to its numerous friends, near and far away,
upon the fine structure before them, and upon both
the history and prospects of the honored institution.
Besides‘ the present members of the faculty, the fol-
lowing gentlemen have been associated with it during
the term of Dr. Hays, viz., Terence Jacobson, Pro-
fessor of English Literature, 187 0-7 2 ; George B. Vose,
Professor of Mathematics and Engineering, 1865-74;
Hiram Collier, Professor of Agriculture and Correla-
tive branches, 1870; George Fraser, D.D., Professor of
Mental and Moral. Science, 1872-75; and William H.
G. Adney, Professor of Agriculture, etc., 187 3-80.

The funds appropriated to. this ’

50

HISTORY. OF WASHINGTON COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA.

wagons with supplies and hospital stores without
delay, as has already been noticed. He set out with
two private soldiers as an escort, and traveling with-
out halt through the long hours of the dark and rainy
night which succeeded the day of the battle, came
early in the morning of the 10th to the camp of Col.
Dunbar, who, as it appears, was greatly demoralized

by the startling intelligence which he brought. At.

about the middle of the forenoon several of Brad-
dock’s Pennsylvania -Dutch wagoners (from the east-
ern counties) arrived at the camp, bringing the dread
newsfrom the battle-field, and announcing themselves
as the only survivors of the bloody fight on the Mo-
nongahela. Nearly at the same timearrived Sir John
Sinclair and another wounded officer, brought "in by
their men in blankets. ,

Dunbar’s camp was then a scene of the wildest
panic, as the rattle of the “ long roll,” beaten by his
drummers, reverberated among the crags of the Laurel
Hill. ‘Each one, from the commander to the lowest
camp-follower, believed that the savages and the
scarcely less dreaded French were near at hand and
would soon surround the camp.

True to their cowardly instincts, Dunbar’s wagoners
and pack-horse drivers, like those who were with Brad-
dock on the Monongahela, and like many others of
the same base brood on a hundred later battle-fields,
were the first to seek safety in flight, mounting the
best horses and hurrying away with all speed towards
Fort Cumberland} leaving their places on the wagons

1A few days after their cowardly flight from Dunbar’s camp, several
of these panic-stricken wagoners appeared at Carlisle, bringing with
them the first news of the disaster to .Braddock’s army. Thereupon
they were examined by the Governor of Pennsylvania at that place,
and their depositions taken and subscribed before him are found inthe
Pennsylvania Archives. Two of these depositions (similar'in tenor to
all the others) are here given, viz.:

Matthew Laird being duly sworn, deposed and said,-

“ . . . That this examinant continued with C01. Dunbar. And on
the tenth of this instant the regiment being at about seven miles beyond
a place called the Great Meadows at eleven o’c1ock of that day, there
was a rumor in the camp that there was bad news, and he was soon
after informed by wagoners and pack-horse drivers, who were then
returned to C01. Dunbar’s camp, but had gone out with the advanced
party under Gen. Braddock, that the general with the advanced party
was defeated by the French on the ninth instant, about five miles
from Fort Du Quesne, and about forty miles from where Col. Dunbar
then was, at which engagement the wagoners and pack-horse drivers
said they were present; that the English were attacked as they were
going up a hill by a numerous body of French and Indians, who kept
a continual fire during the whole engagement, which lasted nigh
three hours ; that most of the English were cut off, and the whole train
of artillery taken ; that General Braddock was killed, as also Sir Peter
Hacket, Capt. Orme, and mostof the officers. This examinant further
saith he saw a wounded oflicer brought through the camp on a sheet;
that about noon of the same day they beat to arms in C01. Dunbar’s
camp, upon which the wagoners as well as many common soldiers and
others took to flight in spite of the opposition made by the centrys, who
forced some to return, but many got away, amongst whom was this ex-
aminant.” ' ~

Following is the deposition of Jacob Huber:

“ This examinant saith that he was in C01. Dunbar’s camp the tenth
of July instant, and wasinformed that two oflicers who had come from
Fort Cumberland, and had proceeded early in the morning with a party
of Indians to join General Braddock, returned to ‘the camp in about

three hours after they set out, and a rumor spread that there was bad

and with the pack-horse trains to be filled by brave
soldiers from the ranks. Their base example infected
the numerous camp-followers, who, as well as many of
those from whom better things might have been ex-
pected, fled towards the Allegheny Mountains, and it
was with the greatest difficulty that Dunbar prevented
the desertion and flight from becoming general.

At ten o’clock in the even-ing of the same day
(Thursday, July 10th), Gen. Braddock reached Gist’s.
From the place where he fell he was brought away
on a tumbril. Afterwards the attempt was made to
move him on horseback, but this he could endure
only for a short time, after which he was dismounted
and carried all the remaining distance by a few of his
men. The-weary journey was continued with scarcely
a halt during all the night succeeding the battle and
all the following day. Through all the sad hours of
that long march the gallant Capt. Orme (himself suf-
fering from a painful wound) and the no less brave
and steadfast Virginia cavalry captain, Stewart, were
constantly by the side of their helpless commander,
never leaving him a moment.

The mortally wounded general must have been suf-
fering intense agonyof mind as well as of body, but

through it all, like the brave and faithful oflicerthat_

he was, he never forgot that there were other maimed
and suffering ones who sorely needed aid; “ Despite
the intensity of ‘his agonies,” says Sargent, “Braddock
still persisted in the exercise of his authority and the
fulfillment of his duties.” On reaching Gist’s he found
that no provisions, stores, nor surgical aid had arrived
there in obedience to the command sent by Washing-
ton to Col. Dunbar, and thereupon he sent still more
peremptory orders to that officer to forward them in-,
stantly, with the two only remaining companies of
the Forty-fourth and Forty-eighth Regiments, to assist
in bringing off the wounded. The wagons arrived on
the morning of Friday, the llth, and a-party was then
immediately sent back towards the Monongahela to
rescue such of the wounded as could be found, and
with a supply of provisions to be left along the road
for the benefit of those who might be missed and come

news, and that the oflicers could not pass to the general by reason of the -

Indians; that about nine or ten o’clock the same day this examinant
saw and spoke with several wagoners who were come into Col. Dunbar’s
camp from Gen. Braddock’s, and who informed this examinant that
Gen. Braddock with his advancedparty of fifteen hundred men had been
attacked on the ninth instant within five miles of Fort Du Quesne by a
great many French and Indians who surrounded them; that the action
lasted three hours; that the most part of the English were killed; that
Gen. Braddock was wounded and put into a ‘wagon, and afterwards
killed by the Indians; that Sir Peter Hacket and Capt. Orme were also
killed. And this examinant further saith that he saw some soldiers re-
turn into Col. Dunbar’s camp, who he was informed had been of General
Braddock’s advanced party, some of whom were wounded, some not; also
saw two officers carried on sheets, one of whom was said to be Sir John
St. Clair, whom the examinant was informed had received two wounds;
that about noon of the same day Col. Dunbar’sdrums beat to arms;
and both before and after that many soldiers and wagoners with other
attendants upon the camp took to flight, and amongst others this exam-
inant. And further saith not.”

450

HISTORY - OP WASHINGTON COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA.

Temporary service was also rendered at different times

in the department of mental and moral science, to meet
emergencies, by the Rev. W. F. Hami_lton, D.D., and
the writer of this sketch. _

‘ The vacancy created by the retirement of Dr. Hays
extended through the first session of the following
collegiate year. During this interval the duties of
the presidency were most ably and satisfactorily dis-
charged by the vice-president, Alonzo Linn, LL.D.,
in addition to the labors of his professorship. With.
an increased number of students, the order and efii-
ciehcy of the college were fully sustained.

On Nov. 16, 1881, the committee having in charge
the nominatior of a“ president called the board to-
gether and presented the name of the Rev. James D.
Moffat, an alumnus of the college, of the class of 1869,

‘and pastor of the Second Presbyterian Church of

Wheeling, W. Va., who was thereupon unanimously
elected to this oflice. Mr. Moffat, having after care-
ful consideration signified his acceptance of the presi-

, dency thus tendered, entered upon the discharge of

his duties as the head of the institution at the opening
of the second term of the year on Jan. 4, 1882. His
formal inauguration, which had been postponed by
the action of the board, in order to afford the alumni
and friends of the college opportunity more generally
totwitness it, took place in the town hall at Wash-
ington, June 20,1882, the evening preceding the an-
nual commencement. Meanwhile the honorary degree
of Doctor of Divinity had been conferred upon him
by the handsome and unanimous action of the trustees
of Hanover College, Indiana.

The ceremonies of the inauguration were simple_
but very impressive. A procession was formed in the
college campus at seven o’clock P.M.,, consisting of
the undergraduates, alumni, faculty, and trustees,
which, headed by a fine brass band and under the
direction of the chief marshal, the Hon. John ‘H.
Ewing, an alumnus of Washington College of the

’ “class of 1814, and a trustee continuously since 1834,

reached the town hall at the appointed hour, where
an immense concourse of strangers and citizens were
in waiting. The solemn exercises were opened with
prayer by the Rev. Daniel W. Fisher, D.D., presi-
dent of Hanover College. ‘In the absence of the
venerable president of the board, the Rev. Charles C.
Beatty, D.D., LL.D., on account of sickness, the
Rev. James I. Brownson, D.D., vice-president, acted
in his place. The exercises of the evening were en-
livened with the excellent music of Toerge’s orchestra,
of Pittsburgh. An introductory address was deliv-
ered by Dr. Brownson, which was followed by an
address of the Rev. Samuel J. Wilson, D.D., LL.D.,
in behalf of the trustees, setting forth the history of
the college, its _great success and usefulness in the
past, its fine prospects for the future, and its strong
claims upon the support of its friends and the com-
munity at large. The oath of oflice was then im-
pressively administered to the new president by the

Hon. William McKennan, LL.D., judge of the Circuit
Court for the Third Circuit of the United States,

' after which the keys-of the college, and also a copy
, of its charter and by-laws, were handed to Dr. Moffat I

by Dr. Brownson in token of his official authority
and duty. The able and eloquent inaugural address
of President Moffat brought the services of the even-
ing to a happy conclusion, and the large audience
separated in the spirit of confidence that the outlook
for \Washington and J eiferson College was I never
brighter'than atpresent. Hearty and unanimous
congratulations were tendered to the young president,
who takes his place of dignity and influence both to
carry forward the work of his distinguished prede-
cessors and to fulfill a service of filial devotion to his
own cherished alma matter.

It only now remains, in order to complete this sketch
of the college, that we give a brief summary of the re-
sults of the past as the best possible prophecy of the
future, adding the fruits of the seven years interven-
ing since a like statement was given in the “Cen-
tenary Memorial.” Any other county of the common-
Wealth, if not, also, of the nation, may be challenged
for the production of an equal list of educated sons,
whether to fill her own high places, or to lead society
in other counties and States. And receiving from
far and near, beyond her own borders, the youth of
other communities, she has sent them back by hun-
dreds, fitted by thorough collegiate training for every
variety of professional and other responsible service.
More than three thousand graduates, besides an al-
most equal number who have taken a partial course,
embracing fourteen hundred ministers of the gospel,
seven ‘hundred and fifty lawyers, and four hundred
physicians, six or eight United States senators, six
cabinet officers, fifty or more representatives in Con-
gress, and sixty president judges, together with forty-
five presidents and seventy-five professors of colleges,
twenty-five professors in theological seminaries, and
as -many principals of female seminaries, to say no-
thing of the ‘headship of -countless academies,—s1irely

this is a production of cultured men which may be

safely put into competition with that ‘of any other

community in kind or value, or with any scale of ma- .

terial interests, actual or possible, in like circum-
stances. Proud, therefore, as We may be to be reck-
oned in the front rank of the world’s competitors as

producers of the world’s finest wool,‘and rejoicing as

we do in the heritage of a soil and climate unsur-

passed for the multiplied and varied comforts of life, '

our highest exultation is in the educated men who
have carried the name and fame of Washington
County as a chief home of culture into the foremost
rivalry of our country, and made it known also across
the seas. I
Academies.1—It is a matter for deep regret that
the glory of these useful institutions, for the most

!

1 By Rev. James I. Brownson, D.D.

‘part, belongs only to the past generations.

    EDUCATIONAL HISTORY. A

451

A num-
ber of them were vigorously conducted in the county,
as were others elsewhere, and were most important
feeders for the colleges, besides their work of training
teachers for the common-schools. They were usually
projected and fostered by the ministry with the aid of
fresh graduates from college, who were led to employ a
year or two in -teaching, partly to supply themselves
with funds that they might prosecute their profes-
sional studies. Both_ the disposition and the ability
to obtain a liberal education were thus brought to
very many young men who otherwise would never
have thought of it. The change which has dried up
most of these fountains may perhaps be accounted for
by various causes. Cheap scholarships have doubt-

less enticed many lads to college at an earlier stage

of study than formerly. The establishment of State
normal schools may have diverted many students into
their channel. The advance of utilitarianism in lead-
ing so large a portion of the people of our day to
disparage the mental training which so peculiarly
attends the study of the classics, and to estimate
educational culture, if not even religion itself, by the
rule of dollars and cents may have had its natural
effect. But whatever the causes may have been, the
evil results are. manifest. And happy will be the day

- of restoration, for which the best educators long, when

once more our students shall pass through the teach-
ing and discipline of good academies as the best prep-

" aration for the more advanced instruction and gov-

ernment of the college. »-
Historic connection with Washington and Jeffer-

son College claims the first place in these sketches

for CANONSBURG ACADEMY, which in its catalogue

. goes underthe name of JEFFERSON ACADEMY. It

virtually ‘dates from the college charter of consolida-

‘ tion of 1869, which, in its effect, the same year located

Washington and Jefferson College at Washington.
In fact, however, the organization of the academy
dates from March 19, 1872, when, under that charter,
the trustees elected the Rev. William Smith, D.D.,
David C. Houston, John Hayes, William G. Barnett,
M.D., John W. Martin, M.D., J. W. Alexander, M.D.,

. and J. Nevin Brown as directors of the academy,

with instruction to hold their first Ameetingon the 3d

. ,day of April following. This delay of organization

was a fruit of the litigation following the college

charter of 1869, and only settled, as we have seen, in 1

December, 1871.
It was an express provision of the college charter

A of 1869 that “an academy, normal school, or other

institution of lower grade than a college” should be
established at the place losing the college, or at each
of them, should a new place be chosen for the con-
solidated college. And in either or each place, as the
case might be, as much of the property there located
as the board should think necessary for the use of

such an institution was to be placed in the hands of A

seven trustees or directors chosen by the board for

. fine start given him in that direction.

this purpose, and thus authorized to carry the organ-
ization of the academy into effect. Of the original
seven directors chosen, as we have seen, in 1872, John
Hays, Esq., departed this life July 21, 1875, at the
venerable age of seventy-six years, and was followed
July 17, 1878, by the Rev. Dr. William Smith, in his
eighty-fifth year. The place of the former was in due
time filled by the election of Dr. Boyd Emory, Sr.,

and*that of the latter by the choice of the Rev.“

Thomas R. Alexander, pastor of the Mount Prospect
Presbyterian Church. Mr. Alexander has also suc-
ceeded Dr. Smith as president of the board. In a
liberal exercise of its discretion, the college board set

apart for the use and control of the academy the col-'

lege buildings at Canonsburg, the president’s house,
and two additional professors’ houses, together with
a valuable portion of the libraries, apparatus, and
furniture formerly belonging to Jefferson College, re-
linquishing allfurther right in them.

The academy was most fortunate in the selection as
its -first principal of a scholarly Christian gentleman
of the highest fitness, integrity, and industry, in the
person of the Rev. William Ewing, Ph.D., an alum-
nus of Washington College, of the class of 184.2, and
the recipient of its first honor.
to associate with himself ‘assistant teachers.of excel-
lent ability, who have well sustained his efforts, to
raise the standard of scholarship to the highest attain-
able point. And for the purpose of further enlarge-
ment he has lately purchased from the college the
large boarding-house formerly known under the so-
briquet of “ Fort Job.”

As now constituted the academy has two depart-
ments. The classical prepares young men fqr college,
and the normal is designed for the special training
of teachers. It has. a laboratory and gymnasium,
and of late has made large additions to its library.
The average attendance of studentsfor the years that
are past has been an hundred and upwards. Those

‘who have completed the course have gone, according

to their preference, to Washington and Jefferson Col-

lege, to Lafayette, to Princeton, and to Wooster, and A

in general have taken high standing in these leading
colleges. One of these students took a first-class prize
in one of the Irish colleges, and did not in his success
fail to return thanks to his academic principal for the
In the course
of these years the academy has won a high and de-
served reputation, and has the confidence and good

wishes of the friends of sound scholarship joined‘

with wholesome moral and religious influence. The
failure to obtain more minute details of this history
will account for the comparative brevity of this
sketch; but enough has been given to establish
past success and to assure a future of great public
benefit. -

Passing now from the only surviving academy to
those which live only in history, we presentfirst:

WEST ALEXANDER ACADEMY.-—ThiS excellent and

He has been careful .

452

HISTORY OF WASHINGTON COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA.

useful institution was organized in 1828 by the Rev.
John McCluskey, D.D. (an alumnus of Jefferson Col-
lege, of the class of 1822), the same year of his settle-
ment as pastor of the Presbyterian Church of West
Alexander. He managed the school alone, employing
subordinate teachers, and taking an active part him-
self in the work of instruction, until 1836, when, at
his request, on account of the great increase of stu-
dents, a board of trust was chosen to assist him. A
legislative charter was secured in 1840, and in 1849
the academy was formally taken under the care» of
the Presbytery of Washington, as at once a parochial
and presbyterial institution. The resignation of his
pastoral charge in 1853 passed the church and the
academy together from the hands of Dr. McCluskey
into those of his excellent successor, the Rev. William
H. Lester, who in full strength still stands in his lot.
The. venerable doctor himself, after some years of
intermingled, ministerial and educational labor in
Philadelphia and its vicinity, was at length com-
pelled by the infirmities of age to accept repose, and
on the 31st of March, 1880, was called to the heavenly
reward. During the quarter of a century of his head-
ship of the academy it sent forth a large number of
young men, forty-four of whom became ministers of
the gospel, thirty-two of these entering the service
of the Presbyterian Church. Fifteen more were
added to this list in the few years of his successor’s
charge of the institution. A goodly proportion of

, these heralds of the gospel were brought to Christ

during their academical training. Diligent teaching,
energetic administration, earnest Biblical instruction,

‘ - and the genial influence of religious -culture and ex-

ample were richly crowned with the fruits of the
blessing which prayer brings down from heaven.
The purposed reduction of expenses to the lowest
possible point brought the poor and the rich side by
side as equal sharers of these benefits. Most of the
students of all those years entered Washington Col-
lege, and are numbered among her sons. A great
public loss was sustained when the doors of the West
Alexander Academy were closed.

CROSS CREEK ACADEMY was opened near the same
time as that of West Alexander, by another promi-
nent Presbyterian pastor, the Rev.‘ John Stockton,
D.D., at Cross Creek village, in his ministerial charge.

Its site was under the shadow of Vance’s fort, so in- .

timately associated with frontier history, both civil
and religious. There Smith had broken the silence
of the wilderness with the trumpet of the-gospel, and
there, too, the eloquence of the “silver-tongued”
Marques had thrilled the hearts of a second genera-
tion with the heavenly message. Their successor,
the venerable Stockton, received his seal from God
upon a most honored and successful ministry of fifty
years, begun in 1827, and relinquished in 1877, at that
hallowed place. He departed this life in the peace

of the gospel May 5, 1882, in the seventy-ninth year A

of his age. Among his first efforts to extend the

kingdom of his Master was the establishment of this
academy, with special reference to the training of
ministers. Its teachers, with various intervals, were
Samuel and George Marshall (the latter a son of
Jefferson College,.in the class of 1831, and afterwards

a distinguished Presbyterian minister), John Marques, -

Robert McMillan, and Thomas M. C. Stockton, son
of the pastor. Thirty ministers of the gospel came
forth from that school, besides many other students
who have filled honorable places in secular life.
Washington College, the alma mater of Dr. Stockton
himself, was the resort of most of the young men
who caught their classical inspiration in this acad-
emy. But for more -than a score of years it has been

another instance of suspended animation, relieved 7

only by an occasional and spasmodic effort’ to revive
the spirit of by-gone times.‘ .

FLORENCE ACADEMY next claims attention, It
was located in the village of Florence, formerly
known as Briceland’s Cross-Roads, in the northern
part of Washington County. It was preceded, and
perhaps suggested, by an excellent select school for
young ladies, founded by the venerable Rev. Elisha.

McCurdy,pastor of the Presbyterian Church there, 7

in 1832, and conducted for four or five years with
fine successby Mrs. ‘Rachel Lamdin, a lady of superior
scholarship and tact as well as of devoted piety.
The average number of pupils in that school was
about thirty or forty, and its effect was very marked
in the mental, ‘moral, and religious culture of ‘the
young ladies of the neighborhood.

The spirit of liberal education, thus fostered, led to
the establishment, in 1833, of the academy. Its first
principal was Mr. Robert Fulton, a former student
and teacher in Washington College, and a relative by

marriage of Mr. McCurdy. After a brief experiment ,

he erected an academy building in the village, on a
site conveyed by the trustees of the Presbyterian
Church. But the title proving defective he surren-
dered the property, upon remuneration, to the same
trustees, and took‘ possession of the building on Mr.
McCurdy’s farm, which until then had been occupied
by Mrs. Lamdin’s seminary. Mr. Fulton was the sole
proprietor and head of -the academy until 1839, three
or four years subsequent to Mr. McCurdy’s resigna-

tion of his charge because of advanced age, and his,

consequent removal to Allegheny City. Having
meanwhile received a licensure to preach, he disposed
of his interests at the end of six years to take charge
of an academy and church at Ashland, Ohio, where
he subsequently died. During most of these years he
was very efficiently assisted in the instruction by Mr.
James Sloan, a graduate‘ of ‘Jefferson College, of the
class of 1830, who was afterwards both a teacher and
pastor at Frankfort, and later still for many years
the worthy and successful pastor of the Presbyterian

1 An accurate list of the sons of this academy and that of West Alex-
ander isnot in the power of the Writer, and therefore none is attempted.
Very many of them are well known.

EDUCATION AL. HISTORY.

453

Church of Pigeon Creek, in the Presbytery of VVash-
ington. Dr. Sloan departed this life in 1871, in M0-
nongahela City. " For the last two years of his term
Mr. Fulton had for his assistant his nephew and
former pupil, Mr. Samuel Fulton, an alumnus of
Washington College, of the class of 1836, who still

survives, though lately compelled by broken health

to resign his charge as pastor of the Great Valley
Presbyterian Church, in Chester County, Pa.

Mr. Fulton’s successoras principal was the Rev.
William Burton, also pastor of the Presbyterian
Church of. Florence. Messrs. John Rierson, John
Russell, John Kerr, and James G. Ralston suc-
cessively acted as assistant teachers. Mr. Kerr, after
much service in the gospel ministry, is still a respected

- member of the Presbytery of Blairsville, and Mr. Ral-

ston rose to distinction as the founder and head of a
prosperous female seminary at N orristown, Pa., hav-
ing before his death worn the titles of D.D. and LL.D.
Messrs. Joseph Sheets, John A.Smith, and George W.
Miller quickly followed in their order as principals,
all of them being alumni of Washington College, of

the respective classes -of 1839, 1840, and 1845. The
last named was subsequently the very successful prin-

cipal of the academy‘ at 'Carmichael’s, Pa., and is now
a prominent member of the Washington County bar.
The palmy days of the academy were embraced in

. the period of Mr. Fulton, when there was an average

attendance of seventy students. Within the fifteen

‘years of its existence, many were trained in it who
afterwards rose to more or less distinction. ‘In the.
U want of a catalogue, memory supplies the names of
» the Rev. Messrs. Alexander Swaney, D.D., James D.

Mason, D.D., David R. Campbell, D.D., William M.
Robinson, David P. Lowary, and others of the sacred

- calling; Prof. Cochron, of Oberlin College; Drs. Jo-
‘seph Rodgers and Thomas M. C. Stockton, and John .

Fulton, John McCombs, Caleb J. McNulty, and VVil-
liam Johnson, attorneys. The last two acquired promi-
nence in Ohio, the former as .a member of the Legis-
lature of that State, and also as clerk of the United
States House of Representatives, and the latter as a
member of Congress.

There have been, at different times, two academies
in Hopewell township, which did good service in the
cause of liberal education. ' One of these was organ-
ized in 1844, in a building owned and fitted up for
the purpose by the late Hon. Abram Wotring, whose
spirit of liberality was further shown by the payment
of seventy dollars per annum in tuition fees for the
instruction of his own children. Its principal, Mr.
W. A. McKee, now the. head of an academyat Knox-
ville, gave it the honorable name of Franklin High
School, though it was better known in the neighbor-
hood as the “Horse-Mill Academy,” in playful allu-
sion to the building in which it was conducted. Sub-
sequently it came under the care of trustees, viz.:
Messrs. Wotring, Dawson, Allison, and others, with

the Rev. John Eagleson, D.D., as their president. It
had considerable success under Mr. McKee, but dwin-

dled after his retirement, and ceased in 1847, but not 3

without great benefit‘ to the neighboring youth of both
sexes, and especially to several worthy young men

who were, through its culture, fitted for college, and

have since had very honorable professional standing.

The other institution referred to was Upper Buffalo
Academy, named in honor of the village of its loca-
tion, and the Presbyterian congregation, of which its
founder, Dr. Eagleson, was pastor. It had a continu-

ance of fifteen years from its origin in 1853, was?

conducted in a building specially erected for that pur-
pose, and was under the control of a board of trustees.

The following succession of excellent teachers will be-

good evidence of the character of the work done, viz. :
Messrs. A. E. Thompson, now pastor of the Presby-

terian Church of Rushville, Ind.; Jefferson McC. .

Martin, the present Professor of Natural Science in
Ohio University; W. H. J effers, afterwards a minis-

ter of the Presbyterian Church of Waynesburg, Pa.

(deceased) ; John H. Sherrard, now pastor of the
Upper Ten-Mile Presbyterian Church at Prosperity,
Pa.; John M. Smith, now a pastor at Canonsburg,
Pa.; Joseph H. Stevenson, a pastor of the Presbyte-
rian Church at Scottdale, Pa.; Robert Welsh, after-
wards a United Presbyterian minister, now deceased;
and James S. Reed, the present’ ‘pastor of the church
of the same denomination at Laclede, Mo. For a
year or two before its close, Dr. Eagleson himself had
charge of its instruction. He was an excellent scholar,
an alumnus of J eiferson College, of the class of 1829,
the honored pastor of the church of Upper Buffalo
from his ordination in 1834 until his death, Jan. 23,
1873, and, having been a trustee of Washington Col-
lege for seven years prior to the union of 1865, was a
member of the board of Washington and Jefferson
College until his death. About twenty young men
passed, under his religious and educational influence,
into the ministry of the gospel. Of those who went
through the academy now under review the following
are recalled, viz._ : the Rev. Messrs. John W. Dinsmore,
D.D., of Bloomington, Ill.; F. R. VVotring, Wenona,

-Ill. ; Robert B. Farrar, Portland, Oregon; John‘ B.

Reed, Listersville, W. Va.; James S. Reed, Mo.;
William S. Eagleson, Mount Gilead, Ohio; Thomas
H. Haund,lMonmouth, Ill. ; and John French, Cleve-
land, Ohio. The last two are ministers of the United
Presbyterian Church. David S. Eagleson, M.D., of
West Alexander, Pa., and others trained in the same
academy passed into secular professions. And so we

have another instance of academical education as

among “ the memories of joys that are past.”
Monongahela City, which until 1837- was known
as Williamsport, is the centre of large interests, which
deserve a place in the history of Washington County.
The educational part of its history is less marked
withidistinguishing lines than that of -most other
places. Yet in addition to common or subscription

. Esq.

4542.. .

HISTORY or WASHINGTONH COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA.

schools, which from the first never failed to receive
vigorous attention, classical and other culture of the
higher sort has at different times commanded both
effort and success. A full half—century ago, or more,
the Rev. Samuel‘ Ralston, D.D., who took charge of
the Presbyterian Church of that place and region as
early as 17 96, is known to have instructed young men
in preparation for college, inviting them to his study
for this purpose. At least five of these subsequently
became graduates and reached honorable distinc-
tion, viz.: Ross Black, Esq., Rev. Samuel Hair, Rev.
Thomas P. Gordon, D.D., Rev. Aaron Williams,
D.D.,_ and Professor Samuel R. Williams. The last
two were brothers, a.nd at different times were valued
members of the faculty of Jefferson College.

The first academy of the town was established in
the spring of 1838 by the late Thomas R. Hazzard,
Besides the ‘common branches, the instruc-
tion embraced Latin, Greek, mathematics, and the
sciences. He was followed in a year by two grad-
uates of Washington College, viz., James D. Mason,
now a minister of the Presbyterian Church at Shiloh,
Iowa, and W. P. Thompson,‘who survived this ser-
vice but a short time. These were followed by the
Rev. E. S. Blake, an alumnus of Yale College, with
whom, for a time, Mr. Hazzard, returning, was asso-
ciated. And others still succeeded, the most promi-
nent and successful of whom was Joseph S. Morrison,
a soil of Washington College, of the class of 1844,
and for_ many years past a prominent member of the‘
Pittsburgh bar.
the academy was vigorous and thorough in-its work,
and embraced many pupils whose names are to be
foundamong the graduates of our best colleges. Its
success is all the more remarkable in view of the fact
that it never had a distinct building for its use.

An imperfect list of the students of this academy
gives the following names, which are themselves its
brightest record, viz‘. : Rev. A. H. Kerr, the first
Presbyterian minister settled in St. Paul,'Minn., now
of Rochester, in the same State; James Scott, M.D.,
a member of the Legislature of Ohio ; Captain R. F.
Cooper, an attorney; Rev. John McFarland, late of_
Greenfield, Miss.; Rev. William F. Hamilton, D.D.,
Washington, Pa.; J. M. H. Gordon, M.D., Fayette

'City; J. S. Morrison, Esq., Pittsburgh; J. S. Van

Voorhis, M.D., Belle Vernon; James Manown, M.D.,
Kingwood, W. Va.; J. C. Cooper, M.D., Philadel-
phia; Rev. James P. Fulton, Harper, Kan.; Rev.'O.
M. Todd, Tuscola, Ill.; M. P. Morrison, ,M.D., Mo-
nongahela City; J. H. Storer, M.D.,. Triadelphia, VV.
Va.; A. J. Davis, M.D., Pittsburgh; J. M. Todd,
M.D., Martin’s Ferry, Ohio; George T. Miller, Port
Perry; James Fleming, M.D., Franklin; Ohio;
Alonzo Linn, LL_.D., vice-president and Professor of
Greek in Washington and Jefferson College; A. P.
Morrison, Esq., Pittsburgh; Prof. George P. Fulton,
Pittsburgh; James Alexander, ‘banker, Mononga-
hela City; Rev. Thomas Hodgson, Ohio; Cyrus B.

During all the years of its existence-

the happyplace of their production.

King, M.D., Allegheny City; Thomas T. Willia'ms,
M.D., White College; George Linn, M.D., 1VIonon-
gahela City; C. W. Hazizard, Esq., editor, and T. R.
Hazzard, M.D., of the same place; and Rev. Robert
P. Fulton, Baltimore, Md.

From academies we now pass to female seminaries.

These“ noble institutions, now such important factors _

in the intellectual and moral culture of society, are of
later origin and development than colleges and “acad-
emies designed for the sonsof the land. It required
much general advancement anda complete revolution
of social ideas to bring». up the standard of education
for females to the level of the other sex. Happily
later generations have both followed the logic of
principles and the spirit of the gospel to the fair
and just conclusion. If the lapse of the earlier half
of the century past was needed for the removal of
unfounded and disparaging prejudices on this subject,
the progress of the latter half has not failed, by its
salutary results, to drive such prejudices into oblivion
or shame. And for Washington County at least a

proportionate share of the honor of this progress

may be fairly claimed. 1

The first institution of its kind in Western Pennsyl-
vania was Edgeworth Ladies’ Seminary, established by
Mrs. Mary Oliver at Pittsburgh in 1825, and shortly af-
terwards transferred to Braddock’s Field, and still later
to_ Sewickley. Steubenville Female Seminary, on the
Ohio, followed in 1829, and still abides in honor and
usefulness, a monument of praise to its founders, the
Rev. Charles C. Beatty, D.D., and hisinoble wife, Mrs.
Hettie E. Beatty, The fine school of Mrs. Rachel
Lamdin, at Florence, already noticed, brought the
agencies of this higher education as early as 1832
within the borders of Washington County. Since

then the pen of history is called to trace three noble

seminaries through years of successful work in this
great cause. Two of these have indeed fulfilled the
mission and passed away, but the oldest of the num-
ber survives in unabated strength.

OLOME INSTITUTE was founded in 1844 at Canons-_
burg by.Mrs. Olivia J. French. It was wholly an in-
dividual enterprise, begun and conducted by an ex-

cellent Christian lady, who in early ,life had been ,

sorely bereaved_. by the death of a devoted husband,
the Rev. John M. French, a promising minister of
the Associate Presbyterian Church. He began his
ministry as pastor of the church of Noblestown,

Pa., having been ordained and installed Oct. .22,-
1841.

But, after becoming greatly endeared to his
people in a service of two years, he ceased from his
work to receive his crown, Oct. 10, 1843. Mrs.
French, nobly taking up the responsibilities of life
thus cast upon herself alone, named her seminary
Olome, in memory of her departed‘ husband, who
was Wont to write this word at the close of his man-
uscript. sermons along with their date, designating
It was a con-
tract word of his own invention, sweetly combining

Mvate it to the dignity of a ladies’ seminary.

EDUCATIONAL HISTORY.

Olivia, the name of his dear wife, with Home, the syn-.
onym of all that is tender to a loving heart. The
transfer of that name from a broken family home to
an institution for the training of young ladies was
simply a symbol of its consecration as a home of
Christian culture. -

The seminary had an humble beginningin 1844,

_but, under the divine blessing, its success in the

course of three years demanded its organization as
a boarding-school, and the purchase of new build-
ings, to which, for the same reason, extensive addi-
tions were, made, both by purchase and erection, in
1848 and 1853.

The seminary was vigorously conducted, with joint

» reference to the best possible intellectual and moral
' training. Its corps of teachers was carefully selected.

Its board ‘of superinlzendence was composed of promi-
nent clergymen and laymen, over whom the Rev. VVil-
liam Smith, D.D., vice-president of Jefferson College,
presided, giving a portion of his time also to instruc-
tion in languages. The catalogue of 1857 reports an
attendance of ' eighty-one pupils, almost one-half of
Whom came from beyond the limits of Washington
County, and some of them from distant States. For
the period of eighteen years the honored principal
conducted the seminary with excellent success and
reputation, fixing upon it the stamp of her own fine
intelligence and evangelical spirit, and sending forth
seventy-five graduates, besides many others who took
a partial course to exemplify her good -service for
liberal education,-and for the cause of Christ._ She

« still survives at her home-in Marysville, Ohio, a recipi-
_ ent of human gratitude and awaiting a heavenly re-

ward. But who shall calculate the loss of Canons-
burg and the public when, upon her retirement, the
doors of Olome Institute were closed‘? 8
PLEASANT HILL SEMINARY, near West Middle

town, is another VVashington County institution of
the past. It was a development of the more private
labors of Mrs. Jane (Campbell) McKeever, ‘wife of
Matthew McKeever, and sister of the well-known Al-

exander Campbell, leader of the “ Christian Church,” A

or “ Church of the Disciples,” so generally called by
his name, and also the founder and first president of
Bethany College,_at Bethany, W. Va. Mrs. McKeever,
having been a teacher in her youth, continued, as an
amateur, the same pursuit after her marriage, using a
room in her own house for this purpose. Her pupils
were mostly gathered from the village and neighbor-
hood of West Middletown, with occasional additions
from abroad. Such was the prosperity of the school,
however, that Mrs. McKeever was encouraged to ele-
Her
son-in-law, Mr. James Campbell, and her son, Mr.
Thomas C. McKeever, both recent graduates of
Bethany College, were associated with her as teachers,
she herself of coursebecoming the principal. V The
financial management was for the most part in the
hands of her husband. A

V nineteen graduates.

The course of study adopted and afterwards ma-
tured, embraced both ancient and modern languages,
and was otherwise up to the level of the best institu-
tions of the same kind. The instruction isalso said
to have been accurate and thorough. The first class,
consisting of four members, was graduated in 1847.
The principal, feeling the weight of advancing years,
and Prof. Campbell having removed to the Pacific

coast, the seminary passed, in a few years, wholly into

the hands of Professor T. C. McKeever. Under his
management, which was marked with extraordinary
energy, it was highly prosperous. Addition after ad-
dition was made to the original buildings, until ample
provision was made for the accommodation of one
hundred boarders, and about that number were at one
time in actual attendance. But, at the full tide of
prosperity, in 1867, Principal McKeever suddenly
sickened and died,———a providential affliction from
which the institution never recovered. Including
that year, the roll of graduates contains one hundred
and fifty-two ._ names, making an annual average of
about seven and a half for these twenty-one years.
The largest class was that of 1865, which numbered
And these figures are all -the
more remarkable taken in connection with the fact
that by far the largest proportion were boarding pupils
from a distance, scarcely more than one inten having
been drawn from the immediate rural vicinity.
Under the superintendence of Mr. Keever’s widow,
Mrs. Martha McKeever, assisted by Elder T. A.-Cren-
shaw, the seminary was continued for several years,
and graduated two classes of three members each, and
then, under the pressure of discouraging circumstances,
went i.nto declension. Subsequent efforts were made for
its revival, first by Mr. William M. Eaton,'who had
been educated at Washington and J efferson College
(now a Presbyterian minister), and then by the Rev.
J. A. Snodgrass, of the Baptist Church, but. without
encouraging success. After an interval of suspen-
sion the property passed under the control of a 1 con-

455 A

ference of the colored people, and by them atschoiol -

was conducted in it, under the name of Zion‘ Hill
Collegiate Institute, for about three years. In 1881
another suspension took place, and the unused prop-
erty is now owned by Mr. Holdship, of the city of
Pittsburgh. ‘ » ’ ‘

WASHINGTON FEMALE SEMINARY.——ThiS is the
only institution of its kind in Washington" County

which has survived the waves of changing fortune..

It abides in strength and usefulness, having now a
history of nearly half a century. Its fine reputation
also has gone with its graduates into many States, es-
pecially of the West and South.‘ And never were its
prospects better than at present. ' '

The Inovement for its organization began with a con-
sultation of a number of citizens Nov. 26, 1835, inithe
parlor of the Hon. T. M. T. McKennan. The Rev. D.
Elliott, D.D., thenpastor of the Presbyterian Church
of Washington, was a leader in the enterprise, but he

456

HISTORY or WASHINGTON COUNTY,PENNSYLVANIA.

was nobly sustained by the substantial citizens of the
place of all persuasions. Subsequent meetings were
held and efforts were made which resulted in the pur-

. chase of a site on East Maiden Street from Alexan-

der Reed, Esq., who was himself one of the most lib-
eral supporters of the movement. Contributions were
taken in the form of stock at $50 per share, to be bind-
ing when the minimum amount of $4000 should be
raised. Mr. Reed and Dr. F. J. Le Moyne led the way
with each a subscription of twelve shares, and were
followed by others in smaller amounts until the plan

was assured. Messrs. F. J. Le Moyne, M.D., J ames_

Reed, James Ruple, Robert Oflicer, and James Brice
were chosen as a building committee; Alexander
Reed, Esq., David» McConaughy, D.D., and Dr. Le
Moyne were selected to prepare articles of association,
and various other committees were appointed. John
Harter was made collector and treasurer, and upon
his resignation, Alexander Sweeny was chosen in his
stead. The plan of organization, reported and adopted
Feb. 14, 1837, provided for aboard of ‘nine trustees,
of whom six must be stockholders, and committed
the building as well as the general management of
theseminary into the hands of the principal, includ-
ing also the selection ‘of teachers, “ with the advice
and consent of the trustees.” It was arranged that
the course of study should cover three years,_ with as

. ‘many classes, viz., primary, junior’, and senior. Be-

sides the tuition fees upon which the institution was
to be conducted, a matriculation fee of two dollars

, per session for each pupil in the regular classes and

of one dollar for each preparatory pupil was to be
paid to a distinct treasurer representing the stock-
holders, from the proceeds of which dividends were
to be declared from time to time by the trustees.

- The original trustees chosen under this arrangement

were ‘Alexander Reed, F. J. Le Moyn e, John Marshel,

" Jacob Slagle, John Wishart, David McConaughy, J o-

seph Lawrence, Robert R. Reed, and/ John L. Crow.
By an act of Assembly dated April 14, 1838, a State
charter was obtained, embracing the same names as
corporators, except that John Grayson was substituted
for Alexander Reed, the latter having for private rea-
sons declined to serve. Thiscliarter had the agree-
able accompaniment of a legislative donation of $500
per annum for five years. With this help, together
with additional stock and temporary loans, the trus-
tees were enabled tofmeet the expenses of the new
building. In the organization under the charter the
Rev. David McConaug-hy, ,D._D., was chosen president
of the board, and such he continued to be until his
death, Jan. 29, 1852. John L. Grow, Esq., was made
secretary, and John Grayson, treasurer.

For two .-years prior to the charter the institution
had been in actual operation under the charge of
Mrs. Francis Biddle, formerly of Philadelphia, having
been opened in the spring of 1836, in a building on
Maiden Street familiarly known "as the “ Lodge.”
For one session she was assisted by Miss'Elizabeth

.Clarke, a graduate of South Hadley, who for special

reasons then retired, giving place to temporary assist-
ants for the remainder of the year. During the sec-
ond year, commencing in the spring of -1837, the as-
sistant teacher was Miss Mary A. N. Inskeep, of St.

Clairsville, Ohio, a graduate of the Steubenville Fe-‘

male Seminary in the class of 1834, a teacher in that

seminary through the following year, and-afterwards _

in the school of the Rev. H. Hervey, D.D., at Mar-"
tinsburg, Ohio, until her transfer by invitation to

Washington. For the latter half of this year the new I

seminary building was occupied by the school. Miss
Inskeep, afterwards Mrs. Crittenden, and now the
wife of the Rev-. Charles C. Beatty, D.D., LL.D., of
Steubenville, remembers this year of ‘service with
greatpleasure, as she too is gratefully remembered

- by former pupils and the older citizens.

The summer session of 1838 opened with the pres-
ence of two teachers who gave new life to the insti-
tution, viz.: Miss Sarah Chapman, of Springfield,
Mass., now Mrs. C. M. Reed, of Washington, and
Miss H. M. Post, of Lebanon, N.  now wifeof
Uriah W. Wise, Esq., of Plattesmouth, Neb. The

former rendered efficient service for one year, while

the latter remainedfour years with unabated popu-
larity. At the end of her fourth year, in the spring
of 1840, Mrs. Biddle resigned her position and re-
turned to the East. 5

- We have now come to the point in this history»

from whichthe real prosperity of the enterprise may I

be dated. Upon the retirement of Mrs. Biddle, Miss‘
Sarah R. Foster, then a teacher at Cadiz, Ohio, and
formerly a pupil of the distinguished Mrs. Emma
Willard, of Troy, N. Y., was chosen principal, and
entered upon her duties.
as assistant, and Miss L. Simmons was added to the
teaching force. . V

Miss Foster, having taught in district schools in
her native State, New York,'for nine years" prior to
her entrance into Troy Female Seminary in 1833, and
having afterwards had a very successful experience

'as the head of a high school at Cadiz, did not ‘enter-
Her-
well-balanced judgment, strong common sense, an1ia- .

upon her work in Washington as a novice.

bility, dignity, conscientiousness, and religious devo-
tion soon manifested themselves _in her wise and en-’
ergetic administration of the institution, and made
her the centre of confidence in the whole enterprise.

She entered upon her duties with characteristic zeal, —
and more and more, by her discreet management, se- V

cured the co-operation of the trustees and the com-

munity. Excellent teachers were chosen, the course’
_ of study was gradually enlarged, and the number o-f

both day and boarding pupils was soon increased up
to the full capacity of the buildings, and even beyond

-it. This advancement compelled the erection of an ‘
important addition to the main structure at its west

end in 1841. But even the enlargement thus secured

only for a brief time met the demand, and soon by its

Miss Post was continued ‘ '

EDUCATIONAL HISTORY.

beneficent result's produced a necessity for still fur-
ther extension of facilities. The popularity‘ of the
institution was extensive and permanent, and the
trustees frequently volunteered the "formal expression
of their satisfaction with its management. --

The year 1848. is remarkable inthis history for two
events, one pleasing and the other afliictive, which

had an important bearing upon the prosperity of the

institution. The former of these was the marriage in

‘September of Miss. Foster with the Rev. Thomas

Hanna, D.D., pastor of the Associate Presbyterian
Church of Cadiz, Ohio. This changevtransferred Dr.
Hanna to Washington, and prepared the way for «his
becoming pastor of the church of his communion

here, now the United Presbyterian Church, of which
- V for almost a score of years the Rev. J. R. Johnston,
‘D.D., has been the worthy pastor. Miss Foster thus

simply became Mrs. Hanna without any change _in
her oflicial relations to~the seminary. Dr; Hanna’s
kindly and wholesome influence in his new sphere
was recognized by the trustees March 11, 1850, in his
formal appointment as superintendent of the institu-

tion, a position which he held with satisfaction to all

concerned until his lamented death, Feb. 9, 1864.
The other notable event of -1848 was the destruc-
tion by fire, on the last. day of N ovember,‘ of the west
wing of the seminary building, erected, as we have
seen, only seven years before, together with serious
damage to- the other part of the structure. It so

' occurred thatthis destruction fell upon the only por-

tion of the building which was not insured, and upon

the veryday -set by the treasurer, under a previous

order of the board, to effect a policy. The crisis,
however, was promptly met by the best possible ar-

rangements for going forward at once with the recita-

tions,-and also for‘ the reconstruction of the burnt

' edifice, and the addition, of a-story to the main build-

ing. The cost of the erection,.amountin-g to four
thousand nine hundreddollars, was provided for in
part by the disposal of forty-three shares of stock at
fifty dollars per share, and the balance by money

borrowed, to refund which the income from matricu- '

lation fees was pledged in lieu of dividends to the

stockholders. In the lapse of ten years the debt was

canceled and dividends were renewed, though since,
as -before, the holders of stock have ever, upon an
emergency of need, been ready to forego them. Fur-
ther enlargement of accommodations is still regarded
by many as one of the most pressing demands.
Under the administration of Mrs. Hanna, the sem-
inary was conducted with wisdom and success until
1874, when, yielding. to the infirmities of age, she
surrendered her charge to younger hands. Ten -years
before, as we have seen, she had been called by the
stroke .of death to part with her venerable and excel-

lent husband, an affliction which both the -seminary’
and the community deeply shared.

There is not
room here for mention of thelong list of excellent

. teachers who took part in the work of instruction =

during these thirty-four years, though many of them
have an indelible record in memory. The venerable
principal,’after eight years of retirement, still lives
in sight of the institution she loved and served so
well, waiting in holy patience for the coming of the
Lord. Her graduation-list had reached five hundred
and forty-seven names. _ Of these, ten or twelve‘ be‘-
came devoted missionaries, more than one hundred

have been successful teachers, and ‘a fair proportion

have gladdened ministers’ homes as wives and moth-
ers. Personal and oflicial intimacy with Mrs. Hanna,
as president of the board of trustees during the latter
sixteen years of her service,——a position which he
still has the honor to hold,—-enables the writer of this
sketch to bear cordial testimony to her high Chris-
tian‘ character, her wisemanageme-nt, and her consci-
entious fidelity. The motive. which prompted her

resignation .and the spirit in which it was received
will best appear in the following oflicial correspond- i

ence 1 «
I “ WASHINGTON, PA., March 28th, 1874.

“ R1-:v. JAMES I. BROWNSON, D.D., President of the Board of Trustees of the

Washington Female Seminary : A '

, “ DEAR SIR,---ThI'0l1g‘h you I desire to make the following communi-
cation to the respected Board over which you preside: I _ '

“In 1840 the members then constituting. the Board, most of whom
have passed, as I trust, to a better world, conferred on me the office of
principal of this seminary. This honor I have carried, together with its
attendant obligations, for a period of thirty-four years. I now feel it to
be my duty totender my‘ resignation,.to take effect at ‘the close of the
present seminary year, on the 25th. of next J une. ._After such a service,
in view of all the circumstances surrounding both myself and the insti-
tution, I desire freedom from the cares and responsibilities of such a
position. \ i '

“Before closing this letter permit me to offer my sincae thanksto A»

the trustees and their families, as well as other friends of the seminary,
for the kindness manifested towards myself and those connected with
me during the years of my service. That a kind Providence may guide
you in the selection ofmy successor, and preside over all the interests of
the seminary, is the wish and prayer of I s ,
“ Your friend, SARAH R. HANNA.”
“ WASHINGTON, PA., March 28th, 1874.
“ Mas. SARAH R. HANNA: ,
“DEAR lVI;u)AME,-—-The trustees of the Washington Female Seminary
hereby acknowledge the receipt of your letter of this date announcing
your resignation of the headship of the institution, to take effect at the

. close of the present session, next June. In yielding to a purpose which

you seem to have deliberately and firmly settled, the Board ‘regard it as
due to the public and themselves,‘as well as to you, to express their feel-
ings in the prospect of your retirement. - ' -
“Though, indeed, after a service of thirty-four years as principal of
the seminary the possibility that your desire for repose might in the
future lead you to the step now taken has very naturally suggested itself
to our minds, the actual crisis has come upon us with surprise and also
with pain, in view of separation after so happy a union, both personal
and oflicial. So long have the trustees and friends of the seminary been
accustomed to relyupon the wisdom and energy of your management

"5

that we cannot but realize the responsibility which circumstances now I

force upon us of selecting another person who may prove competent to
carry forward the work o faithfully and successfully done by you in the
years now gone. From our intimate knowledge of your character we
are confident that, with or without oflicial connection, your counsel
and prayers will be available in behalf of an enterprise which has so
long enlisted the warmest feelings of your heart and the be
of your life. 4 4 C

“ Whatever the future may disclose, under the providential ‘hand which
controls all things, you have the sure record of God's blessing upon your
labors. Our seminary has been built up into prosperity and honor,

st energies

chiefly through your agency. Its more than five hundred graduates‘

and alike number who have taken a partial course have been, as thei

C457

manifested in every direction.
i.’renova;ted, a full corps of teachers was secured, and

458

HISTORY OF WASHINGTON COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA. O,

survivors will be, your living witnesses. The institution, into whateve_r
hands it may pass, will always be associated with your name. The Board
cannever fail=‘to appreciate your fidelity; and our Father in Heaven, we

‘doubt not,‘will follow with unfailing reward the toil and vigilance you

have so heartily laid upon His altar. We begleave to assure you that
when the timeshall come which you have designated for surrendering
yourtrust you will carry with you the abiding confidence and friendship
of the Board, the stockholders, and the community, and that we shall
ever pray for a divine blessing upon the evening of your life.
« “ With great regard and esteem, we are
“ Very truly yours,
“ JAMES I. BROWNSON,
“JOHN H. Ewme,
, “F. JULIUS LE MOYNE,
“COLIN M. REED, V
A “THOMAS MCKENNAN,
“MATTHEW H. CLARK,
“THOMAS MCKEAN,
' “ V. HARDING.”

rUpon theretirement of Mrs. Hanna, the board ap-
«pointed its president, together with Messrs. C. M.
,'Reed and M. H. Clark, to nominate a successor. This
committee, after careful inquiry and extensive corre-
spondence, in due time presented the. name of Miss V

Nancy Sherrard, who was unanimously chosen. -Miss
Sherrard, having been born and reared near Steuben-
ville, Ohio, an.d educated in ‘its honored female semi-

nary, had also thefull benefit of experience as a teacher
in similar institutions at Blairsville, Pa., Louisville,

Ky., and Fort Wayne, Ind. At the time of her elec-

tion she was vice-principal of the Steubenv.ille Semi-
. nary, under Rev. A. M. Reid, Ph.D., principal.

entered upon her oflicial duties at the opening of the
next seminary year, in September, 1874, bringing her
excellent reputation a-nd great energy into her new

' and wide sphere of usefulness. The record of eight

years of continued and advancing ‘success is the best

‘possible testimony alike of the wisdom of the trus-
tees in her selection and of her own untiring devotion _

to their service.

V For several years prior to the beginning of this new
administration the seminary had, under the operation
of various causes, seriously declined in the number of
pupils, and ' consequently in revenues. Very soon,
however, the hopefulness of a new departure was
The building was

pupils both from the town and from abroad came in,

' until once more the measure of patronage is equal to

thatof capacity. Still further enlargement alsohas

-beengiven to the course of study, extending it to four

years, and a preparatory department has now for
several years been in operation with efficiency and
advantage. The general prosperity of the institution

may be inferred from the average attendance of pupils

during the eight years of Miss Sherrard’s incumbency,
viz.: the?first year, 78; second, 118; third, 87 ; fourth,
.123; fifth, 119 ;sixth, 115; seventh, 125; eighth, 132.

1 ‘Of these about forty-three per cent. have beeniboard- '
ing pupils, the rest having been drawn from the town
-and vicinity. During the same period the number of
graduates has been as follows, viz.: in 1875, eight;

1876, nineteen; 1877, thirteen; 1878, fourteen; 1879,

' _tory Department.

She .

twenty-nine; 1880, twenty—four; 188'1, nineteen; 1882,

thirty; making a total of one hundred and fifty-six,
or an annual average of nineteen and a ‘half. ,
The followinglists are taken from the annual cata-
logue of 1881-82, viz. : Officersof the institution, Miss
N. Sherrard, principal. Teachers; Miss C. C. Thomp-
son, English Branches; Miss Mary W. Brownson,
English and Elocution ; Miss ‘Mary E. Brownlee,

-English Branches; Miss F. J. Osborne, iEnglish
 Branches; Miss L. S. Radcliffe, English~Branches; '
Miss L. P. Kuhn, English and Penmanship; Miss
‘Carrie H. Stephenson, Piano and Harmony; Miss M.

M. Rodgers, Assistant in Instrumental Music; Miss
Anna V. Peebles, Vocal Music; Miss Hettie Speer,
Drawing and Painting; Miss Eliza 0. Hart, Prepara-
Instruction’ f in special -- studies :
James A. Lyon,_Ph.D., Prof. W. and J. College, Lec-
tures and Experiments in Chemistry; Rev_. Henry
Woods, D.D., Prof. W. and J ..College, Latin; Prof.
F. Schmid, Prof. Trinity School, German and French.

Board of Trustees, Rev. James I..B‘rownson, D.D.,
Hon. John ‘H. Ewing, C. M. Reed, Esq., Thomas

.McKennan, M.D., V. Harding, Esq.,.Thomas Mc- '
Kean, Esq., A. S. Ritchie, Esq., Julius Le Moyne, Esq., 
James R. Clark,.Esq. Officers of the Board: Rev.

James I. Brownson, D.D., President; A. S. Ritchie,
Esq., Secretary; Thomas McKean, Esq., Treasurer.

In bringing to a close these, outline sketches of the
colleges, academics, and seminaries of Washington
County, the writer is free to confess the imperfection
of his work. . It was undertaken under the sole mo-

tive of putting upon permanent record the progress-

of an interest secondllto, no. other but the Christian
religion itself in the community with which his life-
work has been identified. The reader need not be
reminded that the several classes of educational in-
stitutions here traced are but parts ofone compre-

hensive system- They are.all due, in-their measure,
to the characteristic, spirit of the homogeneous gen- .

eration which shaped the character »and.destinies of

-Washington’ County, and their benefitsare now an

interchangeable and common inheritance totheir
descendants. History‘ and hope make’ their joint
appeal to the favored ,peop,le.of the present time for

an enlarged support and a vigorous advancement of _

these high interests. God and the generations to
come demand it at our hands. The past at least is
secure; let the future. more than surpass it. _
TRINITY HALL.1——Of the four institutions of learn-
ing of which Washington is justly proud, the young.-
est, but by no means the least prosperous, and in its
sphere as important as any, is the Trinity Hall
Boarding"-School for boys. The design of theschool
is to educate the pupils “in the various English
branches, and in the ancieiit and modern languages
on positive and thoroughly Christian principles.’,’

. 1 By Samuel Earp, Ph.D.

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BRADDOCK’S EXPEDITION IN 1755.

51

up afterwards. Of the movements of the general and
his party on that day, Capt. Orme’s Journal has the
following entry :

“ Grist’s plantation, July 11th.———Some wagons, pro-
visions, and hospital stores arrived. As soon as the
wounded were dressed, and the men had refreshed
themselves, we retreated to C01. Dunbar’s camp,
which was near Rock Fort. The general sent a ser-

- geant’s party back with provisions to be left on the

road, on the other side of the Yoxhio Geni, -for the
refreshment of any men who might have lost their
way in the woods. Upon our arrival at Col_. Dun-

bar’s camp we found it in the greatest confusion.

Some of his men had gone off upon hearing of our de-
feat, and the rest seemed to have forgot all discipline.
Several of our detachments had not stopped till they
had reached the camp. It was found necessary to
clear some of the wagons for the wounded, many of
whom were in a desperate situation ; and as it was im-
possible to remove the stores, the howitzer shells,
some twelve-pound shot, powder, and provisions were
destroyed or buried.”

The terror and consternation at Dunbar’s camp
had been constantly on the increase from the time
when the first of the frightened wagoners had gal-
loped in with the alarming news on the morning of
the 10th. Through all’ that day and the following
night terrified fugitives from the field, many of them

. -wounded, were continually pouring in, each telling a

fearful tale of rout and massacre, and all uniting in
the assertion that the French and savages in over-
whelming force were following close in the rear.
This latter statement was wholly false, for the enemy
had made no attempt at pursuit from the shores of
the Monongahela ; but the tale was believed, and its

. effect was an uncontrollable panic at the camp.

On the arrival of Capt. Stewart with hisescort,
bearing the wounded general, a decision was at once

, arrived at to retreat without delay to Fort Cumber-

land, destroying everything which could not. be car-
ried. It was a strange proceeding, and one which
must now appear cowardly, for an army’ of fully a
thousand men, many of them veteran soldiers, with
sufficient artillery and an abundance of ammunition,
to abandon a mountain position which might soon
and easily’ have been rendered impregnable, and to
fly beforethe imaginary pursuit by an enemy which
was greatly inferior in numbers, and. had already re-
tired in the opposite direction. But if the retreatwas
to be made, then it was necessary to destroy nearly
everything except a meagre supply of provisions,

_for there was barely transportation enoiigh for the

sick and wounded, who numbered more than three
hundred. There were more than enough wagons to
carry everything, but the number of horses was small,
many of the best having been ridden away by the
frightened wagoners and other fugitives, and most of
those sent forward, with the trains of the advance’
column having been captured by the enemy._

The work of destruction and preparation forretreat
were commenced immediately, and completed on the
12th. The howitzers and every other artillery piece
except two were burst, as were also a great part of
the shells. Some of the shells and nearly all the solid
shot were buried. A great number of wagons (having
no horses to draw them) were burned. Only a small
part of the provisions was saved for the march, most

of them being ' destroyed by burning, or thrown into”

the little pond of water that had been formed by dam-
ming the spring a short distance below the camp.

' The powder-casflks were opened. and their contents———-

stated at fifty thousand pounds of powder———thrown
into the pool. Of all the immense quantity of ma-
terial and stores which had with such great expense
and labor been transported across the Alleghenies,

and to the top of Laurel Hill, there was only saved ‘

the least amount that could possibly meet the neces-
sities of the retreat to Cumberland.

It has been generally believed that the ‘artillery
pieces were not burst, but buried at Dunbar’s camp,
as well as a great deal of other property. Stories
were told, too, that a large amount of money was
buried there by Dunbar on the eve of his retreat.
As to the statement concerning the burial of the can-
non, it was indorsed by and perhaps originated with
C01. Burd;1 but it was disproved by a letter dated
Aug. 21, 1755, addressed to Governor Shirley by Col.
Dunbar, and indorsed by his oflicers, in which they
said, “ We must beg leave to undeceive you in what
you are pleased to mention of guns, being buried at
the time Gen. Braddock ordered the stores to be de-
stroyed, for there was not a gun of any kind buried.”

The question, who was responsible for the disgrace-

.ful retreat from Dunbar’s camp, and the destruction
' of the stores and war material at that place, has gen-

erally received an answer laying the blame on Dun-
bar himself; and this appears to be just, though in
his letter, above quoted, he mentions the order for the
destruction as having been given by Braddock. It is
true that the orders were still issued in his name, but
the hand of death was already upon him, and he was
irresponsible. The command really lay with Col.
Dunbar, had he been disposed to take it, as he un-
doubtedly would readily have done had it not hap-
pened that the so-called orders of Braddock were in
this instance (and for the first time in all the cam-
paign) in accordance with his wishes.

In regard tothe issuance of these orders by the
dying commander, and Dunbar’s very ready and
willing obedience to them, Sargent—who, however,
almost contradicts himself in the first and last parts

1 On the 11th of September, 1759, Col. Burd visited Dunbar’s camp,
and concerning this visit his journal says, “ From here we marched to
D1i"nbar's camp. . . . Here we saw vast quantities of cannon-ball, mus-
ket-bullets, broken shells, and an immense destruction of powder,
wagons, etc. Reconnoitered all the camp, and attempted to find the

cannon and mortars, but could not discover them, although we dug a. '

great many holes where stores had been buried, and concluded the
French had carried them off.”

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tive and conspicuous landmarks of Washington.

EDUCATIONAL HIs_ToRY.

To this end no pains are spared. Every pupil has

, the constant attention of the rector in his studies as

in everything else. It is his aim to secure teachers
of the best talent and highest Christian character,
‘andto supplyvall such advantages as are to be ob-'
tained in older institutions of its-lkind. For years
the founding of such a school was a favorite project
of the late Rt. Rev. John ‘B. Kerfoot, D.D., LL.D.,
D.C.L.," bishop of the Protestant Episcopal Diocese
of Pittsburgh. The railroad facilities-of the place,
its healthfulness and natural beauty of surroundings,
led to the choice of Washington as the site for the
s_chool.- 7A.bu'ilding (which was afterwards enlarged)
and grounds, both of whichvwere well adapted to the
purpose, were leased from Mr. W. W. Smith, of Wash-

for the,.‘requ.ipm.ent of the 8011091-. .Th_e Rev-Samuel

Earp, at that time rector of: one-of the leading‘

Protestant..’Episcopal Churchesmof ‘.'New York. City,
a. man’ of large experience, as an,'i'nstr,uctor,' was in-
duced to‘ leadfthe enterprise as’ head-master of the

school. I- Finally, on Sept. 11, 1879, the hall was

opened with appropriate services,part of which was
an admirable address by Bishop‘ Kerfoot on “ The

Pastorship of Boys.” The school has been success-'

ful from beginning, exceeding the hopes of its most
sanguine friends. i _
Situated on an‘ eminence overlooking the town,
Trinity Hall, as improved, is one of the most attrac-
Its
grounds, thirty-two acres in extent, the property of

 W. Smith, cannot be surpassed for beauty and"

utility. The distinguished landscape gardener, the

late ‘R. M. Copeland, of Boston, Mass., gave to the

improvement of the grounds considerable time and

‘ . attention, ‘so that they are now not only adorned with
' drives and avenues, a splendid lawn and elegant

flower-beds, but full of superb fruit- and shade-trees,

native and exotic, of twenty years’ growth.
There is ample opportunity for all athletic sports, --
to which, bythe way, special attention is given as:

valuable accessories to successful intellectual‘develop-
ment. A small stream flows through the grounds, by
the side of which is ‘a beautiful meadow “containing
about eight acres. This is used’ as a play-ground, and,
being dry and almost level,-is in its way all that can
be desired for such a purpose. The waters of the
streams will be let upon lower grounds during the
winter, and the pond thus formed, used by the boysfor
skating.’ I V ‘
The original building has a length of eighty-five
feetfront and faces the south; from the vestibule we
enter a hall thirty-six by fourteen feet. At the left
of this is the rector’s study and to the right the parlor,

an elegant ‘room thirty-two byeighteen feet, sur,-A

rounded on three sides by abroad piazza- In the

rear of these rooms are two others,‘eachttwenty-seven .

by sixteen feet; the one is used as a chapel‘, the other

as a boys’ library ;, to these t-here is also access from‘

the general hall. These four rooms intercommuni-
cating by this hall will, when its doors are thrown

open, make a reception at “Trinity” a much “more

pleasant occasion than it-otherwise could be, -Byla

broad staircase we reach anotherhall, «well lighted,‘
andof equal size with the one below. Surrounding ,

this are the-rooms of the rector’s family, and in the
third story are rooms for the servants: The building

throughout is well lighted, well ventilated, finished —

with taste, and complete in all’ its appointments.
Besides the rooms mentioned, theroriginal building
contains the music—room and _a room for‘ the sick,

which, owing to the healthfulness of the location, is

rarely needed. To this original structure a large

addition was erected joining it on the north.
r in ‘gton,‘wh'o generously ftlrnishedthle"necessary funds. ,

The addition is-fifty by ninety-six feet, two stories

-in height, of brick with trimmings. of stone. The
treatment of the exterior is broad and simple, indi;-’
cating by _its appearance the purpose of the building,
and at the same time harmonizing with the main

building. We enter from the main building a spacious

‘hall, from which a broad and easy staircase ascends
to the floor. The staircase, plainly and substantially‘

finished, is lighted by broad, quaint windows. At the
foot a door opens on the play-ground, and from this
point a wide corridor leads to the school-room. Wide
folding-doors opposite the entrance from the main
building give access to the dining-hall. At the left
is the bath-room and lavatory. The dining-hal1,.a
well-lighted apartment, forty-one ’ by twenty-eight
feet, is finished in oak, with the «ceiling supported by

turned pillars. A massive fireplaceof brick and stone ’

gives character to the room.

Wide folding doors
open into the school-room. >

Passing the dining-hall and ascending a few steps '

at the end of the corridor we enter the school-room,
forty-five. by twenty-eig"ht« feet. By this device a

greater height is obtained, a matter of importance in

a room occupied by a large number of persons. Also

-allowing higher windows, the light is distributed-‘ to
better advantage. The steps at the erftrance, sprog-,

tected by a handsome, railing. With’ a seat below,
make a pleasing ‘feature, and add to the a.ppearance
of the room. As in the dining-hall, the ceiling is

supported by turned oak pillars. When the folding V

doors between the school-room, and dining-hall are
thrown open the latter, being on ahigher_ level, is
more readily converted. into a stage for exhibition
phrposes. On each side of the school-room ,;a:re$~tw,o

large alcoves used as recitation-rooms... The (entire

second floor, with. the exception of a space reserved

for the clothes and linen-closets, is occupied by the I
dormitories. In the centre, and extending nearly"

the entire length, isa light wellfifty-eight by eight.
This is lighted from above by a clerestory with ven-
tilating lo.uvres.and skylights, thus securing. ample
light and ventilation. Around this extends a broad
corridor, from which opens on either side the dormi-

-tories, fifty-four in number. 1 These, are formed by

459

\.

460

HISTORY or WASH1NGTON COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA.

partitions of wood almost seven feet in height, but
not reaching the ceiling, thus giving privacy to each
pupil without interfering with the ventilation.

At one end a Wide bay window opens on the corri-
.»dor, adding to the cheerfulness of the dormitories and
forming an attractive feature of the exterior design.
The school-«rooms and recitation-rooms are provided
with ventilating shafts, by which the air can be kept
pure in winter without exposing the pupils to draughts
from partially opened windows.

The entire building is warmed by means of hot-air
furnaces in the cellar.

The architects were McKim, Mead, and White, of
New York City. ~ A C

The present oflicers (June, 1882) are as follows:
Rev. S. Earp, iA.M., Ph.D., rector and instructor in
English branches ;_ Francis. Schmid, A.M., instructor

in ancient and modern languages; Rev. Frederick W.
.White, A.B., assistant instructor in English branches;

W. C. McClelland, A.B., instructor in mathematics;
W. Wallace, assistant instructor in English branches;
Miss Annie Moore, music teacher; and Miss Margaret

- Brownson, drawing teacher. 5 -

- Public Schools.~In Washington County——ever
first and foremost among the communitieswest of the
Allegheny Mountains in educational matters—— the
establishment of the classical schools of the Rev. John
McMillan and the Rev. Thaddeus Dodd, in 1782,
infused into the. minds of the people a thorough ap-
preciation of the benefits of education. These schools
expanded into the academies which afterwards de-
veloped into Washington and Jefferson Colleges. In
response to the public educational demand Washing-
ton County, by its commissioners, provided as early
as 1803 that the sum of one hundred dollars should
be. applied yearly for the purpose of giving the rudi-
ments of education to poor children. This action on
the part of the co‘mmissio,ners was continued till 1808,
in'which year no such provision was made (doubtless
on account of the agitation of the subject in the State

Legislature at that time). On the 4th of April, 1809,

the Legislature passed “-An act to provide. for the
education of the poor gratis;” which law provided
that the county commissioners at the time of issuing
their precepts to the assessors should direct them to
obtain thelnames of all the children betweenthe ages
of five and twelve years, whose parents were unable
to pay fortheir schooling, and also required of the

-assessor to inform the parents of the child,-ren “that
"they are at liberty to send them to the most conveni-

ent school free of expense.” -The assessor was to
send a list of the names of children so obtained to

the teachers of schools in his district, whose duty it
was made to teach all such children who came to
"the school the same as other children, and to keep a
day-book in which the name of each child should be

kept, with the number of days’ attendance and amount

of ‘stationery furnished to each such child; and to
"make out his account against the county agreeably

tothe usual rates, subject to examination by the trus-
tees of the school where there were any, but where
there were none to three reputable subscribers to the
school, which account the teacher should present to
the county commissioners, and, if approved, the
amount should be paid out of any moneys in the
treasury. _

In the November following the passage of this act
the commissioners of Washington County included in
the budget of taxes for that year the sum of eight
hundred dollars for the purpose of carrying out the
provisions of the act, and an amount was annually
appropriated for that purpose until the year'1834.
The following are the sums so appropriated, viz. :

1809. . . ................ .. $800 1822 $1500
1810 .................................. .. 200 18:23 ................................ .. 1500
1811 .................  ............. .. 200 1824 ................................ .. 1500
1812 200 1825 ............................... .. 1200
1813.. . .............................. .. 200 120;: .... .. 1000
1814 200 1827 ................................ .. 1200
1815 ....... .. 300 1828 ..............................  1600
1816 .................................. .. 300 1829 ...................  .......... .. 1500
1817.. ................................ .. 500 1830 ............................... .. 1500
1818 .... .. 500 1831 2500
1819 1000 1832 ............................... .. 2500
1820 .... .. 500 1833 ............  ................. .. 2500
1821 ______ ,, 1000

The subject of a public-school law had been agi-
tated in the State Legislature from the year 1825,
when Gen. H. W. Beeson, of Fayette County, intro-
duced a bill for the establishment of common schools,
which, however, failed. From that time until the
passage of the school act in 1834 the question had
been much agitated, and was finally passed after
much opposition. The following letter shows that
the citizens of Washington County were active on

the subject, and by word and pen were using their .

influence in bringing about its accomplishment:

“ WASHINGTON, PENNa, 4, Feb'y, 1831.

“ At a meeting of the Committee on the subject of common schools in
the Borough of Washington. the following proceedings were had, viz.:

“On motion of Thomas Morgan, Esq”, seconded by William Baird,
Esqr. The following preamble and resolutions were unanimously
adopted. The Committee deeply impressed with the importance and
magnitude of the subjects referred to them by their fellow citizens, con-
sidering that the axiom is no less true than trite that ‘Education is
power’ in the Government of a people whoare enlightened, but in rela-
tion also to the individuals who possess the virtue of which education is

the handmaid, and the liberty of which it is the shield; and believing .

that he who suggests a new and useful idea tending to the improvement

of the systems in his own vicinity, or develops those of a beneficial cha.r- A

acter elsewhere, or furnishes by means of his researches and industry
valuable facts and important inferences and reflections on the engross-
i'ng subject, is entitled if not to a civic crown to the thanks of every
friend of private happiness and public prosperity, and that he is a
greater promoter of both than one who bestows on either his whole for-
tune however splendid. "

“ The committee feel themselves constrained to adopt the following
resolutions, viz.: .

“ Resolved, That this Committee in their own name, and on behalf
of the community, whose agents they are, respectfully tender their
acknowledgements to the Hon. Wm. McCreery, our representative in Con-
gress, the Hon. E. Everett, a representative in Congress from Massachu-
setts, William Patterson, Esqr, our representative in the State Legisla-
ture; Roberts Vaux, Esqr, of the City of Philadelphia; Morgan Neville
& Nathan Guilford, Esq“, of the City of Cincinnati : and the Reverend

George Brown, of the City of Pittsburgh, for their luminous communica-'

tions on the momentous subject of their inquiries.
“ Resolved, That a copy of these resolutions, attested by the Chairman
of this Committee, Thomas M. T. McKennan, Esqr, and the Secretary,

EDUCATIONAL HISTORY.

461_

J 110. L. Gaw, Esqr, be communicated to each of _the Gentlemen named in
the preceding resolution, and that the Chairman and Secratary be re-
quested to assure them of our best wishes for their health and happi-

BESS.

“Attest. “TH. M. T.'MCKENNAN, Chairman.

. “JOHN L. Gow, Scc‘g/.”

In the countyof Washington, under the school law
of April 1, 1834, school directors were elected in each
township, and a joint meeting was called for Nov. 4,
21834, to. consist of the three “commissioners of the
«county and one delegate from each of the twenty-
.three boards of directors. In accordance with this
call, the convention was held at the court-house Nov.
4, 1834, at which time Robert, Patterson, Esq., of
Smith township, was chosen president, and John R.
Kennedy, of Chairtiers, secretary. The vote on the

ygquestion of complying with the law, by making an

appropriation, being taken, as required by the fifth
section of said act, the yeas and nays were as follows,
to wit:

Yeas, 21.——James Ruple,Washington; Jam es Ta ggart, Can ton ; Thomas
, Morris; John H. Kennedy, Chartiers; John Morrison, Notting-
ham; James P. Kerr, Donegal; John Lowery, Hopewell; Samuel Hill,
Fallowfield; Andrew Kerr, Pike Run; William Campbell, North Stra-
»bane; James Linn, South Strabane; Jonathan Warrick, Amwell; James

Holmes, West Finley; William Patterson, Cross Creek; Henry Enlow, ‘

Fast Finley; James McClaskey, Mount Pleasant; Robert Patterson,
Smith ; Richard Donaldson, Robinson; James Miller, William McElroy,
.James Lee, commissioners. . '

Nays, 5.——James Spears, Peters; William Pedon, Somerset; Jesse
Kenworthy, East Bethlehem; David McCoy, Hanover; James -Moore,
~Cecil«. ' V I

At this meeting "it was decided to raise the sum of
$4800, there having been appropriated from the State
fund, for the use of Washington County, $2397.73.
At this time there were eight thousand seven hundred
.and‘thirty-six personsin the county liable to taxation
for school purpose_s. This tax was collected, and an
earnest effort was made on the part of the school

_-directors of the several townships to establish the

new system, that it might work harmoniously. Its
provisions “proved cumbersome,” and much oppo-
sitioniwas developed. ‘At a county convention. held
on the 2d of May, 1836, composed of the county com-
missioners and delegates from the different townships
-(all of which were represented except Canton, Hope-
‘well, Hanover, and North Strabane), it was voted to
fix the county appropriation at $12,000, in addition
"to that made by the State. This year there was con-
siderable opposition to the law, and the following is
the list of townships which accepted the appropria-
tion, with the sums raised by each; also a list of
those which were “ non-accepting” :

Accepting. . .

. County. State.

Buffalo ................ .. $516.04 $95.28

Cross Creek. 710.00 140.46
Charfic-rs T ....... .. ,732.00 144.15

»Carr.oll 401.00 111.57
Fallowfield ....... .'. ............................. .. 312.89 . 66.39

East Finley ............ .. ....................... .. 200.00 65.46
West Finley .... .. .............................. .. 197.00 61.16

Morris....._ .................................... .. 493.00 100.20

Nottingham .............. .. 502.00 101.422

Pike Run ........................................ .. 383.00 122.02

Robinson.. ..................................... .. 367.00 56.86

.S011i'.h Sfrnhnnn ....... .. 401.00 
Washington .................................... .. 609.00 122.94

.30 . _ \

Non-accepting. '

County.
Amwell _ ‘ . ............. .. $100.81
East Bethlehem .............................. .. ., ..... .. 171.50
West Bethlehem , ................ .. 128.47
Canton ................................................... .. 68.84
Cecil ....................................................... .. . 69.07
Donegal .................................................. .. - 129.70
Hanover ................................................. .. 120.31
Hopewell .. . ..   124.78
Mount Pleasant ....... .. 85.44
Peters ....... .. 79.2_9
Smith .' ................................................... .. 99.58
North Strahmm ....... .. 66.69
Somerset ............. .. 88.21

Amendments were made to the school law as ex:
perience suggested changes, and in 1837 all the town-
ships of the county, with the exception, of Cecil and
Hanover, were working in harmony with the pro-
visions of the school act. These townships accepted
these provisions in the next year, since which time
various changes and improvements have been made.

Normal Sch0ols.——The first meetingUof educators
connected with the interests of common schools and
the establishment of normal schools was held at the
Pigeon Creek Church, in Somerset, Nov. 23, 1849.
Several resolutions. were passed declaring for “well
qualified teachers and a system of Normal schools for
their training,” and “a county committee to exainine
teachers, with authority to call a convention of teach-
ers twice a year for “instruction by lectures on the
science of teaching.” This meeting resulted in the

calling of a common school county convention, which i
. "met at Washington, Feb. 19,.1850. A second one was
held March 20th, "a third May 21st, and a fo_urth,Sept..

23, 1850, at Washington. At this last meeting A. M.

Grow offered a resolution to establish an institute by '

which the teachers. may be brought, together for their
improvement; also at this meeting the ‘name of
Washington County Institute was adopted. At a
meeting in October the delegates to the State conven-
tion were instructed to recommend county superin-

tendency and the establishment of State normal

schools for the special preparation of teachers. Con-
ventions were "held often in different parts of the
county, and educators from abroad" as well as those at
home were employed to lecture before the institute.
At a meeting of the association in 1855, A. M. Gow
recommended establishing a normal school of four
weeks" continuance. It was not, however, until three
years. later that this suggestion-was acted upon. The
following from the “ Report of Public Instruction of
1877 ” shows the progress of normal schools until 1861 :

“The first normal school in the county was held in.

Hillsboro’, commencing May 11, 1858. J. H. Long-
don, county superintendent, was the principal. f'He
was assisted by J. N. Boyd and A. J. Buflington. Sixty-

eight teachers were in attendance. The next session

washeld in West Middletown, commencing June 10, A
1859, which continued six weeks, with an attendance .

of one hundred and thirty-one teachers.. Mr. Long-
don was assisted by some of the best, teachers in
attendance. Stated lectures were delivered by promi-
nent men during _the session. Mr. Longdon held the

next session at Monongahela City in the following 1

“western part of the State.

462

HISTORY OF WASHINGTON COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA.

4May.and June, continuing seven weeks. The enroll- '

ment numbered one hundred and fifty-eig.ht, exclusive
of the model school, which was taught’. by John 
Weller and Julia A. Weller. Mr. Longdon. was as-
sisted in the normal department -by;J. E. Stephenson,
A. J. Buffington, and JL- Phiillilps. So great was
the benefit derived by those who.a,tfend,_t,11ese schools,
and yetso unsatisfactory, becauseof the ‘limited time
which the sessions were kept open, -thata demand was
"felt for a normal school that could be in session nine
months during the year.” ' 8

Thomas . J. Homer, to whom must be given the

honor of giving permanency to the normal school now
.»in Washington County, was a native of Carmichael’s,

Greene Co., where he was born Feb. 1, 1835. His
education was obtained at the district school and at
Greene Academy. In the fall of 1856 he went to

liMillsboro’, and taught school at that place during

the Winter and following spring, after which he Went

to Mount Union, Ohio, and entered the college at that

place for a regular course’. In 1859 he went to West
Brownsville and resumed teaching. In 1860 he Went

to Bridgeport, where he was employed in the Union‘
school until July, when he was chosen principal.

The idea of a normal school had been growing in
the minds of ‘educators in'Washing-ton County and
vicinity for some time previous, but to Mr. Horner it
assumed tangible shape.. Millsboro’ was the site se-

lected by him for the starting-place of such a school,

as it was one of the most central points’ in the south-

laid his plans before the public. They were not at

gfirst favorably received, from financial reasons, but
when he proposed to give his own notes for the pay- '
~ment of all subscriptions he succeeded in raising

sufficient money, with what he had, to warranthim
in contracting for a building suitable for the_purpose,

intending it to be used only for a few years or. until it

could be changed into a State institution. In the

. springof 1862 circulars were issued as follows:

“,TH.E UNION NORMAL SCHOOL, located at Millsboro’, Washington 00.,

Pa. Eor the convenience of teachers in Washington", Fayet_te,,and.
O Greene Counties. Under the supervision of the county superintendents,

who will give instruction in teaching, and lecture during the term.

“ Rema.rks.—,,The necessity and importance of such an institution are’

evidenced in the local and increasing demand for better teachers, cor-
rect in theory, and skilful in practice. In addition to this, the instruc-

tions of the State Department of Common Schools require a much higher

standard of attainment than has yet been acquired by the greatmajority

» of our teachers. I For the purpose of aifordin g to all increased facilities
, for receiving the higher standard of attainment, the above has been; es-]

tablished. Our educational system is progressive, and teachersmust

‘either improve or give place ‘to those who will. The examinations the

next year will demand increased proficiency‘; therefore we recommend

_ that all teachers holding Provisional Certificates, and others desiring to
prepare for the Profession of Teaching, and who propose continuing in
' the Profession, will avail themselves of the facilities offered. '

“ J. V. Gnsnons,‘
“ A. J. BU-FFINGTON, I

,“ County Superintendents. O
' “ The first term of_the first academic year will commence on Monday,

the 28th of April, 1862. 4 1. . _ ._ ., y
, “ T. J. Holman, Principal,

“ Assisted by an able corps of Professional Teachers.” -1:

He visited thatplace and

I

The pupils in a_ttendan,'ce‘at' this term, as-"given“in
the circular of the academic yearof 1863-64, is as
follows: “ Teachers, higher department, 95; teachers,
preparatory department,  ; boarding students, 60;
day pupils, 70; number preparing to teach, 70.”

The school was called at the next term “South-
western Normal School.” During the year 1863 Mr.
Horner’s health failed, landion the 27th of anuary,
1864, he died, having given up the ”charge5to A. J.
Buflington and J. C. Gilchrist, assisted by T. J. Teal.
It was carried on through another year, that of 1864-!
65, when the school building and home of Mr. Horner
were sold, and bought in by acompany, who let the in-
terest subside, but Mr. Gilchrist, being stillinterested,
returned to California, Washington County, and suc-
ceeded in raising money enough to secure the State
appropriation, and the normal school was moved to
California. An offer of the union school building
was made ‘to them, which the trustees or faculty ac-
cepted. The unionschool was merged into it, and

‘opened with an attendanceof, 143 during the summer

session.

Southwestern State Normal S School.‘-——This ‘
‘school, located on the Monongahela, at California,..:
Pa., had its origin in the educational sentiment of;
the early settlers of the town, a sentiment nourished '
and developed by the establishment of a high school f,
or academy in the year 1854. Chief among those 4
who led the way in this enterprise was Job Johnson,
And herejl
‘let it be’ said to the honor of all concerned that by a 
‘provision’ in the chartered rights, a- provision vital to ‘V
the success of the town and school, the sale of intox-. I
icating liquors was forever prohibited within-the bor-. -

Esq., one of the proprietors of the town.

Ough ‘limits.’

V Under the leadership of Prof. E. N. Johnson, now ‘
of Ohio, the academysecured aiwide reputation. .8

The charter of incorporation of the normal school ,
was approved by Governor ‘A. G. Curtin March :16, I

1865. Section 1 says that the corporate name and

title of this institution shall be Southwestern Normal ‘

College of ‘Pennsylvania until and before the time it
may be recognized as a_State normal school under
the act of'Legislature passed April 15, 18,59,'when it

can take such name and title as may be consistent 5

with‘ the provisions of that act. I .

Section 2 says the object of this association is to I
"found  normal college, in whichshall be taught a-

course of study consisting -of the English branches,
the natural sciences, mathematics, the languages,
metaphysics, music, and the science and art of
teac7h.ing- ”        §   T

The first recorded m‘ee_ting _‘of' the trustees took
place in Seminary Hall, June 18,1864. -Prof. T. J.
Teal, then county superinitendent of.‘Gree.‘ne.‘ County,

but also ‘at that time,,a,'teacher",in’ the school, was

calledto the" chair,,_andjan election held, resulting

.1. By:Prof. G. G. IIertzog,,Secretary or iijanoard of ;‘Tru.steies,

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COUNTY BUILDINGS.

463

in the choice of Joseph A. Lambert, president; L.
W. Morgan, vice-president‘; and . Samuel Sickman,
secretary. At this meeting Profs. Buffington, Teal,
and Yeagley, superintendents of VVashington, Greene,
and Fayette Counties respectively, were appointed to
select a site for the normal school building.
Prominent among the early movers and workers
were Prof. VV, N. Hull, Rev. Abner Jackson, Rev.
J . C. Momyer, Job Johnson, Esq., Edward Riggs,
John N. Dixon, and Prof. Gilchrist, now of_ the State
Normal School at Cedar Falls, Iowa. G. M. Eber-
man, William McFall, S. W. Craft, G. G. Hertzog,
S. M. Binns, A. P. Smith, Thomas Johnson, E. N;
Lilley, Capt. J. B. Williams, and W. W. Jackman
came to the work a little later, but were earnest and
I So evenly were the chances of suc-
cess and failure balanced in the long struggle tofound
the school that if any one of a dozen had failed to co-
operate, the enterprise’ must‘ have failed. But Prof.
J . C. Gilchrist, who first led the way, and President
John N. Dixon, for his manly devotion to the work
through so many years, deserve especial mention.
The laying of the corner-stone took place Aug. 26,
1868, in the presence of a large concourse of people.

Gen. John W. Geary, then Governor of the S’tate,

was present, and delivered an appropriate and elo-
lquent address.

Because of a lack of means the work was much
hindered, so that the school was not adopted -as a

‘ State institution till June, 1874. It then took the
J title of Southwestern State Normal School.

The
buildings were completed in 1875, costing in the ag-
gregate $90,000. In the mean time the work of the
school was done. in the old building till 1870, when
it was begun in the new.

_ The school is designed specially as a training-
school for -teachers, and all applicants for examina-
tion from among the students indorsed by the faculty
are tested by a State Board of Examiners. The first
class, consisting of two members, was graduated in
1875. The succeeding classes numbered respectively
six, ‘nine, twenty-two, thirty, twenty-five, twenty-
eight, and forty, aggregating one hundred and sixty-
two. Not one of all indorsed by the faculty, and
presented to the board for examination, has been re-
jected.

But the value of the_school is not to be estimated
simply by the number and work of its graduates;
for before the school was adopted by the ‘State, as
well as since, hundreds of others have gone from the

1 school to do efficient work as teachers.

Prof. J. C. Gilchrist was ‘the first principal of the
“ Normal College,” but when in 1866 he was elected
superintendent of the public schools of Washington
County, Prof. A. J. Buffington, the retiring superin-
tendent, was chosen principal; but after a successful
session of five months retired to his farm. Prof. Gil-
christ still continued hisinterest in the school during
his term of ofi‘ice, severing his connection finally in"

September, 1870. ‘The school was without a princi-
pal then till June, 1871, Prof. Hertzog\having charge,‘
when Prof. C. L. Ehrenfeld, of Hollidaysburg, Pa.,
was chosen. Prof. Ehrenfeld continued at the head

of the school till January, 1877, when he resigned _
his position to become the State librarian. Soon af-» .

ter, Prof. George P. Beard, formerly principal of Ship-

pensburg Normal School, but later‘ of the State ‘of’ /

Missouri, was chosen principal, and remains in that
oflice still. Prof. Beard having hadslarge experience
in normal school work,~and possessing the elements

‘of a successful leader, the school has‘ advanced

rapidly under his management. In the State super-
intendent’s report for 1866, it is ‘stated that the num-
ber of students in the Southwestern Normal College
was two hundred and sixty-one, nearly one hundred
of whom taught in the county. This institution by
its thorough work is giving an earnest of whatit will
accomplish when recognized as a 5‘ State Normal
School.” In the catalogue just published, that for
1882-83, the number in normal school for the past
year is three hundred and fifty-five, besides an en-
rollment in the model school of one hundred and
eighty-two, making a total of five hundred and thirty-
seven. The school is managed by a board of eighteen
trustees, twelve of whom are chosen by the stock-
holders and six by the State. Following are the
names of the present. board: .

Elected by the stockholders,—William McFall, A.
P. Smith, W. VV. J ackman, Louis S. Miller, -J ohn N.
Dixon, Esq., Z. W. Morgan, S. W. Craft, G. M. Eber-
man, Prof. G. G. Hertzog, Luke P. Beazell, O. Horn-
bake, Rev. D. A. Pierce. ‘ 6/ 1

Appointed by the State, Hon. Gibson Binns, Col.
Chill W. Hazzard, Hon. G. V. Lawrence, Hon. J. K.
Billingsley, Hon. Daniel Kaine, Prof. T. -J. Teal.

Officerspf Board of Trustees,——J no. N. Dixon, Esq.,
president; Prof. G. G. Hertzog, secretary; S. M. Binns,
treasurer. - ‘ ‘

Faculty,—George P. Beard, A.M., principal; T. B.
N oss, A.M., vice-principal; G. G. Hertzog, mathe-
matics ; J . B. Smith, natural sciences and Latin ; W.”
S. J ackman, geography and history; D. C.-Murphy,
penmanship and drawing; Miss A. M. Mehaffey, elo-
cution and gymnastics; Miss Lizzie Patton, grammar

and rhetoric; T. R. Wakefield, geography and his- -

tory; Miss Ella M. McClure, model school; Miss
Hattie E. J ackman, model school.

jj...

CHAPTER XXXVII.

COUNTY BUILDINGS——CIVIL LIST-COUNTY AGRI-
CULTURAL SOCIETIES——POPULATION. I

IN the act erecting Washington County passed‘

March 28, 1781, Section IX. directs “the courts to
be held at the house of David Hoge, Esq., until a
court-house shall be built or otherwise provided for.”

52.

HISTORY OF WASHINGTON COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA.

of the extract given below—-says, “ Braddock’s
strength was now fast ebbing away. Informed of the
disorganized condition of the remaining troops, he
abandoned all hope of a prosperous termination to the
expedition. , He saw that not only death but utter
defeat was inevitable. But, conscious of the odium
the latter event would excite, he nobly resolved that
the sole responsibility of the measure should rest with
himself, and consulted with no one upon the steps he
pursued. He merely issued his orders, and insisted
that they were obeyed. Thus, after destroying the
stores to prevent their falling into the hands of the
enemy (of whose pursuit he did not doubt‘), the march
was to be resumed on Saturday, the_,12th of July, to-
wards Wills’ Creek. Ill judged as these orders were,
they met with too ready acquiescence at the hands of
Dunbar, whose advice was neither asked nor tendered
on the occasion. . . . For this service—the only in-
stance of alacrity that he displayed in the campaign-
Dunbar must not be forgiven. It is not perfectly clear
that Braddoelc intelligently ever gave the orders, but in
any case they were not fit for a British oflicer to give
or to obey. Dunbar’s duty was to have maintained
here his position, or at least not to have contemplated
falling back beyond ‘Ville’ Creek. That _he had not
horses to .remove his stores was, however, his after-
excuse.” .

The destruction of the guns, ammunition, and
stores was finished at Dunbar’s camp on the 12th of
July, and on the morning of Sunday, the 13th, the
retreating troops, composed of Dunbar’s command
and the remnant of the force that fought on the
Monongahela, moved away on the road to Cumber-
land. They took with them the only artillery pieces
that wereleft (two six-pounders), a small quantity of
provisions and hospital stores, and the remaining
wagons, nearly all of which were laden with the sick
and wounded. The commander-in-chief, now rapidly
approaching his end, was borne along with the column.
The entry for this dayin Capt. Orme’s Journal reads:
“July 13th.—-We marched hence to the camp near
the Great Meadows, where the generaldied.”

At the place where Dunbar’s troops bivouacked
after this day’s march, about two miles west of Fort
Necessity, at eight o’clock on that midsummer Sun-
day night,_ Gen. Braddock breathed his last. He had
spoken very little after the time when he was brought
from the fatal field. It is related that on the first
night he repeated, as if soliloquizing, “ Who would
have thought it! who would have thought it!” and
after that was silent‘ until the fourth day, when he
said to Capt. Orme, “ We shall better know how to
deal with them another time.” He spoke no more,
and soon after expired; Capt. Stewart, of the light-
horse, having never left him from the time he re-
ceived his wound until after his death. Washington

1 This conflicts strongly with Sargent’s statement 'th‘a"t at Dunbar’s
camp he “issued his orders and insisted that they were obeyed.”

an.d Orme were also with him at the last moment, and
it is said (by Sargent) that shortly before his death
the general bequeathed to Washington” his favorite
charger and his body-servant, Bishop, so well known
in after-years as the faithful attendant of the patriot
chief. A

On the morning of the 14th of July the dead gen-
eral was buried at the camp where he died, and the
artillery pieces, the wagon-train, and the soldiers,
moving out to take the road to Wills’ Creek, passed
over the spot, to obliterate all traces of the new grave,3
and thus to save it from desecration by’ the savages,

C

9 Notwithstanding the many absurd accounts which have been given
of the disagreements which occurred between Braddock and Washing-
ton, and of the insolent and contemptuous manner in which the latter
was treated by his chief, all evidence that is found tends to show that
there existed between the two a friendship such as is very rarely known
as between a commanding general and a mere youth serving under
him without military rank,.for in this campaign Washington held none,
and was consequently never admitted to Braddock’s councils of war.
He was by the British oflicers below Braddockcontemptuously styled
“Mr. Washington,” for they disliked him, principally because of the
consideration shown him by Braddock, and partly because he was
merely a “ Virginia buckskin,” which latter fact made Braddock’s
friendship for him all the more galling to them. In later years Presi-
dent Washington, in speaking (see Niles’ Register, xiv. p. 179) of Brad-
dock, said, “ He was unfortunate, but his character was much too se-
verely treated. He was one of the honestest and best men of the British
oflicers with whom I was acquainted; even in the manner of fighting he
was not more to blame than others, for of all that were consulted only
one person objected to it. . . . Braddock was both my general and my phy-
sician,” alluding in the latter remark to the time when he (Washing-
ton) had been taken sick. near the Little Meadows on the outward march,
on which occasion Braddock gave his personal attention to the case, leav-
ing Washington with a sergeant to take care of him, with medicine and
directions (given by himself) of how to take it, also with instructions to
come on and rejoin him (the gdneral) whenever he should find himself
able to do so.

As to the accounts, with which all are familiar, of Washington as-
suming commandafter the fall of Braddock, and saving the remnantof
the force from destruction, its utter absurdity is made apparent by the
extracts which have been given from Capt. Orme’s Journal. Washington
exercised no command in that campaign, and the only circumstance
which can give any color to the story is that some of the Virginians,

knowing him as an oflicer in the militia of that colony, were disposed in i

the confusion of the battle to follow him in preference to the British
oflicers, who despised their method of backwoods fighting.

3 The precisea spot where Gen. Braddock was buried has never been
certainly known. Col. Burd, who visited it in 1759, when on his way to
erect Fort Burd, on the Monongahela, said it was about two miles from
Fort Necessity, and “ about twenty yards from a little hollow, in which
there was a small stream of water, and ,over it a bridge.” Gen. Wash-
ington said that it had been his purpose to return to the spot and erect
a monument to his memory, but that he had no opportunity to do so
until after the Revolution, and then, after the most diligent search, he
found it impossible to recognize the spot where the general was buried
on account of the change in the road and the extension of the clearing.

In 1812 a party of men who were engaged in working on the road dug
out, near the bank of the small stream known as Braddock’s Run, the

’ bones of a human skeleton, and with them some military trappings;

from which latter circumstance the bones were supposed to be "those of
Braddock, and it is not improbable that they were so, though there
is no proof that such was the case. Some of the larger bones were taken
away by the people of the vicinity as relics, but these were afterwards
collected, and they as well as the others were reinterred about 1820, at
the spot which has since been known as “ Braddock’s Grave,” and which
was so marked by the words out or painted on a board which was nailed
to a tree over the place of reinterment. This tree has since been cut
down, the grave inc_losed,.and evergreen trees planted over it. The spot
is a few rods north of the National road, inWharton township, Fayette
County.

a _

' son,

464

HISTORY OF WASHINCTON COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA.

The house of David Hoge here mentionedwas situ-
ated on the lot that in the plat made -in October of
that year became No. 58, and is now occupied by the
Strean block on Main Street. It was sold during the
month of October, 1781, to Charles Dodd on a cer-

tificate, and in the first tax levy made for Washing-.

ton County (which was in September, 1783, the taxes
of 17 81-82 having been exonerated) occurs this item,
“Laid on to pay the Court-House rent to Charles or
John Dodd, £40.” The amount and the date here
given is presumptive evidence that the rent paid
was for the years 1781-82. The treasurer’s account

' of -17 83 contains the following items: “ To pay Charles

Dodd Court-House rent, £15.” “-To pay James
Wilson, by order of Trustees, the rent of a house to

hold Court in, .£9.” The last item shows that one

term of court was held at James Wilson_’s house, who
at that time kept tavern on lot 291, where the store
of ‘William Smith now stands, on the corner of Main
and Beau Streets. " -
The tax levy laid May 12, 1784, has this item;
“ Laid on to pay Mr. Dodd for the use of the house
Court is held’ in, £20. Reference to the treasurer’s
books shows that this refers to Charles Dodd. The
tax levyof 1785, made in January of that year, has
the following: “ For rent of Court—House, £20.” The
treasurer’s account shows this amount to have been
paid to John Dodd,‘ as also the same amount in 1786,
as per.levy of that year. In 1787 the amount‘ is
doubtless covered in a deficiency account of £60, as
the treasurer’s account shows that John Dodd was
paid for “ Court—House rent .£5,” to pay James Wil-
“as rent for house, £63’ The above extracts
and references show with considerable clearness in
What places the courts of the countyiwerei held prior
to the completion-of the firstcourt-house, in 1787.
The law erecting the county provided and declared
f‘That it shall be lawful to and for James, Edgar,
Hugh Scott, Van Swearingen, Daniel Leet, and John
Armstrong, or anythree of them, to take up or pur-
chase and take" assurance to them and their heirs of a
piece of land situate in some convenient place in the
said county, to be approved by the President and
Supreme Executive Council, in trust, and for the use
of the inhabitants of said county, and thereupon to
erect and build a court-house and prison sufficient to
accommodate the public service of said county.” In
pursuance of the authority thus conferred, the trustees
on the 18th of October, 1781, purchased of David
Hoge, proprietor of the town of Washington, a lot. of
land on which to erect public buildings; it being the
same on which the present court-house, jail, sherifi"’s
residence, and town hall now stand, and which is
known as the “public square.” The description of
the ‘lot sold by Hoge ‘is given in his deed to the trus-

1 The court was still held in the loghouse on lot No. 58, as this prop-

‘ erty passed from Charles Dodd to John Dodd. The latter kept a. tavern,

however, at that time on lot 274, where Hastings’ i hardware store now
stands. I

tees, as follows: “A lott of ground in the said Bassett
Town [Washington], fronting and extending along
Monongahela Street” Two hundred and forty feet;
and in tl1e.same manner along Ohio?’ street two hun-
dred and forty feet; Thence with the Lott marked in
the original plan.of the said town, No. 123——that is,
number one hundred and twenty-three; Thence with
Joh_nston’s Alley two hundred and forty feet to the
Monongahela Street aforesaid; and allso all Trees and
appurtenances to the said described Lott or piece of
ground belonging; and allso‘ all the Reversion or Re-
versions Rents or Servicesof the premises, and every
part thereof.” The consideration named by the
grantor in his deed, is “for his good will he beareth
to the inhabitants of thesaid county of Washington,
and for the sum of five shillings to him innhand paid

by the aforesaid Hugh Scott, Van Swearingen, Esqr. 1

Daniel Lite [Leet] and John Armstrong.”
The earliest record of any‘ public action taken in

‘reference to the building of a court-house on the

ground purchased by the trustees for the purpose, is
found in the minutes of the court for the April term
in 1782, viz.: “The Court order that the Prothono-
tary write to the Trustees of the County, informing
them of. the urgent necessity of a Court House and
Goal; and that the Court will find themselves under
the disagreeable necessity of representing the remiss-
ness of the said Trustees, if something is not speedily
done in that respect.” This admonition from the
court (or some other cause) had the effect to induce
the trustees to commence the erection of a court-house
and jail during the succeeding year, but the work
proceeded so slowly that it was not until July, 1787,
that the building was ready for occupancy. They
were built of logs, and situated in the rear of the
public ground near the southwest corner. With

reference to this building and its location, Prof. John «

Messenger writes as follows, basing his statement on
information "given by Mordecai Hoge, son of John
Hoge, viz.: “ When about six years of age, he (Mor-
decai Hoge) attended school in Washington. It was

held in a hewed log cabin, and corresponding writing-

desks, with benches made of long slabs. It stood on

the right side of the alley where the worshipers of .

the United Presbyterian Church are accustomed to
put their conveyances, a little below where the old
weigh-scales were placed. The court-house and" jail
at that time were on the first floor, and under the
same roof. The room in the second story was used‘
for an academy, being the origin of Washington Col-
lege.‘ The Rev. Thaddeus Todd was the principal.”
In the mean "time, before the erection of thelog
court-house and jail, the prisoners of the county had
been kept in Charles Dodd’s log stable, which had
been fitted up and strengthened for the purpose, but
which was nevertheless so insecure that frequent
complaints and protests concerning it came from the

2 Now Main Street. ‘3 Now Beau Street.

-COUNTY BUILDINGS.

court, the sheriff, and others. In 1784, when some
desperate criminals were confined in it, the sheriff
was compelled to call, on the county lieutenant for a
detachment of militia to guard it to prevent escapes.
Forty men were called out for this duty under Capt.

Joseph Bane, and served several days in July, 1784,‘

and twenty-three men were on duty as guards from

' August 14th to October 2d following.‘ In December

of the same year “The Grand Inquest presented as
follows, to wit: At the request of James Marshall,
Esqr., High Sheriff of the county_ of Washington, we,‘

. the Grand’ Jurors for the body of the said county of

Washington at December term, 1784, have had view
of the Gaol of the said county, and unanimously pre-

sent that the said Gaol’ is insuflicient.

“ J QHN HOGE, Foreman.” ’

In the following year the grand jury (John Hoge,

foreman) presented, “That the Jail of said county is

in many respects insuflicient and a disgrace to the
county. That the walls are so weak and ill con--
structed as to afford no security for the safe keeping
of any prisoner, and it would therefore be unjust and
unreasonable to make the sheriff answerable for any
escape. That it is not above half the proper dimen-
sions, and the windows not placed to receive or circu-

«late fresh air, and that the unfortunate debtor is nes-

sessarily without proper accommodations, and ‘must

be ‘kept in an impure atmosphere calculated to en- ,
, gender disorder and endanger the lives of the citizens.

Thatwe fear those who ought to provide proper ac-
commodations have not correctly estimated the liber-

ality of the citizens of Washington ,County, and we

trust this admonitory hint will induce the commis-
sioners of the county to commence immediately the

necessary work for the public security and accommo-
_ dation.” ’

At the July sessions of 1787, when the new court-
house and jail building was in process of construc-
tion and nearly 'comp1et‘ed,“ James Marshall, Esquire,
Sheriff, Represented to the Court that the place now
used for a Gaol is altogether insufiicient for the said
purpose, and that there is a room in the new Gaol
in-considerable good condition forconfining pris-
oners, wherefore the Court called upon John Hoge
and Andrew Swearingen, Esqrs., uudertakers for
the new Gaol, who informed the Court that they
were at liberty to order the Prisoners into the said
room if they thought fit, and thereupon the Court
-order that the Sheriff confine his prisoners in future
in the said room, and also remove those now in con-
finement thereto.”

It" appears however that the new jail was nearly as
unsatisfactory as Dodd’s stable building had been.
In 1788 John H. Redick,- “ J aylor,” presented a bill

1 In the commissioners‘ records of 1784 is found this item: “ Also laid
by order of the Sheriff, to pay the expense of guarding prisoners, &c.
£222 0 0.” And in the treasurer’s account for same year the following:
“ To pay four pay-rolls for paying guard, £373 9 4. To pay Charles
Dodd for victualling Guard, £6 0 6.” , '

for “feeding William Wilson, a criminal, from the
5th day of November, 1787 , to the 24th day of Feb-
ruary, 1788, at 28. per day, at which time he broke
Gaol and was brought back.” Other items in his
account were as follows: “ To feeding Edward
Stephens, a criminal, from the 81st day of ‘December,

17 87, to the‘24th day of February, then broke.” “ Pot \

Owens, a criminal from the 26th day of August, 1788,
to October, 1788, at 23. per day. Then convicted and
fed on strong victuals to the 23d day of October.”

Whether Owens “broke” at the last date or not is

not stated in the bill.

The court-house building continued in use a little
more than three years, and was destroyed by fire in
the winter of 1790-91. From that time until the
completion-of a new court-house the courts were ‘held

at the house of James Wilson, as appears from entries‘

of sums of money "paid him for the use of his house
for that purpose.
public square was commenced in 1.791, the work hav-
ing been let by contract to John Reed, Benjamin

‘Reed, and William Reed, but at what price is not

shown. Among the orders drawn on the treasurer in
1791 was the following: “To pay John, Benjamin,
and William Reed £300, in orders 51, 52 and 58, of

£100 each.” In the next year the following appear: .

“ To pay James Marshall for cash advanced and ma-
terials furnished on account of the public buildings,
£60. . . . To pay John Reed, Benjamin Reed, and

William Reed (on their orders), being in full for the '
Bill against the County according to their contract _

up to this time, paving and plastering not included,
not being perfected, £807 11 1. . . . To pay William
Gray for measuring and calculating the Public Build-
ings, £6 6 1.” Andon the 8th of January, 1793 : “ To
pay John, William, and Benjamin Reed in full for
work done to Court-House, Oflices, Gaol, and Well,
&c., &c., £157 8 10.”

From the records of the commissioners for 1793
and 1794 is quoted the following: “On the 6th,Feb-
ruary John Reed proposed contracting with us to do
the plastering of the public. buildings. _The next
day, accepted his terms, and made a contract for the
same. . . . April1.0, 1793, entered intoa contract with
John Reed (mason) to build a wall around the pub-
lick buildings ‘in Washington... . . Oct. 25 agreed
with said Reed to build a stone wall in front of the
publick buildings; . . . December, 1793, gave order
on Treasurer in favor of John Reed for £100, it beiiig
to enable him to go on with the publick buildings. . .
April 30, 1794, met for the purpose of agreeing on
some method of having the work of the publick build-

ings already begun by the Carpenters, and not fin- -8

ished, which we find damaging. Saw said workmen,
and they say the want of seasoned. stuff has hindered

them, but that they will go on as fast as possible. . . . _

July 7, Allowed bill of the Gaol expense and clearing
Court-H ouse &c. as per vouchers for the sum of five
‘dollars and fifty three cents.” This last item Sh0WS

  465'

The second court-house on the.

Court House and offices.”
‘quently in’ the records of the commissioners for the

466

HISTORY OF WASHINGTON COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA.

approximately the date of completion of the second
court-house and jail on the public square—July, 1794,
——about the time when the lawlessness of the Whiskey
Insurrection culminated in the burning of Gen. Ne-
ville’s house, the robbery of the mail, and the great
mustering of troops on Braddock’s Field.

The amounts levied to cover expense of court-
honse, jail, jail-yard, and oflicers were as follows : In.
1792, £1500; March 28, 1793, £400; March 4, 1794,
£1100. Total, £3000. From the completion of the
public buildings, in 1794, they were occupied con-
tinuously for a quarter of a century, though notwith-
out repeated complaints concerning them. A number
of extracts from the records are given below, covering
the period referred to,'and exhibiting matters of some
interest in connection with the old buildings, viz.:

In an account of Samuel Clarke for goods furnished’
, L for court-house from Oct. 21, 1795, to. Feb. 25, 1796,

are these items: “ One finished candlestick, 33. 9d. ,-
one-eighth pound shining sand, 6d.; Almanack for
Commissioners’ ofiice, 6d. ; one paper Ink Powder, 1s.
2d.’’ Account of David Redick, rendered in June,
1796, item——“to Cash paid David Townsend for mak-
ing Screw and Seal for the County, £3 0 0.” Oct. 12,
17 99,'bill of Joseph Day, $45.66, for lumber, materials,
and work on Prothonotary’s office. . . . Same for

carpenter work at Register’s ofiice, £117 83. July 18,,‘

1796, “Samuel Clark (commissioner) was appointed

' to have an Iron Chest made for the Treasury.” July
I 19th James Reed was employed “to work on the

Cupola and put up a Conductor.” April 25, 1797,
“ Contract made with Josiah Scott to fence the public
grounds. Robert McGowan furnished 300 chestnut
rails for the purpose.” Oct._7, 17 97, bill presented by
William Seaman “ To mending the wall of the Gaol

‘yard after the roof was blown off. by the Storm, in-

cluding the Gaol wall after an attempt to break it,
£6 0 0.” The public grounds were inclosed “by a
fence of fifty-three panels, at 63. per panel. Four
panels in front, the rails shaved; three Locust posts
dressed; three large gate posts dressed.” Bill N 0.
29, dated July 1, 1797. “ Dec. 20, 1797, Paid William
Sherrard for Shoreing the Commissioners’ oflice and
other things, £1 173. 6d. During 1797 £200 was ex-
pended in “repairing the publick buildings.” In

r 1799 a bill of £189 was allowed to Joshua Cannon
A “for addition and repairs of court-house,” and to

William Sherrard, £12 0 7, “for Carpenter work at
Similar items occur fre-

succeeding twenty’ years.

In 1818, the court-house having become somewhat
dilapidated and insufiicient for the requirements of
the county, the commissioners levied $4000 to be ap-

. plied in making additions and repairs. On the 23d
of February, 1819, they received proposals for en- .

larging the court-house, “ to be done between the
June and September terms of 1819, agreeably to plan.”

Thomas Baird proposed “ to furnish everything, brick
and stone excepted, not to charge for time of . super-
intendence or procuring materials ; to do the carpen-
ter work, mason work, bricklaying and plastering
twenty per cent. lower than established prices,” with
David" Shields and George Baird as sureties. His
proposal was accepted Feb. 26, 1819. The addition
and repairs were completed in 1819, but not in time‘
for the September sessions. Where that term of
court was held does not appear. After the enlarge-
ment and repairs the building remained in use for
twenty years. 0

In 1823 the building of a new jail was agitated and
determined on, and in February, 1824, the commis-
sioners concluded a contract with John Wilson and
J ohn‘Orr to build the prison, with the ‘exception of
the iron work, which was contracted to James McCoy,
the work to be completed on or before April 1, 1825.
After the plan had been drawn, a protest was pre-
sented to the commissioners against its adoption, sug-
gesting that there be a greater number of cells than
was at first proposed. The petition, or protest, con-
cluded as follows: “Permit us to solicit your atten-

tion to this important subject, and to request a recon- - ‘

sideration of the plan adopted by you so far as to
increase the number of cells or lower apartments,
without changing the dimensions of the contemplated
building. In making this communication we have no

object in view other than the public good; our minds

have been drawn to the subject in consequence of an
impression that the under story of said building was
to be divided intobut four apartments.” It was
signed by David Acheson, T. M. T. McKennan,
George Baird, John Wishart, ohn Koontz, John R.
Murdoch, Thomas Oflicer, Robert Officer, John H.
Ewing, Charles De Hass, David Moore, Alexander
Reed, Parker Campbell, Thomas Hoge, Thomas Mc-

Giffin, Samuel Hazlett, and two hundred and twelve ’

other citizens, and also “Signed by order of the
grand jury, Thomas McCall (foreman), David Hillis
(secretary), Peter Carney, Hugh Cunningham, Daniel
L. Goble, John Case, William V. Leet, Zachariah
Cox, John Brownlee-,'T. J. Halliday, Andrew Yeates,
Benjamin Thompson, Frederick Stroutz, James

Smith, W. W. Irons.” The plan of the building was 0’

afterwards changed to some extent, but whether in
conformity with the views of the protestants is not
shown. It appears that the prison was completed (at

least the part of it which was contracted by Wilson &_

Orr) in 1824, as a receipt in full is indorsed on the
back of their contract, and dated December 28th of
that-year. This jail was built of limestone, with side
walls of the first story four feet in thickness; end
walls and partition walls three feet thick, and the
walls of the second story two feet thick. The taxes
levied to meet the expense of its construction aggre-
gated $3500, viz.: In November, 1824, $2000; in No-

vember, 1825,$1000; in November, 1826, for “ar-

rears of new prison,” $500. The jail answered its

.3 £_©.F@g=sm<§
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EH5.-.EE=:Eu. Egg

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, tion of new buildings.

COUNTY BUILDINGS.

purpose, and continued in use for more than forty
years... ‘ 1 - ' c

On the 18th of October, 1836, a public meeting of
citizens of the county was heldin Washington, to

4 take intoconsideration the question of the erection of

anew court‘-house and other county buildings, and, if
thought expedient, to take measures in furtherance of
the project. John Clever, of East Bethlehem, was
chosen chairman, and. Robert ,McClelland (of South
Strabane) and" William Jacky (of VVashington) sec-
retaries. C After long discussion, resolutions were
passed, setting forth the necessity of new buildings,
and recommending that thequestion be referred to

the voters of the county at the next spring elections.

Itwas so submitted at the township elections in the

' spring of -1837, and the result was a strong vote in the

negative. Nothing further was done until March,
1839, when the insufiiciency of the public buildings
was brought before the grand jury, and by thatbody
referred to the next grand jury, who, after long de-
li.beration, made presentment favorable to the erec-_
The matter then came before
the commissioners, who, after examination, reported
that five thousand dollars would repair the old court-
house and twelve thousand dollars wouldbe required

’ for a new one.‘ Again it went before the grand jury,
- who declared the old buildings unfit for public 'use,

and ‘recommended theerection of a new court-house

. andofiices. Thereupon the commissioners decided to

build, and advertised in June, 1839, as ‘follows:

“ PUBLIC BUILDINGS.‘

‘,‘i Notice to Stone-masons, Bricklayers, and Carpenters.—In pursuance‘
of “the 1091 Sec. of the Act of Assembly, passed the 15th April, 1834,
two successive Grand Juries of the County of, Washington having
recommended the erection of new public buildings for the accommoda-

j tion of the Courts and oflices of the County and for the safe keeping of
- the records, &c.; and the reports of the said Grand Juries having been

acted upon and being approved by the Court, the undersigned Commis-
sioners of Washington County will receive proposals at the Commis-
sioners’ ofiice on Monday the 15th day of July next, at 10 oc1kiA.M., for
executing the Stone work, Brick work, and Carpenter work of said
buildings. Plans and specifications will be exhibited on said day.
. “‘JEHU JACKMAN,
‘F MATTHEW LINN,
,‘ “ ANDREW SI-IERER,
“County Commissioners.”

Contracts for the work were awarded as follows:

to Henry Shearer, for the carpenter work, at $4000; —
to Freeman Brady, for the stone work, at $1200; to

Alexander Ramsey, for cuttingthe stone, at $1233;
and to David White,.for.furnishing and laying the
brick, $3000. The work‘ was commenced without
delay.‘ The oldcourt-house was demolished, and on
fihe 13th of September the commissioners“ made ar-
rangements. to dispose of the old lumber of. the court-
house.” September 25th,“ Decided to remove the
old oflices.” The following extracts,,from"the records
of the commissioners show wherethe courts were
held,‘ and some of the ‘public. oflices located during

the ‘construction of the new jbuilding, viz. : Aug. 29,  

1839, the commissioners entered into articles of agree-

ment “ with James L. Porter and Charles E. Jones,

trustees of the Methodist Protestant Church, and have 6

agreed to pay the said trustees’ the sum of one hun-
dred dollars annually‘ from the 29th of August,
1839, to the 29th of August, 1843, for the use of the
church, with the privilege of leaving the same as
soon as the new court-house shall have been com-
pleted.” Previously (March 20, 1839) they had leased
for one year, for use as a sheriff ’s house, a building
belonging to Samuel Murdoch, “at present occupied
by Isaiah Steen,” and on the 26th of September fol-

lowing they “ fixed upon the old commissioners’ oflice 1

and Garrett’s lower rooms, and Maj or Palmer’s corner
room for the offices, and leased them for one year and
six months from date -of lease.” '

An agreement had been made with James P. Mil-
lard to furnish a statue of Gen. Washington to be
placed on the dome of the new court-house. No
record of this agreement is found with the proceed-
ings of. the commissioners, but an entry is found dated
May 6, 1842, showing that they then addressed a letter
to him to the effect “ that in consequence of his failure
to furnish the Statue for the Court-House in the time
agreed upon they would decline receiving it.” They
afterwards received from him a letter of explanation,
in consequence of which on the 27th of May they
revoked the actionnof May 6th, and ordered the statue
to be receivedand placed upon the dome.

The public buildings were completed inthe fall of

1842. The commissioners met “ on Monday, October
17”‘, and continued in session during that and the
four following days, to wit, 18”‘, 19"", 20”‘, and 21“,
whilst Messrs. James Sterritt, of Allegheny County,
and "J ames Chambers and William Erret, of Wash-
ington County (who had been selected for that pur-
pose), were engaged in measuring the carpenter Work
of the Court-House.” The total cost of the court-
house building was. $24,958; of the sheriff’s house,
$4448. During the thirteen years next succeeding
the completion and occupation of the new buildings,
sums varying from $100 to $300 were nexpendedxannu-’
ally on repairs. In 1856 the sum of $500 was raised
for that purpose ; in 1858, $1000; in 1859, $500; in
1860, $500; in 1861, $550; in 1862, $1000; in 1863,
$1200; in 1864, $1200; in 1_865, $1500." '
The building of the present jail of Washington

County was proposed in 1865, and decided on in 1866, ,
in which latter year the sum of $1000 was raised for

the purpose of commencing on the work. At a term
of court held in August of that year the draft and
plansof the proposed building, which had been pre-
pared by Barr & Moser, architects, of Pittsburgh,
were submitted to the grand jury, and by them ap-
proved unanimously. They were—then\submitted,

1 The bargain was evidently changed afterwards to twenty dollars for
each term of court, as is shown by the following entry: “ Account with
Charles E. Jones for use of Church for holding Court from August 29,
1839,—-—eight terms of Court at $20 each, as per article—$160. Allowance
for replacing pews and repairing house—117°U.”

467 A

468

HISTORY OF WASHINGTON COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA.

with a certifica-tion of the action of the grand jury,
to the secretary of the Commonwealth, and approved.
At a meeting of the commissioners, held Feb. 28, 1867,
“it was this day agreed to proceed at once to the erec-
tion of a new jail, under the findings of the grand
jury and the direction'of the court.” On the 5th of
March following the commissioners, with their ,at-
torney, D. S. Wilson, _Esq., conferred with Barr &
Moser, of Pittsburgh, in reference to the proposed
additions to the court-house, to give additional and
much needed space, and to connect the building with
the jail. The additions were determined on in ac-

cordance with the plans of the architects. April 22, ,

1867, “this day’, under advice of D. S. Wilson, Esq.,
Messrs. Barr & Moser, architects, of Pittsburgh, were

appointed General Superintendents of the erection of .

the new J ail.”_ Under the architects, Nelson Van
Kirk was appointed superintendent and foreman. of
the carpenter work, and Samuel Hargreaves superin-
tendent and foreman of masonry and brick work.
The work proceeded during 1867 and the spring of
1868, and was completed in the summer of the latter
year. The cost of the buildings was, for jail and en-

'largement of court-house, $48,500; for stone wall, ‘

grading, and improvements to sheriff’s house, $3500;
total, $52,000. In 1879 repairs were made on the jail
amounting to $2000, and in the following year the
sum of $3550 was-expended on the proper ventilation
and heating of the court-room. The buildings are
now in excellent condition. A

The County Home.—An act passed the Legislature ‘

of Pennsylvania, April 6, 1830, authorizing Washing-

’ ton County to erect a house for the employment and

support of the poor. The. commissioners appointed
in the .act to locate a site for the farm on which to
erect suitable buildings were Gen. James Lee, Alex-
ander Reed, Col. Joseph Barr, Gen. Wallace Mc Wil-
liams, Zephaniah Beall, Esq.," VVilliam Patterson, of
Ten-Mile, and David Eckert. After due examination,
these commissioners selected a tract of land in the
township of Chartiers and North Strabane, then be-
longing to Robert Colmery. It contained one hundred
and seventy-two acres, and was purchased for the sum
of ' two thousandseven hundred and fifty-two dollars.

_ It was a part of a tract of land originally owned by

Andrew‘ Swearingen, and was inherited by Thomas
Swearingen, who sold it to John Cook in 1801, from
whom’ it passed respectively to Joseph Swearingen,
Joseph Henderson (sheriff), and Robert Colmery.
The land was purchased on contract, Aug. 19, 1830,
and deed‘ given therefor March 26, 1831. The direc-
tors of the poor and of the house of employment
(William Hunter, John Watson, and Stephen Wood)
advertised Jan. 15, 1831, to receive bids for the erec-
tion of a poor-house, at the store of William Hunter,
February 1st of that year. A house was erected soon

‘ after, which, with repairs, answered its purpose until

1874, when the present house was erected.
On the 28th of June, 1832, the directors of the’ poor

purchased two acres adjoining the other land. Nov.

2, 1861, one acre was purchased, and on the 26th of ‘

April, 1865, six acres (part of the Wallace patent) was
also purchased, and April 1, 1867, a lot of twenty-
eight acres additionalwas bought of John Cooke,
making twohundred and nine acres now belonging‘
to the farm. .

In 1832,.Dr. John Logan was chosen superintendent
of the county home, and continued till September,

1851, when he was succeeded «by Maj. William Wilson, ,

who held the office till April 1, 1858, when John
Gamble was appointed.’ He served in that capacity
till about 1872,. when E. G. Cundall, the present.
superintendent, was appointed.

In the year 1837, in accordance with the present-
ment of the grand jury made June 22d of thatyear
(Robert R. Reed, foreman), a department was added

for the better treatment of insane persons and those

having contagious diseases. '

The estimate of expenses made for the year 1830-31 5

for the poor-house and building was $1500. For 1832.’
it was $5000. The estimate from that time to 1855

ranged from $3500 to $6500. In theyears 1855 and _

1856 $8000 was raised each year, and in 1857 $7000.
The estimates ranged from $4000 to $5000 "annually
till 1864, in which year it was $3000. In 1865, $5000;
18.66, $1500. From that time to 1874 no positive data
can be obtained from the books. In that year the
present buildings were in process of erection, and
their cost is given in the budget of taxes for 1874,

1875, 1876, 1877,’as follows: 1874, $9528.74; 1875,
$6955.53; 1876, $2660.14; 1877_, $1058.63, making the

total of $22,203.44. _ -
The annual expense of the county home from 1874,
including the cost of buildings, has been as follows :

1874, $17,553.68; 1875, $15,955.53; 1876, $12,260.14; 8

1877, $11,857.63; 1878, $16,730.; 1879, $15,845.66;
1880, $13,807.57; 1881, $14,406. 5 .

Washington County Civil List.—-In this list the
names are given of persons who have held county
oflices, -and also of those resident in Washington
County who have held important offices in or under
the State or national government.

SHERIFFS. A
— Under Constitution of 1776.
Van Swearingen, Nov. 30, 1781; ‘David Williamson, Oct. 26,1787;
Nov. 10,1783. ' , Jan. 17,1789.
James Marshel, Nov. 3, 1784; Nov. 1 William Wallace, Nov. 9, 1790.
21, 1786.

Undt-7' Constitution of 1790. _
John Hamilton, Oct-. 21, 1793. 1 Robert Officer, Oct. 23, 1820.
Thomas Hamilton, Nov. 2, 1796. t Samuel Workman, Oct. 25, 1823.
Absalom Baird, Nov. 2, 1799. Robert McClelland, Oct. 27, 1826.
George Hamilton, Nov. '6, 1802. Joseph Henderson, Oct. 26, 1829.
John McC1uney, Oct. 21, 1805. ~ Samuel Cunningham, Oct. 16, 1832.
Robert Anderson, Oct. 25, 1808. John Marshel, Nov. 5, 1835.
George Baird, Nov. 23, 1811. John Wilson, Oct. 24, 1836.
Thomas Officer,1 Nov. 1, 1814. James Spriggs, Oct. 20, 1837.
Dickerson Roberts, Nov. 6, 1817. I
l

1 Thomas Oflicer died May ‘18, 1817, and William Carter, coroner, be-
came acting sheriff for the remainder of the term, in accordance with a
provision of the Constitution applying to such cases.

CIVIL

LIST.

    469.

Under Constitution of 1838.
Sheshbazzar Bentley, Jr., Nov. 7, James M. Byers, Nov. 18,1861.

1840.

J ehu J ackman, Nov. 4, 1843.
Alex. G. Marshman, Oct. 23, 1846.
Peter Wolf, Oct. 22,1849.

John McAllister, Oct. 23, 1852.
Andrew Bruce, Oct. 22, 1855.
Norton McGifi‘lll, Oct. 23, 1858.

Edmund R. Smith, Nov. 8, 1864.
Hugh Keys, Nov. 25, 1867.
William C. Ramsey, Nov. 11, 1870.
William Thompson, Nov. 21, 1873.
George S.,Work, Dec. 20, 1876.
George Perritte, Dec. 4, 1879.

CORONERS.

Wm. McFarland, Nov. 30, 1781.
Wm. McFarland, Nov. 10, 1783.
William McCombs, Nov. 1, 1784.
William McCombs, Dec. 10, 1785.
William McCombs, Nov. 1, 1786.
Robert Benham, Oct. 26, 1787.
Robert Benham, Jan. 17,1789.
Samuel Clark, Nov. 6, 1789.

9 Samuel Clark, Dec. 14, 1790. .

William Slemens, Nov. 18, 1799.
Dorsey Pentecost, Nov. 6, 1802.
Thos. Hutchinson, Nov. 4, 1805.
Dickerson Roberts, Oct. 25, 1808.
Wm. Marshall, Jan. 23, 1812.
Wi1liam‘Carter, Feb. 22, 1815.
James Ruple, Nov. 6, 1817.
John Johnson, Oct. 23, 1820.
George Sowers, Nov. 10, 1823.
Alexander Gordon, Nov. 20, 1826.
Moses Linn, Nov. 2, 1828.

James McCadden, Oct. 16, 1832.
John Wilson, Nov. 18, 1835.

John R. Grifiith, Oct. 20, 1837.
John R. Griffitll, Dec. 23, 1837.
William Tweed, Nov. 7, 1840.
William J. Wilson, Nov. 4, 1843.
Oliver Lindsey, Nov. 24, 1846.
James D. Bert, Nov. 9, 1849.
William B. Cundall, Nov. 8,1852.
Moses Little, Nov. 13, 1854.
Jonathan Martin, Oct. 26, 1858.
John E. Black, Nov. 27, 1861.
Isaac Vance, Nov. 16, 1864.

Chas. W. McDaniel,'Nov. 16,1867.
Lewis Barker, Dec. 11, 1868.
Samuel M. Decker, Dec. 4, 1871.
James Byers, Jan. 2, 1875.

Sam]. D. Harchnlan, Feb. 13, 1878'
Charles V. Greer, Dec. 17, 1880.

so

PROTHONOTARIES.
Under Constitution. of 1776.

Thomas Scott, April 2,1781.
Alexander Scott,1 March 28, 1789.

David Redick, Aug. 17, 1791. _

 

Under Constitution of 1790.

1 David Redick, March 14, 1792.

Wm. McKerman, Jan. 11, 1803. 1

-Alex. Murdoch, March '6, 1809.
i Alex.‘ Murdoch, Jan. 1, 1815.

Alex. Murdoch, April 9, 1818.
William Sample, May 6, 1819.
Thomas Morgan, Feb. 12, 1821.

5
i
9
I

William Sample, Dec. 30, 1823.
William Sample, Dec. 21, 1826.
Thomas Oflicer, Feb. 10, 1830.‘
Thomas Oflicer, Jan. 25, 1833.
George W. Acheson, Jan. 8, 1836.
John Urie, Oct. 25, 1837.

John Grayson, Sr., Feb. 5, 1839.

Under Constitution of 1838.

' John Grayson, Sr., Dec. 1, 1839.

Ephraim L. Blaine, Dec. 4$§2l,1_8_42.
Obadiah B. McFadden, Dec. 1, 1845.
James Brown, Dec. 1, 1848.

James Brown, Dec. 1,1851.
William S. Moore, Dec. 1, 1854.

James B. Ruple, Dec. 1, 1857.
James B. Rllple, Dec. 1, 1860.
John E. Bell, Dec. 1, 1863.

John L. Gow, Dec. 1, 1866.
Daniel W. Donahoo, Dec. 1, 1869.
Julius P. Miller, Dec. 1, 1872.

Under Constitution of 1874.
Julius P. Miller, first Monday in January, 1876. .
William A. Barr, first Monday in January, 1879.
John W. Seaman, J r., first Monday in January, 1882.

CLERKS OF COURTS.

Under Constitution ‘of 1776.

Thomas Scott, April 2, 1781 .
Alexander Scott, March 28, 1781.

David Redick, Aug. 17, 1701.

“ In Council.

1 “PHILADELPHIA, March 28, 1789.

“Whereas, Thomas Scott, Esquire, Protllonotary of the county of
Washington hath informed this Council by letter that he hath been
elected a representative of this State in the Congress of the United
States, and that he is on his way to New York to ‘take his seat as such ;
and, whereas, the said Thomas Scott, Esquire, by the acceptance of his
appointment as representative‘ in Congress is incapable of discharging
the duties of prothonotary of the county aforesaid; and it is, therefore,
proper that a prothonotary for the said county should forthwith be ap—

pointed in his stead. ‘

“Resolved, That Alexander" Scott, son of ' the said Thomas Scott,
Esquire, be and is hereby appointed prothonotary of the county of
Washington, in the room and stead of Thomas Scott, Esquire.”

. Under Constitution of 1790.

David Redick, March 14, 1792.

Wil1iam_McKennan, Jan. 11, 1803.
Alexander Murdoch, March’6, 1809.

Alexander Murdoch, Jan. 1, 1815.

Alexander Murdoch, April 9, 1818.

William Sample, May 6', 1819.
Robert Colmery, Feb. 12, 1821.

Joseph Henderson, Dec. 30, 1823.
Joseph Henderson, Dec. 21, 1826.
James Ruple, Feb. 7, 1828.
James Ruple, Feb. 19, 1830.
James Ruple, Jan. 25, 1833.

J arnes Blaine, Jan. 8, 1836.
James Ruple, Feb. 5, 1839.

Under Constitution of 1838.

James, Ruple, Dec. 1, 1839. ’
Alex. G. Marshman, Dec. 1, 1842.
William Hays, Dec. 1, 1845.
Robert F. Cooper, Dec. 1, 1848.
George Passmore, Dec. 1, 1851.
David Aiken, Dec. 1, 1854.

David Aiken, Dec. 1, 1857.
David Aiken, Dec. 1, 1860.
William Kidd, Dec. 1, 1863. 0
William Kidd, Dec. 1,_1866.
Samuel Ruth, Dec. 1, 1869.
James S. Stocking, Dec. 1, 1872.

Under Constitution of 1874.

James S. Stocking, first Monday in January, 1876.
Benjamin F. Hasson, first Monday in'January,' 1879.
Benjamin F. Hasson, first Monday in January, 1882.

COMMISSIONERS.

Geo. Vallandigham, Nov. 30, 1781.
Thomas Crooks, Nov. 30, 1781.
John McDowell, Nov. 30, 1781.
George McCormick, Dec. 4, 1782.
Demos Ludley, Nov. 10, 1783.
James Allison. Nov. 1, 1784.

James McCready, November, 1785.

James Bradford, Novlember, 1786.

Thomas Marquis, November, 1787.
Henry Van Metre, November, 1788.
James McCready, November, 1789.

William Meetkirke, N ov., 1790.
James Brice, November, 1791.

Zachariah Gapen, November, 1792.

Isaac Leet, J r., Oct. 24, 1793.
Samuel Clarke, Oct. 23, 1794.
William Z'eator, Oct. 24, 1795.
John Cotton, Oct. 19, 11796.
Robert McCready, N ov. 8, 1796.
James Brice, Oct. 11, 1797.
William Campbell, Oct. 19, 1798.
Joshua Anderson, Oct. 12, 1799.
Isaac Leet, J r., Oct. 23, 1800. '
Robert Machan, Oct. 19, 1801.
John Lyle, Oct. 25, 1802.
Thomas Hopkins, Oct. 24, 1803.
Edward Todd, Oct. 22,1804.
John Colmery, Oct. 29, 1805.
Aaron Lyle, Oct. 23, 1806.
Joseph Alexander, Oct. 26, 1807.
William Marshall, Oct. 31, 1808.
Moses McWllister, Oct. 18, 1809.
Isaac Leet, Oct. 29, 1810. .
Daniel Keh r, October, 1811.
William Vance, October, 1812.
John Brownlee, October, 1813.
John Reed, October, 1814.
Walter Craig,‘-’ October, 1815.
James Gordon,3 March 18, 1816.
David Little, October, 1816.
Jollathan Knight, October, 1816.
Moses Lyle, October, 1817.

John Lacock, October, 1818.
Alexander Scott, October, 1819.
Matthias Luce, October, 1820.
William McCreary, October, 1821.
John Urie, October, 1822.

John McCoy, October, 1823.
Robert Moore, October, 1824.
Robert Patterson, October, 1825.
Wallace McWilliams, Oct. 1826.

Robert Love, Nov. 5, 1827.
Thomas Axtell, Oct. 27, 1828.

Isaac Hodgins, November, 1829'.
Samuel Cunningham, Nov. 1,',1830.
James McBirney, Dec. 5,1831.
William V. Leet_,4 June 30, 1832.
James Miller, Nov. 5, 1832.

Jesse Cooper, Dec. 3, 1832.
William McElroy, Jan. 6,1834.
James Lee, Dec. 6, 1834.
Shesllbazzar Bentley, Jr., Decem-

ber, 1835.

Benjamin Anderson, 1836.

Jehu Jacknlan, 1836.

Matthew Linn, November, 1837.
Andrew Shearer, Nov. 5, 1838.

' James Pollock, November, 1839.’

Samuel Linton, N 0v. 2, 1840.
Hugh Craig, Nov.,8, 1841. '
Thomas Byers, Nov. 7, 1842.
George Passmore, Nov. 6, 1843.
James Donahoo, N 0v. 4, 1844.
Alexander Frazier, Nov. 3, 1845.
Dutton Shannon, Nov. 3, 1846.
John McA1lister, N ov. 1, 1847.
John Birch, Nov. 6, 1848.
Andrew Bruce, Nov. 5, 1849.
Samuel Beeket, Nov. 4, 1850.
Isaac Thompson, Nov. 3, 1851.
Thomas McCarroll, N 0v. 1, 1852.
Daniel Swickard, Nov. 7, 1853.
John Stewart, "Nov. 6, 1854.
John N. ~Walker, N ov. 5, 1855.
Nathan Cleaver, Nov. 3. 1856.
Joseph Vankirk, Nov. 3, 1857.
O. P. Cook, Nov. 1», 185.8.

George Taylor, Nov. 7, 1859.
James S. Elliot, Nov. 5, 1860.
Abel M. Evans, Nov. 5,1861.
Francis Nelson, Nov. 3, 1862.
Joseph W. Cowen, Nov. 2, 1863.
Thomas J. Bell, Nov.7_, 1864. '
James Walker, Nov. 6, 1865.
Samuel K. Weirich, Nov. 1, 1866.
H. B. McLean, Nov. 1, 1867."
James Kerr, Nov. 2, 1868.

S. P. Riddle, Nov. 1, 1869.

James Craighead, Nov. 7, 1870.
John Hemphill, Nov. 6, 1871.

J. G. Barr, Nov. 4, 1872.
Alexander McCleary, Nov. 3, 1873

2. Resigned March 1s,1s16.
4 To fill vacancy.

3 Appointed to fill vacancy.

Q

-470

HISTORY OF WASHINGTON COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA. .

Joseph A. Gaston, Jan. 4, 1875.
Josiah Cooper, Jan.‘3, 1876.
William Hazen, Jan. 3,1876.
Joseph Gaston, Jan. 3, 1876.
Elijah Townsend, Jan 6, 1879.

M. M. Brockton, Jan. 6, 1879.
S. R. Hawkins, Jan. 6, 1879.
William Perrin, Sr., Jan. 2, 1882.
John T. Roberts, Jan. 2, 188,2.
1 I. V. Riddle, Jan. 2, 1882.

CLERKS or COMMISSIONERS.

J as. McCreary, 1782 to Feb. 6, 1793.
John Colerich, Sr., Feb. 6, 1793.

-Isaac Kerr, Oct. 12, 1799

Robert Moore, Oct. 19, 1801.

.John Gilmore, Oct. 4, 1803.

David McKeehan, Oct. 22, 1804.
Alexander Blair, Oct. 29, 1805.
WilliamBaird, Oct. 31, 1808.
John Baird, October, 1814.
Robert Jackson, October, 1819.’
Thomas Good, October, 1822. ‘
James Palmer, October, 1834.
William Hughes, Nov. 8, 1841.
William R. Oliver, Nov. 6, 1843.

Adam Silvey,.Nov. 3, 1845.

David P. Lowery, Nov. 7, 1853.

John Gamble, Nov. 6, 1854.

Elias McClelland, Nov. 3, 1857.

Samuel Linton, Nov. 1, 1858.

Isaac H. Longdon, Nov. 7, 1864.

Joseph A. McKee, Nov. 1, 1869.
John Grayson, J r., Dec. 5, 1870.

I John E. Bell, Dec. 3, 1872; resigned

July 6, 1874.
Addison Winters, July 6, 1874.
William A. Mickey, Jan. 1, 1879;
Jan. 2, 1882.

TREASURERSJ

Andrew Swearingen,‘-’ 1783 to June
22, 1795. ,

David Redick, J une 22, 1795.
Isaac Kerr, June 23, 1801.
Daniel Kehr, June, 1806.

Robert Colmery, Aug. 18, 1809.
James Blaine, Aug. 24, 1812.
William‘Baird, Aug. 11, 1815.
Thomas Good, Aug. 11, 1818.
Thomas Good, Aug. 4, 1819.
Thomas Good, Aug. 8, 1820.
Samuel Workman, August, 1822.
James Dougherty, November, 1823.
James Allison, January, 1824.
Isaac Leet, January, 1826.
Samuel McFarland, Jan. 6, 1830.
Samuel Marshall, January, 1832.
Benj. S. Stewart, January, 1833.
Samuel Marshall, January, "1834.
Henry Langley, February, 1835.
Zach. Reynolds, January, 1838.

REGISTERS

James Marshall, April 4, 1781.
Thomas Stokeley, Nov. 19, 1784.
Thomas Stokeley, Sept. 14, 1790.
James Marshal, Aug. 17, 1791.
Samuel Clarke, March 6, 1795.
John Israel,,Jan.-15, 1800.
Isaac Kerr, Dec. 1, 1806.

Isaac Kerr, March 6, 1809.
Isaac Kerr, Dec. 10, 1811.

William Workman. October, 1841.
William Hughes, October, 1843.
James D. McGugin,’October, 1845.
Robert K. Todd, October, 1847..
Norton McGiflin, October, 1849.
John Hall, October, 1851. ‘
<- Thaddeus Stanton, October, 1853.

H. B. Elliot, Oct. 22, 1855.

Thomas Martindale, Nov. 13, 1857.
John Q. Bell, Nov. 30, 1859.
James Pollock, Nov. 27, 1861.
VVilliam S. Moore, Feb. 22, 1862.
I. W. Douds,.No.v. 13, 1863.

A. W. Pollock, Nov. 16, 1865.
James P. Hart, Dec. 3, 1867.
James -B. Gibson, Nov. 20, 1869.
James P. Sayer, Nov. 17, 1871.
J. C. Trench, Nov. 21, 1873.

A. L. Hawkins, Dec. 16, 1875.

S. C. McGregor, January, 1879.

George L. 1Iil1, January, 1881.

OF DEEDS .3

Isaac Kerr, April 9, 1818.
Robert Colmery, May 6, 1819.
samuéi Lyon, Feb. 12, 1821.
Robert Colmery, Dec. 30, 1823.
Robert Colmery, Dec. 21, 1826

— John Grayson, Sr., March 19, 1830.
John Grayson, Sr., Jan. 25, 1833.
Samuial Cunningham, Jan. 8, 1836.

James Gordon, Feb. 5, 1839.

Elected under Constitution of 1838.

George Morrison, Dec. 1,_1839.
James Spriggs, Nov. 12, 1842.
William Work man, Nov. 17, 1845.
Odell Squier, Nov. 25, 1848.

John Grayson, Jr., Nov. 22, 1851.
John Meloy, Nov. 14, 1854. 4 ‘
Harvey J . VanKirk, Nov. 13, 1857.
William A. Michey, Nov. 23, 1860.

I

William A. Michey, Nov. 13, 1863.
George Buchanan, Nov. 8, 1866.
Y. Hamilton, Nov. 20,1869.

0 Day, Nov. 7, 1872.

0 Day, Dec. 16, 1875.

. H. Underwood, Dec. 12, 1878.
John F. Cooper, Dec. 9, 1881.

i
I .

F.
A..
A.
W

I

1 Appointed bv the commissioners till 1834, when the oflice became

elective.

2 Andrewswearingen, in a report to the commissioners dated ‘Oct. 6,
1797, said, “I had the honor of being your treasurer for twelve years,
commencing February, 1783, and ending June, 1785. Thetotal amount
of taxes levied in that time was £20,698—5_—0.” , -

3 This oflice was held by appointment till 1839, when it became, elec-

tive. _ -

. T. C. Noble, March 19, 1846.

,_.__j

REOORDERS

James Marshall, April 4, 1781.
Thomas Stokeley, Nov. 19, 1784.
Thomas Stokeley, Sept. 4, 1790.
James Mashall, Aug. 17, 1791.
Samuel Clarke, March 6, 1795.
John Israel, Jan. 15, 1800.
Isaac Kerr, Dec. 1, 1806.

Isaac Kerr, March 6, 1809.
Isaac Kerr, Dec. 10, 1811.

Isaac Kerr, April 9, 1818.
Robert Colmery, May 6, 1819.
Samuel Lyon, Feb. 12, 1821.
Robert Colmery, Dec. 30, 1823.
Robert Colmery, Dec. 21, 1826.
William Hoge, Jan. 25, 1830.
William Hoge, January, 1833.

OF WILLS.

William H. Cornwall, Jan. 8, 1836.
James Brown, Nov. 14, 1839.
James Brown, Nov. 12, 1842.
James Brown, Nov. 17, 1845.

F. C. Morrison, Nov. 25, 1848.

F. C. Morrison, Nov. 22, 1851.
Cyrus Underwood, Nov. 14, 1854.
Freeman Brady, J r., Nov. 13, 1857.
William H. Horn, Nov. 23, 1860.
Alvin King, Nov. 13, 1863. g

M. L. A. McCracken, Nov. 8, 1866.
John D. Charlton, Nov. 20, 1869.
Selden L. Wilson, Nov. 7, 1872.
James A. Galbraith, Dec. 16, 1875.
W. Hughes, J r., Dec. 12, 1878.

W. Hughes, J r., Dec. 9, 1881.

sURvEvOI:s.4

Jonathan Leet, June 5, 1801.
Jonathan Leet, Dec. 21, 1802.
Vlfilliam Hawkins, May, 1809.
William Hawkins, January, 1812.
J . Mendenhall, September, 1811.
James Reed, July, 1817.

William V. Leet, April 12, 1822.
Stephen Woods, Feb. 8, 1825.
Stephen Woods, May 24, 1827.
James McQuown, May 10, 1836.
E. G. Creacroft, Aug. 27, 1839.

H. J . Vankirk,‘Ma.rch 17, 1851.
T. C. Noble, Dec. 10, 1854.
Thomas J. Boyd, Dec. 10, 1854.
Thomas J. Boyd, Nov. 21, 1859.
Francis Reader, Oct. 28, 1862.
Demos Ben nington, Dec. 1, 1865.
Jacob Gayman, October, 1869.
Jacob Gayman, August, 1870.
Jacob Gayman, January, 1872.
Allen J (White, January, 1875.

John H. Moningar, January, 1881. ,

AUDITORS.

Until 1809 auditors Were appointed by the court.
For the period, prior to that year, the only names of
auditors that can be ascertained are those of John
McCluney and.VVilliam Meetkirk, who held the oflice
in September, 179.7, and a “ Mr. Bradford,” in August,
1798.. A “Board of Auditors” is mentioned in the
commissioners’ records, March 6, 1793. Thejlist from

1809 is as follows:

Thomas Acheson, 1809.

Isaac Kerr, 1809.

Joshua Dickinson, 1809.
Eleazer Jenkins, 1810.

Isaac Kerr, 1811.

Thomas Patterson’, 1811.
John Colmery, 1812. ,
Dickerson Roberts, 1813.
Samuel Scott, 1813.

Isaac Kerr, 1814.

Jacob Crobb, 1814.

James McQuown, Jan. 2, 1816.
John Wilson, Jan. 6, 1817.
William Sample, Jan. 6, 1818.

Richard Crooks, Jan. 4, 1819.
Isaac Kerr, Jan. 3, 1820.

, William Colmery, Jan. 1, 1821.2

R. Bowland, Jan. 7, 1822. J
Joseph Henderson, Jan. 6, 1823.
Joseph Patton, Jan. 5, 1824.
William Welsh, Jan. 3, 1825.
W. Waugh, Jan. 3, 1825.

James Gordon, Jan. 2, 1826.
James Orr, Jan. 1, 1827.

Robert Oflicer, Jan. 7, 1828.
James Gordon, Jan. 6, 1829.
Stephen Woods, Jan. 5, 1830.

— Samuel Hill, Jan. 5, 1830.

4 On the 23d of November,1789, Presley Neville and Matthew Ritchie
were appointed deputy surveyors by Daniel Brodhead, Surveyor-General,

“ of a district part of Washington County, part whereof has since been A
erected into a separate county called Allegheny bounded by the great
road leading from Fort Burd to the Town of Washington (late Catfish

Camp) from thence to the nearest head-waters of Buffalo Creek, thence
down said creek to the line of the State, thence along the same to. the
River Ohio, thence up the same to the mouth of the Monongahela River,
thence up the Same to the beginning.” I

On the 2d of February, 1790, David Redick and-John Hoge were ap-
pointed deputy surveyors by Daniel Brodhead of ‘a district as follows:
“Northerly by the great Road leading from, Fort Burd to the town of’
Washington, thence a direct course to the nearest head-waters of Buffalo
Creek, and down the said creek to the State line, easterly by the Monon-
gahela River, southwardly by the continuation of Mason and Dixon’s
line, and westerly by the State line aforesaid."

CIVIL

LIST. 471

Robert Oflicer, January, 1831.
William Hopkins, January, 1831.
James Pollock, January, 1832.
Thomas Enlow, January, 1833.
Benjamin Babbitt, January, 1834.
J ehu Jackman, January, 1834.
Joseph Henderson, January, 1835.
James McClelland, January, 1836.
H. J . Rauhauser, January,‘ 1837.
Henry Langley, January, 1838.
R. Donaldson, January, 1838.
Dickerson Roberts, January, 1839.
John K. Wilson, January, 1840.
Thomas Watson, January, 1841.
John McCoy,.Jan nary, 1842.‘

E. B. Marsh, January, 1843.
Abraham Watring, January, 1844.
Jacob Morgan, January, 1845. 6
John K. VVilson, January, 1846.
John McCullough, January, 1847.
Joseph W. Cowen, January, 1848.
John Stephenson, January, 1849.
Adam Winnett, January, 1850.
Jehu’P. Smith, January, 1851.

J. E. Black, January, 1851.

James Taggert, January, 1852.
Isaac J . Newkirk, January, 1853.
Robert C. Burns, January, 1854.
W. C. King,11855.

J. D. Irwin, October, 1855.

J . B. Ringland, October, 1855.

Joseph W. Douds. January, 1856.
Isaac J . Newkirk, January, 1857.
John Murphy, J r., January, 1857.
John L. Phillips, January, 1858.
Samuel Scott, January, 1859.
David Bradford, January, 1860.
James Ely, January, 1861.
Thomas D. O’Hara, January, 1862.
James P. McCord, January, 1863.
D. M. Leatherman, January, 1864.
George Buchanan, January, 1865.
Greer Mcllvaine, Jr., Jan. 1866.
Joseph Linton, January, 1867.

A. B. Darragh, January, 1868.

A. E. Walker, January, 1869.

G. W. Morrison, January, 1870.
Charles Campbell, January, 1871.

. Mitchell Smith, January, 1872.

Joseph Linton, 1873.
D. S. Howell, 1874.
Samuel Wilson, 1875.
Joseph Linton, 1876.
Joel Truesdale, 1876.
James G. Snee, 1876.
Joseph Linton, 1879.
Joel Truesdale, 1879.
Lasage Crumrine, 1879._
J. A. Clark, 1882.
Joseph Herron, 1882.
Osman McCarty, 1882.

SCHOOL SIJPERINTENDENTS.

John L. Gow, 1851."
Isaac II. Longdon.
J . C. Gilchrist.

A. J. Buffington.

_ William Fee.

A. J. Buffington.

MEMBERS 0

1789-81. Thomas Scott, First Con-
gress. -

1800-2. William Hoge (resigned in
1804, and his brother, John
Hoge,'was elected to fill out
his term). _

_ 1804. John Hamilton.

1806. William Hoge.
1808-14. Aaron Lyle.
1816-22. Thomas Patterson.

1824-26. Joseph Lawrence.

1828. William McC1eary. .
1830-36. Thomas M. T._McKen nan.

J . B. McCollum.
E. W. Mouck, elected May, 1881 ;
_ died.
George A. Spindler, appointed to
fill vacancy March 1, 1882.

r CONGRESS. '

1838. Isaac Leet. -

1840. Joseph Lawrence (died on
the 17th of April, 1842, when
Thomas‘ M. T. McKennan was
elected the 22d of May, 1842,
to fill out his term).

1344. John H. Ewing.

1848. Robert R. Reed.

1854. Jonathan Knight.

1856-58. William Montgomery.

1864-66. George V. Lawrence.

1872. William S. Moore.

STATE T REASURER. .

1835. Joseph Lawrence.

STATE SEN ATORS.

1790. John Hoge.
1792. John Hoge.
_ John Smilie.
1794. Thomas Stokely.
Absalom Baird.
1796. John Hamilton.
Thomas M. Moreton.
1800.» John Hamilton.‘
John “foods.

6 1806. Isaac Weaver. I

James Stephenson.
1810. Abel McFarland. -
1812. Isaac Weaver.
1814. Abel McFarland.
1816. Isaac Weaver.
1818. Thomas McCall.
1820. Isaac Weaver.
1822. Joshua Dickerson.

1826. Jonathan Knight.

' William G. Hawkins.
1828. Thomas Ringland.
William G. Hawkins. v
Isaac Leet. '
John H. Ewing.

Walter Craig.
Maxwell McCaslin. C
John C. Flenniken.
George W. Miller.
George V. Lawrence. ‘
William Hopkins.
A. W. Taylor.

James S. Rutan.
James S. Rutan.
George V. Lawrence.
George V. Lawrence.

1834.
1838.
1842.
1851.
1854.
1857.
1860.
1863.
1866.
1869.
1872.
1875.
1875.

1 Appointed to fill vacancy.

REPRESENTATIVES IN GENERAL ASSEMBLY.
1781.—James Edgar. .
1781.—John Canon.
1782.——Matthew Ritchie.

I 1782.——William McC1eery.

1783.—John Stephenson.

1783.—Matthew Ritchie .

1784.—John Stephenson.

1784.—Matthew Ritchie.

1790.-Thomas Ryerson. ,

1791.—-John Miner, Thomas Scott, Daniel Leet, Thomas Stokely.
l792.—'l‘homas Stokely, Daniel Leet, John Canon, David Bradford.
1793.—Thomas Stokely, Craig Ritchie, John Minor, Benjamin White. _
1794.—James Brice, William Wallace, Benjamin White, Craig Ritchie.
1795.—John Minor, William Wallace, David Acheson, Craig Ritchie.
1796.-—David Johnson, William Wallace,Dav-id Acheson, William Hoge.
1797.—William Hoge, William Wallace, David Acheson, David Johnson.
1798.—John McDowell, Absalom Baird, Aaron Lyle.

1799.—John McDowell, Samuel Urie, Aaron Lyle.

1800.——John McDowell, Samuel Urie, Aaron Lyle.

1801.—John McDowell, Samuel Urie, Aaron Lyle, James Kerr.
1802.—Samuel Agnew, Joseph Vance, John Marshel, James Kerr.
1803.—Samuel Agnew, Joseph Vance, John Marshel,James Kerr.
1804.—Samuel Agnew, David Acheson, John Marshel, James Stephen-

son. ‘

1805.-1-Samuel Agnew, Aaron Lyle, John Marshel,‘ James Stephenson.

1806-7.-James Kerr, Abel McFarland, Ebenezer Jennings,
Stephenson. . ,

1808.--Abel McFarland, John Colmery, Thomas McCall, Robert Mahon.

1809.—James Kerr, John Colmery, Thomos McCall, Andrew Sutton.

1810.—Thomas Hopkins, John Colmery, Joshua Dickerson, Andrew
Sutton. . .

181l.—’1‘homas McCall, Richard Donaldson, Robert Anderson, Joshua
Dickerson. A N

1812.—-Thomas McCall, James Kerr, Robert Anderson, Joshua Dicker-
son. '

1813.—Thomas McCall, James Kerr, James Stephenson, Joshua Dicker-
son. '

James

—1814.—Thomas Morgan, Andrew Sutton, James Stephenson, Joshua

Dickerson.
1815.—-Thomas Morgan, John Hamilton, James Stephenson, William
Vance. ,
18l6.—Joshua Dickerson, Jacob Weirich, James Kerr, William Vance.
1817.—Joshua Dickerson, Jacob Weirich, James Kerr, John Reed.
1818-19.-—Josepl1 Lawrence, Walter Craig, James Keys, John Reed.
1820.—Joseph Lawrence, Thomas McCall, Dickerson Roberts, John
Reed. \ ,
1821.—Joseph Lawrence, Thomas McCall, Joseph Ritner, John Reed.
1822-23.—Joseph Lawrence, Jonathan Knight, Joseph Ritner, James
1 Keys._ ' '"
1824.———William McCreary, Aaron Kerr, Joseph Ritner, James Keys.
1_825—26.—Wi1liam McCreary, Aaron Kerr, Joseph Ritner, Thomas
Ringland, , '
1827.—William McCreary, Aaron Kerr, Samuel Workman, Thomas
Ringland. — J C

A1828.—-William Waugh, Aaron Kerr, Samuel Workman, William Pat-

terson.
1829.—William Waugh, Samuel Workman, William Patterson.
1830—31.—Willian1 Waugh, Wallace McWilliams, William Patterson.
1832.—William Waugh, Robert Love, Joseph Henderson 1
1833.-—Willia1n McCreary, Robert Love, William Patterson.
1834.—William Hopkins, Joseph Lawrence, David Frazier.
1835.—John H. Ewing, Joseph Lawrence, Edward McDonald.
1836.—Thomas McGitfin, elected to fill vacancy in place of Lawrence,
elected State Treasurer.

1836‘-39.—-Robert Love, William Hopkins, John Parke. \
1840.—Jonathan Leatherman, Samuel Livingston, Aaron Kerr.
1841.—Wallace- McWilliams, James McFarren, Jesse Martin.
1842.——San1uel Livingston, William McDaniel, John Storer.
1843.——O. B. McFadden, George V. Lawrence.

. 1844.—Daniel Rider, John Melloy.

1845.—Daniel Rider, Richard Donaldson.
1846.—-George V. Lawrence, Richard Donaldson.
1847.——-Thomas Watson.Jacob Cort. 1‘
1848.—Jol1n McKee, Jacob Cort.
l849.—Jonathan D. Leet, Thomas—Watson.
1850.—-Jonathan D. Leet, David R_icldle.

INCURSIONS AND RAVAGES DURING THE FRENCH OCCUPATION.

53

who were expected soon to follow in pursuit. The
wagons containing the sick and wounded took the
lead, then came the others with the hospital stores
and the meagre stock’ of provisions, then the advance
of the infantry column, then the ammunition and
guns, and finally the two veteran companies of the

V Forty-fourth and Fortv—eighth Britishregular regi-

ments, with Stewart’s Virginia light-horse as a guard
to the rear and flanks. In the evening of the same

day the Youghiogheny River was crossed by the last

men of the force, and the rear-guard bivouacked for
the night on the eastern, side of the stream.

It seems that the progress made on the retreat was
very rapid, for, although Braddock’s road was rough
and in many places barely passable, the head of the

' wa‘gon—trai‘n bearing the wounded and sick arrived at

Cumberland on the 17th, and three days later the last
of Dunbar’s soldiers reached the fort and lighted
their bivouac fires within the range of its guns.

The expedition of Braddock, from which such
brilliant results -had been expected, had proved a

dismal and bloody failure. The objective-point (Fort I

Du Quesne) was still held by the French, who, with
their Indian allies, soon extended’ their domination
over the country lying tothe southeast. Gaining
courage from their victory, they came to Dunbar’s
camp a Week or two after his forces had left it, and

« there completed the little work of destruction which

he had left undone. They held complete possession
and sway from the Ohio to the .Potomac. There was
not left west of the mountains in this region a single
settler or trader other than those who were favorable
tothe French and their interests. And this state of
things continued in the country west of the Alle-
ghenies for more than three years from the time of
Braddock’s. defeat on the Monongahela.

CHAPTER V.

INCURSIONS AND RAVAGES DURING THE FRENCH
OCCUPATION——-CAPTURE OF FORT DU QUESNE
AND EXPULSION OF. THE FRENCH--EXPEDITIONS
UNDER BOUQUET.

SOON after the French had succeeded in expelling
the ‘English forces from the region of countrywest of
the Alleghenies, and establishing themselves in the
absolute possession of that territory, they reduced

their force at Fort Du Quesne, sending a part of it to’

Venango and other northern posts, and many of their
Indian allies scattered and returned to their homes,
being in a state of discontent and incipient disaffec-
tion, though still holding to their French allegiance.
But it soon became apparent that they .had no inten-
tion to be at peace with the English, for within a little
more than two months from the time of Dunbar’s re-

treat theSh-awanese, and the Delawares under King

Shingiss, had advanced eastward to the Alleghenies,

and made incursions beyond that range. About the
25th of September a body of one hundred and sixty
Indians (afterwards found to be Shawanese and Dela-
wares under command of Shingiss) set out from Fort
Du Quesne and its vicinity on an expedition against
the English, and a few days later they burst upon the
defenseless people of the Maryland and Virginia set-
tlements. On the 4th of October, Capt. William Trent

wrote Col. James Burd, at -Shippensburg: “Last '

night came to the Mill at Wolgomoth’s an‘ Express
going to the Governor of Maryland with an. account
of the Inhabitants being out on Patterson’s Creek;
and about the Fort (Cumberland), the Express says,
there is forty killed and taken, and that one whole
family was burnt to death in an house. The Indians
destroy all before them, firing Houses, Barns, Stack-
yards, and everything that will burn.” A week later
Governor Sharpe, of Maryland, wrote the Governor
of Pennsylvania‘: “ Within a few days I have received
several Letters by express from Captain Dagworthy,
who commands the Garrison consisting of one hundred
and thirty-seven men at Fort Cumberland, and from
some other people, advising me that the Indians have,
since the 1st instant, cut off a great many families
who lived near Fort Cumberland, and on both sides
of Powtowmack, some miles eastward of the Fort.
It is supposed that near one hundred persons have
been murdered or carried away Prisoners by these
barbarians, who have burnt the Houses and ravaged
all the_plantations in that part of the Country. Par-
ties of the enemy appear within sight of Fort Cum-
berland every day, and frequently in greater numbers
than the Garrison consists of. As I presume it will
not be long before these people pay a visit to your
borders, I take this opportunity of intimating what
I think may be expected.” I

The first blow struck by the Indians within the
bounds of Pennsylvania was on the 18th of October,
when they attacked the settlements on Mahanoy or
John Penn’s Creek, that flows into" the Susquehanna
about five miles below the confluence of the North
and West Branches. Information of this incursion
was sent to Governor Morris on the 22d by Conrad
Weiser. -“ I take this opportunity,” he, said, “to in-
form you I received news from _Shamokin that six
families have been murdered on John Penn’s Creek,
on the west side of Susquehanna, about four miles
from that river; several people have been found
scalped, and twenty-eight are missing; the people
are in a great consternation, and are coming down,
leaving the Plantations and corn behind them.”

On the 23d of October a party of white settlers '

(forty-six in number) who had been to Shamokin to
ascertain if possible where the party came from who
did the murderous work on Penn’s Creek were on
their return fired on from an ambush, and four killed,
four drowned in attempting to swim the river, and the

rest put to flight._ Upon “this *“'all" the-settl'ements -

between Shamokin and Hunter’s Mill, for the space

472

HISTORY OF WASHINGTON COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA.

1851.—-Hugh Craig, John Melloy.

1852.—John N. McDonald, Joseph Alexander.

1853.—Matthew Linn, John Jackman.

1854-.—Samuel J. Krepp, James McCullough.

1855.——-George W. Miller, David Riddle.

1856.—John C. Sloan, J. S. Van Voorhis.

1857.—-John N. McDonald, James Donahoo.

1858—59.—George V. Lawrence, William Graham.

1860.—John A. Hopp_er,.Robert Anderson.

1861.——John A. Hopper, William Hopkins. '

1862.—-William Glenn, William Hopkins.

1863.——-Robert R. Reed, James R. Kelly.

1864.-—-Robert R. Reed, James R. Kelly, M. S. Quay.
1865.—Joseph Welsh, James R. Kelly, M. S. Quay.
186,6.-—John  Ewing, J. R. Day, M. S. Quay.

1867.-——John H Ewing, J. R. Day, Thomas Nicholson.
1868.-——’A. J .-Buffington, Henry J. Vankirk, Thomas Nicholson.
1869.—A. J. Buflington, Henry J. Van Kirk, W. Davidson.
1870.——D. M. Leatherman, W. A. Mickey, William C. Shurlock.
187_1.—-D..M. Leatherman, W. A. Mickey, William C. Shurlock, George

W. Fleeger. ' '

1872.—-Joliathan Allison, W. S. Waldron, David McKee, Samuel J. Cross. A

1873.——Jonath‘an Allison, A. S. Campbell, David McKee, Samuel J. Cross.
1874.-—James K. Billingsley, John Farrar, William C. Barnett.
1875.—John Birch, to fill vacancy caused by death of Mr. Farrar.
1876.-James K. Billingsley, John B. Duncan, Joseph R. McClean.
1878.—John W. Stephens, Findley Patterson, John C. Messenger.
1880.—James K. Billingsley, John M. Boyce, Norton McGifi‘1n.
A MEMBERS OF SUPREME EXECUTIVE COUNCIL.
Dorsey Pentecost, Nov. 19, 1781. David Redick, Nov. 20, 1786.
John Neville, Nov. 10, 1783. Henry Taylor, Nov. 6, 1789.

. MEMBERS OF THE COUNCIL OF CENSORSJ A
James Edgar, Oct. 20, 1783. | John McDowell, Oct. 20, 1783.

MEMBERS OF‘ THE BOARD OF PROPERTY.
John McDowell, Feb. 4, 1783. . David Redick, Oct. 1, 1787.
John McDowell, April 4, 1784. John Canon, July 7, 1788. '
David Redick, Jan. 4, 1784. . Henry Taylor, Feb. 1, 1790.
AGENTS FOR FORFEITED ESTATES. .

William Scott, Dec. 6, 1781. | Andrew Heath, Dec. 6, 1781.

COMMISSIONER OF TAXES.
Demas Li ndley, Oct.’ 20, 1783.
COUNTY LIEUTENANT?
James Marshal, April 2,1781.
SUB-LIEUTENAN TS. _
John Canon, April 2, 1781. Geo. Vallandigham, Dec. 24, 1781.
Daniel Leet (resigned March 30, Matthew Ritchie, Dec. 24,1781.
1782,—succeeded by James Alli- James Allison (vice Leet, resigned)

son). March 30, 1782.
William McCleary, Dec. 24, 1781. William Parker, Dec. 24, 1781.

, Agricultural Fairs and ,Societ'ies.——The first
gathering of cattle and sheep in this county for ex-
hibition and sale was in the year 1798 at “the premises

‘of Daniel Purcel, in the forks of Chartiers at the

head of John Struther’s Mill Dam.” It was adver-

tised as “Morganza Fair,” to be held on the last

Saturday in Octoberof that year. In his advertise-
ment, dated October 1st, Purcel said, “Fifty-five
head of Beef Cattle, Working,Oxen, Cows, and Sheep

1 The duty-of the Council of Censo_rs was “to inquire and‘ ascertain
whether the constitution has been preserved inviolate in every part ;”
whether it is perfect in all its parts, or requiring amendment; also to
review the ‘decisions of the judges of the courts.

9 The office of county lieutenant existed in Pennsylvania from 1776
to 1793. It carried with it the title of colonel, and gave to the person
holding it the command of the militia and the management of the mili-
tary fiscal affairs of the county. From Jan. 1, 1793, the office was
merged into that of brigade inspector, to which Absalom Beard succeeded.

__are already entered at this fair, and it is expected

morethan double the number will be entered before
the day of sale. . . . It is proposed that, hereafter,

two Cattle Fairs shall be -held at the same place‘ 8

annually; last Saturdays in May and October every
year; when all -neighbours having any of the above or
other ‘Articles to dispose of are requested to send
them in early in the morning, as the public sales will
commence at 10 o’clk precisely. ' They must be en-
tered at Mr. Purcel’s office at least one week before
the day of sale, when 6d. per Head is to be paid to
him for the Entry. The owners are to prescribe the
terms of sale as to credit and payments, and may
limit the prices if they think proper, on paying the
commission of 1s. to the pound, for advertising, Crier,
Sale, Bonds &c., &c., &c. Mr. Purcel proposes to pro-
vide a Cold_Cut &c for those who may wish to be fu.r-

’ nished therewith—-At 6d. 18. 18. 6d. or 13. 10%d. per

cut as may be ordered. Cattle sent in from a distance,
the day preceding the fair, shall be furnished with
Hay, Pasture, Grain, &c., at moderate charges. . . .”
No notice was afterwards given of any future fairs as
proposed, and it is to be presumed therefore that this
was not successful. ’

An effort to organize an agricultural society in
Washington County was made in the latter part of
1818, as appears froma notice in the Reporter of date
December 21st of that year, as follows:

“ AGRICULTURAL SOCIETY.
, _ “ Gentlemen who are in favor of forming an Agri-

cultural Society ‘in the County of Washington are

requested to meet at Mr. Grarrett’s tavern on Wednes-
day evening, the 30th instant, at 2 o’clk.’P;M.”

The meeting was held according to notice; John
Cook was chosen chairman, and Samuel Agnew secre-
tary. No proceedings were reported, other than an
adjournment to Wednesday, Jan. 3, 1819, at the same
place. Of the adjourned meeting no account is ‘given.
It is evident that no organization was perfected,_as the
following notice appeared i.n the Reporter of Dec. 24,
182I: . '

“ AGRICULTURAL SOCIETY.

‘.‘ Many gentlemen have been solicitous that a meet-
ing should be called to make the nessessary arrange-
ments to form an Agricultural Society. To this object
a meeting will be held at the Tavern of George Jack-
son‘, in this borough, on Wednesday evening next at5

o’clk. PM’. The farmers are particularly invited to‘-

attend this meeting. The ‘policy and vast importance

, of such’ asociations must be obvious to every citizen.”

In accordance with this call many citizensmet at

the time and place specified. James Kerr was called A
"to the chair, and Jonathan Knight was chosen secre-

tary. ’ The meeting being informed that the commis-
sioners and grand jury had agreed to the establish-
ment of a society for the promotion of agriculture and
domestic manufacture inlthis county, agreeably to
the law passed March 6, 1820, it -was resolved that

AGRICULTURAL socrnrms.   5 . 473

Thomas McGiffin, Alexander Reed, James Clokey,
James Kerr, and Alexander Scott be a committee to
draft articles of association and by-laws, and that
Alexander Scott, Rev. Matthias Luce, William Mc-

Creary, William Sample, Robert Colmery, Thomas

McGifIin, and Andrew Vanemen be a committee to
obtain subscriptions to the agreement, and file with
the prothonotary. of the county.’ ' V

The next meeting was held at the same place on
the 27th of March, 1822, at which time the constitu-
tion was read and adopted, and officers elected of
“ The Washington County Society for the Promotion
of Agriculture and Domestic Manufactures.”

A meeting of thepresident, secretary, treasurer, and
board of directors was held “at the house of John

. Fleming” (late George Jackson), on the 4th of April,
‘1822, and appointed “Wednesday of the Supreme

Court in each year” as the annual exhibition day, and
prepared a premium-list. The amount ‘of premiums
were fixed on‘ the 26th of June. . No account of the
exhibition that year is found, but a report was made
to the auditors of the county, a copy of which is here
given :

To ALEXANDER REED, EsQ_., Treasurer to the Society for the Promotion of

A griculture and A Domestic Manufactures,

DR.
0
To amount of subscriptions for‘ the year 1822 ......................... .. $193.00

On.

. By cash paid the following persons for rewards and

ex-penses, etc., v1z.: -
Maj. James Dunlap, best "year old heifer .............. ..

1. $2.00
'2. William Cunninghhm, best brood sow .................. .. 2.00
3. Jane McClelland, best grass bonnet 2. ..... .. ........... .. 10.00

' 4. Elizabeth Asher, second-best grass bonnet ............. .. 3.00
5'. "William Wolfe, best piece of domestic linen .......... .. 5.00
‘6. Isaac Buckingham, best piece of domestic cloth .... .. 10.00
7. David More, best bull ....................  .................. .. 5.00
8. Jane M. Gully, best piece of domestic flannel. ...... .. 5.00
“ ' “ best domestic stockings .............. ... 1.00

9. Daniel Leet, best oxen ....  .............................  5.00

. 10. Jane Arden, second-best piece of table-linen ......... .. 2.5L
11. Katharine D. Morgan, best, piece of domestic flannel 3.00
12. Benjamin Williams, best shugar ........  ................ .. 2.00
13. Abner Leonard,'best acre of corn ......................... .. 5.00
14. George Plumer, best stud-horse .........  .............. .. 10.00
15. Mary Colmery, best piece of plaid 4.00
16. James Gordon, best handkerchiefs ........................ .. 5.00
17. By cash paid Wm. Carter, for building fences, etc... 7.75
18. “ “ Joseph Spriggs, crier ...................... .. 1.00

By outstanding subscriptions for 1822 ................... .. 85.00 -
A c » 4 . $173.25
Balance in the hands of the Treasurer. ...........  19.75 $193.00

Under the act of March 6, 1820, for the promotion
of agriculture and domestic manufactures, William
Colmery. and Joseph Henderson, two of the audi-
tors of the county, were sworn to execute the duties

enjoined upon them by the act. A "These auditors met

on the 18th of March, 1823, and adjusted the account 3'

of .the treasurer and made report. .In the premiums

‘awarded for the year 1823, there was granted to James

Gilmore, Esq., $16 for “the best Merino Ram and
Two best Merino Ewes and Best Brood Sow.” To

1 A list of the names of the persons (two hundred and fourteen in
number) who subscribed to the constitution of the society is contained
in the Washington Examiner, of date Oct. 23, 1824, which is in the posses-
sion cf Dr. Wray Grayson, of Washington.

2 Afterwards sold for $16.

VVilliam Brownlee, $10 for the second-bestmerino
rams and best ewes.“ Enoch Wright, forthe best cul-
tivated farm and second-best wheat, $25. Isaac Man-
chester, second-best cultivated farm, $10. Three hun-
dred and one dollars was paid out in premiums in
that year, and on the 31st of December there was in
the treasurer’s hands $39.40.

In the year 1824 the society received $610.40, in-

cluding $200 from the county. $595.25 was paid in‘

premiums and expenses. Alexander Scott received
a premium forthe best merino buck, James Moore
for second best, and John Flock, J r., third best.

On the 20th of October, 1825, an address was de-
_livered before the society at the court-house by the
Hon. Joseph Lawrence, and was published by order
of the board..of directors in the Examiner of Novem-
ber 12th in that year. In May, 1826, Samuel Cun-
ningham, treasurer of the society, advertised that the
society, through Mr. Joseph Lawrence, had procured
a quantity of white mulberry-seeds, and eggs of the
silk-worm for distribution to members. '

The first fair of the society was held in the fall of I

1822 on a lot owned by John Ruth, east of where the
female seminary now stands. That being foundtoo
small, the next year (1823) it was held on the farm of
John Sample, now owned by William ‘Workman.
Later it was held, on a lot owned by Samuel McFar-
land, on the south side of Wheeling road, east of the
depot. Here it was held for -several ‘years. At these

A difi'erent.places the exhibition of stock only was held,

and the manufactured" articles, fruits, and grains were
exhibited on the grounds of the public square. These
fairs were held with considerable success till about 1833
and declined; no reports or minutes are found until
1847. On the 10th of September in that year the offi-
cers of the society met at the house of S. B. Hays,
when it was ordered» that the ‘secretary procure some
suitable person to arrange thetpapers of the society, to
purchase a" minute-book, and that he be authorized to
select some person to collect outstanding subscrip-
tions. A constitution was drawn up, in which the first
article declares “That this association shall be called
‘ The Washington Society’ for the Promotion of Ag-

_riculture and Domestic Manufactures in Washington

County. Any person signing the constitution and
‘paying one dollar shall be a member.’-’ C To this was

appended two hundred and seventy-three names. A '

meeting was held the next day, September 11th, and
committees were appointed to examine stock and ar-
ticles exhibited at the fall~fair. ' A premium-list was
made out amounting to $323. The fair in that year
was held on the 15th of October. -
The premium-list for 1848 amounted to two hun-
dred and seven dollars. The “ Cattle-Show” was held
October 5th and 6th. The fair of 1849. was held Octo-

3 In a note in the minutes of the society for this year is the following:
“The Merino Ewes exhibited by Mr. Alexander Reed were considered
the best, but not being a competitor for the premium it was givenas
stated." ' - -

474

HISTORY OF WASHINGTON’ COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA.

ber 17 th and 18th. An address was delivered on the
17th by John L. Grow, Esq. I 8

At a meeting of the society on the 21st of May,
1850, Thomas M. T. McKennan, Thomas Buchanan,
John Bausman, James G. Strean, and Samuel Mc-
Farland were appointed a committee “to ascertain
whether a suitable piece of ground adjacent to the
borough can be rented or purchased for the use of the
society.” The committee reported in 1852 that they
had procured a lot of ground adjacent to the borough
for the use of the society, upon which buildings were
soon’ after erected. At a meeting, Aug. 8, 1853, John
Bausman, Robert R. Reed, and William S. Moore
were appointed to procure an act of incorporation of
the society. A committee was also appointed to erect
additional buildings for the better accommodation of
manufactured articles, and to erect suitable pens for
stock. sAt the fair of 1854, held September 20th,
21st, and 22d, the last day of the fair‘ was devoted to
the exhibition of agricultural implements, plowing
match, and trial by experiment of various agricul-

tural implements, such as reaping- and mowing-'

machines. _ . .

The committee on incorporation appointed in 1853
for some reason did not accomplish that end. On
the 20th_' of February, 1855, David Clark, John H.
Ewing, R. F. Strean, and. Wallace .McWilliams_ were
appointed to obtain a charter, which was granted by
the court onnthe 24th of May in that year. The

‘ ground where the exhibition was held from 1852 to

this time was that on which the Ohartiers depot now
stands, but in this year (1855) a change was made-to
the present site, apart of which they purchased, and
the fair was held upon the new grounds in the fall of
that year. .

On the 22d of May, 1856, a committee reported that
they had leased the old fair grounds to_Thomas and
Alexander McKean for forty dollars. In.May, 1859,
the society purchased two lots, containing one and
three-quarter acres of land, of George Adams and
John Wylie. In 1861 a new hall was erected at a
cost of four. hundred dollars. The followingare the
receipts and expenses of the years given:

. Receipts. Expenditures.
1351 . .. $1909.00 ’ $1903.38
1863 —.~ . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .. 1556.04  1479.42
1365 1773.13 1665.46
1337 1 17 89.43‘ 1797.76
1868 .................................................  1546.78 _ 2066.94
1869 .................................................... .. 1546.84 1541.92
1870 .................................................... .. 1296.92 1264.57
1374 ............. .. 1740.82 1913.00
1881 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .. 3435.07 3246.74

The following is a list of presidents, secretaries,
and treasurers of the society as nearly as can be as-

certained :

1822,’ March 27.———Pres., James Kerr; Vice-Prests., Thomas McGiflin,
John Cook, John Hamilton; Judges, James Kerr, Jonathan Knight,
Robert Colmery; Directors, Lewis Hewit, James Clokey, Andrew
Vaneman, Andrew Sutton, Jonathan Knight, James Patterson,

1 Unpaid premium, $325.50.

John McConnell, ‘Joseph Barr, William Hawkins, Daniel; Moore;
Treas., Alexander Reed; Sec., William Sample.

1823. March 26.——Pres., James Kerr; Vice-Prests., Gen. John Hamilton,
Gen. Thomas Patterson, Thomas McGiflin; Directors, Lewis Hewitt.
James Clokey, Daniel Moore, Andrew Vanemen, Joseph Barr; David
Hart, George Baird, John Carter, William Patterson (Ten Mile), and
William Brownlee; Treas., Alexander Reed; Sec., William Sample.

1824.—Sec., John H. Ewing; Treas., Alexander Reed. ' .

1825.——-Pres , Gen. Thomas Patterson; Vice-Prests., Gen. John Hamilton,
Thomas McGiffin, Joseph Lawrence; Treas., Robert Colmery; Sec.,
F. Julius Le Moyne. ‘

1826.—Pr_es., Alexander Reed; Vice-Prests., Thomas McGiflin, Joseph
Lawrence, William Sample; Treas., Samuel Cunningham; Sec., F.
Julius Le Moyne. '

1827.-—Pres., Alexander Reed; Vice-Prests., Joseph Lawrence, Joseph

Rupert, William McCreery; Treas., Samuel Cunningham; Sec., F.

Julius Le Moyne.

1828.—Prés., Alexander Reed; Vice-Pres., William McCreery; Treas.,
Samuel Cunningham; Sec., F. Julius Le Moyne.

1829.-Pres., Alexander Reed; Vice-Prests., William Brownlee, Thomas
McGiflin, Joseph Ritner; Treas., Isaac Leet; Sec., Joseph Hender-
son. '

1830.—Treas., Isaac Leet. K .

1833.——Pres., Alexander Reed; Vice-Prests., Joseph Lawrence, Joseph
Ritner; Treas., Isaac Leet; Sec., B. S. Stewart. ‘

1847.—Pres., John II. Ewing; Rec. Sec., Joseph_Henderson.

1848.—Pres., Col. James Lee, Cross Creek; Cor. Sec., Robert R. Reed;
Rec. Sec., Joseph Henderson, Esq.; Treas., George Baird.

1849.—~Pres., Gen. James Lee; Rec. Sec., Joseph Henderson; Cor. Sec,
Hon. R" R. Reed; Treas., George Baird. \ S

1850.-—Pres., Gen. James Lee (Cross Creek); Rec. Sec., William S. Moore,
Esq.; Cor. Sec., Robert R. Reed; Treas., George Baird. A

1851.-—Pres., James Lee; Rec. Sec., William S. Moore, Esq.; Cor. Sec.,
Robert R. Reed; Treas., George Baird.

1852.—Pres., James Lee; Rec. Sec., William S. Moore; Cor. Sec., Robert
R. Reed; Treas., George Baird. ' - .

1853.—Pres., James Lee; Rec. Sec., William S. Moore; Cor. Sec.,. Robert
R. Reed; Treas., George Baird. - .

1854.—-Pres., James McCloskey; Rec. Sec., William S. Moore; Cor. Sec.,
Robert R. Reed; Treas., George Baird.

1855.——Pres., David Clark: Rec. Sec., R. F. Strean; Cor. Sec., R. R. Reed ;
Treas., George Baird. - I

1856.—Pres., David Clark; Rec. Sec., John Grayson; J r.; Cor. Sec., R. R.
Reed ; Treas., George Baird. .

1857.-—Pres., John H. Ewing; Rec. Sec., James F. Gabby ;. Cor. Sec., R.
R. Reed; Treas., George Baird.

1858.—Pres., John H. Ewing ;. Cor. Sec., R. R. Reed; Rec. Sec., James F.
Gabby; Treas., George Baird.

1859.—-Pres... John H. Ewing; Cor. Sec., R. R. Reed; Rec. Sec., James F.
Gabby; Treas., Jackson Spriggs.

1860.—Pres., John H. Ewing; Treas., Jackson Spriggs; Cor. Sec., Joshua
Wright; Rec. Sec., James F. Gabby. .

1861—62.—Pres., John H. Ewing; Treas., James C. Acheson; Cor. Sec.,
Joshua Wright ; Rec. Sec., James F. Gabby. ,

1863.—Pres., John H. Ewing; Treas., James C. Acheson; Cor. Sec., Dr.
E. Hoffman; Rec. Sec., James F. Gabby. ‘

1864.-—Pres., John H. Ewing; Treas., James C. Acheson; Cor. Sec., Sam-
uel ‘McFarland; Rec. Sec., James F. Gabby.

l865.—Pres., John H. Ewing; Treas., James C. Acheson; Rec. Sec.,
James F. Gabby; Cor. Sec., Joshua Wright. I

1866.—-—Pres., John H. Ewing; Treas., James C. Acheson; Rec. Sec.,
David C. Aiken; Cor. Sec., Joshua Wright.

1867.—Pres., John H. Ewing; Treas., James C. Acheson; Rec. Sec., Da-

vid Aiken; Cor. Sec., George W. Reed.
1868-69.-——Pres., John H. Ewing; Treas., James C. Acheson; Rec. Sec.,
David Aiken; Cor. Sec., James B. Wilson. »
1870.—Pres., James F. Gabby; Treas., James C. Acheson; Rec. Sec., Ju-
lius Le Moyne; Cor. Sec., Dr. F. J. Le Moyne. ’
1871;--Pres, Col. Asa Manchester; Treas., John McElroy; Cor. Sec., John
McDowell; Rec. Sec., Joshua Wright. -
1872—74.——Pres. John H. Ewing; Treas., John McElroy; Rec. Sec., J amen
F. Gabby; Cor. Sec., John McDowell. ‘
1875—77.—Pres., John H. Ewing; Treas., A. G. Happer; Cor. Sec., John
McDowell ; Rec. Sec., James F. Gabby. V
1878.-Pres., John McDowell’: Sec., James B. Wilson; Treas., A. G.
Happer.
1879-.8'.7..—Pres., John McDowell; Sec. and Treas., A. G. Happer.

C

POPULATION. 470

townships and boroughs, as shown by the reports of
the several United States censuses taken within the

Population.—In the year 1790 Washington County
contained 23,866 inhabitants, and in 1800, 28,298.

The population of the county at the end of each de-
cade from 1810 to 1880, inclusive, is given below, by

period indicated :

* Boroughs; all others townships except Monongahela City.

I Included in population of Somerset township.

/

-1 Included in population of West. Pike Run.
Q Population included with California borough.
[]Population included in Hopewell township.

1810. 1820. 1830. 1840. 1850. 1860. 1870. 1880.
Allen ......................................................................... .. 637 815 1,236
Amwell 1,673 1,825 1,733 1,536 1,754 2,042 1,879 1,898 »
.Beal1svi1le *. ..........  ................  ..............................  357 297 ............ ..-1‘
Bent1eysvil1e* ........................................................................................... .  277 ........ .,,.I
Buffalo ................................................................ .. 1,416 1,130 1,519 1,116 1,212 1,578 1,189 1,260
Ca1ifornia.* ................................. ..‘ ..............................  ............................................  .  476 659 1,566
Canonsburg *. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .. 440 673 687 627 650 641 704
Canton ...................... .. ' 1,345 1,276 1,218 1,132 1,281 587 591 650
Carroll ._ ...........................................................................................................  1,235 1,469 1,907 3,178 2,064
Cecil . ........................................ .. 1,167 , 1,154 1,056 1,027 1,008 959 1,102 1,596
Chartiers 1,747 1,330 1,566 1,616 1,677 1,795 1,870 2,188
Claysville *. . .....  .................................. .. 292 275 297 284 326
Cross Creek 1,847 1,908 2,147 2,006 1,921 1,186 1,168 1,136
‘Donegal 1,327 1,879 2,092 1,747 1,954 1,697 2,068 1,375
East Bethlehem ......;. 1,806 2,239 2,602 2,312 2,266 1,862 1,621 1,967
East Finley ......................  1,219 1,147 1,282 1,221 1,186 1,332
East Pike Run } ...............................  ......... .. 1,240 1,358 715 817 1,227
Finley ....... .. 1,636 1,967 ..............................     ....... ..
Fallowfield . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .. 1,994 2,020 * 2,142 1,203 1,132 897 834 811
Franklin .......  .......................... .  ........................................................................................ .. 1,109 1,074 1,144
Greenfield* ................................................ .. i ............ .. 264 380 370 386 ........... ..-.§
Hanover  ............  ........... .. 1,049 1,329 1,572 2,992 2,439 2,099 1,898 1,895 ,
Hopewell ............................ . .. .... . . . ........................ .. 2,193 2,186 1,925 1,596 1,748 881 804 1,110
Independence .... ..  ....................   ....................... .. 1,078 1,121 1,012
Jefferson ............. .: ................................  ...................................................................................... .. 984 889 979
Monongahela City ........ ., .............................................................................  .... .. 752 977 999 1,078 2,904
‘ Millsboro’ * ............................... .. ........... ... .......................................................... .. 312 333 292 32 ............. ..
_ Morris .....................................................  ........... .. 1,679 1,713 2,049 1,683 , 1,688 1,148 1,050 1,161
Mount Pleasant” .........................................  .... .. 1,165 1,254 1,308 1,203 1,254 1,348 1,321 1,577
North Strabane ...............  ............................. .  .......... .. 1,207 1,210 1,213 1,273 ' 1,328
.. Nottingham ....... . . .  2,037 2,098 2,118 983 1 ,008 916 924 868
Pike Run...L........' ...................................  .......... .. 1,693 1,967 2,081 .................................... ..T .................................. ..
_ Peters ..........  .......  ......................  ........ .. 1,054 1,265 1,196 1,024 924 943 943 956
. Robinson .........................................................  _ 770 925 * 924 860 843 ‘840 937 1,798 /
Strabane......... ....................  ......  ....  .....  2,395 2,571 2,599 ............................................................... 
Smith ’ ............  1,646 1,848 2,089 1,345 1,462 1,427 2,067 2,449
Somerset ......... ... ........................  ...................... .. 1,500 1,540 1,573 1,620 , 1,512 1,723 1,325 1,247
South Strabane ................ ... .............  ................  ..  ........ .. .. ........... .. 1,075 1,391 1,063 1,159 1,602
Union .........................................................  ................... .. . ........................... .. 858 1,192 1,452 1,418 1,913
Washington * ................................................. .. .... .. 1,301 1,687 1,816 2,062 2,662 3,587 3,571 4,292
West Alexander* .............................................................................................. .. . ....................................................  400
\Vest Bethlehem ................................................... .. 1,849 2,187 2,048 1,743 2,114 1,961 1,964 2,123
West Brownsville  .... ..  .................................. .. 477 613 547 570
. West Finley  ........................................ .. 1,218 1,187 1,213 1,453 1,471 1,524
* West Middletown  , ......... ......r .......  .... .. 302 260 326 331 346  ....... ..||
West Pike Run .....  ......  ...................  ............................ ..  .  917 1,166 869 1,252 1,261
Total .. ......... .  . ................... . .. ......  ..   36,289 40,038 42,784 41,279 44,939 46,805 48,483 57,329

HISTORY or THE BOROUGHS AND TOWNSHIES.

44;
Vwr

WASHINGTON BOROUGH.

THE original owners of the site occupied by the
borough of VVashington were Abraham Hunter, Mar-
tha Hunter, and Joseph Hunter, J r., who were among
the host of applicants who thronged the land—o_ffice of
the proprietaries immediataly after itsiopening ‘in the
spring of 1769 for the sale of the lands which had been
ceded by the Indians a few months previously by the
treaty of Fort Stanwix. The Warrants (one to each of
the persons mentioned) were dated June 19, 17 69, and
were surveyed by James Hendricks on the_11th of
November in the same year. The tract of Abraham
Hunter (warrant N o. 3517) was ( named “ Catfish
Camp,” 1 and contained three hundred and thirty-one ‘
acres and twenty-one.» perches, lying on Catfish Run,
a small tributary of Chartiers Creek. On the north
of this ‘tract was the land of "Joseph Hunter, Jr.
(warrant No. 3516), named in the survey “ Grand
Cairo,” and containing three hundred and thirty-one
acres and twenty-one perches. On the north of the
last named, and adjoining it, was the tract of Martha
Hunter (warrant No. 3518), named in the survey
“Matha’s 'Bottom,” containing three hundred and
thirtyenine acres, sixty-nine perches, but the borough,
when it became such by incorporation, included no
part of this tract. ’

N 0 information whatever can be obtained of these

“ original purchasers beyond the facts already given.

There is no evidence-—and very little probability—--»'
that they ever resided upon these lands. William

‘ Huston was a resident on a tract of land adjoining

“Catfish Camp,” and on the branch of Chartiers
which flows near the original borough line. On that

1 This name, which was given not only to the tract but also the settle- 1

ment which afterwards became the town of Washingtown (and clung to
it for many years), was derived from an old Delaware Indian named
Tingooqua—in English, Catfish-—who lived there, and of whom mention
is made in the history of the Indian occupation in this volume. His
Wigwam or “camp” was on the stream,/northeast of Trinity Hall, but
it is said that he occupied several different locations in the immediate
vicinity at dilferent times. He lived here for some years, but finally
removed to the Scioto country and died there. V

476 '

tract (at the place where Mrs. Swartz now resides)
Huston lived as early as 1774, as is shown by his own
afiidavit (given in the account of Dunmor_e’s war in
the general history of the county), in which he said
that in April of theyear named Capt. Michael Cresap
and others stopped overnight at his house at Catfish
Camp while traveling‘ from the Ohio to Redstone Old
Fort. He (Huston) was the earliest white inhabi-»
tant of the vicinity of whom any information can be
gained. . ‘ ’

On the 26th of April, 1771, Abraham, Martha, and I

Joseph Hunter‘ sold their tracts, “Catfish Camp,”
Martha’s Bottom, and “Grand Cairo” (in all about
one thousand and sixty acres), to David Hoge, a
native of Cumberland County. In 1780, when the
erection of the new county of Washington was being
agitated, Hoge determined to lay out a town on the
lands purchased from the Hunters, doubtless with the
expectation that it would become the seat of justice

of the proposed county, of which the site of the new -

town would be within a mile of the territorial centre.
He built a log house (on the site of Strean’s hardware-
store)'in the early spring of 1781, and the act erecting
Washington County, passed March 28, 1781, directed
the courts to be held “ at the house of David Hoge,

Esq.,” and in ‘his log house the first court was so held 1

on the 2d of October in that year. On the 13th of
the samemonth-a town-plat was laid out on a part, of
the tracts Catfish Camp and Grand Cairo by David

Redick,’ surveyor, for David Hoge, and was named ‘

“ Bassett Town.” , ,
It will be noticed that among the names of the

grand jury at- the first court of the county not a name 1

occurs of any person who was a resident of Catfish
Camp or its vicinity, It is not known or believed
that David Hoge ever resided here. All traditions
unite in locating the cabin of David Hoge in the rear
of what became in the town-plat lot No. 58, which
was sold soon afte'r the town was laid out to Charles
Dodd, on certificate No. 15, dated Bassett Town, Oc-

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5

WASHINGTON BOROUGH.

tober, 1781. In this house Mr. Dodd evidently lived
when the court was held here, for rent was paid him

.“for use of a room to hold court in.”

The original plat of Bassett’Town. was bounded by
what are now Maiden and Walnut Streets, Lincoln
Avenue, and Ruple’s Alley. « The two principal
streets were -Monongahela (now Main) and Ohio (now
Beau), each sixty-six feet wide, running through the
centre of the town at right angles with each other.
The other streets were sixty feet in width. The width
of the alley is not given. The streets and alleys
north from'Maiden Street and running parallelwith
it were named as follows: Water Alley (now Straw-

berry), Gay Street (later Belle, now VVhee1ing), -

Johnson’s Alley (now Cherry), Ohio Street (now

‘ Beau), Middle Alley (now Pine), Race Street (now

Chestnut), North Alley (now (Spruce). Walnut
Street was the north line and not then named. From
whatis now Lincoln Avenue (but not then named,
that being the eastern boundary line) westward the
streets were named as follows: Chartiers Street (now

I

College), Monongahela Street (later Market, now’

Main), Beau Street (later Front, now Franklin).

I Four lots marked A, forming a plot two ‘hundred
and forty feet square, and lying in the southwest angle
of Ohio and Monongahela Streets, were donated by
Mr. Hoge for a court-house and prison. Lots 43 and

~ 102 were presented by Mr. Hoge to Gen. -George

Washington, and were on the corner of Chartiers and
Gay Streets.‘ No. 43 is now owned by the Presbyte-
ri-an Society, and No. 102 forms a part of the college
campus. Lots Nos. 171 and 172 were set apart for a
place of public worship and aschool-house. These
lots were fronting on Race Street, and extended along
Chartiers‘ Street to Pine Alley, each being a corner
lot. They were never used for the purpose designated.
In addition to the plot a “ Great Plain” was given by
Mr. Hoge “for a common,” containing seventy or
eighty acres. Later itwas occupied by William Hoge,
and on it he lived and died. It is now owned by
Harry-Shirls, and his residence is upon it. _
The new town was named Bassett Town, in honor of
the,Hon. Richard Bassett, who‘ was a kinsman of Mr.
Hoge. Mr. Bassett was a member of the convention
which framed the Constitution of the United States
‘in 1787, and was the first who voted to“ locate the
capital of the nation on the Potomac. He was a
member of the ‘Delaware Convention which met "at
Dover on the 7th of December, 17 87 , and ratified the
‘constitution of that State, of which he was Governor
from 1798 to 1801. He was also United States‘ dis-
trict judge in 1801-2. ’ His death occurred in 1815.
After the laying out of ‘the town Mr. Hoge imme-
diately commenced the sale of lots by certificates

” ‘which bore the number of the lot sold, and a proviso

that a “house at least eighteen feet square with a

stone or brick chimney shall be built thereon on or

before the 13th day of October, 1784;” and also con-

tained an amount specified to’ be paid ‘annually as
31 ‘i

477

a quit-rent. These certificates passed from one to‘

‘another, and in most ' cases deeds were not made till

four or five years later. Forty-seven certificateswere
issued to purchasers of lots dated at Bassett Town, and
all wereissued in the early part of October, 1781}
The name of the town was changed to Washington
in that month, as the following certificateshows:

“WASHINGTON TowN, October, 1781.

“ This will intitle Dorsey Pentecost to receive a sutficient ti-tle, subject 0

to one dollar in specie rent per annum per Lott, for the lot marked in the
Original plan of said Town 154, provided there sha1l.be erected on each
lott a house of eighteen feet square, at least with a stone or brick chim-

V ney on or before the thirteenth day of October in the year One thousand
‘ seven hundred and eighty-four.

. “Signed Dxvm Hoen.”

After the sale of the property by David Hoge to
his sons, John and William, the quit-rents were paid
to them. In the year 1803, John Hoge received on
120 quit-rents $1500, and in 1.809 on 136 he received
$2000. In the same year VVilliam Hoge received on

130 quit-rents the sum of $1600, and in 1809 on 147 '

he received $2180. These rents were bought off from
time to time,‘ and mostly ceased about 1860. Demands
are still occasionally made, but no attention is paid to
them. ‘ I

The first property to which title by deed was given
was the public square sold for a site for the court-

house and prison of Washington County. This deed -

d.escribes the property as “lying in the town of Bassett
Town,” and is the only one ever made containing such
description. The next deed that appears of record
was made by David Hoge to James Marshel, and con-
veyed lot N o. 90 (now ocaupied by Morgan and Har-
graves’ store)’. This lot was sold by Marshel to Hugh
VVilson on the 4th of January, 1786. With ,t,he ex-
ception of the deed conveying the property to his sons,
the two deeds above mentioned are the only ones given
by David Hoge. The deeds for the certificates were
given by John and William Hoge after their purchase
Nov. 7, 1785. A ‘

In the year 1784 an incident occurred in the town,
which is here related as given by one who was the
lea.der of the party. The facts are given in the min-

. utes of the Supreme Executive Council, of date Phila-

delphia, Oct. 29, 1790.

Cornplanter, chief of the Senecas, made a speech
to the “Fathers of the Quaker. State,” in which he
referred to a treaty made at Fort Stanwix six years
before, and also of a talk held between the “ Fathers”
and the‘ 7‘ Thirteen Fires,” at Muskingum. After this
last treaty Cornplanter was to conduct his people to

Fort Pitt. The following is from his speech, and re- -

fers to the trip made through Catfish (Washington)
in 1784, as follows: '
“ After I had eparated from Mr. Nicholson and Morgan, I had under

my charge one hundred and seventy persons of my own nation, consist-
ing of men, women, and children, to conduct through the wilderness,

_ through heaps of briars, and having lost our way, we with great difli-

culty reached Wheelen. When arrived there, being out of provisions,
I requested of a Mr. Zanes to furnish me and my people with bacon and

flour to the amount of seventeen dollars, to be paid for out of the goods I

‘H478

HISTORY or WASHINGTON COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA.

belonging to me and my people at Fort Pitt. Having obtained my re-
quest, I proceeded on my journey for Pittsburg, and about ten miles
from Wheelen, my party were fired upon by three white people, and
one of my people in the rear of my pa.rty received ‘two shots through
his blanket. , '

“ Fathers,—It was a constant practice with me throughout the whole
journey to take great care of my people, and not sufi"er them to commit
any outrages or drink more than what their necessities required. During
the whole of my journey only one accident happened, which was owing
to the kindness of the people of the town called Catfish [Washington],
in the Quaker State, who, while I was talking with _the head men of
the town, gave to my People more liquor than was proper, and some of
them got drunk, which obliged me to continue there with my People
all night, and in the night my People were robbed of three rifles and
one shot-gun; and though every endeavour was used by the head men
of the town upon complaint made to them to discover the perpetrators
of the robbery, they could not be found; and on my Peoples complain-
ing to me I told them it was their own faults by getting drunk.” It may
be of interest to know the advantages the town of Washington had at
that time for shpplying men with the liquor “ their necessities required.”
The following are the names of those who kept tavern here in that
year: James Wilson, John Adams, John Dodd, Charles Dodd, and John
Colwell. . ' ’

On the 7th of November, 1785, David Hoge con-

‘ veyed to his sons, John and William Hoge, eight

hundred acres of land, including the town of Wash-
ington, except’ the southeast quarter of the town,
which he reserved for himself; but subsequently, on
the 10th of March, 1787, he conveyed to them this
quarter also. The names of the streets were changed
from the plat of 1781 before the date ‘of the deed.

‘Shortly after this sale-an addition was made. to the

town on the east and south sides, consisting of forty
lots and several out-lots. '

The town of Washington was originally in the
township of Strabane, and,the first election of the
township was held at “the house of David Hoge, at
Catfish Camp.” The town remained under the juris-
diction of Strabane until 1785. On the 25th of Sep-
tember, in that year, a petition signed by several of
the citizens of the town was presented to the Court
of Quarter Sessions, requesting to be formed into a
separate election district. The petition was granted;
a certificate was sent to the Supreme Executive
Council, and was confirmed by that body on the 6th
of February, 1786. A petition for the erection of the‘
town of Washington into a separate township is on

_file in the records of the court, and is indorsed on
‘ the back as follows: “ Petition of Inhabitants of the

Town of Washington to be made a township. Sep-
tember Session. Granted by the Court.” The peti-
tion was signed by Alexander Addison,«D. Bradford,
James Ross, John Redick, John Hoge, and Reasin
Beall. ,_

This petition is without date,but the action of the
court was evidently in September, 1788, as the first

, assessment-roll of Washington borough township that

has been found was made April 20, 1789, and is prob-
ably the first one after its erection. The following
names appear on the roll: 1

John Atchison, Robert Atchison, John Adams, Samuel Acklin, David

_ Bradford, Reazon Bell, Samuel Beard, Absalom Beard, Esq, James
1 Chambers, Edward Coulter, Samuel Clark, Alexander Cunningham, John

Culbertson, Thomas Clark, Peyton Cooke, John Dodd, John Douglas, Sam-
uel David, John Flaek, William Faulkner, Hardman Horn, John Hoge,

Esq., John Hughes, Thomas J eifries, William Johnston, Daniel Kerr, Wil-
liam Kerr, Alexander Little, James Linn, William Meetkirk, John Mc- '

Quiston, Robert McKinley, William Marshall, Hugh Means, Kennedy
Morton, Daniel Moody, Alexander McCoy, William Marts, William Mc-
Calmont, George McCormick, John McMichael,' Daniel McGlaughlin,
Patrick McNight, James McCoy, Sr., Anthony McConoughy, David
Parkinson, John Purviance, David Redick, Esq., John Redick, Widow
Roberts, Thomas Stokely, Esq., Samuel Shannon, Thomas Scott, Esq.,
Adam Sneider, —— Sneider, Andrew Swearingen, William Sherrod,
Widow Thompson, Charles Valentine, James Wilson, Sr.,‘Hugh Wilson,
Matthew Winton, James Workman, Widow Walker, Daniel Welch,
Joseph Wherry, Hugh Workman, James Wilson, J r., Thomas Woodward.
Single men: Gabriel Bleakney, John Black, Alexander Beer, Edward
Browner, Sandars Darby, George Douglas, Thomas Davis, James Ewing,

Thomas Goudy, Joseph Hunt, Daniel Johnston, John Kerns, James,

Langley, William Linn, James McDermott, Walton Meads, Alexander
McCoy, James McCoy, John McCoy, Thomas McQuiston, James ‘Mc-
Cluney, Alexander Miller, William Mitchell, Archibald McDonald,
James Read, Benjamin Read, James Ross, James Rony, John Stokely,
Benjamin Stokely, John Stevenson, Elisha Fulkerson, James Woods.

In 17927 forty-seven inhabitants of Strabane and

Canton townships petitioned the court that the town- -

ship of Washington be enlarged. The petition was
presented" in March, 1792, and on the 27th of Septem-
ber the same year it was acted upon, and the follow-

ing boundaries established: “ Beginning at the mouth I
‘of Daniel Leets’ Run, thence up the said Run to the

Head thereof, thence to the most easterly corner of
the survey made for James Huston, thence along the
easterly boundary of William Huston’s survey, thence

along the Easterly Boundary of John Dodd’s Land
-to where the great road to Pittsburgh crosses the first

Run, thence down the said Run to Chartiers Creek,
thence up the said creek to the place of Beginning.”
Since that time the boundaries have not been materi-
ally changed.  _ *
Early Settlers of Wa.shing‘t0n.——David Hoge, of
Cumberland County, was sheriff of that county from
October, 1768, to Dec. 31, 1770, when he was suc-
ceeded by Ephraim Blaine. Soon after this time, as
already mentioned, he purchased the Hunter tracts
of land in the Chartiers Valley embracing what is
now the town of Washington. He laid out the town
in 1781, and in "1785 sold the most of‘ it to his sons

. John and William, who removed to Washington and
lived and died there, filling important positions of _

honor and trust. David Hoge, their father, never
made Washington his permanent residence. Of his
other children, Jonathan settled near Morgantown,
where he lived and died, leaving two children, of

whom Bushrod Hoge (well known to the people of _

Washington) is one, David Hoge, J r., married Jane
the daughter of Thomas Scott, and settled in Wash-
ington for a time, and finally removed to Steuben-

ville, where he became .agent of the La11d-Office. He 1
died there, leaving many descendants. A daughter ,1
became the wife of the Rev. Mr. Waugh, a Presbyte-

rian clergyman. He died in Cumberland County and
left two sons, William and John H., both of whom

were admitted as attorneys in Washington County

in 1818 and -1820. He also had three daughters, the

WASHINGTON BOROUGH.

‘M

youngest of whom became the wife of D5. Irwin.
Mrs. Daniel Kaine, of Uniontown, is a daughter of
Mr. and Mrs. Irwin. John Hoge, the oldest son of
David Hoge, Sr., was born at Hogestown, near Car-
lisle, Sept. 12, 1760, entered the Revolutionary army
in 1776, when but sixteen years of age, and became a
lieutenant. During the war he visited Washington,
and in 1782 settled on the land his father had pur-
chased. On the 7th October, 1785, his father con-
veyed the greater portion of the large tract to him
and his brother William. In 1789 he was elected a

‘ delegate to the State Constitutional Convention, and

from 1790-94 represented this ‘districtin the State
Senate. He served part of a term in Congress from
1803-5 to fill a vacancy caused by the resignation of
his brother, William Hoge. He built ‘a frame house
on the south side of Maiden Street, opposite the old
Presbyterian Church (now Hayes’ carriage factory).
He also kept tavern a few years about 1800. He mar-
ried a daughter of William Quail. Later in life he
retired to his farm, lying between Washington and
Canonsburg, knownas the “Meadow Land” ' (now
owned by Maj. John H. Ewing), where he died Aug.
5,1824. ' ' .
-William Hoge, a younger brother of John, also set-

tled in Washington, and owned a half interest in the '

property. His farm in the'north part of the town is
now owned by Harry Shirle. He was elected mem-

_ ber of Congress, and served from 1801 to 1803, but

resigned in 1804, and was again elected in 1806 and
served from 1807 to 1809. He was also elected asso-
ciate judge, and served from 1798 to 1802. He mar-
ried Isabella, the daughter of Samuel Lyon, of Cum-
berland County. He died -in 1813, and his widow
became the second wife of Alexander Reed.

1 David Redick was a native of Ireland, ‘who emi-

' grated to this country and settled for several years in

Lancaster County. He married the daughter of Jona-
than Hoge, brother of ,David Hoge, Sr. He was a
surveyor, and came to the Chartiers Valley with Da-
vid Hoge, surveyed his lands, and laid out the town
under the direction of Mr. Hoge. He remained here
and purchased lot 273, on Main Street, Where he built
and lived till his death. The place is now owned by
Alexander Murdoch. He was admitted to the bar in
1782. In 1786 he was elected a member of the S11-
preme Executive Council, and on the 14th of October,
1788, was chosen vice-president ‘in place of Peter
Muhlenberg, who resigned. He held the position
until the election of George Ross, November 5th, tlie
same year. Benjamin Franklin was president of the
Council at the time he was vice-president. In Octo-
ber, 1787, he was appointed agent of the ‘State for
communicating to the Governor of New York intelli-
gence respecting Connecticut claims. In 1791 he was

appointed prothonotary. of VVashington County and

clerk of the courts. He was appointed to survey the
Ten Islands in the Ohio and Allegheny Rivers, and
to divide the several tracts of land opposite Pittsburgh

479

into building-lots. He was active and energetic in
business, prominent in‘ defense of law, order, and the
constitution in the time of the Whiskey Insurrection,
and was appointed with Mr. Findley to wait upon
President Washington to assure him of the submission
of those who had been insurgents. He died at Wash-
ington on the 28th of September, 1805, and was buried
with Masonic honors. He had a son who became an
attorney, but died when a young man. Nancy, a
daughter of his, became the wife of Dr. James Ste-
vens, of Washington. They inherited the Redick
homestead, where they both lived and died. The
present residence was built by Dr. Stevens. Another
daughter of Mr. Redick became the wife of Capt.
James Anderson, of the United States Army. They
later settled in Louisville, Ky. '
The ancestors of the Acheson family of Washing-
ton were natives of Scotland, and about 1604 removed
to County Armagh, Ireland, when, in 1776, Sir Archi-
bald Acheson (one of the descendants) became Baron
Gosford, and later a viscount. The descendants of the
family who came to this country were of a collateral

' branch, and settled upon the family estate at Glass

Drummond. George, the father of the sons and
daughters who came to this country, was born in 1724,
and died in July, 1812, aged eighty-eight years.
Elizabeth, his wife, was a daughter of David Wier, a
Belfast merchant. She was born in 1728, and died

July 29, 1808, aged eighty years. They left five sons, ‘

—George, John, Thomas, William, and David, and

' two daughters,—Hannah and Ellen. All the children

came to this country except William, who remained
on_ the homestead at Glass Drummond. The first to
emigrate to America was John, who about the year

i 1784 came tQ'Washington, Pa., where he-commenced

to trade, and soon after established other trading
points at Cincinnati and Wheeling. He was also em-
ployed by the United States government in furnishing
supplies to the army forlthe Indian wars. His death
by apoplexy occurred in 1790, while crossing the Al-
legheny Mountains on horseback on his way to Phila-
delphia. He left a widow and two daughters in Ire-
land. The eldest daughter died young, and Hannah,
the youngest daughter, came to this country in 1807
in charge of the Rev. Thomas Campbell. She ‘lived
with her uncle David, and died in 1837, aged fifty
years. '

settled in Washington with his brother John, with
whom he became associated in business. After the
death of John, in 1791, he entered into partnership
with David, his younger brother, and continued the
mercantile business as long as helived. In 1809
he erected the brick building) on which the First
National Bank building is now (1882) being erected,

/the old house having been demolished the latter part
of May, 1882. In this house Gen. Acheson lived till '

his death in 1815. _ He was commissioned commissary-
general of the army of the United States in 1812..

Thomas Acheson came to this country in 1786, and

CONTENTS

L4;

CHAPTER
I.——WAsHINGTON COUNTY IN HISTORY——LOCATION,
BOUNDARIES, AND TOPOGRAPHY—THE IN-
DIAN OCCUPATION . .~ . .
II.-‘—-THE FRENCH AND ENGLISH CLAIMS To THE
TRANS - ALLEGHENY RE‘GION —- GEORGE
WASHIN\GTON'S VISIT To THE FRENCH FORTS
IN 1753 . . P. . .
III.—-FRENCH OCCUPATION AT THE HEAD OF THE

\ OHIO—WASHINGTON’S CAMPAIGN OF 1754
IV.—BRADDOCK’S EXPEDITION IN 17 55 . .
V.——INCURSIONS /AND RAVAGES DURING THE
FRENCH OCCUPA'TION—CAPT'URE OF FORT
DU QUESNE ‘AND EXPULSION OF THE

FRENCH —EXPEDITIONS UNDER BOUQUET

VI.—DUNMORE’S WAR 3.  .
VII.‘—-THE REVOLUTION . .
VIII.‘—THE‘ REVOLUTION—-( Continued)

IX.—THE CIVIL AND LEGAL" HISTORY '. .
X.——-THE CIVIL AND LEGAL HISTORY——(0on-

tihued) . . . , .
XI.—THE CIVIL AND LEGAL HISTORY—(0oh—

‘ tinned) . ,. . . ‘.6 .. _ .
XII.‘—-THE _ CIVIL AND LEGAL HISTORY —-—(C'o~n-
 tinned) . . *. . . .
.XIII.—-THE‘ CIVIL AND LEGAL HISTORY——(0on-

tinned) '. '. . _

XIV.——THE CIVIL AND LEGAL HISTORY—é-(C'on-

tinued) . . . ' ._ . .

XV.—-THE CIVIL AND LEGAL HISTORY-—(0on-

" tinned) . . . _ , . .

XVI.-'--THE CIVIL ’ AND 6 LEGAL -HISTORY4——(0on-

. I tinned) . . . 6. . ' .

XVfI.—THE CIVIL AND LEGAL HIsTORY——(C’on—

A tinned) A 0. r. 0. . . .

XVIII.——THE CIVIL AND LEGAL HISTORY——-(0'on-

tinued) . ' . . . ‘. . .

XIX.»-THE CIVIL AND LEGAL HISTORY-——(0on-
tinned) L '

I XX.—THE WHISKEYINSURRECTION . .

XXI.—WAR OF 1812—15—-TEXAN AND MEXICAN WARS
XXII.-—WAR OF THE RERELLION . .
XXIII.—WAR OF THE REBELLI0N~—(0rmtim_aed) .

_ A XXIV.--‘WAR OF THE RERELLION-—(0"ontz’m:.eol) .

XXV.—WAR OF THE. RERELLION—( Continued) .

XXVI.——WAR OFTHE RERELLION—(0ontc'nued) .

_ XXVII.—WAR OF THE REBELLION——( Continued) .
XXVIII.-—WAR OF THE RERELLION-—--( Continued) . .
XXIX.-—WAR OF THE REBELLION—-(00nt1;nu_eCl) . .

PAGE

13

21

34
44

53
6.4
74
110
138

148

158

169 6

182

196

212

222

235

249
262
306
310
319
322
329
334
342
346
349

204 '

Vvf

CHAPTER . PAGE
'XXX.—-WAR OF THE REBELLION--.(0(mtinued) . . 3533
XXXI.——WAR OF ‘THE RERELLION——-( Continued) . . 7362

XXXII.—GEOLOGY—MINING . . . ‘ 365
XXXIII.-‘—-INTERNAL IMPROVEMENTS . ;. . . — 370
XXXIV.——RELIGIOUS HISTORY ‘ . . 398

XXXV.——RELIGIOUS HISTORY—((Jontz'nueol) . 425

XXXVI.—-EDUCATIONAL HISTORY ‘. . . . 438
' XXXVII.—COUNTY , BUILDINGS — CIVIL LIST —- COUNTY
I AGRICULTURAL SOCIETIEs—POPULATION - . 463
IBOROUGHS AND TOWNSHIPS. * _
WASHINGTON BOROUGH . ' . . . . . . 476 _
MONONGAHELA CITY . . ' 565 '
CANONSRURG BOROUGH 601
CALIFORNIA BOROUGH . . 628
WEST BROWNSVILLE BOROUGH . . 635
ALLEN TOWNSHIP 643 ‘
_ AMWELL TOWNSHIP . 652
BUFFALO TOWNSHIP . 673
CANTON TOWNSHIP 686
CARROLL TOWNSHIP . . 691
CECIL TOWNSHIP 6 . "698
CHARTIERS TOWNSHIP 707
CROSS CREEK TOWNSHIP . . 721
DONEGAL TOWNSHIP . 742
EAST BETHLEHEM TOWNSHIP 764 '
EAST FINLEY TOWNSHIP 774
EAST PIKE RUN TOWNSHIP ’. .  ,' 782
FALLOWFIELD TOWNSHIP . ' 789
FRANKLIN TOWNSHIP 796
HANOVER TOWNSHIP . . . . . . . 802
HOPEWELL TOWNSHIP . 6. . 6. . . x 811
INDEPENDENCE TOWNSHIP . 6 824“
JEFFERSON TOWNSHIP 836
MORRIS TOWNSHIP 842
MOUNT PLEASANT TOWNSHIP 850
NORTH STRABANE TOWNSHIP‘ 866
NOTTINGHAM TOWNSHIP 882
PETERS TOWNSHIP 387
ROBINSON TOWNSHIP . 900
SMITH TOWNSHIP . 910 V

SOMERSET TOWNSHIP S . . . . . . -. 931
SOUTH STRARANE TOWNSHIP ' 952
' UNION TOWNSHIP . 960
"WEST BETHLEHEM TOWNSHIP 969
WEST FINLEY TOWNSHIP . 979
WEST PIKE RUN TOWNSHIP 986

54

HISTORY OF WASHINGTON COUNTY, ‘PENNSYLVANIA.

of fifty miles along the River Sasquehannah, were de-
serted.” Adam Terrence, one of the white party who
were fired on, said, “ As I understood the Delaware
tongue, I heard several of the Indians that were en-
gaged against us speak a goodrnany words in that
tongue during the action.” The savages who attacked
were supposed to be a part of a force mentioned by
Governor Morris in a letter to the Governor of Vir-
ginia, dated October 29th. He said, “ I have received
Intelligence that a large body of French and Indians
were seen to pass the Allegheny Mountains, moving
towards the Inhabitants of this Province, and that a
party of them have since passed the Susquehannah,
and killed all before them, and were within five miles
of Harris’ Ferry [Harrisburg]. The people are mostly
without arms, and struck with such a panick that they
flee as fast as they can from their habitations.” On
the same date, John Harris, of Paxton, said in a letter
to Edward Shippen, of Lancaster, “The Indians is
cutting us off every day, and I had a certain account
[from Andrew Montour] of about fifteen hundred‘ In-
dians beside French being on their march against us
and Virginia, and now close to our borders, their
Scouts Scalping our Families on our Frontiers daily.
. . . I am informed that a French oflicer was expected
at Shamokin this week with a party of Delawares and
Shawanese, no doubt to take possession of our River;
and as to the state of the Sasquehannah Indians, a
great part of them is actually in the French Interest.”

In the morning of Sunday, the 2d of November, the
Indian allies of the French attacked the Great Cove
settlement, in Cumberland County, killed six persons,‘
and carried away seventeen prisoners. On the same
day Benjamin Chambers wrote from Fallow Spring :1

“ To the Inhabitants of the Lower Part of the
County of Cumberland. If you intend to go to the
assistance of your neighbours, you need not wait any
longer for the Certainty of News. The Great Cove is
destroyed. James Campbell left this Company last
night and went to the Fort at Mr. Steel’s Meeting-
House, and there saw some of the Inhabitants of the
Great Cove, who gave this account, that as they came
over. the Hill they saw their houses in flames. The
messenger says there is but one hundred, and that
they divided into two parts, the one part. to go
against the Cove, and the other against the Conollo-
ways, and that there are no French among them.
They are Delawares and Shawanese. The part that
came against the Cove are under the command of
Shingis, the Delaware King. The people of the Cove
that came off saw several men lying dead; they heard
the murder shout and the firing of Guns, and saw the
Indians going intothe Houses that they had come
outof before they left sight of the Cove. I have sent
express to Marsh Creek at the same time’ that I send
this, so I expect there will be a good Company from
there this day, and as there is but one hundred of the

1 Col. Rec., vol. vi. p. 675.

lEnemy, I think it is in our power (if God permit) to

put them to flight if you turn out well from your
parts.” ' _

On the day following the massacre and burning at
Great Cove the settlements at Little Cove and Conolo-
ways. were attacked, all the houses burned, and several
persons carried away as prisoners. Mr. Potter, sheriff
of Cumberland County, reported “ that of ninety-
three families which were settled in the two Coves‘
and the Conolloways forty-seven were either killed or
taken and the rest deserted.” _

On Sunday, thel16th of November, the Indians, hav-
ing penetrated Berks County, attacked the settlements
only a few miles from the town of Reading, murder-
ing and burning as before. A letter dated at Read-
ing on that day, written by Edward Biddle to his
father in Philadelphia, said, “ I am/ in so much horror
and confusion I scarce know what I am writing. The
drum is beating to arms, and bells ringing and all the
people under arms. Within these two hours we have
had different though _too uncertain accounts, all cor-
roborating each other, and this moment is an express

arrived, dispatch from Michael Reis at Tulpehoccon, V

eighteen miles above this town, who left about thirty
of their people engaged with about an equal number
of Indians at the said Reis’.
an attack, and truly alarming is our situation. . .
I have rather lessened than exaggerated our melan-
choly account.” On the 18th the Governor notified
the mayor and corporation of Philadelphia as fol-
lows: “ I have received intelligence that the Indians
have fallen upon the settlements at Tulpehoccon;
that they had slaughtered many of the Inhabitants
and laid waste the country, and were moving towards
the Town of Reading, which is within Sixty Miles of
this city; and though I am in hopes their cruel
progress will be stopped" long before they can come
hither, yet as I can get no certain intelligence of their
strength, or of the number of Frenchmen that are
among them, I think it my duty to take every cau-
tionary measure in my power forthe preservation and
safety of the people and the province.” .
Passing on from Berks into Northampton County,

the French and Indian force on the 21st of November '

attacked the Moravian settlement of Gnadenhutten,
on the Lehigh. “Six of the Moravians were killed,
and their dwelling-houses, meeting-house, and all
their outhouses burnt to ashes, with all the Grain,
Hay, Horses, and upwards of forty head of fat cattle
that were under cover.” On the 11th of December
the enemy, about two hundred strong, attacked Brod’-
head’s plantation and other settlements in the vicinity,
of the Delaware Water Gap, killed several families
and laid the country waste. On the 29th the secre-
tary of the Council presented to that body an account

of Indian outrages committed since the first outbreak '

east of the mountains on the 18th of October. In
the closing part of this account he said, “ During all
this Month [December] the Indians have been burn-

This night we expect ‘

480

HISTORY or WASHINGTON COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA.

He was a man of pleasing address, and wielded great
influence in town and county. ‘ He left six children,
Elizabeth, George, James C., Hannah, Jane, and
Thomas. Elizabeth became the wife of Benjamin
Stewart, Esq.; they both died in 1838. George
studied law and died in early life. James C. mar-
riedand settled in Wheeling, where he died a few
years ago, leaving a widow and children.. Thomas is
the only survivor. Hannah Acheson, a sister of
John and Thomas, was married i11 Ireland to James
Shields, and became the mother of four children be-
fore she came to the United States in 1800. Of these
children William settled in Nashville, Tenn., and
died in December, 1837, leaving two children, who
were sent to the family of David Acheson, and both
died before reaching maturity. Thomas Shields, a
son of Hannah, came to Washington about 1820,
and became a clerk in the store of his uncle, and re-
mained a few years, when his health failed and he
went to South America, and later settled in Nash-
ville, where he died a few years after his brother
William. George Shields, a brother of William and
Thomas, settled in Washington County, and had two
children, Hannah and Thomas, both of whom are
living-. Ellen Acheson, the youngest daughter of
George Acheson,'and sister of John and Thomas,
married Joseph McCullough in Ireland and settled
there. They emigrated to this country about _1791,
arriving about the time of the death of her brother
John. They removed to Kentucky, where they died
a few years later, leaving two children, George and
Nancy, who were brought to Pennsylvania, George
to Cumberland County, where he grew to manhood
and died. His daughter, Ellen, became the wife of

the Rev. Dr. A. McGill, of Princeton, Theological

Seminary. Nancy was placed with her uncles,
Thomas and David, with whom she lived "until her
marriage with the Hon. Thomas H. Baird, with_whom
she .lived many years and left many descendants.
David Acheson, the youngest" of the family of
brothers and sisters who came to this country, emi-
grated in the spring of 1788 to join his brothers. As
a certificate of, character, he brought with him from
the pastor of his father’s church the following letter:
“ The bearer, David Acheson, intending to remove to
North America, this therefore is to certify that he is a
young man of a sober, good conduct-, and son of Mr.
George Acheson, an elder of the Seceding Congrega-
tion of Market Hill, in the ‘County of Armagh, Ire-

land. This is given under my hand this 30th of‘

April, 1788. David Arnott, Minister.” He embarked
for Philadelphia on the “Friendship,” Capt. Rue,
from Belfast, May 14, 17 88. A safe voyage was made,
and he joined his brothers in Washington, and im-
mediately became associated with his brother John in
the contracts for furnishing supplies to the armies of
the United States. These «contracts continued until
the death of , John in 1791. Among the business
papers of David Acheson were accounts of mercantile

expeditions from Pittsburgh to New Orleans in 1790 .

-91 by John and David Acheson, with a document
written in theSpanish language given to David Ache-
son by the Spanish authorities permitting him to
convey his merchandise within their territory. -After
the death of his brother John he turned his attention

to the study of law for a time with James Ross, but ,

soon after abandoned it and became engaged in mer-
cantile pursuits with his brother Thomas. In 1795
(when twenty-five years old) he was elected to repre-
sent Washington County in the State Legislature, and
again in 1797 and 1804. He was married in the
spring of 1799 to "Elizabeth, daughter of Samuel

. Young, of Philadelphia, who died on the 27th of Feb-

ruary, 1800. An infant daughter was left to him, who
was placed with her grandmother in Philadelphia, by
whom she was brought up. In November, 1802, he
visited his parents, and while abroad traveled through
Ireland and England, spending about six months.
He married as a second wife, Oct. 30, 1805, Mary,
daughter of John Wilson, of Washington, and re-

moved to Philadelphia, where heremained nine-

years,'and in 1814 returned to Washington. While
residing‘ in Philadelphia four children were born to
them,——John, Alexander W., Catharine, and David,
who diedvyoung. Upon his return to Washington,
Mr. Acheson erected the ‘mansion-house now owned
by the Rev. Dr. James I. Brownson. He entered

into business in "Washington, but laterin life, by the a

depression in real estate, he became financially'em-
barrassed and was not again engaged in active pur-
suits. In 1840,when seventy years of age, he re-
visited Ireland and remained until the spring of 1842,
when he returned home and lived an uneventful life
the remainder of. his days. In 1848 he was stricken
with paralysis, and with mind shattered and bodily
powers impaired he" lived until Dec. 1, 1851, when he

died at home surrounded by his family, at the age of’

eighty-one years. The following is from an obituary

notice of him : “He was an accurate and closeobser- V

ver of public and political affairs as connected not
only with our own government, but also with the

prominent nations of Europe, of the diplomacy of" i

which, as well as of their policy, there were but few’

private men of hisvday, retiring and unobtrusive as. a

he was, who better understood or could more accu-
rately delineate. His judgment and conclusions,

which were always deliberate and well matured by ,
his deep,-thinking, strong mind, were valuable and."
very highly esteemed by those acquainted _,with him *

Whether i11 public or private life. Thus during the
period of vigorous manhood he enjoyed a most exten-
sive popularity and influence in the State of Pennsyl-
vania particularly, and with many of her most distin-
guished individuals in her political party history
and government he was on‘ the closest terms of inti-
macy’; hence his opinions and counsels were always
much sought after and greatly valued. . . . As a
private friend and in social life Mr. Acheson was a

WASHINGTON BOROUGH.

481

man of ardent and sincere attachments, and where
personal effort or labor were needed he never faltered
or shrunk by reason of apparent difficulty or threat-
ened danger, ever ready and willing to serve his
friends, at whatever responsibility or personal risk,
by day or night, at home or abroad.”

Judge Alexander W. Acheson‘ and Mrs. Dr. James

7 ‘I. Brownson, a son and daughter of David Acheson,‘

are both well-known and life-long residents of Wash-
' ington. ' »

Alexander Reed came to this country from Done-
gal, Ireland, in .1794. His brother Thomas and his
mother’s brother, Alexander Cunningham, had settled
in the town of Washington some time before. His
father, Robert Reed, graduated in Edinburgh, and

- was a minister of high standing in Scotland, but was

called to Ireland to "preach against the Arian heresy,
then creeping into the Presbyterian Church. Unita-
rian theology is almost the same as that of Arius.
All the books upon its doctrines are said to be lost.
The church Robert Reed established at Manor Cun-
ningham (Donegal County, Ireland)_ had at one time,
.it is said, a thousand communicants, and his children

and granchildren have been the soleoccupants of the I

pulpit for one hundred and fifty years. It is yet one
of the mostimportant churches in that county.
Under the training of such a father the son imbibed
those principles of morality and . religion which
formed his character and influenced his conduct

' through life. The death of his brother occurring
soon after his arrival, he became sole proprietor of
_ the store now occupied by his son Colin, and grand.-

sons, Alexander and Colin. He became much inter-
ested in developing. the agricultural resources of the
"county, and purchased largely ‘of real estate. In
1821 he bought a flock of imported Spanish merino

' sheep of Alexander Wilson, of Philadelphia, and

began the business of fine-wool growing. lHe was the

‘ first to send wool to the Eastern market. He was also

among. the first to introduce best English horses and

»cattle. gHis father-in-law, Rev. Colin »M'cFarquher,
, used to say while here onivisits to his daughter that

her childrenlwould see these hills white with sheep.
Alexander ‘Reed himself lived to see this prophecy
literally fulfilled when »Washington County had a
,million of sheep and was the finest wool‘-growing
«county in the United States. In 1826 he sent silk-

’ , worm eggs to George Rapp, the founder of the society

at Economy, who. gave them to his granddaughter,
Gertrude Rapp,'as the seeds of an industry likely to
furnish pleasantemployment for women. It was not
long before both Mr. Rapp and his granddaughter
made their appearance here one fair day arrayed in

suits of handsome black silk, tlie result of that gift of

silk-worm eggs. This was the beginning of their silk
factory, in operation thirty years. It has been idle
since 1856. With the existing tariff it was never
profitable. They exhibited their silks, satins, velvets,
and brocades at fairs in New York and Boston, and

Miss Rapp (who is yet a vigorous woman) still shows '
.medals awarded her there.

. They demonstrated the
practicability of silk-making in this country, and an-

ticipated by more than half a century _the work of the .
ladies who recently presented Mrs. Garfieldjwith a _

silk dress-pattern, thinking it the first silk ever made
in this country.

Mr. Reed was one of the original trustees in the
charter of Washington College, as well as of the
female seminary. He was president of the Frank-
lin Bank from its foundation, and treasurer of the
Presbyterian Church from its organization till his
death. In all projects and enterprises to advance
the interests of town or country, in all the institu-
tions for promoting the cause of education, morals,
or religion, he was prominent, active, and eflicient.
His regard for truth and honesty was the foundation
of that universal confidence reposed in him. In all
the varied and multiplied transactions of nearly fifty
years his truth and integrity were never impeached,
and he was never engaged in a lawsuit.

. In 1799 he married Janette, daughter of Rev. Colin
McFarquher, of Inverness, Scotland, who came to
this country during the Revolutionary war. He
preached thirty years in Donegal, Lancaster Co., Pa.,
in an old church which is yet standing. The chil-
dren of Alexander Reed were George, Eliza, Colin,
Robert R., Alexander, and Sarah. The last two
died in infancy.’ George died at twenty-eight; m_any
cherished hopes for a brilliant future were buried with
him. "Eliza died while on a visit to Philadelphia, just
in bloom of womanhood. Colin is the only one now
living, at the age of seventy-seven’. In 1835 he mar-
ried the widow of Lieut. Ritner, United States army,
who died at the end of one year, leaving a daughter
(Mary), who is now the wife of Henry Laughlin, of
Pittsburgh, of the firm of Jones & Laughlin. In
1842 he married Sarah E. Chapman, of Massachu-
setts, sister of Maj. William Chapman. The chil-
dren of this marriage were Isabella, Laura, ‘Helen,
Alexander, Colin, Robert, Ethelind, and Alice. Isa-
bella married William Copeland, of Pittsburgh, both
of whom have been dead many years. Laura is the
‘wife of James R. Clark, and is living now in the old
home built by her grandfather Reed. Colin married
Miss Ada Brownlee, and is in business with his father
and brother Alexander in the same location where,
nearly one hundred years ago, it was first established
by Alexander Reed. Alexander, Ethelind, and Alice»
are unmarried. Robert and Helen died- in early
childhood. \ —

In 1830, Robert Rantoul Reed married the oldest
daughter of Judge Thomas H. Baird. The children
of this marriage were Ann Eliza, Alexander, Thomas,
Janette, George, Ellen, Isabella, Colin, William,
Joseph, and Charles. Alexander was a man of mark
in the pulpit, an earnest, eloquent, attractive preacher
of the gospel. His first charge was the Octorara, one
of the long established churches of the Presbytery of

I" ington.

482

HISTORY OF WASHINGTON COUNTY,'PENNSYLVANIA.

Chester. From there he went to Philadelphia; fr'om
thence to Brooklyn. In pastoral work he excelled,
and in all the churches he served he is lovingly re-
membered to this day. After his return from Europe

_ he was called to Denver, where he died, at the age of

forty-seven, after _a brief but effective work there.
His widow (Mary Watson) and children, are here in
Washington. Thomas is an eminent physician in
Philadelphia. William is preaching in Helena, Mon-
tana; George, Colin, and Joseph are in business in

‘Pittsburgh. All the daughters ofthis family died early.

Robert died in the army of typhoid fever. George
also was a soldier in the Federal army. Dr. Thomas
was a surgeon in the Pennsylvania Reserves during the
war. He married Miss Campbell, of Carlisle. George
married Matilda McKennan,' of this town ; Colin,

‘Miss Lord, of Mississippi ; William, Miss McKnight,

of Pittsburgh.’ The widow of Dr. R. R. Reed is now
over seventy, and living among children and sisters.
Marcus Wilson came to America from Coleraine,
County of Londonderry, Ireland. He had four chil-
dren,——John, James, Alexander, and Isaac. John,
the eldest, married Catherine, daughter of Chris-
topher Cunningham, in June, 1785, and in June of
the next year Marcus Wilson and his family, includ-
ing the wife of John and an infant son, Nicholas,
emigrated to this country. Alexander settled in Phila-
delphia. ' James came directly to the town of Wash-
ington, where he lived until his death, in 1828, aged
seventy years. John, with his family and his father,
settled in Philadelphia, where they remained three
years, and in 1789 removed‘ to Washington. They
started from Philadelphia with all their goods in a
cart; on reaching Bedford the cart was abandoned, as
bridle.-paths were the only roads west of the moun-
tains, and pack-horses were used. John was a cabinet-
maker, and at once commenced his business in Wash-
He built a house and shop on the lot where
A. T. Baird’s store now stands. He was elected jus-
tice of the peace Feb. 1, 1799, and held the office until
the infirmities of age. compelled him to retire. He
died March 16, 184:7, aged eighty-five years. His
Widow died in December, 1857, aged eighty-eight
years. They had twelve children, of whom Nicholas
went, South when a young man, and settled in Iber-

ville, La. The second child, Mary, was born in Phila-'

delphia, Nov. 30, 1787, and came to,this~ town with
her parents. She married David Acheson, Oct. 30,
1805. She lived a long and useful life, and died Aug.
2, 1872, aged eighty-five years. Martha, the third
child of John Wilson, was born in Washington, Feb.
18, 1790. She became the wife of Dr. John Wishart,
of Washington, in October, 1827. They remained in
Washington. She survived her husband seven years,
and died in March,-1871, at theresidence of her son
Marcus, in Allegheny County. Margaret, another
daughter of J ohn’ Wilson, married William Wilson,

of Philadelphia, and lived and died in that city. Jane

1 also a daughter’ of John Wilson, married George

1 m_any years.

Bair_d,_of Washington, Oct. 25, 1811. For several
years they resided in various places, and in 1844 re-
turned to "Washington, where she died in 1872. John
and A. Todd Baird, of Washington, are her sons.
Marcus, a son, of John Wilson,‘ was born in Wash-
ington. When a young man he moved to Wheeling,
where ‘he died Aug.’ 1, 1837. Alexander Wilson, an
attorney of Washington, is his son. John K. Wilson,
also a son of John Wilson, and a native of Washing-
ton, married Maria, the only daughter of David
Shields and granddaughter of Maj. Daniel Leet. He
was for many years a prominent merchant in Wash-
ington, and lived in the house where he was born, on
the east side of Main Street opposite the -court-house.

(The site is now occupied by Hastings’ hardware-store

and the Washington Savings Bank.) About 1830 he
removedxto Allegheny City, where he still resides.
David S. Wilson, a leading attorney of Washington,
is a son. Catharine, a daughter of John Wilson, be-
came the wife of Andrew Todd, of VVashington. Their
son, Alexander_Todd, is now an attorney in Washing-

ton borough. James, the youngest son of John Wil-» ‘

son, was born in 1806, and when a lad of sixteen
years was killed by the falling of the chimney at the
burning of a house on Maiden Street, Feb. 23, 1822.

James Wilson came from Burnt Cabin, Bedford

Co.,-Pa., in 1781, and purchased lot 291, where Smith’s _

store now is. On it he erected a log house, and on
the 3d of October, at the first term of court in Wash-
ington County, he was licensed to keep a tavern.

Later, he bought lot 21 (where Charlton’s confec— _

tionery-store now is), on the east side of Main Street.
This lot was purchased on a certificate. In 1792 he
passed his title to his son Hugh. A deed had pre-
viously been made to Hugh (Aug. 15, 1786). A house
was built on this lot, which at -that time was the largest
in the town, and in it the shows that visited the place
andvarious amateur performances were. held. Dr. J.
Julius Le Moyne first opened his drug-store in this
house. After his removal, Mrs. Baker’s Female Semi-
nary was located there until her removal, in 1815, to
a house .on Maiden Street. James -Wilson lived in
the househe built on the corner of Main and Beau
Streets until his death, and his widow lived there
several years after. He died in 1792, and by his will
left to his wife, Margaret, the use of two hundred
acres of land adjoining the town until James, the
youngest son, should be of age; then the farm was

to be divided equally between James, Thomas, and '

John. Hugh, the oldest son, had been provided for

by property set off to him previously, among which_

was the lot on Main Street near Maiden. The house
and lot where James Wilson, Sr., lived and died was
left to his youngest son, James, but it later _came into
possession of Hugh Wilson, by whom it was owned
A daughter (Matty) of James Wilson
became Mrs. Bryson. James, the youngest son, was
a coppersmith, and lived in the town several years.
Of the other sons, except Hugh, nothing is known.

WASHINGTON BOROUGH.

483

1 Hugh Wilson, in addition to the property obtained  Ohio River and settled at Bayou Sara, La., where he

from his father, purchased of James Marshel, in "1786,
the lot on which now stands Morgan & Hargreaves’
store. He opened a store on lot 21 before 1795, and
was a merchant many years. He married for his
first wife Rachel (daughter of Isaac Leet and sister
of Maj. Daniel Leet), by whom he had five children,———
Rebecca, Margaret, Rachel, Hugh -W., and Eliza.

Rebecca became the wife of "James Blaine, who in
1809 opened a dry.-goods store next door to Hugh

.Wilson. Later, he puichased the stone house built

by David Bradford; In this house they both lived
and died, leaving no children. He was elected justice
of the peace in 1817, and served three terms. He was
also county treasurer from 1815 -to 1817. Margaret,

' the second daughter of Hugh VVilson, became the

wife of John Marshel, the son of Col. J ames'Marshe1.
He was sheriff of the county in 1835, and before the
expiration of the term was appointed cashier of the
Franklin Bank (now the First National). This posi-
tion he retained till 1857, when he resigned, and re-

, turned toa farm near Washington, where he died.

Mrs. Dr. Matthew H. Clark, of Washington, and Mrs.
S. A. Clark, of Pittsburg-h,are his daughters. Rachel,
the third daughter of Hugh and Rachel Wilson, be-
came the wife of Richard Harding, and settled first
in Alabama and later at Wheeling. Mrs. Harding

_ now resides at Philadelphia with her daughter, Mrs.
, Rebecca Harding Davis, well known to the public as

an authoress. Mrs. John L. Grow, of VVashington, is
also a daughter of Mrs. Harding. _

Hugh W. Wilson, the only son of Hugh and
Rachel, settled in South» Strabane, on the‘_farm his
grandfather purchased, and where his father built
the residence in which James W. Wilson, the son of

.Hugh Wilson, now lives. Hugh Wilson, after the
' death of his first wife, married Margaret Fleming, a_

widow, with one daughter, who afterwards became
the wife of the, Rev. John McFadden, of Pittsburgh.
By the second wife he had one daughter, Eliza, who
became the wife of the Rev. Thomas Swain, of Phila-

delphia, who was pastor of the Baptist Church at

Washington, Pa., from 1846 to. 1850. After his resig-

nation as pastor of the church they returned to Phila-

delphia. After the ‘death of Margaret,'the second

"wife, Hugh Wilson married a Miss Spencer, an Eng-

lish lady, who survived him several years. ,
David Bradford was the son of» James Bradford,
who settled in North Strabane township. He was a
native of Maryland, and came to this county in 1781 ;
was admitted to the bar in 1782, and appointed
deputy attorney-general the next _year. When the
convention of the four western counties met at Pitts-
burgh, Sept.‘ 7, 17 91, he was one of the threeirepre-
sentatives from Washington County. He was elected
to the‘ State Legislature in 1792. He wasactive in
inciting the people to the VVhiskey Insurrection.
When the amnesty proclamation was issued, Brad-
ford was one of the few excluded. He fleddown the

, County.

remained till his death. He erected the stone house
on Main Street, now owned by Mrs. R. Harding, and
lived thereduring his residence in Washington. He
was a brother-in-law of Judge John McDowell and
Judge James Allison. A '

' Van Swearingen was a resident of Fayette County
from about 1774 to 1781, when he was chosen. sheriff
of Washington County, and for several years there-
after was identified with .its interests. He purchased
large tracts of land in all parts of the county. He
was a resident of the town of Washington while he
was acting in an oflicial capacity, but it is not known
that he owned any property in town. His only daugh-

ter Drusilla became thewife of Samuel Brady, the

famous Indian fighter‘ and scout. Later in life he
removed to Brooke County, Va., where he died Dec.
2, 1793, in the fifty-first year of his age; He was a
brother of Andrew Swearingen, of Chartiers town-
ship.

Matthew Ritchie’s first appearance in the county

was under an appointment from the State of Virginia
in the year 1777, to tender the oath of allegiance to
the people in the counties of Yohogania, Monongalia,
and Ohio. 011 the 24th of December, 1781, he was
appointed sub-lieutenant of the county; elected rep-

resentative in 1782, -’83, and ’84; justice of the Court ,

of Common Pleas of the county in 1784; and on the
5th of‘ December, 1789, was appointed with Presley
Neville as deputy surveyor of a part of Washington
He purchased of George Washington the
tract of land known as “Washington’s lands,” in
Mount Pleasant township. He "resided in Washing-
ton, where he was engaged in merchandising, and so
continued till his death. He was also engaged with
his brother John, and David Bruce, in merchandising
in Burgettstown. He died in 1798 at Washington,
and left the property in Washington to his wife Isa-
bella and to his brothers, Craig Ritchie, of Canons-
burg, and John‘ Ritchie, of Washington, and the lots
and store in Burgettstown to his brother -Craig. He
owned the following lands -in equal sha.res with Pres-
ley Neville : One tract on Saw-Mill Run, one hundred’
acres on Robinson Run near Gabriel Walker’s, one
tract on King’s Creek,.and one adjoining Old Blaziers
of three hundred acres, and three tracts owned in

V equal shares by Neville, Ritchie, and Charles Morgan.

_ Alexander Cunningham was a native of Donegal,
Ireland. He emigrated to this country about 1783,
and in May of 1784 purchased on certificate lot No.
18 in'Washington, on which later the.Globe inn was
built, and now occupied by John Allen’s confection-
ery-store. _ Later, he purchased lot 275, where A. B.
Caldwell’s store nowjstands. On this lot he built a
store-houseland dwelling, and opened a store which
he kept during the remainder of his life. He also
bought the Yeates tract of land that is’now in Frank-
lin township. _Later this tract came into possession
of Alexander Reed, and it is now owned by William

.484

I elected a member of the State Senate.

HISTORY OF WASHINGTON COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA.

Paull and Hira.m Warne. Mr. Cunningham married
Elizabeth, daughter of Thomas Scott, and lived in the

' house on lot 275, where his death occurred in 1806. 3

His children were all born here. J ane, the eldest,
-became the wife of Matthew Dill, son of Thomas Dill.
He was engaged in business with his father-in-law
from about 1803 till the death of Mr. Cunningham.
Samuel, the second child, was born. Oct. 8, 1788, and
when twenty-one years of age married Maria, daugh-
ter of David Morris, on the 26th of March, 1811. She
died a short time after marriage, and on the 23d of

March, 1815, he ‘married Sarah, daughter of the Rev.‘

Lyman Potter, of Steubenville. After this marriage
he removed to a farm now owned by Wilson McClean,
where he lived six years and then returned to town.
He had been a merchant in town before going to the
country, and on his return entered the store of Alex-
ander Reed as aclerk. A He was county commissioner
in 1830, and sheriff from 1832 to 1835., Upon the
organization of the Franklin Bank in 1836 he was
appointed teller, and remained as such till failing
health compelled him to resign. He died on the 17th
‘of May, 1875, leaving an ‘adopted daughter, Miss
Rebecca Cunningham, now a resident of Washington.
The residence of Samuel Cunningham was the house
now occupied by A. T. Baird on Maiden Street. Of
the other children of Alexander Cunningham, Thomas
F. studied law and was admitted to the bar i-n Wash-
ington County. He removed to Mercer County, Pa.,
where he became prominent as a lawyer, and was
He died many
years ago, leaving numerous descendants. John Cun-
ningham, a son of Alexander, studied medicine with
Dr. J ames- Stevens, of Washington ; practiced at
Florence, Hanover township, and is now living at an
advanced age in Wooster, Ohio. Two daughters of
Alexander Cunningham, Elizabeth and Sarah (twins),
married and settled in Butler County, Pa. Alexander
Cunningham, Jr., settled in Nashville, Tenn., where
he became a banker, and is still living. VVilliam, the
youngest son of Alexander, married Miss McClure, a
niece of John Hoge, and settled in Butler County, Pa.
Hugh, Samuel, and James Workman came to this
county about 1781. They all purchased lands outside
the borough,‘ but Hugh, about 1789, built a tannery
on the lot now owned by VVilliam Smith and Mrs.
Clark. His house was where the depot of the Hemp-
field Railroad now stands. He carried on the busi-
ness many years, which was finally transferred to his
son Samuel, who, in 1837, sold it to David Wolf.
Hugh VVorkman died in 1843, aged eighty-four years.

.He had three sons, Hugh, James, and Samuel. Hugh

started a tannery on the corner of College and Maiden
Streets, but died early, and it passed to other hands.
James also died when a young man. Samuel, in 1819,
assumed the editorial management of the Reporter,
while his brother-in-law, William Sample, was acting
as prothonotary. He was treasurer of the county in
1822, sheriff from 1824 to 1827, member of Legisla-

ture from 1828 to 1830, and secretary‘ of the land-
office under Governor Wolf. He died in 1841. Wil-
liam Workman, of Washington, is a son of Samuel.
Margaret, a daughter of Hugh Workman, became‘ the
wife of William Sample, the owner and editor of the
Reporter. They settled in Washington, where she

died. ~ Another daughter became the wife of Samuel 3

Hughes. They" settled in South Strabane, on the
farm where John Little now lives. ’ V '
Michael Kuntz emigrated from Germany to Amer-
ica, and settled in Lancaster County, where he lived
several years. While living there his wife died, leav-

ing a son John. He married a second wife, by whom V

be had’ two sons, George and Jacob. In the spring
of 1788 he came to I/Vashington, bought the lot on

which Vowell’s drug-store nowstands, and built-a

cabin upon’ it, and lived there that year, and in the
fall returned to his home, where he remained during
the year 1789. In the spring of the next year, when
his son John was seven years old, he removed his

' family to VVashington. In 1791 he was -licensed to

keep a tavern, and kept it one year. He was a mem-
ber of a Lutheran Church in Lancaster County, and

~ in 1792 rode to his old residence to be present at the

dedication ‘of a church a-t that place. He died the

.n ext year after his return, July 10, 1793, leaving three

sons, John, George, and Jacob. ‘John and George
were both batters, and‘ opened shops in Washington.
They were both in business in 1808, and were .still in
business in 1838. Henry Kuntz, a son of John, kept
a book-store many years in Washington. The only
descendant of John now living. is Miss Sarah J. Kuntz.
George o'pened a shop where Alexander McKinley
nowlives. In 1814 he bought the lot on Wheeling
Street, and built the residence where his widow still
lives. He married a daughter of Henry Westblay,

, of Canonsburg, and by her had five sons. Michael,

James, and Stephen are now well-known residents
of Washington borough. Jacob Kuntz, the youngest
son of Michael, was a nailor, and worked in a shop
where Sharps’ building now is. He married the
daughter of Ludowyck "Smith, and later in life he
removed to the farm inherited by his wife. Mrs.
John Zediker, of South Strabane township,,is a daugh-
ter of J acobKuntz. - 1

Thomas Stokely, who in 1781 was captain of a
militia company in Westmoreland County, soon after
came to this county, and purchased a large quantity of

land, especially in the southwestern part of the county.’ '

He was frequently mentioned in the old records as
“ Thomas Stokely, Land Jobber.” He was elected a
member of the House of Representatives in 1.792,
and State senator in 1794. He was in the war of 1812.
During his residence in Washington he lived in a house
on Wheeling Street, on the lot now occupied by the
African Methodist Episcopal Church. He 'moved

from Washington to Brownsville, and later to Coon ’

Island, Washington County, where he died, and was
buried with. military honors, Col. James Ruple with

— greave’s store now stands.

WASHINGTON BOROUGH.

485

his company from Washington attending. At his
death he was in possession of all the lands he had
bought, and was one of the largest land-owners in the
country. His son Samuel was educated at Washing-
ton College, studied law, and settled in Steubenville,
Ohio, where his descendants live "and own the Wells’
property. His daughter also married and settled
‘there. ,

Alexander Addison came from Ireland to «this
county in 17 84 or 1785 as a licentiate of the Presby-
tery of Aberlow, Scotland. The Presbyterian Church
of Washington extended to him a call on the 20th
December, 1785, which he accepted, and he continued
to reside here both as pastor and judge of the courts
(to the latter of which he was appointed in 1791) for

' ten or twelve years. Later he resided in Pittsburgh.

He purchased the “ Washington lands” of Matthew

' Ritchie, and sold a portion, and the remainder was

sold by his widow. Mrs. Addison lived in Washing-
ton after her husband’s death many years. He died

Nov. 27, 1807.. His son Alexander became an at-.

torney ‘of VVashington County, and died from the
results of an injury he received at the burning of
Thomas M. T. McKenn‘an’s office in February, 1822.
More extended mention will be found of Judge Ad-
dison in connection with the bench and_bar of the
county. .

Col. James .Marshel, a settler in Cross Creek town-

yship, purchased ‘lot No. 90 of David Hoge on‘ a

certificate, receiving his deed from'Mr. Hoge in Feb-
ruary, 1785. This lot was where Morgan & Har-
He sold it the next year

to’ Hugh Wilson. He lived in the town during the

terms o_f the various ofiices he held of county lieu-

tenant, register, recorder, and sheriff. In .1794 _the

_ military headquarters were upon the lot he then lived

on, and the United States forces were encamped on
the college grounds. _

James Langley and his brother, who settled in Erie
County, Pa., came from Market Hill, Ireland, to this
county and town about 1790, where the Achesons
-(with whom they were acquainted) had previously

located. James purchased of the\Hoges lot No. 93,

on Main Street, just above the Valentine House, and
where his grandson, John Lockhart, now lives. On
this lot he built a log house, in which he lived and
opened a store. Later this house was removed to the
lot of Col. James Ruple, and a frame building was
erected (on the site of Mr. Lockhart’s' store), which
he used as a store. In 1818 he built the brick house
now the residence of Mr. Lockhart, which was used
as a store and dwelling. In 1860 the frame building

A was removed and the present store erected. The

counters now in Mr. Lockhart’s store have been used

through four generations,——-James Langley, his sons,

Henry and James Langley; John Lockhart, his step-
son, and now by John W. Lockhart. and his son,
James L. Lockhart. James Langley left two sons,
James and Henry, who both lived bachelors and died

here.’ The wife of James Langley, Sr., was the widow .

of William Lockhart, of Beaver County, Pa., having
four "children, one of whom,'John, was in business

' with his stepfather from 1810 to 1820, when he re-

moved to Illinois; James Langley died in 1830.
James and Henry Langley succeeded their father in
business. ‘Henry was prominent in the Baptist
Church, and later in the Church of the Disciples.

Isaiah Steen came to this towniabout 1794 and pur-

chased a lot on East Beau Street of John Hoge, on
which he afterwards erected a house that was known
for.’ many years as “Castle Crack,” now owned and
occupiedpby‘ Maj. John’ H. Ewing. He was for many
years a “ manufacturer of Windsor chairs.” His chil-
dren were John and a daughter, both of whom were
gifted in drawing and painting. For many years
specimens of their skill were in the houses of the

early families. Isaiah Steen lived here till his death,

at an advanced age.

Joseph Huston, a cousin of VVilliam Huston, built

the stone house long known as “ The Buck” tavern,
and commenced keeping public-house in 1796, and so
continued till his‘ death, in 1812.’ He left awidow and
three sons—Cyrus, Joseph, and Hamil‘ton—and“ four
daughters—-Sally, Isabella, Elizabeth, andPolly. Cy-
rus settled here, followed the trade of cabinet-maker,
and died here. Joseph and Hamilton now reside in
Ohio. Sally became the wife of James Meetkirke,
son of William.. He was a chair-maker, and li_ved
and died here. Elizabeth married William Oliver, a
hatter, who lived here many years, but while on a trip
to the East disappeared, and was never again heard of.
Polly became the wife of Zachariah Reynolds, who
was for a time clerk in the prothonotary’s ofiice, and
finally settled on his father’s farm in South Strabane.

Capt. William McKennan was a son of the Rev.
William M‘cKennan, a Presbyterian clergyman of
New Castle, Delaware, where William was born in
1758. He married Elizabeth, daughter of John
Thompsoniand niece of Governor Thomas McKean.
At the breaking out of the Revolution he was a mer-

chant, which business he gave up and joined the Del-.

aware line (“ Blue Hen’s Chickens”-) as captain of a
company, and served during the war,-receiving a
wound at the battle of Brandywine. After the war
hereturned to his home and remained a number of
years. "In 1798 he removed to Charlestown (now
Wellsburg, ‘Vest Va.), and in 1800 to Washington
County, Pa. He was appointed in 1801 prothono-

. tary of the county byiGovernor McKean, and re-

moved from West Middletown, where he resided,'to
the county—seat, where he lived the remainder of his
days. He held the position of prothonotary during
Governor McKean’s administration, which was till
1809. He was also a trustee of Washington Academy

and Washington College. ‘His death occurred in J an- -

uary, 1810, at the age of fifty-two years, leaving a
widow (who died in 1839) and five sons and one
daughter, viz.: William, John ‘T., Thomas M. T.,

tion already national.

486

HISTORY OF WASHINGTON ‘COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA.

David, James W., and Ann E. William, the eldest 3

son, was educated at VVashington College, became a
teacher, and emigrated to Ohio, where he died. John
T. was educated at Washington Academy, became
cashier of‘ the Monongahela Bank of Brownsville,
Pa., and died Sept. 18, 1830, while on a visit at
Reading, Pa. Thomas M. T. McKennan was also
educated at VVashington College. He entered the
oflice of Parker Campbell as a law student, and was
admitted to the bar in the twenty-first year of his age,
on the 7th of November, 1814. At the next June
term of the court he succeeded Walter Forward as
deputy attorney-general for the county, and acted
until March, 1817, when William_Baird commenced
to act. His rise at the bar was rapid, and he was
soon employed in all important cases, maintaining a

front rank in the profession while he lived. In 1831

he was elected a member of Congress of the United
States, and continued four terms at a sacrifice of per-
sonal interest, and declined a renomination. Upon
the death of Joseph Lawrence, in 1842, he yielded to
the urgent solicitations of the people and the demands

A of his party, and served during the remainder of the

term. As “ chairman of the committee of the whole,”
for the space of two months, in the first session of that
year, he rendered efiicient aid to the paramount indus-
trial interests of the country, and increased a reputa-
He waschosen a Presidential
elector in" 1840, and was president of the Pennsylva-
nia Electoral College of 1848. His influence with the
incoming administration was potent, and the more
appreciated because unselfish and disinterested in its
exertion. Common consent assigned him a place in
the cabinet of 1849; and when in the following year
President Fillmore called him to the Secretaryship of
the Interior, all parties hailed the appointment as one
eminently merited. A. reluctant acceptance of the
oflice was granted, only to be recalled after a few
days’ experience. IWearied by the ungenial details of
oflicial business, anddisgusted with the irhportunities
of the place-hunters attracted by his patronage, he
resigned his position near the Executive and returned
to his cherished home and the friends whom he loved.
Soon afterwards he received and accepted the presi-
dency of the Hempfield Railroad Company, and
while engaged in the administration” of its affairs died
at Reading, Paf, on the 9th of July, 1852. Mr. Mc-
Kennan’s connection with ‘Washington College was
longer and more intimate than that of any other in-
dividual. Entering the academy at a very early age,
and matriculating as a member of the first Freshman
class, he passed through the entire curriculum of
studies with credit to himself and to his instructors.
Suchwas his rank as a scholar that, in February,
1813,‘ he was appointed tutor of ancient languages,
and acted in that capacity for eighteen months. In

.April, 1818, he was chosen a member of the corpora-

tion, where he continued throughout his subsequent
life—_—for_ thirty-four years——the able counselor and

\

guardianof the college. Two of his sons, Judge
‘William McKennan, of the class of 1833, and Dr.
Thomas McKennan, of the class of 1842, have served
in the board of trustees. His youngest son, John,

graduated in 1851, and another son,_Jacob B., was -

for a time a student in the college. I ,

David McKennan, a son of Capt. William McKen-
nan, was also educated at Washington College, after
which he learned the trade of tanner, and resided
at Brownsville, where he died comparatively young.
James W. McKennan,the youngest son of Capt. Wil-

, liam, graduated at Washington, College, and became

adjunct professor of languages ;" studied theology
under the Rev. John Anderson, D.D., and entered
the ministry of the«Pr_esbyterian Church. ’ He was
pastor of Lower Buffalo Church from 1829 to 1834, and
later pastor of a church in Indianapolis." His health
failed and he retired from duties, and removed to
Wheeling (where his daughter resided), and died in
that city in 1861. Ann’E. McKennan, the only
daughter of Capt. William McKennan, became the
wife of the Hon. Thomas Gibbs Morgan, of Louisiana,
(a native of this county), a prominent lawyer of Baton
Rouge. She died young, leaving one son, Philip
Hickey Morgan, who is the present minister of the
United States to Mexico. K -
Obadiah Jennings was a native of New Jersey, and
son of the Rev. Jacob Jennings. He was born Dec.
13, 1778, and came to Dunla»p’s Creek, Fayette County,
with his father, who became pastor of the Presby-
terian Church at that place._ He was educated at
Canonsburg Academy ; studied law with John Simon-
son, of Washington, and was admitted to the bar of
Washingtdn County in 1801. He opened an oflice, in
Steubenville, and in 1811 came to Washington and
built a small one-story brick ofifice on Maiden Street,
below John Baird’s. His residence was in the meadow

at the south end of First Street. After apractice of a 3.

few years he studied for the ministry, and was licensed
to preach in 1816. He became pastor of the First.Pres-
byterian Church of Steubenville, where he remained
till 1823. On the ,8th of October in that year here-
ceived a call from the First Presbyterian Church.of

Washington to become their pastor, which he accepted. _

He was installed the 23d of the sai‘i1e‘month,‘ and re-
mained pastor till 1828. During his residence here
as pastor he resided where the public school building
now stands, and later where J. W. Donnan now re-
sides.
1824—25._ Upon his retirement from this church he
accepted a call. from a Presbyterian Church in Nash-
ville, Tenn., where he lived till his death, in 1832.
Robert Hazlett, a native of Ireland, was educated
at Edinburgh University, and soon after married and
settled there for a time. " Soon after the close of the
Revolutionary war he emigrated with his family to
this country and settled near Chambersburg, leaving
one son at ‘home with his grandparents. At this

place the most of his children w-ere born. About .

He also taught a young ladies’ school in ‘

‘who were ‘at church Sundays.

WASHINGTON BOROUGH.

3

487

1795 he emigrated to Washington, Pa., and pur-.
' chased of the Hoges, lot No. 92 on Main Street,

where he erected a dwelling. He opened a store
first near‘ Hugh Wilson’s, on Main Street near
Maiden, and late in 1797 moved to where William
Arbuckle lived. Still later he moved the store into
the house where he lived. He continued in business
till his death in 1818. or 1819. H Robert Hazlett left
six children, all of whom went West except Samuel.
Mary became the wife of a Mr. Cummins, and

, mother of Drs. R. H. and James Cummins, now of,

Wheeling.’ The rest settled in Zanesville, Ohio.
Samuel, the youngest son of .Robert Hazlett, was

born in Washington. in 1798, and ‘after his father’s*

death continued the business with his mother for a

' "short time, and purchased the rights of the heirs.

He then continued as a merchant until the establish-

. ment of the bank on the 1st of April, 1837. ,From

that time he continued in the banking business till
hisdeath in November, 1863. Samuel .Hazlett and
Mrs. Dr. Wray Grayson, of Washington, are chil-
dren of Samuel Hazlett. One son lives inPittsburgh.
and one in Wheeling. ' 0

Hugh Wylie came to this town before 1796, and on
the 26th of July in that year he purchased of John
and William Hoge lot 283 on Maiden Street, where
J. Shan Margerum’s store now is.
appointed postmaster, and his oflice was located in
his house. He was a merchant also, and kept the

post-oflice till his death in 1828. His son David

acted as deputy postmaster. After his father’s death
he retired to his father’s farm in Chartiers township,
and lived there till. his death. ‘His sons now own the
farm. Hugh Wylie was an elder in the Presbyterian
Church of Washington. As postmaster he was fre-
quently asked for letters by people from out of town
As a matter of ac-
commodation this request was granted, until the hour
of the service became a regular hour of distribution
on Sundays. Attention was drawn to this after a
time, and it was thought to be not right. The mat-
ter was brought before the church‘ and decided ad-
versely to the action of" Mr. Wylie, and upon his per-
sisting . he was expelled. It was carried to the
General Assembly'that met at Pittsburgh in 1810, and
the decision was aflirrned. In 1812 a petition of cit-
izens of Washington was presented ‘to the General
Assembly asking them to reopen the case and recon-
sider their action. The petition was not granted.

' Robert Hamilton was a blacksmith and wool-carder.
He was mentioned as a blacksmith in the assessment
roll of 1799. In the year 1810 he owned three lots,
“ on which are aSmith Shop, Dwelling House, Ma-

chine House, and an unfinished brick house,” at the"

lower end of Maiden Street. He carried on the bus-
iness of" wool-carding till 1815, when he retired from
personal attention of the business, but still retained
an interest. He advertised May 20, 1816, that “ he
will run four wool-cardingémachines and one picker

In 1803 he was

at Thomas H. Baird, Esqr.’s steam—rnill‘ opposite his
old stand.” In 1815 he opened a store in the brick
house where he lived, and kept it till his death in
1823, and his widow continued the business many
years later. He married the daughter of ——_—-
Mitchell, of Washington. Mrs. Charles Sisson, a
daughter of-- Robert Hamilton, lives in the brick
residence where she was born in 1811. The old frame

dwelling and other buildings arestill standing below .

the brick house, and are now used’ as dwellings.
Patrick Bryson emigrated from County Down, Ire-
land, and in 1796 settled at Washington, on Catfish
Run. He bought a lot of ‘Hugh Workman, and
erected a horse-mill on the lot now owned by the
Vankirks. It did the grinding for many miles
around, but little was done with it after 1822, when
it was sold to Thomas Jones, who erected it on Chest-
nut Street. "Bryson lived at this place during his
lifetime, and died in 1860, aged ninety-five years. His
wife died at the same time at eighty-four years of age-,
and they were buried -the same day. William Bryson,
of Washington, is a son of Patrick Bryson. _
James Shannon, Joseph and Thomas Reynolds
came from Baltimore to Washington in 1803 with
their families. They were all shoemakers. Shannon
opened a shop where Vowell’s drug-store now is and

‘kept a shop there many years, and the.Reynolds’

worked for him. In 1812 he moved his shop to Where
Thomas McKean’s tobacco-store’ now is. He was
prominent in connection with the Methodist Church,
and active in all its work. He left four sons and
three daughters. Robert settled in Cincinnati; Wil-
liam, James, and Frank remained in Washington,
and still reside there. -Mrs. Eliza Harter, Mrs. Dr.
J. S. Reed, of Pittsburgh, and Mrs. Henrietta Beck,
of New Orleans, are daughters of James Shannon. 

Alexander Murdoch was the youngest son of John
Murdoch, who settled in what‘ is now North Strabane

township in 1778. He was "born near Carlisle, Pa.,'

in 1770. When quite a young man, he purchased
the Canonsburg mills, with a large tract of land ex-
tending from -the present site of (the mills up Char-
tiers Creek and embracing the land now occupied by
the Hodgen’s tannery. From these mills, at an early
period, he loaded two large‘ flatboats with flour and
saddlery, and landed them safely at,New Orleans.
He returned fromi this trip on horseback through an
almost unbroken wilderness. . In 1803 he married
Elizabeth, daughter of Rev. Matthew Henderson, of

Chartiers township. In 1809 he was appointed by.
_the'Governor prothonotary of the Court of Common

Pleas of Washington County, and held the oflice until
1819. Upon his acceptance of this office he sold the
Canonsburg property and removed to Washington.

Soon after, he built the brick house on the corner of '

Main Street and Pine Alley, now owned and occu-
pied by his eldest daughter, Mrs. Mary M. Grow.

Subsequently he purchased the lot on the corner of .

Main and Beau Streets, and built thereon what is

488

Hrsronr or WASHINGTON COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA.

now a part of the “Fulton House.” He moved to
this building in 1822, and resided there until the

spring of 1828, and was engaged during this period

in the mercantile business.- Having in the mean
time purchased a part of the tract of land of ove-r
four hundred acres, known as “ Morganza,” two miles
below Canonsburg, on Chartiers Creek, he,‘ with his
family, took possession of the same in 1828, and re-
mained there until his death, which occurred in 1836.
His widow survived him twenty-seven years, and
died in Canonsburg, March, 1863, aged eighty—three
years. ‘ A '

The surviving children are Mrs. Mary M. Gow, of
Washington; Mrs. Sarah B. Muller, of Nelsonville,
Ohio; Mrs. E. M. Wilson and Anne, of Moberly,
Mo.; and Alexander Murdoch, of VVashington.

Esther, the daughter and youngest child of John
Murdoch, Sr., was married in 1803 to Hugh Hagarty,
a merchant, who subsequently came to Washington,
and opened a store in the building now occupied by
Mrs. Grow. Mr. Hagarty left . Washington and lo-
cated in Florence, Ala., where he soon after died.

Mr. and Mrs. Hagarty had two children, John and
Samuel. John owned and commanded a number of
steamboats on the- Ohio and Mississippi Rivers, and
had many warm‘ friends in Washington, with whom
he frequently visited. He died a few years since, in
Cincinnati. Samuel died many years ago, in the
State of Indiana. ’Mrs. Hagarty died soon after the
birth of her second child. .

John Grayson, who was for more than half a cen-
tury a citizen of Washington, and for over forty years
.editor and ‘publisher of the Washington Examiner,
was a sonof Robert Grayson who, with his sons Wil-
liam and John, aged respectively two years, and nine

months, sailed from Ireland in the brig “William,” I

arriving at New Castle, Del., in June, 17 8-1. The fol-
‘lowing sketch of John Grayson is from his diary:

“ My father proceeded to. Mifliin, where he made his
lodgement for a short time, until after the death of my
-mother, then with brother William and myself re-

moved to Carlisle. My inclination turned upon the

printing business at quite an early age, as much_per-
haps as from anything else, and perhaps more from
observing with very great interest and attention some

‘printing-type among the sweepings of a printing-

oflice. I went home resolving in my mind to learn
the printing business and no other. Accordingly, at
a suitable age, my father placed me with George

.‘ Kline, of Carlisle, to learn the -‘ art, trade, and occu-
, pation of a printer,’ himself providing clothing, etc.

Although discouragements met me and induced re-

‘linquishing my intention; having determined upon‘

the matter, I resolved to go through ; and can say with
all seriousness in my own heart, my duties were per-
formed faithfully and honorably. In the winter of
1805 went to Philadelphia, obtaining a situation in
the book printing-oflice of William Duane, editor of
The ‘Aurora, whoseloffice was in Franklin Court.

' arms his profession.

Continued to reside in_ Philadelphia until the sum-
mer of 1806, when, the yellow fever making its appear-
ance there, went to Trenton, N. J. Worked with
James Oram, book-printer, during the summer. Re-
turned to Philadelphia; and between that city, New
‘York, and the city of Baltimore, spent the remaining
days of my journeyman-printer life. .

“ June 18, 1812.—The same day war declared by Con-
gress (about noon the Declaration was received by ex-
press from Washington) against Great Britain. Being
in the city of Baltimore, gave myself mind, heart, and
body to be a. soldier while the war lasted. - The city was
inextreme frenzied excitement; business almost sus-
pended; the population in masses in the streets, and
agitated as if a hostile army had invaded their homes.
About simultaneously with the declaration of war, Con.-
gress had promptly passed a bill providing for accept-
ing the services of fifty thousand volunteers, signed by
President Madison. Under this act many young men
volunteered, and we signed our names at a rendezvous
-immediately opened at a tavern in Pratt Street, east
of the basin. Opposite, across the street, was a large

buildingused for a riding-school. Before many days _

plenty of volunteers signed for filling the company,
and many were excluded. We drilled daily in the
above building, and became pretty fair soldiers at

‘least in evolutions of the drill. . . .

“ Went through several promotions and served until
close of the war, thus completing three years on the
Niagara and Northern frontier,—one as a volunteer
in the Baltimore volunteers, and two in the regular
army; obtained a furlough for three months from
this date, Nov. 7, 1814; return to duty; no opera-

tions of this division of the army of any importance .-

from date until the news of peace having been con-
cluded at Ghent was received.. Now that war has
happily terminated, my anxieties arefor private life
and active business. A military one—in ‘peace-_—
affording very little pleasure to me. In the arrang-
ing of the peace establishment am retained and as-
signed to the corps of artillery in my present position
as second lieutenant from the date of my commission
as ‘such in the infantry (2d June,_.1814). Reportto

Adjt.-Gen. Parker at Washington City, who solicits .

me to remain in the service, offering some‘induce-
ments to do so; that I should be stationed at Fort
McHenry,‘near’Baltimore, or any other post I should
choose. Gen. Parker was particularly kind, but I
had joined the army because there seemed to be a
necessity,—my country engaged in war with a foreign
nation. Now that ‘an honorable peace was obtained,
and our just claims granted, I felt as standing in the
way of some worthy young man who wished to make
I therefore preferred returning
to private life and the printing business.
resigned my commission Sept. 7, 1815, Thus com-

. pleting three years in the service on the Niagara and
iNorlher,n frontier, one as a volunteer in the Balti-

more volunteers, and two in the regular army.

Forthwith '

- 1871, in his eighty-eighth year._

'   WASHINGTON BOROUGH.

489.

“Return to the city of Baltimore; enter into the
book and job printing as partner with James Ken-
nedy; marriedto Martha, daughter of John and
Mary VVray, by Rev.‘ James Inglis, D.D., May 9th,
1816.” From Baltimore he removed to" Philadel-
phia, and thence to Washington, Pa.

The causes that brought him to this town are re-
lated in the history of the Examiner and his connec-
tion with that paper. During his long residence in
Washington he filled important offices of honor _and
trust, having" been elected to the oflices of register in
1830; protonotary, in 1839; associate judge, in 1843.
Served as trustee of W'ashington Female Seminary
from its organization till his death, and pension agent
from 1853 to 1861.. He died on the 11th of March,
  or his children,
Thomas W. resides in Mead.ville, Pa., John in Pitts-
burgh, and Dr. Wray Grayson and Miss Martha Gray-
son are residents of Washington.

James McDermott, who came to this place at an

~ early day and became identified as a printer with the
" Reporter, and has also served the town’ many years as

postmaster, is now eighty-seven years of age and still
a resident of the town. He was born about one and
a half miles from’ Gettysburg, April, 24, 1795, and
resided at home till he was about fourteen years of
age, when he was apprenticed to Robert.Harper, then

. editing the Adams Sentinel at Gettysburg. In-.1814

he was drafted into the United States army and

"placed under command of Capt. John McMillan.

On the 1st of November the company marched'to
Erie, Pa. Later he -was a participant in the battles
of Chippewa and Lundy.’s Lane, and other battles
and skirmishes in Canada. After his return home he
visited Gettysburg, Washington, D. C'., and Martins-
burg, Va., and worked a short time in each place. In

the latter part of 1817 or the first part of .1818 he came

to Washington, Pa., and entered the office of John
Grayson on the Examiner, where he remained six -or
seven months. 3 In the latter partof 1818 he entered
the office of the Reporter, and remained with that
paper through all its various changes for thirty-two
years up to 1850. In March of that year he was ap-
pointed postmaster and served four years, and as dep-
uty during the term of David Acheson, his successor.
Upon the election of Mr. Lincoln as President in
1860 he was again appointed and served four years,
after which he served in an oflicial capacity for a short
time in Harrisburg. .

‘ Col. James Ruple was born in Morris County, N. J .,
Feb. 18, 1788. His father was of German parentage,
born in Philadelphia about the year 1740, and re-
moved to New Jersey prior to the Revolution. In
1794 he removed to Washington County, and located
about two miles north of Prosperity, near the line of
Morris and Finley townships. He died the following
year. 1 Col. James Ruple spent his early life upon the
farm, but before he reached his majority came to the
to.wn of Washington, and learned the carpenter and

‘ joiner trade with Samuel Hughes. Shortly after the

declaration of war, in June, 1812, he volunteered his
services, and was chosen first lieutenant of Capt.
Sample’s company, and upon the formation of the
regiment was made adjutant. The regiment was or-
dered to Black Rock‘; he remained in the service until
the troops were discharged. In 1814, when Wash-
ington City was threatened, he again quit his busi-
ness, uniformed his apprentices, and started with the
company for the seat of war.’ They were, however,

ordered to return before they reached the State line.

Shortly after that time a volunteer regiment was
formed, and he was chosen colonel. In 1817-he was
elected coroner, and served three years. In 1828 he
was appointed clerk of the courts of the-county by
Governor Shultz, and in 1830 was reappointed» by
Governor Wolf, and served six years. In January,
1839, he was again appointed to the same office by
Governor Porter, and in October of the same year
was elected, under the amended Constitution, for
three years. His death occurred on Jan. 8, 1855.

Parker Campbell was admitted in 17 94 to practice
at the bar of Washington County. He resided where
C. M. Reed now lives. He erected the building on
the northeast corner of Main and Beau Streets, where
he had his oflice. »

Joseph Pentecost, son of Dorsey Pentecost, was ad-
mitted to the bar in September, 1782. He married a
daughter of Thomas Scott, and liyed in Washington
and Canonsburg. He came into_ possession of the
Pentecost lands in North Strabane township, and
built the large house now owned by John Gamble.
His residence in -Washington was on Beau Street,
west of the public ground. James Ashbrook, brother-
in-law of Joseph Pentecost, and son-in-law of Dorsey
Pentecost, was also an attorney, admitted to the bar in
1798. The three last mentioned were prominent at-
torneys in Washington, and are more fully noticed in

the history of the bar of the county.

Early Business Interests.——The earliest reliable
information of "manufactures carried on in the town
of Washington is contained in “The American Mu-
seum or Universal Magazine”of March, 1792, in which
the towns of Washington, Pittsburgh, Bedford, and
Huntington are compared, as follows: ‘

“The towns of VVashington, Pittsburgh, Bedford,
and Huntington, in Pennsylvania (the nearest of
which is 150 miles from a seaport), exhibit the strong-'

est proofs that manufactures are the best support of

the interior landed interests, and are necessary at
once to the accommodation and prosperity of the cul.
tivators of the middle and western country. The fol.
lowing table contains an account of the population of
these villages, which is not exaggerated.” Only
Washington and Pittsburgh are here given, viz,:

Washington. Pittsburgh.
Clock and watch makers ................... .. 1 1
Silversmiths ..... .. ..........................  1 1
Coopers - - _ 1 2
Skin dressers and. breeches makers .... .. 1 1
Tanners and Currierc: 1 2

INCURSIONS AND RAVAGES DURING THE FRENCH OCCUPATION.

   

ir g and destroying all before them in the county of
Northampton, and have already burned fifty houses
here, murdered above one hundred persons, and are
still continuing their ravages, murders, and devasta-
tions, and have actually overrun and laid waste a

great part of that County, even as far as within
V twenty miles of Easton, its chief town.

And a large
body of Indians, under French officers, have fixed
their headquarters within the borders of that county,
for the better security of their prisoners and plunder.
. -. . All our "frontier country, which extends from the
River Patowmac to the River Delaware, not less than
one hundred and fifty miles in length and between
twenty -and thirty in breadth, but not fully settled,
has been entirely deserted, the houses and improve-

' ments reduced to ashes, the cattle, horses, grain, goods,

and effects of the inhabitants either destroyed, burned,
or carried off by the Indians. ’

“All our accounts agree in this, that the French,
since the defeat of Gen. Braddock, have gained over
to their interest the Delawares, Shawanese, and many
other Indian nations formerly in our alliance,’ and
on whom, through fear and their large promises of
rewards for scalps, and assurances of reinstating them
in the possession of the lands they have sold to the
English, they have prevailed to take up arms against
us, and to join heartily with them in the execution of

« the groundthey have been long meditating, the pos-

session of all the country between the river Ohio and
the river Susquehanna, and to secure that possession
by building a strong fort at Shamokin, which, by its
so advantageous situation at the conflux of the two
main branches of Susquehannah (one whereof inter-
looks with the waters of the Ohio and the other heads
in the centre of the country of the Six Nations) will
command, and make the French entire masters of all
that extensive, rich, and fertile country, and of all
the trade with the Indians, and from whence they
can at pleasure enter and annoy our territories, and,
put an effectual stop to the future extension of our
settlement on that quarter, not to mention the many
other obvious mischiefs and fatal consequences ‘that-
must attend their having a fort at Shamokin. Note.
——Some Fachines have lately been discovered floating
down the river Susquehannah, a little‘ below Shame-
kin, by which, as the Indians were never known to
use Fachines, it is conjectured the French have
begun, and are actually building a fort at that most
important . pl ace.” ,

In the spring of 1756 the enemy continued their
depredations. McCord’s block-house, on Conoco-
cheague, was attacked and burned by savages, and
twenty-seven persons killed or captured. The ma-
rauding party was pursued and a part of it overtaken

‘ at Sideling Hill, where a fight ensued and the whites

were repulsed with severe loss. About the 1st of
April a party of French‘ and Indians, discovered in
the vicinity of Fort Cumberland,.were attacked by a
party from the fort, and the French commander was

 

killed and scalped. In his pocket were found the fol-
lowing instructions from Monsieur Dumas, who had
recently superseded Contrecoeur as commandant at

Fort Du Quesne : ' \
’ “ Forvr DU QUESNE, 23d March, 1756.

“ The Sieur Donville, at the head of a detachment of fifty Indians, is
ordered to go and_ observe the motions of the enemy in thelneighborhood
of Fort Cumberland. He will endeavor to harass their convoys and
burn their magazines at Gonokocheagua (Conococbeague), should this
be practicable. He must use every efl"ort to take prisoners, who may
confirm what We already know of the enemy’s designs. The Sieur Don-
ville will employ all his talents and all his credit to prevent the savages
from committing cruelties upon those who may ‘fall into their hands.
Honor and humanity ought in this respect to serve as our guide.

- “ DUMAS.”

In View of the numerous and bloody forays of
the French and Indians into the country east of
the Alleghenies, and in deference to the demands
of the people of that region, the Governor of Penn-
sylvania, with the advice and consent of the Council,
issued on the 14th of April a proclamation, declar-
ing war against the Delaware nation1 and offering re-
wards for scalps and prisoners, as follows: “For
every male Indian enemy over twelve years of age
as prisoner, one hundred and fifty Spanish dollars
or Pieces of Eight; for the Scalp of any such, one
hundred and thirty. Spanish dollars or Pieces of
Eight; for every.female Indian prisoner, and for
every male Indian prisoner under twelve years, one
hundred and thirty Pieces of Eight ; for the scalp of
everylndian woman, produced as evidence of being
killed, fifty Pieces of Eight; and for every English
subject that has been taken and carried from this
Province into captivity, and recovered and brought
to Philadelphia to the Governor, one hundred and
fifty Pieces of Eight, but nothing for their scalps ;”

‘these rewards to be paid out of the appropriation of

sixty thousand pounds then recently granted by the
Assembly for the use of His Majesty, and which was
placed at the Governor’s disposal for that and other
purposes of defense. - ‘

Soon after the declaration of war against theDel_a-
wares, Governor Morris received a letter from Sir
William Johnson, deprecating the action that had
been taken, because of the bad effect it might pro-
duce among the Indians of the Six. Nations, and on
that account asking a postponement of hostilities
under the declaration. To this communication the

, Governor made reply by letter dated April 24, 1756,”

in which he said,-

“ You cannot conceive what Havoc]: has been made by the Enemy in
this defenceless Province, nor what Numbers of Murders they have com-
mitted, what a vast Tract of Territory they have laid waste, and what
a Multitude of Inhabitants, of all ages and both sexes,'they have carried
into Captivity; by Information of several of the Prisoners who made
their Escape from them, I can assure you that there are not less than
three hundred of our People in Servitude to them and the French on

1 The Delawares had long been friends of the English, and continued
to be so regarded up to the commencement of the murderous outrages
committed by them under lead of their king, Shingiss. The Shawanese
were regarded as enemies without any formal declaration to that effect.

2 Colonial Records, vii. 97-98.‘ ’ " ~

55»

-neat and general assortment of Dry-Goods.”

490

‘HISTORY OF WASHINGTON COUNTY, PEN N SYLVANIA-

Washington. Pittsburgh.
Tailors ....... .. /
Cabinet-'“"‘’ers
Blacksmiths .... .. , ,
Shoesmiths .............................. .. 
Hatters ,,

Dyers
Weavers ..... ..
Reed makers
Saddler makers .............................. 
Saddle-tree makers ........................... ..
Spinning-wheel makers .................... ..
Nailers  .... .. _
Maltsters and brewers ...................... ..
’ Potters ......................... ... .............. ..
Tinners: '

:,c.o:”zo:mo1own*-':

:05!-‘P-ll-‘I-4l‘l“'l-H-‘I0!-‘IOIOLOIQILO

Wheelwrights .................................. ..
_ Stocking weavers ..
Gunsmiths ........................... .; ......... .. 3 .
Rope-makers ............ .._. .................... .. .. 1
White-smiths .................................... .. 2 ..
Total manufacturers... ................  .... .. 32 40
Total number of families .................. .. 90 130

2)-‘O3: [02 V-‘:3

J The numberof merchants is not given,‘ and it is
a matter of conjecture as to who they were. On the
17th of August, 1795, three years later, a newspaper
called The.W'estern Telegrap/ze and Washington Adver-
tiser was established by Colerick, Hunter.& Beau-

_ mont, and from its columns are obtain'ed many of

the earlier notices of business establishments. The
firstwhiph appeared was that of Hugh Wilson, dated
Aug. 13, 1795, in which he says he “has a large and
general assortment of Dry-Goods.” On the 3d. of Oc-
tober “The Master Saddlers of Washington County
are requested to meet at the house of John Fisher, in
Washington, on business of importance.” Samuel
Clarke, on the 27th of the same month, advertised “ a
On the
7th of December, the same year, James Neilson ad-
vertised that “ he is going over the mountains for a
new assortment of Goods against Christmas.” In
the same month Matthew Ritchie & Co. offered a
“General assortment of Goods.” 9 Dr. A. Baird had
just opened a drug-store “ in‘ the House lately occu-
pied as a tavern by William Meetkirke.” "John Reed
“ continues the Brewery business at his Brewery near
_Washington,” and Gabriel Blakeney, “having quit
business,”_advertised for“ settlement. J edediah Post
advertised as a watchmaker in the town of Wash-
ington, and James Buchanan, on the 20th of Decem-
ber, informedthe public that “ he has commenced the
Blue-Dyeing Business at Mrs. Wilson’s, opposite the
Court-House,” where Smith’s store now stands. In
February, 1796, Dr. Absalom Baird advertised a large
assortment of cloths of all kinds, and that he had
“left -his Medical Books with William Meetkirke,
Esqr., for collection of accounts.” Alexander Reed
& Co., on the 8th of March, 17 96, advertised as fol-
lows: “ Have just received a quantity of Port, Sherry,

A Lisbon, and Teneriffe Wines of . the best quality, which

they will sell on Moderate Terms; also some good
Jamaica Spirits.” April 18th, William Erskine ad-
vertised spinning-wheels, and that he had moved
into -Belle Street, next door to Mr. Moore, tailor.
David Acheson, on the‘ 29th of April, announced
that he had on hand an “assortment of Dry-Goods,
Hardware, Queensware, &c.” ' V

— On the 17th of May,»1796,‘ Alton Pemberton ad-
vertised “ To Storekeepers and others” that “he will
in a few days open a most elegant, extensive, and

well-chosen assortment of Dry-Goods, &c., . . . as G
_ they were all imported immediatelynnder. his inspec-

tion from the first manufactories iniEurope.” His
storewas in the house of .Mr. Beaumont, near the
market-house. The firm was changed to Bartholo-
mew, Connelly & Co. on the 4th of October, 1796,
and the business was removed to the house of John
Colerick. On the 29th of; June, the same year, Rob-
ert Adams, bootmaker, advertised that he had. “ com-
menced business in Town at therhouse of Patrick
Moore.” Isaiah Steen announced Aug. 11, 1796, that
“ he has commenced the business of Windsor-Chair
Making in Washington in. the house lately occupied
by John Fisher ;” later he was in the yellow house
opposite Mr. Acheson’s store, and was for many years
in the old market-house. Thomas Wells was a watch-
and clock-maker “at the house of Widow Wilson,
near the Market-House,” in September, 1796. Daniel

Thompson was a “Breeches-Maker, next door to ‘

James McCluney’s store.” Robert Hamilton was a
whitesmith, and occupied a shop next door to Joseph
Huston’s Tavern, ‘ The Buck.’ ” Later he built the
brick house -now occupied by his daughter, Mrs.
Charles Sisson, where he kept a store. James Mc-
Cluney was a brother of John McCluney (at one time
sheriff of the county). James advertised Dec. 10,
1796, to sell off all his dry-goods, hardware, etc., but
that he would continue to carry-on the nailing busi-
ness _and sell .lumber of all kinds.‘ He died at New
Orleans Nov. 2, 1799.‘ The following quotation was
given after remarks upon his death in one of the
village papers: “‘ There cracked a noble heart.”
Hugh Workman’s tan—yard was mentioned in De-
cember, 17 96. James Dougherty was a tailor, and in
that month had “just opened at the house of Mrs.,Mc-
Millon, on. Market Street.” Alexander Reed & Co.
offered (Jan. 4, 1797) -“a large andelegant assort-
ment of Goods,” cloth coatings, cassimeres,fla_nnel~s,
linens, etc. John Johnston at the same. time was
selling dry-goods, hardware, etc. Thomas Thompson,

on the 6th of May in that year, “informs the public A

that he has removed from Hami1ton’s saw.-mill to

_Washington, next door to Mr. James McCluney’s,

where he proposes to manufacture Umbrellas -and
Sword Canes.” He married a daughter of Thomas
Scott, and later edited a paper in \Vashington. James-
McOammant was a gunsmith at this time, and opened
a shop in the tavern of William McCammant. James
Wilson was a coppersmith, and in June, 1797, an-
nounced that he had ‘‘ opened a shopat the house of
John Wilson, cabinet-maker,” now the site of A. T.
Baird’s store. James Wilson was a son of James and
a brother of Hugh Wilson. His mother lived on the
corner where Smith’s store now stands. Robert Haz-
lett announced on the 22d of December, 1797, that he
had “removed his store from the house adjoining

‘ Alex. Cunningham, no.

V David Morris, no.

’ Joseph Huston, no.

WASHINGTON, Bonooen.

491

Hugh Wilson to the house where William Arbuckle,
Hatter, lives.” Isaiah Steen advertised in the Herald
of Liberty, May 18, 1798, that he had removed his
shop from John Scott, innkeeper, to the house of
Dr. John Culbertson, and continued the business of
Windsor chairmaking. On the 24th of April, David
Acheson offered to exchange for property in this town
a lot of ground ‘.‘ in the town of Cincinnatti, North
Western Territory.” On the 8th of August, 1798,
Robert Anderson and William Hutchinson opened a
shop three doors below Mr. Purviance’s tavern for
conducting the “Clock and Watch-making business

in all its branches.” At the same time Thomas Wells '

had removed his business of clock- and watch-making
from the Widow Wilson to a house below Mr. Valen-

’ . tine’s tavern on Main Street. On the 11th.of October,

1798, John Templeton commenced the tanning busi-

, ness at the tan-yard formerly occupied by James

Brotherton, in therear of Mr. Colerick’s printing-
oflice, then on Main Street, just north of where the
Fulton House now is. May 30. 1799, John Watts
advertised a brick-yard to rent adjoining the town of
Washington. He also offered brick for sale’ at six
dollars per thousand. ,

At "a meeting‘ of the inhabitants. of the town of
Washington, assembled at the .court-house at ring of
hell’ on Wednesday, the 25th January, 17 98, to con-

-sult whether it willbe proper to introduce the small-

pox into their families at this time, the following

' persons being present answered as follows, to wit:

Mr. Redick in the chair; Isaac Kerr, secretary.
Matthew Ritchie, no. John Mitchell, no.
Samuel Arbuccle, no. John "Johnston, no.
Samuel Day, no. Isaiah Steen, no.
David Morton, no. ' Samuel Clarke, no.
Bruce Deckar, no. Robert» Hamilton, no.
John Simonson, no.
Alexander Addison, no.
John Ustick, no.
William Marshal, no.
William Sharard, yes.
Henry Tarr, no. "
John Dehuff, no.
David Redick, no;

Thomas Thomas, no.
William Kerr, no.

John McCammant, no. A
John Clark, no.

Charles Fox, no.

John Wilson, no.

“ Resolved, That it is agreed that no person here pres-
ent-shall introduce the inoculation into their family
without first having given like public notice as at this
time, so thatthe inhabitants may have an opportunity
of remonstrating against it, or take such measures as
may be necessary. , O.
~ A “ ISAAC KERR, Sec.” ,

In the year 1798 George Henry Kepple was the
assessor, and was instructed to assess every freeman
not following any occupation or calling one dollar
and fifty cents each; mechanic or tradcsman, thirty-
three centseach; broker, banker, lawyer, or physician,
one dollar and fifty cents each; each tavern-keeper,
shop-keeper, or persons retailing goods,wares, or mer-

chandise, eighty-three cents; persons, professions, or‘
occupations not before mentioned, one dollar and

thirty-three cents ; persons holding slaves under forty-

five years of age, one dollar each. He was also ‘in-
structed to return all transfers of real estate made
since the return of 1796. The following is the list of
occupations given: , _
Retailers of . Goods and Store-keepers, David Ache-
son, Gabriel Blakeney, Alexander Cunningham, John
De Lille, James Langley, James McCluney, Hugh
Wilson, Matthew Ritchie, VVilliam Arbuckle, Robert
Hazlett, Daniel Moore, Samuel Clarke, Alexander
Reed, John Ritchie, Henry Purviance, and Hugh
Wylie. ' _ '
Physicians, Absalom Baird, John Culbertson, and

J . Julius Le Moyne.

Tradesmen, John Bollen, John Choleric (Colerick),
Elias Crawford, James Chambers, Patrick Coveney,
John Dehufl’, Joseph Day, John Horderharder (Har-
ter), Isaac Jones, Robert Anderson, Daniel Kehr‘,
William Kehr, Michael McFall, William Aikins,
Alexander Little, Jacob Lockman, John Leand,
Daniel "Leach, William Marshall, David Morris,
Daniel Moody, William McCammant, James Mc-
Gowen, Alexander Miller, Joseph McMootrey, James

Reed, James Simms, Joseph Seaman, Jacob Shaffer, .

VVilliam Sherrard, Thomas Townsend, James Dough-

‘erty, David Updegraff, Henry Tarr, R. Curry, John

Wilson, Hugh Workman, Samuel VVoods, John Mor-
row, Samuel Arbuckle, Robert Hamilton, Peter Wag-
ner, John McCammant, Isaiah Steen, Thomas Thomp-

son, Daniel Thompson, Thomas Wells, J. J ohnstone, _

and Andrew McClure.
Tavern-Keepers, John Scott, Thomas Oflicer, Mi-
chael Dolin, Joseph Huston, Thomas Jenny, Philip
Milchsach, John Purviance, Samuel Shannon, Charles
Valentine, Charles Fox, David Morris, and William
Frazer. , 1
‘ Baker, Peter Sires.
Butchers, John Sellers and J. Clark. .
Attorneys, George Henry Keppele, John Simonson,
Parker Campbell, James Allison, Joseph Pentecost.

Schoolmasters, William Porter and William Little. _

No occupation given, Alexander Addison, William
Meetki.rke, David Redick, John Watt, David Hoge,
Thomas Stokely, Hugh Means, VVilliam Hoge, and
John Hoge. . V ‘ * ‘

Tailors, Archibald Carr (Kerr), James Dougherty,

James Dunlap, William Lytle, William McCammant, A

and Patrick Moore.

Blacksmiths, Matthew Collins, Robert Hamilton,
John Laird, William Marshall,'Joseph Seaman, Wil-
liam Wilson, and William Ward.

Gunsmith, John Dehufi‘. .

Clock and watchmakers, John De Lille, Thomas
Hutchinson,‘ and Thomas Wells. A

Wheelmaker, William" Erskine.

1 Thomas Hutchinson manufactured the tall’ _Dutch clock,” many of
which are still in existence.

492.

HISTORY or WASHINGTON COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA.

Stocking-weaver, John Harter. .

Cabinet-makers, Archibald Homes,
Lytle, John Wilson, and Stephen Way.

Turner, Christian Keiffer. ‘ —

Mason, John Keady.

Clerks, Isaac Kerr, Thomas Fletcher, John Mc-
Cluney, and Thomas Thompson.

‘Nailor, Abraham Latimore. _

Windsorchair makers, Isaiah Steen and John Loge.

Weavers, John Martin, James Reed, and James
Simms. '

Coopers, Edward Nelson, Joseph Huston.’

Saddlers, Alexander Peoples and James Smithers.

Coppersmiths, Archibald Thompson,‘ David Up-
degrafl’, and James Wilson. -

James McGowen was a reed-maker, Peter Wagner
a‘ baker, Robert Mulligan a brickmaker, and Joshua
McCroskey and Henry Tarr were potters. '

on the 3d er April, 1809, the Washington Theatri-
cal Association advertised to “ perform at Mr. Steen’s
New House the admirable comedy of ‘ The Riyals.’ ”
The -new house mentioned was known as -“ Castle
Crack,” and is the dwelling now owned by Maj. John
H. Ewing. _ ‘ -

Following is a list of taxables in Washington in
1300: 9 1 6 , ‘

Attorneys, James Allison, James Ashbrook, Parker
Campbell, Thomas Johnston, Henry G. Keppele, J o-
seph Pentecost, and John Simonson.

Store-keepers, Thomas and David Acheson, Robert
Hazlett, Alexander Cunningham, James Langley,
Daniel Moore, John Ritchie, Alexander Reed, Robert
Ritchie, Hugh _VVilson, Hugh Wylie, and John Wal-
lace.

Silversmiths, Robert Anderson, Jacob Schaffer,
and-James Steveiison. ' E

Gentlemen, George Allison, Gabriel Blakeney,
Samuel Clark, John Colerick, Sr., David Hoge, An-
drew _McClure, Thomas Swearingen, and Thomas
Stokely. , ,

Physicians, Isaiah Blair, Absalom Baird, and Fred-
erick L. Conyngham.‘ T ,

Sheemakers, John Bollin, Abraham Cazeer, Ger-
rard ‘Greer, John Hanna, Daniel Kerr (formerly
spelled Kehr), Samuel Kirkbride, Philip Milchsach,
and William Marten. ‘ '

Revenue Officer, James Brice. ' _ _ ’

Hatters, Joseph Climson, John Koontz, William
Shannon, and‘Robert Thompson“ 1

Tanners, Christian Branize, John Templeton, Hugh
Workman. ’

Butcher, ohn Clark. '

Printers, John Colerick, John Israel, and John
Speers.  “
Saddle-tree makers, James Chambers, Joseph Day,

Alexander

Henry Ewen, Jonathan Hook, John and Samuel

1 The name of Dr. J. Julius Le Moyne is given as innkeeper, but the
name is crossed out.

Mitchell, Simon Panioste, William Sherrard, and

Michael Cooke. ' . ’ I
On the 3d of April, 1809, George Bertie, “clock

and watcl1-maker- and mathematical instrument

maker,” announced that he had "moved from the .

house “formerly occupied’ by Robert‘ Anderson to
the brick house adjoining.”
opened a watchmaker shop in 1798, was elected
sheriff of _ the county in October, 1808, and George

' Bertie succeeded to the business.

Of merchants-not beforementioned, there appears,

in 1809, James Brice, Cunningham & Dill, Samuel
iCunningham, David Cooke, James‘ Blaine, James

Dunlap (also brigade inspector and tailor), Thomas
S. Good (whose store was at the corner of P_ine Alley,
on the west_side of’ Main Street; later be erected an
oil-mill in the rear of the lot), Abraham Latimore,‘
Thomas,McFadden, and David Shields.‘ ,

' Attorneys mentioned in this .year, not before no-_
ticed, were Sampson S. King, John Marshel, Thomas

S..McGiflin, Jonathan Redick, Thomas’Baird, John -

Tarr, and John rWhite.
.Clergymen-, the Rev. Matthew Brown and the
Rev. Thomas Campbell. The names of Dr. David
G. Mitchell and Dr. Henry Stephenson appear for
the first time. The printers were William Sample,
editor of The Reporter, Thomas Thompson, editor of
The VVestern Corrector, and . Alexander Armstrong,
editor of the Western Telegrarp/ze.
In the year 1808,- John Scott was contractor for

carrying the mails, and in 1810 was a ‘‘stage-master.’’ .

On the 5th of June, 1809, Hamilton, Mills &.Gourly
advertised “that their machines were in. complete
order, and that wool will be taken and- carded‘ at
former prices.”

On the 27th of November, 1809, James Blaine ad-
vertised that he had just opened in the stand between

‘Hugh Wilson’s and Acheson’*s a cheap assortment

of dry-goods, groceries, hardware, china, glass, etc.
James Dunlap announced on the 28th of May,

1810,'that he had just opened a general. assortment’
of merchandise, and also that military uniforms were

a specialty. At this time he was brigade inspector,
and lived in the house now owned by Keoch-V
line, at the southeast‘ corner of Maiden and Main
Streets, and is unchanged to this day. He remained

 

in this place till 1816, then removed to a farm avfewe ',

miles from Washington, and opened a tavern called’

“ MountVernon Hotel,” and on the 1st of April the 4

next .year laid out a town called Will.iamsburg. In
1825 he removed to Washington, and kept the “ J ack-
son Inn.”
burg,” and is also known as “‘ Pancake.” '
In the year 1810 the borough of Washington con-

tained a population of 1292, and manufactured the
following: flax linen, 2004 yards; value, $13-07.10;‘

tow’, 601 yards; value, $202.50; cotton, 1736 yards;
value, $1724.35; linsey, 665 yards; value, $433.53.
Total value, $3661.48. ' V .

Robert Anderson, who ’

Williamsburg later became “Martins-'

- -’ Langley’s store.

WASHINGTON BOROUGH.

There were in the town 153 ‘spinning-wheels, 97

hand-cards, 8 looms, 179 horses, 222‘-neat. cattle, 133_

common sheep, and 8 of mixed breeds.

. On the _2d of July,_1810, James Dougherty moved
his store. to the house formerly occupied by Mrs.
Mary Dodd, nearly opposite the court-house, and
next door to Cunningham & Dill. In 1811 the Rev.
Thomas Campbell lived» near the college, and Thomas
Ledlie Birch (afterwards famous as apreacher) ad-
vertised drugs and medicines for sale. David _Eckert
W-as a saddler,'and his dwelling :and shop were in the
brick house opposite the sign of the “Globe,” and
next to the bank. George Lockart,.cabinet and chair-
maker,’ “lately from Philadelphia,” advertised that
he had commenced business next door to James
I James Meetkirke, in May, 1811,

advertised that he “wants flaxseed in exchange for

Windsor chairs, which he manufactures.” Libes Hat-

man had a bakery opposite the “Rising Sun,” on

Market Street at the corner of Chestnut. Sampson

S. King, captain"United States infantry, advertised,

May 11, 1812, that he had opened a recruiting-office
' at Washington, and offered a bounty of sixteen dol-

lars, and addition of three months’ pay and one hun-
ldred and sixty acres of land. ' On the 25th of May,

1812, Kline & Landis‘ opened a “new saddler-shop”

» in the house of. Joseph Patton, hatter, on Main
. Street, where David Eckert formerly had his saddler-

shop. ‘

On the 11th of April, '1814,William Hunter an-.

nounced that he had commenced mercantile business
. “ in the house lately occupied by Dr. Le Moyne, next
storebelow Mr. John Lockhart’s store,” the site now
occupied by Michael Koontz. Later Mr. Hunter
purchased the property now occupied by Samuel Haz-
lett’s bank, where he lived and was in business many
years. Thomas Brice in April, 1814, moved from
Amity to Washington, and opened a store next above

1 the bank. In August the same year, Dubuisson ad-

vertises that he has arrived from Philadelphia, and
“Cleans, separates, files, plugs, and extracts teeth;
sets straight those inclined to any direction, and
makes and places artificial ones.” On the 1st of May,
1815, George Bertie, watchmaker, advertises that he
has removed to the house adjoining Daniel Moore’s
store. Mrs..Bertie adds “ that she continues to work

- at the millinery business in its variousbranches.”

Isaiah Steen in May, 1816, informs the public that in
addition to his Windsor and fancy chair making “ he
has recently engaged an artist, by whom he will be
enabled to carry on miniature, portrait, sign, and or-
namental painting in a superior manner.” On the
28th of April, the next year, G. Harrison advertises
to “paint Portraits, Miniatures, Signs, etc., and to
teach Drawing.” On the 19th of May, 1817, William
McMullin commenced the cut and wrought nail busi-
ness in the blacksmith-shop on Wheeling Street, and
in August following Joshua Monroe and William
Campbell opened a nail-factory on Main Street, oppo-
32 ‘

site Mr. Greggs. Robert Young was a book-binder
in the town some years prior to 1819, and on the 18th
of January in that year advertised that he “ intends re-
moving to Pittsburgh about the 1st of April next.” A
stone brewery was built on the property of Gen. Thomas
Acheson, about 1819, and operated by Thomas & J.
Cummings for many years.
business was done. The building was eventually
pulled down, and the stone used for foundations in
the town. The property is now owned by Judge A.
W. Acheson. L ' 
The following is a list of persons who were engaged
in business in the town in the year 1838, as shown by
the assessment roll of that year: Merchants, Cham-

berson Anderson, David Clark, Catharine Campbell, _

Henrietta Gregg, Elizabeth Garrett, Samuel Mount,
Robert McElheney, James Orr, Alexander Reed, Colin

M. Reed, James Stewart (also a tobacconist), George

K. Scott, William Smith, Robert Tener, John K. Wil-

son, Marsh & McMichael, Daniel L.~Shields, Henry,
Kuntz, Alexander Sweeney, James and Henry Lang-

ley.

win, Joseph Henderson, Isaac Leet, John S. Brady,
Thomas McGifi:ln, Thomas M. T. McKennan (deputy

,attorney—general), William Waugh, John L. Gow,

and Zachariah S. Yarnall.

Physicians, J. Julius Le Moyne (also druggist), F.
Julius Le Moyne, Samuel Murdoch (druggist), James
Stevens, John Wishart, and William B. Lank. .

Stage proprietors, Scott & Stone (also in the oyster

business), Daniel Moore.
John Hutchinson, stage agent.

Early Taverns.-—The tavern kept by William Hu-

ston in 1774 was located just beyond the limits of the
town on property now owned_by Mrs. Swartz. A part
of - the old Huston farm is now embraced in the
present limits of the borough. The first person to
keep a public-house within the limits of Washington
as then defined was James Wilson. He purchased a lot

of David Hoge on the northwest corner of Beau and ,

Main Streets, and at the first term of court in VVash-
ington County, held in October, 1781, he was licensed
‘_‘ for keeping a public-house of entertainment at Cat-
fish Camp.” He erected a log house, in which he
opened his tavern, which he kept until his -death in

-17 92. At this house the Hon. William A. Atlee and
the Hon. George Bryan, judges of the Supreme Court '

of Pennsylvania, were in the habit of stopping when
holding Courts of Oyer and Terminer in Washington
County. The house was kept. as a tavern as late as
1840, and in later years was weatherboarded. It was
finally torn down, and Smith’s store was erected upon
its site. The property was owned many years by

' Hugh Wilson, son of James.

John Dodd was one of the original proprietors of
land adjoining the town of Washington. Very soon
after the townwas laid out he purchased lot 274, on
the east side of Main Street, and in 17 82'was licensed

I

493 ‘

A large and extensive '

Attorneys, Alexander W. Acheson, Daniel T. Bald- J

494

HISTORY OF WASHINGTON COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA.

to keep a tavern. He built a log house on the site

\ now occupied by Hastings’ hardware-store and the

Washington Savings-Bank. In this -house he kept
tavern till his death in 1795, which occurred when
returning from New Orleans. The deed for this lot
bears date July 27, 1786, but this with lot No.’ 58

' were purchased on a certificate, as was the case in the

early lots. Judge J. C. Chambers, of this county, is
a descendant of John Dodd. ’

Charles Dodd, a brother of John Dodd, was licensed
to keep a tavern in April,“1782. He kept in a log
house which stood on lot No. 58, now occupied by
Strean’s hardware-store. At this place the first courts
were held, and in a log stable in the rear the prisoners
of the county were confined.- The deed of the lot
was made to Jo»hn4Dodd May 30, 1789. On the 13th
of August,'17 92, John Dodd sold the house and lot to
Daniel Kehr, who kept tavern a year or two, but later
followed his trade of a shoemaker in the same house

' many years. His son, Isaac Kehr (afterwards spelled

Kerr), succeeded to the property and lived there till
his death. , '
At the September term of court (1783) John Ad-

H ams was licensed and kept tavern till 1789. John

Colwell was licensed in 1784. At the September
term in 1785, Hugh Means, Samuel Acklin, and Wil-
liam Falconer were licensed. Acklin kept till 1788,
and Falconer till 1791. William Meetkirke, who was
for many years a justice of the peace, kept tavern
where Mrs. McFarland now lives ‘from June, 1786,
to 1793. _ _ -
Maj. George McCormick, who purchased large
tracts of land in the northern partvof the county, was
licensed to keep tavern. in Washington in 1788. The
following quotation from Col. John May’s journal
(page 99) ‘refers to his house: “Thursday, Aug. 7,
1788,.set out from the hotel: at four o’clock, and ‘at
half-past ‘eight arrived at Maj. George McC'ormick’s
in Washington, where we breakfasted. This is an ex-
cellent house, where our New England men put up.”
Hugh Wilson (son of James) was licensed in Sep-
tember, 1789; John McMichael and John Purviance

' in 1790. The latter owned lot No. 278, where the

Fulton House now stands. He kept tavern as late as
1808, but resided here till the summer of 1817, when

he removed to Claysville and laid out the town in .
V _ , \

that year. ,

Charles Valentine purchased the lot on which the
Valentine House now stands, and built upon it a log
house, which he opened as a tavernupon receiving
his license at the September term of court, 17 91. This
house, named ‘7 The White Goose,” he kept till 1805,
when he went into other business and died in 1809.
It was kept by John Retteg from 1806 to 1810, and
opened as “The Golden Swan.” Juliana Valentine
kept it from 1810 to 1819. In June, 1819, John Val-

entine advertised that he had just opened the house.
at the sign of “ The Golden Swan.” Later it was kept /
by Lewis Valentine, and in March, 1825, John Hays

.when he retired to a farm out of town.

opened it. In March, 1827, it was kept by Isaac
,Sumny, with the sign of “ Washington Hall.” Its
changes have been numerous, but it is the oldest
tavern site in the town. It is now known as the Val-
entine House, and is kept by William F. Dickey.

Michael Kuntz was licensed in September, 1791,
and kept one year where Vowell’s drug-store now
stands. J. Neilson, John Fisher, Samuel McMillan,
and John Ferguson‘ were each licensed December,
1793; Daniel Kehr in 1795.

Joseph Huston, a cousin of William Huston, was
licensed January,.1796, and opened a tavern in the
stone house on the east side of Main Street below
Maiden, at the sign of “ The Buck.” 3
till 1812, and his widow Elizabeth succeeded him.’
She kept a short time there, rented the property to
James Sargent, who continued till April, 1815, when
she -again became the hostess, and kept it till after
1820. ' \ . .

James Workman was licensed in 1797. He opened.
a house of entertainment, which he kept till 1.813,
In April,
1816, he advertised that he had opened a public_-

house at the si n of “ General Andrew Jackson ” on ‘
2%“ ;

the west side of Main Street, just below the sign of
“ The Globe.” ' ’ ,

' Samul Thomas was licensed to keep tavern in‘ Sep-
tember, 17 97. He had purchased Lot No. 18, and in
this year opened a tavern upon it. After a year he

rented it to David Morris, who soon after purchased ,

it, receiving his deed in 1804. From th/e'time he took
possession of the property till his death in 1834 the
house wasknown as the “ Globe” inn. ’

‘The lot No.18 wasfirst sold by David Hoge to
Alexander Cunningham in May,'178_4, who conveyed

"it to Samuel Shannon the 30th of August the same’
year. On the 25th of May, 1804, Shannon conveyed to’. 1

David Morris all his right, title, and interest. The.
deed has not passed in all these years, and on the 2d?
of June in-that year adeed was made from Mr. Hoge
to David 'Morris. He was licensed first in 1798, and.‘

opened the “ Globe” tavern, where John Allen now

lives, on Main Street. After the house came into his

possession it was enlarged and improved, and became" ,
‘ known as one of the best hotels between Washingto.n,.

D. C., and Wheeling. This famous hotel was kept-
by David Morris. till his death, Jan. 1, 1854. It was

then continued by his widow a short time, and the A

property was sold to Thomas Morgan,1wl1o kept the
post-oflice there the latter part of his term. An ac-

countof the many famous dinners served in the “ Globe

Inn” would be tedious. The last incident of any
moment in connection-_ with the old tavern occurred
in 1833. On the16'th day of April in that year Lieut.
T. W. Alexander, of the United States army, having.

in charge as prisoners of war the renowned Black...

Hawk and five‘ other Indians of the Sac and Fox.

tribes, arrived in this place by one --of the stages on.

the old National road, being on their way to the

He kept there

 WASHINGTON BOROUGH.

495

seat of government. They were all head men of their
tribes, who were taken prisoners by Gen. Atkinson
during the warof the summer previous. The “names
of othe Indians were Ma-ka-t-ai-mesh-she-ka-kai, or
Black Hawk ; We-pe-kie—shich, or the Prophet ; Nai-
po-pe, or Broth; Mesh-she-was-kuck, son of Black
Hawk ; Pa-me-ho-its, brother of the Prophet; Pa-we-
shich, son of the Prophet. ‘ '

An accident occurred to the stage in coming down
Market Street, in which Sergeant Greene,’one' of the
party, had his arm broken above the elbow, and
Black ‘Hawk, his son, and the son of the Prophet

were slightly hurt.. The accident caused a delay or '

several days, and gave “ our citizens an opportunity
of gratifying their curiosity with a sight of these cele-

'3 brated wild sons of the forest, who had so recently

caused such terror and distress to a portion of our
pioneer settlers in the Far West.” ,

In October, 1797, John Scott opened a tavern
‘(which was formerly occupied by John Fisher) at
the sign of the “Spread Eagle.” It was opposite
David Acheson’s store. ‘

In February, 1801, William McCammant opened a
tavern at the sign of the “ Cross Keys,” on the south-
east corner of Main and Wheeling Streets, opposite
the “‘ White Goose” (nowthe Valentine House). He
remained as landlord until his death, in 1813. His

« widow, Mrs. Mary McCammant, continued till April,
1815, when she rented the property and moved to the

southeast corner of Market and Beau Street, nearly

opposite the court-house, whereshe opened a public- _

house at the sign of “ General Washington.” She was
at the old. place at the sign of the “ Cross-Keys” as
late as January, 1831, and advertised for that term 9f
court‘ the following prices: dinner and horse-feed,
twenty-five cents; jurors and others attending court,

two dollars per week. "

Christian Keiifer kept tavern in February, 1805, at
the sign of “ VVashington.” John Rettig was licensed
in 1806, and kept the stand formerly known as the
“ White Goose,” at the corner of Market and Wheel-
ing Streets, under the name of “ The Golden Swan.”
Later he kept tavern in another part of the town, and
was killed by falling down a well. His widow, Eliza-
beth Rettig, succeeded him in the business.

Matthew Ocheltree was licensed in February, 1807 ,

and opened tavern at the old stand formerly kept by '

James Wilson, and where Smith’s store now stands.
He remained at this place till about 1812.

John McCluney in November, 1808, advertised that
he had just opened a travelers’ hotel opposite the

court-house, at the sign of the “Indian Queen,”

where he kept for several years. In 1815 he opened
a public-house formerly kept by Thomas Cflicer at
the sign of the “Green Tree,” at the north end of
Market Street. Thomas Officer opened the “Green
Tree” . tavern in July,‘ 01809. The ‘house is yet
standing. ’ - _
John Kline in April, 1815, moved from the Cross-

Roads, nine miles west of Brownsville, and opened at

public-house (formerly kept by Michael Ccheltree)
at the sign of “ General Wayne.”

James Garrett, in September, 1816, opened a public-
house at the sign of the “ Rising Sun,” near the cor4
ner of Market and Chestnut Streets, where John and
Andrew Best now reside. It was kept by Garrett till

1822,-when James Briceland, from Briceland Cross-

Roads, rented it and kept one ‘year, when Garrett
again took possession, and Briceland removed to “the

Public-House and Stage-Office lately kept by Sam-_

uel Denniston.” On the 1st of December, 1824,
Gen.‘ Andrew Jackson, family, and suite" came to
Washington and stopped at Briceland Inn. Several
of the citizens of the town abreakfasted with ‘him,
afterwhich they escorted him as far as Hillsborough.

Richard Donaldson opened a public-house in the
year 1805 on the southeast corner of Market and
Beau Streets, where the “ Fulton House” now stands,
where he kept till 1815, when he moved to the old
Workman stand opposite the seminary, and now
occupied by Mrs. Sarah Hanna. This house had
been kept prior to this time_by Surratt.

 

of “ Commodore Perry.”

Dr. John Julius Le Moyne was licensed in August,
1798. He opened a tavern in his own house and kept
till 1806. . '

James Sargeant soon after the death of Joseph
Huston in. 1812 rented the tavern known as “The
Buck,” and kept it till 1815, when he removed to the
corner of Main and Wheeling Streets, at the sign of
the “ Cross-Keys,” where he kept till 1818. The next
year he opened a hotel where the Fulton House now
stands. David Wilson opened a house of entertain-
ment in 1802, and continued till 1818. William
Wilson kept a tavern on Wheeling Street from .1801
to 1808. . .

John Fleming in April, 1820, opened a public-house
opposite the market-house, “lately occupied by James
Sergent.” The house was then known as the “ Phil-

adelphia and Kentucky Inn.” During the month of ’
January, 1821, on the occasion of the wedding of the '

daughter of Mr. Fleming, the house caught fire and
was partially destroyed. A daughter, Mary, six years
of age, was burned to death. ‘
Samuel Denniston in May, 1821, informed the public
that he had removed from Greensburg, Westmoreland
C0,, to Washington, Pa., and commenced keeping
public-house in the new and eligible brick house at
the corner of Main and'Maiden Streets, opposite where
the United States turnpike road enters M-ain Street
from the east, at the sign of the “ Travelers’ Inn and
stage office.” In 1823, James Briceland was the pro-

prietor, and in 1825 James’Dunlap kept itwith the

sign of “ Jackson Hotel.” This was the "present
Auld House. , ‘
In 1822, John N. Dagg opened “ The Rising Sun,”

April, 1823, Richard Donaldson moved to the brick’
_ house at the east end of Maiden Street, at the sign

496

HISTORY OF’ WASHINGTON COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA.

formerly kept by James Garrett and James Briceland.
On the 7th of April, 1827, he moved to the “Eagle
Inn,” opposite the.Rising Sun, on Main Street, and
later to what is now the Valentine House, after which
he kept the Mansion House forseveralyears. In
1836 John Irons opened it and occupied for a year or
two, when Dagg again took possession and kept it
many years. ' .

In April, 1821, Enoch Miller opened a hotel in the

west end of the borough, in a large brick house nearly .

opposite the (old). Methodist meeting-house, on the
National road, at the sign of ‘_‘ General Brown.” Soon
after, he opened the “ Fountain Inn,” which was in a
brick house on Chestnut Street.‘ He was succeeded
in March, 1823, by George Ringland, who kept it a
year or two. ‘ ,

John Wilson was first licensed to keep a tavern
Sept. 1, 1806, and kept till 1812. On the 7th of May,
1831, John Wilson opened a tavern opposite V the
court-house, called “John Wilson’s Tavern.” This
was on the site of the old John Dodd tavern, and the
present site of Hastings’ hardware-store. Mr. Wilson
kept there many years.

In September, 1832, William J. Brown opened a
hotel on the east side’of_Main Street, between Maiden
and Wheeling (where Jacob Miller’s hardware-store
now is), with the sign of the “ Farmers’. Inn.” Later
he changed the Sign to “ The Black Bear.” It is re-
lated of him that at this time he made arrangements
with a painter to paint the sign; and after beating
him down on "the price the painter finally agreed to
paint it, and did so. 'The next rain storm washed it
all off’. Brown was angry, and . the. painter told him
if he would pay his price, he would painta bearthat
would stay and chain him to a post; ‘which he did,
and the bear remained there many years. There
were many other taverns in the town besides the ones
mentioned, but those given were the principal ones.

The names given below are of those who kept the
public-houses in the years given: '

1826.——Robert Boyce, William P.’ Biles, Richard
Donaldson, Philip" Harton, John Wilson, ,Henry
Koch, Robert Clokey, and James Fleming.’ ,.

1836.—-—John Irons, John Bradfield, Daniel Valen-
tine, Sarah Beck, John Flender, William J. Brown,
and Sarah Hartzell.

1838.———William J. Brown kept the "‘ Black ‘Bear ;”

John N. Dagg, the Mansion House ; Elizabe”th'Flem- »

ing kept “The Buck ;” ‘Joseph Hallam, where Smith’s

store now is; Sheldon B. Hays, the “ Green House,”

now the Gow property; Otho Hartzell, the “ Cross
Keys,” where VVarrick’s store now stand's;,William
Paull, where Mrs. Sarah Hanna now resides; James
Searight, where the Auld House now stands ; Daniel
Valentine‘, the Valentine House;.and John Wilson,
where Hastings’ hardware-store stands.

1844.——The Mansion House was kept by S. B. Hays.
This tavern was the headquarters mostly of the stage-
line “ Good Intent.” The “ Green House” was then

'dread,—~fire.
‘water, and it is well known that in a dry season there I
"is not a tenth part of the water necessary in case of a

kept by Daniel Brown; “The American” was then
kept by  R. Lane, andwas the stopping-place of
the stage’-line of which Mr. Lane was the agent; the
Fulton was then kept by Henry Fulton; “Tile
Washington,” where Morgan & Hargreaves’ store
now is. The Valentine House and "The Buck” were
still open. The present hotels of‘ Washington are
the Fulton House, kept by Thomas Hall ; the Valen-
tine House, by William-F. Dickey; the Auld House,
by A. Sargent. '

Borough Incorporation and List of Oflicers.—
The first movement having for its object the incor-
poration of the borough was made in 1796. The I/Vest-

sem Telegraphe of date February 2d in that year (the

paper then having been published about six months)
contained the following article: “We must have a

law of Incorporation, Besides regulating the streets;
a corporation could do many other useful and neces-
sary things.

It could regulate the market-house, ad-
just weights and_ measures, keep the market-house
clean, prevent (what will soon destroy our market)

people from ‘buying up provisions before they reach S
the market-house, and take care that the provisions

be wholesome and good. It could make provision
against a calamity which every reflecting man must
In vain is our fire-engine if we want

fire breaking out, yet there is no authority‘ to dig
wells in the streets. I propose that the people of this
town meet at the Market House on Saturday next, at

three o’clock in the afternoon, to consult on a peti-

tion to the Assembly for Incorporating This Town.
~ “AN INHABITANT OF WASHINGTON.”

Several articles were written in reply to the above.
The meeting referred to in the article was held, but

no actionwas taken, and‘ the subject was not again -

seriously agitated until January, 1810, when a meet-

_ing was called, and a petition drawn upwhich was

signed and sent to the Legislature, which resulted in

the passage of an ‘act granting a charter dated Feb. »

13, 1810, with the powers usually conferred on bor-
oughs. - The first section provided and declared :

“That the town of Washington, in the county of Washington, shall
be, and the same is hereby, erected into a borough, which shall be called
the”Borofigh of Washington, and shall be comprised within the follow-
ing boundaries, viz., Beginning at a post on the land of James Ash-

brook ; thence by land of Robert Anderson, Thomas Officer, and others, ‘
south seventy-seven degrees", west one hundred and fifty-nine and one-

half perches to a post; thence by land of Thomas Jones, William Hoge,

and others, south fourteen and three-fourth degrees, east one hundred

perches to a post; thence by land of James Ashbrook, William Sherrard,
and others, south thirteen degrees, east sixty-three and one-half perches
to a post; thence by land of John Hoge south fifty-one and one-half
degrees, east twenty-nineperches to a post; thence by land; late of John
Simonson, Hugh Workman, and others, north seventy-seven degrees,
east one hundred and twenty perches to a post; thence -by land of
Thomas McFadden, Daniel Kehr, and others, north four and one-half
degrees, west eighty-four perches to a post; thence by land of. Robert

Hazlett, Isaiah Steen, and others, north ten degrees, west one hundred .

and two perches to the place of beginning.”

@354. ©W §§m§2@4©2 :2 23m.

3 uawwomaoaou 3. 95 c5 6339

C

WASHINGTON BOROUGH.

The minutes of the burgess and Council of the
borough from the incorporation in 1810 to the 28th

day of March, 1864, covering a space of-fifty-four_
‘years, are not to be found, although diligent search

for them has been made in years past and at the
present time. A few of the ordinances passed in the
early years of the borough are gleaned from the news-
papers of the ‘time.
passed on the 17th of J une_, 1810, as follows: “ Foot-
ways on Main Street shallbe made twelvefeet in

‘width from the front of lots to curbstone, not less

depth than eighteen inches. Eight feet from curb-
stone on each side of Main Street shall be paved and
residue turnpiked. I I -
“ALEXANDER REED,
“ C’/lief Burgess.”

The ordinance was published in the Reporter, and
in the next issue David Morris and Matthew Cchel-
tree, street commissioners, advertised that they were
prepared to receive proposals for paving and turn-
piking Main Street. The lines of the pavement then
laid are yet to be seen, extending eight feet from the
curbstone on Main Street. ' '

On the 10th of February, 1812, Alexander Reed
and -John Wilson, burgesses, gave to Daniel Kehr a

. receipt for $46.25, which he advanced to the borough

of Washington towards paving the Main Street, con-
formably to ordinance No. 15, passed July 13, 1810.
This receipt implies that a laterordinance, supple-
mental thereto, was passed.

«In 1811 the following ordinances were passed, viz. :

I'mposing a fine of one dollar“ for galloping a horse

withinthe bounds of the,’ borough, or driving a
Waggon, cart, sled, or sleigh faster than a slow trot;
for riding or leading a horse on foot-ways, .50; for
violation of the Sabbath laws agreeably to State laws,
$4.00.” The Reporter of Aug. 17, 1812, contains an ad-
vertisement for proposals to lay sewers. in Maiden,
Belle (now 'Wheeling), Chestnut, and Beau Streets,

_ six feet in breadth, eight feet high, and walls to be"

two feet thick, and not less than forty-two feet in
length. These sewers were built, one on Chestnut
Street, west of Main Street, near where Wiley’s wool-
house now stands; one on East Beau Street, near the
Methodist Church; one- on Belle Street (now East_
Wheeling), near Rogers’ livery-stable; and one on
East Maiden Street, east of the Le Moyne residence,
and west of the residence of Mr. J. Chambers. ‘ The
history of the market-house, fire department, and
other matters pertaining to the borough will be found
under separate heads, the facts having been gleaned
from the newspapers, the public records, and other
sources. ' .
Application was made to the Court of Quarter Ses-
sions in May, 1852, for a charter under the act of
Assembly, April 3, 1851. Decree was made May 18th,
and its privileges were extended in accordance there-
with. The borough lines were extended northwest,

The first_of any interest was.

west, and southwest by an ordinance passed May 30,
1854, to take" effect June 10th the same year; and
again to the southeast, east, and northeast of Main
Street, by ordinance passed Dec. 22, 1854, to take
effect Jan. 6, 1855. '
The following additions have been made to the bor-
ough. On“ the 1st of December, 1849, twelve lots
were added by William Hopkins, known as Hopkins’

- Addition. On the 20th of April, 1850, fifty-six lots

were added by David Lang, "known as East Wash-
ington. A street was laid through the centre known
as Independence. By an act of Assembly, passed
April 3, 1851, provision was made for the enlarge-
ment of the borough limits, and June 10, 1854, and
Jan. 6, 1855, they were extended. On the 3d of Sep-
tember, 1873, Linn’s extension was. surveyed, contain-

ing one hundred and seventy-six lots, embraced within .

the limits of the old Pittsburgh road, Pine Street, and
Front and Sixth Streets. On the 9th of April, 1874,
an addition was made, containing thirty lots, by‘N.
K. & R. L. Wade, known as Wade’s Extension. Rit-
ner’s Extension, consisting of twelve lots, was sur-
veyed in February, 1875, from Chestnut Street to the
extension of Walnut. And in April, the same year,
six lots were added called Hayes’ Extension. In De-
cember, 1881, Wolfe and Whitt1esey’s Addition was
made to Wade Avenue, consisting of seven lots sixty
by two hundred feet. '

A list is here given’ of the borough ofiicers of
Washington from its incorporation to the present
time, viz.:

, BURGESSES.
1810—11.—AleXander Reed, John Wilson.‘

.]812—13.——David Morris, Thomas Oflicer.

18l4.—Danie1 Moore, James Orr.
1815.—David Shields, John Wilson.
1816.—Alexander Murdoch, Alexander Reed.
l817.——John Wilson, David Morris.
1818.—-James Blaine, James Shannon.
1819-22.-—James Blaine, John Gregg.
1823.—James Orr, James Ruple.

' 1824-25.--James Ruple. Daniel Moore.

1826-28.-.—Samuel Workman, James Orr.
1829-30.—James Orr, John Kuntz.
1831.—George Kuntz. James Orr.
1832.—-John S. Brady, John Wilson.
1833.—Archiba1d Kerr, John Wilson.
1834.—Archibald Kerr, James Ruple.
1835.-—Archiba1d Kerr, James Ruple.
1836—37.=—John R. Grilfith, James Ruple.
1838.—John L. Gow, James Ruple.
1839.—James Blaine, John R. Griflith.
1840.—Robert Oflicer, John S. Brady.
1841—42.—Robert Oflicer, George W. Brice.
1843.—Rober.t Oflicer, Thomas McGilfin.
1844.—-Isaac Leet, James Langley.

'1845.—MattheW Giflin, Sample Sweeney.

1846.—-L. P. Hitchcock, John L. Gow.
1847.——Wi1liam McKennan, Alexander Murdoch.
1848.—James Ruple, James Langley.

1849.——Col1in M. Reed, Alfred Creigh.
1850.——Wil1iam Hopkins, Collin M. Reed.
1851.—Alexander W. Acheson, Peter Reimund.
1852.—Alexander W. Acheson, Hugh W. Reynolds.
1853.—-William Workman, Charles W. Hays.
1854.—Charles W. Hays. James Spriggs.
1855.—-Alexander Murdoch, Samuel Cunningham.

497.

56

HISTORY OF WASHINGTON COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA.

the Ohio [meaning, however, more particularly the Allegheny, which
was then called Ohio. to its head-waters], the most of them at Shingas’
Town, called Kittaning, about thirty Miles above Fort Duquesne; and

‘ Scarryoddy and Montour must have acquainted you that they saw more

or less English Prisoners in almost every one of the Delawaretowns on
the Sasquehannah as high up as Diahoga.

“At first the enemy appeared in small Parties and committed their
Outrages where they could do it with most Safety to themselves, but of
late they have penetrated to the inhabited Part of the Country in larger
Bodies, and have defeated several Detachments of our armed Forces,
burned and laid waste whole Countries, and spread a general Terror
amongst us, so that I have been constrained to yield to the importunate
Demands of the enraged People (not being able otherwise to afford them
a sufficient Protection for want of Arms, Ammunition, and an equal and
compulsory Militia Law) to delare the Delaware Nation Enemies and
Rebels to his Majesty, and to,ofl‘er large Rewards for Prisoners and Scalps,
hoping that this would engage such of our Inhabitants as had any Cour-
age left, as well as all others in the neighboring Provinces, to hunt, pur-
sue, and attack them in their own country, and by these means keep
them at home for the Defense of their own Towns, and prevent the total
Desertion of the Back Counties, which there is good Reason to be appre-
hensive of. . . . You may be assured, Sir, that a Peace on honourable
Terms will be extremely acceptable, as we form this charitable Opinion
of the Delawares, that they were hurried into this Measure by the Arti-
fices and Intimidations of the French, and did always believe when they
came to open their eyes they would relent and cease injuring their inno-

cent.Bret.hren and allies, who have never hurt them either in Thought ;

or Action. It was this opinion of that good Disposition towards us that
influenced us to sufi'er so long their hostilities without declaring them
Enemies, until the Blood streamed in such Quantities down our Moun-
tains and filled the Vallies to such a Degree that we could no longer delay
the Publication of their horrid Cruelties.

“ I do not perceive that any of the Delawares living on the Ohio came
to the Meeting appointed by the Deputies of the Six Nations, or that
they have been spoke to; and they are, as you know, the most numerous
of all. Indeed, the main body of the Delawares live at Kittaning .and
the other Delaware towns on and beyond the Ohio, and have been the
most mischievous, and do still, even so late as last Week, continue to

‘murder and destroy our Inhabitants, treating them with the most bar-

barous Inhumanity that can be conceived. . . . .
“A Party of Delawares lately done some Mischief in Potomac ; they
were headed by a French oflicer, who was killed, and the Party routed; 1
and in the 0ifiee'r’s Pocket was found a Paper of Instructions from the
French Commandant, Monsieur Dumas,_at Fort Du Quesne, ordering

him to burn and destroy what he could meet with on that River; from_

the Ohio therefore we must expect the greatest Mischief, and all means
possible should be used to separate the Delawares and Shawanese from
the Frenchthere, and prevail with them not to join in burning, rav-

aging, and laying waste our Frontier Counties.”

The matter of Sir William J ohnson’s protest against
the declaration of war upon the Delawares tvas brought
to the attention of the Council, whereupon

“ It was then Considered, as the Deiavvares on the Ohio were still in
open Warr, and a Grand attack might be expected to be made this
Month from that Quarter on the Frontier Inhabitants, whether the Ces-
sation, should extend to them ; and it was after Long consultation agreed
that it should; but an Account coming from the Postmaster at Annap-
olis that these Indians had Penetrated and Were Destroying the Inhab-
itants of Virginia, tweive miles Within Winchester and Conolloways,
and a Great part of Conegocheagne, and had very lately Defeated forty
Eegnier Forces of Fort Cnmherland, and vvere Determined to attack
that fort, the matter vvas reconsidered, and agreed to advise the Gov-
ernor to Scenes the Cessation of arms to the Sasguehan nah Indians.”

Intelligence of the above-mentioned foray into
Maryland and Virginia by the French from Fort
Du Queens, rvith their Delavvare and Shavvanese allies,
was communicated by Governor Dinvviddie, of Vir-

1 This sires the hght -stsieeiingl-Eiil saith theahirenehiasid-iindians un-
der the Sienr Sosviiie, nho ares iiiiiee, as isefore mentioned, The in-
sirsotione {ones on his person have sise sireesiy hoes given, it

ginia, to the Governor of Pennsylvania in a letter
dated Williamsburg, April 30, 1756, as follows:

“SIR,--This is to Inform you of the miserable
Situation of our Affairs on our Frontiers ; the French
and Indians have cutt off the communication from
Fort Cumberland to Winchester, have Committed
many Cruel Robberies, murders, and Devastation
among the poor back Settlers, and by the last Letters
they have invested the Town of Winchester with a
great number of their People, and they further report
that they have besieged Fort Cumberland with five
hundred Men, .French and Indians.

“ This Disagreeable News obliged me to Give Orders
for summonsing the Militia of Eleven Contiguous
Counties to Winchester, and I hope, when Collected
together, they will amount to four thousand men,
who I have ordered to march directly for Winchester,

to repel the Fury of the Invaders, and protect our

back Settlements, which will answer, I hope, my ex-
pectations.

“The Expedition against the Shawanese proved
unsuccessful after‘Six Weeks’ march in the Woods.
The Rivers they were to Cross were much swelled by
the fall of Rain and Snow ; they lost several Canoes
with Provisions and Ammunition, on which they were
forced to return in a Starving Condition, killing their
Horses for food.”

In July the Indians in strong force, ‘headed by
King Shingiss, appeared at Fort Granville” (near the
present.site of Lewistown), stormed it, killed several
whites, and took a number of prisoners, whom they
carried to Kittaning, an Indian village on the Alle-
gheny, at or near the site of the present town of the
same name in Armstrong County. This Indian Kit-
taning was at that time the residence of King Shin-
giss, as also of the redoubtable Delaware chief, Captain
Jacob, both of Whom had been among the most
prominent of the Indian leaders of murdering parties

in this and the preceding year. To this place the

French sent ammunition and supplies for their

C’ savage allies, and it was a principal rendezvous from

which Indian War parties made their bloody forays
into the settlements. For these reasons it was de-

cided to send an expedition against the Delaware .

stronghold to destroy it if possible; and Lieut.-Col.
John Armstrong, who commanded the eight com-

panies of the Second Pennsylvania Battalion sta-

tioned vvest of the Susquehanna, was designated, as
the commander for the campaign. '

2 To afford some degree of security against the incursions of the
French and Indians, the province of Pennsylvania built, at a total exi-
peuse of £85,696, a chain of forts and lzoiceli-houses, extending across the
province  the Delaware to the Maryland line, commanding the
principal passes of the mountains. On the east side of the Susque-
hanna, and extending to the Delaware, were Forts Depui, Lehigh, Allen,
Everitt, Williams, Henry, Swatara, Hunter, Halifax, and Augusta.
West of the Susquehanna were Fort Louther, at,Ca1-lisle ; Forts Morris
and Franhiiu, at Shippenshurg; Fort Granville; Fort Shirley, on a
hranei: of then-n;ieftai»;‘C¥ort Zyftieton and Fort IJQIICIQIIII, on Concou-
cheegue Sreeh, Zieut,-Sol. John Armstrong, with eight companies of
Pennsylvania troops, vvss stationed on the viest side oi the Susquehanna

.498

 

1856.—Jacob.Slagle‘, James Brown.
1857.—James B. Ruple, William B. Hopkins.
1858—59.—James W. Kuntz, James Rush.
1860.—James W. Kuntz, Thomas J. Walker.
186l—62.——James W. Kuntz, James Rush.
1863.-—James W. Kuntz, Alfred Creigh.
1864—65.—Andrew Brady. James Rush.
1866.—Charles Hays, William Smith.
1867.——H. J. Vankirk, John Hoon.
1868.—John D. Boyle, John McElroy.
1869.——John D. Boyle, Isaac Y. Hamilton.
1870.—John D. Boyle, Theodore F. Slater.
1871.—_—Samue1 Hazlett, Theodore F. Slater.
187_2—73.—Samue1 Hazlett, J. H. Little.
1s74._am....; Hazlett, J. o. Acheson. *
‘1875.—J. L. Judson, J. C. Acheson.
‘l876.—-J. L. Judson, William S. Bryson.
1877.——H. J. Van Kirk, William S. Bryson.
1878.—H. J. Van Kirk, Alexander Rankin.
1879.—Samuel Hazlett, Alexander Rankin.
'1880.—-Samuel Hazlett, John H. Murdoch.
r1881.—J. Carter Judson, John H. Murdoch.
1882 —J. Carter Judson, J . Frank,Taylor.

. TOWN COUNCIL.
1810-11.—Hugh Wilson, Thomas Acheson, Hugh Workman, Robert An-
derson, Parker Campbell. ' _ ‘
1812.—John Scott, Matthew Dill, Hugh Workman, Parker Campbell,
Thomas McGiffin. ‘ ‘
1813.——-Thomas McGil‘fin, Parker Campbell, Daniel Moore, James Orr,
V Hugh Workman. A _
H 1814.——Parker Campbell, Thomas Ofiicer, Thomas McGiflin, Hugh Work-
man, David Morris. -
1815.—James0rr, Parker Campbell, Hugh Workman, Thomas McGi-flin,
Daniel Moore. . ‘
1816.——Thomas McGiflin, James Lattimore, James Blaine, Parker Camp-
bell, George Baird. ~
‘18l7.—Alexander Reed, James Blaine, James Lattimore, James Orr,
Thomas H. Baird. ‘ .
18l3.——-Thomas M. T. McKennan, Hugh Workman, John Wilson, James
Garrett, William Hunter. . V
18l9—20.——-.-Hugh Workman, John Wilson, William Hunter, Thomas M’
T. McKen nan, James Garrett. D ‘
1821—22.—-—Thomas M. T. McKenna_n, John Wilson, David Eckert, James
Stevens, John Koontz. ,
1823.—Hugh Workman, Thomas M. T. McKennan, Jacob Slagle, John
Wilson, James Stevens.
1824-25.-—Archibald Kerr, Thomas Good, James Lattimore, Thomas M.
T. McKennan, James Kerr. ' . V
I826.—Thomas M. T. McKennan, Thomas McGiflin, George Kuntz, John
S. Brady, John Wilson. - J ’
1827.—Tho,mas M. T. McKennan, George Kuntz, John Wilson, Jacob
-Slagle, George L. Morrison. ‘

1828.—..-Thomas M. T. McKennan, George Kuntz, Jacob Slagle, John K. ,

Wilson, Samuel Hazlett. ,

1829.—George Kuntz, Jacob Slagle, Thomas M. T. McKennan, William
Robinson, William Hunter. ’

1830.—Thomas M. T. McKennan, William Robinson, John K. Wilson,
James Shannon, John Wilson. '

183-1-32.-—William Robinson, John K. Wilson, John Wilson, James Shan-
non, William Baird. '

1833.——Hugh Workman, Isaac Leet, George Kuntz, Thomasoflicer, John
Morrow. '

1834.—Isaac Leet, John K. Wilson, Thomas Oflicer, George Kuntz, John
Morrow. . . -

1835.——John K. Wilson, Isaac Leet, James Shannon, John L. Gow, John
Wilson.

1836.-—-Isaac Leet, John _Morrow, John N. Dagg, Andrew Shearer, John
Bradford. _ A ‘

1837.—-—John N. Dagg, Andrew Shearer, John Morrow, John L.-Gow,
George Black.

1838.—George Black, John Morrow, Andrew Shearer, John R. Griffith,
Robert Officer.

1839.-—Alexander W. Acheson, Henry Langley, John Bert, James Pat-
terson, Peter Wolfe. '

1840.-‘-—Peter Wolfe, Alexander W. Achesen, John Morrow, Oliver Lind- A

sey, Adam Silvey.

 

HISTORY or WASHINGTON COUNTY. PENNSYLVANIA.

1841—42.——Alexander W. Acheson, Oliver Lindsey, Peter Wolfe, Matthew
Giflin, James Brown. I

1843.-—Alexander W. Acheson, George W. Brice, George Lonkert, John
S. Brady, John Grayson. V

1844.——Peter Wolfe, John R. Griflith, John Bert, Oliver Lindsey, Jacob
Kissler. I

1845.—Oliver Lindsey, John Bert, Peter Kennedy, William Smith, David
VVolfe. '

1846.—-Joseph Henderson, George Lonkert, James Brown, John Morrow,
Thomas Logan. v

1847.—Jam es M. Hutchinson, T. W. Grayson, James Brice, Robert Oflicer, V

Alfred Thirkfield.

1848.-—John Morrow, William Hopkins, Charles W. Hays, Oliver Lind- ‘

sey, Jacob Slagle,

1849.—-William Hopkins, Charles W. Hays, Oliver Lindsey, Jacob Slagle,
Peter Kennedy. .

1850.—Jacob Kissler, John S. Brady, Philip Kuhn, John Bausman,
Thomas B. Bryson.

1851.¥—Oliver Lindsey, Sample Sweeny, Collin M. Reed, Thomas VV. Gray-
son, Freeman Brady, Sr. ’

1852.—O1iver Lindsey, Freeman Brady, Sr., John Wiley, James Brown,
William McKennan. _' '

1853.——John Wiley, John Morrow, William R. Oliver, James Rush, Wil-
liam T. Fleming. . x _

1854.——Dr. M. H. Clarke, Collin M. Reed, Jacob Kessler, J. L. Judson,
JamesD. Bert. _ D

1855.—Thomas W. Grayson, H. W. Reynolds, A. R. Frisbie, John Mc-
Clelland, T. S. McKinley. 4

1856.—'1‘hoInas B. Bryson, Dr. J . R. Wilson, Simon Cort, L. W. Stockton,
John McElroy. ' .

1857.——Charl‘es W. Hays, Thomas B. Bryson, James W. Kuntz, S. R.
Withrow, John McAllister.' . ,

1858.--Jacob Goldsmith, N. F. Brobst, John Prigg,  H. Stoy, David
Wolfe.

1859-—60.——Cliarles W. Hays, James Walton, William T. Fleming, James I

W. Humphreys, Jackson Spriggs.

1861.-—John_' Prigg, Freeman Brady, Jr., Andrew Brady, Charles  ,

Hays, Alexander Frazier.

1862.—John Prigg, Andrew Brady, Thomas D. O’Hara., Charles W. Hays,
Samuel Beatty. ~ .

1863.—~William T. Fleming, John Prigg, J ohn Naughton, John W. Lock.-
hart, James Walton. V .

1864.—Jacob Miller, Alphetis Murphy, A. J . Caton, Thomas Seaman,
Patrick Waldron.

l865.—Ira Lacock, John Naughton-, William Drury, G. J. Dagg, Adam

’ H. Ecker. . '

1866.—Thomas J. Hodgins, Nelson Vankirk, Thomas Walker, Davids

Aiken, William Fitzwilliams.

1867.—J. E. Acheson, Thomas McKean, C. V. Greer, Alexander Seaman,‘

John Hallam.

.1868.-—Joh.n Templetoh, William H. Taylor, R. W. Davis, George 0.

Jone, Samuel Hazlett. , .

1869.—Alfred Creigh, Adam C. Morrow, J . L. Judson, James Houston,
A. B. Caldwell.   _

1870.—J. L. Judson, George S. Hart, Dr. A. Creigh, Martin Luther, James

_ Huston. V .

I871.-—-George S. Hart, Martin Luther, F. J. Wil y, John V. Wilson,
James Huston. '

1872.—Enoch Dye, Fulton, John V.” Wilson, F.‘I. Wiley, John D.
Braden, J. N. Haines. ’

1873.—Euoc'h Dye, John D. Braden, Joseph Spriggs, A. Rankin, J. N.
Haines. . ,

1874.-—Joseph Spriggs, A. Rankin, A. T. Baird, Thomas Walker, George
M. Warrick. '

1875.—George M. Warrick, Thomas Walker, John Hoon, A. T. Baird,
John S. Wilson. -

1876.—Samuel Decker, M. L. A. McCracken, E. L. Christman, John
Hoon, John S. Wilson. ' ‘

1877.—Samue1 Decker, D. L. Christman, Thomas M. Wiley, John McEl-

- roy, John Hoon (removed).

1878.—Thomas M. Wiley, Thomas Walker, John Baird, John S. Wilson,
John McElroy. —

187,9.—John McGufiie, John Munn, John Baird, John S. Wilson, Thomas
Walker. ' ‘

1880.-——James Hall, Jr., John M. Horn, Charles W. Scott, W. J. Doyle,
John P. Linn‘, J. P. Miller, John Bane, Nelson Van Kirk, R. H.
Baker, Isaac Sharp, John Munn, John McGuflie. - .

 

' 3 '. 1845-46. James McKinley.

1869. L. R. \’V. Little.

1864-65. George S. Hart.

WASHINGTON BOROUGH.

499

1881.—1st Ward, J. R. Clark, John McGufiie, William Hutson ; 2d Ward,
C. W. Scott, F. Berthell, R. L. Thompson ; 3d Ward, B. J. M. Brown,
W. J. Doyle, J. H. Kennedy; 4th Ward, Nelson Van Kirk, J: W.
Beck, Henry De Normandie. _ ‘
1882.--1st Ward, James C. Acheson, Jacob Cline, John M. Broden; 2d
Ward, Dr. George A. Dougherty, Edward Little, Michael Ryan; 3d
H Ward, William Green, William A‘. Mickey, John H. Kennedy; 4th
Ward, Nelson Van Kirk, Alexander Agnew, Jacob Beck.

if TOWN CLERKS.

1855-62. William B. Rose.
1863. Ashford Engle.
1864. Henry Brown}

1810-11. David Shields.
1812-14. Samuel,Cunningham.
1815-16. John Cunningham.

1817-31. John Marshall. 1865. Thaddeus Stanton.
1832-33. Samuel Doak. 1866. J. G. Ruple.
1834. Henry Langley. 1867. John Aiken.
1835-40.,George W. Brice. 1868. Joseph A. McKee.

1841-42. Robert K. Shannon.
1843-44. Henry M. Brister.

1869. John Vvaldron.

.1870. Wesley Wolf.

1871. W. H. McEnrue.
1872-73. L. M. Marsh.
1874-80. Robert S. Winters.
1881-82. Samuel C. Clark.

1847. David Wherry.
1848-50.’ William J. Wilson.
1851-54. Joseph O'Hara.

TREASURERS.

1810-12. Daniel Moore. 1870-71. M. G. Kuntz
1813-15. Alexander Reed. , 1872. L. R. W. Little
1816. Daniel Moore. ' 1873. D. M. Donahoo
1817-19. John Barrington. 1874, L, M, Marsh
1820-35. John Gregg. 1875. A M Todd
.1836-56. George Kuntz. 1876. J. W. McDowell.
1857-62., George Baird. 1877. George 0. Jones.

1863-65. George Kuntz.
1866. David Aiken.
1867. John C. Hastings.
1868. John Aiken.

1878.
1879.
1880.
1881.

James Mitchell.
James Kuntz, Jr.
Clark Riggle.
Finley B. Hallam.

SOLIGI,TORS.

-1874-75. John Aiken.
1876. J. R. Braddock.
1877-78. .
1879. John W. Donnan.
1880. C. M. Ruple.
1881. H. J. Van Kirk.

1866-67. D. S. Wilson.

1868. H. J. Van Kirk.

1-869. D. F. Patterson.
1870-71. Braden and Miller.
1872. George S. _Hart.

1873. J. L. Judson.

   

JUSTICES OF THE PEACE, WASHINGTON TOWNSHIP-.2

I

John Hoge, Nov. 21, 1786.
Thomasscott, Nov. 21, 1786.
Thomas Stokeley, Sept. 3, 1787..
Absalom Baird, March 3, 1789.
Gabriel Blakeney, Feb. 26, 1793.
VVilliam Meetkirke,_ Feb. 26, 1793.
Samuel Shannon, May 26, 1795.
John Wilson, Feb. 9, 1799.
Absalom Baird. May 2, 1799.
William McKennan, Jan. 2, 1804.
Alexander Lyttle, April 6,1805.
John Colmery, April 1, 1811.
James Orr, Feb. 8, 1812.

David Little, Dec. 11,1813.

James Blaine, Jan. 1, 1817.
Joshua Monroe, March 12, 1819.
‘Richard Johnston, March 22,1819.
Daniel Palmer, May 7, 1819.
Matthew McNary, Dec. 4, 1820.
David Quail, Jan. 31,1822.

John Marshall, May 20, 1822.
Thomas Morgan, Dec. 3, 1823.
Matthew. Linn, Dec. 20, 1825.

Thomas Smith, Jan. '23, 1826.
James McDowell, May 19, 1830.
Dickerson Roberts, May 8, 1833.
Archibald Kerr, Nov. 14, 1835.
George W. Brice, April 14, 1840. ,
James Blaine, April 14, 1810.
George W. Brice, April 15, 1845.
James Blaine, April 15, 1845-.
George Baird, April 11, 1848.
George W. Brice, April 9, 1850.

J. Lawrence Judson, April 13, 1853.
George w. Brice, April 10, 1853..
J. L. Judson, April 13, 1858.
William Hughes, April 13, 1858.
John Grayson, J r., April 14, 1863.
J. L. Judson, April 14, 1863.

John Grayson, Jr., Aprill-1, 1868.
William Hornish, April 14, 1868.

A D. M. Donahoo, April 15, 1873.
Clark Riggle, Jan. 21, 1874.

7 D. M. Donahoo, Jan. 26, 1874;

March 25, 1878.
Henry Kantz, March 25, 1878.

1 Resigned April 18th, Thaddeus Stanton appointed to fill vacancy.

9,Washington township was an independent district from its erection.

in 1786 to 1803, when it was joined with Strabane as District No. 1, and
so remained till 1838, when it again became a separate district. -

Market-House,—In the spring of 1795 it was re-
solved by the citizens of the town? of Washington in
meeting assembled that a market-house was needed,
and Alexander Addison and Dr. Absalom Baird were
appointed, to procure subscriptions for that purpose
and make arrangements for its erection. The com-

missioners’ records for that year --show no account of .

a plat of ground granted to the borough, and yet tra-

dition and later records indicate that the market-house G

of this date was erected on the northeast corner of
the public square. It was nearlyrfinished in August
of that year, as the following notice, published in the
I/I/79ste7°n Telegraphe of Aug. 24, 1795, will show: I

“ WASHINGTON, 5th August, 1795.

“ A Market-House being finished in the town of Washington, the in-
habitants of the town and its neighborhood were by public notice re-

quested to meet at the M arket-House‘ on Wednesday, the 5th of August,"

at half-past six o’clock in the afternoon, to consult on what days it
would be proper to hold a market for the sale of provisions in this Market-
House. ‘ .

“ A very full meeting accordingly took place this evening, and it was
agreed that the following notification should be published in the news-
papers: The inhabitants of this ' town and of its neighborhood have
hitherto suffered many inconveniences“; the people of the town from the
inconstancy and uncertainty of supply of provisions; the people of the
country from being obliged to hawk their articles from door to door with-
out the certainty of a demand or sale. Both these inconveniences may
now be remedied, if the people of the country will bring in their
different articles of provision at fixed periods, and sell them at the
Market-House; and if the people of the town will buy only there at
those periods. As the propriety of this is manifest, it is expected that
both parties will contribute to carry itinto effect. It is therefore pro-
posed that hereafter there shall be two Market Days here each week,
Wednesday and Saturday, and that provisions be broughtto the Market-
House as early as possible on the morning of those days and continued
till sold or till ten o’clock forenoon.

“ It was also agreed by all present that none of them would, after the
first publication of this notice, buy any provisions in this town on the

mornings of those Market days in any place but in the market until’

after ten o'clock forenoon. -
“ N. B. Those who have not paid their subscription for building the

Market-Houseare desired to pay them immediately to Alexander _ Addi- ‘

son or Absalom Baird; otherwise the subscription will be put into the
hands of a Justice of the Peace to collect.”

On the 1st of September, 1795, the opening of the
market-house was advertised as- follows in the Tele-
gmphe .- “ A market forproduce or provisionswill be
opened at the Market House in the town of Wash-
ington, on every Wednesday or Saturday from early
dawn till ten o’clock in the forenoon; and by agree-
ment no produce or provisions of any kind shall be
purchased in the town within the above periods,
except at the market hours only.”

Upon the incorporation of the borough in_18lO the
Council passed additional laws regulating the markets.
The growth of the town soon demanded larger accom-
modations, and on the 20th of February, 1812, a town-
meeting was called at .the court-house “ to take into
consideration the subject of changing thesite of the

market house,” and on the 24th of February “ A Citi- G

zen” makes the following inquiry in the Reporter .-
“By what authority do the Commissions of this
County enter into any agreement for the absolute
and permanent disposition of the public ground; By
whom was that public square granted? To whom?

500

HISTORY OF WASHINGTON COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA.

and for what purpose? . The public square
whereon the court house and gaol are erected was
granted by David Hoge, the original proprietor of th
town of Washington, to James Edgar, &c. . . . in
trust for the citizens of Washington County for the
purpose of erecting a court House and Gaol thereon.”
The subject was brought to the notice of the Council
in November, 1813, and the Council authorized the
burgess to call a meeting of the citizens on the 8th of
November, which was done and its proceedings pub-
lished in the Reporter, bearing date Nov. 8, 1813, as
follows: 1
“NOTICE.
“ At a meeting of the Burgesses and Council of the borough of Wash-

ington, on Saturday, the 6th instant, Resolved, That it is expedient for

the chief burgess to give public notice, in one or more of the news papers
of the borough, to the taxable inhabitants, to meet at the court house_ on
Friday, the 12tl1 instant, at’6 o’clock P. M., to take into consideration the
subject of building a new market house in said borough.‘ Now this is
to give notice to said inhabitants tomeet at said place and time for the
above-mentioned purpose. —
“ Given under my hand this 8th day of November, 1813.
' v “ DAVID MORRIS,
“ Chief Burgess."

No 1 account of the meeting mentioned above is
found in the papers of thetime. In January, 1815,
when the agitation for a bank and location of a site
was under discussion, a call was issued for a public
meeting as follows :'

“ TOWN-MEETIN G. 1

“ At a meeting of the citizens of thi borough held at the court house
this evening, Dr. David G. Mitchell was called to the chair, and John
Barrington, sec.retary._ The following resolutions were adopted, viz.:

“ Resolved, That it is expedient to change the scite of the market
house from the north to the south side of the public square for the pur-
pose of erecting a banking house, on the northeast corner of said square
and for the better accommodation of the citizens at large, provided,
however, that no change or alteration in the present scite of the market

' house shall take place until the consent of the proper authority shall be

first had and obtained to erect a banking house on the northeast corner
of the public‘ square and a market house on the southeast corner of said
square, nor until arrangements be made andta contract entered into for
the building of said banking house on that ground.

“ Resolved, That Alexander Murdoch, Thomas Baird, and James Orr,
Esquire, be a committee to procure the necessary authority and grant
for said market and banking house, from the legislature and commis-
sioners of the county.

“ DAVID G. MI'rcHEI.L,. Chairman.
“ JOHN BARRINGTON, Secretary.
“VVASHINGTON, 7th Jan’y, 1815.”

This committee subsequently ascertained that the
public square could not be diverted from public pur-

' poses, and the idea was abandoned.

On the 13th of June, 1815,‘ about one hundred and
twenty of the taxable inhabitants of the borough met
at the court-house to take into consideration the pro-
priety of erecting a new market-house. Hugh Work-
man was chosen chairman, and Thomas M. T. Mc-
Kennan secretary. Resolutions were passed to the
effect that alarge and commodlous market-house be
erected on the northeast corner of the public square
as soon as the consent of the commissioners of the
county to enlarge the market-house be obtained. A

committee waited on the commissioners and presented -

l

July, 1822.-
some time in the building, commencing in May,‘

their request, and on the 21st of June following the

commissioners granted permission to the inhabitants
of the borough to erect a market-house on the‘ east
and, north sides of the public square fifty-three feet,
fronting on Main Street, and on a range with the
public oflices and parallel with Main Street.

After this grant from the commissioners it was
thought advisable to make the market-house two
stories in height, and a request was made of the com-
missioners for that purpose, which was granted on

the 2d of November, with the proviso “That one '

room or apartment shall be made thereon, of a con-
venient size for the accommodation of the Burgesses
and Council of said Borough.” The grant provided
further that after the expiration of twenty-five years

the borough should deliver the market-house to the .

commissioners of Washington County upon payment
of the original cost of the building.

The building was erected under the supervision -of
Parker Campbell, Alexander Murdoch, and Thomas
McGriffin, who were appointed by the Council a build-
ing committee, with authority to borrow money not
to exceed two thousand dollars, The contract for its

erection was given to ‘C01. James Ruple. It was de- 8

livered to the burgess and Council on the 20th of
October, 1817. The rooms were. rented’ on the 25th
to the following persons: Room No. 1 to Robert
Estep; No.2 to John Purviance; Nos. 3 and 5 to
Thomas H. Baird; No. 4 to John McCloney; No. 6
to the Rev. Matthew Brown and James Williamson,
who opened a school for ‘young ladies on the 10th of
November following. Isaiah Steen also rented one
of the rear rooms on the upper floor for a chair-shop.
On the 1st of April, 1818, John Grayson took pos-
session of room No. 5, where he published the Wash-
ington Examiner till April 28, 1827. Andrew Gwinn
taught school in room No. 2 above the market in
«Obadiah Jennings taught school for

1824. Philip Potter taught there in 1824-25, and
Henry Williams in 1836. Others also taught in the
old buildings whose names are not ascertained. A
veranda was built on the second floor on Main and
Beau Streets. The one on Main Street was the fa-
vorite resort of the old gentlemen of the place to
relate their stories and passaway the time. It is
particularly remembered as being the resort of Isaiah
Steen, Squire John Wilson, and Robert Knox. A

lean-to was built on the south side of the market-‘

house, where the fire—engine was kept. This market-
house was in use until the demands of the county
required a new court-house, and in 1889 arrangements
were made with the commissioners for an exchange
of property, as will be found in the account of the
town hall. A market-house was erected in the spring
of 1840, on the north side of the public square front-
ing on Cherry Alley, and openedfor business August
2d of _that year- This market-house on Cherry Alley
-was used until the erection of the town hall in 1869,

. t-hority to dig wells in thestreet.”
‘the above that at that time a fire engine was owned

WASHINGTON BOROUGH.

501

when it was torn down. Upon the erection of the
new hall the rear of the lower story was used‘ for
market “purposes until June 7, 1878, when the=Coun-
cil ordered the market-house to be fitted up for. an

engine-house and the old engine-room used as a

market.‘

Fire Department.——The first fire which occurred
in the town of Washington of which any account is
obtained was the burning of _the log court-house in
the winter of 1790-91. The accounts of the commis-

sioners of 1791 contain the following: “ To pay James

Marshel for the use of his engine, $25.” What kind

~ of an engine was owned by Col. Marshel, or for what

purpose he obtained it, is not known, as no further
reference to it is found.

A In the history of the incorporation of the borough
reference is made to an article signed “ An Inhabitant
of Washington,” and dated Feb. 2, 1796, in which he
says, speaking of the powers of a borough, “ It could
make provision against a calamity which every reflect-
ing man must dread——fire. In vain is our fire-engine
if we want water ; and it is well known that in a dry

season there is not one-tenth part of -the water neces-

sary in case of a fire breaking out, yet there _is no au-
It is evident from

and .kept for public use by the town. And in a bill
presented to. the commissioners in the year 1797 “ the

_ Engine-House” is. mentioned. In an article which

was published in the Reporter of Jan. 13, 1817, “A
Citizen,” speaking of a recent fire and the existing
fire system, says, “ We have had more than twenty
years’ experience of the inefficiency of the present
system.” This implies that a fire company was or-
ganized about that time" (1797), and was in possession

. of an engine. On the 18th of May, 1801, the “ Wash-

ington Fire Company” was organized with a roll of

eighty-two members. The engine was placed under

the care of two directors and sixteen men. On the
15th of January, 1816, notice was given by Henry

.Yanaway, high constable, to the citizens of the

borough to meet at the court—house on the 16th, “for
the purpose of determining whether the taxes of the
borough shall be so far increased as may be necessary
for the purchase of a fire-engine.” N 0 account of

this meeting is found. There was existing in that

1 The reason of the market-house being set back from the main street
was that on the 3d of June, 1817, the commissioners laid otf three lots
on the public square, Nos. 1, 2, 3, twenty-two by twenty-four feet each,
being sixty-six feet front on Main Street, and twenty-four feet on
Cherry Alley. These lots were leased for twenty-five years, No. 1 to
William Hunter, it being the north lot; No. 2, the centre one, to John
Neal; No. 3, the south one, to David Shields. On these lots a brick
building was torbe erected one story in height, covering the whole area
and under one roof,‘and to be built in range with the public olfices.
On‘ the 20th of June, the commissioners thinking it would be better to
have the building two stories in height, agreed with the lessees, Hunter,

-Neal, and Shields, in consideration of erecting the building two stories

in height, to release them from the first five years’ annual rent. The
buildings were thus erected, and when the market-house was built the
lease had not yet expired. 1

year a fire company called “The Franklin Fire Com-
pany,” and John Cunningham, secretary, notified the
company to meet at the court-house on the 16th of
April. The Reporter, of February, 1822, gives an
account of a meeting of the citizens of the borough of

Washington, held at the court-house on the 18th of _

February in that year. The Rev. Thomas Hoge was
called to the chair, and Joseph Henderson was chosen’
secretary. The. object of the meeting was to direct’

the burgesses and Council of the borough to purchase ,

“ a new water-engine” out of the corporation funds.
John Johnson, John Wilson, Alexander Reed, Daniel
Moore, and William Sample were appointed a com-
mittee to wait upon the commissioners of the county
at their next meeting and “ ascertain how much they
will subscribe for the purpose of purchasing .a new
engine and apparatus.” The burgesses and Council
were instructed to ascertain how much can be raised
by subscription for the.purpose of making. reservoirs,
the’ subscribers to have credit in theiryt-axes; they
were also requested to pass an ordinance requiring
every person owning a house of the value of $400 to

‘purchase two leather fire-buckets. ‘The meeting ad-

journed to March 14th, the same year, at which time
the “ Hope Fire Company” was organized. *
On Saturday night, Feb. 23, 1822,_ about twelve
o’clock, the law-oflfice of Thomas M. T. McKennan
and a house adjoining took fire and were both de-
stroyed. After the firewas nearly over and the citi-

zens mostly dispersed, the double stack -of ‘chimneys I

in the two-story frame housefell and killed four per-
sons and wounded five others. The names of those
killed were Henry Taylor, son of Matthew Taylor,
about seventeen years of age; James Wilson, the
youngest son of John Wilson, Esq.,.who was about
fifteen years of age, and a student in Washington Col-'
lege ; Jeremiah Decker, a married man, and by trade
a mason; and Joseph Decker, J r., about twelve years
of age, and a son of Joseph Decker. Of the wounded,
Alexander Addison, a son of Judge Alexander Addi-
son, and a promising attorney,‘ died on the 28th of
February following from injuries received. David
Lingerfelter, a young man seventeen years of age,
was wounded by the fire-engine as it was returning
from the fire. Lockjaw set in, and he died on the 8th
of March.

The following facts are found in the newspapers and ‘

records concerning the “ Hope Fire Company:” It is
first mentioned in 1822. R. W. Harding was its sec-
retary in May, 1824. An annual meeting was held
May 29, 1824, and the following officers were elected:
Chief Director, Hugh ,Wilson; Engineers, William
Hunter, John Wilson ; Directors of the Ladder Com-
pany, James Ruple, James Kerr; Director of the
Property Guard,‘ Samuel Murdoch; Directors of the
Water Company, Thomas M. T. McKennan, George
Baird, William Robinson, George Kuntz; Treasurer,
Jacob Slagle; Secretary,_John R. Murdoch. '

In 1825 the annual meeting passed without an elec-

" 52

'-agements.

V chase of fifty feet of hose.

HISTORY OF WASHINGTON COUNTY, ‘PENN SYLVAN IA. r

-tion of ofiicers. _In 1826, C. .M. Reed was secretary of
the company. On the 9th of January, 1829, the fol-
lowing-named ofiicersgwere elected: Chief Director,
George Baird; Engineer, Dr. Francis J. Le Moyne;
Assistant Engineer, Colin M.lReed; Captains of the

V Ladder and Axe Companies, John Wilson and Henry
' Chess; Captains of Water Company, Thomas M. T.

McKennan and Alexander Reed; Captains of Prop-
erty Guard, Rev. John Graham, Dr. Samuel Mur-
doch; Secretary, Alexander Wilson. The company
continued; for a few years, and then disbanded.

On the 11th of February, 1837,‘ the “ Hope” and

~“ Washington” Fire Companies were reorganized,

and the following were elected oflicers of the Hope
Fire Company: Director, John Marshel; Engineers,

‘Oliver Witherow, Jacob Keisler; Captain of the

Water Companies, Jacob Slagle; Captains, of the
Axe and Ladder Company, Peter Wolf and John
Wilson; Property Guard, Alexander Sweeney, Alex-

ander Reed, Daniel Moore; Secretary, Henry Lang-
ley. This company maintained an existence for

-aboutfifteen or twenty years, then disbanded.

About 1858 acompany was organized and named
the “Hope Fire Company,” which held its organi-
zation for several years, but through many discour-
The next year (1859) an engine was
purchased. In February, 1866, the records of the
Council mention the “ New Hope Engine” and pur-
In November, 1870, the
minutes of the Council mention the “ Hope Fire Com-

' pany” as lately organized, and on the -11th of Decem-

ber a committee from the company came before the
Council and submitted a constitution, which was ap-
pr.oved, and the Hope Engine was given in‘ their
charge. The engine at that time had eight sections

‘of hose, two branch~pipes, three nozzles, four span-
ners for suctions, and three sections of suctions.

The
company has held its organization to the present
time. The engine is kept in the engine-room in the
town hall. The present officers are John P. Charl-
ton, captain; James Matthews, first lieutenant; A.-
B. Means, second lieutenant. The company has at
present (1882) sixty-five members. .

The Washington Fire Company, of which mention;
is first made in 1801, evidently retained its organiza-
tion, as in September, 1831, the burgess and Council
ordered that the engines then under charge of the
companies be kept in different parts of the borough.
On the 11th of February, 1837, when the “Wash-
ington” and f Hope” Companies-were reorganized,
the following officers were elected by the Washington
Company, Viz.: Directors, Dr. John Wishart, William
Smith; Engineers, Henry Shearer, Oliver Lindsey;
«Captains of the Water Companies, John Dagg, David
White; Captains of the Axe and Ladder Company,
-Gen. Andrew Shearer, Freeman Brady; Property
Guards, Abijahl Johnston, Samuel Mount, John
Shaffer; Secretary, John K. Wilson. From this time
nothing more is learned of ' the company} _ I

‘ fire-engine.

Soon after the reorganization of the Hope and
VVashington Companies, another company was formed

and named “Good Intent.” A small engine was pur-

chased for their use, and in December, 1844, the
company petitioned the Council for an engine-house,
which was granted, and a house was erected on "Pine
Alley, and in the next year a -hose-cart was pro-
cured. _

In 1847 an engine bearing the name “Eagle” was

I purchased at Pittsburgh for the sum of eight hundred

dollars. It has not been ascertained that it was under
the charge of any company until the organization of

the “-Eagle Fire Company” in January, 1857. The-
oflicers were O. R.‘ McNary, president;' Marshall.

Griffith,'secre.tary; John McKay, treasurer; John S.
Clohey, captain ; H. W. Wiley, lieutenant; Robert H.
-Elliot, first engineer; John McFarland, second en-
gineer; O. R. McNary, captain of hose. The com-
pany disbanded after a few years, and the engine was
sold. V

A company bearing the name of “Good 'Will,"’
having an engine in their care, was in existence in
1866, and on the 11th of December, 1871, the com-
pany appeared‘ before the Council and presented a
constitution, which was accepted, and the Council
ordered the “new suction-engine” to be placed in
their charge. At thattime the engine called “ Good
Will” was still owned by the borough. Nothing more
is ascertained of this company. On the 5th of Feb-
ruary, 1872, the fire committee were instructed to
purchase a “ Crane-Necker” from Button,& Son, but
this was not done. A A '

On the 8th of November, 1872, the citizens pe-
titioned the burgess and Council to purchase a steam
A committee was appointedto confer
with themanufacturers of steam fire-engines, and on

the 2d of December in that year thegagents of the"
Amoskeag and Seneca Falls‘ Companies visited the .
Council and presented their respective claims. On‘

the 20th of January, 1873, the Council’ contracted

with the agent of the Seneca Falls Company for a‘ .

steamer for six thousand dollars. The burgess was
authorized to call the citizens of Washington together
for the purpose of forming a company to take charge
of the new steamer. .. About one hundred andfifty
persons were formed into a company, called the

Citizens’ Fire Company. The. steamer (the. “Little ~_

Giant”) was given in charge of the Citizens’ Com-

_pany, which lasted but a short time, and another A

company was organized, with twelve members, and
oflicered as follows: Samuel Brady, captain; Peter
Cunningham, first lieutenant;- George vThompso_n,
chief engineer; and S. L. Wilson, assistant engineer".
The company remained with this number about two
years, when the number was’ increased to twenty;
and after about two years the Council reduced the
number again to twelve, and allowed each ‘member
two hundred dollars annually. On .the 1st of July,
1879, the pay wasincreased to three hundred’ dollars

hundred feet of hose.

WASHINGTON BOROUGH.

each, annually, provided the company would keep

twelve active members. ‘They have at present the

Little Giant engine, two hose-reels, and fourteen
The present members of the
Little Giant Fire Company are Samuel Brady, cap-_
tain; Jacob Beck, first lieutenant; Jacob Cline, chief

engineer; Patrick Curran, first assistant; Charles

Scott, second assistant; Thomas Birckalow, James
Curran, Isaac Hunter, James Kennedy, William

Seaburn, G. W. Thompson, T. D. M. Wilson.

I The first action taken by the Council to provide

‘public cisterns for fire purposes was in 1822, when
they appropriated money to build reservoirs in differ-
_.ent parts of the town.
, to some extent until ‘February, 1866, when the Coun-
’ Vcil resolved to build new cisterns and repair the old

Th-ese had been kept in use

ones. On the 19th of March in that year Chief Bur-

-gess Brady reported that he had contracted for three
new cisterns,——-one of two hundred barrels near John

Harter’s, one of three hundred barrels on the corner
of Beau and Main" Streets, and one of two hundred
barrels on the corner of Main and Maiden Streets.‘

.On_ the 19th of May, 1874, the" commissioners of the

county met with the Council of the borough, and
offered them one thousand dollars for the purpose of
building one or more cisterns near the county build-

-ings, which offer was accepted. The cisterns were

built and completed in May, 1875. -
On the 30th of .J une, 1879, the Council ordered a

‘cistern built near the seminary; and on the 16th of

August, 1880, ordered two cisterns built, with a ca-

pacity of five hundred barrels each, one near the

foundry, the other near the corner of Ruple Alley

-and West Beau Street. ‘

The present engine-house in therear of the town

hall, on the public square, was built in 1870. The

Council accepted plans May 27, 1870, and authorized

the burgess to advertise for proposals, which were’

received June 1st of that year, and contract given to
Andrew Brady for seventeen hundred and twenty-five
dollars. I ’ I ,

On the 20th of September, 1880, the Mechanics’

..Hook-and-Ladder Company was organized, and a
new truck placed under their charge. The company

consisted of seventeen members, and was officered as

-follows: Charles V. Harding, captain; James Curran,

first lieutenant; .William Blackhurst, second lieu-

» tenant. Their rooms are in the engine-house. The

three engines, “Good Intent,” “Good ’Will,” and
“ Eagle,” all hand-engines, were sold-for old iron.
The present‘ property of the Fire Department is

the engine-house, steamer “Little Giant,” two hose-

reels, fourteen hundred feet of hose; the “Hope”

(hand-engine), hose-reel, six hundred and fiftyfeet

of hose, hook—and-ladder. truck, six ladders, pikes,
axes, and drags, the whole under control of Fire-

‘Marshal John McGuflie. V '

Town Hal1.——-The first reference to a town hallin

. .Washington borough is found in a deed made in Oc-

C

tober, 1839, by the county commissioners to the bor- -

ough of Washington, in which it is recited that
whereas the commissioners of the county on the
21st of June, 1816, did grant to'the inhabitants of

the borough a certain part of the public square to be

used as a market-place, and whereas the (then?) pres-
ent commissioners “-are about to cause to be erected
new public buildings upon the said square, and are

desirous of obtaining for the use of the County that 0
_ part, thereof so granted as aforesaid, and upon which

the present marketihouse is built, and Whereas, the
Citizens of the said Borough in Town Meeting have
signified their willingness to relinquish all their right
and interest in and to the said ground provided the
said Commissioners do grant and convey to the Bur-
gesses and Inhabitants of thesaid Borough a part or
portion of the opposite o_r southern end of the said
square for the purpose of erecting thereon a new
Market House and Town Hall;” for which reasons
the commissioners “do give and gran-t unto the
Borough and‘ Inhabitants of the said Borough the
following part or portion of the public square afore-
said viz——-Beginning at a point on the northern edge
of
court house hereafter to be erected, thence north fifty
feet, thence west
the public ground in the rear of the brick building
occupied by Samuel Surratt and others, thence South
fifty feet to the Northern "edge of the said alley and
thence along said alley to the place of beginning for
and in exchange of and for all the rights and interest
of the said Borough in and toithat partof the public‘

 

square uponwhich the present market house is erected, 1

and the said Burgesses and Inhabitants of the said
Borough have likewise on theirpart given and

ranted and by these presents do fully freely and
absolutely give and grant unto the said Commis-

sioners for the use of the County all that part or .

portion of the public square. now occupied as a mar-
ket place and all their right and interest in the same
by virtue of the within instrument aforementioned.
To Have and to,Hold the said parts or portions of

the said public square soas aforesaid exchanged unto ‘

the said Burgesses and Inhabitants of the said Bor-
ough and unto the Commissioners and their successors
forever. Provided always nevertheless that the said
Burgesses and Inhabitants aforesaid are to use and
enjoy the said ground hereby granted and exchanged
for a market place and -for the creation of a market
house and Town Halland for no other purpose what-
soever.” . . . I ’

It will be seen by this deed that a part of the public
square was leased to the borough on which to build a
market—house in 1.816, and this deed was an exchange
of location on the public square by reason of the pro-
posed erection of a new court-house. On thisland
so exchanged the borough erected a_ market fronting
the alley, and the old one then-standing where the
sheriff’s house now stands was sold. On the» 3d of

503 O

alley on a line with the front of the new’

feetto" the fence now enclosing-

e and of no effect, . .

 with council chamber, town hall, etc.

504

HISTORY OF WASHINGTON COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA.

March, 1842, the borough of Washington purchased I
. the old brick buildings on the public square for $360.

Two days later the commissioners of the county re-
solved to deduct thirty-three per cent. of the purchase
money of above buildings “in consideration of erect-
ing an engine-house on the public square, which was
afterwards built in the rear of the market-house. On

the 5th of May, 1842, the commissioners “granted,
'-bargained, and sold” to the borough of VVashington

the lot on which the public offices stood, as is shown

. by the record of the commissioners of that date, viz.:
“All the public ground on the public square lying:
, south of a line commencing at the curbstone on
, Main Street, nine feet south o-f the new court-house,

and running west until it strikes a lot of Mr. Smith,_

late the property of William Hunter, deceased. In
consideration of said grant the burgesses and inhab-

itants aforesaid agree to erect a town hall on said.

ground, Otherwise the conveyance to beinoperative

on May 5, 1842, and recorded.”

The Council of the borough of Washington, on the -
23d of March, 1843, appointed a committee, consisting ~
of Robert Oflicer, John S. Brady, and Thomas ; Mc-1
Griffin, to report a plan and probable cost of a town '
» hall, which .committee made a report which was
' accepted. A plan was presented by Mr. Erret and

adopted by the Council. An article published in the
Examiner two days later says,‘ ‘‘ About eight or ‘ten
months since at a meeting of citizens nineteen-twen-‘

_ tieths of the people who acted declared in favor of

the erection of a hall. A disagreement as to the mode
of raising the money had sprung up. One proposition

_ was to procure the passage of an act to empower the

Council to borrow money, the other was by direct
taxation. The Council called another meeting of the
citizens, but before the meetingtwas held the com-
mittee reported a plan to the Council which was
adopted. At the meeting held the 6th of May, in
response to the call mentioned above, the citizens
refused‘ to sanction any method of raising money,
and the projectfor a town hall was laid’ over indefi-

’ni§/tely.” . _ I
No further efl'ort towards the erection of a town

hall was made until 1868. The commissioners of the
county on the 4th of May in that year requested the
Borough Council of Washington to remove the market-
house and council chamber from the public square.
On the 19th of May a committee of the Borough
Council met with the commissioners to discuss the

"question of tearing 'down-‘ and removing the public

buildings of the borough on the public square of the
county, and the erection of a new engine building,

conclusion was reached, and on the 16th of November,
1868, at a meeting of the Council, it was resolved that

‘the citizens" be called “ to take’ into considerationthe

erection-of a public building for a town hall and
engine-house.” - On the 22d of December of the same

. as per deed dated and concluded 2

No definite ‘

year the generous offer of Dr. F. J. Le Moyne was made
to donate “from five. to ten thousand‘ dollars for a
public library, provided the borough put up suitable
buildings.” The question was then discussed as to
the propriety of erecting a town hallwith rooms for

.the above purpose. On the 5th of January, 1869, the
commissioners conferred with a committee fromthe
1 Council 'on the subject.
records: 1

The following is from their

“ This evening was’ appointed for a meeting with acommittee from
the Borough Council to confer in regard to the erection of a town hall,
engine-house, and council chamberon the public square. Committee
from the Council, Messrs. John McElroy and Samuel Hazlett. D. S.
Wilson, Esq., attorney for the commissioners, being present,,stated that
if the borough could satisfy the county the above erections would sub-
serve a public benefit in the way of protecting the public buildings, then
the commissioners might safely ask the Legislature to confer upon them
the right to grant the ground for the purposes of the above buildings.
And it was therefore agreed by the commissioners if the borough would

erect such buildings aswould meet their approval, they the commis- .

sioners would join with the Borough Council in a prayer to the Legis-
lature to confer upon them (the commissioners) the power to grant or
lease so much of the southeastern‘ portion of the public square to the

borough‘ for the’ term of not less than fifty years for the purpose of erect-

ing the said buildings.”

lAt'a meeting of citizens held at the court-house,
Jan. 15, 1869, the subject was thoroughly discussed

and considered favorably. On the 18th of January,
the Council ordered a special election to be held on

the 2d of February, the result of which is shown by

the following resolution of the Council on the 15th of

February: “Whereas, an election of the citizens‘ of
Washington was held on Tuesday, the 2d day of Feb-
ruary, .1869, to decide the erection of a town hall, said
election resulted by a vote of eighty-nine majority to
erect said‘ building’; therefore, -resolved, a committee,
consisting of three persons, viz., J. D._Boyle, John
McElroy, and T. Hazlett, was ‘appointed to meet and
arrange with commissioners of Washington County.
for a lease of sufficient ground on the public square’
upon which to erect said building.” 2 ,

On the 18th of January, J. D. Boyle, chief burgess,
and Samuel Hazlett were appointed a committee to
obtain plans andspecifications for a town hall and
submit, them to-the -Council. This committee pro-
cured plans and specifications from Joseph Kerr, an

architect, of Pittsburgh, which were approved. The .

committee appointed to meet ‘the commissioners re-
ported that it was decided to ask the Legislature for

1 the passage of an actauthorizing the commissioners to

lease a portion of the public grounds to the. borough

of ‘Washington. on which to erect_a town hall, to be‘
used as a post-oflice, and for other purposes. A-pe- H

tition was so presented to the Legislature, and an’ act
passed to that effect (approved Feb. 16, 1869). ‘On
the next day (‘February 17th) an act was passed “, a‘u-
thorizing the borough of Washington to borrow a

sum of money not to exceed thirty thousand dollars,‘

to beapplied to the erection of a- town hall in said
borough upon the ground leased by the commissioners

p_ of ‘Washington County to said borough of Washing-
The lease was made, and" on _

ton for that purpose.”

    
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WASHINGTON BOROUGH.

505

the 5th of May, 1869, the chief burgess was author-
ized to advertise for proposals to furnish four hundred
thousand bricks, and to sell the old market-house at
auction. On the 17th of February, 1869, Messrs.
John Boyle, James McElroy, and Samuel Hazlett,
committee on town hall. building, reported -that “it
was agreed by the commissioners that the said build-
ingshould be placed at the distance of twenty-six
feet from the south side of the-Court-House. . . .
Agreed, that no Market-House, Rooms or Stalls shall
be connected with the said Town Hall building, or be
erected upon any part of the Public Square. . . . It
was also agreed that the county would lease to the
borough fifty by one hundred feet for the term of fifty
years for the purpose of erecting the said buildings,

’ -orso much less of the Southeastern part of the Public

Square as may be occupied by said building. . . . It
was further agreed that the commissioners would ap-
prove a Building which should cost from twenty to
thirty thousand dollars, and be of modern_style of
architecture.” The lease was made by the commis-
sioners March 12, 1869.- I

The following action was taken by the commission- '

ers on the 2d of March, 1869:

“ It was agreed by Commissioners McLean and Kerr to appropriate
Eight Hundred dollars to the Borough for the purpose of putting a Slate
roof on the Town Hall buildings. ’ This appropriation is made in con-
sideration of the said Town Hall building containing Engine Rooms in
which Engines are to be kept, thereby affordiing protection to the Court-
House and other County property, and for the further reason that the

0 erection of said Town Hall Building the County will be saved the ex-

pense of erecting an iron fence upon that part _of the public square oc-
cupied by said Buildings, which said fence is supposed to costlabout the

Eight Hundred Dollars appropriated, and, finally, for the reason that

the erection of the Town Hall on the Public Square will save the
County Room in wear and tear in the way of public meetings to the
amount of some three hundred dollars annually.” _‘

The proposals were received by the Council and

opened May 12th. The contract for the bricks was

awarded to Andrew Ford. ‘ On the 9th of August,
1869, the contract for the brick- and stone-work was
awarded to Andrew Brady, the carpenter-work to J.
N. Porter, and_the tin-work to Jesse Jordan. On the
18th of September, 1869, the corner-stone was laid by
President Grant, with imposing Masonic ceremonies.
Inthe corner-stone was deposited a box containing
many articles of loc.al and national interest. The
work was carried forward from this time with rapidity,
and on the 1st of April, 1870, the post-office was re-
moved to the new quarters by William C. Wylie,
postmaster. The Council met for the first time in the
council chamber on the 5th of August, 1870. The
funds for the erection of the building were disbursed
by Samuel Hazlett, who paid out $31,518.51, that
amount being the total cést. The building is fifty-

six feet on Main Street, and extends back one hundred-

feet on Cherry Alley, with abasement under the whole
building. An office in the southeast corner of the
basement is occupied by the Western Union Tele-
graph Company. The first floor is occupied by the
post-office, reading- and library-room, with a fire-

proof vault and an engine-house. Thesecond floor
contains an audience-room (with a capacity for seat-
ing one thousand persons) and a council chamber.
Post-Oflice and Postmasters.—By the Postmaster-
General’s report of 1792 it is shown that there were

then no post-oflices in the county. A list of letters

was advertised in the columns of the Western Tele-
graphe some time before the name of the postmaster
was signed to it. I
ment-roll of 1796 that Gabriel Blakeney was assessed
in that year as store-keeper and postmaster. As far
as is known, he has the honor of being the first post-
master of Washington. Mr. Blakeney retired from
business in that year, having advertised to close busi-
ness, and calling for settlement in December, 1795.
He was succeeded by William Meetkirke, whose
nameias postmaster appears with the list of advertised
letters, Oct. 2, 1797. It is evident that David Moore
became his successor, but at what time is not known.
The assessment-roll of 1803 contains the name of

» Daniel Moore as merchant and postmaster, and also

Hugh Wylie, merchant and postmaster. It would
seem from this that in the early part of the year

Daniel Moore was in oflice, and Hugh Wylie the lat- '
"ter part; each one assessed the same.

Hugh Wylie
remained postmaster until 1828, keeping the office
where J. Shan M.argerum’s store now is. He was
succeeded by Joseph Henderson, who kept the office

on the Round Corner, where James C. Aches‘on’si

store now is. He was succeeded the next year, 1829,
by Thomas Morgan, who kept a store first in, a house

now occupied by Mrs. Swan, and later moved to the A

property long known as the Globe Inn, and in that
part of it now occupied by Dr. Kaine’s office. In
1839 he was succeeded by Samuel Workman, who kept

the oflice where Patrick J. Finn now keepsa store.

In 1840, Robert Colmery was appointed. During the
first part of his term the office was kept in an old
building where Smith’s store now stands, and later
was moved to the old log (weatherboarded) building
which stood on the site of the Washington Savings-
Bank building. On the 1st of April, 1845, Jonathan
D. Leet succeeded him, and held the position till
March, 1850, when hewas superseded by James Mc-
Dermott, who moved the otfice to the house now oc-
cupied by Homer Seamon. At the close of his term
David Acheson was appointed, and held the office
four years. Feb. 17, 1857, George W.»Aiken was ap-
pointed, and retained his position until Aug. 1, 1858,
when Freeman Brady took possession. He. remained
until the spring of 1861, when James McDermott
was again appointed. _
During the terms of Acheson, Aiken, Brady, and a

a part of McDermott’s the oflice was kept in the build-

ing where the savings-bank now is. The remainder
of McDermott’s term the office was kept on the spot
where Samuel Templeton’s residence now stands.
Aug. 4, 1865, 'William C. Wylie was appointed pos_t-
master, and still holds the position. During his term

It is ascertained from an assess- .

INCURSIONS AND RAVAGES DURING THE FRENCH OCCUPATION.

5*?

Col. Armstrong accordingly marched from .Fort

Shirley (in what is now Huntington County) on the

30th of August with a force of about two hundred
men, a body of about one hundred having previously
been advanced as scouts.‘ On the 3d of September,
at the Beaver Dams,-they came up with the advance
party, who reported fresh Indian tracks found two or
three miles from that place, as also the marks of an
I11dian camp recently vacated. On the 6th the force
of Col. Armstrong was within fifty miles of Kittaning,
and scouts were sent ahead to reconnoitre the place.
The party consisted of an oflicer, two rangers, and a
guide supposed to be acquainted with the country.
It appears that they made quick work, for on the fol-
lowing day the advancing column met them return-

' ing with the report that the path was clear, “ and that

they had the greatest reason to believe they were not
discovered ; but from the rest of the intelligence they
gave it appeared they had not been nigh enough the
town, either to perceive the true situation of it, the
number of -the enemy, or what way it might be most
advantageously attacked.“ This was on the 7th.
After receiving the report of the reconnoitring party
the march was continued, and though the route was
“rough and incommodious, on account of the stones
and fallen timber,” a total distance of thirty miles
was made on that day, and a “ little before the setting

‘ of the moon” the front reached the Allegheny about
one hundred perches below the main body of the

town,” where there came to the ears of the wearied
troops “the beating of the drum and the whooping
of the warriors at their dances.” '

The attack was made on the following morning, the
Indians in the town being apparently wholly unaware
of the approach of an enemy. Captain Jacob was

present in the town, and at the first alarm of attack

gave the war-whoop, and called out in a loud voice
that “ the white men have come at l-ast, and we will
have scalps enough,” but at the same time took the
precaution to order the squaws and children to take
to the woods. The house where this warrior lived

' was the rallying-point for the Indians, a sort of

citadel, from which the fire on the attacking party
was constant and severe. Col. Armstrong thereupon
caused the neighbor houses to be set’ on fire, and the
flames spread rapidly through the town, finally en-
veloping the stronghold of the chief Jacob, who
“tumbled himself out of the garret or cock-loft
window, at which he was shot,” or at least was sup-
posed to be, for the white prisoners afterwards lib-
erated in the town were willing “to be qualified to
the powder-horn and pouch there taken off him,
which they say he had lately got from a French’
officer in exchange for Lieut. Ar1nstrong’s boots,
which he carried from Fort Granville, where the lieu-

tenant was killed,” and‘ the same prisoners said they

1 His entire force numbered three hundred and seven men.
2 Col. Armstrong ’s Report.

were “ perfectly assured of his scalp, as no other In-
dians were their hair in the same manner. They also
said they knew his squaw’s scalp by a particular bob,
and also knew the scalp of a young Indian called the
I(z'ng’s Son.” .

“ During the burning of the houses,” said Col.
Armstrong, “ which were nearly thirty in number, we
were agreeably entertained with a quick succession of
charged guns gradually firing off as they reached the
fire, but more so with the explosion of sundry bags
and large kegs of gunpowder, wherewith almost every
house abounded, the prisoners afterwards informing
that the Indians had frequently said they had a suffi-
cient stock of ammunition for ten years to war with
the English. . . . There was also a great quantity of
goods burnt, which the Indians had received but ‘ten
days before from the French.”

The attack o-n “the Kittaning” by -Col. Armstrong
was evidently either badly planned or badly executed.

,The town was destroyed by fire it is_ true, but the

greater number of Indians who were in it at the time
of the assault escaped, and a considerable body of
their warriors attacked Armstrong’s forces on their
return soon after they left the ruins of the town.
The loss of the Indians was unknown. That of the
whites was seventeen killed, thirteen wounded,3 and
nineteen missing in the assault and subsequent fight.
The results of the campaign were the destruction of
the Indian rendezvous of Kittaning, with la.rge quan-
tities of ammunition and stores, the release of eleven
English prisoners who had been captured east of the
mountains by Shingiss’ and Captain J acob’s bands.
Jacob was supposed to be among the killed at the
burning of the town, but this was afterwards found
to be a mistake. He was alive in 1764, and present
at a conference held by the Indians with C01. Bou-
quet on the Muskingum in that year. Shingiss was
absent at the time of the attack, and, as was said by
the prisoners, to have been expected to come down
the river that very day with a large party of Dela-
wares and French to Kittaning, where they were to

be joined by Captain Jacob and his band, and all were

to proceed across the Alleghenies, intending to attack
Fort Shirley. A considerable party of Indians from
Kittaning had already gone forward for the purpose
of scouting and reconnoitring that fort, which ac-
counts for the comparatively -small‘ number of Indians
in the tow11 when Armstrong attacked it. _

The destruction of Kittaning caused great rejoicing
in the settlements} and corresponding depression

 

l 3 Among the wounded was Capt. (afterwards general) Hugh Mercer,
who was killed Jan. 3, 1777, at the battle of Princeton. Col. Armstrong,
the leader of the Kittaning expedition, was also wounded in the assault
on the Indian town. I -

4 The corporation of the city of Philadelphia passed a vote of thanks
to C01. Armstrong and the oflicers engaged with himin the Kittaning
expedition “ for the courage and conduct shown by them on that occa-
sion.” The sum of £150 was voted by the corporation, to be applied in
part to the purchase of “. pieces of plate, swords, or other things suitable
for presents to the said ofiicers,” and in part to the relief of the widows

506

HISTORY OF WASHINGTON 1 COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA.

' the oflice was -first kept where Morgan & Hargreaves’

store now is. Thebuilding was burned Feb. 2,1866,
and the office was removed to the building now occu-
pied by Gen. John Hall, where it remained one year,

' and was again removed to a building of Mr. John

Lockhart’s, now occupied by H. M. Seaman as a. jew-
elry—store, and on the 15th of April, 1870, was removed
to the present office in the town hall,

The Press of Washington.—The ‘Western Tele-

grarphe and Washington Advertiser, an ultra-Federalist

journal printed at Washington, was the first paper
ever" published in VVashington County. The editors
and proprietors were John Colerick, William Hunter,
and W. H. Beaumont. The first number was issued
on the 17th of August, 1795, having for its motto,
“ Free, but not licentious.” The oflice was in a build-
ing nearly opposite the market-house, which.then
stood on the northeast corner of the public square.

. About the same time the firm‘ opened a book-store,

and on -the 5th of January, 17 9'6, advertised-that they
“have completed the necessary arrangements for car-

‘ rying on the book-binding business, and that they

are preparing to— put a spelling-book to press.” In

_the same month they published “Mrs. Barbauld’s

Lessons.” The following are works the ‘firm soon
after published : June 28th , “ a new Spelling-Book is
this day published, by Colerick, Hunter & Beaumont,
Price, one quarter ‘of’ a dollar; Dilworth’s Spelling-

Book Improved.” October 8th, “The New Eng-

land Primer.” January, 1797, “ Beveridge’s Private
Thoughts.” May, 1797, “The Gentlem.an’s Pocket

. Farrier, Price 20 cents.” On the ‘17th of May, 17 97 ,

the firm dissolved, John Colerick continuing the pub-
lication. On the 6th of June ‘William Hunter and
W. H. Beaumont advertised in the columns of the
Telegrapheand Advertiser that they had been invited
to establish a newspaper in Washington, Ky., and
that they intended to commence a newspaper “ on a
Royal Sheet in folio.” The Tetegraphe was continued
by. Colerick until about 1807-"-8. In the assessment-
roll of 1808-9 the name of Alexander Armstrong
appears assessed as a printer and editor of the Western
Tetegraphe. How much longer the paper existed is
not known. The Reporter of Aug. 12, 1811, refers to
“the piece over the signature of ‘an Old seventy-
sixer’ published in the Federal paper of this town of
Thursday last.” It is evident that at this time the
paper was still published. 1 The only copies of this
paper now known to exist are in possession of Judge
A. W. Acheson, and extend from Aug. 24, 1795, to
the latter part of 1797. p

The Herald of Liberty, established by John Israel,
was published in VVashington, and the first issue of
the paper appeared on the 6th of February, 1798,
bearing the motto, “Man is man, and who is more?”
The office was in a building opposite the court-house.

Thepaper was a ‘four-column folio, eleven by seven- ,

teen inches in size. It continued. until the paper
reached No. 45. That number and Nos. 46 and 47

were reduced in size to eight by thirteen inches, as-
the publishers stated, “by reason of the scarcity of
paper;” with No. 48 the paper resumed its original?

size. On the 11th of February, 1799, Vol. II_., No. 59,,
appeared with a new heading. On the 12th of Feb-

ruary the same year there was published from the
Herald of Liberty oflice “A Dose for Federalists, or
the Letters of Curtius, together with a pill for Demo-
crats vulgarly called the Alien and Sedition ‘Laws.
Price an eleven-penny-bit.” There was also pub-
lished, June 12, 1799, ‘_‘A Defense of Believers’ Bap-
tism, with a reply to the arguments made use of
against it in a public dispute held at Georges Creek,

‘Fayette County, Sept. 29, 1797, between the Rev. V.

Cook, ‘Methodist preacher, and John Corbley, pastor
of the Baptist Church, Muddy Creek, Greene County.”
At the time of the change of heading in February,

11799, Mr. Israel gave his circulation as “now 1296

papers weekly and list increasing.” On the 25th of

November the s-ame year there was published “A? _
‘Touch at the Times, price 6 cents ;” and April 4,

1800, “An Introduction to English Grammar de-

signed for the use of Schools.” On the 7thiof July, _
1800,_ the ‘editor, J ohn‘ Israel, made proposals “For
publishing a‘ weekly newspaper in the Borough of _

Pittsburgh entitled the Tree of Liberty by John Israel
& Co. To commence the 16th of' August.” The‘

Herald was to be continued under the same manage-”

ment. The Tree of Liberty was commenced as pro-'

posed. In February, 1801, the office was removed"
“to the house formerly occupied by Daniel Moore,§, .

Esq., at the corner of ‘Market and Belle Streets” (now
Main and Wheeling). It is not known‘ how long the
Herald was continued.‘ The onlyknown copies are:
in one volume "now in possession of Judge A. W.
Acheson. It commences May 14, 1798, No. 15,.and
is continuous to Vol. IV., No. 206, dated January 18',
1802. I ’

The Washington Reporter.—It is stated that in the
year 1808, when William Sample was passing through
the town of Washington with the fixtures of a print-7
ing-oflice, intending to locate farther west, he was
persuaded to remain in Washington and.-establisha
paper. An office was procured in “ The Swan,” cor-1
ner of Market and Belle Streets (now the Valentine’
House), and on the 15th of August in that year the
first number of the Washington Reporter, 11;}; by 18
inches in size, was issued by William Sample and B.

Brown (brothers—in-law). On the 10th of April, the '

next year, the oifice was removed from “ The Swan”
to the first door below the post-oflice in Main Street,-
and in April, 1810,‘moved to the northeast corner of
Cherry Alley, on Main Street, near the court-house,

"113 being “the mansion house of David Redick, de-
ceased,” and in April, ‘1811, again moved to the house‘
“ next door south of Samuel Shannon, Esq., and one

door north of Hugh Workman’s, on Main Street,
third square south of the court house.” At this place

the office remained until March, 1813, when it was"

' from six columns to seven.

  WASHINGTON BOROUGH.

4

moved to the fourth square south of the court-house,
and on the 1st of January, 1816, was moved back to
its previous quarters, where it remained till after 1823.

On the 9th of February, 1810, the firm of Brown
&. Sample was dissolved, Brown retiring, and Sample

remaining as editor till his appointment as prothono- 1

tary in 1819,'when on the 31st of May in that year he
was succeeded by Samuel Workman, who commenced
a new series, Vol. I., No. 1. At the expiration of Mr.
Sam_ple’s term as prothonotary in May, 1821, he again
became the editor an.d assumed the management, which

‘he retained till 1833, when he sold out to B. S. Stew-

art and George VV. Acheson, and removed West.‘ In
1835 the above firm closed out their interests to John
Ramsey and S. B. Robinson, who published the paper

‘ . until the 1st of November, 1836, when Uriah W. VVise

became the proprietor. At this time the paper was
a six-column folio, 17 by 22 inches in size. On the
6th of November, 1839, John Bausman purchased the
paper and commenced‘ its publication,.changing it
V By him it was continued
till April 22, 1848, when John W. F. White became
associated with him. This partnership continued till

. Feb. 16,1852, when Mr. VVhite retired, and on the

16th of February, 1856, James G. and Robert Strean
became the pr.oprietors. ‘The paper was continued
two years under this management until 1858, when
on the consolidation of the Commonwealth (then
owned by William Moore an'di'E. L. Christman) with

‘this paper. the firm-name was changed to Moore,

Strean & Co. Mr. Ohristman retainedhis interest,
but retired from its active duties. On the. 28th of
March, 1860, Robert F. Strean retired, and the Wash-
ington Tribune became consolidated with it (then,

owned by H. A. Purviance and James Armstrong)..

The firm was then known as Moore, Purviance &

‘ Armstrong.
In 1860 a campaign paper was published at the.

office, called The Maul and Wedge, which did active
duty for Lincoln and Hamlin. During the war three

of the pr'oprietors-——Col. H.A. Purviance, Col. J ames‘

Armstrong, and Maj. E. L. Ohristman-—were in the
army. Upon the death of Col. Purviance, the paper
was published by Moore & Armstrong from Nov. 11,
1863, to Nov. 20, 1867, When Col. James Armstrong
retired, and James McWilliams succeeded to his in-
terest and remained till Feb. 11, 1869, when his_ inter-
est was purchased by James W.‘ Kelly. On the 16th

1 William Sample in 1812 was captain of the Washington Light Infan-
try, and commanded a company in the war. ‘He . married Margaret,
daughter of Hugh Workman, by whom he had four sons,—David, Work-
man, William, and Samuel. David emigrated South and died there.
Workman married here and lived for a time, emigrated West, and later
settled in Keokuk, Iowa, where he became mayor of the city, and died
there. William emigrated to Natchez, Miss., Where he lived and died.
His wife, Margaret, died in Washington, after which he married Jane,
daughter of James Blaine and sister of Ephraim L. Blaine, by whom he
had two daughters. After the sale of the Reporter in 1833 he removed
to FortvMadison, Iowa, taking with him his youngest son, Samuel, and
his daughters, Sarah J. and Margaret. William Workman andvWork-
man Hughes, of Washington, are his nephews.

507.

of April, 1873, E. L. Ohristman returned and took
charge with Mr. Moore, the interest of Mr. Kelly
being absorbed in the new arrangement. Under this
firm The Daily Reporter was established, and issued.
the first number Aug. 4, 1876, four columns folio,
eleven by fifteen inchesin size.‘ Upon the retire-
ment of Mr. Moore, Oct. 22,1877, Alexander .M.
Growpurchased the interest, and the firm-name be-
came Grow & Christman, by whom the: business is
still continued.  _ .

From 1852 to _1858 the office of the Reporter was in
atbuilding now occupied by Dr. James R. Kelly, op-
posite the Fulton House stables.. In 1858, after the
consolidation with the Commonwealth, theioflice was
moved to the Mounts building, opposite the old Brad-
ford stone house, and in 186] itwas. removed to the
present quarters in Strean’s building. .

The Western [Missionary Magazine, published in;

Washington, Pa., was commenced in 1802, -and con-.

tinued till 1806. Nothing more is known of it. _
The Western Corrector. N 0 copies of this paper are

known to be in existence. The first proof of its pub-

lication is that in the year 1809, Thomas Thompson was.
assessed as editor of The Western Corrector.

_ In the
year 1811 handbills were printed at the oflice of Jhe.
Western Corrector, at Washington, Pa., for David;

‘ Redick, advertising lands in Beaver County.

The Washingtonian, a weekly newspaper, was estab-
lished at Washington, Pa., in 1812, the first number.
being issued Tuesday, December 15th, in that year,
having for its motto, “The minority 'possesstheir+
equal rights which equal laws must protect, and to
violate would be oppressive. Jefferson.” It was a
four-column folio, twelve by seventeen and a half"
inches in size, and published at two dollars per
annum, by James A. Bayard, J r., editor. The office
was in » Market Street, nearly opposite the recorder’s:
oflice. One and a half columns of the first page were
devoted to the prospectus, and the remainder was
filled with a report of national legislative proceed-

ings. It also contains-the official report (dated_Nov.j

24, 1812) of Capt. James Jones, of the sloop-of-war.
“ Wasp,” of the captureof his: vessel. There is no.
local news, and ‘but one column is devoted to local-.
advertisements. How long it continued is notiknown.
The only copy known to be in existence is the one men-..
tioned, and is in possession of Alexander Ha.rt, of the:
Washington Democrat. ‘ ' .

The Mercury was published about 1812. No infor-
mation is obtained of its history, and its existence is:

only known by menti_on in contemporary papers.

In the year 1811 an advertisment appeared in the
local papers for proposals for publishing by subscrip-
tion, at Washington, Pa., a literary periodical work,
entitled “The Washington Museum,” under the pat-
ronage of a society of gentlemen, sixteen pages octavo,
weekly, price $3 per annum, under the management

-of William Baird, editor. - No further notice of it is

found.

508

HISTORY OF: WASHINGTON COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA.

The I/Western Register, a magazine, was published by
Robert Fee, from the oflice of the Reporter, in the
winter of 1816-17. A year or two later he removed
to Fayette County and commenced the publication of
the magazine in Uniontown, where he continued till
after 1823.‘ .

. The Washington Examiner, John Grayson editor
and proprietor, was first issued. (ten by eighteen and a
quarter inches in size) May 28, 1817. The causes that
operated to bring. about the establishment of this
paper in Washington are explained by Mr. Grayson,
as follows: “ My acquaintance in the city'of Philadel-
phia among young men who espoused the Democratic-
Republican cause’ being pretty extensive, to some
of them my desires were freely communicated as to
my preference for a country residence. Hence, very
early in the spring of 1817 (it was soon after the 4th
of March, when VVil1iam Findlay was nominated as
the Democratic candidate for Governor of Pennsyl-

_ Vania at the ensuing election by the Democratic

convention, which had just adjourned), a friend in
that city wrote to me that a Democratic paper was
about to be started in Washington, Pa., for the pur-
pose of supporting Mr. Findlay’s election, and that
an editor was wanted to takecharge of it. From this
information a correspondence commenced between
George Baird and myself, which led to the establish-
ment of the Examiner; went immediately from Balti-
more to the city of Philadelphia, where I purchased
type, presses, and other materials on my own respon-
sibility, with the endorsement of the late William

- Brown, of that city; forwarded them ‘forthwith to

Washington, Pa.; came myself by stage-coach, ar-

riving on May 10, 1817, and issued the first number
of the Examiner on the 28th of that month. One fact

may be mentioned, that in issuing the first number of
the Examiner my subscription list amounted to
400.”

The paper was first printed in an old frame build-
ing on Maiden Street, which occupied the site on
which the brick Masonic Hall was afterwards erected.
Mr. Grayson remained sole proprietor until Nov. 18,
1833, when VVi1liam Jack became interested with him,
and remained until May 14, 1836, when he retired,
and the paper was continued by Mr. Grayson until
May 18, 1839, when he retired from the active duties,
and his son, Thomas W., became associated with him,
under the firm-name of Thomas W. Grayson & Co,
This continued until'June 25, 1842, when John Gray-
son sold out his interest to C. W. Kaine, who then
owned Our Country, and in September of the same
year James B. Ruple purchased the interest of Mr.
Kaine. On the 18th November, 1848, Mr. Ruple re-

tired, and Mr. Andrew Hopkins became the owner of ‘

his interest. Under. this management the paper was
changed to seven columns, and the size increased to
nineteen and a half by twenty-five inches. Mr. Hop-
kins sold to George S. Hart, May 2, 1853, and he to
Adam Ecker on the 20th of December, 1856. The

firm remained Grayson & Ecker until Dec. 29, 1859,

when Thomas W. Grayson, after twenty-one and a 3

half years’ services as editor, sold his interest in the
Examiner to John R. Donahoo, by whom it was con-
tinued with Mr. Ecker some time, and Donahoo. sold
to D. F. Patterson. On the 4th of October,,1865, the
Examiner became consolidated with the Review, under

I the firm-name of Swan & Ecker, and the paper was

published as the Review and Examiner, and is still
continued under that name.’ ‘

‘Thomas W. “Grayson, on the 28th of May, 1857, and
the fortieth ‘anniversary of the Examiner, says, “The
paper was first printed in an old frame ‘building on
Maiden Street, in this place, and which occupied the
site on which the _first Masonic lodge was afterwards
erected [now owned and occupied by Mrs. John
Bausman]. The old frame building now stands on

_a lot belonging to the heirs of John Philips, deceased,
"near the west end of the same street [now owned by

Charles Hays. & Co.].” He further says, “For weeks
in succession the then editor of the Examiner would
collect a small amount, and with it repair to Redstone

‘ paper-mill, in Fayette County, purchase the necessary
material, return home after making a forced journey.’

during the whole of the night, go to work, and help
out with the paper the same week.” The paper did
not remain long on Maiden Street, as the issue of July
9, 1817, says the oflice was removed into Main Street,

second door below the sign of “The Buck.” ‘ On the-

1st of April, 1818, it was removed to No. 5, over the
‘market-house, second door fronting on Beau Street.
Here the office remained till April 28, 1827, when it
was removed to the Old Lodge building, a short dis-
tance below the “Buck” tavern, on the east side of
Main Street, and in the rear of the old Grayson

House. For a period of forty-one years’ the Wash-

ington Examiner was published by John Grayson,
succeeded by his son, Thomas W. Grayson.

Our Country, was established in Washington by

Thomas J. Morgan. The first number was issued on
the 6th of June, 1835. It was a ’six—column folio,
fifteen and a half by twenty inches in size, Demo"-
cratic in politics, and hoisted in the first number the
name of Martin Van Buren for President andHenry
A. Muhlenburg for Governor. Upon the breaking out
of the Texan war, and on the 8th of September, 1836,

Thomas J. Morgan, in an editorial, announced that *

during his -absence on duty in the field, his brother,

William D. Morgan, would have the editorial care of —

the paper. This arrangement continued, for some
time. In 1842 the ‘paper was in possession of C. W.
Kaine, by Whom it was consolidated with the Exam-
iner. " . P -
On the 23d of May, 1835, T. W. Haynes advertised
that he proposed “ to publish a monthly in pamphlet
form, a literary newspaper, monthly, at one dollar
per annum, from the office of the Examiner, styled
the I/Vestern Pennsylvanian.”

The Washington Patriot was established in 1843,

- Oct. 9, 1851, by William Swan and
‘was an eight-column paper, twenty by twenty-six

WASHINGTON BOROUGH.

509

by Dr. F. Julius Le Moyne, as an advocate of Abo-
lition principles, under the editorial management of
Russell Errett. It was successful for a few years, and
afterwards died out and was discontinued.

’ The Commonwealth was established 'by Seth T.
Hurd, May,'1848, in the interest of the Whig party.
It was continued by him till 1851, when he sold a
one-half ‘interest to George C. Stough, of Berks
County, and soon after the other half-interest. In
November of the next year E. "L. Christman, of
Chester County, Pa., purchased a half-interest. This

partnership continued until the death of Mr. Stough,-

inDecember, 1855. Hisinterest was then purchased
by Joseph S. Clokey. Under this firm the paper es-
poused the cause of the Republican party, and con-

" tinued till February, 1857, when the interest of Mr.

Clokey was sold to the Hon. ~William S. Moore. The
paper was continued by Moore & Christman until

’April 1, 1858, when it was consolidated with the

Washington Reporter, and published by Strean, Moore
& Co. as the Washington Reporter. The oflice of the
paper was first in Oak Hall, a tavern stand where
Smith’s store now stands. After 1857 it was removed
to Mount’s building, and was there published, both as
the Commonwealth and the Reporter, until the removal
to the present Reporter oflice.

The Washington I/Veehlg Review was first published
I Ritezel. It

 

inchesin size, and in the interest of the Democratic
party. During the year 1853, while Mr. Swan was
on a tour to California, Mr. Ritezel was assisted in
the editorial management by Barnet W. Lacy. In
June, 1854, Ritezel retired, and Mr. Swan became
sole proprietor and editor, and so remained until the
consolidation with the Washington Examiner, Oct. 4,

.1865, when Mr. Swan became one of the editors of the

Review and Examiner, and continued till his death, in
October, 1876.

The Tribune was established by John Bausman, in
1856,, as an exponent of Republican principles, and

4 afterwards passed to C01. H. A. Purviance and Col.

James Armstrong, and by them was continued till the
consolidation with the Reporter, March 28, 1860. It
was printed first where George Driver now lives, near
Templeton’s drug-store, and later near the present
office of the Reporter.

The Review and Examiner was established by the
consolidation of the Washington Review and the

‘Washington Examiner, Oct. 4, 1865, and was pub-

lished by William Swan and Adam H. Ecker. The
paper retained the size of the Review, eight columns,
twenty by twenty-six inches, a11d so continued till the
30th of September, 1868, when it was enlarged to nine
columns and twenty-one by twenty-seven inches. The
office was in the southeast corner of the public square,
directly opposite the post-office at that time, where
Hastings’ hardware-store now is. The paper was con-
tinued by Swan & Ecker until the death of Mr. Swan,

K

in October, 1876. It was continued by Mr. Ecker until

Jan. 31, 1877, when it was purchased by Andrew Hop-
kins, who soon after sold a one-half interest to W. C.
Lyn e, who remained about a year and sold his interest
to Mr. Hopkins, Jan. 31, 1878, and continued sole pro-
prietor till his death, March 5, 1880.. The management
of the estate of Mr. Hopkins devolved upon James
H. Hopkins, of Pittsburgh. J. M. Cooper, of Cham-
bersburg, assumed the editorial management of the
paper for the heirs on the 7th of April, 1880, and con-
tinued in- charge until the sale of the Review and Ex-
aminer, Feb. 1, 1881, to John M. Stockdale, by whom
it is still owned and edited. The office is now on Beau

. Street, east of Main.

The Washington Observer-—In October, 1871, the
Advance was started as a monthly by H. C. Durant
and M. A. Cooper. On the 1st of January,-1872, it
was changed to a weekly. Mr.‘ Cooper soon after re-
tired, Erasmus Wilson, of Barnesville, Ohio, purchas-
ing his i_nterest, and on the 25th of April, the same
year, Mr. Wilson purchased the interest of Durant. It
was continued by Mr. Wilson till Sept. 5, 1872, when
M. A. Cooper, one of the original proprietors, pur-
chased a half-interest. The paper continued in the
hands of these parties until about Jan. 1, 1873, when

Mr. Wilson retired, and Mr. Cooper continued till the-
1st of October, the same year, when B. F. Hasson, of

_Washington, purchased a half-"interest. About the
1st of January following, Mr. Hasson purchased Mr.

.Cooper’s interest and continued the publication under

the name of the Advance until .March 4, 1874, when
the name was changed to the Washington Observer.
April 21, 1876, Harry J. Shellman bought a h.alf-in-
terest, and‘ on the 29th September, the same year, sold
to C./ M. Campbell. On the 17th of October, 1879, J.
S. Stocking and E. T. Acheson purchased the paper,
and have continued its publication till the present.

The paper was first printed in the building owned
by John A. Best, on the corner of Main and Walnut
Streets, and in 1872’the oflice was removed to Boyle’s
building, opposite the court-house. In 1874 it was
removed to the Forrest building, on North Main
Street, and in 1875 to its present oflice in Phoenix
Row, on North Main Street.

The Washington Democrat.-—This' journal, as its
name suggests, is a Democratic paper. It was es-
tablished in the spring of 1878 by A. H. Ecker, Esq.,
the initial number being dated April 3, 1878.‘ From«
the first it has been issued weekly (every Wednesday)’
from the oflice, on West Beau Street near Main, Wash-
ington, Pa. The size of the sheet is twenty-nine by
forty-four inches. The Democrat was conducted by
its founder until the death of that gentleman on the
28th of February, 1881,- and then for the benefit of
his family until the?11th of June, 1881, when it was
purchased by Alexander Hart and John P. Charlton,

associated as Hart & Charlton, who still own. and issue» _ '

the paper. Its present circulation  twenty-one hung
dred copies per week. ‘ . s

510

HISTORY OF WASHINGTONCOUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA.

The.First Presbyterian Ch11rch.1—-Previous to the
organization of the -Presbyterian Church at Washing-
ton, Pa., in 1793, the Presbyterians of the town and
vicinity worshiped mainly with thechurch of Char-
tiers, near Canonsburg, which from 1775 until 1830
was under the pastoral care of the Rev. John Mc-
Millan, D.D., the first pastor west of the Alleghenies.
The first notice of preaching in the town, found in the

A minutes of the old Presbytery of Redstone,——itself

also formed in 1781, and now known as the mother. of
Western churches and presbyteries,—is the applica-

tion, .Dec. 20, 1785, forlthe stated labors of Alexander
Addison, then a licentiate of the‘Presbytery of Aber-

low, Scotland, but afterwards a distinguished attor-
ney, and the no less distinguished president judge of
the district composed of the western counties of Penn-
sylvania, under the Constitution of 1790. The Pres-
bytery of Ohio, embracing VVashington, was organized
out of a portion of Redstone in 1793, and in April
following, “the congregation of Washington having
represented to Presbytery that they had entered into
an agreement with Mr. James Welsh, a licentiate

, under thecare of the Presbytery of Transylvania, as

stated supply for some time, the Presbytery heartily
concurred therewith.” Mr. Welsh continued his ser-
vices for_ about a year, after which, as before, only
occasional preaching was enjoyed from members of
Presbytery and from traveling ministers. The names

of the Rev. Messrs. Dodd, Mercer, Anderson, and,

Potter have come down in this connection, besides
that of the Rev. Thomas "Leslie Birch, who was the
occasion of strife and alienation.

Thus it is plain that there was some sort of organi-

_ zation as early as 1785, yet the joint testimony of sur-
viving witnesses and of general «tradition is adverse to

the supposition that there was a regular church prior
to the winter of 17 93-94. Then, in connection with
the procurement of Mr. Welsh’s services as stated
supply, the_following four ruling elders were, after
election by the people, duly set apart to oflice under
the sanction of the Presbytery, andbecame the origi-
nal session of the church, viz.: Andrew Swearingen,
Joseph Wherry, Robert Stockton, and William Mc-
Combs. Simultaneous with the formal organization
in 1793, and amidst the throes of the great “ Western
Insurrection,” was the erection of the “Stone Acad-
emy,” under a charter secured seven years before,
which still stands as the central structure of the “ old
college,” and a monument of history. For twelve
years, besides its chief use for thorough training in
classical literature, its hall furnished a comfortable
place of worship for the first congregation of the
town whereof we now write.

The Rev. Matthew Brown, D.D., so well known
afterwards as a distinguished minister and educator,

" was installed as the first pastor Oct. 16, 1805. He

was a son of Dickinson College, and for several years

A
v

1 Contributed by the pastor, the Rev. James I. Brownson, lD.D.

had been pastor of the church of Mifflin, Pa. He_
was simultaneously called to be the principal of the

Washington Academy. In the following year, 1806,
he was a chief agent in procuring, by special charter,
the transformation of the academy into Washington
College, and thereafter for ten years served with dis-
tinguished success as its first president.
ued as pastor of the church six years longer, until
Sept. 25, 1822, when he accepted the presidency of
J efferson College at Canonsburg. ' '

One of the first movements of this energetic pastor.-

was the effort to secure a permanent house. of worship.

The building was begun in the autumn of 1805 upon-

two lots in the southwestern part of the town, one of
which was purchased from William Sherrard for five
pounds, and the other from Andrew Swearingen, ex-
ecutor of the estate of Van Swearingen, for twenty

dollars, the titles being made to Joseph Wherry, John » I

Simonsou, Parker Campbell, Hugh Wilson, and
Daniel Moore, as trustees. The last two named gen-

tlemen were Baptists in their convictions, but acted,
with the Presbyterian Church until the time came for

the establishment of one of their own. The walls of

the church at the height of a few feet stood over ..
winter, and were completed and covered the following.
It was a brick building of seventy by.

summer.
fifty-five feet in dimension, capable of seating five
hundred persons. It was used for several years with
unplastered walls, and without either pulpit or pews

or permanent floor, for the lack of funds to complete,

it. Its original cost was about three thousand dollars.
The first administration of the Lord’s Supper" in it
took place in June, 1807. It was occupied for. the

last time as a sanctuary on Sabbath, Sept. 7, 1851,_

when a commemorative discourse was preached by

the present pastor from Psalm xlviii. 9: “We have,
thought of thy loving kindness, O God, in the midst; ‘
That building, having since been
occupied for manufacturing purposes by the enter-.

of thy temple.”

prising firm of S. B. & C. Hayes for thirty years,

still stands among the most solid structures in the "

town.

The ministry of Dr. Brown was able, evangelical‘
and earnest. Through his efforts the congregation.
was thoroughly organized and greatly enlarged. The

average of additions from 1810, when regular reports

began to be made to Presbytery, until the end of his,

pastorate was fifteen per annum. The number of

communicants at the time of his resignation, sub-.
tracting deaths and ‘removals, was two hundred. Sev-

eral seasons of special grace crowned his laborsg
That of the year 1811 was marked with great power, »
and started hallowed influences’-whose streams still-

flow. During his term of service James Brice, Josiah

Scott, William Sherrard, Hugh Wylie, Thomas Stock- .
ton, Thomas Officer, Robert Johnston, Thomas Fer- .
gus, Obadiah Jennings, James Orr, and Dr. J ohn’

Wishart were added to the session.

_The Rev. Obadiah Jennings, D.D., formerly, as,

He contin- g _

WASHINGTON BOROUGH.

just stated, a ruling elder in the church, as well as a
distinguished lawyer, and afterwards, by holy conse-
cration, a minister of the gospel and pastor of the
First Presbyterian Church of Steubenville, Ohio, suc-
ceeded Dr. Brown in the pastorate in October, 1823,
by a unanimous election. After a faithful service of
nearly five years, he resigned the charge in 1828, in
order to accept a call from Nashville, Tenn., where
he died in honor in 1832. He was greatly beloved
both as a pastor and a man, and his fragrant memory
still abides, to the honor of Christ and the gospel.
He was also an accepted leader in the public affairs
of the church, and a master in debate. During his
incumbency Messrs. Charles Hawkins, Robert Col-
mery, Jacob Slagle, Robert Oflicer, Adam Wier, and

; Alexander Ramsey were ordained as ruling elders.

A spirit of religious inquiry manifested itself in the
congregation shortly after Dr. Jennings had an-

I

nounced his purpose to remove, and too late, as he I

thought, for its recall. It developed ‘into a precious
revival, which extended many months after his actual
departure, a.nd resulted in a large spiritual increase.

,At the very time of his dismissal thirty-five additions

to the church on profession of faith were reported for
the year then closed, and the next year added fifty
more. Through these happy months the pulpit was
supplied by a nephew of the late pastor, the Rev.

_ Samuel C. Jennings, now the venerable Dr. Jen-

nings, of the Pittsburgh Presbytery, who lingers be-

. ‘yond fourscore years, waiting for the crown so sure to

follow a devoted and useful life.
In the summer of 1829 a call was tendered to the
Rev.” David Elliott, D.D., of Mercersburg, Pa., which

I was accepted. He entered with the zeal and force

of his high character upon this charge, in the forty-
second year of his age and eighteenth of his ministry.

;He remained in it with the strongest mutual confi-

dence and affection until he was called away by elec-

‘ tion of the General Assembly’ of the Presbyterian

Church, in .1836, to the chair of theology in the

. Western Theological Seminary at Allegheny City.

Peace, edification, and progress reigned in the con-

» gregation during his pastorate of seven years. An

annual average‘ of twenty members added on profes-
sion of faith and of sixteen on certificate is evidence
of the seal of blessing put upon his labors. A pow-
erful work of grace in 1835 brought fifty—one confes-
sors of Christ to the Lord’s table at one time. With

' facultieswonderfully preserved, and ‘in the exercise

of a faith that brightened to the last, he departed

' this life March 18, 1874, in the eighty-eighth year of
‘his age and sixty-third year of his ministry. He left

the church at his resignation with three hundred
communicants on its roll. Messrs. Hugh Fergus and
Samuel‘Vance were set apart to the eldership by his
hands. . _

The next period of . twelve years following Dr.
Elliott’s retirement from the congregation was marked
with unusual frequency of change, and yet with the

like tokens of stability and growth. Four vigorous,
faithful, and honored watchmen stood in succession

upon the walls of this Zion within this brief space,..
whilst during the intervals, making an aggregateof "

nearly one-third of it, the church was without a pas-
tor.

most part, by the able" service of the Rev. David Mc-

Conaughy, D.D., then president of Washington Col- -
lege. The pastoral service of the Rev. Daniel‘ Der- )

nelle extended from November, 1837, to October, 1840;
that of the Rev. James Smith, D.D., from December,
1840, to April, 1844; that of the Rev. William C.
Anderson, D.D., from the early winter following to

Jan. 9, 1846; and that of the Rev. John B. Pinney, .

LL.D., from January, 1847, to April, 1848. Dif-

fering widely in their respective gifts, each of these.

brethren did important work for Christ in his day,
and not one of them was without tokens of a divine

blessing upon his labors. Only the last of the four”

yet lingers on earth, and he is in 1ife’s decline. The
people whom they served so well in the gospel have
also for the most part passed away. But held in the
hands of a covenant-keeping God, the church still
lives. It was under the last—named pastor that Messrs.
George Baird, Joseph Henderson, James Boon, and
Dr. Robert R. Reed were chosen and set apart as
rulers in the Lord’s house. At the same time Messrs.
John Wilson, Isaac Hewitt, John K. Wilson, and
John Grayson, J r., were made deacons.

The present pastoral relation, dating from Jan. 1,
1849, has at the present writing, January, 1882, com-:

pleted a period of "thirty-three years, or an average
human generation.
these years. On the present roll of three hundred and

\ ninety-five communicants, only twenty-five.remain of
ii the two hundred and seventy-seven who greeted me

at my settlement. Of course, also, including the

eleven hundred and eighty-eight,since received,——six:
hundred and thirty-nine on profession of faith, and "
five hundred and forty—nine by certificate from others

churches,—-one thousand and seventy are embraced
in the lists of the deceased and the dismissed for this
one generation. In all, fourteen hundred and sixty-

five members of the church have sat down at the A,

communion supper under the ministrations of the
present pastor. The eleven" venerable elders who
“ ruled well” at the opening of this pastorate have all
yearsago gone to their glorious reward. Three others,
since introduced,‘have followed them, viz.: Messrs,
Isaac Hewitt, James Ewing, and John Wiley. Four
more who came into office under the present pastor
have removed to other localities or church connections,
viz. : J . Wilson Wishart, M.D., Harvey H. Clark, Ed-
ward G. Cundall, Jr., and John Hoon. The following
seven elders still remain in office, viz. : Thomas Mc-

Kennan, M.D., James C. Acheson, Thomas McKean, I

William Davis, M. VVilson McClan'e, William Paul,
and John Vance. The present deacons are John
Aiken, George Davis, John B. Miller, Samuel M.

511.

The lack was, however, well supplied, for the;

Great changes have occurred in _

‘ Sr., George Morgan,_ and Alexander Wilson.

_ seventy down to twenty.

512

HISTORY OF WASHINGTON COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA.

Charlton, and George F. McCombs. The trustees of
the congregation are John H. Ewing, A. Todd Baird,
Alexander M. Brown, J ames W. McDowell, and
Colin M. Reed, J r. In the past the following gentle-
men have filled the office of trustee, not a few of
whom have been distinguished in the history of
Washington County, and some in that of the State
and nation, viz.: Joseph Wherry, John Simonson,
Parker Campbell, Hugh Wilson, Daniel Moore, Wil-
liam McKennan, Hugh Wylie, Matthew Dill, Thomas
McGiffin, James Orr, George Baird, Dr. John Wish-.
art, Robert Taylor, John Gregg, Thomas Brice, John
Mitchell, Isaac Vance, Alexander Gordon, Jacob
Slagle, Thomas ‘M. T. McKen11an, John Wilson,
David Eckert, Isaac Hewitt, Isaac Leet, John Potter,
John Grayson, Sr., James Boon, Joseph Henderson,
William Hughes, John K. Wilson, John Grayson,
Jr., Thomas McKennan, James G. Strean, Thomas
McKean, Alexander W. Acheson, Colin M. Reed,
Only
the last nine of these survive. Alexander Reed served
as treasurer of the congregation twenty-seven years
from 1809; Robert Oflicer, two years ; Henry M.
Koontz, five years; Colin M.‘ Reed, Sr., twenty-seven
years; and the present occupant, A. Todd Baird, has
been in this ofliice since 1869.

Since the present pastorate commenced there have
been, besides the ordinary work of the gospel, nine
special seasons of grace, followed with ingatherings of
new members into the church, varying in number from
The fact is also recorded
with peculiar thankfulness that forty-two young men
have been here brought to Christ within the same pe-
riod, who have since entered the ministry of the gos-
pel, eighteen of whom were sons of this church by
birth and training, and the rest students of the col-
lege from abroad. In the previous history of the

church twenty-nine in like manner first sat down at

the table of the Lord here and rose up to preach the
unsearchable riches of Christ, many in our own land
and some on heathen shores. Sixty ministers of the
gospel have found their wives in this congregation,
thirty-two of them within the thirty-three years now

_ under special review.

During this same period the contributions of the
church to objects of outside beneficence, through the
organized methods, have amounted to $48,849, or
$1480.27 per annum. This includes the gifts of the
Sabbath-school, and also those of the associations of
ladies and of children. For the last ten years the ag-
gregate has been $18,221, and the annual average
$1822.10, or about $5 per member. The average
per annum, for the same decade, of church expenses,
includingthe pastor’s salary, wages of sexton, repairs,
fuel and light, and the support of the Sabbath-school,
has been $3620. Under the present pastorate there
have also been two church erections, both of which
have been ‘provided for by special subscriptions; that

' of 1850-51 cost, in site, building, and furniture, $15,000.

The reconstruction of 1868-69, embracing the whole
‘building except the basement, cost $23,500, including
furniture and organ. Within the same period, also,
two strenuous efforts have been put forth in our midst
for the endowment of our college, one in 1853 and the
other in 1869, the aggregate amount realized from
both being $60,000 or upwards, in which the mem-
bers of this congregation bore a large proportion of
the burden. Through the peculiar skill and energy
of the treasurer, Mr. A. T. Baird, the church has for
some years been entirely free from debt.

The influence of this church in the traini-ng of
missionaries deserves fuller mention than our space
will allow. Devoted laborers in the frontier destitu-
tions of our own land, and in lands beyond the seas,
can be counted by scores ‘who have received here
during their educational training at least a part of
the religious culture which prepared them for their
work. More than forty years ago the Rev. William
Hamilton and his wife, Mrs. Julia McGiffin Hamilton,
and the Rev. E. McKinney and his wife, carried the
blessing of our church with them to the Indians be-

yond the Missouri, to be followed after a decade by

Misses Mary H. McKeon and Flora Lee, who also
counted not their lives dearto win sou’ls. Mr. and
Mrs. Cornes, who were sentinto eternity in an in-
stant by the explosion of a steamer in the harbor of

Yokohama while in the prosecution of their work,‘

will not be forgotten. Nor will the names of the
sainted Clemens and his wife in Africa‘, or Dr. and

Mrs. McFarland in Siam, or J. M.-Alexander, the »

Newtons, Hull, Graham, and Mr. and Mrs. Ewing in

India, Blachford in Brazil, Pitkin in Mexico, Miss ‘

Crouch in China, D. F. McFarland in New Mexico,
Mrs. A. M. Darley in Southern Colorado, Miss Annie
McKeon in Utah, and Misses Garrett and Bousman,
formerly among the freedmen of the South, die out
of memory. We knew them all here in the fellow-

ship of Christ, and ten ‘of the number, all females 1

but one, were children of our church.

Having already, in compliance with the wishes of
the gentleman who asked this paper at my hands,
gone far beyond my own first conception as to its
length, I am led further by request from the same
source to add a sketch of the Sabbath-school con-
nected with this church. This is all the more allow-
able, inasmuch as this school claims precedence in
origin over all others west of the Alleghenies, and

only defers in this respect to a few in the whole land. .

From its formal organization, June 15, 1816, it has
come down inunbroken succession until now.. The
year of its origin stands out prominently in the his-
tory of the extensive and powerful revivals of religion,
and the consequent large schemes of beneficence and
Christian activity, which distinguished the first quar-
ter of the present century. Sabbath-schools as they
now exist in this country are generally traced to the
labors of the Rev. Mr. May, a missionary from Lon-
don, who came to ‘Philadelphia in 1811, and organ-

WASHINGTON BOROUGH.

513

ized a model school, giving it his care for a whole
winter. Other schools soon followed, and in 1815,
1816, and'1817 they began to multiply in various parts
of the country. The school of which we now write
is older by eight years than the American Sunday-
School Union, and only a month later in origin than
the older of the two societies out of which that Union
was formed. But its conception even antedates its
organization by more than two years.

A meeting was held in Washington, Feb. 11, 1814,
with David Morris, Esq., for its chairman and Dr.
John Wishart for its. secretary. Its triple purpose
was to “provide for the proper administration of the
poor laws,” to “discourage the use of spirituous

, liquors, and to suppress_ all vice and immorality,” and
I V to “establish and support a Sunday-school for the

education of indigent children.” The Rev. Matthew
Brown, pastor of the Presbyterian Church, and two of
his elders, Obadiah Jennings, Esq., and Dr. John

.Wishart, were appointed a committee to prepare a
constitution forthe society. When it came to fulfill--

ment, as we have seen, in 1816, its declared purpose,
so far as the Sunday-school was concerned, was “to
instruct the children of Washington and vicinity,
during the vacant hours of the Sabbath, in reading
the Scriptures and other appropriate exercises.”

A published report of the ,“ Washington Sunday-__
School Association” in 1818 speaks of the school
. as then having been in operation two years, and as

having had an average of “.one hundred and fifty
pupils,” of whom “ many have exhibited strong proofs

of diligence and excellent capacity.” In form and

name it was not at first strictly a denominational
school, yet its sessions were held in the Presbyterian
Church, and it was supported and managed by Pres-

_ byterian/s. And when, in 1825, the Methodist Epis-

copal school was established, and others afterwards,
it remained without change as the Presbyterian school.

It was eminently useful from the first, though some
in the community thought it needless, and others a
pr-ofomation of the Sabbath. ,On the 16th day of July,
1828, chiefly through the agency of this school, a Wash-
ington County Sunday-School Union was formed, aux-

_ iliary to the American Sunday-School Union, then only

four years in existence,having for its object a general
co-operation in this work, and the establishment of new
schools throughout the county. - It was reorganized in
1830, with the Hon. Thomas H. Baird as its president,
and the Rev. Thomas Hoge as its secretary, The vice-

presidents were the Revs. Messrs. David Elliott, D.D.,-

Matthew Brown, D.D., Elisha McCurdy, John Brown,
and David Limerick. The managers in behalf of the
Presbyterian school of Washington were Messrs. Alex-
ander Reed, Thomas M. T. McKennan, and John Wil-
son. Those for the Methodist school, the only other in
the town, were Messrs. Philip Potter and James Ruple.

,The continuance and ‘fruits of this association are

beyond our knowledge.
The first two superintendents of the school were

William C. Blair and James Williamson, both stu-
dents in college. Then followed in succession Charles
Hawkins, Peter De Haven, George Baird, Professor
John W. Scott, Abner Leonard, Professor J. Holmes
Agnew, William McCowles, John McClintock, Henry
Williams, and'James D. Mason. This brings us down
to Oct. 29, 1838, when Dr. Robert R. Reed entered

upon this charge with the -trepidation so characteris-J _

tic of his modest spirit, but with the fine intelligence,
quick movement, genial manner, and Christian con-

secration which made him a centre of attraction and -

power alike to teachers and pupils through a service
of twenty-six years. His activity ended with his sud-
den death Dec. 14, 1864, in the fifty-eighth year of
his age,——an event followed with universal lamenta-
tion. The vacancy thus created was filled by the
choice of James C. Acheson, another elder of the
church, and for some time previous the assistant super-
intendent. After eighteen years of wise, kindly, and
faithful service he still abides in strength, surrounded
by an earnest band of co-workers, some of whom have
come down with him through all these years.

The school has_ not been without the fluctuations
incident to such work. But it has never failed to be
a blessing of religious instruction andinfluence both
to the children of the church and to very many be-
yond it. Better still is the fact that again and again,

along the whole line of this progress, it has by divine A

grace been a birth-place-of souls, not less than two
hundred additions to the communion of the church
having within the knowledge of the present writer
come immediately from its classes. The infant de-
partment, organized in 1852, has continued with
marked efliciency through the thirty, intervening
years, and now has an enrollment of one hundred
“lambs” to be fed under the direction of the “ Good
Shepherd.” The main school numbers two hundred
and twenty-five, ‘making three hundred and twenty-
five in all. The number of officers and teachers is
thirty. The average cost of conducting the school
per annum has been $198.52 for the last ten years.
For the same period the yearly average of missionary
contributions has been $307.63. The enterprise has
been a source of blessing for sixty-six years‘. Long

,'may its streams flow on to make glad the city of our

God. ’ ‘

A fit conclusion of this imperfect sketch is our cor-
dial brotherly recognition of the other churches of
our town, devoted like ourselves to the extension of
the Redeemer’s kingdom. This is especially due to
the Second Presbyterian Church, which, to ‘meet a

pressing need, was organized in 1864 from a nucleus ‘

of two elders, ‘a deacon, and fifty-two private mem-
bers, dismissed from our ranks for this purpose.
Under the divine blessing it has risen to strength
and efficiency. Its vigorous Sabbath-school is also a
living stream which flows forth from ouriown. Let
the mother and daughter thank God and take courage
together in view of the fact that, in the aggregate

dent.

514

HISTORY OF WASHINGTON COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA.  

lmembership of both, our Presbyterianism ‘has nearly

trebled its strength in Washington in the compass of
a generation.

Second Presbyterian Church.1—+The origin of the
movement which resulted in the existence of this
church was mainly with Mr. C. M. Reed, aided by
others who were at once both members of the First

"Church and intimately connected with-the college.

The plan was to call a pastor to the church and a
professor to the college,.and, by combining_ the salary
derived from the two sources, raise a sum larger than
either could alone. This suggestion met with hearty
favor from those connected with the college, notably
from Rev. J . W. Scott,'D.D., who was then its presi-
Many conferences were had on the subject,
and it finally culminated in a meeting of the First
Church Dec. 9, 1860, to consider means for securing

‘enlarged church accommodations. A" committee was

appointed to report on the subject, and at another
meeting on Dec. 27, 1860, a majority then reported
as follows: '

“ Believing it to be our duty to furnish the means of hearing to all

who may desire, or can be constrained to listen to the preaching of the

divine message; that said accommodation is not furnished in our present
church, and that any increase of sittings is impracticable and inexpedi-

gent, and that the size of our congregation justifies the recommendation
of the formation of a new congregation as the only effectual remedy in

this present exigency ; therefore,

“Resolved, That in the opinion of this congregation the interests of
religion would be promoted by the organization of a second Presbyte-
rian congregation in Washington; and whenever any number of per-
sons will signify their willingness to engage in a new church enterprise,

this congregation will lend them all the aid, comfort, and encouragement

in its power, and to that "end do now appoint a committee to co-operate
with them in the accomplishment of this object.”

‘This committee consisted of C. M. Reed, Thomas

McKean, John Grayson, Jr., H. H. Clark, and W.

B. Cundall. On the 3d of February, 1861, they met

. with the session of the First Church, and that session
unanimously passed these resolutions commending

the project : '

“Resolved, That as the committee requested the session, if iniaccord-
ance with their views, to designate two of their number to go off, and
the session having learned that the two members desired by the persons
favorable to the movement are Dr. John W. Wishart and H. H. Clark ;

therefore, if these brethren should feel themselves assured that such is

their duty, whilst retaining unabated and unqualified confidence and

‘Christian affection for them as brethren, and also expressing our sorrow

at the thought of their separation from our number, yet we cannot with-
hold our consent, and will follow them with our prayers for the blessing
of the Master upon themselves individually and upon the enterprise with
which they are connected.

“Resolved, That we recommend to the members of ‘the church and
congregation, so far as they may severally feel enabled and inclined,
to lend this movement all the aid, comfort, and encouragement in their

power.”

VVith this encouragement from the mother-church,
those interested in the enterprise pushed it vigorously
forward, until they were ready for organization- by
Presbytery. Of this organization the following, from
the minutes of Presbytery, is perhaps the best history:

In

1 Taken principally from an address by the Rev. George P. Hays, D.D.

» “ WASHINGTON, PA., March 12, 1861.

“ The Presbytery of Washington held a pro re nata meeting in the
lecture-room of the Presbyterian Church of Washington, at 11 o’clock
A.M., pursuant to a call of the moderator upon the written request of
two ministers and two elders, the latter being of different churches, and
was opened with prayer.

“The following members were present, viz.: Messrs. John W. Scott,
William P. Alrich, James W. McKennan, James I. Brownson, Alexan-
der McCarrell, William B. Keeling, and N. B. Lyons, ministers, and
Messrs. Joseph Henderson, John Hoon, and James Hughes, elders.

“ The temporary clerk being absent, Mr. Keeling was appointed clerk
pro (em. The moderator, Dr. Scott, stated the object of the meeting to
be .the organization of a second church in Washington, if the way be
clear, and also the reception of the Rev. James Black, a professor in
Washington College, as a member of Presbytery.

:1: as :2: =1: :1: as :3: :2: :1:

“The subject of the organization of a. second church in Washington
was now taken up. A memorial from sundry persons, members of the
church and others, asking to be organized in to a second church was read.

Certificates of dismission of thirty-six members of the church of Wash-

ington and one from the church ‘of Martinsville, Ohio, were presented
and read, and, being in order, were approved. Dr. J. Wilson Wishart
then appeared in behalf of the memorialists and made a. full statement
of the reasons which had induced the movement, all of which had grown
solely out of the necessity for additional church accommodations. He
bore decided testimony to the warm and unabated affection of all con-

. cerned for the pastor and other oflicers, as well as for the church itself.

And he further presented and read the action of a meeting of the Wash-
ington congregation approving and recommending the movement by a
vote of thirty nine to seven, and also the subsequent action of the session
-of the church acquiescing and concurring in the same. The pastor being
called on, approved the statement of Dr. Wishart as correct, and also fully
reciprocated the kind expression of feeling for himself and the church
which had been made, and further stated that whilst there had been
some difference of opinion originally as to the expediency of this move-
ment as compared with others suggested for the same end, there was
now, since the decision of the question, no exception within his knowl-
edge to the kindliest mutual good‘ will and fraternal feeling without
any suspicions of motives, and also an entire willingness to commit. all
the interests of the church in our midst to the future disposal of the
Master himself. ,

“ It was resolved unanimously that the prayer of the memorialists be
granted. 6

“The persons whose certificates of dismission had been offered and
approved then presented themselves, and, in response to the interroga-
tion of the moderator, declared, by rising, their adherence to the doc-
trines and order of the Presbyterian Church, and their agreement and
covenant together in a church relation.

“An election for officers was then held in the presence of the pres-
bytery, the moderator presiding,.when Dr. J. Wilson Wishart, Harvey
H. Clark, John Grayson, J r., and William B. Cundall were unanimously
elected ruling elders, and David Aiken and William J . Mathews, deacons.

“ Dr. Wishart and Mr. Clark having been elders in the mother-church,
and having now declared their acceptance of the same oflice in the new
organization, wereiinstalled as such, the Rev. J . I. Brownson, at the re-
quest of the moderator, proposing the constitutional questions, and the
Rev. J .-W. l\IcKennan leading the assembly in prayer. The ordination
of the remaining elders and also the deacons and their installation were
deferred to such a time as the church might appoint. '

“ It was then resolved that the church now organized be enrolled as
the Second Church of Washington. ‘

f‘ The minutes were read and approved, and the presbytery adjourned,

concluding with prayer. V
“ JAMES I. BROWNSON, Slated Clerk.”
5

The following is the certificate issued by the First
Church to those going out to. form the Second:

March 12, 1861, the following-named ‘persons were
dismissed to join the Second Church of Washington :
C. M. Reed, Sarah E. Reed, John Grayson, J r., Mrs.
Sarah E. Grayson, Harvey H.‘ Clark, Mrs. Margaret
L. Clark, William B. Cundall, Mrs. Emily C. Cun-
dall, Nancy Jane Cundall, Dr. J. Wilson ,Wishart,
Mrs. Sarah H. McGiflin, Mrs. Eleanor Donehoo, Mrs.

WASHINGTON BOROUGH.

515

Phebe H. Scott, Mary Scott, Kate Scott, Jennie Scott,

‘Mrs. Julia A. Black, Martha Cr. Black, Mrs. Eliza J.

Blachley, William Blair, Mrs. Assena A. Blair, Mary
Blair, David Aiken, Mrs. C. Aiken, Martha A. Aiken,
William J . Matthews, Mrs. Fanny P. Mathew, Mar-
garet S. Pyle, Margaret J . Pyle, Madeline Le Moyne,
Jane Le Moyne, John Baird, Harriet S. Baird, James
 Smiley, Mrs. Hetty Smiley, Eliza Dare.
JOSEPH HENDERSON, Clerk.

The church having thus been organized by Presby-
tery, a meeting was held in the lecture—room of the
First Church that same evening to complete the or-
ganization by electing trustees, etc., of which meet-
ing the following is the minute :

“ At a meeting of the congregation of the Second Presbyterian Church
of Washington, Pa., held in the lecture-room of the Presbyterian Church,
in Washington, Pa., on Tuesday evening, March 12, -1861, Rev. J. W.
Scott, D.D., was called to the chair, and W. J. Mathews elected secre-
tary.

“ The object. of the meeting was stated to be to complete the organiza-
tion of said congregation by adppting a constitution and electing officers
to manage the temporal aifairs of the congregation, and the transacting
of such other business of the congregation as may be brought before this
meeting.

“A constitution having been read and submitted, . . . on motion to
proceed to nominate trustees, C. M. Reed, Andrew Brady, John Baird,
William Blair, and Norton McGifl‘1n were nominated and unanimously
elected. C. M. Reed was nominated and unanimously elected for treasurer.

‘ “ On motion that this congregation proceed to elect a pastor, the Rev.
Richard V. Dodge, of Wheeling, Va., was nominated and unanimously

‘elected. A motion to accompany the call to the pastor-elect with the

promise to pay him a salary of not less than two hundred and fifty dol-
lars was unanimously adopted. The motion that the call be signed by
the elders, deacons, and trustees of the congregation was adopted.

“ Mr. H. H. Clark and Dr. J. VV. Wishart were elected commissioners
to present the call to the presbytery of Washington at its next regular
meeting. ’ _

V “ The motion of Mr. Smiley that the trustees be directed to fit up the

College Hall as a place of worship was amended, and amendment ac-

cepted, that the trustees be directed to procure the College Hall for a
place of worship for this congregation. This motion and amendment
were, after full and free discussion, adopted unanimously.

“ A motion that this congregation proceed to meet for worship, as a
congregation, immediately was decided in the negative. A motion that
a subscription paper be drawn up for the purpose of raising the neces-
sary funds for the payment of the Pastor and other expenses of the con-
gregation was adopted. ~ ‘

“- On motion, Messrs. C. M.’ Reed, John Baird, A. C. Morrow, and
Thomas M. Wiley were -elected a committee to take charge of the sub-
scription paper mentioned above.

“On motion, the Trustees were directed to apply to the Court for a.

charter for this congregation. After prayer by the Rev. James Black,

on motion adjourned.”

-The charter ado.pted at this meeting (March 12,
1861) provided:

“ARTICLE 3. That the Trustees of said congregation shall be five in

number, and until others shall be appointed shall consist of the follow-
ing-named persons, viz.: C. M. Reed, Andrew-Brady, John Baird, Wil-
liam Blair, and Norton McGifl‘in, who shall continue in office until the
first Monday of April, 1862, on which day, and on the same day yearly
thereafter, the members of the congregration shall at a general meeting
thereof elect by ballot or otherwise five persons to serve as Trustees, to
continue in oflice one year and until their successors are duly qualified.”

Thus far everything seemed favorable. The war,
however, came on that spring, and brought with it its
fears of hard times and trouble in every way.” Rev.

lMr. Dodge declined both the call to the church and

the college, which were tendered to him. Before long

, tofore.”

Dr. Wishart went into the army, and so from one
cause and another the whole project was held in abey-'
ance for some three years. During this time the peo-
ple of the churc_h worshiped with the First Church,
between which and themselves the kindest relations
subsisted. ‘ I

From the first there had been those who half
doubted the necessity of a second church, and to make
the way clear for their return the session of the First
Church, on the 7th day of September, 1861, passed
the following resolution :

“ WHEREAS, On the 12th day of March, 1861, the Session dismissed a
number of members of this church to be organized into a Presbyterian
church; and whereas in the present disturbed state of the country and
the depressed condition of money matters there would seem to be no
possibility of such an organization being carried forward; and whereas
the present church relations of the persons so dismissed are peculiar and
embarrassing to all parties; therefore it is unanimously

“ Resolved, That this Session do most cordially invite the persons thus
dismissed to renew their former relation to this church, assuring them
of a most hearty welcome to our fellowship, and to a participation in the
cares and responsibilities of private and official membership, as here-

At a meeting of the congregation of the First
Church in the spring of 1864 similar action was taken.
This led to a meeting of the Second Church in the
lecture—room of the First Church,_ April 7, 1864, at
which meeting John Grrayson, J r., Esq.-, was called to
the chair, and H. J . Vankirk appointed secretary, and
the following resolutions were unanimously adopted:

“ WHER_EAs, At a late meeting of the First Presbyterian congregation
an invitation was extended to us to resume our standing and connection
with the same; and whereas we, the members of the Second Presbyte-
rian congregation of Washington, believe that to a great extent the same
causes exist that did at the time the movement was originated; there-
fore

“ Resolved, That while we appreciate the kind motives which prompted
our brethren of the First Presbyterian congregation to extend to us the
invitation to return, we deem it to be our duty respectfully to decline
accepting the proposition. _ .

“ Resolved, That, as the members of the Second Presbyterian congre-
gation, we regard it as incumbent upon us to go forward immediately
and carry out the object originally contemplated by our organization.

“On motion, the following committee on supplies was appointed, to
wit: H. H. Clark, Andrew Brady, and William Blair.

“ On motion, the Trustees were instructed to procure a suitable place
of meeting by the first Sabbath in May next, provided the committee
are able to procure a supply by that time.

“On motion, the committee on supplies were instructed to take up a
subscription to defray the expenses and pay the supplies.

,“ On motion, H. H. Clark was appointed to represent this congregation

V at the coming Presbytery, and was instructed to ask leave to furnish a

supply.”,

As a result of this action, Smith’s Hall was pro-
cured as a place of worship, and on May 15, 1864,
Rev. R. V. Dodge, then of Wheeling, preached for
the new church; and so acceptable were his services
that on the 80th of the same May, 1864, a. call was
made out for him, the salary being fixed at twelve
hundred dollars, payable quarterly. He accepted the
call, and was formally installed Oct. 4, 1864. ‘ He
continued as pastor until May 3, 1868, when he
preached his farewell sermon. '

When he entered on his pastorate, which is the
real beginning of the active history of the church,
the elders were H. H. Clark, W. B. Cundall, and

58

HISTORY OF WASHINGTON COUNTY, PEN N S YLVAN IA.

and disinay among the hostile Indians. To them it

was a severe blow. They were amazed to find that
the white settlers, whom they had supposed to be
cowering behind, their stockades east of the moun-
tains, had suddenly and boldly advanced into the wil-
derness and destroyed the Indian stronghold, with all
its accumulated supplies and munitions of war.
After the destruction of old Kittaning the French
used every means in their power to goad the In-
dians to further bloodshed "and hostility against
the English, to avenge the destruction of their prin-

, cipal town and the killing of their kindred; but they

did not readily respond to these appeals, and for a
long time they refused to go out in parties against
the Eastern settlements, fearing that another -blow
might fall on their villages during their absence.
“Such of "them as belonged to Kittaning and had es-
caped the carnage refused to settle again on the east
of Fort Du Quesne, and very wisely resolved to place
that fortress and the French garrison between them
andthe English.” 1 They had also begun to show no
little dissatisfaction with the French,-on account of
the meagre return which they were receiving for their
services on the war—path, and symptoms of open dis-
affection were becoming apparent. This is shown in
a statement made by one John Cox (an escaped pris-
oner from Kittaning,) which is found in the minutes
of the proceedings of the Council at a meeting of that
body on Tuesday, Sept. 6, 1756,” as follows:

“ Mr. Joseph Armstrong, Member of Assembly,
and Mr. Adam Hoops’, Commissary of Provisions _for
the Supply of the Forces in Cumberland County,
Attending with a Young Man who was taken Pris-

oner by the Indians and had made his escape; they

were examined as to the Truth of the several matters
mentioned in the Petitions,-and they confirmed the
same, saying further that a Year ago there were

three thousand Men fit to bear Arms, livers in that V

County, and now exclusive of the Provincial Forces
they were certain they did not amount to an hundred;
that there never was in the memory of Man a more
abundant harvest; that after the burning of Fort
Granville by the Indians (which was done while the
country people, guarded by Detachments of the
Forces, were employed in reaping) the Farmers
abandoned their Plantations, and left what Corn was
not then stacked or carried into Barns to perish on
the Ground. . . .

I“ Then the-Young Man, one John Cox, a son of the
Widow Cox, who had made his escape from Kittanin,
gave the following information: That himself, his

brother Richard, and John Craig in the beginning of

and children of men who lost their lives in the campaign. To the com-
manding ofiicer was presented a medal of honor, bearing the legend,
“ Kittaning destroyed by Colonel Armstrong, September, 1756,” and on
the reverse another, “ The gift of the Corporation of the City of Phila-
delphia.” '

1 Early History of Western Pennsylvania.

2Col. Rec., vii. p. 241.

February last were taken by nine Delaware Indians
from‘ a Plantation two Miles ‘from McDowell’s Mill,
and carried to the Kittaning Town on the Ohio; that
on his way thither he met Shingas [the Delaware
king] with a Party of thirty Men, and afterwards
with Captain Jacobs and fifteen, who were going on a
Design to destroy the Settlements in Conegochege:
that when He arrived at Kittanin, he saw there about
one hundredfighting Men of the Delaware Tribe,
with their Families, and about Fifty English Pris-
oners, consisting of Men, Women, and children ; that
during his stay there, Shingas’ and Jacob’s Parties
returned, the one with nine Scalps and ten Prisoners,
the other with several Scalps and five prisoners, and
that another Company of eighteen came from Diahogo
with seventeen Scalps fixed on a Pole, ‘and carried
them to Fort Du Quesne to obtain their reward. . . .

“That they (the Delawares) with the prisoners
during the whole summer have been in a, starving
condition, having very little Venison and corn, and
reduced to the necessity of living upon Dog Flesh
and the few Roots and Berrys they could collect in
the Woods ;*°’ that several of the Prisoners have dyed
for want of Food; That six Weeks ago about one
hundred Indians went off from the Susquehanna to
the Ohio for a‘ Supply of Provisions and Ammuni-
tion, and were expected back in thirty days; That
while they were in this distressed Situation they
talked several times of making Peace with the Eng-
lish, and many of them observed that it was better to
do so than starve, for that the Rewards the French
gave were not sufficient to support them, not having
received from -them more than one loaf of Bread for
each Scalp. But that old Makomesy, his [Cox’s]
Master and one of their chiefs, endeavored to dissuade
them from entering into any peaceable Measures with
the English, and had constantly encouraged them to
continue the War; That while these things were in
Agitation an Indian chief came among them, and in-
formed them that the Mingoes could live with the’
English and be furnished with Provisions and every

thing they wanted, while the Delawares were starving ‘

for carrying on‘ the war against them. . That about
thirty days ago he saw several of the Indians going
away, with -an Intention (as he was informed) to
know of the Governor of Pennsylvania whether the
English would agree to_make peace; but that he was
told by Makomesy they were only gone to see whether
the English were strong, and to get Provisions from
them. . . .” A V '

This prisoner had escaped from the Indians on the

14th of August, and reached Fort Augusta in safety. _

“The poor Boy,” says the record, “was extremely
reduced, had dangerous swellings on his Body, and

3 It does not seem clear how the Indians. could have been reduced to
this starving condition when the region which they had ravaged, and
from which they had driven away the white settlers, had been blessed (as
appears by the preceding statement of Armstrong and Hoops) with the
most abundant harvest known in the memory of man.

516

> HISTORY OF WASHINGTON COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA.

John Grayson, J r., being ordained and installed June
19, 1864. At the "same time H. J. Vankirk and Wil-
liam Blair were installed deacons. In April, 1867,
F. Brady, Jr., and Morgan Hayes were added as
deacons. ‘

On the resignation of Mr. Dodge, in 1868, the
church began to cast about for a successor, and on-
June 1, 1868, elected Rev. J. C. Caldwell, then pastor
of the Mount Prospect Church, near Hickory. He
accepted their call and was installed Aug. 2, 1868.

‘During his pastorate (namely, on Feb. 14, 1869)

Messrs. Robert Boyd, Hugh McClelland, Freeman
Brady, J r., and John B. Vowell were inducted into
the ofiice of the eldership, the last two being ordained,
the first two installed. Mr. Caldwell’s ministry was
also highly successful, as it had been in his previous
charge, and has been in those he has had since. He re-
signed in December, 1869, to take charge of the church
of N ewberry, near Williamsport,_Pa. From the begin-
ning of the year 18.70 until the August of that year
the church was most of the time faithfully served by
Rev. Henry Woods, a professor in the college.

In the winter of 1870 and 1871, Rev. George P.
Hays removed to this place to take charge of. the
college, of which he had been inaugurated president.
An offer of a call was informally made to him and- ex-
plicitly declined, but he became the stated supply of
this church, with an arrangement that so many of the
students of the college as see fit to worship here shall
have seats free, and that so much _of the services as
may be thought best shall "be dire'cted ‘specially to
them; and that the stated supply should not be held
responsible for any pastoral work it whatever, and
should have liberty to be absent very frequently on
the Sabbath. .

For two years during the time covered by the min-

istry of the Rev. George P. Hays, the duties of the

college required his absence, and thechurch was most
faithfully and acceptably ministered to by Rev. George
Fraser, D.D., then Professor of Mental and Moral
Science in the college. He enjoyed and deserved the
confidence of the people, and the church steadily pros-
pered under his ministrations. Of this period he thus
speaks in a letter: “ My time commenced with the
first Sabbath of September, 1872, and closed with the

last Sabbath of August, 1874, making two full years, i

for which the church paid me in full to the last cent;
and. they were two years ever to be remembered as
one of the most pleasant periods of my ministry.”
The Smith Hall becoming unsatisfactory as a place
of worship, an arrangement was made to lease for a

term of fifteen years the church belonging to the 1

Methodist Protestant congregation. Accordingly, it

_was thoroughly repaired and refitted at a cost of

$3437.41, and was reopened for -service on the 5th
day of January, 1874, since which ‘time it has been
the regular house of worship.

On the 14th day of April, 1872, Messrs. James
Rankin, Morgan Hayes, and James Houston were

inducted into oflice as elders, all but the first being
ordained as well as installed. On the evening of the
same day, April 14, 1872, Messrs. Robert S. VVinters-
and Hiram Warne were installed as deacons.

Dr. George P. Hays sent in his resignation, to take a

effect the first Sabbath‘ of September, 1881, having
accepted a call from the First Presbyterian Church
in Denver, Col. On the 30th of December, 1881,
the Rev. J. G. Cowden, of Iowa, was called as a stated
supply, which was accepted, and his services com-
menced Feb. 1, 1882. The church has a present
membership of three hundred and sixty-seven.

The United Presbyterian Congregation of
Washington.—-The Associate Presbyterian Congre-
gation of VVashington—which, when the union oc-
curred between the Associate and Associate Reformed
Churches in 1858, became the United Presbyterian—-
Was organized in the year 1815. It was small and
was without a. house of worship. There was at the

time a small body‘ of the Associate Reformed Presby- 1

terians in the place, with a meeting-house partly con-
structed. As it was not prospering in its efforts, it
agreed to sell its building, and the Associate congre-

gation becoming the purchaser, it immediately pro- ~

ceeded to provide itself with all the means of regular
worship. . H .
It was not, however, till 1834 that it felt strong
enough to ask the services of a settled pastor, but in
July of that year it extended a call to the Rev. Da-
vid Carson, who had recently been appointed to a
professorship in the theological seminary in Canons-

“ burg. Mr. Carson was a man of earnest piety and

great ability, but he was only permitted to preach a
few times in Washington, and died Sept. 25, 1834.
He was succeeded by the Rev. Thomas Beveridge,
who was also a professor i'n the Canonsburg Semi-
nary. He wasiinstalled in the pastorate in February,
1836. As pastor and friend he was universally re-
spected, and as a preacher of the gospel he was es-
teemed as of more than ordinary ability. His influ-
ence was happy, -not only in the congregation with
which he was identified, but upon the entire commu-
nity, and his name is still gratefully recalled by many-
of the older citizens. In September of the year 1849
he offered his resignation, which was accepted, and in
November of the same year the Rev.‘ Thomas Hanna,
of Cadiz, Ohio, was called to fill his place. His la-
bors extended over a period of thirteen years, at the

end of which time he resigned‘ because of failing‘

health. Dr. Hanna was a genial gentleman, kindly
in all his relations and faithful in the discharge of
his pastoral duties. He died Feb. 9, 1864, in the
sixty-fifth year of his age. His life and work are
alluded to with great respect by all who knew him.
The Rev. J. R. Johnston is the present pastor. He
was called in the winter of 1863, and ordained and
installed in the following June. The old church
building in which the congregation worshiped for
many years occupied a lot on West Wheeling Street

WASHINGTON BOROUGH.

517

near Second. It was abandoned in 1865, when anew
one was erected on the same street, a few doors from
Main. It is one of the most substantial buildings of
the place. The congregation numbers about three
hundred communing members. The superintendent
of the Sabbath-school is Mr. John H. Murdoch. The
board of elders is composed of Messrs. William
Gabby, John G. Clark, William Crosbie, J oseph‘ D.
McNary, John H. Murdoch, and A. M. McElroy.
The First Baptist Church.—The minutes of this
church show that it was regularly constituted on Fri-
day, Oct. 14, 1814. In response to letters missive the
following churches wererepresented by their dele-
gates: Ten-Mile, Rev. Matt’.hias°Luce; Peters Creek,

_. _R_ev. David Phillips, Deacon Joseph Phillips, Charles
Dailey; Union Town, Rev. William Brownfield. The

right hand of fellowship was given by Rev. David

Phillips on October 15th.

“ It was unanimously voted by the church that our brother, Charles
Wheeler, be this day set apart by ordination to the work of the gospel
ministry and to the performing of the ordinances of the gospel. Ac-
cordingly, after Brother Wheeler had given a satisfactory account of his
views of the doctrine of the Scriptures, etc., he was ordained in the pres-
ence of this church and full assembly met, and received the imposition
of hands by Elders D. Philips, M. Luce, and W. Brownfield. This church
held its first communion at the Lord's Table on the Lord's day follow-
ing, viz., Oct. 16, 181-4.” .

The persons named below were the constituent
members, seven of whom belonged to the Ten-Mile

-Church, viz.: Rebecca Dye, Rachel Wilson, Enoch

Dye, J r., Mary Dye, Jane Dye, Rebecca Blaine, Mar-
garet Moore, Charles Wheeler, Charity A. Wheeler,
Rachel Colloway, and" Phillis Waller. A covenant
and constitution was drawn up, signed by the con-
stituent members, and is followed by the names of the
members of the church to the year 1830, numbering

. one hundred and twenty-three persons.

On the 29th of May, 1815, Hugh Wilson/Daniel
Moore, and David Shields were elected trustees for
one year, and requested to procure a lot of ground
whereon to build a house forpublic worship. Aug.
26, 1815, the church voted to request admission to the
Redstone Association. This request was granted by

‘- that body Sept. 2, 1815. At a church meeting May

11, 1816, Hugh Wilson reported: “That they had
procured a Lott of ground on VVheeling Street, No.
Seventy-Seven, which had been granted by John
Hoge, Esq., [June 20, 1805] to James Gilmore, Robert

, Anderson and Alexander Little, Esqs., as Trustees for

the purpose of Building Thereon a School-house and
place of public worship, Said James Gilmore and
Robert Anderson, Esqs., Conveyed said Lot of ground
to-Hugh Wilson, Daniel‘ Moore and David Shields
Trustees for the first BaptistiCh‘urch and their succes-
sors in office for ever, for the purpose aforesaid.”
Title to the lot was confirmed by act of Legislature
March 25, 1877. .

. A notice was published in the Reporter of Novem-
ber, 1817, calling upon the members of the Baptist
Church “to meet at the brick school-house to con-

sider about building a house of worship.” The brick
school-house mentioned was in the rear of the lot
they had purchased. The meeting was held Nov. 19,
1817, when a subscription’ paper was opened and a
committee appointed to solicit subscriptions. Their
efforts were successful, and a building committee was
appointed. ‘On the 11th of July, 1818, James Ruple
was added to the “ Building Committee to build the
Meeting—House.”
built is the one still occupied. A meeting of the
church was held Saturday, July 3, 1819_, and the fol-
lowing quotation from the minutes shows the time
when the church was first occupied: “ Agreed to hold
our communion to-morrow [it being a day appointed
by the Association for a similar meeting, being held at
that place], and to meet in our new Meeting-House
for the first time.” The first election of deacons took
place Dec. 9, 1820, when R. B. Chaplin and Daniel
Dye were elected. The Association met here with
this church in tlie summer of 1822. At a meeting of
the church on Saturday, Oct. 9, 1824, after an address
from their pastor, the Rev. Charles Wheeler, “ It was
resolved that Brother Wheeler be requested to furnish
the church with a copy of his address, and that it be
published and distributed to the churches of the Red-
stone Association. Resolved that this church does
not consider itself bound by the Philadelphia Con-
fession of Faith, nor any other human confession, but
by the Scriptures of the Old and New Testament, as
their only guide of faith and practice.” At a,meet-
ing Jan. 8, 1825, request was made by the Union
congregation, afterwards the Associate Reformed (now
the United Presbyterian), for the use of their church
one-half of the time till they could ‘build a church.
After due consideration it was thought not advisable
to ‘continue the evening service through the winter,
and they decided not to grant the request, but ex-
tended to them the privilege of its use for preaching
or communion when it was not occupied by them.
At this time, Sept. 11, 1825, a request was ‘made for
the services of Mr. Wheeler one Sabbath of the month
for the Ten-Mile Church. This request was granted,

and he ‘was to commence the first Sabbath of Novem-

ber. In January, 1826, the church discussed the
question whether it would be advisable to hold con-
nection’ longer with the Redstone Association. Rev._
Charles Wheeler, H. Wilson, Samuel Marshal, James

Ruple, and R. B. Chaplin were appointed messengers v
. to the Association in July of 1826. ' . ‘

The Association convened and refused to accept
letters fromall churches that did not mention the
Philadelphia Confession of Faith as embodying their
faith. This action brought about the rejection of
fourteen churches, leaving but twelve to form. the
Association. The Washington Church was one of
the fourteen, and non-fellowship was declared with
it. The rejected messengers met at a house near -by,
and resolved to.meet at Washington the Saturday
before the second Sunday in November,,and then to

The brick church edifice then

518

HISTORY OF WASHINGTON COUNTY, PEN N S YLVAN IA.

sit in council, and if agreeable to the majority form
a new Association. Also that Brethren Matthias
Luce, Charles Wheeler, and Ephraim Eslip be a
committee to meet at Peters Creek Church and draft
rules and regulations for the government of the new
Association. Delegates ‘from the following churches
met as agreed, Nov. 11, 1826: Peters.Creek, Maple
Creek, Somerset, Connellsville, Big Redstone, Pigeon
Creek, Ten-Mile, Bates’ Fork, Ruff’s Creek, Wheeling
Creek, Cross Creek, Harmon’s Creek, Brush Run, and
Washington. Matthias Luce was moderator.” The
.articles of the Association were read by one of the
committee and adopted. There were copies sent to
‘all churches. It was resolved that the Association
should meet at Washington in September of 1827.
Entire harmony prevailed, and May 12, 1827, the
articles of the Washington Baptist‘ Association were
read and adopted by, the church. '
The Rev. Charles Wheeler,.who was ordained Oct.
15, 1814, remained pastor of the church from that
time until 1839. For several years the church was

supplied with pastors whose calls were only temporary.
Davis, who occupied‘

 

There was a call to the Rev.
the pulpit for four months. In January, 1841, there
were given calls to the Revs. Bell and Collins. A
‘call to the Rev. Bell, to serve the church until
a settled pastor could be secured, was given April 3,
1841. A protracted meeting, at which it was decided
to form a Sunday-school, was held, conducted by the
Revs. Bell and Collins. The Rev. , ‘Collins was
educated at Hamilton College, New York. He re-

 

 

‘mained pastor until April 12th. During his pastorate

one hundred and four were added to the church._ The
Revs. Charles F. Johnson, Billings, and Anderson
each served a short time. The Rev. Charles T. John-
son served in the year 1842-43. B. W. Tisdale, who
became pastor Sept. 9, 1843,-held his position until
Feb. 13,1846, when he resigned, his resignation to
-take effect April 1, 1846. On the 20th of September,
1846, a call to the pastoral charge of this church was
extended to the Rev. Thomas Swain, of New Jersey.
He accepted the call, and assumed charge the first
Sabbath in October of that year. He was ordained

Nov. 10, 1846. At this ordination delegates were
present from the churches of Peters Creek, Grant-
Street Church of Pittsburgh, Hollidaysburg Church, ,

and Spruce Street Church, Philadelphia. The charge
"was given to the candidate by Rev. James Eslip. He
resigned his position Sept. 8, 1850. A call given to
the Rev. George Young, Oct. 28, 1850, was accepted,
and his position assumed Dec. 19, 1850; also a resig-
nation, Nov. 12, 1854.- The church was repaired in

April, 1856. It was also received i11to the Pittsburgh,

Association, June, 1858. Daniel Moore had purchased
a- lot of ground for a parsonage Jan. 12, 1850. It
was resolved to erect a parsonage as soon as the fund

_ could be raised. ‘ Thomas Swain, H. W. Wilson, and

James Ruple-were the committee‘ for that purpose.
The Rev. Malachi Taylor became a chosen pastor in

October, 1855’. He assumed his duties Dec. 1, 1.856,
and resigned July, 1857, his resignation to take effect
Sept. 1, 1857. A call to Rev. John Boyd was tendered
April, 1858, and in June he took charge. A resigna-
tion from him was received. Dec. 2, 1859. In 1865,
Rev._ Adams served for three months. R. Tal-

 

.ford was called Jan. 31, 1866. He accepted in Feb-

ruary, but resigned June 10, 1868. ‘The resignation

was not accepted until June 28th. J. A. Snodgrass C

supplied the pulpitfrom Oct. 29, 1871, until 1875.
July 25, 1875, a call was sent to the Rev. Malcolm C.

Blaine; It was accepted, and he took charge August I

8th. His resignation was made Sept. 15, 1878, to take
effect October 1st. A call to the Rev. J. C. Tuttle
was" given April 27, 1879; he accepted and assumed
the position July 1, 1879. His resignation was received
July 9, 1882, which leaves the church at present
without a pastor.

Following is an imperfect list of officers of -this
church, viz.: Trustees, Hugh Wilson, Daniel Moore,
and David Shields, May 29, 181.5; James Ruple,
March 9, 1.833; H. W. Wilson, Jan. 12, 1850; J. L.
Dye, May 29, 1861 ; J. L. Dye, April 1, 1865; James
Wilson, Henry Hull.

Clerks, Enoch Dye, March 1, 1815; Hugh VVilson,
May 29, 1815; James Ruple, May 10, 1828; Henry
Hull, Dec. 2, 1855 (still clerk).

Deacons, R. B. Chaplin and ‘Daniel -Dye, Dec. 9,
1820; Daniel Moore,’ July 9, 1829; Hugh Wilson
(mice R. B. _ Chaplin, -resi-gned), March’ 12. -1831;
Henry .Ritner (vice Wilson, deceased), May 9, 1836;
Daniel Dye, May“, 1842; James B. Riggs, Little,
November, 1851; —--— Jennings, V McDonough,
Aug. 22, 1860; Samuel Kelley, Jan. 11, 1868; 1
Bane, G. G. Holmes, Feb._17, 1872; W. L. McCleary,
Jan. 13, 1877. 9 _ _ ’ A

The church has at present fifty-nine members. The
present trustees are W. H. Wilson, John L.iDye, and
Henry Hull. /

 

 

For a more extended history of the early Baptist 6
Church in this county reference is made to the his-1

tory of the Ten-Mile Baptist Church in Amwell town-

ship, which contains the first minutes of Redstone

Association, constituted in 17 7 6.. 1 1
Trinity Church (Episcopal).—The first regular

Episcopalian services were held in Washington in the

year 1843, when the Rev. Enos Woodward, of Browns-

ville, notified the Episcopalians here that if a suita-~.

ble place could be obtained he would preach to them
occasionally. Through.Prof. Richard H. Lee, the
college chapel was procured and the services of the
church were held on the fourth Sunday of each
month. On the 12th of November in that year, by
the Rev. Mr. Woodward, assisted by the Rev. Mr.
Dyer, of Pittsburgh, the Lord’s Supper was admin-
istered for the first time in Washington, according to
the ritual of this church. I Services were also held by
the Rev. K. J .' Stewart, of Connellsville, in the court-
house and Cumberland Presbyterian Church. _ Under

WASHINGTON BOROUGH.

p 5-19

his advice the little congregation met at the house of
Prof. R. H. Lee, and, after consultation, appointed a

‘ committee to solicit subscriptions for the purpose of

erecting _a church. The committee were Mrs. F. A.

- Barlow, Prof. R. H. Lee, R. P. Lane, M.D., and James

R. Shannon. On the 22d of April, 1844, a meeting

-was held to“efi’ect a permanent organization. The

following-named persons were organized into a so-
ciety called “The Parish of Trinity Church :” Rich-
ard Henry Lee, Joseph Gray, Curtis P. Brown, Abi-

gail M. Brown, Mary C. -Brown, Daniel Brown, Seth
T. Hurd, William Howe, HughiM. Reynolds, R. P.

Lane, Anna E. Lee, Eliza H. Hill, Francis H. Lee,
Flora Lee, Eliza M. Crafts, Letitia Poole, James

Shannon, John B-ollen, Harriet Bollen, "R. Foster,

Samuel Potter, F. Anika Barlow, Rebecca Burton,
Harriet Burton, J. Bowman’ Sweitzer, James Mc-
Corkle, and Leslie Carrons.

After the organization the following gentlemen

were elected to constitute the Vestry: R. H. Lee, R.

P. Lane, Leslie Carrons, Joseph Gray, William
Howe, James R. Shannon, and Hugh M. Reynolds.

.The Rev. Enos Reynolds was elected rector, and ac-

cepted the oflice, which he held till May, 1845, when
he resigned. He was succeeded by the Rev. E. J.
Messenger, who remained until August of that year,

when he tendered his resignation to become a mis-

sionary to Africa. From this time to Dec. 1, 1850,

-the pulpit was filled by supplies, and Prof. R. H.

Lee as a lay reader. On the 1st of December, 1850,

the Rev._ Samuel Clements became the rector, and
remained until March 31, 1855, when he resigned.

Prof. R. H. Lee was elected lay reader. In January,
1856, the Rev. George Hall became the rector, and

served until December, 1856. In February, 1858,
. Prof. R. H. Lee was ordained a deacon by the Rt.

Rev. Bishop Potter, and i_n'October following was

ordained a priest, and took charge of Trinity Church

as its rector, and served till his death, Jan.  1865.

.He was succeeded by the Rev. James A. Brown,'Dec.
.22, 1865, who served till Dec. 23, 1867. Jacob B.

McKennan, who was appointed lay reader Jan. 1,

-1868, supplied the pulpit until Oct. 17, 1869, when

the Rev. J. K. Mendenhall became the rector, -and

was ordained N ov. 5, 1869. The Rev. Samuel Earp
was rector for a short time, and resigned in the fall
-of 1881 to devote his time to Trinity Hall School,

leaving the church at present without a rector.
After the organization of the church in 1844, ser-

-vices wereheld in the College Hall till August, 1845,

when they removed to the Lutheran Church. In

June, 1850, the society purchased lot 160 on the east

end of Beau Street, opposite the college buildings.

1 The church was built and opened for worship on the

15th of December, 1850. The entire cost of the lot
-and church edifice was $2725.15. The furniture of
the church was donated by the churches of Pitts-

burgh, Brownsville, and Philadelphia. In theyear

1862 the present Gothic church was erected, at a

‘Chestnut and Front (now Franklin) Street.

cost of ‘$3697 It was consecrated by Bishop Pot-

-ter Nov. 17 , 1863. Services were held in the court-

house during the time of its erection.

Methodist Episcopal Church.-—The date of the
organization of the Methodist Church in Washington
is unknown, beyond the fact that it was prior to 1801.

In that year its trustees——Thomas Lackey, Abraham '

Cazier, Abraham Johnson, Titus Rigby, and John

Cooper-—purchased lot 194 (sixty by two hundred

and forty feet) of John Hoge for ten dollars, on con-

dition that a house of worship should‘ be erected for" '

the use of the members of the Methodist Episcopal
Church. This lot was on the southwest corner of

society through.-some unexplained mistake erected a
log house (which is still standing), fronting on
Chestnut Street, on lot 193, which is on the south-
east corner of Chestnut and Franklin Streets. To
effect a change’ in the title, ' a petition was made
to the Legistature to give the trustees power to con-
vey the title.
5, 1811. On the 11th of January, 1812, a deed of
lot 194 was given to Mr. Hoge by the trustees, and
at the same time he conveyed to them the title to lot
193, on which their house was erected. The following,
in reference to the trustees and the circumstances, is
contained in the deed to Hoge: “ Having by mistake
erected and built their house for divine worship on
lot numbered 193, the property of the said John
Hoge, who has agreed to convey the same for the use
of the said members of the Methodist Episcopal
Church on receiving a conveyance for the within re-
cited lot-of ground. And as no legal authorized per-
sons existed for’ that purpose, the Legislature of

‘Pennsylvania, by a law duly enacted and passed the
‘5th day of January, 1811, did authorize and em-

power the within-named Trustees ‘to convey the title
and interest of the members of the said Methodist
Episcopal Church in the lot of ground to the said
John Hoge'in fee simple.” '

In the year 1809 the Rev. Bishops Asbury and Mc-
Kendreevisitred the western settlements, which were
even then the outposts of Methodism, and in the
course of their travels among the congregations of
their church reached this section of country in August
of that year. The following noticewas published in
the Washington Reporter, the issue of August 7th:

1 “ He that hath ears to hear, 9

_ Let him come and hear. , ‘
“ The Rev. William McKendree, Junior Bishop of the Methodist Epis-

copal Ch nrch, will preach in Washington on Thursday evening, the_ 17th; ,

also, the Rev. Francis Asbury, Senior Bishop of said church, will preach
in Washington on Wednesday, the 23d inst., at 11 o‘clock A.M. '
“ N. B. The camp-meeting will commence on Friday, the 11th inst., at
Pike Run, in Washington County.” - A
The log church was used by the society until 1836,
when the congregation had increased to such numbers
that greater accommodations were required, and it was
decided’ to build a larger and more commodious house
of worship. - In accordance ‘with this decision the

The_

An act was passed to this effect J an.)

520

HISTORY OF. WASHINGTON COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA.

trustees, as a building committee, erected a church )

building on the same lotfronting on Franklin Street.
The building was of brick, forty by fifty-five feet in
size, with a gallery. The building was used many
years as a house of worship, when a change was again
felt to be needed and a different location selected.
In November, 1847, a_ committee was appointed to
procure subscriptions and select an appropriate loca-
tion. In 1847, John R. Griflith obtained of Colin
M. Reed an article of agreement for lot No. 85, on
Belle«Street (now Wheeling), fifty by two hundred
and forty feet. Possession was to be given April 1,
1848. The deed was‘ not given to Mr. Griflith until
Aug. 21, 1852. Soon‘ after this, by some arrangement,
the lot No. 85 came into the possession of the church.
A building committee was appointed, consisting of the
Rev. Edward Birkett, John Harter, Samuel Hazlett,
Samuel ‘Mounts, Alexander Sweeney, and George
Lonkert. Proposals were received, and the church
now occupied by the -African Methodist Society was
built. It was dedicated Dec. 31, 1848, by Bishop
Hamlin. The church society had not then been in-

, corporated, and the trustees had no authority to con-

vey property. ‘ On the 18th of May, 1848, an act of
incorporation was procured, and Samuel Hazlett,
Alexander Sweeney, John Harter, John Shaffer, J o-
seph Reynolds, William Wiley, Abraham B. Wolf,
George Lonkert, and Samuel Mounts were mentioned
as trustees. Mr. Abraham B. Wolf alone survives.
The property on Chestnut and Franklin Streets, lot
193, had been sold to the Washington school district.
It was conveyed to them by deed June 26, 1850.
Beforehthe erection of the church Mrs. Sarah A.
Abbott conveyed to J. F. VVhite for the church lot

No. 84, on which to build a parsonage. In the sum- .

mer of 1849 the parsonage was erected. It was situ-

ated at the west of the church site. The deed was

from F. J. Le Moyne to the trustees of the Methodist
Episcopal Church, Jan; 18, 1853, of the lot on Belle
Street (now Wheeling), “ on which the parsonage of
the M. E. Church has been erected,” bounded . by
BellelStreet on’ the south, Methodist Episcopal Church
lot on the east, Cumberland Presbyterian Church lot
on the west. This parsonage lot was retained by them
until 1879., On the 1st of September of that year they
conveyed it to William Taylor, who still owns it. '

As early as 1834 the church bought a house and lot
at the west end of Beau Street, near the church now
occupied by theSecond Presbyterian Society. This
they used as a parsonage. When they decided to
build on Wheeling Street, they made an exchange
with John R. Griffith. He took the house and lot on
Beau Street, and they lot 85 (fifty by two hundred and
forty feet) on Belle Street, adjoining the lot this soci-
ety purchased later of Dr. F. J. Le Moyne for a par-
sonage lot. It was the lot owned and occupied byDr.
James I. Brownson. The deeds for these two pieces
of property were not exchanged until 1864; 1 They
bear the date of April 13th of that year.

The church erected on Wheeling Street was used
by the society until 1876. Oct. 1, 1875, the trustees
purchased lots 100, 101, and a part of lot 99,_fronting
on Beau Street and extending north on College Street
two hundred and fortyfeet. They sold the old church
and church lot, April 1, 1876, to the trustees of the
African Methodist Episcopal Church, who still own
and occupy it. The present church was erected in
1875-76, and dedicated in, June, 1876. The dedica-
tory sermon was preached by Bishop Foster. The
cost of the church was about forty thousand dollars.
A Su.nday—school was opened in 1828, and has been
continued to thepresent. It nowconsists‘ of .260
pupils and 31 teachers. William H. Underwood is the

superintendent. The church has a present member-

ship of 375. , .
The following is a list‘ of the pastors from 1801 to
the present time: Revs. William .Munroe, Archibald
McElroy, William Lambdin, John Monroe, Jacob
Dowell, Daniel Hitt,-Jacob Young, Thornton Flem-
ing, Daniel Hitt, James Reiley, William Brandiberry,
John White, Jacob Gruder, Amos Barnes, John West,
William Barnes, John Connolley, James Laws,
Joshua Monroe (the latter of whom ‘was a local
preacher), Thornton Fleming. 1819, Rev. George
Brown; 1820, Rev. John Bear; 1821, Rev. George’

Brown; 1822-23, Rev. Henry Furlong; 1824, Rev. G

Charles Cook; 1825, Rev. James G.Sansom; 1826-27,

Rev. Asa Shinn; 1828, Rev. Alfred Brunson; 1829,.
Rev. Daniel Limerick; 1830-31, Rev. John Water-

man; 1832, Rev. Daniel Limerick; 1833, Rev. James
G. Sansom ; 1834-35, Rev. VVesley Kenney; "1836-37,
Rev. Robert Boyd; 1838, Rev. James Mills; 1839-40,
Rev. George S. Holmes ; 1841, Rev. Samuel R. Breck-
amer; 1842-43, Rev. Charles Thorn; 1844-45, Rev.

Charles Cook; 1846, Rev. Thomas M. Hudson; 1847 ‘

-48, Rev. Edward Birkett; 1849-50, Rev. .Wesley‘

Kenney; 1851-52, Rev. Franklin Moore; 1853, Rev. '

James Henderson; 1854, Rev. Edward Birkett; 1855
-56, Rev. Charles A. Holmes; 1857, Rev. Albert G.
Williams; 1858-59, Rev. VVilliam Cox; 1860-61, Rev.
Hiram Sinsabaugh; 1862-63, Rev. Hiram Miller‘;
1864-65, Rev. James B. Bracken; 1866, Rev. H. C.
Beacom; 1867, Rev. W. B. Watkins; 1868-70, Rev.

. W. A. Davidson; 1871-73, Rev. H. C. Beacom ; 1874

-75, Rev. H. L. Chapman; 1876, Rev. R. L. Miller;
1877-79, Rev. H. C.'Beacom; 1880, Rev. Charles A.
Holmes; 1881-82, Rev. J. A’. Miller.

The Christian Church of Washington.-—Thie'

Christian Church at Washington is the natural out-

growth of the principles which were first declared in ,

this borough in the year 1809, and boldly and success-

fully advocated by the Campbells in all. this region

 

1 From 1819 the list is taken from the church record in possession of
the church and minutes of the Conference. The church in Washington
became an independent station in 1818, when it became a part of a new
district called Washington District of the Pittsburgh Conference. The

Rev. Asa Shinii was appointed the presiding elder, and the Rev. Thorn- .

ton Fleming the first minister on the charge.

WASHINGTON BOROUGH. ' 521

for several years thereafter. Unexpectedly to then1-
selves they became the leaders of a general reforma-
tory movement, of whose magnitude and far-reaching
results they at first had little conception’.

The announcement and advocacy of these steadfast
principles very naturally leavened to some extent the
Baptist Churches within the boundaries of the old
Redstone Association, with which these mighty men
of God were connected. The regular Baptist Church

_ in this borough, organized in 1814, contained some

members who were in warm sympathy with the views
of the Campbells. These persons, and perhaps others
who were subsequently added to the church, kept
along with the movement for a restoration of -the
primitive teaching and order of Worship and disci-

9 pline. '

A few firmly believed the apostolic sermons and
methods recorded in the New Testament should be
ourmodels in this century, and that the church of
Christ should wear‘ only scriptural names and con-
tinue steadfastly in the apostles’ doctrine, “and the
fellowship", and in breaking bread, and in prayers.”

. At a church meeting April 30, 1831, Rev. Charles
Wheeler presiding, Samuel Marshall gave notice of
his intention’ to withdraw from the church, briefly
assigned his reasons for so doing, and requested that
his name might be erased from the church-book with

. the approbation of the. church. R. B. Chaplin, Sr.,

who had been an active deacon, made the same
request for himself. After discussion the church
decided by vote to grant their request. I

On the Lord’s day, May 8th, a few brethren met

_ at the house of Samuel Marshall, and, after devo-

tional services, it was proposed and agreed that they
should meet at R. B. Chaplin’s house‘ on the follow-
ing Thursday evening for the purpose of taking into
consideration the propriety of forming a ‘church of
Jesus Christ. Accordingly, this meeting was held
May 12, 1831, and there were present R. B. Chaplin
and his wife, Henry Langly, Frederick Huffman,
Franklin Dunham, Samuel Marshall, Jane McDer-
mott, Hannah Acheson, and Hannah Marshall. The
purpose of the meeting previously announced was

fully considered, and it was unanimously agreed’ to

form themselves into a Church of Christ then and
there, taking the Holy Scriptures for their only rule
and faith and practice, and submitting themselves
thereunto. R. B. Chaplin, Sr., and Samuel Mar-
shall were appointed to preside at the meetings for
worship and to administerthe ordinances.

On May 15, 1831, as in the primitivechurch, ‘_‘ on
the first day of the week,” these “ disciples came to-
gether to break bread” at the house of R. B. Chaplin,
Sr., and so they began their public worship. Of the
original nine persons whose names appear on the
record only one survives, Jane McDermott,',now in
her eighty-seventh year. Beside her, Franklin Nichol
is the only survivor of those who surrounded the Lord’s
table on that memorable day over fifty years ago, at

the house of a humble disciple of Christ in this
classic town.

This little band, calling no man master, and con-
fessing no Lord but Jesus, the Christ, was as a “ hand-
ful of corn in the earth upon the top of the mountains;
the fruit thereof shall shake like Lebanon.” Their
number was-soon doubled and trebled. They con-
tinued to meet in Washington, and at a school-house

on Henry Vankirk’s farm, four miles south of the -

borough, for five years. f

In the autumn of 1836 a comfortable brick meeting-
house was completed in Williamsburg, on the Na-
tional road two miles east of town. The lot on which
it stood was purchased of Joshua Martin for the sum

of $25. He gave a deed for the same, hearing date

June 1, 1_839, to Hamilton Vankirk, Jonathan Mar-tin,
Samuel Nichol, James McDerrnott, and Henry Langly
and their successors, in trust for the Church of Disci-
ples, or Christians, at Williamsburg,‘ Washington Co.,
Pa. In this house meetings were commenced with
renewed interest and -zeal. In this building the

church enjoyed great prosperity, and held up the

lamp of life to bless the surrounding community for
more than thirty years. Such was the joyfulnessof
those meetings to many that they cannot enjoy a

. meeting in any other place.

In 1867 it was determined to change the location
and to meet in the borough, in the hope of reaching
the people more readily with the plea for restoration
of the old gospel. The building occupying the site
of the present house, on West Wheeling Street, was
rented of the Cumberland Presbyt-erians, and with J.
B. Crane as pastor, a series of soul-refreshing meet-
ings was held which resulted in many conversions.
Subsequently the house and lot were purchased for
the sum of $4560, and on Oct. 14, 1873, the board of
trustees of the Cumberland Presbyterian Synod made

a deed "Of the same to the Christian Church of VVil- '
Jiamsburg. In 1875 the house was thoroughly re-

paired, wellnigh rebuilt, at a cost of nearly $5000.
The following extract is taken with little change
from the “ Semi-Centennial Sermon, delivered on May
15, 1881, by Elder L. P. Streator,” to which the writer
is debtor for other facts, some of which are narrated
in his words:
“ In taking their stand upon the Bible alone, in the

year 1831, the brethren were influenced by the senti-' .

ment that they. must edify one another; that every
brother ought to say a word for Jesus; and that the
Scriptures furnished the man of God thoroughly, for
every good word. Hence they found no place for the
pastor, and would support only such men as would at
great sacrifice and little pay go forth and preach the
word. The names of brethren who have been elected
to the office of Overseers or elders, as faras has been
ascertained, are Samuel Marshall, R. B. Chaplin, Sr.,

Henry Langly, Robert Tener, Daniel Carter, Harnil- ’
ton Vankirk, Robert Milligan, L. P. Streator, Samuel’
Nichol, Jonathan Martin, John Hughes, Arthur Van- .

522

HISTORY 013‘ ‘WASHINGTON COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA.

kirk, J. C. Chambers, Franklin Nichol, R. B. Chaplin,
J r., T. A. Crenshaw, and David M'cClay.”-

The deacons’ names do not appear on the church
record until 1850, when we find a record of an elec-
tion choosing Joshua Martin, James Langly, Frank-
lin Nichol, and James Hamilton to the work of dea-
cons.

March 2, 1851, thirty-one years ‘ago last March,
Benjamin Prall and John McElroy_ were elected;
April 15, 1866, John Munce and Edward Vankirk
were elected. About the same time J. C. Hastings,
and subsequently R. G. McDonough and James
Kuntz, J r., were elected.

The present board of_ overseers includes John
Hughes, J . C. Chambers, Franklin Nichol, and David
McClay, Sr.‘ The deacons at this time are J . C. Has-
tings_, treasurer, John Munce, Robert G. McDonough,

and James Kuntz, Jr., clerk. » -

There have been five brethren of this church set
apart for the ministry of the word, viz., Robert Milli-
gan, Henry Langly, Hamilton Vankirk, and Richard
Williams, and after going to Illinois, Richard B.

' Chaplin. The'preachers employed at a stated price,

and for a given time, have been J . T. Smith, W. F.
Pool, James Darsie, “Chancey VVard, L. P. Streator,
Robert Milligan, Dr. Lucy, John Whitaker, J . B.

Piatt, T. J ; Melish, M. E. Lard, Philip Galley, T. V.

Berry, T. C. McKeever, J . B. Crane, F. D. Power, T.
A. Crenshaw,  B. Challener, W. T. Goodloe, L. S.
Brown, W. L. Hayden, and  W. Brown. v
Of those who h-ave held protracted ‘meetings,
Thomas Campbell, Alexander Campbell, Walter Scott,
John Lindsey, RobertGraham, Wesley Lamphear, O.
A. Burgess, W. T. Moore, Isaac Erret, J . F. Rowe,
M’. L. Streator, and A. E. Myers will be remembered
by many of the members. Manyothers have spoken
here the word of the Lord in occasional discourses, of
whom the names are recalled of Thomas Munnell, C.
L. Loos, Dr.~.W. A. Belding, Leroy R. Norton, J . R.

Frame, W. S. Earl, J . M. Streator, Campbell J obes, ‘

S, B. Teagarden, W. K. Pendleton, John L.» Darsie,
J. I. West, Joseph King, F. M. Green, J. H. Hendron,
and H. K. Pendleton. The largest membership at
any time has been three hundred. In removing from
the village to the ‘borough quite a number did not
follow the meetings on the Lord’s day- The present
number enrolled is abouttwo hundred and twenty.
The Sunday-school work began in this church with
the year 1844. The brothers Langly, Henry and
J ames,.especially Henry, were the active persons in
the movement. They had charge of the school for
five or six years, which at thattime consisted of forty‘
or fifty members. The highest number it ever reached
was one hundred and sixteen. Following these noble
men there have been called to the superintendency
Dr. Cole, R. B. Chaplin, Franklin Nichol, William

. McGary, John Campbell, John Keeny, George Crall,

J. B. Crane, Frank Langdon, Sr., Erasmus Wilson,
and Prof. W. C. Lyne. Franklin Nichol isthe present

superi-ntendent, and there are nine teachers and above I

ninety pupils. The school is regarded in a prosperous

condition. It has contributed regularly and liberally A

to foreign missions, and is said to hold the proud po-
sition of the banner-school, having given more accord-

ing to numbers than any other school in the whole‘

Disciple brotherhood.
Methodist Protestant Church.—~This denomina-

tion grew out of dissensions in the Methodist Episcopal .
Church. , All over the country new organizations ' _

sprang up under the name of Methodist Protestant.

It was about 1828 -when this division took place at the «

General’ Conference in session at Pittsburgh. The
Rev. Asa Shinn-was pastor of the Methodist Episcopal
Church at Washington at that time. He was here a
year‘ after, but was affected by the dissension, took
part in it, and became one of the leaders.

tion visited Washington, and found a few persons
ready to unite in the organization of a church. A
society was formed in the court—house, composed of

‘Charles E. Jones and wife, James L. Porter and wife,

S. B. Robinson and wife, VVilliam Harter and wife,
John Sands and wife, William Hutchinson and wife,
and David Schultz and wife. Of these original mem-
bers Charles E. Jones is the sole survivor.
eighty-three years of age and resides in Washington.
Services were held in the . court—house until the

spring of 1836. Lot 128 on Beau Street (now owned 5

by William Braden) was donated to the society by
William Hunter, and a considerable sum of money
was given to them by Charles Avery, of Pittsburgh,
towards, the erection -of a church edifice.
church, thirty-five by forty-five feet, with a base-

ment for class-room and Sunday-school purposes, was _

proposed. The deed for the lot was not executed

until after Mr. Hunter’s death. It was made to the V
trustees April 20, 1841, by his executor, Robert Oflicer. .

The trustees were at that time Charles E. Jones, John

R. Griflith, W. J . Hutchinson, William Bushfield, a11d ~

James L. Porter. The society was incorporated Jan.

5, 1850. The church edifice was destroyed by fire on” A
the 8th of November, 1851, at the time .of the destruc- ,-
tion by fire of Hayes’ carriage-factory. In this ca-

lamity Mr. Charles Avery, of Pittsburgh, again came

to their relief and donated to the society five thousand ‘
dollars. The lotiwas sold to George W. Brice, Nov. .
19, 1851. On the 1st of December in the same year, — __
lot 148 on the north side of Beau Street, nearly opp0- . J

site the former, was purchased of Thomas H. Baird
for seven hundred and twenty-five dollars, and a second
edifice was erected under the supervision of the trus-
tees. James T. Dagg, one of their number, was ap-
pointed as general superintendent. The present brick

building is the one then erected. It is forty-eight by A

sixty-eight feet, with" a floor divided into rooms for
class and Sabbath-school purposes, and an upper floor
for the audience-room. The church was completed in
October of .1852. It took its name of Avery Chapel

In the
summer of 1830 a missionary of_ the new denomina--

He is now '

A brick »

WASHINGTON BOROUGH.

from Charles Avery, who very ‘liberally assisted the
society at its organization and afterwards. By a reso-
lution of the board of trustees, June 27, 1852, a marble
slab bearing his name was placed in the front wall of
the church as a memorial. J

The society flourished for several years, then be-
gan to decline, and from 1869 was without a pastor.
In the year 1873 the church property was leased to
the Second, Presbyterian Church society for a term or
fifteen years, and from that time the members became
scattered to other denominations- A few, however,
remained, and in the winter of 1881-82 they were

visited by the Rev. James Robison, an agent of the .

Pittsburgh Conference. After consultation it was
decided to make an effort to revive the society, and

to have preaching regularly, the pulpit to be supplied

from Pittsburgh. The first services were held in the
court-house Jan. 8, 1882. Dr. Scott, of the Metho-
dist Recorder, preached in the morning, and the Rev.
James Robison in the evening. Services are still held
in the court-house, and the Rev. James Robison
continues to minister to them. A society of fifty
members was organized March 12, 1882. The Rev.
Mr. Robison will supply the pulpit until the meet-
ing of Conference, when a pastor will be regularly
appointed. The following trustees were chosen at
the organization: A. J. Ford, James P. Sayer, Andrew

_ McDaniel, R. R. Forest,.and Frederick Marshall.

Following is a list of pastors serving this church from
its organization to 1870: 1833-34, Rev. William Rus-
sell; 1835, Rev. Enos Woodward; 1836‘, Rev. John
Burns; 1837, Rev. James» Woodruff; 1838, Rev.

.James Porter; 1839, Rev. G. Hughes; 1840, Rev.

Nelson Burgess; 1842, Rev. J. B. Roberts; 1843,
Rev. John Cowell; 1844, Rev. James Robison; 1845,
Rev. Samuel Clawson; 1847, Rev. J. C. Hazlett;

A 1848, Rev. G. B. ~McElroy ; 1850, Rev. F. A.‘ Davis;

1852, .Rev.,V. Lucas; "1853, Rev. Noble Gillespie;
1854, Rev. S. J. Dorsey; 1855; Rev. John Scott;
1857, Rev. W. H. Phipps; 1859, Rev. J. D. Herr;
1860, Rev. William M. Smith; 1862, Rev. W. Wal-
lace; 1863, Rev. Henry Palmer; 1865, Rev. D. I."
K. Rine; 1867, Rev. J. D. Herr; 1868, Rev. 
Grifiith; 1869, Rev. A. S. Woods.

German Lutheran Church.—It is not known at
what time this church organization was effected, but
on the 5th of May, 1812, “Jacob Weirich, Lewis
Hewitt, David Sedicker,’ and Christian Hornish,
Trustees and Managers of the’ German Lutheran
and Presbyterian Church of the Borough of Wash-
ington,” purchased lots’264 and 265 of the town plat
from Peter Snyder for fifty dollars. The trustees in
September of that year contracted with James
Chambers, a carpenter, to build the church for one
hundred and seventy dollars, the trustees furnishing
the material. It was not completed until 1816, and
in that year another subscription was takenup to
“finish the church.” - In 1818 the trustees.built a
small log house (which is still standing) on the

northwest corner of the ground for a school-house,

‘which was occupied for that purpose until 1831,

when they rented it to Jacob Kuffenburger in consid-
eration of his taking charge of the church building.
The lots were subject to a ground-"rent of two dollars
when purchased, which was continued until about

1870. Repairs were made upon the church from.

time to time, notably in 1843 and in 1868, the latter
year at a cost of about nine hundred dollars.

The name of Monesmith is given as that of the first
preacher.  subscription paper in the -hands of Fred-

erick Barthel shows that the Rev. D. Henry Weygandt J
was employed as their pastor in 1818. He remained-
.with them until about 1829. The Rev. John Brown

became their.pastor on the 21st of February, 1829.
He was succeeded by the Rev. Abraham Winters»,of
the United Brethren, and Rev. Charles.Swissler, of
the Reformed German.

(Jan. 1, 1858), —— Weygandt, Abraham Weills, P.

Sweigert (1867), L. H. Grubel, George C. Fredericks '

(1871), and J. W. Myers (March, 1881). The last
two are the present pastors, the former preaching in
German, the latter in English. The church has a
membership of about thirty. The lots in the rear,
for a year or two after the purchase, -were rented, and
later they were used by the congregation as a burial-
place, and are now used for that purpose. The facts

above given are from papers in the hands of Mr.
Frederick Barthel, one of the present trustees of the

church.

Cumberland Presbyterian Church.—-The history
of the Cumberland Presbyterian Church, found in the

general history, will show the origin of that denomi- ,

nation in the county. It is there shown that the Revs.
Alexander Chapman, Robert Donnell, Reuben Bur-
row, John Morgan, and Alfred M. Bryan were mis-
sionaries who visited the congregations in this county.
The Revs. John Morgan and Alfred M. Bryan arrived
in Washington, Pa., July 4, 1831, where Mr. Morgan
preached several times in the Methodist Episcopal
Church. On the 21st of July of that year the Revs.
Alexander Chapman, John Morgan, and A. M. Bryan

were in Washington. Services were held at different , J

placesin thetown of Washington, and the pulpit was
often supplied by one or. two of the missionaries. A On

the 29th of September, 1831,. the Revs. Robert Don-~

nell, Reuben Burrow, and Alfred M. Bryan met in

court-house at VVashington with the following ‘per-

sons, who were then organized into a society called

“ The Cumberland Presbyterian Church of VVashing- 1
ton :” Abel M. S. Gordon, William Fleming, Charles ‘

Andrew, J. Huper, Elizabeth Wiley, Mary and Ann
Jordan, and Martha and Amelia Mahoffey. 6'

Meetings were held at times in the court-house, A
Methodist Episcopal and Baptist Churches, and there i

were large additions made to the church. On the
24th of February; 1832, A. M. S. Gordon, Peter

523 1

In 1841 the Rev. H. B. Mil-«
ler appears as their pastor. He was succeeded by
Abraham Weills, C. G. Fredericks, John Hardlei

and Andrew Bell were added to the number.

524

HISTORY OF WASHINGTON COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA.

Wolfe, and Moses Little were elected ruling elders,‘
and December 25th of the same year John Hewitt
On
the 25th of May, 1832, the ministers ‘of the denomi-
nations in the county and vicinity met in Washing-
ton and constituted the Washington Presbytery of
the Cumberland Presbyterian Church. The society
purchased lot 83 on Belle Street (now Wheeling), and

‘ proceeded to erect a house of worship, which was dedi-

cated on the 14th of June, 1835, by the Rev. Alfred
M. Bryan. The edifice was erected mainly through
the untiring efforts of Samuel McFarland, who, by
his own subscriptions and those of a few others, car-
ried it forward to completion. The board of trustees

from the first were Samuel McFarland, Alexander

Ramsay, John iVVilson, and William Smith; March
24, 1832, VVilliam Smith, Matthew Griflin, Joseph
Martin, and Ezekiel Thorp; March 24, 1846, Hugh
Munnel, John Guthrie, James McEl_ree, and H. B.
McCollum. The elders since those mentioned above
were James McDowell, Sept. 21, 1835; James Guth-
rie, Ezekiel Thorp, and William Smith, March, 1838;
Odell Squier, March, 1844 ;. William Smith,-September,
1851. The ministers who were called to the pastorate
of this church have been the Revs. S. M. Aston, J.
Shook, J. Eddy‘, Milton Bird, A. T. Ruse, W. E. Post,
S. E. Hudson, S. Murdock, Philip Axtel, Robert Mar-
tin, J. C. Thompson, A. S. Robe‘r,tson, Frederick Wall,
John R. Brown, Weaver, and John Edmiston.
These pastors served until about 1865, when from

various causes the church declined, and being with-

out a pastor, the members began to unite with other
churches. In 1867 the church edificewas rented to
the trustees of the Christian Church, and on the 14th
of October, 1873, the trustees of the Cumberland So-
ciety conveyed the property to them.

African Methodist Episcopal Church-—This so-
ciety was formed about the year 1818, with the fol-
lowing members: Benjamin ‘Dorsey, George Bolden,
John Clonby, Caleb Eddy, Hosk Lives, Margaret
Cramer, Hannah Smith, Terry Robinson, Maria Con-
ner, Betsy Philips, and Chloe Warfield. A lot was

afterwards purchased in the east end of the town,

between Chestnut and Walnut Streets, and a church
edifice erected, which was used by the society until
1876; and on the 1st of April in that year the trustees
purchased the church building formerly used by the
Methodist Church, in which they still worship. The

Rev. Mr. Ross is the present minister in charge.

The old building is used as a school-house for colored
children. . p S -

Wright’s Cha.pe1.—The society who worship in
this chapel was formed about 1843, under the Right‘
Rev. Bishop J. J. Clinton and the Rev. Abram Cole.
The chapel is situated near the old church of the
African Methodist Society.

The Branch Bank of Philadelphia.—-The original
Bank of Philadelphia was chartered on the 5th of
March, 1805. By a supplement to the act of incor-

_ poration, passed on the 3d of March, 1809, the bank

was allowed to establish eight branch banks through-

out the State, by and with the consent and desire of ’

the people in the place where they intended to locate.

Upon an expressed desire on the part of the people of

the borough of Washington and vicinity, they were
authorized by the Bank of Philadelphia to choose
directors, to be known_ as Directors of the Ofliee of
Discount and Deposit. The follow.ing persons were
chosen: Parker Campbell, president; David Shields,
Thomas Acheson, Robert Hazlett, Hugh Wilson,
Alexander Reed, Daniel Moore, David Cook, Alex-
ander‘ Murdoch, Joseph Pentecost, John Hoge, James
Allison, Thomas Patterson, William Hogg, James
Stevenson, and Robert A Rowland. The directors
elected John Neal cashier. * _
' A lot was purchased on_ the cornerof Main Street
and Strawberry Alley, and the banking-oflice was
opened in _,a house then standing‘ upon it. On the
31st of July, 1809, the cashier advertised that “the
bank has commenced its operations.” The bank con-
tinued business at this place until 1825. On the 1st
of August in that year John Neal, “late cashier,”
advertised, dated “ Philadelphia Bank, Office of Dis-
count and Deposit, Washington, P.a.,” that the oflice
has finally closed, and its concerns removed to the
parent bank at Philadelphia, Daniel Moore, Esq., and
the Rev. Thomas Hoge were authorized to act for the
bank in the settlement of its affairs. In this advertise-
ment he also advertised the banking-house for sale.
On the 7th of March, 1818, a law was passed by the
Legislature of the State to change the branch bank

of Philadelphia at Washington into an original insti- -

tution, part of which act is as follows :

3“ WHEREAS, Parker Campbell and Daniel Moore, for themselves, and
on behalf of Thomas Patterson, Thomas H. Baird, David Shields, Thomas
McGifli‘n, Thomas Hoge, and Alexander Murdoch, all of the County of
Washington, State of Pennsylvania, have entered into‘ an agreement
with the Philadelphia Bank for the sale and transfer by said bank of "the
debts and real property due and claimed at their ofiice of Discount and
Deposit at Washington, Pennsylvania, to the persons hereinafter named,
and such other persons as may associate or join with them for a bank at
Washington. And, whereas, it is represented to the Legislature that by
changing the said oflice or branch into an original bank, with a suitable
capital, so as not to increase the present banking capital, or the number
of banking institutions heretofore allowed in the State, more general
accommodation to the citizens of that county» and the adjacent counties
would be afforded, and that individual ruin and distress, as well as gen-
eral embarrassment, in that part of the State would be avoided, without
any prejudice whatsoever to the interests of the State ‘at large. Therefore,
Be it enacted, . . . That in the room and stead of the Branch Bank in’
Washington, Pennsylvania, a bank shall be established in said place

with a capital of not less than one hundred and fifty thousand dollars, «

nor more than two hundred and twenty-six thousand dollars, on the
conditions hereinafter specified. That so. soon as Thomas Patterson,
Thomas H. Baird, David Shields, Thomas McG1ffin, Daniel Moore,
Thomas Hoge, Alexander'Murdoch, Parker Campbell, and such other
personsas may become shareholders, . . .8 and they and their successors
and assigns are hereby created and declared to be one body politic and cor-
porate, by the name, style, and title of ‘The Franklin Bank of Wash-
ington, Pennsylvania,’ and by the same name shall so continue until the
first day of May, A.D. one thousand eight hundred and twenty-five, and
no longer. . . .”

The act contains seven sections and twenty articles.
Section five provides that the commissioners shall

 WASHINGTON BOROUGH.

open books for subscriptions “three days successively, .

commencing on the first Monday in May next.” Ar-
ticle second named the directors, as follows: Thomas
Patterson, David Shields, Thomas McGriflin, Thomas
Hoge, Alexander Murdoch, Daniel Moore, and Parker
Campbell, who were to hold their office until the third
Monday in November, 1818. On the 6th day of April,
1818, the commissioners advertised the books open
for subscription" to commence May 4th, and to be held
open three davs. No notice is made in the papers of
the day, or in any record that has been found, of any
further action taken by the stockholders or directors
of the Franklin Bank, and from the fact that the
Branch Bank of Philadelphia remained in business
under the same style and title as at first, until finally

‘S ‘closed in 1825 (as is shown by the statement of the

cashier), it is inferred that the Franklin Bank did
not comply with the requirements of the law of March
7, 1818, changing the Branch Bank‘ at Washington to
the Franklin Bank, and the change was not made.
The Bank of Washington. ——The meeting for
taking into consideration the expediency of estab-
lishing_‘‘ an ‘Original Bank” in the borough of Wash-
ington was held at the house of Richard Donaldson,
in December, 1813. J . Lyle was called to the chair,
and John Purviance was chosen secretary. The fol-
lowing resolutions were submitted and adopted :

“L 1st. Resolved, That it is important and expedient to the interests of

the people of Washington County that an Original Bank be established

in this Borough. 2d. Resolved, That we associate for the purpose, and

that a committee be appointed to draft the articles of association to be

reported forthwith for our approbation and signatures."

_ In pursuance whereof, T. Baird, R. Hamilton, and
J . Purviance were nominated, who reported the fol-
lowing, which were unanimously adopted.

This is followed by seventeen articles of association.

A company was formed under the name of the
“Bank of Washington ;”- the capital stock consisted
of ten thousand shares of'$5O each. Fifteen direc-
tors were to be chosen, who were to be the managers,
and the bank was authorized to commence business
when fifteen per cent. of the capital stock was paid in.
The directors appointed for the firstyear were Thomas
Baird (president), Robert Hamilton, John Lyle, Da-
vid Morris, Hugh Hagerty, Isaac Mayes, George Mor-
gan, Eleazer Jenkins, William Vance, Dr. S. Mur-
doch, Hugh Workman, George Baird, John Watson,
Daniel Leet, and John Purviance. The action of the
company was presented to the grand jury at the
December term then in session, who earnestly recom-
mended it to the Legislature, and prayed that a char-
ter of incorporation be granted. ,'The board of direc-
tors of the Bank of Washington met at the house of
David Morris, on Friday, Feb. 25, 1814, and it was re-
solved to open books of _subscription on the 21st of
March in that year at twenty-eight places which were
designated, and commissioners were appointed to re-
ceive subscriptions: This action, however, was Apost-

poned, as it was ascertained that a general banking
34  

l

law was under consideration in the State'Legislature.
On the 21st of March following the meeting of the
board of directors a general law was passed by the
Legislature of Pennsylvania, dividing the State into
twenty—seven_ districts, “in which ‘banks may be
established,” and “the county of Washington shall
be a district, and may establish one bank to be called
the Bank of Washington.” Under this law the Bank

of Washington was organized, and thirteen directors 8

elected. The following-named commissioners were
appointed by the act to receive subscriptions in the
Washington district: Thomas Baird, Alexander Mur-
doch, David Craig, Isaac Mayes, Robert Bowland, J r.,
John Watson, Eleazer Jenkins, John Clemens, and
James Gordon. The amount of stock allowed for this
county was ten thousand shares at $50 per share.

“ At a meeting of the Board of Directors of the Bank of Washington,
held at the house of David Morris, in the borough of Washington, on
the 16th of August, 1814, Resolved, That a president be chosen. The board
accordingly proceeded to ballot, and upon counting the votes Thomas
Baird was declared duly elected, after which the following resolutions
were moved and adopted : y A

“ Resolved, That a house be rented. Resolved, That the foregoing reso-
lution be reconsidered; and further Resolved, That it is expedient to
purchase Hugh Wi1son’s house for the sum of six thousand dollars, with
the privilege proposed. Resolved, That Alexander Murdoch, Thomas
Baird, and David Morris be a committee to make the -above purchase.
Resolved, That James Orr, David Morris, and Robert Hamilton be a,co'm-
mittee to build the vault and make the necessary repairs for opening the
bank as soon as possible.

‘ “Resolved, That the candidates for the oflice of cashier shall come "for-
ward with security of thirty thousand dollars, and that one be elected
at the next meeting. Resolved, That A. Murdoch, Thomas Baird, and
George Morgan be a committee to draft a code of by-laws for the gov-
ernment of the board. Resolved, That the board adjourn to meet on the
20th inst. at ten o’clock. ' A V 
August 20th.—-The board met agreeable to adjournment. Mr. Baird,
from the committee appointed to purchase the house of Hugh Wilson,
report that they did not think proper to accede to the propositions of
Hugh Wilson and therefore did not purchasef Resolved, That Thomas
Baird, A. Murdoch, and David Morris be a committee to treat with the
county commisioners for suflicient ground near the public building to
build a banking-house.’ Resolved, That Thomas Baird, A. Murdoch, and
D. Morris be a committee to rent Mr. Hazlett’s house. . . . The board

proceeded to ballot for a cashier, and upon counting the votes John Bar-«

rington was declared duly elected. A note was received from Thomas
Baird, Esq., resigning his seat as president of the bank; whereupon,
Resolved, That a president be elected vive voce. Upon taking the vote
Thomas Baird had ten -votes and was declared duly elected. G. Baird
and G. Morgan were appointed a committee to wait on John Barrington
to know if he accepted the appointment. They reported that he did. .. . .

Resolved, That J . Barrington, D. Morris, and James Orr be a committee ‘

to make a vault and make the necessary arrangements for opening the
bank.”1

The committee appointed to visit the county com-
missioners reported that the public square was to be
used for public purposes only, and its diversion to
other uses would cause it to revert to the original
owners, and the project was abandoned. On the 17th
of May, in 1815, the bank purchased of John Wilson
a lot, twenty-five by two hundred and forty feet, front-
ing on Market Street, for two thousand five hundred

~_.

1 John Barrington, of Philadclphia,.ofl°ered as a candidate for cashier,
and presented Daniel Moore, Robert Hazlett, Thomas Acheson, and John
Hughes as sureties. At the same time Samuel Cunningham, of Wash-
ington, ofiered as a candidate for cashier, and presented.Joseph Pente-
cost, Alexander Reed, David Morris, and Parker Campbell as sureties.

525 ,

IN CURSION S AND RAVAGES DURING THE FRENCH OCCUPATION.

was in a sickly condition. The Governor therefore
ordered him lodging and the attendance of a Doctor.”

The account which came to Philadelphia of disaf-
fection among the Indians towards the French, and
an apparent inclination to make peace with the Eng-
lish, caused the Governor and Council to declare on
the _10th of September a suspension of hostilities
against the Delawares and Shawanese, and in Jan-
uary, l.757, this was extended for a further period
of fifty days. Finally, on the 4th of August, at a
treaty council held at Easton, Pa., with Teedyus-
c-ung, the king of the Eastern Delawares, a peace was
concluded, and messengers were at once sent by the
king to proclaim it to the Delawares at the head of
the Ohio. “ Menatochyand and N etowatquelemond,

two of the Principal Men of the Ohio Indians,” re-

ceived the news favorably ; they acknowledged that
they had been deluded by the French, and they re-

turned this message to Teedyuscung: “ We have
- heardjof the good work of peace you have made with

our brethren the English, and that you intend to hold
it fast. We will not lift up our hatchet to break that
good work you have been transacting.” King Shingiss,

‘however, did not return any such assurances, but re-

mained hostile, and held a large body of the Delawares
with him. The Shawanese also continued hostile, and
acted with the French, though considerably disaf-

_fe.cted towards them.
Meanwhile the Governor of (Virginia had formed an ‘

alliance with the Cherokee Indians of the South, by
which the services of a large number of their war-
riors were secured to act against the French and their
savage allies. These Cherokees were sent out in par-
ties under white officers to scout in the vicinity of the
French fort and bring intelligence of the movements
there. The first of these. parties (being also the first
force sent by the English to the vicinity of Fort Du
Quesne after Braddock’s defeat) left Fort Cumberland
in the latter part of May, 1757, and returned on the 8th
of June. What they did during. their expedition is
told in a letter written on the 15th of June by Col.

. George Washington to Col. Stanwix, at Fort Loudon,

as follows :

-“ I have the pleasure to inform you that a scouting
Party consisting of 5 Soldiers and 15 Cherokee Indi-
ans that were sent out the 20”‘ ult°. towards the Ohio
under Lie-ut. Baker,1 returned on the 8”‘ Instant to

 

1 An account of another small reconnoitring party that was sent to-
ward Fort Du Quesne a short time afterwards is found in Sparks (ii. 283),
in one of Washington’s letters, dated May, 1758, as follows: “ An Indian
named Ucahula was sent from Fort London with a party of six soldiers
and thirty Indians, under command of Lieut. Gist. After great fatigues
and suffering, occasioned by the snows on the Allegheny Mountains,
they reached the Monongahela River (at the mouth of the Redstone),
where Lieut. Gist, by a fall from a precipice, was rendered unable to

‘ proceed, and the party separated. Ucahula, with two other Indians, de-

scended the Monongahela=in_.a bark canoe till they came near Fort Du
Quesne. Here they left their canoe, and concealed themselves on the
margin of the river till they had an opportunity of attacking two
Frenchmen, whom they killed and scalped. These scalps were brought
to Fort London by Ucahula.”

59

Fort Cumberland with 5 Scalps, and a French Oflicer

' Prisoner, having killed two other Oflicers of the said

Party. Mr. Baker met with this Party, viz., Ten
French, Three Officers, on the Head of Turtle Creek,
2 Miles from Fort Duquesne (the day after they had
parted with 50 Shawanese Indians returning from the
War), And would have killed and made Prisoners of

them all had it not been for the Death of the Indian

chief, who being killed prevented his Men from pur-
suing them. One" other Indian was wounded and
brought in upon a Bier near 100 Miles by the Party,
who had nothing to live upon for the four last Days
but wild Onions. . .. . Capt. Spottswood with 10 S01-
diers and 20 Indians, who went out at the same Time
with but to a different Place from Lt. Baker, is not
yet come in, nor any News of him, which ' makes me
Uneasy.” ,

On June 14th another Cherokee party brought to
Fort Cumberland the alarming news that a large
French force was marching towards that fort from
the Ohio.” In a letter written at Winchester, Va.,
June 16th, by Capt. William Trent to William Cox,3
the writer said,—-— , V

“ By an Express arrived here last Night from Capt.
Dagworthy, at Fort Cumberland, we learn that Six

Cherokees were arrived there, who report that they ‘

lay about Fort Duquesne some Days, where they saw
a large Body of French and Indians and a great
Number of Carriages and Horses; That they were
obliged to go a Distance from there in order to hunt,
as they were afraid to shoot nigh the Fort, and could
getnothing to kill with their Bows and Arrows, After
they had got some Provisions they returned to the
Fort, where they stayed till they see them set off,
and dogged them till they crossed the Monongahela
at the Place where Gen. Braddock was defeated;
then they sent off these Cherokees with the N ews-,
and the rest of the Party followed them in order to
send Intelligence from Time to Time of their Mo-
tions. The Virginians in these Parts have not above
230 Soldiers. Col. Washington is sending off to raise
the Militia. There is about 80 Indians in these Parts.
A Party of Cherokees" fell in with Ten ffrench Men,
killed and took Six, Fourof which were Commissioned
Officers; One Oificer, the only Prisoner they saved,
is expected in Town to-night; The Swallow Warrior-
was killed and his Son wounded, which was the rea-

M2 

 

,2 A letter from Governor Sharpe, of Maryland, to Governor Denny, of‘

Pennsylvania, dated the 14th of July (1757), stated “that one Street,
who was taken at Fort Granville by the French, and carried to a. Place
near Fort. Duquesne, and was afterwards in the Fort, and had made his-.
Escape from thence with a Negro Man, was examined on Oath, and on
Examination declared that about a month before the Garrison in that:
Place consisted of between three and four hundred French and a few
Indians; they were afterwards reinforced with two hundred French:
from the Mississippi in twelve Boats; that Seven Hundred more were ex-
pected from a. Fort on the Lake, with a Train of Artillery, and that an
Expedition wasintended against these Provinces, to be conducted by the
Officers from the Mississippi.”—--Minutes of the Provincial Council, 'O'olom'al”
Records, vol. vii. p. 716. .
3 Col. Rec., vii. 601.

A -“ WASHINGTON, July 31, 1819.”

526

HISTORY OF- WASHINGTON COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA.

dollars, “for the purpose of erecting thereon a suit- .
. able banking-house.”

On the 31st of July following
the cashier, J. Barrington, advertised for proposals for
brick, stone, scantling, and other material. The build-
ing was erected on the site occupied by the present
bank building of Samuel Hazlett.

In the general law of March, 1814, Section 10 pro-
vided that immediately after declaration of dividends
on the first Monday of November in every year the
bank “shall transmiteight per cent. on the whole
amount of dividend which shall have been_declared
on said day and during the prec'edi_'ng year to the State
Treasurerfor the use of the“Oommonwealth.” In case

this section was not complied with, the charter “ shall ‘

become null and void.” This bank continued till No-
vember, 1818, when it" failed to comply with this re-
quirement and forfeited its charter, as did many others
in the State from the same cause. « The bank forwarded
to the bank department proof that the neglect was by
‘reason of an accident, and the charter was restored by
act of Legislature, Feb. 2, 1819, and business was re-
sumed; but troubles followed, and in the Reporter of
July 31, 1819, was published the following advertise-
ment :

5 “In consequence of contemplated arrangements with the Philadelphia

Bank having failed, the stockholders of the Bank of Washington, Pa.,
are requested to meet at the banking—house on. Monday, the 20th of Sept.
next, to consider the propriety oflclosing the concerns of the institution
as speedily as circumstances will permit. _
' “ By order of the board”of directors,
“ J. BARRINGTON, Cashier.

To this action a protestwas made, signed by twenty-
six stockholders, asking a delay of the meeting fifty
days. At a meeting of the stockholders, August 7th,
a call was issued for a meeting September 8th (by
powers given them in the law of 1814, regulating
banks). 1 '

The meeting was held the 8th, as called by the
stockholders. ‘On the 1st of November the same year
(1819) the stockholders again held a meeting, and,
after other business, appointed’ the following persons
as a board of managers for the year: James Cum-
mins,‘Samuel Murdoch, Thomas McCall, John Hoge,
and David Shields. The managers called a meeting,
to be held on the 2d of December, to finally wind up
and cl0se_the concerns of the institution. To this
proceeding the directors objected, and called a meet-
ing for an election of directors December 23d. At
the meeting held by the managers, John Neal, of the
Philadelphia Bank, was appointed their agent to close
up the concerns of the bank. Later, the managers
called a meeting of stockholders to be held on the
16th of February, 1820, at which time seventy-nine
stockholders met at the banking—house either in per-
son or by proxy. Craig Ritchie was chosen chairman ;
Thomas McCall and William Sample secretaries.
Resolutions were passed sustaining the managers. On
the 7th of March, 1821, an act of the Legislature was
passed confirming the action of the stockholders in

the appointment of five managers, and iratifyinig the
action of the managers. The preamble of the act
states that no dividend had been declarednor any

election of oflicers held since the third Monday or '

November, 1818, and the charter of the bank has
thereby become null and void, except as to the power
and privilege of enforcing prior contracts, and closing
its concerns as provided by the act. Later, the prop-
erty of the bank was conveyed by Thomas H. Baird
to David Acheson, Alexander Murdoch, and John
Marshall, trustees, who on the 4th of March, 1822,
advertised the property for sale at public vendue, at
the court-house in the borough of Washington, on the
25th of March following. A portion of the property
of the bank_was one brick house and lot on the south-
west corner of ‘Market and Maiden Streets; a frame’
house and lot on the southeast corner of the same
street, and other lots, all in the borough of Washing-

, ton, and fourteen hundred and fifty acres of land in

the counties of Washington, Beaver, and Greene. On
the 13th of October, 1823, John Neal, as agent, called
the stockholders to attenda meeting at the office of
Philadelphia Bank on Monday, November 17th, to
elect five managers to direct the affairs of the Wash-
ington Bank the ensuing year. It is ascertained by
the newspape‘rs_that.the stockholders met year after

year and elected managers until 1834. Soon after the .

close of the Philadelphia Bank in 1825, and the re-

. turn of Mr. Neal to Philadelphia, Joseph Henderson,

of Washington, was appointed agent of the managers
of the Washington Bank, andso continued till the
final closing of its affairs, in the spring of 1834.

First National Bank of Washington:-On the

9th of March, 1836, the Legislature of Pennsylvania
passed an act which provided and declared: “ That
Alexander Reed, Daniel Moore, William Hunter,
Robert Oflicer, Thomas McGiflin, Dr. Francis J . Le
Moyne, Henry _ Langley, John K. Wilson, Thomas
McCall, David Eckert, Jacob Slagle, William Brown-
lee, George Wilson, Dr. Samuel Murdoch, Walter
Craig, Samuel McFarland, James Stevens, Thomas
Morgan, John Cook, Enoch VVright, VVilliam Smith,

Joseph Henderson, Alexander Sweeny, Samuel Mount,-
Calvin M. Reed, Aaron Fenton, James Ruple, George

Black, John Morgan, John "Watson, John S. Brady,
and Thomas  T. McKennan be and they are hereby
appointed commissioners, who‘, or a majority of whom,
are authorized to carry into effect as soon as they may
deem it expedient after the passage of this act the_
establishment of a bank, t.o be called and known by
the name of the Franklin Bank of Washington,
agreeably to acts passed March 21, 1814, March 25,
1824, and April 1, 1835, relative to banks.” The
bank was authorized to have a capital stock of three
hundred thousand dollars, and to be managed by
thirteen directors, the charter of the bank to con-

‘tinue in force until Nov. 2, 1850. _
The commissioners advertised a meeting to be held

Sept. 15, 1836, for an election of oflicers, which was

  , WASHINGTON BOROUGH.
_.________________________________

held, and the followingnamed directors were elected:

‘Alexander Reed (president), Daniel Moore, Daniel

Huston, David Eckert, William Hunter, Samuel Mur-
doch, Nathan Pusey, William Brownlee, Thomas
McCall, Robert VVylie, George Wilson, John S.
Brady, and Aaron Fenton. John Marshel was after-
wards’ appointed cashier. 4
At this meeting Daniel Moore, William Hunter,
and John S. Brady were appointed “ to make inquiry
with regard to a suitable house to be occupied by the
bank.” On the 7th of October, 1836, Mr. Brady re-
ported a three years’ lease of the property owned by
Richard N. Harding, now owned by Mrs. Maria’
Watson, and, occupied by Morgan &' Hargreaves’
store. On the 7th of October, 1836, it was ordered
that the sum of thirty thousand dollars of the ‘Frank-
lin Bank of Washington notes be filled up, signed,
and registered; that two-thirds of the amount be in
five-dollar notes and one-third in ten-dollar notes.
On the 20th of October, 1836, it was “ Resolved, that
the bank commence discounting on this day two
weeks.” In accordance with the resolution business
opened and bills were discounted on the 3d of No-
vember, 1836. The statement of the condition of the
bank at this time, November 3d, was as follows: cap-

ital stock paid in, $39,095; deposits, $8412; notes in

circulation, $1535. ,
On the 20th of April, 1837, Samuel Cunningham
was elected clerk, and retained the position till his

' death. The statement made by the bank Nov. 1,

1837, is as follows: capital stock paid in, $100,000;
deposited, $53,000; notes in circulation, $27,000; due
from other banks, $7462. -

' During the year 1837 the bankfipassed through the
trying period of general suspension without difliculty.
On the 3d of January, 1839, a contract was entered

' into with J ..and H.’ Langley for the present property

of the bank for three thousand dollars, and after the
necessary changes were made the bank was transferred
to the new office, where it remained until May 10,

1882, when it was removed across the street to the‘
office previously occupied by Samuel Hazlett’s bank-.

ing-office, where it will remain until the new bank
building now being erected on the site of the old
oflice is completed.

"Alexander Reeduremained president. of the bank
until his death in September, 1842. Daniel Huston

‘- was elected president on the 22d of September in the

same year, and resigned the 14th of December, 1843.
Thomas M. T. McKennan was elected president on
the 22d of the same month, and served until his death
in July, 1852. Colin M. Reed was elected president
on the 29th of July, 1852, and is still in that office.
On the 5th of March, 1857, John Marshel, tendered
his resignation as cashier on account of the infirmities

"of age, which was accepted, and the following entered

upon the books : . - .
S “ March 12, 1857.
“After a service of more than twenty years as cashier of the Frank-
lin Bank since its organization, John Marshel, Esq., has tendered his

527

resignation of that oflice on account of impaired health and increasing
infirmities. During this period the bank has sustained no losses compared
with the operation of cotemporary institutions, all its liabilities have in
every emergency been punctually redeemed according to their tenor, it
has secured and retained the confidence of the public, and it has yielded
a fair remuneration to its stockholders. In the accomplishment of such-
results the cashier has had no secondary agency. Services thus faithful‘.
demand and deserve an appropriate acknowledgment,” which was»
made in a series of resolutions adopted by the board.

On the 19th of March, 1857 , Samuel Cunningham;
was elected cashier of the bank in place of John
Marshel, resigned, but by reason of his advancing age
and delicate health he declined, and on the 26th of
the same month James Mcllvaine, the "present

cashier, was appointed. The latter part of this year '

was the famous “panic of ’57,” but on -the 28th of
September the Franklin Bank, by their directors,
unanimously resolved “ That this bank will not sus-
pend the payment in specie of all its liabilities.”
Two days later the condition of the bank was\made
known in the following statement: Capital stock,
$150,000; circulation, $184,695; deposits, $67,049;
due to other banks, dividends, etc., $32,525. The
amount of available funds September 28th was
$68,896. The ‘drain on the bank was not great, as
the resolution restored confidence, but the.amount

ran down slowly, reaching thelowest point in Jan- -

uary, 1858, when it was $45,000.

At a meeting of stockholders held Sept. 24, 1864,
it was decided to reorganize under the National Bank-
ing Law. On the 14th of October the cashier notified
the board that two-thirds of the capital stock had
signed the articles of association of the First National
Bank of Washington, Pa. ’The organization was
effected October 27th. The national bank went into
operation with a capital stock of $150,000, in four
thousand shares of $37.50 each, and with nine direc-
tors instead of thirteen as in the old bank. Officers:
Colin M. Reed, president; James McI1vaine, cashier;
Samuel Cunningham, teller. In the spring of 1865
Mr. Cunningham, being then nearly seventy-seven
years of age, resigned his position as teller, and was
succeeded in that office by A. S. Ritchie on the 1st of

May in that year. Mr. Cunningham died May 17,_

1875, in his eighty-seventh year. _

The circulating notes of the First National Bank
bear date Dec. 2, 1864. The amount of notes of the old
Franklin Bank yet outstanding is $2940. The condi-
tion of the bank as shown by the statement made
Feb. 14, 1882, was as follows‘: capital stock, $150,-

000; national notes, $75,000; outstanding, $126,200; '

individual deposits, $387,864; total resources, includ-
ing other items, $7 50,640.96. ,
The‘subject of a new bank building was brought
before the stockholders in the spring of 1882. After
considerable delay and discussion it was decided to
build. On the 11th of May the contract was awarded
to Nelson Van Kirk, of Washington, for the erection
and completion of the building, with the exception
of the iron-work of the vault, for the sum of $15,000,

I

528

HISTORY on wAsHINefroN COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA.

the building to be completed Nov. 15,1882.‘ The 3

building is to be twenty-eight feet three inches

on Main Street, extending ‘back sixty-two feet six-

inches, three stories in height, withvaults in the
first and second stories." .The lower floor is to be en-
tirely devoted to’ banking purposes. The second

floor will contain two suites of rooms, fitted up for.
The third floor will contain a‘

attorneys’ offices.
large hall. The work of demolition of the old build-
ing commenced on th'e\15th of May,‘ the bank having
been removed to the ofiice previously occup-iediby
Samuel Hazlett’s bank. in ' . V

This bank hasby. good management and economy

been enabled to declare a semi-an-nual dividend of '

six per cent. for-many years. ~ The last public sale of
its stock was made at thirty per cent. premium. - The
present oflicers of the bank are: Directors,‘ C. 
Reed (president), Alexander; Murdoch, Thomas

. McKean, Lewis Barker, William Davis, S. M. Tem-
pleton, D. C. Houston, John McClay,' John Vance; J

Cashier, James Mc‘Ilvaine'.
Samuel Hazlettis .Bank.1——This bank was estab-

lished on the 1st of April, 11837, by Samuel Hazlett, .
The oflice. was-

the father of the gpresent’ owner.
opened in his residence, on the site of..the present
brick dwelling known’ as:th'e,H.azlett mansion, which
was built in 1851," and the oficeof the bank trans-

‘ ferred to it. The business’ was -conducted by Samuel
Hazlett, Sr., til1fh~i's‘ death‘.in§November, 1863. After '

the settlement of the ies.tate,l'”Samuel Hazlett, J r., re-
opened the bank.,Jan..1r,1866,»and continued the busi-
ness in the same place u'ntil.the_erection of his pres-

ent bank building"on':'the,-west side "of Main Street.

nearly opposite the old oflice. Possession was taken
and business coimmenced‘ in the new banking-house
on the 29th of March, 1882:.’ . ‘ V
Banking-House’ of. Hopkins, Wright & ; C0.-In
the fall of 1870,] William H0:pki11S;. Joshua Wright,
and James H. Hopkins (formed a. part_nership under

the above name, for the purposeof carrying on a.
banking business. An office was first'open.ed in Lon-'

kert’s building, :where,‘the office of the..Wafshing_ton
Savings-Bank n.0Wiis,7and in ._~th“‘e spring of 1876 re-
moved to their .present ,q11_a.rters. The firm are (now
closing business," and.’-intend to retire, ‘ . _ 

The Washing'tonlS'aVing.seBank w,as,organized* in
1873, with a capital stock‘ of $100,000 i"11»2000-shares

of $50 each. This lamount—-was» soon_.after raised. to ..
3000 shares. On-this stock twenty per cent. waslpaid,;
and the company commencedbusiness. -'James:W(., *
Kuntz was elected. president,-Samuel Ruth c’ashier.f
The office last occupied ison the site of the old John .

Dodd tavern. The present board of directors are
S. Bryson, Lewis1Barker, Workman Hughes, J olisni V.
Hanna, G. W. Moninger, J r., D. S. Reynolds, Nelson
Vankirk, and John~.V.IT2acock._ The .;bank was.suc-
cessful for a number of years, when they became
financially embarrassed, and on the 4thiof May, 1882,
ex-United States Marshal John Hall .was appointed

‘after associate with them, .

receiver by the court, and its affairs are nowbeing

brought_ to a close. , ‘ ,

Washington County Fire Insurance Company.
-”——This company was incorporated by act of Assem-
bly approved April 1,1837..» The corporators were

Daniel Moore, Alexander Reed,‘ William Hunter,

Robert ‘Officer, "Samuel Murdoch, John K. Wilson,

"Samuel" Hazlett, James Stevens, William Smith, John

Dagg, Thomas M. T. McKennan, Thomas McGifiin,
Jacob Slagle, “ and all other persons who may here-
. . for the purpose of in-
suring their respective dwelling-houses, stores, shops,
and other buildings,‘ household furniture,-merchan-
disc, and other vpropert-y. against loss or damage by
fire.” The company {was not organized and perfected
until uly 5, 1847, when Colin‘ M..Reed‘ was chosen

president, and John K.iW.ilson’secretary. The first ,
upolic-y wasissued on theblst -of January, 1848, to
James‘ F.‘Brown, and was placed on the brick house
‘opposite the court-house (now known as the Boyle

building). .The'p_reisidents from the first have been

(Colin M; Reed,.July 5, 1847; Samuel Hazlett, Sept.

92, 1848*; Colin M. Reed, Sept. 10,1859; William Hop-

kins, Nov. 26, 1859; Alexander Acheson, Sept. 12,
(1863; Alexander Murdoch, April 8,1864 ; William J.
lMatthews,iApril 23, 1869; Alexander Murdoch, Dec.
‘28, 1874 (still in oflice). . '

The secretaries from the first have been John K.

- Wilson, July 5, 1847»; ‘John Grayson, Sept. 1, 1850;

John Grayson, J r.,.Sept. 9, 1854; David Aiken, Sept.
7, 1863 ; s. M. Marsh, April 14,1870 (still in oflice).
The losses from April, 1870, to (December, 1873,

were about$9000; from Dec. 28, 1873, to Jan. 1, 1882,
[$4337 .82. There were 305 policies written in 1881; V
‘1060 policies outstanding Jan. 1, 1882. The expenses
of - conducting ’.business and losses, 1881, thirty-four.

per cent. of premiums. The ‘company have $25,000
accumulations since 1874. Its‘ oflice hasbeen in the

Young Building. By, an act’ of Assembly passed
§March 27, (1852,.the'~charter.'W83S‘ extended twenty

years.w‘ After thistime the charter expired by limita-

Vtion,,andl a new one was.ob,taine'd Dec. 28, 1873, under
the general act: of April 2, 1856, bythe name of the _
. “ Washington. Fire Insurance Company.” The fol-

lowing were the" corporators: W.  Matthews, John

to. Hastings‘, w.w. Warrick, v. Harding, Lewis .
‘Barker, James"D. Ruple,7.’J"ohn McElroy, T. J.
_"Hodgins,7"John D.— Chambers, ‘William Siran, Samuel
.,Hazlett, Alexa_nder.Murdoch, and L. M. Marsh.

The business has ilbeenconducted under the same

‘management and'plan,as'before.. The present oflicers

are : ‘President, Arlexandert.-Murdoch‘ ; Vice-President,
Samuel -Hazleftt; :S_ecretary,.-_~L.i'M."=Marsh ; Directors,
Alexander M‘urdoIel1,:Samn‘el ‘Hazlett, John C. Has-
tings, John Hall,,_f.(-James’ B.“‘Ruple, John McElroy,
Vachel‘Harding,  Warrick, Lewis Barker, L.
M. Marsh’, W. W.‘Smith, J.  Lockhart ; Agent, W.
R.’ Wonsettler. J J

Assessment A Mutual Life Association.-—Under    

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A Noble, and Frederick Whittlesey, directors.

1 WASHINGTON BOROUGH.

529

the provisions of a supplement to an act to establish
an insurance department, approved March 1, 1876,
the Assessment Mutual Life Association, located at
Washington, Pa._, was incorporated on the 7th of
February, 1880. The following oflicers were elected :
Samuel Hazlett, president; W. R. McConnell, vice-
president; J. W. Woods, secretary; T. C. Noble,
treasurer; Frederick Whittlesey, M.D., medical di-
rector; Adam Harbison, J. W. McDowell, Samuel
Hazlett, W. R. McConnell, J. W. Woods, T. C.
This
action was certified to the insurance department at
Harrisburg, and approved by J. W. Forster, insurance
commissioner, and by Henry W. Palmer, attorney-gen-
eral, Feb. 9, 1880, and by Henry M. Hoyt, Governor,
and J. R. McAfee, Secretary of State, on the 14th of
February the same year. A_n oflice was opened in
Smith’s Iron Front. The first policy was issued Feb.
20, 1880, to Samuel Hazlett. The oflice remained in

the same place until July 6, 1881, when rooms were

fitted up in Bryson Block, Wheeling Street. After a
successful business of two years the company was

suddenly brought to a close by a decision of the Su-

preme Court which led the commissioners of the in-
surance department to call upon all assessment com-
panies to show cause why they should not - cease
business. The notice was issued on the 11th of April;
1882. Two hundred and thirteen companies were in-
cludedin the list. This dompany, having complied
with the law in every respect and been accepted by
the proper authorities, were working in good faith.
Their ‘first loss occurred March, 8, 1881, in the death

-of Mrs. Elizabeth Legler, of Finleyville. Since that
‘ time four others have occurred; after the two first the

company were in condition to ‘pay losses in full, on
which but two assessments had been made. The
number of policies that had been-writtenwas eleven
hundred and twenty-one. A meeting of the com-,
pany was held, and after‘ due consideration and in
view of the uncertainty of legal decisions it was de-
cided to discontinue business on the 1st of May, 1882.
On the 11th of May following, T. C. Noble was ap-
pointed receiver by the court of Washington County,
and the affairs of the company are now being closed.

Schoo1s.——It is not known that a school was taught

in Washington prior to the establishment of the acad- ,

emy in 1787. In the summer of that year the leading

-men of the county united in petitioning the Legisla-

ture of the State for a charter for an academy to be
located at thecounty-seat, and known as the Wash-
ington Academy. The petition was granted, and the
institution was incorporated on the 24th of Septem-
ber, 1787 . The trustees named in the act were the
Rev. John McMillan, Rev. Joseph Smith, Rev. Thad-
deus Dodd, Rev. John Clark, Rev.'Matthew Hender-
son, Rev. John Corbley, Judge James Allison, J ohn‘
McDowell, Col. James Marshel, and Thomas Scott.
A room was engagedin the upper story of the log
court-house that then stood on the public square

fronting on Cherry Alley. The school was opened
in 1789 with twenty students under the charge of

the Rev. Thaddeus Dodd, who was the first principal. '

He remained with the school until the winter of 1790,
and was succeeded by David Johnson, who continued
until the spring of 1791, when he resigned, and soon
after became the principal of the Canonsburg Acad-
emy. The log court-house was destroyed by fire in
the winter of 1790-91, and for a few months the
school was taught in another room. Mordecai Hoge,
who died in 1870, was born in Washington, Jan. 22,
1784. In conversation with Prof. John Messenger,
many years ago, he said that when about six years

‘old he attended the school in Washington. It was

held in a hewed log cabin with low windows and

corresponding writing-desks, and benches made of

long slabs. The court-house and jail at that time
were on the first floor and under the same roof. The
room in the second story was used for the academy, it
being the origin of Washington College.

' It has been found a diflicult task to obtain infor-
mation concerning the early schools in Washington,
and much of thefollowing has been gleaned from the
newspapers. The earliest mention is an advertise-
ment in the Western Telegmp/ze of Sept. 8, 1795, as
follows :

“Nicholas Charles Visinier, a Frenchman, educated in Paris, has for
some time past taught the French language in the town of Washington ;
from the encouragement received he is led to solicit from the generous
citizens of the said townand country a continuation of their patronage
in support of his future exertions. . . . He waits on Ladies and Gentle-
men at their own houses at stated hours; subscriptions will be received

at his house in Washington, near the Academy, at the low price of $4.00
per Quarter.”

9

He remained in the town two years after this time
and sold his house and lot to R. Curry.

On the 29th of November, 1796, William Porter
advertised to open an evening school at the school-
house on Wheeling Street. The school-house here
mentioned was the Old Red School-house, then stand-
ing on the spot where the south wing of the old col-
lege building now stands; later it was moved to the
lot "now occupied by the ‘First Presbyterian Church.
On this lot the house stood many yearsl(being still
well remembered by the old citizens), until the sale
of the lot to the Presbyterian Society, when it was
torn down. William Porter, without doubt, taught
the day school then also. He was the only school-
teacher whose name appears on the assessment roll of
1798. On the 3d of January, 1797, the following ad-
vertisement was published in the Telegrap/Le .-

“For the benefit of the Academy.——On Tuesday
Jan’y 10 will be performed at the Academy in the
Town of Washington a Comedy called ‘Trick upon
Trick or the Vintner in the Suds.’ To begin at 6
o’clock. Admittance one quarter of a dollar.”

On the 28th of December, 1799, M. C. Staes adver-

tised in the Herald of Liberty that “ a subscription is‘

this day opened at the office of the flemld for a French
school to be kept in this town on the following terms,

. Obadiah Jennings were trus-tees.

530» ‘

HISTORY , OF WASHINGTON COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA.

viz.: each subscriber to pay $6.00 per quarter. The
school will commence as soon as there are twelve sub-
scribers. . . . P. S.——I am at present teaching at Wil-
liamsport [Monongahela City].’’ It has not been as-
certained whether the requisite numberof subscribers
were obtained, or ‘whether the school was opened.
Miss Good was teaching school in the town in No-
vember, 1800. On the 16th of November she adver-
tised that she intended to leave the town the following
spring. She, however, returned not long afterwards
and opened a “ Ladies’ school,” and advertised, Feb.
3, 1809, that she “intends opening a school on the
first of April next for the tuition of young ladies in
the following branches, viz.: Tambouring and Em-""'
broidery, Open Work, Pai'nting, and Drawing, to-
gether with Plain Sewing and Reading.” '

' On the 20th of June, 1805, John Hoge sold to
Alexander Little, James Gilmore, and Robert Ander-
son lot No. 77, on Belle Street (n_ow Wheeling), to be
“made use of for aschool-house, and for no other pur-
pose, 'unless it be for building a house or place of
public worship.” On the rear of this lot a brick
school-house was erected. In the year 1807, Michael
Law and William O’Hara were assessed as teachers,

' and probably taught in this house and the Red School-

house. The school-house and lot were sold to the
trustees of the Baptist Church, and the title was later
confirmed by the Legislature. A school, called the
Washington Classical Academy, was soon after opened
by the Rev. Charles Wheeler, pastor of the Baptist
Church. On the 26th of October, 1818, he, in an ad-
vertisement, returns his grateful acknowledgments
to the patrons of the_seminary, and further states that
he -intends to employ an assistant teacher. On the 3d
of December, 1821, he advertised that he “ has opened
a seminary for the tuition of young ladies,” with
Miss Gr. Cairns as assistant.

David Johnson, who was an assistant teacher with
the Rev. Thaddeus Dodd in the academy, and was the
principal in 1790-91, returned from Canonsburg in
1812 and opened a school in Washington. The cost
of tuition was three pounds twelve shillings and five
pence per pupil. An account is found that contains
a list of subscribers from Jan. 1, 18l3,'to April 1, viz. :
Parker Campbell, Alexander Murdoch, Hugh Work-
man, Matthew Ocheltree, Mrs. Cunningham, Mrs.
Huston, Gen.Thomas Acheson, Joseph Huston, John
Hughes, John Hoge, Mrs. Mary Waugh, Thomas H.
Baird, Dr. David Mitchell, David Morris, James

Workman,- Samuel‘ Hughes, Capt. King, J. Neal, D. ’

Cook, Alexander Reed, J‘, Shaffer, John Wilson, Oba-
diah Jennings, D. White, Mrs. Dunlap, A. Kerr, Wil-
liam McCammant, Mrs. Price. Alexander Reed and
The aggregate in-
come as paid by the trustees was $453.10.

About 1811, Mrs. Baker opened a young ladies’
seminary in the house owned by ,Hugh Wilson, on
Main Street near. Maiden, and formerly occupied by

_ Dr. John Julius Le Moyneas a drug-store. A semi-

annual exhibition yvas held on the 12th of November,
1812. An appropriate address was made by Miss
Scott, of «Gettysburg, to which reply was made by
Miss Collins, of Pittsburgh. 1 Premiums were received
by.Miss Collins, of Pittsburgh; Miss Clark, of Clarks-
ville; Miss Buchanan, of Canonsburg; and Miss Mc-
Kennan, of Washington, of the first class; and by
Miss Campbell, Miss Cooke, and Miss Neal, of Wash-
ington, of the second class. The exercises closed with
a dance. The school continued in the same place till
the spring of 1815. On the 14th of April, 1814, Mrs.
Baker advertised that she would reopen theschool
May 7th, and that arrangements had been made “ for
boarding all foreign pupils.” On the 24th of April,
1815, she informed the public that the May term
would commence in “ a new and elegant house on
Maiden Street, capable of accommodating forty young
lady boarders.” The school continued several years
afterwards. ‘

The following advertisement of Robert Fee’s school
appeared in the Reporter of June 17, 1816 :

“ TUITION.

“ Robert Fee respectfully informs the citizens of the borough of Wash-
ington that he purposes continuing his school, and will on the 8th of
July next remove to the house of Mr. J. Greer, on Main Street, occupied
by Mr. Brentlinger. The following are the terms of his article:

“ We, the subscribers, do hereby agree '

And bind ourselves to pay to Robert Fee,

Or to his heirs, his order, or assigns
(Unchangeably and firmly by these lines),

The sum ‘of nine-fourths of a dollar each

For ev’ry scholar which he’s bound to teach ;

If they attend, or if they stay away

That sum we still "do bind ourselves to pay ;
And the said Fee doth bind bimself to teach,
(As far as his abilities will reach),

For three months’ term, to read and write, and through
The common rules of arithmetic too;

And by these presents he himself doth bind
Accommodations and aroom to find.

If, on subscribing, payments made in hand,
Two dollars only will be the demand.

Those who don’t subscribe must pay per scholar,
For all they send, an extra quarter-dollar,

And non-subscribers, who may send one day,
For the Whole quarter will be made to pay.

“ VVASHINGTON, June 17, 1816.”

The Robert Fee here mentioned afterwards edited
the Western Magazine in VVashington, and later re-
moved to Brownsville, and edited a newspaper there.

In the Reporter, Nov. 10, 1817, the following notice
was published:

I “ LADIES’ SEMINARY. ,
“An Academy for Young Ladies will be opened in the public build-

ings, lately erected near the court-house, under the superintendence of

the Rev. Matthew Brown and Mr. James Williamson, to commence on
the 10th of November next. In this academy will be taught Grammar,

9 Composition, Belles-Lettres, Geography, and other branches of a liberal

education that may be required. The terms of tuition, eight dollars per
quarter. Young ladies can be accommodated with boarding in reputable
families on reasonable terms.

“ WASHINGTON, Nov. 3, 1817.”

This school was in the second story of the market-
house, which had been erected the previous year on

a one of the pupils in that year.

i this borough.”
_ the public July 24, 1824, that she “will open a school

- a night-school.

WASHINGTON BOROUGH.

531

the corner of Main and ‘Beau Streets, where the
sheriff ’s house now stands.

In the’ Reporter of Oct. 18, 1819, a card‘ was in-
serted by a “lady and gentleman” to the effect that
they intended to commence a. school. Satisfactory
testimonials given. Application to be left at D. H.
Blaine’s tavern. ,

A "‘Franklin” school was in operation in 1821,
with a board of superintendence, of whom Mrs.
Katharine Duane Morgan was one. Examinations
were held and premiums awarded. The house in
which this school was kept was situated on East
Chestnut Street. ‘ Mrs. Whitehouse was the principal.
It was considered an admirable school, and continued
several years. . _

Samuel Marshalltaughta school in 1822 in the
Pine Alley school-house. Alexander Murdoch_was
Andrew Gwinn ad-
vertised to open a school on the first Monday of July,
1822, in room No. 2 above the market-house‘. John

_ Kerr advertised May 5, 1823, that he had commenced

an “ English School” on Main Street, nearly opposite

to the oflice of the Reporter, at the south end of Main J

Street.

Obadiah Jennings advertised a school for young
ladies to open May 1, 1824. This school was taught
in a room above the Marshel house. The next year
he advertised that he hadengaged Samuel‘Marshall
as assistant. Term to commence Oct. 3, 1825. Samuel

A ‘ Marshall advertised April 8,1826, that he had “ opened

an English school in the Pine Alley school-house in
Mrs. Harriet Lafoucherie informed

in Washington at $1.50 per quarter.” In this year
Philip Potter was teaching an English school in the
second story of the market-house, under the manage-
ment of trustees, two of whom were John Gregg and
John Shaffer. Public examinations were held. Potter
taught in the market-house at various times and as
late as 1832. George K. Scott also opened a school

' here about 1824, moved to a building opposite Wheel-

ing Street, and in November, 1826, was teaching in
the Old Red School-house near the college. Stephen

_Woods also taught a school in one of the rooms

over the market-house about 1827. Mrs. Spencer
opened a school for young ladies over'Judge Baird’s
office (in the market-house) Nov. 5, 1825. G. R.
Lilliebridge advertised Dec. 24, 1825, a reading-school
in twenty-four lectures. Applicants to apply to David
Morris at the Globe Hotel. School to commence on
the 1st of J anuary.,, 1826. James Ruggles advertised
Jan. 20, 1827, a school to commence the 22d “in the
house lately occupied by Cyrus Huston ;” also to open
Mrs. Ruggles, at the same time and
in the same place, was to‘ open a female school.
Samuel Witherow, still living and himself an old
school-teacher, says he attended school first about
1814 in the old stone Masonic building (still standing)
in the rear of the old Grayson residence on Main

Street. This school was-taught by William O’Hara.
Hs attended next a school taught by John Irwin in
the log school—house (still standing) on the lot owned
by the German Lutheran»So.ciety. It then stood in
the rear of the church. About 1823 he attended
school in the brick school—house on the Baptist Church

, « lot, then kept by Stephen Woods. In 1828he attended

at the Old Red School-house. Charles De Hass was
the tea.cher. He then lived in the old college build-
ing. William O’Hara was a teacher in this building
long prior to this time.

On the 23d day of December, 1830, a large meeting
of citizens of the town and county of Washington
met at the court-house for the purpose of taking into
consideration the subject of general education, and
particularly common-school education, and to adopt
suitable measures for calling the attention of the
Legislature of the State to the subject. Alexander
Reed was called to the chair. James Gordon was
chosen vice-president, and Ephraim L. Blaine and
William Baird were "H appointed secretaries. The ob-
ject of the meeting having been stated a committee
was appointed, consisting of Thomas Officer, Esq.,
Rev. Thomas Hoge, Hon. Thomas H. Baird, Aaron
Kerr, Esq., and the Rev. David Elliott, to draft a pe-
tition to the Legislature expressive of their views
and wishes on the subject. The committee reported
a petition,which was read and adopted. The Hon.
Thomas H. Baird, Rev. David Elliott, Rev. Thomas
Hoge, Rev. John Waterman, and John L. Gow, Esq.,
were then appointed a committee to prepare ‘and re-
port a plan suggesting some mode by which a general
system of education might be carried into effect, and
to report the next evening. This committee reported
and presented a plan which at that time was in prac-
tice in some of the Eastern States. Alexander Reed,

'Willliam Baird, Thomas McGifl:in, Joseph Hender-

son, Thomas M. T. McKennan, Esq., and William
Hunter were appointed to prepare copies of the peti-
tion and obtain signatures to be forwarded to the
Legislature. At this time the subject of a general
school law was in consideration by the Legislature,

'but nothing was accomplished until four years later.

On the 24th of April, 1832, George K. Scott,'Philip
Potter, Warner Long, and Alexander G. Marshman,
teachers in the borough of Washington, published a
letter in the papers of the day endeavoring to regulate
the school system. They agreed not to receive any
pupil for less time than one quarter after April 1st,
and other rules and regulations were adopted. The

letter had the effect to awaken . the citizens to the

matter, and several meetings were held, at -one of
which John L. Gow, Alexander Reed, Rev. D.~—\El-

liot, Samuel Marshall, and William K. McDonald,

were appointed “for the purpose of devising some
measure in reference to the better regulation of the
Common Schoolslof the Borough.” The committee
reported, recommending co-operation by the citizens
with the teachers of the common schools “in their

532

HISTORY OF WASHINGTON COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA.

efforts to dispense with the instruction of pupils by
the day,” and the appointment of a school committee
“to supervise the common schools, to assist and en-
courage the teachers in a faithful and impartial dis-
charge of their duties,’ to visit the schools from time
to time, making such suggestions as they may think
proper to the teachers, and to make an annual public
report of the state of the schools.” The report was
adopted, and the measures recommended carried out
with some success.

In addition to the teachers mentioned in 1832, M-iss
J ane» Potter was teaching a young ladies’ school. On
the 10th of March in that year she “ returns grateful
acknowledgment for past support,” and further states
that she “will open theschool the first Wednesday i11
Aprilnext, in a room now occupied by William Baird
as an office.” ‘ , ‘

In the latter part of 1832 the Washington Female
Institute was established, under the superintendence
of William Orr. The following gentlemen were
named as references:’Rev. D. Elliot, Rev. Thomas
Hoge, Alexander Reed, J. Marshall, J. K. Wilson,
Thomas McGiffin, John H. Ewing, Esq., Drs. Wish-
art and Le:Moyne, and the Hon. Thomas M. T. Mc-
Kennan. , . .

Samuel Wetherow commenced teaching school in
1833 in the building first below where Mrs. Doak at
present resides, and where the office of the Reporler
then was located. On the 5th of July, 1836, Henry
Williams opened a school for boys in the room over
the market-house. He gave as one of his reasons for
opening the school at that time “ as the district schools
are about closing for the year.” ‘On the same day
Daniel Baldwin, Jr., opened a common “English
School” in a building on Chestnut Street, near the
Methodist Episcopal Church. )

After the public school law of 1834 went into ope-
ration, the borough of Washington became regularly
organized into a. district. In 1835 the number of in-
habitants in the town liable to taxation for school

purposes was 389. The tax raised was $320.53. In_

1836 the county tax raised in the town was $626.43.
There was received from the State $122.94. In 1837-,
$630.90 was received. The directors elected for the
year 1835 were Dr. John Wishart and James Ruple.
John L. Grow was appointed secretary of the board.
On the 31st of October, 1835, the directors made the
following‘ report to the ‘Secretary of the Common-
wealth : S I

“ SIR,—In the fulfillment of, ou.r duty as School Directors of the Bor- ,

ough of Washington, we proceed to report to you the state and condition

‘ of the Public Schools under our care since the beginning of July last,

at which time our schools went into operation. A census was taken of
the number of pupils attending all the Schools in the Borough some
years since, and again immediately preceding the opening of the schools
under the present system. In both instances the number fell something
short of 200. We have now in operation three public schools, viz.: One
for white male children, one for white female children, and one for col-
ored children of both sexes. In these three have been entered as fol-
lows: Male, white, 167; female, white, 147; colored, 40. Total, 354.
Making in all about 160 more than were found upon the rolls of all the

schools under the old system. . . . All the schools have been kept open
since the early part of July, and will be continued during the whole
year, with the exception of the colored -school, which is designed to be
suspended for the present year, after the first of November, until the
ensuing April. I

“The Directors have not erected School-Houses, but have rented for
the Female School a large and commodious building at $32 per annum,
and for the Male School a number of rooms over the Market-House.
The Colored School has been taught in the African Meeting-House, for
which no rent has been charged. The aggregate amount paid for fitting
up the buildings and purchasing stoves is $131.63. The amount of sal-
aries paid for teachers and assistant in the Female School per annum is
$450. In the Male School per annum is $640. Colored School, $240.

For taking care of the school-room for females, $30. Total, estimated at.

$1395.

“ The experience of the present year has satisfied the Directors of the
truth of the objection often urged against the old system, viz.: That it did
not reallyprovide for the instruction of all whose parents were unable to
pay for their tuition, or, in other words, that a spirit of independence (per-
haps in a great degree praiseworthy) prevented many poor parents from
accepting that instruction for their children which was coupled with the

implication of pauperism. It is but fair to infer that a-large portion of 1

the difference in number between the rolls of the old system and the
new was debarred on this account from the instruction of the schools.-
This number is fairly estimated at 160, but if we count it at 130, and add
50 for the number actually instructed as poor children under the former
law, we shall have 180 pupils, the instruction of whom, at the rates
formerly paid, would amount to a sum nearly equal to the whole year’s
expenditure of the Borough under the present system of our schools.
(Signed) “ JOHN WISHART, Pres’t.”
“ JOHN L. GOW, Secretary.”

After this time, for several years, little is known of.

the condition of the schools of the borough. In 1838
the district was assessed on two school‘-houses and one

' lot of ground, forty by one hundred and twenty feet.

The teachers in that year were Edward J. Morgan and
Henry Williams. For the period commencing five

years later, and extending to the present time, the

history of the public schools of Washington is con-
tributed by one Who is probably better qualified than
any other person to furnish it, A. M. Grow, Esq., and
is here given. 

The school history of the borough prior to May 2,

1843, is derived from tradition, and from fragments
of information gleaned from the oldest inhabitants,

the newspapers, and from such records asflchiefly con.-‘ '

cern the purchase and use of school property. From
the above date the minutes of the school corporation
have been kept with considerable accuracy to the

present time, embracing a period of thirty-nine years. 3

The first school board of which mention is made in
the minutes consisted of John Grayson,'president;'
George Morrison, secretary; Colin M. Reed, Henry
Langley, J ohn\Hart, and_Professor Robert Milligan.
At this period there were rarely more than two meet-

ings of the board in a year, April or May and Oct0- . .

ber. The public schools were continued for about
fiv‘é months, and the school-rooms were then rented
to the teachers, who received tuition from subscription
pupils for the rest of the year. The amount of tax
levied forthe public schools for the year 1844 was
$582.30. The first corps of teachers of whom men-
tion is made consisted of Edward J. Morgan, George
Freeby, Miss Sarah Hull, Thomas Officer, Samuel R.
Withrow, Miss Martha Smith, Miss Mary A. Morgan,
and Philip Potter, the last the teacher of the colored

months ‘of, the year.

WASHINGTON BOROUGH.

school. VVith the exception of the colored school
and those for the very small children, the sexes were

_ taught in separate buildings, in accordance with the

prevalent idea that it was not in the interests of mo-
rality that boys and girls should be trained in the
same school. _ ' A

The school-houses in use at this period were, first,
the basement of the Protestant Methodist Church,
containing two rooms, located on West Beau Street,
on the lot in the rear of thejail; second, a brick
house in the rear of the Baptist Church, consisting of
one room, which was reached by Cherry Alley ; third,

- a one-story brick house of two rooms 011 the corner

of Franklin Street and Cherry Alley; fourth, “The
Lodge” on West Maiden Street, originally owned by

—’-the Masons, containing two -rooms; fifth, A house

erected for the colored school, on the lot in the rear
of the African Methodist Episcopal Church, corner
of East Chestnut and Lincoln Streets.

The highest salary paid the teachers per month
was twenty-eight dollars, the lowest fourteen dollars,

' the average nineteen dollars.

There was some attempt made at classification in
the schools, but no effort to make a system of grada-
tion. The government of the schools was rude and
harsh. Everything in and about the school build-
ings was rough and unattractive, so that it was not
strange that after each vacation a committee was ap-
pointed by the board to repair the damages to the

‘windows, doors, and to the premises generally.

In April, 1846, a publicmeeting was called by order
of the board to ascertain whether the people would favor
an. increase ofthe school tax for the extension of the
school term. The appeal was notsuccessful, and it
was not until 1848 that the school term covered’ ten

On March 3, 184.8, a committee was appointed by

‘the board to confer with the trustees of the Methodist

Episcopal Church concerning the purchase of a lot on
Franklin Street, near the corner of Chestnut. On
the 11th the bargain was made, and the treasurer was
authorized to borrow $402.33, with which to make the
first payment. The trustees of the church, from whom
the purchase was made, were Alexander Sweney,
Samuel Mount, George Lonkert, Jacob Schaffer, and

Willi-am T. Fleming. The brick church building in ~

the centre of the lot was remodeled to furnish four
school-rooms. The school for the large boys occupied
the upper story, which was "formed by -throwing a
floor across from the gallery, which occupied three
sides of the original audience-room. The purchase of
this building gave an impetus to the school system
which was exhibited in the effort to increase the tax

‘ _ levy and also to grade the schools.

The school board that entered upon duty April 11,
1855, deserves a special» mention for the inauguration
of a new era in school affairs.‘ It consisted of Dr. Al-
fred Creigh, Adam §ilV*ey, William Mills, George W.

53.3

Brice, O._B. McFadden, and R. "H. Koontz. The'last
two were the new members, and they entered upon
the work with such enthusiasm and energy that the
entire board was inspired with the desire of making a
revolution in school management.‘ I

On the 1st of May, after an examination of candi-
dates by the college professors, Milligan and Alrich,
in presence of the board, Alexander M. Grow was se-

lected as teacher of the school for the big boys; Mrs. --

S. B. Musser, of the school for the big girls; Horace
B. Durant and A. J. Teagarden were appointed to
teach boys; Miss -Mary Jones and Miss Sarah Hull

were appointed to the girls’ schools; Mrs. Williams,’

Miss M. Smith, and Miss Mary Kaine were to teach
the mixed primary; and N. B‘. Griifith the mixed
colored school. The highest salary paid was $250,
the lowest $130, while the average amounted to $174
per annum. .

Each school was independent of all the rest. There
was no similarity in teaching, discipline, or manage-
ment. When a pupil was dissatisfied with one school,
the door of another was easily opened. There was no
order or method in any part of the work. In each
building there wasa serious and constant conflict of
jurisdiction and ‘authority among the teachers, and of
rights and duties among the children. One of the
first efforts to reduce this chaos to order was to bring
the teachers into proper relations to each other. It

was no easy task, for it involved the idea of subordi-5’

nation, and it was quite as diflicult for the teachers to
relinquish their ideas of independence as for the chil-
dren. In order to effect some systematic government
the Rev. Wesley Kenney, pastor of the Methodist
Episcopal Church, was elected superintendent at a
salary of fifty dollars per annum.‘

As the board was greatly in debt, everything in and
about the school property was dilapidated, windows
were broken, dirt abounded, fences were down and
gates were awry, the coal-houses were open and the
fuel was exposed. Efforts were made to correct these
abuses, the property was put in good order, and the
teachers were held responsible for its preservation.
These changes were not effected without considerable
friction, but the persistent determination of the board
and the teachers overcame the obstacles and a great
revolution was effected. The teachers of 1851 had

largely increased salaries. John L. Grow, Esq., was ,

invited to serve as superintendent at a salary of fifty
dollars per annum. During this year vital change

were made in the administration, so that the union

graded school may be dated from this period. ,

Few persons can understand how a community can
be convulsed when a radical change is attempted in
itsschool system. The traditions of the school are
very dear to everybody. The old methods have a
peculiar sanctity that it is dangerous to disturb. -

One day the teacher of the school for big girls was
taken ill; her charge fell into incompetent hands,

, and the question arose what should be done with the .

60

HISTORY OF WASHINGTON COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA.

son of their killing the Prisoners. ’Tis said the
French Army consists of Two Thousand. . . . This
Night I expect the French Army is at the Little
Meadows, about 20 miles from [west of] Fort Cum-
berland.”

This report of the approach of a strong French
force created a general alarm. On the 16th, Wash-
ington again wrote "Col. Stanwix, saying that if the
enemy was coming in such numbers, and with a large
train of artillery as reported, Fort Cumberland must
inevitably fall into their hands, after which they
would without doubt march to the investment of
Fort Loudon, where there was a very large amount
of stores insufficiently guarded, and he plainly inti-
mated his belief that they would have little difliculty
in also capturing that work and the magazines. It
soon appeared, however, that the first report had been
considerably exaggerated. On the 17th, Capt. Dag-
worthy, commandant at Fort Cumberland, wrote Col.
Stanwix the following further information in the
matter,‘ viz. : “ Yesterday in the evening Six Indians
from Fort Du Quesne, who left that Place last Sun-
day, and brought with them two Scalps, which they
took within-a Hundred Yards of the Fort. I learn
from them that the ffiring of the Cannon and small
Arms which I mentioned in my last was occasioned
by a large scouting Party leaving that Place to come
this Way. They say the Indians who came in before
made a false Report as to their bringing Waggons
and Artillery, and account for it by their being
Young Warriors and much frightened; this last
Party lay some time in Sight of the Fort, but could
not discover either Waggons or Horses, and but few
Men.” .

But it is probable that the reason why the first re-
port was so much exaggerated was not so much be-
cause the Cherokees who brought it were young war-
riors and frightened as because Capt. Dagworthy
had no competent "interpreter to inform him of what
they really said. This, at least, was the view taken
of the case by George Croghan, and expressed by him in
a letter to Col. Armstrong, dated June 28th, in which
he says, “I have seen some of both Parties of Indians
that brought the Intelligence of the March of ' the
French Army, and upon examining them I find. that
Capt. Dagworthy has been at a loss for an interpreter.
The Accounts of the Indians are these: The first
party say they saw the French at Work before the
Fort, mounting their Cannon upon Wheels, and that
they saw a large Body of French and Indians march
from the Fort with a great.many Baggage Horses;

And that when they got to Where Gen. Braddock was .

defeated, They heard the Cannon fired at the Fort.
The last Party say they saw about 80 Indians in one
Company, and a Body of French, a great number of
Baggage Horses, and large Tracks of several Parties
of Indians on both Sides the Road, the Number They

1 Col. Bec., vii. 632.

think cannot be less than between Five and Seven
Hundred; They took the old Pennsylvania Trading
Road, but they saw no Carriages or Tracks of Car-
riages the Road they went-.”

On the same day (June 28th) Col. Stanwix said, in
a letter to Governor Denny, “ Am of Opinion that a
large Party of French and Indians did leave Fort
Duquesne the 10th Instant, but without Artillery or
Waggons; but what is become of them I cannot yet

. learn. . As it was probable they might appear towards

Ray’s Town [Bedford], I augmented the Garrison at
Fort Lyttleton 150 men, And ordered Scouts out to-
wards Ray’s Town, but no Intelligence of them, tho’
now 18 Days since the Enemy was supposed to be in
Motion. ‘I have had ffour Spys out over the North
Mountains; Some are returned, but without seeing
any Enemy. I march a Captain’s Piquet Two or
Three Times a Week as scouting Parties, but as yet
have found the Coast all clear.” The event proved
that the French and Indian force was not as large as
represented; that it had no artillery, and that its
designs were not against Fort Cumberland nor Fort
London, but against the settlements farther to the
northward, in the region of the forks of the Susque-
hanna. This was about the last of the forays in
which the Indians were engaged against the English
settlements during that year. At its close (in the
latter part of December, 1757) seven Indians came

" to Philadelphia, having been thirty-one days on their

journey from the Allegheny towns, and reported that
when they left, some of the French oflicers were in
the Indian villages “ about twenty miles from the
French fort called Onango” [Venango], with pres-
ents and Wampum belts, endeavoring to again stir up
the Indians to go. with them on a great expedition
against the English; but that the head chief, Cas-

teraqua, had gathered. his young men together and ’

told them not to listen to the French, but to remain
at home. They remained entirely quiet from that
time during the winter and following spring, by
which time their disalfection against the French and
inclination for peace became assured. On the 25th
of March, 1758, Governor Denny, in a letter of that
date, addressed to C01. Washington, said, “Several

accounts have been brought during the winter, as if‘

there was a disposition in the Western Indians to re-
turn to their old friends the English; and as there
has been little or no mischief done on the frontiers
of this and the neighboring Provinces of late, it is
not unlikely but the Indians are changing every day
in our favour. From the mouth ofthe messengers
who came directly from the Ohio by the way of Dia-
hoga,‘ they expressly declare that since the Peace
Belts sent by these Indians, who were formerly our

friends, have been so kindly received by this Govern-.

ment they are sure that on their receiving this news
they shall be sent back immediately with an acco un
of their separating from the French and coming to
join our friendly Indians.”

A its advocates.

the households.

534

HISTORY OF WASHINGTON COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA.

school in order to save it from anarchy. The super-
intendent, John L._ Grow, suggested to the board that,
as the second story of the old church was sufficiently
large’ to accommodate both schools, they should unite
the two. It happened about this time that the only
male teacher in the corps, besides the principal of
the high school, had been discharged for incompe-
tency, so that his pupils hadto be cared for by some
new arrangement. It was no sooner suggested than
done. The two boys’ schools and the girls’ school
were incorporated in one. By this change, effected
in a single day, the old church was made into a union
graded school, with a principal and three lady assist-
ants, two down—stairs and one above, in charge of
about two hundred pupils. Here was a shocking
change, big boys and girls united in the same school,

-and many of them to be taught and governed by a
lady! A union school was an entirely new thing to

the community, and the doubts and fears of its suc-
cess were neither few nor small. The board was
reconciled to the plan because it saved the salary of
a male teacher, and because they had confidence in
the superintendent and the ‘principal, who had been
The lady teachers favored it, because
it would relieve them of some of the responsibility
of government. But there were many who could not
be reconciled to a change that put boys and girls

‘under the same teacher, and others who would not

be convinced that big boys could be brought to sub-
mit to the teaching and government of a woman.
These topics were discussed, of course, at home, and
the views of the pupils partook of the sentiments of
If the father and mother did not
think a boy should be taught by a woman, of course
their son was of their opinion, andan issue must be’
made in school to test the question. There were
many such issues invented, and the ingenuity and

persistence of those who made them showed that the A

inspiration came from older minds.

Fortunately the school board was composed of men
of nerve and sense, who could see that after the storm
of 'clamor and objection arising from ignorance and
prejudice should subside, the success of the ex-
periment would ’ be assured. ' They supported the
superintendent, the principal, and the teachers with
rare fidelity, and.the result was that order prevailed,
discipline triumphed, prejudices were overcome, and
the school became an established fact.

Such a change attracted attention, not only at home
but abroad. Large numbers of visitors came to see
its operations. On two occasions the grand jury of
the county visited the school and reported upon its
condition. They approved of the new methods of
teaching and management, and advocated similar
improvements inthe schools of the county.

Public examinations were held during the year and
at its close, which were well attended by the people.
The efifect of these was very beneficial, as they awak-
ened anew interest among parents, teachers, and

_of East Beau and Lincoln Streets.

children. On the 23d of March, after such an exam-
ination, Which occupied the two preceding days, the
superintendent, John L.Grow, Esq., made a report to
a large public meeting held in the court-house of the
changes effected during the year and upon the condi-
tion of the schools. In the spring of 1852, John L.
Grow, Esq., was again ‘elected superintendent, and
Alexander M. Grow was again chosen principal of the
boys’ and girls’ high school at an increased salary.
In 1853, Alexander M. Grow was elected superin-
tendent of schools, when the expediency of build-

ing a new school-house large enough to accommodate '
all the white children of the town began to be dis- .

cussed, and a committee was appointed to make
inquiry for a suitable location. The idea was not
well defined in the mind of any one as to the size or
cost of the proposed building. The board

Resolved, “That William W. Smith and Samuel
Patton be a committee to ascertain how much money

can be raised by Voluntary subscription 1 for the pur- 

pose of erecting a new school-house.” -

Another reason. assigned for a new school building
was the increasing number of children who began
to be attracted to the borough school fromlthe coun-
try. The admission of such children occasioned a
great deal of trouble and no small annoyance to the
schools of the town.

At the session of May 2, 1853, it was unanimously
Resolved, “ That it isexpedient to erect a new school
building this season.” R. H. Koontz, president,
William S.’ Moore, secretary, Jacob Slagle, O. B.
McFadden, Alexander W. Acheson, and George W.
Brice were members of the board. ' -

The lots selected were upon the northwest corner
Alexander M.
Grow, the principal, was sent by the -board to Pitts-
-burgh to secure’the services of an architect to furnish
plans and specifications for the building. Mr. John
Chislett was employed, and submitted a sketch of a
school building, which was adopted. It had been
supposed that a suitable house could be erected for
about nine or ‘ten thousand dollars, but the ideas of

the board enlarged the more that they examined the I
subject until they made contracts for the new house.

which amounted to about twenty thousand dollars.
It required considerable faith and courage for the
board -to assume such a responsibility, especially as
they were largely in debt for the purchase of the old

' church. The old lodge was disposed of to Mr. An‘-

drew Brady, a contractor of the new building, for the
sum of eight hundred and seventy—five dollars.

In order to enable the board to secure funds to
carry on the work, an act was passed by the Legisla-
ture authorizing them to borrow money for the pur-
pose, not exceeding twelve thousand dollars. ’

In order to afford complete protection to the school
property, it was determined in the spring of 1855 to
build a janitor’s dwelling on the northeast corner of
the school lot. - - J

WASHINGTON BOROUGH.

‘ 535

Upon the 3d of July, 1865, the new school-house
was dedicated, and an address was delivered by Prof.
E. C. Wines, D.D., to a large and appreciative audience
assembled for the first time in the new school hall.
The occasion was one of great public interest.

‘ An amendment to the act of Assembly of Jan. 25,
1854, was asked by the board, whereby they “ might
be enabled to borrow a sum sufficient "to pay for the
grounds purchased, and "the school edifice and jani-

.tor’s house thereon erected, provided that the amount

borrowed shall not exceed the sum of $20,000.” A.t
that time special legislation could be granted by the
General‘ Assembly. ,

On April 20, 1856, the board finally disposed of the

balance of the old school property. They sold the house
on the corner of Cherry Alley and First Street (now

Franklin) for the sum of $480, and the old Methodist
Church for $800; both properties were purchased by
Col. Wm. Hopkins.

In order to supplement the salary of Alex. M.
Grow, who had been superintendent for four years,
he. was elected treasurer of the school board- May 2,
1856, and gave bonds in the sum of $10,000 for the
faithful performance of the trust.

On May 2, 1856, the board adopted the following
resolution: . ’

“Resolved, That, for the purpose of completing an
educational system‘ and furnishing to such of» our

scholars as desire an opportunity for acquiring the l

rudiments of a classical education, it is the sense of
the Board that another and higher department be
established, provided the same can be done_without ad-
ditional expense to the district. This department is
erected as an experiment. If tuition raised from
non-residents shall be found sufficient to sustain the
said department then the same shall be continued,
otherwise it shall be dispensed with, but on no ac-
count shall the outstanding fund of the district be
appropriated to its support. The said department is
to be established on the 1st of September next.”

Under the above resolution James M. Gow, then a
student in the senior class of the college, was ap-
pointed the teacher of the academic division, and
taughtit during thenext school year. He then resigned
to accept a position in an institution in Illinois, and
on June 11, 1857, John W. Acheson was appointed
in his stead, serving also one year. ' At the expira-
tion of the second year the academic division was
abandoned, much to the regret of many friends, both
of the school and of the college.

June 26, 1857, the official relation of Alex. M.
Grow, the third superintendent of the union school,
was terminated, he having resigned with the inten-
tion of moving to Illinois. His connection-with the

, _ schools had continued fora period of seven years, dur-

ing four years of which he had been the superintendent
of the schools, and for the last year the treasurer of

V the board.

Mr. Grow was succeeded by Mr. D. P. Lowary, -who
on the 4th of May, 1857, was elected" the fourth super-
intendent of the school. During his administration
a brick school-house was erected for the colored chil-
dren upon the end of the lot belonging to the African
Methodist Episcopal Church, on the corner of College
(now Lincoln) Street and Spruce Alley, sixty by forty-
five feet‘. The lot was purchased from the trustees of
the church for the sum of twenty-five dollars and the
old building. ‘

In 1858 the Young Men’s Christian Association, at '

its dissolution, donated its library to the school. Rules

and regulations were therefore made for the preserva-

tion and use of the books. A " .
On the 15th of August, 1859, Mr. Lowary gave no-

, tice to the board that, owing to impaired health, he

was obliged to resign his position, the resignation to
take place at the end of the school year. His term
of service extended over two years.

Upon the 19th of August, 1859, Mr. Alex. Wishart.

was elected the fifth superintendent of the schools, at
a salary of six hundred-dollars per annum.

May 1, 1861, Mr. Wishart, having raised a military
company to assist in the maintenance ofzthe Union,
offered his resignation to the board. The resignation
was accepted, and a resolution was adopted expressive
of the good wishes of the board. . Capt. Wishart
served as superintendent for two years less one month.
The schools were closed at the end of the week suc-
ceeding the resignation of the superintendent. '

July 15, 1861, the Rev. L. P. Streator was elected
the sixth superintendent, with nine assistants. ' July
22d, Orlando Baglin was elected janitor of the school,
and with the exception of a brief interval he has oc-
cupied the position to the date of thecpresent writing,
1882. 

Aug. 9, 1862, Capt. Alex. Wishart was re-elected

superintendent, and occupied the position until the -

fall of 1866, when he was succeeded by D. F. Patterson,
Esq., the seventh superintendent. Capt. Wishart’s
services were highly appreciated by the board, having
raised his salary twice during his term of service. H
was superintendent in all nearly six years. "
In the fall of 1863, Col. "H. Anisansal was author-

ized to teach instrumental music in the school, and.

also French and German, but no compensation was to
be paid him by the board. Whatever he received. for
his services was to be paid by the pupils who ‘were
instructed by him. Two pianos were rented by the
board for the use of the pupils for the sum of $95

perannum, and one was purchased for the sum of -
Miss Jennie McAuley was elected"music- V

$350.
teacher in the fall of 1864 at a salary of $150, to be
paid by the board. She was authorized to charge one
dollar per month or $10 per annum, and to collect it
from each pupil receiving instruction. Jan. 27, 1865,
another piano was taken on trial, and an assistant
piano-teach er was employed. It soon became evident

that such an experiment could not be successful: it A

‘fixed at $1200 per annum.’

536

was too costly, and its benefits were limited to so few
that it soon fell into’ disrepute, and the three pianos
were finally disposed of at public auction for much
less than their cost. The effort to compete with pri-
vate institutions in this department of education
proved a signal failure. It was not the province of a
public school to teach instrumental music.

As graduation was one of the elements that served
to stimulate the pupils to increased diligence, so the
diploma, the evidence of this distinction, should be-
long to the school; a lithograph plate was accordingly
provided at a cost of $85. The high school was
established, and on May 16, 1867, the first class of
graduates, consisting of five girls, received the ‘di-
ploma. ‘

Aug. 5, 1868, Rev. W. J. Wilson, the eighth super-
intendent, succeeded Mr. Patterson, who had served
the board for two years. Mr. Wilson’s salary ’was
The salaries of the
teachers were placed uniformly, without reference to
experience or length of service, at $330 per annum.

The graduates of the school in 1870 consisted of
four boys and five girls. » '

» This year the salaries of the teachers were raised
to $350, the superintendent’s pay remaining the same
as before. .

In February, 1872, Mr. Wilson received a severe
injury by a pistol-shot from the hands‘ of a boy in
the school-house yard, by which for a time he was
disabled. The occurrence arose from a matter of dis-
cipline connected with the school. During the time
that‘Mr. Wilson was disabled Mr. Henry Hull took
his place as superintendent. -

Mr. Wilson had served as superintendent for four
years, when he was superseded by the election of W.
C.- Lyne, the ninth superintendent.

In June, 1874, six boys and nine girls were grad-* '

uated; in June, 1875, there were eight graduates, two
boysand six girls.

A new room was needed to accommodate the in-
creasing number of pupils, when the hall of the
school was divided by a partition. This change pre-
vented the graduating class from occupying it, and
the exercises accordinglytook place for the first time
in the town hall.

Some preparation was made to exhibit the results of
the school work at the Centennial Exhibition at Phila-

delphia. The board contributed ten dollars to assist

in making the educational display. Mr. Lyne ex-
hibited to; the board two bound volumes of examina-
tion papers for the years 1874-75, to be forwarded to
the Exposition. They were approved by the board,

' and Mr. Lyne was directed to forward them to Phila-

delphia, on condition that they should be returned
again to the school library. The last condition was
not fulfilled. Twenty-five graduates left the school in
June, 1876; of these five were boys. The exercises
were held in the town hall, whichwas crowded with
an interested and admiring audience. '

HISTORY  WASHINGTON COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA.

W. C. Lyne, desirous of entering the field of jour-
nalism, offered his resignation, which was accepted, to
take place in June, 1877. He occupied the position
for five years, and was succeeded by J. W. Gibbons,
the tenth‘ superintendent. '

The experiment of introducing vocal music was
made in the fall of 1876 by electing Prof. M. H. Mc-_
Cabe musical instructor, at a salary of fifteen dollars
per month. Whether it was the quality of the ‘in’-
struction or the want of appreciation on part of the
board, the effort does not appear to have been a suc-
cess. It was resumed, however, in the fall of 1878,
by the appointment of Mr. M. H. Kellar, of New
York, at the more appreciative salary of twenty-five
dollars per month, which was shortly increased to
thirty-five dollars per month. The board, in order to
insure the success of this department of instruction,
made the study compulsory upon every pupil, allow-
ing no one to be excused except for cause. While
the results of the teaching were satisfactory, the
board did not think it desirable to continue the em-
ployment of a music-teacher until the fall of 1881,
when W. K. Stiffey was engaged at a salary of six
hundred dollars per annum. Mr. Stitfey has served
one year, and is now engaged for a second. From
the success attending some public concerts given by
the children, it may safely be assumed the instructioin
in this department is at last proving successful, and
that vocal music will be a permanent study in the
schools.

In May, 1877, the board purchased from the trus-

«tees of the African Methodist Episcopal Church the

beautiful lot on which their church had stood, on the
corner of East Chestnut and Lincoln Streets, for the
sum of thirteen hundred dollars cash. ,

-Mr. Gibbons presented to the board the names of I I

eighteen pupils, four boys and -fourteen girls, for grad-
uation in June, 1878. - A
Having‘ served as superintendent one year, Mr._
Gibbons. gave place to W. L. Welsh, an alumnus of
the normal school, Oswego, N. Y., September, 1878.
In order to assist more completely in the manage-

ment of the school, and also to systematize the business, a

the board agreed to meet in monthly sessions. One

of the first improvements made this year was the,

organization of a new division to accommodate the

little children in the lower schools, who had only been '

permitted to come for half the day. While the
classes in the higher rooms were too small, the lower
rooms were crowded beyond all reason. The organi-
zation of a new school served in part to remedy the
disadvantage to the smaller children, and to permit
them to attend all day. _

During Mr. Welch’s administration epidemics of
measles and of smallpox prevailed in the community.

A good deal of fear was felt by timid persons lest the ,

children, by their association together, might be more
liable to spread disease, and therefore a. great pressure

~ forty-two cents.

WASHINGTON BOROUGH.

537

of public opinion was brought to bear upon the board creased to ten months, and better salaries were begin-
to dismiss the school until the danger should be ning to be paid the teachers. When the subject of

passed. It was felt, on the other hand, that so many
children turned loose without anything to do, without
the assistance of the systematic government of the
school, would be more likely to take disease and to
spread it. The board therefore decided not to dismiss
the schools, but to require the evidence of vaccina-
tion in every case, and to prevent those from infected

‘houses or families from attending school until such

time as by the judgment of physicians it was deemed
prudent for them to return. By this firm and discreet
course panic was allayed and danger prevented.

For forty years the improvements in the schools of
the town have been greater, and the term of attend-
ance has been longer, than in the country adjacent.

, There has been therefore a constant struggle by those

living outside the borough limits to secure for their
children the advantage of the town schools. Scarcely
a year has passed that a new schedule of tuition fees
has not been framed, and new rules have not been
adopted for their collection. At times there have

. been agreements made between the school directors

of the borough and the townships adjoining, but they
were of transient. operation. The amount of money
paid for tuition has rarely if ever been sufficient to
justify the arrangement, since the town schools have
been so crowded that in many cases th'e teachers,
however competent and willing, have been overtasked
by numbers, and have not been able to do justice to
their pupils. One of the advantages of residing in
the town is the benefit derived from the schools, and
a disadvantage is in being compelled to pay the town

school tax. To get the advantage without being

compelled to bear a corresponding burden is an injus-
tice to the citizens of the town.

The growth of the educational spirit of the town
may be illustrated by a brief review of the statistics
as they refer to taxation. As has already been shown,
the tax levy of 1843 for school purposes for the
borough was five hundred and eighty-two dollars and
thirty cents. In the spring of 1845 a levy of one and
one-half mills on the dollar was laid for school pur-
poses. As the schools were less than five months in
session, and the pay-roll amounted to one hundred

and ‘forty-four dollars per month, thesum paid the .

teachers was six hundred and eighty-four dollars. In
1849 it was agreed that a tax of three mills. be levied
for school purposes. The duplicate for that year
amounted to four hundred and sixty-nine dollars and
twenty—four cents, less the exonerations and commis-
sions, so that the sum realized forschool purposes
was only three hundred and eigh.ty-five dollars and
This with what was received from
the State appropriation was the educational fund for
the common schools. In 1853 the levy was five mills
on the dollar. A growing interest wasmanifested by
the board and the people. The term had been in-

l

building the new school-house was first agitated it
was estimated that its cost would not be more than
nine thousand dollars, but the more the subject was
discussed the more its necessity became apparent,
until the board, fully sustained by public sentiment,
contracted for a property worth not less than twenty
thousand dollars. ’ ,

In 1855 the rate of taxation was raised to five mills
for school purposes and five mills for building, or a
tax of ten mills in all for educational purposes; but,
in order to facilitate its collection, it was agreed that
one-half should be paid in July and the rest at the
end of six months. During the year 1856, in addi-
tion to the levy of ten mills, it was agreed by the

. board to “levy a tax on watches, etc.,,at the same

rate of the State levy.” The amount collected, on
theiduplicate of this year was $6012.68. Probably
in consideration of the financial disturbances occa-
sioned by the war, the tax levy of the year .1862 was

reduced to five mills for school purposes and three ,

mills for a building fund; One of the noticeable

‘effects of the building of the new school-house was

to prevent a just and reasonable increase of salaries
to the teachers. When in war, times the price of
living was greatly increased and the salaries of other
oflicials generally were augmented, the board refused
the petition to add ten per cent. to the salaries of the
teachers. It was found in this case, as in many others,
that the teachers were taxed more heavily for the erec-
tion of a new school building than any other class of
citizens in proportion to their means. In 1864 the
tax levy was eight mills for school purposes and two
mills for building fund. The intention of the board
was evidently to postpone the payments on the prin-
cipal of the school debt until more auspicious days.

Under the circumstances of the country this was‘

wise, and accounts for the fact that the principal of
the school debt was not removed until a lapse. of
about twenty-five years. In 1865 the tax levy was
authorized of thirteen mills on the dollar, ahigher
sum by three mills than had yet been imposed. This
rate was continued until 1877', when the valuation of
property was readjusted on a cash basis.- The taxable
property of the borough was estimated that year at
$1,792,135. The levy for school purposes was ac-
cordingly made three and a quarter mills for school
purposes and one mill for building, the entire levy
amounting in full to $8064.59. In the following year

the levy was increased one mill for building purposes

in the expectation of erecting a new janitor’s house in
place of the present one, which the Borough Council
had ordered to be removed because it encroached on
the street.

The salaries of teachers for the year 1881 amounted
to six thousand three hundred and fifty dollars, in-
cluding that of the superintendent, which was eleven
hundred and fifty dollars. The lowest sum paid to

538

HISTORY OF WASHINGTON COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA.

any teacher in the corps was three hundred and fifty
dollars, or twenty dollars more than was paid to any
one in the corps except the superintendent during
the years of the war.

The Washington union school was one of the first
union graded schools established in the State. The
building, at the time of its erection, was esteemed so
highly that it was considered worthy of special men-
tion in the “Pennsylvania School Architecture,” a
book edited by the Hon. Thomas H. Burrows, State
superintendent, and published by the State. In this
Work may be found a sketch of the building, a plan
and specifications of its construction. It was visited

by a great many persons, some of whom came from
’ long distances to see the house as well as to study the

organization of the school. Nearly thirty years have
elapsed since it was built, and during that time school
architecture has made great progress and improve-
ments. But itstill may be a question whether the
severe simplicity of the'Washington school building
is not preferable for its purpose than the more elabo-
rate and expensively ornamented structures of the
present day, especially when it is considered that the
money unnecessarilyspent upon the house is just so
much taken from the teachers of at least one or two
generations of school children. Elaborate and costly
school buildings do not necessarily make good
schools. '

‘After the erection of the building, and the grading
of the lot, the superintendent enlisted the whole
school in the improvement and adornment of the
property. Boys and girls vied with each other in fur-
nishing-trees and shrubbery and vines. The lot was
laid out by the superintendent and worked by the
pupils. The school—yard became noted for its beauty,
and for the elegance of its roses and other flowers.

_' Most of the beautiful trees that adorn the school-
yard to-day are of the planting of nearly thirty years ‘

ago. The influence of that teaching is still seen and
felt not only in and about the school, but throughout
the community." ‘ V _ ‘ '

In summing up the results of the school work, so
far as they may be ascertained from the history of the
graduates of the classes of the high school, Superin-
tendent,Welsh» furnished the following statements:

of thirty males six are clerks, three marble dealers, .

four in college, one teacher, three farmers, one agent,
one hat merchant, one carpenter, one carriage-maker,
one grocer, two ministers, one a missionary to India,

one reporter, one physician, one lawyer and chief ‘

burgess of Washington, one dead_, and two unaccounted
for. - I '

Of one hundred and thirteen female graduates,
thirty are at their homes, seven in school, twenty-three
married, twenty-four teachers, six compositors in

‘printing-offices,‘ six clerks, two milliners, one seam-

stress, four dead, ten unaccounted for.
 It will be seen by the foregoing that the graduates

generally are following useful occupations and doing
credit to themselves and the institution at which they

‘graduated.

In concluding this sketch injustice would be done
were we to omit the mention of some who were no
less distinguished for the parts they played in the or-
ganization and management of the union school
than the‘superintendents and school directors who
have already been named. Miss Martha Smith, Miss
Sarah Hull, Miss Mary Kaine, Miss Mary Jones, now
Mrs. Workman, Mrs. Martha H. Morgan, Miss Ellen
Acheson, now .Mrs. Brownson, and Mrs. Catherine
Sisson were all earnest, efficient teachers, who, in the
most trying times in the history of the school, gave
valuable assistance in its reorganization. Whatever
of honor there is in being one of the founders of a
useful ‘institution is theirs as one of the compensa-
tions for theirlpainstaking and laborious service.

There were besides these four others who were
pupils at the time of the union of the schools, and
who were very soon pressed into the service as
teaohers._ The following memorandum is taken from
the minutes of the board of Oct. 21, 1853: “On
motion, Misses Elizabeth .VVarrick and Mary Lindsay,
who are now pupils in the high school, are employed
as assistants "pro 256772. to supply theplace of first
assistant in said school, at five dollars per month
each.” , _

This was ‘an experiment, but it proved a signal suc-
cess; it furnished a temporary relief to the superin-
tendent, it was a cheap expedient for the board, and
it started two girls upon a path which enabled them
to be helpful to themselves and others. Miss War-
rick afterwards became Mrs. Long, and Miss Lindsay
Mrs. Scott. I ; .

In September, 1855, the board “ Resolved, That an-

other division of the school be organized, and that L

Miss Rebecca Turner be employed as teacher at a

salary of ten dollars per month.” ‘
Miss Turner was a classmate with Misses Warrick

and Lindsay. This experiment was also a success,

as it inaugurated the course of one of the most use- '-

ful and successful teachers inthe county. Miss

Turner is in charge of the high school at_the present _

time.

Miss Ellen Wiley, now Mrs. Donaldson, was also a
member of the same class, and was for some time en-
gaged as a successful primary teacher in the school.

There have been other teachers and school direc-
tors of rare excellence, but we have mentioned only
those who were connected with the early history of
union school. V

At a public school examination held at the Frank- .

lin school-house on the 21st of December, 1821, Mrs.
Katharine Duane Morgan, one of the board of super-
intendence, delivered an address, after which she

‘offered the following preamble and resolutions for 

the encouragement of domestic manufactures, which

k_

" zeal in the great cause of our country.”

WASHINGTON BOROUGH.

539

were adopted and subscribed to by Mrs. Morgan and
one hundred and fifteen other ladies: ‘

“ Convinced that the encouragement of Domestic Manufactures is in-
dispensable to the substantial interests, the permanent welfare, and the
real independence of the United States, and believing that a single act
will conduce more towards the accomplishment of those invaluable

A objects, than ten thousand inconclusive professions, I

“Therefore, Resolved, That we, the undersigned, will henceforward

confine our purchases for the apparel of ours_elves and families to arti- i"

cles manufactured within the United States. And not doubting that
these all-important ends may be further pl omoted, a check given to the
destructive extravagance which reigns even in the very poorest of our
cabins, and multitudes withheld or converted from vice by the encour-
agement of learning and by an extension of support to American manu-
factures beyond the walls of our immediate households,

“ Therefore, Resolved, That we will employ only such persons to spin,
sew, knit, and weave as will clothe themselves and families exclusively
in homespun, and appropriate a portion of the money arising from those

glabors to the education of their children or other relatives.”

Mrs. Morgan, in a card dated Jan. 30, 1822, stated

' that she sent seven quires of the circular containing

the above resolutions to different parts of the county,
with the request that they be returned to her with as
many signatures as possible by the 1st of March,
1822, and for the encouragement of others she states
“that Mrs. Ritner, the wife of one of our members of
Assembly, this day returned me the circular addressed
to her with the names of one hundred and thirteen
females subscribed to the resolutions, an evidence at
once of their patriotism and her active" and laudable
Mrs. Mor-
gan sent a copy of the resolutions to eix-President
Thomas'Jefferson (with whom she was personally ac-
quainted) with an account of the movement in this
section, to which he sent the following reply:

- . “ MoNT1cELLo, Jan. 26, ’22.
“ I have duly received, dear Madam, your favor of the 10th-,_witlt the

eloquent‘ Circular and Address to. your patriotic and fair companions in ‘

good works. I well recollect our acquaintance with yourself personally
in Washington, valued for your own merit as well as for that of your
esteemed father. Your connection too with the family of the late C010.
Morgan is an additional title to my grateful recollections. He first gave
us notice of the -mad project of that day, which, if suffered to proceed,
might have brought afflicting consequences on persons whose subse
quent lives have proved their integrity and loyalty to their country. -
“‘ The effort which is the subject of your letter-is truly laudable, and,

if generally followed as an example, or practised as a duty, will change

very advantageously the condition of our fellow citizens, & do just honor
to those who shall have taken the lead in it. N 0 one has been more sen-
sible than myself of the advantage of placing the consumer by the side
of the producer, nor more_ disposed to promote it by example, but these
are among the matters which I must now leave to others. Time, which
wears all things, does not spare the energies either of body or mind of a
presque Octogenaire. While I could, I did what I could, and now ac-

quiesce cheerfully in the laws of nature, which, by unfitting us for

action, warns us to retire, and leave to the generation of the day the
direction of its ownxaffairs. The prayers of an old man are the only
contributions left in his power. Mine are offered sincerely for the suc-
cess of your patriotic efiorts and particularly for your own individual
happiness and prosperity. '
V _ “ TH. JEFFERSON.
“Mas. KATHARINE DUANE MORGAN.”

Libraries.——The first public library in Washington
of which any information is obtained is mentioned by
Thomas H. Baird in an advertisementbearing date
July 15, 1811, in which ‘he says that he hasbeen in-
duced to establish a circulating library. He “ will lend

his books to subscribers at the rate of five dollars per
annum or three dollars for six months. . . . The li-
brary will be open at the house of the subscriber in
the borough of Washington every day in the week
except Sunday.” How long it continued is not known.
It is quite possible the books that were sold in 1813
may have been the library of Mr. Baird. On the
20th of December in that year the following adver-
tisement, without signature, appeared in the columns
of the Washington Reporter .- “During the Court week
there will" be sold a valuable collection of Books.
Persons of literary taste from. the county will have an
opportunity of furnishing themselves at a _very low
rate. ~ The sale will commence on Monday, the 27th,
and continue from day to day until they are disposed
of.”

On the 19th of February,,1816, the Washington
Library Company was organized. John Barrington
was chosen treasurer, and Matthew Semple librarian.
On the 13th of May, 1816, stockholders were informed
that “ books will be ready for delivery on Wednesday
and Saturday of each. week, from half-past three
o’clocktil1 half-past five. The Library—room is in
the house of Mr. Matthew Semple (librarian) on

Main Street, east side, between Beaux and Chestnut .
Streets.” It is not known how long this library con-

tinued or what became of it. In the years 1832 and
1833, Archibald Kerr, who lived on Main Street, next
below the law-oflice of Freeman Brady, kept a circu-
lating library. In 1846 a Mechanics’ Library was es-
tablished; Col’. William" Hopkins was prominent in
its organization. The library was kept for a time in
the building below Dr. Whittlesey’s drug-store, and
in ‘the .next year was moved to the old Methodist
Church parsonage on Beau Street. After a few years
it was discontinued, and the last of the books were
presented to the Washington Library Association.
This last-mentioned society was organized in Novem-
ber, 1867. A meeting was held at the house of. Mr.
D. T. Morgan, and the following oflicers were elected:
A. Wilson, president; Rev. W. B. Watkins, secretary;
Mrs. V. Harding, treasurer; Miss Martha, Grrayson,
librarian. A committee was appointed to canvass
the town for membership, which was placed at three
dollars; this committee reported at the next meeting

fifty members “ and several donations. A roo.m was‘.
secured_for the library in the Graysonihouse. On the

7th of ‘December in that year an exhibition of
tableaux and music was given under the auspices of
the association, from which one hundred and nine

dollars was realized. The first purchase of books was »

made Jan. 20, 1868, and on the 22d the library was
formally opened with about one hundred and fifty
volumes. A second exhibition was given Feb. 18,
1868, and the sum of $69.92 was realized. At a meet-
ing of the executive committee, held June 6, 1868,
three hundred and sixteen volumeswere reported, a
number having been donated. During the year 1868,
Mr. J. T. Edgar, at various times, donated ‘to the as-

540

‘HISTORY. or WASHINGTON COUNTY,PENNSYLVANIA.

sociation over three hundred and fifty volumes. An-
niversary exercises were held Jan. 1, 1869. A report
by the secretary exhibited the following facts: Amount
of money received during the year, $524.38; amount
expended, $497.58; balance on hand, $26.80; number
of volumes, over seven hundred ; number of sub-
scribers, eighty-five.

- On the,6th of July, 1869, J. T. Edgar donated one

_ hundred and one volumes to the association, and on

the 11th of September, the same year; a donation of
books was received from John Gregg, which were a
part’ of the books of the old Mechanics’ Library.‘
Additions were made to the library. from time to ‘time,
and in 1871 there were on the shelves sixteen hundred
volumes. The opening of the Citizens’ Library in
1871 caused adecline in the association, and it ceased
to be an active institution. The books are still in their
possession, but are not now let out.

VVhen the erection of a new town hall was first pro-
jected, Dr. F. J. Le Moyne, of Washington, offered to
donate the sum of ten thousand dollars to found a

public library, provided a room or rooms in the build-.

ing were given for the purpose. The subject was
brought before the people, and it was declared by bal-
lot that a new town hall should be erected and the
offer and terms of Dr. Le Moyne be accepted. The

first record in the minutes of the Council concerning 1
the offer of Dr. Le Moyne for the founding of a public"

library is of a meeting held April 21, 1869, at which
Dr. Alfred Creigh, J. Y. Hamilton, and A.C. Morrow
were appointed a committee to wait on Dr. Le Moyne
and procure from him a written statement of his offer,

and the terms on which he would make the donation. ’

At a meeting held April 19, 1869, the committee re-
ported, and presented‘ the following communication
from Dr. Le Moyne:

“ WASHINGTON, PA., April 19, 1869.

, “ Masses. ALFRED CREIGH, J. Y. HAMILTON, AND A. C. MORROW, Com-

mittee:

“ GENTLEMEN,—In compliance with the request in your communica-
tion, dated the 13th inst., I make this formal reply. For many years I
have been convinced that this establishment of a Public Library and
Reading Room in our Borough would conduce largely to the best inter-
ests of our Citizens,’ especially to our youth. Such a place of resort
would afford rational amusement, promote a genial social intercourse,
and educate our whole people to a higher standard of useful knowledge.
It would tend to withdraw our young men and boys from questionable
places of resort during their unoccupied hours, and remove many
temptations to the formation of injurious and degrading habits.

“ Several years ago, when the erection of a Town Hall was agitated,

I made a proposition to donate a suflicient sum of money to lay the
foundation for such an Institution. The revival of that erection, which
has been authorized and directed by a very large vote of citizens, offers
a present opportunity to consummate that cherished idea, which if not
now embraced may not soon occur under such favorable circumstances.
I therefore now renew that propositionto agree to donate the sum of
Ten Thousand Dollars ($10,000) to the Borough of Washington, Wash-
ington County, Pennsylvania, on the following terms and conditions,
viz.: ’
“ 1st. The Borough shall without delay erect a Town Hall, and on the
principal or first floor erect and finish and furnish in an appropriate and
suitable manner a fire-proof room sufliciently large to contain the first
purchase of books, etc., and leave abundant room for a gradual increase
for a long time to come. Also a Reading-Room, adjacent the Library
Room, of sufiicient size to fully accommodate those who may wish to oc-
cupy it, well fitted up with desks, seats, etc.

“ 2d. To admit to the uses, privileges, and benefits of the library and
reading-room every citizen of the Borough on equal terms without any
distinction whatever, except that every person will be held to decorous
and orderly conduct and personal cleanliness.

“ 3. That an act of Incorporation shall be obtained from our courts
placing the government and control of the institution in the hands of
five Curators or Trustees. Three of them to be elected by the citizens
of the Borough at the corporate Election to serve three years, one to be

selected‘ each year; one to be appointed by the judges of the Court of.

Common Pleas for this County to serve three years, and the other to be
appointed by the Trustees of Washington and Jefferson College if lo-
cated here. If not located here, then the fifth curator or Trustee to be
elected by the Pastors of the several religious congregations worship-
ing in the Borough in a joint meeting held by them for that purpose,
to serve three years. Vacancies occurring in the board by death, resig-
nation, removal, or otherwise to be filled by the several departments
to which said Curators or Trustees previously belong.

“ 4. The Curators or Trustees to appoint a Librarian to serve one year, .

to have charge of the Library and Reading Room, under such rules and
regulations as the board shall from time to time adopt. ,

“ 5. The Ten Thousand Dollars donated shall be devoted thus: Six thou-
sand dollars to be expended in the purchase of books as by Dr. F. Julius
Le Moyne, the donor, and such other person or persons as he may call to
assist him in the selection, to be ready to place in the'Library Room
when it is furnished and ready for use and occupancy. The other four
thousand dollars to be invested in some safe and profitable manner,
the interest or proceeds of the fund to be used sacred and exclusively

for the gradual increase of the Library, by the purchase at stated and »

regular times of such new and necessary works as will be required to

keep up the standard.of the Institution to the advancement of Litera- ’

ture, Science, and the arts from year to year. This four thousand dol-
lars to be paid over to the curators or Trustees when they are organized
under the proposed charter, and when the Libraryand Reading Room
are finished and furnished and ready for use.
“ Respectfully yours,
“ F. JULIUS LE MorNE.”

Dr. Le Moyne being present made some explana-
tions and withdrew, when the subject was postponed
until the 23d of April. At a meeting of the Coun-
cil held on that day the matter of Dr. Le Moyne’s
communication, offer, and terms was fully discussed,
and_the ‘Council resolved : A '

“ lst. That it is our duty to carry out the wishes of the people by the

. erection of a suitable town hall as soon as the necessary arrangements

can be made.

“ 2d. That the town Council will accept, in trust for the people of the
borough of Washington, the ten thousand dollars donation of Dr. F. J.
Le Moyne, $4000 of which shall remain as a sacred and permanent fund,
the interest of which shall be applied annually to the purchase of books
on literature, science, and the arts. '

“ 3d. That the remaining $6000 shall be expended for books under the
direction of trustees appointed under a charter in the manner proposed
by Dr. Le Moyne in his communication of April 19, 1869, and that the said
trustees shall call to their assistance Dr. Le Moyne in the selection of
said library. ,

“ 4th. That the Council will furnish, for this purpose, suitable rooms in
the contemplated town hall, and have a perpetual insurance placed upon
the library to cover all losses which might occur.

“ 5th. That the trustees shall make all necessary arrangements for the
regulation of the library.”

The committee on town hall, consisting of Messrs. ’

Creigh, Hamilton, and Morrow, were instructed to

present a copy of the foregoing resolutionsto Dr. Le
Moyne for his approval or rejection and report at next’

meeting. ,
This committee reported May 4, 1869, as follows :

' “That they presented to Dr. F. J. Le Moyne the resolutions unani-

mously adopted by the Council April 23, 1869, that they had several in-

terviews since presenting them, and that he refused to accede to the
propositions. The report was accepted, and the following preamble and

resolutions were then, after a free expression of opinion, unanimously ’

adopted. —

WASHINGTON BOROUGH.

541

.“ Whereas, The proposition of Dr. F. J. Le Moyne is so trammeled with
restrictions andconditions as to render it impracticable and useless to
the people, therefore resolved that we cannot accede to the same.”

No further action was taken until Jan-. 17, 1870,
when

“The following preamble and resolutions were read, and on motion
adopted:

,“ Whereas, Dr. F. J. Le Moyne tendered to the borough of Washington
"$10,000 (ten thousand dollars) for the purpose of founding a public li-
brary for the benefit of the people, which proposition was rejected by
the town Council on account of the expenses which would be necessarily
involved in the reception of said library, and an extra building of a fire-
proof vault, and whereas Dr. Le Moyne now wishes to establish said
library by expending the sum of ten thousand dollars ($10,000), and in-
curring the necessary expenses. . '

“ Therefore Resolved, That the town Council, appreciating the generous
donation and intention of said Dr. Le Moyne, hereby agree to proffer to
Dr. ‘Le Moyne the two rooms in the rear of the post-office, and also

‘twenty-five feet of the rear of the engine-house, for the purposes con-

templated, and a committee to be appointed to correspond with Dr. Le
Moyne and finally settle and adjust the matter to the satisfaction of
both parties.” .

On the 21st of February, 1870, the committee ap-
pointed to confer with Dr. Le Moyne reported that
they had completed all arrangements, and the agree-
ment was signed by Dr. Le Moyne of one part and the
committee appointed by the borough of the other
part. On the same day the court of Washington
County granted a charter to the Citizens’ Library
Association.

The town hall was erected and completed in 1871.

‘ ‘The library-rooms were also fitted up with fire-proof

vaults; books were purchased, and the library opened.
Books have been added from time to time until it has
reached its present numbers. The followingfiare the
curators who have been appointed and elected as
provided by Dr. Le Moyne: .

Appointed by the court: David S." Wilson, Aug.
15, 1870. On the 27th of February, 187 2-, D. S. Wil-

. son resigned, and C. M. Reed was appointed. He

remained curator until Aug. 2, 1875, when he resigned,
and Dr. Alfred Creigh was appointed, and served the
remainder of the term, and was reappointed Aug. 19,
.1878, and again'March 21, 1882. ' ‘-

Dr. F. J . Le Moyne was appointed, on the part of
Washington and Jefferson College, as curator in 187 0.
After his death, in October, 1879, his daughter, Miss
Jane Le Moyne, was appointed, and is still acting in
that capacity. L -

Elected by the borough of Washington : Henry J.

‘Van Kirk, 1873; Henry Woods, 1874:; Boyd‘Crum-

xrine, 1875; H. R. Martin, 1876; T. D. M. Wilson
(three years), 1877; John,Aiken (two years), 1877;
Alonzo Linn, 1878; D. J . McAdam, 1879; Charles
"V. Harding, 1880; Alonzo Linn, 1881; GreorgevA.
Jones, 1882.

Physicians.—Dr. Absalom Baird was of Scotch
ancestry. His father, John Baird, was born in Scot-
land about the year 1730, and came to America with
'-Gen. Braddock in 1755, and was with that general at
the defeat on the Monongahela. After the defeat he
zretired with the troops into Winter-quarters in Phila-

35 . - 1

delphia, where, in the winter of 1756-57, he married
a Quaker lady. In 1758 he was in one of the High-
land regiments sent out under Forbes to attack ‘Fort
Du Quesne, and was said to have been killed in the
battle of Grrant’s Hill, Pittsburgh, September, 1758‘.
He left a widow with the infant son Absalom, who
was born in- Chester County, Pa., in 1758. His
mother was left with small means, and to support
and educate her son taught school for several years‘.
After imparting to him all the instruction she was
able he was sent to_school at Pequa, Lancaster Co.,
then under the charge of Robert Smith.

After leaving school he studied medicine under Dr.
Gardiner Scott, of Chester County. He-had just left
his studies at the outbreak of the Revolution. Dr.
Scott raised a company of volunteers,'and Baird en__-
listed and was made ensign. Soon afterwards he was
appointed assistant surgeon in a Pennsylvania regi- .
ment. He was present at the storming of Stony
Point, N. Y., by the forces of Gen. Wayne on the
night of July 15, 1779, when Wayne was wounded in

1 the head by a musket-ball and the wound dressed by

Dr. Baird.

On the 20th of March, 1780, he was commissioned
surgeon in C01. Jedutha »Baldwin’s regiment, where
he remained until the regiment was disbanded by
act of Congress, March 29, 1781, when his military’
services in the Revolution terminated. On "-leaving .
the army in 1781 he entered upon the duties of his
profession in Kennett Square, Chester Co. On’ the
14th of July, 1783, he married Susanna Brown, and
July 26, 1784, their first child, J‘ohn,.was borng In
November, 1786, he moved with his familyto Wash-
ington, Pa., and commenced the practice of his pro-
fession. In July, 1788, he purchased of John Hoge
lots 12, 13, 14, on the north side of Maiden Street,
between Main and Franklin. On these lots he built
a residence, in which he lived until his death. The
homestead afterward was in possession of Thomas H.

v and George Baird, and in 1832 was owned by "William

Baird. They are now owned by Mrs. C. H. Scott.‘

, Dr. Baird was commissioned justice of the peace
and of the Court of Common Pleas on the 3d of
March, 1789, and remained in office till the justices
of the courts were abolished in 1791.

Under the constitution of 1790, Dr. Baird succeeded
Col. J ames Marshel as county lieutenant. Letters are
in the hands of the family addressed to Col. Absalom
Baird, lieutenant of the county of Washington, from
Maj.-Gen. H. Knox, Secretary of War, dated Feb.

‘ 25, 1792 ; from” Thomas Mifllin, Governor of Penn-

sylvania, dated Aug. 9, 1792; and from Anthony
Wayne, major-general and commander-in-chief of
the troops of the United States, dated “ Headquarters,
Pittsburgh, Jan. 23,. 1792.” In 1793 a change was
made in the military system, and under this change
the oflice of county lieutenant was abolished and the
duties performed by brigade inspectors. Absalom
Baird Was appointed brigade inspector. This posi-

,Academy, and was for a time a tutor.

542

HISTORY OF WASHINGTON COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA.

tion he held till his death. He was succeeded by
Col. James Dunlap. In October, 1794, he was elected
with Thomas Stokely to represent Allegheny and
Washington Counties in the State Senate. They
were refused admission on the ground that the coun-
ties had been in a state of insurrection when the elec-
tions were held, for which reason they were unconsti-
tutional and void. A new election was held, and they
were returned and took their seats. Dr. Baird was a
member of the Senate till October, 1796. In 1798 he
was elected with John - McDowell and Aaron Lyle
member of the House of Representatives of Penn-
sylvania, and served one term; He was elected sheriff
of Washington County in October, 1799, He was
one of the original trustees of Washington Academy
upon its charter in September, 1787. His wife Su-
sanna died Nov. 16, 1802, and twelve days later his
mother died, aged sixty-nine years. In 1804 he was
married to Margaret Darragh, whose family had
moved to Washington about the same time he came.

Absalom Baird died Oct. 27, 1805, in consequence
of a fall from his horse. He was buried with Masonic
and military honors in the old graveyard at the north
part of the town. He left four sons,—John, George,
Thomas H., and William. John was educated at
Washington Academy. He studied medicine with
his father, and later movedto Chillicothe, Ohio, where
he married and settled. He lived there many years,
and late in life returned to Washington, where he
died in 1836, aged fifty-two years.

V George Baird was born in Kennett Square, Pa.,
Oct. 28, 1785. He was educated at ‘Washington
He entered
into merchandising, and opened a store where ‘now
stands the residence of Samuel Templeton on Main
Street. He removed to Ripley, Ohio, and later to
Wheeling, Va., Where he passed a few years, and in
1844 returned to Was'hington, where heopened aistore
on the old John Wilson property, and where his son,
A. T. Baird, is now ‘in business. He continued in
business till his death, Nov.‘l, 1860. Of his children,
John, Susan, Jane VV., and A. Todd Baird reside in
Washington, and Dr. George W. Baird is a resident
of Wheeling. A A '

Thomas Harlan Baird, a son of Absalom, was
born in Washington, Nov. 15, 1.787. He was educated
at Washington Academy, after which he entered the
law-oflice of Joseph Pentecost; after the completion
of his studies he was admitted to the bar, in March,

1808. He married Nancy McCullough, the niece of
George, Thomas, and David Acheson. He 'Was en-
gaged for several years in the management of the
Washington Steam Flouring-Mill, which he owned
till its destruction by fire in 1,832. He was a contrac-
tor on the National road with Parker Campbell and
Thomas McGifiin. On the 19th of October, 1818, he
was chosen president judge of Washington, Fayette,
Greene, and Somerset Counties, andcontinued till

8 1838. His children who are living are Mrs. George

Morgan, of Washington; Thomas H. Baird, of Mo-
nongahela City; Mrs. Dr. Reed, of Pittsburgh ; M.rs.
Eliza Patterson, Mrs. Jennie McKnight, and Miss

, Margaret and Harriet Baird, of Sewickley.
William Baird, the youngest son of Absalom, was ,

educated at Washington College, married Nancy
Mitchell, studied law in Washington, and was ad-
mitted to practice June 18, 1812; appointed deputy
attorney-general July 23, 1819, and served till 1824.
He followed the practice of law in Washington till
his death in 1834. Of his children, Gen. Absalom
Baird, of the United" States army, resides in Washing-
ton, Dr C.; William resides near Cumberland; Jane
became the wife of Governor Jacobs, of West Vir-
ginia ; and Maria is living with Mrs. Jacobs. Sarah,
a daughter of Absalom Baird, was born in Washing-
ton March 11, 1793. She was married in 1826 to Wil-
liam Hodge, of Kentucky; she’ died in 1833. Their
son, Gen. George  Hodge, was a colonel in the Con-
federate. service, and a member of the Confederate
Congress, and now resides at Newport, Ky., where
he is a successful practitioner of law.

Susan Baird, the youngest daughter of Absalom,
was born in 1796; she became the wife of Dr. Hugh
Campbell, of Uniontown, in 1823, and died July 9,
1824.

Dr. John Culbertson came to this town about 1794,
and about 1798 moved to Hopewell township (-now

Independence). "A more extended sketch of him will: _

be found in the history of that township.

Dr. Isaiah Blair was a native of Carlisle ; his name-
appears first on the assessment—roll in Washington
in the year 1800 as a physician. He was a graduate
of the first class at Dickinson College in 1787. He
became a trustee of Washington Academy, and was
appointed the first secretary of the board of trustees,
and to the honorary professorship of medicine, at the
organization of Washington College. His oflice was
opposite Morris Tavern. He died Sept. 15, 1808.

Dr. Frederick L. Conyngham, after acourse of study
in‘Europe and an extensive practic'e in the western
country, settled here in February, 1800, and practiced.
He also opened a drug-store near the market-house-

at Mrs. Wilson’s. On Jan. 24, 1801,'he bought of’,
John and Isabella Ritchie lot No. 186 on Market

Street, corner of Pine Alley; The lot is now "owned.
by Dr. R. Davis. 'He had left here before 1810.

Dr. Francis Bean came to Washington in the latter '

partof 1803, and advertised as an Indian doctor. On.
the 7th of June, 1804, he bought of Charles Valen-

tine, on an article of agreement, one house and three .

(1

lots on Belle Street, opposite the Academy” (now
the college), and on the 17th of August, 1807, he pur-
chased of John Hoge‘ lot 140, on Beau Street, which

he sold to George Darns in 1810. On the 6th of"

February of the same year he sold the lots opposite
the academy to Silas Pruden, the brick-maker.
these lots Charles De Hass lived, and later had a.

white-lead works. lAbout 1830 the lots and houses. .

.

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fiéaaw Egg: a© m_@2m_@=mm_m_
§..§EZ...E @22._3T§©@@w§:

CAPTURE OF FORTDU QUESNE AND EXPULSION  THE FRENCH.

In 1758 the English ministry planned and sent for-
ward an expedition much more formidable than that
placed under Braddock, three years before, for the
capture of Fort Du Quesne. Gen. Abercrombie, who
had been appointed commander-in-chief of His Ma-
jesty’s forces in North America, assigned the com-
mand of this new expedition to Brig.-Gen. John
Forbes. His force (of which the rendezvous was
appointed at Raystown, now Bedford, Pa.) was com-
posed of three hundred and fifty Royal American
troops, ‘twelve hundred Scotch Highlanders, sixteen
hundred Virginians, and two thousand seven hundred
Pennsylvania provincials, two hundred and fifty men
from Maryland, one hundred and fifty from North
Carolina, and one hundred from “ the lower counties

' on Delaware,” a total of six thousand three hundred

and fifty effective men, besides one ‘thousand wagon-
ers and laborers. The Virginia troops were comprised
in two regiments, commanded respectively by Col.
George VVashington and Col. James Burd, but both
under the superior command of Washington as acting
brigadier. Gen. Forbes arrived at Raystown about
the 10th of September,‘ but Col. Henry Bouquet had
previously (in August) been ordered forward with an
advanced column of two thousand men to the Loyal-
hanna to cut out roads. The main body, with Wash-
ington in advance, moved forward from Raystown in

‘ October. In the mean time Bouquet (perhaps think-

ing he could capture the fort with his advance divi-
sion, before the arrival of the main body, and thus
secure the principal honor) sent forward a recon-

noissance in force, consisting of eight hundred men’

(mostly Highlanders) under Maj. William Grant.
This force reached a point in the vicinity of the
fort,’ where, on the 14th of September, it was at-
tacked on both flanks and in the rear by a body of
about seven hundred French and a large number
of savages, under command of a French oflicer named
Aubry. H-ere Grant was defeated with much slaugh-
ter, the Indians committing terrible atrocities on the
dead and wounded Highlanders. The losses of
Grant’s force were two hundred and seventy killed,
forty-two wounded, and a number of prisoners, among
whom was Maj. Granthimself. The French and In-
-dians then advanced against Bouquet and attacked
his intrenched position at Fort Ligonier, but were
finally (thoughwith great difliculty) repulsed on the
12th of October, and forced to retreat to their fort.

1 On the 9th o_f September, Gen. Forbes wrote from Fort London to
Governor Denny, of Pennsylvania: “ Everythingis ready for the Army’s
advancing; but that I cannot do unless I have a sufiicient quantity of
provisions in the magazine at Raystown. The road that leads from the
advanced posts to the French fort. may be opened as fast as a convoy can
march it. Therefore my movements depend on his Majesty's subjects
entering cheerfully in carrying up the necessary provisions. The new
road has been finished without the enemies knowing it. The troops
have not suffered the least insult in the cutting of it.” He also stated
that the road was then open to within forty miles of Fort Du Quesne.

2 This fight took place at “ Grant’s Hill,” in the present city of Pitts-
burgh. The commander and Maj. Lewis were taken prisoners by the
French and Indians. ‘

5

-61

Gen. Forbes with the main body of his army ar-
rived at Loyalhanna early in November. A council
of war was held, at which it was decided that on ac-
count of the lateness of the season and approach of
winter (the ground being already covered with snow)
it was “ unadvisable, if not impracticable, to prosecute

the campaign any further till the next season, and

that a winter encampment among the mountains or
a retreat to the frontier settlements was the only al-
ternative that remained.” But. immediately after-
wards a scouting par-ty brought in some prisoners,
from whom it was learned that the garrison of Fort
Du Quesne was weak, and the Indian -allies of the
French considerably disaffected. Thereupon the de-

_ cision of the council of war was reversed, and orders

at once issued to move on to the assault of the fort.
The march was commenced immediately, the troops
taking with them no tents or heavy baggage, and
only a few pieces of light artillery. ‘Washington with
his command led the advance. When within about
twelve miles of the fort word was brought to Forbes
that it was being evacuated by the French, but he
remembered the lesson taught" by Braddock’s rash-
ness, and treated the report with suspicion, con-
tinuing the march with the greatest caution, and
withholding from the troops the intelligence he had
received. On the 25th of November, when they
were marching with the provincials in front, they
drew near the fort and came to a place where a great
number of stakes had been planted, and on these
were hanging the kilts of the Highlanders slain on
that spot in Grant’s defeat two months before. When
Forbes’ Highlanders saw this they became infuriated
with rage and rushed on, reckless of consequences
and regardless of discipline in their eagerness to take
bloody vengeance on the slayers of their countrymen.
They were bent on the extermination of their foes

and swore to give no quarter, but soon after, on V
arriving within sight of the fort, it was found to be _

indeed evacuated and in flames, and the last of the
boats in which its garrison had embarked were seen
in the distance passing Smoky Island on their way
down the Ohio.

The fort was found to have been mined, but either
the enemy had left in too much haste to fire the train
or the fuse had become extinguished. All the guns
had been burst or sunk in the river. The troops at
once marched up to take possession, Washington
with his command being the first on the ground. On

-the following day he wrote to the Governor of Vir-

ginia a report of the evacuation and capture of the
post as follows:

“ CAMP AT FORT_DU Qussms,
i “ 28th_November, 1758..

“ To Gov. FAUQUIER: " .
' “‘Sm,—I have the pleasure to inform you that Fort Duquesne, or the
ground rather on which it stood, was possessed by his Majesty’s troops
on, the 25th instant. The enemy, after letting us get within a day's
march of the place, burned the fort and ran away by the light of it, at
night going down the Ohio by water to the number of about five hun-
dred men, according to our best information. This possession of the

of October 15th, the same year.

WASHINGTON BQROUGH.
~ 

were occupied by Dr. Robert ‘McClure, who lived
there for several years. These lots are now owned
by Mr. A. B. Caldwell. .

Dr. William Barr came to this town from Cumber-
land County "in 1808. He advertised on the 3d of
August of that year that he had opened a drug-store
next door to William Sherrard’s store, and offered his
services to the public in the practice of physic and
surgery. A notice of his death occurs in the Reporter
- Dr. Henry Stephenson came to Washington from
Carlisle in 1809. He advertised, March 1st of that
year, that he had opened a drug-store opposite the
court-house. He left Washington for Pittsburgh
within a year after, gave up the practice of medicine,

3 ' and died a few years since.

\ Dr. John Julius Le Moyne de Villiers was a native
of a suburb of Paris, where hewas born in 1760. His
father was a physician, and had charge of the Botanic

«Gardens. John Julius studied medicine with his

father, and enjoyed the best opportunities Paris af-
forded, going through a course of seven years’ study,

’ including a’ practice of several years in the hospital.

He became a successful practicing physician in Paris.
He was present at the storming and demolition of the
Bastile, though he went involuntarily, being borne

~ along with the great crowd against his will.

Great inducements were held out to emigrants

, p to come to America, andhe joined a party, many

of whom were of high families, fleeing from the
terrors of the French Revolution. The vessel in
which he embarked was shipwrecked, but all were

' landed at New York safely, he having lost all his

clothing and a very fine collection of books and-in-

__ struments. After the French emigrants received a

grant of land in Southern Ohio, he accompanied the

"party to Gallipolis, Ohio, where he remained four

years and practiced his profession. He came to
Washington about 1797, and married in that year
Nancy, the daughter of Francis McCully, then lately
arrived from Ireland. They made their home in. a
two-story log house above Chestnut Street on Main,
lately torn down by Mr. Lytle, where his son, Francis

' Julius Le ‘Moyne, was born. In 1800 he removed to
- a log house at the lower end of Main Street, on the

side of the hill.  large piece of ground was attached
tothis place, which was planted with many trees,
shrubs, and herbs. Later he moved to the house of
Hugh Wilson, on Main Street, where now stands
Charlton’s confectionery-store, and opened a drug-
store. As was the custom of the time, he entertained
strangers, especially French people, who made his
house their home while passing from east to west.
He took out alicense to keep a house of entertain-
ment from the years 1798 to 1806, after which time

his dru.g-store and practice demanded so much atten-

tion that it was given up. '
Having been unaccustomed to riding on horseback
he was an awkward rider, and objected to country

practice and gradually gave.it up. He was very

fond of music and drawing, and was proficient in

both. His performances on the violin and clarionet
are well remembered by Mr. C. M. Reed when he
was keeping the drug—store in 1813, where Michael
Kunt-z’s hat-store now is, in the Valentine House, and

also his relating the taking of the Bastile. He accu-_

mulated many books, especially on chemistry and
botany, the latter of which he was particularly fond
of. The cultivation of flowers and gardening was a
favorite pastime. He gave up practice when about
sixty years of age, and continued his drug-store till
his death in 1849, at the advanced age of eighty‘-
seven years, retaining all his faculties perfectly. The
stone house known as the Le Moyne mansion was
built by him in 1813, and in that year he moved into
the “ New Stone House on Maiden Street,” where he
resided until financially embarrassed, and moved t
the house across the street, where he died. ‘
Francis Julius Le Moyne, only child of Dr. John J.
Le Moyne, was born on the 4th of September, 1798, in

Washington. His schooldays were passed in his na- '

tive town, where he graduated from Washington Col-
lege in the class of 1815 at the age of seventeen. He
commenced the study of medicine with his father,
and finished his studies at the medical college in
Philadelphia. He commenced the practice of medi-
cine in 1822, and continued practice till he was about
fifty years of age, when he relinquished the arduous
duties of his- profession. Shortly after his return
from Philadelphia at the close of his medical studies

he met at his father’s house Miss Madeleine Romaine

Bureau,'wh0 had accompanied her sister from Gal-

lipolis in order to receive medical treatment. This ,
' acquaintance ripened into a marriage, which occurred

in May, 1823. He settled in Washington, and en-
tered upon the practice of his profession with great
zeal and energy. By his father’s embarrassment
about this time the old homestead was sold, and by
the aid of friends he was enabled to_ purchase it.
By hard work, economical living, and persistent en-

ergy he succeeded in clearing his own and his fath‘‘er’s ‘

debts. Feeling deeply interested in education, he
early manifested a desire to promote and extend its
benefits. On April 2, 1830, he was elected a trustee
of Washington College, in which position he remained,

a prominent and useful member, until the union of ‘

Washington and Jefferson Colleges, which occurred in
1865. He was one of the earliest friends of the Wash-
ington Female Seminary, and-was elected one of the
original trustees in 1836. About that time he became
interested in the abolition movement that was just
beginning to sweep over the land, arid was induced
to join that party. From then till the successful ac-
complishment of the object for which the movement
was st-arted he was a champion of the down-trodden
race, and one of the most aggressive workers in the
field. A sound,‘ logical thinker, independent, forci-
ble, he brought to the work the best powers of his

543 .

54-1

HISTORY OF WASHINGTON COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA.

mind, regardless of personal and private interests.
He was a candidate of’the Abolition party for Gov-
ernor of Pennsylvania in 1841, again in 1844, and in
1.847. The Citizens’ Library, of which he was the
founder, is mentioned at length in this work. He
founded a colored normal school under the care of
the American Missionary Society. A donation of
$20,000 was made for this purpose, a portion of which
was to be expended in the erection of buildings, and
the remainder in the endowment of the institution.
The site selected was on a bluff in the vicinity of the
city -of Memphis, Tenn. The school proved success-
ful, and an additional sum of $5000 was donated for
its support. " Feeling the deepest interest in hi-s alma
mater, he endowed a professorship with $20,000 in
1872, to be entitled “ The Le Moyne Professorship of
Agriculture and Correlative Branches,” and in July,

4187 9, made an additional endowment of $20,000 for

a chair of applied mathematics. .

He was-an enthusiast on the subject of cremation,
and believing it to be the only proper means of dis-
posing of the dead, he built a crematory a short dis-
tance southeast of the town. The first body cremated
was that of Baron de Palm, a German nobleman.
The cremation took place on the 6th of December,
1876, under the charge of a society called the Theo-
sophists. The transaction attracted great attention;
reports of it were published in nearly all the news-
papers ‘of the country, and Dr. Le Moyne, the crema-
tionist, became widely known and famed. There
have been ‘fourteen cremations in the furnace, he
himself being the third subject. It is not looked
upon with much favor by the people of Washington.

Dr.- F. J. Le Moyne died Oct. 14, 1879, his wife
having died six years earlier-(July, 1873). They had
eight children, all of whom are living, viz.: Hon.
John V. B. Le Moyne, ex-member of Congress, Chi-
cago; Frank Le Moyne, M.D., of Pittsburgh; Mrs.
N. K. Wade, of Columbus, Ohio; Mrs. V. Harding;
Mrs. John A. Wills; Julius Le Moyne; ‘Miss Jane

and Miss Madeline Le Moyne, of Washington. ‘

Dr. Alexander Blair, a son of Dr. Isaiah Blair, was
born in Carlisle, Pa., May 22, '17 89. He moved with
his father to this town, and entered Washington Col-
lege, where he graduated in the first class in 1808.
On receiving his diploma, Alexander returned to Car-
lisle, and entered upon. the study of medicine with

~ Dr. Samuel Allan McCoskey, who had been his

father’s medical preceptor. After a preliminary
course of reading he Went to Philadelphia and at-
tended‘ lectures in the medical department of the
University of Pennsylvania for one term and part of
a second. After this course of study he returned to
Washington, and his advertisement in the Reporter of
date March 9, 1812, says he had then opened, an office
and drug-store on the northeast corner of Market and

, Maiden Streets.‘ Soon after this, upon the breaking

out of the War of 1812, he applied fora military po-
sition, and received a commission as surg_eon’s mate in

the regular army, dated July 6, 1812. ‘He, remained
until the close of the war, having been promoted to
surgeon in March, 1814. On the 21st of August, 1815,
“ Dr. Blair (late of the United States army) tenders
his professional services to his friends and the public,
and has just opened a neat assortment of Drugs and
Medicines opposite the Branch Bank on Main Street,
Washington.”

At a meeting of the alumni of Washington Col-
lege in 1856, one of the speakers said of him, “That
distinguished anatomical teacher and operating sur-
geon, the late Prof. William E. Horner, who was

“associated with him in the army, never failed, when
speaking of his youthful companion, to eulogize his
professional character in the strongest terms.’ And if

proof to the truthfulness of that eulogy beneeded, it ~

is found in the factpthat Dr. Blair was one of twenty
medi/cal oflicers retained on 1-‘ the military peace es:
tablishment’ of the United States in 1815. This

offer, however, he declined, and settled in this place-

Here he continued the practice of his profession until
his death, May 26, 1830. Careless of reputation, he
has left no written record of his surgical operations
or medical experience; and now, twenty-six years
afterwards, the slab in the old graveyard which tables
his_age and death tells all that is known of his his-

tory to the younger generations in this the scene of -

his life; but a few older citizens, while they faintly
recall a defect of his character, vividly remember
Alexander Blair, the kindly gentleman and skillful
physician.” 5
Dr. John Wishart, a son of Dr. David Wishart, was

born in Thornhill Parish, Perthshire, Scotland. In
his youth he pursued a course of [study in Latin and
English, and later was placed under the care of Dr.
Hill, of the University of Edinburgh. His maternal
grandfather had emigrated to America, and Dr. David
Wishart followed in July, 1796. After a tedious and
dangerous voyage, being shipwrecked off Little Egg
Harbor, he at last arrived safely. He was for a short
time at Hagerstown, Md., and upon the purchase of
lands in Huntingdon County by Dr. David Wishart,
the family removed to that place, and later to Bed-
ford County, where Dr. David Wishart had an exten-
sive practice. His son John worked on the farm, and
studied medicine with his father. In 1806 he entered
the University of Philadelphia, and after a full course
graduated in the spring of 1808. He married Mary,

a daughter of Robert Tate, Esq., and removed to

Washington, and opened an office October 3d of that
year, “ at the house of Mrs. Dodd, nearly opposite the
court-house,” now the site of Hastings’ hardware-
store and the Washington Savings-Bank. His second
wife was Martha, daughter of John Wilson, Esq., of
Washington. He died June 19, 1864, in the eighty-
fourth year of his age, leaving ten children, five by
each marriage. He stood in the front rank of his
profession, both as practitioner of medicine and sur-
gery, and was called in consultation from great. dis-

‘/township, as his third.

WASHINGTON’ BOROUGII.

545

tances. He was a man of strong convictions, resolute
purpose, and took a leading part in all public affairs.
He was one of the foremost in the promotion of edu-
cational afifairs, and took an active part in the estab-
lishment of the system of public schools in 1835. He
became one of the first directors of the schools, and
also one of the trustees of the Washington Female
Seminary throughout most of its history until his
death, and was a part of the time president of the
board of trustees. His daughter Jane became the
wife of Judge A. W. Acheson. David Wishart was
born in Washington, studied medicine with his father,
practiced there and in Greene County until 1862,
when he went into the army as lieutenantin the
Twenty-second Pennsylvania Cavalry. After the War

' he settled in” Washington, where he has since re-

sided. Nancy resided in Washington; Robert T. re-
sides in North Strabane ; Mary married the Rev.
David Lowrie, of Beaver County, Pa. '; Marguerite
married Alfred Carter, an attorney of Cincinnati; Dr.
John W. Wishart studied with his father, graduated
in the Pennsylvania University, and entered the army

‘as surgeon of the One Hundred and Fortieth Regi-

ment. After the war he settled in Pittsburgh, where
he still resides and practices. The Rev. Marcus W.

,Wishart, of Erie, is also a son; Ellen married Lucius
_W. Stockton, now of Philadelphia; Alexander, who

is now in Mexico, is an engineer. 1

Dr. David G. Mitchell came to Washington - in
April, 1810, and advertised that for some years he had
lived sixteen miles from Washington, on the road to
Brownsville; that he had removed to Washington,
-and commenced the practice of “ physio, surgery, and

midwifery,” the second door below M.cCammant’s inn.
He remained here many years, and died here.. He
. was favorably known as a physician. He was elected

president of the Western Medical Society in 1813-15.
His wife was a daughter of Jacob Jennings, who was
also a physician.

Dr. James Stevens, a native of Connecticut, studied
medicine with Dr. Cox, of New York. He came here
about 1816, and opened an oflice where William. Sher-
rard lived, now owned by Jacob Miller. He married
a daughter of David Redick as his first wife; a
daughter of Nathaniel Breading, of Fayette County,
as his second wife, and Mrs. Sarah Carrons, of Amwell
He had no children who
reached maturity. His oflice in later years was on
the ground where now stands the residence of Alex-
ander Murdoch. He built the ‘present residence of

"Mr. Murdoch, and lived there until his death, about
1863, at the age of eighty-four years. He was in ac-

tive practice until seventy-nine years of age. He was
plain, unassuming, of sterling integrity,firm, unwav-
ering adherence to truth, cautious, intuitive, and yet
heroic in his treatment of cases. His practice was
extensive through nearly all the county, Dr. Le Moyne
and.Dr. Wishart being the only other physicians in
that early day. Drs. King,»Finley, and Biddle,of

1 Dr. Ramsay, and others.
turned his attention to the study of medicine, and V

Monongahela City, Dr. Halleck, of Pittsburgh, Dr.
Joseph Conelly, of Pittsburgh, Dr. Alexander Ham-
ilton, ’West Middleton, Dr. Matthew Clark, Dr. Wray
Grayson, of Washington, and several others were stu-
dents under him.

Dr. Robert Lane, a nephew of Dr. John Wishart, .

came from Bedford County about 1842, when a young
man, and studied medicine with his uncle, and later
opened an office in the building where Hughes’ gro-

‘cery-store now is, on Market Street near Chestnut.

He married a daughter of Col. James Brice. He had
a large practice and a number of pupils, among
whom were Thomas Marshman, Samuel Ackim,
Samuel Potter, and J .- R. Wilson. ‘ He sold his prac-
tice in this section in 1853, and removed to Rockford,
Ill., where he is now a banker.

John R. Wilson, son of John Wilson, was a native
of this town. He graduated in 1842 at Washington
College, and studied medicine with Dr. Robert Lane.
He attended one course at Jefferson Medical College,
Philadelphia, then practiced a year in Claysville;
attended a second course, graduated in 1849, and
opened an oflice in Washington and practiced until
his death in March, 1873. He gained a wide prac-
tice and was highly esteemed by his professional
brethren‘, as well as the community in which he
lived.

Dr. Samuel Murdoch was the second son of John

, Murdoch, who settled in what is now North Strabane

township in 1788. He was a graduate of Dickinson
College, Pa. He studied theology under the direc-
tion of Rev. John Anderson, D.D., of the Associate
Presbyterian (now United Presbyterian) Church, and
was the contemporary of Rev. Thomas Allison, Rev.
His voice failing him, he

having fitted himself for that profession he was soon
engaged in a large and successful practice in the
borough of Canonsburg. In the year 1817 he removed
to Washington and continued in active practice until
about the year 1830, when he was admonished by ad-
vancing years that rest and relaxation had become
necessary. He then established a drug-store in the
building where he resided, and which he erected on
the lot now occupied by S. M. Templeton as a drug-
store on Main Street. ‘ ‘

Dr. Murdoch was twice married. He died in Wash-
ington in 1845, in the eighty-first year of his age. He

1 has a daughternow living in Washington, the widow

of the late Dr. Joseph Templeton. His only son, John
S. Murdoch, a young man of great promise, a gradu-
ate of Washington College and the Jefferson Medical
School of Philadelphia, died suddenly before enter-
ing upon the duties of his profession.

Dr. Matthew Henderson Clark was a son of James
Clark, of Brush Run, Hopewell township, and a
grandson. of the Rev. Matthew Henderson. . ‘His

father died when he was but a lad, and left a widow "

and six. children. His mother was a woman of strong

546

HISTORY or WASHINGTON COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA.

character, and by her frugality and energywas en-
abled to keep the farm and educate her children. The
influences thrown around him ‘in his early home, as
well as the struggles connected with the maintenance
of the family, had much to do in developing in Dr.
Clark those traits of character that led not only to
success in his profession, but to his high standing in
the community where he resided for thirty-eight
years. He wasieducated at Jefferson College, Can-
onsburg, and entered the office of Dr. James Stevens,
of Washington, as a student of medicine,- after which
he entered the University of Pennsylvania, but did
not complete the course at that institution. About
1839 he settled at Elizabeth, Allegheny Co., and
practiced about a year. Hethen married a daughter
of John Marshel, of VVash.ington, and came to Wash-
ington and opened an office and practiced till his
death in 1878, at which time he was the oldest prac-
titioner in the town.

Dr. Clark was a physician of the highest integrity,
of most genial manners, assiduous in his attentions
upon all, rich or poor, who called for his professional
services. He pursued his profession with zeal and
earnestness. Taking an active,_part in all public im-
provement, he stood in the front rank as a citizen.
He was an active member of the board of trustees of
Washington Female Seminary, a member of the board

of directors of the First National Bank for ten or,

fifteen years, president of the Washington Cemetery
for eighteen years, an elder in the United Presbyte-
rian Church, and for many years its treasurer. He
died June 3, 1878, aged sixty-five years. His widow
is still living. James R. Clark, of Washington, is a
son. ‘ a

Dr. John S. B. Koontz was a native of Washington,

. and a son of George Koontz. He studied medicine

with Dr._ F. J. Le Moyne, and commenced practice
about 1850, which he continued till his death, March

2 26, 1863.

The following is a list- of resident physicians in
Washington at the present time, 1882: Thomas Mc-
Kennan, Wray Grayson, J. W.'Sackville, G. A.
Dougherty, F. A. Whittlesey, A. S. McElree, J. A.
McKean, H.’ S. McKennan, W. R. Thompson, H.
Enoch, John Kelly, George Kelly, Joseph H. Little,
J. W. Stockton, and J. M. Maurer. The last named
is the only representative of the homoeopathic school.
He is a native of Pottsville, Schuylkill Co.; re-
ceived his education at Baltimore; studied medicine
under Dr. Malcolm Mc Farland, Professor of Clinical
Surgery in'I-Iahnemann Medical College, Philadel-
phia, from which he graduated in 1874. He com-
menced’ practice in Baltimore, and soon after settled _
in Pottsville.. In 1877 he located at Washington,
Pa," Although the practice of homoeopathy in Wash-
ington County was almost unknown, ‘yet Dr. Maurer
has met with good success, and his practice isvsteadily
on the increase. ,

Societies.——“The Moral Society’-’ of Washington

borough was formed on the 4th of April, 1815,’by a
number of citizens assembled at the Presbyterian
Church in pursuance of previous notice. * James

Brien was appointed president, and Obadiah Jen-

nings secretary. It was resolved to form “an asso-
ciation for the suppression of vice and immorality.”
A constitution was adopted, which among other things
provided that stated meetings should be held on the
first Monday of May, August, November, and Febru-

ary in each year at the Presbyterian meeting-house

in the borough of Washington. A tent-meeting was

held'on the 1st of May in that year, at which time .

oflicers were elected as follows: Alexander Reed,
president; Thomas H.-Baird, secretary; John Neal,
treasurer; and,Obadiah Jennings, councilor. Five

resolutions were passed, the second of which is as 2

follows:

“ Resolved, That the tavern-keepers on the different
leading roads, to a distance not exceeding ten miles,
be notified that this society are resolved to have the
laws vigorously enforced against wagoners and others
who violate the Sabbath, and that they be requested
to givethis information to all wagoners coming to
or from Washington.” Z

Similar societies were formed at West Middletown,

Cross Creek, and otherlplaces in the county. They '

were kept in force a few years and then discontinued.

The Western Abolition Society was organized Jan.
26, 1823, at the court-house ‘in Washington, by a
number of citizens of Washington County, who by
common sympathy were united in the idea that the
holding of any part of the human race in bondage
was a crime, and that negro slavery was a blot upon
the fair fame of the republic. At the meeting held
at the time named, for the purpose of organization,
the Rev. Obadiah Jennings was called to the chair,
and the Rev. J. Graham was chosen secretary. An
address was delivered by the Rev. Andrew Wylie,
after which a constitution was adopted. It was “Re-

solved, That Messrs. Freeman Brady, James Burgin, A

John Vance, John McCoy, William Lindley, Wil-
liam McGinn, John Cleaver, Samuel England, VVal-
ter Maxwell, Andrew Sutton, Thomas McKeever,
Thomas McCall, Dr.» Jonathan Leatherman, John
Reed, Ephraim Estep,Joseph Kerr, and Joseph
Stevenson be a committee to secure copies of the con-
stitution and obtain signatures.” Fifty names were

enrolled at this meeting. No further account of the ‘
society is obtained. The_id'eas that were then ex-.

pressed took deep hold on a portion of the commu-
nity, and the principles there enunciated were also
moving the people in different parts of the country,
and societies were being forme_d for the same purpose.

The Washington Anti-Slavery Society was formed
on the 4th of July, 1834, of which society Joseph
Henderson was elected president. Of the organization
of the society and the action taken no further _mention.
is made. On the 4th of July, 1835, the first anniver-

‘WASHINGTON BOROUGH.

547

sary was held in the Methodist Episcopal Church, and
the oflicers elected for the year were Dr. F. J. Le
Moyne, president; Dr. J. Templeton, vice-president;
Samuel McFarland, secretary; George K._Scott, treas-
urer ; Rev. William Kenney, Patterson Scott, Samuel
Hazlett, James Reed, Robert Latimore, and Samuel
Mount, managers. At" this meeting Alexander Swee-
ney, Dr. Joseph Templeton, and Dr. F. Julius Le
Moyne were appointed a committee to prepare an
address for the next meeting. This meeting was held
in August, the same year, and the address was deliv-
ered. It was ordered published in ‘Our Country, in
which paper it appeared on the 13th of August, and
occupied five columns. The first proposition defines
the objectof the society, viz.: “The entire abolition

A ' of slavery throughout-the whole of the slave-holding

portions of the United States.”

The formation of this society, and the attempt to
disseminate its principles, roused a violent opposition,
which sh-owed itself first in the holding of public meet-
ings in Washington, at which resolutions were passed
denouncing the abolition movement and those engaged
in it, and afterwards in an evident determination to
suppress free speech in Washington, at least so far
as concerned the enunciation of anti-slavery doctrines.
This determination broke into open violence in June,
1836, the facts of which are as follows: The Rev. Sam-

« V uel Gould, who was traveling through the country
_ speaking upon the" subject, was advertised to address
' the people of Washington.

A meeting was called to
be held in the Cumberland Presbyterian Church (now
the Disciples’), on West Wheeling Street. Warning
had been given before the meeting that the Rev. Mr.
Gould would not be allowed to speak on the subject
of the abolition of slavery as proposed. Upon this

knowledge Dr. F. J. Le Moyne procured two or three

V stalwart friends, who though not.in sympathy with

the speaker werein favor of free speech. ‘These men
took their station at the steps of the pulpit. After
the speech had commenced a young man, one of the

"leaders of the mob, cameup the aisle with a paper in

his hand. Dr. Le Moyne stepped out to meet him,
and demanded to know what he wanted. Hereplied,
“ That man must cease speaking, and the paper in my
hand is a notice to that effect.”. He insisted upon de-
livering it, and Dr. Le Moyne informed him that he

-could not do so. He still insisted, and the doctor

told him he should pass over him first; he then turned
and went out amid hooting, howling, and shufliing of

- feet. After he retired an attack was made upon the

building. Stones, bricks, and eggs were thrown
through the windows. The ladies who were in the
room were placed close to the wall. No one was
hurt, "however, and the speaker proceeded with his
address to the close amid great uproar. At the con-
clusion a hollow square was formed of the friends of
the lecturer and those in favor of free speech, with the
speaker in the centre. In this way they marched,

the mob swaying back and forth around them, as far I

as the building now occupied by ‘William S.- Bryson,
when the square-became broken by the rushing mob.
A door was kindly opened in that building on the
north side and the friends "went in, when they re-
formed and came out of the store door on Main Street
(leaving the mob for the time at the other entrance),
and passed down on the west side of Main Street, and
down Maiden Street to Dr. Le Moyne’s residence,

whichthey reached in safety, and the speaker passed-

in. Much loud talk and riotous disturbance ensued
on the outside before the mob dispersed. On the next
day Dr. Le Moyne commenced proceedings against
several of the parties, but they were finally dropped.
On the 24th of the same month succeeding the
action of the mob, a meeting was held, John R.
Grifiith, chief burgess, in the chair. After speeches-
by the Hon. Thomas H. Baird and Thomas McGiflin,
a committee composed of Judge Baird, Thomas Mc-
Giffin,_and John G. Brady, Esqs., were appointed to
draft resolutionsexpressive of the sense of the meet-
ing. They reported the following, which were adopted:

“ Whereas, The late violence and irregular consequences which have
resulted from the attempt of certain abolition agents in intruding their
opinions upon the public in this place are calculated to alarm our citi-
zens for the peace and orderof our community and the supremacy of
the laws, and whereas it is necessary to vindicate our society from inju-
rious imputations in relation to the past, and also to provide means of
prevention for the future, therefore —

“ Resolved, That in the opinion of this meeting it is unwise and highly
inexpedient to intrude upon the people of this county, and particularly
of this borough, by public addresses the peculiar and offensive doctrines
maintained and urged by the agents of the Abolition Society.

“ Resolved, That any further movements of the kind will be received
with disapprobation, as calculated to disturb the peaceof our society
without presenting the least hope of probable or even possible good.

“ Resolved, That this meeting express the most decided reprobation of
all tumultuous and disorderly acts in endeavoring to prevent the aboli-

tion movements that are evidently so offensive to the great mass of our’ -

population.” a

Three days after this meeting the citizens of West
Middletown called a meeting “ for the purpose of
taking into consideration the disorderly and disgrace-
ful acts which were done in the borough of Washing-
ton.” Thomas McCa1l was called to the chair, and
James McFadden was made secretary. On motion of
Thomas McKeever, Esq., a-committee composed of
Thomas McCall, John O. Hanna, Dr. John Ramsey,
Ool. D. McGugin, and James Thompson were ap-
pointed to draft resolutions and report at the next
meeting. Pursuant to adjournment the meeting as-
sembled the next day, and passed resolutions con-
demnatory of the violence committed in Washington,

’ and of the action of the subsequent meeting at the

county-seat. Among the resolutions were the fol-

lowing :

‘ “ Resolved, That this meeting, in consideration of the high reputation
of our fellow-citizens of Washington for morality and order, view with
regret and regard with decided disapprobation thelate riot in that place.

“ Resolved, That this meeting view mobs and riots (be the pretext what
it may) as a strong evidence of the degeneracy of morals and patriotism,
subversive of order, of law, and of liberty, and tending to anarchy and
confusion,

“ Resolved, That in the opinion of this meeting the preamble and reso-
lutions, taken in the aggregate, introduced into and adopted at a late

5,48

HISTORY OF WASHINGTON COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA.

‘meeting of some of the citizens of Washington subsequent to the late

riot as prescriptive in their nature, disorderly in their tendency, and by
no means calculated to correct morbid moral sensibility, the first part of
the third resolution to the contrary notwithstanding, and are disap-
proved by this meeting.

“ Resolved, That this meeting highly approve of the resolution intro-
duced by Mr. Reed and adopted by the Colonization Society of Wash-
ington County at one of these late meetings, as in our opinion breathing
the sentiments of every true philanthropist.” ’

I The accounts of the two meetings were given in the
columns of Our Country of date June 30, 1836, and
were followed by a notice of the annual meeting of
the Anti-Slavery Society, to be held at the house of
Dr. F. J. Le Moyne, at which time an election of
officers would be held and “addresses may be ex-

’ pected.” I

The annual meeting was held, and was “ composed
of ladies and gentlemen of the highest respectability.”
The following resolution was offered by the Rev.
Samuel Gould: “ Resolved, That because slavery is an
outrage upon humanity, disgraceful and dangerous to
the country, and diametrically opposed to the letter
and spirit of the Bible, every philanthropist and pa-
triot and'Christia_n is called- upon to aid in its exter-
mination.” Mr. Gould addressed the audience for
about an hour in support of the resolution, after which
it was passed unanimously. Other resolutions and
speeches were made, and the resolutions of the meet-
ing at West Middletown were read and adopted. The
oflicers elected at this meeting were Dr. F. J. Le
Moyne, president; Samuel McFarland, corresponding
secretary; William Cornwell, recording secretary;
George K. Scott, treasurer; Col. Daniel McGugin,

‘Henry Enlow, Esq., Alexander Sweeney, Joseph Mc-

Dowell, Col. John McCoy, Dr. John White, Samuel
Hazlett, Stephen Parcell, Rev. Alexander Donnan,
Thomas J is Odenbaugh, Esq., Samuel Vance, and Dr.
Stephen Smith, managers; James Reed, Thomas Mc-
Keever, Esq., Alexander Gordon, Esq., Samuel Mount,
and Robert Latimore, executive committee.

Trouble was expected from the opposition at this

' meeting, and Dr. Le Moyne had prepared about a

dozen hickory clubs, which were placed conveniently,
and men who were advocates of free speech were de-
termined to use them if necessary. The meeting was
held in the yard cast of Dr. Le Moync’s house, and
the feeling in the assemblage was intense and serious,
but during the reading of the Declaration of Inde-
pendence by Mr. Luther Day, a man who was in the
crowd and a leader among the opposition, but who
could neither read nor write, and thinking abolition
doctrine was being read, burst out with, “Stop that:
we don’t want to hear any more of that d—d stuff 1”,
This completely broke down the seriousness of the
opposition, and the better part from this time took no
part in any violent demonstration.

On the 15th of July, 1836, Mr. Gould was at Wil-
liamsport, and— after meeting went to the house of a
respectable citizen to pass the night, at which time
the house was mobbed because of his presence there.
The people of the town were indignant at this out-

rage, and called a meeting the next day to take action
in the matter, and while not coinciding with the views
of the speaker, they reprobated the principles that
assailed the liberty of free speech.

Dr. Le Moyne “ became one of the most aggressive
of the ‘Anti-Slavery party,.and at the same time an
opponent of the -American Colonization Society,
which he believed was established in the interests of
American slavery. He became so prominent a par-
tisan that in 1841 he was the candidate of the Abo-
lition party for Governor of Pennsylvania. Of course
he had no expectation of being elected, the object of

the campaign being to create a political balance of I

power that would ultimately control the other parties.
At the next election, in 1844, he was again a candidate,
and also in 1847. ».

“ During the early discussion, both public and pri-
vate, upon this exciting subject, there was sometimes
manifested an intolerance towards him and his party
that was painful and often oppressive. He was a man,
however, that was not to be daunted by any show of
force. Such was his peculiar mental constitution that
majorities had no influence upon his judgment and
actions. He was an original, independent, thinker,
and nothing apparently gave him so much satisfaction
as the opportunity to maintain his views by discus-
sion with a champion whom he considered a worthy
opponent. «After years spent in advocating the cause
of liberty, he had the satisfaction an.d happiness of

seeing the object of his greatest hopes accomplished’ '

in the emancipation of the slaves of the United States
and indeed in almost the whole world.” 1

Freemasonry in Washington.’—Short1y after the
organization of the county of Washington and the
location of the county-seat, a number of the citizens
in and about Washington proceeded to organize a
Masonic lodge.

Application was made to the Grand Lodge of Penn-
sylvania for a charter, which was granted, ‘James
Chambers, Absalom Baird, and Cyrus Beckwith being
designated as the principal oflicers.

The lodge (No. 54) was constituted June 25, 1792. ._

Its meetings were held regularly until June 22, 1801,
when they were suspended fora time. In 1805 the
operations of the lodge were revived, and meetings
were held until about the year 1812, when, owing to
the excitement produced by the war with Great Britain,

they ceased entirely, and this lodge passed out of ex-
istence. H ' ‘ '

Among its members we find such men as John
Hoge, David Hoge, William Meetkirke, George ‘H.
Keppelle, Joseph Pentecost, Alexander Reed, and
many others who were prominently identified with
the early history of the county. ' ’

The lodge during its’ existence met in various parts
of the town, but finally erected a stone building on
the rear of the lot now occupied by Dr. Grayson.

.1 Alexander M. Gow, Esq. 9 By J. W. McDowell.

WASHINGTON BOROUGH.

549

From 1812 to 1819 there was no lodge in Washing-
ton, but Masonry beginning to revive a second charter
was granted bylthe Grand Lodge on the 1st of March,
1819. On Jan. 21, 1820, thenew lodge, under the
name of “Washington Lodge, No. 164,” was duly
constituted, with George Jackson as Worshipful Mas-
ter, Robert Estep Senior Warden, and Daniel Thomp-
son Junior Warden. These ceremonies took place at
the house of Thomas Patton. In connection there-
with we take the following from the preface of a
pamphlet containing an address by the Hon. Thomas
H. Baird,and which was also published in the Re-

porter of Feb..14, 1820:

“For the consecration and installation of Wash-
ington Lodge, No. 164, of Ancient York Masons, a
Grand Lodge was formed at this place on Friday, the
21st of January, A.D. 1820 (A.L. 5820). The ceremony
took place under the superintendence of the Honor-
able Jonathan H. VValker, who presided as Worshipful
Grand Master, assisted by a number of brethren from
the adjacent lodges. -

“ The lodge met at an early hour of the day, when
after the necessary arrangements it proceeded in reg-
ular order to the Presbyterian meeting—house. The
service was commenced by the Rev. Matthew Brown,
assisted by the Rev. Thomas Hoge, by prayer and
praise to the Great Architect of the ‘universe; an ex-
cellent sermon from 1st.John iii. 10, was then de-

. livered by the Rev. Matthew Brown, succeeded by
‘ prayer, after which the Hon. Thomas H. Baird ~de-

livered an appropriate address, which forms the sub-
ject matter of this pamphlet. » ' l
' ‘f The lodge then returned in the same order to the
lodge-room, and closed the day in harmony.”
The next public demonstration of the lodge of which

. we have recordwas on June .24, 1824, when the breth-

ren, after a parade through the town, proceeded to the‘
Presbyterian Church, and after introductory services
by Rev. Obadiah Jennings, an address was again de-
livered by Hon. Thomas H. Baird. The meetings of
the lodge were kept up regularly until Dec. 12, 1832,
when, on account of the great anti-Masonic excite-
ment at that time agitating the whole country, the
lodge, by resolution, suspended operations. On April
14, 1845, it was revived by a dispensation of Grand
Lodge, the first meeting being held in the house of
Dr. Alfred Creigh, and it is worthy of remark that
although near thirteen years had passed since the
resolution suspending its meetings, yet all the old of-
ficers took their several stations, death not having
thinned the ranks of the craft.

‘ Since 1845 the lodge has had no interruptions in its

‘ meetings, and continues downto the present time in

successful operation.

There have been several public demonstrations of
the lodge, the'most noted being on June 24, 1847,
which was attended by a large number of Masons
from Pittsburgh, Wheeling, Brownsville, Steuben-
ville, and other places. After a parade through the

principal streets of the town, they proceeded to the
college campus, where an address was ‘delivered by
Rev. George S. Holmes. , i
This lodge first held its meetings in the building
formerly occupied by Lodge No. 54, in the rear of
the Grayson lot on South Main Street, in which the

Masons claimed a title, and which they afterwards I ‘

sold to Hon. John Grayson. In 1826 they moved to

_ a building on West Maiden Street, then owned by

W. L. Oliver, but now occupied by Mrs. Bausman,

widow ‘of John Bausman, deceased. In 1830 the.

lodge returned to the old stone building. About the
year 1846 rooms on- the corner of Main and Beau
Streets were leased from Wm. Smith, to which the
lodge removed. The next removal was to the build-
ing at present ‘occupied by the Review and Examiner
printing-office, where the new quarters were formally
dedicated on October 27th." The next removal was
to the large and commodious rooms in the third story
of Smith’s Iron Hall, on the northwest corner of Main
and Beau Streets, the first meeting being held Oct. 6,
1862. On Dec. 27, 1878, the lodge held its first meet-
ing in what is known as Young’s Building, corner of
Main Street and Alley; and in July, 1881, the
last remove was to the third story of Bryson’s Build-
ing, corner of Main and Wheeling Streets, where in
magnificently furnished rooms the brethren are pro-
vided with every facility for performing the secret
rites.and ceremonies pertaining to the craft.

This is the oldest Masonic organization in the
county, the next in age being Lodge No. 237, which
first organized and met in Washington, and was after-
wards removed to Beallsville; and following in the
order named are Nos. 297, at Canonsburg; 337, at
Monongahela City; 454, at Burnettstown; and 488,
at Independence. x

Washington Chapter, No. 150, Royal Arch Masons,
was constituted Feb. 4, 1828, a charter having been
granted on June 19, 1828, to the following-named
persons as officers: David4Acheson,' M. E. High Priest;

Chester Bidwell, King; and John M. Davis, Scribe.

As Royal Arch Masons are also Blue Lodge Masons,
the history of this chapter is to a certain extent iden-
tical with that of Lodge N o. 164, their meetings being
held in the same rooms, and a majority of the mem-
bers of the one order being also members of the
other. '

As the Masons were desirous of advancing in the
higher degrees of Freemasonry, Washington Coun-
cil, No. 1, of Royal,‘Superexcellent, and Select Mas-
ters was constituted Nov. 16, 1847; but ‘after an ex-
istenceof about thirty-three years the warrant was
vacated, and the charter, books, etc., returned to the
Grand Council, Feb. 10, 1880. ’

Jacques de Molay Commandery, No. 3,‘Knights
Templar, stationed at Washington, is the only or-
ganization of the ‘kind in the county. It was insti-
tuted Nov. 1," 1849, under a charter issued by the

 WASHINGTON BOROUGH.

549

From 1812 to 1819 there was no lodge in Washing-
ton, but Masonry beginning to revive a second charter
was granted by the Grand Lodge on the 1st of March,
1819. On Jan. 21, 1820, thenew lodge, under the
name of “Washington Lodge, No. 164,” was duly
constituted, with George Jackson as Worshipful Mas-
ter, Robert Estep Senior Warden, and Daniel Thomp-
son Junior Warden. These ceremonies took place at
the house of Thomas Patton. In connection there-
with we take the following from the preface of a
pamphlet containing an address by the Hon. Thomas
H. Baird, and which was also published in the Re-
porter of Feb..14, 1820:

“For the consecration and installation of Wash-

_ ington Lodge, No. 164, of Ancient York Masons, a
' Grand Lodge was formed at this place on Friday, the

21st of January, A.D. 1820 (A.L. 5820). The ceremony
took place under the superintendence of the Honor-
able Jonathan H. Walker, who presided as Worshipful
Grand Master, assisted by a number of brethren from
the adjacent lodges. _ _ 4
“ The lodge met at an early hour of the day, when
after the necessary arrangements it proceeded in reg-
ular order to the Presbyterian meeting-house. The
service was commenced by the Rev. Matthew Brown,

-assisted by the Rev. Thomas Hoge, by prayer and

praise to the Great Architect of the universe; an ex-
cellent sermon from 1st,J0hn iii. 10, was then de-

. livered by the Rev. Matthew Brown, succeeded by
* prayer, after which the Hon. Thomas H. Baird ~de-

livered an appropriate address, which forms the sub-

-ject matter of this pamphlet.

_ “‘ The lodge then returned in the same order to the
lodge-room, and closed the day in harmony.”
The next public demonstration of the lodge of which

, we have record was on June .24, 1824, when the breth-
. rell, after a parade through the town, proceeded to the

Presbyterian Church, and after introductory services
by Rev. Obadiah ennings, an address was again de-
livered by Hon. Thomas H -. Baird. The meetings of
the lodge were kept up regularly until Dec. 12, 1832,
when, on account of the great anti-Masonic excite-
ment at that time agitating the whole country, the
lodge, by resolution, suspended operations. On April
14, 1845, it was revived by a dispensation of Grand
Lodge, the first meeting being held in the houseof
Dr. Alfred Creigh, and it is worthy of remark that
although near thirteen years had passed since the
resolution suspending its meetings, yet all the old of-
ficers took their several stations, death not having
thinned the ranks of the craft.

' Since 1845 the lodge has had no interruptions in its

‘ meetings, and continues down.to the present time in

successful operation.

There have been several public demonstrations of
the lodge, the'most noted being on June 24, 1847,
which was attended by a large number of Masons
from Pittsburgh, Wheeling, Brownsville, Steuben-
ville, and other places. After a parade through the

principal streets of the town, they proceeded to the
college campus, where an address was ‘delivered b
Rev. George S. Holmes. _ '
This lodge first held its meetings in the building
formerly occupied by Lodge No. 54, in the rear of
the Grayson lot‘ on South Main Street, in which the

Masons claimed a title, and which they afterwards »' 9

sold to Hon. John Grayson. In 1826 they moved to

_ a building on West Maiden Street, then owned by

W. L. Oliver, but now occupied by Mrs. Bausm_an,

widow ‘of John Bausman, deceased. In 1830 the

lodge returned to the old stone building. About the
year 1846 rooms on- the corner of Main and Beau
Streets were leased from Wm. Smith, to which the
lodge removed. The next removal was to the build-
ing at present ‘occupied by the Review and Examiner
printing-office, where the new quarters were formally
dedicated on October 27th.“ The next removal was
to the large and commodious rooms in the third story
of Smith’s Iron Hall, on the northwest corner of Main
and Beau Streets, the first meeting being held Oct. 6,
1862. On Dec. 27, 1878, the lodge held its first meet-
ing in what is known as Young’s Building, corner of
Main Street and Alley; and in July, 1881, the
last remove was to the third story of Bryson’s Build-
ing, corner of Main and Wheeling Streets, where in
magnificently furnished rooms the brethren are pro-
vided with every facility for performing the secret
ritesand ceremonies pertaining to the craft.

This is the oldest Masonic organization in the
county, the next in age being Lodge N o. 237, which
first organized and met in Washington, and was after-
Wards removed to Beallsville; and following in the
order named are Nos. 297, at Canonsburg; 337, at
Monongahela City; 454, at Burnettstown; and 488,
at Independence. ,-

 

Washington Chapter, No. 150, Royal Arch Masons,
was constituted Feb. 4,‘ 1828, a charter having been
granted on June 19, 1828, to the following-named
persons as officers: DavidAcheson, M. E. High Priest;

Chester Bidwell, King; and John M. Davis, Scribec

As Royal Arch Masons are also Blue Lodge Masons,
the history of this chapter is to a certain extent iden-
tical with that of Lodge N o. 164, their meetings being
held in the same rooms, and a majority of the mem-
bers of the one order being also members of the
other. '

As the Masons were desirous of advancing in the
higher degrees of Freemasonry, Washington Coun-
cil, No. 1, of Royal,‘Superexcellent, and Select Mas-
ters was constituted Nov. 16, 1847; but "after an ex-
istenceof about thirty-three years the warrant was
vacated, and the charter, books, etc., returned to the
Grand Council, Feb. 10, 1880. ‘

Jacques de Molay Commandery, N o. 3, ' Knights

Templar, stationed at Washington, is the only or-

ganization of the. "kind in the county. It was insti-
tuted Nov. 1,l.18'49, under a charter issued by the

WASHINGTON BOROUGH.

551

unsightly appearance and neglected condition,-——above
all, its close proximity to the town and consequent
desecration, particularly on the Sabbath, had long
been subjects of mournful observation. But the time

had not come for the desired change. The necessity .
. for a new burial-place had not impressed itself on the

public mind. The natural and instinctive veneration

for the old ‘graveyard, coeval with the ,town’s_ exist-

ence, where reposed ‘a generation of the unforgotten
dead, forbadeqits serious contemplation. So the mat-
ter rested until 1846, when the town was startled by

anattempt to open public thoroughfares through the '

old graveyard. It was claimed that, according to the
original plan of the borough, Walnut Street ran west-

, wardly until it was_ intersected at right angles by an
‘ avenue passing northwardly from Chestnut Street,

and that these thoroughfares came together in the
heart of the old burial-ground. Accordingly,'an
application to open them was made to .the court.
This was strenuously resisted by a majority of the
citizens. The application was dropped, doubtless out
of respect for the feelings of survivors, as well as due
regard for the repose of the departed. But although
this effort was not persisted in (and, if it had, perhaps
might have been successfully resisted), yet it engen-
dered feelings of insecurity touching the permanency
of the old graveyard. _ J ’ I
It was not, however, until the year 1852 that any.

concerted action was taken to provide a more secure

and attractive repository for the dead. It is due to
the principal of the Washington.Female Seminary
(Mrs. Hanna) to say that the Washington Cemetery
is indebted for its origin to her happily-conceived and
well-directed efforts. In the summer_of 1852 a num-
ber of citizens,of the town and vicinity, upon the in-

vitation of Mrs. Hanna, met at the Washington_Female

Seminary, to take into consideration the propriety of
establishing a new cemetery. .
ing was the organization, of the present company, and
the purchase of the ground upon which the new cem-
etery is located. 5' V _

On the 3d day of March, 1853, the Washington

Cemetery Company was incorporated, and the first.

board of managers was organized by the election of

A the following: Rev. Thomas Hanna, D.D., presi-

dent; Hon. Jacob Slagle, treasurer; Dr. Matthew H.
Clark, John Bausman, Sample Sweney, Alexander
Murdoch, David S. Wilson, secretary.

Immediate. steps were taken to procure an eligible

V site for the contemplated improvement. To aid in
1 thisimportant duty, the board availed itself of the

large practical experience of John Chislett, Esq.,
superintendent of the Allegheny Cemetery. Mr.
Chislett visited Washington, spent several days in
explorations, and having expressed a decided prefer-
ence for the site covered by lands of Alexander Swe-
ney, James G. Strean, and John McClelland, the board,
fully concurring in the selection, proceeded at once to
purchase the said lands. if

The result of that meet- '

The first purchase consisted of" 10 acres 86 perches
from Alexander Sweney, for $848; 9 acres" 28 perches
from J. G. Strean, for $688.12; 6 acres 19 perches from
J. McClelland, for $754.34.’ Subsequently an addi-
tional purchase was made from Alexander Sweney, of
10 acres and 142 perches, for $1088.75. An addition
of 30 acres and 127 perches was made Aug. 31, 1859,
by purchase of Joseph Huston, and subsequently,
April 23, 1862, by purchase of VVilliam B. Huston.

In November, 1862, February, 1864, and January, _

1869, sales were made of parcels that embraced in? all
an area of about eight "acres. The whole cemetery
area at present (1882) comprises 68 acres and 130
perches. = . _

The company was very fortunate in the location
thus secured. Situate upon the Upper Ten-Mile
plank-road, about half a mile from Washington, it
is easy of access from town and country. The view
from the cemetery grounds ‘isivery attractive. From
this elevated position the visitor looks down on the
town of Washington, spread out upon the beautiful
basin formed by Catfish Run, one of the head-waters
of Chartiers Creek, and far beyond over a large ex-
panse of rich and variegated scenery.

After the purchase of the grounds, the board pro--
ceeded forthwith to inclose them with a high, sub-
stantial fence, and to erect a suitable building for the
accommodation of their superintendent. They after-
wards erected an iron gate supported by permanent
stone columns at the main entrance. On the 1st of
November, 1853, was made the first interment, that
of an infant child of Morgan Hayes.

The clearing and improvement of the grounds, cut- 6

ting out avenues, etc., necessarily involved a heavy
expense. But the board did not falter, believing that
the enterprise had its. origin in a great public neces-
sity, and that eventually it would overcome al1~prej-
udice ‘and find favor with the entire community.

'Among the reasons why it should and must be so are '

the following:
First. The absence from this undertaking of any
purpose of private speculation. The entire fund

’arising from the_sale of burial lots is specifically ded- _
icated to the purchase and improvement of the V
. grounds. No part of these funds can under any cir-

cumstances inure to the benefit of the members of
the corporation. Each purchaser of a lot is thus as-
sured that the sum of money which he contributes
is expended in improving and beautifying. the place,
in the midst of. which he has consecrateda spot for
the repose of his own dead. A " —
Second. The security furnished by the act of in-
corporation,.making the grant of a burial lot not only
perpetual, but exempting it forever from every pro-
cess of law by which the same could beforcibly sold,
providing also for the perpetual succession of the
board of corporators, thus furnishing the strongest
guarantee that the dead shall remain here in undis-

V , turbed repose.

62

HISTORY OF. WASHINGTON . COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA.

fort has been matter of surprise to the whole army, and we cannot at-
tribute it to more probable causes than the weakness of the enemy, want
of provisions, and the defection of the Indians. Of these circumstances
we were luckily informed by three prisoners who providentially fell into
our hands at Loyal Hanna, when we despaired of proceeding farther. A
council of war had determined that it was not advisable to advance this
season beyond that place; but the above information caused us to march
on without tents or baggage, and with only a light train of artillery.
We have thus happily succeeded. It would be tedious and I think un-
necessary to relate every trivial circumstance that has happened since

, my last. . . . This fortunate and indeed unexpected success of our arms

will be attended with happy eifects. The Delawares are sueing for peace,
and I doubt not that other tribes on the Ohio are following their ex-
ample. A trade free, open, and on equitable terms is what they seem
much to desire, and I do not know so effectual a way of riveting them
to our interest as by sending out goods immediately to this place for
that purpose . . .” A

Thus, after repeated attempts, each ending in blood
and disaster, the English-standardwas firmly planted
at the head of the Ohio, and the French power here
overthrown forever.

The Indians had become greatly dissatisfied with
the French, and had entirely ceased acting with them
against the English. Gen. Forbes, in his report to
Governor Denny, dated November 26th, after an-
nouncing the capture of the fort, said -that the French
were “ abandoned, or at least not seconded, by their
friends the Indians, whom we had previously engaged
to act a neutral part, and who now seem all willing to
embrace His Majesty’s most gracious protection.”
On the" capture of the fort the Delawares sued for
peace, which was granted to them at a treaty confer-
ence held with them at the fort immediately after it
came into possession of the English forces.

On the ruins of Fort Du Quesne another work was

'constructed—a weak and hastily—built stockade with

ashallow ditch—and named “Fort Pitt,” in honor of
William. Pitt, Earl Chatham. Two hundred and
eighty men of Washington’s command were left to

garrison it, under command of Col. (afterwards gen--

eral) Hugh Mercer, and the main army marched east.
Gen. Forbes "returned to Philadelphia, and’ died there
in March, 1759. The new Fort Pitt was commenced
in August, 1759, and completed during the fall of
that year by a force under command of Gen. Stanwix.
In the same autumn Col. James Burd was sent from
Carlisle to open a road from Braddock’s road on
Laurel Hill to the Monongahela, and at the latter
point to build a fort, the object being the establish-
ment of a route for transportation from the East to
Fort Pitt, with defensive works and bases of supply
at intermediate points. The fort was built by Col.
Burd’s detachment, on the present site of the town of
Brownsville, on the Monongahela, and a road was
opened from it to Braddock’s road on the summit of
Laurel,Hill. ' The work on the road was commenced
on the 13th of September, and on the fort on the 24th
of October. On Sunday, the 4th of November, a
sermon was preached in the fort by his‘ chaplain, the
Rev. Dr. -Allison, who on the same day left for Phila-
delphia. ‘The fort was completed afew days later,
and namedi“'FortBu’rd,.” A garrison of twenty-five,

men remained in it, and Col. Burd, with the rest of
his detachment, marched to Fort Pitt.

Gen. Stanwix remained at- Fort Pitt until the fol-
lowing year, and during his stay was very successful
in cultivating the friendship of the Indians. A
treaty council was held with them at the old fort on
the 4th of July, 1759, and another at the new Fort
Pitt in the following October, on which latter occasion
Gen. Stanwix announced _to the Indians the fall of
the French fortress at Quebec,‘ which had been taken

by the forces of Gen. Wolfe in September, and which .

event, as heatold them, was virtually an ending of the
war. The Indians then formally buried the hatchet,
and declared’ themselves the fast friends of the Eng-

_ lish for all time. On the 25th of March, 1760, Gen.

Stanwix set out for Philadelphia with a military es-
cort and thirty-five chiefs of the Ohio Indians, leav-
ing the fort garrisoned by seven hundred men. In
September of that year the French post of Montreal
surrendered, and this, with the fall of Detroit and
other French posts, closed the “ French and Indian
War.”

When the “Pontiac war” broke out in 1763 the
Indians in this region, like those in all parts of the
West, became actively hostile. They made their first
demonstrations about the 1st of June in that year, in
the neighborhood of Fort Pitt, then moved across the
Alleghenjes, and again committed fearful havoc in
the settlements of the same region which they had

. ravaged from the fall of 1755 to 1.757. A large body

of savages also besieged Fort Pitt, cutting off all
supplies and communication. N 0 information could
be obtained as to the situation at the fort, and great
alarm was felt for the safety of the garrison. At this
crisis Col. Bouquet was ordered forward to its relief
with a force composed of a body of colonial troops
and the remnants of the Forty-second and Seventy-
seventh Royal Regiments (Highlanders), who had
then just returned from the siege of Havana, in the
island of Cuba. Gen. Bouquet arrived at Fort Bed-
ford July 25, 1763, and three days later commenced
his march across the mountains, having with him a
train of wagons loaded with provisions, stores, and
munitions of war for Fort Pitt.
left his wagons, and pushed on with his forces to-
wards Fort Pitt. ’ On the second day out from Ligo-
nier the troops had marched seventeen miles, and
had come within half a mile of Bushy Run (in the
presentbounty of Westmoreland), where they were’
expecting to halt and refresh themselves at a large
spring, preparatory to a night march through the
dangerous Turtle Creek ravines, when the war-whoop
resounded on every side, and the advance-guard of

1 The French Fort iagara had previously been taken by the English,

‘Aug. 5,1759. Afew days later the French abandoned-their posts at

Venango and Le Boeuf, but left the Indians in good humor “ by distrib-

- uting Laced Coats, Hats, and other Clothing ..among them.” They told

the Indians they were obliged to leave them for a time, but would soon
return and take possession of the whole river. ~' .

At Fort Ligonier he —

ping-place. Of such were Thomas Stockton, Daniel

552 HISTORY OF WASHINGTON COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA.

l

Third. The selection of the site with special refer- position is a commanding one, being visible from any
ence to security from any disturbing causes growing. place in the town, as Well as from the approaches to
out of the extension of the town and suburbs, and the county-seat from any direction. The first impulse
the improvements consequent thereupon, the posi- ! toward its erection was just after the battle of Gettys-
tion being retired, elevated, and at the same time in  I
as close proximity to the town as possible consistent ;
With the great ends already indicated. 

Fourth. The fact that it is not forithe town only f
this cemetery has been provided. The object of the .
company has been to furnish a lasting depository for
the dead of the surrounding country. It is needless H
to say that churchyards or private burial-grounds on '
farms do not furnish adequate security against change
and obliteration. I11 this country lands are con-
stantly shifting hands. The location of churches '-
must be changed to meet the popular wants- There 
is no sure guarantee that the sanctity of any such 
burial-place will be respected after they are gone who 
are interested in its preservation. ;_

Fifth. The most admirable feature of the present 
enterprise is the provision made for perpetual care
and watchfulness, the entire funds being devoted to
present and future expenditures for the progressive
improvement of the grounds. Thus the dead not
only repose securely here, but their place of sepul-
ture will be made more and more attractive through
all succeeding time.

The success of the enterprise is manifested’ by the
steady increase of patronage and favor which has
marked its progress. There have‘ been interred
Within its consecrated grounds the remains of many
Whose memory will ever be fragrant While Worth and
virtue are prized. Of such it is eminently proper to
mention the Rev. David McConaughy, D.D., fourth
president of Washington College, “ for he was a good ’
man, and full of the Holy Ghost and of faith ;" and f
to say that the grave of the Hon. Thomas M. T. i//
McKennan may be found here on the spot he so
much admired long before there was any thought of
devoting it to its present purpose. The body of his /’
father, Col. William McKennan, the companion in
arms of the immortal Washington, rests by his side
Within the same inclosure. Here also were brought  .  . t_,l O
W“ the 0” gm"ey“d. ‘hr ““””"’ “Cu” "‘*.P°Se’. after  I   /I IIiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiilliiiliiliiilnlllmuml
upwards of forty years’ interment, the remains of Gen. I‘  I mmnmlhp ““““““““““  
Thomas Acheson, who occupied a large place in the  '  ‘II’. . 1,‘, 
hearts of a generation now fast disappearing. Some of ‘
his contemporaries, who long stood as landmarks of
that fleeting throng, have here found their final rest-

ll!‘

 Int

Moore, Thomas Morgan, John H. Koontz, David
Acheson, Joseph Clark. Hundreds of other tablets A
Within the consecrated inclosure bear the names of
old and honored citizens and families of Washington.
In the eastern part of Washington Cemetery stands
a monument erected to perpetuate the memory of the burg, which carried off so many of the Washington
sons of Washington County who lost their lives by County soldiers. At first the plan adopted was to re-
Wounds received or disease contracted in the service ceive only subscriptions of one dollar each, and a large
of the Union during the War of the Rebellion. Its part of its cost was defrayed by such subscriptions’

SOLDIERS’ MONUMENT.

L WASHINGTON BOROUGH.

553

although toward the end larger contributions were
accepted; but nevertheless the whole people of the
county, in all sections, have the honor of aiding in

the building of this beautiful structure.

The monument was erected in the summer of 1871,
by Joseph Howarth, of Washington, after designs
made_ by E. Morgenroth, of Pittsburgh. The lower

base is fourteen feet square, the second ten feet square '

and three-eighths feet high. The die is nine feet six
inches high, enriched in front by a military trophy of
cannons, muskets, swords, drums, flags, etc. On the

«die is an -enriched entablature of architrave, frieze,

and cornice, nine feet six inches square and three feet
six inches high. On each angle of this cornice is"a

pmortar, and-in front ‘between the two mortars is an
-’-reaglewith. wings extended} On the cornice is an

octagonal shaft or‘ column, which with its base and
capitalis fifteen feet high and three feet in diameter,
representing an infantry soldier standing‘ at rest,
making the total height of the monument forty-one
feet. The material is a beautiful sandstone from
Massillon, Ohio. Though the entire cost of the
imonumentwas but a little over six thousand dollars,
it is worthy of a critical examination. Four large
cannon, which saw service in the war, stand at its four
corners. A . '

7 The following is a list of the presidents, secretaries,
-and treasurers of the association from its organization

to the present time :

Presidents, Rev. Thomas Hanna, 1853; Jacob
Slagle, 1854 to 1860; Dr. Matthew Clark, 1860 to

. 1878; Colin M. Reed, 1878 to the present. _

. Secretaries, David S. Wilson, 1853 to 1855; Alex-

ander Murdoch, 1855.to'-1861 ;' Dr. Thomas McKen- ’

nan, 1861 to the present. I .
Treasurers, Jacob Slagle, 1853; John S. Slagle,

’ 1854 to 1856; Alexander Murdoch, 1856 to 1861; D.‘

T. Morgan, 1861 to 1878; James R. Clark, 1878 to the
present. ' ,7 . ' ., ‘ 
The present (1882) board of managers is composed

of Colin ,M. Reed (president), D. T. Morgan, J. D.

Chambers, A. - W. Acheson, Boyd Crumrine, Dr.
Thomas McKennan, Jan1es,R. Clark.

' Washington Gas-Works.—A meeting of a num-
ber of citizens was held on the 26tl1 of August, 1856,

to consult upon the propriety of establishing gas-

Works for the borough -of Washington. A charter
was procured‘ which designated as managers Colin
M. ’Reed, Joseph Henderson, Simon Cort, Jacob
Slag'l.e,'Charles W. Hays, Freeman Brady, J r., J . L.

is - Judson, James W. Kuntz, and Alexander Seaman.

Anew board of managers was elected Jan. 18, 1857,
consisting of Samuel Hazlett, Colin M. Reed, Dr.
Francis J . Le Moyne, William Smith, Jacob Miller,

‘Alexander Wilson, and Joseph Henderson. Colin

M. Reed was-elected president, and William McKen-
nan secretary. F. J . Le Moyne, Samuel Hazlett, and
Jacob Miller were appointed to secure a lot of ground

for their uses. The necessary buildings were erected,

towards Shirls’ Grove.

and pipes laid through the streets of the town. Gas
was let into the pipes the first time on Saturday, the
21st of February, 1857, and on the evening of the
Tuesday following (February 24th) the streets, ‘stores,
and dwellings of the borough were successfully lighted.
"fire pipes were found to have been badly put to-
gether; changes were found to be necessary, and in
the following year‘ the works were rebuilt and en-

larged. The original, cost and the repairs to this

time amounted to about thirty-one thousand dollars.
In 1868 the pipes in the streets were replaced by
larger ones, and clay retorts replaced the metallic
ones previously in use. The price of ‘gas in 1857
was placed at four dollars per thousand feet. ‘ It has
steadily declined since then, and in this year (1882)
it is fuimished at one dollar and eighty cents per
thousand. The amount of gas furnished the past
years is four million five hundred and thirteen thou-
sand cubic feet. The officers from the first have been:
Presidents, C.- M. Reed, 1857 to 1865; F. J . Le Moyne,
1865 to 1867; C. M. Reed, 1867 to 1882. Secretaries,
William McKennan, 1857; John C. Hastings, 1858
to 1882. Treasurers, Samuel Hazlett, 1857 to 1858;
Alexander Wilson, 1859 to 1861 ; John D. Chambers,
1862; John C. Hastings, 1863 to 1882.' Managers for
1882, Colin M. Reed, John C. Hastings, D. T. Morgan,
A. T. Baird, John D. Chambers, Lewis Barker, Alex-
ander Wilson.

Washington Goal C'ompany.——On the 24th of Au-
gust, 1864, Messrs. Parkin, Marshall & Co. purchased
eight acres of land of Harry Shirls, and commenced
to sink a shaft for coal. After one year’s work they
reached a vein of coal five feet in thickness. The
shaft was sunk bearing to the southwest at an angle
of forty-five degrees to the distance of five hundred
feet, being about three hundred feet perpendicular.
Side drifts were made, one to the northeast, towards
the residence of Mr. Shirls, and one to the northwest,

quarter to one-half mile in extent. The company
employed thirty miners, and mined one thousand
bushels per day. The act of Legislature passed in
1870, requiring coal companies to construct other
ventilation and means of escape than by the main
shaft alone, caused this company to cease Work, as
their shaft was so deep that great expense would be
incurred. An effort was made to induce the Council
of the borough of Washington to become a partner
in the company. ‘t 

On the 21st of June, 1871, the Council met to take
into consideration the propriety of lending assistance
to Parkin, Marshall & Co., who proposed to furnish
eight thousand dollars if the borough would furnish
seven thousand, the sum‘ necessary to sink another
shaft. The burgess was authorized to call a public
meeting to obtain the views of the citizens on the
subject. The meeting was held and the‘ subject dis-

cussed. Col. William Hopkins read to the meeting 1,

the act of Legislature forbidding boroughs to sub-

These drifts were from one- '

554

HISTORY OF WASHINGTON COUNTY,  N SYLVAN IA.

scribe money for any such purpose, after which it
was decided to take no further action in. the matter:
This refusal discouraged the proprietors, and they
abandoned the works. On the 17th of May, 1880,
the property was sold to Edward Little, and was soon
after vested in the Washington White-Lead Works
Company, who now own it. ’

The Washington Steam-Mill and Manufactur-
ing Company was organized ‘early in January, 1814,‘
for the purpose of making flour and manufacturing
other articles. On the 14th of January in thatyear,
David _Shields, secretary, issued proposals for the
erection of a mill-house forty-seven by fifty feet, four
stories high. He also notified stockholders to pay
their installments monthly, commencing in February.
An act of Assembly was passed Jan. 31, 1814, in-
corporating the company for thirty years from the
passage of the act, and with capital stock not to ex-
ceed fifty thousand dollars. The names of the direc-
tors mentioned in the act were Alexander Reed, Robert
Hamilton, Obadiah Jennings, Thomas Acheson, David
Morris, Hugh Workman, and Thomas H. Baird. The
company purchased a lot at the foot of Main Street,
and erected a large four-story building with a hip
roof, forming a large attic.‘ In this building a steam
flouring—mill was put in operation. The water for
the mill was brought in wooden pipes from a spring a
short distance from it, and whichis marked on the
original plat of the town. In 1816 the property came
into possession of Thomas H. Baird. In the next
year he added to the business wool-carding and the
fulling of cloth, and on June 4th of that year John
Brown, agent for Thomas H. Baird, advertised in the
Examiner that he would “run this season at the
steam-mill in Washington” a new double machine
with five cards and two common machines, and June

15th next year (1818) he advertised “ warm and cold .
«baths at the Washington Steam-Mill every day in the
° week, Sundays excepted.-”

ber, 1819, Mr. Baird rented ‘the mill to Abraham Nye
and John Unckles, who also carried on the business
of fulling and dyeing cloth. ' In December following
Nye retired, and Unckles continued for several years.
In 1822 the property _was advertised for sale, but was
not sold, and in May, 1823,'Thomas Copeland adver-
tised that he had rented and refitted it. In 1826,
Augustus M. Hazlip rented the property, and con-
tinued business for a short time. The property had
been rented to various parties from 1819, and during
that time fulling and dyeing cloth and the carding of
wool was carried on with the manufacture of flour.

It had also been advertised for sale several times, but

found no purchaser. On the night, of the 19th of
May, 1831, the building was destroyed by fire. The
Mount Hope and Washington Companies with their

' engines were there and protected the surrounding

property, but the mill building could not be saved.

. The papers of the time complained of the confusion,

disorder, and inefficiency of the fire companies. I The

In the month of Novem- .

engines that were in.the mill—house were removed by

' Thomas H. Baird to -Monongahela City and placed in

a mill in that city owned by him, where they were
used many years.

. Woolen-Factory.-—In the VVashington Reporter of
August, 1815, is a call for wool—growers and owners

of sheep to meet. at the house of John McCluney on I

the 15th of that month. At that meeting (of which

Robert Anderson was president, and John Alban sec- V

retary) it was resolved “That a general invitation
be given to the wool-growers. of Washington and ad-

jacent counties to meet at the house of John McClu-3

ney, in the borough of Washington, on Wednesday,
the 25th of October next (court week), at one o’clock,
to consider the propriety of establishing a woolen
manufactory to be vested in stock held by individuals

in common.” ‘

Ziba Lindley, Thomas Vaneman, and John Alban
were appointed a committee to concert with wool-.
growers and farmers on the propriety, utility, and
most eligible method of carrying into effect the above
resolutions. The papers of the -time have no account
of the next meeting, or of subsequent meetings, in ref-
erence to the subject.

In 1827, David Acheson erected a woolen-factory,
and on the 9th of December in that year offered .it for
sale, describing it as “a new building, two-story brick
house, thirty by sixty feet, and frame adjoining and a
dye-house.” It was not sold, and on the 11th -of Sep-
tember, 1830, Michael Kaine was operating “ Ache-

son’s woolen-factory,” and in 1832, William Maltby
was running it. On‘ the 28th pf April, 1836, James ,

Darling & Co. advertised that. “having lately pur-

' chased the Washington Woolen-Factory, they intend

introducing new machines for wool_-carding;” and
they further state that “ orders may be left at the store
of Samuel Hazlett, who will attend to all orders.”

The building was later owned by Samuel Hazlett, and '

run as a woolen-factory for a time, then used for
pork-packing, and still later as a dwelling-house. -In
1867 it was again opened as a woolen—factory by John

"Hoon, who placed therein a single hand-loom and ‘

one hundred and twelve spindles. On the 1st of
April, 1869, John McClean became associated with
him. In 1875 a power-loom arid carpet-weaving ma-
chine were added. In August, 1876, Hoon retired,

since whichtime Mr. McClean has continued the

business. In 1877 another carpet-weaver was added.

The establishment at present turns out about two-

hundred and_fifty pairs of blankets annually, three
thousand yards of flannel, and five thousand pounds
of stocking yarn. _ -

S. B. & C. Hayes’ Carriage-Factory.—In the fall
of 1841 Sheldon B._, Charles, and Morgan Hayes,
natives of Connecticut, erected a carriage-shop thirty
by fifty feet, and two‘ stories in height, on the south
part of the lot in the rear of the public square,.and
commenced the manufacture of carriages. The busi-

ness increasing, ,a brick building was added with

5

WASHINGTON BOROUGH.

555

steam-power. In 1845,. Morgan Hayes retired from
the firm and becam_e the foreman. Soon. after a third
story was added to the main building, andthirty feet
to the first floor. On the 8th of November, 1851, the
entire building was consumed by fire. On the Mon-
day following the firm purchased of the trustees of
the Presbyterian Church the two‘ lots on First and
Maiden Streets, with the brick church building (they
having recently removed to a new edifice). On the next
day after the purchase the hands were all again at work.

-To this brick building they added a smith-s—hop thirty

by seventy feet. In 1852 a machine-shop was added
with an engine of fifteen horse-power. The machinery
necessary for the manufacture of doors, blinds, and
sash was then added. A boarding-house was built in

 1861, and a s-alesroom in 1862. About this time a

seventy horse-power engine was putiin. On the 1st
of January, 1867, the firm was changed by the ad-
mission of Morgan.Hayes and Martin Luther. In

- 1875 the firm was again changed by the retirement of

Morgan Hayes and Martin Luther, since which time
the firm has been S. B. & C. Hayes. The ‘present
salesroom was built in 1875. Water to supply the
works is brought from the Lacock quarry through
two thousand feet of pipe. The firm have at present
about thirty-five hands employed, and produce an-
nually about one hundred and seventy-five new car-
riages. _ ‘A 4
Washington Steam Flouring-Mill.'—In 1844,

' Samuel Hazlett and Daniel Dye erected on the west

end of Belle Street (now Wheeling) a four-story mill,
forty by sixty feet, with three run of stones, and com-
menced operations in the fall of that year. Mr. Haz-
lett retired afte_r a short time, and Mr. Dye continued

till the" latter part of 1849, when the property was

sold to John McElroy, who took possession in Feb-

' ruary, 1850. It was operated by him till 1858, and.

was sold to A: J. Caton. On the 15th of February,
1865, J. M. Wilson and G. M. Warrick became the
purchasers, by whom it was remodeled and much en-
largediand improved, and by whom it is still operated.

BreWery.—About 1845-, Jacob Zelt came to Wash-
ington and commenced brewing. ‘ Four years later he
removed to the west end of Belle Street, and pur-
chased the property he at present owns, and started
the brewing in a small way, and by degrees it has
been brought to its present capacity. In 1873 the
business was placed in charge of his sons, Louis and
Adam, who now conduct it. They manufacture about
three hundred barrels of beer annually.

Washington Foundry.—-«In the spring of 1846,
Brice, Frisbie & Hitchcock built a brick building,
and in it opened the foundry business, on the corner of
College" and Chestnut Streets. It was continued by
them until about the close of the war. By the death of
Brice and Frisbie Mr. Hitchcock became the only re-

‘ maining member of the firm, .and the business was

sold to —--—. Becker, by whom it was sold to Linn,

and about 187 2it was in possession of James H. Hop-_ .

kins, of Pittsburgh, by whom the property is still‘
owned. It is now operated under a lease by Ed-
ward Bartlett. ' '
Washington Il‘annery.—-The two-story brick tan-
nery at the west end of Wheeling Street was built in
1862 by Thomas Hodgins and John McElroy, and
was operated by them°til1 1874, when Mr. Hodgins
retired, since which time it has been entirely under

the control of Mr. McE1roy. The power is obtained

from a twelve horse-power engine. The tannery con-
tains forty-two vats, with a capacity of tanning one
hundred sides of harness leather per week. Six hands
are steadily employed.

Steam Planing-Mi11.——In 1867, Thomas Walker

and ‘William Fit-zwilliam purchased a lot of ground

on Wheeling Street of the United Presbyterian con- 

gregation, and on which the ‘brick church edifice
then stood. It was torn down, and the present two-
story frame building was erected and supplied with
the necessary‘ power and machinery for manufac-
turing sash, doors, and blinds. The business is now
carried on by Walker & Klieves. ‘

— Hayes & Wilson Carriage-Factory.——In 1871,
Morgan Hayes and'John S. Wilson started a carriage-
factory in the oldMethodist Church, near the ‘corner

of Chestnut and Franklin Streets. About twenty

men are employed, and one hundred carriages are
turned out annually. I , V
Washington Lead-Works (Limited).——In the
spring of 1880, Edward Little purchased the prop-
erty of the Washington Coal-Works and organized the
Washington Lead-Works Company, which was com-
posed of Edward Little, W. W‘. Smith, John A. Best,
‘and Frederick.King. The company purchased the
land. of ,Mr. Little and erected the present brick
buildings. Manufacturing commenced in the last
part of February, 1882. , Mr. Little retired in about
six months, and W. R. Sweitzer took his place. The
capacity of the works is one thousand tons perlyear.
This firm manufactures white lead by the American
process. _ O I '
Crown Broom-Factory.——A broom-factory was
started Jan. 1, 1881, by John McClean in connection

with his woolen-factory. Nine men are employed, and -

one hundred and twenty-five dozen brooms per week
are manufactured, which are supplied to the local
and Pittsburgh trade. -

Washington County.Centennial.——On the;7th and

8th of September, 1881, Washington County celebrated
-its centennial, under the auspices of the Washington

County Historical Society, in Washington borough.
Invitations had been extended to former citizens in
various parts of the country. _ The public buildings,
stores, and private residences were decked with flowers
and evergreens. ‘ The columns of the court-housewere
twined with bands of evergreen and white, on the lat-
ter of which were the names of many of the county’s
honored dead, while on the facade were banners with
the inscription, ‘‘ Washington formed from We_stmore-

556

HISTORY OF WASHINGTON COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA.

land, 1781. Ceded Greene, 1796. Contributed to A1-
legheny, 1788; to Beaver, 1800.” Three fin-ely orna-
mented ‘ arches spanned Main Street, one at the
intersection of Chestnut, one at Maiden, and one at
the court-house, the last of which was divided into
blocks set in evergreens containing the names of the
townships and boroughs of the county, Washington
forming the keystone. Surmounting the arch was the
word CENTENNIAL and the figures 1781-1881 in gas-
jets, while above all was a large star, also in gas-jets,
which when lighted at night produced a brilliant effect.

The days were fine. The exercises commenced at
12 M. on the 7th by a salute and the ringing of the
bells of the town. A_meeting of the citizens was held
at the town hall a.t-2.3.0 P.M., and an address of wel-
come was delivered by Judge George S. Hart. Let-
ters were read from many former citizens of the
county, among which was one from the Hon. James
G. Blaine. On the morning of th'ei8th procession
formed on College Street, under the direction of Chief
Marshal the Hon. John H. Ewing (a citizen who has
been a resident of the county since 1810), and em-
braced one hundred and fifty members of the VVash-
ington County Veteran Association, Union soldiers of
the war of the Rebellion, under command of Col.
Chill. W. Hazzard. At 9.30 A.M. the procession
moved by way of JMaiden, Main, and. Chestnut
Streets to Shirls’ Grove, near the northwestern bound-
ary of the town, where a platfor.mgé;7h-ad been erected

for speakers and seats made £012; thesaudrience. - Music I

was furnished by the Washington Chor’a,L,..,Socisety,
Washington Cornet Band, Fourteenth Regiment~Band
of Pittsburgh, Amity Band, Monongahela City Cor-
net Band., and Voss’. Wheeling Band. Organization‘
was effected by the appointment of the Rev. John T.
Brownlee chairman. After the usiia-1,.ie‘xercises ad-
dresses were delivered as follows: Rev.:§I. I. Brownson,
D.D., on the general history; ,Boyd‘;C_‘mmrine, Esq.,
on thecivil and legal history; Hori...a-D. Agnew, on
Alexander Addison; John Mc.Dowell,_ on agricul-
ture; Rev. I. N. Hays, on the religio,us history; and
Dr. G. W. Barnett, on the medical history of the
county. After the delivery of these addresses the

-meeting adjourned and the audience dispersed. On 9

the evening of the 8th the town was brilliantly illu-
minated with Chinese lanterns,fire-works, and gas-
jets, and from every available point floated flags,
streamers, and bunting. The evening passed in fes-
tivity, and the Washington County centennial celebra-
tion passed into history.

ggg
-Iv»

BIOGRAPHICALS SKETCHES.

MAJ. JOHN H. EWING.

Hon. John Hoge Ewing, of Washington, Pa., was
born in Fayette County on Oct. 5, 17 96. Though his

, years in number are almost fourscore and six, he yet

lives an honored citizen, enjoying excellent health
and wonderful activity of body and mind. Not only
does his private business receive his personal atten-
tion as if he were of but little more than middle age,
but the claims of society and whatever affects the
public interest are also not without his personal rec-
ognition and support.

Mr. Ewing’s father was William Ewing, who was
the son of George Ewing, of Peach Bottom township,
York County, lying on the Susquehanna and. the
Maryland line. George Ewing was the cousin of the
celebrated Dr. John Ewing, the scholar and divine,
who became pastor of the First Presbyterian'Church
of Philadelphia in 1759, provost of the University of
Pennsylvania in 1779, and was one of the Baltimore
commissioners to determine the boundary controversy
between Pennsylvania and Virginia, and one of the
commissioners to extend Mason and Dixon’s line in
1784. The Ewings were of Scotch lineage, and their
ancestors emigrated from the north of Ireland to
East Nottingham, Md., early in the last century.
George Ewing never removed from the East, buthis
son William, who received his education under his
distinguished relative’s direction, about 1790 came
west as a surveyor and settled near Heistersburg, in
Luzerne township, Fayette County, where, in the
next year, he married Mary, the daughter of Jehu
Conwell, who had settled in that neighborhood prob-
ablyiéias. early as 1768 or 1769. Of this marriage the
ehildren were Hon. George Ewing, who early went
to Texas unde'r~-Gen. Sam. Houston, was there ap-
pointed a judge, and there his family remain; Hon.
Nathaniel Ewing, late of Uniontown, Pa., deceased,
long the president judge of the courts of ‘Washington,
Fayette,I'and ,Green_e Counties; John H., of whom
this sketch is ?‘writte,n;.James Ewing,llate of Dun-
lap’sCreek, Pa., decea,s3;d;;;*p?;Elizabeth, widow of James

E. Breading; Mari'a,=:;§1§}%i’t,i1ow' of Hon. James Veech; «

Ellen, wifeof John 7H. Wallace; Louisa, wife of

]Willia'm Wilson; Mary Ann, wife of George Mason, «

of Muscatine, Iowa; and Caroline, who died in in-
fancy. . . A

John H. Ewing, of this family, came to Washing-
ton College at the beginning. of the college year in
1810, and made his home with his father’s friend,
Hon. John Hoge, after whom he had been named.
There was no relationship between them, but Mr.
Hoge and Mr. William Ewing had been surveyors

together in early days, and under Col. Thomas Stokel-y .

laid out large tracts of land of the purchase of 17 84,
north and west of the‘ Allegheny River. After four
years at college he graduated in 1814, under the pres-
idency of Dr. M. Brown, and soon afterward begin-
ning the study of the law in the office of Hon. Thomas
McGiflin, was admitted to the bar in June, 1818.
There were giants at the bar in those days, well re-
membered by Mr. Ewing, among whom were Parker

Campbell, Joseph Pentecost, John Purviance, Phil.-

Doddridge, ‘Thomas H. Baird, James Ross, James

fill!» 1242.: tt.n..zu,.Knunnue1:.:H1}:$::i. 1..\:srI.\l%LuM»HH<1.vl?

x$‘1r«nu.x$ruNu.1\sInlI»nu_h» Vi! Tim:

WASHINGTON BOROUGH.

Mountain, and John Kennedy, some of whom resided
in adjoining counties, but regularlypracticed at the.
VVashington bar. "Hon. Samuel Roberts was pres-
ident judge while Mr. Ewing was a student under
Mr. McGiffin. For a year or-two after his admission

he was a partner with his preceptor; but Mr. McGiflin, .'
’ with Parker Campbell and Thomas H. Baird, having

taken the contract to construct the road-bed of the

‘National road from Washington to Wheeling, Mr-

Ewing assumed charge of the outside business for
them, until after -a whilehe and his father, William
Ewing, obtained the contract for the road-bed of that
improvement from Brownsville to Hillsborough, and
in the business connected with that employment he

remained until the contract was completed late in

the fall of 1820.

Mr. Ewing never went back to the bar, but-, having
been successful in the contract referred to, he soon
afterwards purchased the tract called “Meadow

-Lands,” on the Chartiers, about three and a half

miles north of Washington, through which the Char-

‘ tiers Railway passes. Here he resided with his family
»until he removed to his present residence on East
Beau Street in 1840; for on Nov. 2, 1820, he had

married Ellen, a daughter of James Blaine, and sister
of Ephraim L. Blaine, and the family consisted of

V ‘the following children o.f that marriage in the order

of their birth : Margaret‘ B.,.the widow of Dr. William

‘A. Halloek; Rev. Wm. Ewing, Ph.D., now in charge
-of the Miller’s Run Presbyterian. Church, and of the

Canonsburg Academy; James Blaine (.1), died in"
early years; Elizabeth B., wife of Rev. William Spear,
D.D., for several years a missionary in China, and
afterwards with the Chinese at San Francisco; Dr.
George Ewing, now in the Departmentiof the In-

»-terior at Washington, D. C.; Nathaniel died in his

youth; Col. John Ewing, in the iron business at’

'1 Pittsburgh, and interested in tlie new iron-works

being erected at Canonsburg; Mary L., wife of Rev.

‘ Henry Woods, D.D., Professor of Latin in Washing-

ton and Jefferson College; Ann Ellen, died young;
James Blaine (2), who also died in early years;

‘Samuel Blaine, now farming upon the “Meadow

Lands.” But soon after the birth of the last-named
son, to wit, on Aug." 26, 1840, the mother of this family
died at the new residence in VVashington.

On Aug. 12, 1845, Mr. Ewing again married. His sec-
ond wife was Margaret C.; daughter of Richard Brown,

:

I ‘ who (her father dying in her infancy) was reared and"

educated in the family of the celebrated minister,

.Bishop H. B. Bascom, of the Methodist Episcopal

Church. Of this union there have beentwo children,

-——Clara Bascom, born June 20, 1846, and died about

ten years of age; and Florence Bell, born May 25,
1858, now a bright young lady. And at this time,

-the sons and daughters of the former marriage all

having pleasant homes and families of their own, Mr.

Ewing, his present wife, and his daughter Florence

form a cheerful and happy circle at the homestead.
36

Mr. Ewing in earlier yearswasmuch in public life.
In 1835-36, with Joseph Lawrence and Edward Mc-
Donald, he was a member from this county of the
House of Representatives at Harrisburg; he was for

four years a State senator, from 1838 to 1842; and for ‘

two sessions, 1844-45 and 1845-46, represented the
then congressional district of Washington and Beaver

Counties in the United States House of Representaj- .

tives, and again was he brought into contact with the

great men of the land, Clay, Webster, Calhoun, and _

others. _ _ V , -

Besides the building of the National road (generally
called the Cumberland road), Mr. Ewing has been
prominently identified with another public enter-
prise of great importance to Washington County. - As
early as 1831‘ he was associated with Hon. Thomas
H. Baird in the contemplated construction of a rail-
road up the Chartiers Valley; the latter gentleman

taking the leading part, and chiefly at his own expense '

procuring a survey to be made by Charles De Hass, a
civil engineer of that day. The people were not then
ready to support the undertaking, and it was aban-
doned, to be renewed again thirty years afterwards,
when, after the road-bed was partly graded, ayfailure

again followed. Not until 1869 was a successful

effort made and the road constructedby the Chartiers
Valley Railway Company. From the very beginning
of these enterprises Mr. Ewing has been a prominent
actor,‘ and chiefly’ to his efforts and personal sacrifice
is the final success to be attributed.

After declining a renomination for Congress in 1846,
Mr. Ewing did not again enter public life, but, outside
of the public enterprises in which he was engaged,
has devoted himself to his private business, which has
been somewhat extensive. ‘His farm on the Char-
tiers, comprising about six hundred acres, is under-
laid much of it with the best quality of bituminous

coal, the mining and sale of which he personally

superintends. He also owns a large tract of land

-near Burton Station, on the Baltimore and Ohio Rail-

road, in West Virginia, which is devoted to sheep- and
wool-growing. ‘ ' ‘

He has been especially interested in the educa-i ,
tional institutions of the county. For many years,

perhaps almost since its organization, he has been a
member’ of the board of trustees of the Washington
Female Seminary, and since 1834 a member of the

like board of Washington, now Washington and J ef-

ferson College. At the annual meeting of the board
of trustees of the college in 1879, that body addressed
a letter to Mr. Ewing, which was printed in the

-public press and is here copied :

1 The corporators of this, among the earliest railroads projected, and
called the Washington and Pittsburgh Railroad Company, were Thomas
H. Baird, '1‘. M. T. McKennan, James Ruple, John K. Wilson, Isaac
Leet, John Watson, and John H. Ewing, of Washington County; and

Christopher Cowan, William Lea, James Herriot, John Mizliee, Francis ’

Bailey, and Ross Wilkins, of Allegheny County. (See Charter, Penn.
L. 18731, p. 145.) . . . . .

  :55:

/

‘558

HISTORY OF WASHINGTON A COUNTY, PEN N SYLVANIA.

“ Wasnmoron, PA.,’ July 1, 1879.

“ HON. JOHN H. Ewnvo: V

“Dear Sir,—-Your fellow-members of the board of trustees of Wash-
ington and J efierson College desire you to accept their congratulations
on this occasion. Your" membership in the corporation of Washington
College, extending from the annual commencement in 1834 to the union
of the colleges in 1865, and thencecoming down by unbroken continu-
ance ill the board of Washington and Jefferson to the present time, has
completed a period of forty-fi_v'e years. An active and influential con-

,nection with collegiate education, surpassing in length all precedent in

the history of this institution, and seldom equaled by that of any other
in our country, deserves emphatic recognition, both for its tokens of
providential goodness to yourself and for the great service which it has
enabled you to render. '

“Your brethren of theboard rejoice with you in your continued
health, in the signal preservation of your bodily and mental faculties,
and in the multiplied mercies which gladden your age. You have by

reason of strength been carried beyond the limits of fourscore years,

yet by a seeming suspension of nature’s decline your strength has not
turned to labor and sorrow. The companions of your early manhood
have been called away, or else have sunk into decrepitude, whilst your
eye is not dim nor your natural force abated. We joyfully recognize as
still abiding the same clear judgment, firm purpose, inflexible rectitude,
and generous kindness from which the institution of our common care,
as well as all other interests intrusted‘ to your management, have
through past vicissitudes so largely profited. And whilstlwe record our

‘thanks in our own behalf, as well as in the behalf of our community

and country, for the educational and other benefits secured in part by

your vigilant energy, we cannot but hope also that for years to come
‘you may be kept for like usefulness by the same heavenly care.

“ We trust, honored sir, that you will accept this joint expression of
personal regard and oflicial recognition, the otlering of which affords. us
so much pleasure. Years of intercourse, under the struggles and so-
licitlldes incident to the guardianship of a college, great at once in
its history and prospects, have led,1tB- more and more -‘to appreciate
the practical j ustness of your views, and the characteristicurbanity with

which they have been maintained. The college and community, as well -

as ourselves, owe you a large debt of gratitude. Your earthly reward
must come largely input-he self-approval of conscio.us'duty, and in the
grateful remembrance of the rising;gone.ration.- Long may youlive to

fulfill the trust of your high position with the energy which yo,n.r,jfl,gniors, -
have both ad mired and envied, and may your life’s evening be A

with a.,C10lldleS8 sunset. V _ '
‘ “ With high regard, we remain as ever your friends.-and wellmishem,
“ Charles C. Beatty’, President;
Jas. I. Brownson, Vice-President;
Thomas McKennan, Secretary;
A. T. Baird, Treasurer; '
. g D. s. Wilson, Solicitor and Trustee.  
James Allison; John N. McDonald; SamuelJ. Wil-
son; A. W. Acheson ; Robert Alexander; R. Sher-
rard, Jr.; A. S. Richie; Alexander Wilson; Alex-
ander M. Gow; W. W. Smith; T. D. Ewing; John
C. Hervey; D. 0. Houston; V. Harding; 0. M.
' Reed, Sr.”

Since 1852 Mr. Ewing has been a trustee of the
First Presbyterian Church of Washington, enjoying
the most pleasant relations with its pastor, Rev. J. I.

Brownson, D.D., and the congregation; indeed, in all ,

relations of life he has been peculiarly fortunate and
happy. Onefeature of his personal history is worthy
of special mention. I-no old colonial times, by the
authority of law, “rpeace—l_nakers” -were regularly
appointed to. compose the differences of litigants,

though not thus specially comlnissioned under any

legal appointment’ ; perhaps no other individual has
so often and so successfully intervened between par-
ties in legal contests and brought about satisfactorily

thecompromise of ‘ their controversies. Called in for ’
H l -the purpose by the friends of the parties, his excellent

judgment and good sense and good humor have always

history is Mrs. Sarah ‘R..Hanna.

made his intervention acceptable. . May his worth as
a friend and his usefulness as a citizen remain with

_us yet for years to come.

 

MRS. SARAH R. HANNA.

Among the persons connected with that public life
of Washington County that enters into its proper

prominent because of her strong force of character,
she was for ‘many years conspicuous as the principal
of the Washington Seminary for young ladies, which
under her management grew into an institution of
far more than local interest.
that in a_ history of the county there should be some
account of her life and work. i ,

Mrs.:‘Hanna, whose maiden name was Sarah R.
Foster, was born in Hebron, Washington Co., N. Y.,
Nov. 10, 1802. Her parents belonged to the class
known as Scotch-Irish, a class that so largely pre-
dominated in the settlement of this part of Western
Pennsylvania. Their life. was a plain one, but was
marked by sound practical sense and thorough integ-
rity. It was also adorned by earnest piety. Mrs.
Hanriarefers but sparingly to her home and friends,
but if shedoes speak of them it is to mention their
Christian influence and the part it had in fashioning
and determining her life.

When qniteyoung she engaged in teaching in the

~cou»ntry2.scllools. The work was hard and the com-

pensation sliglit; it awakened in her a wish, however,

to gain a better education. When this was suggested‘
. .to her parents they did not agree to it.

It was at a
time when the education of girls was not so colnmon
as_it is now. Her father thought she knew enough
for the work she was then doing, and could not fore‘-
see that she would ever do anything. better. Some
time later, however, when the death of her mother
had changed the home life, and softened perhaps the
disposition of the father, he made no objection to her

proposals, and she therefore, in 1833, entered the

ladies’ seminary at Troy, N. Y.
This institution was under the care of Mrs. Emma

Willard, who was one of the foremost educators of ‘

girls in the country. ’ Miss Foster conceived a great
admiration_‘for-.her, and yielding herself implicitly to
her care, ‘felt the power of her strong nature ill all her
intellectual and moral life. ‘In’ her later years she
spoke affectionately of her, and, ranking her among
the best women who had" ever done a public service,
was ready to pay her the tribute of a pupil’_s gratitude.

Having spent two years in Troy she sought a situ-

'-ation as teacher,’and was recommended by Mrs. Wil-

lard to thetrustees at Washington. They, however,
had made anengagement with another lady,’Mrs.
Biddle, who isnlentioned in the history of the sem-
inary "as ‘one‘of itsprincipals. -Though thus inter-
rupted, shepersevered and came West, and stopping
at Cadiz, Ohio, she there opened ‘a--school and offered

Besides being ‘

It is. proper, therefore, ’

EXPEDITION S UNDER BOUQUET.

'63

I eighteen men were fired upon from ambush. Twelve

of the eighteen fell dead at the first fire. The re-
maining six ran back to the main body of troops,
and then began, at one o’clock P.M., August 5th, the
battle of Bushy Run, one of the most desperate con-
flicts in which the red men and pale-face ever en-
gaged.

In their first assault the Indians were repulsed and
pursued a considerable distance, but they immedi-
ately returned and again attacked with renewed
vigor. Again and again they were repulsed, but as
often returned to the attack. The fight continued
without intermission through the long hours of that
blazing August afternoon, but Bouquet stubbornly

held his ground against great odds.

Darkness closed the conflict, but the hungry,
weary troops, almost famished and suffering greatly
from thirst, were obliged to keep vigilant watch all

‘night long to guard against surprise. They had lost

nearly one-fourth their number, and the Indians had
been largely reinforced. With the dawn came re-
peated and persistent assaults. The enemy grew
bolder as their numbers increased, and the fatigue
and distress of the soldiers became more and more
apparent. It was comparatively easy for the brave
Highlanders to put the savages to rout, charging on
them with the bayonet, for no Indian has ever stood
up before a well-directed bayonet charge. But the

, moment the Scotchmen returned to the inner circle of

defense the wilyand dextrous savages, leaping from
tree to tree, returned to the conflict with terrific yells.
They pressed close enough to wound the frightened
pack-horses, two hundred and fifty of which, laden
with provisions and ammunition for the relief of
Fort Pitt, were crowded together in the centre. The

V terrified drivers hid among the bushes regardless of

commands from the officers. Matters were becoming
desperate. The whites were rapidly falling, and
their relentless foes were growing stronger and bolder.

‘It was a crisis requiring the highest kind of military

genius and indomitable resolution, but Bouquet was
equal to the occasion, and from the very jaws of de-
feat, disaster, and death he snatched one of the most
brilliant victories ever won over the Indians.

Taking advantage of the lay of the ground within
the circle of fire with which they were encompassed,

Bouquet formed an ambuscade with as large a body A

of Highlanders as could be spared for a brief space
from theouter line of defense. The Indians were
led to believe that the army was about to retreat to
Fort Ligonier, and they massed their warriors for a
charge where the line of defense was made .to appear
weakest. This was what Bouquet expected, and de-
sired in order that the cold steel -of the Highlanders

might tell effectually." Part of the line gave way be- ‘

fore the onset of the savages, and retreated in good
order. towards the centre of the camp, closely fol-
lowed by the whooping and exultant warriors; but
when fully inside the. ambuscade the savages were

but nothing was done there.

astonished to see the retreating Scots suddenly wheel
and dash at them with fixed bayonets. Confident of
victory with their superior numbers, and eager for the
spoils of the camp, they met the assault of the High-
landers with great impetuosity; and even broke the
line of steel. But nerved to desperation by the hor-
rors of the fate that awaited them in the case of de-
feat, encouraged by the knowledge of the strategic
movement hastening to a climax, and inspired by the
presence and example of the heroic Bouquet, the
broken line of Highlanders rallied, reformed, and
bore down with dauntless courage on the ferocious
savages. The Indians slowly began to yield before
the sturdy Scotchmen, when they were startled by
volleys from the men in ambush, and perceiving the
trap in which they had been caught they gave a de-
spairing whoop and fled in wild disorder. Through
the woods and over the hills Bouquet’s men pursued
the flying savages, who never stopped until they were
across the Allegheny. The defeat and rout were
complete and final. Fort Pitt was relieved, and its
garrison was not again disturbed by Indians. In
the battle of Busliy Run, Bouquet lost fifty killed
and sixty wounded. The loss of the Indians was not
known, but sixty of their warriors lay dead on the
field after the fight was over.

The savages retreated to the wilderness, thoroughly
humbled and cowed for the time, but they were not
yet sufficiently punished to insure peace to the settle-
ments. In the following year (1764) Bouquet was
sent out with another expedition, composed of the
same Highland regiments who fought at Bushy Run,
with Pennsylvania and Virginia provincial troops,
amounting in all to nearly two thousand men. They
assembled at Carlisle on the 5th of August, and im-
mediately marched thence over the mountains, arriv-
ing at'Fort Pitt on the 15th of September.‘ Bouquet
left Fort Pitt October 3d with his force, and marched
down the Ohio, his objective-point being the Tusca-
rawas.
Muskingum, having met no enemy. On the'17th the
Indian chiefs met him in council, asking for peace,
Again they met on the
20th, and promised to bring their white prisoners to

Bouquet at a place about one mile from the forks of

the river. Bouquet on the 22d marched his force to
the appointed place, where he took the precaution to
intrench, to guard against perfidy, and built a house
in which-to receive the Indians. They came at the
time agreed on, and were loud in their professions of
a desire for peace. With them was Guyasutha, a
Seneca chief, who was once a friend to the whites, but
afterwards their most implacable foe. Bouquet treated

q the Indians sternly, telling them he would yield noth-

ing to them and distrusted their protestations. Which-
ever they wanted,'peace or war, he was prepared to
give them. If it was peace, then they must deliver

up all their white prisoners, and each tribe give hos- '
_ tages to vouch for their good faith.

October 13th he arrived near the forks of the '

WASHINGTON BOROUGH.

559

her services to the public. They were to some extent
appreciated. Her school grew in size and interest.
Acting upon the impulse that guided her in so much.
of her subsequent life, she, at her own expense, added
rooms to the school building, and still increasing the
strength of the school, challenged the citizens to
establish a seminary; they hesitated, and finally de-
clined. a

Just then she received an invitation from the
trustees of Washington Seminary to become its prin-

- cipal. This she accepted, and entered upon her duties

in the spring of 1840. The school was not then pros-
pering. It was in that condition of half hope and
half despair that required unusual effort not only to
make it successful, but to save it from utter failure.

. ‘With characteristic energy she began her work. The

conservative spirit of thexcommunity and trustees was
strong, but she resolutely, yet with a woman’s adroit-
ness, began to oppose it. “ Just let me try,” she would
say when some of her innovating plans were pre-
sented, and the result would be that her point was
gained and her wisdom justified. A

As the excellence of the school increased its popu-
larity extended. It grew to be known as one of the
foremost institutions in-the West. The names of Mrs.
Hanna and the Washirgton Seminary were among
the most respectable in connection with the cause of
education. Though the town was a secluded one and
difficult of access, pupils came. from a great distance
and from many directions, attracted by the reputation
of the school and the character of the principal.
Business in the town was slow; its life was not ener-
getic. The. college did a good work, but it gathered

' little strength. No commercial enterprises attracted

the eye of the public. The surrounding country,
though picturesque in a varied scenery, was destitute
of objects and places of interest such'as excite local
pride and the curiosity of strangers. But there were
the seminary and Mrs. Hanna; they were always
interesting. Governors, senators, Presidents, and all
other visitors of distinction were taken to see them.
It has been related of one of these guests, a then
President of the United States, that he said ‘Mrs.
Hanna was the only woman whose strength of per-
sonality made him lose his presence of mind. ~

In 1848, Miss Foster was married to the Rev.
Thomas Hanna, pastor of the Associate Church at
Cadiz, Ohio. He, subsequent to the marriage, changed
his residence to Washington, bringing with him his
five children, where he was chosen pastor of a con-
gregation in the Associate Church, of which church
also Mrs. Hanna was a member. The girls of the
family enjoyed the advantages of the school, some of
them growing into useful teachers afterwards, while
Mr. Hanna, by appointment of the trustees, ofliciated
as superintendent. The motherly relation thus estab-
lished was of the pleasantest kind, and was marked,
as respected the conduct of Mrs. Hanna, by many
acts of special generosity.

In connection with her school in Washington she
established and tried to manage two others of a sim-
ilar kind, one in Xenia, Ohio, the other in Wheeling,
Va. She devoted money and energy to the efibrt of
making them successful, but they were failures. The
money was lost and her expenditure was without re-
turn. In giving advice to her pupils after she had
been taught by that experience, she warned them

against attempting more than one school at a time. c ‘ ‘

Mrs. Hanna was a large woman, of unusual physi-
cal strength and of commanding presence. When in
her prime she moved and acted like a queen. Her
walk on the street indicated the strength of character
that appeared in her conduct of the school.‘ Earnest,

‘resolute, energetic, noble, she bore herself as if she

felt the worth of her womanhood and theimportance
of her mission. Kind to all, she yet demanded the
respect due her character. -For herself as a woman
she asked nothing, but for herself as a person and as
one doing the. world’s work she required all proper
acknowledgment.

Intellectually she was strong, though her mind
was not of that finer mould that shows itself at its
best in work strictly literary. She did indeed pub-
lish a book, but it was a compilation from the Scrip-
tures rather than a product of her own. Several
pamphlets printed under her name were of the same
general character. She was not widely read, and in
no department of study could she have been claimed
as an authority. Herlife was not given to effort in that
direction. It is hardly possible, perhaps, to tell what

she might have done in literature, for her life was so ' I

greatly occupied with matters of administration that
she had little time for other pursuits to which she might

have been adapted. As she was her strength was not
in the more graceful accomplishments, literary‘ or any .

other, but rather in that firmness of purpose, that
strength of will, that determination, skill, sagacity,
and consecration to a single aim that characterized
her in all her work. She was less contemplative than
active and enterprising. Her mind was of the heroic
cast, and a gentleman who knew her intimately was
accustomed to say that he_ often thought her admir-
ably fitted for commanding an army and conducting
a campaign. . .

In“ religious character Mrs. Hanna was strong in
her convictions and devout in her observances. Hav-
ing been ‘reared in the Associate Church, she remained
a member of it till it became the United Presbyterian
through union with the Associate Reformed. She is
still in the same communion. ’ It was a maxim with
her that her charity to other churches was best ex-
hibited by loyalty to her own. While, therefore,
strictly true to her profession, she sacredly respected
the convictions of all others, and in private life and
in her public capacity she gained the respect of all
who knew her for intelligent fidelity to her faith.

Mrs. Hanna’s influence in the community was
greater perhaps than that of any other citizen. This

560

HISTORY or WASHINGTON COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA.

was. due not solely or chiefly to her position, but to her

character and strong personal force. She made her- -

self felt upon the people. She made her home in
the seminary a place of social power as well as of
mental instruction.
social influences. Her hospitality was generous and
dignified. She understood the‘ moral and practical
benefits of an attractive table, and how to make‘ her
guests feel amidst liberal festive enjoyments the in-

“finitely greater pleasure of cultivated social inter-
course and well-bred courtesy. It was only natural
that having such a character as she possessed she
should surround herself with teachers sharing. her

spirit, and thus increase the influence that made the

‘seminary for many years a place of social power for

all the community. ,

But her life was felt in other ways. In all her
dealings she was fair and open, up to the point of
magnanimity.
personal meanness. In her business transactions she
sought to teach a lesson in good morals. I She wished
people to learn how to be both honest and. generous.

Her whole life was a protest against pettiness. A '
. gentleman who knew her habits in this respect
‘always failed in language when he came to speak of

them, but looking off to the horizon and with a full
sweep ofhis arms expressed his admiration. It was
by putting this disposition into her work. that ‘she
succeeded in accomplishing so many things in a com-
munity that responded but slowly to appealsin be-
half of enterprise. When she advised street-;cross-
ings, she set the example of putting down some
herself. When she sought thieestablishment of the
cemetery, she,enforced her counsel by liberal help.
When the congregation of which she was_a member
hesitated about building a new house of vwership, she,
urged it on and was foremost with her. contributions.

‘Few people, perhaps, realize the exten‘t‘itol_‘iw,hich her
influence was given in the earlier town Q
to its improvement; fewer still appreciate  

tical aid she gave to all its enterprises.
Mrs. Hanna’s graduates are living in all parts of

‘the country, and many of them are missionaries in

foreignlands, but no matter wheres they reside they
remember her with the affection of children. Upon
all of them she left the impression of her noble life.

As time went on -the infirmities of age gathered

upon her, and though very strongly attached to her

school and its work, on the 28th of March, 1874, she
resigned‘ her position.as principal. When released
from her duties she retired to private life. The rest
to which she was} so well entitled came almost too
late, for broken health‘ has caused her much suffer-
ing. 'Without being burdened by its care she has
interested herself in establishing missionary societies
in the church in Which. she has her membership, and
has thus been instrumental in beginning a work that
promises to be widely useful. Taken all in all she
has been one of the most useful and conspicuous of

It was the centre of advanced’

Nothing so "excited her disgust as

» .=?.:"-7‘ ‘~r'4"'..
57‘:-,.,‘,,,,‘t/, 
if‘!

Washington County’s citizens, and the undimmed
honor with which her age is crowned is a becoming
tribute to a well-spent life.

HON. WILLIAM HOPKINS.

The°history of Washington County would not be at
all complete without a sketch of the life of William
Hopkins. ' '

_It was well said by the Rev. Dr. Brownson that “-in
sympathy, purpose, activity, and achievement he be-
longed to 'Washington County. Few, if any, of her
sons have commenced in an earlier or continued to a

‘later age in her public service. No one of her_ citi-
zens, it is believed, has given more years to the ser- .

vice of his native State.”
The grandfather of our subject, John Hopkins, with

his brother Richard, came from Scotland and settled -

in Maryland. ohn married Ellen Wallace, daughter
of Howard Wallace, of his adopted State. From this
union sprung eleven children.
Thomas Hopkins, was a major in the Revolutionary
army. Subsequently he removed to Washington
County, ‘Pa. He was a member of the Legislature
when it met in Lancaster.-

Maj. Thomas Hopkins married Catherine Hurd, who
wasborn near Londonderry, Ireland. Catherine was

"_brought to America by her father when she was about
, fifteen years age, and she was married to Thomas at

Hopkins abou1§7fe.lj*I§,rear afterwards. She was a woman
of strong  good education, of great ami-
ability, and of ir‘e,rio?wned piety. For many years she
was an’ active and I zealous member of the Methodist
Episcopal Church. I  , .

To this couple ten children. The fifth,
William  born in Washington County
on Sept._17,_    Although he received only

    schools of that day afforded, he
 ii"i§fii‘*5bserver, and a thinker‘, as his career
,. . _  After leaving school he learned the
ef a tanner, and carried on that business for
"some years successfully.

Col. Hopkins’ public career commenced at the early
age of twenty-three. In 1827 he was commissioned
by Governor Shultze as justice of the peace for Pike
Run township. “ In that comparatively humble office
his capacity for public employment soon attracted the
attention of his fellow-citizens.”

In 1831 he was elected county auditor.

 
    

   

er}

    

use
3%!‘
9  .

:

2'7 ii
. «is.
"e

In 1834 hewas elected to the State Legislature, and

was re-elected in 1836, 1837, 1838, and 1839. He was
Speaker of the House in 1838, 1839, and 1840. He
Was first chosen Speaker of the House at a time of the
greatest public excitement, known asthe Buckshot
war. Military surrounded the State-house, and a
bloody collision was imminent. Referring to C01.
Hopkins inthis connection, Hon. George W. Wood-
ward, in the Constitutional Convention, said, “ You,
sir, and most of the members of the Convention, will

One of the sons,

//

' candidate _ for Congress.

WASHINGTON BOROUCH.

5618

referto a period in our civil and political history of

great interest, when but for the wisdom and firmness

of this man, our Commonwealth might easily have
been involved in the horrors’ of civil war. I have
always felt that the public owed more to those quali-
ties of that individual man for averting those calami-
ties than to all other influences which were in‘ opera-
tion at the.time.”_ , I .

In 1840, Col. Hopkins was appointed commissioner
of the Cumberland road by Governor Porter, which of-

* fice he filled until 1842, when he was called into "Grover-

nor Porteris cabifnet as Secretary of the Land-oflice. ',

Subsequently Col. Hopkins held the oflice of com-
missionerof the_C,umberland road for five years.

In 1844, and again in 1848, Col. Hopkins was a
. Although there was a large
Whig -majority in the district, Col. Hopkins was so
popular that he came within fifty-eight votes of being
elected in 1848. i V

In 1852 he was elected Canal Commissioner, and
served in that capacity for three years with that abil-
ity and integrity for which he was distinguished.

When not employed in more enlarged spheres of
usefulness, Col. Hopkins was always interested and
active in local affairs, and never refused his services to
hisfriends and neighbors. In 1849 he served as a mem-
ber of the Borough Council of Washington. In 1850 he
was elected burgess. In 1857 and 1858 he served as
assistant burgess. In his later years he was engaged
in the banking business. He wasideeply interested
in the public school system, and served as school di-
rector. ‘ mi _

In 1861 he was again elected to the House of Rep-

’ resentatives, and was re-elected in,1862. In 1863 he

was elected to the State Senate, and for three years
was recognized as a leader in that-body. He was
through life an ardent Democrat. / i

In 1872, Col. Hopkins was elected a member of the
convention to revise the Constitution of Pennsylva-
nia. He was chairman of the committee to revise
and report amendments, to the declaration of rights.
It was he_ who penned the preamble, , which was
unanimously adopted, in these, words: “ We, the peo-
ple of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, recogniz-
ing the sovereignty of God and humbly invoking His
guidance in our future destiny, ordain and establish
this Constitution for its government.”

While a member of the Constitutional Convention,
Col. Hopkins started for a short visit to his home.
On the cars he contracted a severe cold, which settled
upon his lungsin the form of pneumonia, of which
he died on March 5, 1873, after only a few days’ illness.

When but eighteen years of age Mr. Hopkins was
married to Rachel Herron, the only daughter and the
youngest of ten children of James Herron, who when
a mere lad came from Ireland with his father,
Charles Herron. The mother of Mrs. Hopkins was
Rachel Reed, of Lancaster, Pa. Honor, integrity,

and independence were characteristics of the Herrons.

The marriage of Mr. Hopkins at so early an age
proved an exceedingly happy one. No household
was ever presided over by a more affectionate wife
and devoted mother. Much_ of Col. Hopkins’ success
in life was due to the fact that he had a wife “ whose
price was above rubies.” V _

" There were three children born to this couple. ,An-.
drew, the eldest, for many years was an able and promi-

nent journalist, having edited at different times _

papers in ‘Washington, Pa., in Pittsburgh," Erie, Wil-
liamsport, and Harrisburg. The only daughter, Kate
M., is at home, the sojlace of her aged mother. James
Herron, the'youngest son,.is sketched elsewhere in
this volume. V 1 _
The most marked traits of the character of Col.
Hopkins are thus grouped by Rev. J. I. Brownson,
D.D.: “Such a man could not but be extensively
known and respected. In fact his mental force, dis-
criminating judgment, urbanity, integrity, and kind-
ness, joined with his facility as a writer and speaker,
rising above the defects of early education, were a
continual pledge of public favor and success. He was

1 very firm in adhering to his own views, but consider- '

ate also of the opinions and feelings of others. In

co-operation or in opposition he commanded respect. .
In private life, also, it was impossible not to realize '

theipower of his politeness and his delicate regard to
the sensibilities of all about him. His fondness for
children seemed to increase with his years, showing
itself both in a desire for their enjoyment and for-
their_ good. _
taxed for the benefit of others, especially widows and
orphans. ,
central object of uncommon reverenceand affection,
answering to his own peculiar love‘ and, tenderness
within his domestic-relations. But better than all is
the witness he leavesbehind him in his confession
and life as a disciple of Christ, and in the repose of
his heart "upon the divine promiseswhen called down
into the valley and shadow of death.” '

Another said of him, “ His judgment was remarka- H

bly sound and accurate, _and,_ with his inflexible
honesty, made him in public a leader of men, and in
private life a trusted and confidential adviser and
counselor.
State, have managed so many trusts, public and pri-
vate, as were committed to him during his long and
eventfullife, and still fewer have discharged so many
trusts so skillfully, so judiciously, and so successfully.”

In the Constitutional Convention Judge Black, re-

. ferring to the death of Mr. Hopkins, said,——

“ I do not underestimate the very high qualities of
my surviving associates in this body. I do not think,
indeed, that any man here appreciates their various
abilities and virtues more than I do; but I deivoutly

believe that there is no man in this convention that we 7

could not have spared better than him who has gone.
“ I do not propose to give an analysis of his character,
and it is not necessary to repeat his history. _I may

H_is fine business capacity was often I

In the hallowed circle of home he was the -

Few men in this county, or indeed in the"

A the commanding figure and strongly-marked counte-

. had begun to impair his faculties.”

felt for the bereaved friends,,(,,),,,f,I.,,_,, 

I . Brownson, of the Fill

562

HISTORY OF WASHINGTON COUNTY, PEN NSYLVANIA.

say, for I know it, that he was in all respects the best
balanced man that it was ever my good fortune to
know. H-is moral and personal courage were often
tested; he was one of the most fearless men that ever
lived, yet all his measures were in favor of peace, and
every one who knew him testifies to the gentleness
and kindness of his manner.”

, Mr. Biddle said, “ I well recollect being struck with

nance, in the lineaments of which were unmistakably
written simplicity and directness of purpose, integrity,
and unswerving firmness. . . . He has rounded off a
life of great moral beauty, of ‘great usefulness, of great
dignity by a fitting end, and he has fallen -before decay

The high appreciation of Col. Hopkins by the com-
munity in which he lived so long was strikingly
marked at his funeral. . .

“During the day, While the body lay at the late
residence of the deceased, it was looked upon by a
large number of people, and as the hour for the ser-
vices drew near the crowd in and around the house
grew to immense proportions. The sorrow of the
community was demonstrated by the closing of the
public schools, and in many instances by  cessation
from business. Everywhere there were  of
the grief in the community, and theegar 1

 
  
 
   

The funeral services Jwerfiii
Holmes, D.D., of A11   _.
both of the Methodist;  ’

 
  

-
3.

Frazier, of the Second»:  
George P. Hays,      V
Jefferson College, all of 

    

children with their teachers. Then there was a long
line of carriages, wagons, and other vehicles, and a
large company who walked to the cemetery.

Col. Hopkins was buried in the Washington Ceme-
tery, in the county which had always been his home,
which had always honored him, and to which he was
so strongly attached. - '

HON. JAMES HERRON HOPKINSJ

Among the eminent names connected with Wash-
ington County no one is more respected than that of
Hopkins. The family is descended from Maj. Thomas
Hopkins, a soldier of the army of the Revolution,
who after the close of the war came from Maryland
and ‘settled in Washington County. Distinguished
among the members of that family stands James
Herron Hopkins, the subject of this sketch, a gentle-
man who is as well, and favorably known throughout
the State and nation as he is in his native county.

1 By Dr. Wood.

sonal "friends of the deceased. ‘An 
- of the display was the attendance of all the school
two thousand three hundred and fourteen votes.

He was born on Nov. 3, 1831. His father was the
late Col. William Hopkins, whose life and works are
inseparably connected with the history of Washington
County and the commonwealth of Pennsylvania.

Immediately after graduating with honor at Wash-
ington College he went to Pittsburgh, where he read
law with the late Hon. Wilson McCandless, a judge
of the United States Court, and while yet in his mi-
nority he was admitted to the Allegheny County bar
in 1852. From that time Mr. Hopkins has made his
home in Pittsburgh. His success as a lawyer was
immediate, and continued uninterrupted for twenty
years, when failing health compelled him to relin-
quish it for a more healthful pursuit.

Mr. Hopkins was married at Frederick City, Md.,
on Oct. 19, 1871, to Miss A. Margaret Schissler, a
lady whose beauty, refinement, and hospitality emi-
nentlyifits <' her to bless and adorn the elegant home
at “Willow-by.” The union has been blessed with
three bright and lovely children.

The Democratic party, of which Mr. Hopkins is an
earnest member, has formany years been in a hope-
less minority in Allegheny County. Notwithstanding
this discouraging circumstance he has steadfastly
and actively maintained his connection with its for-
tunes, and has led more forlorn hopes than any other
Democrat in the State. This latter fact might seem
to has been an oflice-seeker, but such
imp,“   ”  and the party that has often
F’  ;_him at the front as the most
   When a candidate he has
. §.%a<‘:,l.,%¥?‘0if"1~”1iisi party vote. In 1864 he ran
 Gen. Moorhead, and again in
l  Negley. In 1872 he was the Demo-
 for Congre_s_s from the State at large.

    
       
   
  

In I8l'74ikl1,e’lonce more ran for Congress against his ‘

oldopponent, Gen. Negley, whom he defeated by
He
was a candidate for Governor in the Democratic con-
vention of 1882, but was defeated after a close con-
test by six votes by Mr. Pattison, of Philadelphia.

Mr. Hopkins is one of the most prominent Masons
in America, and has filled its highest offices. He was
elected Grand Master of Knights Templar at New
Orleans in 1874. Since quitting the practice of the
law he has been engaged in the banking business; is
president of the Penn Bank of Pittsburgh, also of
the Real Estate Savings-Bank. He is also president
of the Union Insurance Company, and of a life in-
surance company. Mr.'Hopkins is an enterprising
and useful citizen, always taking a deep interest in
public improvements and industrial enterprises. He
is vice-president of the Chamber of Commerce, and
prominent in its councils. ,

Mr. Hopkins is tall and slight in figure, but has a
compact build, which gives one the "impression of agil-
ity with endurance. He possesses a pleasant face, a mos_t
affable manner, and precisely that suavity of address
which provokes confidenceand cordiality. Such men

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WASHINGTON BOROUGH.

563

shine most where they are most trusted and loved, and

_ that place is the oflice, the social circle, the fireside of

home. Those who best know Mr. Hopkins are often
puzzled to know why he, so quiet and unassuming,
shouldforego‘ the endearments of comfort and inde-
pendence for the turmoil and drudgery of a public
career. But Peter the Hermit led the first deadly cru-
sade, Cromwell bivouacked with swearing troopers,
the gentle VVashington waded through blood to free-
dom, and Hopkins has stood‘ in the eminently dirty
breach of politics! _ - " _

It is Worthy of mention that none of the dirt ever
fastened to his garments.

During his arduous services as a lawyer he man-

aged to find time for travel during brief holidays and V

for the cultivation of literature. His communications
to newspapers and ‘magazines are marked with Vigor
and scholarship. His letter descriptive of his journey
among the Rocky Mountains and his travels abroad
are among the best ever written on those themes.

' But it is as a politician, a politician in its Worthiest
sense, that Mr. Hopkins is best known, and wherein

_ his sterling qualities most shine. The writer is guarded

against exposing the subject of this sketch to invidious
comparison or jealous distinction, but candor guides

the pen to write that while a few politicians are shin- .

ing examples of candor, patriotism, and integrity, Mr.
Hopkins stands abreast with the foremost of them all.
His career has demonstrated what, in the light of
modern political methods, sounds like a paradox,-—
that a man may be loyal to party without dishonor,
that he may dispute with an opponent without sacri-
ficing the amenities of life, and that he can discharge
the trust of office without venality. The standard of
his character has ever and still stands so high that no
one has ever assailed it, and even in heated political
controversies his opponents have ever complimented
him on his spotless life.

Mr. Hopkins, While not possessing that dash and
magnetism essential to the great leader, possesses
qualities, as candor, earnestness, discretion, and a
single-hearted desire to see his country and country-
men prosperous,—-q ualities far safer than the dazzling
dash of reckless and ambitious demagogues. I James
H. Hopkins belongs to the class of men whom Thomas
Jefferson would have trusted with place and power.

As a public speaker Mr. Hopkins is earnest, grace-
ful, and eloquent, being one of the most popular of
platform orators. ‘

Although not a resident of Washington County, Mr.
Hopkins owns considerable property there, and takes
a great interest in all that concerns the prosperity 0
his native county. ’

JOSEPH HENDERSON.

Joseph Henderson was born in Accomack County,
Va., Sept. 28, 1797, and died in Washington, Pa., Sept.
19, 1872. He was the last of ten children of Samuel
Henderson, of Scotch-Irish lineage, who was born

Jan. 8, 174.3, and landed at New Castle, Del., Sept. 17,
17 64. While Joseph Henderson was a child his
father died‘, leaving a widowed mother and ten chil-
dren. Having acquired a fair education, together
with a_ good moral and religious training at the hands
of pious parents, he was stirred with the honorable
‘ambition to carve his own fortune in the world. Ac-
cordingly, in the absence of other opportunities, he set
out in the autumnof 1815 for Philadelphia, with the

JOSEPH HENDERSON.

purpose of going to sea as a sailor. There, however,
he met with a gentleman from his own State and
county,«through whom he unexpectedly formed the
acquaintance of a relative in Steubenville, Ohio, who
persuaded him to change his plans and accompany
him to his home, with the expectation of safer and
surer employment. His limited supply of money
barely suflicedlto carry him to Steubenville, but on
his arrival there he engaged himself for the Winter
in the Well-known woolen-factory of the Messrs. Lari-
mer. Accompanying one of the proprietors the fol-
lowing June, 1816, upon a visit to Joseph Wherry,
Esq., near Washington, Pa., he was introduced by
that gentleman to Alexander Murdoch, Esq. (the
father of Hon. Alexander Murdoch, of Washington),
who was then prothonotary and clerk of the courts of
Washington County. From him he obtained em-
ployment as a clerk in his office. He continued in
the office in the employ of Mr. Murdoch’s successor,
Mr. William Sample, and Dec. "30, 1823, was himself
appointed clerk of the courts. He was reappointed
Dec. 21, 1826, and heldthe ofiice until succeeded by
Col. James Ruple in 1828. He also heldthe ofiice of
postmaster in VVashingto_n, Pa., under the administra-

A Crumrine, George ’

ILLUSTRATIONS.

Alexander, J. W. .0
Alexander, William J.
Allison, John

Autographs of Justices of Old Virginia Courts,

Baker, Enoch

p Barnard, Samuel

Barr, John S. .

Bentley, George

Blachly, S. L. . . .
Caldwell, A. B., Residence of . .
Court-House, Sherifi"s Residence, and Jail
Craig, Walker .

Craighead, James

Davis, William

Denniston, Samuel

Dickson, James G.
Ducking-Stool .

Ewing, John H.

Farrar, John

Frazier, Thomas .
Hall, John, Stock-Farm of
,Hanna, Mrs. S. R.-

Hawkins, S. R.

Hazlett/s Bank .

'Hazzard, T. ‘R. .

Henderson, Joseph

Hopkins, James H. .

Hopkins, William

H ‘Howe, S. B.

V J eiferson ‘College at Canonsburg in 1842 .
Lawrence, G. V. . . . .
Lee, William

 _Little, James D., Residence of . 7

-man
facing 627
“ ‘ 578
. 720
facing 204
"‘ 671
“ 978
“ 944
“ 968
“ 848
“ 504
“ 467
“ 724
‘f .706
“ 976
“ 957
“ 964
“ 614
206
facing 556"
“ 929
“ 760
"‘ 688
“ 558
“ 948
“ 528
V “ 598
. 563
facing 56.2
“ 560
“A 635
. . 445
facing 574
“ 732
“ 712

1./lap, Draft of Surveys Virginia Settlement, between 192, 193
Map, Outliné; Illustrating the Boundary Controversy be- '

tween Penggrlvania and Virginia

facing 191

Map showing .Distr;g;t of West Augusta and Counties of

Ohio . . . .
Map showing French Occupation of the Ohio Va

7 Map of Washington County from 1781 to -1788 “_

Map, Outline, of Washington County
vMaxwell, George C., Residence‘ of
Maxwell, John . 1 . ' .

, McConnell, Alexander, Jr.

j, McConnell, Alexander, Sr. . .

 McFarland, Samuel . A . V.

6

between 182, 183

Hey, facing 138

222

. between 12, 13
facing 646

“ 820

. '. V between 718, 719 V

“ 718, 719
. facing 564

Vvf

McKennan,  . . . I
McLain, William A . . .
McMi1lan’s Log Cabin Academy _
McNary, James S.

McNary, William H. . .
Murray's Block, West Alexander
Noble, T. C. . . .

Part of Washington in 184
Patterson, James .

Paul, Huston . . . A» .
Paxton, John G., Residence of .
Plan of the town of Washington
Pees, Zachariah

Perrine, David p 3. . i .
Prehistoric Pipe . . J . .
Presbyterian Church, West Alexander
Pringle, J. S. A .

Proudfit, J. L. . . V . .
Public School, Monongahela City
Ramsey, George

Reed, Parker ._ .

Richard Yates’‘Survey .
Ritchie’s Block A

Ritchie, W. H.’S.

Sl1irls,‘Harry, Residence of

Sloan, Rev. James . .  . .
Smith, William 
Soldiers’ Monument . .
Southwestern State Normal School .
Speers, S. C. '

Sphar, Henry .

Stephens, J. W.

Stewart, Robert

Stocks and Pillory ‘.

Swagler, Jacob

Swart, Andrew J. .
Townsend, Elijah . . .
Trinity Hall, from Playground.
Trinity Hall Boarding-School .
Trinity Hall, east view

Vance, Samuel .

VVarne, James 1.

Walker, D. S. . . .

Walker, John N. . .
Washington College in 184

Wasson, L. J. . . .

Work, George T.

PAGE

facing
K‘

between 714,
“‘ 714,
facing
' H
(K

{K

{I

V between 476,

facing
(K

facing
(6
K‘
(K

k:

facing
(5

between 542,
. facing
U

facing

facing
(6

facing
{I

249
762
440
715
715
752
758
496
727
954
708
477
880
840
956
749
642

930

595

K 959

822
193
623
624
543
585

940  
. _552

462

649 _

651
936

838 p

222

950 .
672 t

899
459
458
459

952 .

600
740

736 ,
446 O

886
816

64

HISTORY OF WASHINGTON CO UN TY, PENNSYLVANIA.

, The savages could do nothing but accede to the
terms offered them, though they did so with a bad
grace. The treaty was concluded with King Beaver
and other Delaware chiefs on the 7th of November,
and with the Shawanese on the 12th of the same month.
In a letter written by Bouquet to the Governor of
Pennsylvania, dated “ Camp at the Forks of Mus-
kingum, 15th November, 17 64,” the general said,
“ I have the pleasure to inform you that the Mingoes,
the Delawares, and the Shawanese after a long strug-
gle have at last submitted to the terms prescribed for
them, viz.: First, to deliver all the prisoners without
exception. Second, to give fourteen hostages, to re-
main in our hands as a security for the performance
of the first article, and that they shall commit no hos-
tilities against his Majesty’s subjects.”

Of the hostages, the Mingoes gave two, the Dela-
wares six, and the Shawanese six. Two hundred
White captives had already been delivered, “ and many
of them,” said Bouquet, “have remained so many
years amongst them [the Indians] that they part from
them with the greatest reluctance.” But it was a part
of the terms granted by Bouquet that all captives
should be given up and forced to leave the savages,
whether willing to do so or not. “ I give you,” said
Bouquet, on the 6th of November, “twelve days from
this date to deliver into my hands at Wakatamake all
the prisoners in your possession, without any excep-
tion, Englishmen, Frenchmen, women, children,
whether adopted in your tribes, married or livi_ng
amongst you under any denomination and" pretense
whatsoever, together with all negroes. And you are
to furnish the said prisoners withclothing, provisions,
and horses to carry them to Fort Pitt." When you
have fully complied with these conditions you shall
then know on what terms you may obtain the peace
you sue for.” I

Two hundred and six prisoners were given up by the .

Indians, but there were still nearly one hundred more
held by the Shawanese at distant points. These they
promised to bring in in the following spring, and did
bring nearly all of them. On the 18th of November
thetroops set out on their return to Fort Pitt, and ar-
rived there on the 28th. A few days afterwards Bou-
quet left the fort and returned to Philadelphia.

It had been made a part of Bouquet’s agreement
with the Indians on the Muskingum that they should
go to Sir William Johnson on the Mohawk to sub-
scribe to a formal treaty of peace. This they did ac-
cording to agreement, and a treaty was concluded
May 8, 1765.

c H A P T E R V I.
DUNMORE’S WAR.

IN the year 17 74 occurred a series of Indian incur-

I ~ sions and butcheries (chiefly by the Shawanese) in

the white settlements of the western frontier, and, a

retaliatory and entirely successful campaign carried
on against the savages by white troops under com-
mand of Lord Dunmore, then Governor of Virginia,
and his lieutenants, which operations, extending
through the summer and part of the autumn of the
year named, have usually been known as “ Dunmore’s
war.” In that conflict the territory which is now
Washington County saw but little of actual blood-
shed and Indian atrocity, yet in the universal terror
and consternation caused by the savage inroads and
massacres, most of which occurred farther to the west
and south, this region came near being as completely
depopulated as all the territory west of the Laurel
Hill range had been twenty years before by the panic
which succeeded the French victory over Washington
at Fort Necessity. ' ‘

Dunmore’s war was the result1 of several collisions ’

1 In reference to the causes which led to the Indian hostilities of 1774,
an extract is given below from a letter written upon that subject, dated
at Redstone Old Fort, on the Monongahela, in October, 1774, immedi-
ately after the close of Lord Dunmore’s successful campaign against the
Shawanese. It is not known who was the writer, but he was evidently
a person of position under Lord Dunmore, and ‘had been present with
the Governor in the campaign and at the treaty which followed it. The

letter is found in American Archives, vol. i. p. 1016, viz.:

“ It will not be improper to investigate the cause of the Indian war
which broke out in the spring, before I give you a sketch of the history
of the expedition which his Excellency Lord Dunmore has carried on so
successfully against the Shawanese, one of the richest, proudest, and bra-
vest of the Indian nations. In order to do this itis necessary to look back

' as far as the year 1764, when 001. Bouquet made peace with that nation.

The Shawanese never complied with the terms of that peace. They did
not deliver up the white prisoners, there was no lasting impression
made upon them by a stroke from the troops employed against them in
that campaign, and they barely acquiesced in some articles of the treaty
by command of the Six Nations. The Red Hawk, a Shawanese chief,
insulted Col. Bouquet with impunity, and an Indian killed the colonel’s
footman the day after the peace was made. This murder not being
taken notice of gave rise to several daring outrages committed imme-
diately after.

“In the year following several murders were committed by the In-
dians on New River, and soon after‘ several men employed in the service
of Wharton and Company were killed on their passage to Illinois, and
the goods belonging to the company carried off. Some time after this
outrage a number of men employed to kill meat for the garrison of Fort
Chartres were killed, and their rifles, blankets, &c., carried to the Indian
towns. These repeated hostilities and outrages being committed with
impunity made the Indians bold and daring. Although it was not the
Shawanese alone that committed all these hostilities, yet letting one
nation pass with impunity when mischief is done inspires the rest of the
tribes with courage, so that the oflicers commanding his Majesty’s troops
on the Ohio at that time, not having power or spirit to pursue the In-
dians nor address to reclaim them, mischief became familiar torthem;
they were sure to kill and plunder whenever it was in their power, and
indeed they panted for an opportunity. It is probable you will see Lord
Dunmore’s speech to some chiefs of the Six Nations who waited on his

Lordship; it mentions the particular murders and outrages committed"

by them every year successively since they pretended to make peace
with C01. Bouquet.

“ The most recent murders committed by the Indians before the white
people began to retaliate were that of Capt. Russel«l’s son, three more
white men,and two of his negroes, on the 15th of October, 1773; that of
a Dutch family on the Kanawha in June of the same year, and one
Richard in the July following; and that of Mr. Hogg and three white
men on the Great'Kanawha early in April, 1774. Things being in this
situation, a message was sent to the Shawanese, inviting them to a con-
ference in order to bury the tomahawk and brighten the chain of friend-
ship." They fired upon the messengers, and it was with difliculty they
escaped with their lives. Immediately on their return letters were

writtenhby some gentlemenat Fort Pitt, and dispersed among the in-

564

HISTORY or WASHINGTON COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIAL

tion of John Quincy Adams. In 1829 he was elected
sheriff of Washington County, and held/that oflice
until 1832. He was subsequently elected a member
of the House of Representatives at Harrisburg. He
was once the candidate of the .Wl1ig party for canal
commissioner, but, like his colleagues on the ticket,
was defeated. Under the administration of Governor
Ritner he served as deputy secretary of the land-

oflice, and for a short time as adj utant-general.

During his residence at the State capital,’ ending in
1839, he studied law with George W. Harris, Esq.,
and was admitted to thebar. Returning to -Washing-
ton, he opened an oflice and successfully pursued his
p'rofess_ion the remainder of his life.‘ He appeared
but seldom as an advocate, but in general office busi-
ness and in the Orphans’ Court he had a large prac-

tice. He made a profession of religion by uniting-,
with the PresbyterianChurch of Washington in 1828, i

and from 1847 to the time of his death was a ruling
elder in the same church, now the First Presbyterian,
under the pastoralcare of V Rev. .Dr., Brownson. His
Christian. life was markedwith“ great consistency as
well as fidelityfl to all his obligations. I The decided

._honesty.. and constancy of his former life was thus

broughtunder the operation of .relig,ious'<;principle.

He was trusted and loved as a friend, and was honored -
with the warm fellowship of his brethren and fe1low- :

oflicers in the church. N 0 one of all who knew him

doubted either hisintegrity in businessor the sincerity. .
of his professions as a Christian. His-iunspottedi

truthfulnessand integrity, his social -affection, his

tality, his patient industry, his.l,un's_w.erving-morality,
his strict practice‘ andladvcocacy. of temperance, and
above all his consistent piety, all combine to furnish
an example which it is safe to follow. April 18, 1820,
he‘ married Rachel, daughter of John McCammant,
with whom, though blessedwith no children, he lived
a happy and peaceful life. Mrs.‘ Henderson still
survives, occupying the old homestead. '

MAJ. SAMUEL McFARLAND._

Maj.’Samuel McFarland was born in VVasliington

County, on Ten—Mile Creek, in 1795.- Hisfather

_was William McFarland, who was the first coroner of

Washington County, and from 1788 an associate jus-
tice of her courts. His" grandfather was Col. Daniel

. McFarland, a Revolutionary soldier. After leaving

Washington. College, in‘ which institutionhe had com-

pleted his literary studies, he. entered the oflice of A

Thomas McFarland McKennan, Esq., under whose
direction he studied law «until December, 1827, when
he was admitted to the bar. Probably the most im-
portant casein which Maj. McFarland was counsel,

during‘ the few years which he devoted to his profes-

sion, was that ofa colored man ("a slave.) by the name of
Christian Sharp (commonly called “ Kit”),wl1o‘ was
tried, convicted, and executed for the murder of his
master, Robert Carlisle, of Woodford, Ky. He had

associated with him for the defense in this case Wi1- .

liam Baird and John Kennedy,.Esqrs. In’182‘9 he

was appointed treasurer of Washington County, and ’_

fulfilled the duties of that oflice until 1832. ‘After re-
tiring from oflice he purchased the farm now owned
by Mr. Harry Shirls-, near the town of Washington,

and theremainder of his active business lifehe de-
.v”o.ted mainly to sheep-raising and wool-buying. He

was married Mayc9, 1849, .to Mary, youngest daughter
of tHamilton and Mary (Miller) Huston, of Wash-
ington County. He died Feb. 17, 1868, leaving no
children.

up of that organization he united withthe United

..PreSb._yterian Church, of which he_.was _a member’

until his death. Maj. McFarland was prominent for
many years. as one of the leading temperance and
anti-slavery men of -Washington County. Hewas a

I strong-willed, outspoken, ‘straightforward, aggressive
kindly and cordial inter'course“_e__wi'th all classes in,
society, his benevolenpe, charitableness, and hospi-

man,+impolitic, it may be, as so_me have averred that
his espousal of a cause injured it,-—but, however much
his methods may. have been , questioned,‘ none ever
doubted his sincerity of purpose. ' "He possessed great

vigor. of.constituti_on,*energy of character,‘-and marked ,

success in business. . He was as large-hearted, gener-
ous man, and liberally aided all causes whizchhe re-
garded as worthy of ' assistance. To all agencies

; having for their object the improvent of the colored.’

race he was especially munificent. He is.named by

. those who knew him as one of Washington County’s

first and- most fearlessrfoes of human slavery in the

days when that institution was popular," and when it .

was abolished he gave freely of his means for the edu-
cation and encouragement of the disenthralled race.
During the war of the Rebellion /he was thought too_
old to go into the field; one of the most ardent of

patriots, giving all of his moral influenceand much -

of his time and money. to the furtherance of the cause
of the Union. , V ‘V

He was for many years a member, one - of
the chief supporters, of the Cumberland Presbyterian ‘
‘Church of Washington, Pa;, and after the breaking

MCFARLAND.

SAMUEL

MONONGAIjIELA CITY.

THIS picturesque and thriving town, second in
point of numbers, yet the most important manufac-
turing centre in the county of Washington, is situ-
ated‘ on the left ‘bank of the Monongahela River,

- -atthe mouth of the small stream known as Pigeon

Creek, thirty-one miles by railway above the city of
Pittsburgh. 9 , 2

It contains about one thousand taxable inhabitants,_
two newspaper oflices, two banking-‘houses, -various

important manufacturing interests, eight church ed-

ifices, a new and elegant public school building, nu-
merous handsome residences, streets illuminated with
gas, and its citizens are afforded’ ample means of
communication with Brownsville, Pittsburgh, and
other points throughout the valley both by river and
railway. However, as matters pertaining to the

. present will be treated at"considerable lengthin

succeeding pages, we will now turn back‘/to a time

of more than one hundred years ago, and delve and

probe, so _to speak, concerning its early history.

Since thelfirst settlement of this portion of the i

Monongahela Valley by the English-speakingwhite_s
the name of Parkison has ever been ‘prominent, for,
by reasonof a member of a familyof this name

"having been the first permanent‘ resident here, the

founder of the town and of other business interests,
theterm has become inseparably connected with the
history of this vicinity, whether known as “ Parkison
Ferry,” “ Williamsport,” or Monongahela ‘City. It
is of Joseph Parkison, then,the founder of this town,
that we’would first speak; but here, as elsewhere, difli-
culties are met with at the outset, for though the pio-

neers of this region lived at a time when much history._

was being made, when events of sufficient importance
to startle the civilized world were of daily occurrence,
and when, while witnessing the birth of a great
nation, a grapple to the death with the. treacherous
savages of the Northwest was to be expected at any

It appears that immediately after the treaty of "Nov.
5, 1768, when the Indian title to lands comprising the
southwestern counties of Pennsylvania was extin-
guished, the proprietaries or heirs of William Penn
began the sale of tracts l_ocated in the new purchase
to individuals at the rate of £5 for one hundred acres;
and among those who then or very soon thereafter
obtained patents for lands in this. vicinity, situated

on either-side of the.Monon-gahela, were Abraham}

Decker, Tobias Decker, John Decker, Adam Wicker-
ham, Paul Froman,‘ Jacob Froman, and probably
James and Jadobus Devore. The warrant though
which covered the original plot of Williamsport was
issued Aug. 26, 1769, and the land was surveyed for
Abraham Deck'er‘October 26th of the same year.
This tract, mentioned in the surveyor’s field-notes as
“Southwark”« or “Southwork,” and in the proprie-

tary records as Patent No. 3783, contained seventy '

acres, described as “adjoining the Monongahela
River, and Jacob Froman do_wn the river, and To-
bias Decker on the north.” The description further
said, “A stream enters the river on the upper side of
the tract, which is shaped like a keystone, with the

- top butting on the river.” , .
g During the year 1770, however,‘ Joseph Parkison

 came from some ‘point east of the Allegheny range,
3 and settled on the tract before mentioned as “South-

moment, they leftrbut few written records. behind 

them, and those, in the many changes brought about

during the lapse of years,‘ disappeared‘ long ago.-

True, representatives of pioneer families and ambigu-
ous traditions remain, yet to arrive at the least degree
of accuracy the searcher for historicalfacts must rely
chiefly upon such meagre fragments as can be gath-
ered from county and State archives and incomplete
files of early newspapers. J '

wark,” and ultimately laid claim to it and other lands

adjoining to the amount of over three hundred acres. ‘

It has been stated that the Parkisons came from Bed-
ford County, but Bedford— County did not then exist.
This region formed part of Cumberland County until

March 9, 1771, of Bedford from the latter date until -

the formation of Westmoreland, Feb. 26. 1773, and of
the latter ‘county from the date last mentioned until
the erection of Washington County, March 28, 1781;

1'On the 30th day of June, 1772, Paul Froman, of Bedford County (this
region was then included in Bedford), in consideration of the sum of one
hundred pounds, current money of Pennsylvania, sold to Adam Wicker-
ham, “ one tract of land, situate on the northeast side of the Mononga-
hela River, joining the land of John Decker on one side, and Tobias
Decker on the other side, being the land in possession of I, Paul Fro-
man, living‘ on.” T -

The same was acknowledged before Dorsey Pentecost at the court

7 held for Yohogania County, Va., Aug. 24, 1778.

Another tract patented. to Paul Froman, May 24, 1785, was by him sold
to Adam Wickerham, March 13, 1792. Upon this tract Wickerham laid
out the town of “ George Town,” adjoining Williamsport, as early as
1807. Concerning Paul .Froman we will say, further, that as early as

-1775 he owned a grist-mill, which was situated on Mingo Creek.

565

566

HISTORY OF WASHINGTON

COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA.

and from the fact that the Parkisons seem to have
espoused the cause of Virginia as against Pennsyl-
vania in the claim for territory situated hereabouts,
it is probable that they came here from Virginia or
Maryland.‘

Of the Parkisons there were five brothers, viz.:
Joseph, Benjamin, Thomas} J amesf and William; but
of them Joseph alone was prominently connected with
the early history of the town proper. It should be
understood, too, that the Benjamin Parkison here
mentioned and the Benjamin Parkison who at an

early day was so extensively engaged in business at i

Mingo were not. one and the same. The latter was a
nephew of Benjamin, Sr.,‘-‘ and a son of ‘either James
or William.

At the first session of Lord Dunmore’s court, held
at Fort Dunmore in February, 1775, authority was
granted James Devore to keep a ferry “from his
house on the Monongahela River t-o the mouth of
Pigeon Creek.” It also appears that at about that
time Nicho1as‘Dep7ue owned lands and lived at the
mouth of the same creek. - _

In 1780 -a Virginia certificate was granted Joseph
Parkison, and thus, according to the claims of Vir-

1 Since the foregoing was written we have- learned from the venerable
Capt. Ira R. Butler (who obtained his information from Joseph Parkison
himself) that the Parkisons’ before removing to this-county-had been
members of the Conococheague settlement. As our readers will learn by
scanning maps and historical works, the “ Conococheague settlement”
was a very early one,,and the English, Scotch, and German emigrants who
first located theresupposed that their settlement lay wholly within the
domains of Lord Baltimore. However, by a subsequent arrangement be-
tween therproprietors of the two provinces (an arrangement though
not at all satisfactory to a majority of those who were thus transferred
from the rule of Lord Baltimore's oflicers ‘to those of the Penns’), the

present line between the States of Pennsylvania and Maryland was
finallyestablished considerably to the southwardgof the line called forin I

Lord Baltimore's grant, and thus the original Conococheague settlement
is embraced by what is now known as Washington County, Md., formed
from Frederick in 1776, and Franklin County, Pa., formed from Cumber-
land in 1784. , A , , , _ _

The Parkisons were of English or Scotch descent. Joseph ’Parkison’s

' wife wasra true representative of the stock known as the “ the'Pe'nnsyl-
vaniar Dutch," and her reputation as a most excellent landlady was _

widely extended. , V

2 Thomas Parkison settled in what is now known as Dunbar township,
Fayette County, whereihe erected a grist-mill.’ In 1801 but one other
individual in that township was assessed for more property. A year or two
later he removed to Somerset township, in this (Washington) county,
where he built-a mill known afterwards as the McFarland Mill. He
finally removed to Brooke County, Va., in 1807, and "died there the same
year. 8 ' ' y ‘ ‘

3 James Parkison, by virtue of a warrant dated Jan. 22, 1797, became
the owner of a tract of four hundred and one acres, known as “Park-
ison’s Green,” situated on the waters of Pigeon Creek and Dry Run. Sub-
sequently this tract was purchased of James Parkison by Joseph Parki-
son, and by him transferred to Benjamin Parkison, Sept. 27, 1791. The
latter also ‘purchased of the Commonwealth a tract of one hundred
and eighty acres, known as Mount Pleasant, on Pigeon ‘Creek. The
warrant was issued May 2, 1792, and the landwas ‘surveyed Sept. 24,
1797. It adjoined the Monongahela River and lands owned by ‘Adam
Wickerham'and Andrew McFarland.

4 Benjamin Parkison, Sr., the brother. of Joseph, settled and lived for
many years in Nottingham township, on the premises since owned by
David -Hootman». He was one of the first j ustices of the peace of VVashing-
ton County (having been commissioned in 1781), and during the Whiskey
Insurrection of 1791-94 was an active and prominent leader of the in-
surrectionists. Subsequently he was pardoned by Gen. Washington.

ginia, he became vested with the ownership of a tract
entitled “ Wood Park,” 5 which included Southwark,
the words usedby the Virginia commissioners being
as follows; A

“ We, the commissioners for adjusting the claims to unpatented lands
in the counties of Monongahela, Yohogania, and Ohio, do hereby certify
that Joseph Parkinso, assignee of Brady & Brooks, is entitled to three
hundred and eighteen acres of land in the county of Yohogania, situate

' on the Monongahela River, to include his settlement made in the year

1770. , .
“ Given under our hands at Coxe’s Fort, this 11th day of February, 1780,
and in the fourth year of the Commonwealth. —
(Signed) “ FRANCIS PEYTON,
“PHILIP PENDLETON,
“ J osnrn HOLMES.”

On the 1st day of January, 1781, viewers were ap-
pointed by the Court of Quarter Sessions of VVashing-
ton County to lay out a road “from Bassett Town
[now Washington] to the mouth of Pigeon Creek.”
This immediate locality, therefore, seems to have been
known -as “the mouth of Pigeon Creek” and “De-
vore’s Ferry” until 1782, when, by an act approved
April 13th of that year, the landing of the ferry of
Parkison and Devore—-meaning Joseph Parkison and
J acobus Devore-——was established, ‘,‘ 30 perches below
the mouth of Pigeon Creek.” _ ’ S ,

After the close of the Revolutionary war, notwith-
standing the anomalous condition of affairs existing
in a region where (until August, 1780) the jurisdiction

of two different States, under dissimilar laws, enforced

by diverse sets of magistrates,.had been exercised
over the same people, the beautiful and fertile Mo-
nongahela valley invited settlements, and the neigh-
borhood of which “ Par-kison’s Ferry”'was the central
point increased in numbers quite rapidly. But, after
the passing of so many years, and in coinsequenc-e
of the lack of authentic data, it is now impossible
to ascertain the names of but very few of these early
residents. Among them, however, was James Rod-
gers and family. With his wife andseven children-
three sons and‘ four daughterse-Mr. Rodgers emi-
grated from the north of Ireland and settled at Parki-
son’s Ferry during the year 1786. Another daughter,
who was married in Ireland to a gentleman named
Hamilton, came to this country at a subsequent time.

The old people lived but a short ti-me after their
settlement here. They were of the “ first Irish stock,”

were freeholders in the old country, and the change V

from the comforts and the enjoyments of their former
lives to the privations of the wilderness was more-
than they could bear, and they died within a short
time of each other. The daughters it appearsbrought
some of their former ways of living with them. They
are said to have been very beautiful and fond of dress,
and were their hair crimped and .powdered, and long
plumes in their hats, which ‘must have been some-

5 The boundaries of “ Wood Park,” briefly described, were the Monon-.
gahela River, Pigeon Creek, and a straight line, which, commencing near
the foot of Third Street, ran parallel with that streetand beyond until
the waters of Pigeon Creek were reached at “ a sugar-tree.” '

MON ON GAHELA CITY.

thing unusual among» the settlers, for the Rev. Mr.
McMillan, pastor of the old Pigeon Creek Church,
where they attended, once reproved them for their
striking appearance, saying they‘ “took the atten-
tion of the congregation from -him.’-’ One of them,
"Olivia Rodgers, was married to Benjamin Parkison ‘
in‘ 1796, and their descendants are well known. Wil-
liam, a son resulting from this marriage, married Ma-
tilda Rodgers, a daughter of Hon. James Rodgers, of
Ohio, thus a second timeuniting the Parkison and
Rodgers families.

The sons of the James Rodgers who emigrated from
Ireland were Moses, Andrew, and Ebenezer. Moses
married a Miss Turner, and livedfor some years near
Mingo Creek, where he owned or operated a grist-
mill.” He became the father of fourteen children,
and long ‘before Horace’ Greeley but re-echoed the

‘ sentiment, concluded that it were better to “ go West”

and grow up with the country. Many of his descend-
ants may now be found at or near Madison, Indiana.
Andrew married a Miss Duncan. Ason of theirs,
James Rodgers, removed to Ohio and engaged in the
iron business. He built the first iron furnace in that

' ‘State, was twice elected to Congress, and was presi-

dent of the Iron Bank of Ironton at the time of his
death. He Was one of the founders of Ironton, and
left a large estate. Ebenezer, the third son of James
Rodgers, Sr., never married.’ I
.Besides the Parkison and Rodgers families there
were living at the ferry or in its immediate vicinity
in 1790 the Dickeys, Deckers, Fromans, De-vores,
Daniel Depue, a justice of the peace, Joseph Depue,
Nicholas Depue, Samuel Cole (a son-in—law of Daniel

Depue), who lived on the premises now owned by

Joseph Warne, Adam .VV..i.c.l;e.rham, Daniel .McCo‘mas,
Andrew McFarland,3 Hugh McGuire, and doubtless
a considerable’ number of others. This was a point
where. many in their journeyings to the Westward
crossed the rivers. A post-office had been established.
Samuel Black4 was the trader. Joseph Parkison was

the ferry-master and innkeeper; Adam Wickerham 1.
also kept an inn, and it is ‘very probable that the
hamlet could at that time boast of ablacksmith, shoe-

maker, etc., as Well. '

1 The Benjamin Parkison who owned the mills at the mouth of Mingo.

A Creek. ‘ I

2 Probably theold Froman mill before mentioned.
3 In early years Andrew McFarland held the oflice of justice of the
peace of Wéstmoreland County by virtue of a commission received from

John Penn, and because of the exercise of his authority as a justice he ‘

was arrested by the Virginia authorities April 9, 1774, and carried as a
prisoner to Staunton, Va. However, he was soon after released and
allowed to return home. .

4 Samuel Black wasthe principal Indiarrtrader‘ in ‘this region, and by
the purchase of furs from the Indians and the sale of them to the French

- at New 0rleans—thus managing to have his boats freighted both in

going down the rivers and returning—he amassed a considerable fortune.
His trading-post was situated at the “ ford,” or a point about thirtyrods
above the present grist-mill, which‘ has since been washed away by the
river. ' = . l

' Joseph Parkison also kept a small stock of goods, which he sold to the
early travelers, pioneers, and Indians. ' - ' r ‘

‘same was declared valid.

The fact that Joseph Parkison attempted to found
a town on his lands as early as 1792 is ascertained
from the following advertisement, found in the Pitts-
burgh Gazette of October in that year, vi‘z.:

“ The Subscriber has laid out a part of his farm on the Monongahela

River in the County of Washington, State of Pennsylvania, at the mouth '

of Pigeon Creek, opposite Devore’s ferry into Lots for a Town, the sale‘
of which will beginon the premises, on“the 15th day of November‘ next.

A It is needless to say much of a place of such public notoriety, yet it may

not be amiss to mention that its situation is equal, if not superior, to any
in the county, being on the main road leading from the town of Wash-
ington &c to Philadelphia, and a place at present of ‘ the most public re-
sort and advantageously situated for trade down the river; in the adja-
cent settlements are several merchant mills on gpod streams of water;
the neighborhood well settled with opulent farmers, and contiguous to
several Meeting Houses, and the spot itself healthy and pleasant. A"
small ground rent will be reserved, but will be made amends for by— the
cheapness of the purchase. Other particularswill be made known on
the day of sale.
“ J osnpn PERKERSON.”
“WASHINGTON COUNTY, Oct. 20, 1792.

The result of this advertised sale of lots is not
known, but it is evident that no great success attended
the attempt made at that time to create a town at
Parkison’s Ferry, though the place was one of some
local importance, as claimed in the proprietor’s ad-
vertisement. I

Duringthe Whiskey Insurrection of 17 91-94, Parki-
son’s Ferry became celebrated as one of the chief
points of rendezvous of the Whiskey Boys. Here, on
the 14th day of August, 17 94, la mass-meetingi’ of the
insurrectionists was held, at which the four western
counties of Pennsylvania were represented by two
hundred delegates, also others from Bedford and
Ohio Counties. Col. Edward Cook, founder of Cooks-
town (now Fayette City), served as chairman of this
meeting, and Albert Gallatin, afterwards Secretary of
the Treasury under Jefferson, bfliciated as secretary.

In 1796 it was decided by those having‘. the matter
under advisement‘ (regarding the difliculties caused
by the issuance of Pennsylvania patents and Virginia
certificates for the same tracts of land), that Joseph
Parkison was the rightful owner of the tract hereto-
fore mentioned as “ Southwark,” and his title to the
Thereupon Patent No.
3783, issued Aug. 26, 1769, and surveyed for Abraham
Decker Oct. 26, 1769, was returned to Mr. Parkison
May 11, 1796. He soon after laid out the town of
Williamsport"’ at Parkison’s Ferry, and caused the
following to be published in the Washington Tele-
grajohe: '

5 This meeting was held on the hill in rear of the present Episcopal
Church, and for many years thereafter the locality was known as “ Coun-
cil Hill.”

0 The “ Board of Property." .

7 The town derived its name’ from William Parkison, son of Joseph
Parkison, the proprietor. We will also add, in this connection, that al-

though the name of Williamsport was retained until April 1, 1837, when .

it was changedto Monongahela City, its post-oflice name, until the date
mentioned, was “ Parkison’s Ferry." Williamsport, the county-seat of
Lycoming County, was during all those years an important town, and
to have two post-offices of thesame name in thesame State at the same
time was not practicable. . V A 1

5673 >

\

56817 " 

“A "New Town
‘ » . ‘  Called W»ill»i,amsport

Is laid out by the subscriber, on the banks of the Monongahela River,
below the mouth of Pigeon Creek,_i_n,Washington County, well known
by the name of Parkison’s Ferry‘i‘: Tliesituation is pleasant and agree-
able, being in the heart of one of the richest settlements west of the
Alleghany Mountains, with the advantage of several grist- and saw-mills
within one and two miles of the spot, and places of Public Worship very
convenient, with plenty of Timber, and Mines of stone coal in abun-
dance. '  7 ‘

“ It is situated on the Main Road‘ leading from Philadelphia to Wash-
ington, West Liberty, Wheeling, and Charles Town on the Ohio River.
It is twenty miles from the town’ of pWashington, about fifteen miles
from the town of Greensburgli ' (the county Town of Westmoreland
County), and about fifteen miles from Redstone Old Fort. The lots will
be sold at Public Vendue, on the premises, on Friday, the 26th day of
August, next; one-half of the purchase-money of each Lot to be paid
at the time of the sale, and the other half at the time of executing the
deed, which will be in a short time after the sale, as the Proprietor has

an indisputable title for the premises. ' A plan of the town may be seen’ 1

with the Proprietor, and further particulars made known by application A

to him.
“J 1 25 1796.
u y , “ J OSEPH PARKISON.”

This announcement was followed by the following
paper, which explains itself :‘ i
. “PROCLAMA'1‘ION.

“ Whereas the Subscriber has layed-out lotts for a Town on his Plan-
tation near the mouth of Pigeon Creekvonlthe 26th of August Instant,
Notice is hereby given to all those who incline to become purchaser or
purchasers of said lott or lotts of this Special Condition, that every of
said purchaser or purchasers of said lott or lotts are to be prevented
from erecting or causing to be erected"any“Craft, Boat or Canoe for the
Conveying of Passengers acrossthe Monongahalah River, but the same
be and is hereby reserved to the Subscriber or his heirs, assigns, so fare
as the claim of the subscriber extends. ‘The hiest bidder for each lott
or lotts to be the buyer; any person or persons purchasing any lott or
lotts are to pay one-third, of .the purch'ase’money by the 3d day of Sep-
tember next, one-third part by the 26th of November next, and the
remaining third part to be paid on or before the 26th of February next,
when the purchasers will receive a sufliucient title for each lott or lotts,
Subject to the payment of one dollarper annum on each lott, to be

payable the 1st of October each year, first’ ‘year due October, 1797. Any

person or persons inclining to have theirdeeds or deed before the above
described time, may, on payment of the purchase money, immediately
receive them. .Notes and security will be required for the first payment,
and failer of making the second pay_ment the first will be forefeited to
the Proprietor, and on failer of. the third payment the first and second
to be forefeited,and the lotts to revert to the owner. Each lott is 60
feet in front, and 200 feet deep. The streets, 60 feet wide,'and the alleys
extending from the river to the hill, 15 feet wide, the cross alleys from
15 to 25 feet wide, according to the, situation of the ground. Aug. 26,
1796. ' ’ A

. - “ J OSEPH PARKISON.

“A lott of ground is reserved for a Market-house in the centre of the
Town, and a lott for a Meeting-house and Choll-house.

“ WASHINGTON COUNTY, 88. To whom it may concern; these are to cer-
tify that the within Town is laid out anda considerable number of lotts
sold, and some built upon. ‘ ' V A ’

“ As witness my hand and Seal, Jan. 11, 1797. ..

i , ‘ “DANIEL DUPEE.
“ Recorded in Recorder’s Oflice, Jan. 12, 1797.
“ SAM’L. CLARKE, Recorder."

The town1 of Willliamsport asoriginally  out

1 Among the additions to the original /plot have been the following,,
the dates indicating the time of survey : _‘ ‘ '6 ' ”

1

James Mitchell, “East end of 'Wi1liamsport,” including tw‘_enty-two

lots, December, 1812. ‘ v
Joseph Parkison, one hundred and six lots, Feb. 3, 1815. A

as early as 1807, it appears that he did not have it madea matter of
record until some eight or ten years thereafter, nor do the records show
just when that event transpired, i.e., the time of survey. However, re-

ber, 1881.

ursroav or WASHINGTON COUNTY. PENNSYLVANIA.

by Mr. Parkison contained one hundred four lots,
and at the first sale of them, whichtook place on
Friday, Aug. 26, 1.796, twenty-four were sold at prices

ranging from $239 down to $22, the aggregate proceeds

searches have shown us that on the 3d of April, 1807, in considera.tion
of sixty dollars, Adam Wickerham sold to John Shouse “ All that lot or
parcel of ‘land, with the appurtenances, lying and being in the town of
George Town, adjoining the town of Williamsport, on the Monongahela
River, . . . being situated on Cole Hill Street, No.15.” This lot was
fifty feet front, one hundred feet deep, and part of a tract granted to
Paul Froman, May 24, 1785, and conveyed by him to Adam Wickerham,
March 13, 1792. The quit-rents upon this lot were one dollar yearly;

' On the 24th of February, 1810, Shouse purchased of Wickerham lot No.

13, also situated upon Coal Hill Street.

Henry Teeters purchased of Wickerham lot No. 48, on Water Street,
March 26, 1808.

Samuel Hughes, of Washington, Pa., on the 24th of February, 1809,
bought of Wickerham lot No. 1, twenty-four by twohundred feet, whic

_ adjoined lots owned by John Wright and Joseph Parkison. ' ‘

On the 13th of October, 1810, Andrew Pierce bought of Wickerham
lot No. 140, on Ferry Street, which was sold by the pheirséof Andrew Pierce
to Elizabeth Pierce, May 6, 1811. I.‘  _

Thomas Gordon, on the 2d of July, 1813, purchased of Wickerham 101:.
N o. 143, which adjoined Margeret Patterson, and March 7, 1815, Wick-
erham sold to Matthew McClenahan lot N o. 14,;on_ Ferry and Race
Streets. These are all the salesthat were made a matter of record prior
to the recording of plot in February, 1816. ‘ '

On the 6th of February, 1814, Adam Wickerham certified that part of
his property adjoining the town of Williamsport “ has been surveyed and
laid out into Town lotts, and has formerly went byfthe name of George
Town, under which title all former deeds and conveyances have been
made, but as the Plot of said Town has never been reddrded, and as the
Plot of said town is in conjunction with the Town of;Wil'liamsp‘ort, it is

my will and request that you, the Register of said>,Co.unty,4will record ‘

the Plot that is presented to you under the title of Williamsport, and that

from this time forward all deeds, conveyances, &c., shall be made under ,

the title of Willianisport, formerly called George Town: A We the holders
of property in’ George Town, adjoining to Williagmvsporvt, do jointly arid

« severally agree and require Adam Wickerham,Proprjetorof said Town,
‘to have it recorded Williamsport, as witness our hands thissixth day of

February, 1814. William Fenton, John Cooper, George Schwartz, Pat-

’ rick Burk Henry Smith, John R. Shugart, Joseph. Butler, Margaret

Patterson, Margaret Biles, Robert Dunlap, William P. Biles,.D. Hick-
man, Abram Hickman, Jonathan Hickman, Samuel S. Cramer, John

, Shouse, Peter Shouse, Michael Miller, James Manowh,Joseph Hamilton,

Thomas Gordon. .  »
“ADAM WICKERHAM.”

In February, 1816, Mr. Wickerham attached his signature to the fol-
lowing certificate, when the plot formerly called-George Town seems to

. have been regularly recorded:

, “ I, Adam Wickerham, do certify that this Plot is made agreeable to
my directions and that I do acknowledge it as apart of ’Williamsport,
formerly cawled George Town. As witness my hand and seal this 23d

« day of February, 1816.

“ ADAM WIcK1«:B.HAM.”

This plot contained one hundred and forty-nine lots. From the river
back inland were Water Street, Mulberry Alley (now Union Street),
Market Street (now,Main), Spring Alley, and Coal Hill Street. _

Joseph Parkison, one hundred and forty-one lots, March 3, 1825.

Andrew B. Chess (a son-in-law of Adam Wickerham), one hundred and
forty-nine lots, Aug. 15, 1832.,

. Sheshbazzar Bentley, lots bounded by’ Coal, Union, and Ferry Streets. _

and West Alley, Dec. 10, 1834. _ V ,

Morton Black, “Belle Wood,” ninety-one lotson thelwest side of the
Pittsburgh, Virginia and Charleston Railroad, and a tier of out-lots
lying between the railroad and Monongahela River, containing from two
to four acres each; surveyed in August and September, 1873. j

I. She1by.Cral1, sixty-six lots, bounded by First Avenue, Pike and

A “ V 7, :Decker Streets, Nov. 17,1873.
Although Adam Wickerh-am’s plot, called“ Georgetown,” was laid out ‘

T. J. Allen, nine lots, bounded by the Monongahela River, Railroad

A Street, Thiifd and Fourth Streets, Oct. 15, 1879. '

James H§_Hopkins, plot known as “ West Monongahela City,” Septem-H

; :MONONGAHELA CITY.

569

being $1385. On the 24th of September, 1798, An-
drew McFarland purchased of Joseph Parkison lot
No. 41, west side of Washington Street. The former
sold the same to George Trout Jan. 6, 1802. Hugh
McGuire became the owner oflot No. 17 May 1, 1804,

and ,March 1, 1805, Adam Hailman (an early post- A

master) purchased of Trout the lot known in the

original plot as No. 41. John Shouse, James VVilson,

Henry Teeters, and Michael Miller also became
owners of lots in the village at about the time last
mentioned, the two latter purchasing from Adam
Wickerham.» '

Prior to the beginning of the century, however,

Maj. James Warne,1 a native of Allegheny County, 

settled in Williamsport, and with William Parkison

-_(son of Joseph) engaged in .the sale of merchandise. 1

Subsequently he married a daughter of Joseph Park-

iison, and after the war of 1812 became extensively

engaged in the manufacture of glass, and boat—build-
ing. Meanwhile other enterprising tradesmen, me-'
chanics, and professional men had located here, and
that these early citizens of the town were the posses-
sors of a large amount of push and ambition is indi-
cated by the following article, which was published
(in 1806) in the sixth edition of a book entitled “ The
Navigator :” ' I

“WILLIAMSPORT.

“ Situated on the left bank of the river, just below Pigeon Creek, is a‘

growing village,_in Washington County, Pa._, 20 miles east of Washing-
ton, and about 23 above Pittsburgh. The inhabitants have been peti-
tioning the Legislature for the privilege of forming it into a. new?

1 About the year 1800, Maj. Warne married Mary, a daughter of Joseph
Parkison. To them were born ten children, and of those who reached

‘(years of maturity were Amuzet Ives, Margaret, Joseph P., James, Hiram,
and Eliza. Jane. The first named married Mary Jacobs in l831,and died _

in 1879; Margaret became the wife of Samuel Devore, and now resides
in West Virginia; Joseph P., born in the year 1810, married Eliza J.

Irwin, and is now living in Monongahela City; James resides in Fal- ,

lowfield township; Hiram, near Washington, Pa.; and Eliza J ., who
married John Watkins, is a present resident of Ray County, Mo.

Before the beginning of the war of 1812-15, James Warne, as captain,
was in command of a body of militia known .as the “Williamsport
Rangers." On the breaking out of hostilities the “ Rangers” volun-
teered for service, and under command of Capt. Warne marched forward
to the Canadian frontier. At Meadville, while en route, Capt. Warns be-
came major of the regiment to which his company was attached, and
was ever after known as Maj. Warne. '

Soon after the close of the war, he, in partnership with his brother-in-
law, William Parkison, and the Butler brothers, built and operated an
extensive window-glass manufactory, which was situated on the west
side of Chess Street, on lots now owned by James Brown, J . P. Sheplar,
and Elijah Harrison. These works were among the first of the kind
erected west of the Alleghenies, and certainly the first in the town of
Williamsport. The enterprise did notprove to be a successful one, how-
ever, and transferring his interests to other parties, Maj. Warns engaged
in boat-building, etc. He died at the age of seventy-six years. Benja-
min Parkison, Samuel Black, William Ihmsen, Alexander Williams, and
others at various times controlled the glass-works here -mentioned.
Subsequently William Ihmsen established a vial-factory on the island.

2 The question referred to, whether a new county should be formed

from parts of Allegheny, Fayette, Washington, and Westmoreland, with
Williamsport as its county-seat, first took shape during the year 1799. '
Thus, on the 14th day of September of that year, a considerable number

of people, representing the counties mentioned, assembled at Williams-

'port, with the view of taking the necessary steps towards the formation

of a new county. Thereupon, after Joseph Beckett, Esq., had been

county, by taking off a part of Washington, Westmoreland, Fayette, and
Allegheny Counties, all of which corner near that place. It is said that
4000 dollars have been already subscribed to meet part of the expenses
of county buildings,” etc.

_ On the evening of Oct. 7, 1805, the Butler family,3
of whom Capt. Ira R. Butler, born Nov. 15, 1792,

chosen chairman, and John Hoge secretary, the following resolutions
were unanimously adopted: .

- “ 1. That it is the opinion of this meeting that a new county ought to
be established by the following lines, viz.: Beginning on the Mononga-
hela River, at the mouth of Peters Creek; thence up the said creek to
that branch thereof which runs from the Rev. David Phillips’ farm;
thence by a direct line to include the place on which George Myers, Sr.,
now lives: thence to Bentley’s upper mill on Pigeon Creek; thence to
the Monongahela. River opposite to the mouth of Little Redstone Creek;
thence by a direct line to the mouth of Washington's Run, on the
Youghiogheny River; thence down the same to F. Moses’ place; and
thence by a direct line to the place of beginning. A ‘

“ 2. That in the opinion of this meeting the seat ofjustice for the new
county should be established at Parkison’s Ferry, on the Monongahela
River. _ T V -

“,3. That John Hoge, MajorDevore, and Captain Royall be appointed
a committee to draft _a petition to the "next Legislature praying for the
establishment of a new county.” v

This measure was defeated‘ through the efforts of those opposed to_ it
The same question was successively renewed in 1820, 1822, 1835, 1837,
and in 1838, when it was proposed to make the new county twenty
miles square, but all endeavors have thus far proved futile.

3'Nob1e Butler, a Quaker, a native of Bristol, England, came to Amer-
ica as one of Penn's colonists in the year 1716, and settled in Uwchland,
Chester C0,, Pa., where he purchased one thousand acres of land. He
was the father of twelve children, of whom Benjamin (the father of Ira
R.) was the youngest. Benjamin married in Chester County, and in
due course of time he too became the father of twelve children, of whom

nine—vi'z., Jonathan, Abner, Noble, Eunice, Isaac, Benjamin, Joel, Jo?

seph, and Ira—had_ in 1805 arrived at years of discretion. The family
was well to do. Eunice had become the wife of David Woodward, and
the sons, except the youngest, were mechanics, thus Jonathan was a
wagon- and plow-maker, Abner was a cabinet-‘maker, while Noble, Isaac,

' Benjamin, Joel, and Joseph were carpenters.
It was determined, however, that a removal to the western country '

should be made, and Jonathan, after traveling over various portions of
Ohio, had selected and purchased lands situated about ten miles above
the mouth of the Big Miami._ Early in the autumn of 1805, therefore,
Benjamin Butler, accompanied by his wife and the nine children before
mentioned, one son-in-law (David Woodward), one daughter-in-law
(Abner’s wife), and three grandchildren (Abner’s), started forth on the
journey, a small wagon-train, consisting of two six-horse teams and
Conestoga wagons, atwo-horse carriage and two led horses, carrying the
baggage, household iurniture, etc., the females and younger members
of the party.

After encountering the various vicissitudes usually met with in trav-
eling in those days, the party arrived at Parkison’s Ferry on the even-
ing of Oct. 7, 1805. The following morning the father, as was his usual
custom, arose at an early hour, to see that everything was in readiness
for another day’s journey. He had aroused other members of the family,
and while conversing with some of them was suddenly stricken with
apoplexy, and expired the same evening, aged sixty-two years. His dy-
ing intestate made it necessary for the members of his family to remain
here some time. So an unoccupied house (Samuel Black’s old red trad-
ing-post) was rented and occupied. /Yet not many days had elapsed ere
all those comprising this family were ill from the effects of malaria, ex-
posure, etc., incident to their journey. '

The nearest regular physicians were at Greensburg or Brownsville.
A kind of quack practitioner, however (Michael Miller), resided-back

‘ in the country at no great distance away, and as drowning men clutch

at straws he was called. He came. The Butler family, every one of
them, looked sallow and pale enough. This wise man soon learned that
they c.ame from a section but twenty-five miles distant from Philadel-
phia. He had heard, also, that some eight or ten years previously the
yellow fever had raged in- that city. Thereupon “ Dr.” Miner an-
nounced to the afflicted members of the family that they were suffering
with the yellowfever. Goingout into the streets-of the hamlet, he also,
in the most profound manner, told the frightened denizens that Yellow

A

570

HISTORY OF WASHINGTON COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA.

was the ‘youngest,-and is now the only survivor,
crossed the river at Parkison’s Ferry (on their way
westward to the mouth of the Big Miami), and re-
ceived entertainment at the inn. at’ George Trout.
Sickness among all the members of this family, how-
ever, and the death of the father and two sons,
caused the survivors to remain here during the fol-
lowing winter. a

a.
3

Jack was in their midst. A panic ensued. Mr. Black was denounced
for having allowed the Butler family to occupy his building, and was
soon waited upon by a self-appointed deputation, who informed him
that the Butlers must remove therefrom at once, etc. Mr. Black re-
quested that his premises be vacated.,

At this juncture Nathan, Chalfant, a boat-builder, came forward and
offered the Butlers the shelter of a dwelling owned by him (which now
forms part of Alexander Wilson’s ancient warehouse), where, Mr. Chal-
fant vowed they should reinain unmolested. To this building, then, the
-family moved and passed the winter. It was a. very sad one to them
though, for two more of their number died, viz., Noble and Isaac.
Meanwhile Dr. Merchant, of Greensburg, had been summoned to at-
tend the family, and ‘it was only when he announced that they were
merely suffering froman aggravated form of malarial or intermittent
fever, brought on by exposure, water, etc., to which they were unaccus-
tomed, and had most bitterly denounced “ Dr.” Miller (who meantime
had enjoyed a lucrative business by preparing and selling an antidote
for the yellow fever, composed, as Dr. Merchant demonstrated, of brick
dust and some other ingredients equally eflicacious), that the fear of the
villagers was allayed.

In the spring of 1806 Jonathan and Benjamin Butler engaged in the
mercantile business. Subsequently Jonathan followed farming, own-
ing three hundred acres where the Black Diamond Coal-Works are situ-
ated, but finally removed to Indiana, where some members of his family
have become prominent. Benjamin removed to Pittsburgh about 1822,
but was soon ‘after killed by the overturning of a stage near Wash-
ington, Pa. Joel Butler was also engaged for a while in merchandising
with his brother Benjamin. The former died at the residence of Ira
Butler in 1845. Joseph Butler was a member of Capt. War.ne’s com-
pany during the war of 1812-14. He continued as a resident of Wil-
liamsport until his death. So also did Abner Butler, the cabinet-maker.
Their mother died here at the age of eighty-two years, and their sister,

~Mrs. Woodward, attained the age of ninety-four years.

Capt. Ira R. Butler, the only survivor of the family of sixteen per-
so-ns which left the limits of Chester County and ‘journeyed to the left
bank of the Monongahela nearly seventy-seven years ‘ago, still resides
on his farm, which being distant about five miles from Monongahela
City, overlooks a beautiful scope of country and the town which was
the scene of his early labors. For two years after his arrival at Wil-
liamsport, Mr. Butler availed himself of such educational advantages
as the place afforded. He then learned the saddlery business, and con-
tinued at it until the spring of 1814, when in consequence of lung
troubles his physician advised him to seek some other occupation at
once.‘ The position of a supercargo of a vessel of cartel plying the
waters of the great lakes while engaged in exchange of prisoners of
war, etc.,' was then offered him and accepted. He at once recovered his
health, and continued on the lakes some two or three years.

Returning to Williamsport he became an employé of the veteran boat-
builder, Robert Beebe, whose boat-yard occupied the site of Yohe, Corrin
& Co.’s planing-mill, etc. Mr. Butler was a close observer, however, his
later experience was of considerable benefit too, and he soon became‘
proficient in the business of boat-building, and a partner of Mr. Beebe.

No large steamboats though were built at this yard.’ The first large

boat, the “ Hercules,” was built by this firm (Capt. Peter Shouse being
a member) on the site of the present grist-mill. Afterwards several
quite large boats were built by the same firm in the hollow or old bed
of the creek, some thirty rods above the grist-mill. Messrs. Beebe and

‘Butler also built boats at Elizabeth, and later, towards the year 1840, re-'

turned to Williamsport and built several boats for William Ihmsen in
the hollow before mentioned. _ _ '

Capt. Butler was married to Miss Mary Boyd, of Chester Co., Pa., June
14, 1822, and of ten children born to him, five daughters and three sons
survive. Maj. Howe, killed in action near Appomattox, Va., April 8,
1865, was a son-in-law. Capt. Butler gave up boat-building in 1840, and

, removed to his present residence in 1841.

With the coming of the spring season of 1806
further journeying toward the mouth of the Big
Miami was indefinitely postponed. The Butlers set-
tled down at Williamsport, and have since been iden-
tified with its history. ' (See note.)

According to the recollections of Capt. Butler, there
were then not more than fifteen dwellings in the town,
and the residents and business men were about as fol-
lows: Joseph Parkison, innkeeper and ferry-master;
Warne (James) & Parkison (William), merchants;
William Irwin,‘ merchant; Peter Boss, merchant;
Adam and Simon Hailman, the former being post-
master; George Trout, innkeeper; Nathan Chalfant,
boat-builder ;. Joseph McClure, cabinet-maker ; John
Smith, cabinet-maker; McFerren, a tailor; Abner
Beadle, blacksmith; Samuel Black, merchant; Adam
Wickerham; Andrew B. Chess was his son-in-law,
and the wife of United States Senator Miller, of Cali-

fornia, is a granddaughter; and there was,-be-sides, a

vacant house owned by Robert Williams. ,

Of course the population was considerably aug-
mented by the settlement of the Butler family, and
-its business interests, too, for in the spring of 1806
Jonathan and Benjamin Butler became merchants,
while the other brothers began work at their indi-
vidual trades. Of other early settlers, Dr. Joseph
Rose,” a practicing physician, and Frederick Layman,
a German tailor, came during the year 1807. Eneas

Graham, a tailor, settled about 1809, and Charles

Bollman, merchant, in 1810.

As indicating further the energy and force possessed
by the few inhabitants then gathered at Williamsport,
we give place to the following -copy of a “ notice”:

_ _ , “ WILLIAMSPORT, May 22, 1810.
“Notice is given for those gentlemen interested in promoting the
business of the community to attend atthe house of John Berrie, Inn-
keeper, in the Town of Williamsport, June 23d, at 1 o’clock, to consult

and adopt a plan for the purpose of building a Steam Mill in the Town
of Williamsport by an association or company.”

It has been stated that in 1810 the town contained
“about five hundred inhabitants.” This statement

seems hardly probable though, when we consider

that its limits were comparatively ‘insignificant, that
it contained no manufactories of any moment, no

steamboats were yet plying upon the river, and that

thirty years later, during the days of “ Tippecanoe
and Tyler too,” 3 when two glass manufactories as well

as at considerable number of minor industries were in

active operation, and when the “ Moxahala” and
other steamers were making daily trips between Pitts-
burgh and Monongahela City, the town contained but
seven hundred and fifty-two inhabitants.

1 Irwin had formerly been a clerk for Samuel Black.

2 Dr. Rose, although not a graduate of any medical school, was quite 8

successful as a practitioner of medicine, and the first physician to locate
here. He married a Miss Nicholson.
Perryopolis.

3 During the exciting (lays of 1840 the Whig “log cabin” stood on the A

corner now occupied by the bank" building of the Messrs. Alexander
& Co.

Subsequently he removed to

MONONGAHELA crrv. 1 571 ‘

Among those, however, who were owners of lots l During the years which immediately succeeded the

-and residents at that time, or in years very soon there-
after, and have not already been mentioned, were
Thomas Oflicer, a merchant, George White (who suc-
ceeded Adam Hailman as postmaster on the death of

the latter in 1813), John Berrie, innkeeper; John _

Hazelbaker, teacher; Joshua Pennel, teacher; Wil-
‘liam Prime, boat-builder ; Dr. Samuel M. King, Dr.
Jeremiah Brooks, and Dr. J a'mes Pollock, all of
whom were prominent and widely-known physicians;
James Mitchell, proprietor of the “ East End of Wil-
liamsp“ort ;” James Gordon, Esq.,1 an early merchant;

‘William Hunter, John Eckles, Robert McGrew,
1 James McGrew, James Freeman, William Chalfant,

Johnson Chalfant, Jesse Robb, John Watkins, Wash-

ington Palmer, William Crookham, William P. Biles,

Henry.Pin_kney', John Bridge, Francis Scott, Samuel
Barnett, Alexander Jones, William Dalrymple, James
Dougherty, Andrew Nicholson, Crawford Dally, Is-
rael Pancoast, William VVallace, Samuel Speaker,
William Doyle, -John Lefler, "James P. Stewart, mer-
chant; Capt. John Shouse, Peter Shouse,” and Rob-
ert Beebe, boat-builders: and William Ihmsen, glass-
manufacturer, who probably did more to make busi-
:ness prosperous in the town than any other in his

day.

1 At the age of eighty—five years, Hon. James Gordon diedat the ‘resi-

.»dence of his son in Cookstown, Pa.-, March 6,1866. He became a resi-
-dent of Williamsport (now Monongahela City) in June, 1810. Soon
:after he established the first Sunday-school ever organized in the place,
zunder a great deal of opposition from people who said “the children
should have at least one day in the week to themselves.”
“than forty years he was an efficient and acceptable ruling elder in the
«church. During a long life of usefulness in the church and State he
.umaintained a character as a man and Christian. singularly blameless
and elevated, wielding an influence for good in every sphere in which
.he moved.

For more

With credit to himself and great acceptance to his constituency he

-.filled various public 'ofi’ices. Appointed a justice of the peace by Gover-

nor Snyder. he served in that capacity for thirty-five years. Governor
.1 Shunk appointed him associate judge for Washington County, which
‘«;position be occupied for five years, and with so much satisfaction that
' the members of the Washington County bar presented him with an ele-
gant cane at the expiration of his term. He was a ‘member of the

electoral college which placed Andrew Jackson in the Presidential

~ chair for the first time. Governor Porter appointed him appraiser of

damages'on the public works, and he also filled the office of county
register by appointment from the same source. He was a county com-
missioner as early as 1813, and some years afterwards was elected county

. auditor. As a‘member of the board of revenue commissioners he repre-_
. sented his district at Harrisburg in 1857.

From 1825 to 1863 he was a trustee of J efi"erson_College. In February,

’ 1810, he was married in Washington, Pa., by Rev. Dr. Brown to Miss

Mary Ann, daughter of Sheriff Oflicer, by whom he had nine children.
Under his father-in-law he served as deputy sheriff, and during the

‘ time conveyed to the penitentiary at Philadelphia thirty-three convicts,

going over the mountains on horseback with his prisoners, escorted by

. a mounted guard. "

His son, Rev. Thomas P. Gordon, was a Presbyterian minister. He

. also hadgtwo sons-in-law who were Presbyterian ministers, viz., Rev.
. James Sloan (father of Dr. James G. Sloan, of Monongahela City) and

Rev. W._P. Harshe. Another son, Dr. James Gordon, is a resident of
Fayette City (formerly Cookstown), Pa. ’ '
2 Peter Shouse and Robert Beebe were married to sisters by the name

«of Vandever. Shouse‘ built one of the first steamboats that plied on the
" waters of the Monongahela.
.. Shousetown, on the Ohio River.

Subsequently he founded the town of

close of the war of the Revolution, American com-
merce on the high seas had continually been crippled
by the studied acts of those in ‘command of British
war-vessels. Our merchant ships were boarded in
mid-ocean, native American seamen were forcibly
taken therefrom and compelled todo menial service
under the detested flag of Britain, while at the prin-
cipal foreign seaports American naval oflicers were
the frequent recipients of British insult. An intense
feeling of indignation had been aroused throughout

_ the republic, and it only needed the perpetration of

theoutrage of July 18, 1807, when a British man-of-
war fired into the United States frigate “ Chesapeake”
to make the American yeomanry assemble at every
village and cross-roads, to organize assoldiers, and
clamor for war against the tyrants of the ocean.

The citizens of the ambitious little town of Wil-
liamsport, on the Monongahela, were not a whit be-
hind others in the American Union at this juncture,
and as a result of the martial spirit prevailing Capt.
James Warne’s company of infantry, known as the
“ W.illiamsport Rangers,” and Capt. John Shouse’s
troop of horse were speedily organized, and as well
equipped as it was then possible to do. This speck
of war passed away, however, or rather the dogs of
war were held in abeyance for a few years, but the
companies commanded by Capts. Warne and Shouse
maintained their organizations until called upon to
perform actual service in the field. Meanwhile they
held regularmeetings for muster and drill, had their
days of festivity and social enjoyment, and invariably
celebrated the national holiday in July of each year.
Hence in an early Washington County newspaper we
find the following:

“Parkison’s Ferry, July 4, 1811. The Williamsport Rangers, com-
manded by Capt. James Warne, assembled at 10 o’clock A.M. After
performing various military. tactics they were dismissed until3 o’clock
P.M., when all met at the house of Mr. Joseph Parkison and partook of an
elegant dinner. Gen. John Hamilton and Joseph Becket snr Esq., oc-
cupied seats at the head of the table, and thirteen toasts were given.”

The attitude assumed by Great Britain at last be-
came unbearable, and on the 18th day of June, 1812,
war was declared by the United States against the
former power. Hostile movements began, and in the
latter part of the summer Capt. Shouse’s troop of.
horse joined a Washington County expeditionary
force, and proceeded as far as New Lisbon, Ohio,
where, being. satisfied that no advantage could be
gained by going farther, this command returned
home as elsewhere narrated. In the mean time the
“Williamsport Rangers” had held themselves in

‘ readiness to march at an hour’s notice. .

In August, 1812, the citizens of the northeastern
part of Washington County held a mass-meeting at
Ginger Hill, for the purpose of obtaining a sufficient
number of volunteers to fill the quota called for by
the general government, who had determined to place

a larger body of six-months volunteers on the Cana- I

DUNMORE’lS   WAR.

65

which took place in the spring of 1774, on the Ohio
River above the mouth of the Little Kanawha, be-
tween Indians and parties of white men, some of

' whom had rendezvoused in that region for the.pur-

pose of making explorations in‘ the country farther
to the southwest, and others who had gone there to
clear lands and make preparations for settlement. Of
the latter class was Capt. Michael Cresap, who was
the owner of a store or trading-post at Redstone Old
Fort (now Brownsville), on the Monongahela, which
was his base of operations, but who had taken up
(under authority of the colonial government of Vir-
ginia) extensive tracts of land at and below the mouth
of Middle Island Creek (now Sistersville, W. Va.)

7

_and had gone there in the early spring of the year

named with a party of men to make clearings and
build houses upon his lands there. Ebenezer Zane,
afterwards a famed Indian-fighter and guide, was en-
gaged at the same time and in the same way with a

‘ small party of men on lands which he had taken

up at or near the mouth of Sandy Creek. Another
and larger party had gathered at the mouth of the
Little Kanawha (the present site of Parkersburg,

 Va.), and were waiting there for the arrival of

other Virginians who were expected to join them at
that point, from whence they were to proceed down
the river to the then scarcely known region of Ken-
tucky, there to explore with a view to the planting of

. settlements. A leading spirit in this party (though

not, strictly speaking,'the -leader of it) was George
Rogers Clarke, who a few years later became widely

‘famed as the general. who led a body of Virginia

troops on an expedition (which-proved entirely suc-
cessful) against Vincennes and other. British posts in
and west of the valley of the Wabash. Many years

. afterwards Gen. Clarke wrote an account (dated June

17, 1798) of the circumstances attending the com-
mencement of hostilities in the spring of 1774, and
of the movements of his party of Virginians and the
other parties with Cresap and Zane along the Ohio at
that time. His account, which was written at Louis-
ville, Ky., is as follows:

“ This Country [Kentucky] was explored in 1773.
A resolution was formed to make a settlement in the
spring following, -and the mouth of the Little Kana-

habitants of the Ohio, assuring them that a war with the Shawanese was
unavoidable, and desiring them to be on their guard, asit was uncertain
where the Indians would strike first. In the mean time two men of the
names of Greathouse and Baker sold some rum near the mouth of Yel-
low Creek, and with them some Indians got drunk and were killed.
Lord Dunmore has ordered that the manner of their being killed be in-
quired into. Many oflicers and other adventurers who were down the
Ohio in order‘ to explore the country and have lands surveyed, upon re-
ceiving the above intelligence and seeing the letters from the gentlemen
at Fort Pitt, thought proper to return. Capt. Michael Cresap was one
of these gentlemen. On their return to the river they fell in with a party
of Indians, and being apprehensive that the Indians were preparing to

attack them, as appeared by their manoeuvres, the white people, being ’

the smallest number, thought it advisable to have the advantage of the
first fire, whereupon they engaged, and after exchanging a few shots
killed two or three Indians and dispersed the rest; hostilities being then

commenced on both sides, the matter became serious.”

wha appointed the place of general rendezvous, in
order to descend the Ohio from thence in a body;

Early in the spring the Indians had done some mis-' I

chief. Reports from their towns were alarming,
which deterred many. About eighty or ninety men
only arrived at the appointed rendezvous, where we
lay some days. A small party of ‘hunters that lay

about ten miles below us were fired upon by the In-,

dians, whom the hunters beat back and returned to
camp. This and many other circumstances led us to
believe that the Indians were determined on war.
The whole party was enrolled, and determined. to ex-
ecute their project of forming a settlement in Ken-
tucky, as we had every necessary store that could be
thought of. An Indian town called the Horsehead
Bottom, on the Scioto, and near its mouth, lay nearly
in our way. The determination was to cross the
country and surprise it. Who was to command was
the question. There were but few among us who had
experience in Indian warfare, and they were such as
we did not choose to be commanded by. We knew
of Capt. Cresap being on the river, about fifteen miles
above us, with some hands settling a plantation, and
that he had concluded to follow us to Kentucky as
soon as he had fixed therehis people. We also knew

that he had been experienced in a former war. (He _

was proposed, and it was unanimously agreed to send

for him to command the party. Messengers were .

dispatched, and in half an hour returned with Cresap.
He had heard of our resolution by some of. his hun-
ters that had fallen in with ours, and had set out t
come to us. '

“ We thought our army, as we called it, complete,
and the destruction of the Indians sure. A council
was called, and to our astonishment our intended
commander-in-chief was the person that dissuaded
us from the enterprise. He said that appearances
were very suspicious, but there was no certainty of a
war; that if we made the attempt proposed he had no
doubt of our success, but a war would at any rate be
the result, and that we should be blamed for it, and
perhaps justly. But if we were determined to pro-
ceed he would lay aside all considerations, send to
his camp for his people, and share our fortunes. He
was then asked.what he would advise. His answer
was that we should return to Wheeling as a conven-
ient spot to hear what was going forward; that a few
weeks would determine. As it was early in the spring,
if we found the Indians were not disposed for war, we
should have full time to return and make our estab-
lishment in Kentucky. This was adopted, and in
two hours the whole were under way. . . .

(“On our arrival at'Wheeling (the whole country
being pretty well settled thereabouts) the whol-e of
the inhabitants appeared to be alarmed. They flocked
to our camp from every direction, and all we could
say we could not keep .th_em-from under our-wings.
We offered to cover their neighborhood with scouts

until further information if they would return’ So ,

  572

States.

HISTORY or WASHINGTON COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA.

dian frontier. Capt. Warne’s company of Rangers
was present at this meeting, and when the call ‘for
volunteersiwas made more than enough of its-mem-
bers stepped tothe front to fill the quota required.
Preparations were at once made for the marchtowards
Buffalo, N. Y. At Meadville, Pa., troops from Bed-
ford County joined the column, and in the consolida-
tion which resulted Capt. James Warne became major
of the battalion. Lieut. William Hunter was«pro-
moted to captain of the Rangers, and all subordinate

officers in the company were promoted one grade.

_ higher. V _
In due course of time these troops reached “ head- _

quarters,” which was on the right bank of the Niagara

River, opposite Fort Erie. Through the inefficiency
of the general oflicers in immediate command, how-

‘ever,.the campaign on the frontier was an utter failure,

and the “ Rangers,” with other troops there assembled,

passed the greater portion of their time in the field

in dismal, unhealthful encampments. On two or three

-occasions they took their seats in the boats, expecting

to be landed on the Canadianvshore, and from thence
led to an assault of the enemy’s position; but the or-
ders to advance were as often countermanded, when
partly executed, and no portion of the command
crossedthe river.

inguthe river. He was a Teuton by birth, and in words

far exceeding in style and volubility Emmett’s “ Fritz,”

vigorously denounced the contemplated invasion, say-
ing that when he enlisted he was told. that he would
not be called upon to leave the limits of the United
It is very probable though that if the
“ Rangers” had crossed the river the Dutchman
would have been a Ranger too, and that his range
would not have extended to any great distance from
his file-leader. - _ - .

The First Regiment of Pennsylvania«Volunteers,

to which Capt. Hunter’s company was attached, re-

mained on the Northern frontier until the beginning
of the winter of 1812-13, when, no preparations hav-
ing been made for winter-quarters, and being but
poorly supplied with camp and garrison_ equipage,
supplies, etc., its members were allowed to return to
their homes, which were reached in January, 1813.

.Further mention and a roll of this company will be
I found in that part of the general history of the

county referring to the war of 1812-15.

Capt. Hunter’s company arrived home Weary and
worn, several of them sick_. and, as it seems, all had
gained an experience suflicient to dampentheir mili-
tary ardor forever, for the Rangers were never seen
on parade afterwards. “ Independence Day” and the
ear-splitting music of Biles’ fife and Pinkney’s drum
even were not enough to arouse them. Their suc-
cessors, however, were the “Williamsport Blues,”

Capt. James PQllock,.a company which was formed’

soon after’ the -close of the war.
Returning to take a more immediate View of mat-

It has been related that but one
member of Capt. H unter’s company objected to cross-- ’

ters in Williamsport, we find that in December, 1812,
James Mitchell, Esq., laid out the addition known as
the “ East End of Williamsport,” and that soon after
the following-named persons became purchasers of

lots in that addition: John Dobbs, lot No. 1 ; Peter 1

Koel, No. 2; B. McMasters, No. 3; R. Berger, No.4;
Weaver, No. 5; B. Van Horn, No. 6; E. Jacobs,
No. 7; E. Graham, No. 8; J. Dickey} Nos. 9 and 10;

 

William Bushfield, No. 11; T. Jacobs, No. 14; B.‘

Nealey, No. 15; P. Cramer,'No. 16; E.iWebb, No.
17; '
22. - .
In 1813 Adam Hailman, postmaster, gave notice
through the mediu_m'_of the press that Williamsport,
in the list of post-office towns,“ is Parkison’s Ferry.”
Hailman died February. 24th of that year, and was
succeeded by George White, father of ‘Hon. J. W. F.
White,'of Allegheny County. On the 29t_h of De-
cember, 1813, Adam Wickerham sold, to. James
Manown, of Elizabeth township, Allegheny County,
lots 148 and 149 in “Georgetown,” being part of a
tract of one hundred and forty-nine acres patented to
Paul Froman, May 24, 17 85,? and transferred by Paul
Froman to Adam Wickerham, March 13, 1792. _

 

On the 17th,day January, 1814, the Monongahela _

and Williamsport Manufacturing Company was char-
tered. It seems that the “ manufacturing company”

was to be a banking institution as well, having a

capital stock of one hundred and twenty-five thousand
dollars, divided "into shares of fifty dollars each. Its
charter was to continue until April 1, 1834. Samuel
Black was named as the president of the -company,
and James Gordon, Esq., Joseph Rose, M.-D., James
McGrew, James P. Stewart, James Mitchell, Esq.,
William Irwin, Esq., Joseph Caldwell, David Hamil-
ton, Manassa Reeves, John Finley, and James Warne
directors. On the 8th of April, 1814, the mercantile
firm of Gordon & Officer—i.e., J ames. Gordon and
Thomas Ofiicer——-was dissolved, and Mr. Gordon con-
tinued the business. A I '

The initiative steps towards building the first house
of worship in the village were taken the same year.

‘Thus on the 7th day of July, 1814, Joseph Parkison,

in consideration of the sum of forty-five dollars‘, trans-
ferred to James Gordon, James Hair, James Mitchell,
William Irwin, David Hamilton, Robert McFarlane,

« John Anderson, Samuel Black, and John Cooper,
"‘ trustees for building a Presbyterian meeting-house
in Williamsport,” lot No. 72, containing twelve thou-_

sand square feet. On the same day, to the same trus-
tees, in consideration of the payment of fifty dollars,
Adam Wickerham transferred a tract containing’ six
thousand six hundred square feet for the purpose of
building a Presbyterian meeting-house thereon.

1 In 1818 a substantial bridge was erected over

Pigeon Creek, “near Williamsport,” and in Decem-

ber, 1819, Hiram Lodge, No. 170, F. and A. M., was

1 A‘ Mrs. Dickey was a sister, of Joseph Parkison.

Tanner, No; 21 ; and David Mitzler, lot No. .

MONONGAHELA CITY.

instituted. This was the third Masonic lodge organ-
ized in the county, and the first in Williamsport. In
1820, James Logan, James P. Stewart, George Miles,
and Charles Bollman were the prominent merchants
of the town, while Joseph Parkison, John Anderson,
Chambers, and Joseph Caldwell were the innkeepers.

During the years from 1815 to 1820 various manu-
facturing enterprises had been projected, completed,
a11d placed in active operation. Thus an extensive
glass-manufactory, in which Maj. James Warne, Wil-
liam Parkison, Benjamin and Joel Butler were inter-

~ ested as owners, had been erected at a cost of twenty-

seven thousand dollars. None of the proprietors
though were practical glass manufacturers, and to
them the venture proved a disastrous one. Boat-

‘ building, too, had become an important industry, and

the workmen in the boat-yards of Messrs. Beebe,
Shouse, Butler, and others were all actively engaged.

On the 7th of May, 1821, The Phcenix was issued
by B. Brown. This was followed, June 17, 1822, by
a prospectus of a weekly newspaper entitled The
Journal of the Interior, to be published every Tuesday
by Brown & Scott, at two dollars per annum. We
are not informed whether this paper was ever actually
published or not.

On the 25th of June, 1828, John Bausman’s news-
paper, the Pennsylvanian, was issued. In 1830 the

- town contained 593 inhabitants. -
In 1832 (June 5th), Andrew B. Chess, Samuel Black,

and William Mills (for James Mills) released “the
president and managers of the ‘ Williamsport Bridge
Company’ (whenever the same shall have legal exist-
ence under the law creating said company) from all
claims for damages for and on account of any land or
soil occupied by and in the erection of said bridge,
or for any landing or ferry right which we may, and
do now, possess, provided said bridge shall be erected
on our or either of our premises.” On the 25th of
J un"e, same year, James Manown relinquished certain
privileges to the ‘above-named company, “provided the

site for the bridge shall be fixed above Asher Van A

Kirk’s white house on the Island near the mouth of
Pigeon Creek.” He also agreed to relinquish the
privilege of continuing the ferry, except in case the
bridge be destroyed. ' '
With a population of perhaps six hundred inhab

itants, the town of VVi1liamsport was, by an act of the
General Assembly, incorporated as a borough April
8, 1833. The records, however, covering the first
nineteen years of the town’s corporate existence have
either been maliciously destroyed or most carelessly
lost,‘ and it is now impossible to tell who were the
officers elected during those years, or what were their

‘proceedings. One year later, or April 28, 1834, J 0-

seph Parkison, the founder of the town, died at the

) age of nearly ninety-five years.

‘At an election held at‘ the house of Joseph Hamil-

' 1 See report of committee, September, 1852.
37 ~

573

ton,2 June 22, 1836, James Manown, John Storer,
Robert F. Biddle, Asher Van Kirk, William Johnson,
John McFarlane, and William Mills were chosen:
managers of the Williamsport Bridge Company. At»
the same time Samuel Devore was elected treasurer,
and Robert F. Biddle secretary. Public notice was
also given to bridge-builders that sealed proposals for‘
erecting ‘a bridge over the Monongahela River at

Williamsport would be received until July 18, 1836.

The bridge was completed in 1838. ,

On the 1st day of April, 1837, the name of Monon-
gahela City was "adopted, and the terms “town of
VVilliamsport” and “ Parkison’s Ferry post-oflice” be-
came things of the past. In 1840, according to the
United States census,3 Monongahela City contained
seven hundred and fifty-two inhabitants. In Febru-

' ary of the following year a large majority of them:

assembled on the banks of the river to welcome the
hero of Tippecanoe, Gen. William Henry Harrison,
who in journeying towards Washington, D. C., to be

‘inaugurated as the ninth President of the United

States, passed up the Monongahela on the steamer
“Loyal Hanna.” Prominent Monongahelians on
board the “ Moxahala,” Capt. James Parkison com-
mander, had‘ met the general at a point still farther
down the river and escorted him to the wharf.

Although the town was incorporated as a borough V

in 1833 (when until September, 1834,‘ it comprised
portions of Fallowfield and Nottingham townships), it
seems that it did not have or maintain an existence

separate fromthe townships for some eight or nine

years thereafter. Thus in February, 1841., numerous
citizens of Carroll township sent in a petition to the

Court of Quarter Sessions, asking’ that a division of ‘

the borough of Monongahela City and the township

‘of Carroll be made. ‘The viewers. appointed by the

court February 22d of that year submitted a report
on the 16th of J une following, which was set aside

‘Aug. 20, 1841. At the November term following

a second petition from the inhabitants‘ of Carroll town-

ship was presented, asking “to be struck off from ,

Monongahela City.” *The court appointed another

-board of commissioners to investigate the matter Jan.

26, 1842, ‘and February 28th following these commis-
sioners reported “ that the separation prayed for ought
to be granted.” This report was approved February
28th, and confirmed May 26, 1842. To ‘the. date last
mentioned, therefore, -all assessment returns, etc., of
town and township had been made as though there
were but one corporate body. ’

The present grist-mill was built about 1844, and in
1848 (July 7 th), Solomon Alter, Esq., issued the first
number of the Movzongahela VaZley'RepubZiean...,.

+ 

2 Hamilton then owned and kept the inn now known as the City
Hotel. ' — 

3 Subsequent census reports haveshown that the town contained 977
inhabitants in 1850; 999 in 1860; 1078 in 1870; and 2904 in 1880. A

4 Carroll township was formed from Fallowfield and Nottingham
townships Sept. 30, 1834. *

574

HISTORY or   WASHINGTON COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA.

Until the spring of 1852 the corporate affairs of the
borough seem to have been conducted in a. loose kind
of way, and records were kept or not kept, just as the
clerks chose. On the 20th day of May, 1852, how-
ever, in accordance with the petitions of divers in-
habitants, the Washington County Court of Quarter
Sessions ordered that the provisions of the former
charters (i.e., those of April 8, 1833, and April 8,
1837) be annulled, “ so far as they are in conflict with
the provisions -of an act of the Assembly approved
April 3, 1851.” This order of court was obeyed, and
thenfollowing borough officers were elected: Henry
Wilson, ‘burgess; John S. _Markell, John -Storer,

Joseph Kiddoo,-Alexander Wilson, William J. Alex-
ander, and R. M. Clark, councilmen; Abram Fulton,

clerk; Joseph Alexander, treasurer; and-, Benjamin
Foster, street commissioner and wharf-master. At. a
meeting of this board of counci1men,:held‘ ‘Aug.‘1'2,
1852, it was resolved that the corporate‘ oflicers of
the borough “shall hold their regular meetings at
the house of Abram Fulton, on the first Monday of
each month at early candle-lighting.”
of September, 1852, R. M. Clark‘ and John Storer
were appointed a committee “ to hunt up old boreugh

records and ordinances.” The burgess was alsol,em- _
powered and instructed to give notice that he.w‘ou1d ‘ I

at once receive proposals for the buildingof a market-
house, lock-up, and town hall. On the 27th of ‘-Sap?
tember following the committee appointed to search
for records, etc., reported ‘‘that' they ‘have not been
able to find any of the missing records.” ‘I

The borough oflicers ‘elected since ‘1852,.and.:etheri

matters relating to the corporate history: of the town,
are alluded to as follows: i i 1

1853.1——John Gilfillan, burgess; Alexander Wilson, William J. Alexan-
' der, John S. Markell, Joseph Kiddoo, John Storer, and,R. M. Clark,
councilmen; David Ramaley, clerk; Joseph Alexander, treasurer;
and B. Foster, wharf-master. ‘
1854.2—Moses Scott, burgess; James P. Moore, Shesh Bentley, J r., Rob-
ert Walker, Zachariah Carmack, Robert Phillips, and Richard Stock-
dale, councilmen; William J . Alexander, treasurer; T. R. Haz-
zard, clerk; H. D. Coeper, assessor ; James Kerr, street commissioner;
and Benjamin Foster, wharf-master.

1 On the 18th of May, 1853, the board of councilmen resolved to sub-
scribe to the stock of the Hempfield Railroad Company “any. sum not
exceeding fiftythousand dollars, provided the said railroad be located
through the borough.” The right of way through Union Street was
also granted this company.

The woolen- and saw-mills of Robert Walker were destroyed by fire on —

the night of June 29, 1853, and on the 18th of Ju.iy following the bur-
gess was instructed to offer a reward of two hundred dollars for the
arrest and conviction of the incendiary or incendiaries who set fire to
those mills. At the same meeting it was resolved “to collect all the
portions of the old fire-engine, and make inquiry in reference to the
cost of repairs, etc.” Subsequently the burgess reported that he had
“gathered the pieces of the engine together, and after examination
found it impossible to repair it so as to make it serviceable.” He also
reported that Messrs. Downer & Hart proposed to take the old engine
and construct a new one for three hundred and fifty dollars, equal to a
first-class engine, without, however, any extra finish.”

2 The total receipts fromall sources in 1854 were eight hundred and
ninety-eight dollars‘and twenty-six cents. The outstanding accounts
then due the borough aggregated nine hundred and thirty-eight dollars
and seven cents, while the expenditures amounted to six hundred and
five dollars and thirty-six cents. On the 24th of April, 1854, the en-

On the 9th‘

1855.--Alexander Scott, burgess; John Storer, Isaac Yohe, Jr., John F.
Norfolk, William Coulter, Richard Stockdale, and William J. Alex-
ander, councilmen ; John Powers, clerk; and William J. Alexander,
treasurer.

1856.—H. D. Cooper, burgess; Andrew J. Stewart, Samuel B. Bentley,
Abraham Carmack, J. W. Smith, .and B. F. Bentley, councilmen;
Shesh Bentley, Jr., clerk; William J. Alexander, treasurer; Isaac
Yohe, wharf-master; and Abraham Teeters, J r.,street commissioner.

1857.3—William Brown, burgess; John F. Norfolk, Joseph Tuman,
James P. Sheplar, O. C. House, and Abraham Carmack, council-

- men ;4 T. R. Hazzard, clerk; William J . Alexander, treasurer;~Dan-
tel Teeters, wharf-master ; and James Kerr, street commissioner.
1858.—James P. Sheplar, burgess; James P. Stewart, John Storer, James
Dickey, Samuel  King, and Charles E. Beach, councilmen; Dr.
J. S. Van Voorhis,5 clerk; William J. Alexander, treasurer; A.
Teeters, J r., street commissioner; and R. D. Teeters, wharf-master.
1859.—Shesh Bentley, J r., burgess; Joseph Kiddoo, R. F. Cooper, Joseph
Wilson, R. D. Teeters, and John F. Norfolk, councilmen; W. H.
. Smith, clerk; R. D. Teeters, wharf-master; H. D. Cooper, street
commissioner; and William J . Alexander, treasurer. '

1860.--T. R. Hazzard, burgess; Joseph Alexander, James Dickey, R. F.
 George A. Keller, and R. M. Gee, councilmen; Chill W.
Hazzard, clerk; Col. R. D. Teeters, wharf-master; Wm. J. Alex-
ander, treasurer.

186l.5—E. W. Tower, burgess; R. M. Gee, James Dickey, S. P. Keller,

L. A. Valentine, and S. C. Wilson, councilmen"; John Young,
clerk; R. D. Teeters, wharf-master; A. W. Scott, street commis-
sioner; and Moses Scott, treasurer.

gine-house was declared a nuisance, and ordered to‘ be removed, and it

was-removed soon after by James Kerr. The street commissioner was

instructed to sell the materials of the’old market Oct. 15, 1854.
Ataitown-meeting held in the borough Dec. 31, 1854, the corporate

authorities were authorized to subscribe for stock of the Pittsburgh and ,

Connellsville Railroad to the amount of twenty-five thousand dollars,
“on condition that the road be located through the borough.”

_ 3 By a decree of the ‘Washington County Court of Quarter Sessions at
February-’ term, 1858‘, the election for borough oiiicers in the spring of
1357 was declared‘ void” pn account of the illegality of the board which

1 held the electioth There,upon.“the functions of the council then in oflice,

and of all the elected. and aippointed oflicers of the borough under the

A «charter, ceased from the date of decree. The court further ordered that ‘
, an election for borough ofiicers be held on the second Tuesday of April,

1858, “between the hours of one and seven P.M.” ,
‘This board of_ councilmen authorized the sale of the “old borough
lot,” and the purchase of a new one, upon upon which to build a market-

house and “ lock-up.” The committee appointed to attend to the matter.

soon after purchased a lot of a Mr. Hickman, adjoining property owned
by R. M. Clark and Moses Scott, on Main Street, for which the sum of
four hundred and ninety dollars was paid. Subsequently, in March, 1859,
this lot was sold to Dr. King for five hundred dollars.

5 J . W. Smith was appointed clerk in September, 1858, vice Van" Voor-
his, resigned. ‘ ' l

6 In May, 1861, the borough authorities appropriated the sum of $100
for the support of the families of volunteer soldiers, and $25 for ammu-
nition “ to be"used in home defense.” But $10 ‘though of the $100 men-

tioned was used for the purpose specified, when the vote appropriating A

the same was rescinded. However, during the month mentioned the
sum of $49.19 was expended from the borough funds for the payment of
bills incurred in furnishing the “ Monongahela. Artillery” with bed-
ticks and cap-covers.‘ ‘ I

This company volunteered as soon. as President Lincoln’s proclama-
tion calling for 75,000 men to serve for three months was received, and
under the command of Capt. Robert F. Cooper proceeded to Pittsburgh,
where it was mustered into the United States service for three months
as Company Gof the Twelfth Regiment Pennsylvania Volunteers. A
history of this organization, and a roll of Capt. Cooper’s company, is
given in the military chapters of the general history, referring to the
war of the Rebellion.

On the 17th day of July, 1861, the Council appropriated twenty-five .

dollars to assist in defrayin g the expenses of the “Tower Zouaves,” then
about to enter the United States service in Virginia, “ on the condition
that they march from this place forty strong.” Soon after the “ Zouaves”
did proceed to Wheeling, Va., but not numbering “forty strong” the
twenty-five dollars was withheld.

The “ Zouaves.” about thirty-five in number, were recruited by First

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. . “

MONONGAHELA CITY.

1862.—Shesh Bentley, Jr., burgess; R. M. Gee, S. Clark Wilson, William

' Coulter, B. F. Bentley, and James Dickey, councilmen; Benjamin

Foster, street commissioner; T. R. Hazzard, clerk; R. D. Teeters,
wharf-master ;_ Moses Scott, treasurer.

1863.—R. F. Cooper, burgess; William Coulter, William H. King, Mark
Borland, Michael Yohe, and George A. Keller, councilmen ; 'W. T.
Campbell, clerk; Moses Scott, treasurer; R. D. Teeters, wharf-
master; Alexander Scott, street commissioner.

. l864.—-Johnson Elrod, burgess; Mark Borland, George A. Keller, Jesse

C. Taylor, L. R. Valentine, and Richard C. King, councilmen ; 1
W’. T. Campbell, clerk; M. Borland, treasurer; C. E. Beach, wharf-
master; W. T. Campbell, st»mut'—commissioner.
1865.—T. R. Hazzard, burgess; James S. Alexander, M. Bowman, Michael
' ' Yohe, R. M. Gee, B. F. Bentley, councilmen: J . S. Alexander, clerk;
H. D. Cooper, street commissioner; William H. Smith, wharf-master;
William J . Alexander, treasurer.

King, and William Coulter, councilmen; J . S. Alexander, clerk;
H. D. Cooper, street commissioner ; William S. Alexander, treasurer;
and Johnson Elrod, wharf-master. -

1867.——John Clemens, burgess; R. M. Gee and George A. Keller, coun-
cilmen; J . S. Alexander, clerk; Johnson Elrod, wharf-master; Wil-
liam J. Alexander, treasurer; John Jenkins, street commissioner.
The latter soon after resigned, when B. Foster was appointed to fill
vacancy. ’ ‘ -

1868.-Joseph Taylor, burgess; 0-. C. House and John Patterson, coun-
cilmen; J. S. Alexander, clerk; William J. Alexander, treasurer;
R. J . Williams, wharf-master; Abraham Teeters, street commis-
sioner. ,

l869.2—-John Holland, burgess; E. T. Cooper and H. H. Finley, council-
men; J . S. Alexander, clerk; H. D. Cooper, street commissioner;
John Holland, wharf-master; and William J . Alexander, ttreasurer.

187O.3—-John Holland, burgess ; M. Bowman and H. C. Underwood, coun-

cil men; George Barringer, street,commissioner";;J. Bgliinley, ‘

William J . Alexander, treasurer; John Holland,‘ wharfqrrtnster.

I 1871.4-—T. R. Hazzard, burgess; Richard Stoclsdale. and A..'C.\Sampson,

councilmen; J. B. Finley, clerk; John Holland, wharf-master;-A.
C. Sampson, treasurer; J . R. Long, street commlissioher. . U ‘ H

K”!

Lieut. Alvin S. King (then known as Capt.\King), ofl,Monongahela. City.
After sojourning at Wheeling for a few days, they -were ordered toreport
at Pittsburgh, Pa., where" they were merged into Col. S. W. Black’s
Sixty-second Regiment of Pennsylvania Volunteers, forming part of
‘Company K of that regiment, and their original commander became
first lieutenant of the consolidated company. He lost a foot ‘at the battle
of Gaines’ Mill, 'Va., and in 1863 was elected county recorder. The men
led into the field by him did valiant service; many of them were killed
or desperately wounded, and but few returned to the place from whence
they started.

The “ Mellinger Guards” was another Monongahela City organization
which took the field in 1861, and in September, 1862, Capt. William J.
Alexander’s company (G of the Eighteenth Regiment of Pennsylvania

Militia) proceeded to the front; but as matters relating to the "military _

history of the county are referred to at length in other pages of this

I _ work, nofurther allusions to the topic in question are necessary here.

1 This board in February, 1865, authorized the issue of borough bonds
to the amount of about five thousand dollars, with which to pay boun-
ties, and thus fill the borough’s quota under a call for volunteers.

5;’ In April, 1869, Councilman O. C. House-was appointed a committee

V to ascertain “ the probable cost of six lamp-posts for lighting the streets.” 1
. He soon after reported that iron posts would cost fifteen dollars each‘, and

recommended the use of wooden ones. On the 11th of June same year,
Dr. E. T. Cooper and O. C. House wereemp'owered toprocure street lamps

and have them placed on Washington and Main Streets, and Andrew

Neil was appointed lamp-lighter, etc. Oil was used in the street lamps
until the completion of the gas-works in 1873, since which time gas has
been burned. . ‘ ,

3 On the 8th day of November, 1870 (through its president, B. F. Jones),
the “Pittsburgh, Virginia and Charleston Railway Company” was
granted the right of way through the borough. Work was commenced
on this road in December, 1870, but the first locomotive did not enter
the borough limits until Sept. 29, 1873. - On the 3d of October following
trains began running regularly between Monongahela City and Pitts-
Tburgh. V

‘ 4 Lewis Bellman was elected councilman in July, 1871, vice Under-
wood, resigned. V v I ‘ . I ' =

1872.——John Holland, burgess; -William H. King, assistant burgess; B.
F. Bentley, William Hanna, James P. Sheplar, Richard Stockdale,
Silas Haley, and E. Downer, councilmen; Joseph Truman, street
commissioner; J . B. Finley, clerk; A. C. Sampson,5 treasurer.

City Oflicers, etc.—By an act of the State Legis-

lature, approved March 24, 1873, a city charter was
granted the town of “Monongahela. City;” and in
accordance with the provisions of said act an elec-
tion“ for municipal ofiicers took place on the third
Friday of April, 1873, which resulted as follows:
For Mayor, John Holland. For Select Council, A.
T. Gregg, Thomas Wilson, ;First Ward; William

l866.—-John Clemens, burgess; B. F. Bentley, G. G. Kern, Richardftl.‘ I Cornn’ Wllllam P- Ketchum: Second Ward; P° 

Foster and M. Saunders, Third Ward. For Common
Council, Isaac Hodge, William H. Barr, First Ward;
W. J . Markwell, John Teeters,'Second Ward; John
A. Ford and William Coulter, Third Ward.

“' Thesegofficers entered upon the discharge of their
duties May 5th following, and soon after elected
additional oflicers as follows: Shanton, treasurer;
T. H. Baird, clerk and city solicitor; G_eorgeBar-
ringer, John Leyden, and Abram Teeters, street com-
missioners; John S. Wall, city engineer; and D. C.
Shaw, Wharf-master. Subsequent’ city officers—those
'el’ec"ted'~ by the people, as well as those elected by
Councils-—-haveabeen asfollows: ' ‘

 

1874.7——J_ohn  Isaac I Hodge, I. S. Crall, J . L. George:

members    John L. Gee, James Loutlit, First Ward;

, 1 . ‘Williamfléhymarkell,John .‘Te_etQl‘8,.Second» Ward; William M. De-

” " ‘yore, Wi9lliam 'Ha.nha,}Third  members of Common Council;
1 ' Thomas H. Baird, clerk" and city solicitor; John Shanton, treasurer;
R. M. Gee, street commissioner; John S. Wall, city engineer; John
Holland, wharf-master; and H. H. Hall, J. C. Taylor, and James
Moore, school directors. V
1875.—John Hollazxd, mayor; Adam’ Augendobler, William Corrin, and
I C-Aaron Brawdy, members of Select Council; J. A. Bryan, I. W.
' 1 Jones, R. H. Young. I. S. Keeney, B. F. Bentley, and J . L. George,
members of Common Council; Ht 0. Underwood, clerk; Joseph
Truman, street commissioner; W. L. S. Wilson, wharf-master;
Thomas H. Baird, city solicitor; John S. Wall,8 city engineer; and
Charles A. Adams, treasurer. ,1 ’
l876.—John M. Davis, mayor; Charles A. Adams, treasurer; William
M. Boggs and Thomas H. Baird,'school directors; Isaac Hodge,
John C. Davis, John Blythe, and John Bowman, members of Se-
lect Council; G. A. Gregg, R. M. Gee; J. W. Hank, John Clemens,9

5William J. Alexander was elected treasurer June 3, 1872, to fill
vacancy caused by the death of A." C. Sampson.
‘ During the same session of the Council, Dr. J. H. Connelly, of Pitts-
burgh,‘ being present, requested that an ordinance be passed allowing
him the privilege of building gas- and coke-works in the borough‘. This
night was granted him June 10, 1872,by— the passage of an ordinance
wherein certain grants, conditions, and restrictions concerning the
manufacture of gas and coke in the “borough of Monongahela City,
Pa.,” were duly setlforth. '

6 The candidates for the mayoralty in April, 1873, received the num-
ber of votes here shown:

First Ward. Second Ward. Third Ward.
John Holland ............ .. 45 85 73
W. L. S. Wilson ....  . 37 66 95

7 On the 16th of March, 1874, the “Keystone Guards” requested the
corporate authorities to furnish them with an armory. They were in-

formed, however, that money with which to pay rent of armory, etc.,

should be obtained from the State military fund. ,
3 Mr. Wall resigned in July, 1875, when R. S. D. Hartrick was elected
to fill the vacancy.

9 John Clemens died in- the summer of 1876 ; Dr. W. H. King was then-'

elected to fill the vacancy. ' ~

575,

15761

HISTORY OF WASHINGTON COUNTY, ‘PENNSYLVANIA.

William J. Alexander, and James P. Sheplar, members of Common
Council; George A. Hoffmann, Jr., clerk ; Dr. W. L. S. Wilson,
wharf-master; Philander Carroll, street commissioner; and R. S. D.
Hartrick, city engineer.

1877.—-T. H. Williams, mayor; Messrs. Swickard, Loutlit, a.nd Long,
members of Select Council; Alexander, Atkins, Bentley, Holland,
Nelson, and Sullivan, members of Common Council. (The record-
ing clerk having failed to mention anywhere in his,minutes the
first name of members of Councils.) George A. Hoffman, clerk ;
Joseph Truman, street commissioner; John J . Hazzard, treasurer;
R. S. D. Hartrick, city engineer.

1878.1——John Holland, mayor; William Dewalt, William H. Arison, and
John P. N. Coulter, First Ward ; John M. Sutman, John G. Beaver,
and William Atkins, Second Ward; P. A. Foster, William Coulter,
and B. F. Bentley, Third Ward, members of Select and Common
Councils, B. F. Bentley, president; W. L. S. Wilson, wharf-master;
John M. Davis, clerk; and John C. Scott, treasurer. I

1879:-John Holland, mayor; James H. Smith, treasurer; James Lout-
lit, John G. Beaver, and John Bowman, members of Select Council;
Joseph Louderback, J . H. Carmack,2 William Atkins, John C. Davis,
William J . Alexander, and Silas Haley, members of Common Council ;
George A. Hoifmann, clerk; Dr. W. L. S. Wilson, wharf-master;
John S. Wall, city engineer.

1880.——John M. Davis,3 mayor; George A. Hoffmann, Jr., clerk; Dr. W.
L. S. Wilson, wharf-master; James H. Smith, treasurer; and John
S. Wall, city engineer. The clerk in his minutes again neglected
to mention thenames of the councilmen-elect, but we find that the
members of the standing committees during the year were as follows:
finance, Messrs. Alexander. Young, and Loutlit; streets, Messrs.
Bentley, Sutman, and,Warne; police, Messrs. Bowman, Loutlit, and
Crall: ordinance, Messrs. Alexander, Gregg, and Keeney; printing,
Messrs. Kee_ney, Loutlit, and Warne ; claims, Messrs. Young, Bentley,
and Gregg; president, John G. Beaver.

1881.4-—John Holland, mayor; Vol. A. Farquhar, treasurer ; William J .
Alexander, Robert R. Abrams. I. Shelby Crall, Eliphalet Downer,

George A. Keller, Joshua Meredith, John Nelson, Richard Pratt, -

and R. H. Young, members of Councils; A. M. Walker,5 clerk; C. E.
Radcliffe, street commissioner; Thomas H. Baird, solicitor; J. S.
Wall, engineer; and W. L. S. Wilson, wharf-master.

1 During the month of May, 1878, some fire-buckets and ladders were
purchased, and in August following a wagon on which to haul them.
In August, 1879, Dr. Connelly appeared before the Councils in joint ses-
sion, and explained the workings and merits of his fire-extinguisher.
Thereupon a committee (composed of John G. Beaver, William J. Alex-
ander, and James Loutlit) was appointed to examine in relation thereto
and report at a subsequent meeting. On the 1st day of December, 1879,
this committee reported that they had visited West Newton, where one
of Dr. Connolly's chemical fire-extinguishers, was in use, and found
that it gave excellent satisfaction, having been tested in two or three
conflagrations. The committee was then continued, and instructed to
inquire concerning “ other kinds of fire protections.” .

On the 5th of January, 1880, this committee submitted another report,
having visited various localities meanwhile, and recommended the pur-
chase of one “Champion Fire-Extinguisher” with appliances, “being
the same as used by the borough of West Newton and Latrobe, with the
addition of hooks and ladders.” Acting upon the recommendations of
the committee, before mentioned, an ordinance authorizing the purchase
of an extinguisher and apparatus necessary for its successful operation
wasadopted Feb. 2, 1880. This action on the part of the Councils,
however, did not seem to meet with the concurrence of a majority of the
people, and by an ordinance adopted March _1, 1880, that of February 2d
was repealed. No fire apparatus has since been purchased, and the city
of to-day boasts of neither fire company nor fire apparatus other than
the primitive buckets, ladders, and wagon before alluded to, all in charge
of the street commissioners, while its water supply is obtained from
wells, cisterns, and the turbid Monongahela, which flows in its front.

2 A. T-. Gregg was elected councilman in December, 1879, vice Carmack.

3 Mayor Davis resigned Oct. 4, 1880, when Ralston Williams was elected
to fill vacancy. =

4 In 1881, the Pittsburgh, Virginia and Charleston Railroad was com-
pleted to West Brownsville, and on the 15th day of May of that year
trains began making regular trips between the point last named and
Pittsburgh. We will also add in this connection that since the fall of
1873 Dr. W. L. S. Wilson has filled the position of station-agent at Mo-
nongahela City. being now the only original station-agent on the line.

5 Balston Williams, Esq., was elected clerk to fill vacancy May 2, 1881.

l882.6—Benjamin F. Bentley, mayor; Morton Black, treasurer; Capt.
T. H. Williams and Dr. W. L. S. Wilson, school directors; T. J. Wed-

dell, auditor; Thomas Gregg, John S. Markell, and George A. Hofi'- .

mann, members of Select Council; Henry McCain, Isaac Hodge, I.
Shelby Crall, Jerry Amberson, Benj. C. Camp, and Samuel Robin-
son, members of Common Council. ‘

Other Borough and City 0fl‘icers.———The following
additional lists of oflicers have been obtained from the
borough, city, and county records. Yet as concexhs
borough and city oflicers all records are defective, and
it is an impossible matter at this time to prepare com-
plete lists: ‘

JUSTICES OF THE PEACE.

John Clemens, April 14, 1839. James M_cAllister, April 10, 1855..
Samuel Devore, April 14, 1839. Robert F. Cooper, April 10, 1860.
John Clemens. April 14, 1840. William H. Smith, Oct. 22, 1860.
Samuel Devore, April 14, 1840. Sheshbazzar Bentley, J r., April 10,
T. R. Hazzard, April 15, 1845. 1860.

John Clemens, April 15, 1845. John Clemens, Sept. 11, 1865.
John Clemens, April 9, 1850. Johnson Elrod. April 17, 1866.

James Gordon, April 9, 1850. John Holland, March 29, 1870.
John Clemens, April 10, 1855. T. R. Hazzard, Nov. 30, 1870.

ALDERMEN.

T. R. Hazzard, April 3, 1877.
Ralston VVilliams, April 3, 1877.
Ralston Williams, Oct. 6, 1877. *
Moses Scott, March 27, 1879.,
John Holland, March 30, 1880.

A. T. Gregg, May 23, 1873.
John Holland, Jan. 28, 1874.
T. R. Hazzard, Jan. 28, 1874.
A. T. Gregg, Jan. 28, 1874.
W. M. Boggs, April 13, 1875.

Business and Professional Men of —1882.——The
city of to-day contains considerably more than three.
thousand inhabitants, and among its prominent pro-

fessional and business men we mention (though not '

with the intention of being invidious) the following:
Messrs. Alexander & Co., bankers; Neel, Blythe &

. Co., proprietors of Valley Saw- and Planing-Mills; I

 Chill Hazzard, editor and publisher of the

Monongahela Valley flepublica.n (daily and weekly) I

and postmaster; Yohe, Corrin & Co., proprietors of
extensive saw- and planing-mills; Culbertson & Hart—=
rick, proprietors of the Union Paper-Mills; Morrison,-»
Abrams & CO., founders, machinists, and engine-
builders; S. P. Keller & 'Co., dry-goods merchants;
McGrrew & Parkison, proprietors City Flouring-Mills;
Michael Bowman, merchant tailor; John Bowman,

merchant tailor and captain of company of State-

National Guards; 'William McGrregor, merchant
tailor; H. Landefeld, merchant tailor; R. H. Young,
dealer in dry-goods, etc. ; George A. Hoffman & Son,

hardware merchants; Vol. Farquhar, dealer in gro-

ceries and produce; T. B. Wilgus, grocer, etc.; J . F.
Nicholson, jeweler, watchmaker, and dealer in Organs,
pianos, etc.; J . I. Strouse, jeweler; M. Borlarid &.
Sons, dealers in dry-goods, etc. ; S. C. Hill, dealer in‘
boots and shoes; Silas Haley, merchant tailor; J ames.
B. Boyer, dry-goods merchant; R. C. Byers & Son,

druggists; Lewis S. Dunn, druggist; D. H. Williams,‘

grocer; Frank M. Myers, furniture dealer, etc.; Wil-
liam T. Markell, dealer in cigars and tobacco; Anton.
Bros., merchant tailors; Samuel L. Kennedy, dealer

0 To date, .March 10, 1882, the city has a balance in the treasury of
$1262.68, and its available assets amount to $2110.02.

MONONGAHELA CITY.

577

in grain, agricultural implements, etc.; R. M. Gee &
_Sons, proprietors steam marble-works; George A.

Keller, dealer in general merchandise; W. A. Pat-
terson, grocer; E. Downer, hardware merchant; T.
J. Wallace, grocer; Wilber S. Sheplar, druggist; J.
C. Scott & Co., druggists; William H. Scott & Bro.,
editors and proprietors of the Valley Record; O’Leary
Bros.'& Co.', glass manufacturers; W. L. S. Wilson,
express and railroad station agent; Cypher Bros.,
books, stationery, etc;‘People’s Bank (J. B. Finley,
president; J. L. George, cashier); E. T. Graham,
founder; J. E. Richards & Bro., wagon-makers;
Samuel T. Robinson, meat-market; JamesP. Shep-
lar, proprietor Sheplar House; Ralston Williams,
alderman and general insurance agent; Theodore M.

‘Byers, dealer in dry-goods and notions.

Of the merchants here mentioned, the house of
S. P. Keller & Co. was established by S. P. Keller in

1860. His brother, E. W. Keller, entered the firm in l

1871, since which the name of .S. P. Keller & Co.
has been used. E. W. Keller established a grocery-
store in 1852. Dry-goods were added three years later,
and in 1860 he dropped the sale of groceries entirely,

' continuing dealing in dry-goods, however, until com-

bining with his brother in 1871 in the sale of dry-
goods, «carpets, oil-cloths, notions, trimmings, boots
and shoes, and general merchandise.

Michael Bowman is the oldest merchant, in a busi-
ness point of view, in the town. He is a native of
Bavaria. He-came to America in 1842 (when nine-'
teen years of age), and first located _in Pittsburgh.
From the latter place he removed to Monongahela
City in 1850. ‘

_William McGregor engaged in the sale of boots
and shoes in 1873. His present business of merchant
tailoring and the sale of ready-made clothing was
established in 1875.

R. H. Young has been identified with the business
interests of the town since 1857. His" present dry-
goods house was established April 1,1881.

George A. Hoffman & ‘Son take rank as the second‘

oldest business firm in- Monongahela City. Their
hardware- and cutlery-store was established by the
former in June, 1852. ‘

T. B. Wilgus established his present large grocery
business in March, 1880. .

J. F. Nicholson has been engaged in the sale of
pianos and organs since 1872. The jewelry business
which is also carried on by him was established by
his father, W. M. Nicholson, in 1874.

James B. Boyer succeeded the firm of Summerville
& Yohe in April, 1879, the latter having established
the business in April, 1876. ’

J. I. Strouse is a native of Germany, but came to,

0 America when but eighteen months old. His well-

known jewelry-store was
1873.

Thedrug-store of R. Eugene Byers was established
by R. C. Byers & Son in 1869. The grocery-store

established in the spring of

was added in March, 1872, and Sept. 1, 1881, the
firm—name was changed to that first mentioned in
this paragraph.

L. S. Dunn, druggist, established his present store
July 1, 1879. _

H. Landefeld, the genial merchant tailor near the
post-office, established his business in Monongahela
City August, 1878..

D. H. Williams’ grocery-store was first controlled
by himself in April, 1880.

Under the firm—name of Myers & McMahon, Frank
M. Myers and Alexander McMahon established fur-
niture salesrooms, etc., in 1880. In the fall of 1881
they divided the business. Mr. Myers attends to the
undertaking, while Mr. McMahon deals in furniture
exclusively. Mr. Myers’ grandfather, Matthias Myers,
was a native of Germany, and an early settler near
Bentleysville. '

W. T. Markell established his present business,_ 73.6.,
dealer in cigars, tobacco, etc., in the spring of 1871.
His father, W. J. Markell, engaged in the same busi-
ness in 1856, and continued it for several years. He
now controls a distillery on Pigeon Creek. , I

The firm of Anton Brothers, merchant tailors, was
established in the fall of 1881. Prior to that time
P. B. Anton had been a dealer in boots and shoes.

The grain and agricultural implement Warerooms

_of S. L. Kennedy, on Main Street, were established’

in August, 1880. .

George A. Keller, whose present grocery-store was
started in March, 1881, has been an active business
man of the town for a period of more than thirty-
eight years. As early as 1852 he was in the grocery
business with his brother, E. W. Keller, and has
operated a foundry for the past nineteen years.

William A. Patterson’s grocery-store, etc., was estab-
lished by hisfather, Joseph Patterson, April 1, 1878.
The former assumed control in December, 1880.

E. Downer established his business in 1862.
was a resident of thetown, however, during 1851.

' T. J. Wallace engaged in the sale of groceries, etc.,
in 1878, and removed to his present place of business
the following year.

W. S. Sheplar, druggist, began business in April,
1881. He is a son of James P. Sheplar, proprietor of
the “ Sheplar House.” ‘

The drug-store of J. C. Scott & Co. was established
by J. C. Scott in 1869. The present firm-‘name was
adopted in April, 1881.

Theodore M. Byers, dealer in dry-goods and notions,
established his business April 1,1880.

P/Lysz'cians.——’—George A. Linn, George E. Lyth,
Franklin P. Scott, James G. Sloan,‘ Charles B.

"W WWWW

1 Dr. James G. Sloan graduated at Jefferson College, Canonsburg, Pa.,

He

- in the summer of 1862. He then joined the 140th Regiment Pennsyl-

vania Volunteers and served three years. After the close of the war he
began the study of medicine, and graduated with honors from the Uni-
versity of , Georgetown, D. C., in March, 1869. He practiced his profes-
nion at Fayette City, Pa., for four years, and has been established at his
present place of residence, Monongahela City, for more than eight years.

578

HISTORY OF WASHINGTON COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA.

3

Mitchell, and H. J. Gamble.

Surgeon Demf'ists.—J. D. Hammond and W. H.
King.-

Attorneg/s.—-—The present attorneys-at-law are
Thomas H. Baird, admitted to practice at Febru-
ary term, 1846, and George A.. Hoffman, Jr., ad-
mitted in December, 1875. Of other attorneys who
at various periods have lived in the town or its
vicinity were Judge Thomas, H. Baird,‘ admitted in
March, 1808; T. R. Hazzard, November, 1840; Rob-
ert JF. ‘Cooper, May, 1842; O. B. McFadden, Feb-
ruary, 1848; Solomon Alter, May, 1848; J. VV. F.

' White, May, 1844; Ianthus Bentley, February, 1866;

J. M. Milligan, February, 1866; and John M. Davis,
January, 1877. .

Hon. George V. Lawrence, of Monongahela City,
although not a lawyer, has for many years been a
law-maker and_ one of the most prominent men in
Western Pennsylvania. He represented the people
of Washington County in the State House of Repre-
sentatives in 1844, 1847, 1859, and 1860; Washington
County in the State Senate for a term commencing
in October, 1848; Washington and Greene Count-ies
for term commencing October, 1860-; and in October,
1864, was elected to represent the counties of VVash-
in gton, Greene, Beaver, and"Lawrence in the national
House of Representatives. _

Alexander & Co., Bankers.——A1though we have
mentioned the fact that the Monongahela and Wil-
liamsport Manufacturing and Banking Company was
chartered in January, 1814, it seems that this com-
pany was never organized, and that the people o-f the
town could not boast of any banking facilities until
the spring season of 1861, when the Messrs. Alexan-
der & Co. (composed of Joseph Alexander2 and his
sons, William J . and James S.) established a banking-
house in connection with their business as merchants.

In 1870 the present elegant bank building was
erected at a cost, exclusive of the grounds, of $20,000.
It is constructed of brick and stone, ornamented with

1 Judge Baird was the father of the present Thos. H. Baird, Esq., and

‘ resided at the point now known as Baird's Station, on the Pittsburgh,

Virginia and Charleston Railroad. He was a gentleman distinguished
for his great legal ability, and Oct. 19, 1818, was elected presidentjudge
of the district composed of Washington, Fayette, Greene, and, Somerset
Counties. ,

-2 Joseph Alexander was born at Rostraver, Westmoreland Co., Pa., in
the year 1795. Accompanied by his wife and three children, viz., Wil-
liam J., Rose Ann, and Eliza, he settled in Williamsport during the
year 1828. He immediately engaged in business as a dealer in general
merchandise, occupying a log structure on Main Street which stood op-
posite the McGregor building. Soon after, however, heremoved across
the street. to a frame store—house which stood on the site of thepresent
McGregor building, and which was occupied by himself and sons for
many years thereafter. His children born after his settlement in
Williamsport were James S., Emeline, Amanda, and Theresa His
wife died in 1856, and full of years he departed from this stage of action
in the year 1870. He was an honorable and successful merchant, a de-
voted husband and‘ father, a public-spirited Christian gentleman, a
stanch Whig and Republican (though it was his pride to boast that he
once cast his vote for “ Old Hickory”), and was universally esteemed by
all who had the pleasure of knowing him. V

1 day walks of life.

Wood, R. S. H. Keys, M. P. Morrison, G. P. l Mansard slate--roof, towers,andcresting, and itsvaults,

fire- and burglar-proof, are among the very best.
Though the senior members of the house died in
1870, the business is still continued under the title of
Alexander & Co., and most probably will be for many
years to come, for its members, by their gentlemanly
manners, -obligingdispositions, and sterling, well-tried
integrity, have secured the confidence and respeet of
all who meet them in a business way and the every-
A capital of $100,000 is usually
employed. ' i ’

People's Bank.——This thriving institution was es-
tablished under the title.of the “People’s Savings-
Bank,” Sept- 1, 1870, by a stock company, which be-
gan businesss with a paid-up capital of $100,000.
The first oflicers were -A. C. Sampson, president; J .
B. Finley,3 cashier; A. C. Sampson, James Sampson,
James K. Logan, W. M. Devore, and J. B. Finley,
directors. _ , "

The first president, A. C. Sampson, died May 10,
1872, when James Sampson was elected to fill the
vacancy. In January, 1880, _a reorganization took
place, when the present name, i.e., the People’s Bank,
was adopted, and the following oflicers elected: J . B.
Finley, president ; .‘John L. George, cashier; George
V. Lawrence, Robert Phillips, James B. Gibson,
George‘ A. Linn, and William P. Ketchum, directors.
No changes have since occurred. The building owned

‘ and occupied by the bank is situated on the southwest

corner of Main and Washington Streets.
Manufacturing.—The Valley Saw- and Planing-
Mills, Messrs. Neel, Blythe & Co. proprietors, con-
tractors and builders, is thepioneer establishment of
its kind in this section of the country, and stands to-

’day where it‘ has always stood, at the head, and in the

front rank of all its competitors, both in extent of
business done and the quality of work produced.

It appears that the first mill standing upon this
site was built in the year 1850, by William and
Joseph Brown, father and son respectively. It was a
two-story structure, fifty-five by seventy feet, and was
fitted for planing and the manufacture of sash, doors,
shutters, mouldings, etc.

After one year Joseph sold out his interests to his V

father, and some éhree years later the latter sold to
Messrs. Kiddoo "& Pollock. Mr. Pollock continued
but three or four years, when David Moore purchased
his interests. The first building was burned in 1858,
and the following year the partners, Joseph Kiddoo
and David Moore, erected the second one, which was
three stories in height, and its ground dimensions
forty by eighty feet.

3 Mr. Finley is a representative of the well-known family of Finleys,
of Finleyville, though- born in the city of Philadelphia. He has been a
resident of Monongahela City since 1861, and from that time until the
founding of the People’s Bank was in the employ of Messrs. Alexan-
der & Co. He was a member of Capt. William J . Alexander's company
of State militia, and with that command proceeded to the front in Mary-
land,»immediat.ely after the battle of Antietam.

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HISTORY OI?‘ WASHINGTON COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA.

their plantations, but nothing would prevail. By
this time we had got to be a formidable party. All
the hunters, men without families, etc., in that quar-
ter had joined our party. Our arrival at Wheeling
was soon known at Pittsburgh. The whole of that
country, at that time being under the jurisdiction of
Virginia} Dr. Connolly’ had been appointed by Dun-
more captain—commandant of the district, which was
called West Augusta?‘ He, learning of us, sent a
message addressed to the party, letting us know that
a war was to be apprehended, and requesting that we
would keep our position for a few days, as messages
had been sent to the Indians, and avfew days would
determine the doubt.’ The answer he got was, that
we had no inclination to quit our quarters for some
time, that during our stay we should be careful that
the enemy did not harass the neighborhood that we
lay in. But before this answer could reach Pitts-
burgh he sent a second express, addressed to Capt.
Cresap, as the most influential man amongst us, in-
forming him that the messengers had returned from
the Indians, that war was inevitable, and begging
him to use his influence with the party to get them
to cover the country by scouts until the inhabitants
could fortify themselves. The reception of this letter
was the epoch of open hostilities with the Indians.
A new post was planted, a council was called, and

the letter read by Cresap, all the Indian traders being

summoned on so important an occasion. Action was
had, and war: declared in the most solemn manner;

and the same evening (April 26th) two scalps were i

brought into camp. The next day some canoes of
Indians were discovered on’ the river, keeping the
advantage of an island to cover themselves from our
view. They were chased fifteen miles and driven
ashore at Pipe Creek. A battle ensued; a few were
wounded on both sides, one Indian only taken pris-
oner. On examining their canoes we found a consid-
erable quantity of ammunition and other warlike
stores. iOn our return to camp a resolution was
adopted to march the next day and attack Logan’s“
camp on the Ohio, about thirty miles above us. We
did march about five miles, and then halted to take
some refreshments. Here the impropriety of execut-
ing the projected enterprise was argued. The con-
versation was brought forward by Cresap himself. It
was generally agreed that those Indians had no hos-
tile intentions, as they were hunting, and their party
"was composed of men, women, and children, with all
their stuff with them. This we knew, as I myself and

1- The country around Pittsburgh was then claimed by both Virginia
and Pennsylvania, but Clarke, being a Virginian, viewed the matter
entirely from the Virginian stand-point. '

2 Dr. John Connolly. a nephew of George Croghan, the deputy super-
intendent of Indian afi‘airs. ,

‘ '3 All this region was at that time claimed by Virginia to be within its
“ West August-éf District. _
‘ 4 The Mingo‘ chief Logan, the murder of ‘whose’ family in this war

 was charged on Capt. Cresap; but the whole tenor of this letter of Gen.

Ciarke goes to prove the injustice of the charge.

others present had been in their camp about four
weeks past on our descending the river from Pitts-
burgh. In short, every person seemed to detest the
resolution we had set out with. We returned in the
evening, decamped, and took the road to Redstone.”

From this account it appears that Clarke’s party,
well knowing that an India11 war must follow the
events here narrated,'abandoned the original idea of
proceeding to Kentucky, and marched with Cresap’s
men to his headquarters at Redstone Old Fort, on the
Monongahela. They carried with them on a litter
one man who had been mortally wounded in the fight
with the Indians on the 27th of April. Two others
had been wounded but not seriously. The party, in
marching from Wheeling to Redstone, proceeded by
way of Catfish Camp (now Washington borough),
and in the evening of the 29th stopped there at the
house of William I-Iuston, who was then the only
white resident at that place. A certificate setting
forth the circumstances of this occurrence was made
in 1798 by Huston, subscribed before David Redick,
then prothonotary of Washington County, and placed
in his hands. A copy of it is here given, viz.:

“ I, William Huston, of Washington County, in the State of Pennsyl-
vania, do hereby certify to whom it may concern: That in the year 1774
I residedat Catfish’s Camp, on the main path from Wheeling to Red-
stone; that Michael Cresap, who resided on or near the Potomac River,
on his way up from the river Ohio, at the head of a party of armed men,
lay some time at my cabin. I had previously heard the report of Mr.
Cresap having killed some Indians said to be the relations of Logan, an
Indian Chief. In a variety of conversations with several of Cresap’s
party they boasted of the deed, and that in the presence of their chief.
They acknowledged that they had fired first on the Indians. They had
with them one man on a litter who was in the skirmish. '

“ I do further certify that, from what I learned from the party them-
selves, I then formed the opinion, and have not had any reason to change
that opinion since, that the killing, on the part of the whites, was what I
deem the grossest murder. I further certify that some of the party who
afterwards killed some women and other Indians at Baker’s Bottom
also lay at my cabin on theirmarch to the interior part of the country;
they had with them a little girl, whose life had been spared by the inter-
ference of some more humane than the rest. If necessary,"'I will make
affidavit to the above to be true. Certified at Washington, this 18th day
of April, A.D. 1798.

“ WILLIAM HUs'roN.”

Immediately after the occurrence Of the events nar-
rated as above by Clarke came the killing of the In-
dians at Captina Creek and the murder of the rela-
tives of the Mingo chief Logan at Baker’s Bottom,

on the Ohio, the date of the last-named event being,

April 30th. The so-called speech of Logan fastened the
odium of killing his people in cold blood on Capt.

Michael Cresap, of Redstone Old Fort. That the

charge was false and wholly unjust is, now known by
all people well informed on the subject. Cresap did,
however, engage iii the killing of other Indians, being
no doubt incited thereto by the deceitful tenor of Dr.
Con'nol_ly’s letters, which were evidently written for
the express purpose of inflaming the minds of the
frontiersmen by false information, and so bringing

' about a general Indian war.

The chief Logan, with a hunting party of his In-
dians, and having with them their women and-*chil~

MONONGAHELA CITY. 8 579

 

The firm of Kiddoo & Moore continued until 1.867,
when the latter sold out to Blythe (John) &.Beach
(Charles E.), and the former to James Neel and
E. A. Foster, the new firm assuming the title of Fos-
ter, Blythe & Co. On the 13th of July, 1875, during
the conflagration which destroyed the ‘saw- and
planing-mill of Culbertson & Hartrick, the building
erected in 1859 and ocdupied by Foster, Blythe & Co.
was also burned. The work of reconstruction began
at once, andlninety days later, on Oct. 13, 1875, the
present building was completed. It is two stories in
height, and sixty-five by one hundred and five feet,
not including the engine-house.

On the 13th of April, 1876, ‘Mr. Beach’s interests
were purchased by Mr. Neel, and the firm-name" was

' changed to that of Foster, Blythe & Neel. This firm

was continued until Jan. 17, 1880, when Mr. Foster
sold out to Messrs. Neel and Blythe, other members

were admitted, and the present firm of Neel, Blythe

d2‘ 00. established, the individual members of the firm
being James Neel, John Blythe, James Blythe, John
VV.-Teeters, J. P. Taylor, and Philip Zenn.

The building occupied is a strong and substantial
one, and well adapted for the business of sawing lum-
ber and the production of flooring, siding, weather-
boarding, sash", blinds, doors, lath, railing, wood-
turning, scroll-work, etc. The machinery is of the
very best in use, and it would be a difficult matter,

"indeed, to find anywhere a more perfectly arranged

and better conducted establishment.

From sixty to seventy-five men are steadily em-
ployed. Besides the elegant new school building in
Monongahela City, this firm have during the past two
years erected a large number of buildings at Brad-
dock’s, McConnellville,' Belle Vernon, and other places.
They purchased during the year 1881 300,000 cubic

‘feet of logs and 2,300,000 feet of sawed lumber, and

will handle during the year 1882 at least 4,000,000
feet of lumber. They have also an extensive boat-
and barge-yard connected with their works.

The Union Paper-Mills, of Monongahela City,
Messrs. Culbertson & Hartrick proprietors, were es-
tablished in 1850 by Dr. Samuel D. Culbertson, of
Chambersburg, Pa., being the first manufactory of its
kind in which airalone was depended upon for dry-
ing erected west of the Allegheny Mountains. In
1862 steam was adopted for drying purposes, and on

the 4th day of March, 1864, the buildings -were de-

stroyed by fire. However, Mr. Albert Culbertson,

son of Dr. Culbertson, immediately began the work,

of rebuilding, and in March, 1865, the works were
again put in motion with an increased capacity.

In 1876 the present proprietors, Messrs. S. D. Cul-
bertson 1 and R. S. D.‘ Hartrick, assumed control, and
have since conducted the business under the firm-name
of Culbertson & Hartrick.

 

1 Mr. S. D. Culbertson is a son of Alfred, and grandson of the original
owner of the mill. V

 

Originally, by dint of much hard labor and the
most expert manipulations, but two and two and one-
half tons of “straw-board” could be produced in
twenty-four hours. Now, however, the average daily
product is seven tons. Fifty men are here given em-
ployment. Straw-board, manufactured from wheat,

rye, oat, and barley straw (obtained from the surround- ,

ing country), isthe only article produced, and the cities
of New York and Philadelphia are chiefly depended
upon for marketing the same, yet considerable quan-
tities of the products of this mill have been sent
direct to England, Cuba, and San Francisco, Cal.

The Foundry and M achine-Shops of Messrs. Mor- C

rison, Abrams & Co. were established by J. W. Downer
in 1872. ‘After a brief period the firm-name was
changed to that of Hindman, Downer & Lecky, which
firm continued until 1877, when Mr. Downer having
retired, the name of Hindman, Morrison & Co. was
adopted. _ Another change took place soon after
though, and under the name of Morrison & Co. the

business was conducted by Messrs. W. H. Morrison 4

and T. H. Pollock2 from 1877 until Jan. 1, 1881, when
Capt. R. R. Abrams became a member of the firm,
and the present title, 73.6., Morrison, Abrams & Co.,
was assumed.

Many improvements have been made during the

few years last passed, and the premises, situated mid- ' ‘

way between the railroad and river, are equipped with
the most perfect machinery and tools, including a
steam—engine of sixteen horse-power. Fifteen skilled
workmen are constantly employed by the firm, and
the manufactures consist chiefly of complete outfits
for the mining of coal, such as coal tipples, bolts,
pit-cars, pit-car wheels, castings, etc. V They also make
a specialty of “Morrison & Co.’s Reversible Engine,”
which, while running easily and noiselessly, is un-
equaled in beauty and finish. This engine was ex-
hibited at the Exposition (1876), and has given entire
satisfaction wherever introduced. The business of
the firm of Morrison, Abrams & Co. is continually
increasing, and quite recently they have performed
m-uch work for the Monongahela Navigation Com-
pany at locks Nos. 1 and 2. '
The City Flouring-Mill of Monongahela City,
Messrs. McGrew & Parkison 2 present proprietors, was

2 Mr.'Po1lock, who represented the “ Co.” in the firms entitled Hind-
man, Morrison & Co. and Morrison & Co., is also the “ Co.” in the pres-
ent firm of Morrison, Abrams & Co. He is a gentleman of acknowl-
edged ability as a designer and practical machinist, having learned his
trade at the Pittsburgh Locomotive-Works, and now acts as foreman and
general manager of the works.

3 Mr. A. R. Parkison is a great-grandson of one of five brothers, the
original settlers of this immediate locality, and his family have for many
years been identified with the milling business, more particularly at
Mingo and Elkhorn. Thus we find that about the beginning of the
present century Benjamin Parkison (grandfather of A. R.) threw a dam
across the river at Mingo and erected two flouring-mills (one on either
side), a fulling-mill, and a saw-mill. William, the father of A. R. Parki-
son, after inheriting the estate, built a paper-mill on the right bank of
the river, and named that 1ocali.ty Elkhorn.

Mr. McGrew also is a representative of one of the first families to
settle in Washington County. '

580

HISTORY OF WAS HINGTON COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA.

erected about the year 1845, by Henry Shearer and 1 by the firm was that of O’Leary, Beck & Co_;=7 Mr. T.

John Sheplar. _Afterwards the mill was controlled
-at various times by Beach & Co., George & Shaw, and
John L. George until the year 1877, when the present
firm, viz., James McGrew and A. R. Parkison, became
its owners.

The building is a five-story wooden structure, forty-
two by ninety feet, and has a capacity of eighty bar-
rels of flour per day. The machinery used is of the
best and latest improved kind, including a new purifier
and middling stone and an engine of fifty horse-
power. This firm, as well as all others doing business
in Monongahela City, have excellent facilities for re-
ceiving and shipping goods either by wagon, river, or
railroad. Mr. McGrew has had an experience in the
business of twenty--two years; Mr. Parkison of four
years. In conclusion, we will add that both are resi-
dents of the city, are energetic and enterprising men,
and well worthy of their large and remunerative trade.

On the site where the first boats were built in M0-
nongahela City now‘ stands the planing-mills and
lumber-yard of Yohe} Corrin & Co., the individual
members of the firm being Isaac Yohe, James L.
Yohe, Lewis N. Yohe, and Edward Corrin. How-
ever, the business was established in November, 1880,
under the firm-name of Yohe, Carson & Co. In June, -
1881-, Mr. Carson having ‘ retired, Mr. Corrin came in
as a member of the firm. All are practical men of
many years’ experience and natives of the city.

They are largely engaged in contracting and build-
ing, and during the past year have erected many fine
buildings at Greenfield, Webster, Tomer & McKin-
ney’s works, Homestead, Columbia, and in other local-
ities. Their lumber-yard is two hundred feet‘ square.
The planing-mill is two stories in height, thirty-four
by sixty-four feet, and is fitted up with the latest im-
proved machinery. Power is derived from steam,
and thirty-five menare employed. I I

1 The Monongahela Glass-Works, although situ-
ated just without the municipal limits,_ are among the
most important of the many manufacturing interests
found within the city or its immediate vicinity.
Under the firm-name of Ihmsen, Fox & Co.  L.
Ihmsen, Gregor Fox, John J. O’Leary, and James
Beck, all of Pittsburgh, being the individual mem-
bers), the work of construction was commenced in
June, 1880, completed September 1st of the same
year, and the first glass was cut-September 13th fol-
lowing. On the 21st of February, 1881, by the re-
tirement of Mr. Fox and the purchase of his interests
by T. O’Leary, J r., of Pittsburgh, the title assumed-

1 Isaac Yohe, the grandfather of the Yohe brothers (the membersiof
this firm), came from Easton, Pa., and settled near Valley Inn, or on the
farm now occupied by Marvin Sheplar, in Carroll township, about the
year 1810, having been induced to remove westward in consequence
of the flattering description of this county given by a brother who had
visited Washington County during the Whiskey Rebellion. Michael,
son of Isaac, and father of Isaac, James, and Lewis before mentioned,
was one of the first to vote the Free-Soil or Abolition ticket in the
county.

about twenty-five men are employed.

O’Leary, J r., purchased the interests of Mr. *1-hmsen
in‘ the fall of 1881, and Mr. Beck’s in Feb.ruary,'1882,
and thus the firm-name of the present is that of
O’Leary Bros. & Co. »

Sixty men and two boys are regularly employed,
and.the products of these works (window-glass exclu-
sively). amount to nine hundred boxes per week.
This firm also manufacture their own melting pots,
an essential and most important feature in the fabri-
cation of glass.

The Monongahela City Steam Granite- and
Marble-Works were established by R. M. Gee in
1852. He conducted the business alone until the year
1865, when his sons, J. L.," J. R., William M., and
Charles W. Gee, having become partners, the firm-
name was changed to that of R. M. Gee & Sons. In
1873, Mr. J. H. Weygandt entered the firm, and the
business has since been carried on under the title of

, R. M. Gee, Sons & Co.

This enterprising firm manufactured, marble and
granite monuments and headstones, cemetery fences,
etc., beautiful in design and most“ artistically finished.
Motive power is derived from an engine of twenty-
five horse-power, and from seven’ to fifteen skilled
workmen are employed. They also own and operate
a valuable sandstone quarry, situated about one mile
from the town, where, during the summer season,
The stone
here obtained is of most excellent quality, and in the
construction of buildings, stoops, canal- and river-
locks, etc., it meets every requirement. This firm
stands ready to contract for and execute work in

"stone of whatever kind or nature, and doubtless all

those in need of their skill and great experience will
find, after trial,.that their work has been performed
with promptness and the greatest care. , «
The Monongahela City Steam Docks, owned
by William H. Barr, were established by the Monon-
gahela City Dock Company ‘(composed of Joseph Tu-
man, Shadrick Heyser, George Grove, Cyrus Linn,
and others) in 1865. After several changes in pro-
prietorship, Mr. Barr leased the property in 1871, and
some two or three years later purchased the same.
From sixteen to twenty men are here employed dur-
ing the busy seasons. Barges, flats,‘ and boats are
built, and all kinds of river craft repaired. I
In 1878 the steamer “Hunter No.2” was placed

upon the docks, her upper works detached from and '

raised above her hull, and while thus supported
new hullvwas built. ‘ s
Graham’s Foundry, situated in the upper part of
the town n.ear Pigeon Creek, was established by its
present proprietor, E. T. Graham, in 1879. Stoves,
farm-bells, and coal—minin’g cars are manufactured,
besides which a large amount of jo-bbing and repairing
is done. The works furnish employment to eight men.

2 J . L. Gee died in 1877.

MON ON GAHELA CITY.

581

Coal-Mining.——The mining of a superior quality of

lbituminous coal is and has been for many years an
. important feature as regards the business interests of

thetown. A A six—foot vein, underlies all the surface
in the vicinity, and thus the people are afforded
ample and cheap fuel, while hundreds of miners are
furnished steady and remuneratiye employment. _
The "mines now operated within the city limits are
those of the Harlem Coal Company and James Jones’,
the ‘latter operating the .mine opened by Hiram A.
Warne, Robert Coulter, and Jonas Carothers in 1859.
About four hundred men_are employed by the opera-
tors here mentioned. 1
Gas. Company.—-The ‘‘ Monongahela City Gas
Company” was incorporated by an act of the State

' Legislature, approved Feb. 20, 1872, William Smith,

Samuel-Bridge, J r., S. H. Goldthrop, B. W. Flack,
R. C. Loomis, William Collingwood, J. B. Flack, M.
Naylor, andJ. H‘. Connelly being named in the act
as commissioners to organize the company. The act
further specified that the capital stock should consist
of $20,000, “to be increased to any amount not ex-
ceeding $100,000 bya vote of the stockholders of said
company,” and that the stock be divided into shares
of $50 each. 1

In accordance with the provisions of the before-
mentioned act, and of a notice published in the M0-
nonga/zela Republican of date J 11119 27, 1872, M. Naylor

A and J. H. Connelly attended at the office of.'1‘homas

H. Baird, Esq., in Monongahela City, at 2 o’clock P.M.,
July 8, 1872, and then and there proceeded to open
books and receive subscriptions to the capital stock
of the company. Twenty per cent. of the capital

stock having been subscribed Aug. 11, 1873’, on the

22d daylof September following a meeting was held

to organize the company. W. L. S. VVilson acted as

chairman, and D. C. Shaw acted as secretary of this
meeting, and the officers then elected were ‘William
J. Alexander, president; J. H. Connelly, vice-presi-
dent; D. C. Shaw, treasurer and secretary; J. B.

I Finley, John L. George, William M. Devore, M.

Naylor, and George V. Lawrence, directors. At, the
same meeting also the president and treasurer were
made ex-oflicio members of the board. On the fol-
lowing day (Sept. 23, 1873) a contract was made with
Messrs. Connelly, Naylor & Co., of Pittsburgh, for
the construction of the works.

Under the superintendency of Mr. Fulmer the work
of construction began at once, and during the holiday
week of 1873 a supply of gas was awaiting the use of
consumers. Originally the works cost $32,000. At
the beginning Connelly, N aylor & Co. took stock to
the amount of $23,000, but soon after completing the
works they sold out their shares to Messrs. William
J. Alexander, John L. George, George V. Lawrence,
and J. B. Finley, and thus the stock is all held by
residents of Monongahela City.

The present oificers are William J. Alexander,
president; J. B. Finley, secretary and treasurer;

James Stockdale, George V. Lawrence, John L.
George, B. F. Bentley, and J. B. Finley directors.

Company A, Tenth Regiment, N. G.——With the
close of the late civil strife the American people gen-
erally deemed themselves as having had an ample
sufliciency of the pomp and circumstance of real war,
and for four‘ or five years thereafter such a feeling pre-
vailed everywhere. But the Americans are a military
people naturally, and no sooner had a brief period of
quietness been passed, and the silent mounds become
green over the graves of our heroes" who fell on
Southern fields, than this latent military spirit again
asserted itself. Independent military companies were
organized here and there, and veterans of. the war"
stepped forward as commanders and drill-masters.
Therefore, when in July, 1869, the.Hazzard Zouaves,
an independent company under the command of Capt.
J. De'V. Hazzard, First Lieut. Christopher Galloway,
and Second Lieut. William Oliver, was -organized, it
was but in consonance with almovement quite general
throughout the victorious, prosperous North.

This company kept up its organization until August,
1872, when from it the Light Guards, or Company A,
of the Tenth Regiment, National Guards of Pennsyl-
vania, was organized, with Capt. J. De V. Hazzard,‘
First Lieut. John Bowman, and Second Lieut. George
A. Gregg as its oflicers. In 1878, A.'M. Walker be-
came captain of the company, John Bowman re-
mained its first lieutenant, and John J. Hazzard was
commissioned second lieutenant. The next change
occurred Sept. 6, 1880, when Samuel D. Culbertson

was commissioned second lieutenant. _ On the 8th of ’

August, 1881, the present oflicers, viz.: Capt. John
Bowman,” First Lieut. Samuel D. Culbertson, and
Second Lieut. William J. Scott, were commissioned.
Company A, like the entire force of the State
National Guards, is uniformed and equipped in a first-
class manner, and could take the field ready for cam-
paign duty at an hour’s notice. It_ is armed with
Springfield breech-loaders, calibre 50. During the

riotous days of July, 1877, it performed efficient ser- '

vice, under the command of Capt. Hazzard, at Pitts-
burgh , Pa. Afterwards Capt. Hazzard recruited a com-
pany, known as the volunteers_of the Tenth Regiment,
National Guards of Pennsylvania, from the various
companies of the Tenth Regiment, and with it per-
formed a three months’ term of service at Scranton,
Pa.

At Camp Vincent, in the autumn of 1881, Company
A paraded with three commissioned oflicers and
fifty-three enlisted men, and in ‘drill, discipline, sol-
dierly appearance, and rifle-practice it stood far in
advance of any other company in the regiment. In-

1 Soon after Capt. Hazzard was commissioned lieutenant-colonel of the

A regiment, but he declined the promotion, preferring to remain with the

company which he had organized. .

2 At theltime Capt. Bowman was promoted from first lieutenant to the
command of the company he was the third in rank among the first lieu-
tenants in the State. '

582

HISTORY OF WASHINGTON COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA.

deed it has been a “star” company since 1872, and
there are but few companies in the Commonwealth
wllich can show a better record.

The Press.——Williamsport’s first newspaper, the
I/Vestern Patriot, was established by B. Brown in 1815.
The town was then enjoying its first boom, and its first
church edifice, glass-factory, alld other manufactories
were in process of erection. The second newspaper
was the Village Informant, which was published in
1818 by Joseph Clingan. '

On the 7th of May, 1821, The Phoenix was. first
issued by B. Brown. This was followed June 17,
1822, by a prospectus of a weekly newspaper entitled
The Journal of the Interior,‘ to be published every.
Tuesday by Brown & Scott, at two dollars per annum.
The Pennsylvanian, the next journalistic venture,
made its first appearance June 25, 1828, John Baus-
man being editor and proprietor.

Carroll township was erected in 1834, and in 1835
Dr. John W. Hammond” and John Bausman estab-
lished the Carroll Gazette. William Davidson was
the editor of this paper subsequently. The [Mononga-
hela Patriot, Alexander Davidson, editor, was started
in 1840.

Neutral Ground was published by John McNeil in
1841, and the Advocate and Day-Spring was first issued
by W. H. H. T. Barnes in 1845. l

The Moriongahela Valley Republican was established
by Solomon Alter, Esq., in 1848, the first number
being dated July 7th of that year. In 1851 it was
sold to David Ramaley and P. H. Reinhardt, who
managed it until 1855, when  R. Hazzard and his
son, Chill W. Hazzard, became its owners. It has
been owned and ably edited by Maj. Chill W. Haz-
zard since 1864.

In 1853 (February 22d) the American Republican
and Spirit of Washington was issued by the “ Ameri-
can Association.”_ This newspaper was a medium-
sized five-column folio, and Chris. Wilson, Lovell
Sias,.' and A. V.Graham were its editors. It con-
tinued but about three months.

The Aurora, a small, yet lively three-column folio,
was first issued May 1, 1857; Cyrus B. King was its
editor, and Joseph H. Wilson publisher. After about
three months, however, this aurora ceased to dawn
upon the public. ° '

During the latter part of 1860 The Valley Sentinel
was established" by Moses T. Scott & Co. Robert F.
Cooper served as editor. The paper was a seven-
column folio, and its publication was continued for
about two years.

The Junior’s Friend and Pennsylvania Reserve News
Letter was edited and published by Maj. Chill W.
Hazzard in 1876.

Early in 1875, John B. soon-. began the publication

1 This proposed paper was never issued. .

2 Dr. J. .W. Hammond was the father of Dr. W. A. Hammond (for-
merly surgeon-general of the United States army), now of New York
City. '

of a monthly sheet entitled The Advertiser. It was a
small five-column folio, and’ being chiefly intended as
an advertising medium, was distributed in town and
at various points along the river gratuitously. Yet
containing much interesting reading matter, a con-
siderable number of subscribers received it through
the mails by the payment of twenty-five cents per
year. '

The Valley Record, VVilliam M. Boggs editor, made.

its first appearance on the '4th day of March, 1876.
It was established and controlled by a stock company,
however, the “Record Printing Company,” of which
Charles A. Adams, Mark Borlarld, s. P. Keller
& Co., R. C. Byers & Son, J. B. Finley, Rev. VV. 0.

Campbell, B. w. Castner, Rev. T. N. Boyle, F. J.’

Gardner, James H. Moore, S. Hindman, J. E. Rial,
S. Graham, and John B. Scott were members.
Originally i_t was a seven-column quarto. Nine
months afterwards it was changed to an eight—column
quarto, and on the 9th day of January, 1880, was re-
duced to its present size, i.e., a six-column quarto.
Mr. Boggs "continued as editor of the Record for a
period of about nine lnollths, when John B. Scott,
who to that time had performed the duties of fore-
man, was elected editor. On the 1st of April, 1880,
the Scott brothers, viz., John B., William H., and E.
F. Scott, purchased the paper, its material, etc., and
continued together until Oct. 1, 1881, when_J ohn- B.
Scott removed to McKeesport, Pa., and began the
publication of the McKeesport Record. Consequently,
William H. and E. F. Scott are the present publishers
of The Valley Record, the first named being its editor.
The Record is published weekly as an independent
family newspaper, and has an extensive circulation.
The Daily Republican,  Chill ’ W. Hazzard,
editor and publisher, was started in the early part of
1881. It is sprightly and newsy, and supplies awant
long felt by the townspeople. Its circulation is con-
stantly increasing. . '
Williamsport Bridge Company.——This company
was chartered by an "act of the State Legislature, ap-
proved March 16, 1832. In 1836 nine hundred and
fifty shares were subscribed for, at a par value of fifty
dollars each. Of these shares Joseph Ritner, Grov-
ernor of the Commonwealth, in accordance with the
provisions of the act of incorporation, subscribed for
three hundred shares on behalf of the State. Nich-
olas Biddle, president of the Bank of the United

States, subscribed for threehundred shares on behalf -

of that bank, and the remainder of the shares (three
hundred and fifty in number) were taken by citizens
interested and living in theevicinity.

The first -officers were James Manown, president;
Samuel Devore, treasurer; Robert F. Biddle, sec-
retary; James Manown, John Storer, John McFar-
lane, William Mills, Asher Van Kirk, Robert F.
Biddle, and John R. Shugart, managers. Proposals
for constructing the bridge were opened in July,
1836, and the contracts were then awarded to Wil-

MONONGAHELA CITY.  

583

liam Pag'an and Robert ‘Alston for stone-work, and
to’ Lothrop & Stockton for superstructure.-

The bridge was completed in 1838, at a cost of about
sixty thousand dollars; and that the contractors per-
formed honest work is attested by the fact that, though
it has been a prominent landmark and in constant use
for nearly half a century, it is still in good condition.
Its length -is nine hundred and twenty-one feet.

On the 14th day of »May, 1882, the present man-
agers were elected, viz. :. William Galbraith, president
of the board; William J . Alexander, treasurer; J o-
seph A. Herron, secretary ; J. B. Finley, James Stock-
dale, Frank Manown, John L. George, and Frank
Williams.

Hiram Lodge, N o. 170, F. and A. M., was insti-

‘ *tuted at Williamsport, Dec. 6, 1819, and continued in

existence until the year 1827, when, in consequence
of the feeling displayed -against all Masonic associa-
tions, the work of’ this lodge was suspended indefi-
nilely. The only Worshipful Master’ of Hiram
Lodge was Dr. James Pollock.

Henry M. Phillips Lodge, No. 337, F. and A. M.,
was chartered March 5, 1860, John Withrow, S. B.
Bentley, David Riddle, Shesh Bentley, and A. J.
Buflington being named as charter members. The

lodge was instituted May 15th following by James

Lindsey, acting D. D. G. M., who was a member of
W'ay_nesbu~rg Lodge, No. 152. Those who served as
the first officers were John Withrow, W. M.; S. B.
Bentley, S. W.; David Riddle,’J. W.; and A. J.
Buffington, Sec. ‘ ‘

John Withrow served.through the years 1860-61.
Subsequently Past Masters have been W. L. S. Wil-

‘son, 1862-63; Shesh Bentley, 1864; Joel Grable,

1865; H R. S. H. Keys, 1866; Edward Creighton,
1867; W. S. S. Wilson, 1868; John Holland, 1869-
71; R. S. H. Keys, 1872; W. C. Craven, 1873; J. C.
Taylor, 1874; Chill W. Hazzard, 1875; W. E. Pen-
rod, 1876; John F. Cooper, 1877; L.’F. Jones, 1878;
F. P. Scott, 1879-80; C. V. Stockdale, 1881.
8 The oflicers for 1882 are Charles H. Hoffman, W.
M.; Samuel D. Culbertson, S. W.; John P. Borland,
J. W. ; C. V. Stockdale, Sec. ; John Holland, Treas.;
G. A. Hoffman, «S. D.; A. F. McAllister, J. D.; J.
L. Yohe, Pur.; and L. McDonald, Tyler. '
Since its organization two hundred and thirteen

members have belonged to the lodge. The present_

number of members is one hundred.

Regular meetings are held in Masonic Hall (third
floor of Hazzard’s building) on the first Tuesday after
each full moon, at seven o’clock P.M.

Nucleus Lodge, No. 377, I. 0. 0. F., was institu-
ted at Monongahela City, Pa., Sept. 14, 1849, with
Frank Nelson, James H. Chess, H. B. Strayer, J. B.
Springer, and John Watkins as charter members.

' The first officers were Frank ‘Nelson, N. G. ; James

,H. Chess, V. G. ; H. ‘B. Strayer, Sec. ; J. B. Springer,
Asst. Sec.; John Watkins, Treasurer. On the 16th of
November following, H. D. Cooper, Josiah W. Car-

mack, H. Hombeck, James L. Irwin, Robert Coulter,
John Gi-lfillan, and John Varner were initiated as
members. To April, 1882, three hundred and seventy-
two members have belonged to the organization, and
those in good standing at the same date numbered
ninety-seven.

Of those who have received the title of Past
Grand are the following : Josiah W. Carmack, Frank
Nelson, Robert Coulter, John Varner, Raphael Coul-
ter, Charles E. Beach, Michael Bowman. A. T. Gregg,
Munson Clark, Peter S. Griflin, Isaac Wall, Hughey
McKinney, Shed. Heiser, Milo Gibson, Ralston
Hamilton, R. M. Gee, S. H. Morrison, Thomas
VVilson, J. C. Taylor, Robert McMasters, R. H.
Young, M. Turnbolt, J. B. Williams, Isaac Lowman,‘
I. Hodge, G. M. Groves, T. R. Hazzard, William S.
Mellinger, D. A. Lackey, George Callahan, William
Wilson, A. D. O’Donavan, George Frantz, W. L. S.
Wilson, Joseph Cotesworth, G. L. Bayha, J. S. Gee,
J. ,W. Downer, H. C. Underwood, James Craig, F.
M. Myers, J. W. Hank, John H. Hill, John Holland,
John Gilfillan, Mark Borland, Thomas Cotesworth,
M. Sanders, John Patterson, Daniel Cooper, James
T. Conlin, L. F. Jones, J. K. Long, Charles B. Wood,
and ‘J. F. Nicholson, several of those mentioned hav-
ing served more than one term. 8 e

The present officers are J. B. McAllister, N. G.;
William Rohrer, V. G.; G. L. Bayha, Sec.; John
Anders, Asst. Sec. ; A. D. O’Donovan, Treasurer.
Regular meetings are held every Thursday evening.‘

-On the corner of Main and Washington Streets
the ‘Odd-Fellows have a three-story brick structure,
which was ‘completed about the year 1870, at a cost

of seventeen thousand dollars.‘ It is under control
of the Nucleus Association, whose present oflicers .

are Edward Corrin, president; John F. Nicholson,
sec.; J. B. Finlay, Chill W. Hazzard, and Robert
Coulter, directors.

The Odd-Fellows’ Mutual Co—operative Associa-
tion was an organization formed .for the purpose of
carrying on an extensive mercantile business. The
first floor of the Odd-Fellows’ building was occupied,

and with a capit-al of from thirtyto forty thousand

dollars the business of the association was carried on
from April 6, 1867, until about the year 1876, when
its affairs Were adjusted and the organization discon-
tinued. A .
Parkison's Ferry Encampment, No. 175, I.0.0.F.,
was instituted March. 6, 1869. To date its Past Chief
Patriarchs have been R. M. Gee, T. R. Hazzard, G. L.
Bayha, A. D. O’Donavan, James Craig, J. W. Latta,

John Patterson, John H. Hill, L. R. Campbell, C. M. .

Yohe, Robert J obes, H. C. Underwood, J . T. Conlin,
L. F. Jones, D. H. Clark, Edward Corrin, V. 0. Far-
quhar, John W. Hank, and Levi Shreckengost.
Waverly Lodge, No. 57, A. 0. U. W.. was organ-
ized at a meeting held in Odd-Fellows: Hall, Monon-
gahela City, Pa., on the 18th day of August,i1873.
This meeting was organized by calling John Patter-

584

HISTORY OF WASHINGTON COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA.

son to the chair, the appointmentvof Q. C. Farquhar
as secretary, and after J. W. Latta had briefly but
clearly stated the objects of the gathering, the follow-
ing oflicers were chosen: J. W. Latta, Past Master
VVorkman; W. A. Nicholson, Master Workman; H.
C. Underwood, General Foreman; S. P. Madeira,
Overseer; C. M. Yohe, Guide; M. R. Taggart, Re-
corder; J. P. Taylor, Financier; John Patterson, Re-
ceiver; J. T. Conlin, Outer Watch.

On the 29th of August following the lodge was
opened for the first time by M. W. Sackett, P. G.
M. W., acting as Master "Workman; Joseph Phillips,
as General Foreman; F. G. Reminan, as Overseer;
Thomas Jones, as Past Master Workman ; James Mc-
Candless, as Guide; and J .Cushman,as'Watch. J. W.
Latta, John Patterson, B. Marks, W. A. Nicholson, J .

P. Taylor, L. R. Walters, H. C. Underwood, M. Alter, A

C. M. Yohe, J. T. Conlin, and S. P. Madeira, as char-
ter members, were then initiated into the mysteries
of the order, and subsequently the officers chosen at
the previous meeting were duly installed by the
Grand Lodge ofiicers. A C
At an adjourned meeting held during the evening
of Aug. 29, 1873, the following new members were
initiated, viz. : George T. Scott, H. S. Guthrie, George
Conn, Lewis McDonald, W. T.' Cannon, L. C. Collins,
T. H. Kernan, J. W. Hank, W. F. Underwood, and
L.'R. Campbell. September» 5th, same year, the fol-

lowing, also mentioned as charter members, were in-’

itiated: John H. Hill, William Haggerty, Eugene
Craven, and Francis A. Fell. ' ‘
Subsequent Master Workmen of this lodge have

' been elected as here shown: Homer C. Underwood,

December, 1873; C. M. Yohe, June, 1874; John W.
Hank, December, 1874; John Patterson, June, 1875;

J. W. Scott, December, 1875; William H. Arrison,

June, 1876: William Mann, December, 1876; J. P.
Taylor, June, 1877 ; L. R. Campbell, December, 187 7 ;
J .. T. Conlin, June, 1878; Henry McCain, December,
1878; William Haggerty, June, 1879; William S.
Downer, December, 1879; Lewis McDonald, June,
1880 ; Levi Shreckongast, December, 1880; and Sam-

uel D. Culbertson, the present presiding officer, De- '

cember, 1881. Other present ofiicers who were elected
in December, 1881, are James K. Brown, Overseer;

_ Ralston Williams, Recorder; John Patterson, Finan-

cier; Joseph A. Bryan, Receiver; Henry McCain,-

Guide; John W. Hank, J. W.; William H. Arrison, '

Outside Watch; James G. Sloan, M.D., Medical Ex-
aminer; and John W. Hank, Representative to the

Grand Lodge.

Waverly Lodge now numbers forty members, and
regular meetings are held on the second and fourth

Fridays of each month in the Odd-Fellows’. building,

of Monongahela City.
Monongahela Council, N 0. 507, Royal Arcanum,

was instituted on the 4th of August, 1880, its charter '

members being as follows : Eliphalet Downer, William
McGregor, John F. Nicholson, Noah Penrod, John

W. Teeters, Curtis V. Stockdale, R. S. D. Hartrick,
Allen R. Parkison, T. J. Weddell, Mark Borland, J.
P. Taylor, R. Eugene Byers, Benjamin. C. Camp,
Chill W. Hazzard, Samuel D. Culbertson, VVilliam P.
Ketchum, Lewis N. Yohe, Samuel P. Keller, Thomas
H. Baird, James McCallister, James M. Wall, Thomas
S. McCurdy, James G. Sloan, and John M. Sutman.

The officers first elected were Thomas‘H. Baird,
-Regent; Samuel P. Keller, ‘Vice-Regent; James G.
Sloan, Orator; Chill W. Hazzard, Past Regent; John
F. Nicholson, Secretary; Dr. James D. Sloan, Medi-
cal Examiner; Curtis V. Stockdale, Collector; J. P.
Taylor, Treasurer; William P; Ketcham, Chaplain;
Samuel D. Culbertson, Guide; James M. Wall, War-
den; Allen R. Parkison, Sentry; and Mark Borland,
Thomas McCurdy, and R. S. D. Hartrick, Trus-
tees.

‘In 1881, Samuel P. Keller served as presiding oifi- A

cer. The present oflicers are Samuel D. Culbertson,
Regent; R. S. D. Hartrick, Vice-Regent; T. J .» Wed-
dell, Orator; S. P. Keller, Past Regent; John F. Nich-
olson, Secretary; Curtis V. Stockdale, Collector;
Thomas S. McCurdy, Treasurer; John D. Wilgus,
Chaplain; John W. Teeters, Guide; William C. Robi-
son, Warden; James‘ Hamilton, Sentry; James G.
Sloan, Medical Examiner; and Thomas S. McCurdy,
R. S. D. Hartrick, and William McGregor, Trustees.-
The council embraces a membership of forty-one,
and regular meetings are held in the Odd-Fellows’
Hall-on the first and third Mondays of each month.
Grand Army of the Republic.-—Under a charter
granted by Gen. Louis Wagner, Department Com-
mander,- General Starlcweat/zér‘ Post, No. 60, G. A. 13.,

was organized April 30, 1867, the charter members’

being Alvin S. King, G. V. L. Mellinger, S. C. Wiley,
M. P. Morrison," Chill W/Hazzard, ‘N. P. Patton,
H. King, Joseph Taylor, W. S. Cooper, A. D. O’Don-
ovan, J. De V. Hazzard, James A. White, and Elias
Gillmore. _ '

Col. Chill W. Hazzard served as the first Post Com-
mander. His successors until 1876 were A. D. O’Don-
ovan, George V. Miller, James W. Downer, A. M.
Walker, and J. De V. Hazzard, when a reorganiza-
tion took. place under the new ritual. Subsequent
Commanders have been M. R. Taggart, elected in
1876; L. F. Jones, in 1877; James G. Sloan, 1878;
W. C. Craven and J. M. VVall, 1879; John M. Sut-
man, 1880; H. J. Gamble, 1881; and Chill W. Haz-
zard (the present incumbent), in 1882. Other oflicers
at this time are William Oliver, Senior Vice-Com-
mander; A. T.‘ Gregg, Junior Vice-Commander;
James G. Sloan, Surgeon; H. J. Gamble, Quarter-
master; Joseph Jennings, Chaplain; John M.-Sut-

1 Gen. John C. Starkweather, the distinguished soldier after whom this
post was named, was well known to many members of the Army of the
Cumberland as the colonel of the Sixteenth Wisconsin Infantry. For
galélant and meritorious service he was promoted brigadier-general of
volunteers, and subsequently commanded the Third Brigade, Third Di-
vision, Fourteenth‘ Army Corps. He is now practicing law at Washing-
ton, D. C.

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ma

REV. JAMES SLOAN, ;D.D.

I M ON ON GAHELA CITY.

585

man, Oflicer of the Day; Adam Wicke-rham, Oflicer
of the Guard; and H. P. Callow, Adjutant.

Post No. 60 has been noted as an energetic organi-
zation since its institution in the spring of 1867. It
has suitably observed every Decoration Day. For
charitable purposes it has paid out $1255.35. It has
ornamented in a most appropriate manner a beautiful
lot in the Monongahela Cemetery, where substantial
headstones have been placed over the graves of all
honorably discharged soldiers buried therein. These

"stones are of uniform size, and unique in design and

finish, bearing corps ‘badges, military history, etc.
On this lot also is a battery of twelve-pounder rifled
cannon, donated by Congress at the instance of Hon.

W. S. Shallenberger, the present member of that body

from this district. . _
This post has been active and instrumental also in
organizing kindred associations, and at the muster in

of posts at West Newton, Brownsville, McKeesport,

Belle Vernon, Washington, Canonsburg, California,
Elizabeth, and Boston its members rendered efficient
service. Through its Soldiers’ Orphans Committee it
has secured the admission of about fifty orphans of sol-
diers to the Soldiers’ Orphans’ School at Uniontown.

. This has been one of the special works of the post.

It has carried upon its rollsthe names of about three
hundred members. Those now in good standing num-

' ber seventy-four. Among the distinguished gentlemen

who have pronounced the annual, memorial.address

A before its members and theinfriends may be named

Hon. A. G. Curtin, ex-Governor of Pennsylvania;

. Hon. Daniel Agnew, ex-Chief Justice of Pennsyl-

vania ; Rev. Dr. G. P. Hays, ex-President Washington

and Jefferson College; Gen-. James S. Negley, ex-

member of Congress fromthe Allegheny District of
Pennsylvania; Hon. J. W. F. White, judge of Court

A of Common Pleas, Allegheny County,‘ Pa.; Rev.
"George P. Beard, President Southwestern Normal Col-

lege, State of Pennsylvania; and other gentlemen no
less distinguished. ' _ . 0 ~

In the person of Col. Chill W. Hazzard‘ the post
has furnished a representative to the National En-
campment for five successive years. Col. Hazzard

A also‘ served as Commander of the Department.ofPenn-

sylvania during the year 1880. (From data furnished
by a committee of the post, composed of Dr. James
G. Sloan, John M. Sutman, and H. P. Callow.)
‘First Presbyterian Church.—-The church of which
this was regarded as the true lineal descendant was
first known as the Horseshoe Bottom Presbyterian
Church, and was established three and a half miles"
from Monongahela City, on the Ridge road leading to
Brownsville, on a farm belonging to Simon Wilson.
It was a log church, and part of the foundation is still
(1882) visible. This church was built about 1785.

V The Rev. Samuel Ralston, D.D., received a call from

this and Mingo Creek congregations in November,
1796, which he accepted. In 1807 the congregation

removed to Monongahela City, or Williamsport, as it"

was then called. When this transfer was made there
was but one‘ elder, Mr. James Hair. In 1815 it was
resolved to build a small brick building, thirty by
thirty-fives feet. In 1816 the first communion was
held in the new church, at which forty-five members
sat down at the Lord’s Table. In the same month the
following elders were ordained: Messrs. James Mc-
Grevv, Jesse Martin, and Robert McFarland. Mr. Hugh
Wilson, elder from Carlisle, was also elected. The

. first Sabbath-school held in Williamsport was organ-

ized by Messrs. Jesse Martin and James Gordon, who
reported July, 1823, a hundred scholars. Dr. Ralston
continued preaching to this church until 1834, giving
it one-third of his time, when, the people desiring more
of his time, and the church of Mingo being unwilling
to give it, he withdrew and gave all his time to Mingo,
having preached at Williamsport and Horseshoe Bot-

.tom thirty-eight years. At a meeting of the Presby-i
tery of Ohio, held April 20, 1837, the name of this

church was changed to that of the ‘,‘ First Presbyterian

Church of Monongahela City.” Dr._ Ralston was suc- .

ceeded by Rev. Mr. Nourse, a stated supply, who
labored here for six months. '
At a congregational meeting July 30,1835, it was

resolved that a new church building should be erected.

The building cost about $21.00. The dedication seri-
mon was preached by Dr. Elliott, of the Western
Theological Seminary. Rev. George D. Porter began
preaching as stated supply Oct.15, 1835, two-thirds
of his time. Feb. 20, 1836, Mr. Aaron Kerr was in-
stalled, and Messrs. Isaac Van Voorhisand James
Gordon were ordained elders. Mr. Porter ceased
-preaching here February, 1838. The Rev. ‘Mr. Cham-
bers succeeded him as stated supply, remaining about
six months. Oct. 28, 1839, the Rev. John Kerr was
invited to take the pastoral charge of the congregation
two-thirds of his time. Mr. Kerr was ordained and
installed pastor by the Presbytery, of Ohio April 22,
1840, and remained until 1862. During his pastorate
the church grew from a membership of ninety to two
hundred and five, the years of greatest increase being
in 1842, thirty-six; in 1848, forty; in 1857, twenty-
seven. In 1843,,Mr. Henry Fulton was elected and
installed elder.- June 29, 1857, the following persons
were installed elders’: Messrs. Joseph Kiddoo, John
Powers, and James Dickey. Mr. James Corry was
ordained elder at the same time. April 7, 1862,-a
unanimous call was made out for Rev. 8. G Dunlap.
He was installed pastor Dec. 6, 1862, and remained
until Sept. 29, 1866. Under his ministrations fifty-
five were ‘added on examination in 1863 and twenty-
eight in 1864. Dec. 6, 1862, Mr. E. W. Tower was
installed, and Messrs. John Wright, Francis J. Gard-
ner, and David Moore were ‘ordained elders. Dec.
30, 1866, the congregation voted a call to Rev. J. S.
Stuchell, who was installed May 10, 1867, and con-
tinued pastor until April 1, 1870. Oct. 26, 1867,
Messrs. W. C. Shaw, D. Yohe, and Samuel Hindman

were ordained elders. Oct. 1, 1870, a call was made ' A

DUNMORE’S WAR. ,   J 67

dren, had pitched his hunting-camp at the mouth of
Yellow Creek, about thirty miles above Wheeling, on
the west side of the Ohio, and opposite Baker’s Bot-
tom on the Virginia side, where lived Joshua Baker,
whose chief occupation was selling liquor to the In-
dians. From the time when Logan had first pitched
his camp at Yellow Creek it had been the determina-
tion of some of the whites to attack it and kill the
Indian party, but in their first attempt to do this they
had been overruled in their purpose, chiefly ‘by the
influence of Capt. Cresap, as is shown in Clarke’s

account before quoted. But after Cresap and Clarke.

had departed with their men for Redstone, and while
they were making their way from Catfish Camp to
the Monongahela, on the day succeeding the night

‘which they spent at William Huston’s cabin, the

plan to kill the Indians of Logan’s party was put
in execution (during the absence‘ of the chief) by
enticing a part of them across the river to Baker’s
cabin, where a party of white men lay concealed.
There liquor was given them, and then when they or
some of them were in a state of "partial intoxication
the bloody work was done, all the Indians at the
house being killed except an infant child. The party
who did the perfidious and cold-blooded. deed were
under the leadership of Daniel ‘Greathouse, a settler
on King’s Creek near its mouth. Several accounts
of the affair have been given, generally agreeing as

I to the main facts, but disagreeing to some extent as

to the minor details. One account has it that in the
evening preceding the tragedy a friendly squaw came

across the river from Logan’s camp and told Baker’s

wife with many tears that the lives of herself (Mrs.
Baker) and her family were in danger, as the Indians
were planning to come across and murder them.
She wished well to Mrs. Baker, and thus risked her

I own life to serve her by bringing the information so

as to allow the family time to escape. Upon receipt
of this warning Greathouse’s party was collected in
haste at the cabin. No Indians appeared during the
night, and on the following‘ morning Crreathouse
and two or three others crossed to Logan’s camp,
and in an apparently friendly manner invited the
Indiansto come across to -Baker’s and get some rum.
A party of them _accepted« the invitation and came.
Most of Greathouse’s men lay concealed in the back
part of the cabin. Baker was to deal out rum freely
to the Indians, and didso. When they became in-
toxicated the concealed men rushed out and killed
them. In-Mayer’s “Logan and Cresap’~’ the follow-
ing account is given of the massacre:

"‘ Early in the morning a party of eight Indians‘,

composed of three squaws, a child-, and four unarmed a

men, one of whom was Logan’s brother, crossed the
river to Baker’s cabin, where all but Logan’s. brother
obtained liquor and became excessively drunk». No
whites except Baker and two of his companions ap-

* ,“pearedl"i’nf“the ’cab"in."*‘ After some time Logan’s_'rela-

tive took“‘d_own' a coat and hat belonging» to ~ Baker’s

I

brother-in-law, and putting them on, set his arms '

akimbo, strutted about the apartment, and at length
coming up to one of the men addressed him with the
most offensive epithets and attempted to strike him.
The white man—Sappington—-who was thus assailed
by language and gesture for some time kept out of his
way, butbecoming irritated, seized his gun and shot
the Indian as he was rushing to the door, still clad in
the coat and hat.
this scene had remained hidden, now poured forth,
and without parley slaughtered the whole Indi_an
party except the child. Before this tragic event oc-
curred two canoes, one with two and the other with
five Indians, all naked, painted, and completely armed
for war, were descried stealing from the opposite shore,
where Logan’s camp was‘ situated. This was consid-
ered as confirmation of what the squaw had said the
night before, and was afterwards alleged in justi-
fication of the murder of the unarmed party which
had first arrived.

-‘‘No sooner were the unresisting drunkards dead
than the infuriated whites rushed to the river-bank,
and ranging themselves along the concealing fringe,
of underwood prepared to receive the canoes. The
first that arrived was the one containing two warriors,
who were fired upon and killed. The other canoe

' immediately turned and fled; but after this two others,

containing eighteen ‘warriors, painted and_ prepared
for conflict as the first had been, started to assail the
Americans. Advancing more cautiously than the
former party, they endeavored to land below Baker’s
cabin, but being met by the rapid movements of the
rangers before they could effect their purpose they
were put to flight, with the loss of one man, although
they returned the fire of the pioneers.” .

Another account of the Baker’s Bottom massacre
was given more than half a century afterwards by
Judge J olley, who for many years was a resident of
Washington County, Ohio, and who at the time_ of the
occurrence was a youth living on the frontier. His
account, as given below, was published in the year
1836 in “ Sil1iman’s Journal,” viz. :

“ I was about sixteen years of age, but I very well
recollect what I then saw, and the information that
I have since obtained was derived from (-I believe)
good authority. In the spring of the year 1774 a
party of Indians encamped on the northwest of the
Ohio, near the mouth of the Yellow Creek. A party
of whites, called ‘ Greathouse’s party, lay on the op-
positeside of the river. » The Indians‘ came over to
the white ‘party, consisting, I think, of five men and
one woman with an infant. The whites gave them
rum, which three of them‘ drank, and in_a short time
became very drunk. The other two men and the
woman refused-to drink. The sober Indians were
challenged to shoot at a mark, to which they agreed ;
and as soon as they emptied their he whites
shotthem down,” The woman‘ attempt‘e"'to escape
by flight, but was also shot down‘; ‘shetlived long

  

The men, who during the whole of ‘

586

HISTORY or WASHINGTON COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA.

out for the present (1882) pastor, Rev. William 0.
Campbell.‘ He began his labors as stated supply Oct.
16, 1870, and was installed pastor Nov. 6, 1871. In
the autumn of 1870 the congregation began to build
the house in which they at present worship. It is a
Gothic structure, and cost, when completed, $32,000.
The following were the members of the building com-
mittee: Messrs. Aaron Brandy, H. H. Finley, T. R.
Hazzard, Esq., John Patterson, James Stockdale,
William J. Alexander, James H. Van Voorhis, and
Francis I. Gardner. The lecture-room was occupied
in 1872, and the church was dedicated on Sunday,
June 8, 1873. The following persons constitute the
board of elders and deacons at the present time:
Elders, Messrs. William Caldwell, Samuel Hindman,
W. H. Morrison, Joseph Patterson, John Patterson,

_ J ohn Power, Ralston Williams, Esq.; deacons, Messrs.

William J. Alexander, Michael Bowman, Ebenezer
Caldwell, J. B. Finley, Allen Parkison, James Stock-
dale. This church has furnished twelve ministers of
the gospel as follows: Samuel Hair, Gilbert M. Hair,
William Hamilton, Thomas Gordon, Alonzo Linn,
James P. Fulton, Robert Fulton, John McFarland,
Harvey Kerr, Oliphant Todd, William Caldwell, and
David H. Stewart.‘

Methodist Episcopal Church.—-—The. memory of
our most aged citizens carries us back through a period
of seventy years, to the date 1812, at which time
two brothers by the name of Riggs, local preachers in
the Methodist Episcopal Church, organized a class at
the house of ‘Samuel Baxter, who then owned the
farm now the property of Ira R. Butler, Esq. This

class was composed of the two Riggs’, Samuel Baxter,
and wife and several -of their children, John R. Shu- I

gart and his wife.

In 1813 the first classiwas organized in what- is now
known as Monongahela City, John R. Shugart and
his wife, Letitia, becoming prominent members of it
by transfer from that organized the year previous on
the Baxter farm. This class first met at the house of
Mrs. Vandever, on the corner of Race Street and
Cherry Alley. Shortly after its organization ]Eneas
Graham and wife became members, and he was ap-
pointed leader of the class. Under his faithful labors
it grew so rapidly as soon to require larger accommo-
dations, and a room was procured in the house of
Robert Beebe, on the river-bank, which also became
the place of public preaching. A change was again
necessitated by the continued rapid growth of the
class and congregation, and a log house located’ on
Main Street, formerly used as "a barracks for troops,
was temporarily fitted up as a place of worship. '

Removing from this the society next took posses-
sion of what was at that time known as “The Old
Log School-House,” on Spring Alley, which was
used until it became unfit for occupancy. ,On the

hill at the upper end of the town was an old Union

1 By Rev. William 0. Campbell.-

Church, -built at an early date by general subscrip-
tion‘; this was occupied at intervals, and preaching
and class services were frequently held at private
houses throughout the neighborhood.

In 1826, the congregation having grown numeri-
cally as also in financial ability, the first building for
church ‘purposes was purchased. This was located on
the river-bank, and was originally, and up to the time
of purchase, a private dwelling. The committee ap-
pointed to purchase this property was...composed in
part of William Jones, Eflneas Graham, and‘Robert
Bebee. It was a building of three stories, the first or
lower one being brick, the second and third wood.

By removing the lower story and adding wings it
was converted into a very comfortable and commo-
dious house of. worship of two stories. Here the
first Methodist Sabbath—school was organized, with
Thomas Collins, Esq., as the first superintendent,
Abraham Hull succeeding him.

Up to the date 1833, Williamsport (now known as
Monongahela City) was an appointment in the Bealls-
ville circuit, having preaching, as a rule, every two
weeks. Such was the growth and ability of the soci-
ety at this period that application was made to the
Conference for removal. from the circuit and the
organization of a station. This request was granted,
and Charles Cook appointed as the first stationed
preacher. During the first year of his pastorate steps
were taken looking to the sale of the church on the
river-bank, and the erection of a still more suitable
and commodious house of worship. Prompt action
was taken and the sale of the old church property
effected. - V

At the first Quarterly Conference in 1834 it was

determined to build a house fifty by eighty feet on a I

lot donated by William Ihmsen, and located on the
corner of Race and Chess Streets.

The contract for the building was awarded to.‘

Samuel Devore. _
As members of the board of trustees at this date
we find the names of Joseph Alexander, William

Ihmsen, William Mills, John R. Shugart, and A. L. _

Williams.-

This new enterprise was pushed rapidly forward,
and in the month of May, 1835, the new house was
dedicated, Charles Cook, the pastor, preaching the
sermon.

This house is still standing,—a two-story brick
building, solid, but plain and unpretentious. It cost
about two thousand five hundred dollars.
society worshiped for the period of thirty—two years.

Early in the year 1864, under the pastorate of Ezra
Hingely, the possibility and propriety of building a
house of worship on a larger and grander scale first
became a matter of inquiry. Before the close of the
year the Quarterly Conference appointed a building
committee, and authorized it to proceed at once to
the erectionaof a new house of worship. This com-
mittee, to which additions were made from time to

In it the 

MON ON GAHELA CITY.

587

time, and which acted in conjunction with the board
of trustees, was composed of the following persons:
Rev. E. Hingely, O. C. House, R. M. Clark, Daniel
Pierce, Alexander Scott, E. L..King, R. Stockdale,
Joseph Alexander, James Williams, John Blythe,
Cyrus Underwood, Robert. Coulter, J. F. Ferree,
Isaac Jones, Col. Joseph Taylor, C. R. Stuckslager,
and S. P. Keller. .

It was proposed to erect a two-story brick house, at
an estimated cost of thirty thousand dollars. V
’ In 1867, under the pastorate of A. W. -Butts, the
building was inclosed, and on the 15th day of De-

- cember the’ lecture-room-was dedicated. The sermon

of the occasion was preached by Rev. W. A. David-
son, D.D. Six years subsequent to this, March 2,

’ 1873, the main audience-room was dedicated by Rev.
‘ S. H. Nesbit, D.D. Rev. S. M. Hickman was then

pastor of the church. The building is well located
on Main Street, is ninety feet long by fifty-one feet
wide ; its spire, from foundation to top, is one hundred
and seventy-five feet. It has a seating capacity for
eight hundred persons, and cost a trifle over forty-five
thousand dollars. The present membership is five
hundred and thirty. Of the Sunday-school J. P.
Taylor is the present superintendent, with J. D.
Hammond and R. H. Young,as'sistants. The num-
ber of scholars enrolled is three hundred and seventy.

The following persons constitute the board of trus-
tees : S. P. Keller, R. Stockdale, Robert Van Voorhis,

‘Joseph Warne, E. Downer, John Blythe, Eugene

Byers, Mark Borland, J. D. Hammond.

From the date 1833, when the station was organized,
the following is nearly, if not quite, a correct list of
the pastors :1 Revs. Charles Cook, Matthew Simpson,
Christopher Hodgson, William Hunter, Alcinus
Young, Nathaniel Callender, William Lemmon,

"Ebenezer Hays, E. P. Jacob, Z. H. Coston, Charles
Thorn, Wesley Smith, Nathaniel -Callender, Caleb-

Foster, George S. Holmes, Josiah Mansel, Peter F.
Jones, A. G. Williams, S. F. Minor, L. R. Beacom,

» J. C. Brown, A. J. Enesley. 1864, Ezra Hingely;

1867, A. W. Butts; 1870, Hiram Miller; 1872, S. M.
Hickman; 1873, Edward Williams; 1875, ’ T. N.
Boyle; 1876, William Lynch; 1876, R. L. Miller;
1878, J. S.‘ Bracken; 1881, I. A. Pearce.

First Baptist Church.2—At various times prior

tothe formation of this church occasional sermons

were preached in Monongahela City by ‘Baptist min-
isters who happened to be passing through the town,
and the Rev. Dr. Estep was a notable one among
them. ’

. Although quite a number of; persons holding the
Baptist faith resided in the place, it appears that no
effort was made -to occupy the field with regular Bap-
tist preaching until the winter of 1860. At that time

Rev. David VVilliams, assisted by pastors of neigh-

1 From MS. prepared by Rev. I. A. Pearce,.the presentipastor.
2 Facts and data furnished by the pastor, the Rev. E. C. Baird.

boring Baptist Churches, commenced a series of
meetings, which resulted in the reception and baptism
of eight persons on the 29th day of January of the
same year. It was then thought expedient to organ-
ize as a church for the purpose of sustaining regular
preaching. . «

Accordingly on the 9th day of February, 1860,
those recently baptized, together with others dis-
missed for the purpose from various Baptist organ-
izations, fourteen in all, met in the public school
building in Monongahela City and organized a reg-
ular Baptist Church, the names of the constituted
members being Moses Scott and wife, Henry Popen-
ger and wife, B. F. Bentley and wife, John King and
wife, S. H. Carroll, Barbara Hendrickson, Milton
King, Mary S. King, S. J. King, and Mrs. James
Guthrie. They adopted the constitution, covenant,
and articles of faith in common use among Baptists,
and the name of the “ First Monongahela City Regu-
lar Baptist Church.”
John King and John Storer, deacons; Moses Scott,
John Storer, and B. F. Bentley, trustees ;'and Moses
Scott, church clerk.

On the 24th of February following, a council com-
posed of delegates from various Baptist Churches
unanimously agreed to recognize this as a regular
Baptist Church, and during the evenings of the same
day, in the Presbyterian house of worship, formal
recognition services were held, Revs. Isaac Sawyer,
J. K. Cramer, R. R. Sutton, and David Williams
being present and participants. At this time the
church was composed of twenty-five members. In
June, 1860, it was admitted into the Pittsburgh Bap-
tist Association.

Those who have served as pastors of this church .

since its organization have been David Williams, R.
R. Sutton, O. P. Hargrave, A. Wilson, Lloyd Morgan,
A. J. King, and the present incumbent, E. C. Baird._
Situated in the central part of theicity, this organ-
ization owns a commodious house of worship, free
from debt, and the church property is valued at
eight thousand dollars. _ A

The present membership of the church is two hun-
dred and nine, and the present officers: Rev. E. C.
Baird, pastor; B. F. Bentley (present mayor), Robert
Hagerty, I. T. Conlin, Isaac Yohe, and Oscar Hay-
wood, deacons; and George Wilson, clerk. '

Church of the Transfiguration (Roman Cath-

olic).-—As early as 1816 residents here of the Roman
Catholic faith received the services of Rev. Fathers
McGuire, O’Connor, and others. Under the minis-
trations of Rev. Dennis Kearney the present house of
worship was commenced and completed in 1865, at a
cost of about -six thousand dollars.

Father Kearney was succeeded by Rev. John O.
G. Scanlon, who was followed by Rev. William'F.
Hayes. The present pastor is Rev. Francis McCourt,
of East Elizabeth, Pa., and the congregation “com-
prises members of more than one hundred families.

The oflicers first elected were _

588

HISTORY OF WASHINGTON COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA.

Morevextended mention of this church will be found
on page 425, in an article furnished by D. J. Malady,
of Washington. '

The Cumberland Presbyterian Church, of Mo-
nongahela City, was organized by Revs. John Morgan
and Alfred Bryan, missionaries of that denomination,
on the 31st day of January, 1833. A church edifice

_ was erected the same year, it being completed’ and

occupied Sept. 1, 1833. During the existence of this
society the following-named ministers were ordained
as pastors: Samuel M. Sparks, 1833; Alexander Rob-
inson, 1834; Samuel M. Sparks, 1835; John Carey,
1836; Samuel E. Hudson, 1837; Mr. Dunlap, 1840;
B. Miller, 1841; Mr. Brice, 1842. Meanwhile one
hundred and four persons had joined the organiza-
tion; but the holding of regular meetings having
ceased about 1845, the members gradually drifted
away and joined other denominations.

The Wesleyan Methodist Church.~The Wes-
leyan Methodist Church is another one of the defunct

religious organizations of the town. During the best
A days of - the society a small house of worship was

erected, and for some few years regular meetings
were held therein. ' But from various causes,;i.e., re-
moval of prominent members and lack of interest
among those remaining, this organization has be-
come a thing of the past. The church building
stands in the First Ward, and is ‘now occupied by a
small Lutheran congregation.

First English Evangelical Lutheran 0hurch.—
This society was organized Feb. 7, 1869, at a meeting
held in the-old Methodist Episcopal house of worship
(corner of Third and Chess Streets), by the following
members: Lewis Staib, Jacob Leighler, Henry C.

Birt, John Zeh, Adam Augendobler, Philip Grigg, ‘

George L. Bayha, Martha J. Staib, Elizabeth Leigh-
ler, Elizabeth Augendobler, Caroline Grigg, Mary
Altman, and Catharine Altman. At the same meet-

ing Lewis Staib, Jacob Leighler, and George L. Bayha ’

were elected pro tem. trustees and executive com-
mittee. H

Lewis Staib was elected elder, and Adam Augen-
dobler deacon, Sept. 24, 1871.’ They at once assumed
the duties of their respective oflices, relieving the

. trustees and committee before mentioned. On the

12th of April, 1874, John Holland was elected deacon,
and the 3d of May following secretary and treasurer.
Alexander Scott was elected elder, and Moses Arthur
deacon, Jan. 3, 1875, and on February 24th of that
year John Holland was elected superintendent of the
Sabbath-school. , I A 6

Rev. Dr. L. Ryder served as pastor of this congre-
gation until early in January, 1872, when he removed
to Hollidaysburg (where he still remaiiis), and was at
once succeeded by Rev. H. H. Hall. The latter re-
mained until the early part of the year 1876. During
the past year -Rev. Mr. Winton, of Allegheny City, has
held services twice a month in the small building in
the First Ward known as the Wesleyan Methodist

Church. However, the old Methodist church edifice
was occupied for several years.

From February, 1869, to April, 1876, seventy-six
persons joined the organization. The present mem-
bers number not much more than one-half that many.

St. Paul’s Episcopal_Church.—Thet parish of St. ,

Paul’s Episcopal Church of Monongahela City was
organized by Rev. Bishop Alonzo Potter, Nov. 18,
1863, when the following persons were elected Vestry-
men: .William Manown, John S. Markell, R. T.
Robinson, R. M. Gee, Francis Nelson, James P. Shep
lar, and E. W. Chittenden. . r
The corner—stone of the present house'of worship
was laid in 1866. It is a Gothic stone building, fifty
by ninety feet, with bell-towers surmounting, and cost

fifteen thousand dollars. Rev. H. Mackay took charge,
as the first rector Dec. 4, 1863. He was succeeded in '

March, 1870, by Rev. J. B. Linskea. The Sabbath-
school was organized in the spring of 1862 by~Rev.
Mr. Ten Broeck, who preached was a missionary one
year before the church was established. The present
rector, Rev. Norman, although having the records and

, other data necessary to prepare a satisfactory account.

of this organization, has declined to furnish any in-
formation, which accounts for the meagreness of this
article.

African Methodist Episcopal Church.~This or-
ganization was formed (at the residence of Rachel
Bowman) in 1834, by the Revs. Samuel Clingman and
Thomas Lawrence; and among the original members
were Elijah Bowman, John Bowman, Abraham Jones,

riscilla'J ones, VVilliam Moore, Mary Moore, Eliza-
beth Catlin, Rachel Bowman, Rebecca Ross, Ruth

Ann Bowman, and Elizabeth McDonald.
1 The congregation rented different houses to worship

in until 1842, when it made arrangements to build a

suitable structure. The basement was finished in

-1849, and the building complete in 1858. It was of

brick, size thirty-six by forty feet, and is noW‘$occu-
pied as a dwelling by Charles Jones. The present
house of worship, which was commenced in 1871, is
still unfinished. It also is constructed of .brick upon
a beautiful site, and is forty five by seventy feet, ground
dimensions.

Rev. Samuel Clingman became the first pastor in, 5

1834, and he was succeeded by Thomas Lawrence in
1835. Among subsequent pastors we mention the
following: Samuel Clingman, 1836; William New-

man, 1838; Fayette Davis, 1840; James Col_eman,-

1842; George Coleman, 1844; Augustus R. Greer,
1846; VVilliam Morgan, 1848; James Coleman, 1849;
Nelson Carter, 1850; Levan Gross, 1853; John W.
Jones, 1855; Shugart T. Jones, 1.856; Levan.Gross,
1858; Shugart T. Jones, 1860; Levan Gross, 1861; A.
Harwell, 1863; Levan Gross, 1865; Charles Greene,
1866; Alfred Newman, 1867 ; LevanGross, 1868;. W.
C. West,1869; W’. H. Thomas, 1870. Other pastors,
of whom the dates of their coming have not been
given, were Burton Lewis, W. M.'Peters, Benjamin

.MONO.\'GAHELA CITY. ”.

583

Wheeler, IV. H. Brown, A. L. Grant, ‘W. A. J. 1

Phillips, 0. D. Lewis, Solomon Thompson, W. G.
Ralph, and J. M. Morris. David Lewis, the present
pastor, came in September, 1880.

-The congregation numbers one hundred at this
time, and the official board consists of J. W. Alexan-
der and Jacob A. Simon, local preachers; VV. H.
Hilton, B. F. Crouch, Mark Hilton, Joseph A. Jones,
Joseph H. Simons, and Jacob A. Simons, stewards;
J. W. Alexander, B. F. Crouch, Joseph A. Jones, R.
F. Oliver, William Catlin, Mark Hilton, and W. H.
Hilton, leaders; W. H. Hilton, E. N. i Thompson,
Jacob A. Simons, E. -Montgomery, Mark Hilton, B.
F. Crouch, Joseph H. Simons, R. F. Oliver, and Jo-
seph A. J opes, trustees. . »

Monongahela Cemetery.——The Monongahela
Cemetery Association was established i11 1863, and
soon after its officers purchased thirty—two acres of
ground in accordance with the purposes contem-
plated by their charter. The grounds are situated in
the southeastern part ‘of the corporate limits, on a
height which overlooks the Monongahela ‘River and
its beautiful valley for many miles. Much taste and
skill is displayed in the general plan, and under the
care of Mr. Adam Augendobler, who has had imme-
diate. charge of the grounds for many years, this
pretty little city of the dead attracts and is entitled
to general admiration. From thegopening to the

‘present time (April, 1882) eleven hundred and

twenty-five interments have-been made within the
inclosure. A »

In this connection, however, it is proper to add that,
v_vhile—t-he grounds’ of the cemetery association are
well kept, neat, and beautiful, the old burial-ground,
in the midst of the town, is in a very bad condition.

. True, many {bodies have been removed from it to the

new cemetery, yet very many still remain beneath

marble tablets that have been broken’ and trampled '

upon by horses, cattle, and swine, roaming at will in
the neglected, unfenced plot.

Educational.——The following interesting historical
address was delivered at the dedication of the new

‘ public school building at Monongahela City, July 1,

1881, by J. S. Van Voorhis, A.M. and M.D., of Belle
Vernon, Pa. It covers-a period of nearly one hun-

dred years, and (with his permission) is inserted en-’

tire without further comment:

“ The history of education in this vicinity,‘ in
common with other matters of local interest, is
shrouded in uncertainty, only a few vague and gen-
eral items being-preserved. Looking upon our ances-
tors from a present stand-point, they appear to have
lived merely for- their day only, caring little for the
w-ants and desires of the future. ‘They were content
when satisfied that they and their offspring had
whereof to eat, drink, and wherewithal to be clothed.
In fact, their immediate. necessities were so urgent as
to call for the greater part of their time in efforts to
secure for theznwhat was termed in those days ‘a

38 I ‘ ’ -

living.’ Faith in the precepts of the Bible in its
truest version was innate to the first settlers of our
valley, the strongest Puritanical ideas being the lit-
erature upon which they founded their hopes of the
future, never doubting that time and labor would in
the end verify the prophetic saying, ‘ The wilderness"
and the solitary place shall be glad for them, and
the desert shall rejoice and blossom as the rose.’ ,

“ Until about the close of the last century, individ-
ual culture consisted chiefly in learning to farm in
the most primitive manner, which included a very
limited knowledge of the art of raising grain and the
manufacture of home-made clothing. The favored
few who were privileged to literary attainment were
in full proportion at reaching the point of reading,

, writing, and ciphering to the single rule of three.

Houses erected especially for school purposes were
unknown. If, perchance, some itinerant individual
representing himself to be a schoolmaster should
happen along, an improptu school-house was obtained
in the shape of some log cabin vacated by the tenant
as unfit to occupy.

“ The predecessor of the Parkisons, whose name we
have mislaid, on his arrival found the site on which
this rapidly-growing city is located to be "a dense
forest of sugar- and walnut-trees, untouched. by the
hand of art or science. Contemporary with this set-
tlement was the region around the old Horse-Shoe
Bottom meeting-house filled with immigrants. Here
the older Powers, Moodys, Colvins, McComas, ‘Wither.-
ows, Rices, Fryes, and others founded their homes.
This church, erected at the close of the Revolution,
was the first in this region, and its organization’ gave
a-t once new life and vigor to the settlers, and itsforce’
of character culminated in awaking a desire for more
than a homespun education. The influence of that
congregation rapidly grew into such magnitude as to’

make it a. centre of a higher state of. civilization.

Its power attracted the immigrant on his Way thither-
ward in his search for a new home, which was found
by many in the circle of country of which the church
was the centre. So rapidly was this region ‘taken up
bynnew-comers that it for a time. overshadowed the
river settlements. .

“ From all informationwe can gather it is evident
that the first ‘school at which settlers of this city at-
tended was located in an old log house thatstood
near -where John Witherow’s blacksmith-shop now
stands, and is supposed to have been the original resi-
dence of the older McCom2l's. To add more to this
influence, on the 19th day of October, 17 96, Mr. Sam-
uel Ralston, a licentiate from the Presbytery of New
Castle, was called to preach to this congregation.
He was a foreigner by birth and education. He was
a man not only filled with the Holy Ghost, but he
was adorned with the highest literary attainments
found in the Old VVorld. In his. every-day lifehe ex-
emplified the value» of education, and impressed on
the -minds of his people that it followed hand in hand

590

HISTORY OF WASHINGTQN COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA.

with religion. The good of his teachings soon cropped
out in the establishment of other schools. During
the winter seasons another school was opened in the
vicinity of the present residence of Dutton Shannon,
another at Parkison’s Ferry, in an old log house of
primitive style,—-—by this we mean of unhewn logs.
It was a dwelling once, used as such, situate in a
grove of sugar-trees on the lot on which stands the
residence of Michael Yohe, near the old Presbyterian
Church, not far from the lot on which this beautiful
house has been erected. Shades of the departed!
thy spirits may yet_linger around this sacred spot
whilst we dedicate another temple to the god of
science. _' ’

“ Up to this time, and many years afterwards, there
was no organized elfort to establish a uniform system

' of schools, the first attempt in that direction being

the assessment and collection of a poor tax on the
richer to pay the schooling of the poorer class of

‘citizens. This new notion had many disadvantages

and not any virtues. It fixed at once a discrimina-
tion in personal character which was then and is no

- distasteful to the full-blooded American. '

“Schools were taught in several of the old-time
houses besides the famous old log house already
named. . A Mrs. McKeever, an elderly lady, in 1819
had a school in an old house where the depot now
stands. Among her scholars was Joseph Warne,
well known in this vicinity. Edward Tower, father
of G. H. and Theo. Tower, of Elizabeth, taught
a school not long afterwards in the old red house that
stood on the lot on which the People’s Bank now
stands. A '

- “A Mr. Victor also taught in the same house. He
also had Mr. Joseph .Warne for a scholar. This
teacher boarded with Mr. James Warne, who built

‘and lived in the house so long occupied by the late

Joseph Wilson, on Main Street. Orlando H. Gold
-taught about the year 1830 in ‘the old red house on
the river-bank, long known as the house in which the
late Samuel Black kept his first store. The building
has long since disappeared. Among his scholars
were W. J. Alexander, the worthy president of the
board of directors, Charles Beebe, Samuel C. King,
\Vash. Spence, Samuel Guthrie, VVm. Devore, Robert
McGrew, Franklin Manown, and many other formerly
well-known boys. ‘

“Mr. Joseph Grieves, a man of delicate constitu-
tion, who lived near the toll-gate up the pike, also

taught in the old red ‘house on the river-bank, the

above-mentioned boys constituting many of his
scholars. For some reason, during the progress of his
school, he packed up his paraphernalia, consisting of
rod, ferule, and dinner-basket, and movedihis quarters
to the red house where the People’s Bank now stands,
he, in common with his patrons, having a peculiar
taste for a red house. In after-years no doubt many
of them were gratified to see brick substituted, whether
on account of the red color or notwegcan only have our

opinion. In a recent interview with Moses Arthurs,
now of this city, he informed us that he taught a

school in 1831 in an old house which stood on the ’

river-bank on the upper corner of the lot on which
the old Huston mansion then stood, above the old
wharf. Mr. B. F. Bentley was one of his scholars, if
we are not mistaken.

“In the year 1834, Mr. E. A. Talbot opened a
school in the old Methodist Church, a part of which
can still be seen near the new wharf, and Miss Clarke,
an aunt of S. C. and W. H. Wilson, taught a school
during the same year in the old house formerly known
as the Dorcas Cooper house, opposite the present resi-
dence of Richard Stockdale, on Main Street. To this
school of Miss Clarke, Mr.-Underwood first sent his
children after his arrival in the place. ‘Under’ her
teaching my old friend and schoolmate, ‘ Uncle
Abe,’ learned his first lesson of wisdom,and perhaps
to the early impressions of her rulings may be at-
tributed the fact that to this day he has eschcwed
matrimony. Mr. Watson, well known among the
boys as Blue Beard, also kept school in this house.
It seemed in those days that no kind of a building
except an old house could be used for a school-house‘.
The idea of erecting a school-house was not even
among the possibilities. Such, in a general way, was
the condition of school matters in this vicinity prior
to the adoption of the comIlnon—school system of 1834,
and let it ever be to its credit that the township em-'
bracing Williamsport was among the first to accept
the provisions of the law. By the act of Assembly
dated March 28, 1781, the county of Washington was
divided into thirteen townships, one of which num-
ber was called Fallowfield, and included within its
territory the district now known as Monongahela

City. All. schools to which we have alluded were

within its limits until the formation _of Carroll, Sept.
30', 1834. It will be noticed that Miss‘ Clarke and
Mr. Watson were the last to teach_in the town Whilst
it was connected with old Fallowfield- Before the
school system was organized Carroll township was
formed, and Williamsport was within its limits and
under its jurisdiction for all purposes. _
“The first election in the new township was held
at the house of Joseph Hamilton, who kept the hotel
now known as the Miller House, on Main Street. At
this election a board of school directors was elected
for the first time, and on this board devolved the

duty of organizing the township for school purposes.’

This ,was no easy task. VVe can recall but the names
of David Williams, uncle of your honorable secre-
tary, Isaac Van Voorhis, my venerated father, and
George Morrison, now residing in Uniontown, as
members of that ‘board. The board for the time
being divided the township into convenient sub-
districts, as required by law, using for school-houses
whatever old buildings could be obtained.

“An old house on the hillside, to the left of the
road, leading from'Yerty’s Run to Galb,reat.h’s,’fu-r-,

‘ suitable school-house.

MON ON GAHELA CITY. 1

591

nished one, in which ‘a one-armed man was teacher.
He being barred out at one time, at the approach of
the holidays, forced an entrance through the clap-
board roof, and soon settled the boys with a severe
drubbing, as it was called. He was a strict but suc-
cessful teacher, introducing many new and practical
ideas not dreamed of in old-time philosophy. This
school was finally merged intothe one in the stone
house which Col. A. T. Gregg aided in building, and

' in which house he taught the first school, thus carry-
ing into practice the homoeopathic dogma, ‘Similiav

similibus ‘curamfur.’ On the hill above the present
residence of William Blythe may yet be seen traces
of a log cabin which, condemned by common’ con-
sent as unfit for any other use, was selected as a
It was a retired spot, not
even a road, much less a house, within sight; no
wonder the proprietor was constantly complaining
of the depredations of such boys as‘McCarty Wil-
liams, Robert Phillips, James Stockdale, Robert
Van Voorhis, and others, who, not alive to his
finer feelings, displayed a good deal of faith in old-

‘ time Nihilism, having no disposition to ignore the

doctrine,well cherished everywhere, that the boy
had ‘no pent-up Utica to contract his- power’ to
roam undisturbed, not being met in those days at
every crossing by the huge sign of danger as now,
bearing the inscription, ‘Trespassers beware,’ or if

_ by chance some such bugbearpassed before. them,

it was quickly demolished byjjthe finger-stone.
“ The only thing that forced the old-time boy to a

. hasty retreat was the bumble-bee and yellow,-jacket.

In this school, as already intimated, our friend Robert
Phillips was a scholar, and methinks I can see him
yet as he sat cross-legged on a split log bench, with
slate and pencil, intent on working out a sum in

' pounds, shillings, and pence, or proving to those

around him, in his peculiar style, how he had solved
the question, ‘that if two and two make four, four

-and four would make eight.’ In this waste cabin an

Irishman named Lewis first taught; he was succeeded
by Sampson and Paul. Lewis was Irish indeed, and
his pupils were.very much inclined to imitate his
twang, calling have, hdve, by sounding the at. long
instead of a short. A ’ P

“ The town was divided into two sub-districts, one
being a double district. The upper end, including
Catsburg, attended school in "a frame house which
stood on the island, near where the foundry now
stands, being owned at that time by the heirs of
Elias Watkins. For one term at least this school
was taught by the late Thomas Collins, Esq. The
lower end of town occupied the old Methodist
Church fora time as a school-house. E. A. Tal-
bot seems to_have been the first teacher in this house
under the new system. He was succeeded in 1835 «by
a Mr. Prescott. He was a relative of the celebrated
historian, and was a man of more than ordinary literary
attainments. . a

“After grave consideration the board -of directors
determined to erect in each" district a brick or stone
house. The houses built in town under this resolu-
tion were the three-roomed house, of which the late
Alex. Scott was contractor, still standing on the old
Presbyterian church lot, and the one on the island
long since ‘passed into the river. In the latter house
we think Thomas Collins was the first teacher. These
houses were occupied for- the first time in the winter
of 1836, having been built duringthe preceding sum-
mer. We feel almost certain. that Nimrod Gregg,
brother of Col. A. T. Gregg, taught one of the
schools in the double house during this winter, and
that a Mr. Dunn taught the other one. Mr._ Dunn
was a Yankee schoolmaster- He was fresh from
Yankee land, and full of new. ideas in the school
business. He was soon impressed with the fact that
he was in a strange land and surrounded by habits
andcustoms requiring no little moral courage tobreak
into, and as much physical nerve to introduce a new
departure. He took in‘ the situation readily. He
came among them as Mr. not Master Dunn, and as
such he would have them, recognize him. He in-
tended to teach, not keep school; that he only had
one rule, and that was obedience to his will. His
rule was founded, no doubt, on the moral lesson
taught in the words of the poet :

I “‘I am monarch of all I survey;
A My right there is none to dispute;

I make the little ones to obey,
And manage the big -ones to boot.’

Which, being translated, means that he would use
the rod to the smaller and his boot to the larger
scholars. ..

“Mr. Dunn’s career as a teacher was a, success. His
scholastic attainment and gentlemanly deportment,
together with natural kindness, won for himthe es-
teem of all with whom he came in contact. Hewas
the first to introduce prizes as rewards of merit, and
the first school prizes ever given were taken by three
sisters of your worthy president. .

. “ By the act of April, 1837, the town of Willia_msport
was incorporated into a borough under the name and
style of Monongahela City, and thereafter the schools
were placed under the control of a board of directors
elected exclusively by the voters in the new borough.
The late T. R. Hazzard succeeded Dunn as teacher,
and carried out more fully new improvements in the
art of teaching. He was a fine scholar, a kind friend,
and a generous benefactor. ’ To him more than any
one individual is this community indebted for. its
well—known educational spirit. He taught the first
classical academy in the town. . Among his pupils
were many who are now holding or have held import-
ant positions in church and state. Under his teach-
ings a new spirit on the subject of education seemed
to take hold of the people, giving‘ rise to a desire for

janadvance in the cause, with the selection of teachers

of a higher order of literary worth. Shortly after his

59-‘2

HISTORY OF WASHINGTON" COUNTY," PENNSYLVANIA.

retirement from teaching in the old house the ques-
tion of examining teachers  to their qualifications
was raised, and to render_ the matter practical the
late Dr. R.iF.‘Biddle and iVVilliam Davidson, editor
of the Carroll Gazette, were appointed a board of ex-
aminers. ~ V 2

“Among the many other teachers in the old double
house were Joseph S. Morrison, now a distinguished
‘member of the Pittsburgh bar, and ‘R.’ F. Cooper.
Cooper had been among Hazzard’s earliest pupils, at
the age of sixteen having read at a public exhibition
his masterly literary production entitled ‘ Mutability
of all things.’ To him and his teachings your speaker
owes his earliest thirst for literature. As a teacher,
penman, writer, printer, editor, and soldier, he had
few equals. His criticism at the early part of the
late war on the tactics ‘of the United States army, as
printed in the Philadelphia North American, elicited
commendation from the highest military authorities

of the na.tion. On the gravesof Hazza:rd and Cooper _

let us-not forget to strew flowers and shed tears of re-
gret over their early demise. Friends, teachers,
though dead, thy virtues live.

“The rapid growth of the borough soon necessitated
the erectionof a new school building. In the year
1852 the board of directors, consisting of our vener-
able friend, Cyrus Underwood, as president, and the
late Alexander Wilson as secretary., with Joseph Alex-
ander, H. H. Finley, Wilson Thompson, and Alexan-
der Scott as members, resolved to build a new school-
house, wliiclrgave theltownilthe brick house across
the street from -this house. The lot was purchased
from Henry Fulton. The house cost seven thousand
dollars. Johnson Baird and W'illiam Wilson did the

.stone- and brick-work; VVilliam Coulter did the car-

penter—work. It was opened for school in the fall of
1853. Andrew Brown, now of the ‘Forks,’ and T. R.

~Hazzard, just returned from West Newton, were the
’ -first teachers, the former having been the last to teach

in the oldbuilding. ‘Too much credit cannot be given
President Underwood for his untiring industry-and
foresight in moulding public opinion and carrying
the enterprise to a successful issue. He was born in
Baltimore, Md., Aug. 28, 180 . He first settled in
this placein 1834, where he has resided ever since,
‘excepting three years he served as recorder of the
county. He and H. H. Finley are the only surviving
‘Im-embers of that board of directors. «

“The union school was organized in the fall of
1854, with James H. Moore as principal, and Miss
VVebster, Miss Beebe, and Miss Hodgson as assistants.
Mr. Moore is deceased. His wife, formerly Miss VVeb-
ster, is nowiprincipal of one of the public schools of
‘Indianapolis. This union school, under the super-
vision of alprincipal, was a- new thing -among the
people, and for a, time the plan had many prejudices
to overcome, but ere the closeof the first term i-t was
pronounced a success by the bitterest enemy. Owing‘.
to‘ manydiversified ‘circumstances the principal and

teachers were very often changed, a policy of ques-
tionable propriety. Recently, however, the ‘reverse
obtains. We cannot recall the names of all who have
in this building taught school. We record here that
Professor Jennings was the last principal in that
building, and that his reputation is such as to insure
us in openly declaring that his career has been suc-
cessful, and that the very walls of the old building
join in echoing his praise. C _ .
“By the provisions of the act incorporating the
borough into a city, its boundaries were considerably
enlarged, adding thereby much to the population,
and increasing the number of scholars in the public
schools. This fact had much to do in originating
the necessity of this grand edifice now under process
of dedication. This building -needs no eulogy from
me; it speaks for itself in tones that will reverberate
through generations yet unborn. When this valley
with its hundred villages smoking with the firesof
industry shall quake with the thunderings of the iron
horse as it drives with lightning speed its human
freight from ocean to ocean, this house will be pointed
to as the proudest monument to science between the
rising and setting sun. Long after the drapery of the
grave shall have enshrouded them, the names of Wil-
liams, Beaver, King, Hammond, Sheplar, Linn,
Blythe, Teeters, Alexander, Coulter, Hartrick, and
others connected‘ therewith will have an abiding
place» in the future. The contractors, ‘too, Neel,
Blythe & Co., will not be forgotten when future gen-
erations shall make up their jewels of rejoicing.
“We cannot refrain from turning aside for a mo-
ment and pointing, you to some interesting features
in the life of our "old friend and schoolmate, William
Coulter. More than half a century ago we together
attended the old Colhoon school, near the late resi-
dence of the late Abe Hall. He has been so long
identified with this community in all its interests,
and especially in that of its public schools, that his
nature has had much to do in moulding the disposi-
tion and tastes of the people. He was born Nov. .11,
1817, in Catsburg, in the old house still standing on
the corner of the street leading to the cemetery. He
came on the stage of life, it will thus be seen, about
the time in the history of that village when ‘Biddy
Caldwell’ held queenly sway. He first attended
school in an old house long since passed into the
river near the residence of the late Judge Hill.
next school was that of Miss Burke, who kept in an
oldhouse on the Bollman lot, near the residence of

the late Noble Woodward. Among the scholars were

his brothers Ralph and Joseph VVoodward. He also
attended John Dunning’s school, kept in the red
house already’ named, where the People’s Bank
stands. ' ,

“In 1827 he attended school i_n thevold house in
the rear of-“the grocery of D. H. Williams,wliere

Gabriel Silverthorn lived long ago. Early as 1828 he_

attended the old Colhoon school. In 1830 he went to

His I

’ MON ON GAHELA CITY. ‘

593.

school to a man named Hepburn, who, with his two
daughters, taught a semi-graded school in the old
Dorcas Cooper house. . Mrs. Margaret Sloan was one
of the scholars, and has very vivid recollections of
the teachers. After the adoption of the common-
school system he was a scholar at the Irish Lewis
school on_Marshall’s Hill. The last school he ever
attended was taught by Moses Arthur, on the Yough
River, near Robbin’s Mill. At the close of this school

he considered himself K a graduate in tlfe ‘ single rule '
of three,’ and congratulated himself, no doubt, that

after years of hard study in many schools of learning
he had at length acquired sufficient proficiency in
that rule as to qualify him for the carpentertrade.
He began to learn his trade with a Mr. Kelly, but
made poor progress, ‘owing to the fact that Kelly did
not have anything to do. _

- “This did not suit the young apprentice as well

- as it would boys nowadays, so he left Kelly and en-

gaged with Amos Robbins toilearn the millwright

trade. It soon, however, struck William that curves,

wheels, and spindles would not lead "rapidly to wealth,
so he suddenly, with rule and square, set out for himself
on his first track, a_nd howwell he has pursued it ever
since let the result of ‘skill all over this neighborhood
bear the testimony. He has been a school’ director in
his native town back to the time to which memory run-
neth not to the contrary. He has seen the old build-
ing a-cross the way come and answer its day. Although
in appearance he looks hale and robust, a twinkle of

‘the eye readily detects the ‘fact that the weight of

years is upon him. Godbless you, William Coulter!

' “Independent of the common-school system, the
influence of the select and academi_cal schools acted.
no little part in creating that educational spirit which
has given your city so wide-spread reputation for its
literary caste. Over half a century ago, Dr. Ralston,
at his residence near Ginger Hill, heard the late_
Samuel Hair, Aaron Williams, and Samuel Williams
recite their first lessons in Greek and Latin. Then‘
followed the academies of Hazzard and E. S. Blake,
in the old church on the river-bank; of J. D. Mason,
in the old church on the hill, and ofJ. P. Thompson,
in the old carriage-factory, where your humble servant
learned to decline ‘ Stella,’ and conjugate the Greek
verb Tupto, Tupso, Tetupha, Etupon. Then followed
the schools of McFarland and the Morrison, brothers,
and the select school of Mary J. Cooper, now Mrs.
Biddle, Whose presence greets us to-night. There,
too, was Miss Celia Gillet, daughter of the late Rev.
N. H. Gillet, of Rehoboth. She, with her father and
mother, have passed to the better land, whilst Miss
Lizzie Lockhart is here with us.‘ Miss Haines, a lady
from Canonsburg, taught a select school for a time in
the old church on the river-bank; soalso did Rev.

  Samuel Hudson, now a distinguished minister in the

Cumberland Church.‘ Miss Haines had among her
scholars Miss Eliza J Warne, now the wife of o_hn_
_37Vatkins, of Missouri ; Miss Hindman and Miss-Camp-.

_ Haute, Ind.

bell, of Finleyville ; Miss Rebecca Van Voorhis, now
of Spearville, Kan., and many others whose. names
we cannot recall. , .

“From these schools in this vicinity were sent forth

many who have taken an important part in the drama -

of life. J. W. F. White, once a pupil, is now a judge
in Pittsburgh. A. H. Kerr is a11 able minister in St.

I Peter’s, Minn.; John McFarland was a pioneer min-

ister in Missouri, and died afew years ago near
Greenfield, Dade Co.,; J. C. Cooper is a prominent
physician of Philadelphia; W. F. Hamilton is one

' of the most talented ministers in the Synod of Wheel-

ing; John H. Storer and James H. Manown have
long been prominent physicians of West Virginia;

A. J. Davis is a physician on the retired list in the ‘

East End; Joseph S. and A. P. Morrison are lawyers
of high standing in Pittsburgh; James Fleming is a
successful physician in Franklin, Ohio; Georg-e'T.
Miller is a wealthy coal dealer in this valley,_ near

lock No. 2 (he is the father of Rev. Miller, of the i

Presbytery of Blairsville) ; Dr. W. .H. King was one
of the most distinguished surgeons andphysicians in
Western Pennsylvania (he died a few years since in

the prime of manhood; his remains. are sleeping

calmly in the beautiful-cemetery overlooking his
native town)"; Francis, Gardner remains in statu gun

on the farm in the bend of the river below Elkhorn ;-
James Scott, one of Hazzarrl’s early pupils, studied-
C medicine with Dr. Biddle in the little old office that

stoodwhere Hofi'man’s~store, now is. He. first prac-

ticed his profession in Greenfield, Pa., moved to Ohio,’
, where, as physician and politician, he has always

occupied a high position. » For many years he was a
leading member of the Ohio Legislature, was consul
at Honolulu for a term, and . is now again a member
of the Legislature, where, as Nestor of that body, he
is recognized as the leading spirit. He is a brother
of the late Alexander Scott, of this city. Thomas
Hodgson, grandson of the good old J. R..Shugart, is a
talented and successful minister in the Methodist
Episcopal Church. . Cyrus B. King is a physician in
Allegheny, and at this time one of the visiting sur-
geons. of the West Penn Hospital. . George P. Fulton
at the age of seventeep devoted himself to teaching,
and has pursued it ever since except whilst in the
army‘ during the late war. He has just been elected
for the eleventh time principal of the Hiland Pub-

lie Schools, East“ End, in the “city -of Pittsburgh.‘
Thomas P- Gordon, son of the late J udge- Gordon, V

was the first college graduate in the town, having
graduated at J efferson College in 1833. He was
a minister, and died at his post of duty at Terre
He “was the only native of this
city who ever received the honorary degree of
D.D. He was a brother of Mrs. Sloan, who is a
resident of thistcity. ThomasT. Williams was a

school-boy at Blake & Hazzard’s; is now a. success-

ful-— medical practitioner at White College, Greene
00., Pa., where for twenty-three years he has phy-

59-I

HISTORY OF WASHINGTON COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA.

sicked Democrats and Republicans to their stomachs’
content. Dr. J. M. H. Gordon has long been a
physician in Fayette County. Alonzo Linn, brother
of Dr. Linn, a worthy member of your board, was
one of Hazzard’s scholars; he graduated at Jeffer-
son College, studied divinity, was licensed to preach
by t-he Presbytery of Redstone, is now vice-president
and Professor of Greek in VVashington and J eiferson
College, and is looked upon as one of the most learned
Greek scholars in the nation. M. P. Morrison is
your oldest resident physician, and if my eyesight
does not deceive me, the frosty tinge noticeable on
his head should remind him that it is not good for
man to be alone. The mild and genial James P.
Fulton is preaching to the pioneer sinners of Harper,
Kan., after having served his Master in that capacity
for ‘over a quarter-century in the old Keystone State.
Robert Oflicer is a successful business Inanin Balti-

. more, Md., and Uncle Abe Underwood is still a resi-
dent of your city, and looks but little older than he

did when a student in the old carriage-factory forty-
one years ago.

“ There, too, is my old friend Frank Manown ; he
has seen the old log school-house, the old red house,
the old brick house, the new brick house over the
street, and the present palace. He claims to be one
of the oldest resident scholars. His early education
consisted in plying the oar at the old ferry. In his
early days he was much engaged in mercantile. and
other pursuits, but for a long season his occupation
has been that of a farmer and attending to the wants
of those around him,—-kind and generous to a fault.
He and C. C. Johnson, of Pittsburgh, are the only
survivors of those who occupied what was known as
the bachelors’ pew in the old Presbyterian Church at
the foot of the hill. .At the close of his day’s labor
he still can be seen.-in his regular walk over the bridge
to spend a few hours with his friends in the city.

. “A peculiar fondness for education has ever char-
acterized the citizens of this city, and thus their early
literary spirit gave them an advanced hold on the
dominant idea of the present day. Let us not, ‘then,
mourn over the departure of ancient manners and
customs, supplanted by the American idea. This is
the motive-power of the present day. By it we have
assumed a proud position as a nation among the con-
stellation of states ; by it we have utilized the electric
spark to annihilate time and space; by it the late Col.
Scott pushed the iron horse, freighted with human
thought, from the rising of the sun to the going down
thereof in eighty hours ; by it the Western wilds and
sandy deserts have been converted into fields of ever-
blooming flowers; by it wevcan signal the coming
storm and tell what a day may bring forth; by it we
have solved the problem of self-government, which
defied the genius,.of sixty centuries ; by it we are re-
minded that he only ‘ shall receive the blessing from
the Lord and righteousness from the God of his sal-
vation who hath clean hands and a pure heart, who

hath not lifted up. his soul unto vanity nor sworn
deceitfully.’ ” A

The New School IBuilding.—As indicated in the
foregoing address, the present elegant and commod-
ious public school building of Monongahela City
was dedicated amid appropriate ceremonies, Rev.
Dr. E. E. Higbee, State superintendent of public in-
struction, -being present, July 1, 1881. Yet to arrive
at a clear understanding of the matter in hand, z'.e.,
the _school building, to know of its inception, its orig-
inators, promoters, and builders, We must turn back
to a time prior to the date of its dedication by two
years. 1 1 i ‘

lDuring the summer of 1879 it became evident to
all residents of the town who were interested in edu-
cational matters that the building then in use was
wholly unfitted and inadequate for the purposes re-
quired. To buildian addition was proposed, but when
it was ascertained that such an addition would cost
about $4000, the matter relating to it was ‘held in
abeyance, and a temporary primary school with. Miss
Laura Smith as teacher was established “over the
creek.” _

On the evening of the 4th day of March, 1880,
however, a special meeting of the school board was
held to take. action regarding a proposed new school
building. After a lengthy debate, which was partici-
pated in by all the members present, viz.: Messrs.
Sheplar, King, Blythe, Teeters, Williams, and Wil-
son, it was unanimously resolvedto erect a new build-
ing “sufliciently large to meet the present demand
with an eye to the future, said building to be large
enough to. have a hall that will comfortablyseat five
hundred persons, with school‘-rooms on two floors.”
Thereupon a committee was appointed to examine
grounds upon which to build, and on the 10th of
March a committee consisting of Messrs. Williams,
Blythe, and Sheplar was appointed “to visit build-
ings in other places for the purpose of noting all the
modernimprovements,” etc. _ t

On the 18th of March following, the committee ap-

pointed to examine properties upon which to build

the new structure submitted an exhaustive report to
the board of directors of the Monongahela City school
district, in which, after relating the result of their ex-
amination of lands of James O. Sheplar, Esq., of John
Kennedy, Esq., and others, and after noticing propo-

sitions made by some of the citizens ‘to erect the pro— ‘

spective building in the First Ward, and of others to
build it in the Third Ward, they proceeded to say,——-

“ In conclusion, on a full review of all the surrounding circumstances,
some of which are set forth above, your committee unanimously recom-
mend to the board the selection of the property of John Kennedy, Esq.,
with a small lot adjoining it on the east belonging to William and
James Alexander, as the proper site for the erection of the additional
building which the demands of the district have rendered necessary,
and recommend the adoption of the following preamble and reso-
lution : ~-

“ Whereas, It has for some time past been recognized by the present
board, as well as by our predecessors of the last two or three years, that
an urgent necessity exists for an increase in building accommodations

68

HISTORY or WASHINGTON COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA.

enough, however, to beg mercy for her babe, telling
them that it was akin to themselves. The whites had
a mariin the cabin prepared with a tomahawk for
the purpose of killing the three drunken Indians,
which wasimmediately done. The party of men
then moved off ‘a for the interior settlements, and came
to Catfish Camp (Washington) on the evening of the
next day, where they tarried until the day following.
I very well remember my mother feeding and dressing
the babe, chirruping to the little innocent,. and its
smiling. However, they took. it away, and talked of
sending it to its supposed father, Col. John Gibson,
of Carlisle, Pa., who had been for some years atrader
among the Indians. , i »

“ The remainder of the (Indian) party at the mouth
of Yellow Creek, finding that their friends on the oppo-
site side of the river were massacred, attempted to
escape by descending the Ohio, and in order to pre-
vent being discovered by the whites passed on the
west side of Wheeling Island, and landed at Pipe
Creek, a small stream that empties into the Ohio a
few miles below Grave Creek, where they were over-
taken by Cresap with a party of men from ‘Wheeling.
They took one Indian scalp, and had one white. man
(Big Tarrener) badly wounded. They, I believe,
carried him in a litter from Wheeling to Redstone.
I saw the party on their return from their victorious
campaign. . . . It was well known that Michael Cre-
sap had no hand in the massacre at Yellow Creek.”

The concluding sentence in Judge J olley’s state-
ment was written in refutation-of the calumny which
was circulated and for many years believed by a
majority of the people bf the country, that the mur-
der of Logan’s men and relatives was done by Capt.
Michael Cresap or by his orders. Such an inference
might be drawn from the first part of the statement of
William Huston, already given, viz., where he says,
“ I had previously heard the report of Mr. Cresap
having killed some Indians, said to be the relations
of Logan, an Indian chief.” But his memory was
evidently at fault. He could not have ‘ previously
heard of the killing at Yellow Creek, as it did not

occur until after the time to which he refers in the-

certificate. And in the latter part of the same docu-
ment he disproves his previous statement by saying,
“I further certify that some of the party who after-
wards killed some women and other Indians at Baker’s
Bottom also lay at my cabin on their march to -the
interior.” Another statement that seems to be con-
clusive proof of Capt. Cres'ap’s innocence of any par-

ticipation in the atrocity at Baker’s Bottom is found .

in an aflidavit of the man who shot Logan’s brother
on that occasion, viz. : “ I,'Joh'n Sappington, declare
myself to be intimately acquainted with all the'cir-
cumstances respecting the destruction of Logan’s
family, and do give the fol'1owingl,narrative,“a true
statement of thata1’:fair:» Logan’s family  it was

his family) was not'killed' by Cresap‘, ‘nor, with,_his.,

knowledge, nor ‘by his consent,‘ but'5by'“‘the' Great-

-to meetthe surveyors at the place and time mentioned

houses and their associates. They were killed thirty
miles above Wheeling, near the mouth of Yellow
Creek. ‘Logan’s camp was on one side of the river
Ohio, and-the house where the murder was committed
was opposite to it on the other side. They had en-
camped there only four or five days,_and during that

time had lived peaceably with the whites on the oppo-C

site side until the very day the affair happened.”

The killing of the Indians at Baker’s was on the
30th of April, as before mentioned. Several accounts
of the affair, however, have mentioned different dates.
Sappington stated many years afterwards that, accord-

ing to his memory, it happened on the 24th of May; ‘
Benjamin Tomlinson placed it on the 3d or 4th of;

May; but Col. Ebenezer Zane gave the date as the last
day of April, which is undoubtedly correct. It seems
to be verifiedby a letter addressed to C01. George
Washington by his agent, Valentine Crawford, who
then lived on J acob’s Creek, near the (Youghiogheny
River, in Westmoreland County. In that letter (dated
J acob’s Creek, May 6, 1774) he says,— i

° “ I am sorry to inform you the Indians have stopped
all the gentlemen from going down the river. In the
first place they killed one Murphy, a trader, and
wounded another, then robbed” their canoes. This
alarmed the gentlemen very much, and Maj. Cresap
took a party of men and waylaid some Indians in their
canoes that were going down the river and shot two-
of them and scalped them. He also raised a party,
took canoes and followed some Indians from Wheel-
ing down to the Little Kanawha, when, coming up
with them, he killed three and wounded several. The
Indians wounded three of his men, only one of whom
is dead ;‘ he was shot through, while the other two
were but slightly wounded. On Saturday last, about
twelve o’clock, one Greathouse and about twenty men
fell on a party of Indians at the mouth of Yellow
Creek and killed ten of them. They brought away
one child a prisoner, which is now at my brother,
William Crawford’s. . . .”

On the 8th of May,‘ Capt. William Crawford (who
lived on the Youghiogheny River nearly opposite the
site of the borough of Connellsville) said, in a letter
addressed by him to C01. George Washington,-

“ The surveyors that went down the Kanawha,‘ as
report goes, were stopped by the Shawanese Indians,
upon which some of the white people attacked some
Indians, and killed several, took thirty horse-loads of

skins near the mouth of Scioto ;' on which news, and —

expecting an Indian war, Mr. Cresap‘ and some other
people fell on some other Indians. at the mouth of
Pipe Creek, killed three and scalped them. Daniel
Greathouse and some others fell on some at the mouth

1 A uumberof surveyors who rendezvoused at the mouthof New River,
on the Kanawha, Thursday, April 14, 1774, to go down the latter river
to the Ohio, there to locate and survey lands warranted to certainofficers
andsoldiers in the Old French war under proclamation of the king-of
England, dated Oct. 7, 1763. ,The claimants to those lands were notified

I k . The intention
was to locate the lands on the bottoms of the Ohio River. ' -

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A MONONGAHELA CITY.

.595

for the schools of the district, in order to secure the health of the pupils
and the successful prosecution of their studies.

“And whereas, The property fronting one hundred and twenty-four
feet on the north side of Chess Street, and running back one hundred
feet towards Ma.in Street, between Fourth Street and an alley adjoining
the Lutheran Church, belonging in separate portions to John Kennedy,
Esq., the Messrs. Alexanders, and estate of George Wallace, affords the
most available and convenient site for such building ; -

“ Therefore resolved, T-hat the president and secretary of this board are
directed and instructed forthwith to institute the proceedings necessary
under the act_of Assembly to condemn the said property of Kennedy,
Alexander, and Wallace for the use of the schools of this the Monon-
gahela City school district, aud for this purpose are instructed and
authorized to sign the petition for viewers as required by law, and to
employ and retain legal counsel, and to take and pursue such other steps
as may be necessaryto secure the legal appropriation of said land for
the purposes as aforesaid proposed.”

On motion, the foregoing report, including preamble

, and resolution, was adopted, the vote standing as fol-

lows: President Sheplar, na.y; Messrs. King, ,VVil-
liams, Teeters, Blythe, and Wilson, aye. At the same
time Thomas H. Baird, Esq., was retained as counsel
for the board. At a subsequent meeting held March
23, 1880, Mr. Sheplar vacated‘his position as president
of the board, and Mr. T. H. Williams was elected
president pro fem. . The president and secretary were
then authorized to carry out the provisions of the
resolution before quoted, to affix their names to the
necessary papers, and to transmit the same to the
Court of Quarter Sessions. ‘ '
During the early part of April, 1880, Messrs. Drum
& Steen, architects, of Pittsburgh, were employed to
draft a preliminary plan of-the proposed new building.
Meantime Mr. T. H. Williams had inspected school
buildings in various towns of Pennsylvania and New
York,‘ and the Messrs. Alexander had donated to the
school board the small tract of land mentioned as re-
quiredfor the new building. On" the 26th of April’
following the committee ‘on plans and estimates, viz.,

. T. H. Williams, S. C. Wilson, and.John‘ Blythe, sub-

mitted to the board the preliminary‘ plans prepared
by Messrs. Drum & Steen. These plans were those
of the Oil City school building reduced. They were
pronounced satisfactory and thereupon were adopted.
The same comemitteewas continued,and authorized
to procure from the architects named permanent plans
and specifications, to theend that contracts ‘for the
work of construction might be given out. ‘ .
At a meeting of the board held May 4, 1880, a pc-
-tition, signed by some one hundred or more opponents
of the new building, was presented,‘asking that bonds
“be not issued and to withhold building at present.”
This petition was tabled by the votes of Messrs. Wilson,-
Williams, King, and Teeters, and a building com-
mittee, composed of Messrs. T. H. Williams, S. C.
‘Wilson, John Teeters, and John Blythe,‘ was ap-
pointed, of which Mr. Williams was thechairman.
The permanent plans were received from the architects
during the same month, and early in June it was de-
termined to issue bonds“ to the amount of $17,300.

_1 Mr. Blythe resigned soon after, and Dr. King was appointed to fill
the vacancy in the committee. ‘
2 On the 30th day of June, 1880, bonds to the amount of $17,300, run-

On the 7th of June, 1880, Mr. Sheplar resigned his
position as president of the board of _education, and
Mr. Williams was at once elected to fill the vacancy.
At the same meeting the bids sent in by various con-
tractors were opened, and Messrs. Neel, Blythe &,Co.,
of Monongahela City (being considered the lowest
and best bidders), were awarded the contract of con-'
structing the building entire for.the sum of seventeen
thousand seven hundred and fifty dollars. The work‘
of construction began soon after, and under the watch-
ful eye of Mr. Williams, chairman of the building
committee} and the superintendency of the architects,
the contractors, with their accustomed energy, has-
tened the structure towards completion. The keys
were tendered to the president of the board on the
15tl1 day of June, 1881, and on the 1st day of ‘July
following, as we have already shown, the building was
formally dedicated to the purposes for which it was
constructed. —

This splendid edifice covers a ground plan seventy
feet ten inches by- sixty-four feet. Brick is the chief
material entering into its construction, and its cellar
and three lofty stories are surmounted by an orna-
mented slate roof, crestings, and bell-tower. It con-
tains ten Well lighted, well ventilated rooms for reci-

e tation, varying in size from twenty-four feet by twenty-‘

eight feet to twenty-four feetflby thirty feet, and in‘
the third or upper story a beautiful hall, which is
used for school exhibitions, public entertainments, etc.,
thirty-five feet by seventy feet. r The corridors are all
spacious, the staircases wide and of easy gradients, and
the desks, sittings, blackboards, etc., are of the latest
and most approved_types of school furniture. Steam is
used for heating the building, gas for lighting, and sub-
stantial iron fire-escapes are attached to the outer
walls. In a word, it is a model building throughout,
one in which all true Monongahelians should take a
just pride, and, as possessors, they should ever honor
and respect its originators and building committee.
According to the report of Mr. T. H. Williams,-
chairman of the building committee,_ the total expen-

were as follows: »

Paid John Kennedy for 100 feet square of ground .......  $3,213.67
Damage to tenants on same ................................................ .. 250 On
Wallace estates‘ for one lot 65.97
, $23,520.64
Neel, Blythe & Co., of Monongahela City, for the entire com-l _ .
pletion of the building . . . . . . . . . . ... ............................. .. 17,750.00
Kelly & Jones, of Pittsburgh,-for steam-heating apparatus .... .. 2.53(5.z»7 —
Keystone School-Church Furniture Co., for the entire seating
of the buildin .......................................................... .. 2,700.00
Mitchell, Vance & Co., New York, for chandeliers _ . 220.00
Solomon Meredith, for one 75 bbl. cistern ....... ..".; ................. .. 75.00
Wm. Nelson & Sons, for stone buttresses ........................... .. 125.00
Drum & Steen, architects V ' 2:50.00
$27,165.91.

banking-house of Alexander  Co. at a premium of three per cent.
Again, on -the 1st day of April, 1881, $6000 in six per cent. bonds, run-

ning twenty years, were sold to the same firm at a premium of seven
All:

per cent, making a total bonded indebtedness of $23,300.
3After the induction into oflice of new members of the school board,

June, 1880, the building committee was composedlof Messrs. Williams
Linn, Wilson, and Beaver. » A

ditures for grounds, construction, furnishings, etc.,’

ning sixteen years and bearing six per cent. interest, were sold to the 1

596

HISTORY OF WASHINGTON

I COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA.

TEACHERS 1 OF THE PUBLIC SCHOOLS SINCE, 1860.

1860.—A. J. Buffington, principal;Misses Weller, Lockhart, Grifiith,
and Meloy, assistant teachers. . I I

18(i1.—William G. Fee, principal; Misses Mary Lindsay, Lockhart, Kate
Clemens, Josie Griliith, and Foster, assistant teachers.

lSG2.——B. M. Kerr, principal; Misses Mary Lindsay, Lockart, Josie Grif-
fitli, Emily Beebe, and Mrs. B. M. Kerr, assistant teachers.

1S63.—Mr. Tombaugh, principal; Misses M.‘ Lindsay, Emily Beebe,

A Kate Clemens, Bell Williams, and Sarah McCalmont, assistant
teachers. A 1 A ‘

1864.-J. M. Milligan, principal; Misses S. McCalmont, Kate Clemens,
Sarah Milligan, Lizzie Young, and Sarah Freeby, assistant teachers.

l865.—J. M. Milligan, principal; Misses Sarah Milligan, Sarah Freeby,
Kate Clemens. and Bell Williams, assistant teachers.

1866.—J. M. Mi11igan,principal; Misses Saral1‘Freeby, O. L. Carroll,
Kate Clemens, Rachel Norfolk, R. J. Moore, and Homer, assistant
teachers. .

l867.——J. M. Milligan, principal; Misses Warrick, Carroll, Kate Clemens,
‘Pauline Markell, Kate Collins, and Curry, assistant teachers.

l8G8.——-R. N. Lights, principal; Misses Kate Clemens, Pauline Markell,
Kate Collins, M. E. Davidson, Ann E. Scott, assistant teachers.

1860.—J. P. Taylor, principal ; Misses Fannie Hart, C. M. Wall, Pauline
Mark-ell, Kate Collins, Mary Coulter, and Nannie Scott, assistant
teachers. . . b

1870.—J. P. Taylor, principal; Misses Fannie Hart, Kate Clemens, Pau-
line Markell, Kate Collins, Mary Coulter, and Nannie Scott, assist-
ant teachers. ~ _

187l.—J. P. Taylor, principal; Misses Kate C. Collins, Kate Clemens,
Pauline Markell, Nannie Scott, Mary Coulter, and Kate Mullen
assistant teachers.

11872.-—Georg'e E. Hemphill, principal; assistant teachers the same as_

previous year. - . ~
lS73.—George E. Hemphill, principal ; Misses Sue O’Brien, Annie Mar-
tin, Pauline Markell, Nannie Scott, Mary Young,‘and Kate Mullen,
assistants. . ’ ' ‘
1874.——-Geor'ge E. Ilemphill, principal; Misses Pauline Markell, Nannie
' Scott, McClure, Kate Mullen, Sadie Powers, and Emma Wilson, as-
sistant teachers. _
1875.V—-George E. Iiemphill, principal; Misses Pauline Markell, Nannie
Scott, Kate Mullen, Emma Wilson, Mattie A. Gunn, and Sadie Pow-
ers, assistant teachers. , A
1876.—Joseph Jennings, principal ; Misses Lucy V. Dorsey, Mary E.
‘ Parry, Kate Mullen, Anna M. Ruple, Sadie Powers, Millie Bentley,
' and Mittie Collins, assistant teachers. ‘ - I
18T7.—Joseph Jennings, principal; Misses L. 0. Hart, Anna M. Ruple,
Kate Williams, Kate Mullen, V Sadie Powers, Millie Bentley, and
Amy Ammons, assistant teachers. ’ _
1878.—Joseph Jennings, principal; Misses Millie Bentley, Lida Gregg,
‘ » Sadie Powers, Amy Ammons, Kate Mullen, and Kate Williams, as-
, sistant teachers.
1879..-Joseph Jennings, principal; ‘Misses Kate W'illiams, Kate Mullen,
'4 ' Sadie Powers, Kate Smith, Della Fell, Millie G. Bentley, and Graham,
assistant teachers. , ' ' ‘ ‘
1880.5-’——.Joseph Jennings, principal; Misses Kate Williams, Kate Mullen,
Lillie Lemasters, Della Fell, Sallie Graham, and Millie G. Bentley,
assistant teachers. At the same time Miss Laura Smith was em-
ployed to teach the school “ over the creek’.” .
1881-.—-Joseph Jennings, princiipal; Misses {Bell Herford,‘room No. 11;
Jeanette L. Brownlee, No. 10; Clara C. Berger, No. 9; Lillie Le-
masters, No. 8; Della Fell, No. 7; N. J. Johnston, No. 6; Sallie
Graham, No. 5; Laura M. Isler, No. 4;.Millie G. Bentley, No. 3;
Laura Smith, No. 2 ; and J. M. Williams, No. 1, assistant teachers.

1 Until tliccornpletion of the present school building the colored
school wasa ~s_eparate institution, and among its principal teachers dur-
ing the years here‘ indicated ‘were’ Benjamin F. lCroucl1, J. A. Bryan,
and Miss Jennie Adams.

-‘5 The female teachers employed» during the term beginning in Sep-

1 tember, 1880, were required to pledge themselves not to get married

during the term.

1Bl0GRAPHICAL SKETCHE& 

VVILLIAM J. ALEXANDER.
"William J. Alexander, one of the founders and

new senior member of the banking-house of Alexan- -

der & Co., Monongahela City, Pa., was born April 16,
A.D. 1820, on a farm in Rostraver township, West-

moreland Co., distant about six miles from the town 1

above mentioned. . ‘
I In the year 1828, when the subject of this sketch
was eight years of age, his father, Joseph Alexander,

removed with his family from the farm in Westmore- ‘

land County‘ to Williamsport, now Monongahela City,
in Washington County, and entered into the mercan-
tile business,,a_fterwards living there until the time of
his death, June 20,1871, with the exception of two
years between April 1, 1829, and April 1, 1831, during
which interval he resided in Cookstown, now Fayette
City, Pa. . ‘ ' i

When a youth VVilliam J _. Alexander obtained such .
an education as was furnished, by the common sub-
scription schools of that day. At an early age he;
was engaged in business with his father, and had-

almost the exclusive management ofthe business
after he was nineteen years of age.

In the spring of 1843 he became « junior partner in ’

the firm of J. Alexander & Son, which copartnership
continued until] 850, when the present firm of Alex
ander & Co.‘ was organized. , _ '

Prior to the springof 1864 thefirm of Alexander &
Co. conductedt-he dry-goods business in connection

with. banking. Having disposed of their dry-goods’

interests, the attention of thefirm has been since de

voted exclusively to the banking business. - . K
In the year 1844, William J ..Alexander- was marrie

to Eliza Morrison, daughter of Mrs. Margaret Mor-

rison (Widow of J ohn‘ Morrison), Who, at an advanced.
age, is still living (1882) with her son, M. P. Morri-

son, M.D., in the old homestead in ,Monongahela-City.-gi
From the period of his earliest manhood the subject’

of this brief sketch has been more or less identified

with nearly every practical project suggested for «ad-;

vancing the material, educational, and moral interests

of the community in which he has lived.  _ ,
Throughout the great Rebellion he was prompt and

earnest in the performance of all the duties which de-

volved upon him as a citizen, opposed to disunion and A
loyal to the old flag. He was elected captain of Com-“
pany G . of the ‘Eighteenth Regiment Pennsylvania .'
Militia, an organization called out by Governor. Cur- .
tin to meet a-n exig-ency of thepwar. He accepted the:

position tendered to him, and served with his company
and regiment on the borders of Pennsylvania and
Maryland during the last daysof the memorable

‘ campaign which closed by the repulse and defeat of

iAntietam.f'* I A . A L
. At the presenttime Mr." Alexander is president of

the rebel forces under Lee at South ‘Mountain and

DIONONGAHELA CITY.

597

the Select and Common Councils of Monongahela I

City, president of the school board, president of the
Monongahela Gas Company, treasurer of the Wil-
liamsport Bridge Company, treasurer of Monongahela
Cemetery, and for about forty years he has been con-

-tinuously a member and oflicer in the Presbyterian

Church of -Monongahela City.
And it may be stated, in conclusion, that Mr. Alex-

‘ander has been eminently successful as banker and

merchant; avoiding questionable speculation and
“splendid financiering,” he has acquired wealth by
careful observance of sound rules, and the employ-
ment of approved methods _in the management and
details of legitimate business.

 

, HON. GEORGE VILAWRENCE.
~ Hon. George V. Lawrence, farmer and politician,

, was born in Washington Co., Pa., Nov. 18, 1818. His

grandfather, John Lawrence, an Englishman by
birth, emigrated to America at an early day, and
settled near.Hunterstown,. Adams Co., Pa. There he
married Sarah Mofiitt, by whom he had ten children,
~—three sons and seven daughters. John died about
the year 1786, and three years afterwards (in 1789)

.his widow Sarah moved with her family to. Washing-
; ton County, Pa., and settled upon afarm lying upon

the head-waters of Pigeon Creek. . The three sons of

John and Sarah Moffitt Lawrence were John, Samuel’,

and Joseph, named in the order of their ages. John
settled in Beaver, Beaver County, Pa;, when a young
man, and became a prominent and useful citizen.” He
was twice elected to the State Legislature from that
county. . He afterwards moved to. Delaware County,
Ohio, where he. died. . Samuel followed his brother to

Beaver County, and settled upon a farm near the

town of Beaver. He was for nine years prothonotary

‘of that county, and was twice elected to the State

Legislature, serving in that body with his younger
brother Joseph, who was at the same time the mem-
ber from Washington County. Samuel died. about
the year 1828. Joseph Lawrence was born in Adams
County, Pa., and when three years of agewas carried
on horseback upon his .mother’s knee to Washington
County, where hewas reared and spent hislife. He
was eminently a self-made man, having neverattended
school but three months, it being necessary for him in
early lifeto support himself, and to assist in support-
ing his mother and sisters, by manual labor. He was
a good reader and thinker, a careful student of men
and passing events, and eagerly seized upon every
opportunity for improving himself.‘ He became a
member of. a debating society, in which he was_asso-
ciated with Hons. J onathhn Knight, John Sloan, Drsz.
Joseph and J onathan_Lethermain, Rev. Abner Leon‘-
ard,William Walsh, Esq.,' and others, and healways

‘regarded the training of that organization of the

greatest value to him. His first prominence was in
connection with the Pigeon’ Creek . Presbyterian

Church, of which he was a member. He‘ was ap-

pointed by the session of that church to prosecute the .

Rev. Andrew Gwynn, the pastor. This he did before
the Session, Presbytery, the Synod, ‘and the General

Assembly." He managed the case in a manner which

won for him the admiration, and secured to him the
friendship, of many of the clergy of that denomina-
tion. When _a young man he was elected major, by

which title he was long known, in the State militia, 6

which position he held for a time. In 1818 he was
elected to the State Legislature, and served contin-
uously until 1826, being Speaker of the House during
-the sessions of 1820 and 1822. In 1826 he was elected.
to Congress, and was defeated for the same office in
1828. In 1834 he was elected to the State Legislature;
re-elected in 1835, and in 1.836 waselected State treas-
urer by the Legislature. In 1838 he was a candidate
for Congress, and was defeated by seventeen votesby
the Hon. IsaaciLeet, whom. he  turn defeated in-
1840. .He died of typhoid fever in Washington, D. C.,

.April 17 ,_ 1842, and his remains were interred in the

congressional burial-ground. He was a man of un-
usual ‘public spirit, popular manners, happy tempera-
ment, real ability and worth, and a forcible and logi-

cal speaker. His good»q-ualities were recognized by 4
those. who knew him, his opinions sought, and his V

judgment accepted to a remarkable extent.

He was twice married. His first wife, Rebecca
Van Eman, died in 1824, leaving four children,—-
Joseph, who died in 1842-; George V. ;, Sarah (Car-
thage, Mo.), the widow of Ard. Moore; and Samuel,
who died young. His second wife was Maria Bucher,
daughter of Judge Bucher, of Harrisburg. She died
in 1861, leaving five children,-——John J ., now (and
since 1873). living a retired life in Allegheny City,
Pa. ; James K., educated at the military academy at
Harrisburg, _was appointed’ captain in the regular
army, served during the war of the Rebellion-under
Gen. Sykes, was badly wounded atthe’ battle of
Fredericksburg, but recovered and serveduntil the
close of the war, was afterwards with his division . in
Texas, 4resigned,.and now lives in J efferson,County,
Pa. ; VVilliam C. A., educated at Washington College,

read law with Hon.‘Jo'hn‘ Kunkle, was admitted to '

the Harrisburg bar, was elected to the State Legis-
lature from Dauphin County in 1857, 1858, and 1859,

was Speaker of the House during the two latter.ses-

sions, and died of consumption in 1861; Samuel,

educated in Washington County and Harrisburg, was '

a successful civil engineer for many years,‘was elected
to the State Legislature from the Warren district _, in
1861, and died at Warren in 1864; Susan, the wife of
Myron Sanford,» of Erie, where they reside. ,
Having obtained ‘his education in the best schools
the country a_fi'orded, with. the addition of one year at
Washington College, from which he retired on ac-
count of ill health, George V. Lawrence applied him-
self to farming, doing much of the labor there with
his own hands, and directing the scientific cultivation

598

HISTORY OF WASHINGTON COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA.

of the soil. He was elected to the Legislature in 1843;
renominated in 1844,- and defeated by twelve votes,
the only defeat he has ever suffered. He was elected
a second time to the State Legislature in 1847. In
1848 he was elected State senator, the district being
Washington County, over Hon. William Montgomery.
He regards that as the ablest Senate in which he has
ever served. Hons. John H. Walker, William A.
Crabb, Augustus Drum, George Darsie, H. A. Muh-
lenberg, and other noted men of the State were mem-
bers. In 1858 he was again elected to the Legislature,
and returned in 1859, when his brother, William C.
A. Lawrence, was Speaker. In 1860 he was elected
State senator from the district composed of the coun-
ties of Washington and Greene, overcoming one thou-

sand Democratic majority, and was Speaker of the

senate during the session of .1863. In 1864 he was
elected to Congress from the Twenty-fourth Congres-
sional District, composed of the counties of Greene,
Washington, Beaver, and Lawrence, over Gen. Jesse

Lazear, and re-elected in 1866, ‘serving on important»

committees, and taking an active part in the delibera-
tions and discussions, especially that relating to the
tariff on wool.‘ In October, 1872,-he was elected as

one of the delegates at large to the conventionto

amend the'Con”stitution of the State, and was chair-
man of the committee on new counties and county-
seats. ' . '

In 1874 he was elected to the State Senate from the
Forty-sixth District, composed. of the counties of
Washington and Bea.ver,:for1theshort term of one
year. He was re-elected. for the short term of two
years from the same district7in’1876, andrin*1878’by
the same district for the full term of four years- In
1882 his name was presented by Washington County
as her choice for Congress in the Twenty-fourth ‘is-
trict, composed of the counties of Washington,
Beaver, and Lawrence. . (At this ‘writing, August,

1882, the district conference has not selected a candi-

date.) He was a Whig and then a Republican, has
attended many State conventions, and was the chair-
man of two Republican conventions of the State of
Pennsylvania. 4 ~ .. ‘

He married, in 1839, Elizabeth Welsh, daughter of
William Welsh, Esq., a prominent citizen of Wash-
ington County, Pa. She, died in 1854, leaving two
children, Mary V. and Joseph. He married a second
time, in 1857, Mary Reed, daughter of the Rev. John
Reed, an eminent minister of the Presbyterian Church,
by whom he had threechildren, two of whom--George
R., a lawyer practicing at the Pittsburgh bar, and

‘Carrie Belle-—-are living. That Mr. Lawrence comes

of a thoroughly Presbyterian stock is evinced by the

fact that there are connected with him by blood and

marriage seventeen ministers and twenty-five or more
elders of that denomination. ' -

HON. T. R. HAZZARD

Diedon Monday morning, Sept. 3, 1877, at his
late residence in Monongahela City. He was taken
ill while at church,.Sabbath evening. He died of
disease of the heart. The deceased was born on
the 25th day of October, 1814, at Oxford, in Che-
nango County, N. Y. He immigrated from James-
town, N. Y., to this city-in the year 1836. After‘
teaching a classical school for a time, he returned to
Allegheny College, at Meadville, and completed his
collegiate course. Among his classmates at college
were ex-Governor F. H. Pierpont and ex-Governor.
Reuben E. Fenton. He studied law with Judge Mar-
vin, and was admitted to the VVashington County bar
at November term, 1840. At the time of his death he
wasthe oldest member of that bar, excepting Hon. A.
W.'Aches,on. He was married by the Rev. Dr. Ral-
ston to Miss Harriet Hamilton, daughter of the late
Joseph Hamilton. His wife and four sons survive

him, but little Willie and his daughters Nettie and“
,Martha had gone before. He -lived, with the excep-

tionof a few years, all the time in Monongahela City
since his first arrival. He was the first academic
teacherin this place, and to him his adopted city owes
theilargest measure of that educational spirit which
is so'characteristic of its citizens.‘ He was especially

versedin polite and classical literature, and as a

teacher he had few superiors. To him are indebted
for their taste for learning many who are now active
and prominentparticipants in the great field of liter-
ature ‘and science. He was a finished musical scholar,
and was for many years a leading‘ musician in the
Presbyterian Church. He was principal of the Belle
Vernon Academy.‘ In speaking of this academy Dr.
Van'Voorhis, in his centennial address in 1876, said,
“ This academy was started in the spring of 1842. T.
R. Hazzard, Esq., an experienced teacher, formerly of

New York, was the principal. The institution closed in -

1845. At this institution as students were Chief J us-

tice G. W. McIlvain, of Ohio, Hon. D. M. Letherman,

of Pennsylvania, Dr. J. H. Storer, of VVest Virginia,

Dr. J. C. Cooper, of Philadelphia, and other distin-

guished personages. Hon. T. R. Hazzard still lives,
andhas long resided in Monongahela City, where as
counselor and citizen he enjoys the confidence of his
fellow-men.” He was .for many years editor and pro-
prietor of the Republican, in which he always fear-
lessly defended the right.
gent, and forcible writer, expressing his ‘ideas in short
but well-finished sentences. The deceased was a great
friend of literary institutions, and was always in the
front when the good of literature was in question. He
was devotedly wedded to his adopted city, ever ready
to aid whatevermight redound to its progress. 1

He was long a member of the Presbyterian Church,‘
and cherished its precious doctrines as an epitome of
that holy Bible of which he was a devoted student.
He always took an active part in the prayer-meetings

He was a chaste, intelli-

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MONOXGAHELA crrr.

599

and Sabbath—school, of which he was many years super-
intendent. On the last Sabbath of hislife he attended
church in the morning, sat at the communion table
at noon, attended his Bible classin the afternoon,
went to church in the evening, was taken ill while
there. When the morning came he was in heaven.

V The smile that graced his countenance at death tells

the story “ that he heard the music within,” and as
he passed from earth heard the voice of the Saviour
saying, “ Come, ye blessed of my Father, inherit the
kingdom prepared for you.” He was buried on
Wednesday in the beautiful" cemetery‘ overlooking
his adopted city. The deceased was often called to

stations of honor and trust by his fellow-citizens, who .
never regretted their choice, for when his work was
done he surrendered those trusts, and received the,

plaudit, "‘ VVell done, thou good and faithful servant.”
Our friend has gone to the grave with true nobility
stamped on his brow. A » A ,

He was almember of the late Constitutional Con-
vention, in the proceedings of "Which hetook an active
and prominent part. His speeches, deliveredin his
usual calm and dignified manner, grace many of the
pages of its journal, and to his learning and sound
judgment we are indebted for many of the valuable
ideas incorporated in the new Constitution. I His
domestic virtues cannot be more beautifully portrayed

4 than by quoting his own words, as uttered by him on

the occasion of the death of his colleague, Col. Hop-
kins, a member of the same convention: “He was
an affectionate and true husband, a kind‘ parent, a
considerate neighbor, a faithful friend, a sound and
wise counselor, and an exemplary Christian gentle-
man. He was charitable to the poor and foremost in
all benevolent and Christian enterprises. By his
death his immediate neighborhood will lose -the in-
spiration of his public spirit, his interesting, highly
respectable, and intellectual family his kind words of
wisdom and advice and the rich gifts of his social
nature.” Socrates died like a hero, but friend Haz-
zard like a Christian. In the full consciousness of his

condition, with his characteristic coolness, he declared, .

‘~‘ This is the end,” and passed away,

“ Like one who wraps the drapery of his couch
About him and lies down to pleasant dreams.”

At a meeting of the members of the Washington
bar and the oflicers of the court, held Sept. 3, 1877,
Thomas H. Baird, Boyd Crumrine, and Alexander
VVilson, Esqs., were appointed a committee to prepare
and present to the court at the October term a minute.
in relation to the death of Thomas R. Hazzard, Esq.
The committee, after relating the facts above men-
tioned, thus continues,— I A R
R “In view of this brief outline of our late brother's life, as vfell as our

- intimate personal knowledge of him, it is fitting that we,his fellow-mem-

bers of the bar and oflicers of the court, should place upon record an ex-
pression of the sincere and unfeigned sorrow with which we heard of his
sudden death, and that we should also thus perpetuate our estimate of
his personal character as a Christian gentleman; that in all the period

of nearly thirty years during which he was actually engaged in the

business of this bar his intercourse with his professional brethren was
marked by the most unvarying kindness and courtesy. Impulsively
frank and open-hearted in disposition. and gifted with an unfailing fund
of ready wit and genial humor, he was one of the most agreeable of com-
panions and most sincere friends. In the practice of law his aim was
always to get at the substantial justice of a case and to search an honest
result, and this rectitude of purpose was so generally known and appre-
ciated that he was enabled _to acquire and retain the confidence, respect,
andresteem of his brethren.

“ That our brother was a thorough good man, being not only consist-
ent in his Christian profession and in the example of a godly life which
he set for others, but also identifying himself with every religious,
moral, and educational cause having for its object’ the welfare of the
community in which he lived or that of humanity at large. That in
all the relations of life, and in the discharge of the many and various
duties, public and oflicial, which were required of him, he was always
kind, courteous, and obliging, thus securing a,large number of earnest
and devoted friends, who will long feel and sincerely mourn his loss,
and who will heartily join in this tribute of respect which we now offer
to his memory. That while we sympathize and conrlole with his»be-
reaved wife and family in their afliiction, we feel that we can minister
no more assuring consolation than to remind them of the many evi-
dences which our brother gave of his unwavering faith in his Saviour,
and of the calm reliance which he exhibited upon a conscious death-bed
on Him ‘ who hath done all things well.’ ” » .

Remarks were made by a number of members of the
bar relative to the high character and spotless life
of Mr. Hazzard. He was truthfully said to have been
a good and conscientious lawyer, a man of fine social

qualities, and a Christian.

REV. JAMES SLOAN, D.D.

James Sloan was born in Hopewell township, Wash-
ington County, Sept. 16, 1807, of James and Martha
Sloan, who came from County Tyrone, Irela.nd, about
1804. He was reared in the church of Upper Buffalo,
and in early life made a public confession of his faith
in Christ. At fourteen years of age he entered a
select ‘school taught by Rev. Thomas Campbell,
father of the distinguished Alexander Campbell, and
there laid the groundwork of his classical education.
From this time, with that strong will and determina-
tion which came to him as a natural inheritance, he
supported himself by means of teaching in schools
and academies during his vacations, defraying the
expense of his collegiate and theological education.
In this sense, like so many of our strong and useful
men, James Sloan was a self-made man. After an-
interval of teaching he entered Washington College,
then under the presidency of Dr. Andrew Wylie, but
on the suspension of the college in 1828 he transferred
his relation to Jefferson College, and was graduated
in the class of 1830. On leaving college he taught
for a time the Pleasant Hill Female Seminary, and
then in‘ the adjoining village of Middletown, and
while thus engaged was married in 1831 to Sarah,-
daughter of William Lindsey, of the latter place.
She departed this life after a happy union of three
years, leaving a daughter, who still survives. During
the same period he placed himself under the theolog-
ical instruction of his venerable pastor, John Ander-
son, D.D., and w-asthe last of the candidates for the
ministry trained under his care, having been preceded

60,0

HISTORY or VVASHINGTON COUNTY, ‘PENNSYLVANIA.

by,McFarr’en, Stockton, Anderson, Koontz, McKen-
nan, and others not unknown to fame. After the
death of his wife,‘ the subject of this sketch united
with Robert Fulton in establishing an academy at
Florence, Pa. While thus engaged he was licensed
to preach April 22; 1835, by the Presbytery of Wash-
ington. The next year he was ordained, and was
instrumental in organizing a church at Frankfort
Springs, and was it_s first and useful pastor for about
eight years, being associated also with Thomas Nich-
olson, Esq., in charge of an academy at that place.
During his residence at Frankfort Springs he was
married a second time to Margaret, daughter of the
late Hon. James Gordon, of Monongahela City,‘ a-
most estimable Christian lady, who sur_viv‘ed'him"

p several years, and died Dec. 12,1881, leaving one

son, James G. Sloan, M.D., of Monongahela Citye.
Dr. Sloan was called to the ministerial charge of the
Presbyterian Church of .Pigeon Creek April 15, 1844,
and was installed pastor in December of thesame
year.‘ This relation, continuing over a period of
eighteen years, was dissolved in October, 1862. From
thecommencement of his pastorate " he showed his
profound appreciation of the power of prayer in.
awaking and supporting all spiritual’ vitality. One
of his first steps was the establishment of a regular
weekly prayer-meeting in portions of the congrega-
tion previously destitute of this important means of
grace. His constantpresence at‘ the meetings, his
earnest, heart—searching, and’ tender: appeals to the
impenitent, and his importunatewpleadingsat the
mercy~seat for their conversion eloquently attested
his faithfulness as_a pastor and the sincerity ofhis
faith in the Hearer’ and Answerer of prayer. ‘

, Second only to the power of the Holy Spirit be-. H

stowed. in answer to prayer, he placed the power of
personal Christian example. In this connection he
also immediately commenced a regular system of pas-
toral visitation. ‘ Old and young, rich and poor, culti-
vated and uncultivated, all alike shared  thesun-.
shine of his genial courtesy. . -

. Hardly inferior in importance to the regular dis-
pensation of the gospel from the pulpit,'Dr. Sloan
regarded the work of Sabbath-school and Bible-class
instruction». To these important agencies for good he
gave the sanction of . his constant presence and influ-
ence. The Bible class was never so prosperous as
when under his care, frequently numbering as high as
sixty members. His clear, forcible, and impressive
expositions of truth were deeply appreciated by them,
and resulted in the edification and advancement of
the church. ' _

x In his pulpit ministrations, Dr. Sloan laid peculiar
stress on the practical‘ duties of religion. While dis-

tinctly stating and enforcing the cardinal doctrines in

a logical, impressive, and oftentimes eloquent manner,
he let no opportunity pass of insisting on -the vital
necessity that all true and genuine faith must, be
illustrated by good works- As might be supposed,

this preaching was bountifully blessed. During his
pastorate three hundred and ninety-one persons were
received into the communion of the church, two hun-
dred and ninety-nine of whom were received on
confession of faith;

Upon his retirement from this charge, Dr. Sloan
supplied the chapel pulpit of Jefferson College and
the church of Canonsburg for a time, and then be-
came more permanently a stated supply of the church
at Waynesburg, Greene Co., Pa., where he labored
with great acceptance until ill health compelled his
retirement from the active works of the ministry.
During the remaining two years of his life his re-
signed, humble, hopeful spirit found repose in the
promises of Christ. Peacefully, though suddenly, at
last he yielded his spirit, March 11, 1871, in the sixty-
fourth year‘ of his age, in the blessed hope of the
gospel- , '

Dr. Sloan was a man of ardent friendship, of de-
cided purpose, of earnest -Christian zeal. As a hus-
band he was kind; mildness and tenderness were
manifested in all his domestic life. As a parent he
performed his duties to his children with rare fidelity.
As a citizen he was warmly attached to the govern-

ment, and always careful to. aid every effort to exalt /-

and dignity the race. As a man he'- was without guile;
as a preacher he bestowed great care on his sermons :-

. he was a logical thinker, an impressive and eloquent
speaker. ;He wasa. faithful Presbyter.» He was a V

friend of -‘education.-- He spent a number of years in

teaching, was a trufsteeof J effer_son College, and after-'

wards of Washington_and Jefferson College. He was
at one time chosen President of Franklin College,
Ohio, which was regarded as a fitting tribute to his
personal worth and high character as a Christian and
scholar. . _ . .
Dr. Sloan was an earnest advocate of the causeof

. temperance; it was through his "influence the first

temperance society was organized in his native town-
ship. On the question of human slavery he occupied
no doubtful ground, having made a speech on the
subject condemning it, and claiming its unconstitu-
tionality as early as 1828. In a word, he was prom-

inent among the leaders in morals, politics,‘ and reli- -

gion from“ the grand old county of "Washington.

4 "MAJ. JAMES WARNE.
Maj. James Warne was of English stock, the son
of Abram .=Warne, who came from Virginia and set-
tled and died in Allegheny County, Pa., upon a farm

. near the village of Sunnyside, Forward township,

where James was born, Dec. 6, -1779‘. V James was
educated for the profession of lawin the schools of
his native «county and the academy in" Uniontown,
FayetteiCo., Pa., but, soon after leaving school, en-
gaged himself as aclerk in a store at Parkison’s
Ferry,’ now Monongahela‘ City. ’ His next venture
was in boat-building,_'boating, and trading upon the

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DUN MORE’S WAR.

69

of Yellow Creek, and killed and scalped ten, and took
one child about two months old,,which is now at my
house. I have taken the child from a woman that’ it
had been given to. Our inhabitants are much alarmed,
many hundreds having gone over the mountain, and

the whole country evacuated as far as the Mononga~ I

hela, and many on this side of‘ the river are gone
over the mountain. . In short, a war is every moment
expected. We have a council now with the Indians.
What the event will be I do not know. I am now
setting out for Fort Pitt at the head of one hundred
men. Many others are to meet me there and at

‘Wheeling,’ where we shall wait the motions of the

Indians and act accordingly. . . .”
_The settlers along the frontiers, and in all the terri-

' tory that now forms the counties of Washington and

Greene, were in a state of the wildest alarm, well know-
ing that the Indians would surely make war in revenge
for the killing of their people at Captina and Yellow
Creek, and most of them immediatelysought safety,
either in block-houses or by abandoning their settle-

"ments and flying eastward across the Monongahela,

and many across the Allegheny Mountains.‘ Valen-

tine Crawford, in his letter of May 6th to C01. Wash- V

ington (before quoted from), said, “This alarm has
caused the people to move from over the Monongahela,
off Chartiers and Raccoon [Creeks], as fast as you ever
saw them in the year 1756 or 1757 down in Frederick

. County, Virginia. There were more than one thousand

people crossed the 1|/[onongahela in one day at three fer-
ries that are not one -mile apart.” ‘

The general alarm among the inhabitants was well
founded. The Indians, burning to revenge the killing
of their people on the Ohio, particularly at Captina
and Yellow Creek, at once took the war-path and

_ranged eastward to and across the Monongahela,
On the 8th of‘

burning, plundering, and killing.
June Valentine Crawford said in a letter to C01.
Washington, “Since I just wrote you an account

of several parties of Indians being among the in-

habitants has reached us. Yesterday they killed and
scalped one man in sight of the fort [Fort Burd, at
Brownsville] on the Monongahela,—-one of the in-
mates. . . . There have been several parties of sav-
ages seen within these two or three days, and all seem
to be making towards the Laurel Hill or mountain‘.
For that reason the people are afraid to travel the
road by Gist’s, but go a nigh way by Indian Creek,
or ride in the night.’ . . . On Sunday evening, about
four miles over Monongahela, the Indians murdered
one family, consisting of six, and took two boys pris-

1Some of them, however, stood their ground and remained at their
cabins, braving the danger rather than abandon their homes. James

. Chambers, in a. deposition made at Washington, Pa., April 20, 1798, be-

fore Samuel Shannon, Esq., said that after the massacre at Baker's in
1774 all the settlements broke up along the Ohio River, and that he
(being then settled on that river) fled with the rest, but stopped at Cat-
fish Camp, where he remained for some time at the cabin of William
Huston. Not a fewof _ the settlers in what is now Greene County lost

their lives by attemptingflto hold their homes.

oners. At another place they killed three, which
makes in thewhole nine and two prisoners. If we
had not had forts built there would not have been ten
families left this side of the mountains besides what are
at Fort Pitt. We have sen-t out scouts after the mur-
derers, but we have not heard that they have fallen
in with them yet. We have at this time at least
three hundred men out after the Indians, some of

whom have gone down to Wheeling, and I believe

some have gone down as low as the Little Kanawha.
I am in hopes they will give the savages a storm, for
some of the scouting company say they will go to
their towns but they will get scalps.” On the same
day William Crawford said in a letter to Washington,
“Saturday last we had six persons killed on Dunk-
ard’s Creek, about ten miles from the mouth of Cheat
River, on the west side of the Monongahela," and there
are three missing. On Sunday a man who left the
party is supposed to be killed, as he went off to hunt
horses, and five guns were heard to go off. The horse
he rode away returned to the house where the party
then was. They set out in search of enemies; found
the man’s coat and saw a number of tracks, but could
not find the man.”

It was the Indian chief Logan, he whose former
friendship for the whites had been turned into bitter-
est hatred by the killing of his people, who came in
with his band to ravage the settlements on the west
side of the Monongahela, throwing all that country
into a state of the wildest alarm. The present coun-
ties of Washington and Greene were almost entirely
deserted by their people. Dr. Joseph Doddridge, in
his “ Notes,” says, “The massacres of the Indians at
Captina and Yellow Creek comprehended the whole
of the family of the famous but unfortunate Logan,
who before these events had been a lover of the
whites and a strenuous advocate for peace;2 but in

2 Judge Jolley, who lived on the frontier at the time of the killing of
the Indians at Captina Creek and Baker’s Bottom, says in his statement
(before extracted from) in reference to those occurrences and their re-

. sults,— "

“ The Indians had for some time before these events thought them-
selves intruded upon by the ‘ Long Knives’ (as they at that time called
the Virginians) and many of them were for war. However, they called
a council, in which the chief Logan acted aconspiicuous part. He ad-
mitted their grounds of complaint, but at the same time reminded them
of some aggressions on the part of the Indians, and that by a war they
would but harass and distress the frontier settlements for a short time;

. that the ‘ Long Knives’ would come like the trees in the woods, and that

ultimately they should be driven from the good lands which they now
possessed. He therefore strongly recommended peace. . To him they
all agreed, grounded the hatchet, and everything wore a tranquil ap-
pearance, when, behold! the fugitives arrived from Yellow Creek and
reported that Logah’s mother, brother, and sister were murdered.
Three of the nearest and dearest relations of Logan had been masacred
by white men. The consequence was that this same Logan, who a few
days before was so pacific, raised the hatchet with a declaration that he

_would not ground it until he had taken ten for one, which I believe he

completely fulfilled by taking thirty scalps and prisoners in the summer
of 1774. The above has often been related to me by several persons

who were at the Indian towns at the time of the council alluded to, and.

also when the remains of the party came in from Yellow Creek. Thomas
‘Nicholson in particular has told me the above, and much more. Another
person, whose name I cannot recollect, informed me that he was at the

  CANONSBURG BOROUGH.

rivers as -far as New Orleans. » He followed the cus-
tom of that day of returning overland to his home
after disposing of his cargo and boat.

In 1811, being duly elected and returned, he was
commissioned by Governor Simon ‘Snyder captain of
a light infantry company attached to the second bat-

. talion of the Fifty-third Regiment’ of the militia of_
_ the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, his term to be

computed for four years from the third day of August
in the year named. In 1812 his company offered the
United States government their services for the war.
On June 11th they were ordered to parade for inspec-
tion. They were accepted by the government, and,
September 5th, took up theirmarch for headquarters.
Maj. Warne served as captain of this company until

"Sept. 25, 1812, when he was elected, and ‘September
_ 27th commissioned, major of the First Batta.lion in

the Third Infantry Regiment,” commanded by Col.
Snyder, and in that capacity served until Dec. 31,
1812, that being the date of his discharge. He then
returned home, and in connection with his brother-
in-law, VVillian1 Parkison, built a glass-factory in
Williamsport, the first one located there. This
they operated, and at thesame time engaged in a
general merchandising business, until about 1820,
when they soldout, and he purchased the farm in

Carroll township, then known as “Eden,” now the

‘property of his son, Joseph P. Warne.

601

Here he
lived as a farmer until ‘his death, Oct. 28, 1855. He
was a member of the Methodist Church, honorable
and upright, a good and patriotic citizen. He was
married in 1805 to Mary Parkison, daughter of
Joseph Parkison, the patentee of the land where
now stands the greater portion of Monongahela‘.
City, and upon which he erected an inn, which,
together with the ferry, he kept formany years. The
children of Maj. and Mary VVarne who grew to
maturity were Amuzet I., Margaret, Joseph P.,

‘James, Hiram, and Eliza.

Amuzet I. was born Dec. 5, 1805. He married
Mary Jacobs, was a farmer, and died at Parkersburg,
W. Va., in 1879. ' ’

Margaret, born Dec. 28, 1807, married Samuel De-
vore, and lives near Parkersburg, W. Va.

Joseph P., "born Jan. 6, 1810, married Eliza J .
Irwin, and- resides upon the old homestead, near
Monongahela City. '

James, born May 11, 1812, married Catharine
Niccolls. He is a farmer, and lives near Ginger
Hill, Washington Co., Pa. 7

Hiram, born in 1822, married Elizabeth N iccolls.
He is a farmer, and lives near-Washington, Pa.

Eliza J ., born June 26, 1824-, married John Wat-
kins, and lives in Richmond, Ray Co., Mo.

- 
"I av’

OANONSBURG BOROUGH.

.;Qhg
wvf

CANONSBURG is situated on Chartiers Creek, and on
the line of the Chartiers Valley Railroad, about seven-
teen miles from Pittsburgh and seven miles from VVash-
ington. The borough limits embrace only about one-

‘ half of the town proper, which is built on both sides

of the creek and contains. three church edifices,--Chan
tiers United Presbyterian, Methodist Episcopal, and
African Methodist -Episcopal 0 Church,—-the college
buildings, hotel, bank, post-office, Odd-Fellows’ Hall,
Masonic Hall,‘ library, public school building, depot
of the Chartiers Valley Railroad,a great variety of
business interests, and seven hundred and four inhabi-
tants, according to the United States census of 1880.-

Early Settlers:-—John Canon, one of the earliest ‘

settlers in the Chartiers Valley, took up a large tract
of land under Virginia authority, on which land he
settled about 1773, his place of settlement being the
site of the present town of Canonsburg. The first
mention of his name found in any record is in that
of the court of Westmoreland County, when, at the
January term of court in 17 74, he was with others
appointed one of the viewers of a road from Thomas

Gist’s, at Mount Braddock, to Paul Froman’s mill on
Chartiers Creek (now Linden, North Strabane town-
ship).  
Dunmore as one of the justices of ‘Augusta County
(which as then claimed by Virginia embraced all the
territory now \Vashington County). In 1776, after
Augusta County was divided into the counties of
Ohio, Yohogania, and Monongalia, John Canon was
appointed one of the justices of Yohogania County.
On the 20th of August, the same year, “ David Shep-
herd and John Canon, gent., were appointed to Con-
tract with some person or persons to build a house
twenty-four by fourteen, with ‘a. Petition in the mid-
dle, to be used as a gaol, at Catfishes Camp, Augusta
Town!” The next year he became colonel in the
Washington County militia, and was always after-
wards mentioned as Col. Canon. Holding that rank,
he was of course somewhat prominent in military
affairs, was made sub-lieutenant of the county under

1 It is supposed that this old jail was erected on the farm then owned
by Richard Yeates, later‘puI'chased by John Gabby, and nowknown as
the Gabby farm, in Franklin township. -

In the same year he was appointed by Lord.

602

Col‘. James Marshel, and took part (though not as
commander of a regiment) iii some of the numerous
Indian expeditions of that time, including" that which

marched under Col. Crawford against the Sandusky _

towns in 1782.

In this connection it is proper, and it is but just to
the memory of Col. John Canon, to notice a statement
which has been made in some accounts of the horrible
butchery of peaceful Moravianlndians on the Mus-

skingum by the men composing Col. David William-

son’s expedition in the spring of 1782, namely, that

he (Col. Canon) was present at, and a ringleader in,‘

that massacre, with an intimation, almost amounting
to a positive assertion, that it was he who first used
the murderous mallet, and when his arm became
weary with the bloody work resigned it with a brutal
remark to his successor. But the fact is that there
is neither evidence to show nor any circumstance to
indicate that Col. John Canon accompanied the Mo-
ravian expedition, but, on the contrary, it is stated on
apparently excellent authority that at the time the

dreadful work was being done. by Wil1iamson’s men .

at Gnadenhiitten he was in Philadelphia, attending
the sessions of the General Assembly, of which he was
a member for Washington County. On the 9th of May,
1782 (only a few weeks after the massacre), Gen. Irvine,
commandant at Fort Pitt, saidlin a letter addressed
to the president of the Supreme Executive Council,
“.Sir,——‘Sinc_e my letter of the 3d instant to your Ex-
cellency, Mr. Pentecost and .Mr. Canon. have been
with me. They and every intelligent person whom‘ I
have conversed with on the subject are of opinion
that it will be almost impossible ever to obtain a just
account of the conduct of the militia at Muskingum.
No man can give any account, except some of the

pa-rty themselves. If,-therefore, an inquiry should-

appear serious. they are not obliged, ‘nor will they
give evidence.” It is a matter of history that the
atrocities committed at the Moravian town were re-
garded with horror and detestation by Gen. Irvine.
That oflicer of course knew whether or not Col. Canon
was a participant in them, and he‘ would never have
summoned a man- red-handed from the butchery to
hold consultation with him. as to the practicability of
bringing the murderers to justice.’

1 With referenceto this matter of Col. Canon’s alleged participation in
the Williamson expedition, -the following letter (received at the last mo-
ment before going to press) explains itself, viz.:

“FRANKLIN ‘ELLIS, ESQ.: ’ A ' '

“DEAR SIR,.—I desire a short space in your ‘History of Washington
County, Pa.,’ in which I may correct a misstatement which appears in
a note in the ‘History of Westmoreland County, Pa.,’ lately published
by your house, of which history I had, by arrangement with the pub-
lisher, the nominal editorship. In the preparation and arrangement of
this work I had a number of collaborators, who gathered their informa-
tion, particularly that of a detailed or local character, from various
sources. In a note to the account of Williamson's expedition to the
Moravian towns it is stated that Col. John Canon was at that time
county lieutenant of.-.Washington County, and that as such he accom-
panied the expedition. This erroneous statement was traceable, as I
was informed upon inquiry, to a controversial article (or a series of ar-

ti<’:les)r published in the Pittsburgh papers during the ‘summer of 1881.

HISTORY OF WASHINGTON’ COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA.

Col. Canon received a Virginia certificate forhis
land in February, 1780, which was returned to him
and recorded on the 12th of May in that year. This
land lay along the Chartiers Valley, and embraces
Canonsburg and vicinity on the north side of Char-.
tiers Creek. One tract was surveyed Nov. 26, 1786,
containing four hundred and six acres, and named
“Canon Hill.” Another was surveyed Dec. 2, 1786,
containing four hundred and twenty-three. acres,
named “Abbington.” Still another was surveyed
Feb. 25, 1788, containing three hundred and sixty-
three acres,.and named “Sugar-Tree Grove,” making
an area of eleven_hun_dred and ninety-two acres, with
six per cent. allowance for roads.

Itis not known at what time he built the mill at

Canonsburg, but probably in the summer of 1781, as '

at the first term of court held in Washington County,
October 2d in that year, viewers were appointed to
view alroad “from John Canon, his mill,.to Pitts-9
burgh.” About nine» years later John Canon loaded
two boats with flour from his mill, and sent them
to New Orleans. Mrs. Jane C. Patterson, wife of the
Rev. Robert Patterson, and daughter of Col. John
Canon, often related the incident as coming within
her recollection. TherP'£tt.sburgh Gazette of May 15,
1790, contains an article on the navigation of Char-
tiers Creek,in which the incident is mentioned as fol-
lows: “ About five or six days since, a number of men
to the amount of thirteen left Canonsburg, on Char-

This error appears, as I have said, in a foot—note, but makes no part of
the text of the Westmoreland. history, which was made up from earlier
and uncontroverted atithorities. I ‘ I

‘-‘ Since the publication of the Westmoreland history I have had occa-
sion to examine into the subject, and_I am convinced that, as a matter
of fact, Col. John Canon was not county lieutenant in 1782, and that at
the time of theexpedition he was at Philadelphia attending the sessions
of the General Assembly, of which he was a member, and that it was of
course a physical impossibility that he could have accompanied that
expedition. ' ' “

“The early date in February, 1782, at which he must have left Wash-
ington County on his journey to Philadelphia also precluded the possi-
bilityof his having known anything about the Williamson expedition,
or even of the Indian incursions which caused it. Audit is but simple

justice to add that there was nothing in Co]. Canon’s life or character to .

warrant asupposition that he would have been an accomplice in such
an atrocity.

0

“ This correction and explanation is given from a sense of justice and ,

right, being satisfied that the authorities upon which the statement was
founded and upon which it was shaped and given to the compilers of
our history were not trustworthy, were erroneous, and calculated to
mislead. I do not, of course, believe that any serious harm would be
done_t'rom— the passing notice of Col. Canon’s name made in this_con-
nection, but for fear there should be I earnestly desire you to allow the-
correction to be made at this, the earliest opportunity. I would further
say that all the extracts furnished in said history from other histories,
from records and other documents,_ were prepared by copyists, and that
the same assistant, misled by the same authorities referred to, and un-
der the mistaken .information that Col. Canon was the lieutenant and
not a sub-lieutenant of the county, again alluded to the subject in a.
short biographical sketch elsewhere in the book. This I much deplore,
and especially as it was utterly impossible, from more than one reason,
for me to critically examine the copy as it passed through the hands of

the printer. ‘
“ Yours, etc., _
“ G. D. ALBERT,

(“ Editor of L. H. Everts’ " History of Westmoreland County, Pa,‘
“GREE.\'SBURG, PA.,,Sepf.1, 1882.”. , ’ r

1

rMargaret, and Ann.

CAN ON SBURG BOROUG H.

603

tiers Creek, and with the advantage of a rising flood
conducted_two boats from thence in about twelve hours
to the Ohio River. One was large and heavy, built for
the .purpose of carrying flour to New Orleans, forty-
seven feet in length and twelve in breadth,va small
part of the cargo to the amount of forty barrels on
board; the other a barge, twenty-five feet in length,
built for the genteel reception of passengers. The
amazing facility with which these boats passed down
the creek to the mouth, their safe crossing of two mill-
dams, one of whichw-as about twelve feet high, with
the rudeness_of the creek in its na.-tu=ra’I state, especially
at the falls, sufliciently show what immense advantage
might arise to thousands of -people inthe county of
Washington were the Legislature to attend to the

' improvement of its navigation.” About the same

time a load of flour was sent down the stream by
David Bradford‘ from his mill farther up the stream.
These facts werebrought‘ tothe notice of the Legisla-
ture, and on the 8th of April, 1793, an act was passed

declaring Chartiers Creek a public highway for boats I

and rafts from its mouth to David Bradford’s mill.
In 1791, Mr. Canon was ‘interested in the organiza-
tion of the Canonsburg Academy. He presented the
lot on which the school-house now stands, and
erected thereon‘ a stone building for an academy, for
which the trustees were to reimburse him. On the

‘ 1st of December, 1796, a deed was made by Mr.
Canon and his wife to the trustees of the "academy,

conveying to them the lot and buil,ding. This lot
contained two acres and thirty-two perches. One
half an acre of it was reserved for the use of an
English school. . ,

He lived to see the academy well established, and
died Nov. 6, 179.8, insthe fifty-eighth year of his age.

In a notice of his death published at the time he was

mentioned as “in private life a steady and disinter-
‘estedfriend, and in public an inflexible patriot; as

. he lived respected, so he died lamented.”
He had eight children, of whom four were by his I
first Wife, viz., Abigail, ,VVilliam, Jane, Joshua, and

John, Jr. He married for his second wife a Mrs.
Mercer, by whom he had three children,-—Samuel,
Of the descendants of ' Col.
John Canon but little is known; there are none of
his descendants bearing his name now living in this
section of country. The last survivor of his children
was Mrs. Jane C. Patterson, the wife of the Rev.
Robert Patterson, who died March 15, 1858, in her
eightiethyear. She was born Dec. 20, 1778, and was
the third child. ,She married Robert Patterson, a
student at the Academy of Canonsburg. He after-
wards became a minister in the Presbyterian Church.
Ann, a daughter of Col.-Canon by the second wife,
married a student who became a minister. Samuel
emigrated west. Margaret never married, Mrs.
Canon survived her husband many years. In the
latter part of her life she became quite poor, the
quit-rents left for her, support being worthless.

At the laying out of the town of Canonsburg it
will be noticed by the plat that Dr. Thompson,
Daniel McCoy, David Gault, Andrew Munroe, and
Craig Ritchie were purchasers o.f lots. Dr. Hugh
Thompson was an early settler in Peters township,
where he owned a large tract of land, and practiced

‘medicine over a large section of country. Daniel

McCoy was a shoemaker ; David Gault was a tanner,

Andrew Munroe was in the county about 1780, and ‘H

was with C01. Crawford in the Sa.ndusky expedition.

Soon after the purchase of his lot in 1787 he built ‘

upon‘ it a log tavern, which he kept for several
years, and also carried on the nailing business. The
tavern was on the southwest corner of College and

‘Main Streets, now owned by Mrs. John E. Black.

A frame addition was afterwards made to -it." In
1800 he was assessed on property to the amount
of twelve hundred and five dollars. In 1814
he opened a book-store. His stock of books and
stationery was supplied by William McCullough,

bookseller, of Philadelphia, and was sold on com-‘

mission. In the spring of 1816, Mr. McCullough
died, and the stock in possession of Andrew Munroe
was sold at auction by Mr. Munroe on anuorder from
the executorsof the estate of McCullough. On the
27th of 7May, the same year, Munroe opened a
book-store on his own -account in the same place,
which he continued for many years. In .1815 he was
appointed, postmaster, andfheld the ‘position till his
death, about 1846. He was succeeded by his wife.
John E. Black, well known by the older citizens,
was the son. of Mrs. Munroe by a first husband. A
daughter of Andrew Munroe became the wife of the
Rev. James Coon, a ‘minister of the Associate Re-
formed Church. A ‘ ‘

Henry Westbay, a native of Ireland, emigrated to
this country with his wife and two children, and
settled for a time in Chambersburg, and removed to
a high ridge known as the Knob, seven miles west,
where he lived several years. About 1790 he came

to Washington County, and lived three years on a‘

farm that belonged to Thomas Hutchinson, in Char-
tiers township. In ‘1793 he moved to Canonsburg,
and the next yearopened a tavern known as the

“ Black Horse.” During this year the tavern became’

noted in t-he time of the Whiskey Insurrection, and
on the 8th of September, 1795, he advertised in the
Was/zington Telegraph that hecarried on the “nail-
ing business in Canonsburg at the sign of the ‘Black
Horse.’ ” He continued the business and kept the
tavern till 1814, when he removed to Washington
with his daughter, Mrs. George Kuntz, and died
there, aged over eighty years. His wife survived
him a few years,, and died in, her ninety-fourth year.
They had two daughters and five sons,-Henry‘,
Thomas, James, Samuel, and Joseph. -Of these
James lived here a short time after his father re-
moved,and keptflthe tavern. The rest of the family

removed Eastand West. Elizabeth, one of the daugh- ~

604

HISTORY OF WASHINGTON COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA.

ters, married George Kuntz, of Washington, where
she removed, and where she still lives. Michael and
James Kuntz, of Washington, are her sons. '

Craig Ritchie, whose name also appears as a pur-
chaser in 1787, was born in Glasgow, Dec. 29, 1758;
emigrated to this country in 1772, and when thirty
years of age married Mary Price.
section of country before 1782, as he was with C01.
William Crawford in the Sandusky expedition in
that year. Immediately upon the purchase of the lot
in Canonsburg he opened a store and carried on the
mercantile business for many years. He was elected

a justice of ‘the’ peace in 1784, and served in the.

Legislature of the State in 1793-95. He was also
one of the first trustees of J efferson College, secretary
of the board, and treasurer. He” died at Canonsburg,
June 13, 1833, aged seventy-five years, and left a
large family. Rev. Andrew Wylie, president of Jef-
ferson and VVashington Colleges, married the eldest
daughter. Rev. Samuel F.‘ Leake also married a
daughter. Elizabeth became the wife of Dr. Jona-
than Leatherman, and settled in Canonsburg. An-
other daughter became the wife of Dr. George Her-
riot. Drs. Leatherman and He_rriot both practiced
in Canonsburg, and died there. Abigail and Jane,
also daughters of Craig‘Ritchie, lived and died un-
married.

John, a son of Craig Ritchie. removed to New Or-
leans, and finally ‘to Texas, where he died. David
studied law, and practiced in Pittsburgh, and died
there. He was at one time member of Congress from
that district. William, another son, removed to
Wheeling, where he died. Craig Ritchie, the young-
est son, remained at Canonsburg, and carried on the
mercantile business at the old place, where the Ritchie
Block now stands. Later he went to Wheeling, Va.,
where he married Mrs. Chickering, and remained a
number of years. He returned to Canonsburg, and

lived there till his death. His widow still resides in‘

Canonsburg, and his son, William H. S.oRitchie, is a
merchant on the site where his father and grand
father kept store before him. _e
In the year 1790, John Todd, who was a cooper,
settled in the town, and carried on his business for
many years. The manufacture of flour and whiskey
gave him plenty of employment. In August, 1795,

"Joseph Blakely informed the public in -an advertise-

ment “that he has set up the trade of coverlid and
diaper weaving, with all kinds of flowered cottons,
dimities, and stuffs.” There were others who were
there prior to the erection of the borough, whose
names and occupations will be found in" the history
of the _town plats. '

Among the names which appearon the first assess-
ment-roll of the borough (in 1802) are those of a firm
-‘knownas Darr &,Ogle, who were the largest property-
‘owners in the town, and were assessed on two thou-
sand four hundred dollars. Their names areifound
the next year (1803), and then disappear. No knowl-

He came to this

edge is obtained of their business or what became of

them. The name of James Murdoch also appears; ,

He had a son Austin, who moved to Sewickley and
now resides there. John Speer, a son of Alexander
Speer, resided here, as did Thomas, who was a mer-
chant-and the first clerk of the Council; "John Wat-
son was a blacksmith, and opened a shop where Stew-

art’s Block now stands. He. was a member of the first

B_orough'Coun-cil, burgess from 1830 to 1834, inclusive,
and justice of the peace in District No. 5 from April
14, 1809, many years. Thomas Watson, an only son;
settled in Montana,'where he now lives. Mrs. Jane
Martin and Mrs. Mary Miller are daughters. The
Rev. John Watson, the first president of Jefferson
College, is also assessed in 1802. He married a daugh-
ter of Rev. Dr. McMillan, and died in that year.‘
Joseph Pentecost, a son of Dorsey Pentecost, was
a lawyer. He owned a lot in Canonsburg, on which
he erected a brick house, adjoining the property of
Henry-Westbay and the market-house. On the 19th
of December, 1806, he sold the property to Dr. Samuel
Murdoch, and removed to the borough of \Vashing-
ton. William Clarke was a resident of the town some
years before its erection as a borough, and in 1.801 was
postmaster, which position he held for several years.
He was a member of the ‘first Council.» Francis Ir-
win, who kept tavern in 1794,.was still a resident of
the town in 1802. At‘~that time the widow of John
Canon resided on the lot now owned and occupied by
John T. Roberts. William and Joshua Canon, sons
of John Canon, and two daughters resided with her.’
Thomas Briceland was assessed on property in the
town in 1802, but his residence was a little way north
of the borough. He was a member- of the first Council
and a resident of this vicinity many years previous.
The following is a copy of an interesting and ancient
paper found some twenty-fiveor thirty years ago in‘
the. old Briceland mansion, which formerly stood in

Chartiers township, near where Thomas -Archer now _

lives, by Mr. John Roberts, of this place. Mr. Rob-
erts was engaged in removing the house when he dis’-
covered the paper between the flooring and a joist of
the second ‘floor, where it had doubtless’ been placed

for safety many years previous and forgotten. It will _

be observed that many of the names are those of the
ancestors of those still living in ‘the community.
Some of these names are, however, now spelled dif-
férently. A number of these names have a dash
passed through them by the pen, which was the only
means they had of indicating absentees. These are
indicated by an asterisk. The writing is a beautiful‘,
round, old-style script, and is remarkably well pre-
sefived for a document which has been in existence
for so long a time:
A roll of Capt. T1108 Brisland’s company of militia for the year 1788. 0

Sam‘ Criswell. And“ Colhoon.
Jafi Keasy. Michael Bready.
Joseph ‘ROSS. Jn° Glynn,
Will“ Carson. Willm Taylor.
Jas Hamilton.

J n0 Buchanon.

two sons, Danieland George.

CANONSBURG BORO_U:GrH._- '

.605

-,IIug.h Wilson.

J no Henry.
Tho! Clerk. Tho! M’Cord.
Hugh Jolinstnn. Willm Hunter.

wmm M’Grenachan.*
Jacob Weaver.
Jafi Allison.*

Benjamin Morrison.
‘Wi_llm_ M’Cu~ne.
‘Melchor Hosser.

V Joseph Divin.* David Johnston.
11110 Lowther.* Alle! M’Colm. 4
Rob‘ Skinner. Jas MfFeir.*
Laurence Pendergra-ss. A_Jn° Arthurs.
Jacob Singer. Evin -Mincher.
Jas Rooney. ‘ Col. Ferguson.‘
Abm Lochridge. Pntrik Boland.

George Smith.
. Archibald Kenedy.
Patrick M'Gunag1e.

Thofi Donley. '
Jonathan Walker.
J n0 Goosenianfif

.Jn° Crast. Jacob Petterman..
Hugh Neal. .Moses,fost,er.*
Richd Greenfeil-d.* Jal Kiukead.*

_ Enoch Bradly. Enoch Bradley.*
Jn° Polly. Rob‘ Thornbury.* '
.Jn° Frough. . Daniel Crosseu.
Robf Haslett. Thomas M‘Cord.*
Jn° Haslett. :Hugh Wilsou.*

, «Chas ‘Pattison. ‘Tho’ Duncan.
Jn°.GitIin.*  Knip.

Rob‘ Giffin. _ Jn° Montgnmerey.
Rob‘ Blain. I Peter Sumnary.*

Jas Armour. .
” Willm Armour.
Thos Wallace.

Robt Mason.*
Smith George.*
.Jn° Roadpauch.

winm Barker. Willm Armstrong.
Rob‘ Barclay, _ J n0 Bryson.

Rub‘ Gouger. J u‘ Scoby.

Sam‘ Jackson. J n0 Underwood.
J n0 Turtle. J n0 M’-Hooney.
Vwmm Brown. Hamilton.  
George Brown. . 'Jn<5 Chester.

Moses Foster. _Fra;ucis M’Donald.

Thomas Briceland -had two sons, John and James.

James, the eldest, was mentioned in the assessment-

roll of 1802. A few years later he removed to Han-

over township, and built at what -is now known.as

Florence- He opened atavern at the cross-roads,

"and the place was known for many years as Brice-
land Cross-Roads. Later he removed.to Washington,
and -finally to Steubenville, Ohio, where he died.

John kept a hotel in Canon-sburg many years, now

the Sherman House. .John, Garland, and Sarah

Briceland, residents of Canonsburg,,are children of
John Briceland. Reynolds Neill was a merchant, and

live_d on the northwest corner of College and Main

Streets, where he-resided and kept store till about 1840.

In 1802,,George McCook lived opposite the college
on Main Street, and later moved to Ohio. He had
Daniel was the father
of the famous “fighting family”\of McCook. George
became a physician, practiced here for a short time,
and moved to New Lisbon, Ohio. J ohn_ Murphy was
a-harness-maker, and lived on the west side of Main
Street, where Mr. Algeo now lives. His son John
taught school inthe borough. A daughter became
the wifeof William Marshall, and lived and died in
the town. Gilbert McAfee lived where John Brice-
land, his son-in-law, nowresides. Henry McAfee, his
son, was burgess and justice of the peace, and died
in the borough.

39

Wi.lliam White, a member of the first Cou_nc__il, was

, a cabinet-maker, and resided on the southeast, corner
T of College and Green Streets, where Henry McPeak
; now resides. He left several children, of "whom Dr.
‘H John VVhite, long a physician of Hickory, in Mount .
; Pleasant township, was one. George.Land’liv._ed on
‘ Pitt Street, where his son George now resides.

Dr. Samuel Murdoch, a son of John .Murdoch,.o,lf
-Strabane t0wnship,_wa's the burgess of the borough
from its organization till 1817. lIn,1806 he purchased

‘ the brick house of J osepli Penrtecost, .,wherehe resided

till his removal to the boroughof Washington. He

, was prominent in the improvement and ,business in,-

terests of the town. He -marrieda daughter of the

Rev. Matthew Henderson. Alexander Murdoch, his

’brother,,also married a .d,aught_er of the Rev..Matthew
Henderson.

moval to Washington. He was elected justice of the

peace April 2, 1804. More extended mention will be =
found of Dr. Samuel and Alexander.Murdoch ‘in the ,1 _

borough of Washington. _ . . , .
Daniel._McGil‘l, a native of Ireland, was m.ar,ried in
1765, and remained thirty years afterwards in that
country, where, his seven children wereborn. rHe
emigrated to this country with his wife in the year
1796, and settled in Canonsburg, where he bought a
lot containing three acres fronting on Pitt Street, now
owned by George L..Scott. Here theylived till. the
closeof their lives in 1819, with but a day’s differ-

J .ence between their deaths. They wereburied _in what
‘ is now Oak Spring Cemetery. The children of Daniel
who came to this country with their parents, were _

J ohn,_J enny, Peggy, Eliza, and Hugh. They, all set-

tled near Oanonsburg except, Eliza, who_.married _

George lMarshman. .All were married and raised
families of children except Jenny. .John McGill,

the eldest, emigrated to this country a short time be- I
for-e his vfather. He married Mary Taggart in Ire-
land. Her brother Samuel also came to .this.town, and ‘

settled here.’ John McGill,was elected high constable
of the borough- In 81805 he owneda horse-mill; in
1809 he kept a tavern. Later he moved to the Bow-
landfarm in_Chartiers township, and afterwards re-
turned to Canonsburg, and resided where Mrs. Denny

now lives, and where he died. His children. were _
Mary, John, Nancy, Jane, Alexander F.,.-and H’ugh_.. ._ . .
John settled in Pittsbllrgll. He was a cabinet-maker,

and later a druggist. Nancy became the wife of John

Haft, of Chartiers tOWflSl1lp. Jane married Moses-I

Walker.

Alexander T. McGill was born.in Canonsburg‘

about the year 1808. After his parents removedto
Chartiers township he attended school at Plum Run.

Later he attended J efferson College, and graduated. '

He was elected tutor in the college in February, 1827,
and served one year, when he resigned on account of
ill health, and went to Milledgeville, Ga.; while there
he taught an academy one year. While in that State

He became the proprietor of the old 
Canon mill property, and resided. there until his re- '

1.606

he was assessed on two houses and outlots.

.McCook.

HISTORY OF. WASHINGTON COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA.

he wasappointed chief of surveyors who surveyed
the Cherokee lands. He returned to Canonsburg, and

studied,‘ theology under the Rev. Dr. James Ramsey. ‘
»At the close of his studies he married Ellen", daughter

of George McCullough, whose mother was a sister of
Thomas and David Acheson, of Washington. Soon
after this he settled as pastor over a Seceder Church
in Carlisle, and later went to the Presbyterian Church,

and became pastor of a congregation in that city. In

the year 1842 he was called to a professorship in the
theological seminaryat Allegheny City, where he re-

"mained about ten years, when his health failed, and
-he retired from active duty for a year, at the end of
"which ‘time he was called to a professorship in Prince-

ton Theological’ Seminary, which position he ‘still
holds. 7 Hugh"Mc_Gill, the brother .of John, married
Agnes, daughter of Matthew Bowland, and settled in

‘Canonsburg. He was a shoemaker, and carried on
-business where his son Hugh now lives and carries;

on the same business. ‘ ,

John Roberts emigrated to this countryfrom Vir-
ginia. His name first appears in 1804 onthe assess-
ment-roll as owner of a house and field; the next year
_ He went
into the mercantile business in a building that stood

where the brick part of the building first below the

school-house now -stands. He built the stone build-

ing as a residence in 1807. In 1810 he owned a-brew-
-house, and also carried ondistilling. In .1816 he sold
-his house and lot to Abraham Latimore, and moved to

a place‘which is now-occupied by Hiles’shoe-store.
He lived there until hisdeath in .1821. -Of his chil-'
dren,_ John, Jr., settled in Canonsburg, and was a
teacher there in .1806. He was also Assistant Profes-
sor of .Mathematics in Jefferson College for a short
time. He died inr'Canonsburg. .‘Abraham, who was
also a teacher.in 1816 and 1817,-rented the rooms in

-Canonsburg, where he taught. He died in 1828. ‘His,

son, John Roberts, of Canonsburg, is now (1882)
county commissioner. : William became a Covenanter
preacherin Rochester, N. Y. Edmund, who was a
‘physician, died in Harrisburg, Pa. . James, also a
physician, died in, Ottawa, Ill., in .1832.

George Kirk was a native of Ireland. He came to
this country with his wife, whom he married in Lon-

~donderry,.in 1796. They settledeast of the moun-

tains for some time, and afterwards came to this
county and made their -home on the Pentecost lands.
In 1811 he purchased a house and lot in Canonsburg,
which Mr. Campbell now owns, situated opposite the

‘ collegeon Main Street. He lived there until his dis-
appearance and death in 11813. In that yéarhe went

to the‘East with horses, in company with two young
men of Canonsburg, Dr. McFarland and Dr. George
_ When at the South Mountain House,
where they remained overnight, the young men did

see Mr. Kirk when they rose in the morning. An

examination and inquiry developed the fact that
some time during the night he had arisen from his

bed and left the house.

men returned to Canonsburg with the sad-news.
After some time'John McFarland; father of the doc-

tor, went out from Canonsburg, and‘ made a wider
search, and finally found the body in the mountains. _

It was never known whether his death was caused
by vaccident.--or murder. The children were James‘,
Samuel, George, Mary, and William. James left his
home for the South; Samuel emigrated to Indiana ;
George was apprenticed -to John McFarland as a
tailor. He was engaged in other business in Canons-

burg, andhad accumulated considerable property.‘

He was postmaster the last eight years. of his life.
He died in October, 1859, leaving a “widow, and seven
children,'of whom the widow and four children it are
now in Canonsburg. Mrs. Boyd Crumrine, of Wa§l’l-
ington, is a daughter.
son. William, the youngest son, is a‘ physician in
Philadelphia, Pa. Mary, a daughter of George Kirk,
Sr., became the wife‘ of Robert Stewart, of Little
York, I11. . _ - _

, There were many others located in the town in the
early years of whom but little isknown. The follow-

ing were residents and business men of the town;

John Roberts, a merchant; Robert -McMillan, dis-
tiller. In 1807 John VVeldon manufactured hats;

.Abraham Fee, Sr., was a tailor; Abraham Fee, J r.,

was a shoemaker. In 1817 Robert Smith wasthe
owner of a tannery; John Sample in 1819, and Philip
Cubbage also, were each carrying on the business of

tanning. In 1808 James Smith was a saddler. V Na-I

thaniel White, Daniel Hartupee, and Joseph Pente-
costin 1806 each owned brick houses.

Town Plats of Canonsburg.—The town ‘of Can- ‘

onsburg was laid out by the proprietor‘, Col. John
Canon, in 1787. The following account ofthe laying
out and of the plats of the town wasfwrittenby R. V.

Johnson, Esq., surveyor, and published in the Canon£- '
burg Herald in March, 1875. Several dates of pur-. .

chases have been added to the original account.»
About the year 1786, John Canon.(after whom the

town was named) obtained patents from the.Statefor ,

three tracts of land adjoining each other, and contain.-

ing in the aggregate twelve hundred and,forty—three V

acres. These patents were called .“ Mount Airy,” ‘.,‘Ab-
bing-ton,’_’ and “ Canon Hill.” The town is, located
on the “ Mount Airy and Abbington” patents, and was
originally laid out by John Canon, a plat of which is
on record, and contains twenty lots fronting on Market
(now Main) Street, fourteen on the west, and six- on
the east side of the street. These lotswere numbered

from the north side of the old road (between what is

now called Pike Streetand Chartiers Creek) toward
the north. On the west side of Market. Street—.—. ; 1
No. 3 was sold’ to Dr. Thompson, March 15, 1787.

cc, 4 (4 cc Daniel MCCOY’ u u p u

“ 5.“. “ James Morrison, ‘.‘. “ “ 

A search was instituted, but —
Ino clue whatever could be obtained, and the young

James, of Washington, is a 0 V

' ‘Creek Washington county by the subscriber John Canon. Who hereby

' have privilege of cutting and using uuderwood and taking coal for their

to be only as laid off above * * * and the bank as Described above.
 “ In Testimony whereof I have hereunto sett my hand and seal this A W
15th April 1788.

‘named the following roads: 1

P — ‘Thenext plat has no date upon it to definitely show

‘17 90 and 1800, (probably about the year 17 92 or 1793.
The only street named is Market Street, now Main 2

VandtPitt Streets are laid out.

*CANONSBURG BOROUGH. J -

607

-No,,6_f’_was"seI_d’to,David-Gault, March 15,1787. , . y  
* “.‘.,:.7L.‘f_f“ '_ "V ‘I “, Donald Cameron, March 15, 178-7."
Nos. ‘9 and 10 were sold to Andrew Monroe, March ’
15, 1787. '
Nos. 11, 12, and 13
T 1790. 7 a
On_ the east side of the street No. 2 was sold to
Robert Bowla.nd,.on conditionwthatno tavern or public-
house should be built on it.
No. 3 was sold to Capt.“Craig Ritchie, March 15, 1787.

were sold to John Todd, June 1,

"‘i 4 “ “ Col. Matt. Ritchie, “ “ “A
“ 5 ,“ “ VV.illia.m Marshall.
“ 6 “ “ Abraham Dehaven.

Attached to the plat is the followingr

‘ l_“ The above is a Draught’ of a Town laid of as above upon Chartiers

binds himself, his heirs, administrators and assigns to fulfill and perform
the following articles viz.: agreeably to the conditions inserted on the above
plan. To those who have all as those who may become purchasers to
convey to them their heirs and assigns their respective lots of Ground
in which their names is inserted. The inhabitants of the above town to

own use forever gratis, the purchasers to pay the said Canon three pounds
purchase and one Dollar annually forever afterwards, and to build a.
stone house, frame, or hewed log house at least twenty feet in front with
a stone orbrick chimney within two years from the date of their purchase;
it_is to be understood by uuderwood that it is only timber or wood that
islaying down or laying upon the Ground and only on Land or VVoods
that is not Inclosed theyshall not presume to go and take wood for fire
within any inclosure without leave first asked and obtained; a conve-
nient road to be allowed to the coal near * * John Laughlin’s the road

R-J“-x
“Jenn CANON -{ seal}-
\.—Y-J

s“'A-ttest,” 2

“James Mccnmnr. _, ‘

“ROBERT BOWLAND. }
The only streets laid out on this plat are the present

Main and College Streets. In addition to these. are

“ The Road to Pittsburgh.”
' “ To‘Gambles Mill.”
“ To Devores ferry.”
i‘ To McM'illans Meeting-house.”
“ To Washington.”
“ To Mr. Smiths Meeting-house on Buffalo.”
“to Hendersons M. house.”
“ to the coal bank.”
“ The road to VVells’ Mill.”
The coal-bank, mill, mill-‘race, Chartiers Creek, and
‘mill-dam are also noted.

when it was drafted, though it must have been between

Street. The streets now known as Green, College,‘
On the east end of Col-
lege Street is written “ to Gambles,”'. and on the west
“ Road to the mouth of’ Butfaloe on the Ohio River.”
On the east -end of Pitt Street iswritten “Road to‘
Pittsburgh,” and on the west end “ Road to Hender-
sons meeting-house & Montgo’mery’s Mill.” On the

south end of Main Street is written ‘‘ Road Devours

and Redstone.”

The writing on the north endis too

illegible to be deciphered. On the east end of the
road. along the bank of Chartiers Creek is written

“Road to Perrys and McKees Ferrys,” and on the-

west end “ Road to Washington.” ‘
Along the east side of the lots east'of Green Street

is laid out a street or. alley running from the -road .2
along Chartiers Creek to the old Pittsburgh road, and‘
east of this street are laid out sixteen lots not num-,
bered or named. There are in all ninety-eight lots

laid out, of which seventy-eight are numbered and
forty-two have the owners’ names inserted. The fol-
lowing are the names of the lot-owners in the order
named. . ,

Commencing on the west side of Market or Main
Street, at Chartiers Creek, was first the mill and then
the “ Roadlto Washington.” A. «

1.

(Blank.)

2. Abraham Dehaven.
3. Doctor Hugh Thompson.

4.
5.

Daniel McCoy, shoemaker. _
John McDowell, Esq.

6. David Gault, tanner. -

7.

Thomas Speers, merchant.

Road to mouth of Buffaloe on the Ohio River. 2

8.

9.
10.
11.
12.
13.
14.
15.

” 16.
17. V .1
Road to Henderson’s meeting-house and Montgomery’s Mill.
13. ' ‘ " Z
19.
20.
21. _ » ' _ _ L
(This name is crossedout and the name of David ‘Andrews written '
under it.) On the margin is the following entry: ‘ ' T

22.
23.

Doctor Thomas B. Creaghead. -
Andrew Munroe, tavern-keeper.

Andrew Munroe.

The plat is torn at this lot and no name appears.
Academy.

John Todd Cooper.

John Todd.

Charles White, hatter.

William Webster, carpenter.

James Foster, brewer.

William Criswell, weaver.
Ann Cook.

Elizabeth Andrews.
Adam Johnson, weaver.

“ 1792.
2 “August the 31 If Not improved in Six month forfited." '‘
(Blank) ' .
(Blank) 7

On the east side of Market, or Main Street, cemmencing at C~hartiers,,

Creek, first “ Road to Perry’s and McKee’s Ferryss”

24.
25.
26.
27.
28.

(Blank )

Robert Bowland, miller. ‘

Craig Ritchie, Esqr.

Matthew Ritchie, Esqr. . :

The tirst name written is erased, and the name or names of Henry

I

Wisbey and B. Smith inserted.

29.

William Thompsons, mason.

Road *- to Gambler.”

30.

John Canon, Esqr.

31, 32, and 33 are blank.

34.
35.

John McGill.
George McCooke.

36. James Witherspoon.

37.
38.‘

William Roberts.
W'illiam McCall.

Road to Pittsburgh. V »
On the north side of the present Pitt Street, numbering east from Main
Street : ' ’

39.
40.
41.
42.

J ohu Anderson, carpenter.
James Morrison, butcher.
Thomas Morrison,~tailor.
J  Alex. Miller, cooper.

608

HISTORY or WASHINGTON COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA.

 y ‘John Miller, lschoolvmaster.
. Slainnel Miller.
44. "Dell Weaver, mason. .
‘ 45. David Balston, stiller.

The lots on the west side, present Green Street, are
numbered to the Pittsburgh road, or present Pitt
Street, from 46 to 59 inclusive. ' As these lots are all
blank, it is presumed that none of them had been sold
at the time the plat was drafted. _ «

On the ‘east side of Green Street the lots are num-
bered, ‘beginning ‘at Pitt Street toward the south, from
60 to 73. «  

On ‘lot. No‘. 69', now owned by Henry McPeak, "at

the corner of Green and College Streets, is the follow'~ 

ing entry :‘ “Moses Andrews, Sept. 10, 1793.”

Lots numbered 75 to 78 run north from the old A
road ‘along the bank of Chartiers "Creek-, ’nu‘mbering y

from east to west. A '

75. Dina weaver.
66; John mercer.
77. James Chi-—, carpenter.

On the south sideof Pitt Street, about half-way be-
tween the present Main and ‘Green Streets, is_a lot
not numbered; the name of George Land, ‘‘ wheel-
wright,” is inserted. I

the 22d day of February, 1802, an act of the Legisla-
ture of Pennsylvania was’passed which provided and
declared “ that the town of Canon/sburg, in the County
of Washington, shall be, and the same is hereby
erected‘ into a borough, which shall be called the

‘Borough of Canonsburgh,’ and shall be comprised-

within the following bounds, to wit: Beginning at
the mouth of Brush Run ; thence up said run to the
division line between Craig Ritchie’s land and Samuel
\Vitherspoon’s lot;fthence along the lineof said lot,
so as to include the same, to Thomas Briceland’s
land; thence along the line of said land until it
strikes \Vells’ road; thence to the ‘corner of Nathan
Andrews’ lot; thence along the north side of the same
to the lot attached to the old brew-house; thence
along said lot, so as to include the same, to the west
end of the town lots on the west side of the "principal

street; thence along the end of said lots to the .

VVashington road; thence along said road southwest
to a ‘white-oak marked ‘G,’ at the southwest end of
Miller’s improvement on D-arr and Ogle’s land;
thence a direct course to Chartiers Creek; thence
down the same to the place of beginning.”

In 1815 the boundaries“ of the 'borou..gh were con’-
tracted to the present limits by a supplemental act,
approved Jan. 16,- 1815, which declaredand provided

,“ That from and after the last day of January, one

thousand eight hundred and fifteen,’the limits of the
borough of Canonsburg shall be as-follows, viz. : Be-
ginning at William 'Hartupee’s Corner; thence ‘south
seventy-five degrees west, eighty-six perches to a post
near the mill-race; thence along the ends of the lots
west, of Market Street north twenty-three -degrees

, west, one hundred and forty’-on‘e perches to the corner

of Nathan Andrews’ lot; thence along said lot north
seventy-five degrees east, forty-two perches to Mount
Pleasant road; thence along said road south forty
‘degrees east, twelve perches; thence along the ends
of the town lots north of Pitt Street, north seventy-
five Clegrees east, sixty perches to the corner of James
Ballentine’s lot’; thence along said lot, south fifteen

‘ deg'rees_ east, sixteen perches to the ‘old -Pittsburgh
"road; thence along said -road», south ‘-sieventy-five de-

grees West, ‘five perches to- William Donaldson’s lot;
thence along the ends of the town lots east of Green
Street south, fifteen degrees east, one hundredand
eighteen perches to the place of beginning.” '
The act of the Legislature incorporating the“ Bor-

ough of Canonsburg,” passed Feb.22,180'2, p‘rovi'd'ed

for the election of. the ‘following oflicers: “One

_ reputable citizen residing therein who shall be
"styled the Burgess of -the Borough, -and five reputable
L citizens to be a Town ‘Council, and shall also elect A
1 ‘I-Iigh constable.” In pursuance of the above act an
‘election was held in one of -the ‘roomsof the college
"on the 3d day of May, 1802, by William'iCl-‘ark, judge;
A. Murdoch, ‘inspector; and Samuel Miller, clerk.
_ . '1‘-he following oflicers were declared duly elected:
Borough Incorporation and Listef 0flicers.——On

Samuel Murdoch, Esq., burgess; William‘ Clarke,
Thomas Briceland, William White, John Johnson,
and ‘John Wattson, Esq., members of Council; and
John McGill, high constable. '

The first meeting of Council was held .May‘5-6,’ 18.02, I

when the following appointments weremade:

Thomas Speers, town clerk ; Samuel Murdoch-, Esq., 7

overseer of streets, lanes, alleys, and roads ; William
Clarke, Esq., treasurer; Thomas Briceland and Wil-

liam White, Esqs., -to ‘regulate ‘lpar-titionvwalls and .

fences; ‘Andrew Munroe (nailer), clerk of the mar-
ket-. On the 26th of Maythe following -additional ap-
pointments were made: David Wilson and William
Hartupee, overseers of the poor; Thomas Briceland,
William White, and John "Johnson, managers of the

coal‘ bank. V e\.

The following is the firstilist of taxables -in the
borough:

Darr & Ogle. ' Jas. Sniith.
James M urdoch. Gilbert DICATBG.
John Speer. ‘Elis'a Andrews.

William Clarke. lDav’d Andrews.

John McDowell. \Vm. llays.
Henry Westhay. vItob't lVI‘cCur'oy.
Be_nj'n Brown. ,.’Wm. Week.

M urdoch & Johnson.
Sam"l Murdoch.
‘And’w Munro.
Rev’d J. Wattson.
"Joseph Pinticost.
Jos. Pentecost.

Thos. Speers. ‘
Wm. & Josh’a Canon.
' Alexh‘ Bbyd.

John Lowery.

Nath‘l White.

‘V111. Hertupee.

yWm. McLaughlin. J-as. Smith.
H. &'Witherspo'on. Mary Hill.
Sanfl Tagge-rt, Matt’w Hall.
John Murphy. Alex’r Cook.
Dan’! McGill. Geo.,I’otter. .

'J as. lfhilops.
Ross ,McNg-ill.

Clms.'Herron. V
Jas. Briceland. —

CANONSBURG BOROUGH.

609

Wm. McCawl.
N_ath’n Andrews.
John Steen.
‘Jumet Brown.

John Smith.
Sam’l Murdoch.
Widow. Donne,1_..
Sam’l Miller.

Al_ex’r Ogle.’ Geo. Land.

John Wattson. Mrs. Mercer.

Craig‘Ritcl1ie.,. Jas. Donelson.

F. Irwin. John McFarland.
’ Isaac Hezlett. \Vm. White.

Sam’l Neill.
And’w Munro.

W111. Irwin.
Mary White-side...

John Johnson. J as. Foster.
Reyndlds Neifl. P Chris‘t Musser.
Widow Canon. M. Miles. 1
Ja’s Cunningham. Ann Christy.
Marg’t McDonald. Jas. Pattison.
George M cCook. Jas. Black.
Geo. Munro. T. Briceland.
Dav’d Wilson. Jno. McGill.

- Joshua Canon. Ed. \‘Villiams.
Eph’m'Jones. J. W. Hillard.

Wm. Hays. Jas. Balantine.
-‘—.' Wilson. Wid’w Murdock.
.Wm_. Greir.

The valuation of the taxable property was $12,352.
The amount of tax levied was $123.52.

The first mentionof a market was at the meeting
of the Council, June 25,1802, at which time Andrew
Munroe was appointed clerk of the market. The
market-house stood on Main Street, below the college

grounds. At this meeting it was ordered that stocks’

be erected for the use of theborough, as follows:
“Be it enacted by the Town Council of the Borough

of Canonsburgh, that for the better securing of the

peace and‘ happiness of said Borough, A pair of Stocks
be made and placed near the market-house to confine
offenders whose crimes may not merit a greater" pun-
ishment, and the Burgess is hereby directed to carry
the above resolution into effect without delay.” Con-
finementin the stocks was punishment for drunken-

_ness, riots, insults, attempts to injure the market-

house, or exposing dead "animals in the street.

At the same date it was enacted, as there are persons
who frequently “. come to this Borough under the char-
acter of mountebanks, stage players, and exhibitors of
puppet shows, Therefore be it enacted by the Town

Council that ifvsuch imountebanks, play actors, or

manager. of a Puppet Show shall exhibit in their pos-
session for moneywithin the said Borough, that such
person or persons shall be fined in the sum of fifty
dollars with costs of suit.” On the 16th of April,

1808, it was"‘Res0lved, That every person residing in '

the Borough shall‘ be entitled to receive Coal from
the Bank known by the name of Laughlin Bank.”
This privilege, it will be remembered, was granted to
all purchasers of lots by Col. Canon in17 88.

As there has been much discussion for many years

past concerning an alley alleged to exist between ‘

VVater Street and Pitt Street, the following quotation
from T. M. Potts,. of the Oanonsb-urg Herald, is given
with reference. to it; it being a part of a series of
valuable articles published in that paper in March
and April, 1875, concerning the early history of
Oanonsburg : V " ’

“Probably as far back as the oldest can remember, something has
been said every year about an alley which is supposed to exteiid from
Water Street to Pitt Street, and located somewhere between Market°or
Main Street and Green Street. The propriety of having this alley
opened has been discussed from year to year, and almost every Council
notified, individually or collectively, that it was their duty to open it.
It is asserted that the said alley was laid out in the original plat by Col.
Canon in 1786, and that the several property owners neither had the
right to close it nor keep it closed. A1 A 1 A

“We have been at some pains to investigate this subject, and now

propose to give the result. We have copies of ,all the plats so far ,

known to be in existence, the records at Washington have been ex-
amined, and we have made a very careful examination of the town
records for the first twenty years after the incorporation. The town
was laid out about the year 1786, and the first plat on record bears date
of 1788. The original lots between Main and Green Streets were laid
out and extended from street to street. Subsequently, but at what time
or times we are unable to state, the lots were all divided by lines run-
ning north and south, making the divisions or-smaller lots face severally
Main, Green, Pike, College, and Pitt Streets. 1 .

“ In none of the plats is there any all+-y whatever either laid out or
mentioned. From several of our oldest citizens, who are descendants
of the original purchasers of lots, we learn that as the lots in the upper
or north end of the town were sold and improved, a provision was made

. to secure the freeiuse of spring water toeach citizen. This was effected
. by making alleys or lanes from the street to two springs as follows:

One from Main Street to the Emery spring, on the lot now occupied by
T. M. Potts; one from Pitt Street starting at a point near the residence of
George Land to, the Emery spring,meeting the first-named alley at right
angles, and still another from Main Street, to the College spring. This
last alley was located just south of theproperty now occupied by John

Moore, Esq. In the‘ process of time the several lot owners made well; '

upon their own premises, and the alleys or lanes became no longer
needed for their original purpose. The lane to the College spri_n_gwas

4 early closed. The lane from Main _Street- to the Emory spring was ex-
l tended to Green Street, and became,a public alley, and is referred to /

in the deeds of property adjoining it as Spring Alley.

“ The alley leading from Pitt Street to the present Spring Alley was
closed in 1838 by the mutual consent of all the parties owning land ad-
joining, in an agreement sealed, signed,and acknowledged before James
McClelland, justice of the peace. We have examined the original article
of agreement, the following being the principal substance of it: i

' “ ‘ Whereas a certain alley situate in the Borough of Canonsburg and

‘leading from Pitt street to an alley which leads from Green street to

Main Street, has become useless, and is_ now an incumberance to those
persons adjoining the same; Now this agreement made the 12 day of
July 1838 by the persons who own property on said alley leading from
Pitt street, to wit: George W. Lewis, Rachel Woods, George A. Kirlr,

and the heirs of. George Land Witnesseth, That _the said George W. . '

Lewis, Rachel Woods, George A. Kirk, George Land, John Land, and
Elizabeth Land have mutually agreed to close said alley so that there
shall not be any thoroughfare through the. same, etc.’ A A

“ This agreement is signed by all the parties above named, with J am-es
McClelland and»H. B. Thompson as witnesses. .

“ On the 30th of March, 1803, the first burgess and Town Council of the
borough passed the following ordinance: ,1 . V 1

‘.‘‘Resolved, That all the Inhabitant‘s of this Borough, holding lots,
within the Limits of the Town, (if the persons holding lots adjoining
them see fit,) shall make and support their part of a good suflicient
pailed fence, the whole length of a reasonable garden, and this length
shall -be d°w_rmined by the length of the lotsbetxveen the Main street
& Green s:::et below the Market house, or half the distance between the
said stree and where the ends of the lots join they shall be'made

, sufficient and supported in like manner,’.etc.

“It will be seen that this act totally ignores either the "existence or
the knowledge of an alley cutting these lots in two. As this was the
act of the first Council, within fifteen years of the original laying out of
the town, with most of theoriginal purchasers still occupying the lots,
and possibly themselves very earlyisettlers, it is reasonable to suppose
that they were entirely familiar with the true state of the case. A

“Since, therefore, "there is not mention of the said alley eithetuon the
original orany other plat, nor in any records eitherof the town or re-
ferring to it in any way, it may be safely concluded that the alley is a.
myth, and we hope the publication of these facts will set the matter
forex er at rest. This alley or any other can only be opened by the due
process of law provided'for the laying out and opening of new streets
and alleys.” ‘ I

70

M

HISTORY OF WASHINGTON COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA.

the conflict which followed them, by way of revenge
for the death of his people, he became a brave and
sanguinary chief among the warriors.”

In the mean time, Capt. Cresap and George Rogers
Clarke, upon their retirementufrom Wheeling by way
of Catfish Camp to Redstone Old Fort, hadproceeded
from the latter place eastward, Clarke going to Win-
chester, Va., and Cresap to Old Town, Md., where he
had left his family, and where his father lived. There
he at once commenced raising a company of men for
the purpose of taking part in the Indian hostilities
which he knew must follow the occurrences on the
Ohio. They sent a messenger‘ to Lord Dunmore at
VVilliamsburg, Va., notifying him of the situation of
affairs; and an express was also sent to the Grover-
nor by Connolly from Pittsburgh, informing him of the
events which had occurred upon the frontier, and the
necessity of immediate preparations for an Indian
war, among which necessary preparations he sug-
gested the propriety of sending a force to Wheeling
to erect a fort there. Upon receipt of this communi-
cation Dunmore sent messengers to the settlers who
had already gone forward to Kentucky, notifying
them to return at once for their own safety, and on
the 20th of June he wrote Connolly at Pittsburgh, ap-
provinghis plan of building a fort at Wheeling, and

‘of carrying war into the Indian country ; also direct-

ing him to keep in communication with Col. Andrew
Lewis, who was then in command of Virginia troops
on the Kanawha and New Rivers ; also advising him
to send Capt. William Crawford with what men could
be spared to co-operate with C01. Lewis, “ or to strike
a stroke himself, if he thinks he can do it with safety.”
“,I know him,”‘said Dunmore, “to be prudent, active,
and resolute, and therefore very fit to go on such an
Expedition; and if anything of that kind can be ef-
fected, the sooner ’tis done the better. . . . I would
recommend it to all Officers going out on Parties to
make as many Prisoners as they can of Women and
Children, and should you be so fortunate as to reduce
those Savages to sue for Peace, I would not grant it
to them on any Terms till they were effectually chas-
tised for their Insolence, and then on no Terms with-
out bringing in six of Their Heads as Hostages for
their future good behavior, and these to be relieved

towns when the Yellow Creek Indians came in, and that there were
great lamentations by all the Indians of that place. Some friendly In-
dians advised him to leave the Indian settlements, which he did.

“Could any rational person believe for a moment that the Indians
came to Yellow Creek with hostile intentions, or that they had any sus-
picion of similar intentions on the partof the Whites against them?
Would five men have crossed the river, three of them in a short time
become dead ‘drunk, while the other two discharged their guns, and
thus put themselves entirely at the mercy of the whites, or would they
have brought over a squaw with an infant pappoose, if they had not re-
posed the utmost confidence in the friendship of the whites? Every
person who is at all. acquainted with Indians knows better, and it was
the belief of the inhabitants who were capable of reasoning onlthe sub-
ject that all the depredations committed on the frontiers by Logan and
his party-in 1774 wcuv nu . ‘ " ‘ fut the murder of Logan’s "friends
at Yellow Creek."

annually, and that they Trade with us [Virginians]
only for what they want.”

But before receiving this authority from the Gov-
ernor, Connolly had already put some of the militia
in the field, with orders to march to Wheeling and
commence the construction of the proposed fort. On
the 11th of June a party of militia from the Monon-
gahela, moving up the valley of Ten-Mile Creek on
their way to Wheeling to join Connolly’s other forces
there, and also being in pursuit of Logan and his
band, who were burning and murdering in that sec-
tion, were attacked by the Indians, and their captain

and lieutenant wounded, the former mortally. Gov-l

ernor Penn was informed of this occurrence, and of
the outrages which had been committed in this region
by Logan’s marauders, in a letter‘ written at Pitts-
burgh on the 14th of June by Eneas Mackay (after-
wards colonel of the Eighth Pennsylvania Regiment
in the Revolutionary army), in which letter, after
detailing some civil troubles between the Virginia
and Pennsylvania partisans at that place, he thus
proceeds, in reference to Indian outrages and alarms:

“ On the other hand, we don’t know what day or

hour we will be attacked by our savage and provoked

Enemy the Indians, who have already massacred six-
teen persons to our Certain knowledge. Aboutand in
the neighborhood of Ten-Mile Creek last Saturday, a
party of the militia, consisting of one Capt“ one Lieu‘
and forty privates, were on their march to join Con-
nelly at the mouth of Whaling [Wheeling], where he
intended to Erect a stockade Fort, when on, a sudden
they were attacked by only four Indians, who killed
the Cap‘ on the spot & wounded the Lieu‘ and_ made
their Escape without being hurt, and the Party, after
Burrying their Cap‘ Returned with their wounded
Lieu‘, so that Connelly’s intended Expedition is
knocked in the head at this time.”

The captain who was mortally wounded by Logan’s
party on this occasion (and who died almost immedi-
ately) was Francis McClure. The lieutenant, who was
severely wounded, was Samuel Kincaid, who had then

recently been commissioned justice of the peace in '
Westmoreland County. They were both considerably S
in advance of the main body of their company, and were ,

not taking proper precautions against surprise when
they were fired upon. Arthur St. Clair, of W estmore-
land, in a letter of June 16th to Governor Penn, in-
formed the latter of the occurrence, stating that the
captain and lieutenant were killed, but afterwards, in
the same letter, said, “ I‘ was mistaken in saying two
people were killed on Ten-Mile Creek. McClure was
killed and Kincaid wounded ; however, it would have

been no great Matter if he had been killed, as he had -

accepted a Commission in the Service of Virginia so
soon after the Notice you had been pleased to take of
him at the request of his Father-in-law, Col. Wilson.
. . .‘ Before this Accident Mr. Connolly had deter-

1 Penn. Archives, 1774, p. 517.

6101

HISTORY OF WASHINGTON COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA.

Thefollowing is a list of borough oflicers of Canons-
biirg since its incorporation, viz. :

BURGESSES.

1802-16. Dr. Samuel Murdoch. 1856. ‘Samuel Smith.

1817-19. Craig Ritchie; 1857. John Chambers, John 
1820-21. Dr. Jonath. Leath_erman. _ Black. , - ,
1822-23. James Smith. 1858. Joseph Hunter, John E.
1824-25. Not found. Black. . -

1826-27. Craig Ritchie. 1859. Robert Donaldson.

1828-29. Jeremiah Emory. 1860-61. Henry Annisansel.
1830-34. John Watson. 1862-63. James Crawford.

1835. James McClelland.
1836. Henry McAfee.

1837. David Templeton. _
1838-39. James Mcfllelland.
1840-41. James McCullough.
1842. Henry McAfee. 1
1843-46. James McClelland.

1864. Henry Annisansel.
1865-67. James McCullough.
1868. John McCord.

1869. Daniel Day.

1870. John Moore.

1871-72. John Chambers.
1873-74. Joseph Thompson.

1847. William _McDaniel. 1875-76. James Lutton.
1843. Hugh Riddle. 1877., Adam Harbiso-n.
1849. William McClelland. 1878. James Espy.

1850. Craig Ritchie. 1879. William R. McConnell.
1851. George A. Kirk. 1880. Joseph Wilson.

1852. John Briceland. 1881. W. H. S. Ritchie.
1853-54. Joseph V. Brown.

1882. John B. Donaldson.

1855. William McDaniels.
MEMBERS OF COUNCIL.

1802.-W'illiam Clarke, Thomas Briceland, William White, John John-.
son,,John Watson.

1804-5.-Alexander Murdoch, Thomas Briceland, William White, john

J Watson, Craig Ritchie. Y C

1806.—Alexander Murdoch, Thomas Briceland, William White, John
Watson, John Roberts. . ' . ‘

1807.—John Roberts, John Watson, Dr. James Cocllran,William White,
Craig Ritchie.

1808.—Thonlas Briceland, John Roberts, William White, Reynolds O.
Neill, Henry ‘Westbay.

1809.-John Roberts, William W'hite, William Hartupee, Henry West-

' bay, Samuel Taggert. ’ A '

1810.—John Roberts, William White, Craig Ritcllie, Henry Westbay,
Samuel Taggert. Y ‘ .

1811-l2.—John Roberts, William White, Craig Ritchie, John Watson,

' Samuel Taggert. I ' ‘ ’ =

1813.—Craig Ritchie, John Roberts, John Watson, William White, Dr.
John Warren. ' 1 ' ‘

1814-15. Craig Ritchie, ‘John Watson, John Roberts, William White,
Andrew Munroe. A '

"1816.-Craig Ritchie, John Watson, William VVhi‘te, Andrew Munroe,

Abraham Latimore.

Y 1817.-—John Watson, John Roberts, William White, Abraham Latimore.

18’18.—William White, John Roberts, Andrew Munroe, John Sample,
Joshua. Ledlie.

1819.-John Watson,'William Donaldson,William White, Andrew‘ Mun- A

roe, Joshua Ledlie.
1820.-William White, William Donaldson, Andrew Monroe, Joshua
Ledlie, George McCook.‘ A '
1821 .—Craig Ritchie, William Donaldson, Jonathan, Leatlleman, John
Sample, George McFarlane. v
1822.-—Abraham Latimore, William Donaldson, Robert Thompson, John
6 Sample, Jeremiah Emory." A 6  M
1823.-John Wats‘on,'Jo‘lln Sample, William Donaldson, Rev. William.
McMillan, Robert Thompson. ‘ ’
182-L-25.-—Not given.’ " ' 1 ' ‘ ..

,’1t26-27.-'—-John Watson’, Joseph S. Vincent, James Smith, Andrew Mun-

. roe,’ Hector McFadden.
1828.-’-Dr.  S.‘ Stevenson, James Smith, Robert Thompson, Hector Mc-
Fadden, John VVatso'n." " - ' d ’ -
1829.-James Smith, James McCullough, VVilliam McClelland, Dr. David
S. Stephenson, Hector McFadden. ‘ 1 ’
'1830'-3l.*—Ja.lnesCMcCullough, James Hanso‘n,’- Jeremiah Emory, David
Templeton,’ Dr.’ David S. Stephenson. ' A ' “ A ‘
1‘832.-—James McCullough’, Moses Walker, Dr. David S. Stephenson,
_ David Templeton, James M.;':Clelland. '

‘1833 —David Templeton’, Moses Walker, William McClelland, Hugh Rid-

dle, John McFadden.

183~l.—David Templeton, Moses Walker, William McClelland, John Mc-
Fadden, Joseph McGinnis.

1835.-John McFadden, Dr. David S. Stephenson, George A. Kirk, George
W. Lewis, William McDaniel.

1836.-James McClelland, George A. Kirk, John H. Buchanan, John
McFadden, Adam Harbeson.

1837.—John H. Buchanan, George A. Kirk, William M. Bane, William
McClelland, Hugh Sloan. , ’

1838.—Jolln H. Buchanan, William McClelland, VVilliam McDaniel,
I-Iugh Riddle, Dell Weaver. ' Y Y. 

1839.—Willi am McClelland, James McCullough, James Orr, Dell Weaver,

Hugh Riddle. , ‘ .- . 1 .. 1 ‘=
1‘840.—-John Burgess, John Briceland, Dell Weaver,‘Josephi‘Thompson,
Samuel Smith. ' . ,. _ 
1841.—John Chambers, Dell Weaver, Samuel Smith, William‘ McClelland,
George A. Kirk. " A , '_ .' , V.
1842.—John Briceland, John Dickson, Dr. D. S. Stephenson,  Rid-
dle, John Paxton.  A 
1843.—John Briceland, John Dickson, John Paxton, Will’ ;,l,.l'lcCle1-
land, Hugh Riddle. ‘ V

l844.—Samuel‘Stewart, Michael Wolf,‘ John H. Buch,anan,William  _

Callahan. _ - _ ;g-;._.» _
1845-46.—‘-W. B. Urie, John H. Buchanan, John E. Black, Alexander
Hanna, John McCahan. V -

1847.-George A. _Kirk, John V. Herriot, N. S. Potts, Adam Harbison, '

James McClelland. , A. .
l8«i8.—John E. Bell, J olln Rams y, John Murphy, Joseph L. lllcclelliandv,
John E. Black. *

1849.-—John E. Bell, John E. Black, John Ramsey, Joseph Htiston, J ack-

son McC1ellall(l.

V 1850.-—JohniE. Black, George Land, John Ramsey, Samuel Smith, T. J.

Mu nay. ‘ ,
1851.—-Jackson McClelland, George Land, Samuel Stewart, Craig Ritchie,

’ ' Reed B. Miller. , ‘ »

185‘.2.—Jackson McClelland, Joseph Thompson, Benjamin South, John
Chambers, Addison Winters. V l ,

1853.-—Joseph Tllompson, Sr., James Thompson, John E. Bell, John
Chambers, Dell Weaver. . A I

1854.—J. G. Mcllvaine, J. M. McWilliams, George Land, Thomas Wat-
son, G. A. Kirk. - V '

1855.-William Potts, George Land, Andrew Hart, Jackson McClelland,

A. G; McPherson.

1856.-William Hornish, E. K. Hodgins, James McEwen, Jackson Mc-
Clelland, Craig Ritchie. "

1857.—John’ Weaver, James Berry,_Joseph. Thompson, R. B. Miller, Jack-
son McClelland. "

1858.—-Joseph Thompson, Dell Weaver, Reed Miller, Henry McPeck,
John Brown. ‘ . Y

1859.—John Paxton, John E. Black, James E. Berry, James McEwen,
Samuel Smith.

1860.——James McEwen, John Paxton, James Berry, Samuel Smith, John
E. Black‘. ' s

1861 .—J . McEwen, John E. Black, James Berry, Samuel Smith, John
Paxton. .

1862.—John E. Black, James Berry, John Brown,_ William Marshall,
Dell Weaver. _ A 1 V V

1863.-James Berry, William Marshall, John E. Black, Dell VVeaver.

H1864.-Samuel Chamberlin, A. G. McPherson, James G. Dickson, John

/ Brown, John E. Black. , _
1865.-Andrew McPherson, John E. Black, Samuel Smith, Joseph

Thonfpson, James Berry. . '
1866.-James G. Dickson, Jolln .141. Black, A. G. McPherson, Joseph
Thompson, William Marshall. ‘ "

1867.—Benjamin South, William Campbell, William ‘Marshall, James

‘G Dickson, A. G. McPherson.

1868.—'Josepll Thompson, J. G. Dickson, Edward Dickerson, Joseph Rob-
erts, John Moore. ‘ , _

1869-B. South, R. B. Miller, James J. Lockhart, Levi Gamble, John
Moore. ' ‘

1870 (October).——Charles W. McDaniel, James Crawford, James Berry,
Samuel Smith, William Campbell.

1872.—James Berry, William Campbell, Benjamin South,'Samuel Smith,
MatthewCannon, Joseph Thompson. -- 1 ' g ‘

1873.-James Berry, F. J. L. Enlow, Matthew Cannon, G. W. Dehaven,

, William Campbell, Mark D. Mcllvaine. .

1874.--S. Cllamberlin, B. South, W. R. Connell, Matthew Cannon,James

Berry, J. G. Dickson.   ‘ ‘ A »

_‘ James McCullough, April 14, 1840.

CAN ON SBURG BOROUGH.

.611

1_875.—John Roberts, Samuel_Chamberlin, Dr. J. G. Dixon, Benjamin
South, George Perrit. ' '
1876.-Dr. J. G. Dickson, George Perrit, John Roberts, John Brown,
Samuel Chamberlin, Joseph Thompson.
1877.—Adam ‘H-arbison, James Adams, John Brown, John Roberts, T. M.
Potts, John Cham bers.
1878.——John Fife, M. D. Mcllvaine, Charles Shecurt, James Adams, T.
M.'Potts., ” J -
1879.-—Thomas Jackson, T. M. Potts, Joseph Thompson, W. Brown,
A William Caldwell, William H. Paxton, Daniel Day, John Chambers,
Robert Govern, Samuel B. McPeak. ,
1880.—Tliomas Jackson, W. H. Paxton, Samuel Smith, Robert Govern,
William Cald\\'e‘.l, T. M. Potts, William Campbell, William Donald-
son, Mark D. Mcllvaine.
188l.—S. B. McPeak, Joseph Thompson, Daniel Miller, G. L. Scott.
1ss2.—-‘c. M. Greer, T. M. Potts, s. B. McPeak, w. H. s. Ritchie, John
' B. May.
JUSTICES OF THE PEACE.
James McClelland, April 14, 1840. John Moore, June 3,_1865.
R. B. Miller, April 17, 1866.
John Moore, April 13, 1870.
Reed B. Miller, April 1, 1871.
. James McCullough, April 12, 1872;
Jan. 26,1874.
Adam Harbison, May 24, 1874.
Fulton Philips, March 16, 1876.
Jas. McCu1lough,.March 14, 1877. _
James Espy, March 27, 1879. ,

Hugh Riddle, April 15, 1845.
James McClelland, April 15, 1845.
Joseph Brown, April 9, 1850.
James ’McClelland, April 9, 1850;
April 10, 1855.

Joseph Brown, April 10, 1855.1
William Hornich, April 24, 1857.
Henry McAfee, April 10, 1860.
William Ilornish, April 21, 1862.

- r \

‘ Market-House.-It isevident that before the first
meeting of the Town Council, May 6, 1802,. a market-
house had already been erected, as at that_meeting
Andrew Munroe was appointed clerk of the market-
house, and to have entire charge of it. It stood on

the Main Street below the college grounds. Ordi-

nances regulating the sales at the market-house were
passed March 19, 1804. It was ordered by the Coun-
jcil June 4, 1808, that the stalls in. the market—house

, be rented for one dollar and fifty cents per annum.

No further reference is found‘ in the records concern-
ing the inarket-house till Aug. 25, 1820,_when, it was
moved by the Council “that the old market-house be

' taken down, and that a site be fixed upon fo’r'_building

a new _one; and the supervisor give notice to the citi-
zens to meet at the market-house on Saturday, the 26th

' inst., to have their voice as respects the contemplated

one.” This movement was held in abeyance until
May 16, 1821, when the question of ‘building was

svoted down. The old market-house remained some

years later, and was taken down and not replaced. -
Fire-Engine and- Company;-—About the year 1839
the Town‘Co_uncil purchased the “ Hibernia,” a hand
fire-engine that had been in use in the city of -New
York, and did duty at the great fire there in 1835.
In February of the next year, a volunteer fire com-
pany was organized., and it was resolved by the Coun-

cil “ that the balance of _ the citizens be classed in three

classes, whose duty it shall be to meet once a month
to supply the engine with water; each person to
furnish a bucke .” Each person refusing to attend
was subject to a fine of twenty-five cents. The Coun-

‘ cil also ordered two ladders and two fire-hooks pur-
chased for the use of the department. The company ,

existedfor a few years, and was discontinued for lack
of attendance, and the engine was finally sold for

 thirty-five dollars. It was found impracticableto

haul the engine up the.steep hills of the town- in case
of fire; the fire department became a thing of the
past, and no movement has ever been made inthat
direction since. - - - v

Early Taverns.-—On the 15th of March, 1787,, ‘An-_.
drew Monroe purchased lot No. 9 in the town, plat.

. He was licensed to keep a tavern at the October term
of court in that year, and at once opened a house of 6‘

entertainment on the lot now owned by Mrs. John E.
Black, on the southwest corner of College and Main

Streets. This tavern was kept by him till 1801, when

J ennet Munroe was licensed and kept it till 1805.
They lived here, however, many years later.

William Dehaven was licensed in December, 1790,
and Abraham Dehaven in 1791. He was one of’ the
original purchasers of lots of John Canon, and owned
lot No. 6, on the opposite side of the street from Mun-
roe. He advertised in 1795 that he “makes copper
stills and boilers, and wants a partner in the black-,
smith business.”
licensed and kept tavern till 1801. - »

In January, 17 94, Henry Westbay was licensed to

keep a tavern,'and opened a house on Main Street 1

above Ritchie’s Block, where James Adams now lives.

This was a prominent_ tavern during the Whiskey In- ’

surrection, known as the “Black Horse Tavern.”

This tavern was kept by him till 1814, when he re— '
moved to Washington with his daughter, Mrs. George _

Kuntz. His son James kept the tavern for several

. years thereafter." In the rear of the house was "a large 1 9
latticed arbor covered with vines and shadedby a, 

large apple-tree. This was a favorite resort for,con-
vivialists. 11

In the same year, 1794, David Lock _and.Mary Hill
were licensed to keep tavern. Nothing is known of
them. In 1806 George Sellers was licensed, John
Patterson in 1809, John Lowrey in 1810, and in that
year also Joshua Emory opened a tavern on Main
Street, opposite the college, where William Campbell
now owns. In 1825 he moved down. to the corner of
Main and Pike Streets, where he continued till 1840,
when the emigrated to the West. This was for many
years the principal hotel of the town, and where the
stage-coaches stopped and delivered and received the
mails. ‘

In 1819 William Finley was a tavern-keeper."_ His,
tavern was on the cornersof Main and Pike, where.
he kept about ten years, and where he died- Thomas _

Ramsey about the same time had a tavern at the place
now occupied by Hagan’s grocery and Campbell”s
hardware-store. _ . .

Hector McFadden was licensed in November, 1822,
and opened ‘tavern on the corner. of Main and-Green
Streets, where he continued till about 1835. The
property belongs to Mrs. Herriot, and is occupied by
Mrs. Ferguson. ’ ' 

The only hotel at present, in Canonsburg is the
Sherman House, kept, by George "Kirk.

In June, 1793, Francis .Irwin was 

61-3

HISTORY or WASHINGTON’ COUNTYJ, PENNSYLVANIA.

j Brid.g"es-.——‘A petition was presented to the Court of
Quarter Sessions of Washington County at the March
term in 1822 ‘for a bridge over Chartiers Creek at
Canonsbu-rg. It was referred to the grand jury, who
authorized the commissioners of the countyto appro-

priate $400 of Bank of’ Washington‘ paper tdwards

the erection of a bridge." The court allowed the ap-
propriation, and viewers were appointed, whoreported
favorably at the June termof that year. ' A contract
was made with George Morgan, who immediately‘ be‘-
gafn the structure, and at the November term the same
y'ear‘call~ed' for viewers, who were appointed, examined
the work,» and reported that it was ‘‘ built ina better

‘ manner than the co'ntrac't‘called for‘, and that he

.oT"ug’ht to be paid forty dollars more than the con-
tract.” The bridge was accepted and the reco-mmen-H
daticn of the viewers was approved by the court J an.
27, 1823. 1 '

On the 27:1: of'iJanuar'.y, 1824, a petition for a  

bridge over’ Chartiérs‘ Creek below Canonsburg was
presented to the court. Viewers were appointed, who
reported the next day that the expenses would. be too
great for the township to bear, which report was ap-
proved by the grand jury. This action’ was not ac-7
eeptable to‘ the people, and the matter was again urged,
and the bridge was built and accepted‘ in January,
1825. - 1 , . * A

Post-Offices and 1’ostmasters.—-From'a list of let-
ters printed in the Herald of Liberty, a paper published
at Washington in 1797, it /is ascertained that a post-

oflice was in existence in Canonsburg at that time. A

The name of the postmasterwas not given. The first
of whom any knowledge is obtained was William

Clark, who held the position in 1801. His‘ successors V
i are here given in the order of their appointment: 9

Henryrwestbay, July 1, 1809; John Roberts, Octo-
ber, 1811.; Andrew~M0nr'oe, before 1816; Mrs; An-'

" drew Monroe, John Dickinson, D. R. Stevenson»,
- James McCullough, Benjamin South, George A. Kirk,

Mrs- E. M. ,McGinnis, Mrs. Jane Martin (who still
holdsthe position). ’ V “
Thevpest-oflice wasauthorized to issue and receive

"inoney orders‘ in October, 1868. The firstlorder was

received October 17th of that year. -

’ Newspapers Of CanO‘ns'burg'.-—’The first newspaper
in Canonsburg was called the Luminary, and was pub-
lished by William Appleton -and William H. Cornwall

~ in 1834. Inithe issue of‘ the Ea:a'mz'ner, of Washington,

of July 27,1833, William Appleton gives notice that
he ‘proposes to commen-ce~ the publication of a paper
at -Canonsburg, to be called the Luminary, which is to
be printed semi—monthly. Mr. Appleton seems to
have associated with him William H.‘ Cornwall (at
one time recorder of deeds of Washington County),
and to -have publishedthe paper as a weekly. The
publication was-probably commencedton the 1st of

‘January, 1834, as No. 14 bears date of April 4th in 4

that year. The paper was a five—column folio, nine-
teen by" twenty-seven inchesJin-size.- At that time

I

the oflice of the Luminary was “ at No. 3, Walke-r’s
Ro,w, Front Street.” This was the west room on the;

first floor of the house on Pike Street now (1882) oc- "

cupied by John Fife, and -owned’ by Mrs. Huldah
Greer. The pressman was _a young man named
James Scroggs. John McGilli delivered -the papers
to thesu-bscribers in the n-eighborhood. The venture-
did’ not prove successful‘. At the end of sixlmonths‘

the publisher was overtaken by financial disaster, and,

the oflice was sold out by-the sh=e‘rifl“. The writ was
issued July 3, 1834, and returned on the'28th of the
same month.- 9 V ’

About the year 1852, William J . Hamill, a’-student
of Jefferson College, from B-al-timore, commenced

the publication of a newspaper “called the Student’s

Enterpr2‘se.- It was printed in a building on the north.

. side of Pitt Street.» On account of Mr. Hamill getting

into trouble with the college faculty he left school, and
the paper ceasedto exist after‘ having been published
less than a year. Copies of this paper are exceedingly.
rare, if indeed there are any in existence.

In‘ May, 1870, Th. Maxwell Potts and Aaron

Miller, under the firm-name of T. M. Potts & C0,,‘
A opened a. job-printing‘ oflice in the second story of the

bu-ilding on Pike Street, belonging to the estate of

iJohr“1*  Black, now occupied by A. M. Forsyth,
T merchant tailor, and A. L. Runion, druggist. Y 0:: '
V the 23d of August, 1872, they issued the first number

of The Oanonsburg Herald, an six-column folio, twenty
by twenty-six inches. The venture was well received
by the people, and a liberal patronage at once ac-V
corded. It was c‘ommenced and continued purely as
a local family paper, and has taken no part-in party
politics.‘ ' A _ .

On March 6, 1874, it was enlarged. to a seven-
column folio, twenty-four by thirty-six inches, and

at the first of January, 1879, it was again enlarged. ,
Its ‘form was then changed to a quarto, with five‘

columns to the page, in size twenty-six. by forty

_ inches. With the beginning of 1879 was commenced _
the publication of an original story entitled “ A Fair

Sample; 9. Romance of Old Jefferson,” by Rev.
William Weir. It was a story of Jefl'erson College
in her‘ palmiest days, and attracted considerable,
notice. It was copyrighted, and occupied" a year and
a half in its publication. Edward W. Monck was
employed upon the paper as associate editor from
September, 1875, until March, 1877. At the first of

April, Aaron Miller withdrew from" the firm, and

retired to a farm in Chester County. Since "then the
paper has eontinued under the management of T.
M. Potts, as editor, and publisher," assisted by his son,
R. Claude Potts.
removed to the second~'story of the block on Pike

Street owned by Craig Ritchie, where it still re-_

mains. . _ .
< On the 7th of August, 1875, Fulton Phillips com-,»
menced the publication of a paper, which he -atifirst

-‘called Notes ‘by F. ~.P.4 It was a threevcolumnr folio,

In the spring of 1877 the ofice was ‘

7 ,CANO‘.N.SBURG BOROUGH.

613%

eleven by sixteen inches in size, and published ‘at
twenty-five cents a year. It was first printed in. a.
building belonging to Benjamin South, and just north
of his residence on Main Street, in the ‘north part of
the ‘town, but after a few weelgs the publication oflice

was removed to the southeast corner of iMain and

Pike Street. Afterwards the ofiiee was for some time
in what is known as the old Dr. \Veaver property,
on Pike»St-reet, from whence it was removed to W.

 S. Ritcl1ie’s block, and in the spring of 1881 to
the second story of the Canonsburg Bank building...

on Pike Street. Within one year the name of the

paper was changed to Rural Notes, the size increased .

to a four-column folio, and the subscription price

raised to fifty cents at year. The size of the paper has
i not been fixed. Since 1878 it has generally appeared

as a five-column folio, though occasionally its size
has been increased to a six-column folio. . ,
Physicians of Canonsburg.——The name of Dr.
Hugh Thompson is found upon the platiof Canons-
burg when first laid out in 1787. He was an early

. settler on Chartiers Creek, in Peters township, near

Thompsonville, and from him that village derived its
name. 9 He was a practitioner over a large extent of
country. It is not probable that he ever resided in
Canonsburg, as his life was mostly passed on his farm.

‘He had a son Robert, who studied with him» and suc-

ceeded him in practice. “He was more familiarly

. known as Dr. Bob, and was famous for his horseman-

ship. He was for a long time one of the prominent
physicians in this region of country. In the latter
part of his life he removed to Allegheny County,

‘ where "he died. .

I I
Dr. Thomas B. Craighead, a son of Col. George
Craighead, wasborn east of the mountains, where

_ he became a physician. He. came to this section of
'_ country with his father, and settled in 1794 in Can-
onsburg, where he commenced practice- Hemaré

ried Rachel, daughter of Judge James Allison. After
some years his health failed him, he retired from -ac-
tive practice, removed to a farm in Chartiers on a part
of the Allison tract, and lived there till his death in
January, 1827. His eldest daughter,‘ Polly, who was
born invCanonsburg in 1795, married David‘ VVatson,
and settled in Cecil township, where Dr. McCloy
formerly lived; later they removed to Dr. Thomas
Craighead’s. Mrs. John Chambers, of Canonsburg, is
a daughter; Nancy, also one of the daughters, mar-
ried William .Wilson, of Allegheny County, Upper

‘St.‘Clair -township.» _ ‘

Dr. Samuel Murdoch, a son of John Murdoch, of
Chartiérs‘ township, studied medicine and commenced
practice in Canonsburg about 1800. He remained
herein activepraetice...ti.l1.-._.1834, when he moved to
the borough of Washington. A sketch» of him will
be found among the physicians of that borough.

Dr. James -Cochran was a resident «of the town a
few years in the early part of tlie century. He was a
member of the Council“ and treasurer in 1807. 1

, Va.

In the year 1802 the name of Dr. J.  Hilliard
appears. . His death occurred. the next year. '
~ Dr. John VVarren was a. prominent and skillful

physician, who commenced practice in the borough ,

of Canonsbi-urg' abo§ut'1807‘, and‘ continued till 1830.
Helived on the north side of Pitts Street, where
Samuel" MeM‘i1l'an. now lives. ~ He was a member of

4the.Council in 1813.

“ Dr. M. S’. Pettit (late of the  S. Army)” offered
his professionalservices to the people of Canonsburg,
December-, 1816. ’ ‘ 1

‘ «Dr. George McCook, a son of George McCook, of

Canonsburg, was born June 15, 1795. tHe graduated
a_t~7Jefl'erson College, Canonsburg, in 1811, at the early
age of sixteen years. For two years he was a-tutor
of ancient -languages in the University of Richmond,
He returned to4Canonsburg, and studied medi-
cine with Dr.,Warren. In 1816 hewas married to
Margareti~Latin1er, of Washin.1gton_,<->Pa.,.1and com-
menced‘ practice in. Canonsburg,vand. later went to
New Lisbon, Ohio. In 1844 he-was elected to the
professorship of obstetrics in the Lake Shore Medical
College of VVilloughby, and retained that position for.

three years. ‘He declined a position as professor at -

Cincinnati, and accepteda professorship at Washing-

ton University, of Baltimore, tMd.‘ In 1847 he was A

transferred to the chair of surgery, where he remained
for two years, and then removed to New Lisbon, Ohio.
He went to Pittsburgh in 1849, where he became a

. successful physician, and had an extensive practice.“
» He was appointed one of a board to examine these

applying for appointments. as surgeons in the volun-
teer service in 1853, and in 1865 he was pension:
examining surgeon. 7 He died at New Lisbon, Ohio,
June 23, 1873, at the age of seventy‘-eight years.

a Dr. McFarlandwas a son of John McFarland, an
old resident of ‘Canonsburg. Heistudiedimedicine.

about 1813, and commenced practice here. Later he,

moved to Bentleysville, and died there in 1820.

Dr. Jonathan Leatherman ‘came to Canonsburg
about'1815. He married a daughter of Craig Ritchie,
Sr., and lived for a timewhere Paxton Brothers now
live. Many years later he moved three miles west of
town, on the VVashington turnpike, where John Mon-1
inger now lives, and where he died. He was burgess
of Canonsburg in 1820-21. ' ‘

Dr. George Herriot also married a ‘daughter-‘of

[Craig Ritchie, Sr., and settled in Canonsburg, and:

died there about 1830. _

Dr. DavidlS. Stephen-son ‘came here andvopened an-
oflice about 1825. He was a skillful physician, and
activein town affairs, being elected a member of the
Council in 1828—31. After a residence of about -ten.
years he died.,' 1 .

‘ Dr. John Vowell, of Pigeon Creek, was a well-read.
physician, who came to this town about 1835, and:
remained some years, then moved to Wasliington,
Pa.,where he opened a drugstore, which is still

  owned by his descendants.

Mrs. Ma.ginnis.

  Lisbon, Ohio.

614 Hlsronv or \vAsH1NeToN .

COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA.

Dr.‘ John Vance Herriott came here in 1837. He
became a pupil of Dr. J. Leatherman. _ Later he went
to Philadelphia, where he _remained. several years.
He is now in Valparaiso, Ind. I _

Dr. McFadden, anative of the town, and son 0
Hector McFadden, studied medicine and practiced
here from 1830 to 1850. _ He lived in the brick house
erected by his father. 0

Dr..Murray, a son of James Murray, who owneda
portion of the Morganza tract, was a pupil of Dr. J .-
V. Herriot, and practiced in the town from.1842 till
his death. He resided in the house now owned by

Dr. Nourse came to‘ this town in 1832 from W'ash‘+.-
ington, D.-C., and remained a few years, after which
he went into the regular army as a physician. The
Rev. Joseph Nourse, librarian of the Naval Observ-
atory, was his brother. ; ' ..

Dr. John Weaver -was a ‘son of John Weaver, of
Chartiersetownship. He studied medicine with Dr.
J. V. Herriot, and afterwards graduated at Jefferson
Medical College. He practiced here from 1842 to
1858. ’ I

Dr. John VVeaver, a nephew, of the Dr.’ John
Weaver mentioned above, and son of Thomas Wea-
ver, of Cecil township, was a graduate of Jefferson
Medical College. Hepracticed in town from 1864 to
1872. ' ‘ ' .
I Dr. James G. Dixon, a graduate of Jefferson Col-

"lege, also of Jefferson Medical College, practiced for

atimeiat Mount Jackson, Lawrence Co., Pa. ‘In

1853 he moved to Canonsburg, where he is still in- .

active practice. A
_ Dr. Robert Thompson, although not a native of
the town, came here when about seventeen years old
with his father, Robert Thompson, where he re-
mained till he went into active practice. He read
medicine with Dr. George McCook, then of New
After he finished his studies he com-
menced practice in Washington, Ohio. In 1832 he
was elected to the Senate of Ohio from Guernsey
County, and in the following‘ year removed to)Colum-

‘bus, Ohio, where he remained till the close of his

life. ’ He was aphysician of the Deaf and Dumb
Asylumof the State for eighteen years,"and trustee

of the ‘same. ‘He was one of the foremost in organ-

izing a State Medical Com-'e._nt,io,n prior to the or-

ganization of the State Medical Society, and became

president of both. He was a member of the Ameri-
can Medical Association, and lastly one of the most
able and eminent physicians in the.,,State. _.He«di,ed
at Columbus, Ohio, Aug. 18, 1865, in the sixty-eighth
yearof his age. V - 

Dr. George H. Cook was a graduate of Jefferson
Medical College. He commenced practice in Indian-
apolis, and about 1854 came to Canonsburg. He
continued practicing until 1864, then practiceda year
or two in Pittsburgh, and removed to McDonald, in
this county. \ ' I

.sold out to Dr. John Donaldson, and now

Dr. William G. Barnett graduated at Jefferson Col:

lege in 1837, and studied medicine with Dr. Thomas
M. Taylor, ‘of near Lexington,,Ky. ;_He commenced

practice near Connellsville,Fayette Co., and.con-

tinuedthere ten years, and in 1856 removed to Venice,
Wash,in_gton Co., where he remained nine years. In
1864 he removed to'Canonsburg, where he has since
resided. He served in the State Legislature in 1876.

. Dr. J. W. Alexander, a pupil of Dr. J. Leather-
man, commenced "practice in Hillsborough about
1840, where he remained’ for twenty years.
-breaking out of the Rebellion he entered, the army
as surgeon of the«Twenty-sixth Pennsy1_van_ia Infan-
try. In 1865 he came to Canonsburg, where he -still
resides. For several years he was physician to the
State Reform School.

Dr. Hugh Hanna, a pupi1;o'f Dr. John Weaver,

J r., and a graduate of the J elferson Medical College,
commenced practice here about 1870. Afterwards he
lives on a
farm in Chartiers township. A _ ‘

Dr. John Donaldson, son of Dr. David Donaldson,
of Bridgeville, came to Canonsburg after graduating
at Cleveland Medical College.
ticed in Pittsburgh. , He came here in 1878 and bought
out the business of Dr. Hanna. -

Dr. W. Bane, a native, of the county, came here
about 1878. He. also was a graduate of Jefferson
Medical" College, and a pupil of Dr. Kelly, of Wash-
ington. v . ' . ‘ .

Dr. Z. B. Stewart came from Marysville, Washing-

. ton~~Co., to educate, his children. -He opened a drug-’‘ '

stgre about 1856, and died about 1863. ‘

-Dr. William Kirk, a native of Canonsburg, studied ’

with‘Dr. John Herriott. He completed his studies
there with Dr. W. G. Bamett. He was a graduate

of the Jefferson Medical College ; commenced practice. A

here. He removed from Canonsburg, and is now at
Fox Chase, near Philadelphia. I ’
Ba.nks_.——-Application was made to the Legislature
of the State ‘July 21, 1853, for the incorporation of
the Canonsburg Savings-Fund Society, with a capital
of $50,000. No action was taken until 1855, when it
was _incorporated by act approved April 20, 1855. It
soon after went into ,operation,and was in existence
for about fifteen years, closing in April, 1869. Its
first cashier was Samuel R. Williams, who had ‘pre-
viously been Professor of Natural Sciences in J effer-

son College. I This position was occupied" for several '

years previous to the close of the institution by John
E. Black, Esq. . ‘

The Farmers’ Bank of Deposit was organized March,
1865. Its board of directors was constitutedas fol-
lows: James Craighead, president; B. South, secre-
tary and treasurer; R. C. Hamilton, John Chambers,
and Adam -Edgar. This , institution opened an oflice
on Pike Street, Canonsburg, and continued business
till January, 1880, when it closed and was succeeded
by the Canonsburg Savings-Bank, which opened for

At. the _ _

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_ Alice Y. McGinnis.

‘ CANONSBURG BOROUGH.

business Jan. 14, 1880, in the same ofiice, where it
continued till January, 1881, when it was removed to
the new banking-oflice now occupied by the Canons-
burg Rank (limited). The business was closed up by
the stockholders, Feb. 9, 1882, and the property trans-
ferred to the Canonsburg Bank (limited). The last
mentioned institution was organized with a capital of
$60,000, and opened for business on the 9-th of Feb-
ruary, 1882, in the office previously occupied by the
Canonsburg Savings-Bank. The presentofficers are:
Directors, William Martin (president), J. C. McNary
(secretary and treas.urer).,,Adam Edgar, S. B. McPeak,
W. R. McConnell.’ Assistant cashier, Henry Bennett.

The CanonsburgfLibrary.—To give a complete

_ ‘history of the Canonsburg Library it is necessary to
go back of the present orga‘niza_-ti'on.a number of years.

In the early summer of 1848 two literary societies
were. formed by the students of Olom.e Institute, a
school'for girls, underthe charge of Mrs. C. J.
French. The Philalethian Society was organized
June 22d, and the Philadelphian at or about thesame
time. The early minutes of the latter society are not
to be found. Measures were at once taken to found
a library for each society. At-a meeting, of the Phil-
alethian Society, held on’June 26th, a plan for secur.
ing subscriptions was adopted. In due time these
libraries were built up and served the purpose,;;in-
tended. The institute clos-ed in 1864, and the libraries

. remained in the old seminary building on Main Street
A until November, 1866, when the resident members of

the two societies held a joint meeting and agreed to

present the books to the Students’ Christian Associa-
- t.ion of Washington and Jefferson College of Canons-

_burg. When it had been decidedto remove” the

college to \Vas’hington, the members of the Students"
. Christian Association, at a regular. meeting in lMay,

1869, formally returned these books to the donors.
The books were removed from the college building to
the residence of Mrs. J ane'Martin, on Pike Street,
where they remained until 1879. \

On the evening of Feb. 7, 1879, a meeting of citi-
zens which was largely attended was held in the pub-
lic school-house, to consider the expediency of estab-
lishing a public library. It was resolved to go forward
in the matter, and the following committee was ap-
pointed to prepare a constitution: Rev. J. M. Smith,
T. M.' Potts, Miss ,Mary Martin, and Miss Rachel J .'
Douds. At a meeting held on February‘ 21st a con-
stitutionwas reported and adopted, and the Canons-
burg Library ‘Association organized, with the follow-
ing-named ‘oflicers : President, Rev. John Speer;
Vice-President, Miss Mary Martin; Secretary, Ed.
W. Mouck;_ Treasurer, William H. Heagare; Audi-
tors, Samuel Munnel, Miss Mary Watson, and Miss
The offer. of the northeast room
in the second story. of W. H. S. Ritchie’s business
block was accepted as a library room. ’

At a meeting of the resident members of the Phila-

lethian and Philadelphian Societies, the books of their

respective libraries were loaned to the Canonsburg
Library Association, and these formed the nucleus of

the present library. The first funds of the association

were raised by voluntary subscription, and means for
the purchase of new books from time”. to time have
been mainly raised from the proceeds of public en-
tertainments. The fee for regular membership is two
dollars, and one dollar yearly dues,,bu.t any onecan

have the use of the library by the payment of one 0

dollar a year. ‘

The number of books received from the two literary
societies was about five or six hundred. The number
of books now catalogued is about twelve hundred,
embracing a carefully selected list of books of poetry,
travel, biography, history, science, fiction, religion,
and miscellaneous. The number of books annually
taken out by the readers is a»-little less than twenty-

‘, fivehundred. Much of the success of the library has

been"due*to‘ the earnest and persevering efforts of ‘a
number of ladies of Canonsburg.» During the first

‘year Mrs. Nannie Bebout occupied the position of

librarian, but since then that office has been filled by
Miss Rachel J. Douds. The present oflicers are 2'
President, T. M. Potts; Vice-President, Miss Lizzie
Barnett; Secretary, William McEwen; Treasurer,
William H. Heagan; Auditors, Samuel Munnel, Miss
Kate Herriott, and William M. Roberts.
Schoo1s.—The history of-'_the Canonsburg Academy,
J etferson College, Theological Seminary, Olome In-
stitute, and the present academy will be found in the
general history of the county. This sketch refers en-
tirely to what were known as the pay schools, and
the public Vsehools which succeeded them. The first
mention, of a teacher. in the town not directly con-
nected with thecollege is found in 1811. In J anu-
aryof that year the Rev. D. D. Graham advertised

ice 

to open‘ a’ series of instructions on thestudy of

\

rhetoric and belles-lettres, comprehending the science’
of philology.” In the year 1816a brick school—house
(which is still standing) -was erected on Water Street,

sand in July of that year application was made to the

Council by a number of ‘ inhabitants for two or three

feet off the side of Water Street for school purposes.

I-t was “Resolved by the authority of the ‘Town
Council that forty feet in length and three feet in
breadth ofl‘_ the south side of Water Street, any where‘

' opposite Alexander Murdoch, Esq."s lotts on" said street,

be granted in perpetuity to Craig Ritchie, Esq., John
Watson, Esq., Dr. Samuel Murdoch, and others, sub-
scribers (and their successors) toa paper containing
articles of association for building and maintaining a
School-House in the borough of Canonsburg, dated
the —‘-—— day of August,'18l6.” It is evident from
this that a board of trustees was at that time organ-
ized and in operation‘, and that this action was taken
forlthe purpose of enlarging the school-house lot.
But little is known of the school, except that it was
in operation many years. '

The history of the schools of Canonsburg after

615 A

V McCullo.ugh,.and Dr. J. G. Dixon.

61661

the passage of the school‘ law  iden.tical~ 

with that o.f Charti‘—ers tow~nship,_ of which the town
fo.-rm,ed a part of one of‘ the districts-. Upon a peti-
tion to the proper authorities the town of Canons.-.
burg became erected. into a separate and _\distinct,;.
school dfistrict, and the next fall and winter a portion
of Chartiers township was added, and the whole
erected into an independentschool "district, -which it
still continues.
erected a two-story brick edifice on the ground do-
nated by»Col. John Canon for school purposes, which
 the lot uponwhich the old stone college stood. In

this building the two. lower rooms and one upper

room were devoted toschool purposes, and the upper
rooms were used for a town hall, 1 The school board
of Chartiers and later of Canonsburg had the privi-,
lege of th,e“b.uilding for school purposesfrec of charge.
The act of Assembly authorizing the erection of
Canonsburg into a separate and independent school
district Was approved by the Governor April 1, 1.857."

. Aboard of directors was elected April 24th, which

wasuorganized on the 2d of May the same year,
Tlie board consisted of Rev.,Will_iam.Smith, Benja-.
min South, J. L. Cochran, Dr. John Weaver, James
Rev. William
Smith was chosen; president; Benjamin South, trease
urer;_ and J.'L. Cochran, secretary. At this time
there were two public schools in the borough. The
schools were graded the yearbefore the erection of
the new district, and at third department added.
On-the 17th of March, 1858,-la portion. of one of the
Chartiers districts adjoining was added to the district.
In 1863 a- school was established for colored pupils".
Ahouse was erected for their use? on the lot granted
to the African Methodist Episcopal Society bythe
Legislature, and was used without change until 1870,
whenit was enlarged and improved and is now in
use. In 1877 the board of directors decided to erect
a new . school--hous.e with modern’ improvements.
Plans and specifications were obtained, and contract
made for its erection for the sum of five thousand
two hundred dollars. The building was completed

V for the sum specified, -and was furnished for three

hundred dollars. It was first occupied Nov. 1, 1877.
_The.prin_cipals from the erection of the independ-
ent district havebeen as follows: William G. Fee;
—:-.C.aI.npbe11.; B. F.,Lakin, 17865-.66; J. P. Taylor,
1867.; , William  Garrett, 1868—69; T. A. Elliot,
1870; Miss; Eliza, F,I'a,zer,,187.,1; W, T. Slater, 1872;

7 E.  Mfou,Cl<_, 18,73-4-74;._.VVilliam Braddock,,1875;

William Whitgiy, 1876; E.  Mouclgl 1877-78;
Willii,am.gM.,Stooi_dy,1879-80; William M. Roberts,

, 1881, The present n-umberof scholarsis 147 males A
A. and 115, ferna?l‘es,, with four teachers in charge. The
. receipts for school purposes in~1.881 were $2565.71,
  and expenses $2309. .7 , , ,

,  firSt‘S3bbath"SChOOl organ- 1

ized in Canonsburg was established Oct. -25, 1817, by

i thestudents of efl'erson. sColl.eg.e. All constitution

HISTORY or WASHINGTON cotoinrv, PENNSYLVANIA.

‘west of the mountains.

was made and adopted  signed   follow-.
ing persons: Wi;lliarn Ci. Blair, Joshua Moore, 

I McCan,dless, Alpheus Coles, John Moore, Richard
iBrown, and Alexander VVl:l.lfiaI_IlS-O11.
‘Were VVil1iam C. Blair,'presi'dent;, Joshua Moore,

Tli.e oflicers,-

se.creta_ry; A. fMcCand1ess, treasurer, The school
opened with sixty scholars, and continued until each

: of the churches in the town established a‘ Sabbath-
In the year 1844 the Town Council;

school, when it was discontinued. At present each
of the local churches has a flourishing Sabbath,-school;
connected with it- - A ,
Chartiers United Presbyterian, Gongregation-."
—The first action by the Ptople in this section of

’ country which resulted in the formation of the church

now known as the Chartiers United Presbyterian Con-..
gregation was taken in the spring of N74, at which
time a petition was sent to Philadelphia asking for
an election of elders.’ At what particular time. this
request was granted and the congregation_ of Char-
tiers formally ’organi_zed- is not ‘known. The‘Rev,
Matthew Henderson, who wasthe third missionary of
the Associate Church who came to this country, was

I settlediat Oxford, Chester. Co.,. Pa.,and it is believed

that he soon after (in the next year) visited this place,
and again in 1779. It was not, however, until 1781 or
17 that he received a call from the congregations of
Chartiers and Buffalo and was settled. as pastor over
these churches. ‘In _Sprague’s Annals occurs the fol-
lowing in reference to Mr. Henderson: t-“It‘is prob-7-,

able that he commenced the-removal of his family to _

the West in the year 1781, or it may be 1782./”« “After
proceeding some distance,” continues the biographer,

. ‘.‘- reports of the disturbances caused bythe Indians

reached them, and excited such an alarm that he left
his family at Conagogeague, and proceeded alone to
his newcharge. The family remained here about a
year, in a very uncomfortable situation, having no
better dwelling than a rude cabin. Nor was their
condition in this respect greatly improved when they
were once more unitedby their removal to the scene
of Mr. Henderson’s labors. .' . . For several years
after Mr. 3;.ienderson’s settlement in Chartiers in 1782
he was the only minister ‘of the Associate Church

had the care not only of his own widely-extended
flock, but of several vacancies in the neighborhood.”

It is proper to say that Mr. Henderson, and it may
be his congregations, acquiesced in the union of 17 82,

which resulted in the formation of the Associate Re—‘

formed Church.’ In the year 1789, 'however, they re-

turned to _the Associate Church. ‘He continued to be _

their pastor until the sixtieth year of his age, and the
thirty—seven-th of his ministry, when, on the second
day of October, 1795, he was killed by t-hefalling of
a tree. More extendedmention will be made of the

1 This history is prepared from aidiscourse entitled “ ,Cl1,arti,ers.Con_gres ‘

gation and its Pastors,” by Rev. J. T. Cooper, D.D., of the .United Pres.-
byterian Theological Seminary of Allegheny, Pa., and delivered Nov. 4,

. 1875-

In consequence of this -he ‘

cnsonssluno ‘BiORO‘UGiHJ       c f

*6 -17

-Rev. Matthew Henderson in the history of ‘Ch'a‘rti?ers
township, where he was an early settler.

Mr. Henderson having been -?removed "by Provi-
dence, in 1'2 95, from the c'on‘g‘reg"ation, Rev. Jiohn
-Smith, as it ‘appears from the ‘minutes of the session,
became its pastor about th“e15th of‘ November-, in the
year 1796. Mr. Smith, according to -Mi~l‘ler’s isketch-es,
was sent -to this -‘country by ?the Asso-ciate '-Synod of

. ’Scotland-, in the year 1770, -in company with a 
‘ -John Roger.

V He =1ap.pea‘rs “to have taken an va=c7t5ive
(part in the ~negoti=at?io-nis  relation to the union be-

‘ tw-eeni the Associate and Refoirmed Presby'*teria‘n

Churches, and, racvcordingg to Mvi»ll»er"~s’:siketch'es, voted

for it. A-t that —iti*f1'-T~e-:h*e was *set‘t~l‘ed inI8Midd1re Octo- ‘
Irara. How long he remained in this «place we are
-unable to say. He.’con~tii'rrued -tihepas-tor of Char-t-ie‘rs

only a few years, ‘for it appea'rs from -the minutes--of

the Presbytery that he was released on the 121st ‘of’

-Jan~ua'ry,in the "year 1802. He was also Zpastoir at
the ‘sla'm'e ~tim'=e ‘of the -’co¥ngrega1t%io~‘n, of ‘Peters "Creek,
?from which he was released. -Heis ‘said to have been

1a man of suiperioir intellectual poweirs -and a very ’;po:p‘- ’

-ular-~speak5e”r. It is 'pa'in*ful, l1o‘wever,—’to have to re-
cord the ‘fact tliat Aug».‘' 31, 1803, he was ”s'usp-en%de'd
-from the ‘mi-nis't:ry.‘by the Presbytery of ‘C-hartiers».
On“ L-tihe 14th of April, 1802, a call was ~1noderated
in ‘Chartiers -"congregation by ‘Mr. ‘Henderson, which
resulted -in the choice of Mr. Hamilton. He was

A probably the father of Mr. \iVil1lia-‘m Haini-ltonv, wlrom

some of you will remember as a ‘student at eollege

' -ian-d ‘thef-theological -semi=n;a-ry. -This call was *«de-
fclined. ' ’

. -The congrega-tio"n~of 7Cha'rtie‘rs, on the 11th of April,

1805,=passed the following -resolutions, John -Hay,‘
chairman A: “Resolved, That what-ever —ca4ndida'te will

‘have a“majori»t.y of votes, the wholec”ong*regation will

' ijo-iniin calling for him. "Resolved, That w’l1ateve‘r7minf- ,
ister the congregation will call at this time they will
"pay him annually £%120,_Pennesylva11-ia currency, and;

’-the =coin'rni’ssioners are authorized to -‘assure the Pres-
‘bytery of this. Resolved, Una.nimous~ly,~that thecon-

igregat-ion will give a call to -the Rev. Mr. Ramsey.”

Accordingly», on the 4th of September, 1805, Mr.
J ames Ramsey was ordained and installed pastor of
this congregation. M.r. All-ison preached on thenc-

casion from 2 ‘Cor. viii. 23 (part of the last clause).

'He also addressed a-charge to the pastor, elders, and
congregation, respectively. In the.e~vening a sermon
was preached ‘by -Mr. Anderson on Psalms cii. 16.
This relationship, thus solemnly“ formed, was con-

tinued until‘ J nine 12, 1.18479, when Dr. Ramsey was

released at his own request. He departed this lifein
‘Frankfort, at the residence of his «-son-in-law, Dr.

McElwee, on the 6th of tMarch, "1855, within a "few \

days of having completed his eighty-‘fourth year.
After the release of Dr. Ramsey, in June, 1849, the

I ' congregation remained-"vacant until the 12th of May,
1853, when Rev. John Barr, Clark, D.D., was ordained C
and installed asits pastor. Dr. Clark was born near Ca- 9

hearts of thousands.

diz, Harrison Co».-, Ohio, Oct. 9-, 1i8'27=. After a.su-itaIb‘l‘e

‘training -by Lgo’dly -parents, he entered Fr-anklitn‘ Col-
; 1-ege, at New -Athens, Ohio, when he _was ‘sixteen years
"of ‘age, and iattev-nded its sessions without interruption
"aunt-i--1 he graduated on the 15th-‘oif'Septe'mber,1848.

‘On the 14th of November, 1848-, he entered the Asso-

~cia=te Theological ‘Seminary located -in this place, -and

’coIn?pleted the "prescribed course of study in March,

1851.’ He was licensed ‘to preach*  the P«resby.‘te=ry_e

-of M-uskingtim in- the same ‘year, and sent as a m‘is~-

.sionary to the ~Sta~te of Micliigan, where he, cointinu;-ed

fp-reac'h‘i'n-‘g rdturinge the year, spending 4-‘a consiiderabl-e

Lport?ion of his “?time in the city of Detroit, where,  I

the resu7*=lt'of his labors», ‘a con‘gregation was organized
whi-ch numbers ‘at present «nearly three hundred ~me"rn'=-
bers. Having in the summer of 18521 received ‘a
unanimous call to become pastor of this congrega-
tion, he was, on the 15th of May, 1853, ordainetl and

‘instaliled as its pastor. Hisablea-n»d suc-cessfuil min-
‘istry the ‘people -of"thi=-is congreg'atio'n -con-tin-uaed, to

enjoy un-til Aug. 9, 1860', when he was released, at

his own ‘request, wi-‘th the “view ‘of becoming’ the pas-

tor of -th‘eSeco‘nd -United Presbyterian *cong”—rega‘ti’oi1

13, 187-2. , ‘ ,
His services as a pastor in Allegheny were forsome

"of Allegheny, where ‘hevlabored-un-til his dealt-h‘,‘J an.

time interrupted by the '-late war, -in the interest of

which his feelin»-gs. were ardently -‘enlisted. He was
appointed colonel of the ‘One Hundred and T-wentys

third and One Hundred and lNi“nety-third Pe'nnsy»l- - '
vania Regiments, in which capacity -he‘ser'ved his *
country in theyea-rs 1862—64,~comma.nding ithelove of
.his soldiers, the respect and confidence of his fe-llo-w-

oflicers,-and~the gratitudevof hiscountry. -It should

-be noted, -that after the resignation -of ’ the chaplain of
-the iregimen-t, Dr. Clark performed “the-duties of chap’-
"lain -in addition to those--of commanding oflicer. r I =

Prior to its ‘interment, his iliifel-ess body was taken
into the church in which he had so often (proclaimed

the gospel of ‘-the grace of ‘God. ‘. Th‘ousan‘ds~-~=crowd*e'd

there to look for the last time upon his manly form

vnow‘prostrate~indeath. From" that place his —body

was conveyed. by a large number of the members of
his flock and personal friends tothe cemetery-‘near
Cadiz. An imposing and handsome monument of

sgra'nite,' about twenty-six feet in height, the ‘gift ofa
"number of his personal friends and adm-i‘rers, now

marks the spot where repose the mouldering remains
-of one who so often thrilled by his ‘eloquence and
drew to himself, as the magnate draws the -steel, the

there, with appropriate ceremonies, on the 30th of

-June, 1875. ‘On this occasion impressive ‘addresses

were delivered by Revs. Mr. Norcross -and-rMr.' T. H

Hanna, and an extended and -graphic sketch of the

deceased, particularly while connected with the ‘army, .

was read by Mr. John S.lNichol. -
Dr. Clark was in many respects a remarkable man.
Possessing a commanding appearance, and a strong,

The monument ’wa‘s placed '

DUNMORE’S WAR. ,     -71

mined to March from Ft. Pitt (which he now calls
Fort Dunmore) with three or four hundred men he
had embodied for the purpose of chastising the Shaw-

" anese, to erect Forts at Wheeling and Hockhockon

to overawe the Indians, and from thence to carry the
War into their own Country; of this he was pleased
to inform me by letter, and to desire I would act in
concert with him.”

The general tone of the above letter seems to show
that (on the part of the Pennsylvania adherents at
least) even the imminent danger which threatened
all the inhabitants west of the Laurel Hill could
not make the partisans of the two colonies forget
their animosities and act in concert for the genera.l
welfare. In a letter dated Ligonier, June 16, 1774,‘

'  Clair informed Governor Penn that a very large

party of Indians had been discovered crossing the
Ohio below Wheeling and moving eastward. He
added, “’Tis some satisfaction the In.dians seem to
discriminate -between us and those who ‘attacked
them, and their Revenge has fallen hitherto on that
side of the Monongahela which they consider as Vir-
ginia, but least that should not continue, .VVe are
taking all possible care to prevent a heavy stroke
falling on the few people that are left in thiscountry.”
Thus the people east of the Monongahela were con-
gratulating themselves that it was not on them, but

' on the more exposed (but then almost entirely de-
.serted) settlements west of the Monongahela that

the savages were wreaking their vengeance. “ It is
said,” wrote William Thompson, in a letter to Gov-
ernor Penn, dated June 19th, “ that the Indians have
fixed a boundary [the Monongahela River] betwixt
theVirg,inians and us, and say they will not kill or
touch a Pennsylvanian. But it is not best to trust

them, andI am doubtful a short time will show the

contrary.” —

But notwithstanding the supposed immunity of the
people east of the Monongahela from Indian inroads,
the panic there was nearly as great and as general as
on the westside of the river. “ Nothing can be more
surprising,” said St. Clair, in. a letter written on the
12th of J une2 to Governor Penn, “than the ‘dread
the people are under, and it is truly shameful that so
great a Body of People should have been driven from
their Possessions without even the appearance of an
Enemy, for certain it is as yet no attempt has been
made on what is understood to be Pennsylvania, nor
any other mischief done than the killing the family on
White Lick Creek, which I informed you of before, and

I which from every circumstance appears rather to have

been private revenge than a national stroke. A1 fresh
report of Indians being seen near Hanna’s Town, and
another party on Braddock’s road, Set the People
agoing again Yesterday. I immediately took horse
and rode up to inquire into, and found it, if not totally
groundless, at least very improbable, but it was im-

possible to persuade the People so, and I am certain
I did not meet less than a hundred Families and I think
two Thousand head of cattle in twenty miles riding.
The People’ in this Valley will make a stand, but
yesterday they all moved into this place [Ligonier],
and I perceive are much in doubtwhat to do. Noth-
ing in my Power to prevent their leaving the Country
shall be omitted, but if they will go I suppose I must
go with the stream. It is the strangest infatuation
ever seized upon men, and if they go off now, as
Harvest will soon be on, they must undoubtedly
perish by Famine, for spring crop there will be little
or none.”

When Lord Dunmore, early in May, received intel-
ligence of the hostilities which had been commenced
at Yellow Creek and other points on the Ohio, he’
took measures without delay to carry on a vigorous
aggressive campaign against the Indians. It has
been mentioned that he sent to Connolly, of Pitts-
burgh, his approval of the plan of building a fort at
Wheeling, and that Connolly gave orders -to that
effect to the militia. Soon afterwards Col. Mc-
Donald was ordered to move west on Braddock’s
road, with a force of about five hundred men,_ to pro-
ceed from Laurel Hill to Fort Burd, thence across
the Monongahela and the present county of Wash-
ington to Wheeling, to complete the fort, and after-
wards to cross the Ohio and attack the Indians on
the Muskingum. Capt. Michael Cresap had raised a
company of volunteers in Maryland, and marched
them west across the mountains to the Monongahela,
which he reached about the 10th of July. On the
13th of that month, while nine men were at work in
a cornfield on Dunkard Creek, they were suddenly
attacked by a party of Indians, who killed six of
them, the three others making their escape. Whether
the Indian party was composed of Logan’s Mingoes
or not is not certainly known. Connolly reported that
they were Shawanese, thirty-five in number. Cresap,

being in the vicinity with his company, pursued the A

savages, but they had nearly a day the start of him,
and made good their escape. Under these circum-
stances he gave up the pursuit, and marched with his
company to Catfish Camp, where “ his advance was
stdpped by a peremptory and insulting letter from
Connolly, in which he was orderedto dismiss his
men.”3 Thereupon he turned. back, marched to the
Monongahela, and thence across the mountains to

Maryland, where he met Lord Dunmore, who gave _

him a commission as captain of Hampshire County,
Virginia, militia; and in this capacity he served dur-
ing the later operations of the campaign. Thereason
why Connolly had treated Cresap so cavalierly and re-
fused the services of his company is not apparent, as
in the preceding April, when George Rogers Clarke
and Cresap were encamped with their followers at
Wheeling, the latter had received proofs of high con-

1 Penn. Archives, 1774, p. 519. 2 Ibid., hp. 514.

3 Mayer’s Logan and Cresap.

‘6l 8

--—..

HISTORY  WASHINGTON ‘ COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA.

clear, and resonant voice, and devoted to his work, he

was very popular as a preacher. As a pastor he was

greatly beloved by the members of his flock, both
here and in the city of Allegheny. He possessed. one
power to a marvelous degree,—that of remembering
the names of the members of his? congregation. It

has been saidthat there was scarcely a man, woman,
or child in his»»€enig—regation or Sabbath-school in. .

Allegheny (hletiil these were very large) whose sur-
name and even Christian name he could not recall
withoutany difliculty. Indeed, it was customary
with him to familiarly address the members of his

_ charge and his more intimate acquaintances by their

Ohristianinames. This, togetherwith the fact that

he was remarkably facetious, will account for the very
strong hold which he had upon the hearts of his

members, and of the deep. regretthat was felt by this
congregation when, after a pastorate of seven years,
he concluded to accept the call made to him by the
Second United Presbyterian congregation of Alle-
gheny. . '

Rev. D. H. French became pastor of the_congrega-
tion May 2, 1861, and was ‘released, at his own request,‘
in June, 1866. During the vacancy of the congrega-
tion, in the year 1869, the present house of worship
was erected. , - y A . ’ A t

On the 1st of December, 1870, the ,Rev.\D. M. B.

“McLean formally tookcharge of the congregation,
.and in the spring of _the same year this house was
I finished and occupied.

Mr. McLean served the
church acceptably, and died March 21,1880, while

V still in charge. Since thattime the pulpit has been

filled by supplies only.

The following persons were elders at the timethe
call‘ was extended to the Rev‘. Matthew Henderson,
namely: James Scott, John «White, Nicholas Little,
and David Reed. In addition to the above the fol-
lowing is a list of those who have been, or still are,
elders.in this congregation :l .

«Elders in 1/7‘99.——Joshua Anderson, John Hay,

Nicholas Little, John McCall, Thomas McNary,‘
A - Andrew Munroe, Jeremiah,Simpson,.'John White,

Samuel Murdoch, Samuel Agnew, David Reed.

Ordained April 17, 1811.——James McNary, John

Roberts, Samuel Fergus, James Martin. ‘
Ordained‘ June 18, 1816.———Abraham Anderson,

‘James Lee, John McNary, George Murray, Robert

Henderson.
Ordained May 21, 1825.——Alexander-Reed, Matthew
McNary. .
I Ordained May 10, 1832.—-James Moore, Joseph
McNary,:James Wilson, Andrew Russel.
Ordained Feb. 25, 184:1.--W.H. McNary, David S.
Stevenson. . V 1 . .
Ordained Feb. 15, 1854:--Joseph Reid, Thomas
Miller, Samuel Ralston, William Martin, Samuel
Pollock, James Ralston.
. Ordained May 12, 1864:--R. H. Russel, John Camp'-
bell, Samuel McNary, Robert E. Wilson.

Ordained 1878.—;John B. May,  R. McI¢ary~,
J. W. Martin. ' , '
‘ The present boardof elders consists of John B.

A May, James R. McNary, J. W. Martin,‘Samuel Pol-

lock, Thomas Miller, William Martin, R. H.'Ru'ssell;

The congregation has at present two hundred and /

seventy-four members. ‘ ~

The following named went out from Ohartiers con-
gregation and became ministers of the gospel: Revs.
Ebenezer Henderson, Abram Anders'on,D.D., Alex.
T. McGill, D.D., James Adams, Thomas Wilson,

' James W. Logue, J. T. Cooper, D.D., James P. Ram-

sey, Abram Anderson, Hugh Sturgeon, JamesBa1-
lentine, T. H. Beveridge, D. W.~Oarson, J. G. Carson,
D.D., J. I. Frazer,_A. R. Anderson, W. L. lWilson,
VVi1liam Ballentine, T. J. Wilson, ‘J. W. McNary, 
P. McNary, S. B. McBride, George R. Murray, J. B.
’Whitten. - 5‘ 

On the 26th'of December, 1797,. Nicholas‘Little,
Samuel Agnew, Thomas McNary, David Reed, John
Hays, John White, and Jeremiah Simpson, trustees
of the associate congregation of Ohartiers town-ship,
purchased four acres, two roods, and fifteen perches
of land of John Canon, for which theyppaid £45. It

was "situated about one mile southwest of Canonsburg.

On this land the congregation erected their first
meeting-house and buried their dead. The house

.was built “of round'logs daubed with clay, some of

the logs having been cut to give light. The seats
were of round poles laid on blocks. ‘It had no fire-
place, stove, nor chimney. There‘ the congregation
would sit for two sermons, in cold winter days, with-
out fire, and noglass in the windows. This house in

time gave place to the second one, which was erected _

on the same lot. It was built of limestone, and was

V taken down about the year 1,834 to give place for the

erection of the brick church, which was soon after
built. ‘ ii I '

While the stone house was standing it was cust-
tomary on communion occasions to meet in the tent,
as it was called. Here also preaching services were
conducted when the day was pleasant. Four posts,
about twelve feet high, were set in the ground under
a grove of ash-trees. The preacher was elevated
about four feet. His back and head were shielded
from the rain and sun by boards attached to the
posts. These posts were boarded about half-way up
on the sides.-. In_ front there were no boards. The

communion table was made of long, white ash logs,

rough hewed on three ‘sides. These logs rested on
blocks. The seats were also blocks. The table was

usually filled from five t_o seven times, and the ser- ‘

vices were sometimes continued until it was too dark

» to read the concluding psalm, which was usually the

twenty-third. The Twenty-second Psalm, to the tune
of Dublin, was invariably sung, line by line, in going
to and returning from the table. ' ’ .

The brick church was used by the congregation
until 1869, ‘when it was torn down, the society having

  CANONSBURG BOROUGH.

purchased a lot of land inCanonsburg, and during
the fall of 1869 and wintersof 1870 erected the pres-
ent brick church edifice, fifty-six byeighty feet, at a
cost of eighteen thousand dollars. It was dedicated
in March, 1870, by the Rev. T. B. Hanna, now of
Monmouth, Ill. ’

The Presbyterian Church of.Canonsburg.’——In

_  1830 a petition was presented to the Presbytery of

Ohio (now Pittsburgh) byithe people of Canonsburg
and vicinity, asking’ forthe organization of a new
church to be located in the village of Canonsburg.
The subject, however, was deferredzuntil the next

.meeting, in the. hope that some arrangement might
be made that would prevent a division of the'Char-

tiers Church, then under the pastoral charge of Rev.

_ JJohn McMillan, D.D._ This it seemedimportant to‘

avoid, if possible, as ‘neither of the partiescoul-d sup-
port the stated ministrations of the gospel separately;
In‘ the meantime an effort was made to unite the peti-

tioners and congregation on some plan that would not

imply a division. But as there seemed to be little or

‘no prospect ofaccomplishing this, the following.‘reso-
«lution was adopted by the Presbytery: “ That the re-

quest of . the people of Canonsburg be, and hereby is,
granted,_and. that they be, and hereby are, erected

‘into a distinctcongregation, to be called the Presby-
-terian congregation of Canonsburg.” Accordingly, on
the 25th of October, 1830, a meeting was held in the. '

college chapel in Canonsburg, at which the church

Hwas duly organized. An election was entered into,

and Henry Bracken (formerly a member of the Char-
tiers Session), John Hutchinson, and James Hanson
were chosen ruling elders.. Messrs. Hutchinson and
Hanson were subsequently ordained. In April, 1831,
five months after the organization of‘ the church, the

-number of members, according to thefirst roll that
appears on the record, was seventy-nine. A promi-
nent feature in the early government of the church
was the faithful and judicious exercise of discipline.
,Various trials are recorded in the minutes of the ses-

sion, arising from different. offenses on the part of
church members, but more frequently from the use

and sale of intoxicating liquors. In either case the

offender was promptly suspended from the commun-

ion of the church until he gave satisfactory evidence

of repentance andreformation.

 On the 10th of December, 1832, the session held a
-special meeting at which they adopted the following

resolution on the subject: . ' _
“WHEREAS, intemperance is a vice that is fraught

-with incalculable evils, ruinous to soul and body and
‘all. the best interests ofman, utterly -inconsistent.with

Christian character, and the more inexcusable in con-

-sequence of increased light and information on the

subject; therefore,
“ Resolved, by this session. that no person indulging
in the use of intoxicating liquors, or engaged in vend-

  . 1 By Rev. J. M. smith.’

ing the articleifor a beverage, shall be admitted to the
communion of‘ the church, and any persons who may
have‘ heretofore engaged in thepractice, and are de-
tcrmined to continue in it, shall be considered‘ as sus-
pended, or liable to suspension, from the communion

of ,the church.” That this resolution was faithfully

adhered to, the records abundantly show. . t
On the 28th of April, 1831, the board of trustees

of Jefferson College adopted the following resolu-

tions :

.“. W7zereas, It is important that in the privileges
enjoyed in this college, those of a religious character
should be specially regarded, therefore, resolved:

“ 1. That it shall be considered the ex-ofiicio duty
of the president of this college to administer religious
instruction, and the ordinances of the gospel to the
students, as circumstances may justify or require.~

“ 2. _ That for this purpose the college shall be under

the direction/and control of the Faculty, and subject A‘

to their use. 1, » .

“3. That if the Presbyterian congregation of this
place, or any other orderly denomination in the
vicinity, "should wish to occupy said hall, they shall
pay at least one dollar and fifty cents rent for every
Sabbath they shall enjoy the privilege, and the rent

of the .hall shall be allowed for the services above

required.” ‘ . , V I

This offer was accepted by the new congregation,
anfd up to the present date (April, 1882) they have
used for religious services so much‘ of the college
chapel as was not occupied by the students. Before

the removal of the college to Washington the presi-- . ‘

dents from time to time exercised the ex-ofiicio func-
tions of pastor or stated supply. Since then they
have had pastors of their own selection, the-students
of the academy occupying such portions of the hall
as‘ have been sufficient for their accommodation. The
first stated supply was Rev. Matthew Brown','D.D.,

who had been called to the presidency. of Jefferson

College in 1822, and had occupied the pulpit of Char-
tiers Church in conjunction with Dr. McMillan from
that time until he entered upon his duties in the col-

lege church.’ In 1845, having resigned the presidency

of the college, he ceased‘-his stated ministrations in
the church after a service of fifteen years. The first
regularly installed pastor was Rev. Robert I. Brack-

inridge, D.D., who, after entering upon the presidency I H

of J efl’erson»_College as the successor of Dr. M. Brown,
was installed pastor of the church by the Presbytery
of Ohio on the 12th of December, 1845. In these
services, held in the college chapel, Rev. William C.

..,Anderson preached the sermon, Rev. C. V. McKai.g

presided, and Rev. William Smith, D.D., delivered
the charge both .to the pastor and the congregation.
The relationship of Dr. Brackinridge to the-church of
Canonsburg and Jefferson Collegefwas of short dura-
tion, embracing but one year and nine months. After
the resignation of Dr. Brackinridge, in September,
1847, the pulpit was supplied by. Rev. Matthew Brown,

2619‘

period of five years.
.onsburg there was no special work of grace, but al-

620

I

HISTORY OF WASH«IN’%G'I‘ON ‘ COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA. .

D.D., until the next meeting cf Presbytery, when a

call was presented for theministerial services of Rev.

Alexander B. Brown, D.D. The ‘call being accepted,

a.rrangem'ents were made for his_ installation, which

were gcarri-ed out on the first «Sabbath of February,

 1848, by a committee of Presbytery consisting of R-ev.
‘ M. Brown, D.D., Rev. William Smith., D.D., and Rev.

B. Orr. Owing to ‘incr-»e’~asi,ng 111 h-ealth, he ‘resigned
-the pastorate of the church on the 71th of April, 1857,
having, also retired from the presidency of the col-

lege for thIe’same reason. ,His resignation_ was ac-.

cepted by the Icongr<eg.atio~n, after adopting resolutions
expressive of the warmest attach:-rnent and the deepest
;f'ee_‘l-ings of regret. '

In September, 1853, .Rev. A-‘a2ro‘n Williams, D.D., _

beca-me professor of Latin in Jefferson College, and
was elected co-pastor of the C:lI11I'v.Cll V-w-i.t.};1 Dr. A. B.
B-rown on =t.he 30th of thie‘sam;e emo‘nth.. The installa-

tion took place in the college chapel on the 717th of

November, 1853, Rev. VVilliam Hamilton ‘preaching

the sermon, Dr. William Srnith presiding and deliver-
ing the chargeto the .people, and Rev. William Ewing
Q the charge to the pastor.
-[five years he resigned t.he pasto:ra'te~of"‘th.e church in

After a .laboriou's service of

the autumn of 1858, and soon after ‘retired from his
professorship in the college. ‘_

On the 7th of April, 1857, Rev. Joseph Alden, D.D.,
-having been elected to the presidency of Jefferson ‘Col-

lege, was invited to take part with Dr. Williams in

the ministerial labors of the congregation. In this

vrelationship he continued ‘until 1862, when he retired
_ from the presidency of the college.
.  The third pastor of the church was Rev. David H.

Riddle, ‘D.D., who, in the autumn of -1862, ;was called
‘to the presidency of Jefferson College, and to the pas-
torate of the church, «over which he was installed by
the Presbytery of Ohio in the spring of .1863. He
continued pastor of the church until May, 1868, Pa
During his pastorate in Can-

most constant accessions, from the congregation and
from the 'students, many of whom’are now in the

»ministry. A healthful growth and a delightful and

harmonious people were features in the experience
of those years to which he can look back with ‘pleas-
ure and satisfaction. ’ «

In June, 1868, Rev. Jonathan Edwards, D.D., after

becoming president of J efferson4College,.enteredupon
-his ministrations to the church asstatedisupply.

&)me time between March and June, 186v9,.he retired

' from the college, and alsolhis labors in the church.

As the consolidation of the two colleges was perfected

in the same year (1869),-and the location was changed I

to Washington, the college presidents disappear from
this time forward from ‘the irpastorates of the church.

- More might be said of their personal history, but it is

-omitted, as belonging more properly to their history
in connection with Jefferson College.
The fourth pastor of the church was Rev. William

F. Brown, son of Dr. A. B. and Elizabeth Finley
(Nevin) Brown. He was a native of Canonsburg,
-and was graduated at Jefl"ers.on College in the summer
of 1865. In 1870 he entered upon the pastorate of

(the church, in Which he continued for a period of six
years. He served the church of Charleston, VV. Va.,
as a stated 'su;p;ply for zashort time_., and afterwards was
pastor of the First Church of Newark, Ohio, for about
a_year. At present he is vis§:i.t.ing in the Southern
States, and is not in the st'at..ed work of the ministry.
He was united in m_a;rria‘ge to Miss Mary Houston,
-of Canonsburg. A J

The fifth and present pastor is Rev. John M. Smith,
son of John Henry and Mary (Forner) Smith. He

was born near Upper Buffalo Church, VVashington,

"Co., March i6.,.1831., and had his early training under

‘the rninistry of the Rev. John‘ Eagleson, D.D. He .

united with the church in 1854. Had his preparatory
education partly under Dr. lEagl.eson,' and partly-at
Franklin Academy, Pennsylvania. He entered Jefi"er-
son College in 1852, and rem.ai—ned till ready for the
junior class. After spending a year in teaching, he
returned to lcollege and graduated in 1856. He en-
tered the Westerri Theological Seminary in 1856, and
graduated in 1859. Was licensed by the Presbytery
of Ohio in 1858, andwas ordained-a’nd_.»installed pastor
of the church of \Ve'llsburg, Va.., April 28, 1860. Was
installed pastor of the ‘church -o.f Sharpsburg, Pa., in

April,'1861‘, and remained nearly sevjen years.‘ Ac- ‘

cepted a call to the First? Church of St. Charles, M0,,
April, 1867, and remained three years. _ \Vas calpled
to the chiurch of Hiland, Presbytery of Allegheny,
and remained three years. Received and accepted a
call to the Central Church of Pittsburgh in 1874, and
after a pleasant pastorate of two years, entered "upon
the work at Canonsburg in 1876, '-where he has con-
tinued ‘up to the present, a period of upwards of six’
years. His instal..lation took" place on the 15th of
February, 1876. In these services", -beforefa large and
appreciative audience in the coll.-ege ‘chapel, Rev. S.
J. Wilson, D.D., LL.D., preached the sermon, .Rev.
William Ewing,.Ph.D., delivered the chargeto the
people, and the venerableDr. William Smith pre-
sided, and gave the charge’ to the pastor. In the

spring of 1876 the church -received very rencouraging I

accessions, and up to the present has been favored
with a steady and healthy progress. At the begin-.
ning of the present pastorate the membership num-
bered one hundred and twenty-five. ‘At present the
number is two hundred and -ninety-one, or more than
double, and the church appearsto be in a more har-
monious, hopef'ul,.and flourishing state than in any
other period of its history.

Methodist Episcopal Church.‘—-On the 7th of No-
vember, 1844, a young Methodist student-matriculated
in Jefferson College, who, during several subsequent

years, acted a prominentpart in the history of the ’

'1 By the Rev. D. J. Davis.

' in existence ever since.
was,elected superintendent, and continued to lead the -

CANON SBURG BOROUGH. - I 691'

5.

Methodist Episcopal Church. In the month of March,
1845, upon inquiry, he learned from a fellow-student

that one John Haggerty, a tailor, who hadbeen a‘
-resident of the town for several years, was a member

of the same church. At this time there was no Meth-
odist organization in Canonsburg. Some time during
the summer of 1845, Rev. ‘————— Sutton, of the Metho-
dist Episcopal Church, was appointed a missionary to
the region about Canonsburg, the town itself being
one of hisappointments. He preached on alternate
Sabbaths in the town hall._ The novelty of the matter
usually attracted a fair audience. At the suggestion
of Rev. T. M. Hudson, who was then presiding elder
of the district, a class was organized consisting of
seven or eight members, whose names as nearly as
can be ascertained were as follows: John Haggerty,
“ Mother”  Marsh, John Ramsey, Mr. Capron and
wife, Mr. Potts, and Mr. Monroe. The young stu-
dent referred to above was appointed leader. For
some time this class met in the house of Mr. Hag-
gerty. In a very short time a few others were added
to their number, among whom was Mrs. Arnold, who
at the present time is living and an acceptable mem-
ber of the church. _ y '

In the year 1847 the society built a one-story brick
church fronting on Green Street, and which is still
used as a place of worship by the Methodist Episco-
pal congregation. As soon as the church was dedi-'
cated, a Sunday-school was organizedthat has been
The indispensable student

class and superintend the school until 1850, when he
graduated with aclass numbering fifty-five as the
Valedictorian. At this time the school numbered one
hundred and thirty scholars, and had a library of
eight hundred volumes, including Bibles, Testaments,

7 hymn—books, etc. In the year 1848, under the pas-

torate of Revs.‘H. Snyder and D. A. McCready, the

- church was favored with a revival of religion. that

added nearly an hundred converts. In five years
after organization the class of eight numbered about
one hundred and twenty-five. V Not a little of the
prosperity was due to the labors of Rev. N. Callander,
a superannuated. minister of the Methodist Episcopal
Church, who resided for a time in the town." About
ten years after organization the church became self-
supporting, was made a station, and was favored with
the exclusive services of a pastor. It continued as a
station until the breaking out of the war of the Re-

bellion, which ‘greatly. depleted the membership by

the enlistment of many of its young men. Rev. L.
Maguire, the pastor, also entered the army as chap-
lain. , - I i

s For some years this society has been associated
with Fawcett’s Methodist Episcopal Church, both
constituting a pastoralcharge until 1878, when it was
againformed into a station. This is its present status
with a membership numbering one hundred, and a
school having about seventy-five scholars, and an

40 -

average attendance of fifty. The following ministers
have served the church since 1845 from one to three
years each: Revs. —— Sutton, McCasky and. Foster,
H. Snyder and D. A. McCready, Cunningham and
Jackson, Pugh and Baker, Brown, Peter F. Jones,
Mansell, Alexander Scott, Richard Miller, L. Ma-
guire, S. F.xJones, James F. Jones, M. S. Kendig, H.
Neff, D. A. Pierce, J. C. Castle, J. F. Hudleston, C.

M. VVestlake, L. H. Eaton, ‘V. F. Conner, D. M. Hol- .

lister, and D. J. Davis, the present incumbent. The

student who was prominent in the work of the church.

during the first five years of its existence has been
known, during the past twenty years of its existence,

as the eflicient president of the Pittsburgh Female,

College, Rev. Dr. Pershing. ‘ I i .
African Methodist Episcopal Church.—Theco1-

ored people of Canonsburg andwvicinity were first
‘temporarily organized as a body of -religious wor-

shipers at Morganza. They at first met at private
residences. As no records are known to exist, it is

diflicult to fix the date of this early organization with ,

any degree of accuracy. It was probably aboutv1833

or within a year or so of that time. After worshiping

thus for some years, they were regularly organized as

a Methodist‘ Episcopal -Church, with Rev. S. Ching- '

man as pastor. The following-named persons were
elected trustees: John Sluby, Sr., John Durham,
Elias Prawl, George Wheeler, Isaac Albert, Boston
Vactor. Revs. Thompson, Lewis, and Green were
early pastors. ' 1

In 1858 or 1854 the congregation petitioned the
Legislature to invest a body of trustees with the title
to a piece of land lying west of town, which had been
owned by a colored man named John Chase, and who
had died intestate. The petition was granted and
the property assigned them for the purpose of erect-
ing. a church, and as a place of sepulture. Rev.
Solomon Thompson laid the corner-stone of a very
neat brick structure erected by the colored people in
the year 1856. It was dedicated by Rev. Jeremiah
Lewis. In th5 year 1874 they remodeled and en-
larged it, adding much to its appearance and comfort.
The present pastor is the Rev. S. T. Jones, and" the
membership is seventy.- 4

Oak Spring Cemetery.—On the 26th of Decem-
ber, 1797, John Canonsold for forty-five pounds to
Nicholas Little, Samuel Agnew,» Thomas McNary,
David Reed, John Hays, John White, and'Jeremiah
Simpson, trustees of the Associate Congregation of
Chartiers township, four acres, two -roods, and fifteen
perches of land, situated about one mile southwest
of the town of Canonsburg, on which they erected a

church, and the remaining-portion was used as a—’

burial-place by the people of Canonsburg and its

vicinity. Upon the decision of the congregation, in ‘

1869, to_ erect a church in the borough of Canonsburg,
the brick church then on the grounds was torn down,
and during the next summer a company was organized
under the name ‘of the Oak Spring Cemetery Asso-

6°‘?

.. HISTORY OF WASHINGTON COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA.

ciation. They purchased the property of the Char-

-tiers congregation, and also bought a little over an

acre of ground additional_, making the area .of the
cemetery about six acres. A macadamized carriage-
way was built, pathswere laid out, trees planted,
grounds fenced, and sexton’s house erected, all at an
expense of about four thousand dollars. The present
officers of the association are Samuel Pollock, presi-
dent, and Robert Wilson, secretary and treasurer.
Chartiers Valley Agricultural Association.—-
The causes which led to the formation of the Chartiers
Valley Agricultural Association date several months
anterior to its organization. In 1871 or 1872 an eflbrt
was made to establish an annual agricultural fair at
Canonsburg. _ A stock subscription list was started,
but the enterprise met with obstacles which compelled
its abandonment. About this time, or shortly after,
farmers’ clubs were organized in some of the adjoin-
ing townships. At a meeting of the Chartiers Far-
mers’_ Club, held at the house of William A. McNutt,
on the 7th of October, 1873, the following question
was proposed for discussion at a future meeting:
“Should we as a society make an effort to have an
agricultural fair?” The question does not seem to
have been reached at the next meeting in November.

'At the December meeting it ‘was agreed to hold a

special meeting at Fee’s school-house (No. 5) on
Tuesday evening, Dec. 30, 1873, to discuss the subject,
“ To more thoroughly ventilate or agitate the fact that
we need an agricultural fair somewhere in this valley,
its use, abuse, etc.” An invitation was extended to
all persons interested to attend and participate in the
discussion.

In the issue of the Canonsburg Herald of Jan. 24,
1874, the following appears: “ We have several times
called the attention of our readers to the importance
of holding an annual fair at Canonsburg. A few
years ago some effort was made in this direction, but
was not carried to a successful issue. Since then sev-
eral farmers’ clubs have been organized in the ad-
joining townships. Now if a properly Brganized efibrt
is made, with the combined influence of these clubs
and our citizens, we see no reason why as large and
successful a fair cannot be instituted at Canonsburg
as in any other part of the county.”

At a meeting held in school-house No. 5, in Char-
tiers township, this question was discussed, “Would
an -agricultural fair in the vicinity of Canonsburg
be advantageous to the farmers in this part of the
county?” After a free exchange of opinion it was
unanimously agreed that it would be advantageous,
and with that end in View it was resolved to make
an effort to hold a fair. At this meeting John C.
McNary, of Chartiers, Samuel Chamberlain, of Can-
onsburg, and James McClelland, of North Strabane,
were appointed a committee to look after suitable
grounds and ascertain the cost." _

About the 31st of January, 1874, a meeting was
held at the hotel (Keystone House) in Canonsburg

Canonsburg.”

“for the purrsse of organizing an agricultural soci-
ety and establishing an annual fair in the vicinity of
Robert H. Russell. presided, A. B.
McCloy being secretary. The following committee
was appointed to draft a constitution and by-laws:
VVilliam S. White, Dr. J. -VV. Alexander, Wilson
Arnold, William Martin, and John Gr. Paxton. At
a meeting held at the same place February 14th the
committee on fair grounds reported threelocations.
They were instructed to select the most suitable, and
close a contract for the same. Measures were taken
for raising funds needed for improving the, grounds.
Shares of stock were fixed at twenty-five dollars each,
and a committee appointed to solicit subscriptions.
The first minutes of the association bear date March

7th, at which time the Chartiers Valley Agricultural

Association was formally organized and a- "board of
officers elected. The officers for the first year, as
finally, agreed upon‘, were the following: President,
James McClelland; Vice-President, J. B. Johnson;
Secretary, William S. V-Vhite; Treasurer, Dr. J. W.

Martin; Managers, W. L. Archer, J. M. Berry, M. H. _

Borland, -E. B. Boyles, Nevin Brown, M. B. Brown,_
Samuel Chamberlain, W. R. Craighead, S. H. Cook,
John Espy, W. A. Herriott, N. S. Hopper, J ohn' M.
Miller, J. C. McNary, J ohn._.McDb_well, H. McMur-
ray, J. G. Paxton, E. K.’ ‘Rodgers, James Taggart,
Isaac Van Voorhis, T. P. Welch. V
At a meeting held March 25th the committee on
solicitation -reported $3312.50 of stock subscribed.
The stock of the association has since been increased
to ‘$3450. Measures were at once taken to have the
association incorporated,”and the charter was issued
June 15th following. Grounds embracing about
twenty—two acres, on the farm of Mrs. Sarah Curry,
in North Strabane township, a short distance east of
the Canonsburg United Presbyterian Church, and
bordering on Chartiers Creek, were secured for a

term of ten years. These were put into suitable con— ,

dition, necessary stalls and buildings Were erected,
and a one-third-mile race-track made. The entire
cost of buildings and improvements is estimated at
six thousand dollars. The first fair was held October
13, 14, and 15, 1874. Since then an annual fair has
been held during the last week of September, and in
1880 a spring fair in addition was held during the last

week of May. The fairs in point of quality and *

number-jof exhibits have all been highly creditable.

The exhibits of stock, especially in thoroughbreds, A

have been equal to those of the best country fairs.

The exhibits of products and manufactures have

always been large in number and excellent in quality.
Steam-power and shafting are provided for showing
farm machinery in operation. The number of vis-
itors has always been very large. The largest attend-
ance in one day was probably. during the fair of 1875,
when it reached about sev_en thousand persons. ' The
total receipts from all sources for eight years has
been something over twenty-six thousand dollars,

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while the disbursements for buildings, improvements,
premiums, and running expenses have reached nearly
twenty-seven thousand dollars.

The principal oflicers have been the following:
Presidents, James McClelland, 1874-75; VV. R. Craig-
head, 1876-77; John M. Miller, 1878; Dr. J. G. Dick-
son, 1879-80 ; William Martin, 1881-82. Vice-Presi-
dents, J. B. Johnson, 1874; J. C. MeNary, 1875';
\Villiam Martin, 1876-77; Robert E. Wilson, 1878-
79; Samuel Munnel, 1880; Robert Johnston, 1881-

-82. Secretaries, William S. White, 1874-75; R. V.

Johnson, 1876-77 ; T. M. Potts, 1878-82. Treasurers,

Dr. J. W. Martin, 1874-76; J.o. McNary, 1877-82.
The officers for 1882 are William Martin, president,

«Canonsburg; Robert Johnston, vice-president, Can-

- onsburg; T. M. Potts, secretary, Canonsburg; J. C.

McNary, treasurer, Canonsburg.» Managers, H. H.
Brown, Thompsonville; VV. R. Craighead, Canons-
burg; lDr. J. -vG.‘Dick'son, Canonsburg;, James Glass,
Burgettstown; Hon. J. Gilfillan, Upper St. Clair; J.
B. Johnson, Canonsburg; Gen. John Hall, Washing-
~"}i1 ; W. C. Lee, Cross Creek Village; Dr. H. H. Mc-
Donough,Vanceville; W..R. McConnell, Canonsburg;
James McClelland, Canonsburg; A. C. McCoy, Can-
onsburg; J. C. McNary, Esq., Canonsburg; John M.
Miller, Esq., Hickory; Hon. M. McGiffin, \Vashing-
ton ; Henry Murry,-Upper St. ‘Clair; Jerome A. Quay,
Morganza; John Shanton.Monongahela City; ohn

Van Voorhis, Monongahela‘ S. C. Work, Bufl"alo;
'  L. Wotring, Buffalo. V A l I

Chartiers Lodge, No. 297, A. Y. M".-This lodge
was organized May**15, 1856. At this time the only
Mason living_ here was Mr. H. C. Gleason. Upon the
expressed desire of several persons in the town ‘to

form a lodge, a preliminary meetingwas held at his»-

house on Pike Street, now owned by J . V. H. Cook.

' A petition was drawn up, on which a charter was

given and the lodge organized as above. Later meet-

~ ings were held at the house of John Brown, on Main

Street, for some time, and until he removed to the
building now occupied by John Donaldson as -a con-
fectionery-store, when their meetings were held at his
house until the society fitted up their present rooms
in the Ritchie Block, on the corner of Main and Pike
Streets. The present (1882) ofiicers are W. R. Mc-

Connell, W. M.;’John Holleran, S. W.; James Mc-

VVilliams, J. W.; J. B.‘Donaldson, Sec.; James Mor-
rison, Treas. ' ‘ '8
Canonsburg Lodge, N o. 803, I. O. of 0. F.-This
lodge was instituted Jan. 15, 1875, by District Deputy
Grand Master Ahira Jones, Jr. At its organization
there were twenty charter members. The first officers

were Allison De France, N. G. ; Herman Hollander,

V. G.; T. M. Potts, Sec.; \V. P. Cherry, Asst. Sec.;
\Villiam Patch, Treas. _ ’

Meetings were first held in a building now owned
by W. P. Morgan. In 1878 the society leased for a

_ term of years the rooms they fitted up and at present

occupy. Since the organization there have been ac‘.-

fdepot building. - g - - .
The Ice ‘Industry of ‘C'anonsburg.——In 1874‘

mitted by initiation and card. s.ixty—one members.

The present officers are John White, N. G.; Samuel ,

Eberly, V. G.; T. M. Potts, Sec.; R. C.- Neill, Asst.
Sec. ; William C. Campbell, Treas. '
Thomas Paxton Post, No. 129. G. A. R.~Th_is
post was organized May 9, 1879, by Col. Chill Hazard,
of Monongahela City. It was named in honor of
Sergt. Thomas. Paxton, a member of Company D,

Pennsylvania Veteran Reserve Corps, who was killed;

at Spottsylvania, May 9, 1864. 'The first oflicers of
the post were Adam Harbison, Commander; Alex-
ander Huston, Senior Vice-Commander; William

' Meiggs, Junior Vice-Commander; Dr. J. W. Alex-

ander, Surgeon ; David Hart, Quartermaster.

The first meetings were held in the Odd-Fellows’
Hall, and in 1881 the post fitted up a room in W. H.
S. Ritchie’s block. The society has at present thirty-
two members- The‘ present officers are Alexander
Houston, Commander; Charles Draper, Senior Vice-
Commander; Robe-rt Kai ne, Junior Vice-Comman der;
John McCahan, Adjutant; James Speer, Quarter-
master. ‘ ‘  ;

7 Chartiers Valley Railroad.-In December, 1870,

the Chartiers Valley Railroad was finished through to '

this point, and the succeeding spring to Washington.
Since the roadfihas been opened it has done a large
carrying trade, both in freightand passengers. Coal,
‘limestone, and'mi'lk,‘;besidesl much grain and produce,
are shipped freni this point, each ,of;t§liese interests em-
ployingmany men aiid requiring,‘_consi»d;erable capital.

The railroad company has here a commodious'ware- -

houseland comfortable waiting-rooms’ in their large

Samuel Munnell, of Canonsburg; engaged in the ice
business, which has since been increased from time
to time until it has become quite an important indus-
try. The ice -is gathered fromartificial lakes. The
first lake was formed in the year -named -by construct-
ing a dyke around the meadow just west of the railroad
depotand north of the railroad. Water is turned
into this at the proper time from the mill-race, and
by the time it freezes all sediment and impurities have
settled to the bottom. The first ice-house erected held
about two thousand tons when first housed. Twenty
per cent. is allowed for waste. The first crop was sold
in 1876. In that year he erected an additional house
and stored three thousand tons. In 1.878 he built a
third addition and stored four thousand tons. At

these houses the ice is lifted by a screw-elevator

driven by a ten horse-power engine. When in good
working order this machine will elevate about forty
blocks a minute, equal to two hundred tons an hour,
when the ice is from twelve to fifteen inches thick.

In 1880, Mr. Munnell associated with him Samuel S
Dufl', of Pittsburgh, and purchased fourteen acres of 7

meadow lying south- of the railroad and directly op-
posite the old premises. This firm is known asthe
Canonsburg Ice Company. Eleven acres of this tract

623

‘ thousand cubic feet of earth.

624

HISTORY OF WASHINGTON COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA. ' G ‘

was surrounded with_a dyke three-fifths of a mile in
length, and ranging in height from two to five feet,
with an average width of seventeen feet. In the
centre of this dyke is an upright partition of plank

~ two inches thick. The amount of plank required was

twenty thousand feet, and to construct the embank-
ment required the moving of one hundred and eighty
Thehouse used in
storing the ice from this lake as first built was one
hundred and fifty-five by eighty-four. feet, with a
height to the eaves of the roof’ of twenty-seven. feet,
and divided into five rooms. In 1882 two additional
rooms were added, making the building two hundred

and seventeen by eighty-four feet in size, with a_

"storing capacity of nearly twelve thousand tons, or
sixteen thousand for all the houses owned by the
company and by Mr. Munnell himself. There‘ are
railroad sidings at all the houses, and the ice iseasily
loaded into the cars forshipment. The ice is sold at
wholesale, and mainly finds a. market in Pittsburgh.
During the ice harvest fifty or sixty men are given
employment.
is let out of the ponds and the meadows used for
cropping during the summer.

Rolling-Mill.—-About the 1st of April,-1882, :an
offer wasmade to the people of Canonsburg bytpar-1
ties in Pittsburgh to locate and build a rolling-mill
at that point provided‘ the citizens would raise the
sum of fifty thousand dollars. An effort was imme-
diately made, which resulted “i*‘n*:".raising the amount
necessary by the 3d of May. , -The parties in Pitts-
burgh were notified, and a meeting was called to be
held in that city May 11th, at which meeting a com-
pany was organized with one hundred and fifty
thousand. dollars’ capital,_and9 the following-named
ofiicers: Directors, John Ewing (president), L. A.
Meysen (secretary), Charles H. Taylor (treasurer),
H. S._Duncan, and Samuel Munnell. A site was
soon after purchased of elevenand ahalf acres of
land of William Ewing and S. B. McPeak, situated
on the north bank of Chartiers Creek, southwest of
the town of Canonsburg and on the Chartiers Valley
Railroad. A coal bank is within one hundred yards
of the site. Operations were commenced and pushed
with vigor in the expectation of having the mill com-
pleted and ready for work in" September, 1882. The
works will at first employ about two hundred men,
which force it is expected will be increased as the
business progresses. . .

Chartiers Woolen-Factory.——-Some time previous
to the war of the Rebellion a few of. the _leading cap-
italists and others of this vicinity agitated the ques-
tion of building a mill for the manufacture of woolen
goods. As near as can be learned the subject first
took shape in the minds of ‘Mr. John E. Black and
William McDaniel, Esq., both men of enterprise and_
excellent business acquirements. Sufficient money
was subscribed, astock company ‘formed (of which
John Hays, Esq., was president), and the services of

When the houses arefilled, the.water7

Mr. H. C. Gleason, a practical wool-worker from
Massachusetts, were secured. A brick building,

forty by sixty feet, three stories high, was erected on‘

the north bank of Chartiers Creek. A The building
awaited only the machinery when the war interposed,
putting a stop to further operations.
agreement was made with George Orth and William
Layburn, of Connellsville, to take charge of the
works with a view of purchasing. The company
purchased one set of woolen machinery complete.
Messrs. Orth and Layburn put on twelve hands and

commenced work. They were successful for several .

years, and so continued until 1873, when the com-
pany went into litigation,'and the works were finally
sold to James Craighead, by whom it is still owned.

Additional machinery wasput in, and-eleven hands .

are now employed. During the year 1881 sixteen
hundred pairs of blankets, and six hundred pieces of
flannel, thirty-five yards to the piece, were manu-
factured. I

4‘;
fivr' .,

BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES.

W. H. s. Rircnrn.

W. H. S. Ritchie was born in Canonsburg, Wash-
ington Co., Pa., June 9, 1850. His grandfather, Hon.
Craig Ritchie, was born in Glasgow, Scotland, Dec.

29, 1758. He emigrated to this country in 1772. He

early evinced extraordinary talents for business, and

soon succeeded in working his way to the position.of"

a successful merchant in Canonsburg. At the age of
thirty he secured to himself the possession of a most
estimable a.nd valuable wife by marrying Miss. Mary.
Price, a native of Maryland. She died at Canons-
burg in 1836. This excellent lady, who became the
mother of a large family (fourteen children), pre-emi-
nently idorried her station, and greatly contributed
to Mr. Ritchie’s happiness and success in life. She
sympathized with him in his toils and struggles to
sustain Jefferson College through its early history;
and her name ought ever to stand with those of Mrs.
Canon, Mrs. McMillan, and other noble women who
labored and prayed and made such sacrifices for this
institution. ’

Mr. Ritchie’s energy of character, business habits,

integrity of principle, and general intelligence secured -

to him a widely extended reputation. He was early

elected to the Legislature, and served his country for '

some years in this capacity. During the “Whiskey
Insurrection” he took a decided stand on the side of
law and order, and rendered himself so unpopular
with some of the_leaders of that unhappy affair that

— he was in danger of their vengeance. Indeed, nothing

but his absence in attendance at the General Assembly
of the State saved his property from the torch of the
incendiaries at the time that Gen. Neville’s house

In 1866 an _ I

,_ .
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72

HISTORY OF WASHINGTON COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA.

sideration from Connolly. That he was regarded with
disfavor by the Pennsylvania partisans is shown in a
letter from St. Clair to Governor Penn, dated July
4th, in which the former says, “With such officers
as Cresap no good can be expected; so that it is very
doubtful all attempts to preserve the tranquillity or
the country will be fruitless.” A

It has been already mentioned that Col. McDonald
was ordered to march with a force of about five hun-
dred men to Wheeling, and thence into the Indian
country west of the Ohio. Under these orders he
marched to the Muskingum, where he surprised the
Indians and punished them sufficiently to induce
them to sue for peace, though it was believed that
their request was but a treacherous one, designed only
to gain time for the collection of a larger body of
warriors to renew the hostilities.

But the main forces mustered by Dunmore for the

invasion of the Indian country were a detachment to.

move down the Ohio from Pittsburgh, under the Gov-
ernor in person, and another body of troops under
Gen. Andrew Lewis,1 which was rendezvoused at
Camp Union, now Lewisburg, Greenbrier C0,, Va.
These two columns were to meet for co-operation at
the mouth of the Great Kanawha River. Under this
general plan Governor Dunmore moved from Wil-
liamsburg to Winchester and to Fort Cumberland,
thence over the Braddock road to Fort Pitt, which in
the mean time had been named by his partisans, in
his honor, Fort Dunmore. From there he proceeded
with his forces down the Ohio River, and arrived at
Fort Finhastle (-the stockade work which had then
recently‘ been built according to his directions at
Wheeling) on the 30th of September. Maj. (after-
wards colonel) William Crawford, of Stewart’s Cross-
ings on the'Youghiogheny, was one of Dunmore’s
principal otficers, and stood high in the favor of his
lordship.”

The force under Gen. Andrew Lewis, eleven hun- .

dred strong, proceeded from Camp Union to the head-
waters of the Kanawha, and thence down the valley
of that river to the appointed rendezvous at its month,
which was reached on the 6th of October. Gen.
Lewis, being disappointed in his expectation of find-
ing Lord Dunmore already there, sent messengers up
the Ohio to meet his lordship and inform him of the

1 Who had been a captain under Washington in the Fort Necessity

. campaign of 1754.

. 2 Valentine Crawford, brother of William, and agent of Col. George
Washington, wrote the latter from Fort Fincastle under date of Oct. 1,
1774, in which letter he said, “ His Lordship arrived here yesterday with

about twelve hundred men, seven hundred of whom came by water with .

his L’d’p, and five hundred came with my brother William by land with
the bullocks. His L’d’p has sent him with five hundred men, fifty pack-
horses, and two hundred bullocks to meet 001. Lewis at the mouth of
Hockhocking, below the mouth of Little Kanawha. His Lordship is to

go by water with the rest of the troops in a few days.” In accordance .

with the plan mentioned in this letter, Maj..Willia'm Crawford proceeded
to Hocking, on the Ohio side of the river, .~and..-.there: »erected a» stockade
which was named Fort Gower, Dunmore arriving with the main force
in time to assist in the construction of the work.

arrival of the column at the mouth of the Kanawha.
On the 9th of October a dispatch was received from
Dunmore saying that he (Dunmore‘)'was at the mouth
of the Hocking, and that he would proceed thence
directly to the Shawanese towns on the Scioto, instead
of coming down the Ohio to the mouth of the Kan-
awha as at first agreed on. At the same time he ordered
Lewis to cross the Ohio and march to meet him (Dun-
more) before the Indian towns. ,

But on the following day (October 10th), before
Gen. Lewis had commenced his movement across the

Ohio, he was attacked by a heavy body of Shawanese ,

warriors under the chief Cornstalk. The fight (known
as the battle of Point Pleasant) raged nearly all day,"
and resulted in the complete rout of the Indians, who
sustained a very heavy (though not definitely ascer-
tained) loss, and retreated in disorder across the Ohio.
The loss of the Virginians under Lewis was seventy-
five killed and one hundred and ‘forty wounded. Dun-
more and Lewis advanced from their respective points
into Ohio to “ Camp Charlotte,” on Sippo Creek’,
where they met Cornstalk and the other Shawanese
chiefs, but as the men of Lewis’ command were in-

clined to show great vindictiveness towards the -

Indians, Dunmore, fearing an outbreak from them,
which would defeat the object he had in view (the
making of a treaty of peace with the chiefs), ordered
Lewis to return immediately with his -force to Point
Pleasant. After their departure a treaty was finally
concluded with the principal chiefs; but as some of
the Indians were defiant and disinclined for peace,
Maj. William Crawford was sent against one of their
villages, called Seekunk, or Salt Lick Town. I-Iis
force consisted of two hundred and forty men, with
which he destroyed the village, killed six Indians,
and took fourteen prisoners.

These operations and the submission of the Indians_

at Camp Charlotte virtually closed the war. Gov-

ernor Dunmore immediately set _out on his return, and '

proceeded by way of Redstone and the Great Cross-
ings of the Youghiogheny to ‘Fort Cumberland, and
thence to the Virginia capital. Maj. William Craw-
ford also returned immediately to his home on the

Youghiogheny, where, on the day after his arrival, '

he wrote Col. George Washington, the friend of his
boyhood, as follows:
“ S'rnwA1zT’s Cnossnvas, Nov. 14, 1774.

“ SIR,—I yesterday returned from our late expedi-
tion against the Shawanese, and I think we may
with propriety say we have had great success, as we
made them sensible of their villany and weakness,
and I hope made peace with them on such a footing
as will be lasting, if we can (make them adhere to the
terms of agreement, which are as follows : First, they

have to give up all the prisoners taken ever by them 1

in war with white people, also negroes, and all horses
stolen or taken by them since the last war. And, fur-

’ ther, no Indian for the future is to hunt on the east

side of the Ohio, nor any white man on the west side; as

CANONSBURG BOROUGH. C   625

was burned to the ground, as some of the party told
the family. 1
He enjoyed the confidence and especial friendship
of Gen. Washington, who often visited him and cor-
responded with him, and availed himself of Mr.
Ritchie's aid in the management. of his landed interest
in Washington County; He not only lodged with
Mr. Ritchie, and often dined with him, but took
many a walk with him along the banks of Chartiers,

_ conferring-with him, not only about his own private ‘
interests, but the public concerns of the country. He
’ also enjoyed the friendship and confidence of Dr. Mc-

Millan, who made Mr. Ritchie’s house his home
whenever he was in Canonsburg. For more than
forty years there was an unbroken intimacy between
these good men. in i
It would be hard to say how much Jefferson Col-
lege is indebted to Mr. Ritchie for its successful
struggles in its most perilous times. He was one of
its first trustees, and secretary of the board for a long
time. He also was appointed treasurer at various
times, and managed the financial affairs of the col-
lege with great judgment and success, ‘often paying
large sums in advance from his own pocket. He was
by far the best business man they had, and did more
in devising ways and means to sustain the college
than perhaps all the other trustees together, even in-
cluding Dr. McMillan himself. He gave a large por-
tion of his time and personal attention in superin-
tending the progress of the new building (Providence

4 Hall), ‘and provided from his own resources whatever
. might be temporarily wanted by the workmen. When,
. in 1817, every other trustee seemed to despair of the

further existence of thecollege, Mr. Ritchie was un-
moved and immovable, and took such energetic steps
as reanimated the friends of the institution and se-
cured its continuance.

He died June 13, 1833. He wasa gentleman of
the old school. His dignified and somewhat aristo-
cratic manners and his fine personal appearance com-
manded respect wherever he might be found. For
honesty of principle, goodness and charity, and for
self-sacrificing efforts in behalf of Jefferson College,
the church of his choice, and the country of his
adoption,_Mr. Ritchie had no superior in the men of
his day. To have so long enjoyed the confidence
and esteem of Gen. Washington and Dr. McMillan is
a high honor to which few, livingor dead, can lay
claim. . He left behind_him a large family of uncom-
mon intelligence and refinement. A number of them
died in infancy. The Rev. Dr. Andrew Wylie, presi-
dent first of Jefferson College, then of Washington
College, and lastly of Indiana University, married his
oldest daughter. The Rev. Joseph T. Smith, D.D.,
of Baltimore, married a granddaughter. '

VVilliam married Miss S. Dorsey,» of Philadelphia ;'
left one son, Craig D.‘ Ritchie, of Philadelphia. Died
in Wheeling, 1838. John married a daughter of
Parker Campbell, of Washington, Pa., and died in
. A 1 . .

» Jonathan Leth erman.

Ann was wife of Dr.
Mary married Dr. George
Herriott, both of whom are deceased. ’

Catharine was wife of the Rev. Samuel F. Leake,
the successor for some years of Dr. McMillan. Eliza
was wife of Redick McKee, formerly of Wheeling.
Hon. David‘ Ritchie, the youngest son, died in‘ Pitts-
burgh. . I - ,

Craig Ritchie, father of W. H. S..Ritchie, was born
in Canonsburg, Nov. 24, 1807, and was educated in

Texas, aged seventy years.

. her schools.

In the early years of his life he was_employed in
his father’s store at Canonsburg, and foreshadowed in
the boy the remarkable talent for business affairs
which characterized him through life. In 1832 he
moved to Wheeling," W. Va., where he engaged suc-
cessfully in the manufacture of glass. He owned the
land which for many years was called Ritchieville,
but is now known as South Wheeling. Returning to
Chambersburg in 1840, he continued to carry on mer-
chandising there till 1875, when he sold out to his
son, W. H. S. Ritchie, at which time he retired from
active business.

‘ He was for more than thirty years clerk and elder
in the Chartiers Presbyterian Church, and at an earlier
period its Sabbath-school superintendent. He was
not only the thorough business man, but he tqok a
deep interest in public affairs, and in all enterprises
which looked to the betterment of his native place.
He married Mary Ann Chickering, the only child of
Lieut. Thomas Balch Chickering, - U.S.A. Lieut.
Chickering was a native of ‘Dedham, Mass., and the
seventh in direct descent from Thomas Balch, the first

male child born in Massachusetts‘ Bay colony, 1634. 1
He married Susan (or Susannah), third child of David .
and Cynthia Swift, who was the sixth in direct de-’

scent from‘Wil1iam Morse, who was born in 1608,
emigrated and settled in Newbury, Mass., and died
there Nov. 29, 1683., The line is as follows: (1) Wil-

liam-Morse, (2) Jonathan, (3) oshua, (4) Capt. Th_eo-l \
d-ore, who was born Aug. 20, 1717; died July, "1762,

at Falmouth, Mass., (5) Cynthia, twelfth child of Capt.
Theodore Morse and Thankful Crocker, married Da-
vid Swift, (6) Susan, third child of David and Cyn-

thia Swift; Susan Chickering survived her husband -

sixty years. She died ‘in Canonsburg in 1876.

' ‘ In all the womanly qualities which mark the excel-
lent wife and devoted mother, Mrs. Ritchie has fully
sustained the reputation which has been a prominent

characteristic of the distinguished families from which 7

she descends. She survives her (husband, and is liv-
ing with her son, W. H. s. Ritchie. .
Their children were Caroline, Frank, Virginia,
Mary, Ellen, William Henry Swift-, Henrietta, and
Susan. ‘
Caroline is wife of Rev. I. S. Hays, D.D., Professor

I of Theology in the seminary at Danville, Ky. _

Virginia (deceased) was wife of the Rev. Robert
Miller, a clergyman in the M. E. Church.

céc

  HISTORY or WASHINGTON COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA.

Frank died at Morris Island, November, 1863, dur-
ing the war; a captain in the volunteer service.

Mary is wife of Leaman Carothers, a farmer, living
near Taylorstown, Washington Co.

Ellenis wife of W. D. Butler, superintendent in

the public schools of St. Louis, Mo.
Henrietta is an attendant of the School of Design

‘ in Philadelphia.

Susan Moore is wife of C. P. Waugh, a farmer,
living near Independence, in V-Vest Virginia. .

‘V. H. S. Ritchie received his education in the
schools of Canonsburg.

When ten years of age, in 1860, he entered his
father’s store‘ as clerk, and was for the next ten years
thus employed except when attending school. From
1870 he became permanently connected with the
business, and forthree years prior to 1875 its princi-
pal management devolved on him. In 1875 he pur-
chased the store of his father, since which time he
has carried it on in his own name. In the latter part
of 1877 and first of 1878 he built his present large

store building, and occupied it in April of the latter

year. (A representation of this business block will
be found on another page of this volume.) The build-
ing and occupancy of a store of its magnitude was
the inauguration of a new era in the trade of Canons-
burg,_ and though many of his neighbors prophesied _it
was too large for the place, the sequel has fully justi-
fied Mr. Ritchie’s foresight and good judgment. His
venture gave at once a marked impetus to the trade of
the town. 7 A large trade, which formerly went to
other localities, has been drawn to Canonsburg by the

- increased inducements offered to customers. At the

present time Mr. Ritchie is erecting still another

. brick block to accommodate his increasing business.

‘ Mr. Ritchie is an ardent member of the Republican
party, but an aspirant. for no office;

He is a member of the Canonsburg Presbyterian
Church; married, Nov. _23, 1872, Sarah J. Miller.
Their‘ children are Theodore Morse, Madeline, and
VVilliam. ' A .

DR. JAMES GLENN DICKSON.

‘ Dr. James Glenn Dickson was born in Fayette
township, Allegheny Co., Pa., Feb. 15, 1825, the third

' in a family of five children of ‘William and Margaret‘

(Glenn) Dickson. After marriage, his grandfather,
George Dickson, at an early day settled near what
is now Greensburg, county-seat of Westmoreland
County, but eventually moved to Fayette township,
Allegheny County, then in the “backwoods.” The
family were several times driven by the Indians back
to the settlement near Greensburg, and at one time
their log cabin was burned and their crops destroyed.
He had three -sons and four daughters, all of whom
were married and, with one exception, raised families.
He and --his wife died at the homestead in‘ Fayette,
and both are buried at the Robinson’s Run Church.

William Dicksdn, father of the doctor, was the
youngest of the seven children. He was born in
Fayette in 1790, and fell heir to the homestead upon
the death of his father. -Hewas one of the heaviest
and most successful farmers iii the region, and one of
the first in Western Pennsylvania to introduce fine-

wool sheep. He took decided interest in church and »

political affairs. He was an elder for many years in
the Associate and subsequently in the United Presby-
terian Church.

He was twice married- His first wife was Marga-'

ret Glenn, whose family were among the earliest ‘

settlers of Allegheny County. She was born in 1791.
Their children were Rachel, George, James G., Mary
J ., and William A. Rachel is wife of Robert Potter,
surveyor and farmer, living in Noblestown, Allegheny
Co. George is a resident of Pittsburgh, has followed
farming, but at the present time follows surveying
as a business. Mary J. is wife of James Clark, a-
retired farmer living in Canonsburg. William A. is a.

farmer living near Midway Station, on the Panhandle -

Railroad. .
The doctor’s mother died Nov. 18, 1852, aged sixty-
one. His father married for his second wife, in 1857,
Susan Aikin, who died March 1, 1872," near Nobles-
town, Pa. He died March 18, 1872. He and both
his wives are buried at the Robinson Run Church.
Dr. Dickson received his primary education in the
district school of his neighborhood. He prepared
for college under the instruction of the Rev. John M.
French, pastor of the Associate Church of Nobles-
town; entered Jefferson College in 1843, and was
graduated from that institution in 1847. His first
two years in college were under the presidency of Dr.
Matthew Brown ; the last two of Dr. Robert J . Breck-
enridge. Among his classmates were the Rev. J '. R.
W. Sloan, D.D., Rev. A Davis Carson, D.D., and Rev.
A. G. Wallace, D.D. His class numbered sixty
members. In 1858 he commenced the study of medi-
cine with Dr. J . V. Herriott, of Canonsburg. He
attended his first course of lectures at the J eiferson
Medical College, Philadelphia, in the winter of 1849-
50, his second course in the following winter, re-
ceiving his medical diploma from that institution
in the spring of 1851. ' , '
In the summer of the same year he began the
practice of medicine at Mount Jackson, Lawrence
Co., Pa., where he remained about one year. In
1852, at the solicitation of his old preceptor, Dr. Her-
riott, he returned to Canonsburg, and entered into a
partnership with him, which continued about two years,

when Dr. Herriott removed to Philadelphia. Upon the i

return of Dr. H erriott, after an absence’ of a“ number
of years, Dr. Dickson again became associated with
him in practice, which arrangement continued about
three years, when Dr. Herriott moved to Valparaiso,
Ind., where he is still living. a I

Since that time Dr. Dickson has been alone in his
profession, having now an unbroken practice in Can-

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’ and one week at the Centennial.

CANONSBURG BOROUGH.   v 027

onsburg of thirty years, the longest period of any
physician of the place. The only vacations taken
during the time were one week spent in the oil regions
Few, if any, phy-
sicians in the county have a larger or wider range of

' practice, his ride averaging for many years twenty

miles per day. Nature, as well as education, united
with rarepowersof physical endurance-, have made
him the successful physician. His cheerful, sympa-
thetic manner, equally with his superior skill in ad-
ministering remedies, at once command the respect
and confidence of his patients.

The doctor united with the Associate Church of
Noblestown in 1846. He has been a member of the
Chartiers. United Presbyterian Church since his resi-
deuce‘ in Canonsburg. In politics a Whig and Re-
publican. He married, Sept. 4, 1857, Margaret H.,
daughter of Alexander and Mary (Miller) Buchanan.
Mrs. Dickson was born Feb. 28, 1828, in North Stra-
bane township. ‘

Their children‘ are Mary, Jeannette, and William
Alexander. The former is a graduate of VVashington
Seminary; the latter is a student at Duff ’s Mercan-
tile College.

—— 1

DR. J. W. ALEXANDER.

Dr. J. W. Alexander was born in ‘North Strabane
township, VVashington_Co., Pa., April 15, 1815. His
grandfather, Samuel Alexander, emigrated from Ire-
land in 1763, and settled in Chadd’sA Ford, Chester
Co., Pa. He married a Miss Wilson, by whom he

had three children, two sons and a. daughter, all
. born at Chadd’s Ford. In 1785 he moved his family

to Allegheny County, where he patented three hun-
dred" and sixty acres of land, situated two miles from
the present village of Bridgeville. Both he and his
wife died and were buried in this place.

His son, Joseph Alexander, father of the doctor,

married, Elizabeth West in 1807, and in 1808 he pur-
chased a farm, in North Strabane township, Washing-
ton County, of one hundred and forty acres, partly
improved. He lived on this place until his death,
which occurred March 23, 1828, aged sixty-two. His
wife survived him many years ;' she died in 1869, aged
eighty-seven. -

Their children were Mary, Samuel, Elizabeth, J o-.
seph, West, and Susan. Mary was wife of James
Mahood. Samuel married Mary Van Eman; has
one child living, Elizabeth. Elizabeth was wife of
John Dixon, living at Milan, Rock Island Co., Ill.;

two children living, George and Emma. Susan was‘

wife of William McA. Quail, a farmer in North Stra-
bane township ;. three children, Huston, Elizabeth,
and‘ Annie‘; All the brothers and sisters are deceased.

Dr. Alexander passed his boyhood working on his
father’s farm. His primary education was received
at the common school in Canonsburg. He prepared
for college at the preparatory department of J efferson

College, which he entered in 1835. He remained
three years in college, taking the full course, with the
exception of the Greek language. In 1838 he entered
as a medical student the oflice of Dr. J. ,V. Herriott,

at Canonsburg, with whom he studied three years. '

He taught school, however, at Hollidaysburg nine
months of that time. He attended a ‘course of lec-
tures at Jefferson Medical College in the winter of
1839-40. Commenced the practice of medicine in
Hillsboro’, Washington Co., in "1841, and continued
there until.1861. He passed the examination of the
State board, Aug. 6, 1861, and was commissioned as
surgeon January, 1862. Received the appointment
as surgeon of the Twenty-sixth Pennsylvania Volun-
teer Infantry. After the battles of Fair Oaks and
Seven Pines, he was assigned to duty as surgeon of the
Eighty-fifth Pennsylvania Volunteer Infantry, which
position he held three months. ‘He was relieved from
this position, and Oct. 20, 1862, was appointed surgeon
of the Fifteenth Pennsylvania Cavalry, Col._William
J. Palmer. commanding, with which regiment, he re-
mained until the close of the war-. He was mustered
out of service at Nashville, Tenn., June 21, 1865.
With the exception. of a slight flesh-wound, re-

' ceived at the battle of Seven Pines, the doctor came

out of the war unscathed. The regiments in which

he served were in many of the severest battles, and '

the duties of his position were often most arduous
and exhaustive.

Prior to the war the doctor had removed to Canons-

burg, and upon being mustered out he returned to
that place, where, after a rest of about two years, he
resumed thepractice of his profession, and has ever
since been one of its leading physicians.

He is a member of the State Medical Society, also
of the Washington County Medical Society, at one
time president of the latter. .

At the present time (1882) he is physician to the
Morganza Reform School.

In politics, first a Whig, and a Republican from
the organization of that party. He was chairman of
the first county convention of that party; was a mem-
ber of the Legislature of 1853 ;- has been a trustee of
Jefferson Academy for ten years, a member of the
Canonsburg Presbyterian Church nine years, and an
elder for the last seven years.

In all matters affecting church or state the doctor
has most decided opinions, and if the occasion re-
quires is abundantly able to defend them. For his
friends he always has a warm side; those who are
not he is apt to let severely alone. He married,
June 18, 1844, Mary Ann, daughter of John and
Elizabeth (Morison) Horner. Mrs. Alexander was
born in Hanover township, Washington County.

Her father’s was one of the old families of Northamp-_

ton County, Pa. Their children are Mary "Elizabeth ,
Joseph, Margaret, Laura, and William H.

.Mary Elizabeth is the wife of Thomas Yates
living in Washington, Pa. 4

CALIFORNIA ‘BOROUGH.

l

T HE‘ pleasant and growing b-orough of California is
located on the west bank of the Monongahela River,
just above the mouthof the small stream known as
Pike Run, which separates it from the old borough of

' Greenfield, and is distant five miles below Browns-

ville, fifty miles by rail and fifty-five miles by river
from Pittsburgh, and twenty-three miles from Wash-
ington, the county-seat. Its site is one of great nat-
ural beauty, and not surpassed within the confines_ of
the Monongahela Valley.

' It contains about ‘sixteen hundred inhabitants,’ the

State Normal School of the Tenth Normal School Dis- ,

trict, which district is composed of Somerset, Fay-
ette, Greene, and Washington Counties, the church
edifices of Methodist Episcopal, Presbyterian, and
Christian denominations, various secret benevolent
associations, an ample supply of physicians and mer-
chants, and is the centre of vast coal interests,
13,654,700 bushels of coal having been shipped" from
it and its immediate vicinity during the year 1880. It
is also an important shipping-point for wool, grain,
fruits, and live-stock. ‘

'2‘

The site of the town is celebrated in "the annals of
Pennsylvania as having been the place where the
Indians met in council in 1767 to express their grie-v-
ances, which resulted in the mission of the Rev. Capt.
Steele, of Carlisle, and others, who were sent out in
the following spring to meet them, and to persuade
white settlers to retire and not invade the lands yet
belonging to the Indians. The Indian title, however,

was extinguished by the treaty of Nov. 5, 1768, and '

the following year thousands of acres bordering upon
the Monongahela were surveyed by Gen. James Hen-
dricks and other surveyors, and many patents cover-
ing these lands were granted to individuals by war-
rants from the proprietary land-office.

Prior to 1784 a man named Samuel Young resided
upon or near the town site, having some right or title
to it. During the year last mentioned, however, Rob-
ert J ackmanz (having purchased Young’s interest) ob-
tained a patent for a large tract of land, which cov-
ered the sites of the present boroughs of California

and Greenfield, besides hundreds of acres lying back i

1 The borough contained 1566 inhabitants in 1880, 476 in 1860, and
659 in 1870, according to the United States census reports.

2 Robert Jackman was a native of Ireland, and a descendant of a
family which originated in Germany, thence migrated to Wales, and
finally settled in Ireland. ,

628

 

and around these -towns. He had six sons, viz.,
James, William} Dixon, John, Robert," and Henry,
besides two or three daughters, and at his death,
which occurred Aug. 26, 1813, at the age of seventy-
four years and four months, the land was divided
among those sons, James and Williaminheriting the
grounds now partly included withinthe corporate
limits of the borough. Subsequently this land was
sold at sheriff ’s sale to Seth Bufiington, who soon after
transferred the same to John Ringland.5

The Jackmans were famous mill men, and only
seemed contented when engaged in building or oper-
ating grist- and saw-mills. Robert Jackman, the
elder, built a very early grist-mill at Brownsville, and

" he built a dwelling-house on the site of his grandson’s

residence (William VV. J ackman) nearly one hundred
years ago. A majority of the family of this name,

however, finally emigrated westward, settling in.

Indiana, Illinois, and Iowa. _
John Ringland died about the year 1845, and in

1848 a company, composed of ‘William’ VV. J ackman, '
Job Johnson, Abraham Fry, George W. Hornbake, _

John Wood, and Samuel Ashmead, purchased of his
heirs three hundred and four acres of land, upon
which, May 1, 1849, they laid out a town, calling the
same California, a term then very familiar‘ to nearly
every man, woman, and child in the land in connec-
tion with the then recently discovered gold region.
The plot was surveyed by Job Johnson, Esq., one
of the proprietors, who was an attorney-at-law as well
as a ‘ surveyor. It comprised nearly one hundred
acres, or four hundred lots, fifty by one hundred and
fifty feet each. Originally these lots were sold at from
fifteen to seventy-five dollars. The streets, as seen
to-day, cross at right angles, and are sixty feet wide,
while the alleys are twenty feet in width. I A
I Not a building stood upon the town site when first

laid out, and when, during the summer of 1849, .

Thomas W. Moore completed the first dwelling,“ and
soon after had a son (Job Johnson Moore) born
therein, the proprietors donated him a town lot.

V 3 William, the father. of the present William W. Jackman, lost his life
by drowning in the Monongahela. “

4 Robert Jackman, the oldest son of Robert J ackman, Sr., was the pro-
prietor ot' the town of Greenfield. - .

5Ringland was one of the original members of the Brownsville or
Monongahela Bridge Company, which company was chartered March 6,
1830.

5 'l‘his house is now-——or was at least when we obtained the information
—-owned by Joseph Paxton.

CALIFORNIA BOROUGH.     629

Among others who built houses in the town a year
or two later were Nelson Crow, James Hank (who
built a brick house), Samuel S. Rothwell (large frame

" structure), James P. Ailes (a commodious brick), Job

Johnson (the brick hotel and store known‘ yet as the
“Johnson House”), John Woodfill (brick), William
J obes (frame), Augustin Wells (brick), A. Wallace
(frame), and Josiah Critchfield (a brick house).

Job Johnson was a man of indomitable energy and
push, and to him should be ascribed the credit of
having done more to advance’ the town’s material
interests than any other. Besides practicing law, he

. built and opened the first hotel, established in the

same building a store for the sale of general merchan-
dise as early as 1851, and rested not until a post-of-

' ‘flee was established. Meanwhile he encouraged‘ set-

tlements, assisted his neighbors to establish various
individual enterprises, and, with Sr.‘S. Rothwell and a
very few others on this side of the county, always
stood ready to lend a helping hand to those of sable
hue who, traveling via the “ Underground Railway,”
sought freedom in Canada. White Johnson, a nephew,
and Gibson Wood studied law with him. He died
some ten or twelve years ago. (See history of Green-
field Methodist Episcopal Church.) g
Solomon Sibbitt and Lewis W. Morgan, as partners,
were contemporary merchants with Mr. Johnson, and,

- it is claimed, opened the first store in the town in 1850.
(Mr. Sibbitt served as the first burgess of the town, and

was an active and prominent citi-zen generally. He
removed from this vicinity prior to the war. Mr.
Morgan‘, however, has to this day‘ continued as one of
the leading merchants of California and Greenfield.

‘i As a member of the firm of Morgan & Dixon, mer-
chants and coal operators, he is now doing business.
in Greenfield.

William McFall, Jr., St. Clair’ Chrisinger, and

' James Imley established the boat-yard in 1851, and

two or three years later the citizens of the town re-
joiced in having a post-oflice. Among other early
residents, not already mentioned, were William Eber-
man, William Carroll, Rev. Abner Jackson, Hiram
Miller, William A. Stone, Solomon Meredith, Jacob
H. Jones, Joshua Norcross, Robert Ventress, John G,

' Dowler, J. S. Vanhorn, Thomas-Wells, James O.

Lewellen, Joseph Paxton, A. J . Harris, James Un-
derwood,» Amos Powell, William McFall, Sr., T. H.
Dowler, Henry Phillips, T. F. Thomas, A. A. Devore,
David Thoma_s,.and Edward Riggs. Probably the
entire population did not number three hundred at
the time the town was incorporated in 1853.
Incorporation, First Charter Election, Etc.-
On- the 26th of November, 1853, in accordance with
the petitions of many citizens, the Washington
County Court of Quarter Sessions issued an order
declaring the town of California a borough. The
inhabitants of the town, therefore, in the spring of
.1854, held a meeting at the school—house, when the
following oflicers were elected for one year, ,viz.: Sol-

omon Sibbitt, burgess; James P. Ailes, "St. Clair .

Chrisinger, Lewis 'W. Morgan, and William Carroll,
councilrnen; Samuel S. Rothwell,clerk; Henry Phil-
lips, high constable;- William Eberman, treasurer;
Henry Phillips, collector; and Joshua Norcross, street
commissioner. Strangely enough the date of holding
this election‘ and the date the first officials were in-

ducted into office is not shown in the records. The .

first meeting of the Town Council, however, was held
in the school-house, April 24,1854, when it was or-
dained “that on and after the first day of August next

. the several streets and alleys of the borough of Cali-

fornia be, and the same are hereby, declared public
highways, and subject to such orders as the burgess
and Council may direct.

Jan. 26, 1865, an agreement was entered into by the
borough authorities and Abraham Fry, Job Johnson,
Thomas L. Wood, George W. Hornbake, William
W. J ackman, and Samuel Ashmead, executors, and
Emily Wood, executrix, of the estate of John Wood,
deceased, conveying “unto the borough of California

the land that lies down the river from the Coursin & .

Latta mill lot below First Street, and between it and
the river for the distance of four hundred feet, for the
purpose of a wharf. Said borough.to have said priv-
ilege for the purpose of a wharf forever, and said

‘borough on their part bind themselves to make a
good wharf within two years from this date, and

pave the same with stone, and keep the sam_e in
good repair. If said borough shall neglect to keep
said wharf in repair this conveyance to be void,
otherwise to remain ’in full force and virtue.”
Among those mentioned in a public print as doing
business, etc.-, in the village in 1861 were J ob—J ohn-
son, attorney-at-law; J . C. Gilchrist, principal of the
seminary; G. M. Eberman.& Co., boat-builders; Sam'-
uel Sickman, merchant; Lewis W. Morgan, merchant;
A. A. Devore, clothier and merchant tailor; Dr. J .
J . Fulmer, eclectic physician and surgeon; Edward

Riggs, cultivator and dealer in fruits, shrubbery,

and ornamental trees; and J. S. Vanhorn, ship-
carpenter. ' -

At a special election held July 28, 1864, to deter-
mine whether a tax be levied to fill the borough’s
quota in accordance with a call of the President for
five hundred thousand men, seventy-six votes were
polled, of which forty-six“ were_ for the tax and thirty
against. Thereupon the borough authorities resolved
to issue bonds to the amount of two thousand one
hundred dollars, and topay three hundred dollars
bounty ‘to each of the seven men required to fill the
quota. V .

The borough’s first newspaper, the Valley Spirit,
was started by John Gibson about the year 1866. It
was continued, however, but one year. ‘ ~

In 1876, Weddell & Patton began the publication
of an independent lqcal newspaper called the Valley
Leader, which, however, continued for a period of
only about six months.‘ i -

630

HISTORY OF WASHINGTGN. CO.UN'I‘.Y, PENNSYLVANIA.

List of Principal Borough Oflicers.
1854.——Solomon Sibbitt, burgess; William Carroll, St. Clair Chrisinger,
William Eberman, Lewis W. Morgan, James P. Ailes, councilmen.
l855.—Job Johnson, burgess; Lewis W. Morgan, James P. Ailes, Abner
Jackson, Hiram Miller, Samuel S. Rothwell, councilmen.
1856.—.-William Eberman, burgess; J. S. Van Horn,‘ Thomas Wells,
James O. Lewellen, Joseph Paxton, Solomon Sibbitt, councilmen.
1857.—A. J . Harris, burgess; Joseph Paxton, Thomas Wells, J ames Un-
derwood, Amos Powell, William Eberman, councilmen.
1858.—A. J. Harris, burgess; George W. Harris, Joseph Woodfill, James
. Underwood, David Thomas, St. Clair Chrisinger, councilmen.
1859.—Lewis Baker, lmrgess; Jonathan Dehaven, William McFall, J r.,
, John Reed, Samuel Davis, Joshua Norcross, councilmen.

1860.——A. J. Harris, burgess; George VV. Harris, Edward Riggs, A. A.
Devore, Jonathan Dehaven, George W. Underwood, councilmen.
1861.—A. J. Harris, burgess; Stephen Smith, J. H. Ball, J . W. Phillips,

. A. A. Devore, A. J . Crow, councilmen.

1862.—A. J. Harris, burgess; E. W. Barris. Joseph Lambert, Willia
McFall, J r., Jonathan Dehaven, J . «G. Dowler, councilmen. I

1863.—Edward M. Melch, burgess; Lewis XV. Morgan, Joseph A. Lam-
bert, Job Johnson, Steele Sample, E. W. Barris, William, McFall,
councilmen. T‘ _'

1864.-—David Shallenberger. burges; ‘William McFall, Edward Riggs,
Stephen Smith, James Underwood, Job Johnson, councilmen.

1865.»-“—Samuel Sickman, burgess; David Shallenberger, J . C. Momyer,
G. M. Eberman, William McFall, J r., George W. Harris, councilmen.

1866.——Josiah W. Phillips, burgess; Solomon Fry, Samuel W. Craft, J . S.
Wilkins, D. H. Jacobs, J . G. Huggins, Joseph Pyle, councilmen.

1867.—Job Johnson, burgess; William W. Everson, Samuel Sickman,
Joseph N. Powell, James Long, John H. Veatch, councilmen.

1868.-—Edward M. Melchi, burgess; G. G. Hertzog, J. R. Dunlap, S. B.
Paxton, Jonathan‘ Dehaven, Luke P. Beazell, councilmen.

1869.——S. B. Paxton, burgess; Luke P. Beazell, J . S. Wilkins, Jonathan
Dehaven, J L R. Dunlap, G. G. Hertzog, councilmen.

. 1870.1-—Solomon Fry, burgcss; Moses Billingsby, John Lopp, J r., Joseph

\

Paxton, Jehu Dehaven, James Herron, councilmen. »
1871.2—Edward M. Melchi, burgess; John Veatch, S. R. Alter, A. P.
Smith, George W. Harris, Joseph Wadsworth, councilmen.
1872.-—-Edward  Melchi, burgess; Isaiah- Hornilake, A. B. Duvall,
James Long, Edward Riggs, Joseph Wadsworth, and Dr. James
McDonough, councilmen. I ,
1873.-—Jonat]han Dehaven, burgess; J . N. Powell, David Veatch, Luke
l P. Beazell, Edward Riggs, S. W. Craft, . C,,Hanck, councilmen.
1874.—A. J . Harris, hurgess; J . R. Powell, Thomas Johnson,,A. J . IIert-
zog, William M¢‘:Fall, A. B. Duvall, Edward Riggs, councilmen.
1875.—Edward M. Melchi, burgess; J oseph A. Wadsworth, J . B. Shal-
lenberger, S. B. Paxton, John H. Veatch, J . K. Ward, I. T. Dawson,
councilmen.
1876.—-Edward = M. Melchi, burgess; J . K. Ward, Joseph A. Wadsworth,
J. B. Shallenberger, S. M. Geho, J. O. Lewellen, W. H. Beazcll,
councilmen. . _ .
1877.—-E. 0. Phillips, burgess; Joseph A. Wadsworth, S. M. Geho, J . K.
Ward, J. 0. Lewellen, John Harrison, S. J ._ Howe, councilmen.
1878.—J. B. Montgomery, burgess; J. O. Lewellen, William Mehaifey,
Joseph Wadsworth, S. M. Geho, John Harrison, S. J . Howe, coun-
cilmen.
1879.—-W. G. Gardner, burgess; John Harrison, J. O. Lewellen, S. M.
‘ Geho, W.,M. Baker, Joseph Wadsworth, and William Mehaffey,
councilmen. ‘
1880.——“J. B. Vandyke, burgess; Isaac, Jackxnan, E. 0. Phillips, William
' Howe, A. P. Smith, John Harrison, and Joseph Wadsworth, coun-
cilmen. , A ‘ ' A 1 -
1881.—J. W. Paxton, burgess; G. G. Hertzog, Luke P. Beazell, Joseph
Wadsworth, I. J . Hornbake, J . A. Letherman, and J . B. Montgom-
ery, councilmen. A

l882.—J. S. Beazell, burgess; J.  Letherman, G. G.«Hertiog, L. P. 8

1 On the 1st of December, 1870, the ‘management of the Pittsburgh,
Virginia and Charleston Railroad was granted the right of way through
Third Street, with the privilege of .laying a double track. This road,
IIOWBVBT, was not laid through Third Street, and was not completed

tl1rough.CalifoT'rn.iai until 1881; the first regular trains between West I

Brownsville and Pittsburgh being started May,15tl1' of that year.

9 In 1871 the coal works of Morgan & Lambert were opened. Morgan
& Dixon now control them. They also own the well-known steamer
“ L. W. Morgan.” . « - 1» i -«

Beazell, W. D. Veatch, S. W.-Craft, and J. B. Smith, Councilmen;
William M. Hart, treasurer and wharf-master; 0.0. Ilornbal-ze,
clerk; John Harrison, street commissioner. A

JUSTICES OF THE PEACE, V
William Carroll, April 11, 1854; 1 A. J. Harris, April 15, 1873.

May 17, 1859. E. M. Melchi, Jan.’ 21, 1874.
Job Johnson, June 25, 1860; Jun A. J. Harris, May 18, 1874.
3, 1865. . . 8 L. P. Fry, March 21, 1877. A
E. M. Melchi, April 9, 1867 ; April i A. J . Harris, March 25,1878. _
12,1872. I. T. Dawson, May 10,1881.

Present Professional and Business Men.-—P/cyst‘:-
cians, W. H. Phillips and N. F. Veatch, both of
whom have been here some twelve or fourteen years‘;
J . A. Letherman, who is a graduate of Bellevue Hos-
pital Medical College, and has “resided here seven

years; J. P. Fry, T. c. McClure, and : G. H. Smith.
Of those who in years past have made thistheir place“

of residence and practice, we havelheard mentioned
the names of Drs. Fulmer, Hunter, James McDon-
ough, Conklin, Hubbs, Jackson, Truxal, and Clark.-

Merchants, Mechanics, ctc.——-S. M. Binns, dealerin‘
general merchandise; Luke P. Beazell, butcher; J ohn“
Carr, butcher; L. T. Claybaugh, carpenter; S. W.»
Craft, furniture dealer and livery-man; J. B. Darling,‘

shoemaker; W. A. Davis, dealer in drugs and music;
I. T. Dawson, telegraph. operator and ‘justice of the

peace; A.  Fry, railroad and express agent; J . M."

Garrow, merchant and coal dealer; Gleason & C05,“

merchants and coal dealers; Eberman, McFall &7
Co., owners of saw-mill and boat-yard; A. J . Harris,
~ justice of the peace; Hart & Co., grocers; James"

Herron, merchant;‘Jacobs & Shallenberger, black-

s1niths;.J. W. King, foundryman; Thomas L-_ill_v,
grain and livestock dealer; Robert McDonald, shoe- '

maker; John Mailey, baker; E. T. Marshall, carpen-
ter; G. W. Martin, dealer in general-merchandise;
Joseph Moffitt, wagon-maker; Lewis W. Morgan,
merchant and coaldealer; .William Powel1,_carpen-
ter; J . W. L. Rabe, dentist; Davis Sheplar, dealer in

boots and shoes; J. W. Smith, postmaster land-dealer
in drugs, books, stationery, etc.; J (B. Vandyke, mer-..
chant; Solomon Zook, grocer; and Prof. G.»P. Beard}:
1 principal of the Southwestern State Normal School. 8‘
Boat-building‘.—Soon after the founding of the

town its proprietors, placed in operation a-saw-mill.

In 1851 this mill was leased by a firm composed of‘.

‘William McFall, Jr., St. Clair Chrisinger, and James
Imley, who, during the summer of- that year, ‘engaged

in boat-building. They continued the business but
' two or three years, however, being succeeded by ‘
Capt. Mark Sterling and Benjamin Coursin. 9 ~ ' ‘ I

In 1857, under the firm-name of G. M. Eberman & —
00., G. M. Eberman and William McFall, J r., pur-
chased the property, made many improvements, and »

began an extensive business as. boat-‘builders. 'In

1865 the firm of Craft & Lambert leased the piremisesi
for one year, and during. that time built nine boats.‘
"The proprietors of the yardresumed work in 1866,

though, and in 1870, by S. W. Craft becoming a mem-
ber of the firm, the title was changed to that of Eber-

 CALIFORNIA BOROUGH;



man, McFall.& Co. In the fall of 1879 the road-bed
of the Pittsburgh, Virginia and Charleston Railroad
was carried through the grounds of this firm, and as
a result their boat-yard, to that time one of the most
complete and convenient onthe river, was destroyed,
and the work of boat-building abruptly brought to

, an end. The question of damages, etc., is still a

matter of contest in the courts.

From 1859 to 1879, inclusive, fifty men were usually
employed, except during the years 1863 and 1864,
when ‘about seventy-five men were furnished employ-
ment. During the twenty years above mentioned
the firms of G. M. Eberman & Co. and Eberman,
McFall & Co. constructed one hundred and sixty-
eight steamboats and model barges, at a cost of

‘$754,753.54, besides having sold from their yards

timber and lumber of the value of $40,000. In 1878
they built the steamers “Montana” and “Dacota”
for the Missouri’ River trade. These boats were two
hundred and fifty feet in length, forty-eight feet
wide, and five feet six inches depth of hold. The
famous barges owned by W. H. Brown and Richard
Gray also represent the handiwork of the California
boat-builders. . .
The Christian ‘Church.‘—In the early days of
Christianity, when‘ the disciples were scattered
abroad, they went everywherepreaching the word.

‘ So when Edward Riggs moved his family to Califor-

nia, Pa., in 1858, he began tohdeclare the gospel to
his neighbors, and became a centre of religious in-
fluence in the community. ‘ Five members of his
household were disciples of Christ, and they found
two‘:-others, David Thomas a11d his wife, who were of
“like precious faith.” ‘ ,

Judson D. Benedict, of Tonawanda, N. Y., a man
of great intellectual power, andan exceptionally

- forcible and convincing speaker, was invited to hold ‘

aseries of meetings in this new and growing village.
He came in March, 1859, and preached in the
old. school-house to deeply interested audiences.
Much inquiry was awakened, andmany people, like
the noble Bereans, “ received the word with all read-

-iness of mind, and searched the Scripturesdaily

whether these things were so; tlzerefore many of them
believed.” ,

.On March 24, 1859, several persons having been
immersed upon a public confession of their faith in
Jesus, the Christ, the Son of the living God, the
Christian Church in California, Pa., was organized
in the house of Edward Riggs, on Second Street, the
second church of the living God that was planted in
his private dwelling. Twenty-two persons on that
day associated themselves together in church order

-on the prim-n.eip,les.0f the go‘spel.of Christ as set forth
1 by the apostles in the New Testament Scriptures.

Their names are as follows, viz. : Edward Riggs, Hes-
ter Riggs, Jesse E. Riggs, Hattie N. Riggs, Amanda

1 By the Rev. W. L. Hayden.

Riggs, Sarah J. Riggs, . David Thomas, Harriet
Thomas, Joseph Pyle, Albena Pyle, Emeline «Pyle,
Phebe Margarette Pyle, A. A. Devore, James Mar-
shall, Josiah W. Philips, Susan Philips, Sarah Smith,
Laura E. Smith, Mary Miller, Rebecca Miller, Henry
Hornbake, and Sidney J. R0-thwell. Of these Edward
Riggs, David Thomas, and A. A. Devore were ap-
pointed elders. Owing to the peculiar views of J .=
D.. Benedict with regard to the church organization,
no deacons were chcfien at that time. i

Soon after the organization Mr. Riggs moved to
his present residence on Fifth Street, where the
church assembled regularly for worship and edifica-"
tion for nearly seven years. On occasi'on,‘when'
favored with the labors of an evangelist in meetings
of days, they met in the old‘ school building. By
their fidelity and silent influence, and the occasional

assistance of able proclaimers of the gospel with the —

blessing of God, the word of God increased, the num-
ber of disciples multiplied, and “the Lo-rd added to
them those that were being saved.” .
On Jan. 7, 1866, the church began to meet in the
old school-house, according to previous arrangement,
for the usual Lord’s day worship, and continued" so
to meet until the completion of the present plain but
comfortable and sufliciently commodious house of
worship. 1 A
The first step toward a m.eeting-housewas taken
about the beginning of the year 1863, when almeet-
ing was called to consider the propriety of building
a house for public worship. It was then resolved
that a board of trustees be chosen to take charge of
all the church -property, to receive any and all money
or moneys or other valuables, and select a site for a
building, if deemed advisable to build. Joseph Pyle,
Davida Shallenberger, and Albert VVilson were chosen
said board of trustees. ’ '
Prudently considering the financial ability of the
membership, and desiring to avoid the embarrass-
ment of a depressing debt, they moved ‘slowly in
obtaining subscriptions and collecting ‘the necessary
funds. On Jan. 4, 1866, it was resolved that the
trustees, who were appointed at a previous meeting,
be instructed to purchase a lot known as the Wilkins

lot for one hundred and .seventy-five dollars, on.

which to build a meeting-house. This resolution was
carried into effect the same month, Jan. 18, 1866,
when the lot was purchased according to instructions,
and a deed was given by~William Philips and Mary,
his wife, to Albert Wilson, Joseph Pyle, and David
Shallenberger, trustees {or the use of the Disciple
Church meeting in California, Pa. .
On May 26th, of the same year, a building commit-
tee was appointed consisting of Josiah  Philips,
Edward Riggs, Joseph Pyle, and David Shallenber-
ger. They proceeded to procure funds and materials,

‘but did not build until 1870, when the present frame

house was erected and completed early in 1871. The
formal opening of the house for public worship was

DUN MORE’S WAR.

'73

that seems to have been the cause of some of the dis-
turbance between our people and them. As a guar-
antee that they will perform their part of the agree-
ment, they have given up four chief men, to be kept
as hostages, who are to be relieved yearly, or as they
may choose. The Shawanese, have complied with the

. terms, but the Mingoes did not like the conditions,

and had a mind to deceive us; but Lord Dunmore
discovered their intentions, which were to slip off
while we were settling matters with the Shawanese.
The Mingoes intended to go to the Lakes, and take
their prisoners with them, and their horses which
they had stolen. I

“ Lord Dunmore ordered myself with two hundred
and forty men to set out in the night. We were to

inarch to a town about forty miles distant.from our

camp up .the Scioto, where we understood the whole
of the Mingoes were to rendezvous upon the follow-
ing day, in order to pursue their journey. This intel-
ligence came by John Montour, son of Capt. Mon-
tour, whom you formerly knew.

“ Because of the number of Indians in our camp‘,
we marched out of it under pretense of going to
Hockhocking for more provisions. Few knew of our
setting off, anyhow, and none knew where we were
going to until the next day. Our march was per-.
formed with as much speed as possible. We arrived

’ at a town called the Salt Lick Town the ensuing

night, and at daybreak we got around it with one-half
our force, and the remainder were sent to a small vil-
lage half a mile distant. Unfortunately one of our
men was discovered by an Indian who lay out from
thetown some distance by a log which the man was
creeping up to. This obliged the man to kill the In-
dian. This happened before daylight, which did us
much damage, as the chief part of the Indians made
their escape in the dark, but we got fourteen pris-
oners and killed six of the enemy, wounding several
more. We got all their baggage and horses, ten of
their guns, and two white prisoners.’ The plunder
sold for four hundred pounds sterling, besides what
was returned to a Mohawk Indian who was there.
The whole of the Mingoes were ready to start, and
were to have set out the morning we attacked them.”
This assault on the Mingo town by Maj. Crawford
wasthe last_act of hostility in the Dunmore war.

The “settlers’ forts” and block-houses, of which
there were many in the territory that is now Wash-
ington County, and which by affording shelter and
protection to the inhabitants prevented an entire
abandonment of this section of the country in Dun-
more’s war, were nearly all erected during the terror

V and panic of the spring and summer of the year 1.7 7 4.

These forts were erected by the associated ‘efforts of
settlers in particular neighborhoods upon the land of
some one, whose name was .-thereupon given to the
fort, as Vance’s fort, Beelor’s fort, etc. .’Theycon-
sisted of a greater or flees. space of land, inclosed on

all sides by high log parapets or stockades, with
cabins adapted to the abode of families. The only
external openings were a large puncheon gate. and
small port-holes among the logs, through which the
rifle of the settler could be pointed against the assail-
ants. Sometimes, as at Lindley’s, and many of the
other forts in -the adjacent country west of the Mo-
nongahela, additional cabins were erected outside of
the fort for temporary abode in times of danger, from
which the sojourners could in case of attack retreat
within the fort. ’
Doddridge, in his “ Notes on the Early Settlements
and Indian Wars,” says the “ settlers’ fort” of. those
days was “not only a place of defense but the resi-
dence of a small number of families belonging to the
same neighborhood. As the Indian mode of warfare
was an indiscriminate slaughter of all ages and both
sexes, it was as requisite to provide for the safety of
the women and children as for that of the men. The
fort consisted of cabins, block-houses, and stockades.
A range of cabins commonly forme_d one -side at least
of the fort. Divisions or partitions of logs separated
thecabins from each other. The walls on the out-
side were ten or twelve feet_high, the slope of the
roof being turned wholly inward. A very few of
these cabins had puncheon floors, the greater -part
were earthen. The block-houses were built at the
angles of the fort. They projected-about two feet
beyond the outer walls of the cabins and stockades.
Their upper stories were about eighteen inches every
way larger in dimension than the under one, leaving
an opening at the commencement of the second story
to prevent the enemy from making a lodgment under
the walls. In some forts the angles of the fort were

furnished with bastions instead oflblock-houses.. A ’

large folding gate, made of thick slabs, nearest the
spring, closed the fort. The stockades, bastions,
cabins, and block-house walls were furnished with
port-holes at proper heights and distances. The
whole of the outside was made completely bullet-
proof. It may be truly said that necessity is the
mother of invention, for the whole of this work was
made without the, aid of a single nail or spike of iron,
and for the reason that such things were not to be
had. In some places less exposed a single block-
house, with a cabin or two, constituted the whole fort.
Such places. of refuge may appear very trifling to

‘those who have been in the habit of seeing the for-

midable military garrisons of Europe and America,
but they answered the purpose, as the Indians had no
artillery. They seldom attacked, and scarcely ever
took one of them.”

Among the number of forts of this kind that were
erected in what is now Washington County were
Vance’s fort, on Cross Creek; Lind1ey’s fort, in Morris
township; Wells’ fort, at Wells’ Mills, on Cross Creek ;
Wolfe’s fort, in Buffalo township; Froman’s fort, on
Chartiers Creek; Beelor’s fort, on Raccoon Creek,
near the siteof .the,vil,lage W ,_Cand,pr;;_ DHil_,lo_w’s fort

. . . . . , ,

\

632

HISTORY or WASHINGION COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA.

on Feb. 15, 1871‘. On that day John F. Rowe
preachedand began a series of meetings, continuing
over three Lord’s days, and resulting in several acces-
sionsto the church. The elders of this church have
been selected with special reference to the scriptural
qualification of aptness to teach. The general policy

has been to rely upon local talent, chiefly the elder- _

ship, for the public .instruction of the congregation
and guidance into all good works, and to ‘call .in
preachers to aid in special efforts to reach the world
with the offers of salvation.

~ The present eldership consists of Edward Riggs,
G. G. Hertzog, and Robert Wilson ; the first of whom
has been an office-bearer in the church of God almost
continuously for more than ‘forty-five years. With
him Josiah W. Philips and David Shallenberger were
also associated a part of the time. The deaconate is

« composed of Joseph ‘Wilkins, James Luellyn, D. H.

Jacobs, and James Stevenson.

The preachers who have labored with this church
in meetings of days and sometimes weeks, some of
whom have been called two, three, or four times for
such labors, are the following, viz.: J. D. Benedict,
J . F. Rowe, L. Southmayd, Benjamin Franklin, L.

- P. Streator, J. C. Goodrich, Samuel Matthews, L. W.

Scott, S. F. Fowler, Campbell Jobes, W. 'B. Young,
J . VV. Kemp, L. F. Bittle,  H. Singer, O. G. Hert-
zog, Joseph King, William Baxter, D. L. Kincaid,
William _,Pinkerton, T. D. Garvin, and George
Musson. H '

Others have preached occasionally to the edifica-

tion of the body, among whom are J . B. Pyatt, James 1

Darsie, William Martin, A.‘ C. McKeever, Thomas
Strathern, M. L. Streator, S. B. Teagarden, and W.
L. Hayden.

. This church is in a hopeful condition, and is quietly
holding on its way and pursuing its work. It has
received into its fellowship more than three hundred
members. ' But, with a floating element. in the popu-
lation, it has suffered loss by removals, while some
have departed from the faith and others have “fallen
asleep in Christ.” The present active membership is
about one hundred and fifty. It maintains a flourish-
ing Sunday-school of ‘near one hundred pupils under
the eflicivent superintendency of Prof. G. ‘G. Hertzog,
assisted by an excellent corps of twelve teachers.
Thus its working members are_ striving to “ shine as
lights in the world, holding forth the word of life.” 8
A The First Presbyterian Cl1urch.—-—-On. the evening
of June 24, 1877,Rev. William Willson preached a
sermon from Matt. xix. 20,  the chapel of the State
Normal School, in California, and on the 8th of July
-following he preached another sermon from .1 ‘Kings
vi. 7, in the Presbyterian Church at Greenfield. On
the ensuing day (June 9th)_a number of persons signed
a petition requesting the Presbytery of Pittsburgh to

A organize a Presbyterian Church in the town of Cali-

fornia. ‘Subsequently the committee on ‘presbyterial

‘missions authorized Mr. Willson to labor in this re-

’ Oct. 1, 1877.

gion. Atlhis solicitation Rev. R. Lee, D.D., preached
in California July 15, 1877, and Rev. David McKin-
ney, D.D., preached in Greenfield and California on

the 23d of the same month. Rev. John Kerr also.

preached in California September 30th.

A The Presbytery of Pittsburgh, on the 3d'of October,
1877 , appointed Rev. R. Lee, D.D., Rev. William
Willson, and Elder William Caldwell a committee to
organize a church in California “ as soon as the way
should appear open.” Accordingly, two members of
this committee (viz.: Rev. R. Lee, D.D., and‘ Rev.
William VVil1son) and others, agreeably to_ previous
announcement, met in Room A of the normal school
building Nov. 2, 1877 , when, after singing and prayers,
and a sermon by the Rev. Dr. Lee, the meeting ad-_
journed. On the succeeding day, all of the members
of the committee being present, the following persons
united in organizing a Presbyterian Church,‘ viz.:
Miss Hannah Montgomery, Mrs. Tillie "Crawford, Mr.
William Mehaffey, Mrs. Ruth Mehaffey, Mr. William
M. Hart, Mrs. Bessie Hart, Prof. James B. Smith, Mr.
Isaac K. J ackman, Mrs. H. J ackman, Mrs. Caroline
Hazelbaker, Mr. Charles Howe, Mrs. Mary E. Howe,

Mrs. Luna C. Beard, Mr. Theo. F. Montgomery,-

M rs. Rebecca Montgomery, Mrs. Annie J .-Smith, and
Mrs. J ennietta Hill. ’ ‘ ‘

During the evening of the same day Rev. William
Willson preached from Luke xviii. 1, and Psalm
cxviii. 25, and Prof. James B. Smith was ordained

and installed ruling elder. Thereupon the committee —
of the Presbytery of Pittsburgh declared the First ‘
Presbyterian Church of California duly organized,

and the meeting adjourned. Another meeting was
immediately held, Rev. Dr. Lee presiding, when the
Rev. William Willson "was unanimously elected as a
supplyifor the new church for one year, to commence

came in December, 1880, and remained until July,
1881. In December, 1881, Rev. E. P. Crane was in-
stalled as the first _regular pastor of this church, and
still continues as such.

The church edifice was built during the summer of
1878. It is a frame structure.
and has sittings for two hundred persons. The elders
at the present time are James B..S’mith and Noah
W. Patton, the latter having been elected in Decem-
-ber, 1879. James W. Clark, a former elder, removed
from the town in_ the spring of 1881, as did also J o-

siah Reed, who was elected a ruling elder in January, '

1879. The first board of trustees was composed of
VVilliam Mehaifey, William ‘M. Hart,‘and James B.

Smith. The present trustees are Isaac Reed, Isaac J
Jackman, and J . B. Vandyke, who were elected in '

December, 1879. Present membership of the church,

1 Prof. George P. Beard, an ordained minister of the Presbyterian
Church, and the present principal of the Southwestern Normal College,
also bore an active part in organizing this church.

» He continued until September, 1880. - _
The next regular supply was Rev. Levi Risher, who

It cost about $1600,

CALIFORNIA BOROUGH.

forty-eight. Pupils in Sabbath-school, one hundred.
Prof. J. B. Smith, Sunday-school superintendent.

  Methodist Episcopal Sabbath.- School. -— The
Methodist Episcopal Church edifice was, dedicated
October 7, 1860, and immediately thereafter the first 1
Sabbath-school was organized under the superintend-
ence of Rev. Abner Jackson. Among the original

’ members of this school were Rev. Abner Jackson,

Samuel S. Rothwell, William McFa1l, Sr., Thomas
Craver, Samuel M. Davis, G. M. Eberman, Ann
Sickman, Ann C. Ailes, Misses Maggie Dehaven,
Mary E. Wells, Mattie Powell, Orpha" H. Carroll,
Bell Carroll, and Angeline Baker.

On the 3d of March, 1861, the school _was re-
organized by the adoption of a constitution and by-

laws. L.‘\V. Morgan was then elected superintend-

ent, and has been re-elected annually for twenty-one
years in succession. James S. Harris was the first

secretary chosen, and served one year, except three

months passed in the United States army of volun-
teers, in company with other members of the school.
Says the Rev. Mr. Pierce; “When the Sunday-
school was organized we had no Sunday-school music.
We sang church hymns and tunes. Solomon Mere-
dith set the tunes. It was the very large scholars
who did the singing then; but the very small ones
can sing better now than the large ones did then.” V
During the pastorates of A Revs. Baketell and

' Pierce, Sunday-school institutes were held, which

were very pleasant. A normal class was organized
during the latter’s term, and most of the course com-
pleted. Mission Sunday-schools were formed at
Granville, Woo,d’s Run, and Troytown, and libraries
worth twenty-_s_ix dollars placed in each. Thelocal
preachers and Sunday-school oflicers ‘of California
and Greenfield rende.red most eflicient service in
planting and fostering these schools.

Since March, 1861, twelve pastors. have been
located here, and during, that time the congregation
has contributed for missions eight hundred and thirty

1 ‘dollars, the Sabbath-school two hundred and thirty-

two dollars. In 1870 there were twelve hundred
volumes in the Sunday-school library, the greatest
number since organization. Of these, five hundred
and fifty were lost in one year. Starting with about
seventy-five scholars, in 1861, the number has been

gradually increased until the present time, when two’

hundredand fifty are found enrolled, with an average
attendance of two hundred; the primary classes
numbering more than the whole school did twenty-
one years ago? ‘ .

Of deceasedmembers of the California Methodist
Episcopal Church Sunday-school we find mentioned
the names of James P. Ailes, Mr. McMillen, Myula

‘1 A Union Sabbath-school existed prior to the date here given, which
met in the old school-house, but it was not under the control of any
religious denomination. ‘ '

'2 From a historical report rendered lately

y G. M. Eberman, S. W.
Craft, 8. A. Pierce, and others of a committee. . .

.633

McCain, Josephine McCain, Mary Wells, D. H.
Lancaster, Abner Wilkins, Charles Davis, Joana
Osborn, Leander Truxal, William M cFall, Sr., "Orpha
M. Carroll, and William Carroll, Sr. '
Cemeteries-—On the hill near the residence of
William W. Jackman is an ancient burial-place

which was probably used by theearly settlers long a

before the beginning of this century. The burial-
grounds within the limits of the village proper, con-
taining about one acre, were opened in 1812 or 1813‘,

.Robert_Jackman, the pioneer, having been one of‘

the first buried there. A ,

East Pike Run Cemetery, containing seventeen
acres and seventy-four perches, adjoins the Monon-
gahela River, and was laid out August 14, 1876.

Pike Run Lodge, N o. 491, I. 0. 0. F., was char-
tered May 20, 1853. The early records of the lodge
have been "destroyed by fire, but among those men-
tioned as charter members were Harrison Hornbake,.
J oseph_Moody, J. S. Vanhorn, James T.‘Imley, Jacob
Baker, J. O. Lewellen, and Solomon Sibbitt.

To May 1, 1882, two hundred and eighty-eight
members have joined the organization, and during
the same period the Past Grands have been as fol-
lows: Harrison Hornbake, Joseph Moody, John S.
Vanhorn, J. T. Imlay, James O. Lewellen, Solomon
Sibbitt, Jacob G. Huggins, J. G. Dowler, St. Clair

, Chrisinger, J. L. Wensley, Jacob Hornbake, Francis A

M. Osborn, T. D. Mofiitt, L. J. Baker, Isaac’Lead-
beater, Samuel Lewis, John Clendoniel, R. A. Mc-
Donald, J. S. Wilkins, J. 'W. Paxton, D. H. Jacobs,
A. G. Powell,‘J. L. Long, G. G. Hertzog, J. M. Birk-

ensha, L. C. Powell, L. P. Fry, S. B. Paxton, J. W.

Sterge, J ehu Dehaven, D. H. Lewis, W. H. Beazell,
J . C. Hank, E. T. Marshall," L. P. Beazell, W. C.
Layton, W. G. Gardner, David Phillips, ‘George
Morgan, J . G. Thompson, W. B. Alter, W. B. Har_-
ris, A. B. Ghrist, G. H. Lewis,‘ J. A. Letherman, E.
Lopp, and E. F. Reed. ,

The lodge is in a flourishing condition. Its present
members number seventy-nine, and R. M. Wood,
N. G. ; John Spear, V. G.; A. B. Ghrist, Sec. ; L. C.
Powell, Asst. Sec.; E. Eaglers, C.;  Lewis, W.;
and D. H. Lewis, Treas., are its present ofiicers.

Regular meetings are held every Tuesday evening
at their lodge-rooms on the corner of Second and
Union Streets. V A «

Knights of Pythias. ——A lodge of Knights of
Pythias was organized in the villageabout the year
1873. It ceased work, however, in 1880 or 1881, when
some of its members joined the Greenfield Lodge.’ _

Normal Council, N o. 545, Royal Arcanum, was

organized Dec. 6. 1880, Joseph E. Abel], Leonidas H.

Reeves, P. J. Forsythe, Francis M. Corron, James
Stevenson, Joseph Garrow, George Garrow, Thomas
Coatsworth, Prof. G. P. Beard, Prof. D. C. Murphy,
Prof. T. R. Wakefield, John T. Hoomell, George
Morgan, Dr. J. A. Letherman, Dr. N. S. Veatch, and
James P. McCain being the charter members. .

63-I

HISTORY OF WASHINGTON COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA.

The first ofiicers, viz. : Prof. George P. Beard, R.;
James Stevenson, V. R.; George Morgan, P. R.‘;
Prof. T. R. Wakefield, O. ; Prof. D. C. Murphy, Sec. ;
Dr. J. A. Letherman, Col.; L. H. Reeves, Treas;
F. M. Corron, Chapl. ; George Garrow, G.; James
P. McCain, W. ; Dr. N. S. Veatch, S. ; J . E. Abel],
Joseph Garrow, and Thomas Coatsworth, Trustees,
were installed J an. 24, 1881.

Twenty-seven have joined the organization (to May
1, 1882), and that number represents its present mem-
bership. ‘ -

Present officers are Prof. G. G. Hertzog, R. ; George
Morgan, V. R. ; Prof. D. C." Murphy, Sec. ; Prof. T.
R. Wakefield, 0.; Dr. J. A. Letherman, \Col.; Dr.
N. S..Veatch, Treas. ; James P. McCain, VV.; James
Stevenson, Sec.; John L. Vaughan, Chapl.; Thomas
Coatsworth, G. .

Meetings are held in Odd-Fellows’ Hall, on the
second and fourth Monday evenings of each month. .
~ Harry Billingsbyl Post, No. 168, G. A. R., was
organized at a meeting held in the borough of Cali-
fornia May 5, 1869. It appears that at that meeting
Commander I. M. Regester and other comrades of the
Brownsville Post were present, that the regular order
of business was dispensed with, and that James K.
Billingsby, James S. Long, L. P. Fry, and Thomas
Young were thereupon mustered as recruits. Com-
rade I. l\I.'Regester then resigned as Commander,
when S. B. Paxton waselected to fill the unexpired
term. ‘VVe will add in this connection that prior to
the date here mentioned a post of the Grand Army
had been organized at Brownsville, Fayette Co. Its
members seem to have lost interest in it at an early
day. The place of meeting (as here shown) was then
changed to California, and finally,?as intended, their
charter was left in the hands of the Californians.

The first regular meeting of the post was held May

. 12, 1869, when the following oflicers were mentioned .

as being present: S. B. Paxton, C. ; A. G. Powell, S.
V. C.; I. T. Dawson, Adjt.; J. Dehaven, Q.-M.;
N. W. Truxal, Surg. ; and W. N. Baker, 0. D.
Subsequent Commanders have been James K. Bil-
lingsby, elected in June, 1869; Luke P. Beazell,

elected in December, 1869; John Piper, June, 1870 ;'

W. B. Harris, December, 1870; no record for June,
1871; James K. Billingsby, December, 1871; no rec-
ord for June,-1872; J. B. Shallenberger, December,
1872, who continued until March, 1880, when a reor-
ganization took place. The officers then elected to
serve for theremainder of the year were J. B. Shal-
lenberger, C. ;_ Luke P. Beazell, S. V. C.; and I. T.
Dawson, J . V. C. In December, 1880, I. T. Dawson
was elected Commander, and in December, 1881, the
following (present) oflicers were elected: William M.

1 Harry Billingsby ‘was a brother of Capt. J. K. Billingsby, and served
as a private in the Second Regiment of West Virginia Infantry. At the
battle of Rocky Gap, W. Va., he was wounded and taken prisoner, and
finally died of his wounds while in the hands of the enemy.

Hart, C. ; T. F. ‘Montgomery, S. V. C.; ‘A. J. Hert-
zog, J. V. C.; Samuel M. Jobes, Surg.; J . W. L.
Rabe, Chap.; J . B. Shallenberger, O. D.; and ‘J."B.
Montgomery, 0. G. Delegate to attend general en-
campment at Wi1liamsport,Pa., J . M. Swan; alter-
nate, A. J . Hertzog. _ P .

The post has a present membership of twenty-six.
Of those, however, who have at various times been
admitted as members we furnish‘ the following data.
This list indicates the rank of members at time of

. muster out of the United States service, and the or-

ganizations in which they served during the war of
the Rebellion :

J. K. Billingsby, captain, 2d W. Va. Inf.; 5th W. Va. C-av.

L. P. Beazell, second lieutenant, Co. D, 79th Pa. Int‘.

J . B. Montgomery, second lieutenant, 2d W. Va. Inf.; 5th \V. Va. Cav.
I. T. Dawson, second major-sergeant, Ringgold Cav. ; 22d Pa. Cav.

N. W. Truxal, captain, 2d W. Va. Inf. ; 5th W. Va. Cav.
S. B. Paxton, captain, Co. I, 1st W. Va. Cav. '

Erastus S. Marshall, private, Co. E, 155th Pa. Inf.

VV. J . Harris, private, Co. I, 5th W. Va. Cav.

Harry Mann, sergeant, Co. H,‘1st Pa. R. C.

L. P. Fry, private, Co. D, 22d Pa. Cav.

W. N. Baker, sergeant, 8th Pa. R. C.; U. S. S. C.

John Veatch, sergeant, 2d W. Va. Inf.; 1st W. Va. Art.
A. N. Jobes, private, 2d W. Va. Inf.; 5th W. Va. Cav.
John W. Piper, private,  B, 57th Pa. Inf. 7

J . S. Dales, private, Co. E, 155th Pa. Inf.

M. A. Sample, bu gler, 1st W. Va. Cav.

‘John R. Williams, private, 2d W. Va. Inf.; 5th W. Va. Cav,

Jonah Harris, artificer, Co. 1), 22d Pa. Cav.

VV. A. I’eade1n, private, Co. D, 22d Pa. Cav.

J . B. Shallenberger, private, Co. D, 22d Pa. Cav.

D. H. Lancaster, second lieutenant, Co. 0, 85th Pa. Inf.
McCall Smith, sergeant, Co. G, 3d Prov. Pa. Cav. '
James G. Young, private, Co. E,-«155tl1 Pa. Inf.

W. H. Harrison, corporal, Co. G, 22d Pa. Cav.

Louis Schreiner, private, Co. B, 9th Pa. R. C.

Thomas J . Walker, private, Co. I, 2d W. Va. Inf.
Allen Moore, private, Co. I, 2d W. Va. Inf.

Thomas Young, private, Co. I, 2d W. Va. Inf.

W. H. White, private, Co. D, 22d Pa. Cav.

Nathaniel Young, private, Co. E, 110th Pa. Inf.
George Clendenen, private, Co. I, 2d Vt’. Va. Inf.

W. H. Mahony, private, Co. C, 85th Pa. Inf.

S. J . Howe, private, Co. _I, 2d W. Va. Inf.; 5th W. Va. Cav.
Robert A. McDonald, private, Co. I, 5th W. Va. Cav.‘ . '
John G. Thompson, private, Co. F, 140th Pa. Inf.

D. H. Lewis, private, CO. C, 105th Pa. Inf.

James rMcDonough, surgeon, 46th Pa. Inf.

William Mcltlurray, private, C0. F, 78th Pa. Inf.

A. J . Hertzog, bugler, Co. B, 14th Pa. Cav.

Joseph Garrow, private, Co. B, 77th Pa. Inf.

James A. S. White, private, 12th Pa. Inf.; 22d Pa. Cav.
Thomas Williams,.private, Co. F, 32d U. S. C. T.
George W. Sherman, private, Co. 0, 85th Pa. Inf.
David Phillips, bugler, Co. G, 1st W. Va. Art.

William Lundy, private, Co. D, 15th Pa. Cav.

1 Samuel M. Jobes, private, Co. I, 5th W. Va. Inf. ; 2d W. Va. C‘-av.

Joseph W. VVaters, private, Co. G, 22d Pa. Cav. ’

J . W. L. Rahe, private, Co. G, 157th Ohio Inf.

William Willson, chaplain, Gth Kansas Gav. '

J . M. Swan, first sergeant, Co. F, 30th Ohio Inf.

William M. Hart,2 hospital steward, 1st W. Va. Inf.; 2d W. Va. Vet. Inf.
T. F. Montgomery, private, Co. B, 22d Pa. Cav. '

2 Within thirty minutes after hearing of the bombardment of Fort
Sumter, William M. Hartieaused to be made and displayed the first
United States flag hoisted in the Panhandle of Virginia after the event
meiitioned. . He was also the first United States volunteer in the town
of Hamilton, Hancock Co., Va., new West Virginia. A

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WEST BROWNSVILLE BOROUGH.

635

BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCH.

MAJ. S. B. HOWE.

Maj. S. B. Howe was the son of Daniel and Char-
lotte Howe, and was born in Bentleysville, VVashing-
ton Co., May 2, 1885. The greater part of his life,
prior to his enlistment as a soldier, was spent in the
town of California, in his native county, whither his
father had moved when he was quite young. There
he was educated, and there he learned the trade of

— brick-moulding, which he followed for several years.

In the‘ war of Rebellion he offered his services to the
national government, as did also his father and
brothers, VVilliam, Samuel, and Lemuel. He was a
gallant and devoted soldier, and left a record without
spot or blemish. We give it as detailed by one inti-
mately associated with him :. C I

“ Maj. S. B. Howe enlisted as a soldier in the First West Virginia
Veteran Cavalry at its organization, and was soon appointed to the rank
of second lieutenant, then to captain, and placed in command of Com-
pany M. In this rank he distinguished himself in many of the hard-
fought battles of 1863 and 1864. In the campaign of the latter year he
was selected and detailed by Gen. Averill to command tl1e company of
scouts, and received his orders direct from the general. In this capacity
he performed some of the most daring exploits of the war, and received
the highest encomiums from the commanding general, and established
a reputation for gallantry in the estimation. of every officer who knew
him. In February, 1865, he was commissioned major, and immediately,
in command of the First Regiment West Virginia Veteran Cavalry,
started on the great raid of Gen. Phil. H. Sheridan up the Shenandoah
Valley and to the James River. He was particularly conspicuous at
Mount Crawford, March 1, 1865. Isle swam his regiment across the
river, and in company with the First New York Cavalry charged the
enemy in gallant style, driving him from the burning bridge with great
loss ; and again at Waynesboro’ he bore an active part in the rout and
capture of Gen. Early’s army, and from Petersburg to Appomattox
Court-House "he was conspicuous at every engagement. At Dinwiddie
Court-House he made a splendid charge with his regiment dismounted,
completely checking the advancing columns of the enemy; in the run-
ning cavalry fight from Nanozine to Deep Creek, driving the enemy
with great haste a distance of twelve miles with great loss. Ile per-

made the best and most succeesful charge of the war, capturing Gen.

Ewell and his entire corps, cannon, battle-flags, etc. Maj’. Howe was
second to no regimental commander. At Appomattox Court-House,
April 8, 1865, he fell at the close of that obstinate engagement, at the
hour of midnight, whilst gallantly leading his regiment in his final
charge, in command oft the First West Virginia Veteran Cavalry. In
all his official relations he was courteous, prompt, and cheerful, and no
officer in the brigade shared more fully the confidence of his command-
ing oflicer than Maj. S. B. Howe, and none who have fallen will be
cherished more fondly in the memory of his companions in arms than
he. With deepest regret for the loss of our fallen hero and ‘brother,’
and with sincere regard and condolence for his afilicted wife and aged
mother, I have inscribed the foregoing. A
“ H. CAPi:11AR'r,
“ Colonel of the First West Vi-rg2"m‘a Veteran Cavalry.”

Harper’s W726/sly of Nov. 4, 1865, gives a view of
his grave at the church near Appomattox Court-
House, and thus speaks of him: “A squadron of the
First \Vest Virginia Cavalry, under Maj. Howe, of
that regiment, was pressed forward to the station just
before dark, and in the charge the gallant Howe fell,
shot through the body, and was carried by some of
his faithful men to the church, where he shortly
afterwards expired. Next morning he was buried,
rolled. up in his cloak, without formality in the rear
of the church, as represented in the sketch. In the
death of Maj. Howe his regiment lost a most valuable
officer, and a man loved and respected by all who
knew him. Maj. Howe was the last of a noble family
of five robust men, all the others having previously
died in the war.” [The last statement is an error; one
of the five, Samuel, had a leg broken while in.‘ the
service, but returned home. The other four alldied
in the service]

Maj. Howe’s remains were removed from the grave
011 the battle-field and interred in the Monongahela
City Cemetery, May 12, 1865. i

Maj. Howe was married Jan. 28, 1864, to Emeline,‘

daughter of Ira and Mary Butler, of Carroll town-
ship, VVashington Co., Pa. She resides with her

formed an important part at Little Sai1or‘s Creek, where his brigade parents.
‘' 1
-- :¢@n:>'m :  

Wnsr BRow‘Nsv:1:LLE BOROUGH.

C ’ ON the left bank of the Monongahela River, sixty-

tlifee miles above the city of Pittsburgh, _and fifty-
four miles by the Pittsburgh, Virginia‘ and Charleston
Railroad (or, asnow known, the Monongahela Division

-of the Pennsylvania Railroad),1 is situated the rather

unpretentious borough of \Vest Brownsville, the pres-
ent terminus of the railroad mentioned. It contains
the large and well-known boat-yard of Axton &.

_Pringle, the extensive planing-mills of Thomas Au-A

- 1 Trains first began making regular trips between West Brownsville
and Pittsburgh May 15, 1881. - . . ‘

I
l
l
I
I
l

gglu. -
‘V <vr~

brey & Sons, a handsome public school building, an
Episcopal Church edifice, two hotels, several mercan-
tile houses, about six hundred inhabitants, and is
connected with the ancient town of Brownsville, Fay-
ette Co., Pa., by a substantial covered bridge, six hun-
dred and thirty feet in length, which, commenced in
1832, was completed in 1883, after an expenditure of
about fifty thousand dollars.

Although West Brownsville is but a modest, unas-
suming little borough, and occupies,’ comparativel

636

speaking, but an insignificant portion of the surface
of Washington County, its history is not uninteresting.

It seems that during the middle of the last century,
and prior to the year 17 69, a friendly Indian named
VVil1ia.m Peters, yet more generally known as “ Indian
Peter,” lived on lands’ in the Youghiogheny Valley,
adjoining a German named Philip Shute, 1 with whom
he could not agree. Thereupon "Indian Peter wrote
the proprietaries’ agent, sayingtliat he could not “get
along with the d—d Dutchman,” and wished to give
up his land for another tract. - His request was
promptly complied with it appears, for on the 5th day
of April, 1769, but two days after the land-oflice (for
the sale of land in this the newly-purchased territory)
was opened, warrant No. 2844 was granted him for a
tract containing three hundred and thirty-nine acres
situated on the west side of the Monongahela River.

This land was surveyed Oct. 7, 17 69, by James Hen-_,
dricks, deputy surveyor-general, who gave it the name

of “Indian Hill.” .

It is very probable that Indian Peter took up his
abode on ‘Indian Hill soon after obtaining a title
to the tract, for we find that on the 22d day of Feb-
ruary, 1775, the Virginia court, then in session at

A Fort Dunmore, licensed Michael Cresap " to keep a

ferry over the Monongahela from his house at Red-
stone Old Fort to the land of Indian Peter.” The
latter died probably before the organization of this
county, as the records show that the first civil suit
entered in the Washington County Court of Common
Pleas was brought on the 17th day of September,
1781, and that the defendant was a widow woman of
the name of Mary Peters. This woman, doubtless,
was the widow of Indian Peter.

Meanwhile, much travel centred at the Redstone
Ferry. Here many emigrants to the Western and
Southwestern regions, after long and wearied journeys
over mountain roads and trails, could embark in Ken-
tucky or Orleans boats and float to their destinations,
while others who did not propose going so far crossed
to the left bank of the river, and with wagons. wended
their way to points in the territory now known as
Washington and Greene Counties and West Virginia.

’ The needs of a passable road, therefore, from the ferry

to the county-seat were urgent, and onpthe 1st day of
January, 1782, viewers were appointed by the Court
of Quarter Sessions to lay out a road from B-assett
Town (now Washington) to Redstone Ferry.

While these. improvements were being made or

contemplated, the county of Washingtonrapidly fill-
ing up with an energetic people, and Redstone Old
Fort, or Brownsville, becoming an active business

' centre, it was not possible for the beautiful tract in the

possession of Indian Peter’s widow to long remain
unimproved, abar to the progressive spirit prevailing.

'Hence, during the spring of 1784, Neal Gillespie (a

« 1 Shute was a member of the Gist settlement, and was there when
Capt. John "Steele was at Redstone in 1768.

(HISTORY OF ’ WASHINGTON COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA.

J

native of Ireland, and great-grandfather -of Hon.
James G. Blaine) purchased the Indian Hill property,
as the following curious instrument (recorded in Book
B, vol. i. p. 406, county recorder’s oflice) indicates:

“ March ye 3. 1784. '

“ Memerandom of a Bargain mead Between Marey Petters and Wil-
liam oldest son and Neal Gillespey, the agrement is thos, that we the
above do bargain and seal to send Neal Geallespie the Tractof land
which we now poses and all the tenements and boundries of said Land
at forty five Shillings pr. Acker the tearm of Peaments the 15th of next
October fewer hundred Pounds to be Paid in money or moneys worth
for this Peament two ton of Iron at teen pence Pr pound and one Negro

at Preasment of two men, one hundred pound more to be pead at the ,

same time of this Preasment or Else to Draw In trust for one Year, the
Remainder of the Purches money to be Pead in two Peaments-—First in

i the [year] 1786, the Next the year 1788, Each of these Peaments to be ‘

mead in October 15th the above Bound marey Petters and William Pet-
ters assertsto meak -the said Neal Gillespee a proper Right for said land
for which we have seat our hands and Seals. _

(Signed)
her
“Jenn MA Conrnmr. “ Manny XII PETTERS.
mark:
his
“JOHN NIXON. “ WILLIAM XIX Pnrrsns.
mark.

“- Acknowledged before THOMAS CROOKS Feb. 25, 1786.”

Mr. Gillespie obtained full title and control of
“Indian Hill” on the 27th of January, 1787, and we
further learn from the description that it was situated,
“ on the west side of the Monongahela River, opposite
Fort Buyrd,” and adjoining lands owned by Thomas
Swearingen and Ebenezer Lane. It has been stated"
that Indian Peter’s residence was on the hill over-
looking the town site, and probably the elder Neal
Gillespie, too,,.took up his abode there. However,
during the passing of years the latter was laid
beneath the sward of the valley, and the Indian Hill
farm came into the possession of his son, also named
Neal Gillespie. I
S Ephraim Blaine, grandfather of Ephraim L.,.and
great-grandfather of the Hon. James G. Blaine, was
a Revolutionary oflicer, and lived at Carlisle, Pa.,'
where he succeeded David I-Ioge as sheriff of Cumber-
land County. “ June 26, 1765, at seven o’clock in the
afternoon,” he married Rebekah Galbraith, by whom
he had six children, all of whom died young except
James. 0
South America, and -about 1800 came to the West.

Before emigrating he married Miss Lyon, a daugh-

ter of Samuel Lyon, of Cumberland County, and set-
tled first at_ Davidson’s Ferry, near Muddy Creek, in
Greene County. In 1804 he removed to Brownsville,
where he openeda store, and where, also, he was
elected justice of the peace and occupied the position
many years. He afterwards removed to Sewickley,
Allegheny Co., Pa., where he owned a farm, which
he sold to the Economites, and about 1817 moved to
a small farm near Washington, Pa., where he died,
leaving seven children, Ephraim L. ,J ane, Ellen, Ann,
William, Robert, and Samuel.“ . - -

2 Jane, a daughter of James Blaine, married William Sample, the pro- V
I prietor of the Washington Reporter. In l819'he was elected prothono-

-He traveled quite extensively in Europe and .

’.moved to the State of Maine.

tion :

- “JOHN D. MCKENNAN, ESQ.= '

wnsr BROWNSVILLE BOROUGH.

I

Ephraim Lyon Blaine was born on the 28th of
February, 1796. He emigrated to this country with
his father, graduated at Washington College, and
married Maria, the daughter of Neal Gillespie, Jr.
He became the owner of a large portion of the In-

dian Hill‘ tract of ‘Neal Gillespie, and established his:

residence on the bottom lands fronting the National-
road, the premises now occupied 1by'John S. Pringle.
Later he built at the lowermend of thetown-the stone
house still standing, known as the Blaine house, and
where James G. Blaine was born in 1830. He grad-
uated at Washington College, and after a time re-
The careerof James
G. Blaine as member of Congress and United States
senator from Maine, Secretary of State under Presi-

-dent Garfield, and himself an aspirant to the nomi-

nation by the Republican party for President of the
United States, is too well and universally known
through the country to need a recital. In September,
1881, during the celebration of the centennial anni-
versary of the organization of Washington County,
Pa., the following letter from Mr. Blaine was read.
As it contains much that is and ever will be of his-
toric interest to the people of VVest Brownsville, and,
indeed, to Washington’ County people generally, this
is thought to be a most appropriate place for its inser-

“ Wasnmerox, D. 0., Sept. 5, 1881.

“ DI-:.AR'SIR,-‘-—I had anticipated great pleasure in being present at the

I centennial celebration of the erection of Washington County, but the
. national sorrow which shadows every household detains me here. I shall

perhaps never again have the opportunity of seeing so many of the friends

‘ ‘of my youth and so many of my blood and kindred, and you may well con-

ceive that my disappointment is great.‘ The strong attaclmientwliicli I
feel for the county, the pride which I cherish in its traditions, and the
high estimate which I have always placed on the character of its people in-
crease with years and with reflection. The pioneers were strong-hearted,

Gold-fearing, resolute men, wholly, or almost wholly, of Scotch or Scotch-

Irish descent. They were men who, according to an inherited maxim,
never turned their backs on a friend or on an enemy. For twenty years,
dating from the middle period of the Revolution, the settlers were com-
posed very largely of men who had themselves served in the Continental

army, many of them as ofiicers, and they imparted an intense patriotism

to the public sentiment. It may be among the illusions of memory, but
I think I have nowhere else seen the Fourth of. July and Washington’s

, Birthday celebrated with such zeal and interest as in the gatherings I

there attended. I recall a great meeting of the people on the Fourth
of July, 1840, on the border of the county; in Brownsville, at which a
considerable part of the procession was composed of vehicles filled with
Revolutionary soldiers. ~ I was but ten years old and may possibly mis-
take, but I think there were more than two hundred of the grand old
heroes. The modern cant and criticism which we sometimes hear about
Washington not being, after all, a very great man would have been dan-
gerous talk on that day and in that assemblage.

“ These pioneers placed a high value on education, and while they
were still on the frontier struggling with its privations they established
two excellent colleges, long since prosperously united in one. It would
be impossible to overstate the beneficent and wide-spread influence
which Washington and Jefferson Colleges have exerted on the civiliza-
tion of that great country which lies between the Alleglienies and the

tary of the county,“and later removed to the West. ‘Ellen, also a daugh-
ter, became the wife of the Hon. John H. Ewing, of Washington, where
they resided. She died many years ago. Ann married James Mason,
and removed to Iowa. William'Blaine died several years since. Robert

now resides in Washington, D. 0., and Samuel Blaine is a resident of /

Louisville, Ky. . r
41 .

637

‘E
..

Mississippi River. Their graduates have been prominent in the pulpit,
at the bar, on the bench, and in the high stations of public life. During
my service of eighteen years in Congress, I meta larger number of the
alumni of Washington and Jefferson than of any other single college
in the Union. I make this statement from memory, but I feel assured
that a close examination of the rolls of the two Houses from 1863 to
1881 would fully establish its correctness. Not only were the two col-
leges founded and well sustained, but the entire educational system of
the county, long before the school tax and public schools, was compre-
hensive and thorough. _ I remember in my own boyhood-that there

were ten or eleven academies or select schools in the county where lads _

could be fitted forcollege. In nearly everyinstance the Presbyterian
pastor was the principal teacher. Many who will be present at your
centennial will recall the succession of well-drilled students who _came
for so many years from the tuition of Dr. McClnskey at West Alexan-
der, from Rev. John Stockton at Cross Creek, from Rev. John Eagleson
at Buffalo, and from others of like ‘worth and reputation. It was inevi-
table that a county thus peopled should grow in strength, wisdom, and
wealth. Its_ sixty thousand inhabitants are favored far beyond the
average lot of .m,an. They are blessed with a fertile soil and with the
health-giving climate which belongs to the charmed latitude of the for-
tieth parallel,—-the middle of the~wheat-and corn belt of the continent.
Beyond this they enjoy the happy and ennobling influences of scenery
as grand and as beautiful as that which lures tourists thousands of miles
beyond the sea. I have myself visited many of the celebrated spots in

Europe and in America, and I have nowhere witnessed a more attractive,

sight than was familiar to my eyes in boyhood from the old Indian
Hill farm, where I was born and where my great-grandfather, the elder
Neal Gillespie,,set_tled before the outbreak of the Revolution! The

-. majestic sweep of the Monongahela through the foothills of the Alle-

ghenies, with the chain of mountains but twenty miles distant in full
view, gave an impression of beauty and stiblimity which" can never be
eifaced. , ' .

4“ I talk thus familiarly of localities and of childhood incidents, be-
cause your assemblage, though composed of thousands, will in effect he
a family REUNION, where the only thing in order will be tradition and
recollection and personal history. Identified, as I have been for twenty-
eight years, with a great and noble people in another sectiop of the
Union, I have never lost any of my attachment for my native county
and my native State. '.l‘he two feelings no more conflict than does a
man’s love for his wife and his love for his mother. Vlfherever I may
be in life, or whatever my fortune, the county of Washington, as it
anciently was, taking in all the State south and west of the Mononga-
hela, will be sacred in my memory- I shall always recall with pride
that my ancestry and kindred were and are not inconspicuously con-
nected with its history, and that on either side of the beautiful river,
in Protestant and Catholic cemeteries, five generations of my own blood
sleep in honored graves.

“ Very sincerely yours, _
' “ JAMES G. BLAINE.”

In 1831, Ephraim L. Blaine, doubtless anticipating
the speedy completion of the bridge over the Monon-
gahela, then projected, laid out the original plat of
the town of West Brownsville. This platlcontained
one hundred and, three lots, sixty feet wide, and
(owing to" the abrupt hillside) varying from ninety-
three to ‘two hundred and seventy feet deep. Its
streets runni.ng parallel with the river are Water,
Middle, and Main, while those crossing them at right
angles are Bridge, Broadway, and Liberty.

Some years later James L. Bowman laid out the
addition known as 1“ Bowman’s Addition to West
Brownsville.” This addition comprises sixty-one lots
(each sixty feet wide by one hundred and fifty-one

feet deep), lying below or to the northward of the-

original plat. VVa‘ter, Middle, and Main Streets are
continued through it, while its cross streets are Penn
and Vine.

Notwithstanding. the opening of the bridge over the

Monongahela in 1833, but few personswere induced

_ year.

638 1

HISTORY OF ' WASHINGTON v COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA.

to build dwellings in the little hamlet of West Browns-

ville until the establishment of Pringle’s boat-yard.»

In the fall of 1842," Ephraim L. Blaine was the Dem-
ocratic candidate1 for prothonotary, and was elected.
In February of the following year he sold out a large
portion of ' -.his village property to Capt. John S.
Pringle, who at once established an extensive yard
for the building of steamboats, etc. The establish-
ment of these works brought an increased number of

. residents, more especially. from among those who
here found employment. Schools were opened, mer-

cantile houses were established, and various minor
manufacturing interests also.

The first ferries on the Monongahela River we_re
authorized by the Virginia courts Feb. 23,’ 1775, then
in session at Fort Dunmore (now Pittsburgh). On

‘that day Jacob Bausman was licensed to keep a .
ferry from his house on the south side of the Monon- .

gahela River to Fort Dunmore. Michael Cresap was
also licensed the same day “to keep a ferry on Mo-
nongahela River at Redstone Old Fort to the land
of Indian Peter [now West Brownsville], and that
he provide a boat.” Cresap died in the fall of. that
It is not known by whom the ferry was con-
tinued. The lands on the east side of the river came
into possession of Thomas Brown, and in 1784 the
lands" on the west side were purchased ,byhNeal Gil-
lespie. In the minutes of the December sessions‘:of

',Fayette County Court-for 1788 is found a report of

certain persons appointed to view “the road from
Friends’ Meeting-House to the ferry at the fort,”
meaning Gillespie’s ferry at Redstone Old Fort,
‘or. Brownsville, The landing-placeof the ferry in
Brownsville is in front of theresidence of Henry
Sweitzer (now the United States Hotel), and in West
Brownsville directly opposite. The old road that led
back into the country from the ferry is now unused,
butmay be seen winding along the bank of the little
stream that comes in at that place. . ' '
This ferry continued making its landings at this
point until about 1820, when the National road was

I opened_to the Monongahela River, and the ferry.

landing was moved up to the ‘point near where the
great highwaystruck the river in Bridgeport. It was
there continued until the bridge across the river was

' completed in 1833.

1 During the heat of the canvass which preceded the election in 1842
it seems to have been a mooted question whether the Democratic candi-
date «for the ofiice of prothonotary was a member of the Catholic Church
or not- To prove or disprove an assertionlpublicly made the Catholic
priest officiating in the neighborhood was. appealed to, who promptly
furnished the following forcible and,.to say the least, unequivocal cer-
tificate, which was afterwards displayed in the public prints of that day:

“ This is to certifyithat Ephraim L. Blaine is not now and never was
a member of the Catholic Church, and furthermore, in my opinion, he is
not fit to be a member of any church.” A - A

Notwithstanding the broad and perhaps unwarranted assertion of the
reverend father here quoted, Mr. Blaine finally became a member of
the denomination mentioned. Iledied June 28, 1850, and his remains
now lie buried beside his wife‘s within the shadows of the Catholic
church edifice at Brownsville, Fayette ‘Co. A " 1

Another ferry was established on the Monongahela.

River by John Krepps in the year 1.7 9-1. ' Its landing
at West Brownsville was above the boat-yards of
Axton and Pringle and directly opposite the present
residence ‘of Solomon G. Krepps, at which point the
eastern landing was made. This ferry ‘remained in

operation until some time after the completion. of 3

the Monongahela bridge, and towards the last of its
existence a -ferry-boat propelled by steam was used
upon it. ' ~

There. wasno communication by bridge across’ the 
Monongahela River from West Brownsville to Bridge- :

port until the year 1833, all traffic and travel across the
stream at this point being accommddated by the fer-
ries up to that time. More than twenty years earlier,

however, the projectof bridging the river‘ at some .
point near the mouth of Dunlap’s Creek was agi-

tated by some of the most prominent men of the

vicinity on both sides of the river. In 1810 an act .

was passed (approved March 20th in that year) .“to

authorize the Governor to incorporate a company ‘for-

erecting a bridge over the Monongahela River. at or

near where the road leading from Brownsville to the-

town of Washing-tonlcrossesthe same,” thus author-
izing the location of the bridge at Brownsville or
Bridgeport, as might be decided on. The act‘desig-
nated and appointed “Neal. Gillespie, Jr., Parker
Campbell, and Thomas Acheson, of the county)" of

Washington, Jacob Bowman, Thomas Mason, Charles j '

Shaffner, Samuel Jackson, David Ewing, and Michael

Sowers_, of the county of Fayette,” commissioners "to '
receive subscriptions to the stock of the company to be
formed. It was provided and required by the act that '

the bridgeshould be so constructed as not to obstruct
navigation (except so far as might be done by the erec-

tion of the two abutments and three piers in the river), ‘

“or in any manner to obstruct the passage over the
usual fording-place, which shallat all times be open

as heretofore to persons desirous of passing through i

the same.” The company was of courseauthorized

to collect tolls. ‘The bridge to be commenced in‘

three years and finished in seven years from the

passage of the act, under penalty of forfeiture of,
rights and franchises. References to the probable"

early commencement and completion of the bridge

are found in the newspapers of that time; but no‘

work '-was ever actually done on it, nor does it appear
that the bridge site was definitely determined on‘ or
the necessary amount of stock subscribed.

On the 16th of March, 1830, the (Monongahela 
Bridge Company was incorporated, with a capital of -

$4’4,OO0.1 The corporators were George Hogg, James

L. Bowman,Valentine Giesey, and Robert Clarke,'of 
Fayette County; Daniel ‘Moore, Jesse Kenworthy, J

Ephraim L. Blaine, John Ringland, and Thomas Mc-
Kennan. of Washington,County. By the terms of the
incorporation Will-‘lam Davidson, George Craft, Isaac

Meason, and Andrew Ovliphant, of Fay_ette_Cou—n'ty, 7
t and John Park, Jr., William Berry, and John.Wat—-f 

wnsr BROWNSVILLE BOROUGH.

6.39

son, of Washington County, wereappointed commis-

V sioners to locate the site of thebridge. These men,

taking into consideration the great amount of travel
and traffic then coming to the river over the National
road, fixed_the locationat thepoint where that road

' strikes the river in Bridgeport, and where the bridge

now spans the stream.
Books were opened for subscriptions to the stock in
July, 1830, and the requisite’ amount was soon ob-

‘ tained. The contract for building was awarded to

Messrs. Le Baron & De\Mond, at ‘$32,000, with $5900
additional for the approaches. They commenced
work in the fall of 1831, and on the 23d of November
received the_first payment_ of $500 on the contract.
Apparently the work was not pushed very vigorously,

. for the bridge was not completed until 1833,, the first
tolls being received on the 14th of October in that

year.

hundred and thirty feet in length, in threespans,
standing on two piers in the river between-the abut-
fnents. For almost half a century it has stood firm
against the ice and the numerous great floods in the
Monongahela, the most remarkable of which was,
perhaps, that which reached its most dangerous point

on the 6th of. April, 1852. The bridge has always

been a very profitable investment to the stockholders,
but more particularly so in the palmy days of the

' National road, before the railways had diverted its
‘ travel and traflic into other chairi'.‘i1tel_s. , Thefirst ofli-

cersof the companywere George Hogg, president;
Thomas McKennan, secretary; James L. Bowman,
trfeasurer. Mr. Hogg was succeeded in the presidency
by James L. Bowman, whose successor is George E.
Hogg. ‘The following-named gentlemen are the pres-
ent (1881) oflicers; Managers, George E. Hogg (presi-

' dent), J. W. J effries, Capt. Adam Jacobs, Eli J. Bailey,

N’. B. Bowman,Jose_ph T. Rogers, George VV. Lenhart;
Secretary and Treasurer, William Ledwith.

Robert McKinley, Esq., was born at Cumberland,
Md., something more than half a century ago, and
first settled at West Brownsville in the year 1847.
He remembers thatamong those then living here were
James Moifit, justice of‘ the peace and surveyor;
Ephraim L. Blaine, who lived i-n the brick house now

owned by Solomon Watkins; Jacob Bennett, a New

Orleans trader, or rather one who traded in prbduce
at- various points along the Monongahela, Ohio, and
Mississippi Rivers from Brownsville, to New Orleans;
John S. Pringle, master boat-builder; ThomasH.

» Hopkins, who kept‘ hotel in the building now known
. as the “Nichols House ;” J. E. Adams, boat-builder;

John Gregg, and George Morrison, the latter of whom
was then engaged in'tl1e sale of dry-goods, etc. Mr.
McKinley established a ‘grocery-store during the first
year of his settlement here. _ ‘ “

The ‘boat-yard of John Cock and Leonard Lane-
hart-was started as‘ early as 1848, and at the time’

—The bridge is a covered structure, of «wood, six A.

the’ town was incorporated "(1849)" there‘ ‘were’; many

other._prominenti residents, whosenames. are found ’

attached to a petition praying that the town he in-
corporated. . ‘
Incorporation.——In the spring of 1849 a‘ newera
dawned upon the little village. With a population‘
of nearly four hundred inhabitants, it was determined
to apply for a borough’ charter,’ and accordingly a

petition to that effect, signed by John S; Pringle,!

Ephraim L. Blaine, and forty-seven other citizens, was

presented to the Washington County Court of Quarter .

Sessions. At the May term of that year the court
ordered that the application’ be placed before the
grand" jury, which body having considered the mat-
ter just and expedient recommended that the prayer
of the petitioners be granted. Thereupon, during
the August sessions of 1849, the
placed ‘upon record :‘

“Petition for the incorporation of the Borough of West Brownsville,
Aug. 29,1849, the report of the grand jury is confirmed, and the court

decree the erection of a Borough agreeably to the prayer of the peti-”

tioners and order‘ the same to be recorded in the recorder’s oflice of the

county at the expense of the applicants, and from henceforth the said '

town or village be deemed an incorporated borough, and shall be en-
titled to the several rights, privileges, and immunities conferred’ by the
act of assembly in such cases made and provided, subject to such modi-
fications as may be hereafter made by the Legislature.” V

" First Borough E1ection.—The first election for
borough officers took placeat the school-house in

West Brownsvilleon the '20th day of October, 1849, _
when the following-n_amed officers were elected: .

Joseph Taylor, burgess; John S. Pringle, Leonard
Lanehart, Elisha Griffith, Elijah A. Byland, and
Joseph D. \Voodfill, Town Council; Greenbury Mill-
burn,.high constable; Thomas McDonald and Robert
VVi1son, judges of election; Fayette Hart, inspector;
William White and George Gehoe, clerks. ’

At the first meeting of the Council, which was held‘

Oct. 23, 1849, James Moflitt was appointed clerk to
serve for the term of one year, and at a subsequent
meeting, held Nov. 13, 1849, John Whitmer was ap-
pointed street commissioner, ‘and D.'D. Whitmer
treasurer. The first ordinance (which required. the

street commissioners to employ some competent sur- 1

veyor to make “ two town plats‘ of the borough”) was

adopted Dec. 1, 1849.

Subsequent Borough 0fl‘1cers.——The principal

[borough oflicers elected and appointed annually since
1849, so far as we have been able to obtain data, have

been as follows: "

1850.—John Gregg, burgess; John Cock, D. D. Williams, James Gregg,
John Wilkins, and James Pierce, councilman. i ' 4 j J
1851.—Thomas Mc-Donald, burgess; William Corwin, John Cock, Robert
' Wilson, Joseph Pierce,3 and Isaac Gardner, councilman. '

1 The borough of West Brownsville, according to the UnitedvStates
census returns, had 477 inhabitants in 1850, 613 in 1860, "547 in 1870,gand‘
570 in 1880. H

9 Until ih5:oi'porated as a borough the town included portions of East "I

Bethlehem and East Pike Run townships.
3 Removed, when in_January, 185?, James A. Hill was appointed to
fill vacancy. ’ ' 4 ' 1' " A A A ‘

following order was

74.

HISTORY OF WASHINGTON COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA.

on Dillow’s Run, in now Hanover township; Cherry’s
fort, in Mount Pleasant township; Beeman’s block-
house or fort, on the north fork of Wheeling Creek;
Doddridge’s fort, in what is now Independence town-
ship; Rice’s fort, on the Dutch Fork of Buffalo, in
Donegal; Miller’s fort or block-house, also on the
waters of Dutch Fork, in the same township; and
there were a number of others of the same class in
other parts of the county. Nearly all these were
built, as has been mentioned, during the panic of
17 74; but they continued to be used as places of ‘se-
curity for settlers’ families through a long series of
Indian wars and alarms, that were most frequent and

serious from 1778 to 1783, but which continued to some

extent until 17 94, when a lasting peace with the sav-

ages in the Ohio Valley was gained by Wayne’s vic-

tory on the Maumee.

C H A P T E R V I I.
THE REVOLUTION.

Patriotic Meetings—-Troops sent to the Field-—Mi1itary Operations under
Gens. Hand and McIntosh and Col. Brodhead—Expeditions under
Gen. George, Rogers Clarke—Fate of Col. Lochry’s Command—The
Moravian Expeditions and Massacre.

WASHINGTON COUNTY had no separate and inde-
pendent organization or existence during the period
of the Revolution until near the close of the great
struggle for independence; and as for this very good
reason the Revolutionary muster-rolls embrace no
military organizations distinctively from this county,
and no full regiments or companies are known to
have been raised here for regular service in the Con-
tinental or‘ Pennsylvania line, it might be inferred
that the people then living within the territory that
is now the county of Washington took very little, if
any, part, in the patriotic conflict. But such an in-
ference would be wholly erroneous; for, besides the
men who went from the then sparsely populated
country west of the Monongahela to join the regi-
ments and companies that were raised on the other
side of that river, in Westmoreland County, soon after
the opening of hostilities, there were also furnished
from the settlements of Washington County, both be-
fore and immediately after its erection as such, many
hundreds of volunteers and militiamen, who took
gallant part, and did good service in the numerous
expeditions that were sent from the valleys of the
Monongahela and Ohio against the Indian tribes in
the Northwest. These campaigns and expeditions
were necessary for the protection of the ‘frontiers
against incursions and massacre by savages, incited
by white renegades and the British, and_ sometimes
led by oflicers of the royal army. They were as much

a part of the Revolutionary conflict as were the battles '

of Trenton and Monmouth; and the men who took

part in -them were as much entitled to credit for their

bravery and patriotism as were those who fought in
the army of Washington on the Delaware and Brandy-
wine.

Early in May, 1775, the tidings came across the Al-
legheniesthat on the 19th of the preceding month a
detachment of royal troops from Gen. Gage’s force at
Boston ‘had fired on the Massachusetts provincials at
Lexington Common ; that the yeomanry had returned
the fire and harassed the retreating regulars far on
their way towards the city. Thus was announced the
opening of the first act in the great drama of the Rev-
olution, and the response which it brought forth from
the people west of the mountains wasprompt and un-
mistakably patriotic. «

The dispute and feud between Virginia and Penn-
sylvania was then at its height in this region, both
States claiming and both attempting to exercise juris-
diction over the country between Laurel Hill and the
Ohio; but the partisans of both provinces unhesitat-
ingly laid aside their animosities, or held them in
abeyance, and both, on the same day, held large and
patriotic meetings, pledging themselves to aid to the
extent of their ability the cause of the colonies against
the encroachments of Britain. Prominent in the pro-
ceedings of both meetings were men from the section
of country which six years later became the county of

Washington, then embraced, according to the Vir- .

ginia claim, in the county of Augusta of that colony,
and partly, according to Pennsylvania’s claim, in her
county of Westmoreland, though there was little at-
tempt on the part of the latter at that time to exer-
cise jurisdiction west of the Monongahela. The meet-
ing called and held under Virginia auspices was
reported as follows: , A
“At a meeting of the inhabitants of that part of
Augusta County that lies on the west side of the
Laurel Hill, at Pittsburgh, the 16th day of May,
1775, the following gentlemen were chosen a com-
mittee for the said district, viz.: George Croghan,
John Campbell, Edward Ward, Thomas Smallman,
John Canon, John McCullough, William Goe, George
Vallandigham, John Gibson, Dorsey Pentecost, Ed-

ward Cook, William Crawford, Devereux Smith, .

John Anderson, David Rogers, Jacob Van Meter,
Henry Enoch, James Ennis, George Wilson, William
Vance, David Shepherd, William Elliott, Richmond
Willis, Samuel Sample, John Ormsby, Richard Mc-
Maher, John Nevill, and John Swearingen.” ‘

A stan/fling committee was appointed, to have “full
power to meet at such times as they shall judge neces-
sary, and in case of any emergency to call the com-
mittee of this district together, andshall be vested
with the same power and authority as the other
standing committee and committees of correspond-
ence are in the other counties within this colony.”

It was by the meeting “Resolved, unamlmously,
That this. committee have the [highest senseof the
spirited behavior of their-brethren in New England,

 A

HISTORY or WASHINGTON COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA.

1852.—J:11nes Moflit, burgess; John Gregg, Duncan Campbell, James

I Coburn, John McClary, and George Gelioe, councilmen. '.

1853:-James A.,IIill, burgess; D. D. Williams, Robert B. VVilso11, Wil-
liam H. Wwilkins, Jesse Calvert, and D. W. C. Harvey, Councilmen.

185~l.—Isa.ac‘ Garner} burgess; John Johnston, John G. Taylor, John
Whitmer, and Jacob.R,\'an, couucilmen. C

]855.—Thon1Efs""‘McDdnald, bur‘g‘ess; John ‘*Cock,vW‘ill>iam Corwin, Con-

’ rad Ilartranft, James Patterson, and Philip Stearn, Councilmen.

1856.—Elijah Byland, burgess; John Starr, J. E. Adams, John Wilkins,

Philip Steam, and J. P. Brock,,councilmen. '

1857.-John _G. Taylor, burgess ; Robert McKinley, Thomas M. Hopkins, ,

John McClary, Tl1omaslCock, and George Brandhoover, couucilmen.
1858.-—Samuel Lopp, burgess; William Wilkins, George Harrington, A.
J. Smalley, Robertiflouston, and G. D. Coburn, couucilmen.,
1859.——Jol1n ll’lc(,‘lary, burgess; J. E. Adams,‘ Conrad Hartranft, John
C0cl{,»Thacld'eus C. S. Williams, and Thomas IIouseman,councilmen.
1860.-—J~. E. Adams, burgess; James Storer, James Patterson, Thomas
McDonald, and Thomas F. Cock, couucilmen.

]861.———Thomas. Gregg, burgess : ‘Jahez French, Samuel B. McCrory, Jon-
a.=tl1anvRya11, Thomas Aubrey, and Robert Houston, couucilmen.
18_62.—-Thomas H. Hopkins, burgess; Thomas Aubrey, Robert Houston,

Elijah Byland, John Wilkinson, and Thomas F. Cock, ceunc_ilmen.
1863.——D. D. Williams, burgess; "J('_.)lln‘§. -Gray, J. E. Adams, John Starr,
Thomas McDonald, and Jacob VV.’ Ullery, couucilmen. "
1864.—No records of oflicegfs elected. '
l865.—No records of oflicers elected. ’ ,
1866.2—--.Robert Houston, b-11rgess; Thomas Aubrey, George Herrington,
 Thomas H. Moffitt, James A. Hill, and Samuel Lopp, couucilmen.
1867.-—Th_omas' F. Cock,bu'rgess; Thomas H. Mofiitt. James A. Dudgeon,
A Alfred S. Starr, Alexander McKee, and Jacob W. Ullery, council-
men. A I
1868.—The election held March 20, 1868, was illegal, and the officers
elected the previous year were, continued (by order of court) until
March, 1860. V '
18.60-Thomas F. Cock, burgess; James Patterson, J. E. Adams, Valen-
' tine Cowgill, John W. Bevard, and William H. Wilkins", council-
“ men. . ‘ _' _  -
18.70.-—.Tho‘mas Gregg, iburgess; Robert Houston, William K. Gregg,
John Devenny,‘T. C. S. Williams, a nd Jonathan Ryan, Councilmen.
18.71.—-James A. Hill,.burgess ;'George lIeri'iii_gton, A. J. Smalley, Wil-
liam Houseman, Daniel'French, and Sinieo'n"McCo_v, councilmen.
1872.——James H. Brown, bnrgess; George Herrington, Robert Houston,
. Thomas Storer, Thomas Gregg, S. H. Ward, and Thomas McDonald,
couucilmen.

1873.--Robert Houston, burgess; William Reynolds, James Smith, Jacob-

Ullery, Martin McGill, Valentine Cowgill, and James Blair, coun-
cilmen. ' . - .
187-1.-‘George W. Cock, burgess; Samuel A. Lopp, T. C. S. Williams,
R’ James W. Hendrix, William Houseman,Jonathan Ryan, and James
' ’M.Sn1?tl1,couucilmen. - R‘ ‘
]875.—Jabez French, burgess; William R. Britton, Adelbert L. Her-
rington, William H. McKinley, Theophilus V. Dwyer, and George
. ‘Livingston, couucilmen. ,
1876.—-David Ere1'1cl;, bnrgess; William Houseman, George Liyiiiigston,
A. J. Snialley, J. S. Houston, and William H._Jol1nson, conncilmen.
.1877.—Jo11atl1an»lRyan, burgéss; Daniel W. French, Martin McGill,
Samuel Market, James A. Hill, and William K. Gregg, council-
men. _
i1878.——William R. Britton, burgess; George Herrington, A. J. Smalley,
_ William Houseman, -Samuel B. McCrory, Eri Moflitt, and John Wei-
gel, couucilmen. ,,
187‘9.—-William II. McKinley, burgess; Simeon McCoy and Mahlon H.
‘ Byland, couucilmen. .
1880.-William H. McKinley, burgess; Daniel French, Samuel J. Price,
and Robert Honston, couucilmen..
188l.—Willi-arn H. McKinley, burgess; George Livingston and Hugh T.
_ Boley, courtcilrnen. . V
1882:-A. L. fIIer¥’rix1gton, burgess; Alfred S. Starr and James H. Brown,
J r., councilmen; Charles Gregg, clerk ; John Cornell, treasurer.

 John. Johnston was elected burgess to fill vacancy April 10, 1855.

9 To March, 1866, borough oflicers had been elected in October of each
year. By an ,act of the State. Legislature, however, passed during the
winter of 1865-66, tlietime of holding borough elections was changed

to the third Friday in March, it being the time of electing justices of

the peace and officerslto hold general elections in the State, etc.

James Mofiitt, April 13, 1858.

_ J USTICES OF THE PEACE.

Edward M. Melchi, April 9, 1850. Freeman Wise, April 10, 1867.
James Moflitt, Sept. 13, 1353. Robert McKinley, April 14, 1868.
D. w. 0. Harvey, April 10, 1855. James F. Howden, April 19,1872.
James F. Howden, Jan. 26, 1874. ,
Robert~Mr.K*inley, March 31, 1874.
James H. Brown, March 25, 1878.
Robert McKinley, March 27, 1879.

Elisha Griffith, April 28, 1858.
Robert Mc‘3Kinley, April 14, ’l-863,.-’
James Moflitt, April 14, 1863. 6

St. John’s Church (Episcopal).-——The history’ of  
this organization begins with the month of April,"

1850, when the Rev. Samuel-Cowell (who had been
called to the rectorship of Christ Church in Browns-
ville in1845), assisted by Mr. J . Wallace, Miss Mary
E. Brown,../ Miss Elizabeth Isler, and Miss Isabella L.
Sweitzer, members of his congregation, established in
the then new town hall the first Sunday-‘school ever
held in the town of lWest Brownsville. ,Mr. Cowell
removed from Brownsville in 1852, and during several
subsequent years occasional“ services were held, in
West Brownsville by Revs. J . J . Page and Richard
Temple. A "

In 1860, however, Rev. J . J. Page and Mr. J .
Leathead organized the parish of St, J ohn’s. During
the same year the latter was ordained deacon, and
placed in charge of the parish by the bishop. During
the year 1860, also, Mr. John Cock. donated a lot to
the Vestry of the new church organization, andrthe
stone basement of the church edifice was erected.‘
Mr. Leathead removed from the vicinity soon after
the breaking out of the civil war, and owing to the
distracted state of the country, work upon the build.-
ing was suspendedhuntil 1870, when it was resumed
and the present beautiful framed structure completed
in 1871. During the intervening years, however, the
Sunday-schools were regularly kept up by a number
of faithful teachers. 2 V » A

On the 25th of November, 1873, the bishop conse-
crated the new church edifice. The instrument of
donation was read by Jacob McKennan, _Esq., and
that of consecration by the dean, Rev. R. S. Smith.
An eloquent sermon was preached by Rev. Dr. Page,
and the Rev. Dr. Spaulding, Revs. C. N. Spaulding,

S. D. Day, and the rector, Rev. Horace E. Hayden, ,

also participated in the ceremonies. The building
cost seven thousand dollars, and will seat comfortably
two hundred and fifty people.

After the informal opening of the church (which
occurred July 23, 1871), Rev._ D; C. Page preached
twice a month for some time. Its small congregation,
however, had no settled rector until 1873, when Rev.
Horace E. Hayden came. During the six and one-
half years of his ministry he labored indefatigably to

the wants of his parish. . Many a stranger who had.

fallen by the wayside received Christian burial at his
hands, and his unceasinglabors, by day and by night,
among the sick and dying, during ‘the diphtheria epi-

demic in 1878, will long be remembered by the people-

of Brownsville and its vicinity. In .1879 he resigned
the charge of -St. John’s Church, and removed to
Wilkesbarre,' Pa. Since, only occasional services

\

O

  WEST BROWNSVILLE BOROUGH.

(ill

have been held. A At one time there were forty com-
municants belonging to this ch_urch, but in conse-
quence of thepanic of 1873, deaths, and removals,
the number of members has been greatly diminished.

Present Business Men.—The prominent business
men of the town at the present time are Messrs. Axton
& Pringle (successors to John S. Pringle), steamboat,
hull, and barge builders, and dealers in floating crafts

A generally; Messrs. Aubrey & Son, proprietors of plan-

ing-mill and lumber-yard, also general contractors;

' Robert McKinley, Esq., justice of Qie peace; William

A. Bevard, dealer in groceries, flour, and feed; Bur-
ton & Cornell, dealers in general merchandise ; Henry
B. Baker, merchant and‘ postmaster;‘ William A.
Coburn, station and express agent; J. Devenny & Co.,
grocers; Thomas H. Hopkins, proprietor of the“ Hop-
kins House ;” Ransom D. Marcy, shoemaker; and
Thomas H. Moflitt, carriage manufacturer.

Boat Building.—The firm of Axton & Pringle’

(successors to John S. Pringle), steamboat and barge
builders, is one of which ‘Vest Brownsville borough
and Washington County can justly boast. Capt. John

"S. Pringle, the founder of this firm, was born in the

old township of Fr°ankstown,2 Huntingdon Co. (but
now a part of Blair County, Pa.), Oct. 23, 1804. When
but twelve or thirteen years of age, having attained
unusual proportions for a youth of his years, he en-
gaged in keel -boating on the J uniata and Susquehanna
Rivers.» Thus he early became accustomed to rely
upon his own exertions, as well as familiar with boat
architecture, étc. '

_. In .1826, being then about,twen.ty-two years of age;

. young Pringle, it seems, concluded to try hisfortunes

on the western side of the mountains, and, shouldering

his rifle, he crossed the Alleghenies on foot, and fi«n'al—ly'

reached Little Redstone. There he found one Joseph
Allen engaged in the construction of keel-boats. He

at once became an employé of Allen’s, receiving as’

pay fifty cents per day and board. Very soon there-
after, however, Richard Kimber, who had a boat-yard

in Bridgeport, offered young Pringle one dollar and

twenty-five cents per day, and thereby -secured his
services. Kimber was then building a steamboat for
“Old Bob?’ Rogers, but as he had occasion to be

1 The first postmaster was James Moflitt, the ofiice having been estab-
lished under the Whig administrationsof either Taylor or Fillmore.
Squire Mofiitt wasa stanch Whig, anti-Masonic, and an Abolitionist.
He was succeeded by Robert McKinley. Among subsequent incumbents
of the oflice have been Homer Chrisinger, James Mofiitt (second term),
Mrs. Isabella Bennington, John Ward, John Cornell, and Henry B.
Baker. ~ . ‘

2 By referring to our own manuscript history of F rankstowntownship,
we find that William ‘Pringle (the father of John S. Pringle) was a na-
tive of Scotland, and had settled in the-township mentioned before the
Revolutionary war, or while it wasyet ‘apart of Bedford County. In
1788, according to the first assessment of Frankstown, as of Huntingdon
County, William Pringle was the owner of two hundred acres of land.
(of which fifty acres were held by warrant and onehundred and fifty
at-res by location), two horses, and two cows. His property was valued
at two hundred and one pounds, upon which a State tax of nine shillings
and two pence and a county tax of four shillings and seven pence was
ievied for that year.

absent from the yard the greater part of‘ the time,‘

and left "young Pringle in charge of the work, the
latterwas looked upon by Rogers as l1er real builder.

After this boat was completed, Mr. Rogers proposed
that Pringle should build‘ him a boat, assuming sole
control‘ architecturallyiand otherwise. Mr. Pringle
as yet rather doubted his ability as a master3boa't-
builder, but upon being assured by Rogers that he
(Rogers)'wou1d unhesitatingly take all the chances of
success or failure, our young boat-builder, assisted
greatly by such advice as the larger experience of his
patron enabled him to offer, began and completed a
boat which was an eminent success from the moment
she was launched, whose hull, different from any to
that time seen on Western waters,’ has since been
copied by scores of Western boat-builders. .

.Mr. Rogers desired afboat that would displace as
little water as possible, so that she could be run during
low stages. The result was a flat-bottomed boat,
which, as we have before stated, was a great success,
as she was able to make her regular trips throughout
the summer, while all others of hertonnage, and
much less, were compelled to lie idle. Indeed, her
owner or owners were offered severalvthousand dol-
lars more than she cost within a very short time after
completion. Mr. Pringle’s fame as a boat-builder was
now firmly established, and orders from the West
and Southwest soon made his modest little boat-yard
a very hive of industry. It was enlarged, and for
years from thirty to fifty men were steadily employed,

and from five to ten steamers, besides other craft; com- ,

pleted eachyear. . .

Until the spring of 1843 his business was carried
on in-Bridgeport, Fayette Co. He then purchased’
a large portion of Ephraim L.'Blaine.’s plat of West
Brownsville (the site of the present yard), including.
the latter’s early residence and saw-mill. Increased
facilities were obtained in West Brownsville.
town was given its first impetus and the capacities for
boat-building were doubled. In 1864,  Aull
was admitted as a partner. The firm of Pringle &
Aull, however, only continued one year, for in 1865
the former purchased the latter’s interest and there-
upon formed a "joint-stock company, known as the
“ Pringle Boat-Building Company,” the members be-
ing as follows: John Wilkinson, James Storer, J ohn

S. Gray, William Patterson, James H. Gray, John

Starr, Alexander K. McKee, A. J. Smalley, James
Blair, "U. G. M. Perrin, Alfred S. Starr, Joseph
Weaver, James Patterson, Andrew C. Axton,’ E. F.
Wise, John Wiegel, Daniel French, Henry Minks,

Robert Houston, George ‘McClain, William Gray, ‘
John S. Pringle, J . D. S. Pringle, and Finley Patter-
. son. ‘

The (“Boat-Building Company,” continued about
three years, when John S. Pringle bought out the
other members and again became sole owner. On

the 1st day of January,.18”/'9, after having been en-A

-gaged in boat-building in this vicinity for more than

The ‘

6-L2

UHISTORY or WASHINGTON COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA.

half a century, he relinquished the business to his son,
J.- D. S. Pringle, and son-in-law, Andrew C. Axton.
The presentfirm built nine steamhoats in 1881, and
furnished employment to sixty men. Their works are
extensive, covering about ten acres of ground, while
the mill in use has a capacity of sawing sixteen thou-

. sand feet of boat lumber per day.

The boats built by the Pringles on the Mononga-
hela have always stood at the head of the list as
regards speed, neatness of finish, thorough workman-
ship, and the quality of material used in their‘con-
struction. They have built more than five hundred
steamers of all classes for the trade of the Mononga-
hela-, Ohio, Mississippi‘, Missouri, Cumberland, Ten-
nessee, White, Red, Arkansas, and other rivers of the
West and Southwest, and some of them have been
sent to ply on South American watersfl

In concluding this article we will add that the .
pioneer boat-builder, Capt. John S. Pringle, still,oc- -
cupies thedwelling in West Brownsville purchased 4

from Ephraim L. ‘Blaine (father of Hon. James G.
Blaine) in 1843.~ He has been married twice, and is
the father of fifteen children. Two sons (J. D. S. and

William H.) andone son-in-law (Andrew C. Axton)»*

served in the Union army during the war of the Re-
bellion. 'At the beginning of the war William H.
Pringle was a resident of Sacramento City, Cal. He
there joined a volunteer cavalry company, which was
sent around“ Cape Horn to the port of . Boston, Mass.
At the latter place this company of California volun-
teers, as Company L, was attached to the Second‘
Massachusetts Cavalry. They performed gallant ser-

vice in the field. Unfortunately, however, young.
’Pr_ingle was taken prisoner by the enemy, and for

long weary months endured all the privations and
horrors of the Andersonville prison-pen. ’ He never
recovered from the inhuman treatment there experi-
enced, but died, like thousands of others, soon after
his release and before reaching home.

John Cock and Leonard Lanehart established
what was known as the “lower boat-yard,” in West
Brownsville about the year 1848. They continued
in a very successfulway until about the beginning
of the war, when Thomas F. Cock and D. D. Williams
assumed its management for four or five years. They,
also, were very successful and netted large _ profits.
About 1865 James M. Hutchinson, George W. Cock,
and T. C.  W.illiams purchased the yard, and con-
tinued the business some four or five years. Their
successors were H. B. Cock &. Co. (a stock company
composed of several members),’who were not emi-
nently successful. « Finally, while under the manage-
ment of H. B. Cock and Thomas F. Cock, operations
at this yard ceased about the year 1875. ’

The Excelsior Planing-Mill of West Browns-
ville, Thomas Aubrey &,Son proprietors, was built
by the firm of Aubrey, Cromlow & Coon,——i.e., Thomas
Aubrey, Oliver C. Cromlow, and E. N. Codn,—about

the year 1855. About 1867 Mr. Aubrey, having sold‘

. was to engage his attention in after-years.

out his interests, removed to the West.‘ ’ Under the
firm-name of Cromlow & Coon the business was then
continued until March, 1871, when Mr. Cromlow died,
and during the same year the surviving partner went
into bankruptcy. Subsequently asassignee Robert
McKinley, Esq., sold the property to Adam Jacobs
and William R_eynolds. In .1873 Mr. Aubrey re-
turned to the village, leased the premises, and re-
sumed his former occupation. H
part owner of the mill, and with his son, R. L. Aubrey,

now, conducts theabusiness under the nameof Aubrey ,

&, Son. 1 ,
 As builders and general contractors this firm handle

_more than two million -feet of lumber per year, and

furnish employment to about thirty men.

 

BlOGRAPHICAL SKETCH.

JOHN SNYDER PRINGLE.

Venerable for his ripe old age and well-spent life
is John S. Pringle, of West Brownsville, in which
place he has resided many years, actively identified
with its business and -growth. He is the only son of
William Pringle, a Scotchman, who-emigrated to
America when a young man, and Elizabeth (Snyder)
Pringle, who was of German descent,and was born
Oct. 23, 1804, near McKe_e’s Gap, Blair Co., Pa. He
had three sisters, but one of whom, Mrs. Esther

Frederick, who is seven years his senior, is nowpliv.-v

ing. His opportunities for an education were such
as the subscription schools of neighborhoods in which
he resided during his minority afforded. He em-

'ployed his spare moments in the study of business _

men and methods, and by the time he reached his
majority he was fairly equipped for the work which
When
eighteen years of age he left his father’s house, which
was then in Bedford County, and came to “ Redstone
Old Fort.” The first work which he performed -after
coming to Fayette County was in the boat-yard of

‘Joseph Allen, at the mouth of Little Redstone.

Creek. He developed a fondness and an aptness for
boat-building, and after remainingwith Mr. -Allen
one summer was employed as foreman in the yard of
Robert Rogers, of Brownsville, for whom he built the
first flat-bottomed boat launched west of the Alle-

ghenies. . The superiority. of this boat’ overothers '

then in use was manifest, as was also Mr. Pringle’s
ability asa boat-builder, and orders for vessels like
unto this one were so numerous that he determined
to embark in -business for himself. He began in the

— yard at Brownsville, and remained there until 1844,

when he purchased the Ephraim Blaine property in
West Brownsville, and upon it graded and established
a boat-yard, which he operated until 1879, when, in-
capacitated _by old. age and disease, he transferred his
business interests to the care of his son, John D. S.

He’ has since become ,

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ALLEN STOWNSHIP.  

76.43

' Pringle, and his son-in-law, Andrew C. Axton, both

of whom are noted for their energy and business
ability. s . '

Mr. Pringle" is a courteous, hospitable gentleman,
and— his life has been honest, busy, and useful. He

' has long been a member of the Cumberland Presby-

terian Church, to whose benevolent enterprises he is
a liberal contributor. He started in life with a sound
and vigorous constitution, and, being temperate in

his habits, he preserved a hale and healthful body '
' more than threescore and ten years. He is respected

by his neighbors, esteemed by his friends, and sin-
cerely loved by his family. ' .
,He was married May‘3, 1832, to Elizabeth P.

Horner, who died Nov. 29, 1844. By this marriage’

there were six children,—-Elizabeth, who married
Jacob VValter, is dead; Ann is unmarried, and re-
sides with her father; William H. was a soldier in
the late war, and died of disease contracted in a
Southern prison; George W. died when a young
man; Sarah is the wife of Andrew C. Axton, who
served as a soldier in the late war, enlisting in the

_ old Washington Cavalry, which after eighteen months’

service was incorporated in the‘Twenty-second Penn-

sylvania Cavalry. His maimed body bears witness

that he loves and has served his country well. Mary
died in infancy.
iMr. Pringle was married to his present wife, Sarah

Ellen Snider, Oct. 16,1845.” They havetenchildren, "

all living. They are John D. S., who did good ser-
vice in the war of the Rebellion as a member of Com-
pany F, Eighteenth Pennsylvania Cavalry, married
Cornelia Deems; David S., married Nancy J. Gam-
ble; Nancy, married Newton McClaine; Ella, married
William H. Michael ; Isabel, unmarried; Esther, mar-
ried William H. Harrison; Mary, married John W.
Thompson ; Simon P., married Margaret Moorehouse ;
Christian S. and Andrew A. are unmarried.
Politically Mr. Pringle was originally a Democrat.

. He continued in that faith until the organization of
the Republican party, since which time he has acted .

withit. His business life in this vicinity extends

over a period of more than half acentur-y, and in I

thatvtime he has launched over five hundred boats
upon the Monongahela. The largest one in that
number was the “ Illinois.” She was three hundred
and four feet long, hada_ fifty-two—foot beam, and
was seventy-five feet across her deck. '

' A L .4
—r

ALLEN TOVVNSHIP.

4-;

THIS is one of the most eastern townships of
Washington County, lying in a sweeping bend of the
Monongahela River, which stream forms its entire
eastern and southern boundaries. On the north it is
bounded by Fallowfield, and on the westlby the
townships of Fallowfield and East Pike Run, in which
two: townships the entire territory of Allen was em-
braced until the year 1852. At the February term
of the Court of Quarter Sessions in 1851 there was
presented “a petition of sundry inhabitants of the
northeast end of East“ Pike Run township, and the
southeast end of F allowfield township, for a view
to erectlportions of said townships "into a new and
independent township district, line to commence on
the Monongahela River at the mouth of Stony Run,
near the house-of Joseph Woods, thence along said
river to the mouth of Maple Creek, thence along the
south branch of said creek, or across the country, to
the place of beginning.” Matthew Linn, J ohn» Free-
‘man-,' and Jonathan Knight were appointed viewers,
who on the 28th of August following reported in
favor of the erection of the new township; but a
remonstrance was filed in November, and the matter
continued till February, 1852, when David Riddle,
Marcus Black, and James Motfatt were appointed re-

‘tr

viewers. The-y reported favorably in May, and again
in August of that year, and at-the latter term the
township of Allen was ordered erected, “ as per draft
made by the viewers.” .. v
_ The township, as laid out by the draft of the
viewers and erected by them,’ embraced more of the
territory of Fallowfield and East Pike Run than is
mentioned in the petition, and is the present territory
of Allen. A petition was made to the court in 1859
for a small portionof it to be attached to East Pike
Run. Viewers were appointed, who reported favor-

ably. The report was approved, and the line so _
' changed as to throw the Huggins and Chalfant farms

into East Pike Run township.

The first settlements within the territory now em-
braced in the township of Allen were made in the
lustrum next following the year 1780, and among the

names of the pioneers in this section at that time that
of Speers seems to_ have been among the earliest, if

not the first. Dr. J". S. Van Voorhis, in his pub-

lished papers (1875-76) entitled -“Scraps of Local ,

History,” gives an account of the first of the family
of Speers who came to Western Pennsylvania, which
is of interest in this connection, as many of " them

644

HISTORY OF WASHINGTON 6 COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA:

settled very early in this county. He says, “ For I

more than a century the ‘Speers, family has been
identified with the valley of the Monongahela.
Henry Speers, the older, and Regina Froman, his
wife, were born in Germany, came‘to Western Penn-
sylvania in 1772, and settled on the farm where the
Gibsonton Distillery now stands, below Belle Ver-
non, Fayette Co. The farm was at that time
within the limits of Bedford County, out of which
VVes.tmoreland was made, Feb. 26, 1773. Richard
Penn was Governor at the time this settlement was

_ made. He (Henry Speers) lived in .a log house,

which until a- few years ago stood near the residence
of T. L. Daly, Esq., superintendent of the distillery.
The log house, though small at first, was enlarged
until it was sixty feet long. Henry Speers died in
1773., having lived only about one ‘year after his
arrival in Western Pennsylvania. By his will, dated

_ May 14,1773, he conveyed this farm to his son‘, Noah

Speers, who, by his will, dated J une’2, 1_832, conveyed
it to his son, Noah VV. Speers. Henry Speers, the older,
had four sons,—J_acob, Solomon, Henry, and Noah.”
Henry Speers, the third son, who settled in what is
now Allen township, was born in Germany, July 8,
1756, and was sixteen years old when his parents,
located ‘in what is now Fayette County. On the 24th

g of September, 1777, he married Rebecca, a daughter

of Abraham Frye, Sr., who lived on the west side of
the river, in what five years later became Fallowfield
township of "Washington County. It was not until
the year 1784 that Henry Speers, became a purchaser
of lands in this section. The first tract of which any

- record is obtained was purchased by him of John

Reef. Thetract was warranted to Reef under appli-
cation No. 3255, and was taken up in 1769,“ in the

latter partof April. It was not surveyed until the"

8th of Sept.ember, 1784, and was named “Speer’s
Intent,” containing three hundred and nineteen acres.
The arrangement was made prior even to this time.
The deed of sale bears date September 14th of that
year. This tract was triangular in form, with its
longest base on the river. It commenced north of
Maple Creek a short distance,and thence along the
Monongahela south four hundred and forty-one
perches. At the time of thislsurvey the lands on
the south and west were not taken up. On the river
adjoining and north the land was inpossession of
Jacob Froman, an uncle of Henry Speers, and
brother of Paul Froman and Regina Froman
(Speers), the latter being his mother.

 Speers obtained a patent for “ Speers’ Intent”
Jan.“ '12, 1789. ~

On the 18th November, 1785, a warrant was
issued to Henry Speers for a tract of land “lying on
Maple Creek, adjoining Edward Jackman, Frederick
Cooper, and other lands of Henry‘Speers.” This
tract was surveyed to him on the 13th December as
“Spice-Wood Hill,” and found to contain one hun-
dred and ninety-eight acres. A * - '

Atract of land called “Fair View,” lying on the
Monongahela River, adjoining Peter Casner on the
south,_was ‘warranted to Jeremiah Proctor June 13,
1785,‘an-d surveyed Nov. 26, 1785, as “Fair View,”
containing three hundred and thirty-seven acres; In
Survey Book No. 1 it is stated, in reference to the
abovewarrant, that “ Henry Speers produced an ap-

plication and order of survey in thename of Nathan.

Harman for 300 acres, dated Aug. 26, 1769, No. 3768,
and requested it should have preference of seniority.”
The surveys of the two tracts are identical, but it is
not stated to whom the warrant was returned.

Henry Speers resided all his married life on the
tract “ Speers’ Intent.” He was one of the original
members of the Baptist Church “ Enon,” which was
organized near his place, and to which he ministered
many years as pastor. He was licensed to preach
May 5, 1793, and ordained as their pastor in March,
1797. His name appears as delegate to the Redstone
Association in 1796 from Enon Church, at which
time that church was admitted. He remained the
pastor of the church until his death in 1840. The
farm on which he resided came into possession of his
son Apollos, and isnow owned by Noah and Solomon
Speers, sons of Apollos. The brick dwelling in which
Noah Speers now resides was built by his grandfather,

,Henry,«in 1806. I or his thirteen children, Dr. J. s. A
Van Voorhis says, “His son Henry was a soldier in.
‘the war of 1812; was in the battle of New Orleans

with Gen. Jackson; lived formany years  the log
house where Jacob Norris now resides, but died many
years ago in the old log house on Maple Creek in which
Joseph Beazel now lives. Samuel was also a soldier
in the war of 1812. Exposure in the army caused
him to be a cripple in his last days, which were
passed in the brick house at the ferry. John passed
most of his life at Dunbar, Fayette Co., Pa., where he
followed milling and farming. He had quite a large
family, some of whom-have passed away. His heirs
still own -the farm above the ferry. One of the
daughters of Henry Speers married‘ George Hill, of
Ten-Mile. Another was tlrewife of William VVard,

1 deceased. Katy married John McCrory, brother of

the late Thomas, Seneca, James, and William Me-
Crory, of Fayette City, Pa. Apollos, the remaining

son, was born Sept.-8, 1801._ After his marriage he’
lived for a time at Fish Pot, on Ten-Mile ; with this
exception he lived at the ferry until his death, which
occurred in 1857. His wife was Elizabeth Cooper, '

daughter of the late Valentine Cooper.”

' The Riggs family came from the ‘Eastern Shore of '

Maryland in 1773, and settled near the Monongahela
River. William Riggs, who had married Mary

Downdson, was at one time a vestryman in the Epis- .
On June 25, .

copal Church, in 1794 and--rearlier.
1797, he made application to the Methodist Confer-
ence to be licensed as a minister, which was accord-
ingly done at Greenfield Quarterly’ Meeting, April

26, 1799, by ‘Daniel Hill. His ordination was signed.

to this county in the year 1784.

ALLEN TOWNSHIP.

645

' by Francis Asbury in 1807.‘ William Riggs died in

1833, aged eighty-four years. He had ‘thirteen chil-

A dren, all dead except Mahlon Riggs, the youngest,

who is now in his eighty--fourth year. ‘The William
Riggs tract is in his possession. His sons are Wil-
liam M. and John L., residing in Allen township.
Jeremiah E. Riggs sold to William Riggs, June 27,
1796, one hundred -and twenty-five acres, being a part
of a tract sold by Bazil Stoker .to Jeremiah Riggs,

March 25, 1780, containing three hundredand sixty- 1

one acres, adjoining Joseph Allen, Joseph Chester,
and Nathan Ellis. Patented to JeremiahE. Riggs
April 13, 1795. The names of the old family were
William, Jeremiah, Jonas, Thomas, Zachariah, Noah,
Mahlon, Eleanor, Alvilar, Mary, Lucy, Betsey, and

’ ' Annie.

Lawrence and ohn Crow were settlers who came
Lawrence made
application for a-tract of land, which was warranted
to him August 31st in that year, and surveyed on the

16-th of December following‘. It was named “ Crow’s

Egg,” and contained two hundred and ninety-five
acres. His «brother John located land adjoining, for
which he obtained a warrant July 10, 1786.. It was
surveyed June 9, 1787, as ‘5 Dear Purchase,” and con-
tained three hundred and eighty-two acres. This
tract joined William Jackman, Joseph Allen, Wil-
liam Howe, and Joshua Dixon. The two brothers

, lived here on these farms and died before 1796, as in '
that year the lands of VVilliam‘ Howe are mentioned

as “adjoining the lands of the heirs of Lawrence and

 John Crow and others.” Margaret, the wife of John

Crow, lived many years later, and died at the advanced
age. of one hundred and nine years. The children of
these twomen grew up and intermarried with families
of that section, and left numerous descendants. Clark

' Crow lives on one hundred and thirty-five acres of

theJohn Crow tract. Dr. Henry C. Chalfant and
William Huggins are descendants. The lands taken

up by them are still mostly in the possession of dif- I

ferent branches of the family. A

. Peter Hazelbaker came to the United States‘ from
Anspach, Germany, as an English soldier during the
Revolution; was taken prisoner by the American
forces; was never exchanged, and never returned to-
his native ‘land. Peter shortly after the war married
Miss Elizabeth Shively, daughter of Daniel Shively,
of Berkeley County, Va. Soon after their marriage
Peter and wife emigrated to. Washington County, Pa.,
and settled in an old log house on the farm now owned
by S. .A. Chester, in Allen township. This was in the
beginning of the present century, but in what year
we are not informed. He died in 1800, and his
remains were buried in the field» just above the present
residence of Maj. Henry Sphar. Peter had six-sons.
Their names were Peter, Daniel, John, Jacob, Abra-

3 This account of Hazelbaker, like ‘those of many other early settlers
in this section, is from the papers of Dr. J . S. Van Voorhis.

ham, and George. John was one of the old-time
school-teachers, and was the first man who ever taught
school in Belle Vernon. His school.-house was the
present residence of Mrs._ Mary Corwin, on Main
Street in that town. He died years ago in Iowa.
Daniel died in Indiana. Peter died six weeks after
the death ‘of his father, and was buried with his father
in the Sphar graveyard. Abraham died near Brush

Creek, in Ohio. Jacob lived for many years in the“
stone house a short distance above Belle Vernon,'noW I

owned by R. C. Schmertz & Co. He removed to a
farm near Perryopolis about thirty years ago. George
lived beyond all his brothers. He married Matilda
Dunlevy, sister of the late Andrew Dunlevy, who died

.in 1853.-

George Hazelbaker first lived in Belle Vernon, where

_ he built the house on Main Street now occupied by
Rebecca Laneheart.

He afterwards resided on the
farm where John B. Gould now lives; then on the
Johnson, the Rutan, the Cooper farms, and finally in
1841 he purchased the farm in Allen township (on
which he died) from Abia Allen and Robert Stockdale.
His sons Andrew a-nd Joseph died many years, since.
Anthony lives in Illinois; Jacob now resides near
Foxburg, in the oil regions; George, J r., resides near
the home farm; and John, J r., since his marriage has
taken. care of his father on the homestead; Matilda
married Joseph Wolf, and resides in the West; Mary
married John Cooper, now deceased, and lives in the
West; Sarah Ann isthe wife of Addison Cummiiigs,
and lives in Allen township; Margaret was the wife
of R. C. Guffey, of North Belle Vernon.

with politics in Westmoreland County. The late
Shively Hazelbaker, who many years ago occupied
the Shepler Hotel in town, was a nephew of the de-
ceased. George Hazelbaker died June 23, 1880, aged
ninety-two years. In his seventy-fifth year he‘ united
with Rehoboth Church, and remained in that member-
ship until his death. He was a good citizen, a genial
neighbor, and above all a Christian. i
From the assessment-roll of 1788 for Fallowfield
are taken the following names of persons taxable in
that township, and resident in that part of it which
is now included in Allen, viz.: Joseph Allen, Eli
Allen, Jphn Allen, Joseph Chester, Lawrence Crow,

Samuel ‘Dixon, Joshua Dixon, Henry Dixon, Edward ,_

Earl, Nathan Ellis, James Ellis, Jesse Ellis, Hezekiah

Ellis, David England, John Nixon, -John Sprowls,

John Finney, William J ackman, John Justice, Jere-
miah Riggs, William Riggs, Edmund Riggs, Clement
Riggs, Henry Speers. Mr. Mahlon Riggs, now (No-
vember, 1881) living in Allen at the age of eighty-

four years, recollects that many of thoseabove named ‘
were still living here at the commencement of the

war of 1812 against Great Britain.

Thomas Stockdale, who was of English parentage,
emigrated tothis country and settled in Montgomery
County, Pa., and from there came to this county late

He belongs V,
to the Guffey family which has been solong identified

  646

rvives him.
occupy the old "residence and homestead farm.

  Insronr or WASHINGTON COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA.

in the year 1799. His people were Quakers. On the
12th of April, 1800, he purchased one hundred acres

I of l_and,,of Joseph Allen, a part of the tract patented
by him under the name of “Allen’s Delight.” On
. the 5th of June the next year he purchased one hun-
‘ dred acres adjoining, and of the same tract.
' farm Mr. Stockdale ‘lived and died, leaving one son,

On this

Robert, who inherited the homestead, where he also

"I lived until his death, Dec. 15, 1878, in his seventy-

eighth year. He was twice married; thefirst time to
Deborah Allen, the second to Dorcas Price, who sur-
His sons Joseph, Cyrus, and Martin

Joshua Dixon about 1784 or 1785 became the owner
of several large tracts of land along the river, one of
which, “Balimoab,” contained one hundred and

eighty acres. He patented ‘Oct, 2, 1784, another.
-tract of two hundred acres called “Joshua’s Hall,”
* for which he received a patent Sept. 10, 1790. These

two tracts were adjoining Joseph Allen’s land. An-
other tract called “American Bottoms” was also

patented to him. Title to this tract was contested
.hy other claimants. On the 10th of September, 1805,

he sold to Samuel Hecklin, of New Castle, De1., and

‘Emmanuel Dixon two hundred acres of land, parts

of the two first mentioned tracts; and on the 9th of

d "January, 1806, he sold to Samuel Hecklin a part of
if both tracts. On the 13th of December, 1813, Mr.

Hecklin sold to John Finney and Thomas Young

each a parcel of the above land. These parcels are‘

described as being on Williams’ Run, the deeds
“reserving and excepting one—half the profits of a
supposed copper and gold ‘mine on the east fork of

J Williams’ Run.” The name of Dixon is now extinct

in the township. - _
William Huggins was a native of Ireland who emi-
grated to the United States in 1775, and lived for a

time in the eastern part o-f Pennsylvania, and later
removed to Washington County. He settled in Fal-

lowfield township, now Allen. Soon after his arrival
he married Jane -Crow, by whom he had twelve chil-
dren. Of this number two ‘are still living,——-Mrs.

.-Lucy Gregg, of Brownsville, Fayette ‘County, and

Thomas C. Huggins, of Washington County. Of the

-descendants of the family are William T. Huggins, of
Allenport; Mrs. Mary A. Rideout, Sandusky County,
Ohio; and Jacob Huggins, of the borough of Cali-
fornia. A -

David England, as early as 1784, obtained a war-
- rant for a tract of land of one hundred and seyenty- _

twoacrcs, which was surveyed to him as “River

-Farm.” On the 15th of August, 1804, he conveyed

this tract to his sons, J ohn,-Israel, Isaac, and'Davi-d, Jr. '
John, the eldest brother, bought out all the heirs, and.
in 1828 sold the tract to Joseph Allen. David Eng- ,

land had four daughters,——Elizabeth (Mrs. Kimberly),
Susannah (Mrs. Hollingshead), -Mary (Mrs. Icehour),
and Sarah.(Mr.s. Allen). Bu-t little else is known of

the family. The property fell into other hands, and ’

\

"The date of his death has not been found.‘

there are now none of the name in the township. It

’ was on the England lands that the town of Independ-

ence was la.id out. ,
William Howe wasan Englishman. He came to
the “fest with the United States troops at the time of

the Whiskey Insurrection, and here ‘remained. He

married Margaret Jackman. On the 30th of March,
17 96, he tookout a warrant for a tract, which was sur-

,veyed to him ‘the’ 5th of September following as
“‘ Malabar,” containing three hundred and twenty

acres. It was situated on the bank of the river, ad-
joining lands of Robert and Henry J ackman, and the
heirs of Laurence and John Crow. ‘Mr. Howe lived
here until his death, and was buriedin what is known
as the Howe Cemetery. The Howe Church was

8 erected, on his farm. He and his wife were prominent

in the early hi-story of Methodism in this section, and
were foremost in the establishment of this church.
His
widow, Elizabeth‘ Howe, died March 1_6, 1834, at the

age of sixty-two years. They had fourteen ‘children, . A

who are now all dead. Two went to Virginia; two
daughters married and went to Canada‘; two sons
emigrated‘ to Illinois; Alexander "and Samuel re-
mained in this county. The former married Elizabeth
Rush.“ William Howe, Esq., of California,‘ Pa., is

their son. Samuel married Lydia Morrell. Johnson 

Howe, a son, emigrated to Illinois. 1-Lydia Riggs,
now living in" the township, and eighty years of age,
is a granddaughter of William'Howe. '

Joseph Allen, an English Quaker, emigrated to this ,,

country about 1770, and about 1772 came to Wash-
ington County with his wife, Deborah (Hill), and took

out a warrant for a tract of land lying‘ on the‘ Monon- »
gahela River, for. which he received a patent from .

Thomas and John Penn dated Dec. 22, 1774. This
tract was named “ Allenton.” Ten years later he
took a warrant dated Aug. 31, 1784, for a tract which
was surveyed December 15th of that year as “ Allen’s

. Delight,” and contained three hundred and fifty-four

acres. It was situated on the.Monongahela River,
and was two hundred and twenty-six perches along
the river, “ adjoining his_other 'land and lands of Da-

. v.id England.” On the 28th of March, 1799, he divided -

his real estate,.consisting of over eight hundred acres,
into eight parts, reserving one for himself and giving
one to each of his children (except'Benjamin), viz.:
Eli, John, Samuel, William,‘ . Joshua, Ema (Mrs.
Thomas Stockdale), and Deborah (Mrs. James Win-'
ders). The son Benjamin, not included in the above
division, was made chargeable for his support on the
others. A deed was given to John Allen‘, April 8,
1800, for one hundred acres, a part of the tract
“Allen’s Delight,” ahd to Samuel, April 12th, the
same‘ year, for one hundred acres, a part of both tracts,
“ Allenton” and _“ Allen’s Delight.” To VVilliam, on
the 8th of April, 1800, forone hundred acres, also
parts of both the above-mentioned tracts; and on the
12th of April the same year to.Ema (Mrs.-Thomas

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EFEME 4@§2m2%. §:$2m2@a.@2 ©@; 3?

THE REVOLUTION.

75

and do most cordially approve of their opposing the
invaders of American rights and privileges to the
utmost extreme, and that each member of this com-
mittee respectively will animate and encourage their
neighborhood to follow the brave example. . . .
“Resolved, That the recommendation of the Rich-
mond Convention of the 20th of last March, relative
to the embodying, arming, and disciplining of the
militia, be immediately carried ‘into execution with
the greatest diligence in this country by the officers
appointed for that end, and that the recommendation
of the said convention to the several committees of
this colony to collect from their constituents, in such
manner as shall be most agreeable to them, so much
money as shall be sufficient to purchase half a pound

of gunpowder and one pound of lead, flints, and

cartridge paper for every tithable person in their
county be likewise carried into execution.

“This committee, therefore, out of the deepest
sense of the expediency of this measure, most earn-
estly entreat that every member of this committee do
collect from each tithable person in their several dis-
tricts the sum of two shillings and sixpence, which
we deem no more than suflicient for the above pur-
pose, and give proper receipts to all such as pay the
same into their hands. . . . And this committee, as
your representatives, and who are most ardently la»
boring for your preservation, call on you, our con-

stituents, our friends, brethren, and fellow-sufferers,

in the name of God, of all you hold sacred or valu-
able, for the sake of your wives, children, and unborn
generations, that you will every one of you, in your
several stations, to the utmost of your power, assist
in levying such sum, by not only paying yourselves,
but by assisting those who are not at present in a
condition to do so. We heartily lament the case of

all such as have not this sum at command in this day

of necessity; to all such we recommend to tender se-
curity to such as Providence has enabled to lend them
so much ; and this committee do pledge their faith and
fortunes to you, their constituents, that we shall, with-
out fee or reward, use our best endeavors to procure,
with the money so collected, the ammunition our
present exigencies have made so exceedingly neces-
sary. _

“ As this committee has reason to believe there is a
quantity of ammunition destined for this place for
the purpose of government, and as this country on
the west side of Laurel Hill is greatly distressed for
want of ammunition, and deprived of the means of
procuring it, by reason of its situation, as easy as the
lower counties of this colony, they do earnestly re-
quest the committees of Frederick, Augusta, and
Hampshire that. they will not suffer the ammunition
to pass through their counties for the purposes of
government, but will secure it for the use of thisdes-.
titute country, and immediately inform this com-
mittee of their having done so. Ordered, that the

‘standing, committee be directed, to secure_ such arms

and ammunition as are not employed in actual ser-
vice or private property, and that’ they get the same
repaired, and deliver them to such captains of inde-
pendent companies as may make application for the
same, and taking such captains’ receipt for the arms
so delivered. .

“Resolved, That this committee -do approve of the
resolution of the committee of the other part of this

county relative to the cultivating a friendship with H

the Indians, and if any person‘ shall be so depraved
asto take the life of any Indian that may come to us
in a friendly manner, we will, as one man, use our
utmost endeavors to bring such offenders to condign,
punishment. .

“ Resolved, That the sum of fifteen pounds, current
money, be raised by subscription, and that the same
be transmitted to Robert Carter Nicholas, Esq., for
the use of the deputies sent from this colony to the
General Congress; which sum of money was imme-
diately paid by the committee then present.” The
delegates referred to in this resolution were John
Harvie and George Rootes, who were addressed, in
instructions from the committee, as “ being chosen to
represent the people on the west side of the Laurel
Hill in the Colonial Congress for the ensuing year,”
the committee then instructing them to lay certain
specified grievan-ces of the people of this section be-
fore the Congress at their fi.rst meeting, “ as we con-
ceive it highly necessary they should be redressed to
put us on a footing with the rest of our brethren in
the colony.”

The meeting held on the same day. at the county-
seat of Westmoreland was not so numerously attended
by people from west of the Monongahela, the greater
part of the prominent men of this section considering
themselves as belonging to Virginia and attending
the Augusta County meeting at Pittsburgh. The
Westmoreland meeting declared themselves to be

“Possessed with the most unshaken loyalty and
fidelity_to His Majesty King George the Third, whom
we acknowledge to be our lawful and rightful king,
and who we wish may long be the beloved sovereign
of a free and happy people throughout the whole
British Empire ;” but .

“Resolved, unanimously, That the Parliament of
Great Britain, by several late acts, have declared
the inhabitants _of the Massachusetts Bay to be in
rebellion, and the ministry, by endeavoring to en-
force those acts, have attempted to reduce the said
inhabitants to a more wretched state of slaverythan

ever before ‘existed in any state or country. Not _

content with violating their constitutional and char-
tered privileges, they would strip them of the rights
of humanity, exposing lives to the wanton and un-
punishable sport of a licentious soldiery, and de-
priving them of. the very means of subsistence.”
They also resolved that they would oppose the
oppressions of the ministry with their lives and
their fortunes. “And the better to enable us. to

ALLEN» TOWNSHIP-  

647

Stockdale), for one hundred and one acres, a part of
“Allen’s Delight.” ~ - A

Joseph Allen died in 1839, in the township, at an
advanced age. Eli, the--eldest son, emigrated to In-

diana. 5 Mrs. Sarah Wolf and Joanna McKey area.

granddaughters of Joseph Allen. V

I

William J ackman patented a tract of three hundred

1 and forty-seven acres, called “ Hobson’s Choice,” April

9, 1788,. adjoining Joseph Chester. This tract was
divided by the provisions of his will made on the 3d
of April, 1.818. Within a few years the land was in
possession of John Jackman, Seth Buflington, John
Ringland, and Jehu Jackman. The last named was
elected sheriff of the county in 1843, and member of

_ the Legislature in 1853.

An order of survey_, No. 1939 (recently in possession
of‘. Nathan Lynn), was taken out in 1769 in favor of
Robert Jackman. It was surveyed onithe 16th of

,December in that year by the name of “Ararat,”

and contained two hundred and twenty-two‘ acres. It

was located on the Monongahela River, adjoining'lands~

of Samuel Dixon.

.. Joseph Chester took up a tract of land adjoining
the ,William J ackman tract. His descendants are
still inthe township, and part of the original tract is
in -the hands ofthe family. , t I

1 Independence, or A11enport.——The land on which

I this‘ village is laid out is part of a tract of land located

on, the Monongahela that was granted to Henry Dixon,
Aug. 13, 1784, and surveyed December 15th of the same
year under the name of “ Dixon’s Intent,” containing

. one hundred and forty-two acres. It was patented

by "him-on the 28th of June,‘ 1786. 01} the 29th of
April, 18l6,_a deed was made.by Henry Dixon to

John Baldwin of one hundred and eighty-two acres

of land, part of the above patent. Arrangements for

« laying out a village upon it had been made previously,

as is evident from the following advertisement which
a eared in the Washin ton Re orter of March 18
. .9 P 2
1816: _
“ N EW TOWN——TOWN Lo-'rs roa SALE.
“ The Subscriber has laid off a new town. on thewestern bank of the
Monongahela River, in Washington‘ County and State of Pennsylvania,
called ‘ West Freeport,’ immediately opposite to Freeport,1 which is on

the eastern bank of said river, in Fayette County, and offers for sale

therein forty-five lots of ground, which will be sold at public vendue on
the 15th day of April next, on the premises, sale to commence at 10
o'clock in the forenoon. 2*

“ West Freeport is situate in the midst of a very wealthy settlement,
and presents as many natural advantages to men of enterprise_and in-
dustry as any other site in the western country. Glass-works, as well as
other manufactories might be established and carried on at this place to
great advantage, as materials for such purposes are found in great abun-
dance within its vi_cini‘ty‘L‘ There is an excellent grist- and saw-mill at
the place and places of public worship within a very short distance. A
turnpike road is expected to be made from Bedford, in Bedford County,
to Washington, in Washington County, Pa., which, if carried on or near

to a straight line from the one.p1ace«to-theother, will pass through West 1

Freepoit.
“Wssr Fasaroar, March 7, 1816.”

J om: BALDWIN.

1 What is now. Fayette City was originally laid out by Edward Cook as
Freeport, and known as such till about 1820, from which time it gradu-
ally assumed the name of Oookstown, which it held "till the change to

the present name by act of Legislature in 1854. A V

No lots seem to have been sold by Mr. Baldwin in
this new town, and on the 1st of May, 1817, he con-
‘ veyed seventy-nine acresto Joseph Allen, who, on the
29th May, 1828, purchased one hundred and seventy-
two acres of land of David England (a part of the
tract patented by England), adjoining the above. On
-the 30th "‘January, 1839, one hundred and twenty-one

acres of it was sold by the administrators of J osephe ,

-Allen to Francis McKee, who about 1850 laid out the
‘ town of Independence. Lots 55 and 56, onthe corner
of Broadway and Liberty Streets, were sold to Daven-
port Philips, Aug. 17, 1852. On the 27th ofJuly, 1853,
lot No. _9 was soldto Henry Stimel. The next sale
which -is recorded is five years later, the deed bearing
date Dec. 4, 1858. It was made, to Robert Fields, ‘i for
and in consideration of the sum of twenty cents (the

price of taking me and old Charley across the -river ,

and back-).” It was designated as lot No. 2, on Water

Street. He says in the deed, “ The consideration’ and V

the principal reason for my giving the above described
-V plot of ground is because I thought him a poor, good
boy, and hope he may make a rich, good man, never
-steal, get drunk, swear, or play cards, but_ be honest
and industrious, and it is my desire and design that if
Robert should die before he comes to years of twenty-
one the lot should go to his sister Liza.” From this
time other lots were sold, and in 1865 the name was
changed from Independence to" Allenport, and a plat
filed in the reeorder’s ofliee at the county-seat.
The mill property north of the town now owned

‘by George Maxwell was a part "of the one hundred I

and eighty-two acres purchased by Baldwin of Henry
Dixon in 1816. ‘He sold seven-ty—nine acres to Allen,
and kept the remainder many years. _ He built the
mill which still retainsthe name. On the 10th of
April, 1832, he sold forty-five acres (the mill property‘)
to Joseph Allen, who conveyed it to Abia Allen on the
29th J jun-e the same" year. After keeping it about two
years he sold it, Oct. 10, 1834, to VVilliam Brightwell,
who two .years later.("Nov. 3, 1836) sold to Isaiah
Frost, by whom it was kept twelve years, and on Jan.
15, 1848, by an article, of agreement, ‘it was sold to
Francis McKee, and later his. administrator gave
therefor a deed. McKee retained it till March 29,
1853, when he sold to James B. Angel]. Soon after
the purchase by McKee the present mill was erected
andcalled Etma. From this time steam was used,
the old mill having used water-power. -
A The ferry a short distance north of the town was
started after the property, came into possession of Mr.
"McKee. On thei13th of September, 1861, he con-
veyed to Thornton S. Chalfant th.e,land known as the
“ Ferry Property,” and Ohalfant was “to have the
entire ferry privilege from the lands of Joseph Krepps
down the river shore to the lands of Isaiah Frost’s
heirs;” possession was obtained April 1, 1862. The

. ferry passed through several hands, and in Decem-

ber, 1872, it was sold by AlexanderS’. Latta. to Wil-
liam C. Huggins, who still owns it. . r

648

HISTORY or WASHINGTON ooUNrr, PENNSYLVANIA.    

The-present village of Allenport contains twenty-
three dwellings, four stores, the depot of the Pittsburgh,
Virginia and Charleston Railroad, a blacksmith-
shop, post-oflice, school-house, and one physician, Dr.

Mitchell. An early -resident physician here was Dr.,

Ostrander Todd, who practiced many years and until
his death not long since. _ ' -
The post-otfice was established at this place unde
the name of Belle Zane. The first and only postmas-
ter is‘ John Fields. “Clark’s Coalery,” one of the
most noted coal banks along the Monongahela, is at
this place, but is not-noW'in operation. A number
of other collieries located along the river in the upper

' part of this township have been in successful opera-

tion for severa_l years, shipping their coal by the Mo-
nongahela slack-water to Pittsburgh and the ports on
the lower Ohio. The names of the principal coal-
works (and settlements clustered around them) on the
river in this township are the “Champion,” “ Lime-
town,” “Courtney’s,f’ “Lucyville” (the last named
a mining hamlet of. twenty houses), and the “ Ameri-
can Bottom,” or “ Woods Run,” which is a place of
fifty ,dwellings, of which many are good and even
fine structures, and four stores. The collieries of this
township are mor,e_fully mentioned in_ the general
history of the county.

- Schools in Allen Township.-About the year
1800, Benjamin Huff‘ taught a school in what is now
the township of Allen. He was succeeded by-William
J ackman, Bedford, Robert Wilson, and Solo-
mon Allen. The school-house stood near the “Fa1-
lowfield” Quaker Church (now known as “Mount
Tabor”). John J ackman and Newton Williams taught
in the Quaker Church in 1827-28. , Upon the organ-

 

ization of the township into school districts in 1835,
_ the territory of Allen township was embraced in East

Pike Run and Fallowfield school districts, and so re-
mained until, the organization of the township in
1853, when the school directors elected that year or-
ganized the township into three school districts. The
following was the condition of the schools in 1863,
1873, 1880, taken from the reports of public instruc-
tion:

1863.-—VVhole number of schools, 3; teachers, 3;
scholars enrolled, 200. Total amount of receipts for

.school purposes, $368.25 ;, expenditures, $360.7 9.

1873.-—Whole number of schools, 3; teachers, 3;
scholars enrolled, 188. Total amount of receipts for
school purposes, $1303.61; expenditures, $992.87.

1880.——Whole number of schools, 5; teachers, 5;
scholars enrolled, 312. Total amount of receipts for
school purposes, $1046.99; expenditures, $989.04.

The following-named persons were and have been
elected school difectors in Allen during its separate
existence as ,8. township:

1853.-Azariah Crow, Joseph Krepps, J ehu Jackman, Andrew Dunleavy,
Thomas C. Huggins, Jackman Crow, William C. Wolf, Elias Howe,
William Fields..

1854.—Joseph Krepps, John Frye.

' 1855.—Hiram Jackman, «I71-ugh McKee.

.1856.—Azariah Crow, John G. Martin, Samuel Clark.

1857.—Simeon J ackman, Henry Spahr.
1858.—0. D. Todd, H. I. Furnier. V
1859.—John G.‘Martin, Robert Stockdale.
1860.—--Azariah Crow, John P. Nixon.
186l.——John Donaldson,lSamuel A. Chester.
1862.—William Johnson, John G. Martin.
1863.-—Jo1m J. Nixon, Azariah Crow.
186L—-R. J. Latta, T. F. Chalfant. N ,
1865.—--John G. Martin, William S. Krepps.
1866.—-A. Crow, John Spahr.
1867.—Edward Fnrling, John Fields.
1868.—A. A. Stockdale, John Danberry.
1869.—Clark Crow, John Berin.

‘ 1869.--J. F. Jack man, E. C. Furling, Thomas Wood.

1870.-—John Nixon, J. D. Barnum, John W. B.erryman.i
1872.--J. R. Jackman, J. Nixon. 7
1873.—E. C. Furlong, John H. Crow.

1874.—James L Krepps, J. F. Philips.

1875.—John Nixon, John Dunlevy. - _
1876.—Clark Crow, Richard Ward, Hugh McKee.

, 1877.--James Krepps, John L. Riggs.

1878.-—A. L. Latta, Samuel McKune.

1879.—John Dunlevy, Mark Stockdale.

1880.———Allen Kennedy, John Mitchell, Harry Mann, W. D. Martin, John'
L. Riggs. ' '

, 1881.-—John_Conoway, John Duulevy, Clark Crow.

Justices of the Peace.———Fol1owing is given a list
of persons elected as justices of the peace in Allen
township from its erection to the year 1880, viz.:

A. A. Stockdale, Nov. 30, 1870.
Azariah Crow, ‘Jan. 17., 1874.
James D. Barnum, May 19, 1874::
Azariah Crow, March 17: 1875.

J. Donaldson, Jr., March 27,1379.
W. W. Jobes, March 30, 1880.

Thomas R. Reed, Oct. 14, 1852.
Azariah Crow, April 10, 1855.
Thomas R. Reed, April 13, 1858.
Azariah Crow, April 10, 1860.
Thomas R. Reed, April 14, 1863.
Azariah Crow, June 3, 1865.
Azariah Crow, March 29, 1870.

_ . \ ,

Religious Societies.——Many of the early settlers of.
this section of country were Friends or Quakers, and
as early as 1799 trustees of ‘a society purchased a lot

, on which to -build a meeti-ng-house. At what time the

society was organized and where they worshiped prior
to this date is not known. The deed dated April_ 17,
1799, is a conveyance by Joseph Allen “ to Joshua
Dixon, John Allmon, John Heald, and Jacob Grif-
fith, trustees on behalf of the society of people called
Quakers of Westland ,Monthly ‘Meeting,” four and
one-quarter acres and seventeen perches, in consid-
eration of ten dollars and sixty-seven cents, “ for the

proper use of the society of the people called’ Quakers A

forever for the purpose of a meeting-house called
Fallowfield meeting-house.” V After many years, dis-
sensions occurred in the Quaker Churches all over the
country, which resulted in divisions, and the Hicksites
became a distinct sect. The trouble reached this
church, and the, society was finally disbanded. A
portion of the lot was sold to the Methodists, who
built thereon a church that has long been known as
the Mount Tabor Church’. On the 15th of Septem-

, ber, 1849, Amos Griffith, Nathan Rogers, and William

Hancock, trustees of the Quakers, sold to Cornelius
McKenna the remaining portion of the lot on which
the Quaker Church, known as “Fallowfield,” had
stood, it -“containing three and one-half acres and
thirty perches. A part of the lot had been used as a

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.terly Meeting.
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ALLEN TOWNSHIP.

' cemetery. The Friends were opposed to the erection

of tombstones, and the resting-places of the early
Friends who «are buried are unmarked and unknown.

Monivr TABOR ME DIST EPISCOPAL CHURCH.
——The Methodist people in this section. of country
were organized before the year 1800, and worshiped
at what was then known as _the Howe Church. The
cemetery is still kept up, but the church has long
since gone down. A mention of this church, as wel_l
as others in this section, will be found in the history
of the Methodist Church of Greenfield, written by
Mr. Rockwell. In the old church eighty-four years
ago the Rev. John Meeks and‘ the Rev. Thomas
Harman were preachers. After the abandonment of
the old ;“Fallowfield” Quaker Church a portion of

«their church lot was purchased. by the Methodists,

who soon after erected upon it a frame building forty
by forty feet, which was formally dedicated May 10,

~ 1851. The Rev. Thomas»Hudson preached the dedi-
_ , catory sermon from the text, “ God is a spirit.” The

name “Mount Tabor” was given to the church by

Rev. Asbury Pool preached in this section to this

, people before 1815. After the erection of the present

Mount Tabor Church the following ministers occupied
the pulpit: Revs. Joseph Lee, Joshua and William
Monroe, Lop, Daniel Hitt, J. Connelly. Among

 

the early worshipers, as given by Mrs. Mahlon Riggs,

were Eli Several, John and Henry Spohr, William,
Jeremiah, and Lydia Riggs, Margaret Howe, William,
Joseph, Matilda, and Melinda Wolf, Jacob, Mary,
and Annie Crow, and Sarah Merrel. A further ref-

erence to the article by Mr..Rockwell will show who

had charge of these churches, the districts they were V

in, and the changes made in the districts.

‘Howe and Mount Tabor Cemeteries.——Where the '

old Howe Methodist Church stood many years ago is

still the cemetery that was connected with it. Among _
the early settlers who are buried there is Elizabeth

Howe, born in 1772, died-March 16,1834, aged sixty-

two years; William Huggins, died April 27, 1844, in
William Gregg,
died.Feb. 25, 1851, in the eightiethx yearlof his age; 
H’ Elizabeth Frye, died’ June 24,1836, aged forty-one

the seventy-fifth year of his ‘age;

years; Mary Baker, died July 16, 1874, in. the eighty-

’ fourth year of her age.

The cemetery now known as Mount Tabor Ceme-
tery was in use very many years by the Friends, and
was part of the grounds owned by the Friends, known
as Fallowfield Meeting-House of the Westland Quar-
Afterlthe abandonment by the Friends

them as a burial-place. Among those,buried.there,
are the following: John J ackman, died Dec. 17, 1876,

-in the eighty-sixth year of ‘his age; Samuel Allen,

died March 11, 1833, aged seventy-two years; Sylves-
ter Smith, died Oct. 12, .1846, aged seventy years;
Aves Smith, died Jan. 11, 1862, aged eighty-two
years. - - - -

The Rev. John West and the l

649

 

It was not the practice of the Friends to erect a

monument or tablet over the graves of their dead, and 2

as a consequence many of the resting-places of the
early settlers are unmarked and unknown. The little

‘mounds with which the burial-place is filled only

signifies that some one is buried there.

44;

BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES.
, soLoMoN'o. spnnns. 2
Henry Speers, the older, and Regina Froman, his
wife, were born in Germany, came to Western Penn-

sylvania in 1772, and settled onwhat is now known

as the Gibsonton Distillery farm, below Belle Vernon,
in Rostraver township, Westmoreland County, Pa.
Henry Speers died in'1773, having lived only about
one year after his arrival in VVestern Pennsylvania.
By his will, ‘dated May 14, 1773, he conveyed this
farm to his son, Noah Speers, who by his will, dated
June 2, 1832., gave. it to his son, Noah W. Speers. He
also owned the tract where the ferry is now located,
and for which a patent in connection with the farm

above mentioned was granted to Benjamin Frey and ‘

Regina Speers, in trust for the heirs of Henry Speers,
deceased, hearing date June 21, 1784. Henry Speers
had four sons,——Jacob, Solomon, Henry, and Noah.
Jacob immigrated in early days to Kentucky,
where, he was a successful business man for many
years, and from whom the Kentucky Speers had their
origin. Solomon was killed by the Indians on Salt
River’ in Kentucky, where, he had gone to engage in
trading and trapping. Noah died on the old home-
stead,‘ now known as the Gibsonton farm. He laid
out the town of Belle Vernon. The first sale of ‘lots’
took place April 18, 1814. He died from a kick, of a
horse June 9, 1832. His wife was a daughter of

Samuel Frye, Sr., who was a son of the older Abram V

Frye, who came to Western Pennsylvania contempo-
rary with Henry Speers the older.’ The remains of
Noah Speers and his wife rest on the old homestead
farm. Henry Speers the younger was born July 8,
1756, being sixteen years old when his parents settled
near the present town of Belle Vernon. He married
Rebekah Frye, daughter of Henry Frye, Sept. 24,
1777. She was born March 17, 1761, and died July
16, 1835. Henry the younger had thirteen children:

Samuel, born Jan. 29, 1779.

Sarah, born Dec. .28, 1780.

Rebekah, born Dec. 4, 1782.

Katherine, born Feb.'4, 1785. ‘

Henry, born Feb. 7, 1787. -

Rachel, born March 1, 1789.

Elizabeth, born April 8, 1791.

Fanny, born July 1, 1793.

Polly, born Sept. 16, 17 94.

Pleasant, born Nov. 24, 17 96.

John,-born Jan. 17, 1798.

650

HISTORY or VVASHINGTON COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA.

Apollos, b,orn_.Sept....8, 
Nancy, born Sept. 13), 1803.

.Henry Speers the younger resided all his married_

life on the farm called Speers’ Intent,~opp‘osite Belle
Vernon, in the present Allen township, Washington
County, Pa., being the same on which his son Apollos
lived so long after the death of his father, and which
is now owned by Noah ' and Solomon C., sons of
Apollos. - , I - a i

The patent to this farm was granted ‘to Henry
Speers, Jan. 12, 1789, on a survey made and entered
byJohn Reef, May 23‘, 1769, and conveyed to Henry
Speers by deed dated'Sept.,14, 1784.» Henry was
not only a farmer, but also engaged extensively .in
trapping and running the ferry in the most primitive
mode of the Indian canoe. He was long a member
of the Baptist Church, and his earnestness as 'a worker
and his consistency as a Christian gave hima power
and prestige among the earlysettlers that few’ men
possessed. He was licensed to preach by the church
of Enon May 5, 1793, a copy of which license reads
as follows: ‘ ' -

-“ The Baptist Church of Jesus Christ at Enon," in Washington ‘County,
Fallowfield township, State Pennsylvania, Holding Believers Baptism

lvy’Immersion Justification by.an Imputed Righteousness Perticnlar‘
Election and Regeneration, Final Per_severa_nce in Grace, &c. To all '

whom it may concern we send our Christian Salutation, Greeting:

“ We do hereby Certify that our ‘Beloved Brother, Henry Speers, is a
member of our church in full union and communion withus, and as we
believe that the Lord has called him to the ministry of his Blessed word
which gifts he has improved amongst us to our ‘satisfaction, We do hereby
License and permit. him to Exercise his gift inpreaching the wordiand’
in'Exortation Wherever it may please the Lord to cast his lot,.hoping
the brethren of our sister churches may receive him in love, and pray-
ing that he may grow in grace and in the knowledge of the truth, and
that our Lord Jesus Christ may by his Holy Spirit Bless hisLabors and
make him‘ useful to the Comforts of Saints and convictions of Sinners.

“ Signed in our church part for the whole. Passed by order ot' the fifth
of .May, 11.1). 1792. ~
1’ “VVILLIAM ALBIN.

“ CHARLES WHITLATCH. ‘
“ Jnssr. VANDOLAH.
“PETER Vaxnomn.

“ WILLIAM J ACKMAN, J a.
“ Pym-‘.3 YATMAN, 1796.”

“ STEPHEN BARCLAY,-C01‘. Sec’y.
“Jonx BAILEY. 

“ SAMUEL Van.

“ Nsrnsx ELLIS.

“JOHN Sn-zwann.

“Tnomas CLOUD.

He was ordained by Rev. John Corbly. on the last

Saturday of March, 1797, and continued pastor of.

that church until the day of his death, which occurred
Jan. 2, 1840. Hewas chiefly instrumental in build-
ing up the congregation of Enon, the members of
which worshiped first in the old log church, but more

recently in the brick house still standing on the hill

near the ferry, opposite Belle Vernon, and now owned
by Solomon C. Speers. A few years since the con-
gregation abandoned the building, and nowiwporship
in the new frame church near the residence of John
S. Carson, on Maple Creek. The brick dwelling-
house now owned and occupied by Noah Speers, near
the ferry, was erected in 1806 by said.Henry Speers._

Henry, son of Henry Speers the you-nger, wasa

‘soldier in the‘ war of 1812.,"and was in the battle of

New Orleans with Gen. Jackson. He died many
years ago in the old log house on‘ Maple Creek in

which the late Joseph Beazell.._.resi‘ded. .Samuel was

also a soldier in the war of 1812; exposure in the

army .caused him to be a cripple_in his last days,‘
which were passed in the family of his brother
Apollos.
Fayette Co., Pa., where he followed milling and

farming. One of the daughters (‘Nanc~y)——-the.‘only ~

one now living-—of Henry Speers married'George_

Hill, of Ten-Mile; he was the father of George.

L. Hill, the present Washington County treasurer.
Another daughter (Pleasant) married William Ward.
Katy married John McCrory. Apollos, another son
after his marriage to Elizabeth Cooper, daughter of
the late Valentine Cooper, resided for a short time at
“Fish Potf’ on Ten-Mile; -with this exception, he
lived in. the brick house at the ferry until his death,
which occurred Feb. 23, 1857. His wife died in
Marshalltown, Iowa, Sept. 13, 1874; she was born

March 22, 1803. Her remains were in-terred witli

her husband in the Enon graveyard.’ Apollos and
Elizabeth had five sons—Solomon C., Noah, Henry

V., Jacob B., and J asper———and five daughters,—Mar- .

garet, Nancy, Mary-L., Sarah,R.-, and Clara E. ,
Noah lives at the ferry, of which _he is sole owner.
VVhen the Rebellion broke out, Henry V. enlisted

in Capt. J. J. Young’s battery,‘ and Jacob "B. in the

Eighty—fifth Pennsylvania Volunteers. Both served

until the ‘close, and went to Marshalltown, Iowa,

where they have been engaged in business ever. since.

Jasper died wh.en sixteen "years of age. 1'

SolomonC. was born May 12,1832, and married I

May 6, 1857, Anne Eliza Walker, who was born April

5,1836. Sheis a daughter of thelate _Nathaniel B.,
and Martha Walker.

He was a native of Boston,
Mass., and she adaughter of Thomas and Rebecca
Brownfield, of Smithfield, Fayette Co., Pa. _They
have two sons——Charles P., born Dec. 11', 1862, and

Albert C., born Oct. 16, 1865-and two -daughters,-§—— '

Mary Bessie, born Sept. 13, 1870, and'Jessie L.,-born
Dec.‘2, 1873. 

Solomon C. and his wife began housekeeping in
the house in which they now reside, on the farm a
part of the “_Speers’ Intent.”
erected in 1860 by the late firm of Kiddoo & Moore,

of Monongahela City. Solomon, whose portrait ap-'
pears in this history, is proprietor of the Clipper '

Sand-Works, near the ferry, from which have been

sent to market as high as thirteen thousand tons of 1

sand in one year, used in the manufacture of glass
and as building material, etc. He was engaged in
steamboatibng from 1853 to 1868.’ His early educa-
tion was obtained in the common schools-, but~pre-
pared himself for business in graduating from Dufi"s

Mercantile College of Pittsburgh, Pa. By strict’ at-. .

tention ‘to business, in connection with unbending

integrity, he has acquired. qu‘ife acompetenceof this . '

world’s goods and a reputation as an honorable and
successful man. He now lives at ease in his beautiful
residence on the banks of the Monongahela, where,"

John passed most of his life at Dunbar,-

The dwelling was - J

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ALLEN TOWNSHIP.

with his ‘family around, he enjoys the largest measure
of the good will of all those with whom he holds an
acquaintance. ’ V

.._..:j.__._____:_._.._...jj._.

HENRY SPHARJ

“ Vmerxu, ss :

' “ At a General Court held at the Capital in. the City of Williamsburg,
the 21st of April, 1767, Mattern Sparr, a Native of Switzerland, who
hath resided in this Colony upwards of Seven Years, and hath not been
out of the same the space of two Months at any one time, came into

Court between the Hours of nine and twelve in the forenoon, and pro-_

duced a Certificate of his having Received the Sacrament of the Lord's
Supper according to the Act of Parliament inthat case made and pro-
vided, and took andjsuhscribed the Oath appointed to be taken instead
of’ the Oath of Allegiance and Supremacy. The Oath appointed by an
Actlof Parliament made in the Sixth Year of the Reign of his present
Majesty King George the third, entitled An Act for Altering the Oath

of Abjuration, and the Assurance and for amendipg so much of an Act '

of the Seventh Year of her late Majesty Queen Anne, entitled an Act
for the Improvement of the Union of the two Kingdoms. After the
time therein limited -requires the Delivery of certain Lists and Copies
therein mentioned to persons Indicted of High Treason or Misprison of
Treason’; and made and subscribed the declaration thereby also ap-
pointed in order to his being naturalized. V -I ’ ‘
- , ‘ “ BEN‘. WALL:-zr.”

Mattern Sparr, mentioned in the above, removed to
Washington County about the year 1780, and ‘pur-

chased from Col. Edward Cook, a pioneer of civili- "
* zation in northwestern Fayette County, the farm now

owned by his grandson Henry, where he spent the
remainder of his life.‘ Two brothers and one sister

came to. VVashington County with ‘him. Two other
«brothers were killed; on the way to their new home.

M attern married in Virginia and had three children,
-—.—John, Mattern, and Henry. His son John w’as"born
in Berkeley County, Va., in 1777, and died_in Allen
township, VVashington County, in 1856. His wife
_Susan Redd, by whom he had eleven children,-

Mary, who is dead, married John Shive_ly; her home-

was in Guernsey County, Ohio. . Jacob, who is dead,
married for his first wife Susan‘ ,Wood, and for his
second Charlotte Wilson.’ Elizabeth married Joseph
Dunlevy, and resides in Indiana. Daniel, who is
dead, married Mary Speer; his home was in Ken-
tucky. Ann, who is dead, married William Spah;

s her homewas in Indiana. Barbara married \Villiam

Hollingshead ; they areboth dead. Mattern, who is

_dead, married Margaret Coyle; his home‘ was in

Ohio. Sarah married Joseph‘ Beazell, and -lives in

Allen township, Washington County. Rachel, who

is dead, married Robert Graily; herhome was in
Clarion County, Pa. John married Lucy Ann Scott;
he is a farmer, and resides in Allen township. Henry,
the youngest, whose portrait 1 here represents the
family, was born Feb. 25, 1820,'upon the farm where
his home has always been. His entire business life

has been given to farming._ His fatl1er'gave him a

farm of one hundred acres, to which his labor and

good, judgment have added other lands. \Vhen a_

young man he united with the Methodist Episcopal
Church, and his moral worth,‘ genial manner, and
neighborly kindnesses command the respect of those

1 The family name is new spelled Sphar. A

651

who know him. He was married Nov. 5, 1843, to 4

Margaret, daughter of William and Ruth Gregg, of
East Pike Run township. Margaret died May 28,
1845, leaving one child, William; G. Sphar, who is a
farmer, and resides in Allen township. He married
Ruth A. Gregg, and has three chi‘ldren,——Annie Bertha,

"George Henry, and Maggie Pearl. ‘Henry was mar-
ried to ‘his secondwife, Mary J ackman, of East Pike
Run township, June 15, 1847.

 

\

ROBERT STOCKDALE.

_In the latter part of the last century Thomas
Stockdale, a native of Eastern Pennsylvania, where
his wife had shortly before died, came, with his three

-sons, William, Thomas, and John, to Washington ‘

County, arid made a, permanent settlement in what is
now Allen township, upon a farm which is new de-
scended to and occupied by his grandchildren. Soon
after. his settlement in Allen township he married his

l

secon-d wife, Amy Allen, by whom he had five chil-

dren,—Joseph, Robert, Deborah, Allen, and Hannah. ,

He was awortliy man, possessing the qualities neces-
saryto overcome the diiliculties with which the early
‘settler was beset, and the country was better for his
having lived in it. 7 _

His son, Robert Stockdale, was bornApril 19, 1801,

and died Dec._15, 1878. His knowledge of the rudi- .

mi,en.ts of learningtwas gained in -the district school,
and the business of farming, which employed his ma-
turer years, he learned at home.
student of every-day events, anfintelligent man. He
was a consistent memberof the Christian Church, 9.’

pious man. Attentive to. his own business, he was »

prosperous and respected. A
: He was "twice married: first, Nov. 6, 1825, to‘ De-

borah'Allen, whodied March 13, 1850, leaving; eight ,
. children,-——William, who is a farmer residing in Kan-

sas, married Rebecca Ailes; Elizabeth married Wil-
liam Sprowls, of East, Finley township, Washington‘

County; Amy died when six years of age; Allen '

married Henrietta Ritenour; he was a merchant, and

died in 1874, in his thirty-seventh year; Robert M.“

diedin 1864, aged twenty-three years; Deborah E.
married Jesse Snyder, who died soon after their mar-
riage; she resides in California, Washington Co. ;
Sarah Mary married William Martin, now of Alli-
ance, Ohio; she died in 1864; Hannah Amy married
Isaac K._Jackman, and resides in California, Wash-
ington Co., Pa. , J , ‘

The sc,cond'.a;.ife of Mr.-Stockdale was Dorcas Price,
of Allen township, who survives him, and by whom he
had three chil-,dren,———Joseph Snyder, Cyrus Field, and
Martin J .,—-all of whom are farmers, residingupon
the old homestead, where they were born and reared,
the scene of their father’s birth, long years of toil, and
‘death, and of their grandfather’s trials and successes.

He was a_ careful .

76

HISTORY or WASHINGTON COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA.

accomplish it We will immediately form ourselves
into a military body, to consist of companies, to be
made up out of the several townships, under the fol-
lowing association, which is declared to be the Asso-
ciation of Westmoreland County.” The objects of
which Association were declared to be:

“ First. To arm and form ourselves into a regiment,
or regiments, and choose oflicers to command us, in
such proportions as shall be thought necessary.

“Second. We will with alacrity endeavor to make
ourselves masters of the manual, exercise, and such
evolutions as may be necessary to enable us to act in
a body with concert, and to that end we will meet at
such times and places as shall .be appointed, either

for the companies or the regiment, by the oflicers

commanding each when chosen.

“Third. That should our country be invaded by a
foreign enemy, or should troops be sent from Great
Britain to enforce the late arbitrary acts of its Par-
liament, we will cheerfully submit to military dis-
cipline, and to the utmost of our power resist and
oppose them, or either of them, and will coincide
with any plan that may be formed for the defense of
America in general or Pennsylvania in particular.”
And the meeting further resolved that when the Par-
liament should show a willingness to do justice to the
colonies, then, and not till then, should the Associa-
tion of Westmoreland County be dissolved. _

About a month after the events above narrated, a
small body of men whohad volunteered from the
frontier settlements crossed the Monongahela River
and marched eastward over the mountains to join a
Maryland company which was being formed under
Capt. Michael Cresap for service in the provincial
army. The nominal home of Capt. Cresap was at
Old Town, Md., but his base of operations at that
time, and for a few previous ‘years, was at Redstone
Old Fort, now Brownsville, on the Monongahela, op-
posite the eastern border of Washington County.
Here he had a good house‘ and a store, from which
he traded at points below on the river. He had been
engaged, and somewhat prominent, in the Indian
fighting of 1774, known as Dunmore’s war, being the
same Capt. Cresap to whom was (wrongfully, it now
seems almost certain) charged the crime of killing the
family of the Indian chief Logan. The men who

‘now marched to join his company in Maryland are

mentioned as “his old companions in arms,” and al-
though none of their names have been preserved,
there is little doubt that most, if not all of them,

, were from the settlements on the Monongahela, and

between that river and the Ohio.

Cresap had been in Kentucky in the spring of 1775,
but being taken ill there had set out by way of the
Ohio and across the mountains for his home in Mary-
land, where he hoped to recover his health. “On

» ,1 The first house having “a shingle roof nailed on” that was ever
built west of the mountains. - 1

his way across the Allegheny Mountains2 he was
met by a faithful friend with a message stating that
he had been appointed by the Committee of Safety
at Frederick a captain to command one of the two
rifle companies required from Maryland by a resolu-
tion of Congress. Experienced officers and the very
best men that could be procured were demanded.
‘ When I communicated my business,’ says the mes-
senger in his artless narrative, ‘and announced his
appointment, instead of becoming elated he became
pensive and solemn, as if his‘ spirits were really de-
pressed, or as if he had a presentiment that this was
his death-warrant. He said he was in bad health,
and his affairs in a deranged state, but that neverthe-
less, as the committee had selected him, and'as he
understood from me his father had pledged himself
that he should accept of this appointment, he would
go, let the consequences be what they might. He
then directed me to proceed to the west side of the
mountains and publish to his old companions in arms
this his intention; this I did, and in a very short
time, collected and brought to him at his residence in
Old Town [Maryland] about twenty-two as fine fel-
lows as ever handled rifle, and most, if not all of
them, completely equipped.’ ”

It was in June that these men were raised and
moved across the mountains to Frederick, Md., to
join Cresap’s company. A letter written from that
place on the 1st of the following August to a gentle-
man in Philadelphia said, “Notwithstanding the
urgency of my business, I have been detained three
days in this place by an occurrence truly agreeable.
I have had the happiness ofseeing Capt. Michael
Cresap marching at the head of a formidable com-
pany of upwards of one hundred and thirty men
from the mountains and backwoods, painted like In-

dians, armed with tomahawks and rifles, dressed in

hunting-shirts and moccasins, and though some of
them had traveled near eight hundred  miles from
the banks of the Ohio, they seemed to walk light and
easy, and not with less spirit than on the first hour
of their march.” . . . They marched in August, and

joined Washington’s army near Boston, where and in.
later campaigns they did good service. Their captain.’s A

health growing worse he resigned and started for
Maryland, but died on his way in New York in the
following October. The names of the men who were
recruited west of the mountains for Cresap’s company
cannot be given, but there can be little doubt that
most of them were his old comrades of the Dunmore
war, and from the settlements between the Monon-
gahela and Ohio Rivers.

In the fall of 1775 the Seventh Virginia Regiment '

was recruited andorganized by Col. William Craw-
ford. This was the first considerable body of men
raised in the Monongahela country for the Revolu-
tionary service. Col. Crawford’s home was on the

2 Extract from f‘, Logan and Cresap,” by Col. Brantz Mayer. --

ple of Roger Williams.

4;;

AMWEL L TOWN S HIP.

Vvf

AMWELL was one of the thi,rteen.original townships

erected in 1781, and at that time embraced its present

territory and the. present townships of Morris and
Franklin. On the 13th of March, 1788, the‘ town-
ship of Morris was erected, comprising the south-
west quarter of this township. On the 23d of April,
1792, the township of Canton was erected, taking
from Amwell that part of its territory that layinorth
of Morris. Since that time its territory has remained
the same, with the exception of a slight change‘ in
the boundary line between it and Strabane township
in October, 1830. _ Following is a list of persons
elected to the office of justice of the peace‘ in Am-
well from its formation to the present time: i

Abner Howell, Ju1yi15, 1781.
John -Craig, July 15, 1781.
William McFarland, Sept. 30, 1788.
Ziba Cook, April 2, 1802.

Milton B. Curry, April 11, 1805.
William Craig, Oct. 24, 1807.
Jonas Condit, Dec. 20, 1813.
William Hallam, Dec. 23,1818.
Abraham Van Voorhes, March 6,

i823. '

John Carter, Dec. 8, 1823.
William Lindley, March 4, 1824.
Ellis Hughes, March 7, 1825.
William Creacraft, Oct. 2, 1832.
Thomas Vanemen, May 8, 1833.
David P. Hathaway, March 20, 1833.
David I. Evans, June 13,1834.
Luther Day, March 15, 1836.
Samuel L. Hughes, April 14, 1840.

David I. Evans, April 14, 1840.
David I. Evans, April 15, 1845.
Samuel L. Hughes, April 15, 1845.
Silas Parker,_ April 11, 1848.
Samuel L. Hughes, April 9, 1850.
Silas Parker, April 13, 1853.
Samuel L. Hughes, April 10, 1855.
Silas Parker, April 2, 1858-.
Samuel L.» Hughes‘, April 10, 1860.
Robert Stockdale, April 14,1863.
Abel M. Evans, April 10, 1867.
Samuel L. Hughes, April 9, 1867.
O. '1.-‘_. Lyon, April 12, 1872.

Robert Horn, April 12, 1872.

. O. T. Lyons, Jan. 20, 1874.
Samuel L. Hughes, March 17, 1875.
Frank F. Iams, March 21, 1877.
John Closser, March 30, 1880..

:Many of the English and Scotch emigrants. who
came over to New England removed thence to New
Jersey, Pennsylvania, Maryland, and some to Vir-
ginia. As early as 1768 a few of these families came
and‘se.ttled on the north fork of Ten-Mile Creek, and
their descendants are there to this day. Notable

among these, early settlers were the Banes and the

Enochs (the latter in what ‘afterwards became West
Bethlehem), who brought with them their love of
religious liberty, fostered by the teachings and exam-
In 1772 a Baptist Church
was organized, and in 1776 the Redstone Baptist As-_
sociation was formed, having six constituent churches,
three of which were in Washington County as origi-
nally. erected. In 1773 fifteen or twenty families

1 From the erection of the township in 1781 till 1803 it was an inde-

pendent district. Morris, however, was erected from its territory in

1788. By the act of 1803 Amwell and Morris became-District No. 10,

and so continued till 1838, when each became independent, and the of-

fice of justice’ of the peace became elective. ~ ‘ ' '6
’ 652

I

from Morris County, ‘N. J.i(someof whom were de-

scendants of the Puritans), emigrated with-their fam-

ilies to the Ten-Mile region. Among these were the
Cooks, Lindleys, and others. ‘These were represen-
tatives of the Presbyterian faith, and in 1781 they
established the churches that have long been known
as the Upper and Lower T-en-Mile. “These people
were all driven from homes by the Indians in 1774,
and on their return the next year built for safety
strong block-houses as places of refuge in times ‘of
danger. _ " _
About the year 1768 five brothers—Jesse, Nathan,
Isaac, Ellis, and Joseph lBane—-came :to Amwell
township, whither they had emigrated from the West
Branch of, the Potomac River in Virginia, to which
section they had migrated from New England- The
father of this family was a native of Scotland, and
the mother was from Wales. The sister, Elizabeth,
who came with them became the wife of James

Tucker, a furnace-man and moulder, who died about;

1818. Jesse, Nathan, Isaac, and Ellis Bane all set-
tled upon adjoining farms one». mile west of Amity
village, in this township, but Joseph preferred the
life _of_ a hunter and did not invest largely in landed
estate. They afterwards warranted and patented
their lands as follows: Nathan Bane, warrant Feb. 20,
1786; survey March 30, 1786, as “Bane’s Fancy,”
contains three hundred and four acres. ‘ J ames,Ban'e,
warrant Feb. 20, 1786; survey‘ March 30,1786, as

. “ Bane’s Forest,” contains three hundred and thirty-

six acres. Isaac Bane, warrant-‘without date ‘; survey
Nov. 4, 1785, as “Fickle,” contains one hundred and

' forty-nine acres. The Bane families were all‘Bap-'
tists, and were the prime movers in the organization _

and establishment of the churchiof that denomina-
tion, which is called the_Ten-Mile Baptist Church,
one and one-half miles west of Amity. Ellis _Bane
in time removed from his home in Amwell township
to Ryerson’s Station, in Greene County, very near
the State line,'and died there, leaving a number
of children. Nathan Bane, who died at an ad-
vanced age upon his Amwell’ farm, left two sons,
Abraham‘ and Jacob, who also lived and died upon
the homestead. .An advertisement by three sons of
Nathan Bane, dated Oct. 25, 1813, says that they had
erected a new fulling-mill on the Middle Fork of Ten-
Mile Creek, about-one hundred yards from the site
of the old_-mill, and solicited the patronage of the
vicinity. - — - A i ‘ ‘ ‘ ‘

AMWELL TOWNSHIP. _

Jesse Barre, the oldest o{'th'e five brothers, died upon
his original farm at a very great age. Isaac Bane,

, who had married Sarah Ferguson before he left Vir-

ginia, was nearly ninety-three years old when he died
at his home in Amwell. He left a family of four
sons and five daughters. Daniel, the oldest, died in
infancy, and Elizabeth died in'1818. John married
Polly Milliken, reared a large family, and died -near
Clarkstown. William Bane, another son, who mar-
ried Polly McGuire, died in Illinois in 1856, leaving
many descendants. Sarah Bane, who became the
wife of Zebulon Cooper in.1818, removed with him
to Butler County, in this State. She died there in
1840, and left a numerous-family. Ruth Bane was
the wife of Goodwin Goodrich, and lived’ and _died

- at Clarksville, Greene Co., Pa., her family being one

son and two daughters.’ Rebecca Bane married John

Lacock, reared a number; of children, and died ...in

1858.. Anna Bane’s husband was Ira Lacock; their

6. family consisted of four sons and one daughter. ‘She

died in 1874, and ‘Mr. Lacock in 1876, in Washing-
ton, in this county, and both are buried in the cem-

etery at that place. Isaac Bane, J r., son of Isaac

Bane, married Anna Wick, and verylsvoon after their
marriage they purchased “Forlorn Hope,” the tract

of land’ in this township which was located by Wil-’
liam Vineard. They li.ved and died upon this farm,

he in 1854, aged seventy-eight years, and his wifein
1857, at eighty-one years of age. Both were buried

' in the cemetery at Amity village. Their farm is now

owned by Charles.Banfield. Their children married
and settled in life as follows: Mary, the oldest, was
the wife of William Ringland, and her children were
two sons and two; daughters. They have all died
save Mary Ringland, the youngest, who became Mrs.
Nicodemus Moninger, and lives in Marshall, Conn.

"She has two sons and.one daughter. The second

child of Isaac and Anna Bane was a son, Thomas L.
Bane, who was a physician, and studied for his pro-
fession with Dr; George Cook. at New Lisbon, Colum-
biana Co., Ohio. He married his cousin, Matilda L.
VV§'ck, by whom hehad two sons, Lycurgus G. and
Thomas L. Bane, Jr. Lycurgus G. died at the age of
twenty-four years, leaving no heirs, and Thomas ‘L

years of age, leaving a wife and three daughters.
Thomas L. Bane, Sr.,‘ and his wife, Matilda L. Bane,
were devoted.mem_bers of the Disciple or Christian
Church, with which they united in 1838 at‘Youngs-
town, Ohio, being baptized at that time and place by
Rev. John Henry. Mrs. Bane died in Youngstown,
Ohio, in 1845, and Mr. Bane died in Geneva, Ohio,
in the seventy-first year of his age.

.:Deborah Bane was the third child of Isaac and
Anna Bane. » She married John Curry, and became
the mother of six children,~five sons and one daugh-
ter. Of these, Albert G. Curry died single in 1859,
in the thirtieth’ year of his age. Th0m~as‘B. Curry,
the second child, married Sarah Frazer, and resides

. 42

I,‘

Jr., died in Geneva, Ashtabula Co., Ohio, at forty

653

on Brush Run, in this county. Milton and Mary
Curry, twins, were the next children of Deborah ‘Bane
Curry. Milton emigrated to Illinois, where he lives
with his family, and Mary, who married Aaron Bane,

adistant relative, has two sons and one daughter.

The two youngest children are sons, and both, un-
married, live upon the homestead with their mother,

Mrs. Deborah Curry, the father having died Aug. 6,,
1880. . Henry Wick Bane, the second son and fourth

child of Isaac and Anna Wick Bane, emigrated to

Columbiana County, Ohio, in 1831, and is now a resi-

dent of Portage County, in that State. ’ His wife was
Ann M. Hickart, of Youngstown, Ohio, and two sons
and three daughters compose their family. The old-
est of this last-named family is Harriet A., who
became the .wife of William,C. Van Kirk -in 1864.
They live in Amwell township, their farm adjoining
that known as “ Forlorn Hope,” formerly ownedby
Isaac Bane, J r.-, but now in the possession of Charles
Banfield. Sarah E. ane, second child of Henry
Wick Bane, married "James M. Hughes ‘in 1867.

Their home is in \Vashington, in this county. Mary
R. Bane, third daughter and third child of Henry

Wick Bane, was married in 1869 to James Koontz,

Jr., and their home is also in VVashington. 3Benja-
min F. Bane, the fourth child of Henry Wick Bane,

is living at Clarksburg, ‘Vest Va., whilethe fifth

child, Allison C. Bane, is a merchant in Allegheny

City, and both are unmarried. Asenath Bane died
in infancy. William died in his second, and Orlando

in his ninth, year. James Blaine Bane, the youngest
child of7Isaac, Jr., and Anna \Vick Bane, is a Cum-

berland Presbyterian minister. He, emigrated to

Athens County, Ohio, in 1840, and married ILouisa

Fuller. They now reside in Beverly, Washington

Co.,_ Ohio.',

Joseph Bane, one of the five brothers Bane, never
married. He was elected captain of a company
of militia, and one time with his company followed
a band of Indians -to the west side ofjthe" Ohio
River, crossing the stream below .Wheeling. They
overtook and attacked the ‘ enemy, but the bat-
tle resulted in victory for the Indians. Bane and
his men beat a hasty retreat, but Bane was shot. He
was carried by his men fivedays on horseback back
to Amity village, where he "soon recovered and went
to Kentucky. On his way out he killed two Indians
and took their scalps,—which he sent to his friends in
Amwell township. . He died in Kentucky.

In_ the autobiography of ThaddeusDodd, written
in 1764 (published by the Rev. Cephas Dodd, in the
Presbyterian Jllagazine, August,1854), he says, “ I was
born near Newark, N. J ., on the 7 th of March, 1740
[O. 
ham, N. J., where the greater part of my life was
spent.” He was the son of-Stephen Dodd, a native of
Guilford, Conn., and grandson of Daniel Dodd. , (The

brothers of Stephen Dodd were Daniel and John, -of '

whom Thaddeus Doddspeaks as 'his‘uncles:)“ He

From there my parents removed to Mend- 5

654

HISTORY OF WASHINGTON ‘ COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA.

mentions his father’s death as having occurred in the
year the autobiography was written, and his conver-
sion also occurred in June of that year. The follow-
ing is from ‘a-historical sketch delivered .at the ‘cen-
tennial celebration of the Ten-Mile Churches, Aug.
28, 1879, by the Rev." James Allison :-

“ But it was not until seven long years after making a confession of

faith, and in the thirty-first year of his age, that Thaddeus Dodd was_

permitted to enter Princeton College, then under the presidency of the
celebrated Dr. John Witherspoon. He was graduated in the fall of 1773.
Among his classmates were Revs. Drs. James Dunlap, John McKnight,
John B. Smith, and Rev, William Graham. He was one year and a half
in college with Dr. John McMillan, though ndt in the same class. Soon
after graduation he went to Newark, ‘N. J., where he married Miss
Phoebe Baldwin, and entered upon the study of theology under the di-
rection of Ilev. Dr. McWhorter. One year later he removed to Morris-
town, N. J., and continued the same line of study under Rev. Dr. Johnes,
who had been his firstrinstructor in Latin. He was licensed to preach
the gospel by the Presbytery of New York, but there is no existing
record of the date at which-this took place. Through the winter of
1776-77 he suffered from a severe attack of inflammatory rheumatism.
But in the month of March, though still feeble, he started upon a jour-
ney to the West. After preaching in parhs of Virginia and Maryland,
he crossed the mountains, visited the settlements on Georges Creek,
Muddy Creek, and Dunlap’s Creek, and then came to Ten-Mile. He re-
mained here untiliAugust, preaching in private house, in the woods, and
in Lindley’s and_ Bell's Forts. After his return to the East he was or-
dained by the Presbytery of New York as an evangelist on some day of
the week preceding Sabbath, Oct. 19, 1777, as there is a record of bap-
tisms by him on that Sabbath, in which it is said that this was the first
Sabbath after his ordination.

‘-‘ Shortly after this he left New Jersey with his wife and daughter three
years old and a son still younger, accompanied by two brothers and
thuir.families.‘. On the 10th of November they arrived at Patterson’s
"Creek, Hampshire County, Va., and after hearing of the formidable

attack which had been made by the Indians upon Wheelin'g, and the

consequent alarm and confusion prevailing invall the frontier settle-
ments, it was thought best not to proceed any farther atthattime. But
in a few days he crossed the mountains alone, came to Ten-Mile, preached
in the forts, and baptized the children. In a short time he returned to
his family, and it is not known that he visited this place again until he
brought hisifamily and settled down permanently in the fall of 1779,
one hundred years ago. In the interval he had not been idle but busily
engaged in preaching the gospel in the adjacent parts of Virginia and
Maryland, where no churches seem to have been then organized, at
least there were no church buildings, as all the services were held~at
private houses or in the woods. He was entreated to remain, and in-
ducements apparently stronger than any held out by Ten-Mile were
brought to bear upon him, but he had ‘given his pledge to the people
here; his heart was here, and hither he came in September, 1779.” i

In a "letter by the Rev. Dr. Jacob Lindley (one of
Mr. Dodd’s pupils from 1782 to 1784) he says, “ In
the latter part of 1785, I’ think, Mr. Dodd sold his
farm wherehis school was, and moved into his lower
congregation.” It is evident fromthis that Mr. Dodd

8 first resided in what is now Morris township, near the

Lindleys, and from the survey books of the county it
is found that he took out a warrant for a tract of land
on themiddle forkof Ten_-Mile Creek, which was sur-
veyed to him Nov. 22,1786, as “ Tusenheim,” contain-
ing four hundred acres. On this tract helivedrtill his
death, which occurred May 20, 17 93., He left a wife,
two sons, and three daughters. * Both of the sons be-

‘ came physicians, and the elder, Cephas, became a

minister of H‘ the Presbyterian" Church, and the second
successor of his father as pastor of theTen-Mile con-
gregations. The descendants of Mr. Dodd are numer-

ous. Of the children none are living.‘ There have,

been among them one minister, two elders, and two
deacons in the Presbyterian Church, six physicians,
and one lawyer. Thirty-fiverof the descendants are
members of the Lower Ten-Mile congregation.

The Rev. James Allison, in the address before men-

tioned, says of the classical school founded by,Mr.‘

Dodd, “ He felt the importance of a better common.-.
school education, and in order to promote it he visited
the schools, and counseled and:enco'uraged instructors.
But for the special purpose. of educating young men
for the ministry, Mr. Dodd erected a building a short
distance from his own dwelling, in which he opened
a classical and mathematical school in the spring of
1782 ; of the five students present at the opening four,
are certainly known to have been look_ing to the min-
istry of the -gospel as their life work. This school

was successfully conducted for three years and a half.

And he had nearly all the intervening time several
students under -him whose studies. he directed. In;
the beginning of 1789, Mr. Dodd accepted the ap-

pointment of principal to the academy opened in the

town of Washington on the 1st of April of that year,
with the understanding that he was to hold the ofiice
only for one year, as he did not -wish to relinquish the
pastorate at Ten-Mile ; at the expiration of the year

he was constrained to continue three months longer. ~
Some time during the following. winter the court-

house, one of whose rooms had been occupied by the
academy, was burned,_ and -no other suitable building
could be obtained.” _ ' V

Daniel Dodd, a brother of the Rev. Thaddeus Dodd,

came out to this country soon after his brother, and:
His name is mentioned in the sur-"

settled near him.
vey of Jacob Cook and others as adjoining them. He

purchased, land which Nehemiah Scott _patented, and
where the village of Amity now stands, and laid out

that town in 1797. . He also purchased land adjoining
that of John Carmichael, which was part of ‘a tract
patented by Carmichael and known by the name of
“ Cook’s Delight.” On this land Henry Wick at the
time of purchase had a distiller.y.», In..1799,_ Dodd
sold the land to VVick. Mr. Dodd lived on tliefarjn
till his death. DanielDodd married Charity Free-

man, and had one son and six daughters,———-Mary,‘
Ziba., Phebe, Azuba, and Sarah. They all remov.ed-
The son, Daniel Freeman Dodd, remained in _

VVest.
the township, and lived to an advanced age. He also

left a son, Daniel Freeman Dodd, who died in the

township in the fall of 1880.-T: . .

The McCrackens were natives of the Highlandsof H

Scotland, but early removed to County Down, Ire-
land, from which place, in about 1768, David Mc-
Cracken emigratedvto this country. After a short
time spent in the East, he emigrated West and settled

) on the waters of Ten-Mile_Creek, where he purchased.

a claim of a man who had made aclearing. A This was
the land which he afterwards purchased._ It is un-
derstood that a tract, warranted andfsurveyed by

Nathaniel Coleman,.by thename of “ _Rabb_it’s Cove,” .

AMWELL TOWNSHIP.

655

and patent obtained July 2, 1790, was to be divided
between Coleman and McCracken. ‘ It was not, how-
ever, until the 16th of’ April, 1796, that a deed was
given from Coleman to McCracken, and in which the
following passage _occurs:.“ In consideration of one
hundred cents and divers other considerations to them
well known.” On this tract of land David McCracken
lived the’ remainder of his days. He left four sons.
Thomas, the eldest, was killed at a raising when a
young man,'the others emigrated to the West. The
property is now owned by Andrew Vandyken and
JosephlHannah.

Andrew McCracken, a brother of David, remained

in Ireland until 1792, when he emigrated to America-

and came directly to this county, and lived with his

' brother two years before he made a purchase of land.

On the 12th of April, 1794, he bought sixty-three
acres of land of Jacob Housong, and on the 10th of

A May, 1806, forty-one acres of William McClenahan.

This land was part of a tract- warranted to Luke
Brown on the 28th of August, 1792, and in the sur-
vey was named “ Desart.” Brown sold to Housong on
the 16th of October the same year. On this land Mr.
McCracken passed the remainder of his days. He
died in 1837 while on a visit to his daughter, Mrs.‘
John Finacle, "then living in Athens County, Ohio.
He left two sons,——John and Archibald. John emi-
grated to Ohio, and later to Iowa, where he died.

' ‘Archibald married Lusany, thedaughter of Luther

Axtell, Sr., and settled» on the homestead where he
was born and -still resides at eighty-three years of age.
M. L. A. McCracken, an attorney in Washington, is a
son. The daughters of Andrew McCracken all married

and emigrated to Ohio.

Maj. Daniel Axtell was an original purchaser of

_land of the proprietors of East and West Jersey, to

which they obtained title in 1682. About the ‘year
1740 he purchased a tract of two thousand acres, now
in the township of. Bedminster, Somerset Co., N. J.
Within the succeeding ten years haisdeath occu‘rred,
and the land came into possession of his son William,
by whom part of it was sold in 1750 and part in 1760.
Of his family three sons came to this county about
1780, and settled‘  Ten-Mile Creek. But like most
of the settlers of thatday they did not secure titles
till several years later. At whattime the warrant
was secured and survey made of a tract of four hun-
dred and four acres called “Green Mount” is not
known; the «patent was secured July 7, 1797. On the
6th of October, 1799, one hundred acres was sold to
James Tucker, and on the 10th of February, 1801, one
hundred and thirty-seven acres to Jonas Conduit.
Mr. Conduit lived there many years, and was ap-
pointed justice of the peace "in 1813. These sales of
land were made from the “ Green Mount” tract.

A tract called “Winter Grreen,” adjoining ‘Caleb
and Levi Lindley, Samuel Clutter, and others, had

-been warranted,‘ surveyed, and patented to Ebenezer '

Goble, and part of it was purchased by Daniel Axtell,

April 7, 1794, and on the 12th of February, 1798, Mr.
Axtell sold one hundred and ten acres to Daniel
Johnston. On‘ the 28th of September, 1795, Daniel
Axtell was appointed attorney for the sale of a tract
of land called “ Pleasant Grove,” belonging to Samuel
Tuttle, of Morris County, N. J ., and on the 21st of
March, 1796, he sold two hundred and eighteen acres

of it to C01. Daniel _McFarland. "In the tax-list of_

-1784 the name of Thomas Axtell appears, but little
is known of him or his descendants. _

Caleb Goble had made application to the land-oflice
for a tract of land lying on a small branch of Ten-
Mile Creek, adjoining Samuel -Craig, John Hughes,

and William Bryson, which had been warranted and -
surveyed to him, and on the 5th. of October, 1790,’

Goble conveyed to Luther Axtell all his right, title,‘
and interest in the tract, and on the 9th. of July, 1797,

he received a patent for it. _‘On the 27th of April,"

4 1804, he conveyed fifty acres of it to Abigail Dickin-
son, and thesamic day one hundred. and eight acres to
Thomas Wier. On the remainder of this tract Luther
Axtell resided till his death. He left. four sons,-

Daniel, the eldest, died. at the age of twenty-four _

years; Silas settled in Greene County; Philip and
Luther became ministers of the Cumberland Presby-
terian Church. The former is now in charge of the
church of that demonination in East Pittsburgh,
Allegheny Co., and the latter in charge of Pleas-'

ant Hill Church, East Bethlehem township, Wash-

ington County. Lusany, a daughter of Luther Ax-
tell, Sr., became the wife of Archibald McCracken,
who settled near the Axtells on the old McCracken
homestead. V ’

Col. Daniel McFarland emigrated (from Scotland to

Massachusetts, where he _lived a number of years.
He obtained‘ a commission as colonel in the Conti-
nental army and served through the Revolution. At
its close he came to this county well advanced in life,‘
and with sons and daughters of mature years. He
purchased of‘ John Barber four hundred acres of land
on the 1st of January, 1785, which was warranted to
Barber,Sept. 17, 1784, surveyed as “ Elk: Lick,” Jan.
20, 1785. On the 20th of June, 1791,, he purchased

of Ephraim Bates four hundred and nineteen acres on,

the middle fork of Ten-Mile, and on the 21st of

March, 1796, purchased two hundred and eighteen

acres of Daniel Axtell, attorney forSamuel Tuttle, of

Morris County, N. J ., which was surveyed to '1‘uttle 3 ~

as “Pleasant _Gro_ve.” This last tract he made his_
homestead, and in 1817 died at the advanced age of

eighty-seven years. His remains were buried in the’

graveyard of Lower Ten-Mile ‘Church. His wife,
Sarah, died in 1810, Iiagedleighty years. His great-

grandson," Abel M. Evans, Esq., of Ten-Mile village,‘
resides on the old homestead. The property on which:
stood the old fulling-mill, owned and operated by Col.

Daniel McFarland, is now owned by Mr. Overholt, of
Westmoreland County. ' .

' William McFarland, a son of Col. Daniel,-early

G56

‘HISTORY OF WASHINGTON COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA.

took a commanding position in the county. He was
appointed coroner of \Vashington County by the Su-
preme Executive Council in 1781, and was appointed
justice of the peace of Amwell township, Sept. 30,
1788, and at the same timecommissioned justice of
the Courtof Common Pleas of Washington County.
He retained his office of justice of the peace till April
2, 1802, when he was succeeded by Ziba Cook, of
Amity. He always endeavored to settle differences
between ‘contending parties without resort to legal
measures, and his influence was felt for good through-
out the community. He was an’ elder in the Lower
Ten-Mile Church. His death occurred at the age of
sixty-seven years. His children were Rebecca (Mrs.

. . John Carter), James (the father: of Judge N. C. Mc- V

Farland, of Topeka, Kan.), Sarah (Mrs. Joseph
Evans, Sr., whose‘ son, Abel M. Evans, lives on the
old homestead), Mary (Mrs. Ezra Dille), William s.,
Patty (who died at twenty-one years), Samuel Mc-
Farland (late of Washington, long known as a leading
attorney and active in the temperance cause and the
abolition of slavery), Phebe (Mrs. Silas Clark), Thomas
(late of Bethlehem B township),_ and Hannah (Mrs.
Boyd), of Ohio.

, Jacob Cook and his family were of those who cam-e
out in 1773 and settled on thewaters of Ten-Mile
Creek, at what, was known as the Lower Settlement.
The warrant for his land was not obtained until Feb.
28, 1785. It was situated on the north sideof middle
fork of Ten-Mile, adjoining lands of Jesse Bane,
William Wilson, and Daniel Dodd. It was surveyed
June 25, 1785, and contained four. hundred acres, with
six per cent. allowance. The place is now owned by
John Swart. Jacob Cook diedin the spring of 1808,
and left two sons, Stephen and Noah (to whom he
left the real estate), and three daughters, Rhoda (Mrs.

'Carmichael), Hannah (Mrs. Morris), and Jemima.

Ziba Cook was also an early resident, and kept tavern
from 1797 many years, and was appointed justice of
the peace April 2, 1802.‘ There was also living ‘near
them a Joseph Cook, who died March 27, 1782, and
left. in his will £50 to the Presbyterian Church of
Ten-Mile.

John Hughes was of Irish ancestry and a native of
New Jersey», and in his youth removed ‘to Carlisle,
where he entered the Continental army und_er Capt.
Hendricks. The -company in which he was placed
was formed with eight others into a battalion of rifle-
men in July, 1775, and placed in command of Col.
William Thompson. A New York V paper of that
date says that between the 28th of July and August

. 2d, “The riflemenunder command of Capts. Smith,

Lowdon, Doudel, Chambers, Nagel, Miller,.and Hen-
dricks passed through New Windsor (a few miles
north of West Point), in the New York government,
on their way to Boston.” They arrived in camp at
Cambridge Aug.‘ 13, 1775.. In the month of Septem-
ber of that year Capt. Hendrick’s company, with
others, lefftafor Canada under the command of Col.

1

Arnold, and were in the attack upon Quebec. Mr.
Hughes rose from the ranks to a captaincy. He re-
mained with the army during the war, and was present
at the battles of Princeton, Brandywine, Germantown,
and Monmouth. After the war he removed to lWash-
ington County with Timothy Ryan. Together’ they
purchased warrants for several large tracts of land
on Fish Creek, now in Greene County, to which they
received patents in August, 1785, and in 1786 he pur-
chased Ryan’s interest. John Hughes purchased a
warrant for a tract of land on the 18th of October,
1784, of Albert Simonson on what is known as Hughes’
branch of Ten-Mile Creek, adjoining James Tucker.

This was surveyed to him as “ Green Spring” on the 

2d of March, 1785. ' An account book of his, now in
possession of his great-grandson, Workman Hughes,
recorder of Washington County, extends from Oct. 13,
1784, to 1816. In 1784 and 1785 the names of Demas
Lindley, Michael Tygart, Van Swearingen, Esq.,

Daniel Harris, John Gregg, James Lloyd, Dr. David '

Holmes,,John Dodd, Patrick Allison, Capt Samuel
Brady, William Bryson, William Jarret, Maj. Cra-
craft, George Biggs, VVilliam Meetkirk, George Fox,
David Long, John Brownlee, William Forbes, Wil-
liam Markland, James Tucker, Mr. Douglas, James

Clemens, David Parkison, Alexander Beer, James»

Castor, Francis Biddle, Daniel Bigle, Henry'McClel-
land, Daniel Leet, and William Leet are found en-
tered. The most of the names here given were resi-
dents on or near the waters of Ten-Mile Creek. There
is a space of nine years before the account is again

taken up, and it is probable that the store was kept ‘

at Ten-Mile during that time. .
In 1802, Mr. Hughes purchased a lot adjoining No.
18 on Main Street, in Washington, of Joseph Day,

and in 1809 two lots on Maiden Street of Archibald.

Kerr. He was a hatter by trade, and opened a store
in VVashington. The accounts were kept in the book
commencing in 1784. Inilater years he returned to
Amwell township, where he died Sept. 15, 1818, i11
the sixty-eighth year’ of his age. He was buried with
military honors by the companies of Capt. McCluney,
of Washington, and Capt. Lacock’s rifle rangers, of
Amwell township.

Of his children, Mary Ann married Gabriel Blake-
ney, of Washington. She died, leaving no children.
James married Mary, daughter of Gen. Abner La-
cock, and settled in Amwell township. They left five

children, of whom Sally (Mrs. Daniel Carter) resides ‘

at Monongahela City. Susan became the wife of
Jesse Carter, and settled in Greene County. Marga-
ret married’ Samuel Andrews, and afterwards John
Horn. Samuel L. Hughes settled in Amwell.town-
ship.’ He was elected a justice of the peace Apr_i1

14, 1839, and held the position for thirty-two years.’

His death occurred Nov- 29, 1880, at the age of
seventy years. Four sons reside in VVashington, and
one son, John, is in.South America. Samuel, ason of‘
J ohn_,Hughes, married Mary, the daughter of Hugh

AMWELL TOWNSHIP.

657’

Workman, and settled in Washington. He was a
carpenter, and followed his trade. His descendants
are living here still._ John Hughes, Jr., settled in.
Washington, and died there. in Thomas, also a son of
John, emigrated to Kentucky. Barnabas married a
daughter of —— Vankirk, in his native town, and
lived there till his death. The homestead of John
Hughes in Amwell township is now owned by Dun-
ning Hart. 0

William Curry was a native of Dauphin County,

'Pa., and was born in 1739. He learned the trade of

gunsmith and cooper. He was a soldier in the Revo-
lutionary war, after which he married, and in 1783

- emigrated from Dauphin‘County with his wifeto

Washington County, and purchased two hundred and

' ninety-one acres of land of one Davis, who moved to

Ryerson’s Station, Greene County, where he was soon
after‘ killed and scalped by the Indians, together with
all his family except one child, who escaped. The
land at the time of purchase was not patented, and
later Mr. Curry rode on horseback to Lancaster, and
secured the patent. On this tract he lived until his
death, in 1820, aged eighty—one years. He left two .
sons, William and John, and two daughters, Mar-
garet (Mrs. .William Harbeson, of Lawrence County,
Pa.) and Elizabeth (Mrs. John Carlisle, of Amwell
township). John, the youngest son, settled on the
homestead, where he lived until his death, Aug. 6,

. 1880, eighty-five years of age. He _left four sons and

one daughter. Thomas B., the eldest, lives in West
Bethlehem township. Milton B. resides in La Salle
County, Ill. Hugh W. and Francis M. Curry own
and occupy the homestead, and have added largely to
its area. Mary became the wife of Aaron Bane, also
a descendant of one of the early settlers.

John, Henry, and -————Vankirk, natives of New
Jersey, all came to this county, and settled in Am-
well township. John emigrated first, and purchased
on the 10th of December, 1785, a tract of three hun-
dred and fifty-nine acres of land of Abner Howell,
which be patented, Feb. 26, 1792. On this tract John

lived till his deathin 1797, and divided it -among

three of his sons, Jacob, Henry, and Joseph. He left
four sons and three daughters, who were all born'in ‘
New Jersey, Sarah, Jacob, and Henry by a first wife,
Joseph, Elizabeth, John, and Catharine by a second
wife. Sarah lived and died single; Jacob lived on
the portion left by his father, and with his brother
Henry, in 1808, purchased their brother J oseph’s por-
tion of the homestead. Jacob Vankirk married Eliza-

beth Lee, and their children were Enoch, Joseph,

Leah, and Ann. Enoch Vankirk married Susan Ca-
ton, and to them were born nine children,—George,
Sarah J ., Matthias,‘ Hugh, Mary A., Elisha, William,
Jacob, and Sarah J . Catch. The first child named
Sarah J . Caton died in infancy. The others all reside
in Washington County except the youngest Sarah J .
Caton, who lives in Ohio. Joseph, the other son of
Jacob Vankirk, married Eliza Carter. They had six

children,—-—Joseph C., Hiram, Charles, William, Char-
lotte, and Ann Vankirk, all of whom live in Iowa.
Leah Vankirk became Mrs. John McLain, and lives
‘in Franklin township ; Ann married Walter G. Scott.

Henry, brother of Jacob Vankirk, settled on the A

portion inherited from his father, and in 1808, with
Jacob, bought J oseph’s portion. He lived and died
‘here leaving four children, of whom John and Mary,
are dead. Charles is living in the township; Mary
became the wife of Elbridge _G. Cracroft, who, after
her death, married her sister Nancy. The latter re-
sides in Washington. J oseph, son of John, after the
sale in 1808, moved to Morris township. His chil-
dren are all dead._ Elizabeth, a daughter, married
Samuel Lacock and settled in Amwell. Their grand-
children are residents of the township. John pur-
chased a farm about a mile from the homestead, and
left it to his son'Hamilton. It now belongs to the

estate of Dr. F. J . Le Moyne. Catharine became the V

wife of Beebout, and settled in Amwell. Henry

Vankirk, brother of John, purchased two hundred _,
and sixty-six acres of land of Sarah Gregg on the

29th October, 1791, which was named “Red Thorn

Bottom.” On this tract he lived and died, leaving ‘

six_children,——;William, Gideon, Arthur, ’Henry, John,
and Mary, all of whom were born in New Jersey.
William remained there; Gideon married Priscilla
Kater ; Arthur married Elizabeth Parkison; their
children were Lucretia (Mrs. David Birch), Asher,
Emma (Mrs. Joel Woods), Edward, Ralph, William,
and Sarah (Mrs.'John Cooper). . ,

Henry Vankirk, J r., married‘ Ruth Jolly, and set-
tled on or near the homestead. Their children were
Mary E. (Mrs. William Crispin), Dryden, Jane (Mrs.
Oliver Cosart), Ruth (emigiated to Ohio, where she
married), Susan (Mrs. James Cooper), Milton (who re-
sides in Ohio), and Keturah (Mrs. Abraham Riggle).

Nathaniel McGifiin emigrated to this country from
Scotland before he was twenty-one years "of age, and
enlisted in -the Revolutionary army, and was present
at the battle of Brandywine with Lafayette, and was
with the army at Valley Forge. His discharge is
now in the hands of his family. He removed to
Washington County about 1789, and on the 23d of
February, 1790, purchased of .Thomas McG'iffin two
hundred and thirty-eight acres of land which had
been warranted to Andrew Smith on the 31st of
March, 17 88, and surveyed under the name of “ Con-
stancy.” It was sold by Smith to Thomas McGifl?in
Dec. 29, 1789, and was patented to Nathaniel Mc-
Gifiin Sept. 29, 1791. Later he purchased other tracts,
but on the tract “ Constancy” he lived until his death
in 1821, aged sixty-two years. He left two children,
Thomas and Rachel. Thomas was born Jan. 1, 17 84,
and came’ with his parents to this county. He en-
tered J eiferson College at the same time with Cephas
Dodd. After graduation he entered the law office of
Parker Campbell at Washington, and was admitted
to the bar in February, 1807. He removed to Vin-

658

HISTORY OF WASHINGTON COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA.

cennes, Indiana Territory, and practiced two years, and l

in 1809 returned to Wash_ington,where he spent the
remainder of his life. He was a contractor on the

National road in 1816; member of a special session‘

of Legislature in 1834 to.fill a vacancy occasioned by
the resignation of the Hon. Joseph Lawrence. He
died in Washington Feb. 5, 1841, aged fifty-seven
years. His son, Norton McCriflin, is a resident of
Washington, and was in the service of the United
States in the war with Mexico; sheriff’ of VVashing-
ton County from 1858 to 1861 ; was lieutenant-colonel
of the Twelfth Regiment in the war of the Rebellion,
and_ served as a member of the Legislature in the ses-

sion of 1881-82. Rachel, daughter of Nathaniel Mc- ’
Giffin, became the wife of Jacob Cook, of Ten-Mile,‘

and settled in Amwell township.

Daniel Shuster was a native of Germany, who came
to Amwell township at a very early date. In 1781 he
was keeping tavern here in a house he had himself
built. He settled in the northeast corner of the town-
-ship, on the ridge where the old Redstone road passes.
Here he purchased part of a tract of land which was
warranted by Peter Hewitt, and surveyed to him
April 11, 1786, as containing three hundred and
seventy-three- acres. Peter» Hewitt lived and died
on the remainder of the tract, and his descendants

. still own the homestead. His brother, Philip Hewitt,
. purchased an adjoining tract on the west, called

“ Wolf ’s Den,” and having an area of three hundred
and sixty-five acres, which was surveyed to him on
the same date. The property of Philip Hewitt is now
owned by George Hewitt, Henry and Reed Riggle,
John Frazee, and B. -F. Closser, and a school build-
ing called “ Rees’ School—house” is located on the
southwest end of the ‘tract. Daniel Shuster built a
house upon his land when he first made his settlement
in the township, and when the road was laid out, in
1781, he removed to the ridge, and built a large log
house wherein he kept tavern for many years. Isaac
Riggle and J . M. Morringer now own most of the
Shuster property, and some of the logs in the old
tavern have been used in the construction of Isaac
Riggle’s barn. ‘ '

Job Wick and his wife emigrated from England to
this country, and settled on Long Island, N. Y. Their
son, Lemuel~Wick, married Deborah Lupton, and in
the year 17 81 removed to the village of Amity in this
township. They had a family of five children,—-W_il-
liam, Henry, Phebe, Mary, and Anna Wick. The
daughter, Anna, became the wife of Isaac Bane, J r.
William \Vick, the oldest child of Lemuel and Debo-
rah Wick, studied divinity with Rev. John McMil-
lan. He married Elizabeth McFarland, a sister of

VVilliam McFarland, Esq., and they ‘removed from -

Amity to Youngstown, Ohio. They and the large
family they reared a-re all buried at that place.
Phebe, eldest daughter of Lemuel and Deborah Wick,
became the wife of-her cousin, William Wick. They
also lived and died in Youngstown," Ohio, and had a

number of sons and daughters. Mary Wick, second
daughter of Lemuel Wick’s family, married Nehemiah
Scott; they also migrated to Youngstown, and died
there, leaving a number of children. Henry Wick,
second son of Lemuel. Wick, married Hannah Bald-
win, and in 1812 left Amity for Ohio, making his
new home in Youngstown, as his brothers and sisters
had done. The children of ‘Henry and Hannah
Wick were seven‘,——Caleb, Lemuel, J r.,' Henry, J r.,
Hugh B., Paul, Elizabeth, and Matilda L. Wick.
Hugh B. and Caleb Wick died and were buried at
Youngstown, where they left large and wealthy fami-
lies. Elizabeth married Robert Leslie, and died
leaving one son. Lemuel Wick, Jr., and Henry
Wick, Jr., both reside in Cleveland, Ohio, and Paul
Wick’s home is still in Youngstown. Matilda L.
Wick became the wife of Thomas L. Bane. They
are mentioned in the sketch of the Bane family.
David Evans, who was of VVelsh origin, located in
Amwell township, upon a tract of land called “ Evans’
Plat,” situated on the middle fork of Ten-Mile Creek.
This tract contained three hundred and ninety-nine
acres, was surveyed to Mr. Evans, June 20, 17 85, and
was next to the lands of Robert Bennett, James Mil-
liken, and Daniel McFarland. David Evans was a
relative on the maternal side of the McFarlands, who
were early and prominently identified with the his-

tory of Washington County. Of his descendants a.
Abel M. ~

number emigrated to the State of Ohio.
Evans, a lineal descendant, resides near Ten-Mile
village, upon a portion of the old homestead; Joseph
Evans, a son of Caleb Evans, and grandson of David
Evans, died near Clarkstown. William Hughes owns
a part of the Evans tract. '

James Chambers came from County Down, Ireland,
to this country, settling first near Williamsport, Pa.
He remained there but a short time, however, and
October, 17 97, found him a resident of this township,
located on Bane’s Fork of Ten-Mile Creek. His
family consisted of his wife, three sons, and three
daughters. The daughter Mary, who became Mrs.‘
Leslie Cannon, always lived in Amwell‘ township, and
died here in 1874, aged ninety-five years-. Jane

Chambers married James Jolly, and settled in Wheel-'

ing, Va., and Margaret, who married George Gourlay,

removed to Cadiz, Ohio. , Of the sons, James was a-

carpenter, who learned and followed his trade in
Washington borough. Judge James C. Chambers,
of Amwell township, is his son.
was never married. He and Robert, the third son of
James Chambers, settled upon the homestead, and in
1823‘built a mill upon it, on the former site of a smaller
mill which had fallen into ruins. The mill put up
by the Chambers Brothers is still standing, the whole

property now belonging to Robert Chambers’ son. "

Robert Chambers, in 1824, purchased the first iron
plow bought and used in the county, and James C.
Chambers was one of the first who used it.

Joseph Miller’s father came from Ireland and set-

The son William -

AMWELL TOWNSHIP.

M}

tled for a time in Mifliin County, Pa., where he mar-

ried Hannah Beatty. Joseph Miller, their son, was

born in Morris township, Greene Co., Pa., about the
year 1790, and is now living at the age of ninety-one
years. He was ‘early apprenticed to the carpenter’s
trade, which he has fo_llowed most of his life. . He re-
lates that when he was but a child, Gabriel Blakney,
while surveying, remained-over Sunday at his father’s
house, and while there Mr. Blakney purchased Jo-
seph’-s pet lamb, paying him one dollar, and his

‘mother used the money to buy him a copy of “Pil-
In the war of 1812 Joseph Miller

grim’s Progress.”
became a member of Capt. William Patterson’s mili-
tary company, being mustered in at Meadville, Pa.
At that place William’ Piper was made colonel of the

' regiment, ‘and they were all sent to Black Rock, on

the Niagara River. Mr: Miller’s company was in no
active service, but remained until December, 1812,
when the regular troops were ordered into winter-
quarters, and the volunteers granted jfurloughs, on
which they returned home. Mr. Miller’s company, in
which were his brother Benjamin Miller and Ichabod
Clark, started to travel the distance to Amwell town-
ship on foot. They came through the southern part
of Western New York, the snow in many places four
feet deep, which in some localities had become frozen
and crusted over until it would bear their weight. At

other times they could only follow the Indian trail,

a narrow path’ formed in the snow‘. They passed
around the head of Chautauqua Lake, and one day
marched twenty-eight miles without seeing a house.
Ichabod Clark and Joseph Miller were obliged to

carry Benjamin Miller’s equipments in addition to

their own, and to break the road as well, as he was

, sick. They reached home the day before Christmas

in 1812, having been since December 11th, or thirteen

' ‘days, on the way.

~ March 4, 1813, Joseph Miller married Pamelia

Harris, and has since that time resided in this town- A

ship. ’ His family was six sons and one daughter, the
‘latter dyingwhen seventeen years old. A son, Ben-
jamin Mil'ler,'died in Indiana in 1881 ; the sons Ne-
hemiah and William are residents of Ohio; the other
three, John,” James, and Stephen, live in .Washington
County. Mr. Miller, in gathering his descendants
about him, brings together representatives of five
generations, himself to his great-great-grandchildren
inclusive. . 1 V ,
James Tucker came from New Jersey to Amwell
township about 1780. Beside his interests in .this
vicinity,,he owned a one-eighth interest in the Old
Spring Hill Iron Furnace, located in Spring Hill
township, in Fayette County, where he spent a great
portion of his time. In the year 1802 he sold this
interest_ to Jesse Evans. James Tucker married E_liza-
beth Bane, and they had five children,—— Isaac, Joseph,
Thomas, James, and Nancy, the youngest, who mar-
ried Henry Bebout and removed to Greene County,
where she died. James Tucker, J r., was a miller by

trade and never married; Joseph Tucker emigrated

to Ohio; and Isaac, who married Sarah Mason, lived -

and died on a portion of the old homestead. Thomas
Tucker had the remainder of the father’s farm, and
his son Absalom now owns and occupies the whole of
the original tract. Old Mrs; Tucker survived her
husband several years. 2  ’
Enoch Enochs emigrated from England to America,
and settled on the north branch of the north fork of

Ten-Mile Creek about 1770. The name of his prop-

erty was “ Enochs’ Delight,” located about one-half.

mile from Lon-e Pine village,——the place that is some-
times called “Pin Hook.” Enoch Enochs built a

. fort upon his land as a defense against Indian incur-

sions. Henry Enochs settled in Clarksville,‘ where
he engaged in the iron trade, and other members of
the family are’ scattered through Maryland, West
Virginia, Indiana, and Ohio.
Amwell township, and Hiram Enochs,-of Washing-
ton, in this county, are descendants of the pioneer
Enochs. .

Abraham Sutton, a primitive resident of »Amwell
/township,’ was originally from New Jersey, and after
settling here was a minister of the Bane Baptist
Church. He had a son Andrew, a tanner bytrade,
who was a member of the Pennsylvania State Legis-
lature in 1814-15. _ William Sutton, a son of Andrew,
and grandson of Abraham Sutton, married Delilah
Slaught, and died in 1881, near Pleasant Valley." A
daughter of‘ Andrew, and sister of William Sutton,

. 3 -
became the wife of James Moore, whose father was -

an emigrant from England. ' Their son, VV. S. Moore,

was formerly editor of the Reporter, published at 1

Washington, and died but a few years since.
Christopher Slusher was a citizenof German de-
scent, who formerlylived in Loudon County, Va. .He
came to this township and settled near the old Decamp
mill, on the north fork of Ten-Mile Creek, the site

of the village of Pleasant Valley. Mr._Slusher lived '

upon the farm of his original settlement, and died
there Feb. 2, 1819, at fifty—two years of. age. His wife
survived him several years. The farm is now owned
by Frederick Ferrel and James Monegar. Michael

Slusher, a son of Christopher, resides on the Squire «
1 . McFarland place in this township, and David, another

son, lives in Greene County, Pa. . *

Samuel McCullough, who emigrated from Ireland
and settled in Amwell township, had three sons,——
John, Samuel, and James.
Samuel went to Belmont County, Ohio, and James to
Allen County, Ohio. The old homestead is now in
the possession of George W. Moninger. ’

1 Thomas Lackey came from New Jersey and settled
upon a large tract of land in this township. He had
several children, but nothing is learned of any but
Susan. She married Abraham Lattimer and lived

' near Canonsburg, where both died. The Lackey farm

is» now owned _by William Workman, James ‘V.
Kountz, and William Bryson. 2

659 A

Abner Enochs, of,

John died very young, -

660  

HISTORY OF WASHINGTON COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA.

J bhn and George Gardiner, brothers, were of - Ger-
man extraction, who came and. settled in Amwell

' township. The farm of John Gardiner was .in later

years divided, and is now owned by David Stewart.
George Gardiner’s farm now belongs to John Curry’s
heirs, Hugh and Milton Curry. George Gardiner’s
son Daniel died in Lancaster, Pa. John, another son,
married Rebecca Miller. He is dead, and she still
survives. Jesse Gardiner, a third son of George, mar-
ried Nancy McClure, and they removed to Columbiana

County, Ohio. William Gardiner, the fourth son, is

also dead, but his widow, formerly Ann Kitten, is still
living. John Gardiner, the brother of George, had
but one child, a daughter, who married John Ringer
and‘ removed to Coshocton County, Ohio.

John Miller formerly lived on a tract of land*on
Brush Run, in this township, which is now owned by
David Frazer. His wife was a daughter of Jacob
Peck, and their children were John, David, Rachel,
and Elizabeth. John married Nancy Reece. Both
died, leaving severalchildren. David Millerdied. in
infancy. J _

James Carter, like many. others of the early settlers
of Amwell township, was , an emigrant’ from New
Jersey. He located an-d lived upon the property now
owned by Dunning Hart, Esq. "The sons of James
Carter were VVilliam, John, and Henry. Henry died
unmarried when twenty years of age. J ohn’s wife was
Rebecca McFarland, the youngest daughter of Wil-
liam McFarland, Esq. William Carter married and
had a family of two sons and four daughters. Of these
James married Nancy Lytle; Isaac married Nancy
Sowers; Mary became the wife of Edward Wier, Jr. ;
and Nancy became the wife of Caleb Evans.

John L. Harrison was born and reared in the State
of New Jersey, and went from there to Licking County,
Ohio. His son, John L. Harrison, J r., came to Am-
well township, married a daughter of Moses Cooper,
one of the original settlers of -the township, and here
made his permanent home. They had four children,
three of whom are still living, viz., William H. and
Hannah C. Harrison, who live at Lone Pine village,
in this township, and M. C. Harrison, who lives at
\Vashington. . .

Moses Cooper came from New Jersey to Washington
County and into the present township of Amwell many
years ago, and located on Ten.-Mile-Creek. His wife,
Sarah Griflith, was, like himself, of _VVelsh descent.

- Their family was but twosons, Moses and William,

who went to Indiana and lived and died there, and a
daughter, Priscilla, who married Peter Smith. Their
son, James -Smith, resided near Ten-Mile village, in
this township. Peter Smith, another son, lives in
Beallsville. The Smiths are all active and devoted
members of the Baptist Church.

Jacob Peck was a German, and had married before
he came to this county. He had three daughters, Ann,
Rhoda, and Elizabeth. Ann Peck was the wife of

James Bane, and her children‘ were James, David, 4-

Columbus C., Sarah, and Rebecca Bane. Sarah mar- i A

ried James Paul, and went to Richland County, Ohio.

Rebecca married Right Vandike, and both died near .
the Peck homestead, which now belongsto Joshua SW
Denam, Jr., a grandson of Jacob Peck. James B. «-
Vandike, a son of Rebecca Bane, now lives in Green- J

field, in Washington County. - 

Thomas Kitten camefrom Virginia to the present
township of Amwell. The tract of land -he took up
was called “ F-ox Hill.” His three sons were George,
Dorsey, and Daniel. George moved to Ohio, where he
died at the advanced age of ninety-five years. » Daniel

died a bachelor, and Dorsey, who married-, lived and .

died upon the Kitten homestead. «

Town of Amity.——The earliest information con-« 
cerning this town is found in the following advertise-i P

ment in the Western Telegraphe and Washington Ad-
vertiser, published at Washington: -

“ OBSERVE.

“The subscribers have laid out a number of lots for a Town in the K
township of Amwell, near Mr. Moor’s meeting-house, on the main road ‘-
leading from Washington to Waynesburgh, nearly central between the .
two. The situation is pleasant, near several grist- and saw-mills, in a._ 
thriving settlement, etc. Persons inclining to purchase are desired to I

meet on the premises on the 25th day of J uly next, at ten o’clock, when

the lots are to be offered for sale to the highest bidder; terms will be 

easy, and a good title given by the subscribers,

“June 20, 1797. “ ZIBA CooKE."

The land on which the town was laid out was origin- _
ally taken up-by Nehemiah Scott, a part of which 
was purchased by Daniel-Dodd, and later a part by 

Ezekiel Clark.-

Lots were sold at the time mentioned to Daniel 4

Thompson, Jacob Appleman, James -Milleken. A’
deed is recorded to Daniel Thompson, bearing date

June 19, 1798, which recites that the lot is No, 13,",
adjoining lots of Appleman and Milleken and land of
Henry Wick. The consideratiorrwas $11.50. Henry i

Wick had a distillery on the land mentioned adjoin-

ing the town, and which he later (in 1799) purchased 3
of Daniel Dodd. This was on a tract purchased of -
John Carmichael, named “ Cook’s Delight.” On-the '

. 14th of September, 1803, Daniel Dodd sold to John 
Cooke three lots, Nos.‘18, 20, 22. In 1807, Cooke was  .
licensed to keep a tavern. On the 5th of November, 3 '
1810, ,Thomas Brice advertised that he had opened a 1
store in Amity, and kept linen, lining, hemp, and bags,» 
beeswax, feathers, whiskey, and rags. On the 4th of

July, 1811, the citizens of the town met at the house

of Leslie Carsons “ for the purpose of celebrating the ..

birthday of American’ independence.” Maj. Thomas-
Vanemen was chosen president’, Thomas Brice vice-

president. The Declaration of Independence was.

read -by Abel McFarland. The festivities were accom-
panied with martial music and a discharge -of firearms
by ~ a V detachment of Capt. William Gordon’s rifle
company. 1 P P

The~-present town of Amity contains twenty-seven-
dwellings, Presbyterian and Methodist Protestant‘;

“ DANIEL Donn, I

  AMWELL TOWNSHIP.‘

Churches, school-‘house, two stores, drug-store, cabinet-
shop, two -shoe-shops, two blacksmit-h-shops, wagon-

lshop‘, barber-shop, tailor-shop, harness- and. saddle-—

shop, post—oflic’e, two milliners and dressmakers, and
three physicians. . =  A -

A lodge of Odd-Fellows was organized at this place
in 1859, their charter bearing date May 19th of that
year, having the name of “ Ten-Mile Lodge, .No. 552.”
The following are the names of the. first officers and
charter members : Apollos Loar, Noble. Grand;
Henry Swart, Vice-Grand; Samuel. Walton, Secre-
tary; Wilson McCollum, Assistant. Secretary; ‘Henry
Miller,» Treasurer; James A. 'Bebou_t, Nelson McCol-
lum, John McAfee, James Manin,,Benjamin Yoders,
and Samuel Martin. The lodge has a present mem-

A bership of nineteen.‘ . .

The Methodist Protestant Church of Amity was
organizedin 1832 by the Monongahela Circuit. Wil-

liam Iams and Joel Woods, of Amity, invited the

Revs. John Wilson and Israel Thorp, itinerant min-

~ isters of the church, to preach at Amity in the fall of H
1831. Early in January, 1832, a class was ‘organized '

at the house of William Iams, which consisted of
the following persons: Joel Wood, William and Su-
sanna Iams, N .« B. Clutter, and Mary Thompson.
Soon after the. organization the society purchased
the old log church used by the Presbyterians for fifty

. dollars, they being about to erect a new one. A lot

was -donated by VVilliam Iams, upon which they

erected a house of the logs of the old church. This ,

they used as a place of worship until 1851, when they
erected on the same site, and at a cost of $500, a neat
frame house, in which they worshiped till 1867, when,
finding they demanded a larger house, they sold the
old-church to Dr. S.‘ S. Strouse, and upon the same
site they erected the frame building, thirty-two by
thirty-eight feet in size, in which they still continue
to worship. — - N ' .

The ministers in charge of the church since its
organization have been as follows: J ohnlLucas and
Israel Thorp, 1831-32; John Lucas and W. B. Dun-
ley, 1832-33; H. Sanford and George Hughes, 1833-
34; J. Fordyce and Z. Regan, 1834-35; D. Sherman
and -— Atwood, 1836-37; W. L. Dunlap and W.
Ross, 1837-38; -- Messer and ——, 1838-39 ;
Shearer and James Hopwood, 1840-41 ; Nelson Bur-
gess and -—- , 1841-42; ‘S.  Laishley and N. Wat-
son,.. 1842-43 ;‘ T. J. Addis and T. Wilson, 1843-44;
William Hazlett and ,,1844-45; William Ellis
and , 1846; R. T. Simonton and F. Herron, 1846-

 

 

 

48 ; Henry Palmer and William M. Betts, 1848-49; H. -
Palmer and S. J. Dorsey, 18,49-50; Joel Wood,‘ 1850- V

51; J. H. Hull, 1851-52; H. T. Taylor,'1852—53;
William Beard, 1853-54; J. Scott“(supply‘), 1856;
William M. Betts», 1856-57; W: H. Phipps’, 1858-59 ;
J. D. Herr, 1859-60;_D. Ims, 1860-61'; W. H. Phipps,

1861-62; H. Palmer, 1862-83; A. Patterson, 1863-65; -

C. P.lJordan,» 1865-66; J. D. Herr, 1866-68 ; William

Wallace, 1868-69; F. A. Day, 1869-70; W. H; Grif-

fith, 1870-71; William Wallace, 1871-73; J. 
Mason, 1873-74; J. F.’ Dyer, 1874-77 ; Cr. C. Con-I
nancy, 1877-81. The society has a present member-
ship of one hundred and thirty-three. A Sunday-
school is also in connection,-with the society.

Lower Ten-Mile Presbyterian Church.‘-The
earliest history of this congregation will be found in
that of the Presbyterian Church of Upper Ten-Mile,
the annals of the two being inseparably blended
during the time that both were under charge of the
first pastor, the Rev. Thaddeus Dodd, which relation
continued until his death, May 20, 1793. In October
of that year this church, then styled the United Con-
gregations of Upper and Lower Ten-Mile',_prese1_1ted
a call to Mr. Thomas Marques, a licentiate of the

I Presbytery of Redstone, this call Mr. Marques accept-

ing. On the 10th of April, 1794, the united congrega-

tions of Upper and Lower Ten-Mile presented a call :‘
for the pastoral labors of Mr. Thomas ‘Moore, a licen-

tiate of the Bristol Association of Massachusetts, who
had been taken’ under the care of thePresbytery of
Redstone. Mr. Moore declared his acceptance of this
call August 19th, and was ordained and installed in
September or October, 1794. Dr. Wines says, “Mr.
Moore was a man of vigorous intellect, of high culture,
of ardent temperament, of undoubted piety, of active
zeal, and altogether of great excellence and worth’.
His labors resulted in numerous conversions. It is

probable that the whole number of admissions to the 1

church could not have fallen much, if any, below two
hundred during his ministry of a little more than nine
years.” i 1‘ . V ‘
Dec. 13, 1803, the Presbytery of Ohio met in Ten‘-
Mile, and was opened with a sermon by Mr. Cephas
Dodd, on Col. iii.’ 3. Mr. Dodd, in his diary, says
the services were held in the “Lower House.” On
the next day, December 14th, Mr. Moore was released
from his pastoral charge, and Mr. Dodd was ordained.

_In the ordination services Rev. John Anderson,

D.'D., preached the sermon, on 2 Timothy ii. 3‘, and
Rev. James Hughes presided and gave the charge. ‘
After Mr. Moore’s release, the commissioner from
this church asked. Presbytery for supplies, which
were appointed at each stated meeting of Presbytery
until June’ 25, 1805‘, when a call for the ministerial
labors of Rev. Cephas Dodd, was presented from the
united congregations of Upper and Lower Ten-Mile;
This call was accepted by Mr. Dodd, and Rev. Messrs.

Brice and Gwin were appointed a committee to install «

him on Monday after the first Sabbath of September,
1805. ‘

Mr. Dodd was the son of Rev. Thaddeus Dodd, and
was born on Ten-Mile, Washington Co., Oct. 12;

1779. ‘He received his classical education at Canons- 6:

1 Thehistory of this church is taken from a. sermon delivered ‘by the
pastor, Rev. John S. Atkinson, Aug. 28,_ 1878, at a celebration of the
settlementof the Rev. '1fhaddeusDodd as -pastor of Presbyterian, Churches

-of Upper and Lower Ten—Mile,'with addition from 1879 to the present

time (1882). ‘ , 7

661

THE REVOLUTION.

Youghiogheny at Stewart’s Crossings (now the bor-
ough of New Haven, Fayette Co.), but being an ac-
tive Virginia partisan, and very popular among the
Virginians west of the Monongahela,‘ many of his
men were recruited in what afterwards became Wash-
ington County, the remainder being largely obtained
in that part of Westmoreland County which became
Fayette. Crawford did not at once receive the colon-
elcy of the Seventh, but became its commanding oflicer
in 1776. It was afterwards commanded by Col. John
Gibson. The regiment entered the service with the

Continental army in the East, and remained there for -

some time, but during the later years of the war
served in the Western Department, with headquarters
at Fort Pitt.

The Thirteenth Virginia (known as the “West
Augusta Regiment”) was afterwards raised, chiefly
by Crawford’s efforts, in the same region of country
in which the Seventh had been recruited. The Thir-
teenth (of which Crawford was made colonel) per-
formed its service in the West, being stationed in
detachments at Fort Pitt and other points on the
Ohio and Allegheny Rivers. An extract from a let-
ter written by Crawford to Gen. Washington} dated
“Fredericktown, Md., February 12, 1777,” is given
below because of its reference to“ the two regiments
raised in the Monongahela country, viz. : '

“Many reasons have we to expect a war [with the

A Indians] this spring. The chief of the lower settle-‘

ments upon the Ohio has moved off ; and should both
the regiments be moved away, itwill greatly distress
the people, as the last raised by myself [the West
Augusta Regiment] was expected to be a guard for
them if there was an Indian war. By the Governor
of Virginia I was appointed to command that regi-
ment at the request of the people. The conditions

"were that the soldiers were enlisted during the war,.

and if an Indian war should come on this spring they
were to be continued there, as their interest was on
the spot; but if there should be no Indian war in that
quarter, then they were to go wherever called. On
these conditions many cheerfully enlisted. The regi-
ment, I believe, by this time is nearly made up, as five
hundred and odd were made up before I came away,
and the officers were recruiting very fast; but should
they be ordered away before they get blankets and
other necessaries, I do not see how they are to be
moved; besides, the inhabitants will be in great fear
under the present circumstances. Many men have
already been taken from that region, so that if that
regiment should march away, it will leave few or none
to defend the country. There are no arms, as the chief
part of the first men were armed there, which has left the
place very bare ; but let me be ordered anywhere, and
I will go if possible. . . . .”

1 It was the almost universal. opinion among the people west of the
Monongahela at that time that they were within the jurisdiction of
Augusta 00., Va.

9 Washington-Crawford Letters, p. 62.

6 .

77

It seems remarkable that the sparsely-settled coun-
try west of Laurel Hill (and principally the Monon-
gahela Valley) should have been able to furnish two
full regiments?’ (furnishing almost all the arms for
one regiment) and put them into the field by the
spring of 1777. But there had also been raised under
Pennsylvania authority in what was then Westmore-
land County (then including the present county of
Washington) a company under Capt. Joseph Erwin.
It marched to Marcus Hook, where it was incorpor-
ated with C01. Samuel Miles’ “Pennsylvania Rifle
Regiment.” It was subsequently included in the
Thirteenth Pennsylvania, then in the Second Pennsyl-
vania Regiment, and was finally discharged from ser-
vice at Valley Forge Jan. .1, 1778, by reason of expi-
ration of its term of enlistment. During its period of
service the company fought at Long Island, White
Plains, Trenton, Princeton, Quibbletown. (N. J .),
Brandywine, and Germantown. On the roll of this
company are found the names of Joseph Brownlee,
John Brownlee, Andrew Bryson, Robert Heslet,
Leech, Orr, and others, who either were then or af-
terwards became residents of Washington County.

Under authority of a resolution of Congress dated
July 15, 1776,‘ was raised the Eighth Regiment of
the Pennsylvania line, for the defense of the western
frontier, to garrison the posts of Presque Isle, Le
Boeuf, and Kittaning. One company of this regi-
ment was raised in Bedford County, and all the re-
maining seven companies were recruited in the terri-
tory then comprised in Westmoreland County. On
the 29th of July, 1776, Congress appointed as field-
oflicers of this regiment Col. Eneas McKay, Lieut.-
Col. George Wilson, and Maj. Richard Butler.“ Sep-
tember 22d, David McClure was elected chaplain,
and Ephraim Douglass, quartermaster. Among the
names of company commanders are found those of

' Capt. Van Swearingen and Capt. Samuel Brady, both I

of Washington County. Among the private soldiers
Washington County family names are numerous.
On the 23d of November Congress directed the Board

of War to order the regiment to march with all pos- ,

sible expedition by the nearest route “ to Brunswick,
N. J ., or to join Gen. Washington wherever he may
be.” On the 4th of November the regiment received
orders to march to Amboy, N. J ., whereupon Lieut.-
Col. George Wilson wrote from the regimental ren-
dezvous to C01. James Wilson as follows :

“ KETANIAN, Dec. 5th, 1776.
“ D’ Colonall: Last Evening We Rec“ Marching

orders, Which I must say is not Disagreeable to me
under ye° Sircumstances of y° times, for when I entr’d
into y° Service I Judged that if a necessity appeared

3 In February, 1777, Congress appropriated the sum of $20,000, “ to be
paid to 001. William Crawford for raising and equiping his regiment,
which is a part of the Virginia new levies.” It is not certain as to which
of the regiments raised by Crawford this hadoreference, but it appears to
have been the last one, the “ West Augusta Regiment.”

4 Journal, vol. i. pp. 411-19.

662

HISTORY or WASHI/NGTOIN co~UN:rY~, PENNSYLVANIA.

burg Academy, and studied theology with Rev. John

,McMillan, D.D. Hewas licensed: to preach the

gospel by the Presbytery of Ohio, Oct. 29, 1801.
“ From the time of his licensure until his settlement
as a pastor he labored as a home missionary in a very
large «field, embracing Jefferson, New Providence,
Meritstown, and other points.” From his memoran-
dum-book it appears that he was traveling and preach-

’ ing almost’ daily during the years 1802-3.

Mr. Dodd’s pastoral relation with this church was
dissolved April 15, 1817. “Thenceforward,” says

.Dr. Wines, “the two congregations became two

distinct bodies, with separate sessions, and each
independent of the other.” After his release from

this pastoral charge, Mr. Dodd made a short visit in

the West. On his return the congregation of Lower

‘Ten-Mile engaged him as a stated supply from the

10th of July, 1817. The congregation promised to
give him four hundred dollars a year, a11d to permit

him to pursue the practice of medicine in connection

with the works-of the gospel ministry. .
Sllortly aft3er*..;his; settlement as a pastor, Mr. Dodd
_wasinduced_to- engage-in the study of medicine, from
the want -of proper}. medical atten=:dance for his family.
At that time-he had. no intention of practicing as a
.regular.physician, but merely to fit ;himself‘to. prac-
tice in his own family.- But at the earnest solicita-
tions of his immediate neighbors he consented to
attend ‘upon their families. Becoming known as. an
excellent and skillful physician, his practice increased
until it became very extensive and laborious. He
may also have found it necessary to pursue the prac-
tice of medicine tosupply the deficiency in his salary.

But he did not engage in it from a hopeof gain ; for

it is a well-known fact that for much of his labors as a
physician he never ‘received any pecuniary reward.
VVhen  Dodd, became the stated supply of
Lower Ten-Mile congregation the number of ' its
communicants was sixty. The increase was gradual
until 1826, whenthe attendance in upon the means of
grace was increased, and during the year twenty.-five
were added to the church on profession of their
faith. This work continued five or six years,during
which time nearly two hundred were brought into
the church on profession of ‘faith. In 1831- the num-
ber of communicants was two hundred and eleven.
In the minutes of session, under date of November,

1833, are found the names of ‘forty-six members who-

had withdrawn from the church of Lower Ten-Mile,
and had united with the Cumberland.Presbyteri.an

,Church. A few of theseihad been prominent in the
church. ' One, Mr. Ephraim‘Cooper, had been for six

years a ruling elder. But there were added to the
church the same year seven on profession of their

faith, two of whom, Messrs. Thomas_ McFarland and .

J ohn'Buckingham, shortly afterwards became ruling
elders. _ 4   V , I

I On the ‘ 23d of September, 1838, Mr. Dodd gave
notice to the congregation that he had determined to

gation.

cease practicing medicine, and to devote. himself
wholly to the work of the gospel ministry. This an-
nouncementwas received with favor by the congre-
But two things interfered with Mr. Dodd’s
accomplishing his purpose: (1st) The-re continued
to be a deficiency in the salary, which must be sup-
plemented in some way; and (2d) so great was the
confidence of the people in Mr. Dodd’s skill as a
physician that while he was able to pay a visit many
would not send for any other. ' - - I

On the 16th of. April, 1844, thecongregation of I

Lower Ten-Mile .was ‘favored with -a meeting of
Washington Presbytery, which was followed by a re-
vival. Thirteen were-brought into the church, one
of whom, Mr. Charles P. French, afterwards entered

the gospel ministry. Mr. French labored for some 1

time in West Virginia, where, it is thought, “he

brought on consumption by preaching in the openjfair A

during the dreadful times of the war, after" his chiireli
was burned.” He struggled manfully againstlhis..dis'-
ease, but it was incurable, and on the 8th of February,
1870, he died near Ottawa, Ill. 7 '  * ‘

In the spring of 1851, Rev. James W. McKennan,
D.D., a professor in '.Washington College,- received

and accepted a call to become an -associate stated -

supply of this congregation. Dr. McKe—nnan was
.born in Washington, Pa., Sept. 2, 1804. After grad-
uating in Washington College in 1822 he-..pursued the
study of law, which profession he practiced for a
short time in Millersburg, Ohio.
having undergone a radical change on the subject of
religion, he was led to alter the purpose of life, and
to dedicate himself to thevwork of the gospel ,minis-
try. He. studied theology under the care of Rev.
John Anderson, D.D.,'was licensed‘ in 1828, and or-
dained in 1829. He continued to share the labors of
stated-«supply with Mr. .Dodd, each occupying the
pulpit one-half the time, a little more than three
years. During this time the church made» encour-
aging progress. In the winter of 1851-52 twenty-
eight were received into the church on examination.
After the resignation of Dr. McKennan in the sum-
mer of 1854 this church was dependent upon Mr.
Dodd and an occasional supplyobtained by the ses-

sion from abroad nearly one year and six months. 5

In the spring of 1855 a call was carried up to Pres-
bytery for the ministerial labors of Rev. Samuel H.
Jeffrey, -promising him five hundred dollars in_quar-
terly payments for the whole of his time. This call
was returned’ to the congregation, notvhaving been
placed in .Mr.'Jefi’rey'’s ‘ hands, owing to his engage-
ments with the’ congregations. of Waynesburg and
Unity, and for other reasons. _ ‘

On the 26th of April, 1856, Rev. ‘William P. Har-
vison was- installed pastor of this church by a com-
mittee of ~Washington Presbytery, consisting of Drs.
E. C. Wines and J. I. Brownson. Dr. Brownson
preached the sermon and presided, and Dr. Wines
delivered the charge to the pastor and people.

But his mind ‘

AMWELL 1-"owNsH1P.

Mr. Harvison’s ministry continued until April 5,
1861, when the pastoral relation was dissolved on
account of inadequate supportiand ill health, which
rendered him unable to perform the necessary amount
of pastoral labor. During his entire life he suffered
from feeble health and repeated attacks of ‘sickness.
He died at Shirland, Pa., Aug. 15, 1870. He was a
good student and a faithful preacher of the gospel
and pastor of the flock. In this church Mr. Harvi-
son’s ministry was eminently successful. Thirty-
nine were brought into the church on profession
‘during the first year, eleven in the second "year,
twenty-eight in the third year, and ten in the fourth.
With many of the congregation Mr. Harvison’s name
is still held in grateful remembrance. A It was during

. Mr. Harvison’s ministry that Mr. Dodd died at his
residence near Amity, Pa., Jan. 16, 1858. Mr. Har-

vison, in his “Commemorative Notice,” says of Mr.
Dodd, “He was most loved by those who knew him
best. His labors among the people of his charge
were greatly blessed of God, not only in promoting
the regular increase of the church, but several pre-
cious seasons of the special outpouring of the Holy
Spirit were enjoyed under his long and faithful min-
istry.” 9' A ' .

Rev. James Black,’ D.D., was Mr. Harvison’s suc-
cessor. He became the stated supply of this congre-

. gation in the springof 1861, and continued his labors

as such until Oct. 1, 1863. He also " supplied this

5church during the spring and summer of 1864.

During the winter of 1863-64, Rev. 'Wi11iam B.
Faris supplied this congregation. He was an emi-
nently conscientious, laborious, and useful man.
During his brief ministry here six were receivediinto
the‘ church on examination. Mr. Faris died at Ne-
oga, Ill., Nov. 5, 1871, aged thirty-seven years. This

"congregation were very desirous that Dr. Black con-

tinue his labors as stated supply, but failing in their
efforts to retain him longer than September, 1864,
the congregation invited "Rev. William I.'Brugh,
D.D., another professor in Washington College, to
become their stated supply for one year, promising
him five hundred dollars. Dr. Brugh accepted this

invitation, and began his labors on Oct. 1, 1864. By

a vote of the congregation at their annual meeting
in December his salary was increased to six hundred
dollars. » .

Rev. J. W. Hamilton was the next stated supply of
this congregation. He began to preach at Lower Ten-

’ Mile in October, 1865, and closed his labors there in

May, 1870. At the March communion in the latter

‘ year forty were received into the church. Connected

with the revival in this church in the spring of 1870
is the name of Rev. Jonathan Cross, who assisted Mr.
Hamilton a few days. Mr. Cross visited this church
again in the winter of 1871-72, and his name is still
cherished by many in this congregation. '

In September, 1870, Rev. J. C. Hench commenced
preaching to this people. He afterwards received

663

and accepted a call to become the pastor of this
church. He was installed on June 17, 1871. In the
installation services, Rev. J. S. Marques presided and
charged the pastor, and Rev. Henry Woods preached
the sermon and gave the charge to the people. Mr.

:Hench’s ministryiclosed in June,_ 1873. After his

release this church was vacant nearly one year, but
during this time its pulpit was frequently filled by
members of Presbytery. A

In March, 1874, the session of this church sent a

letter to the Rev. John S. Atkinson, who was then
ministering,to the. churches of VVayne and Chester,
near Wooster, Ohio, inviting him to their pulpit-one
week from the following Sabbath. He_was unable to
accept this invitation, but he afterwards came to
Amity, and preached his first sermon in the oldframe
church on Sabbath, May 24, 1874, from Rom. xv. 13.
In compliance with therequest of the congregation
he continued his labors, and was installed pastor by
a committee of Presbytery on October 4th. In the
installation services, Rev. S. M. Glenn preached the
sermon and gave the charge to the pastor, and Rev.
E. P. Lewis presided and delivered the charge to the
people. The Rev. John S. Atkinson resigned‘ Sept.
8, 1880. Since then the church has been served by
the Rev. Alexander C. Wilson, acting as a supply’.
Since 1817 five hundred and forty-four have been
received into this church on profession of their faith
in Christ. Three hundred and sixty—nine of these
were brought in during seasons of revival. The
present (1882) membership of 4 the church is one
hundred and fifty. -

In the sessional records of Lower Ten-Mile the
following names appear of men who served as ruling
elders, viz.: Demas Lindley, Jacob Cook,.Joseph
Coe, and Daniel ‘Axtell, who were chosen at the

organization of the church in 1781; William Mc- '

Farland and Stephen Cook, ordained in 1784; Stephen
Saunders, Joseph Lindley, John Carmichael, John
Smiley, and Abel .McFarland, ordained in 1795 or

_1796; Israel Dille,- Jonas Condit, Ziba Casterline,

and John Headley, ordained in 1805. At the time
of the separation the session of Lower Ten-Mile con-_
sisted of three members, viz.: William "McFarland,
Esq., John Smiley, and Jonas Condit. This number
was reduced by the death of Mr. McFarland on June
2, 1823. He was the son of Col. Daniel McFarland,
an oflicer in the Revolutionary war, and was born in
New Jersey, Dec. 19, 1756. He and his father united
with the church of Ten-Mil.e on examination during
intermission on that ever-memorable third Sabbath of
May, 1783, on which was the first administration of
the Lord’s Supper in the region of Ten-Mile. It was
a season of great solemnity and o_f special manifesta-

tion of the divine presence. Mr. Samuel Andrew was

added to the session in 1824; and Messrs. Ephraim
Cooper and Nathan Axtell on Nov. 5, 1826. In Sep-
tember, 1831, the session was called to part with its

664  

HISTORY or WASHINGTON COUNATY, PENNSYLVANIA.

senior member, Mr. John Smiley, who removed to the
State of Ohio. He had been a faithful and highly
esteemed ruling elder in this church for nearly forty
years. 3 _'  »

In '1832,~Mr. Samuel Andrew removed to Ohio,
where he served as ruling elder in the Presbyterian
Church of Bucyrus until his death in 1849. About
the time of Mr. .Andrew’s removal, Mr..Cooper united
with the Cumberland Presbyterians. This reduced

the session again to two members, viz.,. Messrs. Jonas

Condit and Nathan Axtell, In the autumn of 1837
the congregation agreed to go into an election of ‘six,
and as a result Messrs. William Patterson, James
McFarland, Luther Axtell, John Buckingham, James
Braden, and Thomas McFarland were chosen. They
were all ordained and installed on ‘Nov. 6, 1837, ex-
cept Mr. Thomas McFarland, who retained the call
until the next sumnier, His ordination occurred on
July 22, 1838. _ . _

Mr. Jonas—Condit died on July 17, 1850, in the
eighty-second year of his age and forty-fifth year of
his service as ruling, elder. . N onewas more faithful
or highly esteemed. His second wife was a daughter
of Rev. Thaddeus Dodd‘. In 1851,. Mr. John Mc-
Farland was added to the session.
ordained in the Presbyterian Church of Morgantown,

. W. Va., on Nov. 19,1848. Mr. Nathan Axtell died

on ‘May 23, 1852, in the seventy-ninth year of his
age and twenty-sixth year of his service as ruling
elder._ Mr. William Patterson died Oct. 13, 1856, in
the eighty-"second year, of ' his age and nineteenth
year. of his rule’ in the house of God. After his
death, in the composition of the session, one-half are
McFarlands,-James, and his brother Thomas and
son John. In 1858 this composition is changed by

_ the congregation selecting‘ three additional members,

viz., Messrs. Thomas J. Patterson, Robert Boyd, and
Daniel Condit, who were solemnly set apart on Sab-
bath, Sept. 12, 1858. Mr. Patterson removed to Illi-
nois in 1860, where he also served as a ruling elder.
He died near Streator, Ill., March 23, 1873. '
Mr. James McFarland died on Feb. 26, 1863, in the
eighty-third year of his age, and twenty-eighth year
of his oflice. He was the son of Mr. ‘William McFar-
land, a former member of this session. He was born
in Washin’gton{,County. A s
In 1868, Mr. Robert Boyd, having removed to Wash-
ington, transferred his connection to the Second Pres-
byterian Church of VVashington, Pa., in which he
afterwards Served as a ruling elder. Mr. Boyd died
Dec. 27, 1875. Mr. Luther Axtell died on Feb.' 8,
1868, in theeighty-fifth year of his age, and thirty-
first year of his service as a ruling elder. Mr. Axtell
was born in the State of New Jersey, and came with
his ‘father, when Six years old, to Washington County.
On Dec. 9, 1868, Messrs. Thaddeus Dodd, M.D.,
and Elias McCol1um were ordained and installed. In
1870, Mr. John McFarland‘ transferred his church-
membership to Upper Ten-Mile, where he served as

He had been

,be.in this house.
- two hundred and thirteen dollars and seventy cents.
In 1831. the congregation of Lower Ten-Mile began .
. the erection of their second house of worship ‘in

ruling elder until his ‘death, Feb. 18, 1878, in the sixty- .

ninth year of his age.. ,

Mr. Thomas McFarland died on March 7, 1871, in
the seventy-fourth year of his age, and thirty-third
year of his service as rulingelder. He bequeathed
one thousand dollars to the Lower Ten-Mile Church.
Mr. McFarland was soon followed to his reward by
his associate in oflice, Mr. James Braden, who died
May 1, 1871, in the eighty-fifth year of his age, and

thirty-fourth year of his oflice. On Dec. 30, 1872, L.
. Messrs. A. P. Vandyke, Samuel Braden, and J. N.

Horn were chosen. Mr. Braden removed, to Jefferson,
Pa., in the spring of 1877 , where he is now serving as
a ruling elder. _
Thaddeus Dodd, M.D., died on Aug. 25, 1877, in
the sixty-eighth year of his age, and ninth year of

his eldership. Dr. Dodd was a good physician, a man ,

of few words, but of much thought. He was the son
of Rev. Cephas Dodd.

It ‘thus appears that thirty-three persons have sus-
tained the office of ruling elder in this church since
its organization. Twenty—one of these have served
since the ,separation of Upperand. Lower Ten-Mile

congregations. The remarkable longevity of all who?

have "died; in the ofliceh_er.e is worthy of note. The

-youngest was Dr. Dodd,,who, was in his sixty-eighth

year. ,  , '

The firsthouse of worship was erected in the sum-
mer of 1785,.on the premises of Mr. Cook. It was
built of,’he—,w.n logs. It was repaired considerably in
1809,. In 1825 the congregation of Lower Ten-Mile
built of brick a house of worship on the farm of Mr.
Jonas Condit, about five miles northwest from Amity.
It was long known as the “brick meeting-house.”
After Nov. 10, 1825, by request of the ‘congregation,
Mr. Dodd preachedone-half of his time in this house
until 1844, when alresolution was adopted by the
congregation that two-thirds of his time be occupied
in Amity and one-third in this house. In 1852, Dr.
Kennan was requested‘ that one-half of his services
In 1871 this housewas sold for

Amity, some ten or fifteen feet north of the old
house. It was built of brick, fifty-five feet long by
fifty feet wide, and cost about one thousand dollars.
It was not completed until the spring of 1832. On‘
the evening of Feb. 4, 1842, one gable of this house
was blown in. A meeting of the congregation was

immediately called, and arrangements made for erect- '

ing theirithird house of worship in Amity. This
was a frame filled in with brick, and was fifty-five
feet long by forty-five feet wide‘. It cost about thir-
teen hundred dollars. During the erection ‘of’ this
house the congregation of Lower Ten-Mile worshiped
in the Methodist Protestant Church of Amity.

I ‘A The present house of ‘ worship‘ was erected in 1875,

~Th'omas Ringland, and William Patterson.

AMWELL; TOWNSHIP.

a few feet northwest of the last house, at a cost of
about five thousand three hundred dollars. ' It is.a

brick edifice, fifty-seven feet long by forty-five wide, '

with a vestibule in addition. On Dec. 30, 1875, this
house was dedicated. The sermon was preached by
Rev. John Gillespie,'D.D., from 2 Chronicles vi. 41,
after which the dedicatory prayer was offered by the

’ pastor, Rev. John S. Atkinson. Rev. J . F. Dyer, of

the Methodist Church, and Rev. S. M. Glenn, pastor

of Upper Ten-Mile "congregation, were present, and"

participated in ' the exercises.

The trustees serving in this congregation in 1817,

when Upper and Lower Ten-Mile became each inde-

pendent of the other, were Messrs. John Carter,
Since
then sixty-one persons in all have served the church
in this responsible position. 1

Mr. James Ringland served in this oflice thirteen
years; Messrs. Daniel McCollum, Sr., and Caleb "Mc-
Collum, each twelve years; Mr. William Patterson,
Sr., eleven years; Dr. S. S. Strouse, ten years; Messrs.
Joseph Evans-,.James Millikin, Silas Clark, and An-
drew P. Vandyke, each seven years; Mr. James Bra-

‘ den, six years; Messrs. Zachariah Sharp, Sr., John

Millikin, Robert Boyd, and Isaac-Horn, each five
years.‘ Those serving a less number of‘years are:

.Messrs. John Carter, Thomas Ringland, Ephraim

Cooper, Stephen Corwin, William Lindsley, Samuel
Andrews, VV,il’liam S. Millikin, Daniel Cooper, Isaac

- Clark, Martin Clark, John Mullen, Ezekiel Clark,'Asa

Luellen, Jacob A. Saunders, Nehemiah Baldwin, John
Buckingham, Thomas McFarland, -Luther Axtell,
Reason Luellen, Samuel Johnston, John McFarland,
Daniel Cary, Adam Weir, Sr., John Saunders, Lemuel
Luellen, George French, Daniel Condit, Jacob Braden,
ames B. Montgomery, Samuel Condit, T. J. Patterson,
Jesse Jordan, Samuel Braden, William Luellen, James
F. Dodd, Milton Clutter, B. B. Bradbury, Nels_on Mc-
Collum, L. F. Pershing, Wil1iam"Hazlet, John John-
st-on, Workman Hughes, Zachariah Sharp, J r., Henry
VV. Horn, David B. Baker, Edward Depue, and Hiram
Tharp. I

. Postmasters.—Fo11owing is a list of postmasters at
Amity village, viz. ’: Ziba Cook, Z. Sharpe, Jesse Jor-
dan, J. N. Ringland, J. B. McDonald, James Hughes,
Mrs. E. J . Bebout, James A. Jackson, M. Sharpe, D.

l E. Baker, James M. Hughes.

Physicians.-——The first to practice medicine in the
village was the Rev. Cephas Dodd, who practiced all
his life and died Jan. 16,1858. The next physician
was Dr. S. T. Strouse. He studied medicine with
Dr. J . Letherman, of Canonsburg, and in 1832 prac-_
ticed ‘in Pittsburgh, and May 10, 1833, cameto Am-
ity; married Jane, daughter of the Rev. Cephas Dodd,
and settled there in practice, which he continued till
1879, when he retired from active duty. Dr. Thad-
deus Dodd, a son, of the Rev. Cephas Dodd,“studied

with his father,-and later attended the medical col-
lege at Cincinnati, where he graduated, after which
he commenced practice at Amity, and continued till
his death Aug. 25, 1877, aged sixty-eight years. He
left a son, William S. Dodd, who studied with his
father, graduated at Cincinnati Medical College, and
succeeded to his father’s practice. Dr. W. W. Sharpe,
a_ regular physician, practiced in different places, came
to Amity about 1855, opened an office, and is still in
active practice. I
practitioner in the town. _ V — -

Clarktown, or Ten-Mile Village.—The tract upon
which this town is situated was called “ The Mill-Site.”
The town was named in honor of Abner Clark. The
first lots sold are now occupied by the brick building
in which the post-oflice is located. In 1834, Freeman
Hathaway erected a grist-mill. 1 In 1838 a post-oflice
was established at this place and named Ten-Mile.
Freeman Hathaway was ; appointed postmaster.
About 1840, Dr. George Reed, a physician, located
here and commenced practice. The village has at
present fourteen dwellings, two stores, two black-
smith-shops, cabinet-maker, grist- and saw-mill,——
owned by Huffman & Swart,—-harness-maker, drug-
store and post-office, and two physicians,——Dr. J . W.
Moore and Dr. L. W. Braden. A Masonic lodge was
organized at this place several years ago, but was dis-
continued in 1876. A . .

A grist- and saw-mill is located up the creek, owned
by Walton Swart. Two miles below"-the village on
the creek is a grist- and saw-mill and store owned by
Martin & Sons. The post-office is kept at this place.

"The postmasters of Ten-Mile have been J . F. Hath-

away, John Cary, Philip Axtell, Benjamin Bradbury,
A. B. Scott, Joseph A. Little, Hiram Tharp, John T.
Reynolds, and T. C. Gessford, who is the present post-
master. -

The following-named physicians have practiced at
Ten-Mile‘, viz.: Drs. George Reed, John Cary, ‘
Wilson, George Lewis, Thomas Morton, ‘J’. C. Milli-
ken, Joseph Moore, L. W. Braden. ,

Lone Pine.——This little village, located on the
north fork of -Ten-Mile Creek, is variously ‘known
as Lone Pine, Pleasant Valley, and “ Pin"Hook.”
The tract of land on which it is situated was obtained
by Thomas Hill on a Virginia certificate granted Jan.
20, 1780, and surveyed as “ Bottom Lick,” containing
four hundred acres. It passed through several hands,
and while in possession of David Frazee the town was
laid .out. John Harrison erected the first house, which
is still standing, and now the property of Jacob Max-
well. Joseph Ross erected the next one, now the

 

property of James D. Huston.. In ‘his dwelling he 5

opened the first store in the village. James D. Hus-
ton was the first postmaster, and the only one. The
name of Lone Pinewas given to the post-oflice. A
distillery was erected near the village by A. J . Caton
about 1865, and carried on by him till his death. It
was then sold (Sept. 15, 1869) to Samuel L. Hughes

665

Dr. B. F. Lindley has also been a '

  666

HISTORY. OF WASHINGTON" COUNT VY, PENNSYLVANIA.

and Peter Garrett. The former sold his interest to
G-arrett, by whom it was run for a" time and was dis-
continued. The building is new used as a dwelling-
house. 6

A In the fall of 1878 the friends of education in the
village formed a stock company for the purpose of

establishing an academy to be called the “ Lone Pine
Academy.” School was opened soon‘ after the or-
ganization in Huston’s Hall.‘ During the next year
a building was erected, and the upper "room was and

is used for this .purpose,.and the lower room for the 4

public school of the village. The oflicers of the

.academy are James D. Huston, president; James A.

Monniger, secretary ;' John A. Frazee, Robert C. Van-
degrift, and Frederick Rossel, directors. J. H. Hen-
derson was chosen principal at the opening of the
academy, and is still in charge. ,

The village at presentcontains _forty dwellings, the
school building, Disciple’Church, steam grist- and
saw-m_ill, two ‘stores, three blacksmith- and «wagon-
shops, an Odd-Fellows’ Lodge, and one physician.

The only society in the village is Lone Pine Lodge,
No. 693, I. O. O. F. It was chartered in March, 1870,
with the following oflicers and charter members:
James ‘D. Huston, Noble Grand ; Isaac H. Horn,
Vice-Grand; Samuel Walton, Secretary; "John Sib-

bet, Treasurer; William VV. Paul, John Closser, Wil- I

liam Briggs,lJames M. Sibbet, Samuel Sharp, George
Huffman, Henry Hanrond, Isaac Husk, Thomas Reed,
and A. J. R-iggle. ‘The lodge has at present twelve
members. 7

Pleasant Valley Christian Church.‘——When the
house of worship of the Ridge Baptist Church was
built, John Frederick Shrontz, Sr., a faithful disciple

. of Christ, proposed to give fifty dollars to the build-

ing-fund, on condition that he should“ have the privi-
lege of using the house occasionally for preaching
When the Baptists were not using it. This condition
was agreed to in a church meeting, and the fifty dol-
larswas paid. In the exercise of the right thus
granted to him, John T. Smith, a Disciple preacher
of good ability-and of genuine piety, who lived at
that time on Pigeon Creek, was employed to preach
once a month. The gospel proclaimed by him was
“like unto leaven, which a woman took and hid in
three measures of meal.” “ The word of God, which
effectually works in them that believe,” worked.in
the hearts of his hearers, and prepared them for the
advent of two preachers from the State of Ohio, who
came in November, 1840.‘ They were the saintly
Marcus Bosworth and the youthful and zealous Ly-
man P. Streator. They preached in the Ridge Bap-
tist’Church, and after holdingseveral meetings»-in
VVashington and adjacent counties, Marcus.Boswortl1
returned to Ohio, and left the young L. P. Streator to

A labor in the neighborhood into which he had been thus

»

introduced.

'  1: By? Rev. W : L.“ Hayden.

By_ agreement, he was to preach in the Ridge
meeting-house once a month for a year for fifty dol-
lars. In the following spring and summer crowds
attended the ministrations of the young evangelist,
and ‘under his labors several persons “confessed the
good confession before many witnesses.” Some of
the good Baptist brethren united with these immersed

believers, who were known by the humble name of '
.Disciples of Christ in their weekly commemoration-

of the death of their common Saviour.

A This communion of saints regardless of party tenets
aroused the jealous fears of some of the stricter
Baptists, who resolved to turn the Disciples out of
the house.
youthful preacher came to fill his ‘appointment, he

found the congregation assembled outside of the
house, the door was locked, and a guard was standing
between the waiting assembly and the empty sanctu-

ary.

The little company of Disciples quietly gave up

their rights under the agreement that was made when
« the house was built, and formally planted the Chris-

tian Church at Pleasant Valley by subscribing to at

church covenant at a meeting held for the purpose on

the 16th day of October, 1841, at the house of J ohn’ I

Frederick Sh‘rontz, Sr. The names subscribed are

Simeon Hathaway, J. Frederick Shrontz, Sr., Sarah fl
Shrontz, Jacob Egy, David. Egy, Mary Egy, Albertf
Gordon, Anna Young, Christiana Cooper, Sarah Hat-I "

field.

gregation.

In order to remove an erroneous impression it is

well here to remark that the expression “the Scrip-

tures of divine truth” means, with the Disciples, the’
“old family Bible,” or, more specifically, relating to’
the Christian dispensation, the New Testament of our '

Lord Jesus Christ. While they accept the aid of the
best scholarship in ascertaining, the mind of Christ,
and rejoice in the electric light of the highest‘ criti-

cism, and have always been thefriends of pure ver- -
sions, they have used the commonly received versioni
in their public ministrations. - -

At first the meetings on Lord’s Day were held at the
private residences of J. Frederick Shrontz, Sr., Zebu-
lon Ferrel, and Jacob Egy. Very soon, however, the

young church began to prepare for housekeeping, and . - I
in the fall of 1843 a comfortable frame meeting-house"

was built on land then owned by David Slusher.

On. March 30, 1844, Mr. Slusher made a deed of it
“eighty-nine and eight-tenths perches, strict meas-"

ure,” of land to Col. David Frazee ' ‘and Zebulon
Ferrel, trustees of the Disciples’, meeting-housethere-
on erected, “ to have and to hold the same for the use
«and benefit of said Disciples’ Church, excepting the
. third Week in each month, for the proper useof other

persons who may have contributed to the building of ,

said meeting-house.”

Accordingly, in October, 1841, when the

On the next day’ David Smith and Elizabeth Smith
were received by the unanimous consent of the con-‘

AMWELL‘ TOWNSHIP.

.Z_—..:.

667

The earliest record of organization is on -J an. 27,
1844, when there was a meeting for the purpose of
choosing oflicers in the church. J. F. Shrontz, Sr.,
and Zebulon Ferrel were chosen deacons, and set
apart to that office .by the imposition of hands.

. Henry Bennett was chosen as a teacher, both in the
V congregation and Wherever he may have an oppor-

tunity or be called to preach the word, and was set
apart in like manner, L. P. Streator ofliciating on the
occasion. » » — - ‘ V

The earliest ‘record of elders is Dec. 15, 1850, when
Col. David ‘Frazee and G. B. Shidler were appointed
to that oflice.

On April 8, 1857, David Frazee, Sr., and David
Slusher gave a deed “ to the Christian Church, com-

posed of the Disciples of Christ meeting at Pleasant

Valley, in'Amwell township, Washington County,

for and in consideration of one dollar, of three acres,’
strict measure,” of land, to be held sacred to the con-‘

struction of acemetery and the erection of a meeting-
house, and for no other purpose. _ = -

Thetrustees of the church, viz. : -David Frazee, Sr.,
David Slusher, and Samuel L. Hughes, on Feb. 22,
1859, filed. a petition for incorporation agreeably to

the provisions of the act of Assembly of the 13th of-

October, 1840, and after due notice thereof was given
the final decree of court was issued May 17, 1859,

-incorporating the members of this church into one

body politic by the name and titleof the “ Disciples’
Church of Pleasant Valley.” _ * ‘

» For more than twenty-five years, “upon the first
day of the week,” “the disciples came» together to
break bread” in their first house of worship in this
valley. But the‘ growing congregations became too

large for the small house, and in pursuanceof duly

authorized call, a meeting of church-members and
citizens was held on March 7, 1868, when it was unan-

* imously voted to build a new meeting.-house-on the

lot opposite the cemetery, thepresentvsite, which

was then owned by David Frazee, Sr.‘ He immedi-

ately pledged himself, his heirs, executors, etc., to
make a good title to said lot as soon as the house was
finished. Accordingly,the deed was given to the Dis-
ciples’ Church of Pleasant Valley on Oct. 13, A.D.
1869, for and in consideration of the sum of ten dol-
lars. ’ L
A_\committee of five of the subscribers to the build-
ing fund was chosenb-y ballot to determine the size,
form, and style of the building, and was constituted
a building committee, with instructions to begin the
erection of the house when five thousand dollars

were subscribed. David Slusher, L." P. Streator, A. '

J. Closser, J. M.’ Ross, and Samuel ‘L. Hughes were
said committee-’ By order of -this meeting the old
housewas disposed of at public sale.

. 7 Christianity develops and elevates. the highest fac-

ulties of human nature, and consecrates them to the
service of God, that the man of 7 God» may be -‘r‘ thor-

(

oughly furnished unto all good works,” hence schools
are the legitimate fruit of the gospel. The members
of the Pleasant Valley Christian Church wished to
provide proper educational advantages in their own
vicinity for their children and their‘ neighbors’ chil-
dren. The church led the way, and the citizens of
the place heartily united in theenterprise.

The Court of Common Pleas of Washington County,

Pa., on Nov. 26, 1853, granted the application for ac. *
, charter and issued decree and declared‘ David Frazee,
Sr., Philo Paul, Samuel L..Hughes, David Bane,

David Slusher, David McElhinny, David McDon-
ough, Lyman P. Streator, Edward Riggs, and such
other persons as may be associated with them‘ a
body corporate and politic by the name and title of
“ Pleasant Valley Academy-.”

A deed Was given by Col. David Frazee, dated May

20, 1854, to the directors of the academy, for and in’

consideration of one-hundred and thirteen dollars

and seventy-five cents, of “one acre and twenty-one

perches, strict measure,” of land for the only and
proper use of said company. ‘

A suitable building was erected, and the grounds

were ‘improved at an aggregate cost of two thousand

and fifty-one dollars and seventy-five cents,——no small ‘

sum to be raised at that timein a rural district. The
first trustees elected under the charter, J une‘2‘7 , 1855,

were the following: For three years, Col. David‘
Frazee, Philo Paul, and Samuel L-. Hughes; for two‘

years, David Frazee, Sr., Thomas J. Bees, and David
Bane; for one year, L. P. Streator, Joseph ‘Moore,

and Asher Vankirk. L. P. Streator was electedprin-_'

cipal of the academy at the beginning, and for five
years he had charge of the institution. By his untir-
ing efforts as a teacher andya member of the board of
trustees he raised the academy to a high degree" of
efficiency, and made it self-supporting. It became
an intellectual power and a centre of a large circle of

"influence; He was succeeded in the principalship
by the lamented‘ Philip Galley, William S. Spear,

and J. L. Darsie, under whose successive administra-
tions the school was well sustained. But owing to

some unfavorable changes inits surroundings, the 
academy was closed in January, 1871, and the build- a

ing was sold. 1 _
The spirit of education survived the academy, and

in 1875 the schoolwas in some measure revived by.

J. H. Hendron, who won his way to public favor by
his efficient labors, and continues to hold the ‘confi-
dence of the community as a successful educator and
a godly man. I A

The fact has already been stated that L. P. Streator,

was preachihg for this church at its formation. He"
was not only first in order of time,-but he is the first in
the aggregate length of time and in amount of preach-
ing done. He was highly esteemed by the church and
community. After him there have been regularly

employed by the church J. B. Piatt, Hamilton Van- '
kirk, Robert Milligan, Henry'Langly, Henry Bennett, "

668

HISTORY or WASHINGTON COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA.

R-. Baily Chaplin,»James Darsie, Philip Galley, Fin.-
ley Oakes, S. B. Teagarden, J. L. Darsie, F. M. Haw-
kins, A. F. Reynolds, William S. Spear, S. F. Fowler,
R. Gardner, Campbell Jobes, P. ‘M. Woods, J -. H.
Hendron, and J . W. Satterfield. Twenty preachers
in forty years, an average time of two years for each
engagement, is painfully suggestive of instability on
the part of the church orthe preachers, or of un-
scriptural notions with regard to the regular support
of an approved ministry. ’

Beside these the following named have labored here
in-meetings of days, some of ' whom have been called
twice or thrice for such special work, viz.: Williain
F. Pool, J . H. Jones, Richard Williams, John Lind-
sey, F. B. Lobingier, J . D. Benedict, D. G. Mitchell,

George Lucy, John Whitaker, T. C. McKeever, A.

Wilcox, J . B. Crane, Benjamin Franklin,-O. G. Hert-
zog, T. A. Crenshaw, M. L. Streator, D. L. Kincaid,
J . F. Rowe, and H. B. Cox. On occasions of general
meetings this church has been favored with the pres-
ence and the preaching of A. Campbell, Wesley
Lanphear, W. K. Pendleton, and perhaps others less
noted. ~ ‘

It is worthy of special mention that, under the
' auspices of this church, M. L. Streator did good ser-

vice for evangelical truth in an able defense of the
Bible against materialism. In a debate with a Mr.
Niles, a representative of materialistic philosophy,
he set forth the spiritual teaching of the word of God
with great clearness and force, and won such a signal

victory thatthe cause of his opponent has never ral- ‘

lied from the defeat. V

While this church gratefully cherishes the fragrant

memory of the many pure and able men of God who
have spoken to them the word of the Lord, historical
truth‘ demands the humiliating confession that the
cause of Christ here, as in some other places in the
county,_ has suffered much from the evil example of
some preachers who have proven unworthy of their
holy calling, some of -whom thrust themselves upon
an unsuspecting brotherhood without authority to
preach or any just claim to public confidence. ‘Never-
theless this church has steadily held on its «course, and
received into its fellowship up to this date six hun-
dred and fifty-two members, but, to quote from the
records of the congregation, “many persons whose
names are recorded have departed, some to that coun-
try whence no traveler returns, some to distant parts
of the land, and some to the weak and beggarly ele-
ments of the world.” Hence the roll has been re-
peatedly revised, and the present membership is about
two hundred and sixty! _ A

The responsible oflice of elder has been held by
Col. David Frazee, G. B. Shidler, J . F. Shrontz, Sr.,
Alfred Grim, Jacob Stone, Samuel Loyd, J . F. Ferrel,

David ‘Frazee, Sr., P. M. Woods, and F. T. Shrontz,

of whom the last -three named constitute the present
eldership. In addition’ to the primary deacons al-
ready mentioned, David Slusher, Alfred Grim, Jacob

Egy, O.‘F. Lyon, 0. Moninger, Theo. Vankirk, John
Lynn,_and J. H. Hendron have served as deacons,
the last four of whom constitute the present'deacon-
ate. ’ A‘ ’ V ' «

From this church at least seven preachers have V ‘

gone forth into the evangelical field, viz.: Thomas
Sutton (deceased), R. Gardner, M‘. L. and J. M.
Streator, P. M. Woods, H. B. Cox, and Herbert Horn,
while the sainted Philip.Galley and L. S. Brown
were in part the product of the Pleasant, Valley
Academy. At first the Sunday-school work‘ met with
some opposition, which was exhibited. by send_ing
anonymous letters to David Frazee, Sr., the first su-
perintendent. But this church has since manifested
a lively “interest in the Sunday-school cause, and
brought .out an unusual. number of workers in that

‘department of church activity. Thirteen members of

this congregation have been called at different times
to the superintendency. Their names are David

Frazee, Sr., T. H. Vankirk, S. T..Dodd, Workman.
Hughes, Jr., Hamilton Riggle, P. M. Woods-, John.

Shipe, o. F. Lyon, D. H.cLewis, W. W. ,Pa_ul,.Her-
bert _Horn,4D. M. Frazee, and O. Moninger. The last
named is at‘ present assisted by eight teachers, who

have under their religious instruction, more or less of - A

the year, near one hundred and sixty pupils.

The church has recently enjoyed_ a powerful
awakening in religious interest, during which ‘over
sixty persons were received into fellowship. _

It has a firm hold on the people in that locality,
and‘ the practical recognit-ionpof the apostolic princi-

. ples of Christian onenesS,——“ endeavoring to keep the

unity of the Spirit in the bondof peac’e,”—and the
provision for itself of pastoral oversight and instruc-
tion commensurate with its means andthe necessities
of the present age, will insure for it a high degree of
prosperitypand increasing usefulnessfor many years
to come. ‘ . ‘

Bane TOWn.——This hamlet contains seven dwell-

ings, a store, post-office, wagon-shop, two blacksmith-

shops, and a station of the Washington and VVaynes-
burg Railroad. It was originally the property of the
Banes, and the old Bane fulling-mill and grist-mill

were located here. - The last vestiges of their.founda- .

tions were removed two years ago. A fulling-mill

and horse grist-millwere erected under the same roof

about 1790, by Nathan Bane, on thelittle creekvcalled
Bane’s Fork of Ten-Mile Creek. — On the 22d of Sep-

tember, 1796, Gordon Douglass advertised in the

I/Vestern Telegrap/ze, published at Washington, “ That
he means to carry on the fulling business in all its

various branches at Nathan Bane’s fulling-mill, on A

the Middle Fork -of Ten-Mile Creek.” It was in op-
eration for many years. The property on which the
mill was located is now owned by Nathaniel Bane and

“Cyrus Maloy.

‘North lTen-Mile Baptist Ghurch.——The families
of the Ban_es and others settled on-the waters of Ten-

MileCreek in 1768 were Baptists from Virginia and"

 A”)I.WELL/ '.l."O.WN SHIP. 

669

desicéndatitsiof such. The families of’ Sutton and
others settleda little later in what is now Fayette
County. Several of the Suttons-were Baptist min-
isters,» and a church called Great Bethelwas organized
by them at what is. now Uniontown in 1770. Two
years later (.1772): a church was. constituted in the
Bane settlement, in*Amwell township, at the house of

Enoch Enochs, where Charles Rossel nowlives. -:.The”

minutes of the early years are still in eXi.stence,.a-nd:
from -them are taken‘ the quotations given below.
The record of the first meeting is illegible and. can-.:
_I;_,1otbe,mad—e out. It proceeds: «, , X A

“ December 1st‘, 1773. The church met on business the first time at
Enoch Enoc'hs’,’ and after Solemn Prayer Prdceeded. Mltde" choice of’
Samuel Parklturst, Clerk.    _l   "  " V ‘ i ‘ p  "

‘l‘JFeb’y' 4tli,f1774.‘ The ‘cliurchb met on‘ btisi"ness* at Broth’,e.r,David

O Inochs’, and after Solemn Prayer Proceleded zlst, chose Brother Issachar’

Iluntiugton Deacon; 2d, chose‘ Alexander-' Keith to supply the place of‘
a Clerk‘ to Raise the‘Psa.lm Tune ;' 3d, chbsé Brother James Sutton, and
lleceived him as our -Minister‘; 4th, apploi:5nted"‘the' Friday before the
first'Sabbath in next March to‘ be a meeting of‘ Church businébss, and
the Saturday following td -be ‘a dayof 'Fa‘sti‘ng, the Sabbatlrto be  Com-
munion with,us. ' . , _ ‘ , . ‘ "V ,

“ Before our next appointed Communion the Cltttrcli béin g ‘scattered,
on Account of “ the Indians, so ltllttt we could“ not attend in’ any Church-
order untill the next fall,.Brother.Sutton. moved over. the mou_ntains,..
and Returned to‘us't.he.next October. , ' ' ‘ "

“ November 31 st, 1774. The Church met a,t,Josepli lBan,e’slto:Consu'lt:,

the wellfare of ‘Zion’, and after Solemn’ Prayer conclude tol,“‘app'oi‘nt‘libel
last Lord’s'day innext April to attend the Cotn1nu‘tiio"t1i" or. "the. Supper-‘I
at»Enoch Enoch’s, The Saturday before preparatory,” ' “ ’ “ ,  ‘T .

«The record shows that ‘on’ atlievs13tli:lit‘-ot"‘.;()bltdbe“r,'i

.1775, RobertBennet was receiv‘edb5by’letter,"a?lso:"Jloh‘ri
Buckingham» on the‘..16=th of February’, ~‘17_¢7s6,,-5 and
  Cheniah‘ Covalt and Ciinfer, A. Bennet on the ;15t1h‘f  
February, 1777. Thenext entry fou€nd"is'as fo’ll‘ow-,s”‘:‘5

' “ At our meeting June .16, 1781. gave. our lilinisteringy Broltlieir,“J:olin'_'
Corbley, an invitation to attend with us statedly in7tlte 1 ’a,dn1i'nis'trati_0t17°
of the word and thelordinancesof the Gospel..." 5 . : ' ._  1 .; V "

A “ About the first of May,,1783, our ministering Brother, Da'\'id\r;Sll'tt,0Il,;,_
made us a visit from the Jerseys,‘and the church gave him an .in,vlit_a,-,
tion to come and settle amongst us which he accepted,and the next fall 1’
he moved out here with his family. [M r..- Sutton remained as pastel‘ till‘-
his death in 1812. ‘At that time he resided in West.Betlileheni,.]‘ C, 1

‘F March-»l8, 1786. At our meeting of Business agreed that ,the,meet-
ing-house be finished by a levion each Ratable Estate,’ lilrotliieii John
Buckingham and David Enoch to have the obv-ersiglit thereof.’,.’~

8' The first meeting—house was built in 1786.‘ It wbasi!
of logs, and was used until 1794. On the l:O,th,.,of..
May in that year. Samuel Parkhurst, atrustee Ofl3h2ev
society, purchased twenty,-one acres and twenty,
perchesof land for £2 53. of Daniel ,McFarland. It,
was situated on the waters of Ten-Mile, on the tract‘
o_f.la,nd called, in the survey “Big Rocks.” On this;
land the society built a hewed log house, which was
occupiedlmany years. The society about 1840 built
the present brick meeting-liouse,, and on the 1st/of
July, 1842, Philip Axtell, John Bane, Lewis Ketchum,
acting deacons, purchased one acre and one hundred
and thirty'—one perches of land, in consi’d‘erat,io‘n "of
twelve and a half cents, of Jacob Bane. ,Th_e.»deed-
bears date July 1, 1842, and says “on which noiw
stands thenew brick meeting-house.” ‘The land on
which it stands was warran',t_ed,_,to_Nathail Ba}1e_iI1:

43

1 he received so muchof the divine nat-ureas was suflicient‘-to actuate ll‘-is:

O 1786, and is‘ pzirtof ;1a tiractvof »three‘hundred.andv

four acres known as “ Bane’.s_, Fancy.” _ _ . _ , g,__ ,
The pastors from‘ the first, connected with the_

church as far as can be ascertained, have been as

follows :‘ James ‘Sutton, Feb. 4, 1774-80; John Clor‘-,’

i;1y,. June 16, 1781783,; David.’ Sutton, May 1,1783,
. till his death in 1812. From this time till 1836.. the:

records‘ are lost, and? nothing positive can be ascer-

tained. In that year‘ the Rev; A. B.‘ Bowman be-, ‘

came the pastor,~ and served until 1839, when he
resigned, and Levi‘ Griflith was called, accepted, and?
ministered‘to'them till‘i1842, when F. Downey suc‘-"
ceeded him, and served four years. His successbrs,
were William Whitehead,~S. Kendall, ’ -Lenningr,
T. C. Gunford, '\Vinfield Scott’, B; P. ,Ferguso1i,"._I_.:
Boyd,‘\V. ‘Skinner,’ C.  vTil‘ton,.an,d_’,J." Miller,,,:
who istli-e present pastor. - . . . ' A : 
-=Tliis church was.-the' first o-ne--ofany denomination?

 

’0rg.anized in VV=»s11ingt9n00un.tx- - moeeamein 
one of the con.st,it_u-ent, tnembetrsof the Redfstone 'A$?!‘

sociation. The minutes of that body .for the early-5
years were never publ;ishe_d,_ and as ‘th,ey'-were,-found
in this sectionit is thought,_ proper in .t;he,his.tory of,
this first cl,1urch_to';‘giv.e;, quotations from them. -.S,e;v._-,1

eral of the churches». here _rnentio_ned are not n_owi'in

existence, and. _ little. knowledgei . of A them hasfibeene
“ 3' Book’v.A’.§..l\lli)nutesof the" Annual Asso'ciation‘of the 13aiptist‘Churcliés;_
west of the Laurel Hill, called the Redstone. Association. ’  V  I  El
 Met i_n__Annual Asso’ciat__i_on.'at-fffipslien, west of the ‘Laurel Hill‘, Oct.
7,, 17376, the follo.w_ing messengers i'ron1,_the several churches, viz.:_ H ,F
"“l. ’Gl‘é'ttt Bethel;1'—.'Isa.'a‘c ‘Su_tton','Ja'_mes. 1\Ic'Coy',' and Elijah Barclay.‘

. 2;.zG¢s1ign.+.—=Jo'1m Corbly, John: Gerrard',.and.i Jacob rVantrietr‘e5.'.«:  ’1'.en'-1

Mi,le.,,»-.[a;,1i;es_" Sutton‘',.''David , Epooli_, and Robert Bentiett. 4.. Turkey?

\

‘Foot.-¢1—Isaac-Morri,s.“__ 5. Pike Ruu.—-‘William Wood and Dav»id'Rub1e.

6, =4Yo”ug1i.;-_.‘s,arn:i¢‘-1" L’ual len”aml Job 11 ‘McFarland. " A
-7’:?‘Ist; ";l3h'e iintroductvory»serniou \va‘s,'preac‘l1ed'liy'1\Ir. James Sutton‘
from these words, ‘The Angel of the Church,’ Rev.‘ii. 1, whe'rein'th-e—,
duty of n1,f,'§$.€?r_IJ.ger_..\,\_'as, pleat'ly _ex-,1;-i,b,i_t,.ed. 2d. Proceeded to business.
Br5the'r JolitilCorbl’y"\’vas cliosen "moderator, and William ‘Wood-clerk.
35.‘. L ‘. 4th. A”req'u'e‘st‘fro'tn‘ Cross Ci'ee'k"to1' the constitution of a"'chnrch;
grantedgiandi Brothejrs Joint Cnorb-I y and William Wood appointed to of-.
ticiate in constituting the said church. Query. In what state did.Adam_
stand in Paradise, whether he_partook of the Divine nature in his crlea-"I
tion ’or.:.n6-‘t... ‘ it  " 8' O ," T, . 15*    “ - ': .7 J. . r ‘ I. . ’

“ Answer- Adam. was created. in ah upright State’, but "that he patjtookf
of thedivvinernature as the essence of God,.we cannot suppose only‘ tl1a_t5
righteous soul t_hereb"y..”  . - . . . . »

..,.“ 1\Iet. in.Annual..Association at "Great" Bethel, Monongalia Co.,.Va.é

[now in Fayette County, Pa.], Oct.€.13, 1777, .the =following men1.bers«:”ot‘I

' the several churches, viz. :.Great Bethel,sIsaac~ Sutton, Philip Jen.l;‘in’s;

Goshen ;:'1‘urkey Foot, Rit-hard -Hall, Henry Abrams; Pike Run; Will.ia.t‘n3
Wood, James Rogers, Morris Brundy K;:,Fo"rks of. Ch-eat, SamI1el:Luallen ;.

,Y'o’u'gh; _;’l‘en~Mile; Simpson C'reelg, . William Davis, Dana. Edwards;;'

Georges Creek, Josepli Ba’rnet, Peter Jones; ‘Cross Creek, Willia-m.:
Taylor.”. V ' . O ‘ " ‘

I

v “ At a meeting of » the 'Association- on. the.2d, 3d, and 4th'of_ October,

1780 (place. not. gi.ven)'. The number of members-V-inv the different:
churches. were given as follows: Great Bethel,.49v; Ten-.Mile,.9<;; You-gh;.

l,—'
‘ 1:

1 -1. Great Bethel was at Uniontown, Fayette Co. 2. Goshen, in Greene
County. 3. Ten-Mile, at Bane’s, in A‘mw'cl1-ltownsliip, Washingtonico.
4. Turkey Foot,at-V Confluence, Somerset? Co. 5. Pike Run, itt3V:tne\fille,,
Somerset totvnship, Washington Co. ,6. Tough, organizedin 1773,, afiter-_
wards became the,PétérS ‘Creek Church, ‘now'at’Libra'ry, ”A1legl.t"exiyl"
Counm. .. . ..-.. ..  '; .. ..  ;.  ‘   2. .

.

670

HISTORY OF WASHINGTON COUNTY,” PENNSYLVANIA.

34; Goshe,r,i,;30; Forks of Cheat, 19; Simpson’s Creek, 19; Pigeon Creek,
45. A ' I

‘f A request from separate church on Shirtee to join Association. Re-
solved, That William Woods, John Corbly, William Taylor, Isaac Light,
David Philips, and John Buckingham -——— Williams be "appointed to
attend at Benjamin Rennoes on Shirtee [now Allegheny County] the

Wednesday after the fourth Sabbath in October, to examine into the '

state and order of that church, and if found satisfactory to receive them
into fello_wship with us.” ,

“ Association of 1781 met on Saturday before the first Sabbath at Great
Bethel. Nine churches represented. Patterson and Cross Creek re-
ceived into fellowship.”

On the 2d of October,-1784, the Association met at Muddy Creek. The
following churches were represented. The names of the churches, mes-
sengers, and number of members are here given: Great Bethe], Rev.
Isaac Sutton, James Sutton, Isaac Morris,’ Thomas McGloughlin,,120
members; Ten-Mile,» Rev. David Sutton, Robert Bennet, Samuel Parker,
Isaac Bane, 31 members; Peters Creek, Rev. William Taylor, 45 mem-
bers; Gcshen, Rev. John Corbley, Levi —, James Meredick, Daniel
Clark, 40 members; Forks of Cheat, John McFarland and others, 40
members; Pigeon Creek, Rev.‘William Wood, Z. Williams, David Ruble,
William Buckingham, 35 members; Simpson Creek, Rev. Isaac Ed-
wards, John Stone, 32 members; Georges Hill, Moses Airs, William
Carter, 95 members. i A

“Association met on the 27th October, 1788. Twelve churches were
represented. . Rev. John Corbly was moderator, and Benjamin Jones
clerk.”

Sept. 24, 25, and 26, 1796, met at Uniontown, fifteen
churches represented. Enon (Fallowfield township)
represented by Henry Speers and John Raton.

’ In 1806 the Association met at Cross Creek, Brooke
Co., Va-. Twenty-nine churches were represented.
Sept. 22, 23, 1820, at Plum Run; Aug. 31, 1822, at
VVashingt_on ; Sept. 5, 6,‘ 7, 1823, at Pittsburgh ; Sept.
1, 2, 3, 1826, at Redstone.~ I

Atlthe last session it was resolved that j“the doc-
trines held by the Washington Church and their min-
isters are found to be heterodox . . . and they are
hereby excluded from our fellowship.” This was
about the time when the church became divided by
dissensions, resulting from the teachings of Thomas
_andvAlexander Campbell. ' ' ~

Pleasant Hill (Cumberland Presbyterian) Con-
gregation.-—The following, taken from the minutes

of this church, gives the causes that brought it into -

existence :

“ Shortly after the camp-meeting held in Morris township, Washing-
ton Co., Pa., in the fall of 1831, by A. M. Bryan, J. Morgan, Alexander
Chapman, R. Burrow, and R. Donnell, missionaries of the General As-
sembly of the Cumberland Presbyterian Church. In the early part of
October of the same year another was held by ‘A.’ M. Bryan, Burrow,
and R. Donnell, in Amwell township of the county and State above, in
thegrove on the farm of Abel Millikin. .

“ The number professing reconciliation to God at this meeting was es-
timated at one hundred. After this, from time totime, by M. Bird and
A. M. Bryan, meetings were held in the neighborhood, principally at the
house of A. Millikin. In the early part of 1832 a second camp-meeting
was,held,in the grove before mentioned by William Harris, Alexander
Chapman, S. M. Aston, M. Bird, and A. M. Bryan. 2 At this meeting th-ere
were many cases of awakening and conversions, though not so many as
at the first. From this camp-meeting the different m‘inisters=who occa-
sionally prcached in the neighborhood received, baptized, and enrolled
the names of persons up to Jan. 22, 1833, who were then regularly or-
ganized into a congregation called ‘ Pleasant Hill.’ ”

At the organization the following persons were
chosen ruling elders: Joseph Evans, Abner Clark,
and Abel.Milliken, and were ordained by the Rev.
John Morgan. Thechurch is at present undertlie

care of the Rev. Luther Axtell. Worship is held in
a neat brick edifice not far distant_from Clarkstown.

Schools in Amwell Township.-—The first classical
school west of the.Allegheny Mountains was estab-
lished within the bounds of the Ten-Mile congrega-
tion (Presbyterian), in the spring of 1782, by Rev.
Thaddeus Dodd. The following extract from a
letter of the Rev. Dr. Jacob Lindley (who was one of
the pupils), dated June 2, 1854, gives some account
of Mr. D0dd’s school, and the writer’s connection
with it: C ,

“ My parents when I was eight years of age imbibed the notion that I
was pious and sent me to the school of the prophets, which was kept in
a large log house, erected for the purpose, some fifty steps from Mr.
Dodd’s dwelling. It was sufficiently large for three or four beds, with
room for tables, etc. I was sent there to live with Mr. Dodd and to study
Latin in A.D. 1782', and remained there till 1784.  The Latin students
then with Mr. Dodd were James Hughes, John Brice, Robert Marshall,
Francis Dunleavy, John Hanna, Daniel Li ndley, David Smith (father of
Rev. Joseph Smith, D.D.)', Robert Marshall, Jr., and Jacob Lindley.
Mathematical students, Daniel McFarland, Joseph Eddy, Thomas

Stokely, and Thomas Gormly. All boarded with Mr. Dodd.” _

In 1789, Mr. Dodd became principal of an academy
in VVashington_. About three years later William
Greenlee and Archibald Stansbury were teachers in

this township. In 1800, Isaac Cook, Matthias Luce,’

and James Foster were also teachers. About 1810
two school-houses are remembered,.one near Nathan-
iel McGiffin’s residence, and the other near Capt.
John Hughes’. There were others, but where located

has not been ascertained. Among the teachers at’

that time were John VVells, James Smith, Nathan
Becket, Joseph Evans, Hugh Stockdale, John Mountz,
and John Birch.
gained of the schools until 1835. At that time Amwell
accepted" the public school law, and divided the town-
ship into districts under the direction of B. Hughes,
J .'Chamberlain, and David Evans, who were the first
school directors under the law. , The number of per-

sons in the township at that time liable to taxation 1

for school purposes was three hundred and seventy-
seven, and three hundred and ten dollars and sixty-
four cents was raised in the year 1835. Inthe next
year the township did not comply with the terms of
the law as regards State appropriation, and only raised
one hundred dollars and eighty—one.cents. In 1837
the proportion of the township was five hundred

,and twenty dollars and four cents; to this was added
"twenty-four dollars and sixty-six cents, making five

hundred and -forty-four dollars and severity cents.

The following is a list of the school directors from’

1835 to the present time:

1835.——B..Hughes, J . Chamberlain, D. Evans.
1836.—-H. Beabout, J . Vankirk, J. Swart.
1837.—David Frazier, 1). J . Evans.
1838.—-James Hughes, J . Horn. ’ ‘‘
1830.—Isaac Tucker, F. Shro_ntz.

184 ).—John Buckingham, Adam Marsh.
1843.-—William McEvans, Daniel McCollum.
1844.--Hamilton Vankirk, Joseph Miller.
.1845:-William Hallam, Samuel I-Iughes.
1846.-—Jolm Horn, David Frazer.

1847.——A. J . Closscr, Zebulon Ferrell.

But little in-formation has been-

'78

HISTORY OF WASHINGTON COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA.

to call us Below it would be Don, therefore it Dont
come on me By Surprise; But as Both ye Oflicers and
Men understood they VVare Raised for ye Defence of
ye Western Frontiers, and their fameleys and sub-
stance to be Left in so Defenceless a situation in their
abstence, seems to Give Sensable trouble, althe I Hope
We Will Get over it, By Leving sum of ower trifeling

‘Officers Behind who Pirtend to Have More Wit then

seven men that can Rendar a Reason. We are ill
Provided for a March at this season, But there is
nothing Hard under sum Sircumstances. .We Hope
Provision Will be made for us Below, Blankets,
Campe Kittles, tents, arms, Regimentals, &c., that
we may not Cut a Dispisable Figure, But may be
Enabled to answer ye expectation of ower Countre.

"‘ I Have Warmly Recommended to ye officers to
Lay aside all Personall Resentments at this time, for
that it Would be construed By ye 'Worald that they
made use of that Sircumstance to Hide themselves
under from ye cause of their countrie, and I hope it
Will have a Good Efect at this time. We Have ishued
ye Neceserey orders, and appointed ye owt Parties to
Randevous at Hanows Town, ye 15”‘ instant, and to
March Emeditly from there. We have Recomended
it to ye Militia to Station One Hundred Men at this
post until further orders. I Hope to have ye Pleasure
of Seeing you Soon, as we mean to take Philadelphia
in ower Rout. In ye mean time, I am, With Esteem,
your Harty Wellwisher and Hble S‘, .
“ Gr. WILSON.

“ To Col. JAMES WILSON, of the Honorable the Cont.
Congress, Phila.”

Until the 5th of December, 1776, the regiment was
styled in the quartermaster’s receipts “ the Battalion
commanded by Col. Eneas Mackay,” but at that date
it is first styled “The Eighth Battalion of Penn’a
troops in the Continental service,” showing that it
had then been assigned to duty in the Continental
line. The regiment marched from Kittaning on
the 6th of January, 1777, and it and the Twelfth
Pennsylvania were the first regiments of the line in
the field. The next notice of it is found in the “ Life
of Timothy Pickering” (volume i., page 122), in the
following reference to the Eighth Pennsylvania :

_ l “ March 1, 1777, Saturday.
~ “Dr. Putnam brought me a billet, of which the
following is a copy : — .

“ ‘ DEAR SIR 2 Our Battalion is so unfortunate as no
to have a Doctor, and, in my opinion, dying for want
of medicine. I beg you will come down to-morrow
morning and visit the sick of my company. For that
favor you shall have sufficient satisfaction from your

humble servant,
“ ‘ JAMES PIGOTT,

“ ‘ Capt. of 8 Batt. of Pa.
“ ‘ QUIBBLETOWN; Feb. 28, 1777.’
“ I desired the Dr. by all means to visit them. They
were raised about the Ohio, and had traveled near

five hundred miles, as one of the soldiers who came
for the Dr. informed me. For 150 miles over moun-
tains, never entering a house, but building fires and
encamping in the Snow. Considerable numbers, un-
used to such hardships, have since died. The Colonel
and Lieutenant—Colonel among the dead. The Dr.

informed he found them quartered in cold shattered‘

houses.” —

Cols. Mackay and Wilson having died, Daniel
Brodhead became colonel, Richard Butler lieutenant-
colonel, and Stephen Bayard major. When Morgan’s
rifle command was organized, Lieut.-Col. Butler was
made lieutenant-colonel of it, and Maj. James Ross,
of the First Pennsylvania, became lieutenant-_colonel.
According to a return signed by the latter, dated
“ Mount Pleasant, June 9, 1777,” the number of men
enlisted between the 9th of August and the 16th of

"December, 17 7 6, was six hundred and thirty; enlisted

since the 16th of December, thirty-four; making a
total of six hundred and eighty-four. The strength
of the respective companies was:

, Rank

geiils. Ef‘,",‘§

Capt. David Kilgore’s Company 3 55
Capt. Samuel Miller’s “ 4 82
Capt. Van Swearingen’s “ 3 71
Capt. James Pigott’s “ 4 55
Capt. Wendel Ourry’s “ 4 54
Capt. Andrew Mann’s “ . 4 58
Capt. James Montgomery’s Company 2 57
Capt. Michael Huffnagle’s “ » 4 70
Capt. Lieut. John Finley’s “ 2 77
Capt. Lieut. Basil Prather’s “ 3 69

From the total thirty-six were deducted as prison-
ers of war, fourteen missing, fifty-one dead, fifteen
discharged, one hundred and twenty-six deserted.
Lieut. Matthew Jack, absent from April 13th,
wounded. Ensign Gabriel Peterson, absent from
April 17th, wounded. Capt. Moses Carson, deserted
April 21st. First Lieut. Richard Carson, deserted.
Aquila White, ensign, deserted February 23d. Joseph
McDolo,_ first lieutenant, deserted. Thomas Forthay,

ensign, deserted. I Alexander Simrall, second lieu- V

tenant, cashiered. David McKee, ensign, dismissed
the service. Ephraim Douglass, quartermaster, taken
by the enemy, March 13th.

Capt. Van Swearingen, First Lieut. Basil Prather,
and Second Lieut. John Hardin with their commands
were detailed on duty with Col. Morgan, and greatly
distinguished themselves in the series of actions that
resulted in the surrender of Gen. Burgoyne at Sara-
toga. These commands consisted of picked riflemen
out of all of the companies of the Eighth Pennsyl-
vania. 6

A return dated Nov. 1, 177 7 , shows the strength of
the regiment present: colonel, major, two captains,
six lieutenants, adjutant, paymaster and surgeon, ser-
geant-major, quartermaster-sergeant and drum-major,

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VAMWELL.TOWNSHIP-    I

1848.-—Joseph Miller, J r., William Luallen.

18-19,-John Moningan, David Blusher.

1850.—'l‘homas J. Patterson, David McElheny. I

l85l.——-Oliver Lacock, Nicholas lIorn.

1852:-A. M. Evans, Robert Chamberlain. ,

1853.—John Curry, James Ilughes.

1854.—-Enoch Baker, John “I-Iorn.

1855.—-Robert Chamberlain, Isaac Horn, James C. Chambers, Ira Kelso.
1S56.—Rolocrt Chamberlain, Stephen I’at‘erson.
1857.-—-Benjamin F . Reese, George Swart.

1858.—Samuel Baker, George W. Moningan, Joshua Denman.
1859.-——A. J. Clossen, Joseph Evans.

_ 1860.—B. F. Rees; W. ,W. Sharp.

186l.——Adam Horn, James McDonald.
1862.--A. J. Closser, James McDonald.
1863.——Robert Horn, William W. Hill.
1864.-—Milton B. Curry, Benjamin F. Rees.
1865.—Robert Chamberlain, Daniel McCollum.
1866.—G. W. Mo-ningan, Ira Kelsey.

_ ]867.—Tunis Miller, Daniel Condit, John A. Fruzzee.

1868.-—David Baker, Peter Camp.
1869.—William Watson, John "Lewis.

_ 1869, 0ctober.—1saac Iams, C. Hackney.

1870.—Adam Marsh, Onias Moningan.
18_72.—J. C. Vankirk, A. J. Swart.
1873.——H. Beabout, Clark Hackney.
1874.-—James Smith, Adam Horn.
1875.-—J. N. Ilorn, Joseph Gray.
l876.—Isaac Riggle, John Martin.
1877.—John Weaver, William Swart. ‘
1878.—D. H. Lewis, William Hallam, Irwin Moningan.
1879.—II. C. McCollum, John Hughes, J. C. Vankirk.
1880.——-J. C. Vankirk, H. W. Horn, J. H. Meek.‘
1881.—-W. Hallam, J r., James H. Meek.-
\

ggg
wvf

BIOGRAJPHICAL SKHETCHES.

ENOCH BAKER.

‘A Enoch Baker was of Quaker»parentage,‘and was
born in Maryland, Nov. 28, 1788. When he was

about six months old his father, Nathan Baker, who

was a farmer, moved to Chester County, Pa., where
he remained until the beginning of" the present cen-
tury (from 1800' to 1803), when he removed.to 'Wash-
ington County, Pa., and settled in East Bethlehem
township. During, Na'than’s residence in Chester
County his first wife died, leaving eight children,-
Lydia, Mary, Aaron, Nehemiah, David, Joseph,
Enoch, and Nathan; and he was married to his
second wife, a widow, Mrs. J orda_n, by whom he had
four children,——-William, Israel, Hannah, and Mah-
lon. Soon]. after settling in Washington County
Nathan returned to Chester County with a drove of

horses, and while there died, and was buried beside ‘

his first wife. Enoch Bakerlearned the blacksmith
trade with Nathan Pyle, of East Bethlehem town-
ship. After serving his apprenticeship he worked as
a journeyman four years with Christopher Slusher,
and then purchased a farm on the road from Lone
Pine to Ten-Mile village, where he-spent the balance
of his life. He was a hard-working, thrifty, consci-
entious man, who left a‘ stainless character and repu-
tation. He was prudent and discreet, a gentleman,
and never permitted himself _to say harsh things to

those with whom he conversed. He was a man to

whom his neighbors turned and askedadvice when

surrounded by difliculties. He was for many years
a member of the Cumberland Presbyterian Church,
and delighted to study andpractice the precepts of
Christianity. ' . .

He was married March 3, 1814, to Elizabeth Jen-
nings, of Amwell township,‘ Washington Co., Pa. He
died Aug. 29, 1861. ~_His wife‘ (lied Aug. 5, 1862.
The children of Enoch and Elizabeth (Jennings)
Baker were Nathan, Lemuel, Elmey, Permelia, Da-
vid, Lucinda, and Daniel. ' r ’

Nathan Baker was ‘born Oct. 24, 1816.’ He is a

farmer, and resides in Amwell township. He married’

Maria Horn, arid has four sons,——John W., David, E.,
Robert C., and Colin R. « ‘ ' ‘

Lemuel Baker was born Sept. 25,1818. He is a
farmer of Amwell township. He was married Jan. 4,
1844, to Sarah Jane Ross. She died sec. 24,1849,
leaving one child, Permelia Baker, who married
Franklin T. Shrontz, a farmer of Amwell township,
and has ‘six chi1dren,—Sarah Frances, Cordelia B.,
Elmey Mary, LemuelBaker, Permelia T., and John
Frederick. '

Lemuel was married to his second wife, Cordelia
K. Lindley,‘ May 11, 1852. _She died May7, 1873,
and he married his third wife, Mrs. Anne Eliza Mc-
Collister (‘née Grass), Jan. 4, 1875. She died May 28,

I 1881. Lemuel married his fourth wife, Elizabeth H.

Black, of J efferson-, Greene Co., Pa., July 26., 1882.

Elmey Baker was born Aug. 26, 1820. She mar-_

ried Abel M. Wilson, a farmer of Amwell township,
Nov. 17, 1842. Their children are Nathan B., Eliza-
beth (married to A. B. Samson), Lucinda (married to
John Reynolds, deceased), Ruth A. (who died July
'15, 1880), Enoch B., Victorine, and William M.

Permelia Baker was born Nov. 9, 1822, and died
April 6, 1838. ‘ S

David Baker was born Jan. 19, 1826, and died April
11,1838.

Lucinda Baker was born Oct. 16, 1828. She mar-‘
ried Robert Stockdale, May 2,1850. They reside in
Henry County, Iowa, and have two children,——Enoch
B., and James. I _ ' 1

Daniel Baker was born Sept. 4, 1832. He married
Minerva.A. Walton, Feb. 12, 1857, and resides upon
the old homestead. - Their living children are Flora
(married to A. J. Meek), Ida May (married to Abram
L. Paul), Viola, Lydia, James, and Bird.

The brothers and sisters, of Enoch Baker, who are
all dead, married as follows: Lydia, married Ben-
jamin Townsend. I They removed to Columbiana
County, Ohio, where they both died. ‘

Mary married Joshua Linton. They lived and

died in East Bethlehem township, Washington.

County, Pa. ,
Aaron married Ruth Jordan.

the farm where his father settled.
Nehemiah married Eliza Pyle.

671 C

They lived upon  

673

HISTORY or WASHINGTON COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA.

David married Margaret Robbins. They lived and
died in East Bethlehem. township. » ~

Joseph married Mary Corwin, of Amwell township,
wherein they died. ‘ .

Nathan married Abba Ruble. Their children- were
Levi, Lavina, David, Mary Ann, Albert, Malinda,
and"Hiram., ' -

ANDREW J. SWART.

Andrew J. Swart, a. courteous and companionabie.
gentleman of Amwell township, is the sixth son,‘ and
eighth in the order ofbirth, of a family of nine chil-

dren——-six sons and three daughters-—o.f, Phiiip and, 

Asenah (.W'alton) Swart. He was born in the town-
ship wherein he resides, Dec. 16, 1836. He was reared
on a farm, and was educated in the common schools
and Waynesburg College, Greene County, Pa- Under
the call. for three. months"men he enlisted in April,
1861,; andiwas‘ a member of Company E, Twelfth
Regiment, Pennsylvania Volunteers. He returned
home in July, and October 31st of tliesalme year he
was married to Mary J ., daughter of Jacob and Mary
Greenlee, of Greene County, Pa. In August, 1862,
he enlisted in a company raised at Amity by Capt.

Silas Parker. This company was known in the service

as Company D, One Hundred and Fortieth Pennsyl-
vania Volunteers, commanded by Col._R. P. Roberts,
who was killed at Gettysburg- Mr. Swart was
wounded July 2, 1868, at the battle of Gettysburg-
He remained in the hospital upon the field for about

two weeks, and was then removed to the hospital at _
Annapolis, Md., where he remained .until October of ’

the same year, when he was given a furlough and
sent home. After the expiration of his furlough he
reportedat Philadelphia, and was placed in a hos-
pital there, where he remained until March, 1864,
when he was transferred to a Pittsburgh hospital, in
which he remaineduntil September, 1864, when he
received his discharge. Since that date he has ‘given
a superintending care to his farm, being by his wounds
unfitted for severe manual labor. .
Mr. Swart is a member of the Methodist Protestan

Church, a member of the VVilliam F. Templeton G.
A. R. Post, ofWasl1ington, Pa., and also of Ten-Mile
Lodge, 1. O. O. F. His gallant service for his coun-

try, his modest, genial m”anner'a1id moral’ worth,‘ha\”'.ei
secured for him the respect of those "who know him.
Mr. Swart has-~four' living children,—_—-Florella, mar-.
ried to Samuel Luellen, a farmer of ~Amwe1l town-
ship; Viola, Minnie, and Anna Mary. ‘ A

ANDREW J. SWART,

Three of Andrew J. Swart’s'brothers, John, Henry
C., and Amos, were soldiers in the.late.,war, all mem-
bers of Company D, 140th Pennsylvania Volunteers.
Amos was killed at Spottsylvania in 1864;, Henry C.
was severely wounded in the samebattle.

Mr.,Andrew J. ,Swart’s father, Philip Swart, was;
the oldest son and second child of a. family often,
the children of Jacob and Sarah (Evans) Swart. He

was born in 1797, and died in 1876.. His wife, Asenah

(Walton), Swart, died in 1870. The immigrant ances-.

tor of this now numerous family was:Philip Swart, a
native of Germany.

Greene Co., Pa.

His children were J ac.ob,above_,
mentioned, and Susan, who married_John Philips, of

BUFFALO TOVVN  H. IP.

ggg

THIS township is bounded on the north by Hope-
well,.on the east by Canton and Franklin, on the

southeast, south, and southwest by Franklin and.

East Finley, and on the west by Donegal township,

' ‘of’ which last named Buffalo originally formed‘ a part.

The waters of Buffalo are Buffalo Creek, which flows
in a northwesterly course through the central part of

I the -township, and -Brush Run, which marks the

northern boundary of Buffalo against the township; of
"Hopewell. ' I A J V A _

. "Buff'alo was formed from “a part of the territory of
the original township of Donegal, in accordance with
the prayerof a, petition of Samuel Taylor -and twenty
others, inhabitants of the last-named township, pre-
sented -‘at the April. session of the Court of Quarter
Sessions of 1798, representing the great extent of the
township, andits consequent ‘inconvenience for the

transaction of public business, andfor that ‘and other

reasons asking for its division.

This petition was ‘acted upon, viewers appointed,
continued to January and F ebruary-term, 1799, when
report was made ‘and approved, and action confirmed
by the court May 8, 1799, and the upper division of
Donegal township was erected into a separate town-

ship called ‘Buffalo township.

Following is a list ‘of justices of the peace of Buf-
falo township from its erection to the present time‘:

Hugh Craig, April 9, 1850. ,

, A. E. McClees, April 9, 1850.
Abraham Williams, April 9, 1850.
Abraham Williams, April 10,.1855.
Oliver M. Wallace, April 10, 1855. J

A. E. McC1ees, April 10, 1860.
Thomas Buck, April~10, 1860.

R. L.‘ Simpson, May 10, 1861. .
A Abraham Williams, Aug. 25, 1864.
.. John Clemens, June 3, 1865.

John McMannis, June 3, 1865.
O. H. P. McCoy, May 18, 1809.

D. M. Boyd", March 29, 1870.
John Clemens, May 28, 1870.

0. H. P. McCoy, Jan. 30, 1874.
John McMannis, March 24, 1874. '
James Hodgins, March 30, 1880.
John.J. Allison, April 9, 1881.

VVilliam Clemens, Feb. 5, 1801.
Adam Allison, Jan. 22, 1805.
James Gelmore, Jan. 1, 1807.
John McMillan, March 3, 1809.
James Allison, Jan. 21 , 1814.
\\'illiam Reed, Jan. 21, 1814.
James Sniith, April 3,1821.
James Brownlee, July 24, 1821.
Joseph McKee, Nov. 18, 1835.
Isaac Hodgins, Oct. 13, 1835.
James Logan, Dec. 31, 1838.
Hugh Craig, April 14, 1840. '
Henry Bruce, April 134, 1840.
John Meloy, April 12, 1842.
Isaac Hodgins,.April 12, 1842. if
Hugh Craig, April 15, 1845.
Alexander McC1ees, April 15, 1845.
John Moore, April 11, 1848.

Settlements:-—James Allison, a native of :Ireland,
came to this -country and settled in Eastern Pennsyl-

vania. He was employed in the iron-works in that-

region, and in-1758 or 1759 married Sarah Rea. He
and his wife continued there for several years, until
sev‘eral~-children were born to them, and in the spring

WV?

of 1776 Mr. Allison brought his family into what is

now Buffalo tbwnship. He took up a tract of land,
containing three hundred and sixty-nine acres, located
on the waters of Buffalo Creek. For this tract, which
was named “ Complaint,” the Virginia commissioners,
in session at Redstone Old Fort, Dec-. 21, 177 9, issued
a -certificate, in which it was recited that the ‘tract
then granted to Allison was “to include his actual

' settlement made in the year of our Lord 17 76.’ ’ Before

James Allison’s'settle‘ment on this-tract, a man named
“Taylor had located a claim upon it, and had made a
‘little clearing. This improvement-right Mr. Allison
purchased for a gallon of whiskey and a few yards of
linen ‘cloth. Taylor afterwards’ located land in Hope-
well township, but later removed to Cross Creek town-
ship, where he died. Mr. Allison was a trustee of the

Upper Buffalo Church, and himself and wife dying '

on their old farm, both were buried in Upper Buffalo
churchyard. Their family of children numbered ten,
six of whom were born in Eastern Pennsylvania, and
the last four in this township. Margaret "became the
wife of Joseph Alexander, of West Alexander, in
Donegal township. David Allison, the second son
of James "Allison, was born‘ July 31, 1770. He pur-
chased fifty ‘acres of his father’s farm, upon which he
made this home, but was abroad much of the time.
He "followed flat-boating on the Ohio River for a
while, was at various times in the scouting parties
during the Indiantroubles, and was in the war of
1812 under Gen. Harrison. All his life David Allison
maintained a close and warm friendship for Col.
David Williamson, 8 His ‘wife was Jane Horner,
daughter of a property-holder adjoining his father.
She ‘and two of her children‘ died within a few days
of each other, leaving Mr. Allison a widower with
one child, a daughter (Jane), who "always resided in
this township until 1879, when she removed to Ohio,
dying there in 1881. David married again in 1814,
taking for his second wife May Jarvis, of Virginia.
The result of this marriage was three children,———
John J ., Sarah E., and Eliza M. Allison. The -two
daughters married and found homes inthe VVest.
The son, John J. Allison, still resides in Taylorstown,
in this township. John Allison, who was born Oct.
2, 1764, married Mary Herron, and settled on a part
of the homestead. He was the oldest of the Allison
sons, and was "present at St. Clair’s defeat. 1 He lived
and died upon his place in this‘ township, and left a
. . 673

place.

674

msronr or wAsHL\*G'roN COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA.‘

family of six children,——James, John, Andrew, Ann,
Sarah, and Mary. James settled in Virginia, near
the Greene County line, dying there a few years ago,
and the rest all removed West. Of the children born

to James and Sarah Allison after they emigrated -to

this county James was the oldest, born March 19,
1775. He lived, on a-por,tio..n of the hom-estead, and
died in the old," house. ,His first wife was Martha?
McConnaugh‘ey, and they had no children. By his
second marriage'(to ‘Eliza Caldwell) he had two

' children,-—J. K. Folk and Elizabeth Allison. The
. form-er lives in Hopewell township, a11d itherl-att/er

married e\Vi-lliam.Graves, and lives on her father’s'
Adam Allison, another son of'J'ames Alli-
son, Sr.,_lived and died in Taylorstown. He was
born J.an..19, 1798, and filled the oflice of justice of

the peace for several years. Andrew, thenext son,

was-born Oct. 19, 1780. Herriemoved to_ Newark,

Ohio’, and was made sheriffxof the county in which

he resided. Sarah, the last child of James and Sarah
Allison, .was born - Aug. 23, 1788. She became the
wife of -William Pogue, anddivedi near the old farm.
Her son, John G. Pogue, who lives near VVest Alex-

ander, in Donegal township, is her only living child.

The original Allison property is now owned by
Henry Keenan, John Sawhill, and Mrs. William
Graves. - "

VValter Summers was an early settler in this town-
ship. He located land on a Virginia certificate issued
to him Dec. 21, 1779, the land being situated "on Sum-'
mers’ Run, a tributary of Buffalo Creek. It was given
the name of “ Raccoon’s Haunt,” and was adjoining
property owned by Peter \Volfe, Samuel Rogers,
Eleazer VVilliamson,'and Joshua Russell. So exten-
sive were the investments made by Mr. Summers that
his lands were said to extend a distance of six miles.
His children were five sons and two daughters. The
daughter J annette never married, but the other be-

came Mrs. James Caldwell, and from her ‘are the only

lineal descendants of the family. None of the sons
ever married, and the name no longer exists in this
neighborhood. «
Ezekiel Boggs was granted a Virginia certificate
for a tract of land called “ Jealousy,” embracing one
hundred and forty-three acres “in the county of Ohio,
[Virginia], on the waters of Buffalo~Creek,to include
his settlement made in the year 177 4.” This certifi-
cate was issued from Redstone Old Fort, Nov. 22,

H 1779, but the survey was not made until Feb. 2, 1786.

The tract “ Jealousy” was bounded by the lands of
Robert. Taylor, Charles McRoberts, John Graham,
and VVilliam Carson. Francis Boggs, a, lineal de-
scendant of Ezekiel Boggs, bought a farm of three
hundred andeighteen acres of James Clelland, Oct.
13, 1784, situated one mile northwest of Taylorstown,
which was afterwards owned by the Fleck family.
Francis Boggs’ daughter Lydia became quite famous
for her courage in times of danger, as well as for her
narrow escapes from death. During the siege at

VVheeling she moulded bullets until her arms were
blistered, and once when captured by the Indians and
carried across the Ohio River she‘ effected heruescape
by compelling her horse to swim the river. Lydia
Boggs and Christiana Clemens" were schoolmates in
the old school-house that once stood on the farm of

.; Robert C-r_uthe,rs, ;-and ,,..studied.-together under the

teaching of Mr. —Hawtho"rn and-»Mr.‘ Gibbons. Lydia
Boggs married Col. Moses Shepherdfor her first hus-,

band, and after his death became the wife of his

partner, Mr. Koogle. She had no children by either

marriage, and died a few ‘years ago at the great age of-

.one hundred and six years. . ' . 2 - . I .

Basil Lee Williams. came from the vicinity of Lees-
burgh, Va., in 1780,,and settled upon the, farm in this
township‘ which has since belonged to Alexander
Summers, and is nowthe property of Robert Cruthers.
Mr. Williams’ wife was Arah Dorsey, and they had
seven children,—Eleven, Garard,,Ezekiel, Otho, Eli,
Lawrence, and Arab. Ezekiel, Otho, Eli, and Law-
rence all emigrated to the West, and all further trace
of them has been lost. Grarard m;arried‘Ruth Clemens,
and Arahbecame the wife-of Dudley Evens, of .Mor-

‘ gantown, and resided in West Virginia». Eleven Wil-

liams marrie-d~,Christiana Clemens. Squire Abraham
Williams was their son, and Mrs. Ruth Alvy, who was
the first child born in Taylorstown, is the only living
representative of the Williams family. I

Nathaniel McDowell emigrated from Scotland to
Ireland, and thence to America, about 1758, and set-
tled near Chambersburg, Pa. From there he removed
about 1780 to the country west of the Monongahela,
passing by way of Catfish Camp (where there was at
that time but one house), and settled in the wilder-
ness on land that is now the farm of Joseph J ohnston,
in Buffalo. township. On the 6th of September, 1793,

McDowell warranted the tract “Wolf Ridge,” two’

hundred and two acres, which was surveyed to him
October 4th of the same year. Its location was on
Buffalo Creek, adjoining lands of Marshall, Elisha
Heath, James McClean,.. and William English. After-
wards he warranted and patented other lands in the
vicinity. He died in 1826, at the age of eighty-eight
years. Of his sons, Nathaniel and ohn emigrated to
Wayne County, Ohio; Robert and‘ James removed to

Stark County, Ohio, and settled on adjoining tracts, 1

there being no settlement near them, and at that time
not a dwelling erected on the site of the present town of

Massillon. Joseph received the homestead (one hun-'

dred andsixty acres) by the will of his father, Na-
thaniel. The daughters of Nathaniel McDowell were
Elizabeth, wife of William Erwin; Letitia, wife of
Hamilton Brownlee; and Sarah, wife of Samuel
Neely. ‘ ‘ _

Joseph McDowell lived on the homestead farm

until his death in 1854. He had ten children,7of-

whom .but four survived him, and they are still living,

viz.:oSarah A., Mrs. Ebenezer Graham,“ of Mercer .

County, Ill. ; John McDowell, living on the old Jacob

BUFFALO TOWNSHIP.

Wolfe and Lawrence Strickler property (three hun-
dred and forty-eight acres); Nathaniel McDowell,

‘ who taught the Science Hill School in 1840, now a

clergyman of the United Presbyterian Church at In-
dianola, Iowa; and Robert McDowell, living in Madi-
son County, Iowa. John, the only one of the children
of Joseph McDowell who remains a resident of Wash-
ington County, is one of the leading agriculturists of
the county. He is a member of the State Agricultural
Society, and largely and actively interested in every-
thing pertaining to the advancement of that noble
industry. " " -

. Charles McRoberts, J r., was born in this township
in 1774. His father, Charles McRoberts, Sr., came
from Scotland to this section and settled on Buffalo

' ‘Creek. Two Virginia certificates were issued to him,

dated June 6, 1780, upon which he located two tracts
of land. The first tract, “ Mount Ararat,” contained
three hundred’ and ninety-nine acres, was bounded
by lands of. Thomas Gilliland, Kenneth McClellan,
James and William McRoberts, and was surveyed to
him Oct. 22, 1786, by Robert VVoods, surveyor ‘of
Ohio County, Va. The second tract, “ Buffalo
Point,” embraced three hundr_ed and six acres, ad-
joined the lands of David and Joseph Williamson,
Kenneth McClellan, and his own other lands, and
was surveyed to him Oct. 23, 1786. Charles McRob-
erts, J r., was a man universally respected, and during

A his life was one of the most useful men of his county.
' He died May 29, 1857, in the eighty-fourth year of his

age. , -
Nathaniel‘Templeton received a Virginia certificate
Feb. 8, 1780, which gave him a body of land, “to in-
clude his settlement made in the year 1776.” The
name of the tract was “Independence.” I It was sit-
uated in Buffalo township, and after Nathaniel Tem-

1 pleton’s death his widow, Isabella Templeton, rode to

Harrisburg and obtained the patent upon it. They
had no children, and Mrs. Templeton sold the prop-
erty to John Lawrence. In 1811 he sold it to his
son-, John Lawrence, J r., who held it in his possession
until his death. He was a tanner, and conducted that
business for more than sixty years. He was pro-
nounced one of the most singular men of his day,
and when he purchased the farm of his father, who
removed from the place and left him .in possession, he
was still a bachelor. He afterwards married, but had
no children. His property was divided among his
relatives, and the original Lawrence tract is now
owned by Samuel Woodburn.

Zachariah Cox came to this township from Berkeley
County, Va., where his residence was near the mouth
of ‘Buck Creek. He was married to Miss Fry before
leaving Virginia, and upon arriving here settled upon
seventy-five acres of land at the head-waters of Buffalo

- Creek, which was surveyed to him in 1822. The land

adjoined the tracts of Governor Joseph Ritner, John
De Garms, and George Andrews, and the survey-book
shows the improvements to have been commenced

upon it in October, 1784. The tract now'"belongs to
Uriah Clarke. Zacharia_h Cox lived upon it untilhis
death at eighty-five years of age. He had a family of
twenty-one children. Benjamin, John, and Zacha-

riah, J r., removed to VVashin'gton County, Iowa, and .

died there. Henry married Hannah, a daughterlof
John Wolf, of Canton township. All the family re-
moved to other parts. , I 

James-Clemmens, with his ‘wife (who was Hannah - '

Walton), and their servants andslaves, crossed the

mountains in a wagon and settled in Buffalo township, ’

on the waters of Buffalo Creek. ‘ The tract of land
“Rural Swain,” which was secured on a Virginia
certificate, was surveyed to Mr. Clemmens June 13,
1785, and is still held in the family, \Villiam' Clem-
mens, a great-grandson, owning it.‘ The children of
James Clemmens were twelve, six sons and six
daughters. ‘William married Polly and Abraham

V married Elizabeth Wolf, daughters of -Jacob Wolf,

and all lived in this township. Jeremiah, who was
a surveyor, married Mary Hawkins, of Kentucky.
Hannah, who went to attend school in that State,
married there, and Ruth, who became Mrs. Garard
Williams, also emigrated there. James and Pamelia
went to St. Louis,‘Mo., where they both married
and settled. John Clemmens married Polly Fleck,
daughter of if John Fleck. He was a general in the
war of 1812, and his widow became the wife of Dr.
John Steele. One of his sons, a second John Clem-
mens, married a Miss Ewing, of Ohio. Ezekiel re-
moved West. Christiana became Mrs. Eleven ‘Vil-
liams, of Taylorstown. Nancy was the wife of Thomas
Craig, and died in this county, and Hester Clem-
mens was the wife of James Clelland. Dr. James
Clemmens, a nbted physician of Wheeling, W. Va.,
was a descendant of this family. ‘
John McWilliams came from Ireland to this coun-
try, locating in this township on “_Lion’s Bush,” a
tract of land granted him on a Virginia certificate,
and surveyed Sept. 19, 1785. His wife ‘was Jane

Taylor, a daughter of Robert Taylor, the founder of .

Taylorstown, and their family numberedseven chil-
dren. Of these John married Elizabeth Clelland;
Margaret married William Noble, and both emigrated
to the Stateiof Ohio; Hannah married John Reed;

and Sarah married James Reed, the latter couple _

making their home in East Finley township; Jane
became Mrs. Berkley McLain, and resided in this
township, while Mary, who married Thomas Hemp-
hill, removed to West Liberty, W. Va. Wallace Mc-
Williams took for his wife Nancy Clelland, and they
had four children. He was one of the foremost men
of Buffalo township, and was greatly interested in
the cause of education. ‘ He was a general in the old
militia days, represented. his district in the State
Legislature, and held many county offices during his
life. He owned the original McWilliams property,
but it is now in_ the possession of William Knox.
The McWilliams family from first to last were strong

675 I

676

HISTORY OF WASHINGTON {COUNTY,”' PENNSYLVANIA.

Presbyterians. ‘Of. Gen. "Wa‘l'lace.jM"cWillia.-ms" chil-
dren, John died.single, J onathan resides. in Claysville,
Mrs. John A. Fleck resides in .th_is township, and the
other daughter, M-rs. Stephen.Caldwell,'lives in Don- 
egal .townshi_p. A V t I  . ‘l’ V"
Col. David Williamson wasone of the potable men
ofithis vicinity, as his in-‘ame is well known in connec-
tion with the “ Williamson expedition,” and ‘in 1787
liewas elected sheriff of Was’.hingt«on County. Helo-
cated in Buffalo township at: an early day, and -took
up several tracts of ‘land, most of-which seems to have
been secured in thenames of otherlpersons, and all
were, taken upon Virginia *certific.ates. “ Nept:une’s
Delight” contained three hundred .and ninety-seven ’
acres, wasisituate on .a branch of BL1fi.'alo Creek, and
was surveyed'to'Sa1nuel Williamson June 14, 1785.
‘.‘Williamson’s .G:'rove’i’ shad fourhundred acres, was
on Buffalo Creek; ;_adjo'in1-ing lands of. J ohn Smith,"Wal-
ter Summers, and Thomas Irwin, and was surveyed to
John Williamson, Sept. 19, 17 85. “ Wild.-Cat’s Den”.
was the tract of ‘four. hundred acres surveyed to
Eleazer Williamson, J unei; 17 ,‘ 17 85., and was also
«located on the waters of’ Buffalo Creek. A" fourth A
tract, rightly named “ Dispute_,”; contained three .‘hun-
dred acres, and was surveyed to CO1. D_avid.William-
son, .Feb.C21, 1788. The titleof the {north_ern portion
of" this tract, involving one_;l'1u.nd]red ’ and forty-seven
acres, ‘ was disputed by a..Thomas- vrownlee. Still
another body of land. was in the possession of ;Col.
VV.ill’ia"mson,-a.four-hundred-acre tract, which now lies
within the limits of Independence’ township, upon
which Col. Joseph Scott lives. The farm upon which
Col. Williamson himself resided is located in ‘this.
township, andwas the one which was seized by George
Harnilt.on‘.and.sold'to James Glover. The patent for
this tract was not granted for _many years, but it was
finallytaken‘ out by J oh«n“McPhe_-rson, who now owns
it. ,_ Upon this place Col. Williamson had a triple
log cabin, each part twenty by twenty feet in size, and
all three connected. The logs of [one part of this old
house are still :standing, -and are tenor twelve inches
in diameter. A The old spring-‘house built by the owner
still stands" under the shadow -offialarge oak,,both
that and the dwelling being constructed in the pre-
vailing architectural style of theearly -settlers. .
- "Col. David‘ \Vi.lli'amson married Miss Polly _Urie,
a daughter of Thomas .Urie, one of thefiearliest set-
tiers of Hopewell t,ownShip.” ‘Their family Of four
sons .andv-four daughters were John, Samuel, Robert,
David, -Jane, Sarah,;Mary, and Lavina, and all are
nowdead. J ohn‘ and ,D'a,vid‘~,never married. Sarah
married Hugh _Ste”wa-rt, of .Marshall County, W. Va.
Robert marriedeltachel Sh'arp.,_ of Ashland County,-
Ohio, ;'and_*Sar_nuel-», Wi.llia‘msQn.. married Mary Mc-
Comb, ..daugh,ter«of .Rob.ert McComb, near West Mid-
d1eto,wn., . in ~H;opewe.1l. 'township,‘' and lived, en’ the
Youghiogheny Rjfi,v.er, near Buena Vista. . Mary Wil-
li€1.mSon amar,ri‘ed J ohn.Smiley, an_d 1,-1ad;tw»o childr,e;n,'
A,dd.is0n .and:'.Eme;liI1e.j" .The. former ihas been county

supe’rint.ei1dent of schools in Cooper County, Mo.,
where he resides. Emeline Smiley became the "wife
of William Rose, who entered -the Union army, where
he was promoted to the rank of major. They also
livein Missouri. .—Lavina was the youngest daughter
of Col. ‘David Williamson. Sheibecame the wife of
Joseph MeNulty, by whom she had three sons and

‘three. daughters, who married as follows: David W.

married'Caroline Trimble, of Cincinnati, Ohio; Caleb
J. married Miss Smith, also of Ohio, and William
 married Mrs. Matilda C. Ranick, of Columbus,
Ohio. She now resides in Sedalia, Mo. Lavina J.

_became the wife of Joseph Vincent, youngest son of
Dr. Vincent, of Harrison County, Ohio. Annie 1\/Ii‘

married David M. Boyd, of West Middletown, in this
county, and. Harriet N. married John D. Vail, of
Livingston County, Ohio, and now resides in Chicago.
Jane Wil:liamson," the eldest daughter of Col. David
Williamson,.married Caleb McNu.lty, and lived and
diedin West Middletown, Hopewell township. Her
daughter'Mary became the wife of ‘Nathan Miller,
ancl=-had one son, Julius P..Miller, who is an.attorn.ey,'
and has “ been prothonotary of Washington County
for six years. 'He fis_a resident of .fWashington‘ bor-
ough.   '   
 Mrs. Miller’s"husband dying, she was married to
Hon. Thomas McKte'ever, who “for ten years was asso-
ciate judge of this county. He died in 1866,.an-d__ his
widow now lives in Bellaire,-Ohio. The McKeevers
We.re:id_entified with the early settlement of Hopewell
township. Caleb J. McNulty was the youngest son
of Jane Williamson and Caleb '1McNulty, andwhile
he was yet a young man he removed to the "State of

V Ohio, where the Democratic party elected him to the

State Legi,sla‘t.ure for several years. He entered the
politicalfield againas the Democratic candidate for
Congress from Knox County, running against Colum-
bus Dela-n-_o, and was defeated by tw.elve votes. At
the next session of Congress he was made clerk of
the House of Representatives. He had previously
married Miss Caroline Co'n‘-verse, in Columbus, Ohio,
aalady of great beauty and accomplishments. ' Their

only child was a -son, Rob Roy Me-Gregor McNulty,

who was educated. at J efferson College, in Washing-'
ton County. He studied and graduated in theology

in Allegheny City, and is now rector of an Episcopal ‘

Church in M_assachu_setts.
“Col. William McNult-y was the eldest son of Jane and
Caleb. McNulty and grandson of Col.'David William-

 son. He lived for many years in West Middletown, .

where he was‘ born, but some five years ago sold his
property and wen.t to Boonvjille, Cooper Co., Mo.,whe_re‘
he. died a-yearsincefi. " He hadsix sons and four daugh-
ters. Caleb, the - eldest, is a ‘physician, practicing
in Midway, in this ‘county. Patrick H. and Addison‘
are living ‘in Boonville,’Mo. Thomas died in Alle-
ghi,eny;City in 1880, and Frank is employed in a ma-

e‘hiI1.'e-shop in Allegheny City. J Charles is a minister -
' ijni-th_.e Presbyterian -.;Cl1urc.l1' at New”Phi:la'delpl1ia,::

1 i   BUFFAIJO ;'I‘OVVNSHIP.?l7“  YT  -677

M

Ohio, andJane, who‘ married Dr. Isaac Horn,’ is a
widow, -living at’VVicksvi1le, Ohio. Mary C. Mc_Nulty
married the eldest son of Rev. Samuel Tygart, and
lives in Allegheny City, and Annie, her sister, resides
with her. 7 l _ T . ’

Col. David Williamson died in 1814, and was buried
in the old burial—grouud in the borough of Washing-
ton. ' ' 1 . '
Archibald Brownlee had four sons,-—John, Archi-
‘bald,’Jr.,?William, and’ James,—all of whom took
up land in this section. Some of them had four-
hundred-acre tracts. and others larger ones. James
warranted three hundred and ninety-nine acres March
1,’ 1785‘, under the title of “Squirrel Hill,” which was
next the lands of James Clemmens and John St.

2 Clair. He built himself a hut, covered with earth,

‘in which he lived while making a clearing upon his
property. ” This hut was very near the spring in. the
vicinity of the South Buffalo Church. J ames.Brown-
lee’s first wife was "Martha Shearer, and their chil--
dren were three sons and three daughters, the sons
being the-oldest. Theyare all ‘dead sav.eKMarth"a
Brownlee, theyoungest daughter. She was married
to James Brownlee, and resides in Washi.ngto‘n, her
husband ha\ring died nine yearsiago. James Brown-
lee was left a widower, and married"-for his second
wife Mrs. Elizabeth Muncey. ' She was a daughter of
Herman Greathouse, who,.w‘ith his friends Holliday

. and Edgington, located veryzearly just in the ‘edge of

‘Vest Virginia. Mrs. Brownlee -remembered very well
when the Virginia and Pennsylvania" State line was

surveyed. "By thissfecond marriage ofiJames Brown-

lee there were. four children, one "son and three

- . dang~.ht_e,rs§ The son,e.William J. Brownlee, emigrated

to Missouri, where some of his descendants now re-

_ side. KOthers' of his family are in‘St.eubenville, Ohio‘.

Elizabeth Brownlee became Mrs. Henry“Br.nce, and
resides on the National road_ near Claysville. f Susan
married Richard McClelland, and her descendants
livein Franklin township. Rachel Brownlee married

, Dr. George Davidson, of West ‘Alexander.

James Rossrand John Wood warranted a'four-hun‘-

_ dred-and-fourteen-acre tract of land Sept. 30, 1785,

which was surveyed November 22d of the same year,
as “ Three Forks,” and patented July 18, ‘.17 86. The
land lies in both Buffalo and Donegal townships. It
is bounded on the south bythe Tlands formerly be-
longing to Col. David Williamson, on the east by
the Brush-Fork of Buffalo Creek, -and the northern
boundary is formed by Buffalo Creek, between the
mouth of ‘Brush Run and Buck Run. The main
branch of Bvuffaflo Creek runs through this property.’
The portion within the limits of Buffalo township is
owned by James Kuntz, John J. -Stewart, and D. S.
Wilson, and William Smith and Mr. Cunningham
have,possessi.on lof . the part in Donegal .township.
The tract. ‘.‘Three Forks” passed from James ‘Ross
and John Woods‘ to Andrew .Moore, who, on the 22d
October, 1799, conveyed ;to -Perry-McCoy two hundred

1

and sixty-seven acres. Upon his death, in 1821, the
onehalf of the farm was bequeathed to Daniel Mc-
Coy, on which he then lived, the other part (the
homestead) wasbequeathed the Joseph McCoy. He

..left the sons mentioned above and two daughters,
'. Elizabeth (Mrs. “VVinters) and Mary (Mrs. Guy).

Daniel McCoy conveyed the one hundredand thirty-
five acres““left him by his ‘father to William Garrett

on the 17th of November, 1827. , Joseph -McCoy re-C ‘

tained the one hundred and thirty-six acres (the home
farm), and purchased also the Garrett farm, one hun-
dred and thirty-five acres; the Bryant farm, of one
hundred and forty acres, a part of which David
Bryant had purchased of David VVi1liamson in 1804;
and the Noble or Buchanan farm, of eighty-four acres,
containing in all four hundred and ninety-six acres.
This property is nowout of thefamily. '1

William Wolf came to Buffalo township at an early
day and made a settlement, butiseems to have been
driven away by the Indians.‘ On Feb. ‘27, 1786,he

. warranted a tract of l.land‘“call‘ed‘ “ .Wolf’s Hollow,”

located on the waters of Buffalo "Creek, containing
three hundred and eighty-five‘ acres. This land was
surveyed later, and attached tolthe sur'vey’isan aflti‘-"
davit, showing that _“‘the above VVillia1m‘_VVolf was
driven from the above place through force or fear of
the Indians, during the late war, and his place was
left without inhabitants.” A ‘

The property in question is that now owned by the
heirs of William Price, and upon it William Wolf
passed. all but the very last part or his life. His chil-
dren were fivesons and three daughters,-——William,"
Peter, Simon, Christopher, John, Mary, Elizabeth,
and Susan. Mary Wolf married James Skiggins, and
was killed by the Indians while living in a block-house
in Ohio. ' Elizabeth never married, but passed herlife
in this township, and at Wheeling, Va., dying at the
latter place. ’ Susan became the wife of Leonard Dick-
inson, and removed to Ohio. William VVolf, J r., was a
cooper, and lived and died in Washington. Peter was a‘
cabinet-maker, and lived in ‘Washington. Simon Wolf,
who was -born May 23, 1793, was a ‘cooper. He settled
in Washington and died there, at the residence of his
son-in-law, William F. Dickey, Oct. 9, 1879. -Chris-4
topher Wolf settled in Buffalo township, about seven
miles from Washington, on the Wheeling pike. The

place was formerly owned by one Huffman, and a man-

named Wilson once kept tavern there. Christopher
Wolf was a contractor of bridges on the National
road from Washington to Cumberland, and later was
stationed at Zanesville, Ohio. He is now in Missouri.

John Wolf, who was present at Hul1’s surrender, in ‘

1812, located at Wheeling, Va., and_died there. Wil-
liam Wolf, Sr., for a short time before his death, lived
in Washington. Hevdied at the advanced age of
ninety years, and was buried in Buffalo township,
due a brave soldier. ?  ' 1 1 = - « 1 1

,7 =J:'a—cob Wolf was a German, who fo'l'1owed the occu-’-’

1 his funeral services being attended with all the honors

$78

pation of .farmer,'an‘d was also ,a justice of the peace.
He must have located in this township as early as

hearing his signature. The records of his property,
however, show it tovhave, been warranted April 23,
1793, and surveyed eight months later.
hundred acres of land, called “Wolf’s Grove,” situ-
a-ted on Buffalo Creek, and is now owned by John
McDowell. Jacob Wolf was a very eccentric man,
and invariably, after performing a marriage ceremony
in the capacity of justice of the peace, he wouldthrust
his handsuinto the pockets of his gown with the inter-
rogatory, “ Now, where ish mine dollar?” He had" a
family of seven,-—two sons and five daughters. J ohn’s
wife was Mary Devore, and Jacob, J r., married Pris-
cilla,Martin, and removed to Ohio. Mary and Eliza-
beth Wolf married two brothers named Clemmenfs;
Ros'sannah_ became Mrs. Shearer andgwent West, ;and
Margaret married John McGaw andremoved to Ohio.
The last-named’ couple took their wedding dinner,

It was two.

April 15, 1799, at the house of Eleven Williams, in.

Taylorstown. , Servenia Wolf, Jacob Wolf’s other
daughter, became the wife of Hugh H. Brackenridge,
whose name was familiar to all residents of Washing-
ton County, and who owned a large tract of land in

‘Buffalo township at an early date, the same now in
- the possession of William
_ Gantz heirs.

r Among the many forts or block-houses which dotted I

Ely, David Clark, and the

the wilderness in thosevuncertain times, Wolf’s Fort
was one of the _first built. It stood\about five miles
west of the present borough of Washington, and. in-
closed the cabin‘ of Jacob Wolf. To this fort Pris-
cilla Peak or Peck crawled upon her hands and knees
after being scalped; She was confined to her bed

with a fever when the Indians broke in upon the

family, and seeing the hopelessness of escaping, some
one threw a quilt round her-and told her to fly. She
only had str_ength suflicient toreach a pig-sty, where
she stopped for breath. While leaning over the fence
an Indian discovered her and scalped her. .Being
hotly pursued by the whites he did not tomahawk
her, and in this condition she reached Wolf ’s_ Fort.
She recovered, her head healed, but she always wore
a black cap to conceal her loss. A Miss Christianna
Clemmens and Lydia Boggs were chased into this
fort, and only escaped capture by outrunning their
pursuers. Miss Boggs was afterwards captured and
carried across the Ohio River, but effected her es-

\

cape and returned to her friends, having forced her

horse to swim the river- Another incident, relating
to the history of this fort was recounted, in later years,
by William Darby, who, when a child, came with his
parents to this vicinity in December, 17 81,——the elder
Darby evidently intending permanent settlement
here, but being driven away by Indian alarms. Mr.
Darby in his narrative says, “We remained in Mr.
Wolfe’s house until February, 17 82, while my father

was preparing his cabin, into which we finally entered,

«*1-
/

HISTORY or WASHINGTON COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA. 

but not to rest. In fifteen or twenty days afterien'-

, tering into our log cabin, Martin J_o-llycame running
/1785 or 1786, as documents of that date are on file I

breathless to tell us that a savage murder had’ been
committed but ten‘ miles distant. In two hours we
were in Wolfe’s Fort. From the fort my parents re-
moved to Catfish [Washington], andspent the re-

mainder of 1782, and to April, 1783, on the farm of-

Alexander Reynolds, recently owned by Dr. F. J . Le
Moyne.” . -
-~ Another fort was Taylor’s Fort, near the site of
Taylorstown. _ It stood on a knoll on the bank of
Buffalo Creek, the property being now owned by
James Hodgens, Esq. ‘ -

Alexander Hunter came from Ireland in 1789. to
Washington County, bringing his family. with him.
His son, William Hunter, was born inthis township
in 1803, and at this writing is seventy-eight years of
age. Alexander Hunter 'was a carpenter by trade,
and many years ago built a house in Brownsville,
Fayette Co., for Co]. Clark. About the time the
house was finished Clark failed and could not pay for
the Work. He was running a woolen-factory at
Clarksburg, and turned o-ver some sheep to Hunter
in lieu of the money he could not pay. Mr. Hunter
bought out Col. Clark’s business," bought and sold
sheep, increased his flocks by purchases and the natural
increase, and finally became quite largely engaged in
the growing of wool. For many years Mr. William
Hunter was engaged in the wool -interests with his
father, Alexander Hunter, and has continued ‘it
since the death of the latter. William Hunter is
himself an old man now, having been in this business
for ‘more than sixty years, and of late much of the
management of the business has devol.ved upon his
son. ‘ 1 *
James and Isaac Carson were two brothers who
came into this township‘ and located land. On a
Virginia certificate James Carson took up the tract
called “Eagles Nest,” for which the board of prop-
erty granted him a warrant of acceptance Sept. 11,

1790, and the patent was received eleven days later. ,,
' On Feb. 18, 1808, J arnes sold. one hundred acres of
the land to his brother Isaac, and they continued to .
live together. It is the property now occupied by‘ A

Neman"a_nd Samuel Carson. James Carson married
Rebecca Hill, and they had several children. Their

son Adam married -Rebecca Wilson, a daughter of

Charles Wilson, and now resides near Claysville, in

Donegal township. The daughter, Mary, is Mrs.‘

Peter Myers, of this township.

Joseph Hutchinson emigrated from Chester County,

in this State, to Buffalo township in 17 90, settling on
the tract of land now owned by his grandson, Joseph
Hutchinson. He married Hannah McCullough, of
Chester County, and they had six children,———Martha,
Jane, James, -Nancy, Hannah, and John. Martha
married John Graham, and their children were Rob-
ert, Joseph, John, Samuel, James, Thomas, Ebenezer,
Martha, Hannah, and Matilda Graham, ten in all.

a B1I.rrArLo :rewNs.HIP..~*...

I

had five children,-—William, Hannah, John, Thomas,
.and Joseph Knox. Nancy Hutchinson married

_.Jane...H,u-tchainson 'm.arried«Wi,.l_li-am’ Knox, and they '1

’ .G;e0_rge Knox, and reared-a family of six children,-+
Hannah, Thomas,» James,'_Margaret, Martha, and

Joseph Knox.‘ John. Hutchinson married Nancy
-.H’utchinson,und_oubtedly a relative, and their chil-

dren were Eliza, Joseph, VVilliam, Martha, and ‘Mary
(Ann Hutchinson- jJa_I_nesfH-utchinsongmarried Mary

A. Patterson, and Hannah remained single. J am-es
-Graham, sonof Martha Hutchinson and grandson of
.old oseph Hutchinson, married and had a family of
nine children.‘ Samuel, the youngest, was a minister

1 in the United_.Presbyterian..Church, and died in Ohio.

Joseph Hutchinson, who resides on the old homestead,

- is the only ‘living descendant in Washington County,

the others all having removed to the States of Ohio
and-"Indiana. ° ' - V :

_ John Barr was a native of’ Ireland, who came to
tliiscountry in»1793,.=and stopped‘ first in Cumberland.
He then settled in Buffalo township, went East, and
purchased‘ a still and engaged in— distilling. He died
leaving two-sons andtwo daughters. Robert Barr,
living on. the old homestead, is the only surviving
child. ’ - _   — v
 John Fleck -was an early emigrant to Buffalo town-

.ship.»_. His children were William, John, and Mary

Fleck. John married a daughter of Rev._Mr. An-
derson, and lived and died.o_n the tract of land now

.8 owned by his "sons, John and Wallace Fleck, which

is the old homestead. Mary became the wife of John
Clemmens. ‘Being left a widow not long after her
marriage, she" married ‘Dr. John.Stee1,=who practiced
in Taylorstown for several years. V
John Woodburn came from Ireland in, 1812, ‘bring-
ing his family, consisting of a wife and live children.

’ He’ purchased a farm of one hundred and sixty-six

acres of Joseph Pentecost,’ Nov. 19, 1811, which was
a part of a tractpatented to C01. David Williamson.
He remained on this property until 1840, when he
went to reside with his daughter, Mrs. Mary Gray, in
Donegal township, and two years later died there aged
eighty-three years. The only living children of this
pioneer are John Woodburn, of \Vashington,‘and Mrs.
John Garrett, residing in the same place.

James and Robert Garrett were brothers, of Irish
birth,'and both lived in Buffalo township. James
owned and lived upon a farm on Brush Run, not far
distant from Buffalo Creek, which is now the property
of Robert‘ Garrett, of Claysville. He married Miss
Ross, a relative of James Ross, of Pittsburgh, and-
they had a family of three sons and six daughters.
Of the sons,James died single, Robert married Miss
Maloy, and John married Martha Woodburn. Rob-

I ert Garrett, Sr., the emigrant to this township, was

married twice. His last wife was a wealthy lady of

Baltimore,’ wheretheir son, John W. Garrett, the

president of the Baltimore and Ohio Railroad, now
resides. I ',

67.9

_. .Samuel.Mc'Conoughey-settled in Buffalo township
and followed farming. . He had but three children,--
Samuel, James, and Martha. ‘ Samuel married‘Mary
McLain, and [had for -his home‘ a part of his father’s

farm. James McConoughey.married Isabella Kerr,"

and also settled on thehomestead. He had ten chil-
idren,‘-——,Samuel, Hugh, ..William, .,Thompson, James,
Margaret, Martha, Elizabeth, Jane, and Isabella Mc-
Conougl1ey.._l-William died_ in Ohio, Elizabeth lives
in Kansas, Martha and James ‘reside in this county’,

and all the otliers died in” this county. -; The old Mc-

Conoughey homestead is now owned by William Kerr
and John Campbell. _ Margaret _ Hodgens, Robert,
Caroline, and James Johnson, in this township, and
James McConoughey,L of Independencetownship, are
all descendants of this family. . '
Andrew Rogers owned and lived upon the farm
now the property of Robert Knox, in Buffalo town-
ship. -«Andrew was a soldier in the war of 1812. His
wife was'Miss Jane Cox, and their family was five
daughters. Susan Rogers remainedsingle, and died
in Washington County; Martha also remained single;
Margaret became the wife of ‘J oseph B.‘McConoughey,
and lived and-died in this township; »Ma-ry married
John G.'Allison, and resides in Canton.town‘ship';
and Jane, who married a man named Jackson, lived
for a few years in West Bethlehem township, but died
i_n’Buffalo. ’ ' i A
Governor Joseph Ritner was for some years a'resi_-

dentof Buffalo township, and owned a farm here

upon which hebuilt a handsomerstone dwelling-
house. He represented this district inthe State
Legislature,‘and was afterwards elected Governor
of ‘Pennsylvania.- He was an honest and straight-
forward old German. Very many amusing anec-
dotes are told of him by the older citizens. Atone
time he was entertaining a clergyman, who congratu-
lated him upon having gathered so many. of the good
things of this world about him. This pleased Mr.
Ritner exceedingly, and he called the reverend gen-
tleman’s attention to a new wagon he had just pur-
chased. .“ Well, Governor Ritner,” said the minister,
i‘ I see you have everything but grace.”
grease, vy, I does not use him, I use darr.” The fol-
lowing personal notice -of Governor Ritner, after he
had laid aside his gubernatorial honors, is taken from
the Chambersburg, Pa., Whig, of July 28, 1853 :

“ We noticed Governor Ritner in town last week, enjoying excellent
health. He is now seventy-three years of age, but still superinteh-ds
his farm in person, and until this season always drove his own team.
He was born in‘ Berks. County, represented, Washington County six
years in the House of Representatives, commencing in 1851, ‘and was
twice Speaker of the House. He was the anti-Jackson nominee for
Governor in 1826 and 1832, and defeated; and against Governor Wolf
and Henry Muhlenberg in 1835, and elected; and against Governor
Porter in 1838, and defeated. Since he retired from the gubernatorial
chair he has resided on his farm in Cumberland County.”

'1‘aylorstoWn.—Robert Taylor warranted the tract
of land which was surveyed to him as “Beaver,”
three hundred and thirty-one acres, and patented to

“ Grace, '

THE REVOLUTION.

79

twenty-nine sergeants, nine drums and fifes, one hun-
dred and twelve rank and file fit for duty; twenty-
eight sick present, seventy-seven sick absent, one
hundred and thirty-nine on command; total, three
hundred and fifty-one. Prisoners of war, one sergeant
and fifty—eight privates. Capt. Van Swearingen,
Lieut. Basil Prather, and Li-eut. John Hardin on
command with C01. Morgan.
tenant-colonel, four captains, three lieutenants, eight
ensigns,'chaplain, and surgeon’s mate. Lieut.-Col.
Ross resigned after the battles of Brandywine and
Germantown.

On the 5th of March, 1777, the regiment was or-
dered to Pittsburgh for the defense of the western
frontiers, and by direction of Gen. McIntosh, Col.
Brodhead made, about the 12th of July, a détour up the
VVest Branch to check the savages who were ravaging
Wyoming and the West’ Branch Valley. He was at
Muncy on the 24th of July, and had ordered Capt.
Finley’s company into Penn’s Valley, where two of the
latter’s soldiers, Thomas Van Doren and Jacob Shed-
acre, who had participated in the campaign against
Burgoyne, were killed on the 24th, in sight of Potter’s
fort, by the Indians. (Pennsylvania Archives, O. S.,
vol. vi. page 666.) Soon after, Col. Hartley with his
regiment relieved Col. Brodhead, and he proceeded
with the Eighth to Pittsburgh.

A monthly return of the troops commanded by Col.

Brodhead in the Western Department, dated July

30, 1780, gives the strength of the Eighth Pennsyl-
vania : colonel, lieutenant-colonel, major, two captains,
three lieutenants, four ensigns, adjutant, paymaster,
quartermaster, surgeon, surgeon’s mate, sergeant-
major, quartermaster-sergeant, one drum and fife
major, ten sergeants, ten drums andsfifes, one hundred

_and twenty rank and file fit for duty, four sick, two

furloughed, eight on command, three deserted, six
joined the Invalid Company.

In a letter from Gen. William Irvine to Gen. Wash-
ington, soon after he took command at Fort Pitt,
dated Dec. 2, 1781, he says, “I have reformed the
remains of the late Eighth Pennsylvania into two
companies, and call them a detachment from the
Pennsylvania line, to be commanded by Lieut.-Col.
Bayard.” [The first company, Capt. Clark, Lieuts-.
Peterson and Reed; second company, Capt. Brady,
Lieuts. Ward and Morrison.]

Capt. Matthew Jack, in a statement on file, says,
“ In the year 17.7 8 the Eighth was sent to Pittsburgh

to guard the frontier, and placed under the command

of Gen. McIntosh; that they went down to the
mouth of the Beaver, and therebuilt Fort McIntosh,
and from that went, upon McIntosh’s command, to
the head of the Muskingum, and there built Fort
Laurens. In the year 1779 went up the Allegheny,
on Gen. Brodhead’s expedition, attacked the Indians
and defeated them, and burned their towns. On the
return of the regiment, its time having expired, it was
discharged at Pittsburgh.” For a full account of the

Vacant offices : lieu- ,

services of this regiment in the West the reader is
referred to “Brodhead’s Letter-Book,” published in
the twelfth volume, first series, of Pennsylvania Ar-
chives.

Van Swearingen was probably the most noted cap-
tain in the Eighth Pennsylvania. On the 19th of
September he and a lieutenant and twenty privates
were captured in a sudden dash that scattered Mor-
gan’s men. He fell into the hands of the Indians,
but was rescued by Gen.‘ Fraser’s batman (one who
takes care of his oificer’s horse), who took him before
the general. The latter interrogated him concerning
the number of the American army, but got no answer,
except that it was commanded by Gens. Gates and
Arnold. He then threatened to hang him. “You
may, if you please,” said Van Swearingen. Fraser
then rode off, leaving him in care of Sergt. Dunbar,
who consigned him to Lieut. Auburey, who ordered
him to be placed among the other prisoners, with
directions not to be ill treated. Swearingen, after
Burgoyne’s army was removed to Virginia, made
especial exertions to have Dunbar and Auburey ex-
changed. Swearingen was the first sheriff of Wash-
ington County in 1781. His daughter became the
wife of the celebrated Capt. Samuel Brady (also of
the Eighth Pennsylvania), so conspicuous in the
annals of Western Pennsylvania.

ROSTER OF FIELD AND STAFF OFFICERS or THE EIGHTH
PENNSYLVANIA. ‘

Colonels.

Mackay, Eneas, of Westmoreland County, July 20, 1776; died in service,
Feb. 14, 1777.

Brodhead, Daniel, from lieutenant-colonel Fourth Pennsylvania, March
12, 1777; joined April, 1777; transferred to First Pennsylvania, Jan.
17,1781.

Lz'eutenant- Colonels.

Wilson, George, July 20, 1776; died in service at Quibbletown, February,
1777.

Butler, Richard, from major, March 12, 1777, ranking from Aug. 28,

1776; transferred to lieutenant-colonel of Morgan’s rifle command, -

June 9, 1777; promoted colonel of Ninth Pennsylvania, ranking
from June 7, 1777; by an alteration subsequent to March 12, 1777,
' Richard Butler was placed in the First Pennsylvania, and James
Ross in Eighth Pennsylvania.
Ross, James, from lieutenant-colonel First Pennsylvania; resigned Sept.
22, 1777.
Bayard, Stephen, from major, ranking Sept. 23, 1777; transferred to Sixth
. Pennsylvania, Jan. 17, 1781.
. Zllajors.

Butler, Richard, July 20, 1776; promoted lieutenant-colonel March 12,
1777.

Bayard, Stephen, March 12, 1777, ranking from Oct. 4, 1776; promoted
lieutenant-colonel, to rank from Sept. 23, 1777.

Vernon, Frederick, from captain Fifth Pennsylvania, ranking from June
7, 1777; transferred to Fourth Pennsy1vania,_Jan. 17, 1781.

Captains.

Kilgore, David, died July 11, 1814, aged sixty-nine years four months and
twelve days; buried in the Presbyterian graveyard of Mount Pleas-.
ant (Middle Church), Westmoreland County.-—Letter of Nannie H.
Kzlgore, Greensburg, July 23, 1878. ,

Miller, Samuel, died in service, Jan. 10, 1778; left a widow, Jane Cruik-
shank, who resided in Westmoreland County in 1784.

Van Swearingen} Aug.9, 1776. Van Swearingen had been in command

1 The names of the captains appear, on the first return found, in the
order indicated above, but date of commissions cannot be ascertained.
Probably they were all dated Aug. 9, 1776, as Van Swearingen’s.

630

HISTORY or wAsH1NeToN COUNTY,“ PENNSYLVANIA.

him March 15, 1788. «It was sold by him to his son '

Will-ialn in the spring of 1795,the deed bearing date
September 9th of that year. Immediately upon the
‘purchase William Taylor laid out a town plat, which
was named ‘_‘ New Brunswick,” on the 9th of Febru-
ary, 1795,‘ David Heaton being the surveyor. The
first‘ lot -sold in the new town was to David Craig, on
the 9th of October, 1795, it being lot No. 3, now
iowned by Alexander Buchanan; on the same day
lot No. 2 to Samuel Taylor. The names of the later

purchasers arehere given in the order of the date of
the deeds:  1

James Ralston, Oct. 10,1795, lot No. 37; consideration, $3.

John Heaton, Oct. 10, 1795, lot No. 18; consideration, 

John Irwin, Oct. 24, .1795, lot No. 14; consideration, $3.

Clla rles and Jolln Mcltoberts, Dec. 12, 1795, lot No. 44; consideration, $3.
John Anthony We-yer,. April. 23, 1796, lot N 0. 13; consideration, $3.
John» Fisher, April 27,1796, lot No. 7 ;' consideration, $3. ‘
'R/obert Russell, Dec. 16, 1796, lots Nos. 39, 40,41 ; consideration, $21.
John Anthony,-Jan. 28, 1797, lot No. 54 and outlot; consideration, $12.
Robert Russell, Oct. 23, 1798, lot No. 43; consideration; $3. 9 .
John Dillon, Oct. 27, 1798, lots ‘Nos. 55, 56, and outlot N015 ; ‘consider-

ation, $300. ‘ y  i ' i -

William Dinlsey, Oct. 30, 1798, lots Nos. 42, 61, 62,63; consideration, ‘$20.
William Clemmens, July 6, 1801, lot No. 1 and outlot; consideratibn,
' .3300. ' ‘ _ _ , .
John Young, March‘2,1802, lot No. 46; consideration, $3.
John'Yollng, Marcll 1, 1803,'lot No. 48; consideration, $100.. 0 ~

Henry Dillon, March 19, 1803, 1ots.Nos. 52. 53. 54 ;‘ consideration, $24.
Thomas Stokely, March 15, 1805, lot No. 8,; consideration,N$3_O0.

Charles McRoberts, March 18, 1805, lot No. 43; consideratio_n,'$9.l A
Adam Allison, Sept. 20, 1806, lots Nos. 21, 22, 23, 24; consideration, $50.

' James -Kerr, Oct. 20. 1807, lots Nos. 9, 10, 16, 48;, consideration, $36. ‘

Daniel McKellan, Oct. 20, 1807,-lots Nos. 65, 66, 67; consideration, $12.-

‘Improvements-~ soon commenced. Eleven Wil-
liams is said to have erected the first-house intown,
‘in which he kept tavern in 1800. ’_The lot on which
it" stood is now owned by Mr. McHugh. John Dillon
built atannery on his lots Nos. 55, 56, which he car-
ried‘ on for some years. The property is now owned
by William Streight. Mrs. Alvay, now eighty-three
years of age, daughter of Eleven Williams, says the
first store was started Galbraith, ‘-and in 1810, Frank
Matthews kept a store there. The town, although
laid outas New Brunswick, ‘was never exttensively
known by that: ‘name, but received, for its proprietor,
the namie-oft Taylorstown, which soon-came into gen-'
eral use.  A ’ ' 1 ‘ , l~ '

William Richardson was an early “settler in Taylors-
town.‘ He was a hatter by trade, andlworkedin that
place seventy years ago. A He had-two sons, William
and J a.cob;. the former emigrated to Steubenvill-e,
the latter was a shoemaker,and married»avMiss Hitch-
cock, ‘worked here for a time, and moved away. Jacob,

and residesnear.Taylorstown. 1 1 . V «

Robert Taylor,’ the father of William Taylor, left
two sons and two 'dal'1,ghters.l William purchased the
tracts “Ricl_iland’-’ and “Beaver” of his , father in

' a son of William," married .Miss Ada M.’Hutchinson,

1795. He laid out the lands adjoining the town of

Brunswick into ‘outlets and sold them, and on the
21st of October, 1807, he sold two‘ llundredr-and{four—
teen acres pf land, parts ofgboth ‘tracts, to Thomas

McKi1lstry for sixteen hundred dollars. From this 5

time the name of New Brunswick was dropped, and

the town became known as Taylorstown. Soon after A

this time William Taylor removed to Ohio. His sis-
ter Sarah married Robert Becket and settled in the
Miami Valley. Jane married John McVVilliams‘and
settled: on the McWilliams tract, where she lived and
died. . 1 .
Taylorstown is situated .on the main branch of
Buffalo Creek, alld is built onboth sides of the Wash-
ing and West Liberty road, in the valley of the creek.
It at present contains twenty’-one ‘ 7dwelling‘s, one
church (United Presbyterian), -school-house, steam

‘grist-mill, ‘two stores, blacksmi_th-shop, wagon-shop,-

shoe-shop, and post-oflicve. — _
The Taylorstown post-office was established J une 1,
1831. A Oliver Wallace was the first postmaster. He
was succeeded by his widow, Christiana Wallace,
Alexander'Wilson, Alexander _McCle_er’ (appointed
June 7, 1855), and the Rev. John Morrow, who is the
present postmaster. - A 1 «
The tavern-keepers of Taylorstown have been John
Galbraith, Eleven Williams, James "Brownlee, William
Noble, Joseph Heller, Charles Hellems, John W'olf,°
William Coxen, and Greer Hair. __ _ ii 8 j
Physicians.~Dr. John McCabe was a native of
Allegheny County, Pa..,»and came-to Taylorstown iri

’ 1840, andcommenced the practice of -medicine, which:

he continued till 1851, and removed to Allegheny
County, and then to West Middletown, returning to
Taylorstown in 1860, where -he lived till his death,
April 25, 1864. He left a widow and family; the

former still resides at Taylorstown. A son_,»David, 3

studied medicine with Dr. J. S. Crawford, andpgradu-'
ated at Cleveland. He practiced for several yearsat
Kansas City, then returned to Cleveland, where he
married and died.‘ ‘ A ' V ' A

Dr. J. VS. Crawford, also a native of Allegheny
County, is a graduate of Cleveland Medical College.
He came to Taylorstown a few months prior to the
decease of Dr. McCabe, and commenced at practice
which he still continues. He is the only resident
physician in the township. _ »

Dr. Hufi“man about thirty years ago came to Tay-
lorstown and opened an office. He remained about
ten years, and moved to Washington, and finallyito
West Virginia.  A

Other’ physicians have practiced in the township, H

but only for a short time. V V - _

United Presbyterian Church.—~On the 15th day”
-of August, 1872, the-people of this vicinity who were
in accord with the views of the above denomination
met at this place and organized a church by the ‘elec-

tion of the following elders: NathanieliNealy, Ed-A

ward (}rimes,»and Dr. J. S. Crawford. Services were,
held inthe public school building until. the erection‘
of a! church edifice. VA lot was purchased on the
north side of the street at-a-cost of six ‘hundred dollars.
A neat and commodious building was erected,“ and

gj'.~;i;s*BUFIi‘iALO T’O‘V"NSHIP.. 9, W  1

681

dedicated. Aug. -15, 1874. The names of the min_is-
ters who ser.ved herewere Revs. J. S. Dice, J. Dilsons,
B- J._4Forester,  H. McCle.ary, J. R; May, W. J.
Cooper, M. B- Brownlee, VV. T. McConnel, Thomas

‘McCartney, R. M. Patterson, B. D. Bruce, A..D. Mc-

Carroll, Samuel Collins, and J ohn£Morrow, the pres-
ent pastor. On the 10th of April, 1873, a call was
extended ‘to the Rev. John Morrow, which was ac-
cepted. He assumed charge June 1,.1873, and on the
30th of September the same year was ordained and
regularly, installed. The present,-sessionis composed.
of Dr. J. S. Crawford, Edward Grimes, R. VV. Cruthers,
and J ames.VVilson. The church has armembersliip of
one hundred and eleven. 1 =

  North Buffalo United ‘Presbyterian Church.‘—-

_ The first pastor of this congregation, the Rev. Matthew

Henderson, first’ preached in this neighborhood» to the
few settlers. who were living in the vicinity in the
year 1775. The. place where he first held services was
ina grovenot far from the present house of worship,
and in that grove in 1778, a congregation was. organ-
ized, under the name of Buffalo, by the election of
John Brownlee, James Brownlee, —— Smiley, and
Andrew Scott as elders. There the people gathered
for worship, and they carried their trusty guns with
them to de-fendthemse.lves even while they worshiped,
their creed and watchword “Trust in God and keep
your powder dry.” Buffalo and Chartiers were united
in one charge and made a call for a pastor. The first

‘ call madeby the congregations of Chartiers an_d Buf-

falo was in the Chartiers congregation- The meeting
was held in the openair. The following is an ex-

tract from the minutes: “ At Chartiers, October 18th,

1779, which day and place the Sessionsof Chartiers
and Buffalo being met in the presence of the congre-
gation, and constituted with prayer by the moderator,

~ Rev.‘John Murray ;, members sederum‘, James Scott,

John. White, Nicholas Little, David Reed, belonging
to Chartiers, and John Brownlee, James Brownlee,
and Andrew Scott, belonging to Buffalo,” etc. Two
nominations were made, Mr. enderson, of Oxford,

and Mr. Smith, of -Octorara. Mr. Henderson was de-_

clared elected, and it was agreed to give him a salary
of one hundred pounds in hard money, or four hun-
dred bushels of wheat. He accepted the call, left his
family at Conecocheague, becauseo-f Indian hostili-
ties, ‘andcame to his congregation to begin his labors
in. November, 1781, accordihg to the “church regis-

. ter.” ,His. name does not appear on the roll of Pres-_
bytery at its,next, meeting, onithe 10th ofApril, 1782,

from which it appears he did not waitito supply at

Conecocheague. He was installed, pastor of his new

charge in 1782. He was then about forty-seven years
of age. About a year after his arrival his family fol-
lowed him. They: lived in alog cabin eight or nine
miles from Buffalo meeting-house, and about four

1 Taken principally from an .. address delivered by the Rev. W. H.
F_rench,.D.D., of Cincinnati, Ohio, Nov. 4, 1875. . ‘ .

miles from Chartiers. The place of worship was
changedat the beginning, of his pastorate from the
place where‘-==the_. congregation was first’ organized to
thesi_te of its present. house of worship, because it
was more convenient for the people and for the pas-
tor. Alog house was erected for the _accommodation
_of the. worshipers, into which thegcongregation was
crowded in very inclementweather; when the weather

permitted they worshiped out of doors, a sort of coop -

of a pulpit having been e§rected’_east of the present
house. lMr. Henderson. continued his labors until
Oct. 2, 1795,when he was killed by the fall of a tree;
a. limb striking him killed him almost in.stant_ly,

“and, he escaped a prolonged struggle with almost

the only enemy he ever feared.”

After the death of Mr. Henderson, the icongre"g’a-
tion soon secured the services of a second. pastor,,the,

_Rev. Robert Laing. He was born in.the southiof,

Scotland in 1750, ordained in D.unse, in theysame
country, in 1785; came to-America in. 1795; began
his labors in Buffalo in 1796, and waspinstalled in
1797. And although he had been in the ministry
only about half as long as: Mr. Henderson when he
came to Buffalo, he was about the samefage, in his

forty-seventh year, being‘ thirty-five y ears of age when.

ordained. He was a man of greatdignity of manner,
and ‘hada sort of stiffnessthat lessened his accepta-
bility to the people, and,’ consequently‘ injured, his
usefulness.. The custom in his day was to set outthe

bottle of whiskey. when visitors came to the house.

One was thought inhospitable if he neglected this
courtesy, and if right.and hospitable towards the peo-

ple, why not toward the minister? he was not made‘ ’

an exception. A The result was that disaffection; arose

: in the congregation towards their. pastor. Itincreased
to such an extent that all the members of session re-
signed their offices and anew electionwas ordered...’

This only increased the: difficulty. At a; meeting of
the Associate Synod of ‘North America, which was

held in Philadelphia, Nov. 24, 1805, this body having‘

been organized in 1800, and composed of four Pres-

_[byteries, Mr. Laing was by a‘ unanimous vote trans-

ported to Argyle, N ..Y., and Rev. John Anderson
appointed to declare his pulpit vacant. - '

After the removal of Mr. Laing the» congregation
was vacant. until the year 1811. The Rev. David,
‘French was the nextpastor of Buffalo. He was born
in Vermont, Aug. 23, 1783_, and removed to VVas,h-V
'ingtonCounty, N. Y.,,at an eanly age, and was raised.

 that county. He was educated at Union College,
Schenectady, and studied theology at the First West-
ern Theological Seminary, in Beaver County, Pa.,
under Dr. John Anderson; was ordained by the As-
sociate Presbytery of Chartiers by order of the Asso-
ciate Synod,’ that he might be the better qualified for

missionary work in -the Presbytery of Kentucky. A ‘

new congregation was organized aboutthis time and

called South Buffalo. To distinguish these two, Buf-
, Ifalo was named North Buffalo. ’ These; two united in;

682"

HISTORY or WAiSHI‘NG"TON (3'OUNTY,7PENNSYLVANIA. 6

a call for his labors. The call" was dated May 12,
1811, and accepted on the 21st of the same month.’
He was installed July’ 2d following. At this time
there was erected a new house of worship; It was
built of hewn logs and weatherboarded, and was neat
and comfortable in contrast withthe old. The re-
mains of the old house stood until 1845, when they
were taken away, The second house ‘stood until
1848, when the present brick one was erected beside
it and the old one. removed. ’

‘ Mr. French’s pastorate’ was the longest that has
beeniin the congregation,he having been pastor for
forty-one years of the united charge, and forty-two
years-in this congregation. In the forty years of his
pastorate he never disappointed his people on a
Sabbath-day because of sickness. Once he was pre-
vented from reaching South Buffalo by high water,
and once or twice by death in the family. In 1853 a
paralytic stroke disabled him, and his speech was
impaired. He resigned the charge of South Buffalo
in 1852, and _in 1853 North Buffalo. He died March
30,_ 1855, and his remains were lai.d in the graveyard

by the North ‘Buffalo Church, by the side of those of -

his first wife, two sons, and five daughters, two
being daughters of his second wife. ' '

, The congregation remained vacant, after the resig-
nation of Mr. French, for about two years. It had in-
creased in numbers, wealth, and liberality; had
erected the brick edifice in which it still worships in
the summer of 1845, and desired a pastor’s full time.
The South Buffalo congregation also felt itself able to
support a minister, hence the connection between
them was dissolved. South Buffalo gave a call to
Rev. J. G. Carson, and North Buffalo made out a call,
in thesummer of 1855, for Rev. William M. Gibson,
a native of Washington County, Pa., raised under the
pastorate of the Rev. Bankhead Boyd; graduated at
Washington College and at Canonsburg Theological
Seminary, andton the 29th of November in the same

' year he was ordained and installed. Thus began the

fourth pastorate. He continued in this charge until

the _12th of "N ovember, 1861, when his resignation was .
. accepted by the Presbytery, and the pastoral relation

dissolved. .. V E _ -
~ After being vacant for about fiveuyears and six
months, the congregation secured the pastoral labors

of Rev. Robert Welch, a graduatelof Jefferson College A

and of the theological seminary at Allegheny. He
had served in the war of the great Rebellion as alien-

tenant of Company C of the Twenty-second Pennsyl-_

vania Cavalry, and having laid down these carnal
weapons when victory was achieved, he went forth
with the sword of the Spirit, but soon to achieve his
victory. . He was called to the pastorate of this con-
gregation, and, having. accepted the call, began his

‘stated labors April 1, 1867,ia.nd was ordained and in- I

stalled the 14th of May of the same year. He labored
with great acceptability, beloved byhis people, until
the 22do’f December, 186-8, when he died.

gporary with Mr. Henderson and Mr. Laing.

" The congregation remained, after the death of Mr.
Welch, for about three years wi't‘hout‘ja pastor. J ‘On

. the 10th of April, 1871, a callwas made’ out for the
Rev. Josias Stevenson, anative of Ir‘elan‘d,‘a graduate‘,

of Franklin College, Ohio, and of the theoldgical
seminary at Xenia. He was ‘installed in North’Buf-

I falo the 13th_ oflJ‘une, 1871, after having been in the’

ministry about thirteen years, eleven of which were
spent in ellicient labors in the congregation of VVest
Alexander. He was succeeded in the ‘pastorate of
this church by the Rev. Samuel J .‘Kyle, the present
pastor. - ‘ - ' ' _
The elders first chosen were John " and J ames‘
Brownlee, Andrew Scott,and Samuel Johnson. These
were ordained and installed in 17 7 8,,and were cotem-
John
Brownlee ‘died in 1802, and James in 1822. Of the
other two, the date of their death is not given in the
register of the congregation. ’ In‘ 1793, Messrs. Hugh,
Allison, Thomas Hanna, James Smiley, and John
Buchanan were ordained and installed. Mr. Allison
continued in his office until 1853. On the'3d day of
Septemberof ‘that year he was called to his reward.
Mr. Thomas Hanna left Buffalo in the spring of 1835',’
and died April 9, 1839. '_ ‘
In 1.802 there was an election of elders, the session
then ruling refusing to act because of the difficulty be-

tween the pastor and themselves. It resulted in the A

choice of Messrs. Alexander Patterson, Robert Wylie,
David Clark, Jacob Donaldson,and Thomas Irvine,

and they were ordained and installed. Alexander‘Pat- .

terson died in 1840, Robert'Wylie "in 1830, David:
Clark"in 1821,'Jacob Donaldson Aug. 2, 1850, and
Thomas Irvine in 1829. How long these continued
in the eldership in the congregation does notappear.
In 1811, the year that Mr. French tookcharge, the
session was strengthened by the choice and ordina-
tion to and installation in the eldership of Samuel
Graham and James Patterson,.the former continuing
till his death on March 23, 1850. _ Mr. Patterson con‘-
tinued in oflice tillhis death, Jan. 4, 1869. I
May 13, 1820, John Brownlee and John C. Hanna
were ordained and installed. Mr. Brownlee died
May 29, 1854.. He was a member of the Washing-‘
ton congregation at the time of his death. Mr.
Hanna continued i11 his oflice in the congregation
until his death, Sept. 13,,1865.' 'In February, 1837,
Samuel Neely and Archibald Brownlee were ordained

to the office of the eldership and installed in it in the ‘ ‘

congregation. Mr. Neely continued in his office
until" his death, which occurred onthe 16th of July,
1865. Oct. 20, 1859, John Stewart and A. E. McClees
were ordained and installed. Samuel E. Brownlee
was installed at the same time, he having been or-
dained to the oflice in the Associate Reformed con-

gregation of West Middletown, and unitingwith this

congregation after the consummation of the union of
the Associate Reformed and Associate Churches. He

died June 8, 1872. He was a man of great worth,;

‘BUFFALO TOWNSHIP. 

683*

and his death was very much lament-ed. Jan. 7,
1867, Dr. J. S. Crawford was installed, and_ J. H.
Brownlee ordained and installed. It may not be
uninteresting to observe that of these elders Andrew
Scott’s burial-place is not known; Samuel Johnson
lies in the old Knox graveyard, and eighteen are
buried in the North Buffalo graveyard. Of the nine-
teen whose ages are known, five died between the ages
of sixty and seventy, six from seventy. to eighty, six
from eighty to ninety, and two from ninety to ninety-
four years. P i - . 

This congregation is still vigorous and flourishing.
Many have gone to other places, to add strength to
congregations or form nuclei around which to gather,
and the outskirts have been trimmed to strengthen

. other organizations. Still there remains a member-

ship of one hundred and four, and the whole com-
munity has been leavened with its influence. From
this congregation not less ten have gone into the min-
istry, viz.: John M. French, D. VV. French, James
Sawhill, W. H. French, D. H. French,~T. H. Hanna,
Samuel J. McKee, 1Villiam Donaldson, and John M.
French, second. _S. M. Hutchison, raised in this con-
gregation, was received into and licensed and ordained
in the Associate Reformed Church, and died in the

' ministry of the United Presbyterian Church in 1874.

South Buffalo United Presbyterian Church.‘—-
The United Presbyterian congregation of South Buf-
falo was organized A.D-. 1811. The original members

’were from_ Buffalo (now North Buffalo) Associate
_ Presbyterian congregation.

The following are the
names of some of the original members: John ‘Mil-
ligan, John McMill.en, Alexander Sawhill, John Mc-
Neal, James Mitchell, John Mitchell, Samuel Wright,
Isaac Carson, John Graham, Robert Graham, Wil-
liam Gregg, John Grimes, James Brownlee, Hamilton

'Brownlee, Thomas Moore, VVilliam Sawhill, James

Rallston, George Knox, James Crothers. The original

members of the -session were Alexander Craig, J ames»

Carson, James Hutchison, and Thomas _Whitehill.
The first church (log) was built about the year 1811.
In the year 1884, having increased until the number
of members was about” one hundred and seventy, the
congregation built _a large substantial brick church,
in which it still worships. The first pastor was the
Rev. David French, whose time was divided between
this congregation and North.'Buffalo. He was in-
stalled pastor at the organization, and continued to
labor in it till 1852, when he was released because of
the infirmities of age. He continued to preach at
North Buffalo two years longer, when, having received

a.stroke of paralysis, he was compelled to refrain from.

preaching. He lingered a few months longer, and
died March 30, 1855. A

The second pastor was J. G. Carson (now Dr. Car-,

son, of Xenia Theological Seminary). His pastorate
extended over a period of ten years, being ordained

- 1 By Rev. A. M:-Lachlan.

A and install-ed November, 1856, and released in the

spring of 1867. He was a fearless advocate of truth,
being pastor during the stirring time of the war of
the Rebellion ; he was unsparingin his denunciation

of those who in any way sympathized with the ene-x
’ mies of our government. ’ '

The third pastor is Rev. Alexander McLachlan, who
was installed pastor April 15-, 1873, andfcontinues in
the congregation at the present time. _ ‘P 

V In connection with the church lot there) is a grave-

. yard, first used as such about the yeariH1811_, and now
‘crowdetl with graves. , ’ V  ' A ' ' 
East Buffalo Presbyterian Church.‘”—This church‘

is located in Buffalo township, and about five miles

west Vofashington; The time when it was formally"

organized cannot now be definitely fixed. The earliest
mention of East Buffalo ‘ecclesiasticlally is. in the min-
utes of the Synod of Pittsburgh, where the Presbytery
of Ohio reports Rev. Thomas Hoge as stated supply
at Upper Ten-Mile and East Buffalo in the year

_ 1818, one year previous‘ to the formation of the Pres-

byterygof Washington.
It, however, must have had some kind of existence
prior to that time, and cotemporary with a German

Lutheran congregation that existed in’ the same place _

until perhaps near 1840, when by removals and deaths
it ceased to exist. It was doubtless to accommodate
both these elements that existed in the neighborhood
that induced Hardman Ho'rn,:Laurence Streker, and

Michael Ely to make a deed to the “ German Socie-

ties” of this neighborhood being of the Presbyterian
Church and persuasion, and also, “that for and in
consideration of the sum of -five shillings,” convey-
ing certain boundaries containing three acres (about

one acre from each) “ for the use of school-house, meet-

ing-house, and burying-ground forever.’_’ The deed

was made March 5, A.D. 1802. In the above-men-A
tioned deed the word “Lutheran” must have been _
omitted by the person who wrote it, for we find in‘-
the deed of Laurence St«reker’s executors to William"

Brownlee, and dated June 12, A.D. 1820, the follow-

in : “Exce tin andireservin at all times one ac if
g P 3 re

of the said land for the Presbyterian and Lutheran
meeting-house, best known by -the name of A Wolf’s
Meeting-House/’_ This last name, no doubt, came

from VVolf"s Fort and -people of that name which‘-
were in the immediate neighborhood of the church.

The "church was granted a charter of incorporation

by the court on the 17th day of August, 1869, as

“ East Buffalo Presbyterian Church [Old School .”

The; following are the dates and relations of the
ministers who preached to this church : From records»

of the Synod of Pittsburgh, Presbytery of Ohio re-
ports that on the 17th of"April, 181.6, Mr. Thomas

Hoge was received as a licentiate from the Presby-

tery of Tyrone, Ireland; also that on 21st’of' January,

1817, he was ordained to the oflice of the ministry.‘ ,

 

l ‘a’ By A. S. Eugleson. ~

684.

HISTORY OF WASHINGTON COUNTY,  PENNSYLVANIA.

In 1818,’. Rev. Thomas *Hog;e .1 is. rep”ofrt",ed“as stated.
supply at Upper Ten’-Mile and East, Buffalo. 1, By
Presbytery of iWashington, in-‘ 1819, he is reported
as stated supply at East Buffalo alone; in 1820
stated supply at East Buffalo and Claysville. _
From records of Presbytery of \’Vashington,.Pres-
bytery met at East Byuffalo on J une— 26", 1821 on
June 27th, Rev.~Thomas. Hoge was installed pastor
of the united churches of East Buffalo and Clays‘-
ville. According to the same records the pastoral
relation, continued until. Oct. 6,1825, when Presby-

terymet in West Liberty, and Mr. Hoge asked a‘

dissolution of ‘the relation, which was granted. At
t.he same meeting he was dismissed to the Presbytery
of Baltimore. He was again received into the Pres.-»
bytery of Washington from the Presbytery of Ohio,
Dec. 8, 1829, and became stated supply at Claysville,
and probably preachedpart of the time at East
Buffalo, as there is no record‘ of any- one-- at East
Buffalo until 1832. He was dismissed to the Pres-
bytery of Philadelphia in 1835.

Rev. W. P. Alrich was the next stated minister-
He was received‘ by the Presbytery of '\Vashington
from the Presbytery of New Castle, as a licentiate,
Dec. 20, 1831, and was ordained April 17,.1832,.and
reported -as stated supply at East. Buffalo.
lowing is a copy of the report of the church to April‘
meeting, 1832i,i':sig11ed -by him, showingthe edndition
of the church at that time: Number of communicants
last reported, _26; received on examination,”  died,
1; suspended, 1; total communicantsat present, 25.

Rev. VV..P. Alrich continued. as stated. supply at
East Buffalo until the early partof the summer of
1.864. There is reported to have been quitea revival»

about the years 1856 and 1857. e

: Dr. Alrich was succeeded bythe, Rev. James Black,.:

also a professorin. Washington College, about the 1st
of October, 1864, who continued as stated supply

"until Aug. 2, 1868,'.when he accepted the presidency

of. the Iowa State University’.

0 The Rev. W..J. Alexander began his ministrations
to this church‘ about the 1st of October, 1868, and was
elected pastor on the 12th of the same month, and la-
bored faithfully, intending to accept the call, until his
death Jan. 20, 1869- An. interesting revival and an
addition of ‘sixteen to the church was a result of his

2 ' three months’ service.

On the 10th of April, 1869, a call was made for the
Rev. R. S. Morton, who began his minist-rations May

23d, and was installed pastor June 28, 1869. He con-~

tinned pastor until J anuaryi, 1871, when he resigned.
Rev. Henry Woods, then and now a professor in
Washington‘ and Jefferson College, succeeded, the
Rev. Morton“in January, 1871, and .still continues his
labors as stated supply. In connection with.his min-
istry a great -revival of religion occurred in the winter.
of.1879 and 1880,-when nearly seventy were added to
the church, and during 1880 the third house of worship
was erected. The present membership is one hun-

The;  V

dired and forty-two. The’ following-; are the present."
members; of session :_s Elisha’ Ely, J oseph.C. J ohnson,
Israel Weirich, and Andrew S. Eagleson. Present
Board’ of Trustees, William A. Ely, VVilliam IO.‘
Ramsay, Simon‘ Ashbrook, Adam Mounts, David
Hagerty, and /Isaac Calvin Mounts. ' '

.  The following is a list of those who have been mem-
bers of the session as far as- they can be ascertained :.

Joseph. Donahey, Sr., Archibald Brownlee, Martini
Ely, J ames; Mitchel, J ames'Thomps0n, Joseph Don-
ahey, Jr., Joseph Clark, Joseph Vankirk, John. 
ClalT‘k,"and'James Rankin. '0 =

. The first house of worship (date of erection un-
known) was a logbuilding, and stood about in what
is now thenortheast corner of the graveyard- VVithin,

the recollection of some still living, it was used jointly»
by the Presbyterians and Lutherans during the min-.

istry of Rev. Mr. Hoge, and for- some years after the

A Re'v. Mr; A-lrich began to preach to this congregation;
' The logs yet form an old house owned by Leet Dye,
in Canton township. The second house was built of.

brick, forty-five by fifty feet, and erected about 1836,
on ground adjoining original lot, and bought of Wil-
liam Brownlee. The deed for this ground was not made

until April-9, 1849, when, for and in consideration of
$13.28, Mr.«Br.ownlee conveys to‘ Joseph Clark and;

Oliver; Wallace, trustees of East Buffalo Clfurch,

'eiglity-tlrfree, perches of ground therein described.‘

This churchbuilding was occupied for the last time

on. Sabbath, May 30, 1880. It wasithen torn‘ down,‘ _

and on the same ground’ the third building (also of
brick). was erected that year and ‘completed in Feb-
ruary,_1881," and was occupied as a house of worship’

1 for the first time on March 4, 1881, and formally dedi-
cated on the 27th of the samermonth. The building‘

is; about forty by sixty feet, of rather a unique form,
yet one of the most tasteful and convenient churches
in the Presbytery. The entire cost was about $5600.
There has ‘been a Sabbath-school in connection with
the c'hu‘rch for a great many years.
classes, with as many teachers-and nearly one hundred

pupils ‘enrolled. Superintendent,fA. S. Eagleson;.
Assistant, \V.‘C. Ramsay; Librarian and Secretary,

Walter Ely. » .
Buffalo Baptist Church...-—This church was organ-

ized June 1, 1861, at Buffalo Town, under the ju.ris- .
diction of the Wheeling Baptist Association, sixty.
members of the Pleasant Grove Baptist Church of :
East Finley having requested a letter for the purpose. .

offorming the new organization. The first pastorwas
Rev. H. R. Craig, who remained till June 11,1804, and
has been succeeded by the following: Revs. G. W.
\Vhar_ton, W. R. Mayberry, John S. Snodgrass,

 

.Blain_e, L. S. Colburn, William Ryan, J . R. Foulks,_.

and’ the.‘ present pastor, Rev. J . S. Simpson. The

present deaconsare Lewis McKahan, Samuel Kelly, -.
G. Y. Holmes; John S. Miller, and James Murray.

The church has at present seventy -members.
Schools.-'-One of the first school-houses in Buffalo

It has now eleven -

 BUFFALO TOWNSHI-P.‘ '

was a primitive one, built in 1803, nearlthe site of
the North Buffalo Church. I It was a‘ rude log struc-
ture, chinked, but not “daubed,” with clay in the in-
terstices-, and was without floor, ‘other than the ground
on which it stood. The first teacher in this house
was a Mr. Anderson; who his ‘successors were has
not‘ been ascertained. The Brownlee school-house,
nearly as old as the one first named, stood on the
Thomas Brownlee farm. In thishouse John Wolf
taught in 1808. He was succeeded as teacher by

"John Reed, after whom came J ohn, McMillan. An-

other early school-house of the same kind stood on
the Donohoo farm, the first teacher in this being the
John Reed before mentioned.. Other school—houses
of the same character and pretensions were built in

* other parts of the township, and in thesesubscription

schools were maintained during a small part of each
year down to the time of the adoption of the free
school system under the law of 1834.

The provisions of the public school law were ac-
cepted by this township "in 1.835, and in that year the

’ first school directors (Messrs. Ritner and Ely) were

elected. There was but little change in the character

- of the schools until about the year 1840, -when the

idea of classification began to be adopted, especially
in arithmetic. -The _adoption of the county superin-
tendency marked an era in the development of our
schools. John L. Grow, the first superintendent, in-
sisted on more thorough scholarship in the schools, a

truer idea of the teachers’ work. From’ 1840 to 1846,
' in what is knownas the Science Hill School,-in Buffalo

township, beside the common branches, algebra, geom-
etry, natural philosophy, chemistry, physiology, rhet-
oric, logic, and intellectual philosophy were success-
fully taught. That school was established and was
first taught by Nathaniel McDowell, who is now, or

was recently, a clergyman of the United Presbyterian

denomination,preaching in Iowa. ' After him the

school was mainly taught by teachers from the ranks I

of its own pupils. The school continued in successful
operation till 1846, and during the period of its ex-
istence the district sent out twelve or fifteenxteachers,
most of whom achieved success. Gen. Wallace Mc-
Williams was president of the school board of Buffalo

township for a number of years, and was a model -

school officer. There was no school in the township
but what he visited often with words of cheer and
encouragement for both teacher and scholars. He is
remembered by those who knew him as an untiring,
ardent, and successful worker in the cause of educa-
tion. John McMannis became a member of the
board in 1848, and served in that capacity in Buffalo
township for more than twenty years, during fifteen
years of which time he was president or secretary of
the board. * E I

BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCH.  

 

JOHN InwIN._

Thomas Irwin was a native of NorthIreland, where
he married Mary Scott. They emigrated to'Americ'a
in 1788, and settled in Buffalo township, Washington

Co., Pa., upon a farm purchased from James Snod- 7

grass. They lived upon this farm the rarest of their
lives. Thomas died in June, 1829, aged seventy-six

years._ His wife died in 1835. They were both buried‘

in the cemetery of the North Buffalo United Presby-
terian Church, of which they were members. ‘Their
children were J ohn,‘Mary, William, Sarah, Elizabeth,
Martha-, and Jane. ’
John Irwin was born in Ireland about two years
before his parents came to America. He spent nearly
all of his life in Buffalo township, Washington Co.,
Pa., and -his business was farming. He led a‘ quiet
and industrious life, andbore a good reputation. He
lived and died in the faith of his parents, and was a.
consistent Christian. He was married in .1811ito
Elizabeth Anderson. She also was a native of North
Ireland, and came with her parents to America about
the year 1790.
County, Pa., but about two years afterward removed
to Washington County, and settled in Buffalo town-
ship, near the Irwins. _'
John Irwin died in December, 1829. His wife,
Elizabeth, died in April, 1857. Their children were
Thomas S., Leviah, Mary Jane, Matthew A.’,‘Sarah
M., and Elizabeth M. A ‘ 9 ‘
Thomas S. Irwin was born in Buffalo township,
Washington Co., Sept. 28, 181.2. .He attended the
district schools, and worked upon his father’s farm
until nineteen years of age, when he leftyhome to
learn the carpenter trade with George Wilson, of his
native township. After serving an apprenticeship of
three years, he began work for himself, and followed
his trade, building houses, barns, etc., until 1855, when
he and his brother built a steam saw-mill, which he
operated for eight and one-half years, and since that
time his principal employment has been farming. ’
During'th-e late war he was enrolling oflicer of the
Donegal district. From 1837 to 1845 he was major
of the First Battalion, Tenth Regiment, of the State
militia, and from. 1846 to 1848 he was lieutenant-
colonel of a regiment of volunteers of Claysville.
In 1872 he was appointed postmaster of Claysville,
which has been his home.-since 1834, and still occu-
pies that position, having been reappointed as his
commissions expired. Inrpolitics he is a Republican,
and has been since theorganization of the party.
He began life at the bottom of the financial scale,
and by his own efforts has acquired his present pos-
sessions. In 1847 he united with the Presbyterian
Church, and since_186_3 has been an elder in the same.
He is trusted and respected wherever he is known

8 ‘685

They first settled in Cumberland‘

. Jonathan Leet, Jan. 2, 1802.

686

HISTORY OF WASHINGTON COUNTY; PENNSYLVANIA.

His first wife was Elizabeth Henderson, to whom he
was married Feb. 24, 1842.. She died May 26, 1846.
By this marriage there were three children, all of
whom ‘died in infancy. ,He was married to his second
wife, Mary Jane Frazier, June 1, 1848. By this-
marriage there are five children, all living,——Willi_am
A., who is assistant postmaster of Claysville; "Thomas
F., who, after graduating at VVashington College in
1880, read law in Keokuk, Iowa, where he was ad-

J bright and active for one of seventy-years.
. the oldest and only male representative of his family

’ comfortable.

mitted to the bar soon before this writing; Catharine

E., Daniel K., Jennie May. A .
Thomas S. is a clever, intelligent man, and very

He is

now’ living of his generation. -His home is very
He came from Buffalo township to
Claysville in 1834, and has been here ever since. He
is respected by those who know him. ‘  

 ;
Qmv

  CANTON TOWNSHIP.

 

CANTON was erected from parts of the territory
of the townships of Morris, Hopewell, Strabane,
and Chartiers, but it was not, as was .often the case,
the large extent of any one of -these that caused
the reduction of their areas and the formation of the
new township. A petition waspresented for the erec-
tion-of Canton township to the Court of Quarter
Sessions of Washington County in 1791, which was
granted on the 10th of June in that year, erecting the

\township of Canton with limits. which "remained un-

changed until 1853, when a portion of its territory
was taken ofi” to form a part of Franklin township.
Following is a list of persons who were and have
been appointed and elected to the oflice of justice of

, the peace‘ in Canton township, viz. :

William Slemmens, Nov. 1, 1709. Robert R. Reed, April 11, 1848.

Hervey N. Clark, April 10, 1849.

Alexander G. Marshman, April 14,.
1863; May 30, 1868.

A. S. Eagleson, April 28, 1873 ; Jan.
16,1874; March 25, 1878.

Joseph Irons, April 2, 1803.

James White, April 14, 1840.

John Brownlee, April 14, 1840.
Samuel K. VVeiric.h, April 15, 1845.
George W. Boyd, April 15, 1845.

Set’tlements.——Zachariah Pumphrey received a

Virginia certificate, dated at Coxe’ s Fort, Feb. 22, 1780, '
entitled to four hundred acres »

H

certifying that he is
of land in the county of Ohio, on Shirtees’ Creek, to

include hisactual settlement made in the year 1774.” ‘

It was surveyed in the year 1785, as containing three
hundred and fifty-three and three-eighths acres. On
this land he lived till about 1795, but in the mean
time sold parts of it to Abram Swearingen, Abram"
Robertson, John Ferguson, Isaac Leet, Jr., James
Young, and Isaac Warrich. In 17 95 he had sold the
entire tract. This tract was in Strabane township
until Canton was erected in 1791, when it became a
part of that township. A On this farm was located the

1From the erection of the township in 1791 to 1803 it was under the‘

jurisdiction of the tjtistices of the district from which it was taken. In
the latter year it was united with Buffalo in District No. 2, and re-
mained in that district until 1838, when it became an‘ independent dis-
trict. ~ '

old Razortown (of which but little is known), before
the county of Wa_shington was erected. Later the
small parcels were purchased and again became mostly
in one tract, and were known respectively as the Wylie,
Kelly, and Montgomery farm. It forms now the fine
and productive farm of Gen. John Hall.

William Johnston was in this territory as early as
1778, and in January, 1780, he received a Virginia
certificate for a tract of land “situate on the waters
of Chartiers Creek.” It was surveyed as “ John-
ston,” and contained three hundred and ninety-one

acres; patent for it was obtained Nov. 20, 1786. In ‘ ‘

April of this year‘ he was appointed justice of the
peace and ’of the Court of Common Pleas. On the
6th of May, 17 95, he sold to Nathaniel Mitchell two
hundred and one acres. William Johnston had two
sons, John and Robert. John married a Miss Noble,
but left no descendants. Robert married Grrizella
Pollock. They had twelve children, namely: Mary,

Jane, Nancy, John, William, Martha, ’Margaret,,

Grizella (1st), Grizella (2a), Robert, and Samuel. 7
Mary married John McMillan, and settled in Char-

tiers township. Jane married Barclay McLain, and

located in Buffalo township. Nancy became the wife

of Robert Patterson, and moved to Beaver County, .

Pa. John married three times: first, Margaret Tag.-
gert; second, Ann McClelland; third, Rebecca Brown-
lee.
Mount Pleasant township. Martha married John
Hammond, and emigrated to Belmont County, Ohio.‘

.Margaret and Grizella both died young. The next

daughter (also named Grizella) married David Mor-

. row, and now resides in the township. Robert mar-
. ried Isabella McConnaughey, and resides on the old

homestead. 1 p . 1

Nathaniel. Mitchell came to this county in 1795,
and on the 6th of May in that year purchased two
hundred and one acres of 1Villiam Johnson, and on
the 4th of. June the same year bought one hundred

1 acres of land of William and James Bailey, a part

William married Mary McLain, and settled in A

Caroline Mountz.

I CANTON TOWNSHIP.

687

of a tract named “Labrador,” on the head-waters of

Brush Run, which had been granted to Henry Mar-
tin on a Virginia certificate. From 1799 to 1828 he
purchased several other tracts, amounting to nearly
four hundred acres, in the vicinity. James, son of
Nathaniel, marriedElizabeth Irwin,.by whom he
had six children,-—-Jennie, Margaret, David, John,

‘Ann, and Elizabeth. Jennie never married. Mar-

garet married Samuel McConnaughey; they had four
children,—James, Joseph, David and Margaret; the
latter became the wife of John Hodgins. David, a
son of Nathaniel Mitchell, married Ann Hatcher, of
Ohio. John, brother of David, married Rachel
St. Clair; moved to Indiana. Ann became the wife

_ _of Eleazer Brownlee, and moved to Ohio. Elizabeth

married James Pollock, and emigrated to Ohio.
Enoch Dye emigrated from the eastern part of
the State to what is now Washington County about
1778,'and settled upon a tract of land for which he
obtained a Virginia certificate Dec. 16, 17 79. It was
surveyed to him on the 25th of January, 1786. It
contained three hundred and ninety-three acres, and
was. named “Spencer,” and at the time of survey
was adjoining lands of John Leman, Richard Yeates,
David Irwin, David Clark, and James Leet. He
married Rebecca, the daughter of Isaac Leet. Their
children were Daniel, Enoch, Isaac, William, Eliza-
beth, Sarah, Susan, and others. Daniel married

Jane McIntyre, and em-igrated to Licking, Ohio,

with a large family about 1815. Enoch, who married
Mary McIntyre, was killed by the fall of a tree.
Isaac married Margaret Clidellen, and settled in
Canton township, where he died. William died. when
a yeung.man. Elizabeth became the wife of Wil-
liam Thompson. Their descendants are now in the

.township and in Canonsburg. Sarah married Sam-

uel Crawfordand-emigrated to Ohio. Susan became
the wife of Samuel Carruthers, and removed to
Mansfield, Ohio. ‘ .
Samuel P-rigg, anative of Lancaster County, Pa.,
emigrated to Washington County and purchased lands
of Enoch Dye, whose daughter Hetty he married.

-‘There were two block-houses on the tract, which were
about onehundred and fifty yards apart, to which the -

settlers were in the habit of gathering. Samuel Pr_igg
settled on this land and lived and died there, leaving
five sons and two daughters, namely, John, Robert,
William, Enoch, J ames,'Margaret, and Rebecca, who
are all living with the exception of Robert. John
married J ane'Dye; they left no descendants ; Robert
married Mary A. Bell, by whom he had two children,
Hamilton and Hetty; the former resides in Kansas;
the latter became the wife of Joseph MeDaniels, of
this county _; William married Rebecca Mountz ;
Enoch married Matilda l\IcDaniels; James married

Of the daughters of Samuel Pri gg, Margaret became

‘the wife of Daniel Dye. The above all. reside in the
' township except Robert,‘ who isdeceased.

Rebecca became the wife of Isaac Cooper, and
moved to Waynesburg, Greene Co., Pa., where they
now reside. —

John Leman emigrated from Ireland tothis coun-
try, and settled for some years in Chester County.
About 177 9. emigrated with his family to what soon
after became Washington County, and took up land,

for which he received a Yirginia certificate Feb. 18, .

1780._ This tract was surveyed April 11, 1785, as

“ Care,” and contained three "hundred and forty‘-nine 6

acres. At the time of the survey" it was adjoining
lands of Robert Stockton, James Brownlee, and other
lands of Leman. The other land here mentioned
was a tract named “ Leman Grove,” to which he re-
ceived a patent'March 3, 1786. He sold a few years

‘ later one hundred acres of “Leman Grove” to James

Latimore. He died in the summer of 1794, and left
a widow, five daughters, and no sons. The daughters
were Jane, ‘Margaret, Martha, Sarah, Isabella, and
Mary. Jane became the wife of James Brownlee, and
settled in Franklin township; Margaret married Wil-

liam Brownlee, and also settled in Franklin; Martha‘

married Ludowyck McCarrol1, and settled near H-ick-
ory, in Mount Pleasant township; Sarah married
James Latimore, who purchased a part of the “ Leman

Grove” tract in 1793; Isabella remained single; 6
Mary, the youngest daughter, married first a Mr. ~
Stuart; they _had one daughter, Isabella. After the -

death of Mr. Stuart she became the wife of Thomas
Patterson, of Mount Pleasant, who died soon after,
and she became the wife of James Ridgway, and set-
tled on property ~adjoining land of Thomas Patterson.

Adam and Robert Wylie, who were of Scotch-Irish
descent, settled in what is now Canton township about
1784,‘Adam onthe farm now owned by Samuel Tag-
gert. He patented three hundred, and thirty-nine
acres lying on the road from Washington to Charles‘
town, now Wellsburg. On the 13th of January, 1802,
he sold one hundredand forty acres to his son Adam,
who was a physician, and married a Miss Biers, after
which he removed to Ripley, Ohio. Andrew, son of
Adam, became a minister of the Presbyterian Church,
married a daughter of Craig Ritchie, of Canonsburg,
and was appointed president of Jefferson College, at
Canonsburg, and at the same time had. the care “of
the Pigeon Creek Congregation. He removed from
this county to near Indianapolis-, Ind., where he died-.
William, also a son of Adam, married Hetty, ta daugh-
ter of the Rev. Joseph Smith. He also became, a
minister of the Presbyterian Church, and was settled
as pastor of the First Presbyterian Church of Wheel!-
ing, VV. Va., where he died. John Wylie, another
son of Adam, married Margaret Watt. ‘Of the daugh-
ters, Mary. married ‘Matthew Duncan, Jane married
Andrew Duncan, and Elizabeth became the wife of

1 Robert Tweed.

Malzthew Morrow emigrated to Dauphin. -County
with his father, and in 1791 came to this county, and

on the 10th of May the same year received a war-

«15th the same year.
and forty-five acres, and was named “Maidenhead.”

688

HISTORY OF WASHINGTON COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA. ’ \

.8 rant for a tract of land on the waters of Buffalo Creek,

in Canton township.’ This tract, named “Zapula,”

~was= surveyed March 7, 1785, as eighty-four acres, to

\’Villiam Meetkirk, as administrator for Jesse Dem-

, ents. It was, however, patented to Matthew Morrow,

May 10,1799. He also purchased land of William
Slemmens on the 28th of September, 1807. He mar-
ried Elizabeth, a daughter of Samuel Weir, by whom
he had seven sons and‘ five daughters, namely,
Samuel, Thomas, John, James, VVilliam,‘ David,
Adam, Lavina, Catharine, Jane, Ann, and Elizabeth.
Mary became the wife of William Kyle, and emi-
grated to Harrison County, Ohio. Samuel married
Maria McCombs, and settled in Wayne County, Ohio.
Lavina married Robert Taggert, and also settled in
Ohio. Thomas married Mary Genet, and moved to
Wayne County, Ohio. John,‘ Ann, and James all
lived and died unmarried. Jane becameithe wife of
Robert Gailey, and settled in Union township. Wil-
liam married Eliza McClay, daughter of Samuel, and
settled in Canton township. Elizabeth died_in in-
fancy. David married Grisella Johnson, and now
lives in the township. His only daughterl became
the wife of Hamilton, and also lives in the township.
Adam married Jane Park, and resides in Nottingham
township.

John Dod_d took out a land-warrant dated Nov. 22,

1785. It was surveyed April 17th the next year, and

was named 5‘Pru1ir,” containing three hundred and

twenty-five acres, adjoining lands of -Robert Wiley,

Reason Pumphrey, and John Virgin. This tract is
partly in Canton and partly in South Strabane.town-
ship. The larger part of it was formerly the Archer
estate, now belonging to the Hazlett estate. A part
ofit is in lots in and adjoining the borough of Wash-
ington. . ' ,
William and John McCom.bs took up land in the

township of Strabane in 1785, the warrant of William,

bearing date March 4, 1785, and surveyed November
It contained.) three hundred

It -was situated on Chartiers Creek, adjoining lands
of Reason Virgin, Henry Moore, and -William
Brownlee. The tract of John (taken up at thesame
time, and» surveyed June 16th the same year) was
named,“Superfine,’,’ and contained three hundred
and-eighty-seven acres, adjoining land of Thomas
Nichols. William also purchased of Robert Mc-
Combs atraet of three hundred and eighty-two acres
in Somerset township, which had been warranted to

- Robert,Nov. 1, 1787 ; and April 12, 17 92, he sold to
-Robert McCombs, the original warrantee. William

McCombs was appointed coroner Nov. 1, 1784, and
served two terms. He died in 1807, and left three
daughters and three sons,—Margaret, Elizabeth,
Mary, Malcolm, John, and Robert. The real estate
was divided equally among them. ' .

John, Jacob, and William Wolfe were natives of

Germany. They emigrated to this country, and after .

a short time came to Washington County. Jacob

and William settled in what is now Buffalo _township,
and John settled _on a tract of land which had been
located by. Kennedy Martin. The deed bears date
April 13, 1780, and the land is mentioned as “all
that tract of land on which we formerly lived, called
‘Wolfe,’ situate, lying, and being upon the waters of

Chartiers Creek, in Strabane t0WI_llShip”' (now Canton).

A warrant was granted to Kennedy Martin, Feb.“10,‘
1789, and the patent obtained March 26th the same
year. It" contained three hundred» and ‘fifty-five acres,
and was then adjoining lands of David Clark, Thomas
Wilson, Robert Wylie, and Joseph Paxton. ,

_On the 28th of August,1793, John Wolfe took out
a warrant for four «hundred acres, which was surveyed
to him. He lived and died upon his farm, and left
eight sons, whose names-were David, Joseph, ‘Solo-
mon, Jacob, William, Henry, John, and Enoch.
David, who was a tanner, married Mary Hewitt,
and settled on the farm now owned by Hamilton

Davis. Joseph was a carpenter. He married Mary 7, V

Marshall, and "resided -in Washington. Jacob mar-
ried Martha Marshall, and settled on a part of the
home farm, where he died, leaving a family of eight
children, of whom John H., Abraham ‘B., Isaac, and

‘ Thomas reside in the borough of Washington. A

daughter, Mary, became the wife of Marshall Cox,
and lives in ‘Franklin township.  _ 
Solomon, son of John Wolfe, married Elizabeth
Essik, and_lived and died on part of the original
tract. John, Jr., never married, and emigrated to
Californiain 1852. Henry emigrated to Ohio. Wil-
liam settled on the home farm, built one of the stone

nhousesnow standing, and died at ninety-six years of

age; Enoch married Sarah Marshall, and now re-
sides in this township. Of the daughters, Mary mar-
ried George Hupp,‘and settled in.Buffalo township,
where he died. She afterwards removed to St. Louis,
M0,, and died there.
of Zachariah Cox, and emigrated to" O-hio. Catha-
rine remained single, and lived with her uncle Wil-

liam, and died in 1878. The old homestead place is

owned by William Prigg. The larger part of the
farm is owned by Hamilton Davis.
is also owned by the estates -of James Kelly and
William Price. I

VVilliam Slemmens came to this county before -1787,
being then well advanced in life. He was elected

justice of the peace Nov. 1, 1799. A tract of land ’
it was warranted and patented to him. A portion of it

later came into possession of Robert McGowen an_d a
portionto Matthew Morrow, Sept. 18, 1807. ‘He had
two sons, Thomas and William, to the latter of whom
a portion of theland was devised. Thomas took out
a warrantfor a tract of land. dated June 22, 1786. It
was surveyed to his father, William Sleinmens, Dec.
1, 1787, as “Plenty,” and. contained one hundred
acres.

Hannah married Henry, a son 1 L

A portion of it .

It.was patented J une.5, 1787. Thomas 'Slem- ,
mens died in 1827, leaving _a widow and five sons——-' ’

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80

HISTORY OF WASHINGTON COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA.

of an independent company, in the pay of the State from February
to Aug. 11, 1776, in defense of the frontiers in Westmoreland County.
Piggott, James; on return June 9, 1777, he is marked sick in camp.
Ourry, Wendel.
Mann, Andrew; on return of June 9, 1777, heis marked sick in quarters
since May 2d.
Carson, Moses, left the service April 21, 1777.
Miers, Eliezer.

[The foregoing captains were recommended by the committeesof,

Westmoreland and Bedford Counties, and directed to be commissioned

by resolution of Congress Sept. 14, 1776.] .

Montgomery, James, died Aug. 26, 1777; his widow, Martha, resided in
Westmoreland County in 1824.

Huffnagle, Michael, died Dec. 31, 1819, in Allegheny County, aged sixty-
SIX.

Jack, Matthew, from firstlieutenant; became supernumerary Jan. 31,
1779; resided in Westmoreland County in 1835, aged eighty-two.
Stokely, Nehemiah, Oct. 16, 1777; became supernumerary Jan. 31, 1779;

died in Westmoreland County in 1811.

Cooke, Thomas, from first lieutenant; became supernumerary Jan. 31,
1779; died in Guernsey County, Ohio, Nov. 5, 1835.

Dawson, Samuel, from Eleventh Pennsylvania, July. 1, 1778; died at
Fort Pitt, Sept. 6, 1779 ; buried in First Presbyterian churchyard in
Pittsburgh.

Moore, James Francis,from Thirteenth Pennsylvania, July 1, 1778.

Clark, John, from Thirteenth Pennsylvania, July 1, 1778 ; transferred
to First Pennsylvania, July 17, 1781.

Carnahan, James, from Thirteenth Pennsylvania, July 1, 1778; trans-
ferred to Fourth Pennsylvania, Jan. 17, 1781.

Finley, Joseph L., from Thirteenth Pennsylvania, July 1, 1778 ; brigade-
major, July 30, 1780; transferred to Second Pennsylvania Jan. 17,
1781.

Finley, John, from first lieutenant, Oct. 22, 1777; transferred to Fifth
Pennsylvania, Jan. 17, 1781.

Crawford, John, from first lieutenant, Aug. 10, 1779 ; transferred to Sixth
Pennsylvania, Jan. 17, 1781.

Brady, Samuel, from captain lieutenant, Aug. 2, 1779; transferred to
Third Pennsylvania, Jan. 17, 1781.

Captain Lieutenant.

Brady, Samuel, commission dated July 17, 1776; from Sixth Pennsyl-
vania; promoted captain Aug. 2, 1779.

First Lieutenants.

Moseley, Robert (written Moody in the return), resigned May 16, 1777;
resided in Ohio County, Ky., in 1820, aged sixty-nine.
Cooke, Thomas, promoted captain.
Finley, John, promoted captain Oct. 22, 1777.
Jack, Matthew, lost his left hand by the bursting of his gun at Bound
Brook, N. J .; promoted captain April 13, 1777.

Hickman, Ezekiel.
Carson, Richard, left the service in 1777.
McGeary, William, resigned April 17, 1777.
McDolo, Joseph, left the service in 1777.

[The foregoing first lieutenants were commissioned under the resolu-
tion of Congress of Sept. 16, 1776.]

Richardson, Richard, returned June 9, 1777, as recruiting.

Prather, Basil, returned Nov. 1, 1777, as on command with C01. Morgan
from June 9th ; resigned April 1, 1779.

Hughes, John, Aug. 9, 1776 ; resigned Nov. 23, 1778 ; resided in Wash-
ington County in 1813.

Crawford, John, from second lieutenant April 18, 1777; promoted cap-
tain Aug. 10, 1779; promoted to Second Pennsylvania, with rank of
captain, from April 18, 1777.

Hardin, John, July 13, 1777; Nov. 1, 1777, returned as on command
with Col. Morgan ; resigned in 1779 ; afterwards Gen. John Hardin,

of Kentucky; murdered by the Indians near Sandusky, Ohio, in

1791 .— Wilkinson’s Memoirs.
Mickey, Daniel, became supernumerary Jan. 31, 17 79.
Peterson, Gabriel, July 26, 1777; died in Allegheny County, Feb. 12,
i 1832. '

Stotesbury, John, from old Eleventh Pennsylvania, commission dated
April 9, 1777; he was a prisoner in New York for some time; trans-
ferred tc the Second Pennsylvania, Jan. 17, 1781.

Neilly, Benjamin, from ensign, Oct. 4, 1777.

Finley, Andrew, on return of Nov. 1, 1777 ; marked sick since October
16th; retired in 1778; resided in Westmoreland County, 1813.

Amberson, William, in 1779 he was deputy muster-master-general; re-
sided in Mercer County in 1835. '
Read, Archibald, vice Joseph Brownlee, Dec. 13,1778; died in Allegheny
County in 1823.
Graham, Alexander, vice Basil Prather, April 1, 1779.
Ward, John, April 2, 1779; transferred to Second Pennsylvania, Jan. 17,
1781.
, Second I/ieutenants.
Thompson, William, Aug. 9, 1776; resigned May 17, 1777. .
Simrall, Alexander, Aug. 9, 1776 ; left the army in 1777; resided in J ef-
ferson County, Ohio, in 1834, aged eighty-eight.
Guthrie, James, Aug. 9, 1776. '
Rogers, Philip, Aug. 9, 1776.
Smith, Samuel, Aug. 9, 1776; killed at Germantown, Oct. 4, 1777.
Mountz, William, Aug. 9, 1776; resigned April 17, 1777.
Beeler, James, Jr., Aug. 9, 1776.
Crawford, John, Aug. 9, 1776 ; promoted first lieutenant, April 18, 1777.
[The foregoing second lieutenants were commissioned under resolu-
tion of Congress, Sept. 14,1776, dating as above.]

'0wine, Barnabas, marked on return of Nov. 1, 1777, as command in the

infantry.
Carnahan, John, resigned in 1779.

Ensigns. 4
Neilly, Benjamin, promoted to first lieutenant, Oct. 4, 1777.
Kerr, Joseph.
Simmons, John.
Wherry, David.
Mecklin, Dewalt, resigned April 17, 1777.
Weaver, Valentine.
Reed, John. .
White, Aquila, left the army Feb. 23, 1777; resided in Montgomery
County, Ky., in 1834.
[The foregoing ensigns were commissioned under a resolution of Con-
gress of Sept. 14, 1776.] ,
Forshay, Thomas, left the service in 1777.
McKee, David, left the service in 1777.
Peterson, Gabriel, on a return‘ of June 9, 1777, he is marked absent,
wounded, from April 17, 1777; promoted to first lieutenant, July
26, 1777. V
Guthrie, John, appointed Dec. 21, 1778.
Morrison, James, appointed Dec. 21, 1778.
Wyatt, Thomas, appointed Dec. 21, 1778; resided at St. Louis, Mo., in
1834, aged eighty. -
Cooper, William, appointed April 19, 1779. _
Davidson, Joshua, appointed April 19, 1779; resided in Brown County,
Ohio, in 1833, aged eighty-one.

Chaplain.
McClure, Rev. David, appointed Sept. 12, 1776.

Adjntants.
Huffnagle, Michael,_ appointed Sept. 7, 1776.
Crawford, John, lieutenant, 1780.

Paymaster.
Boyd, John, July 20, 1776. ‘

Quartermasters.

Douglass, Ephraim, Sept. 12, 1776; taken prisoner while acting as aide-

de-camp to Gen. Lincoln, March 13, 1777; exchanged Nov; 27, 1780;
prothonotary of Fayette County in 1783; died in 1833.
Neilly, Benjamin, appointed in 1778.
Surgeons.
Morgan, Abel, from old Eleventh; resigned in 1779; died in 1785.,
Morton, Hugh, March 7, 1780.
Sargeon’s Mate.
Saple, John Alexander, 1778.
Clothier.
Reed, Archibald, 1778.

Muster-roll of Capt. Nehemiah Stokel;/’s company, in the Eighth Pennsyl-

vania Regiment of Foot ,in the service of the United States of America,’

commanded by Col. Daniel Brodhead, taken for the months of October,
November, and December, 1778, and January, 1779.

, Captain.
Stokely, Nehemiah, Oct. 16, 1777; supernumerary, Jan. 31, 1779.
1

. tract where his descendants still live.

twenty years of age.

CANTON TOWNSHIP.

68.9

Samuel, William, Thomas, John, and James-—and
five daughters——Susanna, Eliza, Jane, Margaret, and
Mary. He bequeathed to Samuel, William, and

v Thomas, each a quarter section of land in Wayne

County, Ohio; his other land lying in this county to
be divided as follows: three-quarters equally between
Samuel, Thomas, John, and James, and one-quarter
between the daughters. The land is now owned by
the heirs.‘ ' -

Robert McGowen bought one hundred and eighty
acres of land of Jesse Martin on the 3d of June, 1785.
He also purchased one hundred and twenty acres of
VVilliam Slemmens, J r., which he afterwards sold to
Michael Fornier. A purchase was made April 27,
1789, of Francis Cunningham. This was on the head-

‘ waters of Georges Creek, a branch of Chartiers Creek.

He kept tavern from 1801 to 1806.

‘ Thomas Allison emigrated from Ireland to this
county, and settled in the north part of Canton
township, where the property is still owned by his
descendants. He married Jane Crawford, by whom
he had three sons and three daughters,——John, James,
David, Jane, Ellen, and Martha. John Allison mar-
ried Ann Paxton, and -settled on part of the home-
His children
were_Ellen, Martha, Mary Ann, Margaret, John G.,
Elizabeth, and Thomas\P. Of these Mary Ann mar-

- ried Thomas Harsha; Margaret remained single;
John G. married Mary Rogers; Elizabeth became-

the wife of Samuel Taggert; and Thomas P. married
Sarah J . Morrow. James, the second son of Thomas
Allison, removed to Illinois and died there. David,
the third son, lived a bachelor and died in the town-
ship- Ellen married Thomas Morrison; Jane became
the wife of Mr. Simpson; Martha died when about

William Reed came to this section from near Get-
tysburg about 1783, and remained for» several years
without purchasing‘ lands. On the 29th of June,
1798, he purchased one hundred and thirty-three
acres of Samuel Hanna, adjoining‘ lands of 8 Adam
Wylie, George Sellens, John Cord, and John Wallace.
He had several children, among whom were David
and William. David was a bachelor, and died in

the township. Of his children, John, William,’ and »

Samuel were Presbyterian ministers. John settled

in ‘Indiana County, Pa.; William in Columbiana

County, Ohio.‘ Samuel commenced preaching, and
soon after showed‘ signs of insanity. He strayed to
Philadelphia and preached inthe streets. Hewas
found and placed in the. asylum, from which he
escaped, returned home, and eventually recovered.
He finally settled in Ohio and became a farmer.
James Reed was a farmer, and settled in East Finley
township, and Andrew in Cross Creek.

David Irwin lived in the eastern part of the State,

’ where he married Ann Allen and emigrated to Wash-

ington, and located the tract of land still owned by
the family. He built his cabin, raised a. family of

children, A and died there.
daughters, namely, VVilliam, Mary, Thomas, David,
Jane, Elizabeth, ‘Ann, Martha, John, and James.
William was a bachelor; Mary became the wife of
Samuel McKee; Thomas married in Ohio, where he

lived and died; David emigrated West; Jane mar-

ried Hugh ‘Allison; Elizabeth became Mrs. James
Mitchell; Ann married Robert Smith. They kept

’ tavern many years near and west of Washington, on I

the Wheeling road. Martha married John Jenkins,
who resided on the Monongahela River. John ‘mar-
ried Nancy Jenkins, and moved to Belmont County,
Ohio. James married Nancy Clark, and settled on
the homestead where he lived and died. The home-

stead property is now owned by William Irwin,a son‘

of James. ' c

’ In the extreme north part of the township of Can-
tonand onthe middle fork of Chartiers Creek John
and Thomas Douglas took up a tract of land about
1782. On the 3d of September, 17 84, James Taggert
purchased two hundred and sixty acres of them, where
he lived and died. His children were John, James,

Samuel, Robert, Mary, Elizabeth, and William. John '

married Miss Miller,‘ and eniigrated to Harrison
County, Ohio. James married Martha Fergus, and
settled on the homestead and died there. Hisson
James now owns the place. Samuel married Catha-
rine.Morrow,‘ and settled in Wayne County, Ohio.
Mary married George Miller, and lived in Cross
Creek village. Elizabeth became the wife of John
Marquis, and lived in Cross Creek township.

James Dinsmore emigrated to this county from Ire-~

land, and settled first in Fayette township, Allegheny
County, Pa., and on the 21st of July, 1795, purchased
two hundred and-seventy-six acres of land in Can-
ton township, Washington County, of Joshua Ander-
son, adjoining ‘lands of Francis Cunningham, Samuel

Agnew, James Taggert, and William Shearer, it being ‘

part of a tract called “Huntington” which was pat-
ented to Joshua Anderson, Sept. 26, 1787. On this
farm Mr. Dinsmore lived and died at an advanced
‘age. A fort, or block—house, was "on the place that
later becameknown as the Dinsmore Fort. He left
two sons, John and James, and several daughters.
The farm was divided between John and James. The
former remained on the homestead place till his death,
and left four sons,—William, James, John C., and
Robert. William is still living on the homestead,
where he was born. James moved to Cross Creek.
John ‘C. settled in the township. Robert moved to
Buffalo township, where he was murdered.

James Dinsmore, son of James and brother of John,
lived on his portion of the farm and died there. He

had three daughters, one of whom, Mary, became the
wife of Henry Graham, a great~grandson of the Henry
Graham who took up the land on which Cross Creek

village now stands. Tliey settled at Bloomington, Ill.

Two of the daughters, Mrs. Samuel White and Miss
Jane Dinsmore, reside on the home place. '

He had five sons and five o

690

HISTORY OF‘ WASHINGTON COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA.

In the north part of the township of Canton,
Francis Cunningham took up a tract of land which
was divided between .Francis and his brother James.
On the 10th of September, 1792, they sold one hun-
dred a.nd twelve acres of it to John Moore, adjoining
Gavin Allison, Joshua Anderson, William McGowen,

and James Cunningham. The tract "was" patented to

Francis Cunningham. He made over to his father,
Robert, one hundred and forty-two acres, who left it
by will to Francis and James.

_ Three brothers, Joseph, Jonathan, and John
Nesbitt, came from Cecil County, Md., and Joseph
purchased of Andrew Swearingen, July 30, 1800,
three hundred and ninety-eight acres, a tract named
“ Canaside,” and one hundred and sixty-seven acres
of a tract named “ Drusilla.” This land was divided
between the three brothers. Joseph retained the
portion of it which lay in Canton township, on which
he lived and died, leaving a widow and three children,
.~———Joseph, Robert, and Jane. Joseph, the eldest son,
inherited the homestead, and lived and died there,
leaving a widow, who still. lives’ upon the farm.
Robert bought a farm in Peters township, called
Rich Hills.
White. They settled on a farm adjoining her father’s

. on the south. Jonathan and John Nesbitt settled on

the portion of the land Joseph purchased, lying in
Chartiers township. ' -

Samuel McCloy emigrated to America about 1800,
and in 1808 located in Washington County. On
the 24th of November in that year he purchased
one hundred and one acres of land of Alexander

' Patterson, situated on Brush Run, a branch of Buf-

falo Creek. This landwas part of a tract which
was warranted to Henry Martin, and surveyed as
“ Labrador,” and for which a patent was ‘granted
March 22, 1788.
McClelland, by whom he had seven children,—Jol1n,
David, Robert, William, Margaret, Elizabeth, and
Sarah. -Margaret married Robert Dinsmore, and

settled and died in Allegheny County. Elizabeth

married William ~Morrow, and settled in Canton
township- Sarah remained single, and died in 1838.
John married, first, Jane Smith, and afterwards Miss
Jane Welsh. Her children were Sarah J ., William W.,
John H.,, and Robert H.- Later he married Sarah
Taggart, who lived only fifteen months afterwards,
and later still Margaret C. Brownlee became his wife.
, Robert Thompson emigrated to this country from

1- Ireland and settled for a time on the waters of Wheel-

Jane becam_e the wife of Ebenezer

Samuel McCloy married Sarah

ing Creek, where he took up a tract’ of land of which
he was dispossessed by prior claim. He then located
on the Crawford place in Canton township, where he
built a cabin and resided till 1814, when he removed
to Canonsburg and purchased a lot on Front Street,
just above the present public-school building, and
built a residence and shoe-shop, in which he carried
on the business of shoemaking till near his death.
He had four sons—Robert, John, Hugh, and Hamilton
-—-and four daughters,—-Mary, Elizabeth. Esther, and
Jane. Robert and John became physicians and set-
tled i-n Washington, Ohio, and later removed‘ to
Columbus, where the latter still lives. A sketch of
the former will be found among the physicians of
Canonsburg. Hugh and Hamilton became dentists.
Hugh settled in Canonsburg and died there. Ham-
ilton located in Washington, Pa., where his son,
Robert J ., now lives. Marybecame the wife of Abram
Roberts; Elizabeth of William McMill-an. Esther
married Samuel Kirk, and Jane became the wife» of
George Kirk. Thelatter settled in Canonsburg and
died there, leaving a widow, two sons, and two daugh-
ters, who still reside there. Mrs. Boyd Crumrine, of
Washington,_ is also a daughter, and James Kirk is a
son. William, the youngest son, is a physician, re-
siding at Fox Chase, near Philadelphia. I ~ a V

‘ SchO0ls.——About 1815 a log school-house was built
on the old Morrow farm. The teachers who taught
there after 1820 were Stephen Woods, John Allison,

John Connor, and John Smiley, who was the last. ,

The house caught fire (while the school was in session)
during the year 1829‘ and was wholly destroyed.
About the same time a school-house was located on
the ridge on the farm of William Wolfe. Benjamin
Work was one of the teachers in this house. _
Upon the passage of the school law in 1834 the
township accepted the conditions, and in March, 1835,
elected J. Brownlee and J . White school directors,
who at once proceeded to divide the township into
four districts, which have been kept to the present
time without material change. In 1863 there were
one hundred and fifty-three scholars enrolled and
seven teachers were employed. The sum of $852 was

raised for school purposes and $927.48 was expended._ .

In 1873 there were one hundred and thirty’-one
scholars and four teachers. The sum of $1849 was
raised and $1861.77 expended. In 1880 there were

’ one hundred and twenty—five. scholars and four teach-
The sum of $1239.03 was raised and $1144.78‘

ers.
expended.

OARROLL   TOWNSHIP-

4‘;
Vvf

THE township 5f Carroll, which until its organiza-
tion in 1834 formed part of Fallowfield and Notting-
ham townships, is situated in a great bend of the
Monongahela River, on the eastern border of the
county. ' Its boundaries are Union township and the

— Monongahela River on the. north, the Monongahela.
, River on the east, the same river and Fallowfield

township on the south, and Fallowfield and N otting-‘
ham ‘townships on the west. - , -

The territory comprised within these limits has
ever been noted as a fine agricultural district, and as
the seat of some of the earliest settlements made in

the Monongahela valley.' Its surface is underlaid '

with vast beds of the best quality of bituminous coal,
and skirted as it is for miles by ainavigable stream,
these mineral depositshave been opened and operated
from that-river formany years, thus enriching large
numbers of its citizens in-a greater or less degree.
The general surface of the township is undulating,

and besides the Monongahela River it has as water-

courses Pigeon Creek, which flows to the northward

through the central part, and Mingo Creek on its '

western border. Both of these small streams turned

the wheels of pioneer grist-mills before the commence- I

ment of the Revolutionary war. The total population
of the township in 1880 was 2064. In 1840 there were

1235 inhabitants (not ‘including Monongahela City),

1469 in 1850,1907 in 1860, and 3178 in 1870.

Early Hist0ry.——Just when or by whom the first
settlements were made in that portion of Washington"_
County now known as Carroll township it is now im-
possible to determine.» It is very probable, however,
that the Depues, Fromans, Fryes, Irwins, McComus,
Powers, Hairs, Coopers, Colvins, and Proctors were

"among the very first. who settled outside of the present

limits of Monongahela City, and that settlements were
established bysome of them as early as 1771. It seems
that warrants for lands lying in the present township
were issued as early as April, 1769, and as we‘ have
learned that J oseph Parkison was at “the ferry" as

' early as 1770, it is most likely that not many months

elapsed ere he had neighbors living at no great dis-
tance away. _ V .

“Strasburg,” containing two hundred and twenty-
three acres, and situated .“ on a curve in the river,"
‘was-surveyed for Nicholas Crist, July 20, 1769, under
authority _of warrant No. 3090, dated April 17th of
that year. “ Cherry Garden” was embraced by war-
rant No.“ 3091, of date April 17, 1769. It contained 7

on the river.

one hundred andvseventy-eight acres, was surveyed‘

for William Frye, and was situated “ on the west side
of the Monongahela River, adjoining Jacob Froman
on the, river.” The warrant was finally returned to
Abraham Frye, Aug. 26, 1785. “ Wrangle” was cov-
ered byiwarrant N o. 3075, of date April 17 , 1769, and
was surveyed for Jacob Froman, July 22, 1769. It
was situated on the west side of the Monongahela,
contained two hundred and eighty-seven acres, and
adjoining the lands of William Frye and Arthur Er-
win. On the 27th of December, 1784, this warrant
was returned ‘to Frederick Cooper.

“ Gloucester,” covered by warrant N o. 3079, of date
April 17,1769, was surveyed for Paul Froman, July
15, 1769. It contained one hundred and- forty-nine
acres, and was “ situate on the west side of Monon-
gahela, adjoining Abraham Decker and Tobias Decker
“ Fair View” contained three hundred
and thirty-seven acres. It seems that on the 26th of
August, 1769, Nathan Hammon received an order for
its survey numbered 3768, and afterwards transferred
his interest in same to Benjamin Frye. However, on

_ the 13th of June, 1785, a warrant for this tract was

issued to Jeremiah Proctor, and notwithstandingthe
representation of Henry Spiers, agent for Frye, the

1, land was surveyed for Proctor. -

“Christia_n’s Queen” ‘contained two hundred and
ninety-three acres, and was located on the waters of
Maple Creek, adjoining the lands of Abraham Frye;
the warrant was issued Dec. 30, 1784, and the lands
were surveyed for Samuel’, Frye, Nov. 23, 1785.
“ Samuel’s Farm,” a tract of two hundred and thirty-
six acres, was covered by a Virginia certificate given
to Frederick Cooper, Feb. 22, 1780. Afterwards he"
sold the same to Samuel Frye,‘who had it surveyed
Nov. 22, 1785. , A

On the 21st of May, 1785, Jacob and Simon Fegley
sold to Elisha Teet-ers three hundred acres adjoining
the Monongahela River, Mingo Creek, and Paul Fro-
man’s tract, being lands purchased by the Fegleys of
John Colvin, Jan. 24, 1780. Teeters obtained his
patent for the same May 15, 1787, and Aug. 19, 1794,
sold two hundred and ninety-seven’ acres to Sheshbaz—
zar Bentley. James Rice received a warrant for a
tract of two hundred and sixty-three acres of land,
entitled‘ “Romania,” April 12, 1796, and the same
was surveyed for him Oct. 20, 1797. It adjoined lands
of Abraham Frye and the Monongahela River.

As the early settlers were chiefly Scotch-Irish Pres-

. A 691

692

HISTORY or WASHINGTON COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA.

byterians, or descendants of such, not many years
elapsed ere houses of worship, rudely_ constructed
though they were, were erected at various convenient
places in this and adjoining townships. Thus about
the year 1785 a Presbyterian Church was built on the
road leading from Parkison’s Ferry to Brownsville at
a point near the present line dividing Carroll and
Fallowfield townships, and on lands now known as
the VVilson farm. This structure was built of logs,
and it has been stated that additions were made to it
until it had sixteen corners. It is quite probable that
Rev." John McMillan preached the dedicatory sermon
in this house, and many others thereafter, or until

- the coming of Rev. Samuel Ralston in'November,
(See history of Presbyterian Church, M.onon--

1796.
gahelaiCity.) I v

The Horseshoe Baptist Church‘ is another early’
landmark. ‘ It is claimed that the first structure, a log
building, was erected in 1790. Subsequently the pres-
ent brick building took its place. Regular meetings
were continued there until the completion of the Bap-
tist Church edifice in Monongahela City. ’

Among those who were residents in 1790 in those
portions of Fallowfield and Nottingham townships
now known as Carroll were Daniel Depue, a justice
of the peace, Joseph Depue, Samuel Cole, Thomas
Nichols, who kept a ‘ferry at the point now known as
Columbia, Robert Galloway, Harmonus Cole, J acob.

Stilwagon, Peter \Veyandt, Cornelius Weyandt, An-

drew Platter, James Coulter, Thomas Shaver, Jacob
Rape, Jr., John Ammon, Benjamin Morrow, Thomas
Legg, VVilliam Van Horn, Joseph Hall, George Grant,
Nicholas Depue, Samuel Baxter, Martin Wirt, Samuel
Quimby, Samuel Baxter, J r., John Fenton, Stacy
Storer, Richard Storer, Isaac Teeple, David Grant,
Robert George, Alexander George, Thomas Coulter,
Conrad Ammon, Peter Castner,’ Daniel Rice, James
Rice, Robert Williams, John Shouse, Jacob Ammon,

Thomas Rape, Daniel McComus, Samuel Van Voor- I
V his, Daniel Van Voorhis, G_en. John Hamilton, Elisha

Teeters, David Hamilton, a justice of the peace, Peter
Erigh, Vincent Colvin, Isaac Cole, Samuel Coulter,
Daniel McGuire, Thomas Fenton, William Storer,

Jonathan Hamilton, Thomas Coul_ter, John Ruth,

Daniel Hamilton, Abraham Frye, Sr.,vAbraham Frye,
J r., Frederick Cooper, Samuel Frye, Abraham Brokaw,
and doubtless a considerable number of others whose
names we have been unable to. gather. These men

1 On the 8th of September, 1810, Abraham Frye and wife granted to
Stacy Storer and Jolm Grant, trustees, and their successors, for the use
of the “ Regular Baptist Society” one acre of land “ Whereon the Bap-
tist Meeting-house is built, situated in the Horseshoe Bottom and en-
closed by land of grantor. ” -

2 Peter Castner came from the vicinity of Philadelphia, and setlled
near what is now known as the town of Latrobe in 1775. Prior to 1790
he had become a resident of that part of Fallowfield township now
known as Carroll, and in 1794' obtained a patent for “ Walnut Bottom,”
a tract of two hundred and eighty-two acres. His father was a native
of Germany. ’ ’

Michael Castner (son of Peter) sold to Josiah Allen one hundred and
eiglteen acres of ‘the tract mentioned, more than fifty years ago.

were all here during .the Whiskey Insurrection, and
many of them had borne arms, during Indian wars
and the war of the Revolution.

During years prior to the beginning of this cen-
tury, grist-mills were established in the township on
Pigeon and Mingo Creeks. Thus, in 1796, we find
Joseph Parkison speaking of “ several grist- and saw-
mills within one and two milesl’ of his new town of
Williamsport. The mill interests at the mouth of

‘the Mingo came into possession of Benjamin Parki-

son3 as early as 1800, and were carried on extensively
by him for many years. He there had in operation
a saw-mill, flouring-mill, fulling-mill, etc. Subse-
quently he built a second grist-mill on the right bank
of the Monongahela, and called the place Elkhorn.
In 1814 greater facilities were offered his patrons, as

the following clipping from an early newspaper will .

show :
“May 23, 1814.

“ The subscriber begs leave to announce to his many friends and cus-

tomers that he has now in a complete state of readiness six carding-
machines, viz.: one for cotton on an improved plan, and New York
cards of the first quality, No. 32, which will be occupied for merino in
the wool season ; one for picking and one for finishing into rolls common
wool in his creek mill on the mouth of Mingo Creek, opposite the old
river mill; and three in the river mill, one for picking, one for break-
ing, and one for finishing into rolls.” 4 — .
-The old “ River Mill” was one of the most widely-
known institutions in the western part of the State
at one time. The farmers with their good wives came
from long distance away to have work done, and
sometimes waited two andthree days before being en-
abled to start on their return with grists and wool-
carding complete.
had in operation at Mingo and Elkhorn no less than
two distilleries, three grist-mills, a woolen-factory,
comb-factory, sickle-factory, and a gun-factory.

As before mentioned, a tract of two hundred ‘and
twenty-three acres, entitled “iStrasbur-g,” was pat-
ented to Nicholas Crist April 17, 1769; was surveyed
for him July 20, 1769, and his right’ to the same was
confirmed June 23, 17 84. On the 25th of April, 17 94,
Crist sold the premises to Robert Galloway, and the
latter transferred his interests in the same to Har-
monus Cole, July 21, ‘1795. Manuel Hoover pur-
chased from Cole, July 10, 1797, and on the 13th of
March, 1815, “Strasburg” was finally transferred
by,;Mr. Hoover to Charles De’ Hass. During the
summer of 1814, however, Mr. De Hass had platted

a town site, and in September of the same year.

caused to be published in the newspapers of the day
the following announcement: ’ A ‘

“NEW Town or Pirrseonouen.
“ To llferchants and manufacturers.

“ The subscriber has lately laid out a town on the elegant farm owned
by Mr. Hoover in Horseshoe Bottom, VVashington 00., on the west bank
of the Monongahela, 25 miles from Pittsburgh, 24 miles from Washing-

3 A. R. Parkison, of the firm of McGrew & Parkison, City Flouring-

Mills, Monongahela City, is a grandson of the Benjamin Parkison here '

mentioned. '

At one period Benjamin Parkison ~

. CARROLL‘ TOWNSHIP.

693

ton, 24 miles from Uniontown, 24 miles from Greensburg, and 4 miles
above Williamsport on a direct course from Washington to Bedford, and
on a direct course from Pittsburgh to Uniontown.

“As it is in contemplation to form a new county, and from its being so

very central in theycontemplated county, and its handsome situation»in-
duced the subscriber to lay oil‘ a town with large lots and wide streets
and alleys, with public grounds for a church and burying-ground and
also for an academy. The subscriber proposes selling the‘ lots on mod-
erate terms, by way of lottery in the following manner, viz.: On receiv-
ing a certificate which will entitle them to a" lot, they are required to
pay five dollars in hand, and twenty-five dollars when the lots are drawn
for, and the article of agreement made between the proprietor and the
lot holders of such lots as are drawn against the number of their certifi-

~ Oates; and twenty dollars annually for three years to commence from

the date of the deed. There is an abundance of stone ‘coal within one
hundred rods of the town, with which manufacturers can be supplied
on moderate terms; and the proprietor agrees to give to each of the lot
holders in said town stone coal for three years from the date of the deed.
Those who do not use said coal shall be deducted fifteen dollars from the

_ last payment. The lots will be drawn for on the premises as soon as all

the certificates are disposed of, of which public notice will be given.
An indisputable title and possession given the 1st of April next. The
subscriber excepts the grain in the ground. Lot No. 84 worth $300,

A which sum I do agree to give, and lots Nos. 9, 10 worth $200, which sum

I do also agree to give.
“CHARLES D’HASS.

“PITTSBOROUGH, Sept. 12, 1814.”

On the 12th _of November, 1814, Mr. De Hass an-
nounced that the name of the town had been changed
to that of Columbia, and, after repeating what has
just been quoted, added, “ Any person whowill pur-
chase a lot and erect a building on it within one year
from the time of sale shall be entitled to stone coal
at the coal-mine for four yearsgratis.” On the.15th

_of February, 1815, the proprietor notified all pur-

chasers of lots that their deeds were ready. Soon
after, he sold to John Neal a large portion of the plat,
and they then became joint proprietors. The mem-
bers of the “ Columbia Steam-Mill and Manufactur-
ing Company” were notified to assemble at Columbia,
March 27, 1815, for the purpose of electing seven

_ directors.

Charles De Hass and John Neal, proprietors of the

town of Columbia, notified the public Jan. 12, 1816, ,

that a market-square, eighty by one hundred and
twenty feet, and a public square composing lot No.
69, both bounded by Market and Third Streets, Scott
and vDecatur Alleys, had been laid out subject to
the following conditions : A

“ If -said square is not occupied by a court-house and other public

buildings in fourteen years from the present date. then this square ~ is
tovrevert to John Neal, the proprietor, or his lawful representative.

Lots Nos. 89 and 108 are for the purposes of building churches and’

school-houses. The Ferry rights are retained by the proprietors, ex-
cept such as are already conveyed by deed. A lot of ground northeast
of Marketstreet, two hundred feet square,-is granted as a- place of in-
terment for all denominations of Christians.”

In all there were two hundred and seventy lots in
the original plat. On the 25th of March, 1816, John
Neal, in acquainting the public that a public vendue

forithe sale of village lots would take -place April

11th of that year, added, “ There are at present about
twentyhouses, all built last summer. It-is expected
that not less than thirty more will go up this season.
A steam mill is erecting and expected to be in oper-
ation the ensuing fall.”

' The post-office of West Columbia was established
in June, 1819, and Charles De Hass appointed post-
master. The history of Columbia has been told, for

though it started out sixty-eight years ago with such 1

a brilliant promise for the future, in the mind of its
projector, one glance at West Columbia of to-day
sufliciently indicates that instead of advancing it has
receded from the position attained in 1816, when, as
one of its proprietors said, it contained about twe-nty
houses. 8 ‘

In 1833 Williamsport, which until that time had
comprised portions__of Fallowfield and Nottingham
townships, was made a borough. It was adjoined by
the former township on the south and east, and by
the latter on the south and west. Their, anomalous

situation seems to have been unsatisfactory to those, V

residents of either township lying without the new
borough limits, for, during the January sessions of
1834, various inhabitants of Fallowfield and Not-

tingham townships petitioned the Court of Quarter

Sessions asking. that a new . township be erected.
Thereupon an order of court was issued and viewers
appointed to investigate the matter. They rendered a
report in March following, which was set aside. How»-
e-ver, on the 14th of April another commission was
appointeldfvvhich body in June, 1834, reported in
favor of a new township to be called Knox‘. This re-
port was approved,‘ and on the 30th of September,
1834, confirmed, when it-.was further ordered that the
new township be known as Carroll.

Although the tow_n of Williamsport was ‘incorpo-
rated -as a borough‘ in 1833, it was so in-name only,
and had no independent separate existence aside from
the township of Carroll (which embraced it) for a
period‘ of some eight or nine years‘ thereafter. Thus
we" find that early in 1841 various inhabitants of Car-
roll township petitioned the Court of Quarter Ses-
sions asking for a« division of the borough of Monon-
gahela City1 and the township mentioned. Viewers
were thereupon appointed, whose report was set aside
August 20th of that year. The farmers were persist-
ent, however, for during the sessions of the court in
November, 1841, a second petition numerously signed
was presented, the petitioners praying“ to be struck
off from Monongahela City.” In answer, the court
issued an order and appointed a second board of com-
missioners Jan. 26, 18512. On the 28th of February
following these commissioners reported that the sepa-
ration prayed for ought tobe granted, This report

was confirmed May 26, 1842, and from that time all‘

assessment-rolls, census reports, etc., have been mad
separately. » « ‘ V
The Hamilton and Van Voorhis Familes.——The
following items \regarding the Hamilton and Van
Voorhis families, written by Rev. W. F. Hamilton,
of Washington, Pa., and Dr. J. S. Van Voorhis, of

1The name of the town had been changed to that of'Mouongahe1a
Cityin-1837. ' ‘ ' - ‘ ' i” I - I '

69-1

HISTORY OF WASHINGTON "COUNT'Y,PENNSYLVANIA.

Belle Vernon, Pa., respectively, are given a place
here, for the reason that while members. ofvthese
families have ever been prominent in the township

. and county, the statements here inserted contain

much interesting contemporaneous history. 1
Hon. John Hamilton,~prominent in the earlier his-
tory of the county, was of Scotch-Irish lineage, being
a son of John Hamilton, who immigrated to this coun-
try about the middle of the last century. He was
born in 1754, most probably in Adams (then_York)
County, Pa., where the family resided for a. time.
Soonafter reaching manhood he came to Washing-
ton County and settledjon a tract of land'lying on
the south side of Mingo Creek, three miles from its
mouth, of which tract he retained possession until
his death. ‘He became high sheriff of the county in
1793, being the first chosen under the constitution of
1790. During the time he held this office the troub-
lous _scenes of the insurrection transpired. While
sharing in the general sentiment of opposition to the
excise laws as unjust and oppressive, he used his in-
fluence, personalrand official, to prevent this oppo-
sition from running" into lawlessness and violence.
Notwithstanding this he was regarded with suspicion
and subjected to an oppressive prosecution. His ex-

cellence of character and ‘the cruel ‘injustice done '

him are fully attested in the historical records of
those times. H. M. Brackenridge, in his “ History of

,the Insurrection,” remarks, “The case of Sheriff
Hamilton, one of the most estimable men in the

western counties, was much-more aggravated.” “It
cannot but excite the liveliest indignation to read
the details of this case.” I 7
Hon. ’William Findley writes as follows: “John
Hamilton, of .Washington, is high sheriff of ‘that
county and colonel of a regiment of militia in the
Mingo Creek settlement; though a number of this
regiment were known to have had an active hand in

the attack on Neville’s house, and were in fact con- '
sidered the greatest promoters of the insurrection, yet .

he not only kept himself from those outrages, but en-
deavored, as soon as he heard of the design, to pre-

‘ vent the rendezvous at Braddock’s Field. When he

could-not prevent this he put‘ himself atthe head of
his regiment, and was very instrumental in prevent-
ing further outrages from being committed. . . . He
attended all the meetings for restoring order, and
living when he did he merited higher approbation
than if he had resided in Boston. Col. Hamilton was

-informed by_a friend of the designs againsthim time

enough to make his escape, but, conscious of his inno-
cence, he ‘preferred traveling alone thirty miles’ to
where,the judiciary thenwas, and presenting himself
to Judge Peters,-informed him that he had heard
there was a charge against him, and requested to have
it examined.” After giving a detailed account of the
subsequent events up to the time of his triumphant
vindication, Mr. Finley adds: .“ Thus a man who was
at the time sheriff of the county and a colonel of the

militia, and who was in a part of the country and in
circumstances where temporizing might have been

‘ excusable,was not only clear of any charge but had

merit, was illegally taken from- the exercise of an"

roffice at that time of importance to the peace of the

county, and without examination dragged down to

Philadelphia in the winter by a military guard, pa-

raded in a‘ barbarous manner through the streets,
thrown for some time into the cells, compelled to wear
the word insurgent in his hat, and then cast into
prison, and after a long confinement admitted to bail.
After this he was again required to cross the moun-

tains" to meet his trial, at which nothing was alleged A

against him.” ,
That the popular sentiment fully approved Col.
Hamilton’s character and conduct appears from the
civil honors which were immediately thereafter con-
ferred uponhim. -‘In 1796 he represented the coun-
ties of Washington and Allegheny in the'State Senate.
In 1800 he represented in the same body the counties
of Washington’, Allegheny, and Greene. In 1802 he
was commissioned an associate judge of the county,
which office he continued to hold until his death, a
period longer than that of any other_incumbent.

. About the beginning of the century he was married
to Miss Mary Patterson, of Westmoreland County,
Pa. Cf their family but two daughters survived the
parents. Harriet intermarried with David‘ Hamilton,
J _r., and Margaret intermarried first with ‘a Mr. Par-
ker, and after his death with a Mr. Purviance. These
two daughters inherited the paternal estate. A grand-
son, Thompson Purviance, gave his life to the coun-
try in the war of the Rebellion. Another grandson
by marriage was Col.  A. Purviance, of the Eighty-
fifth Pennsylvania Volunteers,,who also fell in battle,
and whose remains are in the Washington Cemetery.

In his personal appearance Judge Hamilton, or, as
he was often called, Gen. Hami1ton,.was of medium
stature, heavy build, inclining to corpulence, benign
expression of countenance, and scrupulously neat _in
dress, never appearing in public without the snow-
white ruflies and ivory-mounted cane which were so
generally affected in those days by elderly men in
ofiicial positions. _ .

1 But besides being a courteous gentleman and a pub-
lic-spirited citizen, he was also a devout Christian.
He lived and died in the communion of the Presby-
terian Church. His death occurred Aug. 222, 1837, in
his eighty-third year.

Mingo graveyard. _ ’ ‘ r »
Joseph Hamilton, son of William, was born Sept.
1, 17 84, near Gettysburg, Adams Co., Pa. Two strong
ties attached him towards Washington County. David
Hamilton, Esq., his brother-in-law, and Gen. John
Hamilton, his uncle, were both residents of this

county, Soon after coming West he wasmarried,

Jan. 7, 1813, to Margaret, daughter of William Fer-
guson, of Pigeon Creek. For, more than a quarter-

His wife survived him but a-
few years. Their remains lie interred in the old-

century following he resided in Williamsport, now

Monongahela City, where he wrought, at his trade as
carpenter and house-builder, carried on a cabinet and
undertaker’s shop, and also kept an inn. In 1841,
having bought the Ginger’ Hill farm from Daniel
Hamilton, Esq., he removed there, and lived on it
until his death, Nov. 9,’ 1849. His svidow d-ied at the
same place June 10, 1865. They were both life-long
members of at-he,Presbyterian Church. He was for
many years director and ‘treasurer of the Williams-
port Turnpike Company, and director of the Wil-
liamsport'Bridge Company. He did much in the
way of settling up decedents’ estates. Seven chil-
dren survive the parents. Sarah, intermarried with
H. Wilson, and Harriet, intermalried with T. R.

' Hazzard, Esq., survive their husbands and live in

Monongahela City. ‘May Jane, intermarried with
N. A. Gregg, died in Iowa. Martha B. and her
husband, M. P. Patton, live in Iowa. ‘W. F. is a
Presbyterian minister, and lives in Washington, Pa.
John lives on the paternal farm at Ginger »Hill,
which he owns. David R. lives there also. Four

' grandsons fought through the war of the Rebellion,

D

viz. :\Joseph H. and Robert F. Wilson and Capts. C.
VV. and J. D. V. Hazzard. About fifty descendants,
including children, grandchildren, and great-grand-
children, survive. ' ' ‘

Mr. Isaac Van Voorhis was born on the farm now

8 owned by JohniVan Voorhis on the 15th day of

March, 1794. His great-grandfather immigrated to
this country about 1670, and settled on Long Island,
where Daniel Van Voorhis, the grandfather of the
deceased, was born, Dec. 17, 1701. He married Miss
Femmyte Bennett, Nov. 27, 1724. The issue of this

. marriage were Abraham, Jerome, Ange, John, Corne-

lius, Elizabeth, Femmyte, and Daniel (the father of
Isaac). Daniel was born July 7 1728, and was in the
prime of life during the days of the Revolution. .He
was an accomplished scholar, and especially versed
in the science of navigation, as his books now at the
old homestead fully show. He followed the sea as

captain of a merchant vessel for many years, and A

during the Revolution was taken prisoner three times
by the British, twice having lost his vessel and cargo.
At one time, being hard chased by a man-of-war, he
raised the. signal of surrender,,but before it was rec-
ognized by the enemy a cannon- ball carr_ied away
the post against which he was leaning. At one time

" he with several other prisoners were banished to”. an

' island, from which they escaped, only to be retaken,‘

though shortly afterwards released. . He was married
three times. His first wife was a Van Voorhis, and
they had two children,-——Samuel, who was for a long
time a successful merchant of New York City, about

the beginning of this century came to this county,

and. lived‘ for a short time in a cabin near where the
Black Diamond Coal Works are now situated, and
afterwards removed to Bucyrus, Ohio, where he died

CARROLL TOWNSHIP. ~

695

a few years ago at an advanced age.‘ His sister Sarah
lived and died near Groshen, N. Y. ; she married a

John Van Voorhis, anddied Nov. 17, 1857, in her 4

eighty-second year. The children of Capt. ‘-Daniel

Van Voorhis by his second wife were John, who died -

June 28, 1874, in Muskingum County, Ohio, aged
ninety-three years; Daniel, who died in 1852, aged
sixty-eight years, on the farm given him by his father;
and Abraham, who died in 1871. To his third wife
were born Elizabeth, now ‘Mrs. Frye, living with her
daughter, Mrs. Redd; and Isaac Van Voorhis,‘ who
was born, as before mentioned, in 1794, in what is now
Carroll township. His father, tired‘ of seafaring life,
came to this region in 1785, as near as we can ascer-
tain, and purchased from a man named Decker sixty
acres of land, now owned by John Van Voorhis and
James Sampson. It was then a wilderness, but now
the garden-spot of Carrol township. Here his two
wives a-nd three sons, with many others of their
descendants, sleep in the beautiful burying-ground
overlooking Pigeon Creek, a spot of ground selected

by him long ago for his remains and that of his kin- _

dred. Four generations, of the name are in that

cemetery, incorporated and made perpetual by the

laws of the ‘land.

Mr. Isaac Van Voorhiswas the oldest resident ”
' Carroll township, within the bounds of which he al-
ways resided- Contemporary with him in the early "

‘history of this neighborhood were the Colvins, the

‘Powers, the McCombs, Hairs, Randolphs, the older

Fryes, Depews, McGrews, Parkisons, Irwins. He was

-married to Mary Hair by Rev. Dr. Ralston on the_13th

of May, 1819. His wife andisister (Mrs. F-rye) are
the only living persons who as adults were at the
wedding. They -lived together a little over fifty-six‘
years. Dr. S. M. King and wife are the only persons
now living in Monongahela City who were residents
at that time. He always took a deep interest in the
town. He, with‘ his brothers‘, built the first keel-boats,
which were built at the mouth of the creek just atthe
close of the War of 1812. He built the first coal-boat
loaded with coal at the wharf, which was then at the
old red house onthe bank of the river, at the mouth
of the street below Rabe’s residence. The boat was

twelve feet wide and forty feet long. It was filled with . .

coal by the late Edward Kearney, by hauling it with
a one-horse cart from the old coal bank in Katzhurg.
It was sold to a returned horsefldrover for cash re-

ceived from the sale of horses, and after his departure

he was never heard from. In those days it was neces-
sary to have such crafts, in order to get produce. of

the farm to market,'and even then the price of grain V
He" was one of the I

scarcely justified -transportation.
projectors of the Washington and Williamsport turn-
pike, and for inany years he served as one of the man-
agers, with Joseph Hamilton, Samuel Black, Samuel

Hill, James Manown, Col. Barr, and others. He was 5

a great friend of education, and was a member of the

first school board in the township after the adoption.

696

HISTORY OF WASHINGTON ‘COIJN TY, ‘ PENNSYLVANIA.

of the presentschool system. He was in early times
a; Federalist, inthe days of Ritner a strong anti-
Mason, afterwards’ a Whig, and finally a Republican.
He and Robert McFarland were the only persons in
Fallowfield (now divided into several townships) who
votedafor John Q. Adams at the time he was elected
President. He was a subscriber to the Wee/sly Gazette
for over sixty years, and was said’ to be the oldest con-
tinuous subscriber the Gazette ever had. He was a
Presbyterian by birth and profession’ for over fifty
years, and was a ruling elder for forty years. Or-
dained in 1836, he served in the session with Jesse
Martin, James McGrew, J ames,Gordon, Aaron Kerr,
James Dickey, Henry Fulton, Joseph Kiddoo, all of

‘whom died before him.

He first attended Presbyterian Church at the old
Horseshoe building, situate on the farm owned by
John Wilson, and in that old churchyard are still to
be seen evidences of the resting-place of nearly all
the first settlers of this country for many miles around.
On the removal of the place of preaching to Monon-

~gahela City, he worshiped with‘ his father-in-law,

Elder James Hair, and a few othersin the old log
school-house near the old Presbyterian Church. He
contributed liberally towards the erection of the old
brick church on the hill, also for the church building
at thefoot of the hill, and more recently aided in
building the present beautiful church. Thus in his
life -he gave of his substance for three church
buildings of thesame congregation,——not a common
affair in one lifetime. He lived forty years on the

farm on which he was born, and forty-one years on‘

the farm where he died. He left behind his wife,
seven children, twenty-five ‘grandchildren,\and three

great-grandchildren. 4 All his children survive ‘him,

except Daniel, who diedin 1848. We need not say
that_ he died a Christian‘: the world knew he was a
Christian, for it was as an humble follower of Christ
his character shone the brightest. ‘As the end-drew
nigh his faith and trust in a crucified Redeemer grew
stronger, and after a period of intense pain, which he
suffered without a murmur, he died, serene and happy,
on the 4th of June, 1875.

» iAbraham Van ‘Voorhis, who was born near Ran-
cocas Creek,.on' the Delaware River, in New Jersey,

' on the 28th.day of December, 1785, died Dec. 4, 1871.

His father, Capt. __Daniel Van,,Voorh-is, was born at

» Oyster Bay, L. I., the 8th day of July, 1738, and died

Feb. 21, 1819, on the old Van Voorhis homestead,
where his grandson, John Van Voorhis, now resides,
but in the old hewed log house which stood almost on
the site of the present brick house. The captain first

’ lived in the old round log house, which stood a short
V distance below the hewed log house. It was for many

years used as a cooper-shop. The grandfather of Abra-
ham was named Daniel also, and was born at Oyster
Bay on the 17th day of December, 1701 ; was married
to Femmyte Bennet on 28th day of November, 1724,
who was born April 24, 1706. They had eight chil-

dren, among whom was Daniel, the father of Abra-
ham. AbrahaI_n’s great-grandfather was one of three
brothers who camefrom Amsterdam, Holland, about
the year 1670, and settled on Long Island, where one‘
was killed by a poisoned arrow shot by an Indian.
The other two, Cornelius and Daniel, remained on
Long ‘Island, and their lineal descendants make up
the sum total of the name in the United”States.
Abraham’s father first came to this country in 17 85,
but did not bring his family until after the birth of
the young Abraham, and prior to 1789, as hisflmother,
Mary Newton Van Voorhis, died December 31st ofth_at
year, and was the first person buried in the Van Voor-
his cemetery. She was Capt. Daniel Van Voorhis’
second wife. His first Wife was a widow,,Mrs. Britt,
whose maiden name was Van Voorhis. His third
wife was Nancy Myers, who came from Hagerstown.

The first wife of Abraham Van Voorhis was Ann
Watkins, sister of the late Elias and John Watkins.
They had four children. Joseph died while very
young. Garret Townsend was born in 1817. He went
to the old Colhoon school. Lived with his father on
.the farm now owned by James Sampson until he was
married to Hester‘Frye, daughter of"Noah Frye, who
was killed at a» coal bank near Dagg’s Ferry. Her
mother was Lucy Colvin, a daughter of the older
Vincent "Colvin, who ‘came to this country in 1769,
was a large landholder, and lived and died ina house
that stood above theifine brick dwelling of the late
Vincent Colvin, Jr. ‘Father Vincent'Colvin had a
large family, among whom Moses died on the old

home place; Stephen‘, who -died at the stone housew

near Hair’s old mill-; Lot was killed by being thrown
from his horse at the .old sign-post of‘theValley Inn.
His wife was a Stecker, and subsequently married

Rev. 8. Wells- They lived for a time on the home '

farm, near the Dutch meeting—house, and then re-

1 moved to the vicinity of Washington, where they still

reside. Gr. Townsend’s second wife died some years
ago on the farm his father gave him, near" Green-
field. His second wife was a Baxter, and isstill living.
They live on Pigeon Creek, on the Hickman farm, and
he also owns ‘the Richardson farm adjoining, or nearly
so, and, Van Voorhis like, carries on farming, stock-
raising, etc., taking it easy in -his older days. _ Mary
married Vincent Colvin, J r., and died with diphtheria
whilst her husband was in the army. He was shortly
after her-death discharged by theSecretary of VVar,

returned home, and died in 1876. The remaining, son, .-
Robert, was born July 6, 1819, on the home farm, which
his father in after-life gave him, in what was Fallowfield ’

township, Washington County. He was also a scholar

in the Colhoon‘ school. He married Caroline Frye, /
sister to his brother Townsend’s wife.

They lived for
a short time in the old log house near where Cornelius
Carson now resides. From that house he moved up
the hill. to the old home, shortly after his father -had
finished the brick house on the original Van Voorhis
homestead. ‘ 8

CARROLL TOWNSHIP.

Some years ago he sold this farm to James Sampson,
and purchased from Hon. G. V. Lawrence the beau-
tiful and highly-improved farm on the turnpike two
miles above town, now called the “Keystone Farm.”
Robert has been engaged in the thoroughbred sheep-
raisin g since 1848. He is the highest authority in this

‘ line of business, and his advice and sheep are sought

after in all parts of the United States. His ability as
a shepherd is recognized by the Commissioners of
Agriculture, at whose-instance he communicates a
‘valuable paper, which appears in the book recently
published." by authority of Congress, entitled “Dis-

eases of Domestic Animals.” Orders reach him from‘
all parts of the United States, and strains from his.

choice flocks are found in Texas, Colorado, and every

' ‘, one of the Middle States. As for premiums, they

never failed to take wherever exhibited. ‘ His clips
are the largest ever known in this or any other coun-
try, some of them being eight hundrediper cent. above
the average. His fine infantado sheep, Don Carlos,
is beautifully lithographed, and has the place of honor
as the frontispiece of the “Pennsylvania State Agri-
cultural Report for 1878.” His eye is like a microscope
in determiningthe firmness and other qualities of the
wool fibre. His daughter, the only child, is the wife

' . of Rev. R. B. Mansell, one of the most learned and

eloquent ministers in the Methodist Episcopal Church,
now located at Emory Chapel, East End, Pittsburgh.

Father‘ Abraham Van Voorhis had by his second
wife quite a family, of whom several are dead. Eliza
married Thornton F. Watkins, who, after the death of

» his wife, leaving his little son Jimmy with its grand-
parents, started for California, but overtaken by dis- ’

ease died on his way, and among the list of those
published in the New York Tribune in 1852 whose

_ bones lay bleaching in the sands of the once “Great

American Desert” appears the name of T.  Wat-
kins. Little Jimmy not many years ago died. Eme-
line married Joseph Brown, of Fayette County; Caro-

‘line married the late James J ones; Cynthia married

J . Cooper Bentley, and lives on the pikevnear Valley
Inn; and John is on the old homestead near his
mother. He not only has one of the best farms, but

A is one of the best farmers in the county. He, too, is

a sheep-raiser as well as a systematic farmer. He has
been for years president of the Monongahela Valley
Agricultural and Horticultural Society, and has at
heart its true interests. His wife was a daughter of

the late Elisha Teeple, Esq. Mrs. Jane Van Voorhis, A A
1 his mother, is halo and hearty, full of vivacity, and

greatly devoted to her children. She has for a’. long

lifetime been a member of -the Methodist Episcopal,

Church, and listened to the preaching of the gospel
in the “church on the river-bank?’ before many now
in active duty were born. »

1 Township 0flicers.—The following list is of per-
sons who have been elected justices of the peace in
Carroll since its organization, viz. :

JUSTICES OF THE PEACE.

John Clemens, March 28, 1836.
John Kennedy, June 1, 1836.
John S. Clokey, April 14, 1840. '
Thomas Collins,‘ April 14, 1840.
Ira R. Butler, April 15, 1845.
Thomas Collins, April 15, 1845.
John s. Clokey, April 13, 1347.
David Mitchell, April 13, 1847.
Daniel Yohe, April 9, 1850.
Thomas Collins, April 9, 18,50. —
A. T. Gregg, April 10, 1855.
Daniel Yohe, April 10, 1855. V

Ira R. Butler, April 10, 1855.
Thomas Collins, April 10, 1860.

- Daniel Yohe, April 10, 1860. 4 "
Ira R..Butler, Jan. 16,1860.
Francis Nelson, April 14, 1864.
Daniel Yohe, June 3, 1865.
Daniel Castner, June 3, 1865.
Thomas Collins, June 3, 1865.
Francis Nelson, May 30, 1868. ,
George W. Allen, March 29, 1870.,’
Thomas Collins, March 29,1870.
B. W. Castner, March 25, 1878.

Miscellaneous.—The township of to-day includes
territory about eight miles in length by three miles in
width, and isskirted on its northern, eastern, and
southern borders for a distance of some ten or eleven
rniles by the Monon.gahela.River. The Pittsburgh,

‘Virginia and Charleston Railroad, or, as now known,

the Monongahela Division of the Pennsylvania Rail-
road, which was completed from Pittsburgh to Mo-

. nongahela City Sept. 29, 1873, and ‘fromithe latter
«place to West Brownsville, May 15, 1881, follows all

thewindings andsinuosities of that stream, and also
affords superior advantages for travel, the shipping
and receiving of freight. Its stations ‘within the
township are Riverview. New Eagle, Monongahela
City, Black Diamond, _Baird’s, Webster, West Colum-
bia, and Bamford. At these stations, and at other
points besides, large numbers of men are employed
in coal-mining. Coal-tipples line the 'river-banks,
and by means of the appliances now in usecoal is
taken directly from the bluffs and hillsides and
emptied into boats and "barges awaiting cargoes. ,

Besides the old Presbyterian and Baptist Churches
already mentioned, there stands in the western part
of the township the Ginger Hill Lutheran Church, a
brick structure, which was erected in 1847. During
its prosperous days the congregation worshiping
there listened to the preaching‘ of such worthy di-
vines as the Revs. Mr. Waters, Emory, Milhom
Wylie, Ryder, and others.

The United Brethren Churchis found near the toll-
gate on the Williamsport and VVashington turnpike.
The ‘building is occupied at irregular intervals by
various denominations. A

7

697 A

THE REVOLUTION.

81

‘First Lieutenant.
Hughes, John, Aug. 9, 1776; resigned Nov. 23, 1778.

Ensign.
Wyatt, Thomas, Dec. 20, 1778, on command at Fort Laurens. -

, Sergeants.
Crawford, Robert, three years.
Hezlip, Rezin, three years. 1
Smith, John, three years, on command at Sugar Camp.
Armstrong, George, war.

Corporals.
Bradley, Thomas, three years.
Jarret, William, three years, on command at Fort Laurens.
Ackles, Arthur, three years, on guard at block-house.
Stevenson, James, three years, on command at Sugar Camp.

Drummer.
Bower, Michael. V

Privates.

Bacon, John. war, at Fort Laurens.

Caldwell, Robert, three years, on command, making canoes.
Cline, George, three years.

Cooper, J oeph, three years, on command at Fort Lauren
Counse, Felix, three years. '
Eyler, Jonas, war, on command at Fort Laurens.

Fisher, John, three years.

France, Henry, three years.

Handcock, Joseph, three years.

Hill, John, three years.

Holmes, Nicholas, three years.

Holstone, George, three years, on command at Fort Laurens.
Kerr, VVil1iam, threeyears. A

Lamb, Peter, three years, on command at Fort Laurens.

, Lewis, Samuel, war.

Lynch, Patrick, three years, on command, boating.
McCombs, Allen, three years.

. McCaully, Edward, war.

McGreggor, John, war.

McKeehan, David, three years, on command at Fort Laurens.
McKissan, James, three years. _

McLaughlin, Patrick, three years.

Matthew, William, three years, on command, boating. _
Marman, George, -war, on command, recruiting.

Martin, Paul, three years, on command at Fort Laurens.
Miller, George, three years, on command at Fort Laurens.

_ Richard, Richard, three years.

Shaw, Jacob, three years, on furlough.

Shelhamer, Peter, three years.

Smith, Emanuel, three years.

Smith, Jacob, three years.

Smith, John, war.

Sommerville, William, three years, on command ; enlisted Aug. 8, 1776,
under Capt. Ourry; October, 1778, appointed conductor of artillery;
see letters to Pennsylvania Archives, second series, vol. iii., p. 245, etc . ;
he was appointed by President Jefferson postmaster at Martinsburg,
Va., and died there, March 18, 1826, aged seventy.

Steel, Thomas, war.

Tracey, James, war, on guard.

Turner, William, three years.

Webb, Hugh, war, on command, at Sugar Camp.

Wilkie, Edward, war, on command at Fort Laurens.

FORT MCINTOSH, Feb. 21, 1779.
Then mustered Capt. Stokely’s company, as speci-
fied in the above roll. ‘ I '
WM. ANDERsoN,
D.1lI..M G’enl., MD. V

I certify that the within muster-roll is a_ true state
of the company,‘ without fraud to these United States,
or to any individual, to the best of my knowledge.

‘ ROBERT CRAWFORD,
1 Sergeant.

I do certify that there is no commissioned oflficer
present belonging to the company.
DANIEL BROBHEAD,
00!. 8th Pa. Regt. '

CoMMiss1oNERs’ Osman. FOR ARMY Aecounrs,
NEW Yonx, July 19, 1786.

This may certify that the above and foregoing is a

true copy of the muster-roll of Capt. Stokely’s com-

pany, the original of which is filed in this oflice.
J NO. PIERCE, MG.

NON-CoMmssmNEn‘jOrrIcERs AND PRIVATES or THE EIGHTH PENNsrL-
VANIA REGIMENT, CONTINENTAL LINE}

[Those marked (e) are taken from a list in the secretary's office of sol-
diers whose depreciated pay escheated to the State.]
Sergeant. — _
Allison, John, died in Versailles, Ky., June 16, 1823, aged seventy-five

Corporal.
Adams, Robert.

Drummer.
Atkinson, Joseph.

Fifer.

Adams, George.

Privates.

Abrams, Gabriel, Kilgore’s company, 1776-79.

Aikins, Robert, resided in Bedford County, 1790.
Alcorn, James, transferred to Invalid Corps, July, 1780.
Allen, William, deserted August, 1778.

Anderson, Johnson. .
Anderson, William, resided in Mercer County, 1809.
Anderson, George, resided in Westmoreland County, 1835, aged eighty-

four. ‘

Armstrong, George.

Askins, George.

Askins, James, deserted August, 1778.

Atkins, Isaac.

Sergeants.

Baker, Michael, died in Greene County, Ill., Sept. 13, 1831.

Blake, William.

Byles, Joseph, of Piggott’s company.

Ivhjfer.

Bond, John. '

Privates.

Bacon, John.

Bannon, Jeremiah.

Beard, John, deserted August, 1778.

Berkett, Robert.

Berlin, Isaac, died in Crawford County, June 16, 1831, aged seventy-six.

Berry, Michael.

Bess, Edward, Van Sweari.ngen’s company, 1776-79; also in Crawford's
campaign; died in Washington County, July 17, 1822, aged seventy-
seven.

Blake, Luke William.

Blake, Nicholas, enlisted August, 1776.

1 “ This roll of the Pennsylvania line of course falls far short of doing
justice to the patriotism of Pennsylvania. It is in fact a mere roll of
the line as discharged in January, 1781. The hundreds who fell in all
the battles of the Revolution, from Quebec to Charleston, are not here;
the wounded who dragged their torn limbs home to die in their na-
tive valleys are not here. The heaths of New Jersey, from Paramus to
Freehold, by a line encircling Morristown and Bound Brook, were, in
the summer of 1777, dotted with the graves of the Eighth and Twelfth
Pennsylvania. These regiments from the frontier counties of the State
—Westmoreland and Northumber1and—were the first of the line in the
field, though they had come from the banks of the Monongahela and
the head-waters of the Susquehanna. At Brandywine the Pennsylvania
troops lost heavily, the Eighth and Twelfth and Col. Hartley"s additional

regiment in particular, in officers and men; and Col. Patton’s additional

regiment, after the battle of Germantown, could not maintain its regi-
mental organization.”---.'l'he Pennsylvania Line, from July 1, 1776, to Nov.
3, 1783. 1 V

oEo1L ToWNs,HIP.  

\

CECIL wasrthe third in the list of original townships
of Washington County, and embraced in its territory
the present township and all that portion of Alle-

. gheny County lying between Robinson Run and

Chartiers Creek, and all the present township of
Chartiers, as well as the northern portion of Mount
Pleasant. The erection of Allegheny County in 1788
and the addition made to that county in 1789 reduced
the territory of Cecil, which was further reduced to
its present limits_ by the erection of Chartiers in
March, _1790, and of Mount Pleasant in 1808. The
township is bounded on the west and northwest by
Mount Pleasant and Robinson; on the north and
northeast by Allegheny County; on the east by Peters
and North Strabane townships, and on the south by
Chartiers and Mount Pleasanttownships. The only
stream of any importance in the township is Char-

tiers Creek,~which marks its eastern boundary.

Settlements.-—One of thd earliest settlers within
the territory that is now Cecil township was Samuel
Parks, who, in the autumn of 1777, came over the
Allegheny Mountains in search of land on which to
make a home. He purchased of Matthew Rodgers

for four hundred and fifty pounds a parcel of land in

two drafts on Chartiers’ waters, containing five hun-
dred and sixty-six acres. The bill of sale, marked
N038, is dated Dec. 7, 1777. After the purchase he
returned to his home at Lancaster and prepared to
remove his family. He was tohave possession of the
land March 2, 1778. John and James, his sons, were
sent on in advance to build a cabin, clear the land,
and put in a crop. Their sister, Isab_ella, went with
them as housekeeper. After a home was prepared
the restof the family removed to the farm. The land

~ was afterwards warranted and surveyed. A portion
of it’ was named “Deer Park,” and contained four
hundred and six and ahalf acres.

On the 28th of
June, 1782, by virtue of a land-oflice warrant (No.

1773) and in consideration of eighty pounds there

was granted to Samuel Parks a tract of land which
was surveyed to him Feb. 2,1786, as containing one
hundred and eighty-six acres and seventy-five perches,
adjoining Thomas Bracken; alsoa pre-emption war-
rant. On the 4th of September, 1-786, the last" tract

‘was granted to John Parks, son of Samuel, and sur-

veyed as “The Experiment,” containing onehundred
and seventy-five and seven-eighths acres, and deeded

by Samuel and Margaret, his wife, Jan. 1, 1787; but‘

in September following the patent was made out to
.698 '

4-n._
Vvf 1

Samuel Parks. He lived on the “ Deer Park” tract
till hisdeath in 17 94, aged sixty-_five years. His wife
survived him till 1808. Their children were John,

‘ James, Mary, Isabella, and Hugh. ’   7 v
John Parks, son of Samuel, was born Dec. 18, 1758,

in Donegal, Lancaster ‘Co’., Pa. In- 1787 he married
Sarah, daughter of John McDowell, of Strabane

township, and settled on part of the Park farm. On

the 20th of April, 1809, John Park purchased the
homestead in Cecil township, and removed to the
farm. Of his children, Rebecca became the wife of
James Rankin, and for some years lived in Pittsburgh,
and later removed to Washington, where she died.
James Rankin now resides in Denver, Col. William,
ason of John and Sarah Parks, was born July 15,
1797. In 1831 he purchased three hundred acres of
land in Peters township, and on the 29th of October,
1833, married Jane Law and settled on hisfarm.
He wasinterested in sheep-raising and wool-‘growing.
Soon after his. marriage he purchased three hundred

- acres of land in Cecil township, including the tract

“ Experiment.” He was for thirty ‘years a trustee of
J eiferson College, and for some years directorof the
Chartiers Valley Railroad Company. He died Nov.

6, 1870, aged seventy-three years, and left seven chil-? -

dren. John, the eldest son, resides on the “ Experi-
ment”.tract in Cecil; Robert and James reside in
Peters township, and a daughter, Sarah, became the
wife of -J. L. -Thompson, and resides in Westmoreland
County. 2 ;
McDowell Parks, a son of John Parks, bought a
partof the homestead farm in 1835, and lived there
till his death, on the 24th‘April, 1877, aged sixty-

seven years. He purchased other lands, and became ‘

a large land-owner, and wealthy. He never married,
and the large estate was divided among the heirs.
The home place was sold to A. J. Hopper in March,

1880. James Hickman, a son-in-law, now resides ,

there.

The greater partof the home farm, “ Deer Park,” , I

was intended for Hugh, the youngest child. He was
born in 1767, and died when a young man, and before

the death of his father. After the death of the mother I

in 1808 the farm was deeded to James Park by John
Park and Col. John Marshall, executors, and was

conveyed by James to John Park. It was purchased ’

by William Boon, and "is now owned by A. and_ J.
Boon. William Boon was a soldier in the war of
1812, and, was at Baltimore with the troops gathered

_-of the great oak that-stood near his

CECIL TOWNSHIP. .

699

‘for the defense of that city against the British under

Gen. Ross in 1814.
James Parks, the second son of Samuel, was born-
in 1760, and came to Cecil township in 1778 to the

. new home. He was one of the volunteers who went

out with ‘C01. Crawford in -1782. He married Isabella,

daughter of George Craighead, of Strabane township.

He came into possession of part of the Park lands,
and died. Dec. 8, 1811, aged fifty-two years. His
widow survived him twenty-two years, and died April
.5, 1833, aged seventy years. Samuel, a son of James,
inherited the farm, and married Sarah, half-sister of
David Philips, Esq., of Peters township. In the fall

of 1832 he sold out and removed to Wellsville, Ohio. I

Mary Park, born in 1761, the only daughter of Sam-
uel, became the wife of Col. John Marshall, of Cross

- Creek, in 1782. -

John VVaits came from east of the mountains and
located a tract of land on the waters of Chartiers
Creek in the spring of 1785. A cabin was built
‘(under an oak-tree that is still standing), and he
cleared of a small patch of ground. He died soon
after, and a warrant was issued to Sarah VVaits, his
widow, dated -April 5, 1786, “in trust for the use of
the heirs of J ohn_\Vaits, deceased.” It was surveyed

' as “ The Charge,” and contained three hundred and

two acres, adjoining land of Widow Moore, William
McLaughlin, David McNary, and Samuel Brown.

. Patent for it was obtained Sept. 17, 1790.

Mrs. Sarah Waits was in 1788 assessed on two hun-
dred acres of land. ‘ She died about 1810,’ and left
three sons by a first husband, Joseph, Samuel, and
John Blair, whose names are both mentioned in the
assessment-roll of 31788. These sons emigrated to
Kentucky. The children by John VVaits, her second

‘husband, were Betsey (Mrs. Daniel VVelch; they

settled on "two hundred and forty acres in the town-

5 ship, and afterwards moved to Ohio), Richard, Reu-

ben, Mary, Sarah, and Jacob. Richard lived on the
farm adjoining and died there, leaving a large family,
none of whom are in the township. Mary became

the wife of John Philips, of Winchester, Va., in‘

1799. They settled on the VVait homestead, and on
the 31st of March, 1802, he purchased one hundred
and sixty-six acres of the tract, and September, 1808,
one hundred and thirty-six acres adjoining.‘ On this
land they lived and died, leaving thirteen children.
John, Aaron, and David settled in the township.
James Philips is a son of John. De Kalb and Wayne
Philips own the farm which Aaron settled upon, and
David Philips resides on the homestead of his father
and grandfather. His residence ispunder the shade
grandfather’s
cabin in 1785, then a small tree. ’
I StephenRichards was one who took up lands under
a Virginia certificate. It was surveyed to him as
“Montgomery,” and contained three hundred and
forty-three acres, adjoining Thomas Faucett (whose
land was in Allegheny County), Robert. Hill, and

Alexander Fowler. Hugh H. Bfackenridge, as trus-

tee, sold one hundred and ‘ninety-one acres of the tract '

to Daniel South on the 22d of August, 1791. He sold
the same property to Thomas. Dunlap on the 26th of
September, 1805. Dunlap emigrated from County

Down, Ireland, with three sons, Thomas, James, and _

Alexander, and two daughters. James was the only
one of the family who married. He settled on the
homestead and had three children, John, Elizabeth,
and Nancy. Elizabeth became the wife of Joseph
Work and settled in Texas.
B. Weaver and settled in North Strabane. John, the
only son, settled on the homestead, where he still
resides. '

James, Slater emigrated. from Ireland andlsettled A

in Allegheny, where he lived and died. Three sons,
J ohn, William, and Thomas, came to‘ this township
and settled. John lives near Venice. In 1843, Wil-
liam" and Thomas purchased ninety acres of Matthew
Harbeson, and lived together ten years,.then each
bought farms, on which they now reside. Thomas
bought one hundred and eighty-three acres of John
Berry in 1855. William studied for the ministry,
and in 1843, soon after coming to the township, be-
came the pastor of the Reformed Presbyterian‘ Church
near his residence, but in Chartiers township.

David and John Reed, whose earlier history will
be found in Mount Pleasant township, in connection

. with the VVashington lands, came after their dispos-

session to this township. David, about the year.
1788, purchased three hundred acres of land of
Thomas Waller, which had been taken up by him
before 1780, for_ which -he received a"Virginia cer-
tificate January 2d of that year. It-was adjoining
lands of Joseph Brown, David McNary,» Matthew
Acheson, John May, and Robert Miller. A warrant
of acceptance was issued to David Reed by the board
of property March 2, 1790, and patent granted_April
21, 1813. He moved upon this farm when the con-
test for the Washington lands was decided, and lived

there till his death in 1824, at seventy-seven years of ~_

age, leaving five sons and one daughter,—Alexander,
David, John, James, Joseph, and Mary. Alexander,
the elflest son, married the daughter of Joshua An-
derson, of Chartiers township, and settled in Ohio,
where they remained several years, then returned to
his father’s farm and settled there and lived many
years. He gave the portion that came to his posses-
sion to his sons, who sold to George Robb and re-
moved to Cedar Rapids, Iowa. Alexander, the father,
went with them and died there. ,

David, the second son of David Reed, located in
Mount Pleasant township, and later removed‘ to Alle-
gheny County. He married Eliphemia, daughter of
James Paxton.‘ The property he owned in Mount
Pleasant township is now in possession of the Dins-
mores. James Reed, a son of David, is a merchant

_in Canonsburg. ~»John Reed, the third son of David,‘

married -Jane, a daughtervof John. May, and settled

Nancy married John '

700

HISTORY or WASHINGTON COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA.

7 on Miller’s Run, in this township, where he lived and

died. His sons George’ and Samuel now own the
farm. James Reed, the fourth son, married Jane
A. Allison, of Chambersburg, and located in Wash-
ington borough. He was a jeweler and watchmaker,
and lived there many years, and finally removed to
Pittsburgh and carriedon the business there till his
death in 1879. His sons James and George are liv-
ing in Pittsburgh, and in the same business. Joseph,
the youngest son of David Reed, married" Elizabeth,

‘daughter of Thomas Alexander, of Miller’s Run.

They settled on the homestead, but Mrs. Reed died
only about six months afterward. Mr. Reed married

as a second wife Anna, the daughter of the Rev.

David McClean, by whom he had four children,-
Margaret, a daughter, became the wife of Robert
Henderson (a grandson of the Rev. Matthew Hen-
derson), and settled in Chartiers township; Mary,
another daughter, married John Nesbitt, and also
settled in Chartiers; David settled at Cedar Rapids,
Iowa, as a physician, and died in 1878. The youngest
son is residing on the homestead and has charge of the
farm. Joseph Reed, after the death of his second
wife, married Martha Henderson, who is still living.
Mr. Reed is now in his eighty-seventh year, and has
retired from the active duties of life. His memory
of the many incidents related by his father concern-
ingthe .Washington lands is still fresh,*and many of
the stories related of that affair are said by him to be
without foundation. " P - ' .
Thomas Bracken came to this territory about 1778,
and took up a tract of land, for which he received a
Virginia certificate in 17 80. It was not "surveyed
until April?15, 1788, and was then named “ The Three

’ Shares,” containing three hundred and forty acres,

and was at that time adjoining lands of Samuel Parks
and Robert ‘Ralston- The patent for the tract was
not obtained till March 30,1802. On the 25th of
November, 1783, he sold to William Hutton, who then
lived on the place, one hundred acres adjoining Sam-
uel Parks. Hutton sold the tract August 17th the
next year to James Gaston, and he to William Cook.
A deed was 1_1ot given for the land till May 5, 1808.
Thomas Bracken died between 1802 and 1806, leaving
children,-—-Thomas, Henry, John, Reed, Sally, Agnes
(the wife of Rev. John Matthews), Hannah (Mrs. Jo-

'seph‘Thompson), Jane (Mrs. Richard Miller), and

Mary Bracken. On the 25th of April, 1806, Reed and
Sally Bracken sold to William Craighead one hun-
dred and eighty acres of the estate, and on the 4th of
October, 1816, the “heirs sold to Henry Bracken one
hundred and thirty-four acres, and to Richard Miller
(husband of Jane Bracken) one hundred and thirty-

four acres. Thomas became a Presbyterian minister,

sold his land to Benjamin and Moses Coe, Erasmus

.Allison, and Thomas Kerr, and removed to Mercer
, County. John ‘lived on the home place, and died

there. Henry finally removed to the South, where
he followedthe profession of'a teacher. Reed was

educated at Canonsburg, and entered the ministry of
the Presbyterian Church. Part of . the property went
from the Brackens to John Murray, and from him to
James Craighead, and passed to Wesley Greer, by
whom it was sold to the Pennsylvania’ Reform School,
which now occupies the property. ’ —
Joseph Brown took out a warrant for a tract of
land March 1, 1785, and warrant for another tract
April 15, 1786. The first was surveyed as “ Bon Ton,”,
containing two hundred and two acres, adjoining land

of Sarah Wait, Joseph Brown, and John Daniel, or,_

Donnell.) This tract was patented Nov. 24, 1791, after
it came intopossession of William Kerr, who bought

it Sept. 11, 1789. The second tract was surveyed as _

“ B-ellgrade,” and contained three hundred and sixty-

-seven acres; this tract was adjoining lands of John

Daniel, or Donnell, Matthew Ritchie, and David
Reed, and was onithe ‘banks of Miller’s‘Run. This
also was sold to William Kerr at the same time as the
other, and patented Nov. 25, 1791.
dred acres to William Cook, who lived there many

\‘ years, and left three daughters andtwosons, who are

all dead except Mrs. Thomas McConnell. The farm
is now owned by- James White, of North‘ Strabane
township, and is occupied by his son Samuel.— Wil-
liam also sold to James Jewell, his son-i.n-law, nearly
the whole of the remainder, who lived there many
years, and went to Ohio, where the ‘family of ‘Mrs.
Jewell then resided. Mr. Jewell sold the property to
different parties. Joseph Burnside purchased forty

acres, where his -son George now lives. V About 1845, ,
Nathan Tannehill purchased one hundred and thirty

acres, where his son James now resides. Joseph Lind-
sey purchased a portion of the farm before the sale
to Jewell, now owned by James Moore. Thomas
Weaver bought of James Jewell eighty-six acres in
1848.    i

John Donnell came from Winchester, Va., in the
year 1776, andsettled in the territory that afterwards‘
became a part of Cecil township. He located a tract
of land under Virginia certificate. This certificate

‘ recites that “ John Daniel is entitled to 400 acres of

land in the county of Yohogania, situate on the waters

of Shirtee, to include his settlement made in the year _

17 76, also a right in pre-emption to two hundred acres
adjoining thereto.” Another tract also was granted
him on a Virginia certificate April 20, 1780. The

- first tract was surveyed to him Aug. 3,. 1785, and was
named “ The Forrest,” containing four hundred and 6

eighteen acres, adjoining land of ‘Thomas Bracken,
Henry Donald, Matthew Ritchie, and the widow
Moore. The other tract was surveyed to Presley
Nevilleand Matthew Ritchie on the 26th of Janu-
ary, 1788, and named “ Hope,” and contained four
hundred and eight acres. John Donnell was the soil

of Henry Donnell, who also came from Winchester, -

Va., and settled near John Canon. He came into pos-
session of a portion of this land, and on the 19th of
May, (17 90,'sold to his son John seventy-one acres of

He‘ sold two hun- \

County, Pa. _
..Lyle, of Peters "Creek, in Peters township, by whom: .
he had four daughters and three sons. The only one
_living of these children is Charles, a son, who lives
. on the old homestead, Henry, another of the sons,

.CEClL _, TOVVNSHIP. ,

701

land adjoining that of John. Henry 1 Donnell , had
three sons,—John, Joshua, and Charles. The last two '

came into possession of land adjoining their brothers.

The land ownedgby ,__Jos_hua,,is now» owned by

Andrew H. Giffin. The land owned by Charlesis

_now in possession of the heirs of John Curry. Joshua ’

and Charles, after a few years, sold their farm and

,went West. John Donald married Rebecca Evans,

of Ten-Mile, in Amwell township. They settled on

', the land he took up, and had seven daughters and one

_son. The ‘daughters married and settled in Mercer
He’ married asja dsecdnd wife Janet

married Anna, the daughter of David Hay, of Char-
tiers township. They_ settled on the homestead also,

where he died Nov. 9,_1881, in his eightieth year,
. leaving a widow and three children, of whom John
_ H. Donnell and a sister liveat the homestead. Mrs.‘
,Henry Donnell also lives there still, having resided
there over fifty years. Of the eight hundred acres

purchased by John Donnell, the present owners are

,_Andrew H. Giffin,  W. Gladden, John Conner,

David’ Beaboat, John M. Smith, and John H. Don-
nell.

James Bunyan’ was from New York City, and had’
_formerly been a sea captain. In 1795 John Morgan,
j a son of Col. George Morgan, married his only

daughter Margaret, and as the ..Morgans removed

to Morgsnza Mr. Bunyan was induced to come"
also to this section.

V M _ He purchased two hundred
acres of land belonging to Samuel Long and James

a Philips -inthe township of Cecil, on Chartiers Creek,
John Morgan settled here;'
«,their son, Thomas Gibbs Morgan, became a leading,
_lawyer in the State of, Louisiana, and judge of the
courts ‘of that State.‘ Another son,”Ja,mes, is now"
diving in Pittsburgh, A eolored man, Elias Prall,

opposite Morganza.

who came out with the family as aslave, is now. liv-

ing at Canonsburg» at the age of eighty-five years,

Matthew Ritchie patented several tracts of land in

this township’. A part ofyone that was patented,’
,March 1'7, 1788, was soldrto J ohn,Harper',‘ who, on
the 4th of April, 1814, sold to‘Hance McClell'and two

hundred and fifty-nine acres. 0 Three years later he
died and left it to his sons, John and Ebenezer. The
latter _sold his p__ortion,_ one hundred and thirteen

. acres, Aug. 31, 1838, to Alexander McCloy, and pur-
, chased a portion of the Morganza tract. ‘

There were many families of the name of Fife,
who settled early in what is now Allegheny County.

, John Fife came to this township, and on the 22d of
, February, 1799, purchased four hundred acres of land
of Patrick Jordan, adjoining land of Reuben Waits.

He had seven sons, V-Villiam, Andrew, Robert, John,
James, Thomas, and Nathaniel. The latter went

;Wsst~. William}, R0bert,r..Tl10maS:.-arid .James{ all 0

_“ The Three Shares.”
Peters township. James and John, also sons, live on

settled on thehomestead. William and Thomas are
still living there; the others are dead.‘ P J
William Craighead,‘ son of George Craighead of
North Strabane township, cameto Cecil in 1806, and
on the, 25th of April in that year purchasedone hun-
dred and eighty acres of Reed, and Sally Bracken,
heirs of Thomas Bracken, a part of the tract called
His son George settled in

a farm adjoining Canonsburg.‘ The homestead of

William is nowowned by William R. Craighead-,

son of George and grandson of VVilliam. I
Robert Miller was a resident of the territory be-

fore it became Washington County. He took up

under the offer of Virginia to settlers several tracts
of land forwhich he received a Virginialcertificate
in 1780. One was surveyed Jan. 3, 1787, under the
name of “The Cell,” and contained three hundred
and eighty-nine acres. I It was at thatitimeiadjoining
lands of Matthew Ritchie, William Hays,George
Frazer,Robert Miller, Matthew Johnson. A war-
rant was granted to him by the Board of Property
dated March 25, 1795, and returned April 1st,'.th'e
same year. On the 27th of October, 1793, he sold
ninety acres of this tract to Joseph McCombs.
Another tract containing three hundred and eighty

l

1786. This tract was adjoining Joseph Brown, John

(acres, called “Th_e‘Valley,” was surveyed'Jan. 3, .

May, and Matthew Ritchie. Patent for it was ob-

tained _in May, 1798. ' One hundredjand one acres of

it was sold May 16, 1794, to Nathaniel Caughey, and
two hundred and one acres, April 13, 1795, to VVil'-
liarn Kerr. ‘on the 28th of April, 1795, Robert
Miller authorized Craig ‘Ritchie to make a deed for
John’ Hays and Nicholas -Smith of a tract of land
containing four hundred acres, adjoining land of
William Kerr, John McCombs, Matthew Johnson,
William Hays, and others, “in suchsort that Joseph

Hays isto have one hundred and one acres whereon

he now lives, and Nicholas Smith the ‘remainder

the deed 'Miller moved to Kentucky. 0 Joseph Mc-
Combspurchased ninety acres of land Oct. 27, 1793,

_ of Robert Miller, and lived there till his death. He
‘had seven or eight daughterswho - became widely

scattered by their settlement inlife. Joseph Thomp-
son, a nnativeof Ireland, emigratedjiito the eastern
part of Pennsylvania, where he lived several years,
and in 1802 came to this township and settled north-
east of Canonsburg,.where ‘he had purchased forty
acres of ‘land. He had three children,——Joseph, Wil-
liam, and Elizabeth. Joseph married _ Hannah,
daughter of Thomas Bracken, and settled on Pigeon

Creek. VVilliam' settled on the home farm, andlived

there till his death. His son‘Joseph settlediin Can-
onsburg over fifty years ‘ago, and is still a resident.
Elizabeth became the wife of a Mr. McMillan, and
settled on Pigeon Creek near the Newkirks. A
.Robert and’ Thomas Hill ncarne from Adams County,

\

ix

where said Miller liv-ed.i”, Prior to the execution of I

702
- I \
Pa., before 1781, and settled in Cecil township.
Robert purchased two hundred acres of land now
owned by Arthur Hooper. He lived to be over
ninety years of age, and left three sons and six
daughters}-William, Amos, James, Ann, Sally, Bet-
sey, Polly, Temperance, and Jane. Williarn and
Amos settled on the homestead. James went West.
But two of the family ever married,——-the oldest
daughter and the youngest son. Thomas Hill pur-
chased at sheriff ’s sale one hundred and fifty acres of
what was known as the Rowley Patent. He married a
daughter of William Hanna, who lived git that time
in Allegheny County. In 1812 he built a log cabin
on. the site of the present residence of his son Wil-
liam. He died in 1824, and left two sons and four
daughters. VVilliam was born in 1794, and now lives
on the homestead. Thomas, the other son, was a
carpenter and moved to Pittsburgh, where he still
resides.

Neil McCloy was a native of Ireland, and a physi-
cian. He emigrated from Lancaster with two sons,
of whom Alexander became a physician, and prac-
ticed in that county. He came to this county in
1835, purchased, October 19th of that year, eighty
acres of John Bracken, part of the Robert Miller tract,
which had been sold to Kerr, and in 1838 purchased
one hundred and thirteen acres of land of Ebenezer
McClelland, now owned by Nathaniel McKnight and
John Hays. David D. McCloy was the only son of
Alexander by a first wife.
second wife, emigrated West, except Samuel, who

settled on the home farm, where he lived till well ad- 9

vanced in life, and sold the farm and moved to Can-

. onsburg, where he died.

Alexander and Matthew McConnell, brothers, came
from Cumberland, Maryland, and located in this
township, and in 1785 patented a tract of land con-
taining three hundred and twenty acres, now occu-
pied by D. ‘L. and J. P. McConnell, grandsons of
Matthew. Alexander was a soldier in tl1e_Wl1iskey
Insurrection. He bought part of a farm, on which

his grandsons Alexander and D. T. McConnell now
reside. Alexander, Sr., had three /sons,—Alexander,

David, and Matthew. Alexander bought part of the
Morganza tract, and lived there till he died. The
farm is now owned by John and Alexander McCon-
nell, his sons. The former lives on the farm, the
latter at McConnell’s mills in Chartiers township.
David settled om the home farm in Cecil, and his
sons now own the farm. Matthew also settled on a
farm adjoining, and his sons reside there.

VVilliam Berry, a son of John Berry, who lived on
the VVashington lands in Mount Pleasant township,
bought the mill property and a farm at and near what
is now Venice, where he lived until 1834, when he
moved to‘ and lived one year on the Slater farm, and
in 1836 went to North Strabane township and pur-
chased a tract of land of Craig Ritchie, now owned in
part by his son Matthew Berry.‘ ‘

Other children, by at

I

HISTORY OF WASHINGTON COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA.

William Acheson bought lands now owned by
Joseph Cowden. He had three children, who all
emigrated. He sold a part of the farm to one Stephen-
son, who sold to Cowden. A part was sold to Benja-
min Fisher. ‘ '

James and Hugh Sprowls were early residents in
the township. The former was assessed on four hun-

dred acres, and the latter on two hundred acres, in V

1788. They lived on or near the county line.

Robert Wilson lived on a farm nearly opposite
Morganza. Among his sons were Rev. Thomas Wil-
son and James and William VVilson.

Alexander May came from Lancaster, and pur-
chased a tract of four hundred acres of land. He had
five sons—Arthur, John, Alexander, Samuel, and
David-—and two daughters, -Margaret and Mary.
Arthur and Alexander were physicians, and practiced
in Lancaster and Chester Counties, Pa. Arthur died
in 1810. ‘John married a Miss Ross, and settled in
this township. Alexander, his son, married a daugh-
ter of John Berry, settled on the homestead, and died
in Venice. His son, John B., lives in Canonsburg.
John married the daughter of VVilliam Berry, Esq.,
and settled on land now owned by Mankadick and
John Hays. Samuel was a teacher, and settled in

Chanango, Pa., and died there. David settled on the

homestead and died there, leaving two sons—Alexan-
der and David—and a daughter, Jane. Alexander
went to Virginia; David settled in Peters township;
Jane became the wife of Lewis Grier, and settled in

-Smith township. Margaret, the eldest child of Alex-

ander May, Sr., became the wife of David Reed and
settled in the township. Mary became the wife of
Joseph Cowden, and settled in Cecil. _

A. J. Hopper is a son of Samuel Hopper, who
settled in Allegheny County in 1812. In 1847 he
came into Cecil and purchased the property on which
he now lives of the heirs of Joseph Hill, a son of
Robert, who was a resident in the township from
about 1791. In 1880 he purchased the McDowell
Parks estate. '

Samuel McPherson came from Lancaster Co., Pa.,
in 1849. He married Rebecca, the daughter of
Andrew Crifiin, of Cecil, and purchased of one Ken-
nedy a part of the old Logan farm. He built the
grist-mill and a distillery ; the latter was running for
many years. He was for many years an older in
the United Presbyterian‘ Church of Canonsburg. He
died in 1877. His sons, J. H., VV. B., and Robert S.,
are now living in the township. *

William Elliot came from Canton township to this
section, and purchased a part of the tract of land
taken up by Robert Ralston. On this farm he settled,
and the farm was left to his son, J. S. Elliot, who was
born on the place, and was at one time county com-
missioner. His son, J. S. Elliot, and his widow, now
reside on the property. ‘ 1

Samuel Moorhead bought the farm on which his
sons W. B. and J. Moorhead now reside. He married

ancestors were early settlers in that section.

in operation.

1 Craig Ritchie, Nov. 14, 1784.

CECIL TOWNSHIP. — 703

lElizabeth, daughter of Hugh Sprowls, of Cecil town-

ship. He was at one time justice of the peace.
William Gladden came from the East, and pur-
chased lands in Cecil township, now owned by his
son Richard. He married Mary, the daughter of
Benjamin Kelso, of Allegheny County. She is still
living on the homestead.’ _ ‘
The family of Hickman were early settlers in Alle-
gheny County when it was yet a part of \Vashington
County, but it was not until 1832 that any of_ them
came to this county. At that time Benjamin Hick-
man inherited a farm from his father which was in the
limits of Cecil township, and on which his son John
now resides. Moses Hickman, also a son of Benja-
min, bought the old Logan farm in 1865, and still

‘resides there. , *
James Little came from the north of Ireland, and

took out a warrant in 1785 fora tract of land on a part
ofwhich his son Joseph and-a grandson now reside.
He had three sons and one daughter,——John, Nicho-
las, Joseph, and Isabella. John lived and died on the
homestead. Nicholas was a bachelor. Isabella was
unmarried. Joseph settled on the homestead, where
he still lives. He is now seventy-five years of age,

and can remember hearing his father relate that when '

he first came to the county they were in the habit of
working on the farm in the daylight, and at night
going to the block-house at McDonald’s. James Lit-

_, tle married» a Miss Robb.

Joseph Cowden, a son of John Cowdell, of Mount
Pleasant, came to this township in 1848, and pur-
chased the Oram farm, on- which he now _resides.
He married Mary, the youngest daughter of Alexan-

der May. Mrs. Ewing, of Allegheny County, who

was killed by the Indians in one of their ~raids, was

_ his grandmother.

Cornelius Borland came from Alleglleny County in_
1846, and bought the Rev. Dr. Riddle farm. His
He
married Rebecca, daughter of Benjamin Kelso. His

sons, M. H.,.A. C., and J. K. Borland, now own the _

farm. .
In 1781, when ,VVashington County was laid out,

. John Armstrong lived on Miller’s Run, where now

the county line crosses the creek. He also had a mill

site through all these years. The present mill was

‘built by Samuel Morgan, and was for several years

owned by A. Greer. It is now owned by William
Crane. v

Justices of the P_eace.——Following is a list of per-
sons appointed and elected to the office of justice of
the peace in Cecil township from its erection to the
present time, viz.:
Matthew McConnell, July 15, 1781.  James McBurney, April 3, 1799.
John Reed, July 15, 1781. ‘ Alexander Murdock, April 2, 1804.
John’ Canon, Oct. 6, 1784. 1 George Morgan, J r., Feb. 6, 1807.‘
John Reed, Nov. 8, 1788. ‘ A Samuel Miller, Oct. 20, 1808.
George Anderson, April 1, 1809.

1

- Samuel McPherson, April 14, 1840.

Nothing has been learned of his his- \
~ tory; the place, however, has been occupied as a mill-

Samuel McPherson, April 9, 1850.
Henry Donnell, April lo, 1853.
Joseph Reed, April 10, 1855.’
John A. McCord, April 10, 1860.
Henry Donnell, April 10, 1860.
John A. McCord, May 2, 1866.
James S. Elwell, April 17, 1866.
W. B. Moorhead, June 17, 1870. 7
James Espy, April 1, 1871.

W. B. Moorhead, Jan. 26, 1874.
James Espy, Jan. 31, 1874.

M. II. Borland, March 17, 1875.
A. J. Hopper, March 17, 1875.-
M. H. Borland, Marcllv30, 1880.
Arthur J. Hopper, March 30, 1880.

Jolm Watson, April 14, 1809. «
John VVhite, March 21, 1810.
William Berry, Dec. 13, 1815.
James Moore, April 14, 1819.
John \Vhite, Jan 23, 1810.
William Colmery, Jan. 5, 1825.
Jeremiah, Emery, Jan. 11, 1828.
John Morgan, Oct. 15, 1832.
David Hays, May 21, 1834.
James l\lcClelland, March 15, 1836.
Joseph Vam-men, April 19, 1838.

John Moorhead, April 14, 18-10.
Henry Donnell, April 15, 1845.
John Moorhead, April 15, 1845.
John McCord, April 9, 1850.

Venice.~The town of Venice was laid out by James [ .

McLaughlin in 1844, on land formerly owned by
Ephraim Johnson and _Welch. It was bought
by Samuel McLaughlin, who owned the mill property
on Miller’s Run at that place. » A post-office and store
were opened about 1848. The mill has been operated

 

.many years. At an early day it was owned, by David

Andrews, who sold to one Walker, and he to "William

Berry. It descended to his son John, who sold to”

McLaughlin. It is now owned by J. Byerly.
Venice contains a store, post-oflice, school-house,

two carriage-shops,_two blacksmitll-shops, and about ‘

ten dwellings.. The people of this section worship at
the Miller’s Run Presbyterian Church and the United
Presbyterian Church. A « .

Fawcett Church (Methodist Episcopal).——The

date of the organizationrof this‘ church is not known, »

as no minutes were kept prior to 1842. The first

. record having reference to it is a survey of _ the lot on

which the present church edifice is erected. The lot
was donated by ‘Andrew Fawcett, and was surveyed
Aug. 12, 1812.

itinerant preacher chanced to pass that way. The

'first.mention of a board of trustees is in minutes kept

by them from April 4, 1842, with regularity till 1850,
when many years intervene before records were again
kept. The old log church was used as a place of wor-
ship till 1833, when thelpresent brick church was
built. It has from the first» been a station" supplied

by ministers from other charges.‘ In 1877 the Rev. I

D. M. Hollister was appointed pastor of Canonsburg
and Fawcett Churches.

care of the Rev. R. C. Wolf. It is at present-in the
care of. the Rev. George Hudson. It has now fifty
members. . . 

United Presbyterian Congregation of Venice.——-
On the 4th day of September, 1849, a petition from
certain persons. living in the neighborhood of Venice
was presented to the Associate’ Presbytery of Char-

f tiers, asking for the organization ofa congregation in

their vicinity. On the 25th day of the same month
a similar petition from persons residing in the same

neighborhood was received by the Associate Reformed

A log meeting-house was afterwards-_
. built, and services were held occasionallywhen an

Ill 1878 the Rev“. M'. "L. ‘H
Weekly had the charge. After that time it was ’
placed with Bridgeville in one change, and under the

7704

HISTORY or WASHINGTON COUNTY, ‘PENNSYLVANIA.

' Presbytery of Monongahela, Each Presbytery granted

the prayer of its petitioners. The Rev. Thomas
Hanna, D.D., by authority of the Presbytery of
Chartiers, organized the “Associate Congregation of

‘ Miller’s Run” on the 24th day of September, 1849,

at which time Alexander Reed, James McPeak, and
Joseph Little were elected ruling elders. »

The Rev. ‘James Greer, D.D., having been appointed
by the Presbytery of Monongahela, organized the
“ Associate Reformed Congregation of Venice,” about
the 1st of March, 1850.‘ ’ John Cockins, John Rowan,
and Samuel McLaughlin were elected elders. _ V

The first named of these congregations enjoyed,
almost from the date of its organization, the joint

pastoral services of Drs. Anderson and Beveridge,

who were professors in the theologicalseminary,
then located at Canonsburg. By the death of Dr.

' Anderson (which occurred the 8th day of May, 1855),

and the removal of Dr. Beveridge with the seminary

V to Xenia, Ohio, the same year, the congregation was
I left, for the remainder of-its separate history, with-out
"= pastoral care. '

The Rev. J. L. Fairley was the first and only pastor

‘. of the Associate Reformed Congregation of Venice."
- His pastorate began June 28, 1853,.and ended,Dec.

25, 1855.’ Thus these two-congregations, which had

- struggled into existence together,- which had erected

houses of worship the same season on adjoining lots

1 of ground, and which had. .-obtained the pastoral ser-

‘cc

‘vices of good and faithful “men, became vacancies”

- the same year, and continued for about the same
- length of time dependent on their respective Presby-

teries for supplies of preaching. ,
The union of the Associate and Associate Reformed

A Churches in the spring of 1858 prepared the Way for
» a speedy consolidation “of _ these hitherto rival organ-
' izations. They were formally united under the name
i and title of the United Presbyterian Congregation of
.. Venice on the 8th day of November, 1858. The

session of .the united congregation consisted of James

‘ McPeak, Joseph Little, John Cockins, SaInuel.More-

head, John R. VVhite, and John P. McConnel.
The present pastor was installed April 17, 1860.

- The present elders are Joseph Little, John P. Mc-
 Connell, John B. ‘Kelso, Joseph Cowden, John P.
» Scott, Charles Wallace, David VVhite, and John Maw- ‘
= kinney. James Patterson, Andrew Borland,,and S.

W. Scott constitute the present board of trustees.
Superintendent of Sabbath-school, S. ‘V. Scott;

‘Secretary and Treasurer of Sunday—school, W. W.

Kelso. The present membership of the congregation

* is 215.

A A Miller’s Run Presbyterian Church.——-At a cele-
 ' bration of the fiftieth anniversary of the settlement
.' -of Rev. William Smith, D.D., held at the Miller’s

-Run Presbyterian Church, May 14 and 15, 1873, Dr.
Smith delivered an address, in which hegave a his-
tory of t-hecongregation, from which the following

~ acco.u»n»t is mainly taken: » .

The Miller’s Run congregation w"as_organized about

the year 1800. This is inferred from the fact that .

its name appears for the first time on the records of
the Ohio Presbytery for that year.’ On the 26th of
June in that year Rev. John‘ Watson was ordained
and installed pastor.‘ He died Nov. 20,1802, andwas
succeeded by Rev. James 'Dunlap, who preached as
stated supply till the 22d of April, 1812, when he re-
moved to the bounds of the Redstone Presbytery.
Rev.'Andrew Wylie was ordained and installed June
23, 1813, and remained pastor till May 28, 1817.
was succeeded by Rev. William McMillan, who la-
bored as stated supply till April, 1823. (All the min-
isters named above were presidents of. Jefferson Col-'
lege.) At the April meeting of Presbytery in 1823,
in accordance with a request of the people, Dr. Smith
was appointed to supply the congregation without any
limitation as to time,and on the first Sabbath of May
‘in that year he commenced his labors as stated_sup-

_ ply. He was ordained, sine titulo, to the ofl‘ice of the

ministry Dec’. 31, 1824, but was never formally. in-
stalled -pastor of the congregation. The following are
the names of the elders who ofliciated in the congre-
gation when he commenced his ministerial labors in
it: Alexander McEl-roy, VVilliam Simpson, John
Aiken, John Lindsay, Andrew Vaneman, and James

Jerviss. The first meeting-house was built of logs, ,
X about the year 1790. It was very uncomfortable, and

when the weather was favorable the congregation pre-
ferred to meet at the tent in the grove,a little be_low
where the Vsexton’s house now stands. - c

In 1823 the number of communicants was eighty-H

five. This increased to one hundred and thirty.

Three hundred and fifty communicants were admitted "

on examination during the ministry of Dr. Smith.
In the fifty years of his ministry seventeen young

‘men in the congregation received aliberal education.

Eleven became ministers of the gospel. When he
commenced his labors in the congregation there was
not a carriage, buggy‘, or vehicle of ‘any kind. to -be

seen on the ground belonging to the congregation.

Those who had horses came to church on horseback;
those who had none came on- foot. It was not an un-
usual thing to see girls on their way to church carry-
ing their shoes and stockings, which they put on when
they came near the church. VVhen the religious ser-
vices were ended they proceeded a short distance from
the church, unshod themselves, and returned to their

homes barefooted asthey came. This was customary -

not only at Miller’s R_un Church, but all over the
Western country. ' , , A
The ministry of the Rev. Dr. Smith was closed by
his resignation after about a half-century ‘of service.
After his retirement the Rev. William Ewing, -who
has charge of the Canonsburg Academy, was ap-
pointed by the Presbytery as a supply, and is -still: in
charge. ‘ ‘V
Sch'00ls._—But little is known of the early Schools
of the township, except that they were scatter-ed»,-kept

\

He,

CECIL TOWN SH IP.

irregularly,-and by subscription, About 1804,and
1805, Joseph Reed remembers attending school on

the »farm now owned by Jane Oram. It was taught '

by Samuel May in a logcabin. He taught about
one and a half years. The close proximity of the
township to the Canonsburg Academy, and later Jef-
ferson College, gave to therising generation a great
advantage over more remote ‘townships, but it was
not until the passage of the school law in 1834 that
any step was taken towards the establishment of

‘general education, and then Cecil was backward in

accepting the provisions of the law. In 1835 there
were 251 persons living in the township liable to tax-
ation for school purposes, and in that year the amount
raised by taxation and collected was $206.12. In the
two succeeding years (1836 an_d 1837) the township
did-not accept the requirementsof the school law,

I and only the State tax of $69.07 was raised in 1836,

and the State tax only in 1837. After that time the
township fell into line with the others of the county.

-It was not,"however, until 1838-39 that the people
favored the erection of the township into school dis-

tricts. At that time seven districts were laid out, and

these remained practically unchanged until about

1878, when another district wasferected. In 1863
there were 283 scholars enrolled, $1894.48 was raised
for school purposes, and an expenditure of $2379.24.
In 1873 .there were 253 scholars; receipts for school
purposes, $2259.46 ; expenditures, $2035.96. In 1880
there were 260 scholars; receipts, $2939.79; expendi-
tures, $2482.91.

4 Pennsylvania Reform School.—-The Legislature
of the State of Pennsylvania, on the 22d of April,

1850, granted a charter for a “ House of Refuge,” to
be located in Allegheny County, and under the con-
trol of twenty-six managers, a part of whom were
appointed by the Governor, and part elected by the
contributors to the institution. An organization was
effected in 1851, and a contract was made in Au-
gust, 1852,for a building, which was completed and

, formally opened on the 13th of December, 1854. The

institution opened with five inmates (as appears from
the first report of the superintendent). The numbers
increased rapidly, and inmates were received from

‘Allegheny and adjoining counties.

The managers appointed by the Governor in 1869
were John W. Irvine, R. P. Nevin, James P. Barr,
R.. S. Waring, A. F. Keating, of Allegheny County ;
Thomas McKennan, of Washington County‘; and
Jacob Weyand, of Beaver County. . The following
from the report of the managers made in 1878 shows
the progress of the school and the change to Mor-
ganza, its present location :

“From 1854, ‘the time of its first opening, until
December, 1876, the school was conducted under the
congregate system, and the inmates were trained be-
hind high walls and‘ bolts and bars. With further

. light and a wider experience upon such matters, in

1872 the‘ family plan’ was discussed, and a commit-

tee of the board was appointed to visit the ‘con-
gresses’ held for the advancement of such objects.‘
‘After due consideration it was resolved to adopt the

‘ family system,’ and to remove the school to a, loca-
tion some distance from the city. (After a thorough’

examination of various sites, the ‘Morganza’ farm ..

was purchased.”

The amount, of land purchased was five hundred

and three acres, at a cost of $88,621.20. On the 1st

of May, 1873, contract was made for laying stone for -
foundations of two main buildings and four family __
dwellings. In July the same year contracts for the’

buildings were given out, and on the 15th of July

that year the corner-stone of the main building was_
laid by Governor John F. Hartranft, with imposing if
; ceremonies. The estimates rnade for the different build-
 ings were as follows: Main building, $80,000; girls’ de-

partment, $40,000; boys’ department, $25,000 ; church,

$15,000; workshops and improvement of grounds,‘
$40,000; total, $200,000. These buildings were not‘

erected at once, and the church is not yet (1882)

erected. The amount of money expended in 1873,}

according to the report of the managers (February,
1874), was $91,952.54. In May, 1874, another build-
ingwas erected. The buildings .were completed and

ready for occupancy_in the fall of 1876, and on the.

12th of December of that year the inmates from the
Allegheny premises were removed to Morganza.

In June, 187 6, application was -made in the Court,
of Common Pleas No. 1 of-‘Allegheny County for an

amendment of "the charter. ‘The amendment pro--

vided for putting the institution under control of the

State, as under its provisions sixteen _of the twenty-
six managers are appointed by the Governor, subject .

to approval by the Senate, “instead of their being
elected as heretofore by the contributors.” In 1878
there were in the institution forty-five girls and two
hundred and fifty-five boys, occupying the main and
five family buildings. On the 3d of October, 1878,.
agreeable to an act passed by the Legislature, the
managers transferred to the State all right, title, and

« interest in about fourteen acres of ground in the Ninth
Ward, Allegheny, with buildings, engines, fixtures,~ 1

etc., known as “the House of Refuge property, Wood’s
Run,” for the sole use and benefit of the Western Peni-
tentiary, excepting certain lots mentioned as sold.

An effort was made to transfer the control of the
school entirely to the State. The Washington County’
commissioners,.who had a voice in the control of the
school, relinquished all claim to the management on
the 31st of January, 1879, and on the 30th of April of"
that year a bill passed the Legislature authorizing
and directingthe managers to transfer entire control
to the State, which was done. I The first meeting of i
the board of managers (consisting of sixteen mem-
bers) after the passage of this bill was held on the 5th
of May, 1879. The ofiicers were Thomas Wightman,
president; oh_n F. Dravo, vice-president ; C A. J

rKeating, secretary; and J. J. Gillespie, treasurer.

705

.706

HISTORY OF WASHINGTON COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA.

The obtaining of a supply of pure water was for. a
long time .a source‘ of considerable trouble and
anxiety. The farm committee, in theirnreport of
1878, said,—- - ‘ A

"‘ Your committee, after a careful examination of all the facts in the
ca*se,‘came to the conclusion that the only feasible plan of securing a
good and sufficient supply of water for the institution was to filter and
pump from Chartiers Creek. Acting on this idea, they secured all the
information on the subject of filtering they could find access to, and
adopted the plan now under contract. The contractwas immediately
advertised and let to the lowest bidders, Messrs. C. G. Dixon & Co., for
the sum of $5700. Your committee also received proposals for a. steam-
pump, and adopted the ‘ Eclipse,’ manufactured by H. D. McKnight &
Co., of Pittsburgh. For furnishing which, together with boilers and

necessartv pipe to connect pump with main waterline, contract was given‘

to Messrs. II. D. McKnight & Co. for the sum of $1875 for pump and
boilers complete, and eighty-two cents per foot for furnishing and laying
necessary pipe to make connection with main.” '

. The superintendent, in his report for 1878, said,——

“ The important improvement for securing a permanent supply of
pure water is well under way also, and in the hands of the farm com-
mittee will doubtless be completed early in the coming month. It will
include when finished a large basin heavily walled withstone, and filled
to the depth of seven or eight feet with the most approved material for
filtering purposes. It is built on the margin of Chartiers Creek, and
supplied with valve inlets for the introduction of water as required.
Much of the excavation necessary to secure a proper depth for this basin
has Leen through beds of solidrock, and several fine springs have been
opened, which will help to make the supply inexhaustible. '

“In connection with this a receiving well is being sunk, having 9. ca.-
pacity of fifteen hundred barrels, to be walled with brick, thoroughly
grouted and cemented, and covered for protection from the weather with
a substantial roof. ‘ i -

“ A new ‘ Eclipse’ pumping-engine, with a capacity. of three hundred
barrels per hour, together with double flue boilers, are ready for the
foundations now in course of construction, which, with buildings for
protection of same, now under contract, will complete all the necessary
arrangements for the purpose named. ‘ ‘

“It may be well to state in this connection that, owing to important
changes in the original plan of this improvement, made by your direction.
the expense has been greater than at first estimated, even under the
most economical management, and will therefore necessitate an applica-
tion to our next Legislature for additional ipropriations to cover the
deficit. V There can be no reasonable doubt that with the present expendi-
tures the institution will secure a full and lasting supply of spring and
filtered water, except perhaps for laundry purposes. ‘

“Plans for an ice-house large enough to store some three hundred
tons have been ‘submitted by the building committee. This will be
placed near the creek and adjacent to the pumping-engine, in orderito
secure a steam connection for hoisting apparatus over an incline’ ex-
tending to the creek margin. ‘ 

“Plans also for a. new depot building have been furnished by 3the

architect, and are now under supervision by the building committee.
This is expected to include, in addition to a public waiting-room fot:pas-
sengets and a freight-room, suflicient accommodations for residence of
the station-agent,dining- and lunch-rooms, and several lodging-rooms
for the use of persons visiting the institution. It is expected also that
the post-oflice will be removed to this building when completed. For
the purpose named astructure will be required exceeding in cost the
appropriation already made from twelve to fifteen hundred dollars.”

In his report for 1880 the superintendent men-
tioned the improvements made up to September 30th
of that year, as follows:

“_The greater portion of all labor has been done by "inmates, the num-
ber of days of farm labor aggregating three thousand one hundred and
eighty-six, and on improvements to grounds of the institution,’ seven
thousand two hundred and sixty-seven days. During the summer a
limestone quarry has been opened on the farm, for the purpose of se-

_ curin g stone for road ways; a crusher for breaking stone has been erected,

and the roadways are being evenly covered with broken limestone;
some four thousand feet of French drains have been dug at either side
of main roadway and the sides laid with brickwater tables; about two

thousand yards of concrete pavement has been laid at rear of main
building, and the passage-way between the main building and bakery
graded, macadamized, and otherwise improved. The grounds about the
main entrance have been graded and ornamented. Two additional
green-houses, eighty by twelve feet each, have been erected for propa-

gating bedding-plants and growing early vegetables, most of the mate- _

rial for which had formerly been in use for hot-beds.

“ Much difficulty has heretofore been experienced in securing a suffi-
cient quantity of ice from the small stream skirting the grounds of the
institution, and during the present summer an ice-pond has been pre-
pared, covering some two acres of ground, from which we hope to secure
an abundant supply of ice; and the sheet of water will be quite an
ornamental feature in the beauty of our lawns. In addition to the labor
performed by inmates on the farm and grounds, we have five /boys em-
ployed in the shoe-shop_, whohave during the year made 657'pairs of
shoes, repaired 1135 pairs of shoes, repaired 25 sets of harness. Seven

A boys in the tailor-shop made 960 pairs of pants, 138 coats, 92 jackets, 38

vests, 20 curtains, 64 bed-ticks, 34 sheets, 40 pillow-slips, 60 napkins, 14
aprons, 70 towels, and repaired upwards of 402 pants and coats. Some
twenty-five of the inmates are members of the brass band, which meets
weekly for instruction and drill, under the direction of Prof. Arbogast,
and perform in a very creditable manner. A

“ During the month of June a contract was entered into for the erec-
tion of workshops, thirty-six by seventy-two feet in dimensions and two

stories high, with basement, and the building is now in process of com- x

pletion, and will soon be ready for occupancy.

' “At a meeting of the board held May 10, l880, Col. G. A. Sballen-
berger resigned his position as superintendent. The resignation was
accepted by the board, and Mr. J. A._ Quay, the present incumbent, was
unanimously chosetrto fill the vacancy. We desire here to bear testi-

mony to the untiring efforts of Col. Shallenberger for the interests of .

the school ;. and as well to the like efforts on the part of Mr. Quay, who
was lsoniewhatlsuddenly called to so responsible a position, and to the
aid and assistance‘ afforded by Mr. C. H. Reid, his worthy assistant. Mrs.
Van Meter, the matron of the female department, tendered her resigna-
tion, and Mrs. Bcacom was chosen to succeed her. It has been cause
for congratulation that we were able at once to fill these important
offices with so efficient and reliable men and women. No doubt very

much of our success is due to the energy and watchfulness of the other

officers, who are perhaps the best fitted for their respective duties of
any we have ever had.” ~

Following is a list of the present (1882) officers of
the institution, viz.: Board of Managers—President,

«Thomas Wightman ; Vice-President, James P. Barr; »

Secretary, A. F. Keating; Treasurer, J. J. Gillespie;
James Allison, T. J. Bigham, Josiah Cohen, 0. Trout-
man, James McCullough, Thomas McKennan, John
N. Neel, R. P. Nevin,'R. S. Waring, 1\Ialco1m Hay,
Joseph VVoodwell, J. Weyand.

Resident oflicers: J. A. Quay, superintendent; T.
B. Jackson, clerk; Alexander McMorrow, steward;
J. W. Alexander, M.D., physician; Andrew Boland,
chief engineer; J. P. Stewart, farmer; Mrs. E. H.
Beacom, matron. ' _ "

4 A;
‘‘'f

BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCH.

JAMES CRAIGHEAD.

The Craigheads are descended from a Scotch mis-
sionary of that name who settled in Virginia in her
colonial days. The first of whom the family in this
section have any authentic record‘ is George Craig-
head, who was a native of Virginia. ‘He was a sol-
dier in the Revolutionary war, and was wounded at
the battle of Brandywine. He married Anna Brat-

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82

HISTORY OF WASHINGTON COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA.

Blakeney, Gabriel, private at Long Island; lieutenant in Flying Camp;
captured at Fort Washington; resided in Washington County, 1817.

Bodkin, James.

Booth, George.

Boveard, James, Ki1gore’s company, 1776-79; died in 1808, in East Buf-
falo township, Union County.

Boyer, Oziel, killed in action.

Brandon, ‘Michael.

Bright, John (e).

Bristo, Samuel.

Broadstock, William.

Brothers, Matthew. .

Brown, John, resided i11 Armstrong County, 1825.

Burbridge, Thomas, Ki1gore’s company; taken December, 1780; in cap-
tivity three years; resided in Westmoreland County, 1805.

Burket, Christopher. - ’

Burns, Pearce, transferred to Invalid Corps, August, 1777.

Byan, David,.August, 1777-79; Capt. Piggott’s company; served at Sara-
toga under Van Swearingen; went West with regiment, 1778; at the
building of Fort McIntosh and Fort Laurens_; Pennsylvania pen-
sioner, 1813.

Sergeants.

Cavenaugh, Barney. I

Cheselden, Edward.

Clarke, James.

Cooper, William, of Kilgore’s company. -

Crawford, Robert, Aug. 20, 1776—Sept. 15, 1779; resided in Venango

County, 1825.

Fifer.
Clark, David (e), Capt. Kilgore’s company, April, 1777.
’ Privates.

Cain, Bartholomew.

Cain, John.

Calahan, John.

Call, Daniel, resided in Westmoreland County, 1821.

Campbell,'George, Mount Pleasant, Westmoreland Co., 1786.

Carr, Daniel.

Carrenger, Martin.

Carswell, Joseph.

Carty, Richard. .

Caseves, Patrick, deserted August, 1778.

Castile, Samuel.

Cavenaugh, John.

Cavenaugh, Patrick, enlisted at Carlisle in Capt. Huffnagle’s company;
he saved Gen. Lincoln from capture by the British in New Jersey;
afterwards express-rider for Gen. Greene; died in Washington
County, April 5, 1823, aged eighty-three.

Chambers, Andrew.

Chambers, Moses, from Ligonier; deserted August, 1778.

Chriswell, Joseph. , A

Churchfield, John, enlisted July, 1776; wounded in the leg in battle of

A Germantown; resided in Westmoreland County, 1835, aged eighty-

SIX. 1

Clark, Benjamin, Kilgore’s company; wounded at Bound Brook, 1777;

‘ also, in 1778, on march to Fort McIntosh ;' resided in Steubenville,
Ohio, 1815. ’

Close, Robert. ,

Coleman, Joseph.

Conner, John.

Connor, Bryan, enlisted July 2, 1777.

Conway, Felix.

Cooper, Joseph,‘ deserted August, 1778; died Jan. 16, 1823, in Bedford
County, aged‘ sixty-eight.

Cooper, Leonard, from Maryland; deserted August, 1778.

Cooper, William, Aug. 17, 1776-September, 1779; resided in Venango
County, 1810.

Corner, Felix. A

Coveney, Felix.

~ Cripps, John.

Critchlow, James,enlisted August, 1776, in Capt. Moses Carson's com-
pany; served in all the Saratoga engagementsunder Lieut.-Col. But-'
ler; resided in Butler County, 1835, aged seventy-eight." ‘

1 The fact of‘-a soldier being marked on one roll ‘deserted amounted to-
nothing, because they usually returned after a few months’ absence.

Dennison, James.

Crosley, Timothy.
Cruikshank, Andrew, Mil1er’s company, Aug. 17, 1776-September, 1779;
resided in Butler County, 1810.
Curtin, John.
Sergeants.

Donnalson, William.
Corporal.
Davis, William, died in “Muskingum County, Ohio, in 1834, aged eighty-
two.

Privates.
Darragh, John . ‘

Davis, John, died in Holmes County, ‘Ohio, June 7, 1830, aged sixty-four.
Dempey, Thomas.

Dennis, Michael.

Dennis, Thomas, killed in April, 1779.

Dennison, Joseph (e), transferred to Seventh Regiment.

Desperett, Henry. 1

Dickerson, Henry, enlisted 1776 in Van Swearingen’s company; at Sara-

toga, etc.; resided in Washington County in 1813.

Dickson, William.

Dolphin, Joseph. .

Dougherty, James, alias Capt. Fitzpatrick, deserted August, 1778, and ex-

ecuted forrobbery. '

Dougherty, Mordecai, brother of above, deserted August, 1778.

Dowden, John. ~

Du Kinson, Joseph, killed in action.

Sergeant.
Evans, Arnold (e).
Drummer.
Edwards, John .
Fifer.

Evans, Anthony, promoted to fife-major, Third Pennsylvania.

Privates,
Edwards, David (e).
Everall, Charles.
Quartermaster-Sergeant.
Fletcher, Simon.

Sergeants.
Font, Matthew.
Forbes, William.

Corporal.
Fitzgibbons, James.

Privates.

Faith, Abraham, Capt. Mann’s company, Aug. 15, 1776—Nov. 19, 1779;
resided in Somerset County in 1825, aged seventy-four.

Faughey, James, deserted August, 1778

Finn, James, transferred to Invalid Corps.

Fitzgibbons, David.

Fossbrooke, or Frostbrook, John, resided in Bath Co., Ky., in 1834, aged
one hundred and four. 0

Fulton, Joseph, July 4, 1776.

Corporal.
Gladwin, John.

Privates.
Gallagher, Michael, June 7, 1776; deserted before he reached the regi-

ment.

Gallagher, John.

Germain, Henry.

Gibbons, David.

Gibson, Henry.

Gill, William, wounded in hand -at Bound Brook; resided in Mercer
County in 1833, aged eighty-four.

Girdler, James.

Glenn, Hugh, killed in action.

Graham, Alexander, deserted August, 1778. _ ,

Graham, William, Capt. Kilgore‘s company; resided in Westmoreland
County in 1811. ' "

Greenland, James.

Grimes, John. .

Guthery, Archibald, killed August, _1779.

Gwyne, Joseph, June 7, 1776; served three years; resided in Greene
County in 1808.

Corporal. .
Halpen, Joseph.
Privates.

Hamill, Hugh, Finley’s company, 1776-79; resided in Westmoreland

County in 1809.

. Andrew lllonroe, April 6, 1798.

‘ \Villiam Clark, April 3, 1799.

CHARTI ERS

TOWNSHIP. ‘   707

ton and came to Washington County about 1794,
and settled in North Strabane township. Their chil-
dren were Thomas, Isabel, »Hester, Elizabeth, Millie,
Margaret, and William,. in uncertain order. The
last named, William Craighead, followed his father’s
vocation, that of farming, in which he achieved
marked success. He married Jane Boggs, and to
them were born six children,-—-George, who married
Elizabeth Neel, James,‘ William, Nancy, Thomas,
and John, of whom James and John are the only
ones now living. James Craighead was born in
North Strabane township, Washington Co., Pa., Feb.
10, 1805. He learned the carpenter’s trade but never
followed it, except so far as it was needed in the en-

largement and improvement of his farm buildings.

His life business has been farming. He has deserved .

to succeed, and has succeeded. Those who knew him
best in his prime placed‘ a high estimate upon his
judgment and esteemed him for his uprightness.
For many years he has been a member of the Pres-
byterian, Church. In 1870 he was elected by the
Democratic party commissioner of Washington
County. He gave to the duties of his oflice the

. care and fidelity which he was ‘wont to give to his

private business, and his constituents were satisfied.
His principal possessions are his farms, stock, and
the Chartiers Woolen-Factory, of which he became
the owner about five years ago. '

>__ 4 A
W '1"

OHARTIERS

5

TOWNSHIP.

Ag _

4
wwf

THE township of Chartiers was erected by action of
the Court of Quarter Sessions of VVashingto_n County
on the 23d of March, 1790, in accordance with a peti-
tion from the inhabitants,residing within the limits.

_ It was originally the southern part of Cecil township,

and embraced its present territory, the southeast
part of Mount Pleasant township, and the north part

. of Canton. Upon the erection of Canton, the next

year, a portion was taken to form that township, and
in 1808. the northwest part was taken off‘ to become
a part of Mount Pleasant, the western boundary line

, then passing through the town of Hickory. A slight

change was made in October, 1831, giving a small
portion of territory to Mount Pleasant, and in 1863
the boundary line between Chartiers and Canton was
changed and adjusted as at present.

Following is a list of persons appointed and elected
to the office of justice of the peace 1 in Chartiers town-
ship from its erection to the present time:

John Canon, Aug. 24, 1790. ‘ Hugh Fergiis, April 10, 1855.
John Canon, April 1, 1794. James l\IcElroy, April 10,1860.
John Wilkes Hilliard, Feb.24, 1798. John Hodgins, April 10, 1860.
John W. Howell, May 12, 1862.
John Hodgins, May 5, 1866.
John W. Howell, April 19,1867.
Jonathan Allison, April 13, 1870.
John C. Mc‘Nary, April 12, 1872.
H. O. McKnight, Aug. 8, 1873.
John C. McNar_v, Jan. 17, 1874.
H. O.'McKnight,' Jan‘. 19, 1874.
John 0. McNary, March 21, 1877.
Allison De France, March 25, 1878.

Andrew Swearingen, April 3, 1799.
William Hays, April 3, 1799.

John Hays, April 14, 1840.
William Fee, April 1-4, 1840.
William Fee, April 15, 1845.
John Hays, April 15, 1845.
Hugh Fergus, April 9, 1850.
John Hays, April 9, 1850.

John Henderson, April 10,1855.

1 Prior to the erection of Chartiers its territory was embraced in Cecil.
From its erection to 1803 Chartiers was a separate district, but in that
year became a part of District No. 5 (with -Cecil), and so remained till
1838, when it again became an independent district. The names of the
justices of District N 0. 5 from 1803 to 1838 are given in Cecil township.

Early Settlers.-001. James Allison in the fall of
1773 emigrated with his family from Cecil County,

,Md., to the “Forks of the Yough” (now M'cKees-

port), where he resided that winter, and in the spring
of 1774 came to what is now Washington County and
‘settled on Chartiers Creek. He and his family were
of the twenty families who came to this section in
that year, among whom were the Scotts, McDowells,
Parks, Morrisons, Struthers, Norris, and others. He
married a daughter of James Bradford, who came to
Strabane township later and settled there. David
Bradford, who was prominent in the Whiskey Insur-
rection, was a brother of Mrs. Allison,'and Mrs. John
McDowell was a sister- James Allison purchased
one thousand acres of land, containing an improve-
ment, of Thomas Moffit, also of Maryland. For the
first yearafter these families arrived in the valley
they were accustomed to rendezvous in time of danger
from the Indians at a fort that was built on the land
of William Norris, in the rear of the old Quail place.

The land on which he settled was warranted on the .

29th of October, 1784, and surveyed to him Aug’. 13,.
1785, as “Mount Pleasant,” containing three hun-
dred and fifty-seven acres. This -tract was adjoining
Michael Ralston, James Morrison, and Andrew
Swearingen. He was elected one of the justices of
the peace of the Court of , Common Pleas, and also
served the county as member of Assembly at the same

time with John McDowell, his brother-in-law. He,

was a member of the society in Philadelphia formed
for the abolition of slavery. He was one of the first
elders of the Chartiers congregation, under Rev. Dr.
John ‘McMillan. He was later one of the -associate
judges of Washington County, and held the position
till his death, which occurred at the age of seventy-

708"

HISTORY or wissxsaxos "coiii~’irY,7“PENNSYLVANIA.

seven years. He was a manof great moral worth,

highly honored and respected by his_ fellow;-citizens.

He had, eight children,—James, William, John,‘

George, Thomas, Andrew, Rachel, Mary. James,
the eldest son, studied lawjwith John Shannon, of
\Vashington,_and removed to Beaver, Colunty, where
he became prominent as a lawyer. John Allison, the
ex-register of the Treasury of the United States, is
hisson. __ I , ,_  '  

William and John All_iso-n, sonsof James Allison,
Sr., emigrated in 1834 to McDonoughE County, Ill.,_
where they lived and died.’ '_ George became‘ a mer-
chant in_ N-oblestown, and died there. Thomas and
Andrew settled on the homestead farm. Jonathan
Allison, the son of Thomas, resides on the homestead,
and the heirs of Thomas Allison now own the part

that belonged to Andrew. Rachel, a daughter of

James Allison, became the wife of George Craighead,
to whom one hundred acres of the estate was left.
Mrs. William Ross, a granddaughter of Mrs. George
Craighead, now. lives on this portion of the old Alli-

A son tract.

A patent for one thousand acres of land was granted
by ‘Lord 'Dunmore, in the year 1775, to Valentine
Crawford and Col.’John Neville, for services ren-
dered in the Dunmore war. This land was located
in what isnow Chartiers township. It ‘seems to have
been leftwithout improvement, and unknown to the
Pennsylvania land-office, as the ‘settlers as early as

783-84 took out warrants for lands that were em-
braced in this tract, and which lands were surveyed
and patented regularly to them, without any doubt
of a perfect title. Later, in 1803, camethe announce-
ment that a prior title existed. A meeting was
arranged of the parties concerned, consisting on the
partof the owners of the military patent of Presley
Neville, attorney ‘for William Heth, of Heurico‘
County, Va., and the settlers upon the land, ‘Martin

' Adams, Robert Montgomery, Willia.m Gabby, Robert

and Paul White, Mary Henderson, John Struthers,
Andrew Russell, Robert McClo_skey, James McElroy,
Samuel McBride, John McCoy, John-' Calkins, and
Robert Hughes. An amicable settlement was made,
and on the 1st of December, 1803, Presley» Neville
conveyed to them “all that tract of land, surveyed
under a military warrant for Valentine Crawford and
John Nevillecfor one thousand acres.” At this time
these parties were on the land, “ and by this deed they
became tenants in common, and not as jointtenants;
and also according to their several claims of title,
boundary, and possession, as held, owned, and pos-

sessed by them respectivelyiantecedent to the delivery
. hereof.”

The land ‘owned by Morton Adams is now in’ pos-

session of Joseph Willison; that of William Gabby, A

now Alexander McConnell ; Robert and Paul YVliite,
now Robert Russell; Mary Henderson, now owned

by Joseph Willison, formerly known as the Ander-"

son tract; John Struthers, now in pos.sessioI.1 of

1779, and preached at Chartiers and Buffalo.

Charles Coultinghani ; "A}1‘drew Russell, now ,in‘ ’pos-'
session, of John Russell, a, grandson; Robert Mc-

Closkey, now owned by Alexander Moore; Robert;
Montgomery, John Co,c"l_<ins,iand John McCoy, prop-_

erty passed to Samuel McCoy, now. in possession of

W his widow, Mrs’. Isabella McCoy. I V
 A Virginia certificatewas issued to Samuel Thorn

son on the 31st of January, 1780, by the commission-

ers of Virginia, then in session at‘ Coxe’s Fort. It is
 there recited as being “situate on"Shirte;eiCr'eek, to-
. in~clude‘h,is settlement made in the year 17 74.’.’.‘ This
I tract was surveyed onthe 25th of'Janu"ary, 1785, and

named l“Thompson’s Seasons,” and containedthree
hundred and ten acres. At that time there was no
land adjoining it that had been taken up. It was
patented on the 27th of March, 1793, and was then

“mentioned as “adjoining Canonsburg.” It is evident

that this ~ tractwas the first in. the valley that was
taken up above Morganza. It was taken up before

Col. John_*.Canon came in-. Sarah Thompson," the ‘-

widow of Samuel Thompson, sold ' the property‘ to

different parties in 1806. , . »
Rev. Matthew Henderson was born in Scotland in

1735 ; educated at Edinburgh ; studied theology under

 Rev’. Alexander Moncriff, one of the first four Seced-
; ers. 1 He was licensed to preach at the age of twenty-
W one years, and ordained two years later, in 1758, by

the Presbytery of Perth and Dumfermline. He was

- immediately sent out by the Associate Church to the

British coloniesin America, being the tliird mission-
ary sent out by that church. Soon‘ after his arrival

i he settled in Oxford, Chester Co., where he labored

until the year 1782. During his residence at that
place he visited the western country as "early as
In
1782 he received a call from these congregations to
become their pastor. A tract of land was purchased
of John Struthers, J r., the deed for which was dated
Jan. 13, 1789. Itcontained one hundred and fifty-
three acres, and was situated on the north‘ fork of
Chartiers Creek, adjoining John Hays, J ohn_~ Struth-
ers, Jr., and Thomas White. It was part of a tract

,of land called “South Hill,” which was patented
- Nov. 13, 1786.‘ This land had evidently been pur-

chased several years before, as an article of agree-
ment is said to be in existence for a tract of land
conveyed to Matthew Henderson-by J ohn Struthers,
J r., dated May, 1781. There is also on record a bill

' of sale dated Dec. 9, 1782, from ‘Alexander Hender—‘ '
. son to the Rev. Matthew Henderson, by which was

conveyed “ One Roan-colored Horse, One Bay Horse,‘
One Red and one Brindle Cow, Six Sheep, furniture’
of the house, including dresser furniture, Beds and
Bed-cloaths, my farming implements, two sows and
pigs, my part of grain in the ground.” The consid-
eration paid was one hundred -and seventy pounds. V t

On this tract of land purchased of J ohn,Struthers,

J r., Mr. Henderson settled withhis wife and children, -
and lived till his death in 1795. He had charge not

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' CHAi{"1"I‘ERS

TO‘iVN'sHIP."‘"  -   709:‘

only of Chartiersfand North Buffalo Churches, but of
the congregations‘ of Mingo "Creek (now the United
Presbyterian Church in Peters township) and of Mill
Creek. ' He was among the most zealous) in the or-'
ganization of the academy in Canonsburg in July,
1791, and remained’ a stanch and firm friend and
supporter of that institution as long as he lived. .

I In speaking of this, D'r.‘Joseph Smith, in the “His-
tory of J efferson’ College,” says, “ In July, 1791, it was
settled in a conference of citizens and ministers, nu-
merously attended, that the incipient steps should be
taken for getting an academy under way. The ensu-
ing day was fixed for that purpose. Many citizens’
attended, amonguwhom were Judges “McDowell and
Allison‘ and Craig ‘Ritchie, Esq. The =min’isters"

present were Revs. McMillan, Henderson, and Smith.

The place, of meeting was by a small English school)-'
house. Here, under the pleasant shade of the green"
sassafras bushes, protected from the rays of the July
sun, the two pupilsfwith Oordrii Colloguai in their
hands, were just about to‘ read ‘quid agis,’ when Dr.
McMillan, addressing the two brethren and the small

assembly,‘ remarked in substance as follows, ‘This is be

an important day in our history, affecting deeply the

interests of the church and of the country in the‘

West, affecting our own interests for time and eternity,
and the interests it may be of thousands and thou-

sands yet unborn.’ And turning to Mr. Henderson,
.he asked him to engage in prayer, seeking the bless-

ing of Godion the-institution now to be opened. And
I must say [continues the historian] the broad ver-
nacular pronunciation never could be more delightful
and impressive than it was then, while‘ everything‘
proper to the occasion appeared to be remembered in
prayer by this good man._’’' Mr. Henderson remained

_as pastor of the two congregations until’ his death,

the circumstances of which are given as follows by
his daughter Elizabeth (afterwards Mrs. Alexander
Murdoch), who was then with him:

9 “On the evening of October 1st [1705] he had expressed to his chil-
dren a wish that they would fell a heel-‘tree which had been discovered
on his farm, and preparations were accordingly made to proceed to it
early in the morning. He had acquainted his daught'er"E—lizabeth, then
a child of ten years of age, with their purpose, and told her that if she
could get up in the morning without awakening her younger sister,

Jane, she might go witlrhim. Accordingly, the next morning he went:

quietly to her bed and touched her gently. to awake her without dis-
turbing her sister. She was soon up, and having dressed herself for the
expedition, hurried into her father’s room, supposing him also to be
ready. She found him on his knees engaged in secret prayer, and im-
mediately withdrew. Soon after this she observed him going down to
the spring with a basin and towel to wash himself, as was his custom in
the morning. Sometime after he had returned she again ventured into
his room, and again found him engaged in prayer. Soon afterwards he
came out, and taking her by the hand he led her to the place where his

sons, Ebenezer and Robert, had been for some time engagediin felling‘

the tree. The tree stood upon a bank, and it was supposed would fall
down the side of it. ;:Mr. Henderson and his daughter approached
towards it on the higher ground, where it was thought was no danger.
Here they stood for a little time, at some distance from the tree, awaiting
its fall. It proved to be decayed in the centre, and fell much sooner than
had been anticipated, and also in a direction opposite to that in which
he supposed it to be falling. On this occasion, as usual, he ran, but in
the same direction with the falling of the tree. His daughter followed

I his example, but varied siomewh~at‘in'her course and escapediany injury.
Her father had run to such a. distance that it was only the branches,

which reached him, and his body was but slightly mutilated. Only a:
slight flesh wound (was discovered on his head, yet he appeared to have

died instantly, not having been observed to move or breathe by his sons,’

who werevimmediately beside -him.” -’

‘ He wasburied in the churchyard of the Chartiers

Church, to which he had so long ministered. A He had’

fourteen children, of whom four died in ‘infancy.’

Five sons and five Idaughterslived to maturity.

(Matthew, the eldest‘-‘son, was licensed” by the Asso-
ciate Reformed Church, and was for many) years

pastor of? a“i"congregation ‘in’ the “Forks of the

‘ Yough.”‘ “He lived to an advanced age. John, the
. second son, settled ‘in? Mount ‘Pleasant township, and
I died there. f i i  

. f Ebenezer, the third son,-was licensed in the city of
iNew. York, May 30,17 99; ordained" May 24, 1800,’
. and was settled in the united charge of ‘Pittsburgh

and .'I~‘urt;le Creek, Dec. 30,1801. Early in the year

i 1803 he was sent to Philadelphia, to "supply: the con-: -

gregation left vacant by the death of Rev. William

3 Marshall, and was about to be settled in charge of

that congregation when he was sent on a missionary
tour to the Carolinas. Having finished his work in‘
the‘South, he had started on his return northward,

whenhe contracted a fever, but, anxious to reach 9‘

his home, traveled on from day to day on horseback
till he reached an inn in ‘the town of Staunton, in
the valley of Virginia, where, growing. speedily

-worse, he died in the midst of strangers, Sept. 17,‘

1804. He had given promiseof eminent usefulness,’
and in his early death was much lamented.

Robert, the fourth son of the Rev. Matthew Hen-
derson, settled on a tract of land which his father
purchased May 1, 1792,. of Gavin _Morrison. This

was partof a tract of land which was patented by Mr.‘ '

Morrison as “White Oak Spring.” In the division
this property fell to Elizabeth (Mrs. Alexander Mur-
doch), and was by her conveyed to Robert, J une,
1811. Robert married the daughter of Andrew

Russell, Sr. He’ was for many years an elder in"

Chartiers congregation. ‘His children were Matthew,
Andrew, Ebenezer, Alexander, ‘Mary, John, and
Robert. Matthew is a resident of Mercer County ;
Ebenezer and Andrew resided and died in this town-
ship; John settled on the William Crabby farm. ‘ He

' was elected justice of the peace in 1855. The farm“

on which he lived is now owned by Alexander
McConnell. ‘Robertlives on the homestead of his
father, Robert. Alexander now resides in Houston-"
ville. Mary, the eldest daughter, became the wife of
a Mr. White, a member of her father’s congregation.
Ellen, the second'_ daughter, married Dr. Samuel
Murdoch, of Canonsburg, later of Washington. She
_died in early life, leaving a daughter, Ellen, who be-‘
came the wife of Joseph Templeton, of Washington,
Pa. Ann, the third daughter, became the wife of the
Rev. Thomas Allison, for many yearstpastor of Mount
Hope A congregation, of Hopewell township. (now

"710

HISTORY OF WASHINGTON COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA.‘

Independence). Elizabeth married Alexander Mur-
doch, who for several years lived at Canonsburg, and
later removed to VVasl1ington. - Alexander Murdoch,
of \Vashington, is a son, and Mrs. John L. Gow, of. the
same place, is adaughter, of Alexander and Elizabeth
Murdoch. Jane, the youngest daughter, became the
wife of James Clark,-of Buffalo township, Washing-
ton Co. Dr. Matthew H. Clark, many years a
respected physician of Washington, was a son.
James R. Clark, the druggist, of Washington, is a
grandson.

John Weaver_came to Chartiers township from
Chester County, Pa., about 1787. He settled in the
neighborhood of Canonsbgurg, and bought one hun-

\dred and sixty acres of James Allison. He was a
mason, and worked at his trade until his death. He
left sons and daughters as follows: John, Sarah,
Mary, J ane, Nancy, Isaac, Thomas, Dell, George, and-
Joshua. . John settled in Chartiers township, and

purchased "one hundred and sixty acres of land of '

 

Ja.mes'Allison, now owned by White. He mar-
ried Mary, the youngest daughter of the Rev. John
Mc_Millan. Thomas Weaver, of Cecil township, is
the eldest son. Mrs. \Villiam A. McNutt, of Inde-
pendence township, is a daughter. Isaac, a son of
John Weaver, Sr:, settled in Chartiers township, and
bought onehundred acres of land, now owned by
Frederick Lesnett. He had but two children, who
emigrated. to Ohio. Thomas, also a son of John,
settled i11 North Strabane township, o_n a farm now
owned by his son Isaac.
trade of a blacksmith and settled in Canonsburg,
where he is still living, at the age of eighty-four
years. George and Joshua both resided in Canons-
burg for some years. The family of Joshua are now
all in Allegheny County. Sarah, one of the daugh-
ters of- John Weaver, became the wi-fe of John Mc-
Millan, a son of the Rev. John McMillan, and settled
on thejold McMillan homestead in North Strabane
township, now owned by the Fulton brothers, nephews
-of John and Sarah McMillan. A _

John Struthers, a Scotchman,‘ emigrated to this
country and settled in Chester County, Pa., where he
married and raised a family of children. In the year
1772 he came to this county, and on the 22d day of
September of that year he purchased six hundred.
acres of landof James Patterson, ‘-‘situate on the
waters of the Ohio, on a river called Shirtee, and join-
ing the lands of VVilliam Bollan on the east, upon the
run known by the name of Patterson’s Run.” The
landwas granted to William Long on a Pennsylvania
warrant in the year 1769, and sold by him to James
Patterson on the 19th of June, 17 7 2. It was surveyed
to John Struthers,'July 3, 1785, ‘under the name of
“Cawlder.”. In, the year 1774, John Struthers,.with
his eldest son, John, came to the new farm, built a
cabin, and after ‘clearinga small area and planting it
to corn, they returned to Chester County, Pa., and
spent the winter with his family. In the following

Dell VVeaver learned the

spring, with his family and possessions; they moved

to the new home, and settled in the log cabin on the
farm now owned by Robert Hamilton. The nearest

neighbor, at that.time wasJohn White, who lived.-

about five miles distant, in what. is now North Stra-

bane, and ‘about a milesou-theast of where Canons- .
burg now stands. Struthers built a grist-mill on the. .

creek, which was inactive operation in 1796. He had
four sons,--John, J r., Alexander, Thomas, and James.-
The son John took a warrant for a tract of land which
was surveyed to him as “ South Hill,” and contained
three hundred and eighty-two acres.
land was obtained Nov. 13, 1786. Three years later,
Jan. 13, 1789, he sold one hundred and fifty.-three
acres of it to the Rev. Matthew Henderson, and on the

1st of April, 1790, he conveyed one hundred and fifty-, .

two acres to Matthew Bowland. The last tract was

adjoining Matthew Henderson, Thomas White, and 7
James and Charles Campbell. John Struthers, Jr., 1

and Alexander soon after went ‘Vest. James in-
herited. the homestead, and Thomas also lived on a

portion of the estate, where they lived and died, leav-'
ing families whose descendants live in this and ad-

joining townships.

' Gavin Morrison, a native of Scotland, came to this ‘

county with the twenty families who came to this

section of country about 1773 and located on the hill 1
lands in Chartiers township under the settlement. .
On this tract he built his '

rights offered by Virginia.
cabin and settled with his family, which consisted of
three sons—James, Gavin, and J ohn—-and one daugh-
ter. Gavin Morrison, Sr., died in the fall of 1782,
and left his land to his eldest son, James Morrison,
to whom it was surveyed Aug. 3, 1784, on a Virginia
certificate. It was named in the survey “ Rich Hill,”
and contained three hundred and eighty-seve_n acres

and eighteen perches, and is mentioned at the timeof 1

survey as adjoining lands of James and Gavin Mor-
rison. On the 8th of ‘April, 1785, James Morrison

took out a warrant for a tract that was surveyed Au- ’
‘gust 3d the same year as “ Copenhagen,” containing
sixty-six acres, and ‘Feb. 22, 1786, another tract was I

warranted, and surveyed August 3d as “ Springfield,”
containing fifty-eight acres.
assessed as Capt. James Morrison on four hundred
acres of land. He died in November, 1813, leaving
s_ons, William, James, John, and Guion. They all

«lived a11d died on the farm, and the widow of Guion

Morrison now owns the place.
On the 12th of June, 1786, Gavin Morrison took
out a warrant fora tract of four hundred acres which

was surveyed as “White Oak Springs,” part of which .
--was sold to the Rev. Matthew.Henderson, and is now

in possession of Robert Henderson, a grandson of the

Rev. Matthew. In 1792 Gavin Morrison was assessed 1
. on four hundred acres, and John Morrison on- one
. hundred and forty acres.

Andrew,Swearingen emigrated from Virginia in

1772. He was a captain in the McIntosh campaign ; .

Patent for this-

In the year 1792 he is.’

CH ARTIERS

TOWNSHIP. F .6711.

was at the_ VVheeling fort when that place_was in-

' vested by the, Indians, and at the commencement of

the Revolutionary‘ war he received acaptain’s com-
mission, and headed a company of scouts during the
greater part of that struggle. He was appointed one
of the justices of the peace of Yohogania County at
the October term of court in 1776, and in 1783.was
appointed treasurer of Washington 'County, and‘
served till 1794. In 1799 he was elected justice of
pe-acein Chartiers township. As a magistrate he was
noted for settling difliculties between neighbors with-
out resorting tothe law. He took up large tracts of
land on Virginia certificates, which were confirmed
to him by warrants of acceptance from the board of
property April 19, 1786. Two of these tracts were
located on George’s Run‘, a branch of Chartiers Creek.
One was surveyed under the name of “Canaside,”
containing three hundred and ninety-eight acres, and
patented April 1, 1788; the other was surveyed under
the name of “ Drusilla,” containing one hundred and
sixty-seven acres. This tract was patented March 6,
1789. (It was probably named Drusilla after ‘a
daughter of his brother, Van Swearingen, and who

' became the wife of Samuel Brady, the well-known

Indian scout.) On the 30th of July, 1805, he sold
these tracts to Joseph Nesbitt, who bought them for
himself and his brothers Jonathan and John. He
‘also owned a large body of land on Chartiers Creek,
in Chartiers township. On this tract he lived, and
conveyed the greater part of it to his children. On
the 9th of July, 1796, he transferred six hundred and
seventy acres to Joseph Swearingen, a son, who later
lived in Philadelphia, and on the same date conveyed
seven hundred and seventeenfacres to Thomas Swear-
ingen. This last body of land was composed of two
tracts -that were surveyed, as “ Belmont” and “ Ver-
mont.” Warrants of acceptance were issued by the
board of property April 9, 1786, and patent issued
June 1, 1786. On the 27th.of September, 1799, An-
drew Swearingen conveyed to his only daughter, Sally
Cooke, two hundred and eighty-oneacresof land ad-
joining his other land and Joseph and Thomas Swear-
ingen. Andrew Swearingen lived on his farm till
June 26, 1824, when he died in his seventy-eighth
year. He became an elder in the Presbyterian con-
gregation of Washington ‘upon the organization of
thatlbody, and served in that capacity till his death.

_ Sally‘Swearingen became the wife of John Cooke, of_
Berkeley County, Va., on the 25th day of November,‘

1797. They settled on this place in 1800, and she
died here about 1852. Mr. Cooke died July 30, 1858,.
aged eighty-seven years. They left three children.,—-
one son,‘.John L. Cooke, and two daughters, Sarah

, and Isabella. John L. Cooke purchased a farm in

South Strabane township, where he resided till his

death, leaving three daughters and a son ; the latter, -

J. Littleton Cooke, removed West.‘ ‘Of the daughters,
Ellena became Mrs. ‘W. T. Beatty, of Washington,
where she still resides; Sarah became the wife of Al-

exander W. Acheson, J r., now of Texas. _ The third
daughter became the wife of a son of John Bausman;
they now reside ‘in Pit-l3Sl)_l1I'g‘l1. Sarah, a daughter

of .John and Sarah Cooke, became the wife of Dr.‘
Alfred Creigh. Isabella married the Hon. Isaac Leet,.

of Washington, Pa.

Samuel Agnew came from York County,Pa., in
the spring of 1780, and purchased (April 15th of
that year) two tracts of land of four hundred acres
each located on George’s Run, a branch of Chartiers
Creek... On the 16th of September, 1785, warrants
were issued for both tracts,—one to Samuel Agnew,
the other to Matthew Henderson. The Agnew tract
was surveyed as “Nantucket,” containing four hun-
ydred and three acres; the Henderson tract as “ Stra-
bane,”’ containing three hundred and twenty-one
‘acres’. On the 22d of May, 1786, Matthew Hender-

son sold to Samuel Agnew thetract “ Strabane,” and j

on the 9th of December in that year patents were

issued for both of the_m to Samuel Agnew. Upon;

his first settlement in this section of country, in 17 80,
he built his cabin on the Strabane tract, where he
lived and died. He was elected a justice of the
peace of one of the districts, which at that time em-
‘braced several townships. Later he was a member
of the Legislature of the State. He hadthree sons
and three daughters. Of the sons onesettled on the
homestead and died there, and his son, E. J. Agnew,

now owns the farm. Other children and grandchil- -

dren are living in the township. John, son of Samuel
Agnew, Sr., settled in what is now West Virginia.
James, also a son, settled on part of the‘ “ Strabane”
tract. The daughters all married and settled in Vir-

ginia. The tract called “Nantucket” joined “Stra-

bane” on the northeast. It is now owned by John
McKee, Thomas and J ohn'Paxton. A
Joseph, Jonathan, and John Nesbitt, brothers, came
from Cecil County, Md. Joseph, the elder,‘ purchased
of Andrew Swearingen, July 30, 1805, a large body
of land on George’s Run, a branch of Chartiers Creek,
lying in the townshipsof Chartiers and Canton. The
land was in two tracts warranted, surveyed, and pat-
ented by Andrew Swearingen; one named “ Canaside,”
the other “Drusilla.” On the 7th of August the
same year Joseph conveyed to Jonathan and to John
one hundred and nineteen acres each.. The land
Joseph retained was in Canton township, and on it
he lived and died, leaving a widow and three chil-
dren. ' , 1
Jonathan Nesbitt settled on the farm in Chartiers
township, set off for him in the division of the large
tract purchased by Joseph, his brother.
lived and died, leaving four sons and three daughters.
The sons were Joseph, John, Alexander, and Robert.

Joseph went to Ohio; John bought a farm adjoining
his father on the northwest, where a nephew (John
M. Paxton’) "now lives; Alexander and Robert re-
mained on the homestead ; the widow of the latter and

his oldest son (John W. Nesbitt) now own the place.

On this he ,

vrzf

HISTORY OF WAS HINGTON 7' COUNTY,-75 PENNSYLVANIA.

' John Nesbitt, one of the three ‘brothers, settled on
his portion of the land. He married Martha Donald-
son. In the winter of 1837 the family were attacked

by a fever, and the father, mother, and two daughters‘

(Jane and Margaret) died, leaving only one son,
Robert, who _inherited the homesteadp
John‘ and"Robert, now’ own the farm and reside
upon it.  ' 4 ' ’ " ' r

t -Rowland'Hughes came to this county from east of

Q

the mou-ntains, selected a tract of land, and died be- '

fo*re'o“the‘warra,nt for‘ it was obtainedfi Robert, his_
son-,"took’ out the warrant in trust for the children of
Rowland. It was surveyed Nov. 13, 1786, under the
naifhiéi of “ Good Hopewell,” containing‘ three ‘hun-
dried:'-'and’ninety-five acres. A part of it was sold to
N'atha9hi“el‘Deverall, and later_ to Robert Montgomery.
The chiirch“ of‘ Chartiers *Cross-Roads is‘ located ‘on

this tract.’ ‘Samuel and Elizabeth ‘I—Iughes,"‘chi‘ldren'

of ‘ Rowland “Hughes,” also ‘came to a‘ part of the farm;
On‘ the 31st” of May, 1796, ‘Robert,’ Elizabeth, ‘and?
Samuel S Hughes conveyed to ‘Morton and ‘Thomas
Adams one hundredand twenty acres of the tract."
The interest of Thomas became vested in Martin
Adams, ’and'aft"e‘r his death the executors of Martin
sold (J uly-6, 1810) to Robert" Anderson. This tract
was part of the Crawford-Neville military patent,
and for which settlement was made and a quit-claim
issued to Robert "Hughes in 1803. 0

° 0 Hugh McKnight emigrated from Ireland and set-‘

tled forseveral years in'Cecil County, Md., where he
married, and where two sons, John and Joseph, were
born. In 1784 he madea journey west of the moun-
tains witha view of purchasing land. He lived for a
short time on a farm between Hickory and VVashing-
ton, and on the 1st of July, 1785, purchased of Sam-
uel Irwin, of Pittsburgh, a “plantation on Shirtee,”
containing one hundred and ninety-three acres, for
£144 153. This tract had been warranted to Samuel

Irwin, Nov. 22, 1784,’and surveyed Sept. 6, 1786, as. A

5‘ Litt'leton,” c’ontainin_g about one hundred and ninety‘

‘ a‘cres.‘ It was described as being “on the west fork

of Shirtee Creek, adjoining lands of James Ramsey,

‘S Samuel McBride, David Shearer, and James Sibbert.”

A”pate‘nt‘ was issued. to Hugh McKnight, June 18,
1799. He lived on ‘the-‘farm till his death, and left it
to his sons John and Joseph. Of the family of John,
Joseph McKnight, of Mount Pleasant, is the only re-
maining member.’ Joseph McKnight, son of Hugh
and brother of John, married Sarah, the daughter of
Abraham Anderson. They llivedon the homestead
and died there. He was a ruling elder in Mount

, Pleasant congregation many years. He adhered to

the oldcustoms and wore a cue to the end of his
days. He lived to the advanced age of one hundred
years, and died on the 4th of May, 1873. He left two
children, Elizabeth, who became the wife of Alexan-
der M_cConnell', andiHugh O. McKnight, who married‘

S a daughter of Thomas Paxton, andsettled on the

homestead of ‘ his fatherand grandfather. .. Hugh 0.

His sons,‘

SMcKnight~in November, 1879, introduced Hereford’ ’
‘cattle into this county for the first time. He pur-
-chased five head from a herd in Beecher-, Ill., and
‘has since added to his herd -by other purchases.

William Moore came into the county and settled

S upon land held under Virginia certificate, dated Feb-
ruary, 1780. It was surveyed to him as “ Double

Trouble,” containing three hundred and eighty-four
acres. A patent was obtained on the 18th of une,
1785. In later years. he sold his interest in the land
to George Frazier. It is‘ now owned by George Miller.

John Hays was of Scotch-Irish parentage, married,
and raised a family of five sons, who arrived at matu-

: rity before they emigrated to-this country. About the S

year 1775, John Hays,'with four ofliis sons, William,‘

:Robert, James, and ‘Samuel, came to this county and
located a large tract of land on the head-waters of

Chartiers Creek. John Hays, the ‘father, in 1780
took out a Virginia" certificate for one tract, which

iwas surveyed to him as “Hay Field,” containing
 four V hundred" and nineteen ‘acres.
obtained in April, 1794. It covered what is now
A known as the Anderson, Haft, and Ramsey property.
: He also'took out on a Virginia certificate a tract‘
-which was surveyed to him’ March 15, 1788, under
' the name of “ The Compact,” containing three hun-
5dred and fifteen acres.
,Pleasant township, adjoining Chartiers. The war-
‘ rant for it was returned June 11, 1788, to James Mc-

Patent for it was

This tract is now in Mount

Elroy. On the tract "‘ Hay Field” Mr. Hays lived
till his death, and left ‘a portion of it to his youngest
son, Edward, from whom John Haft purchased about
1820. The remainder of ,the estate was left to Wil-
liam, the eldest son, and John, the second son, who
remained in Ireland. —

William Hays, the eldest son of John Hays, located
farther up the valley, and obtained title to his land
on a warrant. It was surveyed to him as- “Hay
Wood/s,” containing four hundred and forty.-one
acres. A patent for it bears date June 3, 1785.
William Hays was elected justice of the peace April

3, 1799, and served the remainder of his days. He‘ S
‘died on the farm. ‘ John Hays, Esq., his son, who
died, aged seventy-six years, on the 31st July, 1875, ,

was born on this farm in 1799, and spent his life at
and near his birthplace. ‘He’ was a student”at J efi'er—
son College, and devoted his life to agricultural pur-
suits. He was elected justice of the peace in April,
1840.’ Six children survived him,’four of whom are
ministers. The Rev. Isaac N. Hays, for many years
pastor of the Presbyterian/Church at Chambersburg,
later of Junction ‘City, Kan., and at present pastor
of Central Presbyterian Church at Allegheny City;
Rev. J. S. Hays,‘ D.D., many years pastor of Presby-

terian Church in Louisville, Ky., at present professor.
‘in the theological seminary at Danville, Ky.; and
_Rev. George Hays, D.D., former president of Wash-

ington and Jefferson College, now pastor of Presby-

r terian Church in Denver, Col.‘ -A ‘daughter became

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THE REVOLUTION.

83

Hancock, Joseph (e), Capt. Mann’s company, 1777; resided in Wayne
County, Ind., in 1834, aged seventy-seven.

Hanley, Michael.

Hardesty, Obadiah, resided in Lawrence County, III., in 1833. aged

' seventy-one.

Harman, Conrad, died in Muskingum County, Ohio, June 9, 1822, aged
seventy-five. '

Harvey, Samuel.

Hezlip, Rezin, Stokely’s company; residedin Baltimore in 1813.

Hayes, Jacob, from Brandywine, deserted August, 1778.

Hayes, Joel, from Brandywine, deserted August, 1778.

_Hiere, David, deserted August, 1778.

Hoback, Philip, resided in Madison County, Ind., in 1820, aged sixty-
four.

Hockley, Richard, Capt. Clark’s company; resided in Westmoreland
County in 1813.

Hotten, John, Aug. 2, 1776—Sept. 17, 1779; resided in Westmoreland
County in 1812. V

Humbar, Nicholas.

Hunter, Nicholas (e). V

Hunter, Robert, John Fin1ey’s company; wounded at Bound Brook and
Paoli ; resided in Westmoreland County in 1808.

Hutchinson, John.

Sergeant.

Jamison, John, Capt. Miller’s company ; enlisted in 1776, at Kittaning;
served three years; resided in Butler County in 1835, aged eighty-
four. ‘

Privates.

Jennings, Benjamin, Sept. 9, 1776-Sept. 9, 1779, in Kilgore’s company;
drafted into rifle command; resided in Somerset County in 1807.

Johnson, Peter (e), resided in Harrison County, Va., in 1829.

Jones, Benjamin, resided in Champaign County, Ohio, in 1833, aged
seventy-one.

Jordan, John, Westmoreland County.

Justice, J acob,_ resided in Bedford County in 1820.

Sergeant.
‘ Kearns, Robert.
A Drummer.
Kidder, Benjamin.
Fifer.

McKinney, or Kenney, Peter, Capt. Clark's company, 1776-79; resided
in Butler County in 1835, aged seventy.

Privates.
Kain, John.

_ Kairns, Godfrey.

Kean, Thomas, Aug. 23, 1776, Capt. Montgomery’s company; he was an
indentured servant of William Rankin.

Kelly, Edward.

Kelly, Roberts.

Kelly, Thomas.

Kemble, Jacob.

Kerr, Daniel.

Kerr, William, Capt. Miller's company, Aug. 1776—Sept. 9, 1779 ; resided
in Westmoreland County in 1823.

Kildea, Michael, paid from Jan. 1, 1777-Aug. 1, 1780.

Sergeant-M¢2g'or.
Lee, William, died in Columbiana County, ‘ Ohio, Jan. 6, 1828, aged
4 eighty-five. I
Corjporals.
Lewis, Samuel.
Lucas, Henry.
Privates.

Lacey, Lawrence.

Lacount, Samuel.

Landers, David.

Lawless, James.

Lecron, John.

Lewis, William, of Brady's company; resided in Morgan County, Ohio,

in 1831.
Lingo, Henry, resided in Trumbull County, Ohio, 1834, aged seventy-
one. «

Long, Gideon, resided in Fayette County, 1835, aged seventy-nine.
Long, Jeremiah. " '

Luckey, Andrew, of Westmoreland County; Miller’s company; became

teamster to Eighth Pennsylvania; discharged at Valley Forge; re-
sided in Fayette County, 1822, aged sixty-eight.

Sergeant-Major.
McClean, ———.
_ Sergeants.
McClure, John.
McGregor, John.
A . Oorporals.
McAfee, Matthew.
Mairman, George.
Drummer.

Miller, John, killed in action.

Privates.
McAlly, Edward.

McAnary, Patrick.

McCarty, Jeremiah.

McCaully, Edward .

McChristy, Michael, Capt. Van Swearingen’s company, October, 1777.

McClean, Abijah.

McComb, Allen, of Mann’s company, 1776-79 ; resided in Indiana County,
1810.

McConnell, John, of Hufl“nagle’s company, Aug. 28, 1776-August, l779;
died in Westmoreland County, Dec. 14, 1834, aged seventy-eight.

McFee, Laughlin, killed in action.

McGill, James. ,_ ‘

McGlaughlin, Patrick.

McG0wen, Mark, enlisted in 1775, in Capt. Van Swearingen‘s company
for two years ; Aug. 9, 1776, this company was broken up, and he re-
enlisted under the same captain in Eighth Pennsylvania, and
served three years; resided in Mercer County, Ky., in'1830.

McGuire, Andrew.

Mclnamy, Patrick. ‘ V

McKee, John, resided in Bath County, Ky., in 1830.

; McKenney, Peter.

McKinney, John, Capt. S. Miller’s company; enlisted March, 1778.
McKissick, Isaac.

McKissick, James, Miller's company; resided in Maryland in 1828.
McMu11en, Thomas, August, 1776-79; died in Northampton County in

1822. ‘
Martin, George. .
Maxwell, James, 1776-79, Capt. Montgomery’s company; resided in
Butler County in 1822.

Mercer, George.

Merryman, William.

Miller, Isaac.

Miller, John.

~ Mitchell, James, Mann’s company, 1776-79; resided in Somerset County

in 1810.

Mooney, Patrick.

Moore, John.

Moore, William, Capt. Jack’s company, November, 1777.

Morrison, Edward.

Morrow, William, transferred to Invalid Corps, August, 1780.

Mowry, Christian.

Murphy, Michael.

Murray, Neal, August, 1776, Miller’s company; taken at Bound Brook,
April 17, 1777; released, and rejoined at Germantown,where he was
again taken and made his escape. ‘

Fifer.

Ox, Michael.

Sergeants.
Parker, John.
Porter, Robert, resided in Harrison County, Ohio, 1834, aged seventy

one years.

‘Privates.
Paris, Peter, Invalid Corps, Aug. 2, 1779.
Parker," Charles, 1776-79; resided in Armstrong County, 1818.
Pegg, Benjamin, Piggott’s company, Aug. 13, 1776-September, 177

resided in Miami County, Ohio, in 1834, aged eighty-two.

Penten, Thomas.
Perry, Samuel, Invalid Corps, September, 1778.

Pettitt, Matthew, resided in Bath County, Ky., 1834, aged seventy-four. 4.

Phillips, Luke, Aug. 28, 1776.
Phillips, Matthew.

Reed, Samuel.

Ridner, Conrad.

.   L CHARTIERS.

TQ.WNsjHI.P.      .        -.713

the wife of iRev. S. G. McFarland, missionary to
Siam. Nancy became the wife of James Reed, and

» now lives in Canonsburg. William, a son of William

Hays, resided on the old‘ homestead, and died April

27,1881. _ - “" .
Robert Hays, a son of John, took out a warrant for

a tract of land between that of his father and brother

0. VVilliam. It was surveyed to him as “ Fine View,”
. containing two‘ hundred and fifty-one acres, and was

patented June 28, 1785. It is now known as the Me-

.N‘ary tract. John Hays took out a warrant for a
tract of land surveyed as one hundred and thirty

acres, now owned by ‘Mrs. John Campbell. It was

patented by John Hays in_1785, and in 1787 was

given by him tohis son James. 4
On the 16th of May,-17 92, James Ramsey took out

.a warrant for a tractof land on_ the watersof Char-
, tiers Creek, which was surveyed to him on the 12th
-of August, 1795,.as “Smithfield,” containing one
. hundred and. sixty-eight acres. Mr. Ramsey resided

on this place a few years, and on the 4th of Septem-

.ber, 1805, he became the pastor of the Chartiers
,; United Presbyterian, Congregation, which relation
. _ was sustained until June 12, 1849, when, at his own'

request, he was released. On the.17th. of March,

5' 1796, he sold eighty-four acres of “Smithfield” to

John McElroy, and onrthe 24th of March, 1806, con"-

. veyed ninety-five acres of the same tract; to Thomas _
- Patton, and fifty acres of “ Canaside,” part of a tract

of land patented by Andrew Swearingen, and sold by

. him to Joseph Nesbitt, who sold to James Ramsey.
The eighty-four acres conveyed to John McElroy,.
’ soon after the purchase by ‘him, was sold to James
. Ryburn, by whose descendants it is still owned. .The
- other portion of the Ramsey property ‘came into pos-
session of Archibald Stewart, and is now owned by
‘his Widow and son James. The Rev. James Ramsey
» died on the 6th of March, 1855, aged eighty-four

years. He had two children, James and Maria. The
former became a minister of the United Presbyterian
Congregation, and died in Beaver County. Maria

.married and settled in the same county.

Thomas Paxton came to this county from Scotland
and settled on Mingo Creek, where he- raised a large

, family of children. , Thomas,‘a son, settled in Mercer
. County, married there, and in 1806 purchased one

hundred and forty-five acres of land of the Rev.
James Ramsey, part of the tract “ Canaside’? and part
of ‘-‘Smithfieldf’ J ohn,a ‘son of Thomas, J r., settled
first in Mercer County, and latermoved to this

I county, and lived on the farm where David Morrow

now lives. His children were Eliza, who married
John, Nesbitt, and . settled in Chartiers township.

. Thomas, about 1820, commenced buying land where

he now lives, and has owned exceeding six hundred

.. acres. His first purchase was of theAlexander Castle
. tract. rHis sons John and Isaac live on part of the
a farm. A dau.ghter,»Martha, became thewife of Hugh
. , O. M9Knig_ht, who settled on_th_e,o_ld McKnight, home-,

stead. Samuel, a son of J ohn, settled at McConnell’s

1 Mill_s. John, also a son .of J olm, settled at Canons-
burg about 1830, and resided there forty-five years.
He married Elizabeth, a daughter of Henry Wilson,»

and sister of the Rev. S. J . Wilson, president of Alle-
gheny Seminary- Their children are John R., Wil-

son, William, Oliver, a.nd Henry.

Rev. John R. Paxton studied. in Jefferson College_
two years from 1860, and entered the ‘national service

. in the One Hundfedand Fortieth Pennsylvania Regi-

ment. He passed through every important battleflof
the Army of the Potomac, and was present when Gen.

.. Lee surrendered. After the war he returned to '-J ef-

ferson College, and graduated in_ 1866, after ‘which «he
entered the theological-vseminary at Allegl1eny,.£and

studied three years, and’ attended‘.Prin'ce’ton College '

one year. In the spring of 18.7'0._he.".was7called as pas-
tor to a church in Harford‘ C-ou-n.ty,~Md., where he re-

‘ mained five years, and was called‘ to the Pine Street

Church, in Harrisburg, Pa. Here he remained "four
years, when he received a call from th_eNew'Yo1:k
Avenue Church, Washington ‘City, D. C... .Wit-h.th.is
church he remained until the springof 1882,.ivl1en -a
call was extended to him from .tl1e"Wes-t Presbyterian
Church, West Forty-second Street, New .York- City,
whichihe accepted, and he is' now pastor of that
church. , ' I . , .
Wilson ‘N. Paxton rose to the grade of captain in

_the regiment, and was killed at the battle of the Wil-

derness. Another brother, Thomas, was a sergeant.
He was wounded and captured at Gettysburg. _Wil-
liam and Oliver, sons of John,'are now residents of
Canonsburg. Henry, also a son, resides in Walla
Walla, ,Washington Territory. John Paxton, the
father, is now living at Clokeyville. ‘ -
V Thomas and Samuel Fergus,‘ natives of Scotland,
came to this country and settled first in Carlisle, and
about 1803 they came to th'i.s.cou-nty. 8 Samuel settled
in South Strabane township, and Thomas in Chartiers,

. purchasing two hundred;-acres of land July 13, 111803,
_ of Moses Coe and John Crawford, who were the ex-

ecutors of Josiah Crawford, deceased. - This was ..part

, of a tract of land patented to.Andrew,. Alexander, and

VVilliam Crawford on the 8th of March, 1803, as the
heirs of Josiah Crawford. On the tract Tho-mas Fergus

_ purchased he settled with his wife and children and

died there, leaving four daughters,—Martha, who be.-
came the wife of_James Taggert and settled in Canton
township; Margaret (Mrs. Thomas McCall) movedto

..Ol1io ; Sarah (Mrs. Joseph Donaghy) settled in. Buf-
.falo; and Nancy, who‘m-arried James White, of

Canton township. Of the sons,‘ Hugh married Nancy,

_ daughter of John McClean. After a few years’ resi-
dence in Canton, township they settled on the old ‘

Fergus. homestead tract, where theylived and-died,
leaving three sons, of ' whom John lives on the home-

. stead; Thomas settled and now lives in Garnet, An-

derson Co., Kan. . Hugh D. Fergus was in the army

. in the late war and died at White House, Va.‘ .

714

John MeClean settled early on a tract of land in
Chartiers township. ‘He died in October, 1813, and
left his farm in shares to" his widow and children.
Ebenezer McClean, on the 8th of April,‘ 1837, sold a
portion, eighty-eight acres, to John Boon, and lived
on the remainder till his death. Matthew McClean
now lives on the place. John, one of the sons of John,

settled in Wheeling. William settled in Kentucky.
Nancy becamethe wife of Hugh Fergus. Margaret

married Henry Cooke, of Canton ;‘ their son Willard
resides on the homestead. Martha married Edward

I.‘Cundall, the present superintendent of the County 2

Home. Hannah J. married Capt. H. P. Boon, of
Washington, Pa. .Mary became the wife of Capt.
William Johnston, of Mount Pleasant.

James Ryburn, of York County, Pa., was a soldier
in the Revolutionary war from April 1, 1777, to April
1,1780, when he was discharged. He came to this

‘county and bought a tract of land of. James Smith,

which had been a part of the “Smithfield” tract,

patented by James Ramsey. On this land he lived’

and died, leaving four children, Matthew, Elizabeth,

James, and David. Matthew lived on the homestead
He married '

where his son, John Ryburn, nowlives.
Catharine, daughter of Thomas Gordon, of Buffalo
township. She is now living in her eighty-fifth year
on ‘a farm adjoining the homestead with her son Mat-

thew and dang‘-hter_Elizabeth. David, a son of James,
. purchased land of his father and died there a bachelor.

Robert McCloskey-was a settler in this township as
early as 1785. On the 8th of February in that year
a warrant was issued to him for land on a branch of
Chartiers Creek, which was surveyed to him on the
8th of March following, and was named “ Fressan,”

containing two hundred and seventeen acres. ‘ Another

mention of this tract gives the name as “Turkey.”.
It was adjoining lands of Andrew Russell and Thomas
White. He lived on this farm, and about 1799 he
sold to Robert Montgomery three and a half acres of
land on the creek, on which Montgomery built a full-
ing-mill. The place where Robert McCloskey lived
is now owned by Alexander Moore. The land was
part of the military ‘patent of Crawford and Neville.
Settlement was made, and quit-claim deed granted to
McCloskey December, 1803. Robert McCloskey died
in July, 1815, and left a widow and three sons—John,
Wallace, and Robert—and three daughters,-—-Jane
(Mrs. Campbell), Catharine (Mrs. .McMillan), and
Agnes (Mrs. Mushman). '

. Matthew 'Bowland bought of John Struthers,rJr.,
one hundred and fifty—two acres of land, on the 1st of
April, 1790, part\ of “South Hill,’.’ and settled upon

the farm where he lived and died about 1824. He 1‘

left sons, Alexander, Robert, and Matthew; a son
James died prior to his deeease. A daughter Saramli
became the wife’ of Reynolds C. Niel ; Agnes married

Hugh ,McGill,- of Canonsburg; Ann married James V

Allison, a son of William Allison; later she became
the wife of a Mr. Lyon, ‘of Cadiz, Ohio, who is at

Iusronv or WASHINGTON COUNTY, PENNSYLVAN-IA.

present a banker in that place. To Alexander his
father left the farm, but to Matthew the use of one-
half of it during hislife. He died a few years later.
The homestead is now in‘ the _possession of Samuel
Skiles. Robert, son of Matthew, moved" to Cadiz,

Ohio, and settled there.

Paul and Thomas VVhite settled on the lands of
the Crawford-Neville military patent. Robert Rus-
sell owns the Paul White tract. Thomas died about

‘ 1803, leaving a widow, three daughters—-Mary, Sarah,

and J ane-—and six sons, John, William, Robert, Paul,
James, and Thomas. Each of them5h.a'd* a farm given
them by their father before his decease.

. William Harsha, on the 10th of March, 1797, pur-
chased about two hundred acres of landof James
‘Campbell, a part of a larger tract that. was patented
to Campbell Feb. 14, 1793.
on the 8th of April, 1814, and the land was divided
between the three sons,—-_the east part to John, the
middle to James, and the west portion to Thomas.
On the 4th of February, 1817, John sold his portion
to David Boyce. James died about 183-0, and left a
widow and nine children, most of whom married and
settled near the homestead.

Andrew Miller, native of‘ Ireland, came to this -

country about 1800 with .his,wife, and bought land
in Mount Pleasant township of John Miller, on the
road from. Hickory to Canonsburg; later he moved
to about one and a half miles northwest of Hickory;
later still he removed to Chartiers township to the

. farm on the north fork of Chartiers Creek, where his

grandson Andrew now lives. James C. Miller,"a son
of Andrew, studied law with the Hon. ‘Isaac Leet, of
Washington; removedyto Wooster, Ohio; practiced
there, and died in 1844. 1 Mrs. John Haft and Thomas
Miller, of Canonsburg, are also children of Andrew
Miller. .

John Bennett, a native of Ireland, came to this
country many years ago, and purchased one hundred
acres of land on the head-waters of Plum Run. He
had two children, William and Ann.
settled first in Canonsburg, and later in Guernsey
County, Ohio. Hisson, Henry Bennett, is now as-

-sistant cashier of the Canonsburg Bank. Ann be-
came the wife of Ebenezer Fulton, a son of Samuel C
After a‘ few years"

Fulton, of Chartiers township.
they removed to Ohio.

Henry Miller settled in this township and raised-a
family of children, of whom John settled on the
homestead now owned by William Caldwell, a son-
in-law. Elizabeth married James Dunlap, of Cecil
township; Nancy became the wife of Samuel» John-

ston, and moved to Ohio; Christina married VVilliam -

Bennett. ‘They settled for a time in Canonsburg, and
later removed to Muskingum County, Ohio. Henry
Bennett, of the Canonsburg Bank, is their son.’ 1

James McNary was a son of James iMcNary, who

settled in Hanover township; a brother of John Mc- '

Nary, who bought in North Strabane township. ‘He

William Harsha . died

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UCIIARTIERS

TOWNSHIP. ’ I ’ 715

came out to this county in 1780,lbefore his father,
and on the 19th of April purehasedtwo hundred and
thirty-three acres of land in Chartiers township, near
the County Home. He married Margaret, daughter
of Thomas Paxton. He was chosen elder of Char-

tiers United Presbyterian Congregation April 17, '
' 1811, and died in February, 1815, leaving eight chil-

dren, of whom Samuel married Mary, daughter of
Jacob Miller, and settled near Hickory; John P.
McNary, a son of Samuel, lives about half a mile
from Canonsburg, in Chartiers; Jane, a daughter,
became the wife of Thomas Forsythe, and resides in
Canonsburg.

VVilliam McNary was a son of John McNary, of
North Strabane. He purchased a tract of land, on

— which his "son, John C. McNary,“now resides. He

had twelve children. Martha became the wife of

Robert Russell; Thomas M. resides in Canonsburg;_

VVilliam P. is pastor of a United Presbyterian Church
of Bloomington, Ill.; James is pastor of a church of
the same denomination in Sparta, Ill.

Robert and John Welch were settlers in the town-
ship of Chartiers before 1800, and located on land
where their descendants still live. James P., an only
son of Robert, resides on his father’s homestead.
Thomas P. VVe1éh, the youngest son of John, resides
on the homestead of his father. John and James C.

_ \Velch, sons of John, settled early in Hopewell town-

ship (now Independence), near Mount Hope Church.
'_ Andrew Russell and his wife, natives of Scotland,
emigrated to this country and located near Oxford,
Chester: Co., Pa., where he lived several years.‘ In
the. year 1782 he came to this county and purchased a
tract of land in Chartiers township, on which he l.ived

V and died.’ It was a part of the ‘Crawford-Neville Mil-
' itary Patent, but was taken out under a Pennsylvania

warrant, and later was released from the claim under
the military patent by a quit-claim deed,-that was

- granted by Presley Neville in 1803. ‘Russell also

took a warrant for a tract of land on the north branch
of Chartiers Creek on the 17th May, 1802. His family

consisted of his wife, seven daughters, and three sons. .
The log cabin that was first built was later used for a -
' blacksmith-shop, when a larger and more commodious

house was erected. His son Andrew -inherited the
farm, and lived, upon it till his death, in«1862, at the
age‘ of eighty-five years. He married Anna McClel-
land, by whom" he had eleven eliildren,-James, An-
drew, Alexander, Robert, John, William, Jane, Isa-
bella, Ann’, Eliza, and Nancy. James married Miss
McElroy, and resides in Unionport, Ohio. Robert,
John, and William are all prosperous farmers in this
county. J ohn resides on the homestead of hisfather
and grandfather. -
Houstonvil1e.~The. land on which this town is lo-
cated was part of a tract of two hundred and fifty-six
acres, purchased Jan. 4,1827, by Daniel Houston, of
the executors of John Haft. It embraced parts of
two tracts of land, one of which was patented to John

‘Martin and William McClea.n, April 22, 1794, and
sold respectively to J ames, Mercer, David Gault, and

Joseph Holmes. The other was patented to James

Gault, April 23, 1794, and was sold respectively to
Hugh Scott, John Jordan, and Joseph Holmes.
The latterconveyed it to John Haft, May 3, 1809.

Daniel Houston came to this county from Franklin‘

County, Pa., and settled in Middletown for several

years, and later bought a farm of William Patterson,‘ c

in Mount Pleasant township,'and’ in 1827 purchased
the land mentioned above, and in a few years after
removed to the brick house, where he lived and died.
After the completion of the Chartiers Valley Railroad,
David C. Houston laid out the present town of Hous-
tonville. The first dwelling-house in the new town
was built by Alexander T. 1-Iaft. A depot was estab-

lished and a store soon after started. Shipments of
milk were soon made from this station to Pittsburgh, :

and at the present time the farmers of the surround-
ing country are nearly all engaged in shipping, and
this station is one of the most important along the
line of. the road that supplies the city of Pittsburgh

with milk. The town at present contains a depot,’

post-oflice, school-house, church, two ‘blacksmith-
shops, wagon-shop, boot- and shoe-shops, and a saw-
mill. Two lots were donated by Mr. Houston for

school purposes, and in 1878 the present school-house’

was erected. About 1874 a lot was deeded to the

’ Seceder Congregation, which society erected a small
brick church edifice. This society is few i.n numbers.
The members are mostly residents of the county.
Among them are John N esbitt, Samuel Skiles, Mrs.
Hugh Huston, John Smith, Sr., and John Smith, Jr.
The church is served-by the Rev. Mr. Nealy as stated
supply.

Locust Hill, or McConnel’s Mi11s.——This village -

is located on the north branch of Chartiers Creek.
It is on the tract of land that was taken up by Val-
entine Crawford and Col. John N eville: on a military
patent, and on that "portion of it that was settled on
by William C‘rabby.- In 1847, Alexander McConnel
builtthe grist-mill on the creek, and about 1857 a store
was erected near, and has been kept by Daniel Leg-
gett, Samuel Paxton, and others. About 1865 a
post-ofiice was established in the neighborhood, and
was kept at different places by Joseph
Robert Miller, and James Cotter. In 1872 it was" re-
moved to its present, location, and became known as
“ Locust Hill.” .Since that time the oflice has been
kept by Samuel Paxton, Alexander McConnel, and
William Sprowls, who is the present postmaster.
There are at present in the village three stores kept
by James *Bo1'land,. Thomas Paxton and William
Sprowls, a grist- and saw-mill, and one physician, Dr.
B. A. Lacock.
Allison’s Coal-Works, owned by the Hon. Jon-
’ athan Allison, are situated on the line of the Char-
tiers Valley Railroad, in the township of Chartiers.
' Coal was first disco\'ered on the James Allison tract

McKnight, I

.716

_ burg congregations.

. HISTORY OF WASHINGTON __CO_IJ_,N;TY, PENNSYLVANIA.

of land about 1800, and was mined many years for
domestic use and blacksmith purposes at twenty-five
cents per bushel. Prior to 1874 the drift was not

I more than one ,hundred;yards in extent, but upon

the completion of the Chartiers Valley Railroad the

works were extended, and mining commenced fora

foreign. market. The coal being of superior quality,

_a demand was soon created in the west and southwest

markets. At the pres,e.I1t‘time. (1882) the main entry

, extends about one thousand yards to the northwest.
«There are four side entries, three on the southwest‘
‘side, each about six hundred yards in extent, and the
V one on the northwest side about four hundred yards.’
.About one and a half million bushels of coal are
,mined annually, requiring the labor of sev_enty-five
‘ .miners. - ' ’ A

Chartiers “Cross-Roads United Presbyterian Con;

, greg'ation.{——From the slight knowledge obtained, it"

is _learned that this ,_ church was organized by, the

Presbytery of Monongahela in the year 1810. The
.. first pastor, “Dr. Samuel Findley, labored in the con-
,g-regatvion in connection with West Middletown.
_John Graham,_ who followed, divided his labors with.
_. a congregatioin in Washington,.,which was afterwards_
abandoned. s Dr. Alexander McCahan, the third pas-.
, tor,»had  his charge the Cross-Roads and Canons-L
V 1 Rev. David Ferguson, professor
.of languages in .Washington\ College, being a licen-
gtiate, was stated sup-ply_f,o,r someyears.
‘him was Rev..T.,  Speer, whordied while pastor of
_the congregation, in 1851.’ Rev. Joseph Andrews
_was in charge from 18538 to 1858. Rev. J. C. Her-
pron was installed June 19, 1860, and released Feb.
319, 1867. Rev. I-I.,A. McDonald was .ordained and”
installed’ Oct. 14, 1869, and released Oct. 17, 1872.,
iThe present pastor, Rev._ J. A. Grier, was ordained?
and installed June_23, 1874. The,trustees of the
society purchased the lot, on which their house
, stands, containing one and a half acres, of Nathan-,
,iel Woods on the 30th of,.‘Septe,mber, 1816, it being?
part of 398, acres granted‘ to Robert ,I:I_ughes,..Nov.
 13, 1786. , Additions have been made to this, and a
cemetery is now on a part of the church grounds.
, The congregation has had three _places of worship,—-

, the ‘_‘ tent” whichwas common in early days, the
’ V frame building which stood in the area of _the present

Dr.

graveyard, and_the brick buildingwhich is now occu-

..pied. They also have a parsonage.

‘The present elders are »Alexand'er_ McConnell, E. -J

iAgnew, Joseph _Henderson, and Robert Henderson.
V The_prese'nt, trustees are James Ross, Jonathan Nes-

bitt, and Robert Anderson. The membership of the

I church is 235, and the Sabbath-school in connection
. has 159 pupils.

Miller's ?Run* Reformed Presbyterian Congre-
gation.-—.-In the early years of the present century a
number-of Covenanters were scattered over Wash-

I '  the pastor,Lthe‘Rev.,.I.A.Grie,r.  ,1 H
_ I V 9

Following":

ington County, a large number residing in the neigh-
borhood of Canonsburg- About 1808 these people
were organized into a congregation, and soon after-

wards erected a log house for _a place of worship on A

the west side of Main Street opposite the -residence
of John Briceland. Upon the same lot a burial-
place was also used. In 1810, Rev. D. Graham
received a_call from the congregation of Canonsburg.

_He was a native of Ireland. He. accepted the call of

this church, though for some reason was not installed
asjpastor. _After preaching two years tothis people
he was “suspended, and left Canonsburg and the
church, and studied and practiced-law in New York
City till hisdeath. “He was a man of great,—,elo-
quence and personality, and was successful in mul-
tiplying converts; but it is evident they joined the
man rather than the‘: church, for when he left thje

congregation they left it likewise.” The church was

without a settled pastor for a short time when a call
was extended to the Rev. William Gibson, who was
installed as pastor about 1815, served nine or ten
years, and resigned his charge. Soon after Gordon
T. Ewing was called to the pastorate, accepted, was
ordained and installed.‘ At his suggestion the old
log church at Canonsburg was _torn down with the

. intention of rebuilding, but the health of Mr. Ewing

failed, and the church was not rebuilt. His" health
continuing delicate, at the end of abouttwo years he
resigned the charge an-d returned to Ireland, his na-

tive country. On the" site of the old foundation a’ 1

dwelling-houseywas erected. Several graves are still

to beseen at the west end of _thechurch lot. In the

year 1834 the Rev. John Crozier was called to the
Monongahela congregation,- and served this church

as a stated supply, but was not regularly installed.
_ He resigned in 1842, and in 1843, the Rev. VVillia_m
Slater, the present pastor, was ordained and installed,

and isn_ow, serving the congregation in the fortieth
year. Soon after the settlement of . the Rev. ‘Mr.
Crozier thechurch site was changed from ,.Canon_s-
burg to the present site, five rnilesnvorth, and a_brick

house of_ worship erected, and the society became
known thenceforward as Miller’s Run congregation. .

The brick house was in -use till the year 1870, when

a frame building, larger and more commod-i,ous, was
erected. The present number of communicants in

full and regular standing is 101. ,

Schools.—The assessment-roll of Chartiers town-
ship for the year 1800 contains the ‘names of William
Guthrie, Samuel and Isaac Miller, George Munroe,
William,Tate, and George VVelsh, schoolmasters. At
this time there were four log school-houses in the
township. One on__th__e John Hays farm (now own.ed
by Mrs. Quivy) at the foot of the hill, near where

. the little stream enters Plum,Run. Another was on A
the line between the farms of Daniel Miller and

‘Hugh McKnight; -In 1807_,.Daniel Black and Samuel
b _ Miller were teaching. Between 1815 and 1.83_O,,Price -
, i ..Q0r,I1“,'¢11} J 01111 Haft,.an,d others Were..te,aching._ At

‘ the poor-house.

CHARTIERS

TOWNSHIP. - 717

the time‘ of the passage of the school law (1834) there
were 438 persons in the township liable to taxation
for school purposes, and $360.91 was collected for the
purpose of carrying out the provisions of the act.
The township-was divided into seven districts, and in
1836 comfortable school,-houses were erected. 1 In this
year there was received from the county tax $732,

6 and $144.15 received‘ from the State fund, making a

total of $876.15, and in 1837 the total amount received
for school purposes was $696.62. This township ‘was

.»among those that accepted the provisions of the act

from the first, and raised its quota of tax regularly.
The town of Canonsburg was embraced in the school
district of Chartiers until 1857, when it became by
act of Legislature an independent district. In‘ 1863

i there were eight school districts containing 387 schol-

ars; the amount collected. for school purposes was
$1138, and the expenses were $1121. In 1873 the
scholars were decreased to 290, and receipts were
$2600, with expensesof $2454.11.
were ten districts, with ten teachers and 369 scholars.
The receipts for school purposes were $3106.75, and
expenses $3556.’/' 5. 1

4-;
Vwr

BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES.

WIIILIAM HILL MCNARY.

_As his name implies, he was of Scotch-Irish origin.
His great-grandfather, James McNary, was born in

' Scotland aboutthe year 1711. The traditions of his

family say that he resided a short time in Ireland,
and then emigrated to America with his family, con-
sisting of a wife, foursons, and a daughter, some time
previous to the year 1760. During that year he bought
a tract of land in ‘York County, Pa. He was the head
of the largest family of McNarys in the United States,
the fa.ther,of all the McNarys in Washington County.
Three of his sons, James, Thomas, and David, emi-

grated to .\Vashington County [with their families.

James settled on a farm in Chartiers township, near
Thomas bought a .farm in North
Strabane township (the Sheriff McClellan.Cl farm).

David‘ settled in Hanover township, near the West

Virginia line. He, being the youngest of the sons,
brought his father with him, and at ‘his house the old‘
patriarch died in the year 1796, and was buried in the
Harmon's Creek Seceder graveyard, near Paris.

‘ ' John, the grandfather of our subject, was probably
' the oldest of these four brothers. He also came to
-VVashington County, and bought a tract of land in

North Strabane township. He then went back to

' ' York County for his family, and died there in 1802.

John McNary, the father of our subject, was the

third soneof John, of York County. After the death

of his father. he settled up his father’s estate and
brought the family to the new home in Washington
46 ’ .

In 1880 there 8

4.

County, and-thus became one of the pioneers of the
county. '  ._

At the time of his death, in 1844, he owned the farm
his father bought, and it is still in the possession of
his son, James S. McNary. He was a man of upright
character,.thrifty in business, and an elder in the
Chartiers Seceder Church, and raised his family under
the old Scotch system of family discipline. _ He was
married to Jane Hill, of Dauphin County, a woman
of similar origin, of fine, large physical form, and of
very marked character. She was well suited to sup-
port him inhis pioneer labors, and left the impress
of her character upon,his children.

William Hill McNary, the subject of this sketch, '

was their oldest son. He was born on Nov. 26, 1805,
amid the forests and stumpy fields of that early set-

tlement- VVhat little schooling he received was ob- ’

tained in "a log school-house, with puncheon floors,
seats made of split logs with four legs. ‘It consisted
of reading, writing, and arithmetic as far as “the
single ruleof three.” From his very childhood the
Scotch-Irish blood began to show itself in his char-

- acter. Besides being a good reader and penman, he

became a diligent student of books, and intuitively
selected the, books that furnished the best food for his
mind. He became very familiar with the theological

1 and religious books that were to be found in the family  
libraries of the community, and always kept himself ‘‘

acquainted with theipolitical literature of his times.’-
At the age of twenty-two. he was married to 
garet Murray,‘ a daughter of George Murray, who
lived on the hillabove V_aneman’s Station, a woman
of likedescent, and of meek and gentle spirit, who

' by her piety promoted the religious culture of her

husband and children, and by her patient industry
ministered to his temporal prosperity. They had
twelve children, of whom seven survive in 1882,—.-
John C. McNary, Esq., of Chartiers township,%who
lives on the old homestead; Mrs. R. H. Russell, also
of Chartiers township; Rev. James VV. McNary, of

Sparta, Ill.; Rev. William P. McNary, of Bloom- .

ington,'Ind.; .Thomas M. McNary, of Pittsburgh;
Mrs. Rev. E. Cr. McKinley,'of_. Ligonier, Pa. .; an_d
Mrs. Rev. J. B. Jackson, of Elderton, Pa.

Soon after his marriage he bought what is now _

known as the McNary homestead, on Plumb Run,«i,n.
Chartiers township, and having settled upon it his
character began to develop and his influence to be
felt in the community. He was naturally a prog1’es-
sive man,-ancl had a foresight which enabled him to
place himself ’ in the advance in almost everything
among the men of his generation. I _

He took a great pride in improving his farm and
making a pleasant home for his family; introduced
improved machinery upon his farm; -introduced 3:11
improved stock of merino sheep, and had one of the
bestflocks of sheep in the county as long as he lived
on the farm. 1 It is said that he had the first horse-
rake and two-wheeled mower in the county.

84

HISTORY OF WASHINGTON COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA.

Robinson, Simon.

Rooke, Timothy.

Rourk, Patrick.

Sergeants.

Sample, William.

Smith, John, 1776-Sept. 20, 1779; died in Indiana County, 1811.

Corporal.
Swan, Timothy, resided in Trumbull County, Ohio, in 1834.

Privates.

Seaton, Francis.

Sham, Michael, resided in Rowan County, N. C., in 1834, aged eighty-six.

Shedacre, Jacob, Finley’s company; killed by the Indians near Potter's
fort, Centre County, July 24, 1778; had served under Morgan at
Saratoga.

Shedam, Jacob.

Sheridan, Martin.

Sherlock, Edward, died in Ross County, Ohio, Feb. 11, 1825, aged sixty-
eight.

Shilhammer, Peter, resided in Westmoreland County in 1824.

Shuster, Martin.

Simmons, Henry, June 12, 1776, Hufi‘nagle’s company.

Smith, Henry, resided in Rush County, Ind., in 1834, aged sixty-nine.

Smith, John, Sr., resided in Frederick County, Va., in 1834, aged ninety.

Smith, John, 2d, resided in Westmoreland County in 1835,

Smith, John, 3d, from Mifllin County; in Ourry’s company, October,
1777; re-enlisted from Third Pennsylvania, Capt. Cook’s; taken and
scalped at Tuscarawas.

Steel, Thomas.

Stephen, Patrick, Capt. Kilgore’s company, October, 1777.

Stewart, Charles.

Stewart, Francis.

Stewart, Samuel.

Stevenson, Samuel.

Stokely. Thomas, ‘August, 1776; resided in Washington County in 1823.

Straphan, William. ‘

Stubbs, Robert.

Sutton, David.

Swift, John.

Taggert, William, transferred to Invalid Corps, July, 1780.

Tea, John. ‘ l

Tharp, Perry, resided in Marion County, Ky., in 1834.

Turner, William, in Stokely’s company, Sept. 17, 1776-79; resided at Con-
nellsville, Fayette Co., in 1835, aged eighty-one.

Tweedy, George. «

Van Doren, Thomas, Finley’s company; served at Saratoga; killed by
the Indians near Potter’s fort, Centre County, July 24, 1778.

Vaughan, Joseph, enlisted in Capt. Samuel Moorehead’s company, April
24, 1776, served two years and six months; then drafted into Capt.
Miller’s, and served six months; resided in Half-Moon township,
Centre County, i-n 1822, aged sixty-two.

Verner, Peter, Invalid Corps, Aug. 2, 1779.

Sergeants.
Woods, John, transferred to Invalid Corps.

Wyatt, Thomas, promoted ensign, Dec. 21, 1778; shoulder-bone broken
at Brandywine.

Corporal.
Ward, Matthias.
Drummer.
Whitman, John.
' Privates.

Wagoner, Henry‘, 1776-79 ; resided in Cumberland County in 1819.
Waine, Michael, deserted August, 1778.

Waters, Joseph, 1776-79. T

Watson, John, July 4, 1777. V
Weaver, Adam, 1776-79, Kilgore’ company; resided in Westmoreland

County in 1821. . '

Wharton, William, resided in Pendleton County, Ky., in 1834, aged‘

eighty-seven.

Wilkey, David, deserted August, 1778.

Wilkie, Edward. A

Wilkinson, William.

Williams, John, Invalid Corps, Aug. 2, 1779.

Williams, Lewis, resided in Muskingum County, Ohio, in 1834, aged
ninety-two.

Williams, Thomas, killed in action.

Wilson, George, Capt. Hufi‘nagle’s company, October, 1777.

Wilson, William, resided in Trumbull County, Ohio, in 1820, aged sixty-

eight.

Winkler, Joseph.

Wolf, Philip, resided in Bedford County in 1790.

Wyatt, Thomas, promoted sergeant.

Wyllie, Owen.

Wynn, Webster.

“ ROLL or CAPT. JOHN CLARK’S Commnr,

“ In a Detacht. from Penn. I/ine, Cornmanded by Stephen Bayard, Esq.,
Lt. Colo., for the Months of Feb., March cf: April, 1783.”

Captain.
Clark, John.

Lieutenants.
Brysou, Samuel.
Everly, Michl.

Paterson, Gabel.
Crawford, John.

Sergeants.
McCline, John. Blake, Willm.

Baker, Michl.

Major.
Lee, Wm.
Corporals.
Gladwin, "John. McAfee, Math".

Johnston, Peter, discharged March Marmon, George.
17, 1783.

Drummers.
Kidder, Benjn. Edwards, J no.
Fifers.
Bond, J no. Kenny, Peter.
Privates.
Amberson, Johnston. Smith, John.
Atchinson, Joseph, deserted Sept. Dixon, Willm.
7, 1783. ~ Dorough, John.

Bigget, Robert.
Boothe, George.
Cardwell, Joseph, deserted April
1, 1783.

Caringer, Martin.
Carty, Richd.
Casteel, Saml.
Chalmers, And".
Clark, James.
Connor, John.
Conway, Felix.
Cripps, John.
Dinnis, Michl.
Dinnisen, James.
McGill, James.
McGuire, Andrew.
Mercer, George.
Miller, Isaac.
Mooney, Patrick.
Morrison, Edward.
Murphy, Michl.

Fossbrook, John.
Gibson, Henry.
Girdler, James.
Harmon, Conrad.
Hoetzley, Richard.
Hutchison, John.
Jones, Benjn.
Kerns, Godfrey.
.Kerr, Danl.
Landers, David.
Lingo, Henry.
Lucas, Henry.
Maxwell, James.
McAuley, Edward.
McCristall, Michl.
Sherlock, Edward, prisoner of war;
joined Feb., 1783.
Steed, James, deserted 27“! March,
1783.

Stuart, Charles.
Tharpe, Perry.

Ox, Michael. Wharton, Willm.
Parker, Charles. Willson, Willm.
Rooke, Timothy. Winkler, Joseph V.

ROLL OF CAPT. SAMUEL BRADY’S COMPANY.
“ Now Captain John Finley’s Company, of the Detachmt from the Penn. I/ine,

in the Service of the United States of America, commanded by Lt Col° ‘

Stephn Bayard, for the months, of Feb., March, and April, 1783.”

Captains.

Brady, Samuel. Finley, John.‘

I/ieutenants.

Mahon, John. Ward, John.

Quartermaster-Sergeant.
Fletcher, Simon.
Sergeants.
Font, Matthew.
Cheselden, Edward.
7 7 Allison, John.

Sample, William.
Porter, Robert.

718

HISTORY OF WASHINGTON ' COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA.

He took a special interest in education. Believing
that the best is the cheapest, he always endeavored
to get the best teachers that could be found at any
cost‘, and when the subscription was not suflicient he
quietly made up the salary out of his own pocket in
order to secure such as he desired. In this policy he
was zealously supported by some other patrons of the
school, and, as a consequence, the Plumb Run school
became somewhat celebrated as one of the most ad-
vanced schools in that part of the county.

When he came into the community the citizens
were somewhat divided on the "question of temper-
ance. Whiskey had been the household beverage of
the best families of‘ the community in which he was
raised; but he had seen the evils of its use, and
promptly ranged himself on the side of good morals.
Contrary to the preva'iling customs of the neighbor-
hood, he refused to furnish liquor to harvest hands
or to the guests of his house, and took every oppor-
tunity to speak againstthe evil of using intoxicating
liquors as a beverage, and as long as he lived was a
radical temperance man. 0

He was especially distinguished in the community
as an anti-slavery man. His intuitive sense of_fair-
ncss, his natural love of right, and his benevolent
naturelled him instinctively to espouse the cause of
the downtrodden and oppressed race, and at a risk of
fine and impfiisonment he helped many a fugitive in
his flight for liberty. He had been a Whig; but
when the Whig partly refused to come out against
slavery he left it and joined the Free-Soil party.
Henceforth standing out against his party, against
the pastor of his church, whom he loved and rever-

.enced, against his relatives and neighbors, facing all
the odium that gathered around the name of aboli- -

tionist, he boldly avowed his principles in every
presence, and voted the Free-Soil ticket from 1844 to
1856. He brought Dr. Le Moyne down from Wash-
ington to make an abolition speech in Canonsburg
when he could not get permission for him to speak

in school-house,‘ church, or public hall, nor even in

the theological seminary, and finally stood by him
while he spoke to a crowd assembled on the street.
\Vhen a call was made for a convention in .Pitts-

burgh, in 1855, to organize a_ party in Pennsylvania

representing the old Whig party, with a plank inpits
platform declaring in favor of “non-extension of
slavery in the Territories,” he was promptly on

Vhand. "

The other declarations of the party in favor of
“ Free Homesteads” and “ Internal Improvements,”
proposing to give”. free homes for laboring men, to
build a Pacific Railroad, and to develop the ‘resources
of the great VVest, so happily accorded with his ideas

‘oflprogress that he at once became a zealous Repub-

lican. .
At the Pittsburgh Convention he secured the ser-
vices of Mr. Ichabod Codding, and brought him out

‘with himto Canonsburgand Washington at an ex-

pense of twenty dollars, which he paid out of his own
pocket, to make the first Republican speeches that
were made in the county, when there was not enough
Republican sentiment in those towns to give the

speaker a free supper, and there was no-happier man,

than he when the old Free—Soil party was vindicated
by the election of Abraham Lincoln in 1860. "He was
not properly a party politician, but rather a man of
principles, a man who without rank or oflicial posi-
tion made his influence felt in society. ' He did his
own thinking, made up his mind intelligently on every
question, and was always ready to give a reason for
his opinions. When he believed ‘any position to be
right he frankly av-owed it, and stood up for it even
if he had to stand alone. He was a born leader and
reformer, and was so recognized by all who knew him.
He knew how to give and take liard knocks in the
advocacy of his views, but never appeared to know
such a feeling as resentment, and his neighbors with
whom he had his-severest tilts in‘ controversy always
knew that they could depend upon his friendship.

— He was charitable to the poor, liberal in the sup-
port of every good cause, and his home was always
characterized by generous hospitality.

He was an elder in the Chartiers Seceder Church
from 1841 to the time of his death, always taking an
active interest in the affairs of the church_and the
cause of Christ, and frequently represented the con-
gregation and the Presbytery in the higher courts of
the den-omination. 1

He died at his home in Canonsburg (where he re-
sided in a kind of retirement since 1860) on the 10th
of September, .1877. ' -

In the presence of a very large "assembly that had
gathered in the church at his funeral, the Rev.

Samuel Collins, D.D., who -knew him for many‘ years, 6

said of him, “as was said of John_Kno_x, ‘ There lies
one who never feared the face of clay.’ ” ' .

The respect of the old colored men of the town
was so great that they requested the privilege of wall-:-
ing bareheaded by his bier on its way to the grave, and
a grateful widow, speaking for herself and for others
whom he had befriended, requested his sons to inscribe
on his monument, “ The Widow’,s Friend.”

A LEXANDER MCCONNEL, SR.

‘Alexander AMcConnel, Sr., a native of Charlotte
County, Va., born July 10, 1755, came to \Vashing-
ton'County when a-young man, and married for his

first wife Esther Reed. They were married May 16,'_ '

1786, and Esther died Nov. 30, 1786. April 28, 1789,
he married his second wife, Elizabeth McCrory, who
was born Feb. 26, 1767. By this marriage there were
six children,——Alexander, born Feb. 2, 1790; David,
born Oct. 5, 1791; Jeane, born Oct. 11, 1793; Pru-
dence, b.orn'_Nov. 14, 1795; Nancy, born Sept. 20,
1797 ; Matthew, born -Oct. 25, 1799.‘ .

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ALEXANDER MCCONNELL, JR.

ton.
‘ James L., born Oct. 25, 1833, married Maria Hen-»

CHARTIERS

TOWNSHIP.   719

The oldest. of the children, Alexander, whose por-
trait is here given, was a farmer——a professional one--
who took great interest in improved methods of farm-
ing ; was the first in the region in which he resided
to lay aside the flail for‘ the threshing-machine, and
the scythe for the mower. After his marriage he first
lived upon a rented farm in Allegheny County, near
the county home. After remaining there about two
years he removed to the Huffman farm, in the same
county, where he lived two years, when he purchased
and moved to a farm in Cecil township, Washington
County, where he remained for seven years, when he
purchased a farm i_n North Strabane township, where
he lived until his death, June 4, 1874.

p . He was a, member of the»United Presbyterian con- A
gregation of Canonsburg, Pa., from its organization

by the Associate Reformed Church in 1830. Soon
after, April 5, 1832, he was ordained as ruling elder in
the same congregation, and continued in that relation
untilhis death. He was a soldierin the war of 1812,
and served in what was then called the “ Northwest
Territory.” ’ During this campaign he and Dr. Abra-
ham Anderson were messmates. He was twice mar-
ried, first to Ann Berry,» Nov. 29, 1815. She was
the mother of his children,——seven sons and four
daughters. They were,— '
Alexander, a sketch of whom appears in Chartiers
township. I
Elizabeth, born Jan. 7, 1819, unmarried.
,Jan.e, born Feb. 6, 1821, was first married to Daniel
Boyles, and after his death to Collins.
Mary A., born Oct. 4, 1822, married Richard Fife.
V ‘Isabel, born Sept. 7, 1825, married Dr. Vaile. She is
dead. _. . - ' _
John B., born March 19, 1826, married Mary Pol-

 

. lock.

David,» born Nov. 4, 1827, married Bell Watson.
He is_ dead. ‘ .
Rev. William L., born Sept. 19, 1829, married
Anna M’Lurkin. . g 2
Matthew, born April 30, 1831, married Nela Brazle-

derson. _

A. A., born April 20, 1839, married Lide Johnston.

In 1859, Mr. McConnel married his second’ wife,
Miss Sarah Torrens,‘ of VVestmoreland Co., Pa., who
by her kindness and attention proved to be a source
of great comfort to him in his declining years. She
survived her husband seven years, and had for her
consolation the many sweet promises God has made
to the widowed heart. He was much attached to the
church of his choice, arid took great interest in her
prosperity; and, when the infirmities of age prevented

‘ him fron1 attending upon the ordinances of grace, he

could say, “ Lord, I have lovedt he habitation of Thy
house, and the place where Thy honor dwelleth.”
During his last years his mind, especially his mem-
ory, became impaired, yet his faculties seemed as

bright as ever when conversing upon spiritual sub-
jects, and his memory of divine truth was remarkably
clear. While, his mind lost its hold upon earthly
things, it still clung to heavenly things. As an indi-
cation of his estimate of the value of religious truth,
and the importance of storing it in the youthful mind,
he made a provision in his will for giving to each of
his grandchildren twelve dollars for committing the
shorter catechism within a specified time, and eigh-
teen dollars for committing ‘Fisher’s catechism with
like condition. “ Those that be planted in the house
of the Lord shall flourish in the courts of our God.
They shall bring forth fruit in old age."

 

ALEXANDER MCCONNEL, JR.

Alexander McConnel, Jr. (a sketch of whose an-
cestors appears in North Strabane township) was born
in Allegheny County, Pa., Dec. 29, 1816. He was
trained to farm-work until sixteen years of age, when
he engaged in milling. He began without previous
preparation for his work, but by diligent study of the
process of flour-making he was soon what he set out to
be, a good miller. . VVhen twenty-one years of age he
was employed tolbuild a mill, which work he entered

‘upon without especial preparation ; but he was a
natural mechanic, and when the work was completed
his employer said, “Well done I” This caused for
him a reputation as a skillful, substantial workman,
and he was employed for a number of years in differ-
ent parts of the country in building mills. He built
for Hazlett, Dil, Prigg & Co. the first successful
steam-mill in Washington, Pa. I-n 1859 he engaged

‘in farming, which has since occupied his time.

VVhile he has lived a busy life, devoted to his own
and his family’s interests, he has not beenunmindful
of his duties as a citizen, and measures for the en-
hancement of the public weal have found in him a
ready and liberal supporter. He gave liberally of
his own means, and was instrumental in obtaining
‘the assistance of others, for the construction of the
Chartiers Valley Railroad. Before he attained his
majority he united with the Associate Reformed, now
the United Presbyterian Church of Canonsburg, Pa.
In 1847 he removed his membership to the Chartiers
Cross-Roads United Presbyterian Church, it being
nearer to his home, and of that organization he has
been a ruling elder for about thirty years. He was
married Dec. 8, 1853, to Eliza McKnight, of Chartiers
township. Two of their children died in infancy and
two are living,—Joseph M., a farmer, living with his
father, and John 0., who is a member of the senior

class of New Wilmington College, Lawrence Co_., Pa.-

Mr. McConnel has in his possession the old Bible
which has been in the family for generations. It
bears the following inscription upon its title-page:

“Imprinted at London by the Deputies of Chris-
topher barker, Printers to the Queenes most Excellent
Majestic, 1599.” ' r

I

he ‘had ten children.
. of exemplary .life,and_died Oct. 21, 1849, aged sixty-

HISTORY OF WASHINGTON 1.

COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA .

HON. JONATHAN ALLISON.
In 1773,»James Allison came from Cecil County,

Md., and settled upon a farm in Washington_County, '

Pa., which he hadjpurchased from Thomas Moffit,
and which is now owned and occupied by his grand-
son, Hon, Jonathan Allison. He was of Irish parent-
age, andimarried Jane Bradford, who was of Scotch

A ancestry, ‘a sister of David Bradford, of Whiskey In»

surrection notoriety. ,He was a prominent citizen,

being an associate judge of ‘the courts of Washington »

County, and in the years 1786, 1787, 1788, and 1789
a member of the Supreme Executive Council at
Philadelphia. He was a ruling elder in Dr. John
McMillan’s church for a number of years. His son,
Thomas Allison, married Mary Johnson, by whom
He was a good farmer, a man

eight years. His wife is stillliving, an active Woman

of eighty-fourvyears. Hon.Jonathan Allison, the ,

sixth. in the order of birth of Thomas  Mary’ Alli-
son’s children, was born in Chartiers township, ‘Wash-

ington County, Feb. 3, 1828. When seventeen years .

of age he entered Jefferson College,‘ whereihe re-
mained for two years, Whenowing to the death of a
brother he returned home and engaged in farming,
which has been the principal business of his life.
Since the completion of the Chartiers Valley Rail-
road he has been engaged in developing the ibit_umi.—
nous coal with which his farm is underlaid. This
vein of coal was first discovered by his grandfather,
James Allison, about eighty-five years ago,.and was
the first bituminous coal discovered in VVashington
County. It was hauled for many miles for black-
smithing and other purposes,'and,‘as an instance of
its then estimated value, it may be stated here that
soon after the discovery James Allison sold four acres
of it to Judge Baird, of Washington, Pa., forseven.-

teen hundred and fifty dollars.

Jonathan Allison has always taken an active -part
in politics. He Wasan ardent _Old—Line Whig, being
aidelegate from his township to the last county con-
vention of that party held in VVasl1ington, Pa. He
has been a radical Republican from the organization
of that party, and was by it elected a member of the
General: Assembly of Pennsylvania -for Washington
County in—1873, and re-elected in -1874. VV-hile in
the House he served an the Committees of \Vays and
Means, Foreign Relations, Mines and Mining, etc.
In 1882 he was nominated by acclamation by the
Republican convention of Washington County for
State Senator for the Forty—sixth Senatorial District,
composed of the counties of VVashington and Beaver.
He has also held the oflice of justice of the peace and
school director in his native township. In public.

and private life he has borne himself with unques--

tioned fidelity to duty, and enjoys among the people
of the county a high character for probity and hon-

orable dealing. He is and has been for thirty years a

member of the Presbyterian Church.

He was married April 7, 1857, to Margaret, daugh-
ter of \Villiam and Margaret Crabby, of Franklin
township, Washington Co., Pa. To them were born
eleven children, three of whom died in infancy. One
son, \Villiam E., was drowned Feb. 10, 1881. His
age was ten years. Their living children are Maggie,
Albert J., Thomas G., Edwin E., Jolin B., Ralph M.,
and Jennie. A

   CR oss OR  K TOWNSHIP.

 

 THE territory now embraced in the townships of
Cross Creek, Jefferson, and part of Mount Pleasant
wasrincluded in the original township of Hopewell
for ,more than_ eight years from the erection of the
last-named township. The first movement towards
the formationof "Cross Creek township from a part of
Hopewell was the presentation of a petition to the
courton the 31st of March, 1789, setting forth

‘i That your petitioners, as well as‘; many bthers who. may have busi-
ness to do ‘before a single justice of‘ the peace, labour under a very con-
siderable ‘inconveniency, being »situate,suc_h a great distance from the

p__re.sentjustice,,vs'l1o lives very nearito the extremity of the township;
and as the township is very extensive and will admit of a division. and

both be compact, which of course will be, moreover, less trouble and ex- 4

pense to the inhabitants at large ;”

and for these reasons praying that the township be
divided and a new one erected according" to certain
suggested boundaries. The petition was laid over to
the next term, when “the court request ‘the following
men to point out a proper division of said township
and make a report to next court, viz.: Col. John
Marshall, James A Gillespie, James Marshall, Esq.,
William Cuttraugh, and John Buchanan.” These
viewers performed the duty assignedthem, and re-
ported in the matter to the court as follows:

“ Agreeably to your request we have the honor to report that the
proper division of_,the_l township of Hopewell in our opinion should be
as followeth, viz.: Beginningat a. certain spring of the headwaters of
Cross Creek, which rises near about ten perches ‘from the township of
Strabane, between the dwelling housesof James Anderson and "Timothy.

Spinner; thence down the south branch ‘thereof to Wells’ Mills; thence
across the creek [by Cross Creek] to the State line.” .

i -This report was «.approved-- by the court, and‘:the.

new township ordered erected‘, “to be called Cross
Creek township.” The court also recommended “the
northern ‘division of the divided township as a district
for a justice of thepeace.” ’The action‘ ofiithe court
was certified to the Supreme Executive Councilof
Pe'nnsylvani-a2, and was confirmed‘ by that body on
the 10th of " December, 1789, thus, creating the town-
ship of Cross Creek, iandmaking it .a separate .jus-
tice’s district. The first justice of V. the peace for the
new district was Henry Graham, appointed Aug- 24,
1790.“ He residediat Cross'.Creek village; A 1 V .

 The township of Cross Cre'eki'retained its original
territory and limits until May, 1806, whena portion
of i’t ‘: was taken’ to form‘ the itownship of .Mount
Pleasant; an’d°i_n' 18'53~the township of Jefferson was
formed from the western part‘ of Cross Creek‘, re-
ducing the toWfjnshipf"to‘ its present limits. . It. is

: family.

bounded on the west and northwest by Jefferson, on
the north‘ and northeast by Smith, on the east by
Mount Pleasant, and on the south by Hopewell and
Independence townships, from which it is separated
by Cross Creek, which is its only stream of any im-
portance. The north, middle, and south branches of

this creek flow through the township. in a southerly I

direction to their junction with the main stream.

: Early’ Settlements.-—Alexander Wells was one of
the earliest, if not the first, of the pioneer settlers of
Cross Creek township, as he came-here‘ prior to the
year 1772, and located a very large area of land. He

‘came from Baltimore, where he had purchased sol-

diers’ rights from men residing in that city-; and upon
these_he located tracts amounting to two thousand
acres of land, which are now withinsthe boundaries of
Cross Creek,~Jefl'erson, and Independence townships.
Fifteen hundred acres of the land was situated on
the middle branch of Cross Creek, and the remaining
five hundred was located near Cross Creek village,
on the head-waters of the north vb=ranch"of‘ Cross
Creek. The patent for this land was granted to

Alexander ~Wells in 1780; and on April 23,1796, _

five hundredvacres of the land, situated on the middle
branch of Cross" Creek, was sold b_y him’ to Thomas
Bay. That property is now owned by Arnold Law-
ton, Joseph Brownlee, James Stevenson, and John
F. Sharp. The five—-hundred-acre tract situated near
Cross Creek village was conveyed by deed to Rev.
Thomas Marques,’ Aug. 27, 1794. ‘Whether sold by
Alexander \Vells to Marques is not definitely known;
but tradition -has it, and it has become an established

belief, that it had previously been sold by Wells to '

William Parks, a brother-tin.-law of Thomas Marques.
" Subsequent to the first location of land made by

Alexander Wells, he at different times took out war-

rants for other tracts, some of which were in_ his own

. nameand others in the name of some member of his :
For the tract“ Stillton” he received‘ a Vir- ‘

ginia 'certifi'cate, Dec. 21, 1780, and also one for “ May-
field‘-.'.”. upon the same date- ..“‘Stillton” received its
namezfrom a still-which was in operation upon.the
tract, at the head of the creek. ."

A Virginia certificate, dated March 23, 1780', granted

. Alexander Wells "the-‘-tracts “ VVellwood”, and“‘The

Clifi's,”= but the ‘dates upon which he warranted “ The

Grove” and “ Rocky. Ridge” are not given. “".J eru-

salem” was warranted May' 9, 1785,. in-the name of

James Wells, son of Alexander- The tract contained
721‘

732

HISTORY OF WASHINGTON COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA.

two hundred acres, and was adjoining the lands of
Alexander Wells, Thomas Wells, and Mrs. Mary Pat-
terson. “ Wellington” (two hundred and twenty-two
acres) was warranted to James VVells on March 29,
1786, and surveyed June 1st of the same year. “ Well-
ton” was warranted by Thomas Wells March 29, 1786;
“ Black Walnut Thicket,” by James Wells on Aug. 4,
1788; “ Sugar-Tree Run,” by Richard Wells, Jan. 9,
1788; and “Buffalo Lick,” by Richard VVells, Jr.,
Jan. 22, 1788. In the first survey book of Yohogania
County, opened in 1780, is found the following record
of land taken up inCross Creek township: “No. 12
Pre-emption Warrant. Alexander Wells produced
a warrant from the land-oflice for one hundred acres
of land, in right of pre-emption, dated ‘March 23,
1780, No. 314, which he enters’ on lands adjoining his
settlement made in 1776, on the waters of Cross
Creek.” ‘

In the location of the large amount, ‘of landwhich A

Alexander Wells warranted in this vicinity, he was
very careful to so run his lines" that he cut off and
prevented all other persons from gaining any of the
water privilege of the streams upon which his lands
were situated. Three of the tracts were made to
corner in very acute angles on the Creek Bottom, near
the old Patterson Fulling-Mill, while the dividing,
lines of the tracts cross and recross the stream at
several points. But in 1794, Thomas Patterson, who

7 was equally alive to the advantages of water-power,

established the Patterson Mills upon the stream, se-
curing a site for it and a right to reach the creek by
purchasing two abutting patents. The first mills
in this section of Cross Creek township were built
by Alexander VVells in 1775, at the junction of the
north branch of Cross Creek with the main stream.
These mills were operated by himself in 1796, when
the Western Telegmphe, published on January 11th of
that year, contained the following advertisement of
his property: “I will sell sixteen hundred acres of
land with my mills, and the property on which I
live.” ., '

A store of general merchandise had been for some
time in operation at these mills at the time the above

offer of sale was announced, the proprietors announc- ,

ing the fact through‘ the following advertisement of
Oct. 25, 1795: “John Kerr & Co. have opened and
are now selling at Alexander Wells’ mills, on Cross
Creek, a neat assortment of merchandise suitable for
the season, for cash orcountry produce.”

Richard Wells was a nephew of Alexander VVells,

and his son-in-law, also, having married his daughter. 9

VVh,en Alexander Wells advertised his property in
’1796, it was purchased by Richard "Wells, mills, home-
stead, and all entire. He‘ continued the‘ business
until his death, when all the property except the mills
was inherited by his youngest daughter, who was the
wife _of Thomas Patterson. The mills were left to

Bazileel VVells, who operated them forsome time and ,

then sold them to Thomas Patterson. ‘ After conduct-

ing the business for a while, he in turn sold them to

his brother, James Patterson, who prdsecuted a very ’

successful business for a year or two, when the mill
again changed hands, David Campbell being the pur-
chaser. William Bushfield afterwards came into pos-

session of this property, and in time it was owned by I

\Villiam'Fullerton, who was a member of a family
of bachelor brothers and maiden sisters. Under this
last proprietorship the mill ceased_its functions as a
grist-mill, after nearly a hundred years of continual
service, and was remodeled into a woolen-factory. In
this businessit was run for a few years, but has now
passed into disuse.
and operation, the water by which it is driven run-
ning through the same old race used when Alexander
Wells started it. Alexander Wells died in 1813, aged

eighty-six years, and was buried on the old home- A

stead. Many of his descendants still remain in this
section.

The fort known
Alexander’ Wells’ land, a little east of the stone house

built by Richard VVells, and now occupied by Oliver '

Clemmens.

Vance’s Fort was situated one mile north of Cross
Creek, upon land later owned and occupied by Alli-
son Vance. It was at Vance’s Fort that the first

gospel sermon ever given in this township was

preached. It was in the year 1778, and Rev. James
Powers was the minister;
Torrance Powers, has since been Assistant Secretary of
the Treasury at Washington, D. C. A copper half-
penny, bearing the date 1740,was picked up not long
ago where the old Vance Fort "stood. It was at
Vance’s Fort that William Parks, a brother-in-law,
of Rev. Thomas Marques, was killed by Indians in
1782. e 1 '

vJohn»Tennel came from Maryland to Cross Creek.
township with Alexander Wells and family about
1772, and settled upon a tract of land containing six
hundred acres. Included in that property were‘ the
farms" now belonging to William C. Jackson, the
heirs’ of Hugh Thompson, and a part of those owned
by R. M. Patterson and Giles‘ and Thomas C. Law-
ton. Four hundred acres of the land Tennel located
was patented ‘to him March‘ 26, 1789, under the title
of “Prague.” In 1790 he‘-purchased more land, it
being a tract that had been patented ‘by William
Patterson. In 1796, Mr. Tennel sold four hundred
and fifty-four’ acres of his land, part of the tract
“Prague,” and the remainder made up from the
Patterson ‘tract, to Capt. John Johnston, who came
with his family from Lancaster, Pa., and settled in.

this township. Having disposed of the rest of his 3

land, Mr. Tennel removed with his large family to

. Kentucky.

-Capt. Johnston was a Revolutionary soldier who
took part in the battle of Brandywin-e. Upon the
small stream that ran through his farm he built a

mill, which was first run by water-power, but later

The saw-mill is still in existence,

as Wells’ Fort was located on

His ,great—grandson, J .’

‘ ‘years.

    CROSS CREEK TOWNSHIP.

723

steam was substituted. It is said to have been the
first steam-mill known in Washington ‘County.
Capt.’ Johnston’s family was four sons and five
daughters,'most of whom settled in Cross Creek
townshp. Rebecca, one of the daughters, died here.
in 1873, aged ninety-six years. The sons——-William,
John, Thomas, and Robert—were all very active
business men. In the year 1800, William went to
New Orleans with a flat-boat loaded with flour. On
his return by sea to New York he was attacked with
ship-fever and died. The other sons all died in this
township,-—-Thomasin 1838, John in 1850, aged
eighty—five years, and Robert in 1852, at the age of
seventy years. Old Capt. Johnston died here in
1821, at the remarkable age of one hundred and one

Samuel ohnston was a- backwoodsman of Virginia,
who came here in 1772 and made a tomahawk im-
provement. It is believed bymany that he was the
first person to invade and settle within the limits of
Cross Creek township. It was through Col. James
Marshel’s assistance that Samuel Johnston later

‘obtained the patent on his land, which is now owned

by Thomas Marshall and Robert Jeffries. In 1817,
Mr. Johnston sold it to David Martin, and removed to
\Vayne Co., Ohio, dying there soon afterwards.
Descendants of Samuel Johnston in the families of

» Cummings, Ewing, and Henwood are still living in
this vicinity. 7

The Rev. Tholmas Marques and his brother John

were among the ‘early settlers of Cross Creek town-.

ship. They were sons of Thomas and Mary (Col-
ville) Marques, who lived. in-~Opequan'Valle’y, near
\Vinchester, Va. Their father, Thomas, was a son of
\-Villiam and Margaret Marques, who emigrated from
Ireland in. 1720 and settled in Virginia. This family

are descendants of French Huguenots whofled from

France on account of religious persecutions and set-

C tied in Ireland.

John Marques, the third son of Thomas and Mary
Marques, was born June 10, .1750; married Sarah
Griffith, a daughter of Edward’ and Letitia (Black-
burn) Griflith, of Frederick County,'Va., afterwards
of V_Vashington County, Pa. John Marques was the
first of his family to emigrate west of the mountains,
settling on Cross Creek about 1774, on a tract of land
for whiclr he obtained a w-arrant Feb. 23, 1786, and
afterwards received a patent. This tract was called
“ Marquesata,” and contained four hundred and
twenty-one acres and allowance, and embraced the
farms now owned by H. C. Anderson, Robert Ander-
son, and a farm of Richard Wells called the “ Mason
Farm.” For some time, on ‘account of the Indian
raids, he was obliged to keep his family in Vance’s
Fort, while» he went back and forward to his farm.
On one of these trips, while in his cabin, he heard the
report of a rifle close at'hand, and going out he saw a
party of Indians killing his hogs. ‘On seeing him
they immediately‘ gave chase. It was a race for life,

and although the Indians were so close at the start he
could hear the sound of their footsteps as they ran in

the trail behind him, he soon distanced them" and.

succeeded in getting safely into Vance’s Fort. He
was noted among the scouts and backwoodsmen as _a
fleet runner, an accomplishment which was\a good
deal cultivated, as a man’s life not unfrequently de-
pended upon his speed. He was a man of strong and
decided character,‘and was for many years an elder
in Cross Creek Church. He died Feb. 25, 1822. He
raised a family of nine children, all of whom grew to

man and womanhood, married and raised families. .

Their names are Thomas, who married his cousin,
Nancy Marques, of Winchester, Va; Mary Marques,
married Hon. Joshua Robb, of Bellefontaine, Ohio;
John, who married Eliza Taggert; Sarah Marques,
who married John Nelson, of Bellefontaine, Ohio;
Edward; who married first, Margaret Mar‘ques,;
second, Elizabeth Newell; they lived and died near
Mount Vernon, Ohio; Robert, who married, first,
Hannah Vanordstrand, second, Mary Stevenson ;.
James, who married, first, Nancy Roberts, second,
Nancy Elliott ; they lived and died near Mount Ver-
non, Ohio; William, who married Elizabeth Adams,
lived and died near Tiflin, Ohio; Anne Marques mar-
ried Isaac Morrison; they lived in Logan County,
Ohio. . y
The only descendants of John and Sarah (Griffith)
Marques‘now, living in Washington County are the
families of James T. Marques, son of John and Eliza
(Taggart) Marques, and Rev. John S. Marques, son
of Robert and Mary (Stevenson) Marques.

Rev. Thomas Marques, the fourth son of Thomas

. and Mary (Colville) Marques,.was born in Opequan

Valley, Virginia, in 1753 ; was married March 5, 1776,
to Jane Park, and soon after they removed to Cross
Creek. He settled on a tract of land, for which he
took out a warrant Feb. 23, 17 86, and afterwards ob-
tained a patent. This tract was called “ Marrigate,”
and contained four hundred and seventeen acres and

A allowance. Thistract embraces one of the farms now

owned by Richard Wells, the farm of the Beabout

heirs, and a part of the Perrine tract. Afterwards by

deed dated Aug. 27, 1794, he purchased from Alex-
ander Wells, of Cross Creek, and Nathan Cromwell,
of Baltimore,‘a tract of five hundred acres, embracing
lands now owned by Hon. John S. Duncan, H. L.
Duncan, John Lee, part of a tract owned by Craig
Lee, called the McConnell farm, and a part of the
farm now owned by Rev. J. S. Marques. His family
were obliged to live in Vance’s Fort to escape the In-
dian incursions, and while there he was converted,
and by the advice of Revs. Smith and Dodd com-
menced to prepare himself forthe ministry. His
classical education was obtained at Canonsburg Acad-
emy, and he studied theology under the direction of
Rev. Dr. McMillan and Rev. Joseph Smith; was li-
censed to preach the gospel by the Presbytery of Red-
stone at Dunlap’s Creek, April 19, 1793. He soon

THE REVOLUTION.

85

Fife-Major.
Evans, Anthony.
(Jorporals.
Davis, \Villm.

Swan, Timothy.
Adams, Robert. ,

Drummers.
Miller, John. Whitman, John.
Fifer.
Adams, George.
Privates.

Anderson, George.
Bannon, Jeremiah.
Branon, Michael.
Brothers, Matthew.

Lacorn, John.

Martin, George.
McGlough1in, Patrick.
Merryman, Wm.

Brown, John. Miller, John.
Cain, John. Mourey, Christian.
Callahan, John. Phillips, Matthew.

Cavenaugh, Barney.
. Coleman, Joseph, died June 11,
1783. . I
Crowley, Timothy.
Dimsey, Thomas. I

Roairk, Patrick, died Sept. 2,
1783.
Robinson, Simon.
Shereden, Martin.
Shuster, Martin.

Dolphin, James. Simmonds, Henry.
Evans, Arnold, deserted June Smith, John. . .
27, 1783. Steel, Thomas.
Everall, Charles. Strephan, William. .
Fitz Gibbons, David. Stubbs, Robert.
Gibbons, David. Sutton, David.
Gollacher, John. Tea, John.
Greenland, James. Terman, Henry.
Grimes, John. Ward, Matthias. _
Hanley, Michael. Wilkinson, Willm.
Hobach, Philip, deserted June Williams, Lewis.

2d; joined June 4, 1783.
Jordon, John, discharged July

1, 1783. ‘
Kelley, Edward.
Lacey, Lawrence.

Winn, Webster.

—— (faded out), Hugh.

—— (faded out), Obediah.
Jenn FINLEY, Capt.

Immediately after the departure of the Eighth
Pennsylvania from Kittaning to join the army in
the East, a detachment of Westmoreland militia
marched.from that county for Philadelphia, as ap-
pears from the following letter,‘ addressed by John
Proctor to the Council of Safety:

“ CARLISLE, January y° 27th 1777.
“Dear Sir,——I am on my Martch with a party of
Melisha from the county of 'Westmoreland, of the
first Batallion of about 240 ; we are like to be Scarse
of Cash, and will not be able to Retch Philadelphia

with a Suplay, and hauve Dispatched the Bairor

Leut“ Coll“ Archibald Lochry to your Honourabble

"Bord, and I hope you will Send by Him the Sum

whitch you may think.Nesery.
and Hard to be got.

Vitlin is very high

“ I am Sir,
“ youre Very Humble Ser’t,
“ JOHN Pnocron.”

Directed:

“ On the Service of the United States

To the President of Council in Philadelphia.
by favour sent" Coll“ Lochry.”

No roll of this detachment has been found, nor
anything further ascertained with regard to its move-
ments or‘ services. ‘ ' '

1 Penn.-Archives, 1776-77, p. 202. .

Other than the military organizations which have
already been mentioned, viz.: the Eighth Pennsyl-
vania Regiment, the company which joined Miles’
Rifles, the Seventh and Thirteenth Virginia Battal-
ions, and the detachment of Westmoreland militia,
no other troops were raised in the Monongahela coun-
try for regular service in the Revolutionary armies,

though many were afterwards raised for the various ,

Indian campaigns and expeditions. From that time
forward to the close of the war the able-bodied men
west of the Monongahela were kept constantly on
guard, if not on actual duty, against Indian incur-
sions and massacre along the frontier; and it could

' not be expected that they would leave their families

and homes defenseless to serve in the armies operating
hundreds of miles away across the mountains.

At the beginning of the War Col. John Neville had
taken possession of Fort Pitt with a body of Virginia

militia from the Monongahela and Ohio River set- .

tlements, and held the old and dilapidated work until
superseded in the command by Brig.-Gen. Edward
Hand, an ofiicer in the "Continental establishment in
1777. During Neville’s occupancy he pursued a
peaceful policy towards the Indians, and in this
course he was supported and aided by Col. George
Morgan, congressional ‘agent of Indian aifairs in
the West, who soon afterwards became a resident on
Chartiers Creek at the place now known as Morganza,
in Washington County. By their combined efforts,
however, they failed to repress the hostility of the
tribes, except the Delawares, who then, and for a
considerable time afterwards, remained peaceable.

In 1777 several incursions were made by the In-

dians, among which was a11 attack at VVheel«ing Creek
near Fort Henry (Wheeling), which is mentioned in
the following letter from Capt. Samuel Meason to Gen.
Edward Hand,” viz. : A

“ Fonzr HENRY, June 8, 1777.

“SIR,—Yesterday, between the hours of five and
six o’clock, as a few of Capt. Van Meter’s Company
were fishing about half a mile from this fort up
Wheeling Creek, a certain Thomas McCleary and one
Lanimore, being some distance from the others, were
fired on by a party of Indians to the number of six,
seven, or eight guns, of which the several persons
near do not agree, as some say eight or upwards. Lani-
more and others gave the alarm. I went to the place
and found Tracks, but diflicult to ascertain the num-
ber of Indians. McCleary’s shoe being found which
he were when he received the wound, we presently
found him killed and s'calped. He had. run about
three hundred yards from the creek. Night coming
on by the time that we were satisfied of its being In-
dians, I proposed to set out this morning by day-
light in pursuit, and have drawn. out of Capt. Virgin’s
company eight men, so thatwe amount to thirty men

2 1bid., p. 445. ‘

7.24

HISTORY OF WASHINGTON COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA. A  

received three calls,°——from Bethel and Ebenezer, Ten-
Mile, and Cross Creek. . The call from Cross Creek
was dated Oct. 18, 1793, and was accepted on the 23d
of April, 1794. He was a natural orator, and the
tones of his voice were so musical that he was called
the “ Silver-tongued Marques.” He continued to be
pastor of Cross Creek for thirty-two years,resigning
in 1825, but continuing to preach therevuntil October,
1826. He went to visit his son-in-law, Rev. Joseph
Stevenson, at Bellefontaine, Ohio, and whilethere
was taken down with fever, and died Sept. 27, 1827,
and was buried in the cemetery at Bellefontaine.

‘ Thomas Marques, as well as his brothers and sisters,
were brought up from an early age (their father hav-
ing been killed by a limb fallinglfroma tree) under
the direction of their uncle, John Wilson, who mar-
rie(l‘their_ father’s sister. He was a school-teacher,
a Swell-educated and ‘a religious man, who looked
carefully after the instruction and training of the
children.
(Park) Marques were William, married ‘Sarah Mar-
qTues, lived and died on his father’s farm; James,
married first Anne Marques, second Margaret Me-

= Cune; Sarah Marques, married Rev. Joseph Steven-

son, of Bellefontaine, Ohio; Mary Marques, married
George Newell; Jane Marques, married Samuel Cald-
well ; Susannah Marques, married John Wilson Mar-
ques, and they afterwards lived and died in Logan
County, Ohio ; Anne Marques, married Joseph Clark,
lived and died in Logan County, Ohio; Thomas Mar-
ques, son of Rev. Thomas, died while at J efferson Col-
lege, Canonsburg; was never’ married. All of the
other children, with the exception of Anne, left descen-

-dants, some of whom still live in Washington County.
»‘_s George Marques ‘was among the early settlers on
A Cross Creek. V On Nov. 1, 1776, he boughtfrom

Thomas Bay a tract of land on Cross Creek contain-
ing two hundred and sixty acres; also Sept. 18, 1787,
he bought of John Marshall a tract of one hundred
and ninety-six acres. He was one of the first elders
in Cross Creek Presbyterian Church, and was leader
of the music. He was a cousin of John and Rev.
Thomas Marques. He afterwards sold his land and
removed to Mercer County, Pa., in which section a
number of his descendants still reside.

' Among the early settlers in what is now Cross
Creek township weremembers of the Crawford fam-
ily, whose earlier residence was in Maryland. Oliver
and Thomas Crawford were the eldest two sons’ of
Margaret Crawford, a widow, who lived at Kenick’s
Gig,‘ in that State. When these two were but lads
they were taken prisoners by Indians and carried
into captivity, where they remained till Oliver was
"twenty and Thomas eighteen years of age, when

they were brought back to their mother by an Indian

trader. Oliver married and moved out to the Monon-
gahela to the Redstone settlement, where he raised
a large family, who-with himself finally moved to

iwhat was then called “ Kayntuek.” V

The children of Rev. Thomas and Jane_

Thomas married-about the year 1770-, and in the
spring of 17 74, with his wife and two children and
his aged mother, removed to Cross Creek and settled
on the Hays farm, near the Beech Knob sehool—house.
Here he. commenced an improvement; and took up
somestwo hundred and fifty acres of land. About
the year 1778 he lost his aged mother.’ She was
buried under the old white-oak tree in the old grave-
yard at Cross Creek, and was the second" person buried
there. Soon after this he removed to another part of
his land, where Thomas Andrew now resides. Here
he lived till his death, which occurred in June, 17 83.
The land that he held at the" time off his death is still
held by his descendants. William Perry, Esq., owned
the spot where he died, his wife being a great-grand-
child. He was also the grandfather of the venerable
Thomas Marshall, of Cross Creek township, and also
of Mrs. Dr. Creigh, of Washington, Pa. ' /

VVilliam Reynolds came-into Cross Creek township
as early as 1775, and upona Virginiacertificate took
up three hundred and ninety-nine acres of land next
to lands o_f James Jackson, Samuel Patterson, and
Thomas Marques.
1785, and given the name of “ Reynoldsville.” It
was the farm now owned by William Dunbar, one
and one-half miles southwest of Cross Creek village.
It was often termed the Old Wilson farm. Mr. Rey-
nolds had built upon his land a block.-house’,-which
occupied the site of the present owner’s barn. This
fort was the refuge of the families of James Jackson,
James Colwell, Widow Mary Patterson, Ephraim
Hart, and all other neighbors near enough to avail
themselves of its protection against the Indians. In

the summer of 1779 the Indians attacked Reynolds’ _

house during his absence, carried off his wife and
child, and while on the way to their towns west of
the Ohio, being hotly pursued and attacked by Rey-
nolds and a small party of whites, they murdered
Mrs. Reynolds and the child. Reynoldsrwould never
again live on the farm, but sold to Joseph Patterson,

who afterwards became the Rev. Joseph Patterson of I

Raccoon Church-. The whites who were in this en-
counter were the Rev. Thomas Marques, John Mar-

ques, his brother, and Robert McCready. Thetwo -

latter are buried in .the old graveyard at Cross Creek.
‘ Mr. Reynolds removed to Ohio in 1801. David
Reynolds, an elder brother, whoicame to Cross Creek
township with William Reynolds-, located land on
the main branch of Cross Creek. The property is
now known as the Neil farm, and is owned, by John
F. Sharp.’ David Reynolds died in 1809, and was
buried in the Buffalo Church cemetery.

Robert Rutherford came from Virginia, and took
up large tracts of land, which are now within the
limits of Cross Creek, Smith, and Mount Pleasant
townships. The first tract was granted on pre-emp-'
tion warrant No. 29, dated June 17, 1780, which
gave him one thousand acres of land, “including an
improvement made by Henry Highland in 17.74.”

This tract was surveyed Dec. 4,‘

W: :wi\\,\\.§,//,,.\M,,a ,% 
2., , .
MN/2 /5, 6,“ ~W,

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WALTER CRAIG.

. church’ wherever they concluded to settle.

cuoss «ACREEKS l',rowusH1P..   w /I

On Dec. 23, 1779, the State of Virginia certificated: to
Robert Rutherford ‘twenty-five hundred acres of land,
situated on the southwest branch of I Raccoon Creek,
adjoining the tracts of Alexander VVells and James

Stephenson. Two-v thousand acres’ of this body of 1

land, which is in the townshipsof Cross'Creek and
Mount Pleasant,-«were sold by Rutherford to Sam-
uel and Robert Purviance, April 25,1782. They
solda portion of it to James Campbell, and now the
entire property is owned by John Campbell, Jeffer-

son Lyle, William or Martin Robb, Moses Lyle, and

the McGugan heirs. The remaining portion of Ruth-
erford’s land was in Cross‘Creek and'Smithtown-
ships. It is nowowned by W alter~C. Lee, Hugh Lee,
Allison Vance, William K. Lyle, James Buchanan,

‘ the heirs of David and Perry Cook, Col. Samuel Ma-

gill, Abraham Pry, John Johnson, William _McCurg,~
Mr.rRusse1l-, and part of the lots of Cross Creek vil-
lage; A ~ , L

Henry Graham came from Chester County, in this

‘State, and settled in Cross Creek township in 1776.
For the land on which he _made settlement he re-'
ceived a Virginia certificate in February, 1780. It

was situated on the waters of Cross ‘Creek, bounded
on two sides by the lands of Robert Rutherford, and on
the other two by James Jackson and John Marques’
property. This property of Henry Graham is -now
comprised in the farms of Rev. John S. Marques and

' . estate of Rev. John Stockton, D.D., and a part of the

site of Cross Creek ‘village. Afterwards Mr. Graham
purchased tracts of Dorsey Pentecost, land agent, of

. Samuel and Robert Purviance, of Hugh H. Bracken-
‘ridge, andof Thomas»Marques a part of the tract

patented to Alexander Wells and Nathan Cromwell,
J une6, 1780, and bounded by lands of Thomas and

. John Marques and David Henderson. ‘Mr. Graham

sold portions of his property at different times,-in-
eluding a sale of forty-two acres to James Kirk

_ (‘which was no doubtthe land upon which Graham
& Kirk had built their tannery in 1780, and which"

was -continued inoperation by various proprietors
‘until the year 1854-), and a sale to David.Williams of
three acres of land, which was divided into lots in
Cross Creek village. David Williams builtgthe first
brick house in the village. . ‘ ‘

' Henry~Graham was one of a party who emigrated
to this county together, a part of whom settled on
Pigeon,Creek, in the townships I of -Chartiers, Hope-
well, and Buffalo. On their journey over the moun-
‘tains they entered into an agreement to establish a
Mr.
Graham was very active. in the organization of the
Cross Creek Presbyterian Church, and donated the
land upon which the church edifice was erected. In
August,-1790,'he was chosen to the oflice of justice

« of the peace for Cross Creek.township, in which po-

sition he served the people faithfully andwith credit.
That portion of Cross Creek village which has been
built upon the-land’ of Henry 1 Graham was laid out

‘before his death, which occurred in; 1827. He left

but one son, John Graham, who died three years

’later.— After the death of John Graham his children

inherited all the property of their father and grand-
father. The son Joseph thus came into possession of
the homestead. ' _ -

= Thomas ‘Beattywasa-native of ~Irelan=-d,~.who emi-
grated to this country, and located first’--in Fayette
County. Later, about the year»1779,”he’? came to
Cross Creek township, and took ‘up. a th_ree-h‘u”ndred-
acre tract of land called “ Victory.” Mr. Beatty died

June 11, 1816, aged sixty-nine years‘, and his wife‘
died in 1825. The property descended to their sons-

and daughters, who all died many’ ye'ars"ago.- In

1827 Robert Simpson purchased one hundred and
forty acres of the land, which is_ non: owned‘ by James .
The remainderbelongs to Simeon and'Eli'

Simpson.
Marques. v -_
v Joseph Patterson came from. Maryland in the
autumnof 1779, and settled in this township. Mr.
Patterson was a Seceder from the north of Ireland.
In the Cross Creek Church-,~-after coming to this
township, he wasa ruling elder, and finally studied
for and entered the ministry. He eventually removed
to Robinson township, where he had pastoral charge.
of the 1’ Raccoon ~Congregational Church, Before
leaving'th'is township Rev. Mr. Patterson sold his
property here to James Jackson. Mr. Jackson and
his family r'emoved to Ashland County, Ohio, and
the farm is now owned by John F. Sharp. 0 .
John Campbell was born in York County,'Pa., and
came. to this township in 1778’ or 1779.‘ He located a
tract of one hundred and niriety-one acres, which was
called “Fumanah,” the warrant for it being dated
Sept. 3, 1785, and the patent granted April 4,‘ 1787.

His family numbered six son-s and three daughters.»

Of thesons, John, William, and James went to Bel-
mont County, Ohio. ‘ The other sons, David, Charles,
and George,«all-remained in Cross Creek, and some of
their descendants still own and occupy a part of the
old homestead farm. The daughter Grace became the
wife of Maj. Benjamin Bay, and theyremoved to Ohio
in 1812. Elizabeth Campbell married \Villiam Rea, a

' son» of Squire William Rea, and they resideon the Rea-

homestead. - Mary, the third daughter of John Camp-
bell, married William Fulton, and they are still living

in Mount Pleasant-township. -George Campbell, J r.', ‘

a son of 1 George a.nd»grandso_n of J olan Campbell,,lives
at Midway, in Robinson township. .John Campbell
died in 1813, and was buried in Cross Creek Cemetery.
William M. Campbell, son of Charles and grandson
of John Campbell, is a descendant, andoccupies ‘a
part of the old homestead. » ' ’
Joseph Reed wasa native of Ireland, who emigrated
to America prior to 17 63,‘ settling first in Lancaster
County, having married Miss Jeannette Brotherton.

Rev. Joseph Smith was at that time also residing in '

York County. In 1779 Rev. Mr.‘Smitl1 received a

call to take-“charge- of the Upperl.Bufi7alo and Cross



’7*.‘36

HISTORY OF WASHINGTON ‘COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA.

Creek congregations in this-vicinity, which he ac-

- cepted, and Joseph Reed was employed to convey the
clergyman and his family to their- newliome in this

county. ’ Mr. Reed did not come himself, but sent his
son-in-law, also named Joseph Reed, to drivethe team.
In return for these servicesthe congregations who ex-
tended the call purchased for Mr.fReed a tract of land
in Cross Creek township, called “ Pensacola,” con-
taining onc hundred and ninety acres and seventy-five
perches, with six per cent. allowance for roads. J o-
seph Reed did not remove to this county, but in

addition to the “Pensacola” tract he bought three,

hundred and sixty-nine acres of land_ in, Cross

Creel: township, about one mile east of the first tract .

granted him. He served as colonel in the earlier part
of the Revolutionary war, and was appointed quarter-
master. In 1784 he was a member of the Pennsyl-
vania State Legislature. He died«in 1804 at his home
in»Yorl{ County. By his will the tract of three hun-
dred and sixty—nine acres of land which he purchased
in this township was divided into two parcels; one,
comprising the east half of the tract, and containing
two hundredand ten acres, was bequeathed to James
Reed, his eldest son, who had occupied the property
prior to this time. Theother parcel of one hundred
and fifty-nine acres was divided into three equal parts.
The first one-third was left to his daughter Agnes and
her husband, Joseph Reed.- The second one-third
was given to the daughter Margaret and -her husband,
James ‘McNary, and is now the property of ‘Robert
W,’-ithrow and his wife, Rhoda, who is a granddaughter
of Joseph Reed. The last portion wasgiven by Jo-
seph Reed to his daughter Esther‘, who was the wife
of ‘Evan Turk. They never occupied their inherit-
ance, but sold it to James McNary.

. Joseph Reed, the son-in-law of Joseph Reed, who
brought Rev. Joseph Smith to this township in 1779,
returned here in 1790 and settled upon the farm‘ now
owned by John C. Rea. After living there a number
of years he r'emov.ed'to the present property of VVil-
liam J - Patterson, residing upon that until his death.
Following this event was the removal of his family
to Armstrong County, in this State, where some of
his childre_n still live. James Reed, the eldest son of

7 Joseph Reed, inherited, as stated, the larger portion of
~ his father’s last land purchase in this township. He

had several sons ‘and daughters, who came into posses-
sion of his property at his death. Mary, one of the
daughters, became the wife of Joseph Lyle, of Mount
Pleasant township, which is now their home. Joseph,
one of the sons, married Miss Beatty and went to
Richland County, Ohio. William married Rosanna
Lyle, a daughter.of Aaron Lyle, of Cross Creek town-
ship. "The sons" James and John‘ remained on the
farm together for a. number of years, when they di-
vided it and each sold his share. Thomas Marshall

- urchased and now occu ies James’ ortion and John
P P P ,

disposed of his to Alexander B. Reed, removing. to
Hardin County, Ky., where he still lives.

Nicholas Reed was another of the sons of Joseph
Reed, whose home was in York County. After his
father. came into possession of the tract “ Pensacola,”
he married Elizabeth Fulton and came to Cross Creek
and settled upon it. His cabin stood. upon the site
of the present residence of J. C. Reed,-and remained
until the year 1867, when William Reed, a son of
Nicholas and father of J. C. Reed, replaced it with
the present dwelling-house.
1854, leaving seven sons andtwo daughters,—Joseph,
James, William,Hugh, Samuel, John, Robert, Jane,
and Eliza. James went to Huron County, Ohio, where
he died at an early age, and Joseph settled in Richland
County of the same State. William was a cabinet-
maker, married Isabella Curry, daughter of Robert
Curry, Sr., and settled in this township. In 1838 the
removed to the farm ‘of his father, Nicholas Reed, but

two years later went into Allegheny County. He-re- '

mained there until 1845, and then came back upon
the homestead. At the death of his father in 1854
he bought the interests of the other heirs and became
sole owner of “ Pensacola.”-
hundred and three acres of the tract to his son, James
M. K. Reed, who yet occupies the property. The rest
of the realestate, including the homestead lot, was
left by \-Villiam Reed at his death to his other son,
John C. Reed, who now resides upon it.

James Patterson was the first member of -that

family who settled in this country, having come to
America in 1728.‘
1733, and in 1758 married Rosanna’Scott-, of Cecil
County,'Md., by‘ whom he had four sons and one
daughter. , His wife died April 5, 1769, and he was
married alsecond time to Elizabeth Brown, April 10,
1770, a family of ten children being born. to this last
marriage.~ In the spring of 1778, William Patterson,
with two or three of his sons, came into Cross Creek
township and settled upon a tract of land containing
three hundred and fifty acres. Before coming here

William Patterson and two of his ‘sons had seen some- '

thing‘ of military life, having been engaged in one or
two campaigns in the Revolutionary war. During
the summer following their advent into this township
the Pattersons built a house, cleared some ground,
and put in what crops they could, and in the fall all,
except‘ the son Thomas, returned to the old home to
bring out the rest of the family. During their ab-
sence Thomas boarded With the widow, Mrs. Mary

Patterson, whose land adjoined that of his father. ‘

William Patterson returned with his entire family to
Cross Creek township, and continued to live upon the
land he had located until his death, which occurred
in 1818 at the age of more than eighty ‘years.
Thomas Patterson, son of William Patterson, was
born Oct. 1, 1764: In 1794 hepurchased land of his
father, upon which he built a grist- and flouring-mill,
the mill being situated upon the north branch of
Cross Creek. . At the same time‘ he bought the prop-
erty ‘of the widow Mary Patterson (that upon which

Nicholas Reed died in '

In 1859 -he deeded one -

His son VVilliam was born in.

hub. "in...

V\.

,\ ll .,
.._\

CROSS CREEK TOWNSHIP.

7327

John Boyce now lives), and not long after enlarged
his estate by purchases from the VVells tracts; Oct.
6, 1795, he married Elizabeth Findley, a daughter of
Hon. William Findley, of VVestmoreland County,
Pa. _He had built a log. house upon his land, in a
part of which he kept a general store, but after his
marriage the stock was removed to his mill, which
was then in operation. In this log, house Thomas
and Elizabeth Patterson lived, and here their eleven
children—-—eight sons and three d_aughters——were born.
Mr. -Patterson was very active in all church affairs,

being an elder in one of the Cross Creek churches for

many years. He also held all the commissions of
militia rank to that of major-general, and during the
last war with Great Britain organized and led_a force-

- into Ohio to repel a supposed British invasion.

He was a member of Congress from 1817 to 1825,

being elected during the administration of James.

Monroe, and was a member of the Electoral College
in. 1816. Gen. Patterson died. of‘ apoplexy-Nov. 17,
1841, aged seventy-seven years. His sonswerer VVil-
liam, James, Samuel, John, Thomas, F‘indley,«*Moses,’
and David Patterson. The daughters were Mary,
Elizabeth, and Rosanna Patterson. William, the
oldest son of Gen. Thomas, Patterson, was born Sept.

I 25, 1796. Upon him gradually devolved the manage-

ment of his father’s extensive business interests. 1 His

, wife. was Margaret, a daughter of Hon. Carson Lyle,

of Cross Creek township. His first experience in
business was the management of the farm and flour-
ing-mills, which his father intrusted to him_-at a very

early age, in consequence of his absence at Congress. 0

This was no small responsibility for a youth, as the
business was conducted on a large scale, much larger
than that of any other in the region at.‘ that time. In
1812, on account of the demand for woolen goods
created by the war with Great Britain, his father
erected a fulling-mill. Over this'William was placed
after he had acquired a thorough knowledge of the
business, under the instruction of a competent fuller
named’ Jonathan McCombs. Aside from’ his indus-
trial habits, he was somewhat distinguished as an
oflicer in the militia, which was then quiteprominent
in the public esteem. A company was raised and
commanded by him, belonging to a battalion then
called the “Union Volunteer Battalion,” organized
in accordance with the State law of that period. He
also occupied a position on the staff of the brigadier-
general of militia with the-rank of major. ‘Having
become well known to the people, he was chosen to
represent them in the popularbranch of the State
Legislature in the year 1828, being re-elected for four
terms, during the last of which (1834) he‘ served as
Speaker of the House. His deep interest in educa-
tional matters made him a warm advocate of the pub-
lic school law,‘-and largely instrumental in having it
put into practical operation in his own county. At
his instance, and much at his expense, an elegant
school building, looked upon for many years as a

"model, was erected a few rods from his residence. Serv-

ing along period as a director, he used his influence to
secure such a high grade of teachers as rendered the
new system a success in his own neighborhood, equal
if not beyond that ‘of any other in the county. Dur-
ing his legislative service, on the application of the

l.Rev. Matthew Brown, D.D.,‘ president of Jefferson

College, for an appropriation from the State, he suc-
ceeded in securing the handsome sum of $8000, which
was used in the erection of a new college building.
After the death ‘of his father he came into posses-
sion of the farm and mill property, on account of
which he was very closely occupied in the manage-
ment of his own private business. Yet he continued
tomanifest a deep interest in public affairs. In 1844
he was chosen a member’ of the Electoral College.
This was his last appearance in public life. Retiring
from active. business in 1859, he spent his declining

years in well-earned repose in the family of his eldest A

son, with the companion of his youth, to whom he

had been united in marriage sixty years on the 29th . ‘

of April preceding--his death. \i 1
Of the other sons of Gen. Thomas Patterson, James,
the second, was both a merchant and farmer at Pat'-
terson’_s Mills. He died in 1.860, and his son, Thomas,
J r., inherited his property. Samuel Patterson, the

5 third son, was also a farmer, and settled on the farm
‘now owned-by his son, Robert M. Patterson, which is
. a portion of the original Capt. William Patterson

tract. Samuel ‘Patterson made a specialty of sheep-
raising and wool-growing, and was much interested
and very successful in improving the quality of his
wool.
ginia, whither he removed with
there. .

John, fourth son of Gen. Thomas Patterson, re-
moved from Cross Creek township to Armstrong
County, in this State-. He served one term in the State
Legislature from that section. _

Thomas Patterson, the fifth son, married a daughter
of Richard Wells, and settled upon a portion of the
old Alexander Wells homestead. Later he removed
to Illinois, and thence to Nebraska. .

Findley Patterson, who was the sixth son of Gen.
Thomas,Patterson, married a sister of Hon. John A.
Bingham. He was the one selected from among the
heirs to go to Armstrong County, Pa'., to survey the
large landed estate of his grandfather, Hon. William
Findley. In Armstrong County he became an exten-
sive mill-owner, and also filled many important oflices.
He served three successive terms in the State Senate ;
also served in the Lower House of the Legislature, and
was twice elected Speaker; was appointed revenue
commissionernin 1843. In 1850 he went overland to
California, and spent a year there successfully. In
1857 he was appointed by the President receiver in
the land-office in Kansas, and held the position four

his family and died

years. ‘Having’ returned to \Vashington County, he

was, in the fall of 1.878, elected a representative in the

In 1846 he purchased a farm in Eastern Vir- ‘

Hisronv or WASHINGTON COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA.

State- Legislature from this county, and while there
wlasanactive member-of several important commit-
tees." In whatever public ‘or private business Mr:
Findley Patterson has ever been engaged, he has
always proved himself most thorough and-eflicient in
its management. - - 1

'i‘Josiah Patterson, born Nov. 10_, 1783, in Cross
Creek township, was a son 0-f William Patterson by
his second marriage. -April 13, 1809, he married Ann
Templeton, and they had a family of ten children,-—
John, William, Thomas, Joseph, Nathan, Elizabeth,

Ann, David,\Es.ther,‘ and Rachel. Josiah Patterson  

was a farmer in this township, and died upon his
liomesteadin February, 1843, aged sixty years. 7 His
sons J oseph-and Nathan still reside in this township,
the latter upon his ‘father’s farm, and’ William and
Elizabeth (Mrs. Smiley) are-_' residents of ’Mount
Pleasant township. ‘ ~ V __ i * V ‘ 

Nathan Patterson was also a son of William Pat-
terson’s second’ marriage. "He was born Sept. ~11,
1788, and’ Oct. 14,. 1816,“ married Lydia Houston.
They settled in Cross Creek township. Their chil-
dren were Daniel, VVilliam, John, Nathan, and Mary
Patterson. Thefather, Nathan Patterson, Sr., died

in"; February, 1846, at fifty-eight years -of age. The
son, W illiam, Patterson, isnow living at Patterson’s ,
Mi«lls,«in this township. Daniel and Mary, who mar-_

ried Mr. Atchison, "removed to Iowa, and John and

\ Nathan,,who lived in Cross Creek township, died,

leaving no descendants. M-rs. Hanna.h Vance was a
dang-hterof Capt. William Patterson by his second
wife, Elizabeth Brown. She was born May 22, 1786,
at the old Patterson homestead, near Patterson’s

'Mills.~ ”Mrs. Vanceewas the youngest of the Patter-I

son family who emigrated to Cross Creek, and when
she died, in"-May, 1879, she still retained her mental
faculties in full... ‘She was buried in Cross Creek
Cemetery. - Her husband, Hon. William, Vance, was
county in 1816 and 1817. 7 - we I
A Of VVilliam Patterson’s first family of ‘children,
John settled 7-in Belmont, Ohio, from which place he
was elected" to-Congress in 1822; Samuel, another

a representative in the’ State Legislature from this ’

"son, was killed -"by the Indiansin 1.787, while he was

boa-tingflour on the _Wabash« River -to Vincennes,
‘ Col.'JamesMarshel‘ was a re'"sid'e‘nt of Cross Creek
townshipas early as 1778. 9 On D’ec'emberr26th of that

year he purchased of Jacob Frederick “_a-tract’ of

land situated on the head-waters of Cross Creek, in
the—Vcounti=es 'of"Yohogania and Ohio," and State of
Virginia,” ‘said tract containing four hundred acres
‘with allowance, the 'consideration being £419
133. 9d. ' '“Marshel~‘Hal1’»’ was~°the narinevgiven to a

- tract-of: four hundred and thirty-two‘ acres which was

war-rant‘ed?1an'd ‘surveyed’ to Col.‘ Marshel in 1”785,-ad-

 '1 Col James Marshel and hi-elslon  always spelled their surnaxiie

in this peculiar way-—Mai'shet.:.i The cousins of Col. Marshel; thbulghof

«’t‘he4same~'famiiy;~spel-lcdjiheirrrameintheusual’wiry-‘-li1ai'sliaii1l. ; ~ I

' several years.

joining the lands of Thomas McKibbin, Robert, John,
and Thomas Marshall, and Samuel Johnston. The
middle branch of Cross Creek runs through this place.
“ Mecklenburg” must have been Col. Marshel’s -next
land purchase. * This tract he secured from Francis
McKinne, to whom it was warranted Feb. 13, 1786,
and afterwards surveyed. as containing four hundred-
and one acres, located next‘ other. lands of James
Marshe1»and“those of David Vance and'John Camp-
bell. “The Point” was a tract of -three hundred and
fifty-eight acres which Col. AMarshel warranted in
March, 1786, and then deeded part of -it to Mr. John-
ston, who lived upon it. ,On‘ April 20,-1781,*the7
Supreme Executive Ceuncilof the "State of Pennsyl-‘A
vania appointed Col. James Marshel county lieu‘-

tenant of Washington’ County. Hewas also recorder ~

of deeds and register of wills for Washington County,
from 1781 to’ 1784, and from91791'to'1795.' He was

4 also sheriff‘ of the county from 1784 to~1‘787.' {During-

the years of his oflicial life, Col. Marshel resided the
prin-cip,al"part of the-time at the’county—seat, where
his public duties required his constant attention. He

was a prominent actor in the events of -the \Vhiskey7

Insurrection of :1-7 94, as elsewherementioned. Soon
after the close of the insurrection’ (in September,
1795) he advertised thirteen hundred acres .of pat-
ented eandeimproved lands on Cross Creek for sale.
This must have been preparatory =tohis’ removing
from Cross Creek township to Brooke County, Va.,
which he did at about that time. s Col. Marshel’s wife
was his cousin, a sister of Robert and John Marshall.
Their son, John Marshel,~’was elected sheriffof V_Vash-'

ington County in 1835, served one year, and then re- 5

signed to accept the position of cashier of -the Frank-
lin Bank, in Washington, Pa., where he remained
‘Col.--James Marshel died at his home
in Brooke County, Va.,' in 11829} “Marshel *Hal1,”
his home in this -township, is now owned by Thomas
and Thomas B. McCork1e.~ ” » . T‘ A ' - 9

‘ Col. John and Robert Marshall ’ (-half—brothe'rs)'
were cousins of Col.— James Marshel.‘ They came
here together in 1779 from ‘Lancaster’ County, and

both purchased land of Col. J am>esMarsh-el.» Robert’
Marshel continuedto live upon’ his purchase-in Cross V

Creek township ‘until his death, which occur_red in

» 1833, at _sev-enty-three -years of age. His*wife sur-

vived» him until 1858, and died at the ageiof eighty-
nine years. Their onlydaughter, Esther Marshel, is
livinginear? Mount Prospect,Church, -in Mount -Pleads-}
ant township, and the-old farms is'~.now'ow‘ned by
Robert J effries, and occupied by Refbert Jeff'ri'es, Jr. ~

Col. James Marshel was a captain in the R-evolu-

tionary» war, .and was wounded at the battles of I

Brandywine, Sept. 11, 1777,.» He was -aft"erwards
colonel in the Washington County I-n_i1itia.g In Au-
gus_t,-~ 1781, he was apepointed a justice of the peace
for Hopewell ‘township’, which at_that time embraced

the wholeof the territory Tnow Cross Creek township} =
In 1802-5.hie-'w-as a member: of 1 the House of Repre‘-4"

’by his_ son, Arnold Lawton, Jr.

        CREEK T0\vr~fsI1I1é. 

i.729

senitatives  the Pennsylvania Legislature.‘ In 1820,

Col. Marshel sold the two-hundred-acre tract which

he had purchased of Col. James Marshel to Walterl

Craig, and removed to Crawford‘ County, Ohio, where
he: died "soon after. This land was adjoining the
“Pensacola” tract of ‘Jose‘ph‘Reed., Mr. Craig re-
sided upon it but a few years, when he sold it and
removed to Cross Creek village, It is now in the
possession of David E. McNary. _ . t

- Thomas and William Marshall were brothers, and
natives of Ireland, who came into-this section at least

as early as 1779. Thomas Marshall located upon the ‘H

land now owned by R. T. Johnso.n,rupon which he
had a distillery in operation in 1784. He wasan
elder in Cross Creek Church. In 1800 he sold his

' property in this township to C01. James Marshel, and

removed to Smith township, in this county. In 1827

"he again sold out, going to,Ohio, where he died in

1839, at the age of ninety-six years. The property
which Thomas Marshall owned in Cross Creek town-

ship was warranted to him March 31, 1786, and sur-

veyed Oct.24, 1787._ The tract contained four‘ hun-
dred and five acres, was called “Buck Forest,” and
wasvbounded bythe lands of William Reynolds, John
Marshall, John Tennel, and Thomas Marques. . .
William Marshall, who came‘ out with his brother
Thomas in 1779, settled upon the farm now occupied
by»David Gault. Mr. Marshall had left his family in

I Ireland, and in 1783, having sent for them, started for

Philadelphia to meet them. They had arrived earlier
than he expected them, and had journeyed from Phil-
adelphia to Chartiers township, in this county, where
the husband and father found them at the home of
Andrew Russell. Mr. Marshall sold his property here

‘ in 1817,‘ and with all his family except the son Wil-

liam removed to the State of Ohio. \Villiam Mar-

’ shall, the son just mentioned, married Ann Crawford,

a daughter of Thomas Crawford, and through the in-
heritance of his wife came- into possession of a por-
tion of the Hugh Stephenson land. The property is
now occupied by some of their descendants, and Wil-
liam Perry, S. L. and Matthew McCollough. Mr. Mar-
shall died in 1860, aged"ninety-three years,'and his
wife survived h_im but a month, dying at the age of
ninety years. Their son, Thomas Marshall, is still
living in this township, and is now eighty-two years

old. ’

Thomas Bay was a resident of Cross -Creek town-
ship before the year‘ 1780, living upon the five-hun-

.dred-acre tract of land which he located here. It

was the_ farm adjoining that of Squire Rea, and
which is now owned by Arnold Lawton,‘and occupied

home was a stron'g house, into which all the imme-

diate neighbors. gathered when alarmed by the In-

dians. In 1780 he furnished supplies for the gov-

ernment, as shown by the minutes of the Supreme
,Executive.. Council of the State of Pen‘nsyl,vania.

Besides his prbperty in this tow_ns,hip,_iMr.yBayalso

Mr. Bay’s early .

located tonwvnsliiipy.  1812,iwhen»he 0

removed to Ohio,~he sold the Cross Creek property to
Daniel; Huston, who lived upon it until »his»de_ath in
1829. The” land in Smith iptowhnship V was sold to

James -Stephenson, and is now the property of John ,
— B. and James Hayes. Mr. -Bay was a--man of much

note and influence, and his removal to -Ohio was

‘greatly regretted by his townsmen. His large fam-'

ily’ of sons and daughters accompanied him.

Jacob Buxton came to what is now Cross Creek‘

township in 1880. He was an Englishman by birth.

‘He located first in Fayette County," and from there

attempted to go down the river to Kentucky, but his
boat was snagged near Georgetown, and all his
goods were lost. V He then gave up the idea, and in
the spring of 1780 bought the farm in this township
where Samuel K. VVhite at present resides. ‘ It was
sold to Buxton by Joseph Armstrong, of Ohio County,

.Va., for £85, “ paid in grain.” The sale-was of “ three
hundred, acres of land and implements,” dated Jan.

29,1780. «

Jacob Buxton resided upon the place until his '

death in 1836, when he had reached the age of
eighty—six years. His wife died in 1842, forty-two
years of age. Before Mr. Buxton’s death he gave
his son, Aaron Buxton, one hundred acres of the
original farm. He died in 1861, and his-son, Richard
F. Buxton, owns and lives upon it. The remaining
portion of the old farm was sold in 1836 to Col.
James Lee, who, in 1844, disposed of it to William

.White, and his son, Samuel "White, is the present

owner. _ V ..
William Scott received in 1780 a Virginia_certifi-

'cate for “Bowling Green,” a tract of land in this

township, containing three hundred and eighty-one
acres, next the lands of Alexander Wells and ,Alex,-

,ander Nesbitt. April 3, 1787, he sold the property

to VVilliam Cuttreaugh. In the conveyance‘ it was
described as situated on.Cross Creek, and “including

the settlement of the said William Scott, made by . '
.John Doddridge, for which the said V_Villia_m Scott
-‘obtained .a certificate of settlement right from the

commissioners‘ of the State of Virginia.” In De-
cember, 1781, Mr. Scott was appointed agent of for-
feited estates for the county of Washington.

Joseph Scott was a brother of William Scott, and A H

came into the township at the same time. Sometime
before 1788 Joseph took up or purchased three hun-
dred and fifty acres of land, which he.resided upon
until his death in 1825. What further lan-d'invest-
ments he made is notvknown, but the assessment-rolls
of 1791'show him to have been‘ assessed that year
upon four liundred »a_cre«s‘._ In 1781 he was a justice
of the peace in this township, and in 1791~a millwas
in operation upon his farm. Descendants of Joseph
Scott still reside in_this' township, but his origi-
nal land property is owned by John and Harvey
Lawton. « _ 9  V , A
Robert _Curry was a native of ,Scotland, who emi-

86

HISTORY OF WASHINGTON COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA.

well equipt, and do cross the river at this place, as
they seemed by their Tracks to bend their direction
down the river, and purpose to pursue them to the
last extremity and hazard. I sett off at eight this
morning, and flatter myself that you will not disap-
prove our Proceeding but call on me if any occasion
should require, and as I may not return to the ensuing
council at‘ Catfish, I take this opportunity to return
your Honour the strength of my company, which
consists of fifty men, of which forty-five are in good
order and furnished for going on any emergency and
expedition that may be necessary.”

From this letter it appears probable that at that
time the fort was garrisoned by men from the vicinity
of the Monongahela,-—-the company of Capt. Brice
Virgin, who resided near the present borough of

Washington, and that of Capt. Van Meter, from what ’

is now Greene County. At about the same time that
the above-mentioned attack was made at Wheeling
Creek, a small party of Indians was prowling on the
head-waters of Buffalo Creek, but they committed no
murders in the vicinity at that time.

On the 1st of September a force of two hundred
and ten Indians laid siege to Fort Henry, but failed
to capture the place. They withdrew across the Ohio
with but trifling loss to themselves, after having killed
fifteen, and wounded five more of the whites. On the
27th of the same month a Wyandot party of forty
warriors attacked a body of forty-six white men eight
miles below Wheeling on the Virginia side of the
Ohio. In this action twenty-one of the white men
were killed, a considerable number wounded, and one
taken prisoner by the savages. This last-named at-
tack had the effect to create a general panic through
all the country from the Ohio to the Monongahela.

In the spring of 1778 the hostility of the Indians
became far more active, the result of the instigations
of the British on the lake frontier, and still more by
Simon Girty and other white renegades who had de-
serted from Fort Pitt and gone to the Indians to in-
cite them on in their work of massacre and devasta-
tion. In January of that year Gen. George Rogers
Clarke, a Virginia officer, whose career in the Dun-
more war of 1774 has already been noticed, raised
about one hundred and fifty Virginians, chiefly on the
upper Monongahela, for a campaign against the Brit-
ish posts in the far West. He embarked this force in
boats built and launched on the Monongahela at and
near the site of West -Brownsville} Passing down

1 Another expedition that started from the same vicinity in that year
was that of David Rogers, who had been authorized by the Virginia

government to purchase supplies in New Orleans. He, like Clarke, built’

keel-boats, and in these, with about thirty men, went down the Monon-
gahela ‘in June. On arriving at New Orleans he found that he must
go up the river to St. Louis to receive his goods. This he did, but more
than a year wasconsumed in the voyage, and when on his way back, up
the Ohio, in October, 1779, theilndians attacked his party, killed nearly
all (including Rogers), took. the.rest..prisoners, and captured the entire
cargoes of goods, consisting of provisions, clothing, rum, and other arti-
cles, besides a considerable amount of silver money. '

' ported to be there.

the Monongahela and Ohio in May, he received rein-
forcements at points below on the Ohio, proceeded
to the lower river, disembarked his forces, and march-
ing thence through a wilderness country partly sub-

_merged in many places, effected the reduction and

capture of Vincennes, Kaskaskia, and other British
posts ‘west of the Wabash, achieving a success that
at once made his name famous.

In February, 1778, Oren. Hand made an expedition
into the Indian country west of the Ohio, the first
which entered that region in any considerable force
in the Revolution. About five hundred men marched
from Fort Pitt and proceeded to the Cuyahoga River
for the purpose of destroying some British stores re-
The result of this movement was
one Indian warrior and one squaw killed, and one
squaw taken prisoner; and of the white troops,one
captain wounded and one man drowned. From the

insignificance of its achievements this was called in

derision the “ Squaw Campaign.” ,

In May, 1778, Gen. Hand was succeeded in the
command of the Western Department by another
Continental oflicer, Brig.—Gen. Lachlin McIntosh, who
brought with him a small force from the regular Con-
tinental line. In the mean time Pennsylvania and
Virginia had become aroused to the danger menacing
their western frontiers, and had taken measures to
raise a force for their protection. The Congress too
had become aware of the increased hostility of the
Indians and its cause, and had awakened to the press-

ing necessity of more active measures for the protec-

tion of the almost defenseless borders. This resulted
in the determination to send an expedition for the re-
duction of the British post of Detroit, as the surest
means of overawing the savages and‘ so insuring the
safety of the frontier. —

Orders were therefore issued to Gen. McIntosh to
organize the proposed expedition and march against
Detroit. In obedience to these orders he moved
down the Ohio River with his little force of Conti-
nentals, a battalion of Virginians, and several com-
panies of Pennsylvanians (raised by the State for the
emergency as before mentioned), and halting at the
mouth of Beaver, the site of the present town’ of that
name, erected there a small fort, which was named Fort
McIntosh. This, the first military work ever erected
by the United States on the Indian side of the Ohio,
was a stockade, but bastioned, and on each bastion

was mounted a six-pounder gun. It was scarcely more ‘

than -worthless as against even light artillery, but
for the purpose for which it was built was considered
formidable.

By the time Fort McIntosh was completed it was
found that the proposed expedition against Detroit
would be too expensive an undertaking for the slen-
der resources of the Congress,
abandoned. Gen. McIntosh, having received orders
to proceed instead at his discretion against some of the
Indian settlements, and having decided onan expedi-

It was therefore.

730

HISTORY or WASHINGTON COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA.

grated to America in 1782. On his voyage’ across

the ocean hehad for a fellow-passenger Miss Isabella
McK-enzie, who had left the Highlands of -Scotland
to find another home across the sea. From strangers

they became acquaintances, and upon their‘ arrival.

in this country were married. They came at once. to
the Monongahela country, and lived for a time at
Fort Pitt. Mr. Currywas a cooper. Thinking to‘

_ improve the prospects of himself and family, they

removed in 1790 to Wheeling, Va., settling near the
fort then located there. Eventually they removed to

, Cross Creek village, wllere they lived many years,
 he dying June 25, 1838, aged ‘eighty-four years, and
she living until March 28, 1856, when she died at the

great age of ninety-eight years. Their children were
eight daughters and four sons. Robert Curry lived
near Hanlan’s Station, in Hanovertownship, where
he died in 1866. The daughter Nancy became Mrs.
David Caldwell, and lived in Mount Pleasant town-

ship. John Curry married and lived and died near

Claysville. iArchibald. was a bachelor. He and
Robert were ill the army at Black Rock, N. Y., in
1814. These three brothers, John, Robert, and Archi-

. bald Curry, made several trips to New Orleans‘ in

flat-boats; on one occasion Archibald walking the
entire distance home. - Another anda fourth son of
Robert Curry, Sr., was at one time ‘deputy State

superintendent of public instruction of Pennsyl-
«Vania. In 1876 he was appointed superintendent of

the State Normal School in Nebraska, an important

v-posit;-ion that he still holds". Two of the eigllt daugh-

ters of Robert Curry, Sr., are also still living,--—-Mrs.
Sarah 0. Stevenson, of - Smith township, and Mrs.

8 VV«illiam Van Ostrand, of Cross Creek village.

David and Robert McComb were brothers,-who
emigrated from’ their home in Scotland to America,
and both took part in tlle*Revolutionary war. They
came into this township as soon as they left the ser-
vice, and their father,» Robert McCornb, Sr., wllo came
with them, purchased four_ hundred acres of land,
which he divided equally, giving each son two, hun-
dred acres. Robert McComb, Sr., died in 1794, in

Cross Creek town-ship. Robert McComb, Jr., lived
‘upon the farm his father gave him until his death in

1827. About the year 1795 he built a fulling-mill on
Cross Creek, upon the site of which the Wilson grist-

nlill now stands. The Western, Telegraphe of May 6.’
- 1796, contains his advertisement- announcing that he

had» “ erected a fulling-mill on Cross Creek, one mile
from James Monsey’s mill.” His farm is now owned

-bythe heirs of John, Manson. I-David McComb also
spent his days upon the property his father purchased
 for him, dying there in 1837 at the age of seventy-

eight years. A  ,
Andrew Ritchie, who was aiRevolutionary soldier,
came to this township just after the close of the war

and settled on Muller’s Run. -~ In 1796 he bought a

farm of Ephraim Hart, the ore that has since been

Vknown-as the Ritchie fa-rm. 4 He had a son James,‘

' ship for several years.

who lived uponthe farm with his parents. He died
in 1834, at forty-five years of age. The wife of An-
drew Ritchie and mother of James died in the same
year, aged seventy-nine years, and Mr. Ritchie’s death
occurred four years later, when he was «eighty-five
years old. Andrew S. Ritchie, clerk in the First
National Bank in Washington borough, is a son of
James and grandson of Andrew Ritchie.

Aaron Lyle was a native of Northampton, Mass.,
and came into Washington County in the fall of 1784.
He settled and always lived ona tract of land, the
farm now owned and occupied by William Rankin,
J r. In 1790 he purchased one hundred and fifty
acres of land, which was added to the farm he already
owned. Aaron Lyle was a Revolutionary soldier, and
when he participated in the battle of Long Island,

N. Y., which took place Aug. 27, 1776, he was but_

sixteen years of age. He was a member of the House
of Representatives in the Pennsylvania State Legis-
lature fl’-om 1798 to 1801 ; and again in 1805. In 1808
he was elected to Congress, and continued to represent
this’ district there until 1816. In 1807, before his
election to Congress, he served as county commis-
sioner in Washington County. Mr. Lyle died in 1825,
aged sixty-six years. His children were three sons
and four daughters,-—-Moses, James, Robert, Mary,
Ellen, Margaret, and J alle. Ellen died very young;
James died in Smith township in 1806; and Moses,
who lived on the homestead, died’ in 1840. After his
death the home farm was sold ‘in 1846, and now be-
longs to Da'vidGault. ‘Moses Lyle was elected to the
office of county commissioner in-1817. Robert Lyle
was a physician, and practiced in CrossCreek town-
He finally removed to,Steu-
benville, and from there went West. The daughter
Mary became the wife of John Campbell, and "went
to a Western State, and Margaret, who married Hon.
William Patterson, is still living at Patterson’s Mills,
in this township. Jane Lyle beca.me the wife of Samuel
Ewing, the son of Thomas Ewing, of North Strabane
township, in Washington County. Hon. Thomas
Ewing, of Pittsburgh, is a son of Samuel and Jane
Ewing. ‘

Thomas Ewing came froln the north of Ireland to '
. this country, and settled first, as stated, in North Stra-

bane township in 1794. On April 10, 1815, he pur-
chased sixty acres of land of Samuel Johnston in

Cross Creek township. This was a part of the tract, I

“The Point,” which was warranted and patented
April 18, 1788,-to /Col. James Marshel in trustfor
Samuel ‘Johnston, and which Col. Marshel deeded to

‘Mr. Johnston Dec. 13, 1793. Thomas Ewing’s wife

was"‘Miss Esther McNary, and theirson ‘Samuel mar-
ried Miss Jane Lyle, as mentioned in the history of
the Lyle family. Hon. Thomas Ewing, of Pittsburgh,
son of Samuel, and grandson of Thomas Ewing, Sr.,
isjudge of one of the courts in that city.

I . Several persons of the name Stevenson, or Stephen-

dson, as-it is often spelled, have lived and owinecl prop-

cnoss CREEK TOWNSHIP.  

erty  Cross Creek township, but nothing is found to

indicate any relationship between them. Col. Hugh

Stevenson was granted, July 5, 1774, one thousand
acres of land on a, military warrant. One hundred
and four acres of this tract, situated on the waters of
Cross Creek, is now owned by S. L. McCullough.
James Stevenson received two certificates, granting
him seven hundred and seventy-seven acres of land
in this section, adjoining two of the Robert Ruther-

.. ford tracts. This land was surveyed to James Steven-
' son, June 28, 1790, and is now occupied by William

and Robert Stevenson and other Stevenson heirs. It
has remained in the family from the first.
The records show that in 1791, John Stevenson was

assessed upon threeahundred acres of land. John
» Stevenson died on this property in 1819, aged eighty-

six years. After ‘this event his son, John, Jr., re-

'_ mained upon the place until 1840, when he died.
, The property was still heldby the descendants- of

J ohn, Stevenson until 1875, when it passed into the
hands of John S. Lee and H. L. Duncan, who now

, own it. . The Rev. John S. Marques is a grandsonofi

John Stevenson, Jr.

Andrew Ferguson, who was a native of Maryland,
followed his brother—in-law, Rev. Joseph Smith, to
this county in» 1786, and settled in what is now Cross
Creek township, where he purchased a farm of Thomas
Bay. It was the one on which D. M. Stewart now

, «resides, and upon it Mr. and Mrs. Ferguson lived and

died. Their seven children were David, ‘Andrew,
Samuel, Benjamin, Joseph, Mary, and Abigail Fergu-
son. Andrew ‘died before 1812, and Samuel, who went
-to Ohio to reside, died there in 1841. David was en-

gaged in several campaigns against the Indians. He
, finally made a trip down the river, from which he

never returned. Joseph Ferguson, the youngest son,

' removed to Guernsey County, Ohio. His son, Rev-

VVilliam M. Ferguson, is a prominent Presbyterian
clergyman in Fredericktown, Knox Co., in the same

, State. The daughter, Mary Ferguson, became the wife
.,of James Cummings, of Cross Creek township, who

was killed during the war of 1812. ~
Robert Armstrong came from Ireland to this coun-

try accompanied by his family, and in 1787 settled in '

Cross Creek township onthe farm now in the posses-
sionof Hugh Lee, one mile southwest of Cross Creek
Church. On March 30, 1789, he purchased one hun-
dred and seven acres of land of Henry Graham in

- addition to his first purchase. 4 In 1787, the.first year

of Mr. Armstrong’s residence here, his son, Adam
Armstrong, a young man twenty—one years of age,

died. Mrs. Armstrong died in 1796, and the husband

and ‘father in 1810. - At his death the ‘property passed

. into the hands of A his four daughters,——Sarah, Miriam,

Anna, and _Jane Armstrong,-—none of whom ever

married. The farm was finally sold, and the daughters

removed to Cross Creek village, where they all died.
William Rea came from N orthampton.County, in

this State, to Cross -Creek township in 1789,.» and pur-

731

chased one hundred and eighty-fiveacres of land of
George Marques. _ In the spring of 1790 he made a
permanent settlement here, where he spent the re-
mainder of his life. William Rea was identified with

the early history of the Cross'~Creek schools as one of A

the most efficient teachers, and in 1823 he was a jus-
tice of the peace for the territory including‘ Cross
Creek, Hopewell, and ‘Mount Pleasant townships.
He died in;1835,‘aged seventy-two years. His grand-
sons, William, Charles C., and Joseph V. Rea, now
own the old homestead and other of the Rea lands. 

Francis McCauley, who was of Scotch descent, was\
settled in Cross Creek priorto 17 91, and had posses-
sion of one hundred and fifty acres of land, that upon
which John N . Walker now resides. Mr. McCauley
remained upon the farm of -his early settlementiuntil
hisdeath, in.1825, when-his son, John .McCauley, sold
it to James Patterson. David Ramsey, of Hopewell
township, is a grandson of Francis McCauley.

Isaac Martin was a resident and property-holder of
Cross Creekvtownship before 17 91, his "name appear-
ing among the taxables in that year._ He ‘died in
1806, and left his farm to his son, who very soon sold
it, and the land at present belongs to R. B. Thomp-
son, David Cummings, and Joseph Patterson.

On March 22,1 1794, Peter Perrine— purchased the
tract of land in- this township called “ Buffalo Lick,”
containing three hundred acres, from Richard Wells,
J r., who had received a warrant of acceptance for it
dated Jan. 22, 1788. This land Peter Perrine settled

upon, and there passed the remainder of his life.

He had several sons. Of these Nicholas, James, and

‘Stephen Perrine emigrated to Ohio. Benjamin re-

moved to Harmon’s Creek, where he lived and _died,
and Isaac remained upon the old homestead. Isaac
Perrine’s sons were Peter, John, Robert, Isaac H—.,

Samuel, and James. Peter is in Steubenville, Ohio, '

John and- Samuel live in Burgettstown, Isaac H. went
to the West, and Robert occupies the old Peter Per-

‘rine farm, as did his father before him. A

Walter McClurg was a native of Ireland, who in
the early part of the year 1794 settledin this section.
For the consideration of thirty-five pounds he. bought
seventy acres of land of Henry Purviance, a part_of'

that patented by Purviance in September, 1788. The

farm upon which he resided in this township -is still
known as the McClurg farm, and is now the property
of= William Porter, a. descendant of the McClurg
family. ‘ .

Walter Craig was a native of Ireland, born in 1786.
When still quite young he came with his father’s
family» to America, and to .Washington County, Pa.,
settling near‘West Middletown, in the northern part
of Hopewell township. On.August 2-1, 1818, Walter
Craig purchased property of John Marshall in Cross

- Creek township. It was the tract “Justice,” situated
« on the waters of Cross Creek, adjoining the lands of
»William Rea, Nicholas Reed, Thomas McConk-l-e,

Tho:nas~ Meason, James and-.Thomasi‘Marshall.. Iin

733

A HISTORY ‘ OF ,\VArSHINGtTOiN COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA.

1818-19, Walter Craig was a member of the Pennsyl-
vania House, of Representatives, and in 1820 he re-
moved to thistownship, to occupy the property, he
had bought here. In 1828 he became a member of
Cross Creek Church, and in 1831 was elected a ruling
elder. The latter position.’ he retained during his
life. In the year 1838' he was a delegate to _the State
Constitutional Convention," and from 1843 to 1845,
inclusive, wasa member of the State Senate. While
on a visit to his daughter in Indiana ‘Walter Craig

died, Feb. 10, 1875, in the eighty-ninth year of his

age. _ _
’Hugh Lee came from Ireland to America, and
eventually settl_ed in Cross Creek township, on -a

tractof two hundred and nineteen acres of land

purchased of William McFarren April 3, 1826. His

purchase was of the tract called “ Holmes’ Victory,’.’l

on which James Holmesmade ‘settlement in 1774,
and for which he received a Virginia certificate in

_ -1780. [A part of the tract was sold in 1808 to William
McFarren, who sold as above "stated to Lee, by whose

descendants it is still owned. ' -
, Mrs. Hannah Lee, wife of Hugh Lee, and daugh-
ter of John and_Mary Orr, was born in Cumberland

’ County, Pa., May 2, 1787.,,’and with her parents

moved west of the mountains in 17.90, and after a
time settled at Holliday’s Cove, Va. Mrs. Lee was
one of the first subjects of what was called the 1“ fall-
ing work,’,’ a religious revival which visited all the
churches in the northern end of Washington County,
Pa.
during the falling exercises,-and, i11 company with her
mother, attended what was termed the “Big Sacra-
-ment” at Upper Buffalo, at which place it was sup-
posed ten thousand persons were present and over
fifteen hundred communicants.. She was married
Aug. 14, 1804, to Hugh Lee, then of Smith, now

A Cross Creek, township, and removed to her future

home. ,

Hugh Lee became an active elder in_the Presby-
terian Church of Cross Creek, and died April 24, 1837,
at the house of William McLain, Esq., near_Clays-
ville, where he was a guest, attending the sessions of

"Presbytery. Mrs. Lee remained on the ‘old home-

stead farm, for fourteenyears, then she removed to
the adjoining farm,the home ofher son~in-law, John
S. Duncan; there she lived almost thirty-one years,
and died Feb. 24, 1882, of old age and debility‘. She

. was the last of the members belonging to the church

of Cross Creek at the’-settlement of Rev. John Stock-
ton, D.D., who, although feeble, was able to be present
and ofiiciate at her funeral. She was buried “beside
her husband in Cross Creek Cemetery.

The sons of Hugh and Hannah Leewere William,
John, and Hugh, ‘Jr. ‘William,’ Lee settled on the
homestead which his son, Craig Lee, now occupies.

-His daughter became the wife of John N. McDonald,

of Robinson township. John Lee, second son of

6 Hugh Lee, lives with his sons in Jefferson township.

She was‘ present at Cross-Roads, Cross. Creek,

‘owned and operated a saw-mill at this point.

.Morgan as first postmaster.

Hugh Lee, J r., resides in Pittsburgh. ' A daughter of
Hugh Lee, Sr., married John S. -Duncan; and ‘an-
other daughter became the wife of_Rev. George Mar-
shall, D.D. Of the children of _Hugh and Hannah
Lee five, two sons and three daughters, are now
living.  I 1 .

Vi11ages.—-The date of the platting and laying out
of Cross Creek village is not accurately determined,
but it was about the year 1820. On Jan. 1, 1821,

‘David VVilkin purchased of Henry Graham, three

acres of ground lying within the present limits of
the village, and upon it built the first brick house in
the place, the one recentlyrowned and occupied by
Rev. Dr. Stockton, who purchased it of Mr. Wilkin.
A portion of the dwelling-house of Israel Beabout is
said to have been the third house ever put up in Cross
Creek village, and was built and occupied by George
McClean, a wagon-make_r.
erns kept here were those of Alexander McConnell
and James Marques, who each kept public-house in

_ 1823 and 1824." In 1825, Joseph Cook opened the

first store in the village. In January of that year the
post-ofiice was established here, and Mr. Cook was
appointed postmaster, the office being in his store.
His successor was George McClean, the wagon-maker,
who removed the post--office to his wagon-shop. John
Moore followed Mr. Mc,Clean as postmaster, but he
only retained the position one year, when"Andrew
McFarlane assumed the duties for a few months. Dr.
Cornelius Summers came next in the list of postmas-

ters, and continued from1838“ to 1841, and from 1845 C

to 1860, the interval from 1841 to‘1845 being held by
Benjamin F. Murray. James Donahy was the post-

.ma_ster from 1860 to 1861, when Andrew McFarlane

received the appointment from President Lincoln,
and continued in the oflice until 1881. His son,
Samuel T. McFarlane, succeeded him, and held the
oflice until 1881, when John S. Cummings became

I postmaster, and still holds the oflice. The village of

Cross Creek has one church, aschool building, two

blacksmith-shops, two wagon-shops, and three stores. ' A

VVoodrow Post-office is located onthe line between
Mount Pleasant and Cross Creek townships. The
place received its name from Simeon Woodrow, who
The
post-office was established here in 1855, with John
His successor was W'il-
liam S. McCreary. The office is now over the line in
Mount Pleasant township.

Another post-ofiice. in Cross Creek township is the A
one at Patterson’s Mills, established in 1829. The a

persons who have held the position of postmaster at
this place are James Patterson, Thomas Patterson,
Johnson Ellet, and George L. Weigman, the present
incumbent. Patterson’s Mills Post-oflice village also

has one store, _a mill, a school building, andan ~Asso- '

ciate Reformed Church. ,
Physicians:-Although the settlement of Cross
Creek township began at least as early as 1772, not

Among the earliest tav- °

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‘ liam Rea and Hon. Aaron Lyle.
. Cross Creek township, and gra.duated from Jefferson

(moss CREEK TOWNSHIP.   J '   733

much mention of resident practicing physicians is
made previous to 1815. In that year Dr. Robert
Lyle, a son of Hon. Aaron Lyle, and a native of this
township, began practice here. He had studied his
profession under the instruction of Dr. Kerl,of Hick-
ory village, Mount Pleasant township. In 1820 he
removed from Cross Creek to Steubenville, Ohio, and
two years later removed thence farther west.

Dr. Murray, of Lancaster County, Pa., came to
Cross Creek township in 1820, upon the removal of
Dr. Lyle, and very soon followed the regular routine
of Dr. Lyle’s practice. He also occupied the house
in which his predecessor had lived (the present resi-
dence of Mrs. Dinsmore), and died there about the

year 1830.

"Dr. Gladden came from near Canonsburg in 1826,
andsettled in Cross Creek village for the practice of
his profession. He remained here until 1831, when
he removed to other parts, and was succeeded by Dr.
Henry Hannan, of Pittsburgh. Dr. Hannan’s resi-
dence here continued until 1836, when he returned to
Pittsburgh.

Dr. Robert Anderson was a native of VVestmore-
land‘County, Pa., and a graduate of the college at
Canonsburg and the Jefferson Medical College at
Philadelphia. - In the year 1836 he came to reside in
Cross Creek township, and remained here until his
death, which occurred in 1868. He was a member of

A the Pennsylvania House of Representatives in 1861,

and was an excellent practitioner.

Dr. J. M. Dunn, of Frankfort, Pa., came into Cross
Creek village in 1860, and continued here in his pro-
fessional capacity until 1868, when he removed to
Kentucky.

Dr. J . L. Rea was a great-grandson of Squire Wil-
He was born in

Medical College. He commenced his practice in this
section, but during the war of the Rebellion entered
the Army of the Potomac as a surgeon. During his
service he contracted the disease of which he died
Dec. 30, 1869, at the age of thirty-‘two years.

The present physician, and the only one residing
and practicing in this township, is Dr. F. C. M. Stock-
ton, of Cross Creek village. He is a son of the Rev.
Dr. Stockton, a graduate of Washington College and
of Jefferson Medical College of Philadelphia, and is
a prominent member of his profession.

Schoo1s.‘—The earliest authentic account of a
school in tl1is'township that can be found is of one
that was taught in the old log church at Cross Creek
village, about the year 1782 or 1783, by Joseph Pat-

terson, afterwards a Presbyterian minister, and first ‘

pastor‘ of Raccoon congregation, at the village of
Candor. It is also thought that Robert McCready,
afterwards for a long time justice of the peace, and an

1 This article on the Cross Creek schools is taken principally from a
published account written by James M. K. Reed, Esq.
47

p the logs of one end out.

elder at Cross Creek’ village church, taught at Wells
Fort- at or near the same time. There are pretty reli-
able accounts of schools being held at houses on
farms now owned by A. S. Richey, Esq., John F.
Sharp, James Buchanan, Esq., R. T. Johnson, R. VV.
Wells, R. F. Burton, and at Cross Creek village. '
About the year 1803 a house was built on the Pres-
byterian Church property, for the accommodation of
the workmen who built the stone church at that

A place. It was afterwards known as the“ study house,”

and was for along time used as a school-house. It is
said that there was not a sawed piece of timber in it.
Robert Lee was the first teacher that we have any ac-
count of at this point. Thomas Best taught in the
house for many years. During the spring of 1835
the boys of Cross Creek village, thinking the house a
disgrace to the place, and being tired of going to
school in it, met at night, and with. ropes, etc., pulled
It was used during the fol-
lowing summer, and then abandoned. The school
was then kept in the academy building until the
erection of the brick school-house. '
At the McNary school, on J ohnson’s farm, among
other teachers was a Mr. M6Cready, a native of Ire-
land, who had one of his thumbs cut off. He was

said to be a very severe and tyrannical teacher.‘

Among the earliest teachers that we have any ac-
count of at the lMcMillen school-house (now owned
by J. F. Sharp) was George Miller, and a teacher by
the name of Leelperg _, Hon. William Patterson, who
was born at Patterson’s Mills in 1796, and commenced
going to school at thislhouse, informed the writer‘ that
the first teacher that he went to was William Mc-
Caskey, about the year 1801. He taught there sev-
eral terms. McCaskey was _a bound boy raised by
Judge Edgar, who gave him a goodeducation; he
was also a surveyor. He taught at other places.
About theyear 1803 a house was built near the resi-
dence of Lysander Patterson, Esq., which was occu-
pied about three years. At this house George Dayis
was the first‘ teacher. The second teacher was James
McGee,,an Episcopalian. He could not Write, but
taught writing by using brass plates. John Kelley
was the third and last teacher at this house. He was
considered a good instructor. Among the early
teachers was William Rea, who taught for several
years, "principally at the old house known as the
McKibbin school, now the Buchanan farm. Mr. Rea
afterwards served as a justice of the peace (appointed
in 1823), and wasalso an elder of Cross Creek congre-
gation. It is thought that Mr. McClain also taught
at this house. Mr. McClain wielded the ferule a long
time in this township and in different schools.‘ He
was appointed justiceiof the peace in 1818, afterwards

removed to East Finley township, and died there. .

William McCleery taught at Cross Creek village prior
to the year 1800.

About theyear 1806, Gen. Thomas Patterson and
Richard Wells built a school-house on the ridge be-

73-t

Hrsronv or WASHINGTON COUNTY,‘PENNSYLVANIA.

tween Patterson’s mill and Wells’ mill. In style of
architecture, etc., it was considered far in advance of
the times, being built of hewed logs. It has a shingle
roof, tight board floor, and glass windows, and Mr.
\Vells put in a ten-plate Wood-stove. Gen. Patterson
and Mr. Wells hired Mr. James Haney to teach at
twelve dollars per month by the year, they being re-
sponsible to him for his pay. The teacher had alter-
nate Saturdays to himself. Mr. Haney was also a
surveyor, and worked at that on his spare days, sur-
veying many of the farms in that vicinity. ' He kept
a ‘day-book of the_ attendance of each pupil, and
handed the accounts to Patterson and Wells, and
they collected the tuitions from such as were able to
pay, and those that were unable to were allowed to
attend free. Mr. Haney taught there until 1813. ‘Of
the pupils of his school many have held high positions
of trust and honor. About the same time that this
house was built a school-house was built on the ‘farm
now owned and occupied by Mr. Thomas McCorkle.
Among other teachers here was Thomas Ewing, a
native of Ireland, and who came here from Crawford’
County. He was the grandfather of Judge Ewing,
of Pittsburgh, and taught many years in this vicinity.

It is diflicult to learn when the school-house on
R. W. Wells’, farm was built. It stood between the
present dwelling of Mr. Wells and the public road,
and was burned down about 1812 or 1815. Among
the last teachers was Mr. Robert Marques, the father
of Rev. John S. Marques, of Pigeon Creek.

About the year 1812 a school-house was built on
the farm now occupied by VVilliam Dunbar. Among
the first teachers here was Richard Freeborn. Israel
Bebout taught one year in this house in‘ 1822. Mr.
Bebout taught school two terms, and has since served
for many years as committeeman and school director
in this and Beaver County. He still lives in Cross
Creek village, now in his eighty-fourth year.

About the same year, 1812, a house was built near
-where Hampton Walker now lives. Its location is in
J eflerson township, but by a special act of Assembly
approved Feb. 14, 1867, the real estate of David S.
\Valker and Francis Cunningham was annexed to
-Cross Creek for school purposes. The first teacher
here was Andrew McColloch, who taught about three
years. VVilliam Elder taught one term, then an Irish-
man by the name of -McDermott, who was educated
for a Catholic priest. Cornelius Barber taught two
years. This was a large and very successful school,
and was attended by the Bebouts, Walkers, Grahams,"
and Van Ordstrands, many of whom are still living,
having passed, full of honor, their threescore and ten
years. Andrew‘McColloch~was considered a success-

. ful teacher in his day. In the year 1835 he held the

oflice of supervisor and constable, and about 1836 he
removed with his family to Tuscarawas County, Ohio,
where he resided until his death, about 1860. There
was also a Mr. Scott taught at that house,'and a Miss
Ann McDermott.

There was an old school-house near the above build-
ing, on the Walker farm, within a few rods of where
once stood an old saw-mill. Mr. Joseph Smith taught
in this house. He afterwards became an elder of
Cross Creek congregation. This building was aban-
doned in 1810 or 1811.

About this time, or previous, a school was kept for
a while where Mr. John Purdy lives, on the farm of
Arnold Lawton. A Mr. Pervard was teacher. About
the year 1810 or 1812 therelwas alsoa school held for
a while on the Dinsmore farm, now occupied by Sam-
uel D. White. No particulars can be learned in either
of the above cases.

In 1812 a frame school-house was built on the farm
now occupied by Robert Vance. It was then in Smith
township, but an adjustment of the lines afterwards
threw it into Cross Creek. This house, like the one
built the same year on the D. S. Walker farm, was a
frame; they were the first frame school-houses in the
township, and had large windows of glass. The
teachers at this house were Thomas Allen, a Mr.
Noyes, VVilliam Galbraith, Mr. McClure, Mr. Gilton,
Alexander McConnell, John Boggs. The house was
abandoned for school purposes about the year 1833.

About the year 1810-15, Master Ewing (Thomas)
taught for four or five years in an old house on the
Lyle farm, now owned by David Gault. We have no
account of any other person teaching at that place.

There was a ' second school-house built on the
Buchanan farm near Rea’s Rocks, in which Samuel
Reed taught several years. Joseph Littlefair and
Rev. James Sloan also taught in this house. It was
abandoned about the time that the school law came
into force. Samuel Reed taught many years in this

county, and then removed to Marion County, Ohio,

where he died. ‘ .

About the year 1815 a school-house was built on the
south side of the farm of Nathan Patterson, near Pat-
terson’s Mills. In this house the teachers were Wil-
liam Smith and Joseph Templeton. Templeton after-

wards studied medicine, and located in the borough _

of Washington. About 1820 the building was re-
moved to the northern part of the farm, near a
spring. In this house a Mr. Grilpin taught two or
three terms.- James Fulton afterwards taught in
the same house one term, but refused to teach any
longer. on account of its being uncomfortable, and in,
1833 a new frame building was erected, where Mr.

Fulton taught several terms. He was a very suc- '

cessful teacher, a native of New York State. He
taughtseveral years in this andadjoining townships, re-
moved to Richland County, Ohio, taught there a while,
and afterwards settledlnear the town of Wabash, in
Wabash County, Ind.,wl1ere he resided until his death.
The next teacher here was William P. Sampson, who
afterwards went to Kentucky, studied law, and became
chief justice of that State. Samuel Reed also taught
in this house.

During the summer of 1827 Miss Hettie Reed I

- the acceptance of the school law.

cnoss CREEK TOWNSHIP.

735

taught in the old cabin on the farm owned by
James Simpson. She afterwards taught two or three
terms in the old house that stood near the present
residence of Simon Marques.

About the year 1822 a school-house was built on the
line between the farms of A. S. Richey and William
Perry. Thomas ‘Ewing taught in the house a while,
and was succeeded by Robert Adams. About the
year 1828 a school-house was built at the lower end
of John N. Walker’s lane, on the corner of the farm
of John -Lawton, Sr. The teachers at the house were
Peter Lawton, Joseph Cummins, Nancy VVishart,
David Wishart, and John Powlson. This house was
used eight or ten years for schools. Previous to the

_ erection of this building there was a school keptin an

old house near the corner of the farm of John N.
\V.alker. In 1833 a school-house was built on the
farm of Nicholas Reed, now owned by J. M. K. Reed.
The teachers in this house were Samuel Reed and
Richard Kersams. About the year 1830, Rev. Daniel
R. Hervey built a house at his residence near Wood-
row P. 0., where a student from J etferson College,
Canonsburg, taught one season.

At the convention of school directors held during
the fall of 1834, relativeto the acceptance of the pro-
visions and requirements of the public school law
passed in that year, Hon. William Patterson was the
delegate from Cross Creek township, and advocated
Robert Patterson,
of Smith township, presidedat that meeting, and the
law was adopted by all the townships in the county,

vvith five exceptions. The first board of school.

directors of Cross Creek township under that law
were Moses Lyle, Eben Smith, Alexander Walker,
Gen. James Lee, Nathan Patterson, and the Hon.

~ William Patterson.

Hon. William Patterson was president of the first
convention of school directors to elect a county
superintendent, when John L. Gow, Esq., was elected.
He was also Speaker of the House of Representatives
during the session of 1834, when the school law was
passed. < , _

The school law of 1834 having come in force and
the township being divided into sub-districts, about
the year 1836-37 school-houses were built on farms of

-James McNary, Nancy Houston, and John N. Walker.

The house at McNary’s was used until the spring of

1855. The teachers in this house were VV. Huston

VValker, afterwards Reverend; Alexander Hays;
John Campbell; David R. Campbell, afterwards Pres-
byterian minister; Alexander Thompson, Associate
minister; Serissa Lyle; William P. Sampson, after-
wards C. J. of Kentucky; Mary A. Vincent; John

-McCarrell, afterwards studied medicine, now at

Wellsville, Ohio; A. VV. Guthrie, afterwards studied
medicine, died at Germano, Ohio ; Mr. Wallace;
James P. Able, taught three or four years, and died of
consumption; Margaret Galbraith ; Thomas P. Smith;
Daniel Donahoo, afterwards studied law; R. Lyle

 

White, who studied law and since became an editor;
Mr. Johnson; Nancy Glass; J. Boyd Stephens,
taught two terms, is now a Presbyterian minister;
John McKee; J. M. K. Reed, taught two terms;
Adaline Cassidy; Mary E. Curry; Miss Cassidy
taught for several years; and Miss Eva Simmons
taught a subscription school one summer. . ,

Among other teachers at Rea’s School (on Nancy
Huston’s farm) were George W.«Forrester, John W.
White, Simon ‘Webster French, James A. Stewart,
Miss _Jane S. Ramsey, Charles C.vFulton, R. T. John-
son, J. M. K. Reed, and Miles W. Marques. Among
Others who taught at Bushy Rock were Robert
Curry, P. D., now of Nebraska Normal School ; Mat-
thew Templeton, Mary Grier, Thomas VV. Thompson,
J. M. K. Reed, M. W. Marques, Sarah A. Maxwell,
VVilliam Plummer, Alexander E. VValker, Isaac M.
Lawton, J. Edgar Rankin, William E. Scott, and S.
H. Lawton. -

In the year 1846 the citizens of West Point School
built a brick house on a lot of land containing one
acre, deeded in fee simple by Mary P. Smith for
school purposes. Among others who taughtyin this
house were Hon. George W. Miller, R. T. Johnson,
Rev. John M. Smith, J. S. Gormly, H. P. Durant, J.
M. K. Reed, S. J. Jeffrey, Jane S. Ramsey,.Hon.
Samuel F. Patterson, William P. Montgomery, and
W. W. Teagarden;

In September, 1865, the two schools in Cross Creek
village were consolidated and graded, the higher de-
partment being taught in the old academy by Josiah
Marques and the primary by Eva Simmons. At a
meeting of the school board, Sept. 28, 1854, a uniform
series of text-books was adopted for the first time, and
the board resolved to encourage the attendance of the

iteachers at the County Institute by continuing their
pay during said attendance.

3 When the township of Cross‘ Creek was first divided
into districts the number was ten, with the following
designating names: No. 1, Nosco_Hall; No. 2, Bun-
ker Hill; No. 3, Cemetery; No. 4, \Vhite Oaks; No.
5, West Point; No. 6, Willow Valley; No. 7, Bushy
Rock; N o. 8, Beech Knob; No. 9, Limestone Lane;
No. 10, Buckeye Valley. In 1853, when the territory
comprising Jefferson township. was set off, some of
the numbers were changed and Nos. 2 and 3 were
consolidated and known thereafter as Cross Creek
Village District.

In 1863 Cross Creek township had nineischool dis-
tricts, in which ten teachers taught, and two hundred
and ninety-seven pupils were enrolled; $98.40 was re-
ceived from the State, $1082.50 from other sources,
and the cost of the schools for the year was $1132.23.
In 1873 a new school building was erected at Patter-
son’s Mills, at a cost‘ of $2000. It was a building two
stories in height, and Well equipped with the best of
school furniture and apparatus. In that year the
township was divided into eleven districts, and eleven
teachers were employed. Two hundred and eighty

 

James Donahoo, April 14, 1840;

736

HISTORY OF WASHINGTON COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA.‘

pupils were enrolled. The amount of State money
received was $164.92,.the sum received from other
sources $4167 .29, and the total expenditures amounted
to $4404.81. In 1880 the districts of -the township
had been again reduced to nine, in which nine teach-
ers were employed. Three hundred and thirty-nine
pupils were enrolled. The receipts from all sources
for schools amounted to $1931.13, and the expendi-
tures for the school year aggregated $1791.87.

Cross Creek Academy, established in 1828, has
already been mentioned in Dr. Brownson’s article on
“Higher Education,” in the general history of the
county. 0

Justices of the Peace.—The following is a. list of
persons who were and have been appointed and
elected to the office of justice of the peace in Cross
Creek township from 1790 to the present time, except
for the period from 1803 to 1838,‘ viz. :

Henry Graham, Aug. 24, 1790.
Samuel Smith, April 11, 1796.
George Elliot, April 14, 1840.

James Donahoo, April 21, 1862.

A.'E. Walker, April 20, 1864.

James Donahoo, April 9, 1867;
April 12, 1872.

A. E. Walker.‘ Jan. 9, 1874.

John S. Duncan, April 28, 1874.

A. E. Walker, May 24, 1874.

Lysander Patterson, March 16,
1876. ”

James M. K. Reed, March 21, 1877.

Lysander Patterson, March 9, 1881.

April 15, 1845.

John Cole, April 15, 1845.

James Donahoo, April 9, 1850.
John Cole, April 9, 1850.

James Donahoo, April 10, 1855.
John S. Duncan, April 12, 1859.
Times. M. Patterson, April 10, 1860.

«Presbyterian Church of Cross Creek.?—-The re-
gion of country called Cross Creek began to be settled
about the year 1770-71. The first settlers were mostly
Scotch-Irish. Some came directly from the north of
Ireland and west of . Scotland, some r from York
County, Pa., and from Winchester, Va., and a few
irom Mecklenburg, N. C. Among these pioneers
were some pious men, who began to hold meetings for
worship as early as 1776-77. Two such societies were

organized within the bounds of Cross Creek. One was

on Irish Ridge. The leading members of this society
were John Morrison and Robert McCready,(both of
whom afterwards became ruling elders of the church
of Cross Creek), lVilliam McCandless and Samuel
Strain. The other societyheldtheir meetings at the
house of Maj. VVilliam Vance, and in the houses
around. The leaders here were Maj. VVilliam Vance,
James Campbell, John Stone, Robert Barr, and
VVilliam VVilson. For several years the settlers
were greatly harassed by incursions of hostile In-
dians. Not a few of those who fell under their
murderous tomahawks lie in the burying-ground of

1 Cross Creek township was a separate justice’s district from its erection
in’ 1790 till the erection of election districts, May 4, 1803, when it be-
came embraced with other territory in District No. 3, and so remained
till 1838, when the oflice ufjustice became elective, and the township an
independent district. The names of the justices who held jurisdiction
within this township during the period from 1803 to 1838 will be found
included in the list of justices of Hopewell township. In 1853 Jefi'erson
was taken from the territory of Cross Creek and made an independent
township.

9 Taken from a historical Sketch of the church, by the Rev. John

. Stockton, D.D. i

this congregation. ’ From these incursions the people
fled into Vance’s and VVells’ Forts; the former one
mile north, and the latter five miles west of this
church. In these forts social and afterwards public
worship was kept up for about seven years, especially
in summer and autumn, the seasons when the In-
dians were wont to make their raids. At these meet-

‘ings in Vance’s-Fort some seven-or eight persons

were converted. Among -them were Thomas Mar-
ques and his wife Jane. Mr. Marques subsequently
became first a ruling" elder, and afterwards a pastor of
this congregation. The Rev. James Powers, from the
Forks of Youghiogheny, visited this region, and
preached the first gospel sermon ever heard in it, on
the 14th of September, 1778. This was under an oak-
tree just outside the gate of Vance’s Fort. After the

sermon twenty-one children were baptized. Among.

them was the first-born of Mr. and Mrs. Marques.
In April, 1779, the Rev. Joseph Smith, from York

_ County, Pa., visited this region and preached several

sermons. After his return * home the Rev. John Mc-
Millan (who had come with his family to Chartiers

in 1778) preached a few sermons in the bounds of
Cross Creek. - These sermons greatly stirred up the

people to obtain the stated ministrations of the gos-
pel among them. In the early summer of 1779,
James Edgar came from York County, Pa., and pur-
chased a farm in Cross Creek [then Smith] township.
About the same time Messrs. William Smiley and
Robert Caldwell and others came from the same.re-

’ gion (Chanceford and Slate Ridge) to Upper Buffalo.

These likewise desiring the -ministrations of the gos-
pel, the two companies met at the house of James
Marshel, midway between Buffalo and Cross Creek,
and made out a call for the Rev. Joseph Smith, who
had been their minister in York County. This call
was dated June 21, 1779. The salary promised was sev-
enty-five pounds. This call was carried down tothe
Presbytery of New Castle, then met at Carlisle, by
Mr. Edgar, and was accepted on the 27th of October,
1779. In the summer of that year a committee of
three persons from Cross Creek and three from Upper
Buffalo were appointed to,"locate sites for the two
meeting-houses. The three members of the commit-
tee from Cross Creek were Maj. ‘William Vance, Rob-
ert McCready, and Henry Graham, and Messrs. VVil-
liam Smiley and Robert Caldwell were two of the
members from Buffalo. These located the sites where

the houses now stand. Henry Graham, Esq.,‘donated '

the land for the church at Cross Creek.

In the autumn of 1779 the Rev. Joseph Smith re-
moved with his family to his new charge. Shortly
after his arrival three ruling elders were chosen by
vote of the congregation, viz.: James Edgar, John

"Morrison, and George Marques. Mr-. Edgar had been

ordained an elder in York County. Mr. Marques was
appointed the first leader of the singing in the church.
In the autumn of 1779, mainly through the influence
of Mr. Edgar, Joseph Patterson removed from York

THE REVOLUTION.

87

tion against the Wyandot towns on the upper waters of
the Sandusky, leaving a garrison at the fort, marched
with about one thousand men into the western wil-
derness towards his objective-point. But for some
cause which is not perfectly clear, on reaching the
Muskingum River he decided to proceed no farther

. until spring, and therefore halted there and erected a

defensive work, which he named, in honor of the pres-
ident of the Continental Congress, Fort Laurens.
It was a weak stockade, located on the west bank of
the river, near the site of the present town of Bolivar,
Tuscarawas Co., Ohio. Having decided on a suspen-
sion of operations for the season, he left in the fort a
garrison of one hundred and fifty men, under com-
mand of Col. John Gibson, and returned with the

' main body of his forceto Fort Pitt.

In January following Gen. McIntosh’s return to
Fort Pitt, Col. Gibson at Fort Laurens suddenly
found himself besieged by a body of about eight
hundred and fifty Indians, who reached the vicinity
of the fort in the evening after’ dark. During the
first night of the presence of the savages they caught
the horses which were outside the fort, took off their
bells, and led them some distance into the woods,
then concealing themselves in the grass that bordered
the path to the woods, and at about daybreak a party
of them commenced rattling the bells at a point be-

' yond the ambush. The people in the fort supposed

the horses were there, and sixteen men were sent to
bring them in. When they had been drawn suffi-
ciently into the ambushment the concealed Indians
fired on them in front and rear, killing all but two,
who were taken prisoners. In the afternoon of the
same day the whole Indian force marched within full
view of the garrison to an elevated piece of ground
on the opposite side of the river, where they made
their encampment. The siege of the fort continued
for six weeks, at the end of. which time the garrison
became greatly straitened for provisions, but it proved
that the savages were still more so. . During the time
of their stay frequent conversations were held be-
tween the besiegers and besieged, the former telling
Col. Gibson that they did not want war, but they
were determined that the white man should not come
and occupy their country and build forts within it.
With Col. Gibson’s garrison there was a Delaware
Indian called John Thompson, who during the in-
vestment had been permitted by both parties to go to
and fro between the Indian camp and the fort at will.
Finally the savages sent word by this Thompson to
the white commandant that they wanted peace, and
would make a treaty and leave the place if he would
send them a barrel of flour and some tobacco. The
garrison were terribly reduced for provisions, but Col-.
Gibson acceded to the request of the Indians, and
sent them the articles demanded, whereupon the sav-
ages raised the siege and marched away through the
woods, but did not keep their promise to make a
treaty of peace.

Col. Gibson had a large number of sick men in his
garrison, and soon after the Indians/had apparently
left the vicinity, he detached Col. Clarke with fifteen
men to escort these invalids to Fort McIntosh, but
they had not proceeded far from the fort when they
fell into an ambush of the treacherous Indians, and
all were killed or taken prisoners‘ except Col. Clarke
and three others who succeeded in making their es-"

cape to the fort. This act of perfidy so incensed Col. 7

Gibson that he at once sallied out with the main part
of his force, determined to attack and punish the In--
dians for their‘ treachery, but the savage forces had
disappeared and were not again seen. '
During the continuance of the siege, Col. Gibson
had managed to send a friendly Delaware with a
message to Gen. McIntosh at Fort Pitt, notifying him

that unless men and provisions were promptly sent.

him he would be compelled to surrender. The gen-
eral sent messengers inhaste to the settlers up the
Monongahela, acquainting them of the situation of af-
fairs at Fort Laurens, and asking instant aid in men
and provisions. The settlers promptly responded,
many volunteering for the expedition of relief, and
others furnishing pack—horses, with an abundant sup-
ply of provisions. With these and a part of the gar-
rison of Fort Pitt (making an entire force of about
seven hundred men), Gen. McIntosh set out without
delay, and marched rapidly to Fort Laurens, which

was reached a few days after the departure of the be- I

sieging force of Indians. When the relief force ap-
peared in sight at the fort the joy of the garrison was
great, and found expression in the firing of a salute

of musketry, which, however, cost them dear, for it '

frightened the pack-horses and caused them to break
loose and run into the woods with their loads, by
which accident a great part of the flour was lost, the
sacks being broken open, and their contents scattered
among the trees and bushes so that it! could not be
recovered. The meats of course were not injured.

A new garrison under Maj. Frederick Vernon was

left at Fort Laurens, and Gibson’s command, with the
main forceunder Gen. McIntosh, returned to Fort
Pitt. During the stay of Maj. Vernon at Fort Lau-
rens the garrison under his command was reduced to
the verge of starvation, and finally, in the spring of
1779, the fort was evacuated and abandoned. The
evacuation of Fort McIntosh followed soon after-
wards. The withdrawal of the troops from these
forts was the final abandonment of the proposed ex-
peditions of Gen. McIntosh against the British post
of Detroit and the Wyand’ot towns on the Sandusky.
The troops with which he had prosecuted his oper-
ations at Forts McIntosh and Laurens in 1778 and
the early part of 1779 were, with the exception, of
the small Continental force which he brought with
him from the East, made up almost exclusively of
men from the country between the Laurel Hill and
the Ohio River, the territory which afterwards he-
came Washington County furnishing its full share.

' etery of Upper Buffalo.

‘be the mode of addition.

County into Cross Creek. He was a Seceder from the
north of Ireland; had been a school-teacher in York
County; was an ardently pious man; became an ac-
tive leader in meetings for social-worship; afterwards

a ruling elder in thechurch of Cross Creek; subse-

quently a minister of the gospel, and for many years
was the faithful, successful, and greatly beloved pastor

V of the congregation of Raccoon Church.

In the winter of 1781-82 there was a considerable
revival in the congregations of-‘Upper Buffalo and

Cross Creek. In the autumn of-1782 the sacrament

of the Lord’s Supper was administered for the 'first

time in Cross‘ Creek. About fifty persons from both ’

of the congregations were received into fulI.member-
ship. This work continued with but little abatement
for six or seven years. In June, 1787, about fifty
members were added to the church of Cross Creek.
Mr. Smith preached his last sermon at Cross Creek
(from Galatians i. 8), and died of fever and inflam-
mation of the brain on the 19th of April, 1792, in the
fifty-sixth year ofhis age. His remains rest in the cem-
The epitaph recorded on his
tombstone was written by his intimate friend and fel-
low—laborer, Rev. Thaddeus Dodd, of Ten-Mile,- Pa.

. In the winter of 1782—83 the first addition was made
to the session. This addition was made by the ap-
pointment of the session, and consisted of Thomas
Marques, Joseph Patterson, and Joseph Vance. Near
the end of Mr. Smith’s pastorate another addition was
made, consisting of Robert McCready, Esq., William
Rea, Esq., Henry Graham, Esq., Robert Lyle, Hugh
Newell, and Thomas Marshall. .They' were elected
by the people, and this has continued ever since to
These were ordained and
installed by the Rev. James Hughs, pastor of the
congregation of West Liberty, after the decease of Mr.
Smith. After being supplied by the Presbytery for. a
little more than a year, Cross Creek gave a unani-
mous call to the Rev. Thomas Marques to become
their pastor, which was accepted. The preaching of
Mr. Marques was very. popular, ands. soon he received
three calls for his ministerial services,—.one from the
united congregations of Bethel and Ebenezer, another
from Ten-Mile, and another from Cross Creek. The
call from Cross Creek (dated Oct. 1.8, 1793), was ac-

’ cepted on the 23d of April, 17 94, and as the congre-

gation of Cross Creek was under the care of the Pres-
bytery of Ohio, he was dismissed to put himself under
the care of that Presbytery, and was by them ordained
and installed on the 13th of June following. About
the same time Upper Buffalo had given a call to the
Rev. David Smith, son of their former pastor, which
he held in his hands for consideration, and by agree-
ment Mr. Marques was to supply their pulpit half of
the time till they obtained a pastor. This he con-
tinued to do till the beginning of the year 1798.
From that date all his ministerial labors were given
to Cross Creek till October, 1826,—a little over-thirty-
two years from -the beginning of his pastorate.

eaoss CREEK TOWNSHIP. A as .'

Under the ministry of Mr. Marques a revival began
in 1799. This brought about thirty members into the
church. A season of great religious declension fol-
lowed. In the summer of 1802 there began to bean
increased interest on the subject of religion,_ and some
additionswere made to the church. This feeling in-
creased tillon the 5th of October what has been called
“ the great revival” was fully ushered in. This work
was attended by extraordinary bodily exercises. This
exercise was never relied upon by the ministers and
elders of the Presbytery as evidence of true religion.
Some of the subjects never became pious; some who
were eminently pious were the subjects of it; and

not a few of the subjects became hopefully pious,’

and held fast and adorned their profession till death.
This revival continued through the years‘ 1803-4,
and brought into the church about one hundred
members. During this pastorate two additions were
made ‘to the session: in 1807, John »VVilkin, Esq.,
Thomas Smith, Esq., John Marques, Hugh Edgar, and
Samuel McKibben ; and in 1818, John Henry, James
Fleming, George Newell, Hugh Lee, George Miller,
Andrew Farrer, and Joseph Smith.

Mr. Marques was a natural orator. The tones of
his voice were so musical that he was commonly
called the “ Silver-tongued Marques.” Before resign-
ing his charge in 1825 he earnestly requested the
Rev. John. Stockton to consent to become his suc-
cessor, and used all his influence to effect that end.
Shortly after seeing his wish accomplished he went
on a visit. to Bellefontaine, Ohio, to visit his son-in-
law, Rev. Joseph Stevenson, and while there was
taken ill with fever, and died on the 27th of Septem-
ber, 1827, in the seventy-fourth year of his age.

The Rev. John Stockton was descended from Scotch-
Irish» ancestors. His great-grandfather, his grand-
father, and his father were ruling elders in the Pres-
byterian Church, while many of his near relatives
were ministers and elders in the same church. He

-was born in the valley of Chartiers, near Washington,

Pa., on the 18th of November, 1803; graduated at
Washington College Oct. 3, 1820; studied theology
with several others under the direction of Dr. John

Anderson, of Upper Buffalo, and the Hebrew 1an- ,

guage and church history with Dr. Andrew ‘Wylie,
president of Washington College, for three years; was
licensed to preach the gospel by the Presbytery of
Washington April 20, 1825, and afterwards spent a
year’ at Princeton Theological Seminary. Shortly
afterwards he received two unanimous calls, one
from the congregation at Congruity, in the Presby-
tery of Blairsville, the other from Cross Creek. After
consulting’ with Messrs. Anderson, McCurdy, Wylie,
and O. Jennings, and the congregation agreeing to
be satisfied with whatever ministerial services he
might be able to give them, he accepted the call of
Cross Creek in April, 1827. He began to preach
statedly on the first Sabbath of May, and was or-
dained and installed on the 20th of June following,

738

HISTORY OF WASHINGTON COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA.

In these services the pastor elect preached a trial ser-
mon on a text chosen for the occasion by Mr. Mc-
Curdy, viz.: Ps. cxxv. 1: “They that trust in the
Lord,” etc. Dr. Jennings preached the ordination
sermon from Col. ‘iv. 17: “Take heed to the minis-
try,” etc., and Dr. Anderson gave the charges to the
pastor and the congregation.

In the winter of 1827~28 another revival began in
Cross Creek. .This work spread over every part of
the congregation, and continued for between four and
five years. And so powerful was it that at one time
one hundred and twenty persons applied for privilege
to come to the Lord’s table. Again, in 1835, 1836,

- and 1837, was another revival, and some one hun-

dred and forty members were added. Again, in 1840,
1841, and 1842, there was another season of refreshing,
when about one hundred persons were converted. At
the commencement of this pastorate the session con-
sisted of the following members, viz.: Hon. Joseph
Vance, Robert McCready, Esq., Samuel. McKibben,
George Miller, James Fleming, Andrew Farrar,
Hugh Lee, and George N ewell. In 1831, Hon. VVal-
ter Craig, and Messrs. William Cowen, Ebenezer
Smith, and John Armspoker were added. In 1837,
Gen. James Lee, Abraham Barber, and James Dins-
more were installed; in 1843, Messrs. George Miller,
J r., Robert Lee, Thomas Wilkin, and John McKib-
ben; in. 1854, Messrs. Joseph Graham, Joseph Vance,
Jr., and Andrew Reed; in 1858, Messrs. William
Lee, Russell" T. Johnson, and Samuel Cowen; in
2.866, Messrs. James Walker and William Campbell;
and in 1870, Messrs. Samuel White, David Gault,
Richard Wells, and James Donahoo, Esq. In 1866,
Samuel White and John D. Cowen were chosen and
ordained to be deacons, and in 1876, Messrs. Isaac
M. Lawton, Daniel Haines, John ,M. Boyce, and
William K. Lyle were added to the board. V
The congregation of Cross Creek has erected in
succession five houses of worship, viz.: The first in
1779 of unhewed logs, twenty-six feet long by twenty-
two feet wide; the second in 1784 of hewed logs,
sixty feet by thirty; one story high, and pulpit in

‘the side. To this afterwards another story and a

gallery were added. This house was burned (sup-
posed to have been fired by an incendiary) on Sab-
bath morning, April 20, 1803. Forthwith the con-
gregation built another house of stone, fifty—six feet
square. This was the house in which the congrega-
tion worshiped at’the beginning of the pastorate of
Mr. Stockton. This house becoming too small, an-
otherwas erected of brick in 1830, seventy-six by
fifty-six, with a gallery. The walls of this house be-
coming cracked, and in the opinion of some unsafe,
were taken down, and the present house built in 1864
on the same site. This house is of brick, eighty-two
feet by fifty-four, with a lecture-room, a session-room,
and a library-room in the basement.

The writer of the preceding historical sketch of
the Presbyterian Church of , Cross Creek, its \'en- 1

erable_and beloved pastor, the Rev. John Stockton,

completed a full half-century in his pastorate-

Feeling the infirmities of age increasing upon him,
he desired to retire from the charge of the congre-
gation at the end of his fifty years of service here,
and accordingly, about three months before that
time would expire, on the 29th of March, 1877, he
addressed to the session a letter of resignation, ex-
pressing the wish that the pastoral relation should
be dissolved on the 20th of June following, and ask-
ing that they unite with him in a request to the
Presbytery to accept his resignation. In response to

this letter the church met on the 2d at’ April, 1877,,

and gave formal but regretful assent to Dr. Stockton’s
proposal by the passage of resolutions, the sixth of
which was as follows: “ That though thus consent-
ing in these providential circumstances to the disso-
lution of the pastoral relation, and the release of Dr.
Stockton from the responsibility of jurisdiction "and
labor, yet it is our earnest wish that he will accept,
and that the Presbytery will grant to him, the title of
‘Pastor Emeritus’ of this church.” Messrs. I- M.
Lawton and H. C. Anderson were appointed to pre-
sent the letter of Dr. Stockton and the resolutions of
the congregation to the Presbytery, which, at its
next meeting at Burgettstown, April 24, 1877, took
the desired action, accepting Mr. Stockton’s resig-
nation, and conferring on him the title “ Pastor
Emeritus.” . '

Agreeably to the request of this congregation, the
Presbytery met on the 20th of June following at the
Cross Creek Church, whence an adjournment was
made to the grove near the village, where the people
and members of Presbytery present listened to an ad-

dress by Dr. Stockton embracing a history of his long

pastorate. The Rev. J . S. Marques spoke on behalf
of the congregation, and the Rev. J . I. Brownson
on behalf of the Presbytery. In the address of Dr.
Stockton he said that during the ministry of the
Rev. Joseph Smith between one hundred and two
hundred members were added tothe church; that
under Rev. Thomas Marques four ‘hundred members
were gathered into its fold; that during his own pas-
torate fifteen hundred and forty-five were enrolled,
more than one hundred had become ruling ‘elders,
forty-three had become ministers of the gospel, and
others had filled important places in the State. Of
all who were members when his pastorate“ commenced,

a half-century ‘before, only one, he said, then re- .

mained, “ a venerable motherin Israel, who is with us
to-day, in the ninety—first year of her age.” -This old.
lady (Mrs. Hannah Lee) lived nearly five years longer,
and died Feb. 24, 1882, in her ninety-sixth year. Her
funeral was attended by her old pastor only about two
months before his death. '

After his retirement from the pastoral charge of
this church, Dr. Stockton passed the remainder of his
useful life in the quiet of his home at Cross Creek
village. He died on Friday, May 5, 1882, in the

CROSS CREEK ' TOWNSHIP. A 7 39

seventy-ninth year of his age. The funeral services
were held at the church on the 8th of May. “About
thirty ministers were present. The services were in-
troduced with a brief and affectionate statement by
the present faithful pastor, the Rev. W. H. Mc-
Oaughey, Dr. Stockton’s successor; the Scriptures
were read by the Rev. Smith F. Grier, and prayer
was offered by the venerable Dr. Beatty, of Steuben-
ville, Ohio. Then came three most suitable and timely
addresses by members of the Presbytery. The first

was delivered by Dr. J. I. Brownson, who gave a beau-

tiful life-picture of Dr. Stockton as a preacher, friend,
scholar, educator, theologian, and presbyter, having
known him intimately for more than thirty-three
years. He was always the same in sunshine and in

' storms, in safety and danger. He was a wise coun-
selor.

He was always firm and decided, but never
rash ‘nor reckless. He was one of the most prudent
men of-his day. This was owing to his excellent judg-
ment and profound common sense. These never failed
him, but served as regulators to all his actions, and a
balance-wheel to all his movements. He was ex-
tremely modest and unassuming. He made no dis-
play of his power or parade about his learning. But
the speaker had no time to portray all the noble traits
of character. -Dr. Stockton was an eminent Christian
man. His piety was not of the negative kind, but

6 was a life in the soul, a principle that regulated all

his actions. His life was an embodiment of all the
truths he so. ably preached for’ more than fifty-five
years.” The address of Dr. Brownson was followed
by others by the Rev.“VV. H. ‘Lester, Rev. J ohn'S.

vMarques, and Rev. Dr. C. C. Beatty. The services

were of an unusually‘ impressive character and at-
tended by a great assemblage of people.

The successor of Dr. Stockton and present pastor
of this church is the Rev. W. H. McCaughey, who
first preached here as a supply July 8, 1877, about two
weeks after Dr. Stockton.’s retirement. A call was
extended to him on the 13th of August, which was
accepted, and he was ordained and installed on -the
31st_of October, 1877. In 1878 a lot was purchased
and a parsonage built upon it at a cost of about two
thousand five hundred dollars. The present member-
ship of the church is two hundred and twenty-five.

Associate Reformed Presbyterian Church‘ at
Patterson’s Mi11s.—During the years 1864 and 1865,
Rev. Alexander_Weills, a Lutheran minister, preached
part of his time at the school-house at Patterson’s Mills.
In the spring of 1866, Rev. James Calderhead, an As-
sociate Reformed Presbyterian minister, came into the
vicinity and preached, and on the 8th of July, 1866,
he organized the present congregation with forty mem-
bers. Thomas McOorkle, William J. Patterson, and
James G. Smiley were the first elders, and were or-
dained May 10, 1867. Rev. Mr. Oalderhead supplied
the congregation until May, 1867.’ The Rev. W. M.

1 By James M. K. Reed.

McElwee then came andsupplied until 1869, when
he was followed by Rev. VV. S. Moflitt, who supplied
during part of the year 1869.

During the summer'of 1869 the congregation, which
was still worshiping in the school.-house, built a frame
church" at a cost of about $2500, on one acre of land
purchased from Samuel M. Oowen for $100. On the
first Sabbath of November of the same year the new
church was dedicated to the worship of Almighty.
God, the Rev. Moffitt holding communion services at
that time. During the spring andsummer ofi1870,
Rev. James A. Myers, of Kentucky, supplied the
pulpit. On Wednesday, August 10th of the same
year, Rev. W. S. Moflitt preached, and moderated a
call for the Rev. Mr. Myers for two-thirds of his time
and services, which call- was accepted, and on Nov. 6,
1870, Mr. Myers preached his first sermon as pastor
of this congregation, and on the 24th of April, 1871,
he was installed by Presbytery, the Revs. Moffitt and
Barrowes delivering the charges. Mr. Myers -devoted
the remaining one-third of his time to a congregation
in West Virginia known as Roach’s.

On the 21st of May, 1877, James M. K. Reed and
W. C. Jackson were elected elders, and soon after
Mr. Jackson was installed, but Reed declined. A
Bible-class and Sabbath-school was formed in 1865,
and continues to meet during the summer seasons.

Rev. Mr. Myers continued with much acceptance
as pastor until May, 1881, when, on account of ill
health of himself and family, he was constrained to
resign his charge. Rev. R. H. McAulay has since
supplied the pulpit. On the 14th of September, 187 4,
a choir was appointed with Joseph R. Brown as leader.-
which position he still retains. On the 28th of No-
vember, 1871, the first interment in the burial-ground
connected with this church was made,—a young son
of Simeon Marques.

4;;
fivf

BIOGRAPHICAL ,SKETCHES.

JAMES PATTERSON.

‘ James Patterson, the elder, was born in Ireland in
1708, emigrated to America in‘ 1728, and settled in
Little Britain township, Lancaster Co.,. Pa. There
he married and raised a family of ten children, five
sons and five .daughters. The sons were William,
John, Samuel, James, and Thomas. The first-named
son, William Patterson, was born in 1733. He was
twice married. His first wife was Rosanna Scott,

‘who died April 5, 1769. By her he had these chil-

dren: Mary, Moses, Samuel, Thomas, and James.
April 10, 1770, William married his second wife,
Elizabeth Brown, by whom he had ten children,-’—
John, Rosanna, .William, Nathaniel, Rachel, Eliza-
beth, Josiah, Hannah, Nathan, and Eleanor. In
1779, William removed with his family to Washing-
ton County, Pa., and settled in Cross Creek township

740

HISTORY OF WASHINGTON COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA.

upon a farm now owned by his great-grandson, R. M.
Patterson, where he died June 29, 1818. His wife,
Elizabeth Brown, died about the year 1828. Their
son, “Gen.” Thomas Patterson, was born in Lancas-
ter County, Pa., Oct. 1, 17 64, and was fifteen years of
age when he came with his parents to Washington
County. He was a farmer and miller, was a promi-

nent and influential citizen, representing Washington A

County for a number of years in the United States
Congress, and died Nov. 17, 1841. About the year
1795 he married Elizabeth Finley, of Westmoreland
County, Pa. She died Jan. 6, 1837. They had twelve
children. Two died in infancy. Those who grew to
manhood and womanhood were VV_illiam, James,
Samuel, Mary, John, Thomas, Finley, Elizabeth,
Moses, and Rosanna. C

James, the second son of Gen. Thomas and Eliza-
beth (Finley) Patterson, and whose portrait is here
given, was born in Cross Creek township, April 24,
1798. His home was always in the township where
he was born, and the principal business of his life
was farming. But when a young man he was em-
ployed in his father’s mill, and was at onetime en-
gaged in merchandising. In 1837 he moved to the
farm now the home of his son, T. M. Patterson,
where he died Aug. 17, 1861. He was married June
29,» 1820, to Eliza Walker, daughter of Alexander

. and Elizabeth (Norris) Walker, of Cross Creek town-

ship. Their children were eleven in number. The
oldest and youngest died in infancy. Those who
grew up and married are Elizabeth, the wife of Rus-
sell T. Johnson; Mary, the wife of Richard Wells;
Thomas M., married to Sarah J. Barber, is a farmer
in Cross Creek township; Alexander W., married
Jane Hodgens. He is a wool dealer, and resides in

New York City; Jane, the wife of Robert Marques,‘

died May 29, 1859, aged twenty-seven years; Am-
brose, married Margaret A. Richey, and resides in
Plattsmouth, Neb.; James M., married Eleanor
Campbell; and resides in Plattsmouth, Neb.; David
F., married Mary Gardner, and is a lawyer, residing
in Allegheny City; Emily A. is the wife of Samuel
Latta, and resides in Cass County, N eb.

In politics James Patterson was a decided Denic-
crat, but not so well known in the party councils as
his brothers, Finley, William, and John, who were
members of the General Assembly of the State.
Trained by a father who was proverbial for his han-
esty, his life was marked by strict integrity in all
business transactions. As a business man, he was one
of the most successful in the county, winning wealth
and position Without sacrificing any of those exalted
characteristics which betoken the honest man and
pure citizen. For nearly thirty-four years he was a
member of the Presbyterian Church of Cross Creek,

' Pa., and as Providence had put him in trust of ample

means, he gave a liberal support to all the institutions
of the gospel, especially to those schemes of benevo-
lence in which the Presbyterian Church is engaged.

1 river trader.

During many painful and lingering months of sick-
ness he was sustained and cheered by the promises of

the gospel, and when he passed through the dark valley '

of the shadow of death,-the rod and staff of the Shep-
herd of Israel so comforted him that he fearedno evil.

HON. WALTER CRAIG.

Hon. Walter Craig was born in Ireland Dec. 1,
1786. He was the youngest in a familyof seven
children, and when six years of age he came with
his family to America, and was settled near V\7est
Middletown,'\Vashington Co., Pa. He received a
good English education, and learned the business of
surveying. He was also in early life a “down”
In 1818-19 he was a member of the
House of Representatives of the State. In 1837-38
he was a member of the State Constitutional Con-
vention. In 1843, ’44, and ’45 he was a member of
the State Senate. He also held important county
oflices. All of these trusts he fulfilled with honor to

himself and profit to the State; His character for"

incorruptible integrity was not excelled by any of
his compeers. A part of his life was spent in farm-
ing, but about 1830 he sold his farm and engaged in
mercantile pursuits in the village of Cross Creek,
where he continued for about ten years, after which
heiretired from active business.

Aug. 3, 1819, he was married to Elizabeth Scott, who 1

was born in Washiiigton County, Pa., Aug. 8, 1794.
She died Aug. 18, 1866. The children by this mar-
riage were Jane, the wife of Maj. William Lee; Mar-
garet A., the widow of Dr. P. W. Dryden, deceased,
of Christian” County, Ky. ; Elizabeth, the wife of
Rev. A. H. Kerr, of Rochester, Minn.; David married
Amanda VVhite. He was a prominent. lawyer of
New Castle, Lawrence Co., Pa. He was a member of
the convention which formed the present Constitution
of the State, and died Nov. 10, 1873; John married
Catharine Phipps. She died in 1852, and he has
since spent much of his time in the western country.
Henry Martin married Mary Templeton and resides
in Nebraska; Joseph died in 1855, aged twenty-one
years; three others, Walter.Scott, William, and Wal-
ter Stockton, died in infancy. A

In 1828, Hon. 'Walter Craig became a member, and
in 1831 was elected, ordained, and installed a ruling
elder in the Presbyterian Church of Cross Creek, Pa.,
and continued to be one of its strongest pillars to his
death. He was wise in counsel, remarkably attentive
to all the ordinances of divine worship, and ever
ready to sacrifice his time, labor, and money to pro-
mote the cause of Christ.
the house of his daughter in the State of Indiana,
whither he had gone on a visit, and at his request his
flesh was brought to sleep with the dust of his de-
ceased wife in the cemetery of Cross Creek, Pa.

“Mark the perfectman and behold the upright; for 1

the end of that man is peace.”

He died Feb. 10, 1875, at 5

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cnoss CREEK TOWNSHIP.

JOHN N. WALKER.

David VValkcr, grandfather of John N. Walker,
was a native of New Jersey, and his wife was Eliza-
beth Elliott, of the same State. Soon after their mar-
ria.ge they settled in Huntingdon County, Pa., where
their ten children were born. The oldest. of these
children, Alexander VValker, born in 1774, settled in
Cross Creek (now Jefferson) township, Washington
County, Pa., in 1795. He was a farmer, and in 1800
married Elizabeth Norris, by whom he had twelve.
children, two of whom died young. Those who grew
up and married were Eliza, James, John N., Susan,
Alexander, Mary A., ‘David S., Isabel, Drucilla, and
Samuel. ‘

Alexander Walker died in 1855, and his wife, Eliz-

I abeth Norris, in 1866. I

John N. Walker was born in what is now Jefferson
township, Washington County, June 24, 1808, and

' died in Cross Creek township Feb. 15, 1882: He was -
a lifelong farmer. Until twenty-one years of age he

worked upon his father’s place, and from that until
his death upon the farm now owned by his son, John
N. Walker. Nov. 18, 1830, he married Anna Vance,
who died May 15, 1870. They had twelve children,
none of whom are now living. Mr. Walker was
thoroughly in earnest in whatever he undertook, en-

ergetic, hard-working, and diligent. His habits were '
' temperate and regular; his manners unassuming.
.His business capacity enabled" him to accumulate

enough to give each of his children a fair start in
life. He was for many years a member of the Pres-
byterian Church. , _

’ .He early identified himself with the Democratic

. party, and always advocated its principles. 'He held
important township oflices, and in 1855 was elected to '
the office of county commissioner, which he filled for

three years. In 1869 he was a candidate for the State
Assembly, and carried his nativecounty, but was de-
feated in Beaver County, which was then a part of
the legislative district. In all public positions he
labored for the welfare of those whom he represented.

, DAVID S. WALKER.

David S. Walker was born in Cross Creek township,
\Vashington County, Pa., July 5, 1816. His early life
was marked by no special incident, and he entered
upon the threshold of manhood possessed of a strong

constitution and habits of industry, and with traits of ,

character which distinguished him through life as
generous-hearted, honest, and true. He acted from
convictions, and no temptation or influence could
swerve him from the path of honor and duty. He was
trulypatriotic, and was an earnest advocate of the
free institutions of his country. He was married
March 8,1838, to Eliza Vance, and settled in his
native locality, where, by his industry and frugality,

he acquired considerable wealth, and became. the

7-11

owner of one of the finest agricultural farms in the
vicinity, upon which he lived until 1875, when he
retired from active- business pursuits and moved to
Burgettstown, Pa., at which place he died in May,
1877. He was a great admirer of curiosities and the
natural scenery of his country, and visited and trav-
eled in almost every State of the Union during the
latter years of his life. -He" was one of the early, ex-
cursionists to California over the Pacific Railroad
after its completion. Possessed ‘of remarkable de-
scriptive powers, it was always a treat to his friends
and neighbors to engage him in conversation after his
return from such visits. As a citizen, he was enter-
prising and identified with the leading industries and

improvements of the community in whichhe moved.‘

He was frequently chosen a juror in the State and
United States Courts, and in 1876 was a candidate for
the State Legislature. As a friend, he was all that
could be asked or expected. He was frank and gen-
erous, with no jealousy in his nature.
be truly said, “ His words gave courage and new
strength to every heart.” He was always a liberal
contributor to benevolent objects, and took great
interest in the welfare of the needy and oppressed.
As a husband and father, he was devoted to his family.
He loved to see others happy, and found much of his
enjoyment in the happiness of those who surrounded
him. He had _no personal enemies, and his generous
heart had no place for enmity. IIis children were
seven in number. One, Eva, died in infancy. His
oldest son, William H. Harrison ’Walker, enlisted as
a soldier in the civil war. He was the chief musician
in Capt. Templeton’s company, anddied Oct. 4, 1861,
in his twenty-third year. The others are Mary, Anne,
Alexander H., Alice, and Jane.

MAJ. WM. LEE.

The grandparents of Maj. William Lee, Hugh and
Mary Lee, emigrated from Ireland’ to America in
1789, and with their family of five sons and three
daughters settled in Washington County, Pa. They
purchased one hundred and sixty acresof land, and

cleared and improved. the same. The children all .

married, a.nd all _left the old homestead except Hugh,
the father of Maj. William, who remained with his
parents, and at their deaths,‘ about the year 1815,
became the owner of the land by will. In the same
year he purchased one hundred and sixty acres ad-
joining what he had inherited.\lAt that time business
was very much depressed from the effects of the war
of 1812, and wheat was the principal product of his

farm, and sold as low as twenty-five cents per bushel. ii

Sheep-raising, now one of the principal industries of
Washington County, was thenconfined to a few
coarse ones for family use. In 1817, Hugh Lee, Gen.
Thomas Patterson-, and William Vance purchased a
few fine sheep from the importation of Wells and
Dickerson. The flocks steadily increased, others em.-

Of him it can _

742

HISTORY OF WASHINGTON COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA.

barked in the same business, and it grew until it be-
came the staple industry of the county. , -

In 1804, Hugh Lee married Hannah Orr. They
had ten children, five of whom are yet living. Hugh
Lee diedin 1837. His wife, Hannah (Orr) Lee, died
in 1882, in her -ninety-fifth year. Maj. William Lee,
the oldest son of Hugh and Hannah (Orr) Lee, was
born in 1807. He became the owner of’ the Lee
homestead in 1835, it being. willed to him by his
father. In 1836 he married Jane, eldest daughter
of Hon. VValter Craig. ,His life business has been
farming and stock-raising‘. In 1876 he dividedhis
property among his children, and has since been
living a retired life. ‘He holds a commission as major
in the State militia from Governor David R. Porter.
He is a member of the Presbyterian Church, in which

he has been an elder since 1858. His grandfather.

a.nd father were elders in the same church. Maj.
Lee’s success in life is the result of earnest purpose,

determination which never flagged, exactness and
promptnessin the transaction of business, a deep
sympathy with others’ wants, a sacred regard for his
word,.and a faithful discharge of all obligations, with
a settled purpose of right which knows no such word
as fail. Although nearly as old as the century, he
is still strong in body and mind, and enjoys the pros-
perity and society of his childrenand neighbors.
His children, all of whom are living, are Hugh, a
farmer in Cross Creek township, married to Marion
Stockton, daughter of the Rev. John Stockton, D.D. ;

’ Elizabeth Mary, the wife of John N. McDonald, of

vMcDonal'd’s Station, Washington Co., Pa.; Anna,
the wife of Richard V. Johnson, of North Strabane
township, Washington Co.; Walter C., married to
Thomasine Buchanan, owns and resides upon the farm
upon which his great-grandfather settled ; Hannah is

unmarried and resides with her parents; John S. is un- ’

married and resides upon a farm near his father’s home.

4 L A
v

    D ONE GAL :rovvNs HI 1?.

4;;
Vvf

DONEGAL was one of the thirteen original town-
ships of Washington Countylaid out in 1781. Its
territory then embraced what is now included in the
townships of Donegal, Buffalo, East and West Fin-

ley, and the western portion of Greene County. The .

first reduction of the large area of this township was
made «by the erection of Finley township from it, in
1788, as mentioned in thehistory of East Finley.
Five years later (1793) the petition of John Hill,
Martin Horn, Nathaniel McDole, David McMillan,
John Buchanan, and fifty-five others, inhabitants of

the township of Donegal, was presented to the Court-

of Quarter Sessions at the June term of the ear
named, representing that the inhabitants of the east-
ern part of the ‘township were laboring under great
difficulties in transacting business before the justices
“at unreasonable» distances from home, as also in
being obliged to repair ‘roads at extreme distances,

. with divers other inconveniences occasioned by the

great extent of the township,” and praying that the
court divide the township and erect from a partof it
a new township, to be called New German township,
with boundaries as follows: “Beginning at the forks
of the run near Richard Waller_’s, thence by a straight
line to Buffelow Creek at Capt. GIover’s, thence up
the creek to Canton or Hopewell Line, thence by
Canton township line to the Widdow Dickerson’s,
inclusive, thence strait by the Ridge Dividing the
waters of Wheelen and Buffalow untill south of

Thomas Byers’, thence by a straight Line to the

. place of Beginning.” - 1
This "petition was reported on unfavorably and re-

jected by the court. _Five years later, at the April
sessions of the court, in the year 1798, the inhabitants
presented another petition praying for a division and
erection'of a township, to embrace theterritory men-
tioned in the former petition, and an additional area
lying north of it. This petition was laid over from
the April term till the January term of 1799, then
continued through the February term and to March,
at which term the court ordered a division of Donegal
township, and the “ upper division” to be erected into

a new township, “to be called Buffalo township,” thus .

reducing Donegal to limits nearly identical with those

’ of the present time, only slight changesin boundary

having since taken place. The boundaries of Done-
gal are Independence township on the north,‘ Buffalo
and East Finley on the east, East Finley and West

‘ Finley on the south, and the State of West Virginia

on the west. The principal streams of Donegal are

Buffalo Creek andthe “Dutch Fork” of the same-

creek, the former marking the northern boundary of
this township against Independence, and thelatter
flowing northwardly through the central part of Don-
egal into Buffalo Creek. Buck Run and Rodgers’
Run are jinconsiderable water-courses, flowing into
Buffalo Creek by courses generally parallel to that of
the‘ Dutch Fork. Several small streams head in the

DONEGAL TOWNSHIP.   743

TH

southwest part of Donegal, and flow southwestwardly

to join their waters with those of Wheeling Creek.’

The old National road crosses Donegal township
south of the centre, running in a general east-and_-

, west course, and passing through the boroughs of

Claysville and ~West Alexander. The Hempfield
Railroad, connecting Wheeling, W’. Va., with Wash-
ington, Pa., also passes in the same general course
through the township and by the two boroughs above
named. Its route through the eastern part of the
township is nearly parallel with that of the National
road, ‘but through the western half lies more northerly
along the waters of the Dutch Fork. The ra.ilroad

has been in operation from Claysville westward for‘

more than twenty—five years.

The earliest white settlement’ within the limits of
the township, of Donegal of which any record or
other information has been found was that made by
Thomas Clark in 177 3.. Proof that such a settlement
was made by him at that time is found in the records
of the surveyor of Ohio County, Va., which county
at that time, and until the adjustment of the bound-
ary line ‘between that State and Pennsylvania, was
supposed to extend eastward so as to include the
-western half of. the present county of Washington.
The part of the surveyor’s minutes above mentioned

. as proving Clark’s settlement has reference to a tract

of three hundred and sixty-three acres, called “ Apol-
los,” taken up by John Chapman, assignee of Thomas
Clark, on a certificate issued by the Virginia com-
missioners at Redstone Old Fort, Nov. 16, 17 79,
describing the tract granted as “lying in the county
of Ohio, on the waters of Buffalo Creek, to include
an actualsettlement made by the said Thomas Clark
in the year 1773.” . Nothing beyond this is learned
concerning Thomas Clark or his settlement. His
name has not been found elsewhere in any of the rec-
ords pertaining to this region, nor does it occur in
any of the early assessment-rolls of the township.
The names of John, Benjamin, and Hezekiah Clark
are found among those of the early taxables of Done-
gal, but whether or not they were sons or other rela-
tives of Thomas, or whether the latter died or re-
moved to other parts after his settlement here, and’
before the issuance of the Virginia certificate to
Chapman*for the tract on which Clark settled six
years before, is not known. Other facts taken from
the survey books, having reference to tracts on which
very early settlements were made by persons concern-
ing whom no further information. can be had, are
given below, as follows: .

The tract of four hundred acres named “Sylvia’s
Plain” in the survey, which was made Feb. 17, 1785,

A was granted to Jacob Lefler by a Virginia certificate,

in which it was described as being adjoining lands of
Jacob- Rice (Reis) and. Christopher Wygand, “in
the county of Ohio, on Buffalo Creek, to include his
[Lefler’s] actual settlement made in the year 17 74.”

“Content,” a tract of four hundred acres on- Buffalo
waters, in what afterwards became the township of
Donegal, was granted to Thomas Waller, on a.Vir-
ginia certificate, dated Feb. 22, 1780, “ to include his
actual settlement made in the year 1775.” In the
survey this tract. is described as adjoining lands of
Richard Wallace, Samuel Boyd, and Barnet J. Boner.
The name of Richard Wallace is not found on subse-
quent assessm ent—rolls of Donegal, but there are found
in 1787 the names of" Barnet Boner and Thomas

Waller. The last named was the original owner of
the tract “Superfine Bottom,” on a part of which ‘

the town of Claysville was laid out as elsewhere re-
lated. It was a tract of four hundred acres, taken by
him on a Pennsylvania warrant, Feb. 25, 1785; sur-

veyed on-the 2d of April next following, and adjoin-

ing lands of Robert Henry and Robert VValker, both
of whose names appear in the Donegal assessment of
1.787. » —
A Virginia certificate dated Nov. 16, 1779, grants to

Thomas Chapman four hundred acres of land “lying ‘
and being in the county of Ohio, on the waters of .

Buffalo Creek, to include his settlement made in the
year of our Lord one thousand seven hundred and
seventy-five (1775).” This tract was surveyed to
Chapman as “Indian Burying-Ground.” It appears
that he became a permanent settler in Donegal, for
his name is shown on the assessment-roll of the town-
ship for 1787-, but without specification of the num-
ber of acres on which he was then assessed.

« “Spring Head” tract was surveyed to Lorgy (?)

Smith Nov. 25, 1785, on a Pennsylvania warrant.

issued to him on the 8th of the preceding September.
It was surveyed as two hundred and fifty-nine acres,
adjoining lands of James McMillan and Thomas
Hamilton. McMillan is found named as a taxable
in Donegal in 1787, but neither Thomas Hamilton’s
nor ‘.‘ Lorgy” Smith’s names appear. -
James. Glover received a warrant (dated June 3,
1793), for forty-seven acres, situated on, the waters of

Buffalo Creek, and including an improvement. This

improvement was evidently made by Glover prior to
1787, for in that year his name appears on the Don.e-
gal assessment. The tract warranted to him as above
mentioned was surveyed to the Rev. David French
Dec. 30, 1823.

Jacob Rice’s (Reis’) tractof four hundred acres,
surveyed to him by William Hoge, Sept. 21, 1785, as
“ Turkey’s Nest,”. was taken up by him on a Virginia

. certificate granted in January, 1780. This tract has
before been mentioned as adjoining the tract on which’

Jacob Lefler made a settlement in 17 74. V

William Hawkins (as assignee of Robert McKain,
who must therefore have been an earlier settler here)
received a Virginia certificate for four hundred acres
of land on the Dutch Fork of Buffalo. The certifi-
cate bearsdate Feb. 17, 1780, and it was surveyed to
Hawkins in the July next following. On this tract
William Hawkins built his cabin home, on the south.

88

HISTORY OF WASHINGTON COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA.

Through all the Monongahela country and west-
ward to the Ohio River there was great consternation
and alarm and no little indignation at the with-
drawal of the garrisons of the frontier forts, McIntosh
and Laurens, and public meetings were_held to me-
morialize Congress and pray for the re-occupation of
the posts. But Congress could do nothing, for the
operations of the armies in the East called for all, and
more than all. the men and means at command. So
the borders were of necessity left for the time to take
care of themselves and ‘protect their exposed frontiers

V from savages, white outlaws, and the British.

Gen. McIntosh had retired, from the command of
the Western Department in 1779, and was succeeded
by Col. Daniel Brodhead, who, as it appears, was
invested with power to order out the militia of the
western counties through the several county lieuten-
ants. Early in 1780 the Indians commenced their
work of devastation in the frontier settlements. On
the 18th of March, Col. Brodhead, in ‘a communica-
tion to the president of the Council,‘ said, “I am
sorry to inform you that the Savages have already
begun their hostilities. Last Sunday morning at a
Sugar Camp upon Raccoon Creek five Menlwere
killed & three lads & «three girls taken prisoners. It

is generally conjectured that the Delawares” have

struck this blow, and it is probable enough, but it is
possible it may have been done by other Indians. If
the Delawares are set against us, with their numerous
alliances, they will greatly distress the frontier, as
my Force is quite too small to repell their invasions.
I have wrote to the Commander-in-Chief for a rein-
forcement from the main army, but I fear it will not
be in his power to detach any of the troops. . .‘ You
may rely on my giving every possible protection &
countenance to our settlements, but I have very little
in my power without ‘calling out the Militia, and for
them I have no provisions. What Col. Geo. Morgan
[congressional Indian agent] has been doing this
two years past I know not, but I conceive that if he
had been where his employment required we should
have been much better provided.” -
On the 27th of April the commandant said, in a lette
to the president of the Council, “ I am glad to hear

_ ‘of the four Companies voted to be raised by the

authority of the State for the Defense of the frontier,
and as I flatter myself the Eastern parts of the State
are at present freedrfrom apprehensions of Danger,
so I hope these Companies, when raised, will be or-
dered to this District, where the Enemy are remark-
ably hostile. .Between» forty and fifty men, women,
& Children have been killed & taken from what are
now called the Counties of Yoghogania, Monongalia,
&- Ohio since the first of March [meaning the country
west of the ,Monongahela River], but no damage has

1 Penn. Arch., 1779-81, p. 140.

2 It was afterwards proved that the Delawares had no hand in or
knowledge of this bloody ‘business, and it was so announced by Col.
Brodhead. I l - .

yet been done in the County of Westmoreland. It
is to be lamented that our treasury is low, ‘but as I
always avoid an anticipation of evil, so I hope for
better accounts from thence.” On the 13th ‘of May
he again wrote the president,3 saying, “ The Mingoes
are again prevailed on by English Goods & address
to disturb our repose. They have lately killed and
wounded severalpeople in Westmoreland.County, &
the Tracks of four parties have been discovered on
that frontier within the last four Days, and two par-
ties of Indians have crossed the Ohio between Logs-
town and this place [Fort Pitt] since Morning. I
have only the Cullings of the last year’s men left,
and can do but very little to prevent their incursions,
but do all I can.

“ The Delaware Indians continue their "professions
of Friendship, and some of them are now with my
Scouts; but having nothing but fair words to give
them, I expect they will soon be tired of this Service.
For heaven’s sake hurry up the Companies voted by
the Hon’ble Assembly, or Westmoreland County will
soon be a wilderness.”

In view of this alarming situation of affairs, Col.
Brodhead conceived that offensive operations against
the Indians west of the Ohio would be the surest
means of securing peace and safety for the frontier
settlements, and accordingly he at once commenced
the fitting out and organizing of such an expedition,
to be composed chiefly of troops drafted from the
militia of the western counties. Reference to this
proposed expedition is made in the following letter,
addressed by Brodhead to C01. Joseph Beelor,‘ county
lieutenant of Yohogania County, Va., it being a cir-
cular letteraddressed also to the lieutenants of the
Virginia counties of Monongalia and Ohio, viz. :

“HEAD-QUARTERS, Four PITT, May 9th, 1780.
“ DEAR SIR,——I find it will not be in my power to
provide for the number of men I have ordered to be

called into service so soon as I expected. Besides, I ’

have heard that a number of Artillery and Stores
and two Regiments of Infantry are now’ on their
march to reinforce my command. The account of
Artillery and Stores I have received officially, and I
believe the other may be credited.

“It will be essentially necessary for the leading
oflicers of your County to excite the greatest industry
in planting and sowing the Summer crop, and to have
your troops at Fort Henry (Wheeling, Va.) by the

4th day of next month. The Militia should "be"

drafted for two months, although the expedition will

probably end in one, and let them be well armed and

accoutred as circumstances will admit. Encourage
them to bring two weeks’ allowance of provisions lest
there should be a deficiency.

3 Pa. Arch., 1779-81, p. 246. g

4 Col. Beelor was a resident on Chartiers Creek, in what is now Peters
township, Washington Co. Therefore the, letter has, reference to the
drafting of troops from the militia in the region new Washington
County.

744

HISTORY OF WASHINGTON COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA.

side of the route of the later National road, at or near
the foot of the hill which has since been known as
Hawkins’ Hill. The land on which the Hawkins
home stood is or was recently owned by_ John Con-
nor. The old Hawkins cabin was demolished’, and

the logs from it were used to build aistable on the op-

posite side of the National roa.d. William Hawkins

did not long occupy and enjoy the farm obtained on‘

the Virginia certificate as above mentioned. In Sep-
tember, 1781, the Indians made an incursion, attack-
ing the house of Jonathan Link, on Middle Wheeling

' Creek,‘ and taking prisoners. the inmates (except

Jacob Fisher and Frank Hupp, whom they killed)
proceeded to the Hawkins cabin, where they captured
Miss Elizabeth Hawkins, daughter of William Haw-
kins,’ who had himself already been taken prisoner
by the same party at the house of Presley Peak (or
Peck) on the Dutch Fork. Mrs. Hawkins, the wife
of William and mother of Elizabeth, avoided capture
by hiding (with an infant in her arms) in the bushy
top of a fallen tree near their cabin. On their jour-
ney West the Indians barbarously murdered Link
and William Hawkins. His daughter Elizabeth be-
came the wife of a Shawanese chief, and though she
afterwards revisited the settlements, and could have

remained had she so elected, chose to return to live.

among the savages, and did so. Jacob Miller, who
was captured with Link and William Hawkins, made
his escape from the Indians, and returned to his friends
on the Dutch Fork of Buffalo.

Capt. Jacob Miller received a Virginia certificate
for four hundred acres of land in '-Donegal township,
which was surveyed to him Sept. 23, 1785, under the
name of “Wild Cat’s Forest.” He married Ann
Lefler, an_d their family was a large one——four boys
and five_ girls. Adam Miller married Miss Hewitt,
an.d for many years they lived on Ten-Mile Creek.
Being left a widower Adam was married again, to
Miss May Hootman, and they removed to Ohio.
Isaac Miller married Catharine Kelley, and they lived
and died in ‘Licking County, Ohio. John Miller’s
wife was Margaret Miller, and they lived on Buck
Run, in this township. Jacob, J r., fourth and last
son of Capt. Jacob Miller, married Rebecca Miller.
Mary, Capt. Miller’s oldest daughter, married Nich-
olas Clemens. Ann married Christian Horn, and
Catharine became the wife of Jacob Winter, who in
those days was a minister of considerable celebrity.
Jacob Winter, of Ohio, a politician of note and popu-
larity, is a descendant of theirs. »

John Hupp was one of the early settlers in Done-
gal, coming here from the East before 1780. An ac-_
count of the manner in which he was killed by ‘In-
dians at Miller’s block—house in 1782 is given on page
112 of this volume. The block-house mentioned stood
on the~farm. now owned by Clinton Miller. Two miles

1'In Donegal township about three miles soutli-southwest of the site
of West Alexander, and only two or three rods from the State line. . -

distant, on Buffalo Creek, was another called Rice's
block-house. This_was on the farm now ownedby
Charles Burrick. The locality where Hupp and Mil-
ler were killed is between West Alexander and West
Middletown, in Donegal township.

Isaac Cox might properly have been termed one of
the pioneers of Donegal township, as well as of Wash-
ington County. In 1776 he held the military grade
of captain, and was afterwards colonel. He took
part in Crawford’s cam paign, with Col. John Canon
and many other prominent people in the county. On
Nov. 3, 1786, Col. Cox took up one hundred and
seventy-eight acres of land in this township, to in-

'clude his previous improvement on the waters of

Buffalo Creek, James Clemens,James Russell, and
James Williams being the adjoining owners. _
Robert Humphreys took up the tract of land upon
whicheWest Alexander is built, and on it he laid out
the town as elsewhere mentioned. He was a Vir-
ginian, and lived. nearly on the State line between

Virginia and Pennsylvania: Robert ‘Humphreys was _

a Revolutionary soldier, and also took active part in
the numerous expeditions against the Indians. He was
a farmer afterwards, and for fifty years was an elder in
the Seceders’ Church. He died Aug. 19, .1834, aged
nearly eighty-three years. His son Robert owned
his farm after his death,'and it is now the property of
William Rice. The descendants of Robert Hum-
phreys, Sr., are few. ‘Miss R. Humphreys and
Thomas Patterson, .Esq., are said to be lineal de-
scendants, as is also Robert Humphreys, of. VVest
Virginia. . ' ,

VVilliam Humphreys took up, on a Virginia certifi-
cate, four hundred acres of land on Buffalo Creek,
whichwas surveyed to him Jan. 27, 1786, under the
title of “Venice.” It was situated close upon the
State line, and adjoined the lands of David McClure,
John McPherson, and Robert Humphreys.

Robert -Stephenson came into this section. from
York County just after the close of the Revolutionary
war, in which he served as a soldier. He owned four
hundred acres of land in Donegal township, near the
present railroad station near Vienna. His wife was

Elizabeth "Baird, of Virginia, and they had eight

‘children. John Stephenson married Sally Porter, and
Esther became the wife of Andrew Kerr. Robert
Stephenson was a justice of the peace during his resi-
dence in Donegal township. After some years living
here he sold his property to Thomas Stokely, and re--
moved to Brown County, Ohio.

James Stephenson, a brotherlof Robert, on April
18, 1796, warranted ninety-t\vo acres of land on the
waters of Buffalo Creek, in Findley township. "He
also had two hundred and two acres adjoining, called
“McCauley,” which was warranted. July 13, 1786.
He was a member of the State Legislature of Penn-
sylvania, and died during one of the sessions. James
Stephenson had but one son, John, . and he never

married. The daughters were Margaret, who married

' DONEGAL TOWNSHIP.

Benjamin Anderson, and livedand died on the old
farm; Mary, who married John Barr, and emigrated
to the ‘Vest, where she died; Ann, who married
David Brownlee, and also went VVest and died;
Nancy, who is the wife of ‘Adah Ramsey, and resides
in Ohio; and Catharine, who married James Deni-

V son, and lives on a part of the old James Stephenson

tract. ~
John and William Bryson bought land in Donegal‘

1' township as early as 1792. On August 27th‘of that

year they purchased two hundred acres of David M.
Clemmens,who had bought it of John and Andrew
Moore. The land was described as “lying on Castle-
man Run,” and was held by the last-named gentle-

_ men by virtue of an old improvement. VVilliam Bry-

son also bought one hundred and sixty-six acres of
land in this township of John Williamson, Nov. 30,
1808. John Bryson’s wife was Priscilla Lefore, and
their family numbered ten cl1ildren,——five sons and
five daughters. Of the daughters, Margaret married
John Lowe, and after some years removed to Ohio
and died there. Mary married another John Lowe,

-a cousin of the former, and also went to Ohio. Jane

became the wife of Kennedy Kerr, and lived in Ken-
tucky. Hannah was the wife of William Bryson,
who purchased the land with her father, John Bryson.
Priscilla became Mrs. AndrewAnderson, and emigrated

A to Ohio. Of the sons of John Bryson, three——John,

Thomas, and J ames——nev’er married. Isaac married
Jane Kerr, and went to Kentucky. William also mar-
ried, andlremoved to that State. VVilliam Bryson,
who was a son-in-law of John Bryson, had a family
of six children. His daughter Margaret married
Thomas .M. Hughes, and resides in Taylorstown.
John married Nancy Chambers and lives in Missouri,
and William married Louisa VVyatt and emigrated to
Texas. Mary is Mrs. David Winters, of Donegal
township." ‘John married Isabella Rizer, and lives
near the Virginia line, and Hannah is still unmarried.
The farm of the elder John Bryson is now in the pos-
session of his grandson, Joseph Bryson,» 1
Christopher Winter emigrated from Germany to
this country,,stopping first in this State east of the

mountains. There he marriedLMiss Catharine Shaf-

fer, and with her crossed the mountains, and settled
in Donegal township. He took up a tract of land
containing four hundred acres, and afterwards bought
three hundred -acres of the McClelland tract. The
land which Christopher \Vinter took up is now the
property of the Linvilles and David W'inter. The
family of Christopher VVinter was four sons a.nd four
daughters. «John, the eldest, married'Miss Fremmer,
and removed to Indiana. David married Elizabeth
McCoy, and remained in Donegal township. A son
of theirs lives on the Winter homestead. Samuel
VVinter and his wife, Catharine Ravenaught, went to
Hancock County, Va. Jacob VVinter became a min-
ister. His wife was Catharine, a daughter of Capt.
Jacob Miller, and their home was in Licking County,

7-15

Ohio. Christopher VVinter, Jr., married Catharine
Simmons. Catharine VVinter became Mrs. Simmer,
and emigrated to Kentucky. Elizabeth "was the wife
of Samuel Sheller, and lived. and died in VVashing-
ton_ County. Daniel Sheller, of Claysville, is her
son. Mary, VVinter married Solomon Reed, and
moved to Coshocton County, Ohio. The VVinter
family has been intimately associated with the church
of the United Brethren in Christ. 1.

William Bonar was of Scotch-Irish descent. On
Jan. 28, 1797, he purchased one hundred and sixty
acres of land of Charles Bonar, a part of the three
hundred and seventy-five acre tract called “ Quarrel,”
for which Charles Bonar received a patent in 1786.
Barnet Bonar, a son of William’ Bonar, married
Miss Jane Donoughey. They had a family of nine
children. VVilliam married and went to Indiana.
David mar_ried Miss Dickey, and emigrated to F air-

field, Iowa. Joseph married Miss Brotherton,- and 1

went to Ohio. Samuel married Elizabeth Andrews,
and lives in this township on the old Bonar home-
stead. Mary Bonar became Mrs. Kirkpatrick; Eliza-

beth became Mrs. McCullough; Sarah became Mrs.

Kelley; Martha died in infancy; and nothing is
learned of Margaret. L '
Robert Crourley was a resident of this township in
1798, and at that time lived on the farm now owned
by John Stewart, which is the Gourley homestead.
He was a son of the Mr. Gourley who was killed
many years ago‘ near Claysville. Robert Gourley
married Margaret Roney, whose people lived in
Wheeling, Va., where her _mother ‘died in 1852. The
children of Robert Crourley numbered nine, five sons
and four daughters. Of these Robert, Eliza, Thomas,
and James never married. Robert, Thomas, and
James are residents of Illinois. Alexander married
Hester Richey, and they live in Montgomery County,
Iowa. John married Mary J . Marshal, and Sarah is
the wife of Rev. N. L. Laferty, of the United Presby-
terian Church, and lives in Illinois. Catharine mar-

ried James Mercer, also of Illinois, and Susanna died

unmarried in 1850. Robert Grourley and his wife
are still living, both octogenarians. They have had
no death in their family for thirty years.

James Campsey was a farmer, who came. from the
north of Ireland in 1794, and first located in the
East. From there he came to VVashingt0n County,
arriving here May 1, 1801. He purchased one hun-
dred and thirty acres of land in Donegal township
and built him a cabin after the fashion of those days.
He reared a family of five children,—four sons and
one daug‘hter,—all of whom are dead save the two
youngest, James Campsey and Mrs. Rebecca Con-
naughey. The nearest neighbors to the cabin home
of James Campsey were the Bonar and Roney fami-
lies, and that of James" Hutchinson.
descendants now live in‘ East Finley township. Be-

fore Mr. Campsey’s arrival the Roneys had erected a 1

fort as a place of refuge in times of danger, which

The Roney 7

716

HISTORY OF WASHINGTON COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA.

was located on Hercules Roney’s farm. Another fort
was built on the farm now belonging to T. C. Noble,
near Claysville. North of the site of Claysville was
the renowned Rice’s Fort, built by Daniel Rice, who
owned the farm upon which it was built. Northeast
of that was the property of Robert Walker, who also
built a ,block—house; and, not far west of Claysville
was still another block-house, ‘built and owned by
Thomas VVallower. Notwithstanding ‘Robert Walker
had built a place of safety upon his own farm, the
Indians captured his wife and took her down the
VVheeling Creek trail, but she escaped and returned
home. Thomas Stokely took up and received a patent
for a tract of land containing three hundred and fifty-
two acres, on the head-waters of Buffalo Creek, in
Donegal township, which was called “ Stockdale.”
This property still remains in its original shape (save
improvements that have been made upon it), and has
never changed‘ hands but once, when James Camp-
sey, Sr., its present owner, purchased it of the Stokely
heirs. James Campsey, Sr., is the son of the subject

‘ of the beginning of this sketch, and is now in his

seventy-ninth year. He has a property of one hun-
dred thousand dollars made by farming. He has a
fine home in Claysville, and, having plac‘ed his splen-
did farm in the care of his son, James Campsey, J r.,
is enjoying the evening of his life in the midst. of
plenty, and surrounded by his\family_ and numerous
friends. , '

.Charles Stoolfire was a farmer who lived and died
in Donegal township. His home was a farm of one
hundred and six acres of land, which he purchased
of George Humbaugh, Aug. 18, 1804, a part of the
tract “Freedom,” patented to Mark Causland Jan.
15, 1798. The homestead of Charles Stoolfire is now
owned by Mr. Ralsto_n. _He had a very large family
of children, eleven of whom reached mature age.
Joshua married Margaret Miller. Jacob, who mar-
ried Isabella Rogers, and Margaret, the wife of Alex-
ander Hunt, both live in Licking County, Ohio.
Catharine married Jacob Grear, and went to Han-
cock County, Ohio. Lydia also married, and lives in
Ohio. Sarah became the wife of James McKey, and
removed to Illinois. George married Nancy Madden,
and lives in this State. David went to Kansas, where
he married, and Susan, who became Mrs. Joseph
Ritchie, lives in Ohio. Nancy is Mrs. John Rush,
and resides near VVest Middletown, in this county.
Eliza died single. Mrs. Daniel Sheller, Mrs. Ruth
Hayburn, and other residents in this vicinity are
lineal descendants of Charles Stoolfire.

George Morrow came with his family from the
north of Ireland directly to Donegal township in
1819. He‘ settled on a farm containing one hundred

and sixty acres, which hebought of Adam Weaver.

It is now owned by Abraham Morrow, his son, who
was born in 1817, two years before their emigration
to America. George Morrow, had a family of ten

, children, two of them, girls, dying in infancy. Of

John G. Page.

the others, Thomas died when five years of age, and 7

Isaac died quite young. David married Emily Sned-
baker, and now lives in Licking County, Ohio. .Abra-
ham married Jane Defrance, and lives in this town-
ship. Noah married Mary A..Guy, and went to
Delaware County, Ohio. Mary became the -wife of
Joseph Alexander. Their only son, Joseph, resides
in Athens County, Ohio. Elizabeth Morrow married
John M. Sloan, and removed to Ohio; and Matilda
Morrow, who became Mrs. Milton Samburn, removed
to Athens County, in that State. J ,

James, McQuown, who died in 1864, at the age of
eighty years, was an early settler in this township.
In 1805 he married Miss Sarah McGaw, and in 1810
they settled in West Alexander, where he followed
the trades of carpenter and cabinet-maker. In 1840
he was county surveyor. He purchased a farm of
William Hawkins, which is at present owned by
His wife, Sarah McQuown, died in
1858, aged seventy-six years.

John, Laird was born in Irel.and, and with his
father, John Laird, Sr., emigrated to America, and
after some years came to Donegal township. John
Laird, J r.,’bought the tract of land which is now the
property of the widow of Alexander Hayborn. He
had five children,—Jesse resides in Kansas, Robert
is in this township, John resides in Claysville, and
Mary Jane died after her marriage. The daughter
Margaret died many years ago. _ '

Jacob Rizor was a settler in Donegal township be-
fore 1787, as his name is found on the assessment-roll

of that year. He purchased by verbal contract from

Jacob Lefler, the father of his wife, fifty acres of
land, to which he did not obtain a legal title during
his lifetime. On the 20th of October, 1825, the land
was conveyed to Elizabeth, widow of Jacob Rizor,
for her use during her life, to go at her death to the
sons of Jacob and Elizabeth Rizor, viz.: John, Abra-
ham, Jacob, George, and Henry Rizor. An account
of an interview with the last-named son of Jacob
Rizor, by a. correspondent of the Chronicle, was pub-
lished bythat paper in the fall of 1880, as follows:

f‘ At'Dutch Fork there resides an old man, Henry

Rizor by name, who it was said could possibly relate .

something about the Indian ravages in the county.
Thither the writer bent his steps, and had the pleasure
of meeting a white-haired old man, whose health was
quite vigorous until within a year since. He was
born at Dutch Fork Feb. 29, 1790, and if he lives‘
until next Februaryhe will be ninety—one years old.
A year ago he was knocked down and run over by a
buggy. He was ruptured, ‘and has since, been unable
to perform work or go far away from the house. He
distinctly ‘recalled the incidents connected with Abra-
ham Rice’s block-house, and says at one time two
hundred Indians appeared at the fort. ‘Until within
a year ago Mr. Rizor rode to Claysville, distance
twelve miles, on horseback every Saturday evening,
and got on and off the beast withoutassistance. Up

. Samuel’ Williamson, July 15, 1781.

DON EGAL TOWNSHIP. 5 7 47

to that time he was also in the habit of walking to
A_cheson post-oflice for his mail. The distance is two
miles. ‘ If the sun shines,’ said Mr. Rizor, ‘ I can see
toread without spectacles. Until I was hurt I could
chop and haul wood with any of them. I could make
seventy-five rails a day,—a full day’s work.’ Mr.
Rizor has been married twice, and lives in the old-
style log cabin, with the veritable latch-string on the
outside of the door.” _

Justices of the Peace of Donegal.‘——The follow-
ing—named persons were and have been appointed

and elected to the oflice of justice of the peace in '

Donegal township from the time of its erection to the
present, viz.:

Samuel Mason, July 15, 1781. Humphrey Blakeway’, May 6, 1835.
David Peden, May 6, 1835.

Isaac Mayes, April 14, 1840.
John Sutherland, April 11, 1843.
John Miller, April 15, 1845. g
John Sutherland, April 11, 1848.
John Miller, April 9, 1850.

John Sutherland, April 13, 1853.
Hugh Defrance, April 13, 1853. '
Shepherd L. Guy, May 19, 1857. .
Wm. S. Alexander, May 19,1857.
John C. Hervey, April 10, 1860.
Joseph F. Mayes, April 21, 1862.
James Noble, Aug. 23, 1864.
John Jameson,.July 12, 1865.
Joseph F. Mayes, April 17, 1867.
John Jameson, April 13, 1870.
Joseph F. Mayes, April 12,1872.
John Jameson, May 27, 1874.

T. C. Noble, March 24, 1874.
Alex. Chapman, March 17, 1875.
T. C. Noble, March 27, 1879.
George Y. Holmes, March 30, 1880.

William Jolmstone, Feb. 9, 1786.
John Stevenson, March 12, 1793.
Jacob Wolfe, June 7, 1793.
Samuel Ta) lor, Aug. 29, 1797.
Joseph Alexander, Feb. 9, 1799.
William Clemens, Feb. 5, 1801.
Robert Stevenson, June 22, 1803.
Joseph Henderson, Jan. 7, 1805. 4
Jacob Leflcr, Jan. l7, 1805.
Samuel England, Oct. 24, 1807.
Isaac Mayes, July 13, 1811.
Isaac Lefler, Feb. 17, 1813.
Henry Emlow, Dec. 10, 1816.
David Frazier, Dec. 10, 1816.
Joseph Alexander, March 26,1817.
David Winter, Sept. 20, 1819.
Thomas Miller, April 4, 1822.
‘Jacob McVey, Aug. 12, 1827.
Jesse St. Clair, Aug. 13, 1827.
Hugh Armstrong, Oct. 29, 1829._
Nathan Rockafeller, April 24, 1834.
Amos Enlow, April 24, 1834.

Borough of West Alexander.——Upon a tract of
four hundred acres‘ of landlying in the extreme

western part of -Donegal township, very near the‘
Virginia line, Robert Humphreys2 (who was the.

original owner of the tract, having taken it up on a
Virginia certificate) laid out and platted a town in
the year 1796, and called it West Alexander, in honor
of his wife, who was Martha Alexander. In the plat
and charter he reserved and set apart certain grounds
in the northern part of the town as a common -for the
perpetual use of the inhabitants. A suit at law was
brought’ by Thomas Stokely against the proprietor,
Mr. Humphreys, for this tract of land,.which suit
resulted in a compromise.

' Immediately after the laying out of the town a

I considerable number of the lots were sold, and these

were from time to time resold by the first purchasers.

‘1 The townshipvof Donegal was a separate district from the time of its
erection till 1803, when Finley was included with it in District No. 11.
In 1838, Done-gal again became a separate and independent district, and
has so continued to the present time. ‘

9 Robert Humphreys, proprietor of West Alexander, was a soldier in
the Revolutionary war, and served under Lafayette. When the marquis
visited this section of country in _1825, Humphreys made himselfknown
to his former general, and a published account of the meeting of the two
veterans says “the scene was most affecting.” Robert Humphreys died
Aug. 19, 1834, at the age of eighty-two years, ten months, and ten days.

I On the 21st of May, 1806, John Wilson sold a number

of town lots in West Alexander. to VVilliam Carroll, -
who, on the 8th of January, 1810, sold them to John
Sargent. Many other similar sales were made, and
in the mean time something was done (though not as
much nor as rapidly as Humphreys had anticipated)
towards the creation of a town. The first store in the

place was opened in 1801 by John Craig, some of T

whose accounts are still in existence, kept in pounds,
shillings, and pence. He received his goods from
Philadelphia at a cost of about three pounds, Penn-
sylvania currency (eight dollars), per hundred-
weight for transportation, and in about six weeks’
time after they were purchased in thecity.

A tavern was opened in the town in 1797 (the year
following ‘the laying out) by Duncan Morrison, who
called his house the “American Eagle,” and had a
pictureof the national bird painted onhis sign,which
hung from a horizontal arm extending from a tall ‘

‘post planted in front of his door. The town had

a resident physician,,Dr. Potter, who came here

about the year 1800. ‘The post-oflice wasestab-

lished here in 1809, with James ‘Stephenson as-
postmaster. A He held the office for forty-two years,

until his death, May 18, 1851. His successorshave

been John Baird, B. L. Craven, Joel Truesdell, and

Lizzie A. Ray.

Most of the town l_ots sold by the original proprie-
tor, Humphreys, were resold by the first purchasers
to other _parties, who in turn transferred them to
others, and by these transfers, or otherwise, the greater
part of the lots came into possession of Charles De
Hass, who also became owner of other lands adjoin-

ing the town, Having thus become principal pro-

prietor of the place, he made an effort to do that which
the original proprietor, Humphreys, had failed to
accomplish to any considerable extent, viz., to found
a town or village of size and importance. On the‘
22d of May, 1817,‘ De Hass advertised to be sold on
the 10th of June following .“anumber of town lots
adjoining the east end of the continued part of VVest
Alexandria,” and adding,
purchasers, thata “ brewery and distillery are erect-
ing, a brick-yard is established and another one
progressing, and a nail-factory is in contemplation.”
This was at a time when the National road was in
process of construction, and had been actually opened
for travel from Cumberland west to the Youghiogheny
River, and it was believed that all the towns upon
its route must become places of prosperity and impor-
tance. West Alexander (or Alexandria) was one of
these, and the result was that De Hass sold many of
his lots, and a number of additional dwellings and
places of business were built; but the town received

__________________ ___.____.___....___...__..__. I

   

3 De Hass changed the original name “Alexander” to “Alexandria,”
and the change was adopted to a" considerable extent. In the records
and all public documents having reference to the construction of the
National road, theplace is almost invariably mentioned as West Alexan-
dria,'or stillmore frequently Alexanclria.

as an inducement to’

C748

‘ here about the year 1800.
titioners in the place since that time have been Drs.

HISTORY OF WASHINGTON COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA.

a severe blow in the destructive fire which occurred
on the 4th of May, 1831, destroying more than twenty
of the best buildings in the place. It was a severe
disaster, but the town slowly recovered, and in" the
succeeding twenty —years——-which was the period of

the greatest prosperity for the National road——it

became one of the important points on the great
thoroughfare, having three or four good stores, several
other places of business, and two principal public-

houses, the latter patronized respectively by the rival,

stage-lines on the road. A
The keepers of public-houses in VVest Alexander,

» successors of Duncan Morrison (proprietor of the
“American Eagle” in 1797, as before mentioned),

have been Charles Mayes, Zebulon Warner, John
Cooding, John 'Woodburn_, \’Villiam McCall, Solomon
Cook, James Sargent, Charles Hallam, Mary Warner,
James Bell, Silver Gillfillin, Samuel Beymer, James
Mathers, John Irons, Moses Thornbury, Samuel Doak,

Joseph Lawson, Joseph Dondal, William F. Gordon, A
. William McCutcheon,_and perhaps some others whose

names_are not now remembered. There are at the
present time in West Alexander two hotels, the
\Vheeling House and the Centre House, both of which
are fairlypatronized. - . -

Since" John Craig (the pioneer merchant before
mentioned) opened his store in West Alexander in
1801, a multitude of mercantile firms and individual
merchants have been established in the town-, among
whom have been James Stephenson, JohI1.Mayes,
John Alexander, George Wilson, John Gallagher, G.
W. and \V. B. Hall, Hall & VVaddell, James T. Mc-
Vey & Co., A. R. Howe, Bryant & Craien, McVey &
Ewing, Holmes & Frazier, B. L. Craien, Joel Trues-
dell, L. R. Gilfillan & Co., John Limback, Aaron
Strouse, Eli & Pollock, Isaac Post & Co. There’ are
now in the town ten stores (exclusive of two grain
and feed dealers) besides other smaller places of busi-
ness, stores and shops.

It has been mentioned that the first physician of
the town was Dr. Potter, who commenced practice
Among the medical prac-

Mott, - E. Warring,  F. Byers, William Gilfillan,
Samuel McKeehan,1 Cunningham, Joseph Davidson,
Crawford, Marshman, Svartz, and Little. There are
now here in active practice Drs. W. M. Gilfillan, D.
S. Eagleson, and J. B. Reed. Dr. R. Davidson has
now retired from practice.

The borough of West Alexander was erected in
1873. At the Ma term of the Court of Quarter Ses-
sions of Washington County in that year there was
presented a petition of a number of persons “ inhabit-
ants of ‘the village of West Alexander, in the said
county of Washington,” respectfully representing

-.

1 Dr. McKeehan was a surgeon in the war of 1812, in which service he

1 was wounded and taken prisoner at Maiden, Canada. He came to West

Alexander in 1826, and died Sept. 20, 1866, aged ninety-three years.

“ that your petitioners reside within the limits thereof
as hereinafter set forth and described; and that the
same contains more tllan eighty freeholders; that they
are desirous that the said village should be incorpo-
rated by the name, style, and title of the borough of
West Alexander, according to the following bounda-
ries,”‘ proceeding to describe the proposed boundary
lines by a number of courses and distances. Upon
the hearing of this petition _the court ordered the
same to be laid before the grand jury. That body
made a favorable report, the action upon which by
the court is shown by the record as follows :

“And now Aug. 18,‘ 1873, the "court confirms the judgment of the
grand jury and decrees that the said town of West Alexander be incor-
porated into a borough in conformity with the prayer of the petitioners;
that the corporate style and title thereof shall be the borough of West
Alexander; that the boundaries thereof shall be as follows, viz. [de-
scribing the boundary lines of the borough]; and that the annual bor-
ough election shall be held at the public school-house in said borough
onpthe third Friday in March, in accordance with, and subject to, all the
provisions of the laws regulating t_ownship elections; and the court de-
clare the said borough a separate election and school district; the court
further decree and fix the first election in said borough for the election
of the oflicers provided for by law at the public school-house in said
borough on the 23d day of September, A.D. 1873. . . ."

The first election was held at the time and place
designated. The borough oflicers elected at that and
succeeding annual elections were and have been as
follows, viz.: '
1873.--Burgess, Samuel Kimmens; Council, Christopher Shellcr, Thomas

Frazier, William C. Anderson, Samuel Noble, Michael Daugherty.
1874.-—-Burgess, Christopher Sheller; Council, Robert Davidson, Samuel

Kimmens, J. B. Reed, Joel Truesdell, W. C. Anderson.
1875.—Bur"gess, Christopher Shelter; Council, Benjamin L. Craven,Joel

Truesdell, William C. Anderson, John R. Anderson, Dr. J. 13. Reed. ,

1876. -Burgess, James Ely; Council, Robert Sutherland, John Reed,
Samuel Kimmens, James S. Waltz, William E. Spriggs, Michael
Daugherty. ~

1877.--Burgess, Joel Truesdell; Council,Joseph F. Mayes, Robert Suther-
land, George C. Stoolfire, M. Daugherty, Dr. S. A. Craig, William M.
Murray. 1 9

1878.—Burgess, James Leyda; Council, Samuel Kimmens, William A.
Barry, James Alexander, John R. Anderson, George C. Stoolfire,
Joseph S. Mayes.

18T9.—Burgess, Michael Daugherty; Council, Isaac Post, William L.

Porter, James Leyda, Dr. S. A. Craig, John R. Anderson, William
Frazier.

1880.——Burgess, Isaac Post; Council, Joe1iTruesdell, Samuel Kimmens,
William E. Spriggs, Oliver E. Murray, Robert Sutherland, John Mc-
Kenzie. 9

1881.—Burgess, Robert Sutherland; Council, William" C. Spriggs, Wil- _

_ liam Guess, David Holmes, Samuel Bushfield, Michael Daugherty,
Joseph S. Mayes.

The justices of the peace of West Alexander since
the town became a. borough have been the following
named: Joseph F. Mayes, September, 1873; J. S.
VVa1tz, March, 1874; Joseph -F. Mayes, March, 1877;
J. S. Waltz, March, 1879. Of those named in the
list (given in another place) of justices appointed and
elected for the township of Donegal, the following
named were residents in West Alexander, viz.: J o-
seph Alexander (commissioned Feb. 9, 1799), died
Oct. 1, 1834; Isaac Mayes (first commissioned July
13, 1811), died Ju.ly‘16, 1844; John Sutherland (com-
missioned, April 11, 1843), died Dec. 12, 1856; Wil-
liam S. Alexander (commissioned May 19, 1857), died

23 ._.©@ a@.P.@a§m@% ngmgaaxmga Em;

£©§E@ a§m@.§mmwm@

DONEGAL TOWNSHIP.

7-19

January, 1874; John C. Henry (April, 1860); and
Joseph F. Mayes, who was elected in 1862, re-elected '

in 1867 and in 1872 in the township, and in 1873 and
-1877. in the borough, as before stated. West Alex-
ander, being located within a very short distance of
the State‘ line, has for at least three-fourths of a cen-
tury been regarded as a sort of Pennsylvania Gretna
Green, whither an immense number of couples have
come from across the State line and elsewhere to have
the marriage ceremony performed by the justices and
c-lergymen, of _West Alexander. Up to the 4th of
July, 1876, the Rev. William H. Lester had married
more than five hundred couples. _ Joseph Alexander,
Esq,, married four hundred couples during the long
time he held the oflice of j ustice of the peace. Justices

- -Isaac Mayes and John Sutherland married, respec-

tively, nine hundred and thirty and nine hundred
and seven couples, and VVilliam S. Alexander,Esq.,

_ performed the marriage ceremony two hundred times.
But all these figures/are belittled by comparison with’ -

the record of Justice Joseph F. Mayes, Whoduring
his oflicial career down to the 19th of September, 1881,
had joined one thousand nine hundred and eighteen
couples in wedlock. The total number of couples
married by the justices and clergymen of West Alex-
ander considerably exceeds five thousand, of which
number a large proportion came from West Virginia.

Joseph Finley Mayes, the, veteran» justice above

, mentioned, who has now filled the oflicewith honor

I

for twenty. years, is a native of ‘Vest Alexander, .

and a grandson of . Charles Mayes, ‘who came to
\Vashington County with his family in 17 86' from his
previous home near Gettysburg, Pa., where-he had

« lived on the “ Carroll Tract,” owned by Charles Carroll

of Carrollton, a signer of the Declaration of Independ-

ence. Soon after his arrival in Washington County_ .

"he purchased from Henry McDonough, of Somerset
township, a tract of two hundred and forty-three
acres of land in-Donegal township, about one and a
half miles east of West Alexander, paying therefor
(whether in partor in full is not known) a rifle and a
yoke of oxen‘. Qn this tract of land he settled and
made his home. Charles Mayes’ son, Isaac Mayes
(the father of Joseph F. Mayes, Esq.), was a black-
smith, and worked at his trade in West Alexander,
which was his home for many years. He served as

justice of the peace for thelong period of twen-ty-nine ~

years (1811 to 1840), and died in July,‘ 1844.

The first school in West Alexander was taught by
—— Robinson, commencing about two years after
tho town was laid out by Robert Humphreys. How

long the first teacher continued in charge of it is not-

known. Samuel R.‘Mayes taught the school some
time prior to 1810. The immediate successors of
these early teachers are not now remembered. Of the
great number who taught in the town since that time
the names of a few are here given (though the dates
of their_ teaching have not been a’scertained),viz.:
48

Gilbert Marshall, Thomas J. Holliday, John Gordon,
VVilliam Dickey, George McDonald, Miss.Jane Pol-
lock, Miss A. C. Bell, J nmes McElroy.

The West Alexander Academy was -established in ,-
1828, with the Rev. John McClusky as principal. It ‘
became a chartered institution in 1840. In 1853, Mr. ‘

McClusky was-succeeded by the Rev. William H.
Lester, and in the next year the present fine academy
building was erected.
school remained in charge of the Rev. Mr. Lester.
In 1877 it was in charge of Miss May Pollock. It
is not now in operation. Fifty-nine students of this
academy became ministers of the gospel.

Upon the erection of the borough it was made a

separate and independent school district. It has now ’

a goodand commodious school building, of capacity
to accommodate one hundred and twenty pupils.

Two schools are taught in it. During the time that’

West Alexander has existed as a borough and an
independent A, school district its school
been composed as follows: ,

1873.——Rev. M. Ormund, James Ely, Rev. W. H. Lester, Samuel Noble,
John R. Anderson, James S. Waltz. *

1874.—-—Samuel Kimmins, Dr. R. Davidson, William C. Anderson, James
Ely, B. F. Craven, James S. Waltz. V ,

1875.—D.r. R. Davidson, J. R. Anderson, J. S. Waltz, Samuel Kimmin
David Howell, W. C. Anderson. '

1,876.-—J. R. Anderson, Dr. R. Davidson,S_amuel Kimmins,»W. C. Ander-

son, David Howell, J. S. Waltz. I
1877.——W. C. Anderson, David Howell, J . S. Waltz, William Barry, R. B..
l ' Daugherty, Joel '.l‘ruesdell. ~

1878.—.'W. A. Barry, J .l R. Anderson, W. H. N ease, Dr. J . B. Reed, J‘. S;. I

Waltz, R. B. Daugherty. ..
1s79.——w. A. Barry, J. R. Anderson, W. H. Nease, R. B. Daugherty,
Samuel‘Ki‘mmins, J. S. Waltz. 0 V
1880.-—Samue-1 Kimmins, J . (R. Anderson, R, B. Daugherty, W. II.
’ N ease, O. E. Murray, James S." Waltz. _
188l.—Samuel Kimmins, R. B. Dauglierty, S. A. Craig, 0. E. Murray, 1?.

S. Waltz, W. H. Nease.

Presbyterian Church of West A1exander.‘—The
first Presbytery west of the Allegheny Mountains was
Redstone. From its minutes Nov. 19, 1785, it is

‘learned that “supplication was made for supplies

from Three Ridges,” now West Alex-an‘der.. “Mr.
Frisby was appointed to supply Three Ridges the
last Sabbath in November.” This is the earliest

, recorded mention of the church. _ After this its name

is frequently found in the records of that body. In
the published journal of ‘Col. John May, who trav-

, eled through this part of the State in August, 1788,

is found the following: “In the course of the day’s.
ride I saw a littlebox, something_like a sentry-box,
near the side-of the road, but several miles from any

house I could see, and standing on four posts. I was A

told on inquiry that it was a pulpit, and to_ that spot
people went to- worship the God of Jacob. As all the
earth is His temple, I ‘think this is not a11 improper
place for worship. »Near this place was cut the sec-
tion of a vista through the forest making the boun-

dary line up to’ Lake Erie between Virginia and

—.

1 By Rev. William H. Lester.

For twenty-four years the 6

board has ~

i750

ing the services of the pastor half of the time.

‘a pulpit, .a lofty one.

HISTORY or WASHINGTON COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA.

Pennsylvania.” This allusion to the boundaryline

"makes itcertain “the little box” was on the very

place where the Presbyterian Church now stands.

In 1790 a call was made for the pastoral labors of
‘Rev. John Brice. In April" of that year he was or-
-dained and installed over the church. Being unable
to support a minister the entire time, it was connected
with the church of the Forks of Wheeling, each hav-
This
connection continued until 1814, when, through the
increase of numbers and means, it was able to support
‘a minister the whole time. This the first pastorate
continued till 1807, when Mr. Brice, through infirmi-
ties of age,,resigned the charge. » He died in 1811.

In 1809 the Rev. Joseph Stevenson became the
pastor, "and, li.ke his predecessor, remained such seven-
teen years. On account of the spiritual destitution of
the then “Far West,”—-Western Ohio,—-he resigned
the charge and settled in Bellefontaine, Ohio.
-there organized a church, and spent several years in
successful pastoral work. He died in 1865.

The third pastor was the Rev. John McClusky,

’D.D. He was settled over the church in October, 1828,
‘and remained until 1854. He removed to Philadel-
Through his efforts and un- A

phia, and died in 1881.
der the care of this church the West Alexander

Academy was founded. From this school nearly fifty
‘ ministers have gone out to preach the gospel. As

'-preachers, lawyprs, physicians, and teachers, its pupils

may be found in almost every State. '

The fourth pastor is the Rev. William H. Lester,
'wlio was ordained and installed here in 1854. "Nearly
twenty-eight years of pastoral service, and not un-‘

. blessed, have been rounded out, and he still remains

to “ break to the people the bread of li-fe.” This has
been a church of long pastorates. The modern cus-
tom of frequent ministerial changes has not as yet
been imbibed by this congregation.
;;dred years have passed since itsrorganization, and it
ha-shad only four ministers. ,

T hefirst church building was a rude log house, the
timber of which grew on the spot where the church
stood. Its seats were slabs split from logs. It had no
stoves for heating’, and was destitute of every outward
comfort.-j In the summer the preaching was inthe
woods. ‘In rainy weather and .winter it was in the
church. Years.afterw..ards the growing congregation
required a larger building and increased accommoda-
tions. It stood onthe site of the old house,,and was
also a log one. It was seated with pews. It also had
This church is said to have
been theadmiration of the whole region of country.
The present building is brick, large, plain, neat, and
-_c,omfortab,le, with a sitting capacity for six hundred
persons, and is usually well filled. “ God’s word and
jts doctrines as formulated by the \Vestminster As-
sembly of divines” is the creed. It‘ has been blessed
with “ revivals” all through its history. From thirty
to a hundred persons have many times been received

He’

Almost a hun-_

into ‘membership at a single communion. Its most

remarkable work of grace was at the great religious '

awakening in all this region of country about 1800,
‘known as “The Falling Work.” The preaching was
of the kind called “the terrors of law,” solemn and
‘alarming. The hearers, becoming violently agitated
in body and mind, would fall to the floor, and for a
considerable time would remain unconscious;  This
state was followed» after‘ by an‘ experience of peace
and joy. The most wicked and‘ hardened persons
were those who would be the most affected. Without
attempting to explain these‘ bodily movements, it may
-be said the fruit of the work was a deep and abiding
piety, the influence of which is felt even now. I The

I oldo Scotch custom of communing -(at the -Lord’s Sup-

per) sitting at the tables was introduced here, and is
still observed. This is almost -the only church in the
entire body which adheres to this form of communion.

This church has not always sailed on smooth seas
and on peaceful waters. All the people here, origin-
ally worshiped as one congregation. . “Rouse’s Ver-
sion of the Psalms” was the medium of praise. On
the occasion of Mr. Brice using “ Watts’ Psalms” the
division came. The grandfathers and grandmothers
of those who now compose the United Presbyterian

Church of this place, ,true to their grit and conscien-

tious convictions, would not endure “ human compo-
sure,” and so went out. An arbitrationin regard to
the church propertyfollowed. The whole matter was
amicably arranged. The Presbyterians held the prop-
erty on the payment of a sum of money, which was
satisfactory to both parties.

The “ Anti-Slavery.” element in this part of the State
has always been strong. This church is located on a
line of a once slave and a free State. This no doubt
increased the intensity of the feeling. Here the sub-
ject passed beyond the limits of a political question.
It became a religious one. The storm which gathered
and- broke over. the country in 1861 gathered and
‘broke over the church nearly twenty years before. A
paper passed by the General Assembly to the effect
that slaveholders were not to be debarred from Chris-
tian fellowship and communion was regarded by many
as an indorsement of the system. Sadly and con-

scientiously a very considerable number left in 1849 '

and formed the Free Presbyterian Church. It har-
monized in doctrine and polity with the old church,

and in the main differed only on the manner slavery-

was to be viewed and treated. It was ministered to
by the Revs. J. S. Poage, Robert Burgess, Daw-
son, and Samuel McLain. At the close of the civil
war, slavery having been abolished, and the General
Assembly having made deliverances on the subject,
substantially agreeing with theviews of the church,
it was disbanded, and most of the members found a
home in the church they left years before.
Emigration has drawn heavily upon the numbers
and resources of this church, yet it is now perhaps as
strong as ‘at any previous time in its history. It has

 

- school is large and flourishing.

  -DONEGAL TOWN SHIP. ' I

-a membership of fully three hundred, and its Sabbath-

United Presbyterian Church of West Alexan-
der.‘~The precise date of the organization of the
United Presbyterian Church of V-Vest Alexander is
not definitely known. The earliest Presbyterial rec-

‘ ords to which the writer had access state that in the

year 1793, “ a supply of preaching was granted to the
Associate" Reformed Church of Three Ridges,” the
name by which it was known at that time. But from

other records it may safely be considered as having

had an existence some years prior to that date.

Its first pastor was the Rev. Alexander McCoy,-J

who afterwards became the leader of a party known
as the "‘ McCoyites.” - o
' Mr. McCoy was bornin Ireland in 1754, came with
his parents to the province of Pennsylvania in 1774.
He had received a classical education in Ireland, and
some time after his arrival in this country concluded to
complete his studies, and entered Dickinson" College
in 1792. He studied theology under the Rev. John
Jamison, and was licensed May 4, 1795, by the Second
Asssociate Reformed Presbytery of Pennsylvania.

By the same Presbytery he was ordained and in-
stalled Oct. 29, 1795, over the united charges of
Three Ridges at West Alexander, Pa., and Short
Creek, Ohio Co., w. Va.

-The Associate Reformed Synod at its meeting in

i May, 1799, in Greencastle, Pa., adopted its constitu-

tion and standards, and in doing so modified theldoc-

trine of the Westminster Confession of Faith concern- 0
. ing the power of thecivil magistrates in matters of

religion. Against this change Mr. McCoy protested,’

. and declined the further authority and jurisdiction

of the Synod. His name was therefore stricken from

the roll of .Presbytery_June 25, 1799.

On the 11th of November, 1800, Rev. Robert War-
wick’ settled in the vicinity of Cincinnati, also de-
clined the authority of the Associate Reformed Synod,
and for the same reason as Mr. McCoy these two‘ min-
isters, with two ruling elders, met in Washington, Pa.,

Jan. 27, 1801, and formed themselves intoan inde-
pendent Presbytery, naming _it ‘_‘ The Reformed Dis- ’

senting Presbytery.” This new organization seldom
numbered _more than three or four ministers‘, and
often not more than two. Its weak condition im-
pelled it at last to a union with the Associate Church,
in the year 1851. Meanwhile Mr. McCoy’s two con-
gregations adhered to him, and for some years he gave

. part of his time toa third congregation in Belmont

County, Ohio. On account of an infirmity which
made it diflicult for him "to, ride on horseback, he
resigned his charge about 1815 and moved to Pitts-
burgh,_Pa.', and preached there until his successor,
Rev. John Pattison, died (in 1825), at which time he
returned and served his two original congregations
for five or six years. The infirmities of age at length

-1 By Rev. W. M. Coleman.

751

compelled him to cease ‘from his labors.
paralysis June 17, 1834.
His successor was the Rev. William Neil, who was

He died of

born in Ireland about 1800; was, educated at Frank-
lin College, and ‘studied theology with his predecessor,

Mr. McCoy. He was licensed May, 1829, by the Re-
formed Dissenting Presbytery, andaccepted a call
Oct. 18, 1831, from the united charge of Three Ridges
and Short Creek. He performed the duties of pastor
for at number of years, after which he joined the Re-
formed Presbyterian Church, and then the Associate
Presbytery of Chartiers, finally withdrawing alto-
-gether from the activeduties of the ministry.

Rev. Joseph Shaw was the next pastor. vHe- was
educated at Franklin College, studied theology pri-
vately, was licensed May 29, 1839, by the Reformed
Dissenting Presbytery, and ordained and installed in
1840. In April, 1843, he and a majority of the con-
gregation withdrew from the communion of the‘Re-
formed Dissenting Presbytery and united with the
Associate Church, which was the beginning of the

,Associate congregation of West‘Alexander.

When Mr. Shaw joined the Associate Church the
validity of his ordination was called in question be-
cause the Presbytery which had ordained him was
composed of only one minister and two ruling elders.
The Associate Synod, however, decided that the ordi-
nation, although irregular, was -valid. He remained
pastor of thecongregation until Oct. 5, 1852, when
he resigned. In the spring of 1853 he moved to Belle-
fontaine, Ohio, where he united with the Presbyterian
Church, and conducted a High’ School. He died in
December, 1875. I

A short time after the resignation of Mr.,Shaw, the
congregation called Rev. J. C. Murch, who was born

’ March 20, 1820, at Sandgate, Vt. He was a graduate

of Dennison University, Granville, Ohio; studied
theology at Canonsburg, Pa., and was licensed Oct.
29, 1850, by the Presbytery of Chartiers. He was
installed pastor of the West Alexander congregation
in September, 1853, and continued to labor there until
the union of the two branches of the church in 1858.
He took charge of the congregation of New Concord,
Ohio, February, 1860, and continued there until Feb-
ruary, 1876. On Jan. 15, 1879, he was installed over

the congregation of Scotch Ridge, VVood Co., Ohio,

where he remained until his death, May 27, 1879.

From 1799 the Associate Reformed congregation of
Three Ridges lost its identity as such until the year
1838, when it was reorganized. After the reorganiza-
tion in 1838, the congregation called the Rev. Joseph
S. Buchanan, who was ordained and installed pastor
Nov. 24, 1840, and who remained with it until 1854,
when he resigned on account of ill health. He moved
to Portersville, Pa.,, where he taught a classical school
for some years, and eventually retired from active
labors to Monmouth, Ill., where he nowlives.

Rev. D. G. Bradford was the next pastor. He was
ordained and installed April 8, 1856, and released

THE REVOLUTION.   89

“ I have no doubt but you and all the good People
of your County are convinced of the necessity there
is for prosecuting some offensive operations against
the Savages, and I trust that by a Well-timed move-
ment from the new settlements down the river to
favour our Expedition we shall be enabled to strike
a general panic amongst the hostile tribes. ‘I am
averse to putting too much to hazard, as a defeat
would prove fatal to.the settlements, and therefore I
expect the full quota of men will be furnished, which
with the blessing of Divine Providence will insure
success. Indeed, I expect besides the Militia many
will turn out volunteers to secure to themselves the
blessings of peace. ’

_“ I have the honor to be with great respect,

“ Yours,
“DANIEL BRODHEAD,
“ Col. C'0m’d’g W. D.”

In reference to the same matter the following cir-
cular letters were addressed to Cols. Joseph Beelor,
lieutenant of Yohogania, John Evans, of Monongalia,
Archibald . Lochry, of VVestmor’eland, and David
Shepherd, of Ohio County, Va., viz.:

“ HEAD-Q’n’s, FORT PITT, May 20, 1780.
“ DEAR SIR,—’-I find it impossible to procure a suf-
ficient quantity of provisions to subsist the Troops

' which were intended to be employed on an expedi-
tion against the Indians in alliance with Great Britain;

therefore you will be pleased to give immediate no-
tice to such as are warned not to march until you re-
ceive further notice from me. In the mean time I
shall endeavor to give every possible protection to the
settlements and amuse the Indians by speeches. I
am sorry for having given you the trouble of drafting

_the militia, but the disappointments with regard to

the means of getting supplies are very embarrassing,
and must apologize for the alteration in our measures.”

Another addressed by Col. Brodhead to the county
lieutenants was as follows: , V

“ HEADQUARTERS, FORT PITT, July 31, 1780

“ DEAR SIR,—I am informed by Col’nl Beeler that
he has had a meeting of his Oflicers, and that it is the
general opinion fifteen days’ allowance of salt pro-
visions cannot befurnished by the Volunteers who
were expected to aid the Regular Troops in the pro-
posed Expedition against the hostile Indians, and
that fresh provisions cannot be preserved for so many
days at this warm season of the year. I believe the
generality of the inhabitants in these new settlements
have not meat of their own at this season of the year
sutficient to spare for their subsistence on the expedi-
tion. And I have the mortification to assure you that
the public magazines are quite empty, and that I can-
not yet see a prospect of obtaining a sufficient supply
for the sustenance of the Troops already in service.
Under these circumstances I find it indispensably
necessary to postpone the rendezvousing the troops
until our affairs wear a more favorable aspect. And

as I wish, in matters of such great Publick weight
and concern, to have the advice and concurrence of
the principal Oflicers, I must request you to meet
your Brother Lieutenants of the other Counties at my
quarters on the 16th day of next month, in order that
measures to be adopted for the annoyance of the
enemy and the defense of the Frontier Settlements
may be well weighed and understood; at which time,
too, it will be in my power to inform you what Pub-
lick Supplies can be procured for the numbers that
may be deemed necessary to employ.”

These letters from the commandant at Fort Pitt
show the principal cause (lack of supplies) that com-
pelled him to postpone from time to time his proposed
expedition into the Indian country, a cause which,
more than any other, delayed the execution of the
project until the following year. At the time in
question the officers commanding the few American
troops west of the Alleghenies had great difliculty in

-obtaining the supplies necessary for the subsistence of

their men. On the 7th of December, 1780, Gen.
Brodhead said in a letter of that date addressed to
Richard Peters,‘ ‘.‘ For a long time past I have had
two parties, commanded by field-officers, in the coun-
try to impress cattle, but their success has been so
small that the troops have frequently been without"
meat for several days together, and as those com-
mands are very expe'nsive,tI have now ordered them
in.” He also said that the inhabitants on‘ the west
side of the mountains could not furnish one-half
enough meat to supply the troops, and that he had
sent a party of hunters to the Little Kanawha River
to kill buffaloes, “ and to lay in the meat until I can
detach a party to bring it in, which cannot be done

before spring.”

The two parties mentioned by Col. Brodhead as
having been sent out by him, and kept for a long
time in the country for the purpose of impressing
cattle, were ‘undoubtedly the commands of Capts.
Samuel Brady” and Uriah Springer, of Westmore-

1 In the same letter to Peters, Brodhead made allusion to the furnish-

ing of spirits for the use of the troops, and indicated pretty plainly his_

preference for imported liquor over the whiskey of Monongahela, viz. :
“ In one of your former letters you did me the honor to inform me that
his Excellency the commander-in-chief had demanded of our State
seven thousand gallons of rum, and now the commissioner of Westmore-
land informs me that he has verbal instructions to purchase that quan-
tity of whiskey on this side of the mountains. I hope we shall be fur-
nished with a few hundred gallons of liquor fit to be drank.” '
2 Capt. Brady had then recently returned from an expedition to the
Indian towns in the Northwest. 11 a letter written by Col. Brodhead,
at Fort Pitt, to President Reed, in the first part of the preceding June,‘
he said, “ Captn Brady, with five men & two Delaware Indians, set out
for Sandusky, with a view to bring off a british Prisoner or some Indian
Scalps. One of his Indians left him and returned to this place,-sick or
cowardly. He has been out ten days, and in as many more I expect him
back again, if he is fortunate. I beg leave to recommend Capn Brady
to the notice of the Hon’b1e Executive Council as an excellent oflicer,‘
and I sincerely wish he may not leave the service for want of the pro-
motion he has merited and is justly entitled to, ever since the resigna-
tion of Captain Moore.” . .
Capt. Lieut. Brady's return from his expedition was noticed by C01,?
Brodhead in a letter addressed to President Reed, dated Fort Pitt, June-

_here before the year 1825.

752

HISTORY OF WAS HINGTON COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA.

October, 1857, when he became pastor of the Second

Associate Reformed congregation of Allegheny City, ' '

Pa, and was released April 14, 1863, to take charge of
the First Church of Monmouth, Ill., where he con-
tinued until 1867. , Subsequently he joined the Pres-

. byterian Church, and has filled severallpastorates  it.

After the union in 1858, the two congregations
united their strength and called Rev. Josiah Steven-
son to be their spiritual guide. He was ordained and
installed December, 1859, and released November,

.1870. From this he went to North Buffalo, Pa.,

where he remained until February, 1876, when he
afterwards tookcharge of the congregations at Greens-
burg and Latrobe, Pa, where he at present labors.

In the fall of 1871, Rev. Marcus Ormond was chosen
pastor, who entered upon his new field of labor on

January 1st, was installed June 11, 1872, and wasre- -

leased Oct. 12, 1876. Some time after his resignation
he was smitten with congestion of the brain, from the
effects of which he never fully recovered. His memory
failed him and he lost the power of speech. The
ordinary transactions and acquirements of his past
life he could recall, but the knowledge he had ac-
quired in his college course became an entire blank,
and did not return until the hour of his death.

On Wednesday morning, Nov. 28, 1881, he left his
home in Oxford, Ohio,-to go to Indianapolis, Ind.
On Friday evening, having reached Milroy, Ind., he
stopped for the night with a family with whom he
was acquainted. An hour after retiring the family
heard him moaning, and on going into his room found
him just expiring. A few moments later and before
the physician arrived, his spirit had taken its flight.

Rev. W. M. Colemanftfhe present pastor, was in-
stalled Dec. 4., 1877. iHe found the congregation
‘somewhat divided and depressed, but better days

. have come, and its members are united and earnestly
. at work. ‘ -. ‘ /
_On April 10, 1875, the congregation dedicated to
the worship of God a beautiful and substantial struc- _

lure, built. of brick, roofed with slate, and furnished
after the latest and most improved style.

Like an individual life, the congregation has had
its ups and downs, and as it made its progress.through
the years it has rested sometimes in the sunlight and
sometimes in the shade. Though its history has been
a checkered one, the Lord has been always on its
side. . . - _ ’

.Methodist Episcopal Church of West Alexan-
der.-—A Methodist“Episcopal Church was organized
The first church wasa
log buildingon Main Street, occupied at that time

'1 by iWilli,am VVhitham. The early preachers were

Rev. Hiram .Gilmore,fRev. William Summers, Father
Lock, Rev. Mr. Brock, and others.» In 1835 a good
frame edifice was erected, where a small congregation
continued to worship until recently. The pastor
hztving itincharge is Rev. George Sheets, of Clays-
ville Circuit. The class.-leader isMr. A. Daugherty.

West Alexander Cemetery.——The company by

which this cemetery was laid out was organized early-
in 1871, and incorporated August 31st in that year. ,

The board of _ directors was composed of Thomas
Frazier (president), Samuel Kimmins, William Arm-
strong, E. Buchanan, William Reed, E. Brownlee,
David Blaney, Joel Truesdell (secretary and treas-

urer), James Todd, and Alexander McCleary. A '

tract of ten acres was purchased from W. A. Hagerty
at three hundred dollars per acre. This tract was
handsomely laid out as a cemetery in the modern
style, with walks and carriage-ways, and tastefully
decorated by the planting of evergreen and other
trees.
rising ground, from the higher parts of which the
views are fine and extensive. The first interment in

this ground was that of Thomas McConn, who, died .

in the fall of 1871. On histombstone is an inscrip-
tion (made in accordance with his wish,.expressed a
short‘ time before his death) noting the fact that his
remains were the first deposited in the ground of the
new cemetery. .

I. 0. 0. F.—-Lodge No. 966 was organized in West
Alexander July 8, 1879. The cha.rter members were
Oliver Murray, William Frazier, John A. Luse, James
Alexander, Duncan Blayney, John C. Porter, Rufus
T. Slater, William H. Leyda,-Andrew W‘. Tense, J. N.
Donnely, D. R.Frazier, James Lidey, Felix Muldoon,
Jacob Guess, A. Blayney, E. N. Dulap, William B.

‘Gibson, David Sheller, C. M. Leggett, John Sheller.

Murray Brothers.-—The young men composing
the firm which conducts-a general merchandising
business in the building here represented were born

MURl{.AY‘S BLOCK, WEST ALEXA.\’Dl£R.

and reared in VVest Virginia, near the boundary line

between that State and \Vashington County. The
business was begun in West "Alexander in 1871, by
J. W. and VVilliam M. Murray, under the firm-name
of J. VV. Murray & Brother, and was continued under
that caption until 1878, when J. VV. disposed of his
interest to his brotlier, O. E. Murray. The firm-name
was then changed to William M. Murray & Brother,
and so continueduntil 1882, whenthey enlarged their

Thecemetery occupies a beautiful site on .

-forming its main street.
‘borough runs the track of the Hempfield Railroad,

MDONEGAL TOWNSHIP. 1

753

store-room that they might accommodate their con-
stantly increasing trade, and changed the firm-name
to Murray Brothers. ,

. West Alexander is located within the boundaries
of Donegal township, in its southw_estern part, and
only a short distance from the line of, VVest Virginia.
The elevation of the place above tide-water is seven-
teen hundred and ninety-two feet, according to the
survey made by David Shriver, Esq., for the route of
the old National road, which passes through the town,
Along the north line of the

which at this point passes through a tunnelabout six
hundred (feet in length. This railway connects the
city of Wheeling with the borough of Washington,

c ‘and was opened for travel in this part (from Wheeling
' through West Alexander to Claysville) in the fall of

1856.
The borough of West Alexander contains one hun-

dred and ten dwelling-houses, many of them.of'

modern style and fine architecture, three church edi-
fices in use, and another not used as a place of wor-
ship, a fine school-house, an academy building (not
now in use for educational purposes), post—of’fice, rail-
road depot‘ and telegraph station, two hotels, nine
stores, two saddlery- and harness—shops, one carriage-
and wagon-shop, two f11rniture- and cabinet-making
shops, two shoe-shops, one cigar-factory, two grain-

. and feed-stores, three millinery-stores, five physicians,
two pastors of churches, two justices of the peace,

two blacksmiths, and several artisans of other trades.

, The population_of theborough by the census of 1880

was four hundred and twenty—five.

Vienna is a station on the Hempfield Railroad in
Donegal township, about midway between Claysville
and West Alexander, and is also the name of a little

' ‘village or hamlet clustered about it and on the Na-

tional road, which at that point is near and parallel‘
to the railroad. Locally this settlement was known,
years ago, as “ Coon Island.” The railroad was
opened at this point in the fall of 1856, and about
the same time a post-oflice was established at Vienna,
with George Chaney as postmaster. He was suc-
ceeded by John Lights, and he in turn by David
Frazier, who has been the postmaster here since 1874.
Besides the post-office, Vienna has two stores, two
bliacksmith-shops, and seven dwelling-houses.

Just south of the railroad and west of the bridge at
this place was the location of William Hawkins’
house, which was attacked by Indians in the fall of
1781, on which occasion he and his daughter with
others were taken prisoners, and Hawkins was butch-
ered by the savages while on their retreat to. their
villages beyond the Ohio, the daughter being spar,ed
from the slaughter to become the wife of a chief.’

The Borough of Claysville lies within the bound-
aries of Donegal, in-thesoutheastern part ‘of the town-
ship. Like the town of West Alexander‘, it is located
on the line of the old National road, which forms its

_ main street, and also on the lineof the Hempfield Rail-
road, which was opened from Wheeling to this point in.

the fall of 1856. The line of therailroad lies through
the south part of the borough, and the track passes
through a tunnel a short distance east of Claysville.
The borough contains ninety dwelling-houses, three
churches, a‘ good school-house, a steam grist-mill, a
tannery, a saw- and planing-mill, two hotels, post-

oflice, railway station and telegraph-office, five stores‘ 7

(including grocery and dry—goods), a drug—store, five
physicians,——-Drs. William Denny, J. N. Sprowls,
George Inglas, George Calder, and S. C. McCracken,——
one clothing-store, a hardware-store, a tin-shop and
farm-implement ‘store, four millinery establishments,
a marble-factory, a wagon-shop, two saddlery- and

harness—shops, one jewelry-store and watch—repairing ‘

shop, two livery stables, two blacksmith-shops, and
the usual proportion of artisans of other trades. The
population of Claysville by the census of A 1880 was
three hundred and twenty-six.

The site of Claysville is part of a tract of land taken
up by Thomas Waller, on a Pennsylvania warrant to
him dated Feb. 25, 1785, surveyed April 2d of the
same year as “Superfine Bottom,” containing four
hundred acres, adjoining lands of Robert Walker,
Robert Henry, and other lands of Thomas Waller.
The Robert Walker tract referred to as adjoining was
a’ tract of four hundred and twenty acres, located on
the waters of Buffalo Creek, taken up by Walker on
aVirginia certificate dated in January, 1780, and filed,

for survey June 5th of the same year, with Robert

VVoods, surveyor for Ohio County, Va. (then claiming
to cover the western part of the present county of
Washington). A warrant for part of this tract
(ninety-two acres) was issued to John Stacks May

30, 1785, and surveyed tohim November,25th of that

year.

at least the part of it embracing the site of Clays-
ville, passed by subsequent transfer from the original
proprietor, Thomas Waller, and became the property
of John Purviance. The old Wheeling road was laid out
and opened through it, and on this road, not long after
the year 1800, Purviance opened a tavern in a large

, two—story log house (having three rooms on the lower

and four in the upper story), which stood on the lot
now occupied by the hotel of David Bell, Esq., in
Claysville. The old Purviance house was demolished

. when Mrs. Kellywas proprietor of the land on which

it stood. V

John Purviance had been keeping tavern in his
large log house a number of years when the prelimi-
nary surveys were made for the great National road
from VVheeling to Cumberland, andjwhen it became
certain by the final surveys for location, made under

Col. Eli Williams, that the route of the road would _

pass his place, he promptly surveyed and laid out
a prospective townupon his land, and inserted in the
Washington Reporter (and no doubt also in other

The first—mentioned tract, “Superfine Bottom,” or.

_building has notbeen discovered.

75;

HISTORY OF WASHINGTON. COUNTY, "PENNSYLVANIA.

newspapers) the following advertisement, which is
found in that journal’s issue of April 21, 1817, viz. :

“ CLiu'svILLE.—The subscriberhaving laidoff a number of building lots
in the new town of Claysville, will offer the same at public sale, on the
premises, on Thursday, the Eighth day of May next. Lots will be sold
agreeably to a plan or plot exhibited on the day of sale.

“ Claysville is distant ten miles from Washington westward, and about
18 east of Wheeling, and six from Alexandria} The Great National
Road from Cumberland to Wheeling, as located by Col. Williams, and
confirmed by the President, and now rapidly progressing towards its
completion, passes directly through the town. The lots contain a front
of fifty feet on the road, and a depth back of two hundred feet, with suit-
able and convenient avenues to each block of lots. The scite of the
town is beautiful, well watered, a fertile country around it, and a good
pppulation. To persons who may purchase and improve the present
season, the subscriber will give timber for any frame building that may
he put up without price. On the day of sale the terms of credit will be
made known. '

1 A “ JOHN PURVIANCE.
“ Wxsumcrox, April 21, 1817.”

The result of this advertised sale of lots in Clays-
ville has not been ascertained, but it is known. that
soon afterwards a store was established in the new
town by George Wilson, who had a thriving trade
there during the construction of the National road,
from 1817 to 1820, when it was completed. It appears
that he was an enterprising man, and in addition to
the business of the store he carried on that of tailor
or manufacturer of clothing, and furnished cheap gar-
ments (principally of cotton and linen) to the laborers
and others engaged in the construction of the road.
Another merchant who establisheda store here very
soon after Wilson was Alexander Chapman.

The fi-rst house built on the site of Claysville after
its laying out _by Mr. Purviance was one erected by
Samuel Sherr. Whether it was a frame or a log
Another early
dwelling (and perhaps the next after Sherr’s) was that
built by Mr. Miller,and at about the same time a
house was built here by William Brownlee. One ofthe
earliest residents in Claysvillewas James Sawhill,

who open-ed the first tailor-shop. Joseph Bryant was i

a blacksmith here, and perhaps the first in his busi-
ness. _The first resident physician in Claysville was
Dr. James Kerr. It has already been mentioned that
the first tavern here was that kept in the two-story
log house by Purviance. How long he continued to
keep it is not known. On the 11th of June, 1821,
James Sargent advertised that he had removed from
‘Washington to Claysville, and opened a public-house
“ at the sign of the Black Horse, in the brick house
formerly occupied by-John Porter.” Whether the
brick house referred to -was erected for a tavern or a
dwelling, and for which of these purposes Porter had
used‘ it, does not appear from the advertisement, but
it is evident that it had been built very soon after the
laying out of the town.

11 The town of West Alexander, which had been laid out by Robert
Ilumphreys in 1796, was re-laid out (or added to) by Charles De Hass in
the same year in which Claysville was platted (1817). And De Ilass in
this reviving or relaying out of his town‘changed the name from the
original “ West Alexander’? to “Alexandria.”

That Claysville was a place of some importance
even at the time of its laying out is to be inferred
from the number of signatures appended to a sub-
scription agreement made for the purpose of estab-
lishing a school and building a school-house in the
new town in the first year of its existence. It is not
to be supposed, however, that the people whose names

, appear on the paper were all residents of Claysville.

Many, and probably most of them, were inhabitants
of the township, outside of but of course reasonably
near to the town. The paper referred to is as follows :

“We, the undersigned subscribers, do agree to pay the several sums
annexed to our names [the sums subscribed are omitted in the list] for‘
the purpose of building a school-house in the town of Claysville, on ‘a

lot given by John Purviance, Esq., for the said use. .Claysville, 1817.
Simon Shurr, Solomon Cook, George Wilson, Patten Gawlel, Samuel

‘Gilman, William Porter, John Brownlee, John Griffith, B. McGiffin, Esq.,

Alexander Buchanan, Thomas Stuart, Michael Curran, M. Martin, Robert
Graham, William Cres_well, Samuel Porter, Robert Graham, John Mes-

_ ruken, Curtis Melonefy, John Stevenson, Leonard Carpenter, John

Y_oung, Edward McLaughlin, Jasper Campsey, James Brownlee, William
Robinson, Thomas Gorley. George English, Mrs. Adams, John Mclllillin,

, Samuel Gumlel, Samuel McMillin, Ebenezer White, Michael O’Curran,

Daniel Cray, Alexander Porter, John Stevenson (hauls the timber),
James Chruthen (one shingle tree), Abraham Morris, John Knox, John
Marshall, Michael McGlaugh’lin, William McCall, Hugh /Crary, John
Mulligan, Andrew Bell, Robert Mulligan, Daniel Mesaughan,Joseph
Thompson, William Stevenson, William Marshall, William Hawkins,
James Mitchell, John Hains, Robert Caughan, Burnet McKeehan, John
McMillan, Esq., Hugh Crary, James Chruthers, James MCN inch, Thomas
McGlaughlin, Jacob Ozenbaugh, Jacob Werick, Esq., George Kn'ox, Wil-

liam McGuflin, Andrew Bell, Christian Werick, Mrs. Kurtz, Philip Kees- .

ler, Burnet Boner, David Alexander Lyel, Alexander Lyel,‘ Peter Car-
penter, James Nabal.” _

The total amount subscribed by "these persons for
the building of the proposed school-house in Clays-
ville was $255.50.

From the time of its laying out in 1817, Claysville
remained an unincorporated town for fifteen years,
and then, in 1832, itwas erected a borough by act of

Assembly, passed on the 2d of April in that year, by

which it was provided and declared:

“ That the town of Claysville, in_the county of Washington, shall be,
and the same is hereby, erected into a borough, which shall be called the
borough of Claysville, and shall be boundedand limited as follows, to
wit: Beginning at a stake at the corner of land of Porter‘s and Dough-
erty‘s heirs; thence by lands of Porter":-3 heirsnorth thirty-one and a
quarter west, two hundred and fifty-three perches to a white oak; thence
by lands of Charles Wilson north eighty-two and a quarter east, one
huudred and sixty-three and three-tenths perches to a white oak ; thence
by lands of James Worrel south one quarter’, east, one hundred and

ninety-eight and seven-tenths perches to a white oak; thence by lands ‘

of Thomas Stewart and Dougherty’s heirs south sixty-five and a quarter
west, ninety-two perches to theiplace of beginning.”

The time of the first borough election was fixed by

the incorporating act on the second Friday of May,‘ '

1832. The result of that election cannot be ascer-
tained, for the reason that the first six pages, have been

cut. from the borough records. The first entry found _
"having reference to oflicers of the borough is as fol-..

lows: “ May 128, 1833.—-The Town Council met agree-
ablyto adjournment. Members all present. Mr. Simon
Shurr, the president, called the house to order, after
which the following-named gentlemen were respec-
tively elected to fill the several ofiices, viz.: Mr. Henry
Jamison, treasurer; Mr. John Barr, streetcommis-,

‘ Alexander White, April 13, 1853.

' Thomas S. Irwin, June 9, 1856.

was erected in 1860-61.

DONEGAL TOWNSHIP.

755,‘

sioner; Mr. James Shannon, collector. . . .” In 1.834

the Council was composed of Henry Jamison, Lee-.

man McCarrell, James Noble, Robert McNeal, John
Kelly. For succeeding years ‘none but a very imper-
fect list of borough oflicers has been found, which,
on account of its incompleteness and inaccuracy, is
omitted here. 1

7 The first justice of the peace of the borough of
Claysville was James Noble, who held the oflice by
appointment until after it became elective under the
Constitution of 1838, and was one of the first two
elected under that constitution. The dates of his
previous appointments and commissions have not
been found. The list of « justices of the peace chosen
in the boroughof Claysville since the office became

' elective is as follows : ~i

Nicholas Bearly, April 14, 1840.
James Noble, April 14, 1840.
John Birch, April 15, 1845.
Nicholas Bearly, April 15,1345.
Nicholas Bearly, April 9, 1850.
Hugh McCaskey, April 9, 1850.

James Noble, April 12, 1859.

G. W. Bodkin,‘ April 9, 1861.
John Birch, April 12, 1896.

John Birch, April 12, 1871.
John Birch, Jan. 17, 1874.

A. J. Stillwagon, March 17, 1875.
James McKee, March 11, 1876.
A. J. Stillwagon, March 30, 1880.
James McKee, April 9, 1881.

James Noble, April 11, 1854.

From the time of the building of the first school-
house in Claysville (1817-18), as before mentioned, it
remained on the same footing with other districts of
the township until 1858, when it became a separate
and independent district. The present school-house
It is a fine and commodious
building, in which the schools of the borough are
taught in three departments. _» . . '

Societies and Orders.-—-Hopewell Lodge, No. 504,
I. O. O. F., was organized at West Middletown, May

‘ 17 , 1854; reorganized at Claysville in 1872.

Claysville Lodge, No. 447, A. Y. M., was organized

'Aug. 5, 1869. Oflicers: Isaac Teal, W. M.; William

Wilson, S. W.; T. J. Bell, J. VV.

The Claysville Sentinel, a newspaper “ devoted to
the interest of the Republican party politically and
to‘ the dissemination of useful knowledge,” was es-
tablished in 1878, the first number having been issued
on the 21st of November in that year. Horace B.
Durant, Esq., editor.

Hon. Daniel Rider, a former citizen of Claysville,
was born in Masontown, Fayette Co., Nov. 28, 1808.
He received his education at the old subscription
schools taught by Clark Ely, James T. Redburn, and
others. After leaving school he acquired an exten-
sive library and pursued a systematic course’ of read-
ing. His father died in 1826, and he came to Clays-
ville, and engaged in the tanning business, afterwards

,'having the Hon..John Birch for his partner for sev-

eral years. Daniel Rider was a resident of Claysville»
for a, period of twenty years. He emigrated to Fair-.
field, Jefferson Co., Iowa, in the year 1847, where he.
is engaged in the location and sale of government
lands, in which business he has had great success.
He participated in the centennial exercises at Wash-,

ington, in September, 1881, and returned to his VVest-

ern home, followed by the good wishesof the surviv- :

ing friends of his earlier days in Washington County. ;
Hon. John Birch, anotherof Claysville’s honored
citizens, was born in Cumberland County, near Ship-

pensburg, Aug. 5, 1810. He was educated in the.,old'

subscription ‘schools, and came to Washington County
in 1817, and settled on the Waters of Buffalo Creek.

He moved into Claysville in the year 1832, where he
has since resided. He is a tannerby trade. He was 9

elected justice of the peace in 1845,’and.has been re-
elected three times to the same oflice, but resigned

before the completion of his last term. In 1848 he I
He received the»

was elected county commissioner.
nomination for representative, and was elected, serv-

ing with Billingsley and Barnet during the sessions.

of 1875 and 1876. 7

Presbyterian Church of Claysvil1e.—This.ehurclv  

was formally organized on the 20th of September;
1820, while there were yet but a few scattering in’-
habitants in the town. An unpretentious.fr.ame build-

ing was erected as a house of worship, and was used

by the congregation until 1830, i.n the fall of which_

year they occupied. a new church edifice of brick,: , I.
which had been erected at a cost of about $3000. The-.

first minister in charge of this church, was the Rev.
Thomas Hoge, who continued in that relation’ till.
1834, when he was succeeded by the Rev. Peter Has-

singer, whose pastorate closed in 1838. Then for four-.

teen years the church was served by supplies, among-
whom were the Revs. John Knox, 6
after October, 1846, the Rev. Alexander McCarrell,,
who served in that capacity till December, 1852, when
he was installed pastor. '“ ‘

 

The Rev. Alexander McCarre.ll was born in Hano-A .

ver township, Washington County, Sept. 22, 1817. He:
wasreared under the ministry of the Rev. John Stock-
ton, graduated from Washington College in 1841,
then followeda courseof theological study, and was
licensed to preach by the Presbytery of Washington.
in April, 1845, after which for a time he‘ served,the-
churches of Wolf Run and Amity as stated supply.’
From October, 1846, as before mentioned, he supplied
the church at Claysville for more than six years. On;
the 16th of December, 1852, he was installed, and.
commenced a pastorate which continued until his

death, April 18, 1881. His wife was Martha, daughter» ‘

of William McLean.- They had four sons and a_
daughter. One of the sons is an attorney at Harris,-,
burg, Pa., the others are Presbyterian ministers,——
one at Shippensburg, Pa., one at Waynesboro’, Greene»
Co., Pa., and one at Shelbyville, Ky. _ .

. The successor of the Rev. Alexander McCarrell,-
and present pastor of the church at Claysville, is the
Rev. J. L. Leeper, a graduate of Princeton, who was:

licensed in the spring of 1881, and called by-this 4

church March 6, 1882. «He assumed charge on the;
1st of May following. V — -
The present mem,bersh.ip.of the churchis two hun-

Whythe, and, .

756

HISTORY OF WASHINGTON COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA.

dred and fourteen. Connected with the church is a
Sabbath-school of two hundred pupils, under the

. superintendency of T. C. Noble. ‘

‘Methodist Episcopal Church.—The Methodist
Church of Claysville dates back half a century, “but
the records have been so badly. kept and are so defec-
tive that it is impossible to gain from them much
information concerning the history of the church.
Their first church edifice was a brick structure, which
became insuflicient for the requirements of the con-
gregation, and the present commodious frame build-

ing was erectedto take its place.- The present’

membership of the church is forty-‘eight. It is one
of several churches.recently composing the charge of
the Rev. George Sheets, and now under charge of the
Rev. Thomas "Patterson.

Roman Catholic Church.——For many years the
Catholics of this vicinity worshiped in an- old log
church building that stood about three miles east of
West Alexander.‘ Scarcely a vestige of this old edifice
now remains. In 1873 abrick church was erected
for the use of the Catholics at the west end of Clays-
yille. 1 This congregation is more fully mentioned in
the religious article of the general history of the
county in this volume.

v The Dutch Fork Christian Church.‘—In giving
a historical sketch of the Church of Christ, known as
the Dutch Fork Church, it becomes necessary to re-
fer to some facts which preceded its establishment,
which facts will be found narrated in the account of
the early labors of Thomas and Alexander Campbell,
given in the Rev. W. L. Hayden’s article on the
Christian Church (page 416, et seq.) in this volume,

, to which article the reader is referred.

- At a meeting held at Buffalo,.Aug. 17, 1809, con-
sisting-of persons of different religious denominations,

most of them in an unsettled state as to a fixed gos- .
ipel ministry,» it was "unanimously agreed to form

themselves into a society to becalled “The Christian
Association of Washington, Pa.” The first article
of the constitution which they adopted, after giving
the name, declares the object of the organization to
be “ for the sole purpose of promoting simple evan-
gelical Christianity, free from all mixture of” human
opinions and inventions. of men.”

During this year his son Alexander and the rest of

- his family arrived in this country and joined Thomas

Campbell in Washington County, Pa. In the spring
of 1810. at thehouse of Jacob Donaldson, after his

‘ father had given a discourse, Alexander Campbell,

for the first time and at the request of his father, ad-
dressed the congregation briefly in a word of exhorta-
tion, and on the 15th of July of that year he gave
his first regular discourse under a tree on thefarm of
Maj. ‘Templeton, some eight miles fromAWashington.

. '1iBy Rev. A. Myers.

After the organ- 1
ization of the above-named association, Thornasi
' Campbell labored -under its auspices for a while.

This discourse was based on the closing verses of the .

Sermon on the Mount, and was very acceptable to
those who heard it.

_ ~ In the fall ofthat year the members of the Christian.
lAssociation decided to build themselves a meeting-

house, and they accordingly selected for the site a
piece of ground on the farm of VVilliam Gilchrist, now
the property of Miller, in the valley of Brush
Run, about two miles above its junction with Buffalo
Creek. ‘Early the following spring this house was
erected, and the opening discourse was ‘given by Alex-
ander Campbell,‘on the 16th of June, 1811, from these
words: “ Who gave himself for our sins, that he might
deliver us from this present evil world/’.——Gal. i. 4.
On the 4th of May, a little over a month. before the
new house was thus opened, the members of the Asso-
ciation. had-met and organized a church. Thomas
Campbell was appointed elder, and Alexander Camp-
bell was licensed to preach the gospel. John Daw-
son, George Sharp, William Gilchrist, and James
Foster were chosen deacons.
members constituting this Brush Run Church were
Thomas Campbell, Alexander Campbell, Mrs. Jane
Campbell and her daughter Dorothea,‘James_Foster
and wife, John Dawson and wife, Thomas Hodgens,
Sr., and wife and his son James Hodgens, James
Hanen and wife, VVilliam Gilchrist and daughter,
with his wife and her mother, George Sharp, Sr., and
wife and son John, Thomas Sharp and Mrs. Sharp,
wife of George Sharp, J r., George Archer and wife,
Abraham Altars, Margaret Fullerton, Joseph Bryant,
and John Donaldson. These met and worshiped al-
ternately here and at Cross-Roads. - At Mount Pleas-
ant, sometimes called Hickory, another church was

 

" organized about the same time as the one on Brush

Run. The Campbells continued to minister tothese
and to preach and plant other churches in new fields.
In 1813, James Foster was ordained an elder in the
Brush Run congregation, and aided in the instruction

of the church, and Alexander Campbell had been ‘
‘ordained “to the work of the holy ministry” on the

1st day of January, 1812.

By the year 1823 the number ofmembers had in-

creased considerably, and being very much scattered,
they decided to form a church at Wellsburg, Brooke
Co., Va. (now W.eVa.). Accordingly the following
persons, on the 31st of August, 1823, were dismissed
by letter from the Brush Run Church’ for this purpose,

viz. : Alexander Campbell, Margaret Campbell, John '

Brown, Ann Brown, Mary Sayers, Mary Marshall,

'Mary Little, Richard. McConnel, Stephen Riest, Mr.

Jones, John Chambers, Mary Chambers, Jacob Os-

borne, Susan ‘Osborne, Mrs. Bakewell, Selina Bake-C

well, Mrs. Dicks, William Gilchrist, Jane «Gilchrist,
Mr. Brockaw, Nancy Brockaw, Alexander Holliday,
Joseph Freeman, Margaret Parkison, Jane Parkison,
Mrs. Talbort, George-Young, Daniel Babbit, Catha-
rine Harvey,.Mrs.' Braley, Solomon Salah, Delilah

Salah. The remainder of the disciples at Brush Run _

The names of the I

DONEGAL TOWNSHIP.

757

. continued to meet regularly for worship, although

considerably reduced in numbers. In 1826, James
Foster, with several others, removed to Marshall
County, Va., near to Beeler’s Station, where they
formed another church, and soon after, in the latter
part of 1827 or the early part of 1828, those nearest
to Bethany began to meet in that vicinity, and the
Brush Run Church being thus weakened, they soon
discontinued their meetings. there. Very soon after
this, however, we find avnumber of these members,

-with others, meeting in private houses on the Dutch

Fork, some five or six miles south of the old Brush

A Run Church, and others meeting in a similar manner

near West Middletown, on the north. . _
But before giving a specific account of either the

' ’ - Dutch Forks or West Middletown churches it is proper

to remark, as a part of the true history of this movement
and the chief actors in it, that after the Campbells
withdrew from the Seceders and were thrown upon
their own resources as independent religionists, they
devoted themselves assiduously to the study of the
Bible, and their minds and those associated with
them underwent some important changes on the
subject of church government, the mode or action
of Christian baptism, its subject, design, etc. Hence,
on the“ mode” of baptism, becoming satisfied from
the Scriptures that the immersion of a true believer
is the apostolic action of baptism, on the 12th day of

_, June, 1812, the Campbells, their.wives,'and three

other persons were baptized in Buffalo Creek, on
the farm of David Bryant, nowthe property of John
Stewart, by Elder Matthias Luce, a Baptist minister,
who had been sent for to administer the ordinance.
From this time forward they and their brethren prac-

-ticed immersion alone for baptism. We have thus

given a few facts in connection with the early 'move-

" ments of the Campbells (Thomas and Alexander)

in Washington County, because these facts and the

efforts of these noted men have become a part of the

religious history not of this county only, but of this
age and of this country. ‘The religious movement
commenced’ by them in this county has assumed
much larger proportions at this early date, we ap-

prehend, thanthey or any of their friends at the time I

expected, the denomination now numbering over six
hundred thousand _communicants. ‘

’ In the year 1828 a young man of the name of Ab-
salom Titus, living with his widowed mother, Marga-
ret Titus, on the Dutch Fork, about four miles above

‘its junction with Buffalo Creek, becoming satisfied

that it was his duty to become a Christian, went to
Bethany, and ona profession of his faith in Christ
was baptized by Alexander Campbell. Soon after
this Campbell began occasionally to preach at Mrs.
Titus’, and in 18.30~she'was baptized near her own

- residence, now the property of Franklin Titus. The

following year Alexander Campbell and Walter Scott
held a meeting in a sugar-tree grove on the farm of

I

Elizabeth Rodgers, now owned by her son, Patrick
Rodgers, but occupied by his son Franklin, at which
several persons were immersed. These persons, in
connection with several of the former members of
the old Brush Run Church who lived near enough,

.began to meet regularlyr'for.worsl1i~p. at Mrs. Titus’

residence, and they were led and instructed in these
meetings by the Campbells, James McElroy,- James
McVey, Robert Dawson, VValter Scott, and others.
They first attended to the breaking of :bread here
under James McVey, in 1831. Soon after this they

a would, for the convenience of a portion of the mem-

bers, meet occasionally at Jacob Deeds’ house, now
John Deeds’, near the present church, known as the
Dutch Fork Church. They afterwards met in r a
school-house near the same place, until 1834, when,
on the 31st of May, the present church site was deeded
to Samuel Cox, Jacob Deeds, J oseph. McCoy, George
Morrow, and Patrick Rodgers as trustees, and their
successors, for the benefit of the church, by’ Jacob
Deeds and wife and George Morrow and-wife. The
members immediately erected on this land a meeting-
house, which they continued to occupy until the pres-
ent house was built in 1863, which was dedicated on

the first Sunday of December of that year by Presi— --
dent W. K. Pendleton, of Bethany College, assisted

by A. E. Myers.

The original members of the Dutch Fork Church
were_the -following, viz.: Absalom Titus, Margaret
Titus, and her daughters Sarah and Margaret, Eliza-
beth Rodgers, Jacob Deeds, and_ Ann his wife, Jona-
than, Elizabeth, Sarah, and Adam Simmons, George
Morrowand Hester his wife, Jeremiah Linville, Eliza-
beth his wife, and Maria their daughter, George
Guy, and Mary his wife, Joseph McCoy, and Mary
his wife, Lydia and Mary Stoolfire, Fanny, Alexan-
der, and Maria’Martin, Andrew, Levi, Sarah, "Ann,
David, and Mary McKune, Mary McCreath, Henry

Jameson,-and Esther. his wife, Joseph Kine and wife,
The following"

Rosa Cox, and Lavenia Matthews.
were from the old Brush Run Church: Andrew -Chap-
man, and Nancy his wife, Joseph Bryant, and Doro-
theahis wife, William Matthews and wife, and Joseph
Matthews. This church was organized about the year
1833 by. Walter Scott and James McVey, but the
records of the church here "are somewhat defective;

only relatively correct. In the regular weekly meet-‘
ings of the church to break bread and for edification,

William and Joseph Matthews, with others not men-
tioned above, contributed of their ‘Bible knowledge in
the instruction of the congregation for quite a number
of years. « ' 8 V

In 1844, Robert Graham, _a student then of Bethany
College, and now president of the Bible College of
Kentucky University, was employed to preach regu-
larly for the church, and did much towards bringing
the congregation into scriptural order and correct
discipline. In 1846-48, Moses E. Said, a man of very.
considerable power as a preacher and writer, minis-

758

HISTORY OF WASHINGTON COUNTY, ‘PEN N SYLVAN IA.

tered to the congregation the word of life. Occa-
sionally during all of these years evangelists from
Ohio, Virginia, and this State visited this church,
and held protracted meetings for days, and often added
to their numbers many souls.

From 1849 to 1862, James Hough was the regular
teaching. elder of thechurch. During this period a
number of protracted meetings were held by various
ministers of the gospel, among whom were L. P. Strea-
tor, of this county; T. V. Berry, now of Iowa; W. T.
Moore, now, of London, England, and A. E. Myers,

now of West Liberty, VV. Va. The last of these held \

his first protracted, meeting here “in June, 1851, and
often visited and labored for the church up to 1862,
when he became the evangelist of the church, and
virtually took charge of it. He has remained in

charge, except for a few short intervals, up to this *

date, having often young men from Bethany College

‘as assistant preachers and teachers of the congrega-

tion.‘ But being an evangelist, and laboring occa-
sionally in an extended field in several of the States,
he has not generally for long periods of time together
devoted all his time’ to this church, but in connection
with the regular elders and deacons of the church, and
the aid of younger ministers from the college, has kept
a general’ watch—care_over the flock. _

In 1878 the following persons, having been duly
elected by the brethren, were formally ordained by
fasting, prayer, and the imposition of hands, A. E.
Myers and President‘ Pendlet_on, of Bethany College,
ofiiciating: John 'Crow- (now deceased), Abraham’
Morrow, and George Smith, elders ; Henry Chapman,
David Winter, George Kernes, and William‘ Shaler,
deacons. The church now numbers two hundred and

eight communicants; they are at peaceamong them-

Selves, have no debt hanging over them, and their
church property is worth about fifteen hundred dol-
lars. They keep up a respectable Sunday-school all

-the year, and at present have for their ministers, ‘each

one-half of the time, A. E. Myers and King Pendle-
ton, a-son of President Pendleton, of Bethany College.
. Zion Chapel of the United Brethren Church
dates back to the year 1800, when_the first organiza-
tion was effected. The members at about that time
(and who, as is believed, were the original ones) were

4 Christopher Winter, Daniel Rice, George Crider,

William Barnhart, George Framer, Capt. Jacob Mil-
ler, Andrew Deeds, David Simmons, William Sheller,
George Kerns. Among the preachersito this church
during its long period of existence were and have
been ‘Flemmer, Jacob Winter, John Wallace,
Jacob Ritter, John Fohl, —— Holmes, William
Beighell, J. L. Baker, Martin Spangler, Joseph Meds-
gar, M. 0. Lane. ' A
. The first house of worship of this congregation was
erected on Christopher Winter’s land, at about the

 

time of the organization. It was a log building, two :

stories -high,‘ with a gallery, Thesecond meeting-
house was built in 1839, and after being in use for

' her sons were yet small.

twenty years gave place, in 1859,_to the edifice which
has since been the place of worship of the congrega-
tion. The present membership of this church includes
about fifty persons. '
Pleasant Grove Regular Baptist Church.-—This
church was organized on the.14th of November, 1840,
with fi‘fty—three members. The pastor was the Rev.
Levi Grifiith. Deacons, John Tilton and Samuel
Kelly. Church clerk, Edward O. Town. A house of
worship was erected on land donated for the purpose
by Deacon John Tilton. The church has now a mem-
bership of about one hundred and thirty, and con-

nected with it is a Sabbath-school of about forty-

pupils.

ggs.
‘wr-

BIOGRAPHICAL sKETCHEs

THADDEUS CLARK NOBLE.

Thaddeus Clark Noble, of Claysville, was born.

on Dec. 29, 1818, in Amwell township, VVashington
Co., Pa.,.on the farm now owned by Mr. Archibald

McCracken. His grandfather was William Noble, .

w-ho emigrated from near Glasgow, Scotland, and
settled in Lancaster County, where he married Eliz-
abeth Howe, a native of that county, became a sol-
dier, and was killed in battle in the Revolutionary
war. The widow, with her son, James Noble, the
father of the present Mr. N oble,‘ and another son,
subsequently removed to Washington County, while
James Noble married Jane
Boyd, who was born in the town of Dennaughey,
County Tyrone, Ireland, and'was the daughter of
Robert Boyd andhis wife, Margaret (Latimore) Boyd,
a sister of Robert Latimore, late of Washington, Pa.
Robert Boyd and his family, including Jane, removed
to America and settled in Washington County when
the latter was about eleven years of age.‘ Jane (Boyd)
Noble was a full cousin of Mrs. Martha McCook, the
mother of the well—known_“ fighting” McCook fam-
ily. James Noblesettled in Claysvillein the year
1821, where he continued to reside-with his family,
consisting of five sons and five daughters (of whom
T. C. Noble was the eldest), until his death in 1873. -

T. C. Noble attended the-common schools of his,
neighborhood, living with his father, until he was

eighteen years old, and worked occasionally at cabi-
net-making and undertaking, which was his father’s» ‘

business, until the age _of twenty years. He then
went to Illinois, stopping at Winchester, Scott Co.,
with twelve and a half cents in silver and a three-
dollar note on‘ the bank of Xenia, Ohio, the note not
then known by him to be worthless. Unable to buy
his breakfast with the bank-note, he went to work as
a journeyman cabinet-maker, continuing in that em-
pioyment for about six months, when he found he
had earnedaone hundred and twent-y—six dollars. He
then started home, arriving in time to cast his first.

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DONEGAL TOWNSHIP.

759

vote_ in 1840 for Martin Van Buren. Thence until
the spring of 1844 he was occupied alternately teach-
ing school, selling merchandise, and working at his
trade. In the spring of_1844 he went back to Illinois,

taught school during the summer, returning again in ‘

the fall to his VVashington County home, and from
that time to 1849 was most generally engaged in sell-
ing goods for George A. Cracraft and Paden & Noble,

_ during which time he also studied surveying, in theory

and practice, with the Hon. E. G. Cracraft. In 1846
he was appointed by Governor F. R. Shunk to the
oflicejof deputy surveyor for Washington County and
served three years, and was then reappointed for an-
other term of like extent. ., The oflice then becoming
elective, he was nominated by his party, but defeated

' by" Hon. H. J. Vankirk,by a majority of five votes.

At the end of that term both gentlemen were again

. nominated by their respective parties, Mr. ‘Noble

this time being chosen by a majority of five hundred
and five votes. A r

In 1849, Mr.ANoble was married to Miss Sarah
Mehetable Truesdell, daughter-of Josiah and Mary
Truesdell, who moved to Washington County from
near Bristol, Conn., and settled near Claysville about
the time the town was laid out. By this marriage
there have been ten children, three of whom, Lizzie
M., Charlotte G., and Joel J., are dead, and seven of

v whom, Joseph. T., James, T. Clark, Jr., Frances M.,

Harriet VV., Ella I., and Katie M., are still. living.

J. T. Noble, the oldest son, is a graduate of Washing-

ton and Jefferson College, and a member of,‘ the
Washington County bar. Frances ‘M., Harriet W.,
and Ella I. are graduates of Steubenville Seminary,

ahd T. Clark, J r., isat present a member of the sopho-

more class of Washington and J efferson College.
Soon after his marriage Mr. Noble commenced ‘mer-

chandising in Claysville, keeping a general store, at

which business he continued for a. period of twenty-
five years, at difierent times having for partners L.‘ C.
Truesdell (a brother-in-law), CQB. Abercrombie, and
M. L. Stillwagen. During the thirty-three years
which have elapsed since his marriage, Mr.‘Noble
has surveyed more than a thousand farms in VVash-
ington County and Western Virginia, besides running

many disputed lines, and serving under appointment .

as road- or bridge-viewer and in dividing townships
fornearly every‘ term of ‘court for these thirty-three
years, sometimes having filled as many as three ap-
pointments for one term. In 1855, Mr. Noble was the
candidate of the Democratic party for prothonotary,
and was defeated by twenty-five votes, while all but
one on the same ticket were defeated by from seventy-
five to two hundred and twenty-five votes. In 1857,

under an appointment authorized by a_n act of the
\ Legislature, he transcribed from the oflicial records at

Harrisburg, for the use of the county, all the drafts
of the original surveys not found in the record books
of the county. The surveys thustranscribed number
about twelve hundred, and fill two large volumes.

During these tl1'irty—three years he has been exten-

sively. engaged in other business of various kinds,-1

the purchase and sale of land for himself and others,
the buying of wool to the extent of from thirty thou-
sand dollars to one hundred thousand dollars each‘
year, the sale of harvesting machines and other farm

implements,‘and during the war he dealt largely in

grain, hay, and hogs. Besides his private business,
Mr. Noble has also filled many appointments to offices
of trust, such as executor, administrator, etc., and for
fifteen years was a school director of his district, and

was twice commissioned a justice of the peace, 1874, '

1879. _
In politics Mr. Noble has always been a Democrat,

has been nominated without solicitation on his part ‘ I

five times for different county oflices, and in 1880 was

chairman of the County Vigilance Committee, in‘

which campaign George Perritte, Esq., was elected
sheriff, though that was the only important oflice to
fill that year, and notwithstanding his party was
largely in the minority. His standing in his party is
such that at different times. he has been urged to be-
come a candidate for the Legislature, and alwaysde-
clined, alleging his entire unfitness and his preference
to be at home with his -family. He has always been
a ‘strong advocate of temperance, never indulged in
the use of liquors of any kind, and has even always
abstained from the use of tobacco. For a number of
years he was a member of the Methodist Episcopal
Church, but for the last eight years he has been a
member of the Presbyterian Church. ‘For ten years
he has been aSabba,th—s,chool superintendent, which
honorable office he now fills. Though thus long en-
gaged in active business, in employments of many
kinds, as well as in managing the farm which he
bought "in 1854, and on which he now resides, he
has never been a party to a suit in court, or even be-
fore a justice of the peace, and. his own tastes have
been such, and his character of that quiet and unob-

trusive kind, that not only has his, popularity been

wide-spread, but his influence with both old and
young has always been decided and effective. -

THOMAS’ FRAZIEB.
‘Thomas Frazier’s grandfather, Andrew Frazier, was
a native of Dornoch, shire of Sutherland, Scotland.
He married Christiana Ross, and in 1772 emigrated

to America and settled in Maryland. In 1786 they

removed to Washington County, Pa., and settled in
Chartiers township, where they remained until the
year 1800, when they moved into Finley township in
the same county, where they lived until their deaths.
Andrew died Dec. 11, 1838, aged eighty-six years.
Christiana died Oct. 9, 1842, in the eighty-eighth year.

of her age. They had four children,—David, Alex-

ander, Daniel, and N ancy-

-David Frazier was born in Maryland in 17 79. VVhen A.
. seven years of age he went with his parents to Wash-

90

HISTORY OF WASHINGTON COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA.

land, the former a resident of that part which after-
wards became Washington County, and the latter of
that which became Fayette. Brady’s party was sent
up the west side of the Monongahela, and Springer’s
to the east side of that river and up the valley of
the Redstone. The following letters, addressed by
the commandant to those oflicers, show something of
the nature of the service in which they were engaged,
and the difficulties they encountered in performing it,
viz. :1
“ HEAD QRS., FORT PITT, Sept. 21, 1780.

“'Sir——As Money is not yet sent to this.Department
to pay for the Provisions necessary to subsist the
Troops, & they have_ already suffered; And as our
endeavors, to obtain a temporary supply from the
Inhabitants upon the credit of the United States
have not proved effectual, I am Instructed by the
hon’ble Board of War prudently to avail myself of a
license given by the hon’ble Executive Council of
the State of Pen“ in the words following, viz. : [words
not given] in the mean time we can have no objection
to the using necessary Compulsion, rather than the
Troops should suffer; I sincerely lament the necessity
of using this mode of supplying the Troops under my
command, & wish it could be avoided, but I hope the

-virtuous -Inhabitants will judge rightly of the measure

and ch earfully submit to a temporary compulsion, for to
gain an everlasting Right to dispose of their property,
not only by their own consent in the Legislature, but
by Inclination as Individuals. And I desire you will
assure them that I have just reason to expect they will
be generously & speedily paid the full value of such
articles of Provisions as may be taken for supplying
the Troops."

"‘ An As’t Purchasing Commissary is to attend you,
and previous to your making use of Compulsory means
you are to make the Inhabitants acquainted with your
Instructions; after which, if they are of ability to spare
Cattle or sheep to the Commissary upon public Credit,
agreeable to the terms mentioned in his Instructions,

' & shall ‘refuse to do so, then, & not otherwise, you will

proceed to take from such of them refusing as afore-
said as many Cattle & sheep as they can spare with-
out Injury to their Families & further encrease; and
all such Cattle & Sheep are to be immediately marked
for the Public & drove to some Field, to be taken in

30,1780, as follows: “ . . . Captain Brady is just returned from Sandnsky.
He took Prisoners two young Squaws within a mile of their principal
Village ; one of them effected her escape after six Days’ march, the other
he brought to Cuskusky, where he met seven warriors who had taken
a woman & Child off Chartiers Creek. He fired at the Captain and
killed him, and have brought in the woman & the Indian’s Scalp, but
the Squaw made her escape at the same time. When Captain Brady
fired at the Indians, he had only three men with him & but two rounds
of, powder. He was out thirty-two Days, six of which he was quite des-
titute of Provisions of any kind, but he has brought his party safe to
this place. Capt. Lient. Brady’s zeal, perseverance, & good Conduct cer-
tainly entitles him to promotion; there has been a vacancy for him since
the Death of Captain Dawson, which happened in last September, and I

C must beg leave to recommend him to the Hon’ble Executive Council

as an oificer of merit.”-—-Pa. A1-ch., 1779-81, pp. 378, 379.
1 Pa. Arch., 1779-81, pp. 565, 566.

a convenient part of the Settlement for Collecting &
herding them until a sufficient number be collected
for the present exigency. For all which you are to

pass Receipts agreeable to the valuation or appraise-
ment of the Commissary & one reputable Inhabitant, A

which you will cause to be made. You are to acquaint
me frequently by letter of your success, inclosing re-
turns of the Cattle and Sheep taken and procured by
consent. I p

“ You are upon no pretence to take Cattle or Sheep
from the poorer sort of Inhabitants, or from such as
have been great sufferers by the Enemy; but you are
to take them from such as have lived more secure.
The good Inhabitants are to be treated with the ut-
most Civility, & you shall inflict immediate punish-
ment on Soldiers guilty of Marauding or insulting
the Inhabitants who conduct themselves inoffensively
towards them. i

“ You are to consider these Instructions as confined

to those Inhabitants only who have uniformly consid- '

ered themselves as Cityzens of Pen“, as the license of
the Hon’ble Executive Council cannot at present be
understood to extend to such as in the unsettled state
of the boundaries have acknowledged another juris-
diction. A

“I wish you great success and hope you will be
enabled to obtain the necessary supplies for immediate
Consumption by agreement & Consent.

“I have the- honor to be, &c.,
“ DANIEL BRODHEAD,

“ Colo. C'ommand’g W D.
“CAI>T’N SAML. BRADY.” Y  

“ HEAD QUARTERS, PITT, Oct. 11, 1780. _

“ DEAR SIR,-——I am favored with yours of the 9th
inst., and am much distressed on account of the ap-
parent aversion of the people to afford us supplies,

and the more so as I see no alternative between using

force and suffering. . . . Under our present circum-
stances, we cannot admit a modest thought about
using force as the ultimate expedient; and in case
you are likely to meet with opposition, you must send
notice to Captain Springer, near Little Redstone, who
will doubtless detach a party to your assistance.. The
commander-in-chief’s thanks to you are now in my
pocket, and will publish them when “you return. At
present it will not suit to relieve you.
“ I am, &c.,
“ DANIEL BRODHEAD.
“ CAPT. SAMUEL BRADY.”  

~ “ HEAD QUARTERS, Foar PITT, Oct. 20, 1780.

A “DEAR SIR,—I have this moment received your
favor of yesterday, and am sorry to find the people
above Redstone [vicinity of Brownsville,’ Fayette
County] have intentions to raise in arms against you.
I believe with you that there are amongst them many
Disaffected, and conceive that their past and present
conduct will justify you in defending yourself by
every means in your power. It may yet be doubtful

760

HISTORY or WASHINGTON COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA.

ington‘ County, Pa., wherein his home was the re-
mainder of his life, and his business, farming. He
married Jane Ross, of Finley township. They had
seven children,-—Thomas, Margaret, Jane, Andrew B.,
Christiana, William, and Alfred. But one of these,
Andrew B., is now living. He is a minister in the

Presbyterian Church, and resides in Illinois. David ‘

Frazier died in 1839. His wife, Jane (Ross) Frazier,
died June 20, 1868.

David Frazier was a very remarkable man, and it
is to be regretted that so few details of his life and
deeds can at this time be readily gathered. " He was
a man of fervid piety, one of the leading members of
the Presbyterian Church of his neighborhood," and
lived a life of noble Christian deeds. Hewas ap-
pointed justice’ of the peace in 1815, and held the of-
ficeluntil 1834. He was a just man and a peace-maker,
always urging upon those disposed to go to law ‘an
amicable settlement of their differences. In-1834 he
was elected a member of the Greneral,Assembly of
Pennsylvania, and served one term. ‘ ,He discharged
his duties honorably and creditably.

Thomas, eldest son of David and Jane (Ross) Fra- A

zier, was born in West Finley township, Washington
County, Pa., in 1810. In his boyhood he ‘attended
the district schools and also for a time West Alexan-

der Academy, and thereafter entered Jefferson College,

from which he graduated about 1831. After leaving
college he engaged in merchandising in West Alex-
ander, where he remained for several years, when he
removed to Concord, Ohio, and continued in business
as a merchant. He remained there but two years,

’ when he returned to the farm whereon he was born,

and engaged in farming a-nd general stock-raising.
In 1869 he moved from the farm to the borough of
West Alexander, which was his home until his death,
Sept.‘-17, 1877. In business he exhibited good judg-
ment, caution, perseverance, and‘ watchfulness, com-
bined witha good knowledge of market values. His
long-time acquaintances speak of him as a man of
high integrity, an obliging and liberal friend, one
whose word was always as good as arbond for what he
promised. He was a lifelong Democrat, and was
elected to a number of important local officcs,-whose

duties he discharged in a manner approved by his .

constituents. *For the office of justice of the peace,
to which he was twice elected, he showed a peculiar
fitness. ' '

He was twice married: first in 1839 to Nancy
Hall, who died April 6, 1862. By this marriage there
were four children,———William H., a farmer living in
West Alexander; Agnes J ., married to J. W. Blaney,
a farmer of West Finley township; David R., a gen-
eral business man of West’ Alexander, ,married to
Mary Blaney; and a child which died in infancy.
Thomas married his second wife, Barbara McDonald

who is still living, in -1865..

WILLIAM 'McLAIbl. '
,William McLain, of Scotch-Irish stock,‘the de-

scendant of a family which came to America and-

settled in Western Pennsylvania when it was an un-

- broken forest, was born near Canonsburg, \Vashing-

ton Co., June 23, 1779. His father died when he was
very young, and the di-fliculties which "he overcame
in obtaining an education would have discouraged a‘
boy of less resolute character.

was soon thoroughly equipped for teaching, which,
although a farmer by occupation, he followed for

‘more than thirty years of his life. He was a skillful"

teacher, a lover of learning, imbued with those vir-
tues which make the character great, and many who
hearkened unto his instruction and advice attribute
much of their success in after-years to the lessons
which-he inculcated. Hemoved to .the_-village Of
Claysville in 1830, and resided there until his death,
March 2, 1872. He was a member of the Presby-
terian Church for more than sixty years, and a ruling

elder in the Presbyterian Church of Claysville for '

over forty years. He was a faithful, consistent, zealous
Christian, always holding the interests of the church
most dear, and ever ready to devote himself to her
work. While a man of deep a.nd abiding piety, he
yet took an earnest interest in all that related to his
citizenship. His life of ninety-three years was full of
worthy, helpful deeds, and he was permitted to see
all of his children, to whom his memory, is aprecious
legacy, members of the church which he loved and
served  well.

. William McLain was twice married. His first wife,
Agnes Fink, whom he married March 4, 1806, died 4

Aug. 21, 1808, leaving two sons, John and Samuel A.
‘ John McLain, who was born Dec. 21, 1806, never
‘married. He lived with his father until 1846, when
he settled upon a farm in East Finley township,
Washington Co., Pa», where he ‘still resides. He is
an honored and respected citizen, an earnest Christian
worker, always a leader in church. enterprises. The
Claysville ‘Presbyterian Church, of which he has
been a ruling elder for more than twenty years, has
received much substantial support from him.

Samuel A. McLain was born July 23, 1808, and

died in Jasper County, Iowa, April 26, 1869. He grad-
uated at J efferson College, Washington County, Pa.,
and entered the ministry of the Presbyterian Church
in 1835. He possessed many excellent traits of char-
acter. He was a firm adherent to the doctrines of his

church, a lifelong foe of the system of human slavery,’

a thorough reformer, and an advocate of the cause of
the oppressed. He was twice married. His first wife
was Anna Hughes, and by her he had eight children,
four sons and four daughters. Three of his sons,
Thomas, William, and John, served in the Union
army during -the war of the Rebellion. John was
killed at the battle of Cold Harbor. By his second
wife, Kate Dawes, he had one child, a daughter.

_ His thirst for knowl- .
edge led him to great application tostudy, and he -

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7 DONEGAL, TOWNSHIP.

Three of his sons and two daughters are now living,
all in Iowa, except Thomas, who is chief clerk in the
Cincinnati City Hospital, which position he has held
for the last twenty years.

» ,William McLain’s second wife, whom he married

Nov. 7, 1811, was Margaret McClelland. She sur-
vived her husband three years. By this marriage
there were ten children, three sons and seven daugh-
ters; twolo,f the sons, Thomas and William, died in
childhood. The third son, Joseph R. McLain, was
born Jan. 8, 1828, and resides in Claysville, Washing-
ton Co., Pa. He was married Nov. 27, 1849, to Su-
sanna Ralston. By this marriage" there were nine
children, of whom, Lauretta M1, the eldest daugh-
ter, died Dec. 28, 1879. Those living are William

J. ’E., Maggie M., John A., Joseph M., David C.,

Susie S.,' Beckie E., and George "W. Joseph R. Mc-
Clain is an active member of the Republican party,
and by it has been elected to important offices. _He
was the first Republican jury commissioner of Wash-
ington County, and has held the position of chairman

of the Republican .County Committee. He has been"

a member of the State House of Representatives, and
served in the sessions of 1876 and 1877.‘ He is now
engaged in the wool and mercantile business in Clays-
ville, Pa., "and in the mercantile‘ business in Dravos-
burg, Pa. ' . .
1 The daughters of VVilliam McLain were Agnes,
Hannah, Mary, Martha, Margaret, Eliza J ., and
Sarah.‘ ‘

Agnes was born Aug. 8, 1812. She is the widow of
James Sawhill, and lives in Washington, Pa.

Hannah, born Jan. 14, 1.814, the widow of Ira
Blanchard, died in‘Claysville, Pa., March 5, 1882.

Mary, born Dec. 1, 1816, lives in Washington, Pa.

Martha, born Sept. 21, 1818, died in June, 1880.
She was the wife of Rev. Alexander McCarrell, D.D.,
who was pastor of the Presbyterian Church of Clays-
ville, Pa., for thirty-five years previous to his death
in 1881. _ '

Margaret, born Feb. 15, 1.822, is the wife of Robert
McKahan, surveyor of Guernsey. County, Ohio, where
they reside. ‘

Eliza J., born Feb. 11, 1826, died July 10,1856.
She was the wife of James Wright, deceased.

Sarah, born Dec. 7, 1830, is the wife of A. K. Craig,
and ‘lives near Claysville, Pa.

DR. GEORGE B. WOODS. .

Dr. George B. V-Voods is of Irish descent, and was
born in Centre township, Greene Co., Pa., Sept. 7,
1850. He’ obtained a good preparatory education in
the common schools and Waynesburg College, in his

‘ native county, and studied medicine with Dr. J. H.‘

Pipes, then of Cameron, now of_Wheeling, W. Va.
In 1872 he matriculated in the medical department of
the University of Wooster, of Cleveland, Ohio, and
was graduated M.D. in February, 1874. For.one

year after graduating he was associated in practice

with his preceptor. He then established himself in
Dallas, W. Va., and remained four years. "In the
summer of 1880 he settled in VVest Alexander, where
he has a growing_ practice. Dr. Woods has made his
own way in the world, earning by teaching and in
other ways the money necessary to defray the ex-
penses of his literary and medical education. He

knows the value of time, and the probationary years /6

so often, spent by young physicians in bewailing
their misfortunes were utilized by him and spent in

making himself more conversant with,the medical"

and surgical science, as found in text-books, special
treatises, and periodicals of the day. He is wedded
to his profession, and does not permit outsidematters
to engage his attention. He was married in 1875 to
Lizzie M. Lucas, of Waynesburg. They have two
children,-—Lynn and Paul Wood . I - I

DR. D. S. EAGLESON.
Dr. D. S. Eagleson was born in Hopewell township,
Washington Co., Nov. 19, 1837. ‘Having received a
good education in the common schools and academy,

he engaged in teaching, which he followed for several
In 1859 he com-’

years during the winter months. ‘
menced the study of medicine with Dr. Erastus Be-
mis, anative of Brattlebo-ro’, Vt., but at that time and
for many years thereafter a resident of West Middle-
town, Washington Co., Pa. After reading asufficient
time, he attended lectures at Jefferson Medical Col-
lege, Philadelphia, where he graduated in 1863. ‘He
opened an office in Montgomery County, Ohio, and
practiced in and near Dayton until the spring of 1867,
when he removed to West Alexander, in his native
county, where he opened an oflice and is now practic-
ing. His time has been well employed, and he en-
joys the confidence of the community. He clings to
the Presbyterian faith, of which his father was a life-
long minister. He was married Nov. 4, 1863, to An-
nie J . Blaney,mof Buffalo township, Washington Co.,
Pa. They have five living children,——Mary C., Laura
I., Annie J., Nancy C., and Lizzie L. One of their
children, Eva I., died Jan. 23,1877, in hersixth year.

' Dr. Eagleson’s father, Rev. Dr. John Eagleson, ’

was born near Cadiz, Ohio, Feb. 12, 1809; graduated
at Jefferson College, Pennsylvania, in 1829; was
licensed to preach bylthe Presbytery of Steubenville
at Beech Spring Jan. 8, 1833; commenced his minis-

try in Upper Buffalo Church Jan. 19, 1834; was or- ’

dained and installed pastor by’ the Presbytery of
\Vashington Dec. 24, 1834; and died Jan. ‘23, 1873,
having spent his life as a minister with the one charge.
He was married in 1835 to Mary Stewart, who died in
1842, leaving three children,—Andrew S., David S.,
and William S. In 1843 he was married to his second
wife, Mary Gordon, by whom‘ he had five "children, —
Alexander G., Henry G., Jane G., Hannah G., and
George G. . . A

761 ,

.in the spring of 1880.

762

HISTORY or WASHINGTON COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA.)

Rev. Dr. John Eagleson was a man whose character I .

was wonderfully symmetrical. He ‘was unselfish,
seeking not his own aggrandizement, but God’s glory.
He knew his duty and did it. Piety like a silver
thread ran through his entire life. He believed
with allhis heart in the scriptural character of the
doctrines of his own branch of Christ’s Church, yet
always entertained a cordial feeling for those who
differed from him. His readiness to maintain his
own views of Christian doctrine with great firmness
never imp.aired the fraternal and confidential rela-
tions existing between himself and his brethren in
the ministry of other churches. As he expected to
commune with God’s people in heaven, hetook great
pleasure in afliliating with them here upon earth.

DR. J. C. BROWNLEE.

Dr. J. C. Brownlee is the third son of Ebenezer
and Eliza (Davidson) Brownlee, of West Finley town-
ship, Washington County, where he was born Feb.
9, 1854. He was prepared for college in the common
schools and in West Alexander Academy, under the
tutorship of Rev. W. H. Lester. In 1873 he entered
the freshman class of Amherst College, where he re-
mained one year. He then entered Cornell Univer-
sity, and took a special course of two years, devoting
his time mainly to the departments of natural his-
tory and chemistry, preparatory to entering upon
the study of medicine; In the fall of 1876"he entered
Bellevue Hospital Medical College, New York City,
and attended the course of lectures for that year.
He returned home in the spring of 1877, and during

the winter of that year taught school, his health not

permitting him to return to lectures at that time.
During the summer of 1878- he was principal of the
West Alexander Academy, and illness after the close
of his term prevented his attendingtlectures that
year. After‘ his recovery he practiced with Dr.
Marshman, of Dallas, W. Va., where he remained
until the fall of 1879, when he re-entered Bellevue
Medical College, from which he was graduated M.D.
, In addition to the regular
course of the college, he took special courses on “ dis-
eases of the. eye, physical diagnosis, and surgery.”
Soon after his return home he opened an office and
began practice in West Alexander. ,He is well up
in a knowledge of the most approvedand latest
methods of diagnosis and means of relieving human
suffering. He is a member of the Washington County
Medical Society, of the Presbyterian Church, and of
the Young Men’s Christian Association, in which he
takes the greatest interest, having filled the-offices of
president and secretary of the same, and having been
a delegate to their international convention held .in

_ Cleveland in May, 1881.

JOSEPH FINLEY MAYES. '

7 Charles Mayes, grandfather of Joseph Finley ‘

Mayes, was of "Scotch descent, and was born -in
Adams County, Pa. He married Margaret Finley, of
the same county, about the year 1773, and in the year

1786 migrated to Washington County, Pa,, and settled ‘

upon‘ a farm near West Alexander, where he lived

until his‘death, March 1, 1823, aged seventy-eight,

years. The children of Charles and Margaret (Fin-
ley) Mayes were Elizabeth, born March! 26, 1774;
James, born June 3, 1775; Isaac, born March 6, 1777;
Charles, born June 22, 1779; John, born May 12,
1781; Samuel R.', born Aug. 23, 1783, he died in in-
fancy, and the next" son was Samuel R., born Aug.
12, 1785; Margaret, born Nov. 20, 1790; Mary Fin-
ley, born April 18, 1793; Jane,'born Nov. 15, 1795.
The last named is the only one of the family now
living. “

Isaac Mayes, the-third in the above list, spent his

early life in farm labor, and while he superintended \

and directed the working of’ his farm during the last
thirty-three years of his life, much of his time and
attention of that period was given to the discharge of
the duties of the office of justice of the peace, to
which he was appointed Dec. 6, 1811, and which he
held until his death July 16, 1844. He was a man of
correct business habits, and left a systematic register
of all his oflicial transactions. Among the interesting
items recorded is this, that during his terms of oflice
he married nine hundred and thirty (930) couples.
He was upright, kind, and faithful, a good man. He
was married Nov. 25, 1813, to Elizabeth Alexander,
who died April 16, 1816, leaving one child, Joseph
Finley Mayes. .

I He married his second wife, Elizabeth King, ‘Nov.
25, 1818, She died July 2, 1.872, in her eiglity-eighth
year. By this marriage there were five children,——
Margaret M., who died in 1830, aged eleven years;
Sarah S., who is the wife of Dr. Edward P. Hale, of
Wichita, Sedgwick Co., Kan. ;' Kate W., who is the
wife of Joel Truesdell, of West Alexander, Washing-
ington Co., Pa.; Rebecca R., who died in 1825, aged
sixyears; and Samuel R., who died in infancy in
1827. '

Joseph Finley Mayes was born in West Alexander, '

where he now resides, Aug. 25, 1814. He obtained
his education in the district school and the academy
of his native village. After leaving school he en-
gaged in farming, which was his chief business until
1874. Since that date he has been busied with the
duties of his oflice, that of justice of the peace, to
which he was first elected in 1862, and in whichhe
has been continued by successive elections ever since.
He was elected to his fifth term in this office in Feb-
ruary, 1882. In politics he is an ardent Republican,
and earnest in his ‘efforts to promote the principles of
his party, but is esteemed by his political opponents,
as is evidenced by the fact that he has at times been
elected to the position which he now fills by the com-

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WILLIAM MCLAIN.

DONEGAL' TOWNSHIP.

 

bined vote of all parties. He is a clever gentleman,
with good natural and acquired business ability, and
has the confidence and respect of a large acquaintance.
His “ book” shows at the present date, July 23, 1882,
that he has performed the marriage ceremony for two
thousand and thirty-nine (2039) couples, for which
much-e-njoyed and well-performed duty ‘he has re-
ceived in fees $6387.84. Twenty dollars ($20) is the
large-st fee he has ever received, ninety cents ($0.90) the
smallest, and but five or six of this large number have
failed to pay something. His marriage—list includes
representatives from various parts of the United

States. The fact that his office is near the.State of *

West Virginia, in which a marriage license is required
before the important rite can legally be performed,

- doubtless brings to him many who desire to enter

wedded life. _
knowing and doing his duty well.
Mr. Mayes is a member of ‘the Presbyterian Church,

Others go because of hisreputation for

as were also his father and grandfather. He was mar- .

tried Nov. 30, 1854, to Cassandra R. Jacob, of Ohio
County, Va. She died Feb. 15, 1872, leaving one
child, Lizzie A. Mayes, who died sD;ec....24,.18.79.

Joseph was married to his second wife, Carrie D.
Agnew, of Wheeling, Dec. 18, 1874. She died Nov.
27, 1877. — ‘

He was married to his present wife, Bettie R. Bare,
Nov. 22, 1881.

JAMES MCQUOWN.
Thomas McQ,uown, a gentleman of Irish descent,

married Mrs. Margaret Galloway, by whom he had

two children, Margaret and James. Margaret mar-
ried William Davidson.

James McQuown was born in Washington County,

Sept. 24, 1784, and died in .1864. His father died
when he was ten years of age, and he was thus early

thrown upon his own resources. He learned the car-
penter’s and cabinet-maker’s trades, which he followed
for many years. He studied surveying, in which he
became very proficient, and he at one time held the
office of county surveyor. The latter years of his
active life were spent in farming“ The chief ambi-
tion or desire of his life was to accomplish whatever
he undertook, and to excel in his work. His deter-
mination and native intellectual capacity, disciplined
by reading and ob.servation,,_ were the , mainsprings of
his success. He was a member of the AssociateRe-
formed Church in early life, and afterwards of the
United Presbyterian Church. In politics he was a
Whig, afterwards a Republican, advocating the prin-
ciples of the latter long before the party was organ-
ized. He was married Sept. 29,1805, to Sarah Mc-
Gaw. They had ten children,—Isabella, Margaret,
Delilah, Thomas," Sarah," James, Jane, Elizabeth,
John, and Agnes. But two. of the children, Sarah
and James, are now living.

 

'DRS. J. N., I. N., AND LEE M. s1>RowLs.

These three physicians are of Irish stock-. Their
grandfather, John Sprowls, came from County Ty-
rone, Ireland,to America near the close of‘ the last
century. Their father, whose name was also John
Sprowls, was born in East Finley township in 1818,
and died Aug. 8, 1870. He learned the business of
farming, and followed it successfully all of his life.

He was a member of the’ Cumberland Presbyterian 0

Church for many years, a charter member of the
\Vindy Gap Cumberland Presbyterian Church, and
an elder in that organization for a long time. He
was married in 1850 to Mary A‘. McNay._ --Their chil-
dren were J. M., J. N., I. N., Lee M.,, Annie M.,-
Clara B., A. H., and Lucy E.- ,
Dr. J. N. Sprowls was born in West Finley town.-
ship, Washington County, Sept. 14, 1852. His literary
education was received in the common schools and
Oberlin College, Lorain County, Ohio. After leaving
college he read medicine with Dr. Silas C. McCracken,

of Claysvi_lle. In September, 1875, he entered J eff'er- _
_ son Medical College, Philadelphia, from which he

graduated in March, 1877 . After graduating he
pursued the practice of his chosen profession with his
preceptor for one year. He then established himself
in his own office. He takes a great interest in every-
thing that affects the efliciencyi and standing of him-
self and his profession before the public. In his
youth he joined the Cumberland Presbyterian Church,
and afterwards united withthe Presbyterian Church,
of which he is now a member. He was married
March 6, 1878, to Maggie M. McLain, of Claysville.
They have one child, Joseph William Sprowls, born
May 6,1882. 1

_ Dr. I. N. Sprowls was born in West’ Finley town- .

ship, Washington County, in 1854, and died in Feb:
ruary, 1882. In. his youth he worked on the farm
with his father, attending the common schools, from
which he was advanced to Waynesburg and Mount
Union Colleges, where he completed his literary
education. His medical studies were under the direc-

tion of Dr. W. L.'Grim. He attended the usual A

courses of lectures, and graduated M.D. from J effer-
son Medical College, Philadelphia, in 1879. In the
same year he opened an oflice in Burnsville, where he
practiced until his death in -1882. He was thoroughly

in love with his profession,.and is gratefully remem-

bered by his family and medical brethren.

Dr. Lee M. Sprowls was born in West Finley town-
ship, Washington County, Dec. 22, 1856. He received
his education in the common schools and Mount Union
College. He began his medical pupilage under his
brother, Dr. I. N. Sprowls (deceased), of Burnsville,
and graduated from’ Jefferson Medical College in
March, 1882. Immediately after graduating he
opened an oflice and began practicing  Burnsville.

763.

764

HISTORY or WASHINGTON COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA.

DR. WILLIAM L. GRIM.

Dr. William L. Grim, who is of Scotch descent,
was born in Richhill township,Greene Co., Pa., Aug.
19, 1839, and is the son of Armstrong and Mary A.
(Scott) Grim. His life until twenty years- of age
was spent upon his father’s farm. He then taught
school for two years. Aug. 20, 1862, he enlisted in
Company K, Fifteenth Pennsylvania Cavalry, One
Hundred and SixtiethlRegiment,‘and served until
his discharge, July 1, 1865. Aug. 1, 1865, he en-
tered the oflice of Dr. S. C. McCracken, of Burnsville,
Washington Co., Pa., as a student of -medicine. He
remained with him two years, and then attended a

course of lectures in Cleveland Medical-College. He

returned to Burnsville, bought out his preceptor, and
began practicing,‘ which he continued until 1874,
when he again went to Cleveland, attended another
course of lectures, and graduated the following spring.
He returned to Burnsville, where he has since been
practicing with fair success. Like most rural prac-
titioners, he engages in general practice. He is a
member of the Baptist Church. He was married
Feb. 11, 1869, to Lizzie A. Litman, of Fayette County,
Pa. Their living children are John E., William E.,
Jesse E.,, Sturgis G. Outside matters do not attract
him. He gives to those things only such time as
becomes the good citizen. His father’s family con-
sists of nine children, all of whom are living. The

_ doctor is the second son, and fourth in the order of

birth.

DR. I JAMES W. TEAGARDEN.

Dr. James W. Teagarden, of German descent, was
born in Greene County, Pa., Aug. 14, 1850, and is the
second son of Hamilton and Sarah A. (Burns) Tea-
garden. His literary education was obtained in the
common schools and academies. VVhen fifteen years
of age he began teaching school, which he followed
for eleven years. - In 1876 he entered the oflice of

Dr. W.‘ L. Grim, of Burnsville, where he prosecuted
the studyof medicine for nearly two years. In 1877
_he matriculated in Cleveland Medical College, from
which he received his degree in 1879. For one year
after graduating he practiced at Crane’s Mills, in his
native county.’ He then settled in Burnsville, Wash-
ington Co., as the partner of his preceptor. He
enjoys a good general practice. He has been a mem-
ber of the Cumberland Presbyterian Church for fifteen
years, and- is a rigid temperance man. He was mar-
ried, Oct. 26, 1881, to Hattie N. Crow, of Greene
County’, Pa._,,oldest daughter of Michael and Sarah
J. Crow, of Richhill township. '

. DR. WILLIAM DENNEY.
. Dr. William Denney, of Claysville, was born in
Jefferson, Greene Co., Pa., Oct. 28, 1851. He re-
ceived his primary education in and near his native
village. ‘In the autumn of 1864 he went to Mount
Pleasant, Iowa, where he studied for four years in the
Mount Pleasant Seminary, under the direction of his
uncle, Rev. E. L. Belden,'who was principal of that
institution. He then entered the Wesleyan‘Univer-
sity of Iowa, where he studied for about two years.
In 1870 he returnedto his native town of Jefferson
and engaged in school-teaching, which he followed in
different parts of Greene County until 1876. He then
entered regularly upon his medical studies, which he
had been pursuing duringhis vacation in teaching, in
the oflice of his uncle, Dr. B. W. Denney, of Garard’s
Fort,_ Greene Co., Pa. He afterwards entered the
Miami Medical College, Cincinn.ati, Ohio, in which
he took the progressive course, and from which he
graduated in the spring of 1879. In June of that
year he established himself in Claysville, where he
has since practiced. Professionally and socially he
is esteemed by the ‘community. He‘ was married
March 3, 1881, to Lucinda, third daughter of John
and Sarah Bell, of Morgan township, Greene Co., Pa.

4 _
V’ ‘ vr.

«V7

EAST BETHLEHEM JTOWNSI-IIP. 

OF the thirteen original townshipsinto which
\Vashington County was divided immediately after
its erection in 1781, the second on the list was the
township of Bethlehem, which embracednthe present
territory of East and West Bethlehem and a part of

‘ that of East Pike.Run, township. The old township

of Bethlehem continued, withits original" boundaries,
for nine years from the time of its erection.
In 1788 a petition, dated AuguTst.29th of that year,

and numerously signed byinhabitants of Bethlehem
and Fallowfield, was presented to the court praying
that a new township be formed from parts of -the two
townships named. The court took - no immediate
action on this petition, and it was finally rejected.
At the September term of the court in 1788- there

was presented “A Petition of a number of the_In-

habitants ._of Bethlehem township, in the County of

\V_ashington,” praying the court to “Cause our,

Em BETHLEHEM TOWNSHIP.

765

8 Township to be Divided Centerably and laid out

in two distinct townships, which we would recom-

‘ mend as follows (to wit): Beginning at Petter Drake’s,

and thence a straight line to Wise’s Mill, which has
been ever accounted Centerable.”

At the same term of court another and more nu-
merously-signed petition was presented of inhabit-
ants of Bethlehein township, praying the court “to
lay us off into two Distinct Townships, as nigh of an
equal size as possible,” and recommending a division
-line, “Beginning at the mouth of Daniels’ Run,
thence with a straight course to Adam Weaver’s,
which has always been allowed to be the Central

house, thence with a straight course to 7Thomas

Hi1l’s, tavern-keeper.” I
' Both petitions ihadthe same object, the division of

Bethlehem into two townships, and difl"ered only as‘
' to the division line asked for. But the first-mentioned

petition secured the ‘favorable action of the court;

-"the division was ordered in accordance with the line

indicated in it, and on the 18th of-January, 1790, the
Supreme Executive Council of Pennsylvania con-
firmed the decree of the court, erecting from the ter-
ritory of old Bethlehem township two townships,
“the easterly part to be called East Bethlehem.”
It appears that for more than a ha1f-century«there-
after the status of the townships was satisfactory to
the inhabitants; but at the November term of the

, Court of Quarter,‘Sessions in 1842 a petition was pre-

sented “of sundry Inhabitants of East Bethlehem”.

for a new township to be formedfrom off the southern '
side of said township to be called.“ P.lum Run,” and to

be bounded by ‘a line “ commencing near .the mouth
of F ish.Pot Run, to intersect the West Pike Run

‘township line near the.Toll'-Gate on the National

road, eastof Bealsville.” ‘On this petition’ the com-

' missioners reported adversely May 27, 1843, and their ‘

report was confirmed by the court.‘ In the same year
the boundary line between East Bethlehem and East
Pike Run was changed by an order of court, giving
to the last-named township a small part of the terri-
tory of East Bethlehem. Again, in August, 1861, the
line between East and VVest Bethlehem was slightly
changed, leaving East Bethlehem with its present
area and boundary lines. The townshipls boundaries
are as follows : On the north, against East Pike Run
and West‘ Pike Run townships ; on the east and south-
east by the Monongahela River, separating it from
Fayette County; on the south by the Monongahela
and by Ten-Mile Creek‘ (which last-named stream

‘separates it from Greene County); and on the west

by the township of West Bethlehem. .'All the streams
of the township of any importance are mentioned in
the preceding description of its boundaries.

Early Settlements.-,—The first white settlers within
the territory of Washington County were Everhart
Hupp, George Bumgarner,,and Abraham Teagarden,
and all these located in the vicinity of the mouth of
Ten-Mile Creek. Everhart Hupp and George Bum-

49 1 ’

garner came together in the year 1766 from Culpepcr
County, Va., and each made .a settlement, as stated,

-in the solithern part of the present township of East.

Bethlehem. Hupp’s land was- about two miles from
the mouth of Ten-‘Wile Creek, on the north side. He
took up several large tracts-,——one known as “ Hupp’s
Regard,” containing three hundred and eighty-seven
acres, which was granted him June 3, 1769, on war-
rant No. 3318, and surveyed April 7, 1784; another
tract, called “ Hupp’s Bottom,” having two hundred

and ninety-five acres, was given him on "a Virginia.

certificate, and described “ as including his actual
settlement made in the year 1769.” Everhart Hupp’s
wife was Margaret Hupp, and their children were
George, Philip, Michael, Frank, Rezin, John, Henry,
David, and Margaret. The sons Philip and Michael
were in the war of 1812, being members of the com-
pany. of Adam Wise, which went out from Frederick-

town the latter part of that year. ‘Philip Hu pp af'te.r- - A

wards married Phebe Johnson, and emigrated to the
West. Rezin married Mahala. Harris, and lived on
Fish Creek. John’-s wife was Hannah Homer, and
their home was near Clarksville. David followed the
trade of stone-mason‘ for several years.
his brother Henry died of fever. The sons Michael
and Frank married, and lived. in Washington County.
George Hupp was the oldest son and child of Everhart
Hupp. He died in 1854, leaving a family of seven
children, six daughters. and one son. The son, George
Hupp, Jr., now lives on a part of the original tract.

,Hiram Homer also owns a portion of the early home-

stead. The land of '-‘Everhart Hupp was near the
present village of Millsborough, and he lived upon it
until his death, which occurred in 1824. Some of the
stones which formed the chimney of his early cabin
home are yet to be seen upon the part of the farm now
in the possession of Mr. Homer. 8

George“ Bumgarner, who came to this-section with
Mr. Hupp, located upon land adjoining that of his
fellow-pioneer. ‘He had but one child, his son Jesse,
who was born in what is now Washington County,
June 6, 1768. Jesse Bumgarner married Elizabeth
Dolby, and at his father’s death inherited all his estate.
His children were Joseph, Jesse, Abraham, George,
Elizabeth, Rachel, Delilah, Susan, and Hannah Bum-
garner. Very many of the descendants‘ of George

Bumgarner still reside in this county. Mrs. Eliza-

beth Phillips is a grandchild, and Jesse Phillips and
Jesse Bumgarner are great-grandsons. Mrs. O’Brian,
Mrs. Dolby, and Mrs. Coon, who all live‘ in or near

the village of Millsborough, and Rev. Jacob B.» Mc- .

Cormick, of Grafton, W. Va., are lineal descendants
of the Bumgarner family. 7

"Abraham Teagarden, whose advent into this sec-
tion was contemporary with that of Hupp and Bum-

. garner, also took up large tracts of “land that now ‘

lie within the boundaries of East Bethlehem township
between the villages of Millsboro’ and Clarksville.

“He _was the father of William Teagarden, and no

Both he and

THE REVOLUTION.

91

whether these Fellows attempt anything against you; C

but if you find they are'Determined, you will avoid,
as much as your safety will admit, in coming to action
until you give me a further account, and you may de-
pend upon your receiving succour of Infantry and
Artillery. I have signed your order for ammunition
and have the honor to be, &c.
. “DANIEL BRODHEAD.
“CAPT. URIAH SPRINGER.”

, The tenor of these instructions to his subordin-
ate oflicers clearly indicates that in the opinion of
Col. Brodhead at least the sentiment of patriotism,
which at the commencement of the war was almost
universal among the people westof the Laurel Hill,

_ had now become greatly diminished if not extinct

with regard to a large proportion of the inhabitants
of this frontier region. This belief on his part was
emphasized by him in a letter written at Fort Pitt
on the 7th of December following, in which he said,
“ I learn more and more of the disaffection of the in-
habitants on this side of the mountains. The king of
England’s health is often drank in company.” And
he gave as his opinion, gathered from the,observa-
tion of many of his oflicers, including Col. John Gib-
son, that “ Should the enemy approach this frontier
and offer protection, half the inhabitants would join
them.” Afterwards Cren. Irvine (who succeeded Brod-
head as commandant at the fort) wrote, "‘ I am confi-
dent that if this post was evacuated the bounds of

"Canada would be extended to the Laurel Hill ina

few weeks.”

, Col. Brodhead, although he did not abandon the pro-
ject of an expedition against the Indian towns west of
the Ohio, found it impossible to carry it out during
the year 1780, not only for lack of provisions but
from the difliculty (particularly in the latter part of
the year) of procuring men from the settlements will-
ing to volunteer for the campaign. This unwilling-
ness was, perhaps, caused by the fact that the Indians
had made several incursions into the Monongahela
country, which alarmed the inhabitants and made them
particularly unwilling to absent themselves, leaving
their homes unprotected. One of these incursions
was announced by Brodhead to President Reed in a
letter of September 16th, in which he said, “Intel-
ligence is just received of Seven persons being killed
and taken on Ten-Mile Creek by the Savages; but
under our present circumstances I have not provisions
to furnish a party for pursuit.” Afterwards the In-
dians made another attack on the Ten-Mile settlers,
but with less bloody "results. 

On the 17th of October, Col. Brodhead wrote the
president of the Council,‘ narrating the obstacles
which he had encountered in his attempts to organize
and carry out the Indian campaign, as follows:

“ In full confidence‘ that a suflicient supply of

1 Pa. Archives, 1779-81, p. 588.

Provisions would sooner or later be furnished for
the Troops in this District, as well as for such
number of Militia as policy or the exigencies of
affairs might render it necessary to call into action,
I, with view to cut off the Wyandotts, and other In-
dian Towns that were very troublesome to our Set-
tlements, called for a Draught from the Militia at
three different times, and was as often disappointed
in obtaining Provisions, which, with the unsettled
state of the boundary between Pennsylvania and Vir-
ginia, has greatly discouraged the Inhabitants, and I
apprehend given a handle to the disaffected. I take
the liberty to inclose copies of letters lately received
from Cols. Beeler” and McOleery, purporting some of
the above facts.

2 The letter here referred to was from Col. Joseph Beeler, lieutenant

of Yohogania County, Va. (resident on Chartiers Creek,-in what is now

Washington County), and ran as follows:

“ October 10th, 1780.

“ DEAR SIR,——I received yours of the 7th Inst. this morning, but it is
not in my power to give you a just return, as you request, until the last
of this week, for I have been obliged to issue orders to press horses and
draught men, as I could not get Volunteers enough, of whichl have not
got a return as yet. I am sorry to inform you that I am afraid we shall
come but little speed; I find that the Government of Virga will not
protect me in any thing I do by vertue of the laws of Virgil since their
last Resolution & the laws of Pensla have not as yet taken us under their
protection; all this the Country is acquainted with, so that every thing
I do is at the Risque of my Fortune, unless protected by the States. If
it had not been to forward an Expedition, I should have declined acting
a good while ago; as no man everhad a more disagreeable time of it
than I have at present, having no law to defend me. We are assured of
your good intentions for the safety of the Countrey, and are very sorry
that we cannot act with that spirit that weought to. But hope the laws
of Pena will either be extended in a few Days from this time, or the laws
of Virga be kept in force. It is very unhappy for this Countrey that the
two contending States has’ not provided a better way for the defence of
this Countrey than to let it fall between them both until matters are set-
tled between them.

“ I have the honor to be, with the greatest
“ Respect, Dear Sir, your most obedt Hble Servt,
'“JOSEPH BEELER,
“ without Law to protect me.”

The letter which Col. Brodhead refers to as from William Me-Cleery
was written by that gentleman as acting in place of Col. John Evans,
lieutenant of Monongalia County, Va., and a resident in what is now
Greene County. After stating that he writes for Col. Evans, who was
absent, McCleery continues: “I went to the Otiicers of the Second Bat-
talion of our County Militia, who happened to be then assembled in
General Muster, & made the matter known to them, at the same time
call’d upon them for a Copy of their Returns made to C010 Evans, that I
might as near as possible comply with your request, & they (after some
consultation held on the matter) gave it me for answer, That as they found
all their hopes of Relief from a Campaign being this fall carried out
against their Indian Enemies abortive, and knowing that their frontiers
were at 6Q to 70 Mile in Length, were infested with the savages killing
their People, have at last obliged them to say they can’t spare any men ;
further adding that they are heartily sorry that there should be the
least seeming Jarr or descenting Voice from the orders of Col. Brodhead
as a Commanding Oflicer for the defence of this Cou ntrey; but from his
never having it in his power for want (as we conceive) of the necessary
Supplies to put his Schemes in execution during the whole course of last
Summer & Fall, & our unhappy People daily falling an easy pray to the
Enemy, obliges them to throw off all dependence on any natural aid on
this side of the Mountains this Fall but that of themselves for their re-
lief, and therefore they mean to embody and take the most plausible
methods for their defense, and under these circumstances they think
their numberis already too small without any division. Notwithstanding
they were ready twice last summer, both with Men, Horses, and Provis.
one, to have comply ’d with your requisition fully had you put your plan

766

A for the same land.

v ship, Fayette,Co. I
. the ferry property on .the Fayette County side of the
~ river was inherited by his sonj,John, and the salt-works

HISTORY OF. ‘WASHINGTON   COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA.

doubt “George Teagarden was also his son. George
Teagarden’5 name appears as grantee in a deed from
Richard Ashcraft, dated April 20, 1769, conveying all
Ashcraft’s right and. title to “apearsell or peace of
Land lying and being on the westward of Monon-
gahela River, bounded on the iNorth by _

Creek, . . .” and also transferring the order of survey
It is without doubt the oldest
deed of lands lying within the present boundaries of

 

; \-Vashington County. -

In the year 1770 three brothers named Oliver, James,
and Josiah Crawford settled in Fayette County, Pa.,

. and "each {opened agferry across the Monongahela

River. James )Cra‘wford located at- the mouth of Fish

, Pot Run, on the Fayette County side of the river, but

he owned the ‘land on the VVashington County side,

- to which his ferry ran, and he also lived on this side
— a part of the time. He had three daughters and four
I sons.
A Beall; Ruth married William ‘Campbell, and resided
gnear Beallsville, in West Pike Run township, and

The daughter Margaret married Zephaniah

Mary, who became the wife of William Hargrove,
also lived _near that town. The Hargrove and Beall

' families both. lived and died in this county, but Mr.

Campbell, who ;was a speculator, sold his property

. here and removed to.’Ohio.* The sons of James Craw-

‘ford were Ephraim, John, VVilli-am, and Joseph, all
of whom li_ved upon adjoining farms in Luzerne town-
At ‘the death of James Crawford

on the Washington County side came into possession
of theson Joseph. . Of the property of Josiah Craw-

l ford, one..of. the, early settlers, the ferry—site is owned
; by his nephew, Josiah ‘Crawford, J r., and the land in
' ‘ \Vashingtoin.County is owned by the heirs of. Richard

Thistlewait. H .
Thomas Hawkins was an Englishman by birth,

r who emigrated from his native land to America at
. a very early date.
;in the State of Maryland, but he soon removed
.. from there to a point near Beallsville, locating
. -upon the property now occupied by Mrs. Sarah;Haw".-
. kins.
- Crawford, who owned and operated the ferry at the
 mouth of Fish Pot Run. They had a familyof eight
--. children. Absalom Hawkins was the oldestson. He.
7: owned"a number of slaves, and from 1803' to 1820, or
._ later, kept a tavern upon the propertynow owned_by .
 Edward Taylor. He owned the Stephen Hill and the
- Gen. Crooks farms, and also owned six or seven hun-
: dred acres of land in,.West Bethlehem township, on
the National road between Hillsborough and Beal1s- .
- ville. The road "runs through the farm he thenfpos‘—
-- sessed. Absalom Hawkins died on the oldgPu’s_ey~
'- farm, in this township. ' V ’ y i 7

His first settlement was made

Mr. Hawk-ins married avdaughter of James

Richard Hawkins, the second son of Thomas Haw’-

, kins, settled on that part of his father’s tract that is now
 in the possession of Col. Alexander H.aw.:kins._. . In 1813

he purchased four hundred and-fifteen acres of land of
Thomas Hill, which was located in Greene County,
upon which he lived the remainder of his days. That
property is now owned by his sons, William and John
Hawkins. Another of his sons, James C. Hawkins,

has a farm of three hundred and forty-five acres, called

“Sycamore Grove.” It is situated in East Bethlehem

township, on Ten-Mile Creek, about two and one-halt‘ 0

miles from the river, and was first owned by William
Montgomery, who warranted it. .Mr. Montgomery be-
came involved and sold the place to Evan McCullough,
of Greene County, of whom Mr. Hawkins obtained

' it, making the purchase in the year 1833. There was

a mill built upon the run, which was first operated by

Mr. Montgomery, and also by each successive owner ’

of _the. property, Mr. Hawkins continuing it until
1875. In 1843, at the time he bought it, he put in
three carding-machines, a picker, and a fulling-mill,
and these controlled a large custom for twelve miles
in each direction._ In 1870 the carding- and fulling-
mill was discontinued, the ma_chinery being sold to
Morgan Wise, and taken by him to VVaynesburg, to

use in theestablishment known as the Hook Mill. "IA .

saw-mill has been put in operation where the fu1ling-
mill was run, a new dam having been built to supply
the water-power. Of the three dams that have been
builtat this place,.two have been the work of Mr.
Hawkins. /Besides the other investments and busi-
ness interests of the Hawkins -family, they have nearly

all been extensively engaged in wool-growing and ,

sheep-raising; , , .-

William Hawkins was the. third son of Thomas
Hawkins, the early settler. He lived and died upon
a farm adjoining that of his father, and Mr. Patter-
son, a grandson of his, nowpwns and occupies the
property. Thomas Hawlfins, Jr., was the youngest
son of Thomas ,Hawkins, Sr. He owned and lived

2 upon a part of the homestead for a while, but in 1850 ,
removed to Stark- County, Ohio, where he resided_the .

rest of- his life. _ .

John Welch came into possession of his land in this
township through purchase from Christian Hames,
who took. it up on a Virginia certificate, and settled

. on it in 1774... It was assigned to John Welch, and
was surveyed to -him March 29, 17,85. It was given

the title of “ Enniskillen,” and was located next the
lands of Zephaniah Beall, James McMullen, and
Isaac. Peyton. At. the, death of John Welch this
property was inherited by his son, J ..B. Welch, who
was born on the place. ,He was _a member of the

Pennsylvania. Legislature from this district fora few ,

years. At his ‘death he left a widow and four daugh-
ters, who still‘ reside on the homestead. ~
John and Jacob Hormel were among the earliest

‘settlers of East Bethlehem township. John warranted

a tract of land Feb. 16, 1786, which contained three
hundred and ninety-three acres, and was surveyed
June 1, 1786, and given the name of “Garland.”

. Jacob Hormel rc-sided upon. the tract “Garland” until

EAST BETHLEHEM TOWNSHIP. , 767

his death in 1821, and left it to his sons, William and
John Hormel, J r. William Hormel died in 1827, and
John Hormel then purchased his share and still owns
the whole property. ‘ Thus it has been in the posses-

, sion of the Hormel family nearly one hundred years.

John Hormel, r., was born in 1801, and is now past
eighty years of age. Two younger members of the

V Hormel family, Robert and Nathan, served in the

war of the Rebellion. Both enlisted Sept. 5, 1861, in
Company H, Seventh Pennsylvania Cavalry, Robert
serving until September, 1865, and Nathan receiving
his discharge April 30, 1862. ‘ ‘
Joseph Dorsey came from ‘Ellicott’s Mills, Md.,
to this section, and took up fifteen hundred acres

j of land, lying partly in East Bethlehem and‘ partly
- in East Pike township. The portion of his land

called the homestead was a body of one thousand
acres situated in this township, about two and one-
half miles up the river from VVest Brownsville.
Joseph Dorsey built a log cabin, in which him-

_ self and "family lived a few years, but between the
, years 1790 and 1800 he built the stone house that at
_ present stands upon the farm. Mr. Dorsey had sev-

eral sons and daughters. One daughter was Mrs. Dr.
Wilson, of Steubenville; Nancy became Mrs. Debois,

~ and removed to Ohio with her husband; Clarissa and

Betsey both went to Ohio and died there; and Matilda
went to reside in Kentucky. Edward Dorsey died in
Ohio, and John died in the city ofiCincinnati while

. ’_ traveling. James Dorsey was born in 1790, and was

the youngest ‘of the family. He remained in this
township, and his share of the property was five hun-
dred acres of the homestead tract. He died in 1852,
and left his estate to his two sons, George and James

: V. Dorsey. George had three hundred and eighteen
V acres, and the portion which James V. Dorsey pos-
' sesses includes the old stone house in which they lived

so many years.

Benjamin Kenney settled in East Bethlehem town-
ship in the'year1800, upon a portion of the land called
the “Acklin Patent.” ,Mr. Kenney had two sons,

James and Wesley Kenney, both of xvliomwvere emi-

nent Methodist clergymen. Rev. Wesley Kenney

1 « died in or near Philadelphia, where he was incharge
 of a church. Rev. James Kenney is still living. He
' is not only a minister, but also an excellent farmer.

He has reared a large. family; has a son in California,

‘ two in Illinois, and one living athome with him. He

has also two daughters who live in Illinois, and four

' who still remain at home.
" - Solomon Smith was a mere boy when his father
I came from the East into this part of Pennsylvania,

which was then termed “emigrating West.” They

8 stopped at Redstone Old Fort for severalayears, ‘and
‘ »_ removed to Washington County in 1786. Solomon

Smith’s sons were Reuben, Samuel, and John Smith,

‘ and Mrs. Chatham Jennings is his daughter._ John

Smith died in Ohio, whither he had removed. Reuben

it and Samuel lived and died in Washington County,

and their children are now residents of East Bethle-
hem township. -
The Lintons (Joshua and his son Mahlon) came

from Bucks County, Pa., to this township, and about

the year 1800 the father purchased the land upon

which Barney McNamee had settled. Joshua Linton ‘

had three sons,——Mahlon, Benjamin, and Joshua, Jr.
Benjamin never married; Mahlon married Ann Hil-

lis, and. their children were Joseph, Isaiah, Mary

Ann, and Margaret Linton. Mary Ann married
Jesse Richards and livesin Ohio; Margaret, who
married Thomas Packard, resides in Iowa. Joshua,
Jr., also married. His son Nathan lives in Iowa,
and Henry Linton is a citizen of East‘Bethlehem
township. ' “ I ' 3
John Bower, the ancestor of the families of that

' name, was son of Andrew Bower, of York‘County,

Pa., who was a son of Michael Bower, a German
immigrant.
July 15, 1794, married Elizabeth, daughter of Geo.
Rex Worthy, who moved westward in 1795 and

 settled near Jefferson, Greene Co. John Bower, with

his wife, followed in March and" April, 1796, and
settled at Fredericktown, then lately laid out, on the
Monongahela,__River. On Aug. 18, 1801, he received a
deed from David Blair for a tract of fifty-two and one-
half acres, patented to Blair May 13, 1789, and called
“Apple Bottom.” This tract formed part of the

homestead of Mr. Bower, and upon it he erected the

large stone residence at the lower end of Main Street,
in Fredericktown, in which he lived till his death,
July 29, 1836.’ His widow survived him, and died
Sept. 30, 1852. ' '

Mr. Bower was commissioned a justice of the peace

M under theconstitution of 1790 on the 10th of Decem-

ber, 1813, which oflice he held until at or near his
death. He was the father of thirteen children:
George, ‘Philip, Jona Rex, Hannah, Andrew (who,
as his father before him, was a man of more than

ordinary intelligence, and after his father’s death, in '
' 1836, was elected to succeed him as a justice of the

peace, holding that oflice till the time of his own
death), Hiram Rex, Charles W-Vorthy, John Kepner,
Margaret, Elizabeth, Benjamin F. (who, following
his father and brother, has been a justice of the peace

for his township one or more times, andresides at

Fredericktown), and Mary, the thirteenth child, born

Jan. 3, 1821, having been bitten by a dog in her in- a
fancy, was affected all her. life, and died single and

an invalid about 1845.

George Crumrine came from Maryland in 1801. He
was the son of Abraham Krumrein,» who was the son
of George Krumrein who died in ‘Maryland in 1779.
The latter was a son of George Lenhart Krumrein,
who landed at‘Philadelphia from the Palatinate in
1749. Three sons of Abraham came over the moun-
tains about the‘ same time; George, above named-, set-
tled in East Bethlehem township; John in West
Bethlehem township, on Daniel’s Run, where be

He was born April 23, 1772, and on

lmediately adjoining the homestead.

768

HISTORY or WASHINGTON COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA.

lived and died at an advanced age, leaving sixteen
children; Peter remained with George for a short
time, when he married a daughter of Wise and
removed to Knox County, Ohio.

George Crumrine, who came to this township, pur-
chased of Adam Hartman March 14, 1801, for eight
hundred dollars, a tract called “Darby,” containing
one hundred and twenty—six acres. He also purchased
seventy-three andthree-quarter acres adjoining the
foregoing on Jan. 2, 1810, for six hundred dollars (a
part of the tract called “ Greenland”), from Michael
Rupp, who had purchased the land from Jacob Cro-
tinger Oct. 1, 1806. Thesetwo tracts made a farm of

 

. two hundred acres, on which he lived until his death

Sept. 27, 1832, at the. age of fifty-six years. His wife

 was Elizabeth Garrett, sisterof Nicholas and Henry

Garret, who came from the same section of Maryland
at about the same time. He was overseer of the poor
of the township for many years. His children were

' George, Jacob, Peter, Daniel, John, William, and

Abraham, and one daughter, Margaret. Of these, all
remained in the county except Abraham, who emi-
grated to Illinois. ‘

George settled about two and a half miles ‘north-
east of -Millsboro’, onthe farm now occupied by his
son Demas. Jacob was a miller, and owned the mill
erected by his father on Plum Run, now owned by
his son George. Peter was a cooper when in active
life. He remained a bachelor, and died in February,
1882, at an advanced age, occupying a property im-
Daniel was
awarded by partition proceedings to June Orphans’
Court, 1833, the homestead farm (excepting the mill
seat), containing one hundred and ninety-t_hree acres.
He was born April 25, 1805. By trade he-was a mill-
wright, and in 1831, in partnership with Ephraim L.
Blaine (the father of James G. Blaine) ‘erected the

saw-mill now occupied by John S. Pringle, in West ,

Brownsville. He married Margaret, daughter of
John Bower, Esq., of Fredericktown, Dec. 26, 1830..
His wife died October, 1849. Their children are all
living (except two who died in infancy), viz.: Boyd
Crumrine, of Washington; Bishop Crumrine, attor-
ney-at-lavv at Topeka, Kan.; Lesage and Alonzo are
farmers, and occupy the homestead with their father,
who is still living. Elizabeth, a daughter, is at home
with her father unmarried.

John, son of George Crumrine, was a cooper by
trade, and lived the -greater part of his life at Fred-
ericktown, anddied in 1880. VVilliam was also a

cooper by trade, but has long been a farmer, and re-,

sides in VVest Pike Run. Margaret, the only daugh-
ter of George, remained unmarried, and is still living
on the property owned by her brother Peter, having
lived with him for many years. A

The name of James Regester appears among the
names of the pioneers of East Bethlehem township.
He lived and died upon his farm here, and many of
his :descendants, all good citizens, still reside here. A

grandson, James Regester, Jr., owns and lives upon
the old homestead.

Zephaniah Beall was one of the earliest settlers of
East Bethlehem township, one of its most energetic
and influential residents of the pioneer days, and a
remarkable man in many respects. He was twice
married, the first wife being a daughter of James
Crawford, of Fayette County, and was the father of
twenty-four children, twelve being the result of each
marriage. Mr. Beall was the founder of ,Beallsville,
and in the history of that town will be_ found more
particulars of his life. '

, The Bane and Morgan. families came from J effer-
son and Berkeley Counties in Virginia, and located
in East Bethlehem township, upon land they pur-
chased of JosephAvescat. Henry and William Bane,
descendants of the early settlers, still own and occupy
the Bane portion of the tract. A few representatives
of the Morgan family still live in this section, owning
property along the Monongahela River. Joseph
Avescat, after selling his land, removed to Frederick-
town, where he kept a public--house. The only de-

scendant of his now residing in this vicinity is Joseph

Avescat, J r., of Rice’s Landing.

Thomas Bishop raised a family in East Bethlehem
township, of which Thornton and Hiram Bishop are
linealrdescendants. The farm of Nehemiah Jester is
a part of the old Bishop homestead.

Joseph Alexander at one time owned a tract of
land in East Bethlehem township. He married Jean-
ette ‘Montgomery, by whom he had several children.
Andrew Alexander was the oldest, and his wife was
Harriet Lawrence. Henry Alexander married Mary
Lawrence, and his widow still resides in Millsborough.
Sarah Alexander became the wife of Harry Newkirk.
Harriet Alexander became the wife of Solomon VVise,
who, after her death, married another daughter of
Joseph Alexander.

The property upon which Eli Farquhar now lives
was the tract upon which his grandfather, Thomas
Farquhar, settled at an early day. Thomas Far-

quhar, J r., is another grandson of this earlyusettler, ‘

and his descendants have become very numerous.

Thomas Hughes located in this ‘vicinity-at a very A

early day, and remained in thisytownship until he had
passed the age of eighty years, when he removed. to

‘the State of Ohio, dying there when nearly a hundred

years old. 4

The Enoclis family was largely represented in East
Bethlehem township, and its members were interested
in the manufacturing industries. ‘The tract of three
hundred acres, known as 7‘Hupp’s Bottom,” was
transferred to David Enochs,,t0 Whom the warrant
for it was issued Nov. 26, 1787. David Enochs also
owned other lands in this township. On April 5,
1797, he deeded to his son, David Enochs, J r., the two
hundred and twelve acres whichbelonged to the tract
‘i-Righteous,” warranted by James Foster, Sept. 4,
1786. It was situated on the waters of Ten-Mile

EAST BETHLEHEM TOWNSHIP. . 7C9

Creek, was sold to David Enochs, March 27, 1787, and.
patented to him March 3, 1789. The land of Isaac
Enochs wasthe tract “Essen,” containing fifty—five
acres, adjoining the lands of William and Henry
Enochs, John Hull, and Samuel Bell.
Enochs had thirty—three acres, which were warranted
and surveyed to him in 1793, and next the lands of
George Teagarden, Everhart Hupp, and Isabella
Perry, and was given the name of ‘.‘ Hazard.” Henry
Enochs’ land, which was located on thenorth bank
of Ten-Mile Creek, was obtained by him upon a Vir-

‘ ginia certificate. and surveyed May 13, 1786. Henry

Enochs had two sons, Isaac and William Enochs, but
whether they were the persons of those names already
mentioned is not definitely known. 1 ’
'Frederi_cktown,* the oldest village in the township
of East Bethlehem, is located on the west bank of
the Monongahela River, one mile northeast of Mills-
borough, and eight miles southwest of West Browns-
ville. The village was patented and laid out by
Frederick Wise, was built upon land owned by him,
and was named for him as itsfounder. The survey
and plot were made by Isaac Jenkinson, and dated
March 8, 1790. J enkinson put up a house on the lot
he had purchased directly after the town was laid
out. »
In the midst of the work Frederick Wise died,
but instead of the project being abandoned all his
plans and ideas were carried out by his widow, Cath-

' arine Wise, and the other administrators of the estate,

Isaac J enkinson and Peter Nossinger. In the charter
of the town, or article of agreement made by Wise
with purchasers of lots, it was specified that:

“ The said Frederick Wise for himself, his heirs, executors, adminis-
trators, and assigns, doth hereby agree that all streets, alleys, and pub-
lic ground, described in said plann, be given, clear of all charge and

expense, for public uses; also all springs of water on the premises of

said Wise, and all stone-quarries on his premises as long as the land is
in his possession, but not otherwise, and all timber (except boat and

shingle timber) given free for the use and benefit of Improving in said ’

town for the space of one year & six months, to commence from the date

hereof, to be, cut on the said Wise’s land whilst in his possession, but not’

otherwise.”

_ In the contracts with purchasers, the latter were re-
quired to payha-lf a dollar per annum quit-rent on
each lot, and “ with all convenient speed to erect
thereon a stone, brick, frame, or hewed logg house
atleast twenty feet square (or equal thereto) with
shingled roof, stone orbrick chimney, and “enclose
the said lot or lotts within post and rail fence or good

pailing within four years from the purchase,” on pen-
lalty of forfeiture of lots; ‘f and no Distillery for the

destruction of grain or fruit shall be at any time
erected on the premises, either by or under the said
Frederick Wise or any purchaser, in pursuance of his,
her, or their purchase.” The article was signed by
Frederick Wise and the following-named purchasers,

viz. : Isaac J enkinson, John Baker, Francis Townsend, '

Joseph Green, Andrew Nossinger, John Ricliardsen,
Solomon Shepherd, John Shepherd, Solomon Shep-

I

William _

herd, J r., Peter Nossinger, and Edward. Moran, “ for

himself and Blain Moran, two Lotts.”

The house which Frederick Wise and his family
occupiedwhen they lived upon their farm was a
simple log cabin, which stood on the lot where H. H.
Weaver now has a store. _ The growth of the town

has been slow, but even at an early date quite a show _
of business was made by the different trades pursued‘
at this point. In the issue of the Western Telegraphe,

Sept. 22, 1795, appeared the following advertisement
of a manufacturing establishment in Fredericktown:

“ The Subscriber, Living in Fredericktown on the Monongahela River,-

V‘Vashington County, takes this method to inform the public in general
that he continues carrying on the SCREW MAKING Business in it:
various branches, where he will make and repair screws for raising mill
stones, packing flour, tobacco, for timber-wheels and fullers and printers
presses. He also makes fullers shears, oil mill rollers, millers brands,
&c., and as he has the advantage of his works going by water, flatters
himself, that from the expedition and accuracy, not only i n- the above
line of business but in all kinds of m_ill and other heavy work, he will
be enabled to give general satisfaction, both to ‘Emigrants and the In-
habitants of the Western.Country, 9th month, 10th day, 1795, David
Townsend.”

David Blair, a gunsmith, had a shop near where
the mill now stands.
coal in sacks on horseback from Fishpot Run, never
imagining that the hills adjacent to the town were _full
of it. This fact was first discovered by John Bower
while he was digging a mill-race; but Nathan Pusey

was the first who openedla coal bank in this vicinity.‘

On Dec. 7, 1795, Isaac Jenkinson announced in the
newspapers “that he has lately received from Phila-
delphia a freshvassortment of dry goods, groceries,
iron mongery, and a valuable collection of books.”
Nov. -28, 1796, Archibald Hood advertised “that he
intends commencing the tannery business in Freder-
icktown.” The firm of Samms & Dilhorn was in
business in Fredericktown prior to the year 1797, but
a dissolution of the partnership took place and the

business was continued in the name of Nathaniel .

Samms. As early‘ as March 7, 1796, the village of
Fredericktown had started a library, with David
Townsend as treasurer of the society,'and Isaac J en-
kinson acting as secretary. ' A _
Fredericktown now contains twenty-three dwelling
houses, two stores having stocks of general ‘merchan-
dise,ftwo shoe-stores, one-blacksmith-shop, a hotel,
the post-ofiice, and a handsome brick school-house.
The steam-mill built» in 1826 by Isaac Thompson is
now in the hands of John Bower, Esq. In April,
1881, a factory was started in Fredericktown by Leon-

ard Leitz, in which are manufactured handles and «

other articles of that class. The distillery at this
point, which was formerly under the control of a
man named Busson, has fallen into disuse.‘

The manufacture of pottery has been more or less
a part of the business of Fredericktown in years past.

The first attempt was by John Bower, who made red.

ware. He was succeeded by Jacob Wise, John Row
followed next, and the last to engage in this branch
was Eli, Gapen. Stoneware was made here as early as

To supply his forge he brought.

770

IHISTORY or WASHINGTON COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA.

1843 by Polk Donahoo.
have been abandoned.

C Powelltown is situated on Two-Mile Run, a little
distance from the Westland meeting-house. It took
its name from that of James Powell, upon whose-land
it was built. Powelltown‘ formerly contained ten
dwelling-houses. Mr. Powell had a country store at
this point. There was a blacksmith-shop here, and
several other industries were carried on. Mr. Powell
was a justice of the peace at that time. The sons of
Mr. Powell were two,——Jeptha and Josiah. Jeptha
lived single for many years, and then married a Miss
Mitchell. They had no children. Josiah Powell
married, and lived on the National road. He sold
his farm (which is now owned by Mrs. Deems), and
removed to the West. Since the beginning of Centre-
ville, Powelltown has been on the decline. There
are but two families now living there,—one of these
being the family of Mr. Peter Cleaver, who is an
octogenarian. » -

Centreville is located on the line "separating the

Both of these specialties

‘townships of East Bethlehem and VVest Pike Run,

lying partly in each, and equidistant from Washing-
ton and Uniontown. The village was laid out upon
the land of John Cleaver, who built the first house

in it. The recorded plat of the place shows it to i

have been laid out in 1821. It contains fifty-three
building lots and a brick-yard lot. Prior to this,
however, Robert Vale had purchased some land of
Mr. Cleaver, and divided it into building lots. Lot
No.‘ 17, on the corner of Main Street and Pine Alley,
‘upon which is located the hotel of Joseph B. J effreys,

‘is the first lot that appears ashaving been sold, and is

one of those purchased by Robert Vale, April 7,
1819. Centreville has a number of fine buildings,
the Methodist Episcopal Church being the most con--
spicuous. There are thirty-eight dwelling-houses,

' and the business part of the village, is well built up.

The hotel is at present under the management of
Joseph B. Jeffreys. John R. Van Gilder, Lewis N.
Cleaver,'John Dabinett, ‘ Emmer Griflith, and Abra-
ham_Deems are engaged in the dry-goods and grocery
trade, and Lewis N. Cleaver deals in drugs and hard-
ware. William Wolf, Sr., is proprietor of the wagon

a shop; James Floyd has a boot and shoe store; Wil-

liam Wolf, Jr., has a blacksmith shop, and Jonathan
K. Teale carries on the cabinet-making business. The
physicians residing and practicing in Centrevilleare
Dr. William Colton and Dr. I. C. Farquhar. Rev.
Charles McCas1in is the resident pastorin charge of
the Methodist Episcopal Church.

Cedar Lodge, No. 633, I. O. O. F., was instituted
May 20, 1868. Theicharter was granted at that time,
and the charter members were Barnet Johnson,
Thomas B. Theakston, Samuel M. Geho, Joshua N.
Grimes, Thomas West, Joseph Farquhar, Joseph S.
Gray, Ross McM_illen, John R. Dunlap, Joseph
‘Wilkes, Alexander McKee, S. B. Paxton, Joshua B.
Deems. The first officers of this lodge were W. N.

Harkins, N. G.; E. s. Geho, V. G.; L. M. Cleaver,’

Sec.; E. H. Griflith, Asst. Sec.; William Fisher,
Treas.
bered forty.

Centreville Encampment, N o. 224, was instituted
ten years ago, and the charter was granted Feb. 17,
1882. ‘The lodge has a membership of fifteen per.-
sons. The following are the present oflicers: Ahira

Jones, H. P.; E. H. Griffith, C. P. ;W Thomas West, I

S. W. ; Eli Farquhar, J . W. V; T. B. Theakston, Scribe;
LewisiM. Cleaver, Treas. , ” ~_
Bethesda Church.——The first society of .the Meth-
odist Episcopal Church at Centreville was organized
in the year 1828. The followingpare the names of
the pastors from the first to the present time: S. R.
Brockman, '..William Tipton, John .Spen_cer, David
Cross, David Sharp, Abner Jackson, Jeremiah Knox,
George McCaskey, John White, Richard Armstrong,
—— Stinchcomb, Josiah Adams, I Dorsey, John
L. Irwin, James G. Sanson, Warner Long, J . D. Tur-
ner, George B. Hudson, John S. Wakefield, Matthias
M. Eaton, John’ Brown, Josiah Mansel, T. C.“ Mc-
Clure, D. B. Campbell,John Mclntire, J . L. Stiffey,

J. H. Henry, Josiah ,Mansell, VV. A. Stuart, and

Charles McCaslin, the present pastor. . A.
, In 1834 a lot was purchased of Daniel McJunkin
by Battey White, Samuel ‘Dotson, John Stuthers,

John Ilifl‘, and Hugh Hetherington, trustees. This’
.was in the village of Centreville.

erected on-it, and was occupied until 1874‘.
In the year 1872 the handsome church edifice in

Centreville was begun, but thebuilding was not com-“
pleted until 1874, and the dedication took place in

September of that year.~ At the time of the dedica-

tion the membership was one hundred and nineteen

persons. The society was divided into two classes,
the first having sixty-four members under the leader-
ship of L. E. Baker. Class No. 2, with A. H. Deaves
as leader, had fifty-five members. The present church

edifice is located in the town of Centreville, on the:
south side of the National road. The society is in-,

cluded in the Beallsville _District, which is composed
of four appointments, Bethesda or Centreville, Tay-.

lor’s, Beallsville, and Fairview. The entire member-»
ship of these different societies is three hundred‘

and thirty-seven. The land on -which the Methodist
Episcopal Church has been built was first donated by

Dr. Cotton, but as he afterwards exchanged the site?
with Joseph Jones for some ground in another loca- '
tion, to the latter gentleman belongs the honor of
having presented the ground upon which the edifice ‘

stands.
- The Village of Millsborough is situated in the
extreme southern part of East Bethlehem township,

‘and was founded about the year 1817. The first

house built in theplace was erected by Robert
White, and the second (‘a brick building on what is

now Water. Street) by Henry Wise, both of which-
were put up sixty—five' years ago.‘ Both White and

The members of Cedar Lodge in 1881. num-

A church was“

EAST BETHLEHEM. TOWNSHIP. .

Wise were inn-keepers. In the year 1840 the citizens
of Millsborough applied to the Legislature to have
their village created a borough, which was ‘granted
by an act approved June 12, 1840, which provided
and declared‘ -

.“ That the town of Millsborough, in the county of Washington and
territory included within the‘ following boundaries, to wit: Commenc-
ing at low-water mark in the Monongahela River; thence south seventy-

'eight and a half degrees west‘ forty-two perches; thence south fourteen

and three-fourth degrees east five perches and two-elevenths; thence
south seventy-three degrees west. seventy-one and seven-tenth perches;

thence south eleven degrees westone hundred and thirty-nine perches; .

thence south» twenty-one degrees east forty-three and five-eleventh
perches to low-water mark in Ten-Mile Creek; thence following low-
water mark in Ten-Mile Creek to the Monongahela River three hundred

and fifty-one and two-eleventh perches unto the place of beginning, are .

hereby erected into a borough, which shall-be called and styled the
‘ Borough of Millsborough.’ T’

The first borough election in Millsborough was held
July 6, 1840, when the following-named officers were
elected, viz. : Burgess,’ John H. Bowell; Council,
Weaver Heaton, ‘David Spindler, P. F. Vernon, Paul
Rankin. " L A

The last officers of the borough of Millsborough
(.for the year 1.878) were: Burgess, Thomas H. Carter;
Council, Isaac Bell, Joseph ,Dun'n, Jesse Virgin,
George'W. Horner. ' A _

The following-named persons were elected justices
of the peace for Millsborough during its existence as
a borough, viz. : I

Remembrance Hughes, July 31,
1840.

Wm. w. Hawthorn, May5, 1863.
Joshua M. Ammons, April 12, 1859.

Wm. W. Hawthorn, April 13, 1841.
Pers-ifer F. Vernon, April 15, 1845.

. Thomas Dalby, April 11, 1848.

William Bramley, April 10, 1849.

‘David Bumgarner, April 15, 1851.

Wm. W. Hawthorn, April 13, 1853.
Isaac Sharp, April :11, 1854.
W'm. W. Hawthorn, May 18, 1858.

Jacob Conn, April 20, 1864.

Wm. W. Hawthorn, May 30, 1868.
Jacob Conn, April 21, 1869.

John H. Bowell, April 19, 1872.
John II. Bowell, Jan. 31, 1874.

"Jacob Conn, May 24, 1874.

Josh. M. Ammons, March 17,1875.
John H. Bowell, March 21, 1877.

In 1847 an addition was made to Millsborough on
the north side, the survey being made January 26th
of that year by Samuel Linton for Jesse Bumgarner.
In 1878 Millsborough ceased its existence as a bor-

ough and passed again into the township organization

of East Bethlehem. 6
In the sixty or seventy years of the existence of

Millsborough as a town, various industries have been 0

carried on with greater or less success. One of the
earliest was the old Bumgarner mill, built by Jesse
Bumgarner, which is ‘still standing, and is located on
the river, opposite the miller factory built by Henry

‘ Heaton, Jesse Bumgarner, and others, in Fayette‘
County. At this point the river was dammed. .The

power to run the mills was obtained from awater'-
wheel, which was so constructed and placed as to
have the water strike the paddles as it passed through

a lock.

A The Millsborough foundry, established many years
ago by Baen, Eaton ‘& Co., was situated on the -bank
of the river, on Water Street. To some of the com-
pany it was ‘a financial success. In 188l..the build-

ings were burned, andhave not yet been rebuilt.

A

The distillery? of James Emery, situated on the Mo- ‘
nongahela River, in Millsborough, was erectedin .

1867, at a cost of $2000. It has a capacity for -man-

ufacturing twenty bushels of grain into liquor daily. ._ A
This distillery is next the old Franklin factory build-; -.

ing, a stone structure three and one-half stories in

height, which is used'by‘Mr. Emery in conrlecti—on ‘

with his "distillery. ~ ‘

-~ The Southwest Normal School was established
- Millsborough by that pioneer educator, Thomas Hor-

ner, who is mentionediat length in the educational‘,
article of the general history of the county ginthis
volume. ‘

The Millsborough Fair Grounds are a portion of .

the land called Sandy Plains, located midway between
Millsborough and Clarksville, and are owned by
James Emery & Co. The grounds were purchased in

.1873, and the first fair was held.Nov._.4 and 5, 1874.

Millsborough has now two hotels, two dry—goods

stores, two shoe-stores, “two gun-shops, a ‘,milliner'y-
' store’, accabinet-shop, a tannery, a foundry, and a dis-

tillery, beside. the churches, schools«,'a.nd other social
institutions.

ized Nov. 15, 1870. The oflicersare James Adamson,
N. Gr.; Harry H. Weaver, V. G.; William F. Orr,
Sec. ;‘ _William A. Hoge, Asst. Sec.-; John S. Gibson,
Treas. I ' '

. Churches.-—In the early days of Millsborough the

believers in the different Methodist faiths joined in
the erection of a public house of worship. The house,
a- log building, was built in 1830 and 1831, upon

ground donated by Jesse Bumgarner for that purpose,

and the Methodist Episcopal people were to have the;

preference of ..occupancy, the Methodist Protestant; ‘
The
persons who organized and became members of the‘;-
.Methodist Episcopal Church were Jesse Bumgarner,‘
Elizabeth Bumgarner, Israel Dolby, Polly Dolby,:-
Martha, Susan, Rachel, and Elizabeth Phillips,»

Society to come next in the order of privilege.

J em’ima‘Herbert, Susan. Bumgarner, Hannah Dille,=*
Mary and William Barker, Jacob Spindler and his“
wife, Elizabeth Spindler, Emily Schoolie, Salome;
O’Brian, and Sarah Totten. The following-named,

ministers have been in charge o_ver this ~religious._

organization: Revs. S. ~Brocooner, Spencer, iLemon,;
Coil, Samuel Lock, L. P.‘Saddler,~Garrett, Jordan,
Reuter, Wakefield, and the present preacher, Rev. D.»
Gogley. There was a Sabbath-schoolin connection,
which was first superintended by Samuel Pedan, of
Washington, who married Miss Rachel Carroll, of.
Millsborough. ‘His memory is honored by the grate-'_
ful remembrance of all who knew and profited by his:
good works. I

The Methodist Protestant Society was regularly
organized in 1834 by Rev. Thomas Flower, the
original «members being. Rachel Emmons, Rachel:

 Sharp, J ohn. Rigy,Caleb Harford, Paul and Margaret

7717-

The only secret organization is Invin->
cible Lodge, No. 741, I. O. O. E, which was organ-o

7726

HISTORY OF WASHINGTON COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA.

Rankin, Willia_m Rigy,‘and Nancy Rankin. A great
many persons joined this church from time to time,
until a large congregation was in regular attendance
and the society was in a flourishing condition. After

a few years the members to a great extent ‘emigrated A

to the \Vest.and other parts, and the membership
gradually diminished until finally the society was dis-
banded, the four remaining members going to the
Mount Zion, the Old Side Methodists, and the Cum-
berland Presbyterian Churches. Among the minis-

ters who presided over this charge were Revs. William’

Dunleavy, R. J. Simonton, Nelson Watson, and Mr.
Browning.
as the “Methodist Church” was erected on the site
of the log house built in 1830 and 1831. It is the
property of the ‘Methodist Episcopal Society, which
has grown strong in numbers and influence in its ex-
istence of a full half-century. A ’

The records of the Cumberland;Presbyterian Church

show that on June 17, 1838, a few people of that
faith formed themselves into a society. They were

George W. Bumgarner, Henry Alexander, MarytAlex- '
_ andcr, Lebeus Clark, Mary Clark, Rebecca N. Eaton,

Matilda Van Kirk, Nimrod Grabill, Zeniah Grabill,
Mary Ann Johnson, Tirzah Bowers, Harriet Clark,
Nancy'Rush, Mary N. Beatty, Elizabeth Wilson,
Matilda Jennings, Samuel Beatty, Caleb Harford,
Jane Gibbons, Jane Harris, Eliza Gibbons, Jeremiah
Evans, Jane Jennings, Catharine Bumgarner, Jane
iVVilso~n, Milton Michener, and Abraham Black.‘

In 1840 this ’congregation built a handsome and
commodious brick church, which is located‘ on the
road from "Millsborough to Fredericktown. In the
same year it was dedicated, Rev. Mr. Bryan, their
firstclergyman", ofiiciating. Among the ministers upon
this charge succeeding Rev. Mr. Bryan have been
Rev. John Cary, who remained until 1844 (except
the year 1843, when "Rev. I. Adams supplied the
place) ; Rev. I. N. Cary held the place in 1847, 1848,
1849, and 1850; Rev. Williams was the minister in
1855; Rev. Jacclb Mornyer in 1858; Rev. John s.
Gibson in 1870; Rev. A. W. White preached for the
,-society in 1877; he was followed by Rev. R. J. P.

.Lemon, and in 1881 Rev. I. N-. Cary was the presid-

ing minister. _ - '

Outside the towns and villages of East Bethlehem
tiownship-are three-other churches to be mentioned
in this history, The Westland meeting-house, the
place. of worship of the Society of’ Friends, was built
seven.-eighths of a century ago, On April 12, 1792,
James Townsend and his wife sold ten acres of the
“ Fecund Valley” tract to the trustees of this society
upon which to build a meetinguhouse. This land is

situated at the head-waters of Two-Mile Run, in East ‘ A

Bethlehem township, and waspurchased for twenty
poundsby Nathan Heald, J ames Crawford, Abraham

, Smith, John Townsend,‘John Heald, and Isaac J en-

kinson. The deed given for the laiiddescribed it as

t

In 1855 the handsome brick edifice known '

‘hundred dollars.

“containing ten acres,.be the same more or less, it
being a part of tract ‘ Fecund Valley,’ for .£20;_ and

whereas, the society of the people called Quakers, of '
‘ Westland Meeting, did nominate and appoint the
said Nathan Heald, James Crawford, Abraham Smith, _

John Townsend, John Heald, and Isaac J enkinson
trustees for the purpose of securing a certain lot of
ground included in said survey for the purpose of‘ a
meeting-house, buryi_ng-ground, and other necessary
purposes for. the only particular use and behoof of
said Society,” etc. '

Upon this land the Quakers built a stone church
forty-eight by fifty-two feet in size and eleven feet

high. It had twelve windows and four doors, with .
chimneys -at the corners, which were evidently built

with the church. The house is still standing, and
appears to have been remodeled and enlarged at some

. time, but is now in a very dilapidated condition. The

following, copied from the books of the society, gives
the dates‘ and reasons for discontinuing the meetings

and selling their property, which they did some fifteen-

years ago :' . - .

“ Last meeting of the_Westland Friends, held the twenty-first day of A

fourth month, A.D. 1864. Members transferred to Salem Monthly Meet-
ing, Ohio (being the nearest meeting we have),namely: Samuel End-
land and family, Elizabeth Taylor, Ellis Phillips, Mary Harry, Ellis
Lilly, Susanna S. Cleaver, Homer C. Lilley, Han nah Ann Farquahar,
Isaac Cleaver, John Cleaver, Ann Cleaver, Peter Cleaver, Jane Cleaver,
Nathan Cleaver, Sarah L. Cleaver, Martha M. Cleaver, William McGuier,
Rebecca McGuier, Lewis Harry,'Sarah Harry, Josiah John, Joseph S.
Crossdale, Morris Truman, Ann Crawford, Ann McGuier, Facy Endland,
Ruth Jackman, Elisha Bennett, Thomas W. Lilly, Hittis Linton, Comely
Harry, John Harry, Olive M. Linton, Jesse Harry, Isaac A. Cleaver,
Mary A. Phillips, [Letitia Griflith, Esther Pyle and children, Isaac Mc-
Girr, Joseph M. Pursey and family-,Eliz'a Jane Griffith, Samuel Griffith,
Amos _G. Cleaver and family, Eli R. Griflith, Philena G. Barker, Oscar
J. Griflith, John E. Cleaver, Benjamin Cleaver, Elizabeth Cleaver, Mary
Eliza. Cleaver, Ellis N. Lilly, Phebe Ann Lilly, Mariah Jordan, Matilda
Linton, Benjamin L. Linton, Caroline Max-well, Mary Ann Taylor, David
John, Ascnath Jolm, Taylor John, Emma John, Joseph John, Oliver R.
G1‘ill'ltll, Milton Marsh, Eliza G. Marsh, Israel L. Griflith, Hannah G.
Marsh, Ruth Ann Phillips, Elizabeth Bennett, William Phillips, Ruth
Swan. Solomon Phillips, Thomas Phillips, Elizabeth Philips, James Phil-

lips, Ellis Phillips, Martha Jane Phillips, Hiram Cleaver, Isaac N. Clea-'

ver, Eli‘ V. Cleaver, Seth B. Cleaver, Philena Cleaver, Jefferson Cleaver,-
Joseph Lewis, Mary S. Lewis, William H. Shriver, John F. - Lewis, Ra-
chel O. Lewis, John F. Lewis, Mary L. Lewis, and Helen M. Lewis.

“ The business requested to be attended to by the Quarterly Meeting 1

having been transacted, finally concludes and is now laid down.
“Jossrn Lswrs, Clerk.

“VVHEREAS, The Quakers of Wostland Meeting aforesaid were a ’

branch of the Redstone Quarterly Meeting, and having decreased in
numbers by death and removals so much as to be unable to maintain a

meeting, the Redstone Meeting aforesaid, in accordance with the disci- ‘
pline of the Society of Friends, took charge of the real estate, and ap-7

pointed Amos Griflith and Lewis Campbell to sell the property.”

They sold it April 16, 1866, to’ William Fisher,‘

Amos G. Cleaver, and Joseph Farquhar for three

The regular organization of a Baptist Church took
place in East Bethlehem township in 1849.. It was
under the care of the Ten-Mile ‘Baptist Association.
The constituent members were William ‘Wood, James

.C. ‘Hawkins and wife, Mary A. Hawkins, Nathan
iUllery and wife,_ Jacob Zollars and wife, Thomas

pmiah Simpson, and the

, the duration of his pastorate is not known.

  EAST BETHLEHEM TOWN-SHIP.

 

-Hawkins andwife, Susan Zolla,rs,,James Greenfield

and wife, and George Zollers and wife, Rev. William

lVVolf' was the first pastor, and he was succeeded by

Revs. Samuel Kendall, Job Rowell, Charles Tilton,
James Miller, and W. W. Hickman, the latter at
present established over this charge. The society has
a membership of one-‘hundred and sixty. They still

occupy the frame church which they built soon after

their organization. It was built on land donated to

the society by James C. Hawkins for that purpose.
s ' -

In 1853 the Methodist Protestant‘ people who belong

to the Mount Zion society built a neatyframe church,

which is beautifully situated midway between Fred-

ericktown and Beallsville. The land upon which the
church was erected was purchased of Reuben Smith.

‘The house was dedicated by Rev. George Brown.
, The memberswere Reuben Smith,

Amos Bentley,
Abraham Keys, John Baker, Nathaniel Smawley,
John Register, John C. Smith, and their wives, and

_ Mary, Rebecca, and Stephen Hill. Many ministers

have presided over this society,—-Rev. Mr. Laton, who
died of’ cholera in ' Pittsburgh, Revs; Joel Woods,_

.Jacob French, William Betts, Davis Jones, Mr.

Simonton, Henry Lucas, Isaac Francis, Jesse Hall,
Valentine Lucas, -Milton Stillwell, Harry Stillwagon,
Mr. Wallace, -Mr. Goodridge, G. I. Crowder, Henry
Stone, Mr. Jordan, Mark Taylor, Mr. Colheur,. Jere-
present‘ pastor, Rev. Henry
Lucas. An excellent Sabbath-school is connected
with this church. Some of the history of this church
is embraced in that’ of the church of the same de-
nomination in Greenfield, to which the reader is
referred. ‘ A H‘ D‘

The Plum Run Baptist Churchiedifice is located on

the head-waters of Plum Run, a short distance West of

Beallsville and south of the National road. The deed
for the land on which’ it stands was made by Joseph
Hill, Sr., to’ Hugh Jennings, and dated Feb. 18, 1804.

.The first pastor of the Plum Run Church of whom

any recollection is now had was Henry Speers, but
He was-
succeeded by Francis, Downey, who was_ in turn suc-
ceed-ed by Cephas McClelland. The next pastor. was
the Rev. Adah Winnett, who continued in‘ charge

, _ till about 1862, after which for a number of years the

church was without a pastor. The pastor at the
present time and for the past eight years is ‘Elder Mc-
Inturff’. The church. has now no trustees, and but
seven members, of whom six are females. There has

, never been any Sabbath-school connected with the

church. _ » ~
Schoo1s.~—-The first record from which any positive

and reliable information is obtained concerning

schools in- East Bethlehem township is in an assess-

ment-roll of the year 1800, -wherein are contained the

names of John Donaghoo and Peter R. Hopkins-,

, schoolmasters. Of the latter nothing more is known

except the fact that he taughtin that year. ‘His.

name is not mentioned in the assessment-roll of 1801.

John Donaghoo taught inthe township many years. '

For several years he taught in a log house on the
farm of William: Welch,'Esq., and later at Beallsville
and at Hillsborough, at which last-named place he
taught his last term, and entered into t.hemercan=1tile
business there. In 1826 he removed his stock to
Fredericktown, where he remained until his death, in

1864. While teaching at the Welch school-house,.he E
was ‘in the habit of walking to Brownsville (seven.
miles) to take lessons in grammar, algebra, and geom- ,

etry, which he afterwards taught successfully. He

was one of the first to introduce the “ Word method” a

of teaching the pupils words and sentences. ' He was

a good scholar, an able debater, and was an ardent.

supporter of the free-school system.

The old school-house in the woods, onthe hill

northeast of the residence of Danie1'Crumrine,=Was
built about 1815, at the corner of four farms,-—those

of George Crumrine (nciw Daniel), of Adam Hewitt ,

(now.William B-uckingham), of Daniel Zollers (now
Neal),-and of George Prieker (now Richard Craw-
ford). The teacherswere George Dobbs (who lived
on the farm adjoining and south of Daniel Crumrine),
Hiram Baker, at Mr. Boyd, father of the late William

P. Boyd, of Fredericktown, then living at Frederick-‘

town, and walking each day to his school, a distance
of nearly four miles. J eff. McClelland taught there
in the winter of 1818-19. Peter Crumrine, lately de-

ceased at the age of seventy-nine years, also ‘taught -

there. The old road to Fredericktown passed within
a few rods of the school-house. At a later date the

"road was changed to its present location. The school- _

house above mentioned continued in use for only ten

V years, and was then abandoned for the Buckingham,

or Groveschool-house, built on the Buckingham farm
in 1825. In 1848 John "Reed, an excellent teacher
and fine scholar, was discharged from this school for

the reason that he taught his.pupil'_s words before they.-
knew the alphabet. Onthis site in 1854 was- erected _
a good brick school-house, which was then considered_

the best in the county outside the borough of Wash-

ington. Joseph B. Wise and —— Buffington were _

among the earlier teachers in this house.
A log school-house was erected at Fredericktown

about 1810. The most noted of the early teachers in_

this house was Jonathan Knight, afterwards chief en-
gineer of the Baltimore and Ohio Railrofad. In 1816

a school was taught in a log house at Mill:sborough'

by George Dobbs, before mentioned as one of the
teachers in the Hill school-house, at the corner of

the Crumrine, Hewitt, Zollars‘, and »Pri-cker farms.-

Another very old log school-_house was located at the

Sandy Plain Fair Grounds, and there were several)
other primitive school-houses of the same kind in »

different partsof the township.

. In 1835, under the operation of the free school law.

of the preceding year, the sum of $439.19 was assessed

0

773.

77-1
and -collected in the township for school purposes.
The first school directors under the law'(elected in
March, 1835) were John Bower and J. Cleaver," by
whom the township was divided into districts. In
1836 thereport for the township was “non-acc_epting,
nothing raised, but $171.50 received from the State.”

In 1838 the amounts from all sources for schools in

the township was $574.7 4. 1 - i
_For the year ending J une‘2, 1863, the school report
showed as follows: Number of schools in township,
9; number of teachers, 9; number of pupils enrolled,
464; amount of school fund, $1601.77. ’

' For the year _ending0June, 1873, there was shown:
Number of schools, 9'; number of teachers, 10; num-
ber of pupils enrolled, 404 ; amount of receipts form-
ing school -fund, $2585.27. 1 ‘

. The report of 1880 gives the following: Number of
schools in thetownship, 10 ; number of teachers, 10;
number of pupils enrolled, 413; amount of receipts
for school purposes, $3211.58. , I -

Justices of the Pea.ce.‘——Fo1lowing is a list of
justices of the peace of Bethlehem and East Bethle-
hem from the erection of the former, viz.:

1 Theioriginal township of Bethlehem was divided into East and Welst
Bethlehem in 1790. In 1803 they were erected into one district, and so
remained till 1838, when they were separated. This list embraces the

8 justices for the old township of Bethlehem, with those for the district

composed of the two townships, and those for East Bethlehem during
the period of its separate existence as a district.

 

HISTORY or’ WASHINGTON COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA.

3' Zephaniah Beall, May 2, 1802. -

Thomas Crooks, Nov. 21, 1781.
Eleazer Jenkins, March 3, 1789.
Zephaniah Beall, Sept. 20, 1790.
Joseph Hill, Aug/. 29, 1795.
Isaac Jenkinson, June 3, 1795.
Henry Alexander, April 5, 1799.

Obadiah B. McFadden, J tine’ 21, .
1339. . " ‘ .

Ephraim L.Bla-ine, April 14, 1840.
John Freeman, April 14,1840.
James Moflitt, Jr., April 11, 1843.
Andrew Bower, April 9, 1844.
..Samu_e1.G. Hart, April 15, 1845.
Wm. W. Hawthorn, April 14,1846.
James Moffitt, April 11, 1848.

Isaac N. Cleaver, April 9, 1850.
Neal] G. Beall, April‘ 19, 1852.

John Hormell, April 10, 1855.

Isaac N. Cleaver, April 16, 1856.
Benjamin F. Bower, April 10, 1860.
Isaac N. Cleaver, May 10, 1861.
Stephen H. Morton, July 12,1865. ,
J. W. Quail, July 12, 1865.
Matthew Blaine, Nov. 30, 1870.
Matthew Blaine, Jan. 26, 1874.

P. F. Wolfe, May 24, 1874.

James Morton, March 21, 1877. 0
Ahirah Jones, March 27, 1879.

Jesse Morris, July 21, 1809.

John Bower, Dec. 10, 1813.

Jesse Bumgarten, Jan. 23, _1816.
William Welsh, Dec. 10, 1816.
John White. July 1, 1817.

Henry Alexander, Dec. 10, 1817.
Robert Quail, March 6,1823. ,
Ephraim L. Blaine, ‘April 12, 1827. W
John W. Davis, April 23, 1828.
Jesse Cooper, April 20,1829.

John Freeman, Jan. 24, 1833.
William Hopkins, Jan. 24, 1834.
John Grable, April 24, 1834.
Andrew Bower, Aug. 10, 1836.
Andrew Cox, Jan. 18, 1838.

Salt-Works.-—About the year 1822, Henry Wise’,
sunk a well for salt water upon the river bluff, about
two miles below Millsborough, on the Monongahela
River, near themouth of Fish Pot Run. _ For many’
years water was evaporated in kettles. The works
are at present owned. and worked by Regester &
Bair. The well is sunk to the depthiof five hundred
and eight feet. Six hundred bushels of salt are pro-
ducedper month. 1 - .

EAST FINLEY TOWNSHIP.‘

‘ 1. . . . A

. THIS township, as also the present township of
West Finley, was embraced in the old, township of
-Finley, the territory of which formed a part of the
original township of Donegal‘ for nearly seven years
from the time of its formation by thetrustees. The
first movement towards the erection of Finleyvtown--
ship was made in 1788, in which year a petition of
certain inhabitants of Donegal’ township was pre-
sented to the Court of Quarter Sessions of - Washing-
ton County at the January term, setting forth :

1’ “ That the said Township is very extensive, beingin length more than
Twenty and in breadth more than Ten Miles, and of increasing popula-
tion; that such an extent renders the publick business of that Town-
ship very burdensome to its ofiicers and highly inconvenient to all its
inhabitants. That your petitioners conceive it is their privilege as mem-
'bers of a Free State to have the administration of Government and Jus-
tice among them, with as much -ease to themselves as is consistent with

the publick advantage. ' They therefore most humbly pray your Wor-
ships that a division of the said Township of Donegal may be appointed

and a new township erected in the South Division as your Warships may

v

judge proper.”

 The prayer of this petition was granted, and Finley-

township erected by the court May.6, 1788. The orig-

inal township of Donegal embraced‘ territory ex-
tending south about half-way intovwhat is now Greene"-
County, and upon the erection of Finley township all‘
this southern part was embraced in its limits. Three.
years later, at the April term of the Court of Quarter‘

. Sessions, in the year 1792, a petition of inhabitants of;

Finley township was presented, representing “that
your petitioners are subject to many inconveniences,
arising from the great extent of said township, and“
their remote situation from the body of the inhabit-

‘ ants therein, it being thirtynniles from the north to’.

the south boundsof the same. That they cannot.
conveniently, and seldom do, partake, in the choice of.
town oflicers from that cause, and are often obligedto
go a great way on business with them, sometimes too
on the most trifling occasions, which we consider as a

grievance. Besides being called. to workon publiclc 5

reads at a great distance from home, which is also a.
great burden.” For which reasons they asked the’
court to cause a division of the’ township by certain
boundary lines suggested in the petition. . This peti-

iEAS'1"liFINLEYr TOWNSHIP.

tion (which was signed by Thomas Ryerson, Ellis
Bane, and twenty-three others) was read at the April
term and continued through the June and September
terms, and at theiDecember term, 1792, it was granted,
with boundary lines as follows:

“ Beginning at the State line where it crosses the Pack Horse Fork of

» Wheeling Creek; thence up said creek, including Robert Wharton’s, to

the mouth of Robison’s Fork; thence up said fork to the first main
forks; thence up the Right hand Fork to the head : thence straight to the
mouth of '.l‘empleton’s Fork of said creek ; thence up Hunter's Fork to

‘Doctor Moore’s plantation, including said plantation to the mouth of

Hlunter’s Run‘; thence up the straight right hand fork of said run to the
head of the Brushy fork of,Ten-Mile Creek; thence along the Dividing
Ridge between the brushy fork and the south fork of said creek to the
head of English’s Run ; thence down the Ridge on the east side of said
Run, including the waters of said run, to the South fork of Ten-Mile
Creek aforesaid; thence acrosslsaid creek and along the Ridge, includ-

— ing the watters of Perkensons. Fork to the head of theDuncard Fork

of Weling; thence along said Dividing Ridge between the watters of
the Monongahelaand the Ohio ‘Rivers to the State line; thence aloflg
said line to the place of Beginen.” O ‘ '

The township thus taken from Finley was named
Rich Hill», and in 1796 became_ a part ‘of Greene
County. By a.n act of the Legislat._ure_ passed Jan.
22, 1802, an alteration was made in the line between

' Washington and Greene County, inwhich that por-

tion of Greene County that became by the act an-
nexed to Washington was made a part of Finley
township. I

"On the fourth Monday of June, 1828, a petition

I from certain inhabitants of Finley to_wnship was pre-
sented to the Court of Quarter Sessions of Washing-

ton County, praying for a division of the township, on
account of “ the disadvantages they labour underlin

consequence of their Township being large, that a,

great number of the inhabitants have to go from eight
to ten miles to an election. . Alsothere is so many
roads that two supervisors cannot attend to them in

good time.” "The court upon considerationappointed

David Frazer, Abraham Van Voorhis,‘ and Jacob
McVey commissioners to divide the township if
thought to be necessary. The commissioners reported
Oct. 6, 1828, that they had divided the township “by
a line commencing on the Greene County‘ line, bank
of Hunter’s Fork of “Wheeling, a.nd opposite. to the

bmouthof Shoup’s Run, bearing north five degrees
‘ "west, seven miles and twohundred and eighty perches

to a stone pile in the Donegal township line on lands
of .the heirs of Thomas Stokely near the head of a
small ravine north 6621- Degrees East 145 perches
from the -house whereon James Simmons formerly
lived now theproperty of Elizabeth Roney.” The
report was confirmed Dec. 24, 1828, and the two
divisions thus made of the territory‘ of old Finley

township were named, respectively, East Finley and
West Finley townships. Since that time. no material-
‘change hasbeen made in the boundaries of East

Finley, which are : On the northwest, Donegal town-

ship ; on the northeast, Buffalo; on the east, F rank- 1

lin and Morris; on the west, West Finley township ;
and on“ the south, Greene County.’ The streams of
the township are Hun~ter’s<Fo~rk of Wheeling Creek

six sons and,three daughters.

(which fork marks the south boundary of the town-’

ship), 'Templeton’s Fork and Gordy’s Fork of the
same creek, both of which pass through the township

in a southwesterly course, and a small tributary of '
Buffalo Creek, which rises in the northeastern part of ‘

the township, and flows. in a northerly course ‘into the
township of Buffalo.

Early Settlements.——Abraham Enlow was among
the first of the settlers in what isnow East Finley

township. There is little doubt that he was here as

early as 1775. He settled on Wheeling Creek, where
he built a block-house forthe protection of himself
and family from the Indians. His first land purchase
was of a tract containing four hundred acres, called

“ Big Flat,” situated on the waters of Big Wheeling’

C,reek,”vv:hich was granted to him Feb. 21, 1788, and
surveyedMar_ch 30th following. On March 26, 17 88,
“Sugar Stick Run,” a tract of three hundred and
ninety-one acres, was warranted’ to him, and surveyed
April'26th of the same year. Again, in 1790, he re-

ceived a warrant for one hundred acres of land, which

was not surveyed until June 9, 1799. Abraham En-
low’s.sons were five,——E1liott, Luke, Henry, William,
and Michael. His daughters, four in number, were

Mrs. Thomas Hill, Mrs. James St. Clair, Mrs. Wolf,‘

and Mrs.Jeremiah Post. Michael En.low married
and emigrated to Monroe County, Ohio; Elliott En-
low married "a Miss Atchison-, and they had a large
family of children. Their sons were three,-—-Henry‘,
John, and Gideon. ' ’

‘ Luke, second son of Abraham Enlow, marriedand I

died near where he was born, leaving a large family,
A1l’except;Ruth, who
married John Montgomery, emigrated to Ohio, In-
diana, and Illinois. William Enlow, another of
Abraham’s sons, married a Miss VVolf, who died in
this township a quarter of a century ago. They had
four children,--Abraham, Elliott, Luke, and Peter.
Abraham, Jr., and Peter emigrated to Ohio, and
Luke Enlow, J r.,’ died in Washington County. Of
this branch of the Enlow family, Elliott, J'r.,”is the
only one now living. He still owns a part of the old
homestead, and another portion is the property of
William McCleary. A I ~

Henry Enlow was one of Abraham Enlow’s sons,’

and may be termed one of the original settlers, as he.

was one of the oldest children. Hemarried a‘Miss'
Atchison. Of his numerous family the sons all emi-
grated to Ohio, and the daughters married and ‘died
in Washington County. From Ruth Enlow, daughter
of Luke, and granddaugther of old Abraham En-A
low, have sprung a numerous family. She married

Hugh Montgomery, son of James Montgomery, who,‘

Oct. 21, 1784, warranted the tract of land called’
“Tragical,” containing four hundred acres, situated
on the Robinson Fork of Wheeling Creek,»and which

was surveyed to him Dec. 30, 1784. Hugh and Ruth '
Montgomery had eleven children. James, the eldest, i

went to Ohio; John settled in East Finley township‘

7755

92

HISTORY OF WASHINGTON ( COUNTY,  N N SYLVAN IA.

“ The Troops are again without Provisions; my
parties in the Country [meaning his foraging parties
under Capts. Brady and Springer] are as Industrious
as Circumstances will admit, but the Inhabitants dis-
appoint them by driving their Cattle into the Moun-
tains; and they now threaten to rise in arms against
them whilst others threaten with Writs and Passes, I do
not however despair of obtaining a quantity of Flour;
But conceive it will be next to an impossibility to pro-
cure any considerable qtiantity of Beef or Pork on
this side the mountains to lay up for the Winter Sea-
son,‘ and it is but too likely that the prosecution of
compulsory means will be productive of Bloodshed
amongst our own citizens.

“ The Delaware chiefs with upwards of thirty war-
riors are come to aid me upon an Expedition, but as
I have neither Bread nor Meat to give them, they
will discover that it is not in my power to act offen-
sively. They appear much dejected on account of
the total want of goods, which they were promised in
exchange for their peltry.”

Each one of the commandants at Fort Pitt from
the time of the commencement of the war——Neville,
Hand, McIntosh, and Brodhead—had been especially
desirous’ of retaining for the American cause the
friendship of the Delaware tribe of Indians, and had

. used all available means to accomplish that end. The

reason for these efforts to conciliate the Delawares in
particular was thus explained by Col. Brodhead :1
“ I am not ignorant,” he said, in a letter to President
Reed, “ of the influence of the Delaware Councils over
near twenty different Nations, and it is for that rea-
son only why so much notice has been taken of them.
There are villains amongst them as well as other
People, but it must be confest that their Councils
have been steady, and their young men serviceable.”
He was very desirous, and often urged upon the Su-
preme Executive Council, that the principal Delaware

chiefs should receive commissions in the American‘

forces, just as it was reported the higher chiefs of the
Wyandots and other hostile tribes had been commis-
sioned to grades below field—officers in the British
army. He also recommended, frequently and earn-
estly, that liberal amounts of Indian goods, trinkets,

in execution. I have (as I look upon it my duty, lest any deception
should take place) stated the matter truly as _I took it from the Oificers’
Mouths. And now permit me to observe to you that the state of our
frontiers is really deplorable, to see helpless Women and Children flying
before the ravages of the Savage, and that even while part of us is en-
gaged in burying of our Neighbors [referring to the then recent Indian

massacre on Ten-Mile Creek] that have been butchered by them, Others .

of us falling a sacrifice to their Hellish inventions, those and many other
matters that have come under your Cognizance, I hope you will (as a
Frieildto human nature) state in a proper light to the Board, from the
which proper relief can be had. I have the Honor to be, with due re-
spect,
“ Dr Sir, Yr most Obedt. Hble Servt.

" Q “ WM. MGCLEERY.”
—-Penn. Arch., 1779-81, pp. 583-85.

41 Pennsylvania Archives,,1779-81, p. 250.

paints, strouds, gay blankets, and watch-coats be
promptly sent out to be distributed as presents among
the Delawares as the surest way of retaining their
friendship and alliance.“ ,

Col. Brodhead was (as is made apparent by his
letter of October 17th, already quoted) much encour-
aged ‘by the accession of the Delaware war party,
embracing nearly forty chiefs and warriors, to his
forces, believing that it only needed the distribution
of presents among them to insure a continuance of
their friendliness to the Americans. But the desired
goods were not forthcoming, and this fact had a very
depressing influence on the enthusiasm of the Dela-
ware chiefs and warriors. Still worse than this was
the effect produced by a base attempt on the part of
some of the officers and men of the Westmoreland
County militia to murder these same Delawares, an
outrage which Brodhead reported to President Reed
in a letter dated Nov. 2, 17 80, as follows:

“ In my last I informed you that near forty of the
friendly Delaware Indians had come to aid me against

. S the Hostile Tribes. Their number has since exceeded

forty, and I believe I could have called out near an
hundred. But "as upwards of forty men from the
neighborhood of Hannah’s Town have attempted to
destroy them whilst they consider themselves under
our Protection, it may not be an easy matter to call
them out again, notwithstanding they were prevented
from executing their unmanly intention by a guard
of regular Soldiers posted for the Indians’ protection.
I was not a little surprised to find the late ‘Captains
Irwin & Jack, Lieu‘ Brownlee & Ensign" Guthrey
concern‘ in this base attempt. I suppose the women
& children were to suffer an equal Carnage with the
men.” In other ‘communications Brodhead intimated
that a proclamation which had been issued by the au-
thorities offering a reward or bounty on Indian scalps?’
and prisoners had much to do with the barbarous

attempt against the lives of the friendly Delawares, ‘

though he had himself advocated the adoption of this
measure of retaliation as against the hostile Indians.

Soon after the occurrences above narrated the Del-_
awares began to give evidence of decided disaifection,
a symptom that was more especially manifest when

1-’ “ The Indian captains appointed by the British commandant at De-
troit,” said Brodhead, in a letter to the Council, “ are clothed in the most
elegant manner, and have many valuable presents made to them. The
Captains I have Commissioned by authority of Congress are naked, and

receive nothing but a little whiskey, for which they are reviled by the‘

Indians in general. So that, unless a change of System is introduced, I
must expect to see all Indians in favor of Britain, in spite of every ad-
dress in my power.” » A

3 The president of the Supreme Executive Council, in a letter to Brod-
head, dated Philadelphia, April 29, 1780, says,-

“ After many Consultations & much Deliberation we have concluded
to ofi'er a Reward for Scalps, & hope it will serve as an Inducement to
the young Fellows of the County &others to turn out against the-In-'
dians. I herewith send you several of them. We are sensible it may be
attended with Incouveniences, but it occurred to us as a Measure of
Necessity & the only effectual Weapon against the Savages; we hope it
is so guarded, that many abuses will not happen.”—Penn. A'rchz'ves,
1779-81, p. 218. ,_ , . -

776

HISTORY or WASHINGTON COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA.

and died here; William resides in Washington bor-
ough, where he has for several years been a justice of
the peace, and is at present proprietor of a hardware-
store; Jesse died in this county; Alexander resides

- in this township on the old Montgomery homestead ;

and Cyruslives on an adjoining farm. The daughter,-

Susan Montgomery, married John Thornberry; Annie,

was the wife of William A. Sprowls; Rebecca became
Mrs. Martin Post ;_ Mary married Simeon Sprowls;
and Phebe, who married Henry Martin, resides in
Ohio.   « -

Benjamin and Isaac Elliott were brothers and
Quakers, who came from. the eastern part of Pennsyl-
vania, and_settled in East Finley townshipsome time
after 1780. In 1812 all the families of Elliott rela-
tives emigrated‘ in a body to “Slippery Rock,” in
Ohio,‘ where there was a Quaker settlement and a
church of the Society of Friends. 1 8

Charles Cracraft was of Irish extraction, and orig-.

inally a resident of Virginia._ In 1781 he was the.

owner of a farm located on the waters of Ten-Mile
Creek, and Feb. 11, 1792, he purchased the tract of
land called “Content” of William Atchison, located
in the vicinity of his other property. Charles Cra-
craft married Miss Atchison, and their children were

three sons,—Joseph, Charles, and William. Joseph
married and removed to “Owl Creek ;’~’ Charles went '

to Virginia, where he was a miller, and married there ;'
William married Miss Lackey, livin.g and dying upon
theold "farm, which is now owned by his son Archi-
bald. Charles Cracraft, Sr., becoming a widower,
married the widow Ruple, but they had no children.

Andrew Kerr emigrated from Ireland in 1781, and
bought a farm of Mr. Leeper, located on Buffalo Creek,
in this township, containing one hundred and eighty-
five acres. He married Esther Stephenson, a daugh-
ter of Squire Stephenson, their family, numbering’ six,
three sons and three daughters. Robert Kerr mar-
ried Nancy Vanderhuff; James married HarrietVan-
syock; and William married Cynthia Pedan, and
lives in East Finley township. The daughter Jane
became the‘ wife of Jesse Bane, and Eliza and Esther

- ‘died single. -

Charles, William,'and Barnet Boner came into
this section and warranted the tracts “Peace,”
“Plenty,” and “Q,uarrel,”. containing respectively
three hundred and seventy-five, three hundred and
eighty-five, and three hundred. and seventy-eight
acres. These bodies of land were situated on Lick
Run of Buffalo Creek, the run passing through the
tract “ Peace.”

Stephenson, and Widow Hutchins. At the time of
the survey, Aug. 11, 1785, the land was in Donegal
township, but came within the limits of Finley upon
its erection. I L

' . The Sprowls family of five brothers came from Eng-
' land to Pennsylvania, remaining for a time near Ship-

pensburg. Eventually twoor three- of the brothers

A The adjoining lands were then the I
. property of Thomas Stokely, William Hawkins, James

cameto Washington County, and John Sprowls set-
tled in what is now East Finley township.‘ These
brothers must have located in this county early, as
an account of Hugh Sprowls, dated April 1.9, 1786, is
found in the controller-general’s report for a horse
lost in the Sandusky expedition of 1782.

The children of J ohri Sprowls were five sons and
four daughters. One of the daughters married Mr.
Kerr and emigrated to Ohio. James Sprowls mar-
ried Eleanor Enlow. They had seven children,-

Melinda, Cyrus, Jesse, Elliott, John, Simeon, and '

James. Melinda married Joseph Martin, and both
are still living in West Finley township. Jesse lived
and died single, and Elliott, who is also‘ unmarried,
resides in Washington borough, where he is engaged
in the boot and shoe trade. Cyrus Sprowls was mar-
rived first to Miss Post, second to Miss Melinda Elliott,
and the third time to «Miss Mary A. A-shbrook. He
died in East Finley township, leaving three children,

Jesse P., Mary A., and Milton R. Sprowls. The-
daughter_married J. L. Rockafellow, and resides in’

Burnsville, West Finley township, and Milton R.,
who married Miss Hannah Cook, resides in this town-
ship on the old home place. Jesse P. graduated from

Amherst Theological Seminary, and is now a minister ,' O

of the Cumberland Presbyterian Church in Ohio.
John Sprowls, another son of James and brother
of Cyrus Sprowls, married Miss "Hannah Reed, and
spent most of‘ his life in East and West Finley town-
ships. His trade was that of a tinner, at which he
worked for a time in Claysville ’and »VVashington,.
Abandoning it he bought a small farm in East Fin-
ley, but eventually sold it and purchased a larger one
in West Finley township, upon which he died. His

seven children were James, Luther, Winfield, Alfred, ’

Jesse, John, and Elizabeth Sprowls. ' All of these
except James and Luther are‘ single, and still living
with their mother upon the homefarm. James mar-
ried Jane Lively, who, with their two‘ children, reside
on a part of the homestead. Luther married Armice
Fields, and lives‘ in West Finley. Simeon, a third
son of James and brother of Cyrus and John Sprowls,
married Mary Montgomery, and seven of their eight
children are still living. Oliver M., one of the sons,

married Charity Cooper, and they with their three » 1

children are living on one of his father’s farms in
East Finley township. Albert S., another son, is an
attorney of the Washington County bar, to which he

was admitted Sept. 15, 1879. The other children live '

with their mother on the home farm, which is the old
McCreary tract. .

James Sprowls, Jr., the fourth son of James and
grandson of John Sprowls, married Mary A. Samp-
son, by whom he had four children, three of whom
are living. He is a farmer, and resides in West Fin-
ley township. William Sprowls, one of the five
brothers who came to this county, ‘married Dorcas
Lowne, and they had five sons and two daughters.
The daughters both reside in Washington. The son

EAST FINLEY TOWNSHIP.’ I 777

Eli, unmarried, resides upon the farm of his father.
William W. Sprowls, another son, married Miss
Stockdale, and they with their large family live‘ upon
the. original Sprowls tract. Henry married Miss Mc-
Clellan, and is a farmer in West Finley township,
where he has reared a large family. Cyrus entered
the Union army in the beginning of the Rebellion,
and died in the service. John, who married Miss Mc-
Crary, .was also a soldier, entering the army from
Illinois, whither he removed soon after his mar-
riage.— ‘

‘Enoch Vansyockl and Isaac Elliott, brothers-in-
law, came into this township and settled on land near
where the Pleasant Grove Baptist Church now stands.
Enoch Vansyock’s property was purchased by him

- -of Thomas Atchisoh Oct. '9, 1795. It was the tract‘

“Great Snake,” containing three hundred and ninety-
eight acres, situated on the waters of Wheeling Creek.
His children numbered ten,-——Abraham, Enoch, Mo-
ses, Aaron, Ann, Rebecca, Mary, Lydia, Hannah, and
Rachel. Moses, Hannah, and Rachel all married mem-
bers of the Shederick family, two brothers and a sis-

7 ter, of Dauphin County, in this State; Abraham mar-

ried a daughter of Samuel England; Enoch’ married
a ‘daughter of Rev. John Patterson, of Ohio ; Aaron’s
wife was Miss -Cope, of Fayette County; Ann became
the wife of Mr. Blackburn, of Ohio ; Rebecca married
Timothy Patterson,’ and Mary and Lydia married two
brothers named Newburn.

section. V
J oseph. Ayers was a native of Eastern Pennsylvania.

In. 1802 he purchased one hundred and fifty acres of

land of Francis Stone, Jr., a part of the tract “ Stone
Hill,” situated on the waters of Buffalo Creek. The
original tract was warranted to Isaac Phillips, April

'3, 1786, and- by him sold to Francis Stone, Sr., April

10, 1787. By the will of Francis Stone, Sr., dated
Nov. 8, 1788, the property descended to his heirs,
Francis, James, and Thomas Stone. On Oct. 17,
1801, Thomas deeded his share to his two brothers,
and F rancis. sold a part of his share to Ayers, as
stated. ' Joseph Ayers had’ a son and daughter. The
son married a Miss Tilton. She died in a short time,
when -he married again and went VVc_st. The Ayers
homestead is nowfitheproperty of Mr. Grummond.
William Noble married Miss Harriet Spencer in
Winchester, Va., and came to East Finley town_ship
to make h_is home. They had eleven children, five
dying in infancy, and six reaching maturity. Sarah’s
first husband was Samuel Hornish, who was acci-
dentally shot in Claysville. Her second marriage
was to George Miller, and they now reside in Done-
gal township.’ James Noble has been married twice.
His firstwife was Maria Maley, and his second Re-
becca J. Richey. They are now living in Buffalo
township. ‘Robert, who also married twice, ha'd for

1 Elsewhere also found spelled Vanscoyve.

Some of thesefamilies re-'
‘moved to the West, and the others remained in this_

his first wife Rachel McKean, and for. his last Mary
Graham. They reside in Buffalo township. Nancy
Noble and her husband, Daniel McPherson, live in
Donegal township, as do Samuel Noble and his wife,
Catharine Shaler. Henry C. Noble married Rachel
Carson, and they live in Buffalo township.

The Knox post-oflice was established in 1856, Mr.
Knox being appointed postmaster, and keeping the
office in his store.
Pleasant Grove Baptist Church, called “Pleasant

Grove” post-oflice. The ofliceiknown asthe Simp-

son post-oflice was so named from the fact that the
Rev. Mr. Simpson was the postmaster for many years.
It has been removed to near the Greene County line.

The list of postmasters of the Simpson post-office. is .

Rev. Mr. Simpson, Israel Wood, John Fitzpatrick,
and the present incumbent, Milner Hays, who’ has a
general store in connection with the oflice. «

The medical‘ men practicing in the township in the

early days were Dr. Hatcher, Dr. Joseph Pedan, and

n Dr. Jonathan Simpson.

Churches.—-The first building known to have been
used in East Finley township for religious worship was
the Quaker meeting-house, built in 1797. It was a
simplelog house, which also did duty as _a.school-house.
In the year 1800, during the term of school taught by
Mr. Heaton, this building was burned, and the soci-
ety was without a regular place for, services until
1803, when a house of hewed logs was erected. ‘ The
most prominent members in this Friends’ meeting
were Robert, Joseph, and Samuel England, Enoch
Vansyock, Isaac Elliott, and their families. The

organization was never a strong one, and when many '‘

of the members removed to Ohio and other-Western

‘States it gradually died out. Samuel England, an

old gentleman of more than eighty years, is the only
Friend remaining in this part of Washington County.
Their last meeting in this vicinity was held more than
forty years ago, July 14, 1841.

I In 1824 some of the people known as United
Brethren in Christ organized a church in this town-
ship, which was called “Mount Hope.” The leading
one in the_ work was George Ealy, and among the
earliest members were Andrew Stellar, Samuel Feath-
erly, Isaac Earnest, Henry Sherrick, and Christian
Earnest. There is no account given of their place
for holding services until"1850, when a meeting-house‘
was built upon land given by George Plants for that
purpose. Againin 1874 a new church was erehted,
this time a handsome frame edifice. The pastors who
have ministered to these people have been Rev. Jacob
Ritter, under whose preaching the society was or-
ganized; Reivs. Winter, Adolph Harndon, and C.
Wortman. The last named is the presentpastor, who
has a church numbering one hundred members. Con-
nected with this church is a burial-groun.d, wherein
some of the burials date back more than half a cen-
turv.

There was one also at the

early, as 1826. _
preaching was first held at the house of Luke Enlow

HISTORY OF WASHINGTON ’ COUNTY, PENSYLVANIA.

Stony Point .Methodist Church was organized as
For want of a place of worship

full sixty years ago, and afterwards at the house of
Elliott Enlow. The first church building owned by
this society was built in 1830 on the old Enlow farm,
and its frame was the same as that of the present
building. The first._me~mbers were Sabina, Henry,

' Ellen, Elliott, Martha, Luke, and Susannah Enlow,

\Varren and Elizabeth Thornberry, -Larry and Eliza-

_ beth Ooflield, James, Margaret, Elizabeth, and Joseph

This church is often
The present pastor is

Pedan, and Jemima Patterson.
called the Enlow Church.

, Rev. Thomas Patterson., and the society, which is not
. strong, is under the Claysville Conference. A burial-

ground is connected with this church, in which is a

handsome monument bearing inscriptions to the

memory of George Sprowls, Company K, One Hun-

A . dred and Fortieth‘ Regiment Pennsylvania Volun-

teers, aged twenty-seven years, supposed to have died
at Andersonville; Jesse M._Sprowls, of same com-
pany, aged twenty-four years, killed at Gettysburg,

~ July 2, 1863.

The United ‘Presbyterian congregation of Wheel-

*ing‘ dates back forty-sixlyears. In May,. 1836, a

number of members of the congregation of South

1 Buffaloliving in East and West Finley townships,

together with a few families from the congregation of
Mount Hope, petitioned the Presbytery of Ohartiers
to be formed into a congregation to be known as the
congregation of Wheeling. The name of the con-

igregation was taken from Wheeling Creek, the

branches of which drain the section of country in

“ whichthe petitioners lived. In answer to this peti-
’ tion, on July 5th the Presbytery appointed Rev. David

French to preach in the new congregation on the

‘ second Sabbath of August, and tohold an election’ for

elders on Monday following. There is a record in the
oldest minute-book of’ the session as avkind of preface

, stating that “The Rev. David French preaches and

holds an’ election for elders, where and when" Thomas

4 Hutcheson and William McClellan were elected, and
-James Hutcheson and John Scott, formerly elders,

the first in South Buffalo and the latter in Mount

’ Hope, were installed as ruling elders in Wheeling

congregation.” ‘
The number of persons and the names’ of those

‘ uniting in the organization we have no means of as-

certaining, as the minutes of the session for the first

1 seven years were either not recorded, at all or that

record has been lost. During these years the congre-
gation enjoyed the services of various ministers and

' licentiates sent to them as supplies from the Presby-

tery. VVe know but little of their efforts and ‘strug-
gles during this time. Their number must have been

' few,’ for they were not able to procure more than the

' .1. 1 The history of this church /ifilifllrlllsllied by thepastor,-‘the Rev. James

A. McKee. A

half time of a minister’s labors in those days of low
salaries. Their place of meeting for public worship
for a time was in private houses and at ‘a tent erected
on the side of a hill, a romantic spot, still adorned by
its native forests. This little assembly, which fora
few years was migratory according to the convenience
of those who entertained it, or the character of the
weather, at length found a sanctuary house in a little
frame church building erected on the crest of the hill, '

.. on the site of which had stood the tent around which

the people had often gathered to worship God._ ,
The first pastor was Rev. Joseph Shaw, who ac-
cepted a call from this congregation in connection

, with West Alexander on Sept. 5, 1843. The session

at this time had but two members, Thomas H utcheson
and John Scott, the two others elected at the organi-

. zation having been removed by death. An addition
was soon made to the session in the election of John

Johnston, James Holmes, and James Hunter, who
were ordained and installed on Sabbath following the
3d of August, 1844. Mr. Shaw continued in the pas-
torate till Oct. 5, 1852. His labors appear to have
been blessed, and thus, made effectual’ in the upbuild-'

A ing of the congregation. At every communion season “ '

some were added to the church. At one time eighteen
were received. . Near the end of this pastorate a spiritc

of emigration took possession of many in this p_art of

Washington County, and from it the congregation
suffered a severe loss in the depletion of its roll. But
While Washington County lost some good citizens,
and Wheeling congregation some good members by
this emigration, it is a pleasing reflection that the
Brownlees, the McClellans, the Richmonds, the
Holmes, and many others’ who left this part of the
country carried with them the savor of that piety
which had shed its benign influence around them

' whilst they had their homes in the Scotch-Irish region

of Pennsylvania. 4 ,

a The Rev. James C. Murch was ordained and installed
pastor of West Alexander andiWheel’ing. congrega-
tions on Sept. 8,1853, giving half of his time to each
place. Mr; Murch entered u pon_this his first pastorate
with a vigorous constitution, and with real devotion
to the distinctive principles of the church of his

choice. He was a fearless defender of the anti.-slavery I

position of the church. Though there was not a for-
mal organization of a Sabbath-school during his min-
istry, yet the instruction of the youth was not neg-.
lected.‘ He met with the young people of the.
congregation on Sabbath morning before public wor-

. ship commenced, and spentone hour in the study of
, a portion of the scripture which had been assigned as

the lesson for the day, and in addition to this held
“diets of catechising” frequentlyin different parts of
the congregation. Thecongregation was not largely

* increased in numbers, but by the fruits of this faithful

labor it madesome advance. The session,which had
again been reduced by death and removal, was
strengthened, by the addition_ of Ebenezer Brownlee

EAST FIN LEY TOWNSHIP.

and James R. Donaldson some time in the month of
J un_e, 1857.

1859. This release was caused by changes taking
place in the West Alexander part of his charge, by
which that congregation wished to secure the services
of a pastor for the whole of his time. Mr. Murch
left Wheeling congregationwith the kindliest of feel-
ings existing between him and the people. Some.
time in 1859 this church united with a little congre-

, gation known as the Heads of Wheeling, the place

. I I
of WOI'Sl1lp in which was SIX miles southeast, and

, early in 1860 thesetwo congregations, with a few peo-

ple living in and around Burnstown, united in calling

the Rev. James A. McKee to become their pastor‘.
- ; Mr. McKee entered upon his labors on the first Sab-
, bath of June, and was installed pastor of this united
. charge on Aug. 9, 1860, and still continues in

the Wheeling branch of this charge. — _
In 1860 but thirty-eight members are reported as

. belonging to.the Wheeling congregation. There was
_ an organization of a Sabbath-school effected in
.June, 1860, and 1 a semi—monthly prayer-meeting
. started, both of which have been kept up with vary-
. ing degrees of interest and_ success till the present

time. The Sabbath-school has had an enrollment of
from fifty to ninety-five scholars, and under the care

. of from eight to ten devoted teachers has been doing
. a. good work. ‘

Three times has the session felt the need of adding

. to its membership. On. Jan. 7, 1864, Mr. William
_ Sutherland was ordained and installed, and Mr.

Franklin Bell installed as ruling elders, and on April
23, 1868, Messrs. James Howe and James Reaney were

' ordained and installed ruling elders, and on April 22,
1881, Henry P. Danley was added to the session.

The old house in which the congregation had met

for twenty-five years or more began to show the effects

of the storms to which it had been exposed _on the
high hill -where it stood, and during 1866 arrange-
ments were made for the erection of a new one. The

congregation selected a site about fifty rods north of A
1 where the old church s_tood, and contracted for a

new building to befcompleted in the fall of 1867;‘ It

was first occupied on the first Sabbath of December",

1867. This house is thirty-two by fifty-five feet, de-
signed to seat about two hundredand seventy-five

persons.’ ‘The Mite Society ‘of the congregation re-’ 0

o

\

during the summer of 1880. , g .
The record of the congregation at this time (March,
1882) may be briefly stated stated as follows: Pastor,

painted, carpeted, and partly refurnished the church’ '

, Rev. James A. McKee; number of members, ninety-A

: two; Sabbath-school officers "and teachers, ten;

. scholars, seventy-five; session, James Howe, James
Reaney, H. P. Danley. 1 '

~ Pleasant Grove Baptist Church, was organized

l NW ‘14,- 184.0:   Letters 0.fdi$missa1 were asked. for

. 7.79

i

from the Ten-Mile B-aptist'“Churc'h, and granted to .

.. Messrs. Tilton, Vansyock, and Griflith, and fifty
Mr. Murch was released from this charge in June,

others, representatives of the Pleasant Grove Society,
on Saturday before the fourt'h"Lerd’s day in October,
1840. The members of the newly-organized society
were Levi Griffith, Ann, Crriflith, John Tilton, Eliza-
beth Tilton, Enoch Vansyock, Catharine Vansyock,
Robert Patterson, Nancy Patterson, Edward O. Towne,

John Pedan, Hannah Pedan, Rebecca Pedan, Enoch

T ilton , Elizabeth Tilton, Charles Tilton,William Pratt,
Joseph Bierr, Isabella ‘Bierr, Martha McNeal, Easter
Kerr, Eva Towne, Ann Towne, Mary Kelly, Eliza J.
Jobs, Thomas Smith, Elizabeth Smith, Ellen McPeak,
Elizabeth Towne, Nancy Dixon, Adam Reid, Daniel
Tilton, Abagail Tilton, John Horn, William McPeak,
Samuel Kelley, Nancy Tilton, Margaret McCracken,

Letitia Patterson, Sarah _Wi1liams, Rachel Vansyock,

Mary ‘A. Towne, ,Nancy Kerr, Mary Horn, Sarah‘

_ Carter, Mary M.. Horn, Morrison. Jones, Rebecca
v Jones, Elliott Patterson», Sarah Patterson, OmaJ obs,

Catharine Brown, and William'Patterson. .

On Nov. 14, 1840, services were held, conducted by
Simon Sigfried, John Thomas, and others. The
first pastor who labored with this people came to them
Dec. 17, 1840.

The following named have been pastors of this
church :. Revs. Levi Griflith, Dec. .17, 1840; Eli C.
Town, March, 1848; John Scott, May 17,1851; Job
Russell, March 20, 1858; John B. Lineka, April 1,
1861; G. W. Wharton, May 5, 1866; Morgan Linton,
April, 1874; J.  Snodgrass,l July 1, 1873; J. A.
Simpson, Dec. 12, 1874; L. R. Steele, May 10, 1877 ;
J. A. Simpson, July 14, 1879; J.R. Foulks, July 10,

.1880. n

The following persons have been chosen deacoiis
since thelorganization: John Tilton, Samuel Kelly,
Elliot Patterson, Daniel Tilton, Thomas McKehan,
J. Y. Holmes," Josiah Patterson, William McCreery,
Joseph Ryan, Munson Trussell. I C »

From this church have gone out members to assist.

in the establishment of the churchesof Buffalo, North
Wheeling, and West Finley. Four young men from
this church have been licensed to preach: Eli C.

Town. (in 1847, who soon after became its pastor), Hugh

R. Craig, VVilliam Scott (in 1854), and J. G. Holmes.
The present membership of the church is one hundred
and twenty-three.

ii The Enron Baptist Church was organizedmany

years ago, including members in East Finley and ‘in

Rich Hill township, Greene County. The records
having been kept in Greene County, no facts havebeen
gained from them in reference to the organization and
first members of this church. The church edifice

(located in,‘Rich Hill) in which this conlgreglation _
worshiped has given_ place to a new frame church, -

which has recently been built on alsite somedistanlce

_ I abovelthe little village of Enon, on the Washington
“County side ',Wheeling Creek. Itwas” formally

780

HISTORY or WASHINGTON COUN'.I‘Y, PENNSYLVANIA.

dedicated on Sunday, Jan. '29, 1882, the dedication

, sermon being preached by the Rev. Mr. Miller. The;

followingis an extractfrom a -published report of
the dedication : '

“After the preaching of the sermon it was an-
nounced that a debt of some four hundred dollars
stood against the building, and it was necessary_ that
this should be removed. Little by‘ little this amount
was cut down until it was reduced to about one hun-
dred, when Rev. Miller related an incident of a boat
which was being assisted through a lock, and was
thrown out of the current by means of a rope which
was used to ease it on its passage through, when the
captain called out ‘cut her loose and let her float.’

. The application was that now the church must be cut
.loose from this debt and left to float free.

At this
Deacon James Allum arose and said he would ‘cut
her loose,’ and assumed the payment of the remainder
of the debt, this in addition to his already magnificent
subscription of $500. “ .

“ The Baptists here now have an excellent, fine, large
frame church building, being thirty-eight feet in width
and sixty in length. The ceiling is eighteen feet in
the clear. Outside the building is white and mounted
with a fine belfry, which the lady members will soon
providewith a bell. Two ante-rooms are cut" off in
front, leaving a vestibule between. The main room
is fifty feet in length, while back of the pulpit is a
fine recess which adds much to the appearance of the
room. .' . . And taken all in all it is said to be the
finest and best building in the Ten-Mile, Association.
This edifice was erected at a cost of twenty-seven
hundred dollars, and the people of the vicinity justly
feel proud of it as their work», nearly all the money

I having been subscribed and paid by them. 5

‘=‘ The members and community at large feel under
many obligations to their pastor for the interest and
active part he has taken in this work from the start.

' With the exception of very little help, he did all the

work towards raising the money, attended all the

meetings of the committees, and kept things on the

move; also gave largely of his own means, and no one
could have raised this last four hundred dollars with
more case than he.” ‘

The Fairview Cumberland Presbyterian Church
was recently organized in the township with forty
members, mostly from Old Concord Church. The
pastor is the Rev. James S. Keener, a licentiate.

Sch00ls.——Subscriptionschools were taught in early
years in what is now East Finley townshipin the old
Quaker meeting-house, and in school-houses in what
is known as the Jordan and Ely Districts. Among
the teachers who taught in these early schools were
James Hunter, George Plauts,‘Samuel England, and
John Adams. The last named was in all points a
specimen of the old-fashioned “schoolmaster.”

The township of East Finley accepted the pro-
visions of the common school law in 1835. At that

time there were two hundred and thirty-three persons
in the township liable to school tax. The amount of
money raised by‘ tax in 1835 was $191.99, and in 1836
$235.46. The names of the school directors of 1835
are not reported. In 1836 David Pedan and Samuel
England were elected. The township was districted
in that year, and school-houses were erected. The
school report for the year 1863 showed in East Finley
nine districts, nine schools, and three hundred and

fifty-one scholarsenrolled. Amount of money levied ,

for school purposes, $1660; amount expended, $1738:
In 1873 the report gave ‘nine districts, nine schools,
and four hundred and nineteen scholars enrolled.
Amount of money raised for school purposes, $2298.33 ;
amount expended, $1952.32. In 1880 there were eight
districts, eight schools, and three hundred and thir-

1 teen scholars enrolled. Amount of money levied for

school purposes, $2428.66; amount expended for
schools, $1862.63.

Justices of the Peace,—Finley township was ‘

erected‘ in 1788, and forty years afterwards was di-
vided into East and West Finley. Finley remained
separate and independent as a district from the time

of its erection till 1803, when it was united with A

Donegal to form District N o. 11, which from that time
continued to embrace the territory of Finley (which
became East and West Finley in 1828) with Donegal
until the adoption of the Constitution of 1838. Since
that time East and West Finley have each been sepa-
rate and independent. The following"; list of justices

embraces the one appointed in Finley township prior ,

to the operation of the Constitution _of 1838, with

. those elected in East Finley since that time, viz. :

William Smith, Dec. 21,1789.
David Pedan, April 14, 1840.
James Nichols, April 14, 1840. ‘ ~
Hugh Mc(.'lelland, April 15, 1845.
James Nichols, April 15, 1845.
James Nichols, April 9, 1850.
John W. Howell, April 9, 1850."
VVilliam Montgomery, April 11,
1854. . I
Israel L. Wood, April 10, 1855.
William Montgomery, April 12,
,1859.
James Howe, April 10, 1860.

William Montgomery, April 20,
1864. 1
Matthew Mc’Keen, June 3, 1865.
James L. \Vood, May 5, 1866. 3
Matthew l\’IcKeen, Nov. 24, 1869.
George H. Wright, April 19, 1872.
Matthew l\1cKeen, Jan. 15, 1874.
J. B. l\IcGuiro, Jan. 28, 1874.
George H. Wright, Feb. 14, 1874.
Matthew McKeen, March 17, 1875.
Nicholas Pease. March 14, 1877.
O Matthew McKeen,.March 30, 1880.

4-;
wvf

BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES.

WILLIAM MCCLEARY.

‘William McCleary was one of eleven children of
Thomas and Mary (Lynn) McCleary, who emigrated
from Ireland after their marriage and settled in Vir-
ginia, where William was born, Feb. 10, 1805, and

where he spent his infancy,_childhood, and early man- _

hood years. In 1830 he came to Washington County,"
Pa., and engaged in stage-driving on the National

pike, wl1j_ch he followed for eighteen yearsfrom
- 0 o .‘ . \
‘Wheeling to Uniontown and intermediate points.

road for three years.
of the Baptist Church for many years, and in politics

EAST FINLEY TOWNSHIP.

781

His next business was as constable of. Donegal town-

ship. This position he held for five years. He was

then toll collector near West Alexander, on the Na-
tional road, for two years. He then purchased and
moved to the farm in East Finley township, which
was his home until his death, April 3, 1882, and which
is now in possession of his descendants.
the position of superintendent of «the Cumberland
He was an exemplary member

a decided Democrat, always attending elections and
voting as a matter of duty. He was a lover of his

, home, with its quiet cares and enjoyments, and was

never ambitious for oflice. . He was a man of perfect
and unquestioned integrity and truth, and of gener-

ous impulses, who did his duty as he understood it,

and was content. He was married Jan. 17, 1836, to
Susan G. Wilkinson, daughter of Thomas and Pru-
dence (Lewis) Wilkinson, of Fayette County, Pa.
Their children are as follows:

Thomas J.,:born Feb. 20, ‘1837, married Martha

' Rossel. He is afarmer, and resides in '-East Finley

township, Washington Co., Pa.

’ _ . James C., born Jan. 3, 1839, married Maggie Hair.

He is a farmer, and resides in West Finley township,
\Vashington Co., Pa. ’

John E.,.born June 24, 1841, married Cornelia
Carter. He is a farmer, and resides in lMars-hall

County, Va. ,
3 Mary J., born Dec. 17, 1843, married Robert Bell, ‘

a farmer of Franklin township, Washington Co., Pa.,

where ,they reside.

Sarah E., born Jan. 16, 1846, married Porter Mc-
Carrell, a farmer of Morris township, Washington

‘Co., Pa.’ She died‘Aug. 6, 1876.

William L., born May 23, 1848, married Lizzie

' Brinton. He is a dentist, and resides in. Washington,

Pa. 1 »

Martha L., born Aug. 16, 1850, married John Dan-
ley, a farmer of East Finley township", Washington
Co., Pa. , .

_ Francis. M., born July 18, 1853, married Adelphia

. Mitchell. He is afarmerin East Finley township,

Washington Co., Pa.

Lewis C., born June 6, 1855, married Violet Porter‘.
He is a farmer in ‘East Finley township, Washington
Co., Pa. .

150

He also held 3

Martin L., born Aug. 13, 1857, married Laura Stoy.
He is a dentist, at presentnot permanently located.

Caroline A., born Dec. 6, 1860, resides with her
mother.

LEONARD PLANTS, sn.

LeonardyPlants, Sr., probabl the oldest man living I

in East Finley township, and certainly one of the
most vigorous in mind and body for one of his years
in any community, is of German descent, and was
born at the foot of Gallows'Hill, \Vashington ‘Co.,
Pa., March 22, 1797. His father, Christian Plants,
who was a native of Eastern Pennsylvania, married
Catharine Haines, and settled in Washington County
about the year 1796. Their living children are
Leonard, Solomon, George, Christian, Catharine, and
Maxwell. Those dead _are Elizabeth, Hannah, Jacob,
Mary, Daniel, John, and an infant unnamed. About
the year 1806, Christian Plants moved to Finley
(now East Finley township), and settled upon the
farm now owned and occupied by his son Leonard,
who assisted his father in tilling the farm until 1815,
when he indentured with Jesse St. Clair, with whom

‘he learned the mason trade. After serving an ap-

prenticeship of two years he’ began work for “ wages”
upon the National pike, then building, and followed

his trade from that date until 1880. For the last two . V

years he has superintended the improvements of the
lands in which he has invested. most of the surplus
earnings of his labor. He says “he began life one of
the poorest boys imaginable.” His strong body,
strong common sense, great energy and business tact
have secured for him 1 the ‘considerable possessions.
which he now enjoys. He has been a member of the
United Brethren Church since 1840. .

Mr. Plants married for his first wife Elizabeth‘

Barney, May 6, 1819. She died in 1826, leaving four
children,—Elizabeth, Christian, George, Tandan in-
fant which died unnamed. ‘ '

He married for his second wife Fanny Barney,
sister of his first wife. She died in January, 1874.
Their living ‘childrenare Jesse, Leonard, Mary J.,'
Hannah, John B., Margaret, Martha, and Daniel.
Those dead are Catharine, Fanny, Nancy, Adolphus
H., and Christina. ,

He married his present wife, Nancy L. Miller, J ulv
23, 1874. They have one child, Catharine L. 1 ‘

EA ST PIKE   R UN TOWN SI-II 12>.

 

THE township of East Pike Run lies in the eastern
part of Washington County, on the Monongahela
River, which forms its eastern boundary, except for
a short distance on the northern part of that bound-
ary, where it is joined by Allen township. The other
boundaries of East Pike Run are: on the north, Fal-
lowfield and a small part of Allen; on the west, West
Pike Run township ; and on the south, the township
of East Bethlehem.

The territory of the townships‘ of East and ‘Vest
Pike Run were for almost half a century included in
the old township of Pike Run, which was formed in
1792 in accordance with the prayer of a petition
signed by Daniel Depue, Vincent Colvin, Joseph
Parkison, John Read, Robert Scott, Benjamin Parki-
son, Isaac Laider, George~Ringul, and Joseph Hall,

inhabitants of the township of Fallowfield, setting’

forth : K '

“ That the said Township is too large for the convenience and ease of
the inhabitants, they therefore pray the Court to erect a Township to be
called Pike Run Township‘ by a division in manner following to wit:
where the line between Somerset Township and. Fallowfield Township
crosses Van Swearingen road, beginning at Col. Parker’s old plantation,
thence by Vans Road to the Widow Crow’s lane and-thenceito Cliesters
Ferry, by his Ferry Road, thence up Monongahela River to Neal Gil-
lespies, thence by the Washington Road to Summerset township and
with said Township line to the place of beginning, which said division
is agreeable to the people of said township.”

This petition was presented to the Court of Quarter
Sessions at the January term of 1792. .Thereupon
commissioners were appointed, who made a favorable
report at the April term of the same year," which re-
port was accepted and confirmed by the court, and a
decree issued on the 23d of that month ordering the
erection of Pike Run township. In 1839, at the Jan-
uaryiterm o_f court, a petition was presented asking

. for the division of Pike Run township, which was

granted 'Marcl1_,,9th, in the same year, and the terri-
tory of the Qld townsliiperected into the new town-
ships of East and West Pike Run. 1

Early Settlements-In 1769, Thomas Swearin-
gen, J r., a son of Thomas Swearingen, of Montgom-
ery County, Md., entered application for a certain
tract of land lying along the Monongahela River, in
what is now East Pike Run township._ A warrant
for the tract was issued April 5, 1769, and it was
surveyed under the name of .“Turkey Bottom.”
The land which‘ adjoined this tract on the north
was that warranted to \Villian1 Peters, who was fa-
miliarly known to the early settlers as “Indian

782 ‘

Peter.” This landof Indian Peter was afterwards
purchased by Neal Gillespie, and is the site of the
village of West Brownsville. Thomas Swearingen,
Jr., had a family of twenty-four children; but there
is no information to be obtained concerning the
greater number of them. One daughter,iafter her
marriage, settled in Beaver County, in this State, and
two other daughters and two sons settled in Brooke
County, Va. ‘It is not known to whom the land
located by Mr. Swearingen‘ more than one hundred
years ago was sold. The property passed to John Pot-
tinger, Zachariah Brown, andiDavid Peters in 1792,
aid in 1802 to John Krepps. .

On June -13, 1769, Adam Young was granted a war-
rant for a tract of land in East Pike ‘Run township.
It afterwards came into the possession of John R.
Sowers, and Oct. 11, .1819, was sold at sheriff’s sale to
Alexander C. Donaldson. ' 1

Neal Gillespie, a native of Ireland, emigrated to

this country, and after a short time in the eastern part

of the State came to VVashington County with his

family. ‘ In 1784 he purchased a tract of land known’
as “Indian Hill” oflthle widow and son of William"

Peters, better known as Indian Peter. This tract em-

braced what is now West Brownsville and apart of 6

East‘Pik'e Run township adjoining. His large estate
was partially divided before his death, which occurred
in 1815. A ferry, which had been established in 1775,
was continued by him" until his death, and by others
until the completion of the Monongahela bridge in
1833, when it was abandoned. His children were two
sons—Neal and James-—and four daughters, Mary,
Elizabeth, Susanna, and Nelly. Neal Gillespie, Jr.,
came into possession of a portionof the Indian Hill
tract, on which he settled and died. His daughter
Maria became the wifeof Ephraim L. Blaine, and the
mother of the Hon. James G. Blaine. 7 A
James lived in the stone house on the old home-

stead place, now owned by Samuel VV. Krepps. Mary, '

the eldest daughter, became the wife of John Krepps;
they, settled on a portion ‘of the original farm, where
they lived and died. Elizabeth became the wife of
Irwin. Susanna married Beecher, and
Nelly married a Mr. Boyle. Maria, one of their
daughters, became the wife of Thomas Ewing, of
Ohio, and the mother of Mrs. Gen. VVilliam T. Sher-"
man. i '

John Krepps was a native of Philadelphia, and emi-
grated to Washington County about 1790. Hemarried

   

EAST PIKE RUN TOWNSHIP. . I 7836

Mary, a daughter of Neal Gillespie, by whom he re-
ceived a portion of the Indian Hill tract, which her
father had given her. Later he purchased other lands
adjoining. The hill known as Krepps’ Knob was a
part of his farm. About the year 1794 he established

' a ferry across the Monongahela River, as the court

records of Fayette County show that in that year a
petition was presented for “a road from Krepps’ ferry
to the bridge at the mouth of Dunlap’s Creek.” The
ferry landing on the Bridgeport side of the river was
near the foot of Spring Street, and at the present resi-
dence of Solomon G. Krepps, his grandson. John
Krepps lived and died upon the-farm which is now
owned by Joseph ‘T. Rodgers and James Slocum.

_ ,His children .were Samuel ‘J., Solomon G., John,

Christian, and one daughter, Helen. -
-Samuel settled on the east sideof the river in

‘ Bridgeport in -1823, where Eli Leonard now lives, and

carried on the saw-mill at the Jonah Cadwallader
dam on Dunlap’s Creek, also operating the coal
banks on that property.

In 1832 he built a residence in Brownsville /(the.
same which is now kept as the “ Mo-nongahela.House_”
by the widow of hisson, John B. Krepps) and removed
to it. In 1834 he-built the Valley Mills in Bridgeport.
He was a prominent and public-spirited citizen, and

. identified with the business interests of both boroughs.

About 1846 he removed to the old Krepps homestead in

. East Pike Run township, and soon afterwards to the

Neal Gillespie farm, where he died, March 6, 1,866.
In 1854 he was elected to the Legislature from this
county. His children were John B., Mrs. M. A. Cox,
Clement D., Dr. Charles W., Ann Eliza, Samuel lV.,
C. C., and Solomon G. Samuel W. resides on the
farm where his father died, a.nd which is the old Gil-

. lespie homestead. John B. was an attorney, lived at

Brownsville, and died in January, 1881. He was an
officer in the Union army in the late Rebellion. Sol-
omon G., the youngest son, lives at- Bridgeport.

. Solomon G., the second son of John and Mary
Krepps, settled on the east side of the ‘river at Bridge-
port, as early as 1813, where he built the brick house '
at the old Krepps’ ferry landing, which is now the resi-
dence of his nephew, Solomon G. Krepps. He (Sol-
omon G., the elder) was a merchant in Bridgeport in
1816,'and for many years was one of the prominent
citizens of the borough. In 1832 he, with Zephaniah‘
Carter, built the “ Friendship Paper’-Mill” at Bridge.-
port, but diedisoon after, and before the mill‘ was in
successful operation. He served one term in the State’
Legislature, and was several times elected burgess of
Bridgeport, also served as a member of the borough
council. He had two sons-—-Bolivar and John S‘.——
and four daughters—Mary, Nancy, Rebecca, and
Ellen. Bolivar went to California "in 1849 anddied
there; John S. lived on a farm adjoining Bridgeport,
went out in the last war as major in the First Vir-
ginia Cavalry, and rose to the rank of colonel; Mary
(Mrs..Bailey_) died onthe ,,l1omes'tead; Nancy (Mrs. A

John \Valker) is living at Elizabethtown, Allegheny
Co.; Rebecca (Mrs. Strouse) is now living at Cincin-
nati; Ellen became the wife of William 3H’. Playford,
of Uniontown. /' -

John, also a son of John Krepps, ‘kept -tavern in.

the upper end of \Vest Brownsville many years, a11d_
died there. Christian, the youngest son, emigrated,

to the West, and his subsequent history is not known.;
Helen, the only daughter of John Krepps, became the,
wife of Judge Eli Miller, of Mount Vernon, Ohio;
’ where she died. Their son,«John Krepps Miller, rep-,4
resented that district in Congress in 1857-58, anddied;

in 1860., _ n _ ,
Conrad Weaver warranted a tract of land on Pike
Run, in Pike /Run township, on May 14, 1785,. the

survey being made to him May 21, 1786. The tract-

contained two hundred and sixty—nine acres, was
given the name of “ Weaver’s Purchase,” and was
adjacent to the lands of Herbert VVallace, Andrew
Svvearingen, Beatty, and Biggert. In 1792, Conrad
Weaver sold a portion of his land to Herbert Wallace,

andanother to Mark Deems in 1811. The remaind’er ‘

he left in 1816, by will, to his sons, Leonard andiCon-
rad Weaver, Jr. Descendants of the Weaver family
still own and occupy the land.

Nathan Heald was one of I the earliest settlers who
made their way to the Monongahela valley, he having
removed here with his family from Loudoun County,
Va., in 1771. The property which Nathan Heald

owned in Pike Run township was ’a tract of four hun-‘

dred and twenty-eight acres called “Mill Place,”
which was warranted to Thomas Miller on Feb. 18,
17 85, and assigned to Heald, to whom it was surveyed
June 12, 1786.. On April 12, 1792, Nathan'I_Ieald
bought of John Townsend the tract of land called

“Spicewood Valley,’,’ and Sept. 24, 1796, he Apur-A

chased of Benjamin Townsend the property known as_
“ Mason’s Bower.” Nathan Heald was the father of
William Heald, who celebrated his one hundredth

birthday in 1866. Mr. Heald lived five years after

his one hundredth birthday. Atthat time his living
descendants numbered one hundred and sixty per-
sons. Of that number the only one now living in
Washington County is Mrs.‘Emmer H. Griffith, whose
home is at Centreville. .

’ Henry, William, and John Gregg were three mem-
bers ofa family who came from Ireland to this country,
and settled in East Pike Run township, where they were

among the earliest settlers. Henry Gregg took up a tract‘

of land containing three hundred and forty-nine acres
called “ Burning Mine” tract. It was sold by Henry
Gregg to Joshua Gregg, July 31, 1817, and is- now
the property of Mr. Duvall. In the year 1796, Henry
Greggwas elected to the oflice of justice of the peace.

He was married and had several children, all of whom.’

are dead, most ofthem dying while very young. John
Gregg, one ofthem, left two sons, V-Villiam H. and
Thomas M. Gregg‘. The former is a merchant in
Greenfield, in thiscounty, and the latter resides in

784

HISTORY OF WASHINGTON COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA.

\Vest Virginia, near Morgantown. Henry Gregg, J 1‘-.,

s was another son of Henry Gregg, the early settler.

Several of his children are at present residing in East
and West Pike Run townships, two of them, William
and‘ John, being farmers. Thomas, third son of
Henry Gregg, Sr.,‘left.three daughters, Nancy, Emily,
and Almy, all of whom are single. Edward Gregg,'a
fourth son of Henry Gregg, left two daughters, both
of whom are widows,——Mrs..Malinda‘ West and_ Mrs.
Mary J. Baker. John Gregg, one of the three early
settlers, was married twice. His —sons John and Henry,
by the first wife, both died of consumption. He also
had quite a large family of children by his second
marriage, all of whom eventually went to the West.

. William Gregg, one of the three who came from
Ireland, married and‘.-had a family of four sons and
aoneidaughter, the latter being Mrs. Margaret Crow.
The son Henry married‘Jane Dowler; John married
Nancy Gregg, Robert married. Ann Robinson, and
Andrew married Dorcas Nichols. They all left fami-
lies. An old—time advertisement is found which
shows that Daniel Gregg, probably a member of one
of the three original families, was engaged in the
raising of fruit-trees. Under date of March 20, .1809,
he advertised “that hehasat his nursery in Wash-
ington County, adjoining the Monongahela River,
three and one-half miles below Brownsville, a variety
of the best and most approved kinds pffruit-trees, the
grafts being selected from some of the best nurseries
in Chesterand Bucks Counties... . . Among them
‘are Romanite, Red Vanderveers, Green Vanderveers,
Winesops,~Pennock Apples, Newtown Pippins, Green

_ Pippins, Hughes’ Crab, Queen Apples, J -une Apples,

Ashmore’s Early Red Strea,k,'and sundry other kinds
of summer fruits.” A

_ ‘The tract of one hundred and thirty-three acres of
land in East Pike Run ‘township owned at an early
day. by. John Almond or Allman is situated on the
waters of East Pike Run, and is now the property of
John White,iEsq. There are still many descendants
and’ relatives of the Allman family living in this
vicinity.

,_ Jacob Springer, a pioneer of this township, took
for his wife Miss Peggy,Gregg, a native of Ireland,
and a sister of the early residents, John, William,
and Henry.Gregg. They owned the farm now be-
longing to Mr. Snyder. Their children were seven,———
three sons and four daughters. The daughter Peggy
became, the wife of John Neblick, Betsey .married
John Carson, Nancy was the wife of John Carroll,’
and Polly died unmarried. The son, John Springer,
married Jane Newkirk, Jam es married Polly Carroll,
and William married Susan Johnson. ' '

, a Like many others of the early settlers of the terri-

tory along the Monongahela River, Amos Ayles came
from Chester County, Pa. Soon after coming here he
was so unfortunate, as to lose an arm. His family
was quite large, and four of his sons, Stephen, Isaac,
Jothn, and another one, were engaged in boating and

trading upon the river. , Stephen married Mary-

Nixon, and they lived and died in Washington
County. Isaac’s wife was Mary Coleman, and their
son still owns the homestead. James Ayles married

Betsey Nixon. He formerly owned the mill near A

Greenfield now owned by the Greggs.

John and Seth Buffington were both brothers, who
came into this section with the first settlers. Seth
Buffington ‘married Sarah Millison. In his day he
was a prominent man, greatly esteemed by his neigh-
bors. His family was three sons and one ‘daughter,-
John, Seth, Joseph, and Orphie Buflington. The
daughter became the wife of Robert Lilley. The
son John married Paulina Reynolds, and resides
in Brownsville. Joseph married a daughter of John
Thompson, and resides in East Bethlehem. Seth
Buflington, Sr., became involved in‘ financial difficul-
ties and emigrated West, where he died soon after.
The son Seth, J r., also went VVest, where he followed
his trade, blacksmithing. ‘

James Dorsey emigrated from the vicinity of Bal- I

timore, .Md., and was one of those settlers who came
very early into East Pike’ Run township. He took
up a large body of land, brought it to anfruitful state,
lived upon it until his death,-and a portion of it is
now occupied by hisgrandson and namesake, James

Dorsey. James Dorsey, Sr., had ten children, three .

sons and seven daughters,‘two of whom died in in“-
fancy. The son Edward married Matilda Brashears 1.;
John remained single, and James, J r., married Eliza-
beth Elder, of Maryland. The three sons are dead,
but the widow of James Dorsey is still living and
past eighty-two years of age. The sons of James,
Jr., and Elizabeth Dorseyare, James and George.

James married Grace Devenning, of Ohio, and George V

married Martha Phillips, of Fayette County. These
sons of James Dorsey, J r., jointly own the old Dorsey
‘homestead. , i '

Samuel Bailey was a Quaker, and one of the foun-
ders of the Quaker Church in this vicinity.‘ His
property was a" large tract of land adjoining the
Robert J ackman lands. A. daughter of Samuel
Bailey became the wife of John Murphy, and his
sons, Thomas and Isaac Bailey, reside on the home‘
farm in this township.

Greenfield B0r01'1g‘l1.——'-As early as the year 1784,
Robert J ackman came into possession of a body of
land in this county to the amount of several hun-

dred acres. This land was comprised in two‘ tracts, - '

located along the Monongahela River, on opposite
sides of Pike Run, and at the mouth of the last-
named stream. The tract “Ararat,” containing two
hundred and twenty-two acres, was granted to Nathan
Lynn on order No. 1939, and surveyed Dec. 16, 1784.
The other tract, directly across the stream Pike Run,
had an area of three hundred and twenty-two acres,
and was warranted by Adam Youngs, the survey of
it being made Dec. 15, 1784, under the title of “ Mill.
Place,”_ At the dates mentioned all right andtitle

EAST PIKE "RUN. TOWNSHIP.

.'.-:
‘(L5

to this lan_d was made over to Robert J ackman, and
it included the sites of California and Greenfield,
the present Gregg mill property and homestead, and
the estates of James and John McCrary as well. The
Gregg mill was formerly known as the J ackman mill,
but having passed through many hands,.has come
into the possession of A. J.-Gregg. Mr. Jackman

was a native of Ireland. He married a Miss Dixon,
' and they had quite a large family of children. The

daughter Ruth became the wife of VVilliam Gregg,

‘and lived near Greenfield, and a son, Dixon Jack-

man, married Ruth Phillips. The sons James and
\-Villiam were fond of horse-racing, and had a race-
course fitted up near Greenfield. These two sons in-

herited from their father the greater part of the land

which is now the site of the borough of California.
Robert Jackman inherited the lands on which was
laid out the village of Greenfield. He died leaving
no children. There were two other sons of Robert
Jackman, Sr.-, viz., John and Henry.

a In 1814, Robert J ackman laid out the town of Green-
field on land. inherited from his father. An article of
agreement made June 11th in that year between the
proprietor, Robert Jackman, and the purchasers of
certain lots in the new. town, specifying conditions on

-which they were sold, privileges of streets, alleys, tim-

ber, quarries of freestone and limestone, coal in the
vein, etc.,1a,nd reservations of growing crops, ferry
and other rights, shows the names of purchasers, and
the prices paid by them for lots,‘ as follows:

“ Elizabeth How, No. 11, southwest side of \Vaterl Street, $71 ; Reasin

Smith, No. 12, southwest side of Water Street, $52; Henry. Smith, Nos.
‘ 1 and 2, northwest side of Spring Street, and No. 20, southwest side of
_Water Street, and, onehalf of No. 3, northeast side of Third Street,

$219; Jacob Resinger, lEsq., Nos. 3 and 4, northwest side of Spring

Street, and No. 6, northeast side of Water Street, and N o.‘ 3, northeast .
side of, Third Street, $257; John Mitchell, No. 5, northwest side of _

Spring Street, $44.50; Isaac‘ Powell, No. 6 Spring Street, $50; Lewis

~Merehant, Nos. 1, 2 and_5 Spring Street, $182; John Kerr, Nos. 3 and 4

Spring Street, $111; William Huggens, No‘. 8 Water Street, $34; John
Hurry, No.7 Water Street, $52; Robert Greggs, No. 6 Water Street,

and one-half of No. 3 Federal Street, $84; Amos Ayles, Nos. 3 and 4

W'ater Street, $123; William Jackman, No. 1 Water Street, $44; Wil-
liam Steel, No. 4 Water Street, $67; Jacob Duvall, No. 13 Water Street,

and one-half of No. 3 Federal Street, $86.50; James Springer, No. 14

\Vater Street, $65; John Peterman, No. 2 Green Street, and No. 9
Federal Street, $125; ‘ Joseph Robeson, No. 4 Short Street, judgment,

A $73; Mary Wilkins, No. 3 \Vater‘Street, $78; Samuel Smith, No. 17

W'ater Street, $66; James Moffet, No. 18 Water Street, $70; William
Cady, No. 19 Water Street, $52; Henry Peterman, No. 1 Green Street,
and No. 3 Short Street, $117; Andrew Kerr, Nos. 7 and 8 Federal
Street, $95; John Gregg, No.6 Federal Street, $41; William Thatcher,
No. 6 Spring Street, $66; John Springer, No. 7 Spring Street, $61;
Henry Reisinger, No. 3 Short Street, and No. 1 Third Street, $118;
Patrick Coil, No. 2 Third Street, $40; Jacob Bennlet, No. 3 Federal
Street, $48; Robert Relitie, No. 5 Water Street, $61; Ely Devue, No. 2
Federal Street, $50; Silvester Smith, No. 16 Water Street,.$57.50;
James Lilley, N0. 2 Federal Street, $42; John Jackman, No. 2 Water

6 Street, $12.50; total, $2915.” «

On July 18, 1814, before Greenfield had become a

town, except on paper, a co-operative association was ,

organized in the place, called the “Farmers’ and

‘Mechanics? Commercial Store,” having a nominal

“1 The numbering of the lots is diflieult to understand, but it is given

~-as found, without attempt at explanation. .. V

capital stock of twenty thousand dollars, divided into
shares of ten dollars each. The association was under
the -control and management of- a president and nine
directors, who were authorized to erect a storehouse‘,
and to purchase keel-boats to convey their produce
to Pittsburgh; the principal object for which the

association-was formed being toiafford an easy and ,

cheap means of transporting the agricultural products
of members and others in the vicinity to a market
where good prices could be realized and goods pur-
chased on favorable terms, and delivered to con!-
sumers without the addition of intermediate commis-
sions and profits. This association, however, like
most others of its kind, failed to accomplish in any
considerable degree the results for which, ostensibly,
it was organized. ,

The first general store was“ started in the place‘ by
John Carr, who also built the first house. It was *9.
log cabin, and was built at the south end of Water
Street, near the saw-mill on the river. Mr. John Buf-
fington remembers when this house stood entirely

alone upon the site of Greenfield. Van Reeves was

another of the pioneer merchants, and there was also
a resident named Miller who manufactured beaver
‘caps. Henry Smith was the first hotel-keeper,‘ and he
was succeeded by Bolen Taylor, Joseph Lutz, Hiram
Holmes, Jacob Qualk, Mrs. Newkirk, and others.
Henry Smith was also a school-teacher in the town-
ship. One of the earliest ‘physicians was Dr. Molli-
son. Those who havefollowed him in the practice
of medicine in Greenfield are Drs. Eagan, Scott,
Isaac_Jackson, H. S. Chalfant, and Jacob Shelper.
The present resident physician is Dr. Robert Miller.
Very early in the history of this place twodistilleries
were in operation here, and a considerable amount of
coopering business was carried on. 7
The incorporation of Greenfield as a borough was
effected by act of the Legislature, passed April 9,
1834. The first burgess elected was Andrew_Gregg.
No complete list of succeding borough oflicers can be
given, for the reason that the records covering the
period of a quarter of a century from the incorpora’-
tion were destroyed by firein 1875. The list of_jus-
tices of’ the peace elected for Greenfield since the
oflice became elective have been gleaned, and is given
below, viz.: ‘

Augustus Wells, June 3, 1865.

L. J. Baker, April 17, 1866.‘
Francis Reader, April 9, 1867.
Francis Reader, April 2, 1872. ii
John Wilkins, April 28, 1873.
Francis Reader, Jan. 19, 1874.

D. O. Lambert, March 13, 1875.
Lewis. E. Smith, March 16, 1875.
Albert Wilson, March'25, 1878.

D. O. Lambert, March 30, 1880.

James Donaldson, April 14, 1840.
William Wells, April 13, 1841.
Francis Reader, June 11,1844.
Robert T. Me-Ilvaine, April 15, 1845.
Francis. Reader, April 10, 1849.
Lewis E. Smith, April 9, 1850.
Francis Reader, April 11, 1854.
Lewis E. Smith, April 10, 1855.
Francis Reader, April 10, 1860.
Mark Winnett, April 20, 1864.

At a meeting of the Council, held March 21, 1874,
the borough limits of Greenfield were, by an ordi-
nance of that body, extended so as to include a con-
siderable additional areavon the north and on the

THE REVOLUTION.

93

they were under the influence of the liquor which
was dealt out to them at the fort. “Two Delaware

Indians who in their cups spoke contemptuously of

our service,” said Brodhead in a letter to Gen. Wash-
ington, “ I have them confined in irons, but am at a
loss what further to do with them until I see what
number join us, and hear what their general conduct
has been.” His allusion to the number of Delawares
who might join him had reference to an order which
had been sent to their towns west of the Ohio re-
quiring all Delawares disposed to continue friendly
to remove -without loss of time to the vicinity of Fort
Pitt, where they could be kept under the eye of the
commandant.‘ This order brought the matter to a
conclusion, and, together with the other causes which

have been noticed, resulted soon after in an open

espousal of the British cause by the Delawares, though
a few of them still continued friendly to the Ameri-
cans. '

On learning of the final defection of the Delawares,
Col. Brodhead determined to push forward his expe-
dition into the Indian country immediately and at all
hazards. Being unable to obtain any troops by draft
from the militia of Westmoreland County,” he called
for volunteers, and the call was responded to, princi-
pally by men from the territory of the newly-erected
(though not organized) county of Washington. The
force amounted to a little over three hundred men, of
whom about one-half were volunteers. From the

’ place of rendezvous at Wheeling (Fort Henry) they

 

1 “ A number of Delaware Indians from Coochocking have been here
since my last, and appear to be as friendly as ever. I am persuaded that
a few are well affected, but they are now put to the trial by being ordered
to remove hither without loss of time and remain under our protection,
where their daily transactions will be seen and known.”—Letter of Col.
Brodhead to Gen. Wasltingvton, dated Fort Pitt, March 27, 1781; Pa. A.rch.,
1781-83, p. 39.

2 The county lieutenant of Westmoreland, Col. Archibald Lochry, in
a letter to C01. Brodhead, dated Twelve-Mile Run, April 2, 1781, said,
“ I collected the principal officers of the county together to send the an-
swer you requested of me. I was not able to attend their meeting, but
requested Col. Cook to send an express to you, with what encouragement

~_ you might depend on, which I hope you have received by this time. I

am just returned from burying a man killed and scalped by the Indians
at Col. Pomeroy’s house; one other man is missing and all Pomeroy’s
effects carried off. I have been attempting to get some Militia to cover
our Frontier until some other succourarrives, which I hope will be soon.
I am afraid from the Disposition of the people you have little to expect
from us. If the Cumberland Militia arrive in time for our intended
Expedition they shall. go with you, and your humble servant to Boot.”
On the same date James Perry, sub-lieutenant of Westmoreland, wrote

to Brodhead, saying, “We sent instructions to the Second and Third‘

Battalions of Westmoreland Militia, agreeable to your orders, to raise
volunteers for the Expedition. The Major of the Third Battalion came
to me on Saturday last and informed me that he could not raise one vol-
unteer for the Expedition. The Second has made no return yet, but I
am doubtful they have done nothing.

“ I have not yet heard what Col. Lochry has done in the First Battal-
ion; but, upon the whole, I believe you need not depend on any men
from this county, as the people in the interior part of the county live in
a state of indifferent security, and the frontiers dare not well leave their
families.”—Pa. Arch., 1781, pp. 51-52.

The failure of Brodhead to obtain any troops from the militia of West-
moreland County appears to have been the result of ill feeling (amount-
ing to a quarrel) between. him and County Lieutenant Lochry, as is evi-
dent from an examination of the correspondence between them, and
between each and the president of the Council, in 1780-81.

7

crossed the Ohio, and marched as rapidly as possible
and by the most direct route to the principal village
of the hostile Delawares, which was located on the
Muskingum River, on the lower part of the site of
the present town of Coshocton, Ohio.

When the expedition reached a point near to
Salem, which was one of the three principal vil-
lages of the peaceful Moravian Indians, some of
the undiscriminating volunteers manifested the same
murderous spirit which afterwards accomplished its
bloody purpose in the campaign of Col. Williamson.
They seemed determined to move upon the town and
destroy it, but were finally prevented from doing so
by the efforts of the oflicers, chiefly by Col. Brodhead.
The commander sent forward a message to the Rev.
John Heckewelder (a Moravian missionary who re-
sided with the Indians in the town), informing him of
the object of the expedition, and requesting him to
send a small supply of provisions, and also to accom-
pany the messenger on his return to the camp. The
old missionary complied with the request, sent the
provisions, and reported in person to Col. Brodhead
at the camp. The colonel inquired of him if any of
his Christian Indians were away from the village,
engaged in hunting or other business in the country
lying on his line of march, as in that case the troops
might do them injury, not being able to distinguish
between them and hostile Indians, a result which he
was most anxious to prevent. Heckewelder assured
him that none of his peopleiwere out, and thereupon
the force was again put in motion, and the missionary
returned to his village after receiving the thanks of
the commander.

Brodhead’s expedition reached its first objective
point, the Delaware village of “ Coochocking,” in the
evening of the 19th of April, and effected a complete

surprise of the place, as the Indians had not heard '

of the march of any white force against them.  The
town was destroyed, fifteen warriors killed, about
twenty prisoners taken, and all the crops planted
by the Indians in the vicinity devastated. Another
town, called Indaochaie, was also destroyed, its site
being about two and a half miles below that of the
other villages and on the east bank of the Muskin-
gum River. After accomplishing these results the
expeditionary force. marched up the valley to a half-
deserted village called Newcomers’ Town (at or near
the site of the present village of that name in Ohio),
where there were a few Delawares who still remained
friendly. These placed themselves under protection
of Col. Brodhead, and the force then took up its line
of march on the return to Fort Pitt. The official
report of the campaign, made by Col. Brodhead in
a communication to the president of the Council,

was as follows:3
“PH1LA., May 22d, 1781.
“SIR,—-In the last letter I had the Honor to ad-

dress to your Excellency I mentioned my intention

3 Pa. Arch., 1781-83, p. 161.

736

HISTORY OF WASHINGTON ” COUNTY, PENNSYLVAN IA.

southwest sides, according to a plat made by Francis
Reader, Esg., which was adopted by the board.-

By a decree of court granted Jan. 19, 1881, the
borough of Greenfield was made subject to the pro-

. visions of the act of Assembly regulating boroughs,
which was passed April 3, 1851.

The borough now contains one hundred and

' twelve private dwelling-houses, two hotels, and three

churches. The hotels arevat present conducted by
W. C. Smith and Jacob Qualk. The other business

interests of the place are represented by two drug-
stores, three stores carrying stocks of dry-goods and
groceries, three_'stores dealing especially in groceries
‘and provisions, two bakeries, one confectionery—store, ,
several restaurants, two blacksmith-shops,‘ saw- and

planing-mills, two shoe-stores, one clothing-store,
two mi-llinery and dress-making establishments, and a
cabinet and undertaker’s establishment. All the
churches are of brick, the graded school occupies a

“frame building having three rooms, and the town

hall, which is also a frame structure, has rooms where
the Odd-Fellows, Masons, Knights of Pythias, and
‘Knights of Labor all hold the regular meetings of
their orders. The lodge of Odd-Fellows is appa-

,rently the strongest of the several secret orders repre-

sented in Greenfield. In the original plat of the

{village they owned a lot, and the large town hall
is their property. The Benevolent Association of

Greenfield is also an institution of this order, and is

exclusively under its supervision. Pike Run Lodge,
‘No. 491, I. O‘. O. F., was in existence here in 1866,
' and on July 28th of that year the trustees of the order
. purchasedof Jesse Bailey lot No. 10 in the borough.

This lodge continued to meet in Greenfield for some
time, but eventually removed to the borough of Cali-

fornia.

Vesta Lodge, No. 696, I. O. O. F., was chartered

‘Jan. 3, 1870. The first oflicers of the organization

were Thomas Young, N. G.; J. E. Wilkins, V. G.;

"John ‘Baker, Sec.;. Oliver Hornbake, Asst. Sec.;

Thomas D. Mofiitt, Treas. The lodge has now sev--

enty-two members. - A -
Monongahela Valley Lodge, No. 361, F. A. M., was

organized some twelve years. ago, the date of the

charter being Feb. 4,1870. The charter officers were

’ Nicholas S. ‘Veatch, W. M. ; Thomas S. Daly, S. W. ;

James S. Newkirk, J. W. -
A charter for Pike Run Lodge, No. 1687, Knights
of Pythias, was granted Sept. 8, 1881, at which time
the members of the order numbered twenty ‘persons,
-—John S. Dales, Daniel J. Frantz, Louis M. Sibbet,
John Hupp, Isaac B. Frantz,Henry C.,Shafi’er, J o-
seph W. Kellions, Frederick Kellions, Thomas J.
Reece, Albert E. Freeman, James Gainer, James

Summerville, John W. Moore, James Jobes, John

Moogre, -Robert VVoods, and George H. Griffin-

;  Methodist Episcopal Church.‘—-Greenfield Cir-/

_—

' 1 By S. S. R0tl,lWell. ’

A

cuit was in the Baltimore ‘Conference, and was trav-
eled by Rev. James Quinn as early as 1799. ‘The
circuit covered a large territory, and embraced parts
of Greene, Fayette, and Washington Counties. There
were perhaps no Methodists in Greenfield at this
early day. There werelsome two or three Methodist
families a few miles distant, among them the Hows
and Riggs. William Riggs (father of Mahlon Riggs,
now living, but a very old man) was a local preacher.
Preaching; was established’ at his house. In those

-days there were no church buildings in this end of

the county. Some time afterwards, early in the pres-
ent century, a log meeting-house was built, called
H”ow’s Church, and it became one of the regular ap-
pointments or preaching-places on Greenfield Circuit.
In 1824 the Pittsburgh Conference was formed, and
Greenfield Circuit was in the Monongahela District,
and contained one colored and six hundred and sixty-
two white members. This year (1826)— the Monon--
gahela District was presided over by Rev. George
Brown. Greenfield Circuit was traveled by‘ P. G.
Buckingham and Richard Armstrong. Buckingham

A was a very able and popular preacher for many years,

but unfortunately fell from his high position and was
expelled from the church. Hexafterwards manifested
deep repentance and humiliation, and was restored
to the church. But his influence as a minister was
gone. He moved West and died othere many years
ago. V 2 , ,

In 1827, Monongahela District had for presiding
elder Rev. William Stephens, and P.-G. Buckingham
and John Tackaberry were the traveling preachers.
In 1828, William’ Stephens, presiding elder, and H.

Furlong and J. E. ,_Maffit, preachers. In_'1829« the.
district was changed and called Pittsburgh District,

with David Sharp presiding elder (a very able and
acceptable preacher). On Greenfield Circuit were

Simon Lauck and Thomas Taylor. In 1830, D. Sharp,

presiding elder, and on the circuit" were Simon Lauck

and Thomas Jameson. In 1831, D. Sharp, presiding

elder, and John White on circuit. ‘ In 1.832, D. Sharp,
presiding, elder, and John White on circuit. In 1833,
Charles Elliot was presiding elder (a mighty man),
and Samuel E. Ba.bcock and S. Worthington on the
circuit. Babcock was a very able minister, a work-
man that had no need to be ashamed. In the year
1834 the district was changed and called Uniontown
District. Greenfield Circuit was also changed and
called Beallsville Circuit.
presiding elder, and on the circuit was S. R. Brock-
unier. During the years 1834 and. ’35 the first Meth-
odist church-building was erected in the town of
Greenfield. It was built on lot No. 7 according to
plan of town, and was a rather small and unpreten-

tious brick building,'and cost something like one

thousand dollars. Previous to this time, however,
there had been a society formed into a class, accord’-
ing to Methodist usage, and Fisher VVhite was leader.
There had been preaching in. the. town (but in private

VVilliam Stephens’ was - -

_middle—aged and heads of families.

EAST PIKE“ RUN TOVVNSTHIIPA. :

41787

houses) prior to the erection of the church building.
The trustees were Van Reeves, Fisher White‘, Nathan
Jackman, Allen Stockdale,and VV. D. Veatch. The
memberswere Van Reeves a.nd wife, Nathan

 

Jackman and wife, A. -Stockdale and wife, Fisher

\-Vhite and family, Mrs. How, Elizabeth How, Ellen

.Wells, Elizabeth ‘~gFurlong, Mary Fenton, S. S.’ Roth-

well and wife, Elizabeth Beazell, L. G. Beazell, Henry
Jameson, VVilliam ' D. Veatch and: wife, Elizabeth

»Jac'kman, William Veatch and wife, and Sheba Wil-
"kins.
’members in 1834,——sometwenty-five‘or thirty in all. y

In the year 1835, Robert Boyd‘ was presiding‘ elder I

These are all that are- now remembered as

and "S. E; Babcock on the ‘circuit. It is due to Rob-

ert'Boyd to say in thislconnection that he was onetof
A God’s chosen men, mighty in word and doctrine, an -
example to the flock or church over whom God had
made him overseer. “,Heprests from his labors and.

his works follow him.” In 1836, Robert Hopkins
was presiding elder, and William Tipton on circuit.
‘In the year 1837, T. M. Hudson was presiding elder,
and William Tipton was on the circuit. Rev. T. 'M.

.Hudson was among the ablest preachers in the Pitts-
He commenced preachingwhen.
-quite “young. He was a member of the Baltimore‘

burgh Conference.

Conference, and continued his effective labors till
within a few years. .He lived to a, good old age

A (eighty-three), and.died in December, 1881.

In 1838, T. M. Hudson was presiding elder, and
John Spencer and B. F. Sawhill on circuit. During
this year a_most remarkable revival of religion spread
all over the circuit. Hundreds were converted, mostly
Many have
passed-away, but many are still living and laboring
to build up the cause of God in the earth.

In 1839, Samuel Wakefield was presiding elder, and
Thomas Stinchcomb and Isaac.McClosky on the cir-
cuit. In 1840, S. Wakefield, presiding elder, and on
the circuit were D. Sharp and Richard Armstrong. In
1841 the district was changed and called Wheeling
District, T. M. Hudson, presiding elder, and Abner
Jackson and Jerry Knox on the circuit. In 1842 the
same as 1841. In 1843, S. E. Babcockwas presiding
elder, and John White and George McCaskey trav-
eled the circuit.. In 1844, S. E.'Babcock presiding

elder, and on the circuit were George McCaskey and

Heaton Hill. In 1845, S. E. Babcock presiding"
elder, and Heaton Hill and Josiah Adams on circuit.

During the years 1843, ’44, and ’45 the subject of
slavery was agitatedin the church, the anti-slavery
men in the church maintaining that slaveholding was
incompatible with Christianity, and the other party
assuming that it was a political institution, and the
church had no right to interfere. The controversy
was carried‘ on for a lo_ng time, with a great deal of
bitterness on both sides, and finally resulted in a
division, the anti-slavery members withdrawing from
the church and forming themselves into an organiza-
tion styled “ Wesleyan ‘ Metlijodistf’ — The» leading

_ and M. B.'Pugh on charge.

ministers seceding were ‘Orange "Scott, Leroy Sun«de‘r'-
land, Luther Lee, Cyrus Prindle; L. C.‘ Matlackf,
Edward Smith, and quite a number of lesser lights".
An organization was effected and a society formedfiin
Greenfield, and a circuitestablished called Bridgeport
Circuit. The first preacher who traveled the circuit
was John "P. Betker. Hewas a clear-headed man‘,
considerable of a preacher, and few men dared dis-
cuss with him the issues involved asbetween -the
Wesleyans and the Methodist‘ Episcopal Church.’ ‘

‘ The members constituting the\Greenfield Society
were Job Johnson and wife, W. D.'Ve.atch, S. S. Roth-
well, Elizabeth Rothwell, ;HenryDowler and'wif'e‘,
James L. Wells and wife, George Hornbake and wife",
Henry Horribake and wife, Albert .Wilson, some-fif-
teen in all, and during the yearsof their existence as
a society quite a number wereadded. The circuit
contained four preaching-places,—-Greenfield, Bridge-
port, Theaxto’n’s, and one Qther. They never builta
church at Greenfield, but had ‘good churches at ‘the
other points. The organization continued‘ in this
county until the downfall of slavery, and then went
down’, the most of the members going back into ‘tlie
-Methodist Episcopal Church. V ,’ L

In 1847 the district was changed to Morgantown
District, Simon Elliott presiding elder. John Spen-
cer and J. L. Irwin were on circuit. In 1854 and ’55,
T. M. Hudson was presiding ‘elder, and A. Jackson on
circuit. . ‘ , ‘ -

' In the years 1858 and‘-1859 the old church building
‘in Greenfield was torn down, and a larger one erected
on the site. In the year 1859, C. A. Holms was pre-
siding elder; in 1861, D. L. Dempsy presiding elder,
William McCracken on circuit; "1863, Greenfield and
California becamea station, Dempsy presiding elder,
and J. J. Hayes onncharge ; 1864, William Cox pre-
siding elder, and D. 13'. Campbell on charge. In 1865,
William Cox-presiding elder, and ‘T. S. Hodson on
charge. "In 1866, W. A. Davidson presiding elder,
In 1867, Davidson pre-
siding elder, and M. B. Pugh to December, from De-
cember to March, S. S. Rothwellon charge. - In 1868,
L. R; Beacom presiding elder, and D. A. Pierce on
charge. In 1869,-same as 1868. 1870, L. R. Beacom
presiding elder, and J . G. Gogueley on charge. In
1871, same. 1872, H. Miller presiding elder, and
VVilliam J ohnson» on -charge. 187 3, same.‘ ' 1874,
same. 1875, H. Miller presiding elder, -and Rev.

Batchtell on charge. In 1876, T. N. Boyle presiding.’

’elder_,“ and Hollingshead on charge. 1876, S. H. Nes-

bit presiding elder, and W. F. Lauck on charge.

1877, same.
Lauck on charge.
and Swan on charge.

In 91878, J. Baker presiding elder,‘ and
In- 1879, J. Baker presiding elder,
In 1880 and 1881, same. The

, membership in the two churches of the charge is

three hundred and, eighty. ' ' ~
Some time during. the year 1873 the-church in
Greenfield was burned down, and soon the present

one was erected On, the same site, costing about three

P Millsboro’ Church.

788

HISTORY OF“ WASHINGTON 5 COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA.

thousand dollars.’ California Church is valued at
four thousand dollars, There are two Sabbath-
schools in the charge. Number of scholars, three
hundred. Greenfield superintendent, Frank Shut-
terly ;California, L. W. Morgan.

Cumberland Presbyterian Church.——This congre-
gation was organized on the 28th March, 1836, by the
Rev.‘ S. M. Sparks. A church edifice was erected in

-1839, and a larger one about 1870. The present pas- '

tor ‘is the Rev. I. N. Cary, who is also pastor of the
For more extended information
concerning this denomination the reader is referred
to the article in the general history contributed by
the Rev. Azel Freeman.

Catholic Chu_rch.—-Catholic services have been

held in Greenfield borough only for the last six or.

seven years. Their first mass was celebrated by Rev.
Father Arthur Develin in a frame house situated on
the mill property on Water Street, and which is now
occupied by George S. Hornbake and family. Prior
tothat date Catholic services had been held in the
village of Granville, at the residence of .Barney

Sloan, Rev. Father Herman .being _first in charge of y.

the parish, and was succeeded by Rev. Father Ryan.
Since the beginning of the Catholic services in Green-
field theyvhave rented for their use the Jackman Hall
save for one year, when they worshiped in the‘ house
of Daniel O’Connell Lambert. ‘Rev. Father Develin
was succeeded by Rev. P. H. Connery; then came
Rev. C. A. McDermott, and he was followed by Rev.

P. H. Connery. Two town lots, Nos. 22 and 23, have '

been purchased,_ upon which a church edifice is to
~ be erected. Thelots were bought of John R. Gregg.

The history of the Catholic Church would be incom- '

pleteshould the name of Joseph A; Lambert be omit-
ted from the sketch. In the strict sense of the term
he is .not a practical Catholic, but has always been
looked upon as one of thenumber, and has always
sustained’ the church here pecuniarilyias. welleas

otherwise. , V ~
Schools.——The earliest teacher in this section of

whom any knowledge has been gained was Robert ‘

Quail, who is mentioned as a “ schoolmaster” in the
assessment-roll of Pike Run township for the year

— 1807. The schools taught here during the half'-cen-

tury next succeeding the organization of the county
were, like all others that existed during that period in
Western Pennsylvania, of low grade,.and taught 
log houses or cabins for short terms, mostly in, the
winter season. When. the common-school law of
Pennsylvania was passed (in 1834) old Pike Run
township still remained undivided, embracing the
territory now forming East and West Pike Run. The
township accepted the provisions of the law in 1835,
andraised in that year for school purposes the sum of

$341.96, the number of persons in the township liable

to taxation for that:-‘ purpose at that time being 415.

‘In 1836 the total amount of school money received

for the township was $505.02, including amountfrom

the State. In that year several school-houses were
built, some of them being of brick. 'Upon the divis-
ion of old Pike Run, and theformation of the town."-

ships of East and West Pike Run in 1839,» the new ,

townships were redistricted, and the character of the
schools materially improved. , '

In 1863 the school-houses of Districts Nos. 1, 2, 3,
4, and 5 in East Pike Run were declared insuflicient
for theuses of the schools, and new ones were soon
after erected in their stead, andfrom about that time
the schools of this township graduallyimproved, until
they became, as at present, equalin grade to those of
any other township of the county. The school re-'
port of 1863 showed the ‘following statistics of schools
in East Pike .Run, viz.: Number of schools, 5; num-
ber of teachers, 5 ; number of scholars enrolled, 208;
receipts for school purposes, $497 .64 ; - expenditures
for the same, $544.46. The report for the yearending
June, 1873, showed the same number of schools and
teachers as that of 1863, while thenumber of enrolled
scholars had decreased to 162. In 1880 the number
of ‘schools reported was 6; number of teachers, 6;
scholars enrolled, 262; receipts for school purposes,
$1464.08 ; expenditures, $1336.0_2. .

Justices of the Peace.——Following is a list of per-
sons elected as justices in East Pike Run township :
Augustus Wells, April 14, 1863. V
H. S. Chalfant, July 12, 1865.

C. J. Springer, April 10, 1866.
H. S. Chalfant, April 11, 1870.
C. J. Springer, April 19, 1872.
H. S. Chalfant, Jan. 26, 1874.
‘C. J. Springer, Jan. 11, 1874.
H. S. Chalfant, April 26, 1875.

e C. J. Springer, March 14, 1877.
James Boyle, March 30, 1880.

Isaac Ailes, April 14, 1340.

Simeon Jackman, April 14, 1840‘.
Morrison Chester, April 15, 1845.
Isaac Ailes, April 15, 1845.
Azariah Crow, April 9, 1850.
Andrew Gregg, April 9. 1850.
Theodore H. Dowler, April 13, 1853.
Andrew Gregg, April 10, 1855.
Andrew Gregg, April 10, 1860.

C. J. Springer, April 24, 1862.

Granville is a small village" in East Pike Run
township, situated on both sides of the stream Pike
Run and its tributary, Gorby’s Fork. The portion of
the village east of Gorby’s Fork was laidout by
Henry Dowler, and is called Minersville. It contains
nine dwellings, one store, and one blacksmith-shop.
Granville proper is on the opposite side of the fork
on Pike Run, and wasllaid out by James Gregg, who
built the first: house there,‘ a log cabin, which is yet

standing. It now has thirty-nine dwellings and one . 9
store. Nearly all the. inhabitants belong to the min-’

ing class. The name of Granville was given to the
place by its founder, James Gregg, whoalso kept the

first store in the place. The merchants at the present - ‘

time are James Knight, ‘of Granville, and A. W.
Bane, of .Minersville. The first house erected in the
latter place was of brick, built by Moses Billingsby,
and now belongs to the heirs of Henry Dowler, The
Gregg school-house is also located in Minersville.
William VVinfield formerly manufactured pottery at
this point, and the stock and turning-_house of the
factory. are still standing. _ 1 _, 2.
  . Coal-Works and other Industries.——Just outside
the bolrougli limits of Greenfield are the extensive

FALLOWFIELD TOWNSHIP.

789

works of Jordan S. Neal & Co., consisting of coal-
mines, ‘and works, coal-boats, barges, and yard, a
saw-mill, store,’ and two blacksmith-shops. One mile
below on the river this firm have other mines, and all
the necessary appurtenances for mining and trans-

porting coal. The mines at Greenfiel-d"‘yiel“d annually

one million "bushels of coal, to mine which one hun-
dred and twenty-five hands are employed, and‘ paid
three and one-half cents per bushel for digging. At

the lower coal-works, called the Eclipse ‘Mines, eight

hundred thousand bushels of coal are taken out an-
nually by eighty miners. In 1881, Messrs. J. S. Neal &
Co. built forty coal-boats and sixteen flat-boats. Their
saw-mill cuts five thousand feet of lumber per day,
and six men are employed to operate the mill. Six-

« -teen -men are employed upon the coal-boats and flats,

at wages averaging’ two and a quarter each per day.
These coal-works were established by J. S. Neal &
Co". in 1875, and each year"finds. the firm extending.
their operations,‘ while they alreadyrank among
the -most important dealers in the-Monongahela :Val_-
1ey.   I pf .‘ t   

The.Globe Coal-W0rks:, in,-.thi.s township are owned
and operated by Messrs. Crowthers, Musg.rove_& Co.

. I "
4 '
7 7 7 i

‘by 100 feet in‘ size.

During 1881~they employed eighty hands for digging
the coal, and shipped one million two hundred thou-
sand bushels of coal. ‘

The Monongahela Distillery is situated near the
centre of East Pike Run township, on the branch of
Pike Run called 'Gorby’s Run. It’ was started-‘ several
years ago by a man named Mess, who sold to Zepha-
niah M. and John Boyle. They began the business
in 1876, and still continue in it.
building, which is 36 by 50 feet in size and three stories
in height, a store 30 by 50 feet, and a warehouse 50
They have- a capacity fori,mash—
ing andvdistilling fifty bushels o-f grain daily.

A steam- and water-power grist-mill is owned and
operated by the Gregg brothers, under the firm,-name
of J. R. and A. J. Gregg. Some two or three mills
have been built upon this site,-‘the‘pres,ent one having
been ere/cted-by James Ailes, who purchased the prop-
erty of Robert; J ackman. Two miles from the Gregg
mill are a grist-mill and a saw-mill, which are. now
owned by Washington Smallwood; . They’ have pre-
viously been. owned’ and conducted by many different

persons. ,.Willia:m Forsyth also. had a still-house at

or near this point at one time.

._;___

FALLQWFIELD TOWNSHIP.

4-;

wvf

AFALLOJWFIELD was the sixth of the original town-

ships of Washington, formed soon after the erection

of the county in 1781. The next year a part of its
territory _was taken ‘off in the formation by the Court

-of Quarter Sessions of the township of Somerset. On

the 29th of August, 1788, certain “inhabitants of

Fallowfield and Bethleheim townships” petitioned

the court, setting forth “that the application to

‘ magistrates in cases whereof . they have cognizance,

from the too great extent of our townships, is ren-
dered exceeding inconvenient as well as expensive to
many of us ; among other disadvantages, we beg iieave
to mention that the costs arising on actions brought
for the recovery of small sums frequently exceed the
debt to the great oppression of a number of good
citizens.” Wherefore the petitioners prayed the

i court “that by an order from your honorable court

a line be drawn as follows, viz.: Beginning at the
mouth of Ten-Mile Creek," and running up the said
creek to VVilliam Montgomery’s mill; thence with a
straight line to Zephaniah Beall’s, so as to exclude
both','the said Montgomery’s and Beal; from thence
to Henry Coonrod’s, including him, and then down
that branch of Pike Run. on which the said Coonrod

lives, unto its confluence with the Monongahela River; S
\

then  the said river to the place of beginning, so
as to includea township separate from Bethlehem
and Fallowfield.” And the petitioners added that if
the court sliouldlthink it more desirable to draw the

line otherwise, “you,’ll be pleased to make such’
amendments as in your wisdom shall be judged ex-

pedient.” 7 This petition was signed by Joseph Dorsey,
Barnabas McNan1ee, Thomas Bishop, William Sloan,
David Ruble, William Buckingham, Barzilla Clarke,
James Powell, George Myers, Joseph Brinton, and
thirty-seven others, but it was not granted by the

K court, and in the following year there was presented

another petition, prayingthat . A
“That part of Ea-llowfield township, viz.: Begin‘
ning at PetervDrake’s where the line dividing Beth-

lehem from East Bethlehem intersects the road lead- ‘

ing from‘ Redstone Old Fort to Washington; and
thence with Summerset township to Henry ~ Coon--
rod’s, to include him ; and then down that branch of
Pike_Run on which the said Coonrod lives to the Mo-
nongahela; thence up’ the riverto the line of East
Bethlehem, be added to ‘East Bethlehem township, and
that it be recommended by your honorablevbench to

the Executive 'lC'9uncil ‘to’ have the said "township i

erected into an election district.” A V 1

They occupy a frame a

‘790

/

This petition, made on the 25th of September, 1789

-(a petition for a division of Bethlehem into East and

West Bethlehem townships having been presented in

the mean time), was laid over andlheld under advise-

ment by the court until April 23, 1792, when an order

was issued erecting the township of Pike Run, to
include territory as indicated ‘previoiisly belonging to
Fallowfield. Again, on the 30th of September, 1834,
a part of Fallowfield was set off in the formation of

the township of Carroll; and on‘ the 14th of June,

--1853, by the erection of Allen township from a part
-of the remaining territory of Fallowfield, the latter

townshipwas reduced to its present area and limits,

‘and "giving it the following boundaries: North, Not-

tingham and Carroll townships; east, Allen township
and the Monongahela‘ River; south, Allen, East Pike
Run, and West Pike Run townships; west, Somerset
township. The only streams of any importance in
Fallowfield are the Monongahela River, which forms
a part of its eastern boundary, and Pigeon Creek,
which passes through the northwestern part of the

township, taking a_ northeasterly course, and flowing
.thence through Carroll township enters the river at

Monongahela City. ~ - ,
Sett1ements.——Fal1owfield township, like all the
northeastern part of the present county of Wash-

ington, was within the county of Yohogania, as‘

claimed ‘by Virginia, prior. to‘the settlement of the
boundary controversy between that State and Penn-
sylvania; and it was under chiefly Virginia certificates
that the first settlers in this township held their lands.

_ The first entry in the first survey book of Yohogania

Countyiiis that of “Maiden’s Hall,” a ‘tract of three
hundred and seventy—five acres, for which Joseph

.Brinton was ~gran_ted“ a Virginia certificate, and which

was surveyed to him by Col. William Crawford, May
2, 1780, as follows: 1 ,
. . . “ YOIIOGANIA, May 2, 1780.
“Surveyed by virtue of a certificate granted, by coms. appointed to
settle and adjust claims to unpatented lands in the counties of Yoho-

. gauia, Monongalia, and Ohio, for Joseph Brinton three hundred and

seventy-five acres of land in said county agreeable to the above plan,

one hundred and three acres thereof the property now of Isaac Powell,
and isdescribed in the above plan. 1 A

“Signed Aug. 4, 1780. _
‘ ' l “ JOHN BRACH, D. S., ye
for
“WII.LIAM CRAWFORD.”

The boundaries of the survey of Joseph -Brinton’s
land place it next the lands of John Adams, John

Bufiington, Joseph Brown, and Isaac Powell, and it

is only by this adjacent property that the tract can be

-located. In the assessment-roll of Fallowfield town-

ship for the year 1788 the names of Isaac Powell,

’ ‘John Adams, John Buffingtom, and Joseph Brown
again appear as assessed upon land in the township,

showing that tl-ieywere still residents of this section.

The survey of Joseph Brinton’s land was made Jan.
.31,1786. - r 

Vincent Colvin was one of the earliest settlers 

Y Fauowfield. I He invested, quite extensively in land,

'veyed to ‘him on the samedate.
topher Graybilladjoined the tracts of John Hall, .

  HISTORY OF .'WASHINGTON COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA.

and was the possessor of many hundred acres, divided
into five or six tracts, taken up at different. times.
“ The Farm” was a tract of four hundred and seventy
acres, situated on Pigeon Creek, adjoining the prop-
erty of Joseph Platter, Peter Cheserounds, and Wil-
liam McComber». He was grantedthis on a Virginia

icertificate dated March 28, 1780. “ Triple Ford” was

surveyed to him Jan. 5, 1787, containing two hundred
acres. “ Good Fortune” was the three hundred and
twenty-one acre tract, granted on a Virginia certifi-
cate, which was surveyed to Mr. Colvin Feb. 22, 17 88.
Two other tracts, one having upwardsof six hundred
and the other about three hundred acres, were also
surveyed to Mr. Colvin in 1780.

Vincent Colvin had a number of sons and dangli-
ters, to w‘hon1 he left his property by his willhmade
Sept. 2, 1811, and proved April 22, 1812. To his son,-
Stephen Colvin, he left the two hundred acres com-
prising the homestead. ' The sons, John, Vincent, J r.,
Joshua, Moses, and Lott, had smaller tracts varying

in area. The daughters were Agnes, who became .

Mrs. Powell; Susanna, who married.Mr. VVilson—;
Charlotte and Lucy, who each married a Mr. Frye;
and Harriet Colvin. V — ' ' ~
Joseph and Christopher Graybill made early settle-
ments in Fallowfield township, and each held Vir-
ginia certificates entitling them to large tracts of
land here. The tract taken up by Joseph Graybill,
according to the early survey book, is bounded on
the South by Sugar Camp Run, and on the north and
east by Pigeon. Creek  Cave Run. The land
granted to Christopher Graybill was in theimmediate
vicinity of JosephGraybi1l’s property,-and was sur-
The land of Chris-

Vincent Colvin, and John Cramer. Cave Run and
Joseph Grraybill’s tract formed the northern, and

Pigeon Creek the western boundary. On_the map ,-
of that survey a mill two stories in height is shown

as located at the bend of Pigeon Creek, some distance
above the mouth of Cave Run. V
Sugar Camp Run a road crosses the tract east and
wes_t, which is called the Mill road. Another road

branches off frbm the Mill road and crosses Cave Run, .
and near this point is marked a cave, from which the

run probably received its name.- A little distance
above the mouth of Sugar Camp Run,'and above the
mill, is shown a still-house. The two tracts owned

1 and occupied, by Christopher and Joseph Graybill are‘ -

still in the possession of their descendants.

John Cramer was one of the settlers in Fallowfield
township whose land was surveyed inthe year 1780.
Mr. Cramer’s Virginia certificate granted him four
hundred acres, which he located next the tracts of
Vincent Colvin and Wallace, on the waters of
Pigeon Creek. No further information is gained of

 

him, nor does his name appear in the assessment-roll‘

of the township for 1788. The roll of that year

. shoxvs that Joseph Allen, Joseph ,1 Chester, Samuel

At the mouth_of.

» J ackman,

prietors of ferries.
' Henry Conrad, John Crow, Matthew Deems, John
Dunn, John Hopkins, Jr., Daniel Hamilton, George ,

’Riggle, John Reed, Henry Speers, Matthew

‘of Andrew Devore, described as
or parcel of land lying on the north side of the Mo-
nongahela, and bounded by lands of. Paul Froman

 ' -FALLOWFIELD TOWNSHIP.  

‘Dixson, Robert and John Jackman, Thomas Park-
ison, and VVilliam Parker were owners of saw-mills,
.Nathan.Heald, Benjamin Hinds, Robert and John
James Young owned _'g_rist-mills, and
Thomas Parkison owned two grist-mills. Peter
Carner, Neal Gillespie, and Thomas Pew were pro-
Nicholas -Crist, Vincent Colvin,

Nox, William Nitterfield, David Ritchie, George
Spane,
Conrad Weaver, James Davis, and William Gibson

A wereeach assessed on distilleries. .

James Innis was- one of the largest land—holders
among the early residents of Fallowfield township,

having two tracts joining each other, and the whole

body adjacent to the lands -of Noah Williams, Wil-
liam Wood, and Daniel Preston. Sugar Camp Ru-n

was the southeastern‘ boundary of his property, and
Froman’s wagon road traversed the southwestern part

of the tract. This land came into Mr. I.nnis’ posses-

' _sion -under-Virginia certificate, and  1788 he was

assessed upon six. hundred; and ninety-six acres.-

The tract of land surveyed to Noah Williams con-

tained three hundred and ninety-four acres, and was

located on Sugar Camp Run, in ‘the same vicini-ty.

that the other tracts mentioned were situated. The

land of‘James Innis was adjoining, and the southern.

boundary was formed by F roman’s roa .

"In the survey book of 1780 for Yohogania County
is a map of the tract of land granted to William Wood
in that year. In the map the land of Nicholas Plat-

’ tor is located next to his tract, but. just across Innis’
Run. The Graybill tracts and that of Daniel Pres-'

ton are opposite Sugar Camp Run, and the Innis land
adjoins the land of.Mr. Wood, and lies between the
two streams. Mr... Wood’s name does not appear

among ‘the, Fallowfield assessment, nor in any place
later than the survey /mentioned.

“ Pleasant Flat” was the name of the tract of land
warranted to Amos Baileyon Feb. 17, 1785, and sur-

veyed to him May,2'9th following. It contained one A
V hundred and seventy-five acres, and was located near

the property of Isaac Powell, John Adams, andJo-
seph Brown. ' '

The tract of land surveyed to Henry K repps, March
1, 1786, by virtue of all certificate which had been
granted to him by the commissioners of Virginia, was
called “ Maiden Head,” and contained four hundred
and twenty-six acres. It was located near the lands
of Alexander Hill, Philip Miller, and Thomas Carson.

Frederick Cooper wasa native of Germany, and

emigrated to this. country before 1770, and settled in
‘Frederick County, Va., where he lived in 1771. On
the 20th’of April in that year he came to this county

and purchased a tract of land (quantity not mentioned)
“ one. certain _tract

”791

and James Devore.” This tract he retained about a
year, and in April, 1772’, he sold it to Abraham Mil-
ler, who sold it to Samuel Devore, May 22,1777, by
whom it was conveyed September 1st of the same
year to‘ Joseph Beckett. When Cooper came‘ here he

- left a wife and three children, John, Polly, and Bet-

sey,.in the East. The Indians became so troublesome
that after the sale. of the property he returned to the
East and remained several years. In the mean time
his wife died, andhe married Elizabeth Kyle, and
soon after came back to this county with hisfamily.
He purchased a tractof land containing two hundred
and eighty-seven acres which had been warranted on
the 17th of April, 1769, to Jacob Froman, and sur-
veyed under the name of ‘.‘ Wrangle.” The warrant
was returned to Frederick Cooper on the 27th of De-
cember, 1784. Here he lived till his death. The
following in reference to the family is taken from a
series of , historical sketches. of early families written
by Dr. J. S. Van Voorhis: . ' ' , .

1“ Frederick Cooper, the elder, had several sons and_
daughters. I Catharine married, Thomas Ward, who
built the first house in Bellevernon ; Peggy married
John Roland, both of whom died near.Wooster, Ohio‘;

.Rebecca married Daniel Jacobs, both dead; Nancy

we cannot trace; Abraham died a few years since in

Guernsey County, Ohio“; Frederick lived and died in
'the,Dutch Settlement, and the late‘; Samuel Cooper

and F. K. Cooper, who now own the old homestead,
were his sons; George lived and died in Ohio, and
Valentine lived and died on the original Cooper

.homestead atthe mouth 'of.*Mafple Creek. vHe was

the ‘father of Jackman, Washington, Jehu, Frederick,
and Josiah C. Cooper, also of Nancy, latel-y deceased,
wife of Newton Van Voorhis. N arcissa married
Martin Weaver; after living‘ fora time at ‘ Fish Pot’
removed to Huron County, Ohio, where she died many
years ago, and Elizabeth married Apollas Speers.
Theyhad five sons and six daughters. Solomon C.
owns and resides -‘on a part of, the ‘Speers’ Intent,’
on which he has one of the most beautiful residences

on the river. ‘He is proprietor of the Clipper Sand-
,Works, from which he sends to market vast quantities

of sand of superiorquality for manufacturing. Noah
resides at the ferry, of which he is sole owner. Jasper

died some years ago. Jacob and Henry live in Mar-

shalltown‘, Iowa. Margaret married Enoch Baker, of
Ten-Mile. Nancy, now deceased, married Samuel
Frye; she was the mother of the wife of’ William
Jackman, of Allen township. Mary married B. VV.
Johnson, nephewof the late Job Johnson; she lives
in Marshalltown, Iowa, as does also Clara, who mar-

J ried, James Walker; and Sarah, who married a man

by the name of Lucas.” .

The property located in Fallowfield township by
John Reef was a tract of five hundred and nineteen
acres called “Speer’s Intent,” and was granted to him
on order No. 3255, issued with many other lots in
1769. The tract was located a little above the mouth

‘until 1820.

792

HISTORYOF WASHINGTON COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA.

of Maple Creek, and was surveyed Sept. 8, 1784.
Upon the same date a tract of land called “Bruce,”
containing two hundred and fifteen acres, was sur-
veyed to Samuel Sinclair. I

The Newkirks were early settlers in this section of
Washington, County, and the land they owned was
located in both Fallowfield and Somerset townships.
A tract of land called “Agriculture,” containing three
hundred and eighty-six acres, which was warranted

to Vincent Colvin Feb. 13, 1786, was returned by the

board of property to Isaac Newkirk, who received a
warrant for it February 27th of the same year. The
land was next that of Vincent Colvin, Abraham New-
kirk, J ohn‘ VVallace, and Joseph Wilson. Henry

- N ewkirk received a Virginia certificate in 1780 enti-

tling him to four hundred and fourteen acres of land
“lying on Pigeon Creek,” and adjacent to the tracts of
--Isaac Newkirk, the Crraybill brothers, John Wallace,
and John Hall.  The survey of“ this land was made
to Henry Newkirk Feb. 13, 1786, and he afterwards
lconveyedtheland to Abraham Newkirk. The prop-
ertyof this family now belongs to Thomas Elwood.
7William Niblickcarne into this township when the

Newkirk family did, and like them he wasof Scotch,

birth. Heldcated three hundred acres of landlad-
joiningthe Newkirk tracts, whereon he made a home.

- The family of VVilliam Niblick became widely sep-

arated. William Niblick, Jr., had a son named
Thomas who went to Ohio, and William Niblick
third, son of Jackson Niblick, emigrated to Illinois.

7 _”In' this county the name has become extinct, none

of the male descendants living here. Of the daugh-

-ters of William N iblick, Sr., there are several de-

scendants: Hannah E.iLeyda, of Allegheny City;
Mary E. Hopkins, of the same place; William M.

‘7Richardson, Seth B.,Richardson, Olive J. Newkirk,

Joseph B. Hawkins, and Mrs. Amanda Ross being

among the number. ' 7 ' '

Solomon Redd was a son of‘ Nathaniel Redd, who
kept a tavern in this section as early as 1800 and

Solomon -lived

operated a still-house. Thomas Redd, who was cap-

‘tain of the ill—fated steamboat “ Lander,” was also of
-this family and a residentof Fallowfield township.

He‘ died a few years ago near Cameron,_Va.
  The Cheserown (or Chessround) family lived in

Fallowfield as early as 1780. On June 27th of that
year Peter Cheserown -had a tract of land containing
‘two hundred and sixty acres surveyed to him upon a
-Virginia; certificate.
:side ''of Pigeon Creek, and at the mouth of Maple

It was located on .the south

Run. He built both a saw-mill and a grist-mill at

‘this place, but the grist-mill never proved of much
3value.

Peter Cheser-own_ sold thirteen acres. of his
land, alittle below his own mill-site, to John Rod-

' zecker, whobuilt a stone grist—mill,, which was known
.as" the Union mill. -It is not in use now, but belongs

Peter Redd, another member of the
family, kept a tavern in 1816-17. _
‘near the mouth of Maple Creek, where he owned and

to Hollingsworth Hout, who also owns the original

Cheserown mill-‘site, upon which is another mill,

built some thirty years ago by John A. Redd. . George '

Cheserown yliyed for many years upon a farm on
Pigeon. Creek above Hair’s mill. John. Cheserown
was his son.

Abraham Frye came from New Jersey to Wash-
ington County, and located on the banks of the Mo-
nongahela River, near the mouth of Maple Creek, in

Fallowfield township. He had a family of ten chil— '1 I

dren,—Benjamin, Johnson, James, Noah, Elijah,
Luke, Smith, Thomas, Polly, who married Stephen
Colvin, -and Hetty, who became the wife of Lott
Colvin. Abraham Frye gave each of his so'ns .a
farm, but none of them are in this township.’ The

son, Luke Frye, settled in Carroll township, near the .
His son, West Frye, _

Horseshoe Baptist Church.
lives in Union township. .

Samuel Frye came to this township from Virginia,
in company with Henry Speers, each having married
the other’s sister. They were both coopers by trade,
and each owned several slaves. During their early
residence here they were much annoyed by the In‘-
dians. It is not stated whether Abraham and. Samuel
Frye were relatives, but both names appear upon the
assessment-roll of 1788 aslandholders. Samuel F-rye’s
heirs still own a portion of the homestead, and Jack-
son and Smith Frye have two hundred and ninety-
two acres of "land lying along the Monongahela
River. Seven acres of the original tract was sold
with the mill built by Samuel Frye in 1820 .

John Ringland came to this county before 1796,

and settled adjoining the Fryes. Of whom he made’ ' I
‘his first purchase or how much. land he bought is not

known. That he was possessed of lands is shown by
a deed made by the executor of William McComas
for fifty-sixacres “lying on the waters of Pigeon
Creek, adjoining lands of Peter Chessround and other
lands of John Ringland.” On the 23d of October,
1802, he purchased forty acres of Patrick~McCardel
on Maple Creek, adjoining lands of Henry -Speer and

his own other lands. On this purchase he built a_

mill and made. his homestead, which is known as the

Ringland, mill. farm, located on the southbranch of _

Maple Creek. The farm (locatedin the present towni-
ship of Allen) is now in possession of Samuel and

- John Frye, grandsons of John Ringland, and sons
of his daughter (and his only child who lived to '

maturity) Isabella, who married Abraham Frye, Sept-.
13, 1813. John Ringland later purchased a large
amount of land in Fallowfield, and became the largest
land-owner in the township. His property was in-
herited by his daughter Isabella, Mrs. Abraham Frye.
Of her children, Samuel and John live on the Ring-
land mill farm, asibefore mentioned; Christina be-

came the wife of Abraham Colvin, and resides‘ in

Fallowfield township near the old mansion, on the
Brownsville and Pittsburgh road; Henry and Absa-
lom settled near Grallatin, Tenn. ; Noah settled on a

. he died, and left four children, all sons.

r ‘FALLOWFIELD TOWNSHIP.

part of the’Ringland farm in Fallowfield; Smith
lives on the home farm of his father; Jackson Frye
lives where his grandfather, Abraham Frye, resided,
where his father, Abraham Frye, Jr.-, was born in
1-793, and where, three years later,.his grandfather,
John Ringland, lived, where his (Jackson Frye’s)
mother, Isabella Ringland, was -born in 1796, and

’_ where, in 1813, Abraham Frye and Isabella Ringland

were married, in the same house in which both were
born. ‘ ~

.. Thomas Carson’s name rightfully belongs with the
first settlers in Fallowfield township. . He was an
Irishman by birth, and with his wife (Mary Smith)
came here and took up a tract of land on the waters
of Maple Creek, where they lived and -died, leaving. a

. .large familyhiof children, eleven in number. ‘Besides

attending to the improvement and tilling of their
land, Thomas Carson wasa shoemaker by trade, at
which business he made a good livelihood. During
the earliest years of their residence inthis township,
the settlers being much annoyed by the Indians, Mr.
Carson, with the rest, was often obliged to seek pro-
.«tection. for himself and family ‘at Burd’s Fort. He
died in 1816, and_ his farm, which has never passed
o-ut of the family, is now owned by John S. Carson.
The eleven children of Thomas Carson settled as fol-
lows: the son James married and went "to Ohio, where
Joseph went
to Ohio, and fromthere to Indiana._ Thomas Carson,

. ‘Jr., married, and Thomas G. Carson is his son. .Wil-

liam Carson married Mary Burgess, and-lived and died
upon the homestead. He left eight children,—Eliza-
beth, Mary, John,‘Henry, Annie, Lucy, James, and
Sarah. The daughter Sarah became the wife of Parker
Scott, and had twelve daughters,—Elizabeth, Martha,
Lydia, Mary, Margaret, Rebecca, Charlotte, Nancy,
‘Emily, Lucy, Christiana, and Sarah, all of whom

‘grew towomanhood and reared families of “their

own. . .

V John. Carson, son of Thomas Carson, Sr., married
Elizabeth Springer, Their /family numbered nine
children, three of whom died. in infancy. Of the six
who reached maturity, Mary became the wife of A.
J_. Van Voorhisf John S. Carson married Margaret
Jones; Elizabeth’ married Noah Fry; Sarah Ann
became. Mrs. Heman Almond; Margaret became
the wife of Parker Carson; and Caroline married
George Hazel. Only three of these children are
now living. John B. Carson, still another son of
the pioneer Thomas Carsonhmarried Sarah Scott.

.Mary Carson, one of the daughters of this first Car-

son family, married John Grable, the-vdaughter Eliza--t

beth married James Young, Ann married a man
named Grable, and Charlotte became the wife of
John Carson. The lineal descendants of the chil-
dren of Thomas and Mary Carson, the early settlers,
bearing the family name are John S. Carson, John
Carson, John Carson, Jr., Washington Carson, A.

J. Carson, John Carson, Alexander S. Carson, New-,

’ on Pigeon Creek only the race remains.

ton Carson, Smith Carson, Lewis Carson, John D.
Carson, and Jerome Carson, living in" Washington
County ; also James, Alexander, Joseph, and Thomas
Carson, of Ind_iana. ‘

James Hair came from Middletown, Berkeley Co.,

Va., into Fallowfield township in the year 1806, and
located upon a tract of land on Pigeon Creek which

' he purchased. of George Platter.. He also purchased
in connection with the farm the old log mill known .-

as Hair’s mill, built of hewed logs, and no doubt the
oldest water-millon Pigeon Creek. The purchase of
the mill was made Sept. 15, 1809, as set forth in a
memorandum of the bargain still in existence. The
mill was rude and imperfect in structure, but it had
the reputation of making the best flour to be obtained
in this section. A portion of this grist-mirll and a

saw—mill, also built by James Hair, are still standing. I

But of a saw-mill which he operated at another point
Before com-
ing to this township James Hair was an elder in the
church, and he was the founder of the Presbyterian
Church at Monongahela City when that place was

known as Williamsport. ‘Dr. Balston, who was con-

temporary with James Hair, and before the church
mentioned had been instituted, was-asked how" a
church could be organized in VVilliamsport-. He re-

plied, “ Elect Esquire Hair an elder, now already or- ,

dained, and go to work.” They did so, and the “ Old
Horseshoe Bottom” con.gregati’on was swallowed up
in the new Presbyterian organization. On June 4,
1811, Mr. Hair was appointed to the oflice of justice
of the peace. He continued to reside upon his pur-
chase in this township until his death in 1826. His
family consisted of six sons and five daughters. John
Hair was the ‘oldest son. For many years he lived at
the mill, but finally moved to Ohio, where he was the
founder of the village of West Union. He died there
in 1855. The Rev. Samuel Hair, another son, was
born in.this township at the Hair homestead. He
-graduated from J efferson,Col‘lege in this county in 1832,
and then went to Michigan, where he pursued his
studies in- a theological seminary. He was licensed
to preach by the Monroe Presbytery of Michigan, and
settled in that State. His death occurred May 10,
1876, in Chicago, Ill. The other sons of James Hair
were James, J r., Gilbert M_., Uriah, and B. W. Hair.
The daughters of James Hair were. Martha, who be-
came Mrs. Crouch, and went West; Ibela, who be-
came Mrs. Baker, and lived and died on the. home
farm; Eliza, who became Mrs. Potter, and lived in
Allegheny County, in- this State; Louisa, who was
Mrs.7*Brinton, and died near Brownsville“, Fayette .Co.,
in 1875; and Mary, the wife of Isaac Van Voorhis,
who died April 14, 61876, in the eightieth year of her

_ age. 1

Edward Nixon, a native of Ireland, and his family
settled in this section upon Ian-vdi near the river, but
afterwards wen-t to Virginia, locating upon the flats

of Grave‘Creek,;near'.Moundsvil»1e; There were- sev- '

793‘

\

794.

HISTORY or WASHINGTON COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA.  

eral children. The son John settled in Fallowfield
township; Robert went to Indiana County, Pa.;
James went to.Virginia ; and Hugh and William went
to Ohio. Frances Nixon married Jonathan West, and
settled in this township, where she died.

. The early taverns of Fallowfield were kept by the
following-named persons at the dates given :1 Zach-
ariah Beall, in April, 1782; John Adams, in July,
1782; Joseph Brenton, in December, 1782; Samuel
La-rge, in January, 1788; John Adams, in September,
1790 (John Adams was also keeping tavern in Pike
Run township in September, 1791, after the township
lines were changed); James McMillan, in March,
1793; James McCallister, in March, 1794; Isabella
McCallister, in October, 1810; the time in which “tav-
erns were kept-by Nathaniel Parkison and Nathan-
iel Redd extended from the year 1800 to 1820; and
Peter Redd kept tavern in the township during the
years 1816-17. . .

Not muchinformation is to be gained concerning
the primitive business interests of Fallowfield town-
ship, save that of the farming and general improve-
ment done by the early settlers. However, consider-
able whiskey must have been manufactured in the
township and -its immediate vicinity, as Mr. Edward
West says “ that at one period of his life he could
stand on the hill where his father’s farm lay and see
the smoke from. nineteen distilleries in active opera-
tion.” As early as 1783, Fallowfield township paid a
State tax which amounted to £50, and it was the_only

township in Washington County that paid such a tax’
' in that year, the county commissioners in the report

of their session held that year stating that “they did

-exonerate and discharge the inhabitants of each

township from the payment of the State tax, except
a few inhabitants in Fallowfield township, which the

commissioners allowed should pay a State tax, for-

reasons known to them, which . amounts to £50.”
Benjamin White was the assessor of Fallowfield town-
ship for 1783’, Nathan Ellis collector, and the amount
of the county tax £94 108. J

Jones Town Post-ofiice, in Fallowfield township, is
a place named in honor of John Jones, and is located

on land patented to. a Mr. Longsley. John J ones’

died in this place at the age of ninety years, and his

‘ father, VVilliam Jones, was one hundred,years old at

his-death. . This village contains nine dwellings, and
has one store, a school—house, and a blacksmith-shop,
first owned by Samuel VVithrow and afterwards by
Isaac Grimes. A post-oflice wasestablished here in
1857, with Edward Creighton as postmaster, and he
still continues in the position. This office was at one
time discontinued but soon re-established. A

Look No. 4 is situated on the Monongahela River,
and has eleven dwellings, besides thestore of McGor-
rell & Allen, the'post-oflice, and a telegraph-office.

. 1 The dates being those‘of..licenses found in the records. . .

A Churches.——The religious society in this township
now known asthe Maple Creeek Baptist Church was

originated under the title “ Baptist Church Enan,” and
Was in existence as early as March 19, 1791. At that “
time its members were John Bailey, William Jack-
man, Sr., Stephen Barclay, Henry Speer, Samuel -

Vail,‘ Charles Whitlatch, »William Jackman, Jr.,
Abraham Evans, James Deems, James Watson,
Jesse Vandolah, John Mason, Nathan Ellis, Aaron
Boylan, "John Seward, John Ennis, ‘VVillia'm ‘Allen,
John Vandolah, Thomas Crow, John Earles, Na-
thaniel Carns, Thomas Carson, George Innis, John
Stelle, VVillian1 McFee, Thomas Cloud, B. George,
Mary Barclay, Rebecca Speers, Margaret I Ellis‘,

_Rachel Mitford, Mary J ackman, Nancy Neal, Sarah

Boylan, Mary Boylan, Nancy Bailey, Margaret Innis,
Catharine Seward; Abigail Hayden, Sarah Vandolah,
Elizabeth Bonham, Margaret Earles, VVinifred Ryan,
Lavina Stelle, Eleanor Ellis, Esther Vandolah,Anna
Vandolah, Mary Carson, Mary Ward, ‘Mary Burgess,
Lucy Burgess,'Elsie Stanish, Jemima Evans, Mary
Patton, Rachel Springer, Peggy Cloud, Elizabeth
Yateman, Keziah Berk, Abigail Ogg, Polly Carns,
Elizabeth Burgan and Elizabeth Burgan (2d), Keziah
Barkhammer, Rebecca Prichard, Sarah Parsons, Mary

. Ertlin, Nancy Riggs, Rachel Springer, Catharine Ru-

tan, and Mary Karnes.‘ , '
The first business meeting of this church was held
on March 19, 1791, when Church Enan met agreea-
ble to appointment, and after prayer proceeded to
business, as follows: First, chose Elder Smith as mod-
erator; second, chose Brethren John Bailey and Wil-
liam Jackman, Sr., to supply the places of deacons
for the ensuing day.” At another meeting, held. Feb.
4, 1792, Rev. Samuel Vail was chosen moderator;

and on Aug. 6, 1796, Messrs. Speers, Rutan, Whit-A

latch, J ackman, Yateman, and Carson, members of the
society, were appointed messengers to attend a. Baptist
Association soon to be held. On Sept. 3, 17 96, the rec-
ords show that Joseph Hill was accepted as a member

of the church. Nov. 1,1800, this church“ gave Brothers 6

Speers and Rutan thelprivilege of choosing six other
brethren to settle their church business at the residence
of Brother J ackman on the second Wednesday in

December, 1800. The six men chosen were Rev.-

John Corbly, Matthias Luce, William

Davis, -Joseph
Hill, J. Jones, and A. ,Kea'rns.” A ”

-The services. of . the Baptist Church Enan were
-originally held in a log house,which was succeeded '
bya brick building, located on Maple Creek near its .
mouth, and the Monongahela River, opposite the vil-* 

lage of Belle Vernon, in Fayette County. It was

.-

built during the pastorate of Rev. Henry Speers, and .

upon a tract of land containing one hundred and forty-
eight perches, donated by him" in 1842. After the
society obtained the pre__se.nt site for their church, the
brick building was sold to the grandchildren of ‘Rev.
Henry Speers, and it is now occupied by several fami-

lies. The old graveyard belongingto. the church i-s still

FALLCWFIELD TOWNSHIP. .

used. -The society now worship in a frame edifice
erected near the house of John S. Carson, and upon
land owned by him.

. The clergymen who have officiated in this church
since its organization have‘ been Revs. Henry‘Smith,
Henry Speers, Mr. Burnett, Whitlatch, and Adah
Winnett. No minister has charge of the society at
present, but services are conducted occasionally by
Rev. William M. Smoots. The removal of this Bap.-'
tist Church to Carson’s Ridge occurred about the
year 1870, and the new house of worship was erected
in 1875. Rev. Adah Winnett was the officiating pas-
torat that time ; he conducted the dedication of the
building, and continued his pastoral duties here until
he was stricken with paralysis while ofliciating in the

. pulpit. _ The church, as stated, is a frame structure,

thirty-two by forty feet {in size‘, and one story in
height. A new burial—ground was platted, which
is called Carson’s graveyard. The first interment was
that of Mrs. Margaret Jones Carson, wife of John S.

Carson, who died Dec. 16, 1870, at forty-three years.

of age. . ~

On Jan. 18, 1800, Christian Stockers sold to the
trustees of the Presbyterian and German Lutheran so-
cieties, both of which then existed in Fallowfield
township, one acre of land, for which he received a

consideration of seven‘ shillings and sixpence.‘ This -
' acre was from the tract of land called “ Carlisle,” for

which an application was made May 23, 1769, by
Stockers through William Wilson, After becoming
possessed of the land Wilson conveyed it to Stockers,
who. obta-ined a patent for it June 2, 1794. Upon
this‘ land, purchased of Christian Stockers, the Pres-
byterian and Lutheran societies erected church build-
ings. At the present time the site of the Presbyterian
Church is only marked by the ruins of the building
and the old graves in the churchyard. The Lutheran

‘organization was removed to Ginger Hill. Their old

church was purchased by F rederick.K. Cooper, and
it is now used as a dwelling-house. ‘

lThe'church building of the society called the Newkirk

. _ Methodist Church was erected in the year 1836, upon

land owned jointly by Cyrus Newkirk and William

-Niblack. It was built of brick, and after a few years

was taken down and rebuilt upon a site farther up. the
hill. The subscription for this church was started by

. Samuel Babcock,_ and was so successful thata commo-'
’ dious brick church, forty-four by sixty feet in size,

was the result of the effort. The first great revival
held by thisdenomination in Fallowfield township

was under the charge of Rev.'John Spencer and David '

Cross,’ and among the early converts were John
Jones, Sarah Newk-irk, Maria Niblack, Mary Jones,
Elijah Jones, Jesse Jones, Eleanor Jones, William
Jones and his wife, and Annie K. Bentley.

The Maple Creek Christian Church inlFa11owfie1d

township was organized Oct. 17.185.7...by. .J.aIx1,es.B._

795

Piatt and Samuel B. Teagarden. The early members
were Samuel and Ann Frye, Abraham and Isabella’
Frye, Jackson Frye, Sarah A. Frye, Clarissa Frye,
Solomon and Charlotte Frye, Noah .and Lydia Frye,
John and Elizabeth Frye, Christian Colvin, John
Merrick, Mary Merrick, John and Hannah Rider,

Joseph and Charlotte Rider, Rebecca J. Shannon,’
Louisiana Cooper, Sarah Phillips, David McCracken,.
Mary McCracken, Joseph McCracken, Elizabeth and-

Amelia Phillips, A. Hendrickson, Amanda‘Tho‘mp-
son, Martha Stillwell, and Emma McGl'aughlan.
Samuel Frye-and John Merrick were chosen .elders
of the church, the former of whom has labored much
“in word and doctrine,” being the regular instructor
of the congregation during most ofthe time since the
organization. John Frye is-now associated with him
in the eldership. John Frye and John Rider were
the earlier deacons. John \Vilson and John B.'.Car—
son now ofliciate as deacons. 1 "
lFor ten years the church met for worship in the
school-house where it was organized. In August,
1867, Dutton; Shannon and wife gave a lot containing
twenty-two and seventy-nine one-hundredths perches,
strict measure, to. Abram Hull, Joseph Rider, and
Dutton Shannon,-,.trustees of. the Christian Church of
Fallowfield, for the purpose of erecting a house of

Worship, and other religious purposes, and in case it’

shall cease to -be so used the title is to revert to the
grantor. Upon this lot the present plain but commo-
dious brick house was built, and here the church has
continued to meet regularly, and it still maintains the
Christian ordinances according to the primitive order.

. . This church has generally relied on its own elder-

ship for pubglic instruction, but has called in evange-
lists occasionally for special labor, and J. B. Piatt

was employed regularly for two or three years a part"
of the time. Of others who have preached for this
. church. at times since its establishment the following

names are mentioned : Alanson Wilcox, L.P. ‘Streator,
M. L. Streator, J. F. Rowe, J. D. Benedict, and R. H.
Singer. The present membership is sixty-two.

The Ebenezer Church of the Methodist ‘Episcopal
denomination was built more than thirty years ago,

during the pastorate of Rev. Warner Long, the—ded-
ication occurring in 1850, and was "conducted by

Rev. Thomas Hudson. The building isof brick,
erected ‘at a cost of one thousand’ dollars. The

‘ground upon which it is ‘located was purchased of

Joshua G. Baker, and the Rev.‘ \Villiam "Ward,

James Shroud, and John Biddle composed the build-‘

ing committee. At the date of the dedication of the

Ebenezer Church its members were Rev. William-
VVard, Pleasant Ward, Nancy \Vard, Levi and Cath- ‘

arine Biddle, Asa and Eleanor «VVhite, John and
Maria VVhite, Wesley and Jane White, Joshua and’
Mary Baker, Thomas and,Hester'Richards, Silas and
Lucinda Lutz, John and Susanna Beadle, Asbury

a,nd_.Ann Smith, ‘ames and Martha Stroud, Barnett

HISTORY

OF

WASHINGTON COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA.

CHAPTER I.

WASHINGTON COUNTY IN HISTORY—LOCATION,

BOUNDARIES, AND TOPOGrRAPHY—THE INDIAN
OCCUPATION.

VVASHINGTON COUNTY embraces in its annals much
that is of great historic interest, and in this respect

"it is surpassed by but few counties in Pennsylvania,

though no great national events have ever occurred
within its boundaries, and it contains no spot of
world-wide fame like Valley Forge, Wyoming, or
Gettysburg. In the fierce conflict waged a century
and a quarter ago by the two great European rivals,"

. England and France, for dominion over the vast

region watered by the head-streams of the Ohio, the
contending armies never fought or marched within

’ the present limits of this county, but the routes and

the battle-grounds of VVashington and Braddock were
so near these borders that the crunch and rumble of
their artillery-wheels among the crags of the Laurel

_ Hill and the rattle of the fusilades at Fort Necessity

and on the storied field of the Monongahela might
almost have been heard from the valleys and hills
that are now whitened and dotted by the harvests and
herds of Washington County farmers. Twenty years
afterwards, when a controversy scarcely less fierce
sprang up between the States of Pennsylvania and
Virginia, in which the Old Dominion insisted on ex-

tending her limits eastward to the mountains, while‘

Pennsylvania peremptorily refused to yield to the
claim, and demanded the boundaries granted to Penn
by the royal charter, the country west of the Monon-
gahela, that was soon after embraced in the county of
Washington, became the principal arena of a conflict
of jurisdiction that almost reached the extremity of
open war.

In the Revolutionary struggle this region saw noth-
ing of the movements of the Continental and royal
armies; but when the. news of actual hostilities flew
south and west from Lexington Common, kindling in
all the colonies the flame of patriotism, it blazed

forth as promptly and burned as brightly on these"

highlands and along these streams as it did on the
plain of Bennington or the banks of the Brandywine.
2

And while the smoke of battle still enveloped the
steep sides of Bunker Hill, armed men from the
valley of the Monongahelawere already on their
way across the mountains to join the provincial forces
encircling Boston. Later in the struggle, when Brit-

ain had secured the alliance of the Indian tribes of '

the Northwest, and incited them to frequent. and
bloody incursions into the settlements along the Ohio
border, the brave" frontiersmen of this region were
mustered i11 arms again and again to repel invasion
and to march against the savages in the wilderness,
as a means of protection to their own families and
homes. And through all the years of the great
struggle, devout ministers of the gospel in Washing-
ton County, some of them as eminent in their calling
as any in the land, prayed for the success of the pa-
triot cause; and when the fighting men went forth,
exhorted them to take as much care to fear and serve
God, as to pick theirflints and keep their powder dry.
The border hostilities, the Revolution, and the later
wars in which the people of Washington County took
prominent part will be mentioned in detail in suc-
ceeding pages, with accounts of the boundary con-
troversy, the 'Whiskey Insurrection, internal im-
provements, including the construction of the old
National road, the railroads, the navigatibn of the
Monongahela River, and numberless other historical
matters relating to this county, among which none
are of greater interest than those pertaining to that
religious and educational development and progress
which has placed Washington among the very fore-
most of the counties of Pennsylvania. '
Location, Boundaries, and Topography.—With
regard to its location and boundaries, Washington

may properly be described as one of the western-

most range of counties of Pennsylvania, and the
second one, reckoning northward, from the south-
west corner of the State. It is joined on the north
by Beaver County; on the northeast by Allegheny
County; ‘on the east by Allegheny, Westmoreland,
and Fayette; on the south by Greene County, and on
the west by the State of West Virginia.

The principal stream of the county is the Monon-
gahela River, which takes its rise in West Virginia,

13 -

94.

, HISTORY OF WASHINGTON COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA.

to carry an expedition against the revolted Delaware
Towns. I have now the pleasure to inform you that
with about three hundred men (nearly half the
number Volunteers from the country) I surprised
the Towns of Cooshasking and Indaochaie, killed
fifteen Warriors, and took upwards of twenty old
men, women, and children.
the Town I detached a party to cross the river Mus-
kingum and destroy a party of about forty warriors
who had just before (as I learnt by an Indian whom
the advanced Guard took prisoner) crossed over with
some prisoners and Scalps and were drunk, but ex-
cessive hard rains having swell’d the river bank high
it was found impracticable. After destroying the
Towns with great quantities of poultry and other
stores, and killing about forty head of Cattle, I
marched up the River about seven miles with a view
to send for some craft from the Moravian Towns and
cross the river to pursue the Indians. But when I
proposed my plan to the Volunteers I found they
conceived they had-done enough, and were deter-
mined to return, wherefore I marched to Newcomers’
Town, where a few Indianswho remained in our
Interest had withdrawn themselves not exceeding
thirty men. The Troops experienced great kindness
from the Moravian Indians and those at Newcomers’
Town, and obtained a sufficient supply of meat and
Corn to subsist the men and Horses to the Ohio
River. Captain Killbuck and Captain Luzerne, upon
hearing of our Troops being on the Muskingum, im-
mediately pursued the Warriors, killed one of the
greatest Villains and brought his scalp to me. The
plunder brought in by the Troops sold for about
eighty Thousand pounds1 at Fort Henry. I had
upon this Expedition Captains Mantour [Montour]
and Wilson and three other faithful Indians, who
contributed greatly to the success.. The troops be-
haved with great Spirit, and although there was con-
siderable firing between them and the Indians, I had
not a man killed or wounded, and only one horse
shot.” 2

1Of course Col. Brodhead here has reference to Continental money,
which at that time was nearly at its lowest point of depreciation.
2 Withers, in his “ Chronicles of Border Warfare,” pp. 220-21, relates

as follows in reference to the alleged slaughter of prisoners by Brod.-U

head’s men after the destruction of the town. In his narrative (which
by comparison with C01. Brodhead’s report seems to be purely a fabrica-
tion) he says, “ It remained then to dispose of the prisoners. Sixteen
warriors particularly obnoxious for their diabolical deeds were pointed
out by Pekillon [a friendly Delaware chief who accompanied Col.
Brodhead] as fit subjects of retributive justice and taken into close cus-
tody. A council of war was then held to determine their fate, and
which doomed them to death. They were taken some distance from
town, dispatched with tomahawks and spears and then scalped. The
other captives were committed to the care of the militia to be conducted
to Fgrt’ Pitt.

“On the morning after the taking of Coshocton, an Indian making
his appearance on the opposite bank of the river called out for the ‘ Big
Captain.’ Col; Brodhead demanded what he wished. ‘I want peace,’
replied the savage. ‘Then send over some of your chiefs,’ said the col-
onel. ‘May be you kill,’ responded the Indian. ‘No,’ said Brodhead;
‘ they shall not be killed.’ One of the chiefs, a fine-looking fellow, then
came over, and while he and Col. Brodhead were engaged in conversation

About four miles above .

While Brodhead’s campaign against the Delaware
towns on the Muskingum was in progress, another
and a more formidable expedition was being raised
and organized, having for its object the capture of
the British post of Detroit and the destruction of the
Wyandot towns on the Sandusky River. The expedi-
tion was to be composed of infantry, cavalry, and ar-
tillery, and to be led by Gen. George'Rogers Clarke,
who had achieved considerable renown by his suc-
cessful campaign against the British posts in the Illi-
nois country in 1778, as has been mentioned. The
expedition which he was now to command against
Detroit was to be organized principally at Fort Pitt,
to rendezvous at Fort Henry (Wheeling), and to pro-
ceed thence down the Ohio River to the Great Falls
(at Louisville, Ky.), and from there to ma-rch north-
wardly through the wilderness to its objective-points.

The project seems to have been originated by the
government of Virginia, although it afterwards re-
ceived the sanction of Gen. Washington for the United
States, and was also promoted by the Executive
Council of Pennsylvania. As early as Jan. 22, 1781,
Col. Brodhead, in a letter written at‘ Fort Pitt and
addressed to President Reed, of the Pennsylvania
Council,3 said, ‘‘ I sincerely wish there was no occa-
sion to trouble you with a further tale of misfortune.
But as the United States in general, and our State in
particular, are immediately interested in retaining in
this District all the Grain that has been raised in it, it
might appear criminal in me were I to remain silent re-
specting certain Instructions lately sent by Governor
Jefferson (of Virginia) for the purchase of 200,000 Ra-
tions on this side the mountains, for the use of the Troops
under Col. Clark ; for which purpose he has already
advanced 300,000 pounds, and promises to furnish,
upon the first notice, any further Sum that may be
necessary to compleat the payment of that purchase.
Because this contract, together with theConsumption

of multitudes of emigrants arrived and expected in -

this District (chiefly to avoid militia Duty and Taxes),
will scarcely leave a pound of flour for the Regular
or other Troops which it may be necessary to employ,
either oifensivelyor defensively, against the Enemy
for the Defence of this part of the Frontier Settle-
ments. -

“It seems the State of Virgiriia is now prepar-
ing to acquire more extensive territory by send-
ing a great body of men under Col. (whom they in-

tend to raise to the rank of Brigadier) Clark to at-.

tempt the reduction of Detroit: I have hitherto been
encouraged to flatter myself that I should sooner or

a militiaman came up, and with a tomahawk which he had concealed
in the bosom of his hunting-shirt struck him a severe blow on the
hinder part of his head. The poer Indian fell and immediately expired.
“ This savage deed was the precursor of other and equally atrocious
enormities. The army on its return had not proceeded more than half
a mile from Coshocton when the militia guarding the prisoners com-
menced murdering them. In a short space of time a few Women and
children alone remained alive. These were taken to Fort Pitt, and after
awhile exchanged for an equal number of white captives.” - ~
3 Pa. Archives, 1779-81, p. 707.

. vert to Andrew Waller.

796'

HISTORY OF WASHINGTON COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA.

and Hannah Sickman, James and Sarah Smiley. At
the time the church was built Rev. Warner Long had
charge of the society. Since that time the clergy-
men who have presided have been Revs. James Lan-
som, Thomas Hudson, Gustavus Lemon, Mr. Snyder,
Samuel VVakefield, Mr. Neil’, J. W. Kesler, John W.
Weaver, Charles Edwards, T. J. Stiffey, James
Meacham, Rezin Mansin, S. G.‘ Miller, J. A. Henry,
and the present pastor, Rev. E. B. Griflin. -

Another religious society which once existed in
Fallowfield township was known as the Maple Creek
Presbyterian Church. The first church building was
erected on land donated by Rachel and Mary Earel,
who made provisionthat when the building ceased
to be used for church purposes the land should re-
The first house passed into
decay, and a second, built to replace it, has also been
abandoned, and the site is now owned by Andrew
Waller, as stipulated by the donors. One of the pas-
tors of this church was Rev. Boyd Mercer, and one
of the elders Mr. John Moss, who died July 5, 1868,
in the ninetieth year of his age. After -the Maple
Creek Presbyterian Church abandoned their house
of worship in this township they erected a handsome
edifice in the village of California, which is still in
use as their place of worship. '

Schoo1s.——Two of the earliest school-teachers in
Fallowfield township were_Thomas Sutton and Joshua
Pennell. It was full.seventy.years ago that the latter
taught school in a log house that stood at the cross-
roads near West Church. Thomas Sutton taught in
a school-house which stood on Maple Creek, on the
present farm of John S. Carson. '

7 Upon the adoption.of the new system, under the

school law of 1834, the amount of money raised for A

school purposes in Fallowfield was $297.10, of which
$115 was transferred to Carroll township, “which had
then recently been erected from territory of ' Fallow-

-field, leaving the total for thistownship $182.10. In

1836 the school money of the township was $293 from
the county and $66.39_from the State; total, $359.39.

In 1837 the amount was reduced to $300.12. In 1863
the number of schools in the township was seven.
There were seven teachersand three hundred and five
pupils. During that year the school fund amounted to
$1066.48, and the expenditures were $1007.25. Ten

years later, in 1873, seven schools were taught by '

seven teachers, and two hundred and fifteen scholars
were in attendance. ‘ The amount of money, raised for
the schools was $1470.34, and the expenses for the
same were $1303.50. In 1880 the township had eight
schools, employed eight teachers, and one hundred
and seventy-eight pupils-were enrolled. The receipts
of school money for that year were $1696.85; expen-
ditures, $1467.78. .

Justices of the Peace.‘-—Fol1owing is a list of
justices of the peace appointed and elected in Fallow-
field since its erection, viz.:

John Parker, John Hall, east end,

July 15, 1781.
John Stevenson, Patrick McCul-

lough, west end, July 15, 1781.
John Worth, Nov. 1, 1786.
Daniel De Pue, March 12, 1793.
Henry Gregg, Feb. 7, 1796.
Andrew Boggs, Feb. 17, 1797.
Nathan Powell, Feb. 23, 1801-.
Jacob Crabo, J une'5, 1801.
William Irwin, June 5, 1801.
Thomas Carson, Jan. 1, 1806.
Hugh. Scott, July 4, 1806.

George Passmore, Nov. 18, 1835.
Moses Bennington, Oct. 17, 1836.
‘James L. Morris, July 19, 1839.
James Stroud, April 14,1840. 1
George Passmore, April 14, 1840.
John Rider, April 15, 1845.
Mark Mitchell, April 15, 1.845.
David Mitchell, April 13, 1847.
James Stroud, April 9, 1850.
Edward Creighton, April 15, 1851.
Samuel Swabe, April 10, 1855.
Richard Richardson, April 16, 1856'
1 Benjamin Crow, Aug. 10, 1860.

Caleb Johnston, March 29, 1808.
Jacob Van Degratf, July 11, 1809.
James Hair, April 4, 1811.

Jacob Risinger, March 2.9, 1813.
Robert W. Fleming, Sept. 21, 1818.
Parker Scott, May 28, 1819.

Seth Buflington, Jan. 23, 1819.
George Jackson, Dec. 8, 1823.
Stephen Hill, March 6, 1827.
William Hopkins, March 12, 1827.
Andrew Gregg, April 20, 1829.
Joseph Wells, April.24,1834.
George McFarland, April 1, 1835.

Edward Creighton, April 9, 1861.
Washington Carson, June 3, 1865.
Edward Creighton, April 16, 1866.
Joel Grable, March 29,1870.
Edward Creighton, April 12, 1871.
Edward Creighton, Jan. 20, 1874.
Joel Grable, Jan. 26, 1874. A '
Dutton Shannon, March 17, 1875.
Edward Creighton, March 16, 1876.
J. K. Sickman, March 30, 1880. C
David Mitchell, April 9, 1881.
Edward Creighton, April 9, 1881.

. I I
1 Fallowfield wasa separate and independent district until the organ- 7

ization of Pike Run, when that township was attached to it, and so re-
mained until 1838, when'I’ike Run became an independent district.
The next year it was divided into East and West Pike Run townships.

A
3- —V vu

FRANKLIN

.4‘;
‘V7 .

THE territory now embraced in Franklin township
was originally a part of Amwell. Morris.township,
erected from Amwell in September, 1788, embraced
the northern part of the present township of Frank-
lin, and Canton township, erected April 23, 1792, em-

» ‘braced the northern. ‘portion. The territory remained

within these two townships without any effort to form

-a new township until the «year 1852, when a petition

TOWNSHIP.

was presented to the Court of Quarter Sessions pray-
ing that Morris township be divided. Viewerslwere
appointed who asked further time. . Re-viewers were
appointed, and the matter continued from term to
term until the 13th‘ of August, 1855, when the town-
ship of Franklin was erected from Canton and Morris
townships _by decree of court. The following-named

persons were and have been elected to the ofice of

’ forty-three acres, June 25, 17 87.

FRANKLIN

TOWNSHIP. 797

justice of thelpeace for Franklin township from the
time of its erection tothe present, viz. :

John Brownlee, April 16, 1856.
John V. Wilson, April 1(), 1860.
John Brownlee, May 10, 1861.
John Brownlee, April 17, 1866.

{ John Brownlee, April 10,1871.
John Brownlee, Jan. 21, 1874.
H. M. Keeny, March 21, 1878.
Andrew Horn, April 20, 1880.

Early Settlements and. Sett1ers.——John Beard

took out a warrant for a tract of land on the 1.9th of

February, 1785. It was surveyed to him as “ Straw-
berry” on the 11th of September the same year, and
contained two hundred and ninety-three acres. James
Huston, Daniel Leet, John Gabby, and ‘David "Hoge
were owners of adjoining tracts. On the 14tl1 of

. February, 1793, Beard sold. all of this tract to James

Gilmore, of Bedford County, Pa.,‘ who then moved

here and locat_ed upon this land. In November of

this year he bought ten acres of VVilliam Faulkner of
the Forbes patent, and on the 28th of October, 1794,
ten acres of VVilliam Forbes, adjoining the Faulk-
ner land. On the 15th of July, 1794, he purchased
lots 216 and 183 on Market Street, and August 20th
lot 221, also on Market Street, and on the 13th of
August, 1799, lot 397, all in the borough of Wash-

-ington. On the 22d of January, 1807, James Gil-

more was appointed by Governor McKean justice of
the peace of District N o. 2, composed of Canton and
Hopewell. In 1805 he was a school director in the
borough of Washington, with Alexander Little and
Robert Anderson. On the 20th of January of that

1 year they purchased ‘lot No. 77, on Belle Street (now

Wheeling), to be made use of for a school—house
and for no other purpose. Mr. Gilmore lived on the
tract “Strawberry” till his death in 1833. On the
27th of December, 1817, he sold one hundred and
nine acres of the tract to his son, Andrew Gilmore,
who, Nov. 22, 1824, conveyed it to'Thomas Morgan.

‘ He left two sons, John and Andrew, and three daugh-

ters, Lavinia (Mrs. James G. Strean), Margaret (Mrs.
James Smith), and Jane (Mrs. William Campbell).
On the 1st of April, 1835, the executors of James Gil-
more sold two hundred and ninety-nine acres of land
to James G. Strean, where he still lives. Mr. Strean
has been -one of the most successful wool-growers in

‘VVashington County, and in 1851 took the prize for

the finest wool"at the World’s Fair in London.

1 Reason Virgin, of Fayette County, located a tract
of land, for whichhe received a Virginia certificate
J une‘ 22, 17_80,'which was surveyed November 13th
the same year as “VirginDove,” containingfour
hundred acres, adjoining lands of Daniel Leet and
John Brownlee. Patent was issued March 2, 1786.
The tract wasdivided into two tracts; the one on the
north side, containing one hundred and fifty-seven
(acres, was sold J une“ 20, -1786, to David Adams, who

three years later sold to James Ross, who hadpur- I

chased the south part, containing two hundred and

in 1784 on a tract which he had taken up, and for
which he had received a Virginia certificate. On the
51 .

Brice Virgin resided ‘

7th of August, 1784, he sold two hundred acres of it
to James Wilson, and on the 12th of July the next
year sold the remainder, viz., “ all that tract whereon
I now live,” to Reason Virgin. This "land is now
mostly owned by the Brownlees and Ramseys.

On the 7th of May, 1791, Richard Yeates sold to
David Bradford two hundred and eighty acres of land,
adjoining Isaac Leet, John Gabby, and Enoch Dye,
on which he built a mill. This mill has been known
as Bradford’s, Reed’s, Gabby’s, and is now owned by
William Paull. J 1

Daniel Leet was born in Bordentown, N. J., on the
6th of November, 1748. He early moved with his
father to Virginia, and was a student at William and
Mary College. He received a commission assurveyor
of the county of Augusta, April 17, 1776. He came
to this county at that time, and when the county of
Augusta was divided into the counties. of Yohogania,
Monongalia, and Ohio, and given in charge of sur-
veyors, Daniel Leet was assigned to the territory from
King’s. Creek to Tomlinson’s Run. He served in the

- Revolutionary war as quartermaster, paymaster, and

brigade major in the Virginia line. ‘ He ‘located a tract

of land "‘ on the waters of Chartiers Creek,” which 7

was granted to him on Virginia certificate Jan. 2,
1780, and surveyed June 10, 1785, as “.Brinton,”
containing four hundred acres. This tract adjoined
lands of Reason Virgin, John Beard, James McCombs,
James Huston, and Jonathan ' Leet. Daniel Leet
lived on this tract of land till 1829, when he removed
to Sewickly Bottoms, where his daughter, Mrs. David
Shields, resided, and where he died June 18, 1830. He
had but one daughter, Maria, who became the wife of
David Shields, many years a merchant of VVashington.
They inherited the estate of eight hundred acres, now
lying in Franklin township, which is still owned by
descendants of the family. A daughter of David and
Maria Shields married John K. Wilson, and for many
years resided in Washington. He now resides in
Allegheny City. David S. Wilson, now of Allegheny,
is their son. .
Isaac Leet, the father of David Leet, came to this
county from Prince William County, Va., in 1779, a
few years after his son Daniel. He settled upon a
tract of land granted on a Virginia certificate, and
surveyed Jan. 6, 1807, as “ Leet’s\Fancy,” containing
three hundred and fifty-one acres, adjoining David
Hoge, Alexander Cunningham, and David Clark.
Helived and died on this farm (which is now owned
by Jacob Weirick), and was buried in what is now
known as the VVeirick graveyard. His wife, Rebecca,
and many of the family are also buried there. His
other children were Jonathan, who settled in South
Strabane and died there; a son, Isaac, who resided in
Canton township, where he lived and died ;‘ a daugh-
ter, Elizabeth; and a daughter, Rebecca, who married
Enoch Dye, and settled in Cantontownship.
Henry Woods,_of Beaver County, married a daugh-

ter of Thomas Scott.‘ He purchased»306l‘— acres of

F798

HISTORY OF WASHINGTON - COUN TY, PENNSYLVANIA.

land for £405 of James Huston on the 11th of August,
1787, and on the 17th of April, 1793, purchased of
\Villiam Huston 233 acres. These lands were ad-
joining Hugh Means,_James Workman, and Thomas
Nichols. On the 18th of October, 1803, he sold 224
acres to George Nixon. He lived and died in Beaver
County. His widow married Alexander McKinley;
their son, Alexander McKinley, is now a resident of
VVashingt0n, Pa.

The family of Dille, who settled in this section,
were numerous. They took up lands in what is now
Franklin township. Caleb Dille warranted a tract of
land on the middle fork of Ten-Mile on the 10th of
February, 17 85, which was surveyed Jan. 27, 17 86, as
“Pleasant Harbor,” and contained 189 acres. David
Dille’s warrantwas dated Feb. 10, 1785. His land
was surveyed Nov. 7, 17 85, contained 400 acres, and
was named “Fair Plain.” Isaac Dille’s land was
warranted the same date, surveyed Jan. 17, 1785, and
was named “ Rabbit’s Burrow.” Price Dille located
a tract, which was warranted March 30, 1786, and sur-

veyed June 19th, the same year; this tract contained.

-100 acres, and was called “ Mendicum.” These tracts
were adjoining each other. Ezra Dille took out a
warrant Dec.-3, 1811. It was surveyed to him by the
name of’ “ Peace,” and contained 55 acres. It had
long been occupied by him, and he continued to live
there many years after. On the 4th of April, 1814,
he conveyed 50 acres to Isaac Dille. David Dille
conveyed to Isaac Dille 161 acres on the 21st of
March, 1793. Some of the land purchased and set-
tled on by the Dilles is still in possession of their
descendants.. 3

,Richard Finley was an Irishman who came to
this county before 1800, and on the 15th "of No-
vember, 1799, purchased a small "tract of land of
\Villiam Mitchell, and Nov. 1, 1803, bought 225
acres of Henry Dickerson, a part of “Potatoe Hol-
low.” He married Jane Anderson, by whom he had

one daughter, Mary, who became the wife of J ohn_

McClelland. His lands are now owned by Richard
McClelland, a son of John and Mary .McClelland.

The children of John McClelland were Nelly, Fran-.

cis Jane, Richard, and Margaret. Nelly became the
wife of James VVallace, of Beaver County, Pa. Fran-
cis married Margaret Brownlee, Jane married William
\Vallace, Richard married Jane House, and Margaret
became the wife of William Gabby.

\Villiam and John Gabby were brothers, and emi-
grated from Scotland to this country. ‘William set-
tled in York County, Pa., and John settled for a time
in "lVashington County, Md. In 1784, John Gabby
came to VVashington County, Pa., and on the 5th of
June of that year purchased one hundred and twenty
acres of landlof Daniel Leet, and soon after purchased
one hundred and sixty acres of Richard Yeates.
James Gabby was a son’ of John, and a bro_ther-in-
law of James Burns, whohad married his sister Jane.
Burns was a" sickle- and scythe-maker, and lived on

this place for several years, and worked at his trade.
He emigrated to Ohio, and located on the site of the
present city of Cincinnati, there being at that -time
but. three .log cabins on the river at the place. Mr.
Burns lived here many years, -and bought a farm on
the Miami River, and lived there till‘ his death.
James Gabby married Jeannette Gabby, a cousin,
and settled on the farm his father purchased, fand
where he lived and died. His children were Mary,
Jane, Ann, William, James, John, Joseph, Margaret,
and Emily. Mary became the wife of Robert Smiley,
and settled in Mount Pleasant township; Jane mar-
ried Hugh Allison, and settled in Chartiers ;‘ Ann and

Joseph lived single; Margaret became the wife of .

Alexander Templeton, and emigrated to Wilmington,
Lawrence Co., Pa. ; Emily married Joseph Thompson ;—
William married Margaret, daughter of John McClel-

land, and settled on the old homestead, where he still"

resides, far advanced in life. It is on this farm that
the jail of Augusta County was -said to have been
built, and James Gabby used to say he tore it down
and used the logs to build a kitchen. Some of the
logs are now in the ice-house. William Gabby had

thirteen children, nine of whom are living, Mary,‘ 5

James, Margaret, \Villiam, . Francis, Jane, Hugh,
Robert, and Ella. Marybecame the wife of James
G. Allison, and resides in Nebraska; James married
Nora Cane, and settled in Washington; Margaret
married Jonathan Allison, and settled in Chartiers
township; William married Ada Wilson, and settled
in Franklin township; Francis married Sarah VVier,
and resides in Morris; Jane married Dr. E. H. Cary,
of Prosperity, Morris township; Hugh married Mattie
Brownlee, and resides in Franklin township.

Henry Dickerson was one of the earliest settlers in
the limits of this township. In a deed that bears date
Oct. 21, 1773, he describes the property conveyed as
“ containing my old improvement,” which would in-
dicate that he had been a resident some years.’ The
land conveyed by the deed mentionedabove was sold to

Robert Doak, and embraced three hundred and thirty .

acres. It later passed to John Ralston, John McMul-
len, Robert Henry, William Doak, and Robert Haz-
lett. Mr. "Dickerson took up. ‘large quantities of
lands which later were warranted and surveyed in his
own name andin the names of his sons. A tract of
three hundred and seventy-four acres was warranted

6 Feb. 26, 1786, surveyed as “ Bare Hollow,” adjoining
lands of William Atkinson, John Sailor, and Asa‘

Dickerson. This tract was patented June 16, 1789.
A tract of land’ called “Squirrel,” on the head-

waters of Ten-Mile Creek, was patented Aug. 20, ,

1790, and one hundred .and twenty acres of it was
sold to George Harsh, April 27, 1795, an‘d fifty acres
to Robert Cunningham, Feb. 11,1797. A tract called
“ Cool Run” was warranted and surveyed to Gideon
Dickerson, but patented to Henry Dickerson, April
13, 1790. _One hundred and twenty acres of it was
sold to Andrew Beck, June 12, 1802. John Dick-

FRANKLIN

TOVVNSHIP.   ~ 799

erson took out_ a warrant for a tract of land March 4,
1785, situated on the head-waters of Ten-Mile Creek.
There seems to have been some dispute in reference
to the title to this land,'as the matter was brought to
the notice of the board of property, who issued a war-
rant of acceptance ‘May 18, 1789. The survey of one
hundred and ninety-three acres. was made July 20,
1770, in which the name “Difliculty” was given to
the tract. John Dickerson, Jr., received a warrant

March 30, 1798, for a small parcel of land which was

surveyed Aug. 20, 1804, and named “ Escape.” Asa
Dickerson warranted a tract, Nov. 1, 1788, which was
surveyed July 29, 1790, as “Dickerson’s_ Claim.”
Gideon Dickerson received a land warrant April 20,
1786. It was surveyed as “Coal Hill;” the patent,
however, was made out to ‘his father, April 13, 17 90.
Other tracts were warranted to John, Pontius, and
Joshua Dickerson. Henry Dickerson died in the fall
of 1823, and left six sons,-—Joshua, George, Gideon,
Asa (all of whom had large farms), Henry, and
Leonard.- « A ‘

George followed the business of boating. Henry
married Catharine Beck, lived for some years in this
county, and then went to Illinois. Gideon married
Eliza Gunn, and settled invOhio, as did also Leonard,
whose wife was Susan Wolf. Joshua married Mar-
garet McPherson and remained on his father’s farm,
and died in 1853. He served several years in the
State Legislature. His daughters were Lydia, who

’ became Mrs_. Trusell ; Jennie, who married Samuel

Waters; Ruth, who became .Mrs. Barker, and Mary
and Matilda Dickerson. Of the two sons, Alexander
died in Harrisburg, Pa, and John died in this county.
6 William Fitz William emigrated from Ireland with
his wife‘ and family, and settled in York Co., Pa. In
1794 he volunteered as a soldier, and came West with

' the troops when they were sent out to suppress the

Whiskey Insurrection. -

He returnedlwithlthem, but soon after removed
to \V.ashington with his family, and settled on Gal-
lows Hill, where he followed the profession of a
weaver for a few years, and removed to Mercer County,
Pa., and later to Ross County, Ohio. Francis, a- son,
who was born on Gallows Hill in 1800, returned from
Ohio, where he was with his father’s family, learned
the trade of a blacksmith, and worked in Washington
borough, and in the spring of 1832 ‘purchased the
farm now owned by his eldest son, R. M. Fitz Wil-
liam, which was part of the Walnut Hill tract, and
lived .upon it till his death, in 1874, at the age of
seventy-four years. He left three children, two of
whom are living,—-R. M., on thehomestead, and Jane,
who became the wife of Dr. Henry Wheeler, and
settled in Iowa. 1

Baltus Ruple came. from the city of _Philadelphia
about the year 1792, and bought the tract of land that
was surveyed’under the name of Bear Wallow. He
lived and died upon the farm, and left four sons,——-
John, Samuel, James, and David. John and Samuel

, name not known.
stead on the 27th of December, 1789.- In 1_8.12 he
married Mary Bryant,-by whom he had twelve chil-'

settled in Cuyahoga County, Ohio; David, in Knox
County, Ohio; and James, in the borough of Wash-
ington, where he lived and died, leaving three sons,,——-
James B., Joseph C., and John. Charles M. Ruple,
of Washington, is a descendant. J

Thomas Nichle, or Nichols, came to. this county and
took out a warrant, Feb. 14, 1785, for a tract of land
now owned by John Hughes, whose wife» is a. grand-
daughter of Thomas Nichols. This tract of land was
surveyed on the 13th of May, 1785, and was named in
the survey “Crystal,” containing two hundred and
eighty-one acres, adjoining lands of James Huston‘,
James Workman, J ohn.McCombs, Joseph Leacock,
and others. His son Samuel settled on the home-
stead, and died there. Of his other children, Frank-
lin settled in the borough of Washington, James
removed to Columbiana County, Ohio, Thomas pur-
chased a farm and settled in South Strabane. The
daughters were Mary and Elizabeth. Mary became
the wife of Oliver Leacock, and settled at Scenery
Hill, and Elizabeth married John Hughes. They
settled on the old homestead, the “Crystal” tract,
their grandfather took up in'17 85.

Dr. Henry Moore lived in Buffalo township, and
in addition to lands taken up onAVirginia certificates
in that township,located others lying in what is now
Franklin. 1 A tract containing three hundred and
ninety-eight acres was surveyed to him, Nov. 18,
1786, as_ “ Battle-field.” This was adjoining lands of
James Ridgeway, Robert Stockton, and William
Brownlee. He died about 1824. .His later years
were passed in Washington with his son Daniel. Of
his three daughters, Ann became Mrs. Carter, Mary
Mrs. Leet, and Elizabeth Mrs- Bentley.

George Atkinson took out a warrant for a tractof 0

land, March 1, 1,785, which was surveyed as two hun-
dred and eighty-seven acres, and named “ Pheasants’
Resort.” _It was located on the north fork of Ten-‘
Mile Creek, adjoining lands of John and Thomas
Atkinson and Charles Cracroft. On the 11th of
October, 1793, George Atkinson sold the whole tract
for five hundred and fifty pounds to Zebulon-Cooper.
He was a native of New Jersey, and came to this
county about the close of the Revolutionary war, and
settled in this neighborhood, where he raised a large
family. The first of the family who came to this
country was John Cooper,‘ who emigrated from
Buckinghamshire, England, in 1635, and settled in
Lynn, Mass., and four years later removed to South-
ampton, L. I., from whence the family spread into
other States of the Union. The father of Zebulon
Cooper went to New Jersey, where Zebulon was born.
,He emigrated West, and bought the Atkinson land as
mentioned, and his name appears on the assessment
list of 1784. He had several children,—John, Syl-
vanus, Stephen,_Hannah, Jerusha, and one other,
Sylvanus was born on the home-

‘Adam. The two first emigrated to Iowa.

.800

HISTORY OF WASHINGTON -COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA.

- dren, one of whom, Charles, became a Presbyterian

clergyman, and is now’pastor of a ‘church in Marl-
borough, N. Y. Several of his sons and daughters
emigrated to Iowa and Missouri, and his later years
were spent with them. He died at the house of his
son, Zebulon, at Winfield, Iowa, on the 10th of April,
1873, in his eighty-fourth year.

Stephen Cooper, a son of Zebulon, settled in this
township. He married Hannah Boner, by Whom
he had six sons——James, William, Josiah, Lewis,
Stephen, and David—and three daughters,——El1en,
Sbphia, and Charlotte. Ellen married a Mr. Van-
dyke; Sophia became the wife of the Rev. Ellis
\Veaver, of Hamilton,-Ohio ; Charlotte married Israel
Breese. John Cooper, also a son of Zebulon, had
two sons—Thomas and E-phraim——and five daughters,
—-Harriet, Nancy, Martha, Parmelia, and Sarah.

v Charles Cracroft own-ed land in this township as
early as 1785. In that year his land is mentioned as
adjoining land of George Atkinson. ' He had three
sons,—Joseph, Charles, and VVilliam. Joseph settled
in Buffalo township, where he built a mill on Buffalo

v Creek that was known many years as Cracroft’s mill.

\Villi_am settled on the old homestead, where he lived
and died, and left a numerous family. (Three of the
sons became physicians-. Archibald, a son, now owns
the Cracroft farm. 9

Samuel and Adam weir, who were of Scotch-Irish
descent, settled on the head-waters of Ten-Mile and
Chartiers Creeks. Adam, on the 13th of May, 1785,
bought seventy acres of land of Joseph Johnston ad-
joining land of'David Dille and other lands of Weir.
On the 14th of July, .1798, he purchased one hundred
and four" acres of land of Daniel Dille, adjoining
land of John'Dodd. The land of Adam Weir was on
.the‘head-waters of Chartiers, and Samuel’s on Ten-
Mile; the head springs of each creek being not over
half a mile ‘apart. Adam \Veir lived and died on the
farm, leaving three sons,—'Robert, Thomas, and
Samuel
VVeir, the brother of Adam, who came at the same
time, did not purchase until 1813. On the 6th of Sep-
tember in that year he bought two hundred acres of
land of John Sargent. On the 14th of April the next
year he bought one hundred and fifty acres of Isaac
Dille, and ten days later thirty acres of John Croll.

A This last was ‘part of a tract patented May 17, 1804, .

by Nicholas Rigley. Samuel left three sons,—Adam,
Thomas, and J oseph. Adam settled near where he
was born, and left two sons,—-John N., and Adam, and
one daughter, Sarah, who became the wife of Charles

- ‘Redick, andsettled in Amwell township, where they

‘still reside. Joseph settled near Van Buren. He was
largely engaged in buying and selling stock, and in-
terested in the introduction of fine-wool sheep with
‘Joseph Clark, William Gabby, and James G. Strean.

‘John B. \Veir, ‘a son of Joseph, lives near the old
,_ homestead.

“Robert Stockton, of Scotch-‘Irish parentage, was

married in the eastern part of the State near, Cham-
bersburg, where the most of his children were born.
He‘ removed to Washington County in 17 84, and on

the 2d of July purchased three hundred and fourteen . ‘

acres of land of Peter Jolly, named in the survey
“ Beaver Dam.” Mr. Stockton was chosen an elder
in the‘Presbyterian Church, and held the position till
his death in 1821. He had eight children,—Margaret
(Mrs. Colton), Frances (Mrs. Charles Stewart), Robert,
Joseph, Elizabeth (Mrs. Cu’nningham),»Thomas, and
John. Joseph, soon after his father’s_ removal to this
county, entered Canonsburg Academy and studied
theology under Dr. John McMillan. He was licensed
to preach June 26, 1799. He became one of the con-

stituent members of the Presbytery of Erie. He was

pastor of the church at Meadville in its infancy, and
had charge of the academy at’ that place. Later he
was principal of the Pittsburgh Academy for about
ten years till_ 1820. In 1827 he was one of the in-
structors in the Western Theological Seminary. The
last three years of his life were spent with the church
of Pine Creek (Sharpsburg). He died at Baltimore
Oct. 29,‘ 1832, in his fifty-fourth year, having been
called to visit a son whowas sick in that city.
Thomas Stockton settled on the homestead of his
father, Where he lived till his death’. Of his children

‘ Mary became the wife of David Slack, and settled in
Marshall County, W. Va. ; Thomas settled in Licking.

County, Ohio ; Sarah became the wife of ——- Vance,
and later of Alexander Gordon, and is now living at
Washington, Pa.; Robert settled on the homestead,
which is now owned by his son, Dr. John VV. Stock-
ton, a practicing physician in Washington, Pa.

The Rev. Dr. John Stockton was born on the home-
stead on the 18th of November, 1803, and entered
Washington College, where he graduated on the 3d
of October, 1820. He studied theology with the Rev.
Dr. John Anderson, of Upper Buffalo, and on the
25th of April, 1825, was licensed by the Presbytery of
Washington to preach the gospel, and afterwards
spent a year at Princeton College‘. I-Ie received» a
call through the Presbytery from the Cross Creek
Presbyterian Church, which he accepted, and remained
as their pastor half a century, when, on account of
declining health,.he.resigned March 29, 1877, to take

effect in June.’ He remained at Cross Creek, the ,

scene of his lifelong labor, and died May 5, 1882.
His son Thomas is a physician at-Cross Creek, his
native place.

, James Brownlee emigrated to this country from

Scotland, and settled east of the mountains in Penn-
sylvania. He was a cmillwright by trade, and came
to this county with several others. After staying
throughtthe winter they returned to the East, con-
cluding that they were too far beyond the bounds of
civilization. He returned -a year or two later, and
purchased land near Sugar Hill of Hugh Wiley on the

2d of J anuary, 1792. He married Jane, a daughter

of John Leman, and settled on the farm, where they

FRANKLIN

TOWNSHIP.

801

raised a largefaimily of “children, many of whom set-

-tled in the township and county. The old homestead"

has been in the family many years, and occupied until
recently by the heirs of Samuel Brownlee. 8
VVilliam- Brownlee, a brother of James, took up a
tract of land, the warrant‘ for which bears date March,
1785. It was surveyed November 19th of the same
year, and named “ Virtue,” containing three hundred
acres adjoining John Virgin, William McCombs, and
Dr. Henry Moore. He married Margaret, a daughter
of John Leman, by whom he had a large family.
Thomas‘ Ringland was a prominent man in the

township’ for many years. _ An_ ardent Democrat,

twice elected to Congress, and in 1835 was one of the
leaders in the support of the public school law. He

emigrated VVest before the Rebellion, and died about
, 1870.

Van Buren.——The land on which this hamlet is lo-
cated was the early home of Gobles. The old home-
stead and tavern stand (the latter kept many years by
Daniel L. Goble) is now the property of Adam Weir,
whose father, Adam Weir, purchased the property
now Van Buren April 18, 1818, and opened a store,
and became the postmaster at the oflice soon after es-
tablished at that place. He was postmaster many
years, and was succeeded by Stephen Pipe, who was
succeeded by Adam Weir, J r.', the present incumbent.
A store was kept a short time previous to the purchase

_ of Adam Weir, Sr., near the Groble tavern by Sample

Sweeny. The town is situated onthe plank road that
leads from Washington to Prosperity. The Bethel
Church is near the settlement. '

_ ‘Toledo is a small hamlet situated on Chartiers Creek
about three miles from Washington, and on the plank-
road leading from Washington to Waynesburg. It

. _ ‘contains a grist-mill, blacksmith-shop, shoe-shop, post-
oflice, a toll—gate, and a few dwellings. The post-office

was established Sept. 22, 1875. Christiana Miller
was appointed the first postmaster, and was succeeded
by S.  Harshman, the present incumbent. .
Presbyterian Church.—From the history of Lower
Ten-Mile Presbyterian Church the following account
of this branch of that church is taken. This society
erected a brick edifice not far from Van Buren, on the
road from that place to Lone Pine. “-In 1825 the
congregation of Lower Ten-Mile built of brick a
house of worship on the farm of Mr. Jonas Condit,
about five miles northwest from Amity. It was long
known as the ‘ brick meeting-house.’ After Nov.
10, 1825, by request of the congregation, Mr. Dodd
preached one-half of his time in this house until
1844, when a resolution was adopted by the congrega-
tion that two-thirds of his time be occupied in Amity
and~one-third in this house. In 1852, Dr. McKennan
was requested that one-half of his services be in this
house. In 1871 this house was sold for $213.70.” It
was removed soon after. In the little graveyard on
the lot where the church once stood rest several of
the early settlers, amongwhom are Jonas Con.dit, died

July 17, 1850, aged eighty—one years; Luther Axtell,
died Feb. 7, 1868, aged eighty-five years; and James
McFarland, aged eighty—two years.

Bethel Cumberland Presbyterian Church.—This -

society was organized on the 30th of March, 1832, by

the Rev. John Morgan-, as the Upper Ten-Mile Cum-I

berland Presbyterian Congregation. It was composed

in part of Presbyterians from the Upper Ten-Mile"

Presbyterian Congregation. The causes that led to
its organization will be found in an article on Cum-_
berland Presbyterian Churches in the general history.
The following is from the minutes of the church: - .

“ At a meeting of the Upper Ten-Mile Congregation, held at the house
of Stephen Dille, on Tuesday, the 2d day of August, 1832, for the purpose
of taking into consideration the propriety or impropriety of erecting a
house of worshi p in that vicinity for the Cumberland Presbyterian order,
Abraham Vanvoorhis was appointed Moderator, and Luther Day Clerk,
when, after much deliberation, the following resolution. was adopted:

“Resolved, That for the express purpose of forever putting to rest all
grounds for hard thought from the minority of Upper Ten.-Mile Congre-
gation, that we adjourn this meeting until the 6th day of September,

_that the minority may have another and suflicient opportunity to meet

the Committee previously appointed for the purpose of effecting a com-
promise with regard to the time each occupy our present meeting-house,
and that a copy of the proceedings of this meeting, so far as they relate
to the above object, be communicated by the Secretary of this meeting
to the elders of_ the minority of the Upper Ten-Mile Congregation.
“LUTHER DAY. ABRAHAM Vanvooams.”

The congregation met on the 6th of September ac-
cording to adjournment, and the committee made the
following report: _

“ That they, the committee of Upper Ten-Mile Congregation and the
committee of the minority, met on the 5th of this inst., and all the com-
mittee of the minority were instructed to do was to allow the majority
the privilege of occupying the present meeting-house 1 one-halt’ the time
until the first of April next, provided, however, that the majority make
no movement towards building a new house of worship. On motion,
Resolved unanimously, that we will not accede to the above proposition.
On motion, Resolved, That we build a meeting-house on lands of Joseph
Weir, of brick, sixty feet long and fifty-one feet wide,‘ without galleries.
Resolved, That Samuel Weir, Thomas Axtell, J eduthan Sanders, and Jo-
seph Weir be a committee to circulate subscription to raise funds to build
said house. Resolved, That Sylvanus Cooper, John VVolf, and Thomas
Axtell be the building-committee, and Samuel Weir, Ephraim Cooper,
Stephen Dille, and Jeremiah Post be a committee of council. Resolved,
That Thomas Axtell be our delegate to Presbytery, to be held in Union-
town, Fayette Co., on the 20th of this inst.

A ' “ ABRAHAM Vaxvooaurs.
“ LUTHER DAY.”

‘At a meeting of the congregation on the 14th of
January, 1833, it was “ Res.olved, That we apply to the
Presbytery for the labors of the Rev. John Morgan as
our stated pastor for one year half of his time.” At a
meeting of the congregation on the 6th of April the
same year, it was “ Resolved, That we change the ‘name
of this congregation from Upper Ten-Mile to that of
Bethel.” The church was built as stated, not on the

land designated, but on a lot containing one acre and I

one hundred and three perches, which was purchased
by Samuel VVeir and Isaac Condit, trustees of Bethel
Congregation, of Daniel L. Goble on the 28th of July,
1833. The Rev. John Morgan became their pastor
for a time. Ephraim Cooper, Sylvanus Cooper,

Thomas Axtell, John Wolf, and Samuel Day having

1 The brick church near Van Buren.

/

802

HISTORY OF WAS HINGTON COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA.

been elders in the Presbyterian Church, were elected ‘

elders in this organization. Later, Samuel Weir,
Isaac Condit,.and Archibald McCracken were added
to the number. V

This is the largest society of this denomination in
the county, having a membership of over one hun-
dred and seventy-five. The presentpastor is the Rev.
P. H. Crider. The society owns a parsonage near the
church. ,

Liberty Chapel-The church known as Liberty
Chapel is situated about four miles from Washington,
and ‘nearly on the township ‘line between Franklin
and Amwell townships. It" is one of four stations in
this section of the Methodist denomination, and is
in charge of the Rev. Thomas Patterson. It has at
present forty-nine members. The church edifice is a
neat and commodious frame building.

Schools.—The territory now comprising the town-
ship of Franklin was in 1835 embraced in Canton
and Morris. In District No. 5 Henry Dickerson sold
a lot on the 18th of April, 1837, to the school directors

of the township for a nominal sum, to be used for no‘

other purpose than schools. In 1853, when the town-

ship was erected, it was divided into seven school’
In the year 1863 twelve teachers were

districts.
employed in the seven districts, three hundred and
twelve scholars were enrolled, and‘ the amount of
money raised for school purposes was $1301.80. The
amount of money expended was $1419. In 1873, with
the same number of districts, seven teachers were
employed, $2422.36 was received, and $2269.80 was
expended; in 1880 there were three hundred and
seventy-nine scholars, $1807.75 was received,» and
$1861.11 expended for school purposes.

 J‘* ‘
-

  HANOVER TOWNSHIP...

 

HANOVER is the extreme northwestern township of
Washington County, having the county of Beaver and
the State of. West Virginia, respectively, for its north-
ern and western boundaries. On the east it is bounded
by Robinson and Smith townships, and on the south by
Smith and Jefferson townships. The only streams of
any size or importance belonging to Hanover are

’ -Raccoon and Harman’s Creeks, which respectively

mark parts of the eastern and souther_n boundaries of
the township, and King’s Creek, which flows in a
southwesterly course across the northwestern corner
of Hanover. '

The territory now forming the township of Hanover
was originally embraced in Smith township, and so
remained for five years after the erection of the latter,
Hanover being erected a separate township in 1786.
On the 17th of January in that year a.petition of cer-
tain inhabitants of Smith township praying for a di-
vision of that township was presented to the Court of
Quarter Sessions. The petition was granted by the
court, and the action confirmed by the Supreme Ex-
ecutive Council on the 2d of September in the same
year. The part of the township set off by this division
was named Hanover, and embraced the territory lying
north of Harman’s Creek and Brush Run to the Ohio
River, bounded on the east by Raccoon Creek, and
west by the Virginia line.

The line dividing the township from Cross Creek

V and Smith townshipsran up Harman’s Creek to its

source near the old McCurdy farm; thence across the
ridge to the head-waters of Brush Run; thence down
the run to Raccoon Creek. 1 The village of Florence

was in Smith township until the action of court on
the 11th of March, 1830, by which the territory south
of Brush Run and the heads of Harman’s Creek and
north of the presentline of Hanover and Smith was
attached to Hanover.

Two years after Hanover became a township, the

erection of Allegheny County, Sept. 24, 1788, took a

large portion of its territory, after which this township
embraced the following: “ Commencing at the inter-
section of the Ohio River with the State line ; thence
south along the State line to Harman’s Creek; thence
up the creek toits source, across the ridge to the head-
waters of Brush Run, down the run to its mouth, and
down Raccoon Creek to White’s Mill ; thence north-

west in a straight line to the Ohio River and the State.

line, it being the place of beginning.” It so remained
until the 24th of March’, 1800, when the erection of
Beaver County took all thatportion of territory north
of the line at right angles from White’s Mill on Rac-
coon Creek. ~ . . 8

An addition was made to its territory March 30,

1830, by order of court, which embraced the land '

north of Smith township as at present.

In April, 1793,‘ a petition (indorsed “ a petition for _

Riche township”), and signed by William Ferguson
and twenty—three‘ others, “Inhabitants of Smith and
Hanover townships,” was presented to the court ask-
ing for the erection of anew township to embrace a
part of Hanover. by bounds specified. It was con-
tinued to the September term of the same year, wheii
“ a petition_ of a number of the inhabitants of Han-
over township’_’ was presented, remonstrating against

, ruthers.

HANOVER

TOWNSHIP.

803

the granting of the prayer of the first-mentioned
petition, and setting forth: ’

“ That they can not see the propriety of dividing the said township in

v the manner proposed by a petition which was read last sessions for that

purpose. It would leave the old township (in shape) unlike anything
in the Heavens above or the Earth beneath as far as we know, and as
we apprehend the above-mentioned .petition, which has been read, was
presented with the View to make a Justice of the Peace of one James
Fling, a near relation of him your Honors read of in the Pittsburgh
Gazette of Aug. 3, 1793, if we mistake not. We therefore object to
the Division as proposed in said petition, but we object not to Di-
vide it in the following Manner. that is to begin at the house of
Adam Vinnage (formerly of James Dornan) which is on the line. be-
tween Smith and Hanover townships, and from thence to the nearest
branch of King‘s Creek, and down King‘s Creek to the State line,
which course willbe nearly parallel to Allegheny County line, and
will leave our Township in a good form and by no ineans large.”

‘Both petitions were disregarded by the court, and
the territory of Hanover townshipremained intact.
Settlements.-——In the assessment-roll" of Hanover
township for 1800 are found the following names of
residents of the township, with their occupations at
that time, viz., John Buchanan and John Dornan,
merchants; John Gillill_an and Robert Leeper,'tan-
ners; Samuel Glasgow, justice of the peace‘; John
Irwin, James Nelson, John H. Redick, millers; Jona-

than Potts, Daniel McConnell, and William Kerr,’

blacksmiths. William Carruthers was licensed to keep
tavern in the township in 1796, and he kept until
181-2. In 1813 the same house was kept by Jane Car-
One of the oldest grist-mills was the White
Mill, mentioned in 1789 as a point in the boundary
line of Beaver, Washington, and Allegheny Counties.
This is now at Murdochville, in the northeast corner
of the township. 1

One of the earliest settlers in what is now Hanover

_ township was Samuel Johnston, though the precise

date of his settlement here has not been ascertained,
nor is it known on which of his several -tracts of land
he made his home, but there is little doubt that it was
on the tract “Johnston Hall.” The lands he took
upwere in both the townships of Hanover and Smith.

In February, 1780, he was granted two Virginia cer- ..

tificates for lands on Raccoon Creek, one containing

four hundred and five acres, and the other (adjoining)

of one hundred and eighty-two acres. In the survey
(made July 11, 1785) the former was named “John-

ston Hall,” and the latter “Mill Town.” He patented _

another tract named “Guadeloupe;” and still other
large tracts he acquired by purchase from other par-
ties. He also made‘ many sales of land in this sec-
tion, one of which was of one hundred acres of the
“Johnston Hall” tract to Alexander Reed, Feb. 13,

1787. Reed soldit the same day to Matthew Welch, -

and it is still owned by his son, M. R.‘Welch.
Another sale from the “Johnston Hall” tract was of
one hundred acres to John Montgomery, Aug. 24,
1787, and another. hundred acres (same date) to John
Dodd; this being adjoining lands of James Edgar
and David Hays, in Smith township. »And on the

9

same date Johnston sold‘ one hundred acres to Job
Stout, adjoining lands of John Moore, James Dornan,
Isaac Pierce, Philip Jackson, and William Runnell.
This last-named sale was from the “ Guadeloupe"
tract, and on it the village of Florence was afterwards
laid out. .

On the “ Mill Town?’ tractMr. Johnston built a mill,
and Oct. 12, 17 85, he sold the mill property to Hum-

phrey Montgomery. Mr. Montgomery received the -

deed for this land,Jan. 2, 1795, from Andrew Swear-
ingen and John Hutchinson, “ Assignees of the es-
tate of Samuel Johnston.” He had become heavily
embarrassed in his pecuniary affairs, and from this
time his name disappears from the records of town-
ship and county. 4

Samuel Johnston was a man of excellent abilities,
and was prominent in that section of the country
from his first appearance to 1795. He was nominated
and elected with James Edgar, as a_ justice of the
peace for Smith township at the first election after the
formationof the township. At the same time when
he was confirmed by the Supreme Executive Council
(Aug. 23, 1781) as justice of the peace he was ap-

pointed and confirmed by that body as a justice of _
the peace of the Court of Common Pleas and of the
Orphans’ Court of the county. None of his descend-

ants are now living in Hanover township or vicinity.

Alexander Duncan emigrated fromr Lancaster to
Washington County, and located a tract of land in
Smith township. His sons- were Daniel and Jolm.
Daniel was killed by a tree falling upon him during
a heavy storm. John Duncan married Elizabeth
Moreland. . He was ordained an elder in the Three-
Spring Church in 1803. His residence was near the
present town of Florence. His living children are
James, Daniel, and Susan (Mrs. Culley), who is now
living in Florence in her eighty-second year.

James Proudfoot emigrated from’ York County in
the year 1782, and settled in what is now Hanover
township. On the 8th of December, 1787, he pur-
chased one hundred acres of Job Stout. _This was a
part of the tract “ Guadeloupe” patented by Samuel
Johnston, and the same land now ownedby James
Proudfoot, grandson of the elder James. The farm
lies near the town of Florence, and adjoining Philip
Jackson. 1

James Proudfoot, the pioneer, was an elder in the
Cross-Roads Presbyterian Church, and justice of the
peace for thirty-four years. He married Jane Wal-
lace, of Hanover township, and lived on the home-
stead all his days, and died May 2, 1856, aged ninety-
six years, leaving many descendants.

Nathan Dungan took out a warrant for a tract of

land, which was surveyed to him on the 14th of June,‘

1785, called “Amity,” which contained three hun-
dred and fifty-one acres. It was patented April 25,

1788. ‘The family were settlers in the county before"

its erection. Levi Dungan was a collector in 1781,
then of Smith township, now Hanover.

He kept-

804

HISTORY OF WASHINGTON COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA.

tavern in the township many years, and owned a tract
of land adjoining Nathan Dungan.

James McNary‘, a native of Scotland, emigrated to
this country prior to 1760, and settled in Chanceford
township, York County, Pa., where he bought a farm.
A son, James, in 1780, removed to Chartiers township,
in Washington County, and in 1783 he removed to
Hanover township, and purchased a farm near Paris,
where he lived till 1796, and died aged eighty-five
years, and was buried in Harmon’s Creek churchyard.
He had five children, of whom David came with his
father, and settled near him, having purchased three
hundred acres Oct. 27, 1783. He married Esther
Cowden. He was an. elder in Dr. Anderson’s Har-

_ mon Creek congregation. He died in 1817, leaving

seven children, of whom Mary married Samuel Mar-
tin ; William married a sister of the Rev. James Ram-
sey; John, a son of James, remained in York County
for some years, and in 1801 bought three hundred and
forty acres in what is now North Strabane township,
and returned home and died early in 1782. His
family came out to thefarm in May, 1802, and his

son John took possession of the property, on which

James McNary, a grandson, now lives.

Michael Dillow located a tract of land on Dillow’s
Creek, a branch of Raccoon Creek. He settled before
1780, and in that year received a Virginia certificate
for the land on which he had located.‘ It was adjoin-
ing the land of Thomas Armour and James Crawford,
and a short distance from Thomas Bigger. A survey
of Samuel Beeler, made in 17 82, shows a road from
Fort Dillow to Fort Beeler, and east from there to
Turner’s' Mill. The tract of land was surveyed June
8, 1787, and named “ Dillow’s Fort,” containing three
hundred and ninety-nine acres. A warrant of the
board of property, dated March 24, 1798, was returned
to Abraham Kirkpatrick. The land warranted by
Matthew Dillow is now owned by Robert R. Coventry‘.
Some time after 1782, Matthew Dillow and his son,
John, were at work in the clearing when Indians in
ambush shot the father and took the son a prisoner.
He saw them secrete the body of his father near a
large log before starting on their march. The boy
was kept a prisoner for several years, and upon his
return was questioned as to what became of the body
of his father. He recalled and narrated the inci-
dents of his capture. A number of friends gathered
together, and after a search found the skeleton of the
elder Dillow. It was brought to near the old fort and
buried. A large yellow poplar stands near the site
of the old fort. John Dillow built a cabin up the
creek from the fort on land now owned by Robert
Cooley, whose residence is near the site of the Dillow
cabin. I C

Thomas Armor received a Virginia certificate for
a tract of land “situated on the waters of Raccoon
Creek, to includehis improvement made in the year

-1,776.” This certificate was granted at Cox’s Fort

Feb. ,4, 1780. The land was adjoining Capt. Kilpat-

rick Hollingsworth and William Dunnam. It was
surveyed on the 16th of February, 1785, named “ Gol-
gotha,” and contained three hundred and eighty-
eight acres. Grace'Fuller, a female slave, who was
the property of Thomas Armor, lived to be one hun-
dred and seventeen years of age. She remembered
being-in Dillow’s Fort when about seventeen years
of age," at the time of an attack by the Indians, about
the year 1778. She was later owned by a man of the
name of Pierce. A daughter was born to her on
Raccoon Creek, who was sold when about ten years
of age to Daniel Swearingen, who lived about four
miles from Paris. She lived to be upwards of eighty
years of age. Her mother had been married to three
different husbands, all slaves, two of whom were sold
and sent South and one died. She was the mother
of eight children. Thomas Armor lived on the tract
which he settled‘ upon in 1776 until. his death _in
June, 1826. His sons were William, John, Thomas,
and James. His daughters were Nancy and Mary.
VVilliam came into possession .of one hundred and
forty-four acres adjoining Raccoon Creek. Nancy
became the wife of Benjamin Bubbett, and received
one hundred and fourteen acres of the home tract.
He was justice of the peace many years, and an elder
in the Robinson United P,resbyterian Church. John
received one hundred and -forty acres, on which he
resided. Mary, the wife of James Thompson, came
into possession of one hundred and fourteen acres on
Dillow’s Run. Thomas inherited one hundred and
forty acres, lying principally in Beaver -County.
James inherited one hundred and eighty-four acres,
the remainder of the home tract.
numerous in the township, and the original lands are
still in possession of some of them.

A large tract of land in Robinson and Hanover
townships was taken up by one Hollingsworth. Isaac
and William Donaldson, natives of Ireland, purchased
a portion of the tract, part of which is now owned by
Andrew B. Donaldson, a grandson of VVilliam Don-

aldson. William Elder occupies the part on which‘

Isaac settled, and is owned by the heirs of Richard,
son of Isaac. On a portion of the Hollingsworth
tract ‘Joseph Scott settled, and built a mill in this
township near Bavington. He had two sons, Benja-
min and Joseph. On the 17th of July, 1835,Joseph
sold to Robert Withrow, and he to Richard Donald-
son. The mill was in operation till about 1879, being

The family is .

then owned by James Donaldson. John Travis came -

from Ireland shortly after the Revolution, and bought

,a farm of one hundred and fifty acres of_ John Sher-

rard in Dunbar township, Fayette County. In 1798
he purchased a farm about a mile and a half east of the

cross-roads, on one of the branches of Raccoon Creek,

where he settled. , He was an elder in the Laurel Hill ’

congregation, and was chosen an elder in the Cross-
Roads Church, formerly King’s Creek Church. He
became insane while living in Dunbar township, but
I had entirely recovered before removing to this place.-

HANOVER TOWNSHIP.

  805

For 1nany years after he settled on Raccoon all
went well with him, but after a time his son Samuel,
who was a trader down the Mississippi, having re-
turned from a remarkably successful trip by way of
New Orleans to Havana, Cuba, where he sold his
cargo of flour at $25 per barrel, induced his father to
risk property in his hands belonging,to minor heirs
to fit him out on another trip to the same place in the
expectation of making a fortune. The trip was made
and the flour sold in Havana as advantageously as
before, but in New Orleans, when on his way home,

the son fell in company of gamblers, and was by them

robbed of the entire proceeds of the voyage. Know-
ing that this would be the ruin of his father, ‘Samuel
dared not return, and was never again seen in Penn-

‘ sylvania. The following in reference to this sad affair

is related by Robert A. Sherrard in his “History of
Centre Church :” - V V

“ John Travis bore up under what he knew would
be the loss ultimately of his property, both real and
personal. Time rolled on, and the young heirs became
of lawful age to receive each their rightful share of the
money for which Mr. Travis ‘must now, as their guar-
dian, account to them for, and no money on hand to
pay either principal or interest. His personal prop-
erty was first sold, and then his farm, and he left poor
and destitute, and old age advancing upon him, and
no help for him. But he boregup under every difli-

jculty with Christian courage and fortitude. It was

the wonder of many of his old friends and acquaint-
ances, who knew of the calamity that had befallen
him, by his becoming crazy. He withstood the loss of
his property with the greatest of Christian fortitude,
for he put his trust in God, and He did not forsake
him in the time of his sore trial. For he had full

_ confidence that God would provide for him as long as

He pleased to let him stay on His footstool. And it
was evenso ; for, although he was reduced. to the ne-
cessity of crossing the Ohio River, and the taking of
a lease for a term of years in Columbiana County,
Ohio, after the expiration of his lease he returned to
the settlement near Briceland Cross-Roads (now Flor-
ence), and spent the few days that God was pleased to
grant him, where he at length died in peace at an
adva“nced, ripe old- age, much missed and much la-
mented by all who knew him. He was a man of emi-
nent piety, useful as a peacemaker both in church and

State, or wherever it pleased God to give him a home.”

John Travis had four other sons, all of whom be-
came members of the church. Several of his pos-
terity are elders in Presbyterian Churches in various
parts of the country.

Robert Wallace was a native of Scotland, who emi-
grated to this State and settled first in Indiana County,
and later to what is now Hanover township, Wash-
ington County, where he took up a tract of land which
was afterwards, surveyed as “.Wallace’s Bower,” and
contained three hundred and seventy-nine and three-

’ quarter acres, adj oining. lands of James Dornan, James

Crawford, Isaac Pierce, and others. In 1782, on the
10th of February, Robert VVallace’s cabin was at-

tacked and burned by Indians during his absence, and 1

his wife and children taken prisoners by the savages as
mentioned in the general history of the county. The
story of the fate which befell them is told by Butter-
field in his‘ “ Crawford’s Campaign -Against San-
dusky” thus: “ With their prisoners, consisting of

Mrs. Wallace, her little son Roberttwo and a half *

years old, another son ten years of age, andan infant
daughter, and what plunder they could carry off, the
savages made their way toward the Ohio, but finding
the mother and her infant somewhat troublesome,
they were tomahawked and scalped. The two boys
were carried to Sandusky, where the elder died.
Robert was then sold to the Wyandots, by whom he

was held in captivity about two and a half years. His

fatherjhearing of him, ‘sent a man to the Wyandot
towns after peace had been declared, giving him a
certain mark by which the boy could be recognized,

‘ and by thatmeanshe was rescued and restored to his”
friends.” Robert Wallace, J r., who was taken cap- -

tive by the Indians, as above narrated, married Miss
Mary Walker and settled in Robinson township, where
they lived and died, Joseph and Robert'Wallace, of
that township, are his descendants. The tract “ Wal-
lace’s Bower” has been divided, ajportion falling to
Sarah, wife of Samuel McConnell; the; portion be-;
longing to Robert VVallacehas long since -passed to

others, and is now owned by John B. Burns. Mrs,

Culley, of Hanover, is also a descendant of Robert
Wallace. " .
Adam and Andrew Poe were emigrants from New

England, and came to_.this county at the same time as I

did Philip Jackson, Robert Wallace, and others. They
located tracts of landfor which they were granted Vir-
ginia certificates. The tract Adam selected was sur-
veyed Jan. 13, 1786, and was named ‘tPoeville.” It
contained three hundred and seventy-sevenvacres, ad-
joining lands of Matthew Ritchie, Isaac Miller, and
John Comly. The tract selected by Andrew was sur-
veyed Feb‘. 15, 17 86, was named “Poe Wood,” and con-
tained three hundred and thirty-three acres. This
was adjoining land of Robert_Laughlin and William
Matthews. ‘ They also owned a tract of land prior to
this time in Smith township, where they lived at the
time of the burning of the VVallace cabin. That
tract they sold to Arthur Campbell. Adam and An-
drew both sold their farms in this county, and moved
to Ohio and West Virginia.

The brothers Andrew and Adam Poe were men
remarkable for their personal prowess,——powerfully
b'uilt,_ active, and fearlessrand they enjoyed great
renown among the borderers as among the bravest
and most successful of fighters in the Indian hostili-
ties that were carried on along the Ohio River fron-
tier from 1777 to 1784. Many accounts of their re-
markable adventures in Indian fighting are found in.
the annals of frontier warfare.

THE REVOLUTION.

later be enabled to reduce that place. But it seems
the United States cannot furnish either Troops or
resources for the purpose, but the State of Virginia
can.”

In February following, Gen. Washington issued
orders to Gen. Clarke to proceed in the raising and
organizing of his force for the purpose mentioned;
and on the 25th of that month Gen. Brodhead re-
ported to President Reedzl “I have just received
instructions from his Excellency the commander-in-
chief directing me to detach all the field-pieces, Howit-
zers, and train, also a part of my small force,under Col.
Clark, who I am told is to drive all beforehim by a
supposed unbounded influence he has amongst the in-
habitants of the Western country. I sincerely wish his
Excellency’s expectations may be fully answered . . . .”
Again, on the 10th of March, he wrote the presi-
dent of the Council : 2 “I have likewise received in-
structions from his Excellency the Commander_-in-
Chief to order the Maryland Corps to Richmond in
Virginia, and to detach with the artillery and field-
pieces ‘under. Brig.-Gen. Clark a major or Capt’s Com-
mand from my small remaining number of Troops.
. . . Gen‘. Clark is come over the mountain, and his
commissaries are purchasing great quantities of flour
and Indian corn; but he appears to be doubtful of
carrying his grand object, and I shall not be surprised
to see his Expedition fall through, for it is clear to
me that wise men at a great distance view things in

V the Western country very differently from those who

are more immediately acquainted with circumstances
and situations.” _

Although Clarke was a Virginian officer and had
entirely favored the claims of that State in its territo-
rial controversy with Pennsylvania, he was not averse
to enlisting men from the latter State to make up the

' force necessary for his expedition, and accordingly

he at once entered into correspondence with the Ex-

ecutive Council to obtain its consent to the project.

The letter which he addressed to President Reed 3 on
the subject was as follows:

9‘ March 23,1781.

“ D. SIR,—Though unacquainted, I take theliberty
of writing to your Excellency on a subject I hope
will Consern yougso much as to Honour my propo-
sition. I make no doubt but that you are fully ac-
quainted with the design of the enterprise. I am
order’d.to Com“ of the greatest consequence to the
Frontiers of Pennsylvania and Virginia, if our Re-
sources should not be such as to Inable us to Remain
in the Indian Country during the fair season, I am

‘ in hopes they will be suflicient to Visit the Shaw-

anees, Delawares, and Sandusky Town, defeating the
Enemy and laying those Cuntrees waste, would give
great Ease to the Frontiers of both States, whom I
think equally Interested. But Sir nothing great can
be expected without the assistance of numbers of

1 Pa. Arch., 1779-81, p. 743. 2 Ibid., p. 766. r 3 Ibid., 1781-83, p. 23.

95

men from the Country on this side of the Lawrell
Hill, many living within the boundary of Pennsyl-
vania are willing to go on the Expedition, many more
would go if it was not for a timid, simple disposition,
fearing it would disoblige y’ Excellency & Councill,
at least they make use of such arguments as an Ex-
cuse, others‘ alternately shifting from, one state to the
other, to screen themselves from-any Military Duty

that might be Required of them, but as I am Con-

fident from the nature of the intended Expedition
you would wish to give it every aid in your power, I
hope sir that you will inform the Inhabitants on this
side of the M‘ that such is your sentiments. They
are fully able to spare five hund men, I don’t think
they could be better imployed to the advantage of
themselves or Country, I should have solicited y°
governor of Virg“ to have made this Request of you,
but the want of time for it to go through that Chan-
nel, and Confident of its meeting with your approba-
tion Induced me to do it myself. I hope S’ that you
will Honour me with an,imme'diate answer P’ Ex-
press, as it is of the greatest Consequence to us & that
the fate of the Indians at present appears to depend
on the Resolutions you may take.
“ With esteem I beg leave to subscribe myself,
- Y’ very Ob. Serv‘,
“ Gr. CLARK, Brig. Gr.”

To this communication of Gen. Clarke President
Reed replied under date of May 15th as follows: 4 V

“ SIR,--I received your Letter of the 23d March a
considerable Time after its Date. The Enterprise you
refer to has never been oflicially communicated to us,
but from common Report we learn that an Expe-
dition under your Command is destined ag‘ Detroit.
We are very sensible of its Importance to this State
as well as Virginia, & there is no Gentleman in whose
Abilities & good Conduct we have more Confidence
on such an occasion. After this it seems unnecessary
to add that it will give us great Satisfaction if the
Inhabitants of this State cheerfully concur in it; &
we authorize you to declare that so far from giving
Offence to their Government, we shall consider their
Service with you as highly meritorious. At the same
Time we must add that from the exhausted State of
our Treasury——-from the great Demands made upon
us by the Congress & Gen. Washington and other
Contingencies, we are in no condition to answer any
Demands of a pecuniary kind, and therefore do not
mean, by any Thing we have said, to raise an Ex-
pectation which we cannot answer. We have above
two Months ago wrote to Col. Brodhead, most earn-
estly requesting him to forward your Views, inform-
ing him that they are highly approved by us-We

shall be most concerned if we should be disappointed

in this respect. We have had a correspondence with

Gov’ Jefferson on’ the Subject & explained our Sen- '

timents to him very fully. We have also sent for-

4 Ibid., p. 85.

806

Augustine Moore came to this countyabout 1790,
and settled on a tract of land about one mile north of
Florence, part of which tract is now owned by the
heirsrof John McConnell, whose Wife was a daughter
of Moore. He lived and died on the farm, leaving
children, of whom John emigrated West; William
became a pilot on the river, and died at Wellsville,
Ohio; Ellen, who became Mrs. McConnell, now
ninety-six years of age, lives with her son-in-law, S.
D. Lockhart, near Paris ; Rebecca married” Gilbert
Cool, and settled in Robinson township, Where they
lived and died. Another daughter became the wife
of Charles Hoey, and settled in. Ashland County,
Ohio, where she died._ They were cousins of the late
Hon. John L. Dawson, of Fayette, County, and rela-
tives of the Swearingen family. H

William McConnell came to this county about the
year 17 84, and located a tract lying on the waters of
Harmon’s Run-, containing two hundred and forty-

three acres. It was named “ The Hermitage,” and at

that time was adjoining lands of John Stone and
George McCullough. On the 24th of February, 1795,
he purchased two hundred and fifty-seven acres of Wil-

~ liam Campbell, part of a tract of four hundred acres

patented to Campbell April 5, 1787. Later he pur-
chased one hundred and five acres of the heirs of
William Bay adjoining his other lands. He lived
and died on his original farm, later known as the
Dinsmore farm. ' His wifelived many years later, and
died at an advanced age at the residence of her son,
John McConnell. Theyphad five sons,———John, Wil-
liam, Daniel, Samuel, and James. John married
Ellen Moore, daughter of Augustine Moore, in 1807,
and settled on the ’McConnell',home ‘farm, where he
had lived since he was seven years of age, and where
they lived together seventy-two years. He died April
9, 1879, aged ninety-fiveyears. William, the second
son _of William McConnell, entered Washington Col-
lege, and died while there. Daniel emigrated to
Texas, where he lived and died.  He was with Gen.
Sam Houston at the battle of San J acinto. Samuel
settled in Columbiana County, Ohio, where’ he died.
James also settled in Ohio. Isabella, a daughter of

0 William McConnel_l, became the Wife of John Pyatt,

and settled in what is now West Virginia.
Jonas Potts became a land-owner in Hanover town-

‘ _ ship in 1787, but it is believed that he had been a
resident of the county for a considerable time before

that.- He was born in Loudoun County, Va., where
the family settled in 1746, having gone there from
Eastern Pennsylvania. Jonas Potts was the son of
Jonas Potts, Sr. The traditions preserved in the
familystate that Jonas Potts, Sr., came to that sec-

I tion lying between? the present town of Washington

and the Ohio River when it was a wilderness." He is
said to have died at Georgetown, on the Ohio River,

— in 1819. He had‘ eight sons. . Jonas, Jr., John, and

Jonathan settled in Washington County, but the latter
two afterwards removed to Ohio. John Potts was the

HISTORY OF WASHINGTON COUNTY, PENSYLVANIA.

ancestor of Gen. ‘Benjamin F. Potts, Governor of
Montana Territory.
On March 20, 1787, Jonas Potts, Jr., bought of

William Holmes a certain two-hundred‘-acre warrant ,

in name of William Holmes, dated Feb. 23, 1786.
On Jan. 9, 1788, Jonas Potts was granted a patent for
four hundred and four acres, which is recorded in

Patent Book N o. 12, page 102. 0 He also bought land —

of Matthew Ritchie and of Samuel Marques. _His
wife’s name was Hannah.’ She was still living in
1824. He died in 1833 at an advanced age, leaving
four sons——David, Jesse, Jonas, and Samuel——and a
daughter Anna, the wife of Jonas Sams. William J .
Potts, now of Florence, is a son of the last-named
Jonas Potts. - .

John Tucker emigrated with his wife from. the New
England States in company with the Poes, Potts,
Jacksons, and other families. He located a tract of
land on the dividing ‘ridge between Kings and Har-
mon’s Creeks. The warrant was dated Jan. 4, 1788.
The tract contained four hundred. acres, and was
named “Grace.” It was not surveyed until March
17, 1812, and was at that time adjoining lands of
Aaron Davis, James Pollock, James "Potts, Thomas
Haines, George McCormick, and Jonathan Albertross.
John Tucker had married in the Eastern States a
lady by whom he had one son, who afterwards be-

7 came the Rev. John Tucker. After the death of his
,first wife he married again, and emigrated to this

township. The children by the second wife were
Jonathan, Thomas, and David. Jonathan and David
now reside on the homestead. The Rev. John Tucker
came to this county with his father, but joined a party
of emigrants bound for Kentucky, and was killed by
Indians while on his way there. . ' ,0
Levi Culley emigratedto this county after 1800,
and purchased part of. the tract then belonging to
John L. Proudfoot, _and settled upon it. His sons
were Jesse, Joseph, George, Robert, Levi, and’John.
Jesse settled on an adjoining farm. He married
Susan, a daughter of Elder John Duncan. They
lived andvdied there, leaving descendants. Joseph
married Martha, the daughter of "Benjamin Scott.
They settled on part of the Scott farm, now owned by
their son Joseph. George married Jane Fulton, and
settled on the homestead where he died. His widow
still survives. A daughter became the wife ‘of ‘John
W. Duncan, who occupies the property. Robert
Culley» was a cabinet-maker
Amanda McCloud, settled in Florence, and died
Aug. 21, 1848. Levi married Mary Ann Butterfoes,
and settled in Cambridge, Ohio. John married

Julia, daughter of James Briceland, who kept the
,Florence Hotel many years. They settled on the

James Smith farm, adjoining a farm of his father.
Levi Culley also had four daughters, of whom
Eleanor became the wife of Robert G. Smith, of
Florence. (Mrs. Catharine Hood, of Burgettstown,
and Mrs. Esther Clelland, of Florence, are daugh-

by trade, married-

  HANOVER

TOWNSHIP. 807

ters of Robert and Eleanor Smith.) Lydia married

James Culbertson, and settled in Iowa. Esther
became the wife of William Cole, and -settled on a

" farm of David Fulton, a part of the old Thomas Cole

tract.

Philip Jackson, a Welshman, or -of Welsh de-
scent, emigrated to Maryland, where he remained
several years, then came West of the mountains,
and finally located in Hanover about the time
of the erection of the township. He applied for
a warrant which was granted Feb. 22, 1786. The
tract was named “Satisfaction,” and contained three
hundred and ninety-six acres. It was adjoining
Joseph Jackson, Joseph Holmes, Isaac Pierce, Sam-
uel Johnson, and Jonah Potts. He married Miss

'”Rosannah Murphy, by whom he had five sons,

Joseph, John, Moses, Mason, Philip, and two daugh-

. ters, Ann and Elsie. Joseph, the eldest son, took out

a warrant for a tract of land adjoining Philip Jack-
son (his father), Benjamin Jackson (his uncle),
Jonah Potts, and John Tucker. The warrant bears
date Sept. 6, 1787, and was surveyed as two hundred
and sixty acres, and named “ Delay.”
he lived and died. His children emigrated to the
West. Moses settled on the homestead, and the prop-
erty is now owned by Marion Jackson, his son, and
the grandson _of Philip. The sons of Mason were
John and Philip. Ann (daughter of Philip, Sr.)

became the wife of Robert Murphy, and emigrated

to Michigan. Elsie became the wife of William
Travis, and also moved West. , .

Philip Jackson, Sr., was one of the original mem-
bers of the Cross-Roads Church‘, and signedthe call

. in 1799 for the Rev. Elisha McCurdy to become the

pastor of that church. Benjamin Jackson was a

"brother of Philip, and owned an adjoining tract.

Samuel Merchant, who was an Irishman, emigrated
to this country in 1.765 and settled in Maryland, where

’ heremained until the year 1778, when he came to

this county and settled on the farm for which he later
received a warrant and patent. In February of that

' year he located a_tomahawk improvement and built

a cabin. The Indians were very troublesome, and
his family, consisting of his wife and, child, were sent
to Beeler’s Fort for protection. About that time In-
dian raids in that section were numerous, and he re-
moved to VVestmorela_nd County, where he remained
till the spring of 1779, when he returned to his farm
in Hanover, which was a’ tract of 301 acres, named
“Atlas.” On this tract he lived till his death. His
son John inherited a portion of the homestead, and
on the 28th of January, 1811, sold to Joseph Scott
and emigrated to Ohio, where he died. Margaret, a
daughter of Samuel Merchant, became the wife of
James Proudfoot, and lived and died near Florence.
Prudence never married, and lived at the homestead,
and died at an advanced age. Ann, the youngest
daughter, married Matt~hew.McCon.nell.. They set-
tled on the “ Atlas” tract, where she lived to the ageof

I’

On this place _

eighty-one years. Their“sons now living are Samuel
and Matthew F. The family of McConnells came
from Scotland in 1781, and settled in Cecil township.

Among the early settlers in the township, but of
Whom but little is known, are the following»: James
Simpson received a warrant for a tract of land lying
on the waters of King Creek, dated Feb. 18, 1785,
surveyed as “ Middle Brook”. Jan. 18, 1786, adjoining

Samuel Moore, Hugh Miller, and John Lee Webster. ‘

Samuel Clark owned four hundred acres where his
descendants still reside. (‘John Comley owned. one
hundred acres, and had a horse—mill‘where Thomas
Hunter now lives on Harmon’s Creek. He left sev-
eralchildren. The mill was in use as late as 1820,
and the site is now occupied by a steam grist-mill.
Hugh Miller, in 1786, owned a large tract of land
adjoining the lands of James Simpson. Later his
son John owned two hundred acres. John Kirby
had a warrant for a tract of land dated Jan. 15, 1785,
surveyed ‘December 14th the same year as “Slave
Gallant,” and contained four hundred and thirty-one
acres. : A . P '.j

‘Florence;-The tract of land onwhichthis town
is located was granted to Samuel Johnston on a Vir-
ginia certificate, Feb. 25, 1780, and was surveyed to
him on the 25th of July, 1785, as “-Guadeloupe,”
and patented on the 28th of February, 1786. One
‘hundred acres of the tract was sold by J ohnstonon
the 24th of August, 17 87 , to Job Stout, who sold it on
the 8th of December of the same year to James

Proud-foot. "On this place a town was platted’in-

1814, called .“Mount,Be-thel.” ‘By this name it was
known as late as 1823, and is found so mentioned in
a deed. from James Proudfoot to Daniel McLoud,
dated June 20th of that year, by which is conveyed
lot No. 1 “in the town of Mount Bethel.” On the
15th of May, 1834, the same lot is sold by McLoud to
James Briceland,‘ and is there mentioned. as being in
the town of Florence. Other (lot-owners in 1823,

whose lots were adjoining McLoud, were William‘
The ‘

Criswell, Joseph Stewart, and —— Ritchie.
town was in Smith township until 1830, when it be-
came a part of Hanover. 2

The onehundred acres purchased from “ Guade-
loupe” -was adjoining the tract “ Satisfaction_,”owned
by Philip Jackson, and the tract “Contention,”
owned -by Samuel Marques. The Rev. Elisha Mc-

Curdy had purchased of Philip Jackson, Feb. 11, ..

1803, ten acres, and on the 9th of September, 1816,
sold it to James Briceland. Samuel Marques, who
patented “Contention” in April, 1799, sold to Jacob
Specht, June 12, 1806, eighty-eight acres. Specht
sold to James Briceland on the 1st of ’May, 1816.
These two parcels of land were owned by James
Briceland and adjoining the town of “Mount Bethel.”
-Additions were made by Briceland and lots sold by
him. He kept tavern many yearsvfrom 1813 at the
Briceland Cross-Roads, as it was called before it was

laid out as a town. . I

808

HISTORY OF WASHINGTON COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA.

« The following advertisement was published in the
Washington Reporter of Aug. 15,, 1814, and has ref-
erence to the town which afterwardsbecame Florence :

“NEW ToWN.—The, Subscribers respectfully inlformythe public that
they have ‘laid out a. town at the Cross-Roads in Smith’s Township,
Washington County, Pa., where the roads from Pittsburgh to Steuben-
ville and from Washington to Georgetown crosses. Various circu_m-
stances conspire to make this an eligible situation foria town or village.

The site of the town is handsome, the situation’ healthy, the land rich, 1

the water good, and abundancevof. stone coal within 100 perches; the
adjacent country is fertile, and inia forward state of cultivation. The
roads passing throughthe village are much occupied at present, and
must annually increase, it being on the direct route by land from Pitts-
burgh, the focus of the Western country, down the river——the distance
from Pittsburgh 26, from Steubenville 12 miles. The lots will be sold
by vendue on Tuesday, the 6th of Sept. next. The sale to commence
at 11 o’clk. An indisputable title will be given, and the terms of sale
made known by s

““ JAMES BRICELAND and
, “ Moses PROUDFIT.
“ Aug. 15, 1814.”

The first store in the townwas kept by a Mr.
Anderson. V A tannery was soon after established by
James Allison. Benjamin Kindrich opened a silver-
plating e.-=tablisl1ment. VVilliam Mercer also kept a
store here ma-nyryears ago. In-1825 Dr. Day was a
practicing physicianin Florence. * He was succeeded
by "Drs. Scott, Sutherland, Smith, Makakey, Cunning-
ham, McDowell, Bradley, Anderson, McCoy, Carroll,
Graham, and McCarrol‘l. The first post-office in this
section was a white-oak tree a short distance below
Florence, on which was nailed a clapboard box, in
which letters and papers were placed by the postman,
who passed through the town from Washington to
Georgetown.
lished in the town, and. Moses Bradford was the first
postmaster. He was succeeded by John Mitchelliin
1822. William L. Robb was in office in 1833; John
K..Norton from 1835 to 1837; Charles Calhoun in
1838. The succeeding postmasters have been William
L. Robb, O. P. Walker, William Criswell, Samuel
Livingston, Joseph Bell, W. J. Cool, and Dr. G. S.

‘Graham, who is the presentvincumbent.

The residence and tavern stand of James Briceland
is still standing, now owned by John Dennis. In the
year 1845 a small newspaper was established called
the Florence Enterprise." It lasted but a short time.

An agricultural society was established in 1858, and-

a fair held that year. This was continued for several
years. It was known as the “ Florence Agricultural
Association.” The third annual exhibition was held

atvFlorence on the 27th and 28th of September, 1860.‘

The officers were William Livingston, president;
John McCullough, James H. McNall, *Marshall
Short, Thomas P. Vance, and John Ferguson, vice-
presidents; M. Anderson, treasurer; S. L. M. Henry,
secretary. The society lived a few years, then lan-
guished, and was discontinued. -

A Methodist Episcopal Church was organized in-

the town in the year 1833 by the Rev. Wesley Smith.
A lot of ground was donated by James Proudfoot, on
which was erected a large frame building. This was

About 1818 a-post-ofiice was estab-

blown down by a violent storm, and the present
building was erected. A parsonage was also built.
The society. belongs to the same charge with the
Tucker Church,.and the pastors who haveministered
to that church have also had the care of this. The
membership at present is very small, and but little
care is given to the church property. , i

Cross-Roads Presbyterian Church.—The mother-
church from which this society and that of the Three
Springs Church sprang was known as “ King’s Creek
Presbyterian Church.” The ordinance of the Lord’s
Supper wasadministered first in August of the year
1788. Philip Jackson, Miles Wilson, and John Mc-
Millan were then elders. Ten years later it was
thought best by a large ‘majority of the congregation
to remove the place of worship from King’s Creek to
the “ Cross-Roads,” now Florence.

On the 20th of November, 1799, a call was ex-

tended to the Rev. Elisha McCurdy by the united.

congregations of Three Springs and Cross-Roads to
become their pastor. This call was signed by Philip
Jackson, James Proudfoot, Samuel" Merchant, Wil-
liam Jackson, John. Goodman Young,-William Lee,
John Coult-er,‘ John Wylie, .William Ledlie, and
John Orr. The call was accepted, and the Rev. Mr.
McCurdy was ordained and installed pastor of the
united congregations in June, 1800.

The following are the names of the persons who
were chosen as elders from the organization of the
society till 1807, while the society worshiped in the old
log church, viz.: 1786, Philip ackson, Miles.Wilson,
John McMillan; 1799, John Orr,’ John Good‘man
Young, William Lee, and John Wylie; 1800, John

‘Travis, John ‘Riddle; 1803, Samuel Fulton, James

Proudfoot, John Duncan, Sr.; 1804, "J ohn Withrow;
1807, Joseph Jackson, James Allison. .

The ministers who have served the church as pas-
tors were and have been as follows: Rev. Elisha Mc-
Curdy, June, 1800-35. Rev. Daniel Dewrelle, sup-
ply in 1836. Rev. William Burton, 1838; resigned
February, 1839. Rev. J. W. McKennan, November,
1839; resigned 1841. Rev. Joel Stoneroad, 1842;
resigned 1850. Rev. J. S.’ Wylie, 1850; resigned

1851. Rev. Oliphant M. Todd, November, -1852; re- .

signed’ 1858. Rev. John P. Caldwell, 1860; resigned
1864. Rev. A. W. Boyd, 1864; resigned 1865_; Rev.
I. M. Miller, 1867; resigned 1871. Rev. Samuel-

Forbes, resigned 1876. Rev. Ross Stephenson, July,
1877, to the present time. ' A

The society first worshiped in ‘a tent, which was
soon after replaced by a hewed log house, which stood

on the site of Alexander Scott’s shop. It was built -

in the form of a cross, about forty by eighty feet in
size. This was sold to John Proudfoot, who built a
barn of the logs. A neat two-story brick church
was then erected, which was destroyed by fire on the
23d of September,1845. The present church edifice
was erected in the fall of the same year.
Presbyterian .Grave.yard.—-In this old ground,

HANOVER

TOWNSHIP. 809

located at Florence, many of the old settlers in this
section of countrywere buried, among them the fol-
lowing: David Jackson, died Feb. 13, 1802, in the
53d year of his age; Mary McFarren, died Nov. 29,

‘p 1817, in the 61st year of her age_; Sarah McCurdy,

wife of the Rev. Elisha McCurdy, died Oct. 26, 1818,
in her 48th year; Jane McFarren, died Sept. 25, 1820,
aged 68 years; Daniel McLoud, died Jan. 29, 1829,
in-the 82d year of his age; John Barton, died Feb.
22, 1838, aged 82 years; Daniel McConnell, died.J an.
31, 1843, aged 70 years; John McConnell, Sr., died
April 11, 1879, in his 95th year; Benjamin Scott, died
Sept. 20, 1877, aged 85_years. _ ‘The Rev. Robert Ful-
ton, who foundedthe Florence Academyin 1832, died

Aug. 20, 1842, in VVe-llsburg, Va., in the 38th year of
- - his age, and was buried here.

The Rev. Elisha McCurdy was buried here, and

_tl1e following is inscribed upon his tombstone :

“In memory of the Rev. Elisha McCurdy, Late Pastor of the Congre-

. gation of Cross Roads.‘ Born October 15th, 1763. Licensed June 24th-,
1799. Ordained and Installed ‘Pastor June, 1800. A Pastor 35 years"

and minister of the Gospel 46 years. Died July 22d, 1845. He took an
active partin the great revival of 1802, and was distinguished for his
zealous labors in the cause of Indian Missions.” ’ 1

Florence Aca.demy.—This institution was founded
by Robert Fulton in 1832, and first located in a’ house
now the residence of Alexander Scott. Soon after-
wards a brick. building was erected for its use on the

. lot of ground belonging to the Presbyterian Church.
.Mr. Fulton’s proprietorship continued till theyear

1839. A more extended account of this academy will
be found on pages 452, 453 of this work, in the edu-
cational chapter contributed by the Rev. James I.
Brownson, D.D. '

“ The“ Rural Female Seminary” was in existence
in Florence in September, 1835. It was then in charge

‘of Mrs." Paull, governess, and Miss Cutter, teacher.

Neither the date of its establishment nor the period
of its continuance is known. , '
Murdochtown is situated on Raccoon Creek, at the
point of intersection of the lines of VVashington,
Beaver, and Allegheny Counties. Five townships

‘(Hanover and.‘ Robinson in Washington County, I n- I

dependence and Beaver in Beaver County, and Fin-

ley township of Allegheny County) all corner here.

The land at this place was originally owned by John
VVhite,— and from 1780 to long after 1800 the place was
known as White’s Mill. A grist- and saw;-mill is now
owned’ here by John Withrow. The town was named
after James Murdoch, who was an early settler here,
and is- said to have been the first postmaster. The
place now. contains nine dwellings, a school-house,’
post-oflice, store, blacksmith-shop, wagon-shop, and
shoe-shop.‘

Paris.——-This little town is situated in the western
part, of the township. It was laid out by Samuel

~Hill and Richard Ward. Theilatter built the first

house in the town, in which he kept a tavern to
accommodate. travelerson. the Pittsburgh and Steu-

benvilleturnpike, which passed through this place.
The building is now the propertyof Mrs. Freshwater,
of Hancock County, W. Va., and is used as the post-
oflice. Among the early residents was Dr. Ramsey,
who practiced in this region prior to 1840, and later
emigrated to Ohio. ‘ Among the early merchants were
Wolf, Gibson, McCabe, and McCuen. The town now
contains twenty-six dwellings, three stores, two black-

smith-shops, a-cabinet-maker’s shop, two churches

(United Presbyterian and Presbyterian), a school-

house, and the Paris Collegiate Institute, which was 0

established in October, 1878, by Prof. William I.
Brugh, who is still the principal. The resident phy-
sician is Dr. James H. Christy. ’

United Presbyterian Church. +—A Seceders’
Church was organized and "a meeting-house built
between. Holliday’s Cove and Cross-Roads as early as
the summer of 1785, near the place where -the village
of Paris now stands. The congregation at that time
was much scattered, and itwas first thought best; to
build about two miles south of Paris, near a spring

(which about the year 1860 supplied the mansion- V

house of Thomas Graham). For that purpose those
interested gathered ‘at that place and cut” the logs for

the house. After further consultation,however, the.
society concluded to build, and did build where Paris
This place of worship was kept for-’

now stands.
twenty years, when the society became so reduced
in numbers by deaths, removals, and the growing
interest of the union of the two parties -of the
church _that the Seceder house of - worship» was given
up to the united congregation, and remains in their
possession to the present time. ‘

In 1813 the Rev. George Buchanan accepted a .1

call to preach one-half the time to this society, and
the other half to the Associate Reformed Society in
Steubenville. Heflwas a native of York County, Pa.,
received his early education at Gettysburg, and grad-
uated at Dickinson College, Oarlisle. He was licensed
in the city of New York, and for a year or two
preached in the city of Baltimore, and came west of
the mountains in 1809», and placed himself under the
Monongahela Presbytery. He remained as pastor of
thesechurches for thirty years, and was succeeded
"by his son-in-law, the Rev. James Galloway, who
served until 1851, when he removed to Steubenville,
and with the Rev. Joseph Buchanan established an
academy, ‘which they conducted successfully many
years. V
After the Rev. Mr. Galloway came the Rev. Joseph
Buchanan as pastor. He was succeeded by the Rev.
James C. Campbell, who began his labors in. 1855,

and continued until April, 1875. He was succeeded _

by the Rev. John C. May on the 1st of April, 1876.
Mr. May was released in February, 1878. The Rev.
VVilliam J. Cooper, the present pastor, commenced
his labors on the 1st of April, 1880. The elders
who have served _the church since 1868- are David -S.
Fulton, June 16, 1868; James P. McCalmon't, April

810

  HISTORY or WASHINGTON COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIAA,

. 3, 1876; David Gardner, April 4, 1881; James

Morton, April 4, 1881. . "

The "first place of preaching- was a log building
that stood on the Steubenville pike, on the line be-
tween Pennsylvania and Virginia (now West Vir-
ginia). Soon after the Rev. George Buchanan became
the pastor a new meeting-house was built “out of
small hewed logs, with a recess set back for the pul-
pit to be placed in, after the plan of many of the
early Presbyterian meeting-houses that were built
west of the mountains.” The house stood exactly on
the‘St—ate line, the preacher being in one State and
the congregation mostly in the other. No provision
was made for heating the house for many years.
On great ‘occasions the society held services" in a
grove, a tent being erected for the preacher, and

the congregation were seated upon logs.. After’

many years a stove was allowed to be put up in
the church, and on a cold winter’s day lthelstove
was heated so hot that it set the church on fire. , All
saw the danger, but the old men could not put the
fire out, and the young men wanted to see. it burn.
’One old man rose and said, “ Young men, will ‘you
sit and see the house of God burn down?” This ap-
peal, with a few urgent.remarks from Mr. Buchanan,
incited the young men to activity, and with snow the
fire was finally put out. This building remained in
use until after 1843, and under the ministration of
the Rev.Mr. Galloway a new brick meeting-house
was erected at the east end of the village of Paris,
south of and on the Pittsburgh road, where it is still
standing and in use. ,_ ' V '
Methodist Episcopal Church. —-This church,
whose place-of worship‘ is the “Tucker Meeting-
house,” was organized in 1824, by the Rev. Thomas
Jamison. The original members were John Tucker

and wife, Jonathan Tucker and wife, James Jackson,
' and Elizabeth and Jane Hanlin.

been formed previous to this time, and meetings were
held in the house of Jonathan Tucker. . A lot of land
was purchased of John Tucker, situated on the Pitts-
burgh and Steubenville turnpike midway between
Florenceand Paris, and a stone meetingihouse was
built, which has been in use to the present time. The
society have now under consultation the proposition
to erect a new building in place of the presentone.
The ministers who have been in charge since 182
to the present time are named below, viz. : '
David Merryman, Jacob Young, William Hanlin,
George McKaskies, Hiram Gilmore, McMahon,
John Spencer, Richard’Armstrong, Wesley Smith,
George L. Sisson, * Swaney, Simon Locke, G.
Foster, Charles Thorn, John P. Kent, Israel Dallas,

 

 

, Harvey Bradshaw, Elisha P. Jacobs, Ebenezer Hays,

W. P. Blackburn, C. Jackson, J . Gibson, J. Boggs,

V Joshua Munroe, John Gregg, R. Jordan, G. Jones,

G. A. Lorrian, -—— Dorsey, J. Wright, David ‘Hess,
L. Dales, George B. Hudson, D. A. McCready, A. .J.
Rich, --—-- Burbuage, James Turner, George Dunlap,

A small" class had‘.

 main unch_anged since then.

S. H. Nesbit, Warner Long, James Hollinshead, M.
B. Pugh, J. L. Stiffy, J. Kesler, J. J. Hays, J. Kesler,
A. Baker, P. M. Hudson, I. N. Boyle, J. V. Yarnell,
J. Jones, J. M. Maver, ‘C. McCaslin, W. P. Blackburn,
J. Williams, W. Gamble, G. A. Sheets, M. M. Sweeney,
E. Jones, E. Taylor, A. V. Galbreath, G. V. Hudson,
D. K. Stephenson, M. S. Kendig. ’ '
In the graveyard of the Tucker Church are found
inscriptions to the memory of the following-named

persons who were buried there, viz.: John Tucker,
died April 6,1831,"a_ged one hundred years’; Hen-V

rietta Tucker, died Nov. 29, 1833, aged ninety-six
years; Edward Shipley, died April 6, 1817, aged
eighty-three years; Martha Ralston, died July 1, 1839,
aged seventy-three years; Elizabeth Miller, died July
4, 1846, aged seventy-three years; Ann Cole, died
Oct. 8, 1847, aged eighty-eight years.‘ ’

The burial-place that is used by the people of the
town of Paris contains among others the following:

Robert Gibson, died‘ Oct. 24, 1807, aged sixty-nine_

years; William Wallace," died Nov. 10, 1825, aged
seventy-seven years; John Gorley, died Feb. 14, 1831,
aged seventy-six years; William Leadlie, died Jan.
5, 1835, aged eighty-eight years; George M. C. Keazy,
died Dec. 16, 1836," aged eighty-seven years; James-
Caldwell, died Oct. 10, 1837, aged seventy—six years;
William McClung, died Sept. 18, 1842, aged eighty
years; Joseph Lyon, Sr., died May 26, 1852, aged
seventy-seven years; Robert Simpson, died Oct. 29,

‘ 1855,‘ aged eighty-eight years. V

Schools.-In the year 1805 a Mr. Shaw taught
school in a cabin on the farm now kriown as the D.
C.’ Fulton farm. In 1810,’ George Cunningham
taught one year in the same cabin. In 1817, Rich-
ard Shillcock taught in a house on the farm now
owned by John W. Duncan. ‘Hugh Barton after-
wards taught about two years in the same house, and
still later John McCreary taught a school in it. * Doug-

las Geary taught in it house on the land of Joseph ’ P

Scott, then in Smith township, now ‘Hanover. _
Schools were not taught in the township with any

regularity until after the passage of the school law of

1834. David McCoy was appointed from this town-

ship to attend as delegate the county convention _

held. in Washington, November 4th of that year, to
discuss the question of accepting theprovisions of
the school law, and whether to levy the tax in ac-
cordance with it. When the question was brought

to vote, Mr. McCoy was one of five who voted nay.‘

Election was held at the school-house in Florence on
the 20th of March, 1835, for directors, and James
Braden and Robert Coventry were elected’; The next
year the township was districted, and houses were
erected soon after. . In 1863 there were fourteen dis-

tricts with fourteen teachers in the township- Six

hundred and two pupils were enrolled, and $2218.07
was raised for school purposes. The districts re-
In 1873 there were 466
scholars, and $5182.86 was raised, and $4705.08 ex-

HOPEWELL

TOWNSHIP. ‘ r 811

pended. In 1880 there were 478 scholars, and $2856.62
received for school purposes, with an expenditure of
$3023.17 for the same purpose. - ..
Justices of the Peace.~This township was an in-
dependent district from its erection in 17-86 to 1803,
when it was embraced in District No.4 and so re-
mained till 1838, when it again became an independ-
ent district. The names of the justices of the peace
who exercised jurisdiction over the territory during

the time it was embraced in District No. 4, will be _

found in the justices’ list of Smith township. The
names of -those appointed and elected in Hanover
township during the two periods in w.hich it was an

independent district are given in the following list,
together with the dates of their appointments or
election, viz.: 1

Samuel Glasgow, May 7, 1788.
Samuel Fleming, Feb. 9, 1799.
William L. Robb, April 14, 1840.
Benjamin Bubbett, April 14, 1840.
John McCullough, April 15, 1845.
Benjamin Bubbett, April 15, 18.45.
Walter Buchanan, April 11, 1848.
John McCullough‘, April 9, 1850.
Walter Buchanan, April 13, 1853.
John McCullough, April 10, 1855.
Walter Buchanan, April 13, 1858.
John McCullough, April 10,1860.

Robert.Neely, April 14, 1863.
John McCullough, June 3, 1865.
John McCullough, March 29, 1870.
Samuel Martin, March 29, 1870.

' John McCullough, Jan. 28, 1874.
Samuel Martin, May.24, 1874.

Oliver P. Shields, March 16,1876.
Alex. McConnell, March 14, 1877.
H. A. Jackson, March 25, 1878.
Francis Finnegan, March 25, 1878.

s

it C

HOPEWELL

gnu‘

Tonnssnle

Vvf

HOPEWELL, the seventh in the list of original
townships of Washington County, formed July 15,
1781, embraced at the time of its erection the terri-
tory of the present townships of Hopewell, Independ-
ence, Cross Creek,.and Jefferson, and part of that of

’Mount Pleasant. ‘ The successive erections of the last-
" named four townships reduced the area of Hopewell

to its present boundaries, which are, on the north,
Cross Creek township; on the northeast and east,
Mount Pleasant and Canton; on the south, Buffalo;
and on the west the township of Independence. The
principal streams of Hopewell township are the south

'-branch of Cross Creek and Brush Run of Buffalo

Creek, which respectively mark the northern and
southern boundaries of the township. A_number of

~ smaller creeks and runs flow into these streams from

the north and south, heading in the dividing ridge
which extendsin an easterly and westerly direction
through Hopewell north of itscentre. C

One of the, earliest white settlers within the present
limits of Hopewell townshipwas Jesse Martin, who
received a Virginia certificate, dated at Redstone Old
Fort, Dec. 6, 17 7 9,‘ for a tract of land in Ohio County,
Va. (which county, as then claimed by the State of
Virginia, covered all the west - part of the present
county of Washington), “ situate on the ,waters of
Buffalo Creek, and to include his settlement, made in
the year of our Lord 1772.” This fixes definitely the
date of Martin’s settlement on the tract granted‘ by
the certificate. 1 Its location was in the present town-
ship of Hopewell. When afterwards surveyed it was
found to contain four hundred and five acres, and
was named “ Btiifalo.” It adjoined lands of William
Slemman, John Johnston, and Hugh H. Bracken-

ridge. It was sold by Martin in 1785 to. Robert
Caldwell. ‘ ~, 1
William Smiley was a Scotchman, who first settled
in York County, Pa. Very soon after,'however, he
emigrated to Washington, and the_year 1779 found
him a resident of Hopewell township. In 1780 he
had made a comfortable dwelling for his family, and
brought them here, settling upon that part of his
land now owned by his grandson, William Smiley.

The land upon which William Smiley, Sr., located in-

1779 was warranted to him Feb.'21, 1785, and sur-

veyed September 11th of the same year. The tract’

containedthree hundred and eighty-seven acres, was
situated on the waters of Buffalo Creek,.and was, called
“ Moab.” William Smiley was an elder in the Buffalo
and Cross Creek Presbyterian congregations, and al-
ways eflicient and enthusiastic in the work of the
church. He was of a strong mind, very shrewd, and
eminently pious. His manners were somewhat blunt,
and he had an integrity and honesty about him which
would not allow him to connive at anything which he
thought to be wrong. He disliked everything which
in anyway set aside the claims of religion, and -did

not give it its proper place in the business of life or

the enjoyment of the social circle. He held the office
of justice of the peace in Hopewell township for
some years. His son William married Nancy Cald-
well, and reared a family of six sons and one daugh-
ter. Margaret, the only daughter, became the wife

“of Alexander Hamilton. William lives upon a por-
tion of his grandfather’s original property. He is now 7

in his eighty-fifth year. Robert Smiley married Re-
becca Anderson, daughter of a clergyman. He died
in Omaha, Neb. James married Nancy Hull, and
died in Cincinnati, Ohio, whither he had removed.

John McCullough, March 17,1875. 2

812

HISTORY OF WASHINGTON COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA.

John married Mary Williamson, and died in Mount
Pleasant. Samuel married Hannah Cool, and went
to Morgan County, Ohio, where he died. David C.
Smiley, who married Naney’Tweed, died on the old
ho.mestead. ‘

Robert Caldwell" was one of the earliest settlers of
Hopewell township. On April 7, 1785, he bought
four hundred and five acres of land, situated on the
waters of Buffalo Creek, of Jesse Martin, it being the
tract “ Buffalo” previously mentioned i'n the account
of Martin’s settlement. Robert Caldwell was of Irish
parentage. The property he owned and lived upon
here is still in the family, being owned by Samuel
Caldwell, a descendant. His family consisted of six
children,‘--Robert, David, Nancy, Margaret, Jane, and
Martha. Robert married Jane Caldwell, and lived
and died in Armstrong County; David married Nancy
Curry, and died in Washington County; Nancy be-
came the wife of William Smiley; Margaret went

‘with her, husband, George Anderson, to St. Clairs-

ville, Ohio, and died there; Jane married a Mr. John-
son; and Martha married William Nesbit. They

removed to Beaver County, in this State, and died

there.

The Rev. Joseph Smith, one of the early settlers in
Hopewell-, was of English parentage. , His father set-
tled on the road leading from the Susquehanna River
to,Wilmington, Del., near what is called Rising Sun,

in the township of Nottingham, Md., where J oseph

was born in 1736. His’ early education fitted him
for a collegiate course,and he entered Princeton Col-
lege, where he graduated in 17 64, when.he was twenty-
eight years of age. He was licensed by the Presby-
tery of New Castle to preach the gospel at Drawyers,
Aug. 5, 1767. - On the 20th of October, 1768, he ac-
cepted a call from the congregation of Lower Brandy-
wine, and was ordained and installed as pastor April
19, 1769. A short time before he was licensed he had
married; Esther, daughter of William Cummins, mer-
chant, of Cecil County, Md. A His relation of pastor
was dissolved Aug. 26, 1772. At the same meetingof
Presbytery he received a call from the congregations
of Rocky Creek and Long Cane, S. C., which he de-
clined, and acted as a supply to his former congrega-

tion for one year, and also preached at VVilmington,-

Del. On the 12th of August, 1773, a call from the
Second Church of VVilmington was placed in his
hands by the Presbytery; this call he held till the
fall of the next year, when the congregations of Wil-
mington and L‘ower,Brandywi‘ne having united, he
accepted aunited call, and became their pastor Oct.
27, 1774.. In these churches he labored until April
29, 1778, when ‘at his request the connection was dis-
solved. In the fall of that year he was taken sud-
denly and dangerously ill of a fever, and only recov-

A ered after a long and severe term of sickness.

At that time Judge James Edgar, who had for sev-
eral years been an acquaintance and intimate friend
of his, was living in what is now VVashington County,

and it has been said thatit was largely through his
influence that Mr. Smith was induced in the spring of
1779 to visit this section of country, to which the
Rev. John McMillan had removed with his family a
few months before, and where the Rev. James Power
had resided since 1776. A short time after his return
from the West Mr. Smith received through his Pres-
bytery a call dated June 21, 1779, from the united
congregations of Buffalo and Cross Creek, promising
him £150 per annum. This call was signed by two
hundred and four persons, with anamount of sub-
scriptions already raised reaching £197 53. 5d. The
call and subscription—list were embodied in one paper
-—an original and singular doeument——thought to

« have been drawn up by James Edgar, who had been

for some time an elder in the Cross Creek Congrega-
tion. Mr. Smith accepted the call on the 29th of
October, 1779, and in the following year moved his
family to his new field of labor, and settled in what
soon after became Hopewell township, and where he
passed the remainder of his life.

On the 2d of May, 1780, he purchased from Joseph
Wells three hundred and seventy.-six acres of land
lying on the waters of Cross Creek, the consideration

being £1625. ‘Of this tract Mr. Smith afterwards sold I

eighty-four acres to Thomas Polke, and later it was
sold to Robert Fulton. When Mr. Smith purchased
the land of Wells he depended largely on the pros-
pective income fron1 his salary as a means of meeting
the payments, a calculationwhieh brought him no
little disappointment afterwards. The Rev. James
W. Miller relates an incident having reference to the
financial relations between Mr. Smith and his people,
as follows : _

“ He found them a willing and united people, but still unable to pay
him a salary ‘which would support his family. He in common with all
the early ministers must cultivate a farm. He purchased one on credit,
promising to pay for it with the salary pledged to him by his people.
Years passed away. The pastor was unpaid. Little or no money was in
circulation. Wheat was abundant, but ‘there was no market; it"could
not be sold for more than twelve and a half cents in"ca.sh. Even their
salt had to be brought across the mountains on pack-horses, was worth
eight dollars a bushel, and twenty-one bushels of wheat had often to be
givenifor one of salt. The time came when the last payment must be
made, and Mr. Smith was told he must pay or leave his farm. Three
years’ salary was now due from his people. For the want of this his

land, his improvements upon it, and his hopes of remaining among a '

beloved people, must be abandoned. The people were called together
and the case laid before them ; they were greatly moved; counsel from
on high was sought; plan afterpplan was proposed and abandoned; the
congregations were unable to pay a tithe of their debts, and no money
could be borrowed. In despair they adjourned to meet again the follow-
ing week. In the mean time it was ascertained that a Mr. Moore . . .
would grind for them wheat on reasonable terms. At the next meeting
it was resolved to carry their wheat to Mr. Moore's mill ; some gave fifty
bushels, some more. This was carried from fifteen to twenty-six miles
on horses to mill. In a month word came that the flour was ready to go
to market. Again the people were called together. After an earnest

. prayer, the question was asked, ‘Who will run the flour to New Or-

leans ?’, This was a startling "question. The work was perilous in the
extreme ; months must pass before the adventurer could hope to return,
even though hisjourney should be fortunate; nearly all the way was a
wilderness, and gloomy tales had been told of the treacherous Indian.
More than one boat’s crew had gone on that journey and came back no

' more. Who, then, wouldendure the toil and brave the danger? None
4 volunteered; the young shrunk back and the middle-aged had their

HOPEWELL

TOWNSHIP.

excuse. The scheme at last seemed likely to fail. At length a hoary-
headed man, an elder in the church, sixty-four years of age, arose, and

. to the astonishment of the assembly, said, ‘ Here am I; send me.’ The

deepest feeling at once pervaded the assembly. To see their venerated
old elder thus devote himself for their good melted them all to tears.
They gathered around Father Smiley to learn that his resolution was
indeed taken ; that, rather than lose their pastor, he would brave dan-
ger, toil, and even death. After some delay and trouble two young men
were induced by hope of large reward to go as his assistants. A day
was appointed for their starting. The young and old from far and
near, from love to Father Smiley, and their deep interest in the object
of his mission, gathered together, and, with their pastor at their head,
came down from the church,fifteen miles away, to the bank of the river
to bid the old man farewell. Then a prayer was offered up by their
pastor, a parting hymn was sung. ‘There,’ said the old Scotchman,
‘untie the cable, and let us see what the Lord will do for us.’ This
was done and the boat floated slowly away. More" than nine months
passed and no word came back from Father Smiley. Many a prayer.had
been breathed for him, but what was his fate was unknown. Another
Sabbath came ; the people came together for worship, and there, on his

' rude bench before the preacher, composed and devout, sat Father Smiley.

After the services the people were requested to meet early in the week
to hear the report. All came again. After thanks had been returned
to God for his safe return, Father Smiley rose and told his story ; that
the Lord had prospered his mission, that he had sold his flour for twenty-
seven dollars a barrel, and then got safely back. He then drew a large
purse, and poured upon the table a larger pile of gold than any of the
spectators had ever seen before. The young men were each paid a hun-
dred dollars. Father Smiley was asked his charges. He meekly replied
that he thought he ought to have the same as one of the young men,
though he had not done quite as much work. It was immediately pro-
posed to pay him three hundred dollars. This he refused till the pastor
was paid. Upon counting the money it was found there was enough to
pay what was due Mr. Smith, to advance his salary for the year to come,
to reward Father Smiley with three hundred -dollars, and then have a
large dividend for each contributor. Thus their debts were paid, their
pastor relieved, and while life lasted he broke for them the bread of life.

_ The bones of both pastor and elder have long reposed in the same church-

yard, but a grateful posterity still tells this pleasing story of the past.”

After the removal of his financial difficulties by the
fortunate issue of Father ,Smil‘ey’s trip to New Orleans,
Mr. Smith took‘ up more land, including the tracts
-“ Welcome” and “ Mount Joy,” amounting to seven
hundred and sixty-six acres.

In the year 1785 he opened a select school with a
special View to the training of young men for the
ministry. Mr. Dodd’s school on Ten-Mile Creek had
just closed, and three young men from thatschool,
James McCrready, Samuel Porter, and Joseph Patter-
son, began a course of study with Mr. Smith. The
class was soon afterwards joined by James Hughes
and John Brice. The school was at first taught in a
room which Mr. Smith had built for a kitchen, but
was afterwards held in a building erected for that
especial purpose in his garden. It was continued for
some time, and was finally merged in the academy at
Canonsburg, afterwards Jefferson College. To the
project of the academy Mr. Smith gave his hearty
support. He labored with his people until his death,
which occurred quite suddenly on the 19th of April,
1792. His remains were interred in the graveyard at
Upper Buffalo. His wife survived him‘ more than
twenty-eight years, and died Oct. 7, 1820, in the sev-
enty-eighth year of her age. , .

The Rev. Joseph Smith left three sons and five
daughters. To his son, William Cummins Smith, he
bequeathed two hundred acres of land; to his daugh-

52 i -

1 Hudson River.

813

ter Mary one hundred acres; and the same amount
to his daughter Agnes. These lands were parts of the
tracts “Welcome” and “Mount Joy.” To his son
David, who was a minister of the same denomination,
he left seventy pounds in gold “ for. ye single purpose
of supporting my said son David in his learning.”
To his daughters Esther, Elizabeth, and Naomi Smith
he left the tract “ Argyle,” containing three hundred
and eighty-five acres. To his son Joseph he left two
hundred and seventy-eight acres, the homestead, it
being a part of the tract “Mount Joy.” Of the daugh-
ters of Mr. Smith, one died in early womanhood;
Mary became the wife of Rev. James Hughes, the
first president of Miami University; Agnes became
the wife of the Rev. James Welch; and Esther the
wife of the Rev. William Wylie. Another daughter

I became the wife of the Rev. Joseph Anderson. iOf
’ the three sons, one died while preparing for the min-

istry. David became a minister, preached with great
success for nine years, and died at the age of thirty-
two. Several of the grandsons of Mr. Smith also
became ministers.

Thomas,Polke (whose name is also frequently found
spelled Pollock in early deeds and records) has already
been mentioned as the purchaser of a piece of land from
the Rev. Joseph Smith. The purchase and sale was
made May 3, 1786. The land conveyed by Mr. Smith
to Polke (or Pollock) was a tract lying on Cross Creek,
which was a part of the body of land granted by Penn-

1 sylvania to Joseph Smith, Dec. 12, 1785. There were

eighty—four and three-fourths acres in the tract, and

‘ the consideration was five pounds, nineteen shillings,

and six pence. The description in the deed is fol-
lowed by this remark: “Which” said land was for-
merly surveyed and patented by a certain John Hall
for a certain Thomas Gardner, and afterwards sur-
veyed with a tract of land in pursuance of a warrant

-granted to Joseph Smith, Sept. 30, 1785.” After-

wards Thomas Polke and Margaret, his wife, sold
this same property to “Robert Fulton, a miniature
painter, of Philadelphia,” for eighty pounds. This

.“miniature painter” was the same famous Robert

Fulton who built and ran the first steamboat on the
Upon the tract of land above men-
tioned the father, mother, and three sisters of Robert
Fulton lived, and the parents died there, the mother
last, in 1799. Robert Fulton also purchased a lot in
Washington borough, on which his sisters, Mrs. Isa-
bella Cooke and Mrs. Mary Morris, lived. The farm

. was left to the third sister, Mrs. Elizabeth Scott, by
« Mr. Fulton’s will, made in 1814. . -

David Boyd, one of the best-known, as he was also
among the earliest of the pioneers of this township,
was a native of Cumberland County, Pa., and came to
settle in Hopewellin or about the year 1787, bringing
with him his. wife, two daughters, and two sons,——
James and John. The eldest son, James, known
familiarly for many years of the latter part of his life
as “ Uncle Jimmy Boyd,” died in Independence town-

81-1

HISTORY OF WASHINGTON COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA.

ship in 1880, in his ninety-ninth year, and immedi-
ately after his death there was published a narrative
of his father’s‘ early life, which embraces events and
adventures so remarkable that it is thought worthy
of a place in this history. It is accordingly given as
follows:

“ In the year 1764' two cabins stood in the woods near where Carlisle,
Cumberland C0,, now stands. They were the dwelling-places of John
Stewart and John Boyd and families, and were upwards of a mile apart.
One day John Boyd was at the house of the Stewarts when marauding
Indians burned the cabin. He hurried home to give the alarm, when he
found his own cabin in ashes, and his wife and three children-—two boys
and a girl—missing. The red devils had annihilated the happy home
he left a few hours before. It would appear that two Indians strag-
gled from the band which burned Stewart’s house, and surprised David
and his brother, while they were gathering bark not far distant from the
house, and with raised tomahawks frightened them into quietude. They
then entered the cabin, helped themselves to what they wanted, took
prisoner the mother and daughter, set fire to the house and laid it waste-
The mother was not in a condition to travel, and the murderous fiends
took her into a thicket a short distance from the house and butchered
her. David was then between six and seven years of age, and he not
only witnessed the tragedy, but the Indians compelled him to carry the
scalp of his loving and affectionate mother. He never forgot this cir-
cumstance. It was burned into his heart. He never saw his brother
and sister after the murder of his mother, nor did the relatives ever get
a trace of them. The Indians parted after the massacre of Mrs. Boyd,
David going with one squad, and the brother and sister with another.

“ The next thing the youthful prisoner recalled was the Indian camp,
where all manner of indignities were heaped upon him by the ‘ young
braves.’ Running the gauntlet was one of the favorite pastimes of the
braves, and he had to go through it every morning. He soon discovered
that one of the Indian boys, in particular, laid the blows unusually
heavy, and was bent on punishing him. He was very savage in his
attacks. Smarting with pain as well as the indignity, young David re-
solved that-if the Indian lad continued his malicious attacks he would
stop and knock him down, and one morning he executed his design,
sending the little redskin head over heels in a twinkling. Instantly
there was hilarity in Choctaw, and the chiefs, with raised tomahawks,
ejaculated, ‘Pale-face make good Indian !’ This circumstance, unex-
pectedly to David, ended his guantlet experience, and from that time
forward he became a favorite with old and young of the band.

“'One of the Indian chiefs, an aged man, who had lost a son by death,
agreed to adopt David Boyd. He accordingly had his head shaved until
there was only a tuft left on the top; then he was taken to a creek and
ducked three times, in order to wash out the white blood and introduce

the Indian blood. Meanwhile there were incantations and all sort of ,

gibberish. He was then dressed in an Indian garb and had all the priv-
ileges of the Wigwam and camp. He was in the redoubt erected by Maj.
William Gran t.1 There were about seventy-thre.e Indians in the fort, and
when they left it some of them went up the Allegheny, and others up
the Monongahela River. He was with the Indians for three years and
six months, and possibly wouldihave remained with them had it not been
for the kind-hearted old chief who had adopted him as his son. Recog-
nizing the fact that age was creeping upon him, and that he would soon
be called to the happy hunting-grounds, he resolved on taking the lad to
Cumberland County, in order to ascertain if any of his relatives were
still living. He found some, and delivered the lad into their custody.
David wept bitterly when he came to part with the old chief, and would
have returned with him, but the old Indian forbade it. In after-life he
often referred to the redskin, and said when provisions were low his
Indian father would share his last bite with him. He lived for a while
near Carlisle, from which place he removed to what is now Washington
County.”

Before he came to the West, however, he served in
the Continental army through the Revolutionary war.

1 This has reference to the time when Maj. Grant was defeated on
Grant’s Hill, Pittsburgh, in 1758, when pushing forward with the ad-
vance-guard of Gen. Forbes’ force to attack Fort du Quesne. Young

' Boyd was with the Indian force that marched out from the French fort

to attack Grant; and he witnessed the atrocities committed by the sav-
ages 011 the wounded and captured Highlanders after the defeat and
rout of the whites. ’ 1

He was present in the army of Gates when Burgoyne
surrendered at Saratoga, in 1777, and was also with
Washington when Cornwallis surrendered at York-
town. The farm on which he settled in Hopewell
township is the samelwhich is now owned by W. W.’
Dinsmore, located on the road leading from Washing-
ton to ‘West Middletown, and three miles east of the
latter place. 0

David Boyd was always a highly-respected citizen,
and was a justice of the peace in Hopewell for twenty-
five years, holding the office at the time of his death,
which occurred about 1830, at the age of nearly sev-
enty-five years. His children were four sons,——James,
John, David, and William. James was born in Cum-
berland County in 1782, and was about five years old.
In 1805 he settled in what is now Independence town-
ship, and died there, as already mentioned, in 1880,
almost a centenarian. John, the second son of‘David
Boyd, was also born in Cumberland County, and was
three years of age when he came with his parents to
Hopewell. He settled in West Middletown in 1808,
and served there as justice of the peace for twenty-
five years, being first appointed by Governor Joseph
Ritner. He died in 1866, eighty-two years of age.
Of his younger brothers, David and William, little
has been learned, except that the latter died in Ken-
tucky. David Boyd, Sr., had also four daughters,-
Sarah, Mary, Nancy, and B~etsey,——two of whom were
older than James, and born east of the mountains,
before their father’s settlement in the West.

David M. Boyd, son of John, and a grandson and 8

now the oldest ‘living descendantof David Boyd the
pioneer, was born in West Middletown, where he still
lives. He was early apprenticed tothe carpenter’s

trade by his father, and followed the business for‘

twenty-five years. He then engaged in flat-boating
on the"Monongahela, Ohio, and Mississippi, continu-
ing in the trade for several years. In 1844 he married
Eliza Boyd. In 1853 he was appointed postmaster of

West Middletown, and about that time engaged in ~-

mercantile business also, in which he still continues.
He held the oflice of postmaster for eight years. Mr.
Boyd’s wife died i11 1865 (leaving an only son), and
in 1866 he married Miss Annie McNulty, grand-
daughter of Col. David Williamson. In 1872, Mr.
Boyd was a delegate to the Republican National Con-
vention held at Philadelphia, which nominated Gen.
U. S. Grant for President. He is now about seventy
years of age, healthy and vigorous. He has served
as justice of the peace for nearly twenty years, his
father and grandfather before him having each filled
the same office in Hopewell township for twenty-five
years, as before mentioned. 1
Thomas Urie was a native of Ireland, who, emi-
grating to this country, lived for a time at Bloody
Run, Pa., coming from there to Washington County.
He received a Virginia certificate for four hundred

acres of land by estimation, but when it was surveyed, '

Jan. 10, 1787, it was found to contain but three hun-

HOPEWELL

TOWNSHIP. 815

dred and twenty acres. The name given his tract
was “The Constitution.” It was situated on the
waters of Buffalo Creek, adjoining the lands of George
Ramsey, Solomon Shepherd, James Martin, and J ohn,
Chapman, and upon this place he passed his life. It
is now in the possession of Robert Clark and John
Brownlee. Thomas Urie had three sons,—Samuel,
Solomon, and Thomas,—all men of remarkable stature
and great physical strength. Samuel and Solomon
each weighed over three hundred pounds. They

- were also men. of prominence and ability, and Samuel

represented his district in the4State Legislature, be-
sides filling the oflice of justice of the peace from 1810
to 1826. Solomon and Thomas were great hunters,
and while thus engaged near Stillwater, Ohio, Thomas
was killed by Indian-s. Solomon escaped, and years
afterwards (in 1815), when living at Coshocton, Ohio,
he killed an entire band of six Indians, one of whom
had made an insulting boast of being the one wh_o
killed his brother Thomas on the occasion referred to
above. Solomon was arrested and taken to Mad
River for trial, but was acquitted and returned to his
home. He was killed in 1830 by a fall from his
horse. George W. Urie, a 1 son of Solomon, was
present at the centennial celebration of Washington
County in Septengber, 1881.

Thomas Urie, J r., who was murdered by Indians, as
above narrated, left a widow and two children, Eliza-
beth and Thomas. The widow married‘ David Craig,
and they "had a large family of children. Mr. and Mrs.
Craig died in West Middletown. Elizabeth, the

, daughter of Thomas Urie, Jr.,.married James Mc-
Bride, and their descendants live in Independence
township.

James Davis came from Delaware to Hopewell

I township in 1791, locating upon the tract of land now

owned by D. C. Ross, which was patented to Joseph
G. Chambers. Previous to removing from Delaware,
Mr. Davis married Celia Galloway. Their family
numbered eight children, three sons and five daugh-
ters. Rebecca, one of the daughters, married John
France, and went to make her home in Harrison
County, Ohio. John married Jane Dolan, and also
lived in Ohio, as did Sarah, who married Hanson
Hamilton, and settled in Richland County. Mary
became Mrs. Robert Sloan, and remained in Wash-
ington County. Susan became the wife of Robert
Cruthers, and removed to Belmont County, Ohio.
Elizabeth married Mr. Tweed, also going to Ohio,
Harrison County. Ezekiel married Elizabeth Wylie,
and resides in Hopewell township. Joseph died un-
married.

James Thompson came with his parents to this
country from Ireland in 1796, when he was but
fifteen years of age. They came almost directly to
Pittsburgh, Pa., and thence to this county. Mr.
Thompson was a surveyor by profession, having much
and varied experience in that line in the years he
pursued the vocation. His books and field-notes are

models of neatness and accuracy. Mr. Thompson
married Jane Craig for his first wife, and in 1840,

‘ having become a widower, he married Mrs. Matilda ,

Ritchie, who still survives him. Sheresides in West
Middletown, but her children are all residents of
Washington borough. Mr. James Thompson died in
1863, agedreighty-two years. .

George Work came into this township in 1802, and
on May 4th of that year became the owner of one
hundred acres of land, which was a part of the tract
of four hundred and eight acres that was taken up by

. John Tweed, situated on the waters of Buffalo Creek,

and patented to him under the title of “Tweed.”
John Tweed left one hundred acres of this land by

_will, March 16, 1791, to his son John, of whom

George Work purchased it. It is now owned by
Samuel C. Work, a grandson. George Work married
Margaret Dunlap, and they had five children,——James,
Alexander, John, Jane, and Mary. James married
a Miss Tweed, and their children numbered eight,-—-
George, Elizabeth, Nancy, Sarah,-Isabella, Emeline,
Ann, and Samuel C. Work. Alexander married Jane
Taggart, and they also had eight children,——George,
John, James, Jane, Mary, Samuel, Anderson, and

Alexander,-——all living in Ohio. John married a Miss -

Brown, and their four children——George, William,
Nancy, and Mary—-live in Indiana and Kansas.
Jane married Andrew Gilmore, and removed to
Highland County, Ohio. Mary became the wife of
Robert Tweed, and lived and died in Buffalo village,

in this township. -
Peter McKee, an Irishman by birth, emigrated to‘

America, and soon after his arrival came to Hopewell
township, bringing his family with him. He pur-
chased one hundred acres of land of John Brown,
the deed being made J an.‘ 20, 1803. This was a part
of “Castle Bracken,” a tract of three hundred and
eighty acres. Peter McKee’s children were Thomas,
John, James, and Margaret. John never married;
Margaret became the wife of Jacob Logan; Thomas
married Mary Vincent, and they had three children,
—-Jane, James, and Samuel. James McKee married
Margaret Dryden, and their two children were James
and Margaret. The farm that belonged to Peter
McKee is now owned by James McKee, his great-
grandson.

William Vasbinder came from Carlisle, in this

State, and located in West Middletown when that
place contained but seven or eight buildings. He _

was a wagon-maker by trade, also occasionally work-
ing at harness—making and blacksmithing. His wife
was Mary Buchanan. They had six children, three
sons and three daughters. Jane married T. B. Slem-
mens, John married Margaret Slemmens, and Marga-
ret married John Slemmens. The last-named couple
live in Canton township,” Washington County. Wil-
liam married a Miss Sibley, and emigrated to Louis-
ville, Ky.; George married Ann Craig, and lives in
Mansfield, Ohio ;, Mary died single-

96

Hrsrosv or WASHINGTON COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA.

ward by our member from Westmoreland, Encourage-
ment to the People there to co-operate with you in all
Respects, & hope it will be attended with good effect.
Wishing you Success equal to your Merit and good
Intentions I remain,” etc.

The member of the Council from VVestmoreland
referred to in the above communication was Chris-
topher Hays, and it was understood to have been
largely through his influence that the Council decided
favorably to Clarke’s views. Under the authority
conferred by the President’s communication, Gen.
Clarke, on the 3d of June, addressed the “ Council
of Officers” of Westmoreland to secure their con-
currence and assistance. The result was that the
matter was laid before the people of that county at a
public meeting held for that purpose on the 18th of
June, at which meeting it was:

“ 15*. Resolved, That a Campaign be carried on with Gen] Clark.

“ 2d. Resolved, That_Genl Clark be furnished with 300 men out of Pom-
roy’s, Beard’s, and Davises Battalion.

“ 3'31)’. Resolved, That Coll. Archd Lochry gives orders to sd Colls. to
raise their quota by Volunteers or Draught.

“ -‘M117. Resolved, That £6 be advanced to every volunteer that marches
under the command of Genl Clark on the proposd Campaign.

“ 5th. And for the further Incouragement of Voluntiers, that grain be
raised by subscription by the Different Companies. '

“ 6th13'. That Coll. Lochry concil with the Officers of Virginia respecting
the manner of Draughting those that associate in that State and others.

“W1. Resolved, That Coll. Lochry meet Genl Clark and other‘ officers
and C011. Crawford on the 235 Inst., to confer with them the day of Ren-
dezvouse. I

“ Signd by ordr of Committee,
, “ JOHN Paocron, Prest.”

It was not Clarke’s purpose or desire to recognize
the Pennsylvania county of Washington (which had
then recently been erected but not organized).or its
officers, so "he applied to the officers in command of
the militia of the so-called Virginia counties of Y0-
hogania, Monongalia, and Ohio to aid him in securing
men for the expedition. The result in Yohogania was
a meeting of the officers‘ of that county, June 5th, at
the old court-house, near Andrew Heath’s, on the west
side of the Monongahela, aboveand in sight of the
present town of Elizabeth, at which meeting a draft
of one-fifth of the militia of said county (which, ac-
cording to the Virginia claim, included the north half
of Washington County, Pa., and all of Westmoreland
as far south as the centre of the present county of Fay-
ette) was made for the expedition.’ The people, how-
ever, believing that the territory claimed by Virginia

1 This meeting and its proceedings were mentioned in a letter from

James Marshel (county lieutenant of Washington) to President Reed, as

follows: -
“ WASHINGTON COUNTY, June 27, 1781.
"‘ S1',—Since I had the honour of Addressing your Excellency last, the

old Enemies of this government and their adherents have exerted them- '

selves to the Utmost to prevent this County being organized. On the 5th
Inst. a Council of the Militia oflicers of Yohagena County was held at
their Court-house, and in Consequence of sd Council, the fifth part of the
Militia of sd County was drafted for General C1ark’s Expedition, but the
people did not Conceive they were Under the Jurisdiction of Virginia,
therefore they denied their Authority, and almost Universally Refused
doing duty under any government whatever nntill the line between the
States is actually run.”—Pa. A4-ch., 1781-83, p. 233.

as Yohogania County was really in the jurisdiction of
Pennsylvania, denied the authority of the Virginia
oflicers, and refused to submit to the draft until the
question of jurisdiction was definitely settled. But
the public notice given by Christopher Hays to the
people of Westmoreland and Washington that he
held in his hands money from the Executive Council
to be expended for the protection of the frontier had
the effect to quiet to a great extent, though not en-
tirely to allay, the dissatisfaction, and the work of
raising men in the two Pennsylvania counties (or, as

"Gen. Clarke expressed it, in Yohogania, Monongalia,
_V and Ohio Counties, Va.) was allowed to proceed,
though not without strong and bitter protest.

The main part of the force destined for Gren.
Clarke’s expedition (that is to say, nearlyall except
about one hundred and fifty men furnished by West-
moreland, under Col. Lochry and Capt. Benjamin
Whaley, as will be mentioned hereafter) was raised in
Washington County, but it appears evident from cer-
tain correspondence of that time that this was accom-
plished, not by the action of the Washington County
military authorities, but by the officers of the so-
called Virginia counties which covered the territory
of Washington. That there was a bitter quarrel at
that time between James Marshel, lieutenant of the
newly-erected (but unorganized) county of Washing-
ton, and Dorsey Pentecost (successor of Col. Joseph
Beeler in the oflice of county lieutenant of Yohoga-
nia, Va.) isevident from the recriminating letters
written by both these gentlemen to the president of
the Supreme Executive Council. Pentecost declared
(and no denial of the assertion is found in Marshel’s
correspondence) that it was chiefly through his energy
and efforts that Gen. Clarke’s main force was raised.
And that the force was raised by some means, and‘
placed in camp in a short space of time after the
meeting of officers at the Yohogania court-house
and subsequent refusal of the people to submit to the
draft there ordered, is made apparent in a letter
written by Col. Pentecost to President Reed, dated
“ Washington County, July 27, 17 81.”’ In that letter
he says,— ‘

“While Mr. Marshel was at Philadelphia, ,Gen’l
Clark came here with an Intent to carry an Expedi-
tion against the Savages, which was principally in-
tended to have been aided by Volunteers from this
County. He consulted myself with many others on
the most probable Plan for Success.
was tried, but to no effect; the Frontiers were mur-
dered every Day & the Militia could not be got out.
The Field Officers for Yohogania County called on
me & requested that I would take the Command of
the same, & endeavor to save it from utter Destruc-
tion. I accordingly swore into a Commission for that

Purpose which had been in the County upwards of A

a Year, & which I had neglected to qualify to, on ac-

2 Pa. Archives, 1781-83, pp. 315-19.

Every Effort '

-menced the manufacture of threshing-.machines.

' William Scott, July 15, 1781.

81 6

HISTORY OF WASHINGTON 9 COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA.

~William Craig, who was an early resident in Hope-
well township, had four sons',—David, John, VVilliam,
and Walter. David married the widow of Thomas
Urie, and settled in West Middletown. To David
Craig and his wife were born a large family of chil-
dren, all girls. When Mr. Craig died, in 1857, he left
a large landed estate. John Craig, second son of Wil-
liam Craig, went to Ohio. William, Jr., settled on
the homestead and died there, leaving a large prop-
erty, which was divided among his children. Walter

_ Craig, youngest of William Craig’s four sons, mar-

ried a‘ sister ‘of Col. Joseph Scott. In 1818 and 1819
he was a member of the House of Representatives
from this district. After _his marriage and his re-
moval to Cross Creek village he was elected to the
State Senate. 1

Robert B. McClure is a son of Robert McClure, of
Washington, who was a noted draughtsman. He
also practiced medicine in Washington for twenty-
five years under the “Thompsonian” system, and
was very successful in his treatment of cholera during
its prevalence in 1832. Robert McClure died in

1852. Robert B. McClure, his son, settled in West '9

Middletown in 1844, and the following year com-
He
is said to have been the first to manufacture machines
for threshing and cleaning grain in the State of Penn-
'sylvania. He is still engaged in that business and in
the manufacture of carriages and agricultural im-
plements. Previous to his commencement of the
business in 1845, Mr. McClure had followed the trade
of millwright. Since April 20, 1864, he has been a
justice of the peace. . ~

Justices ' of the Peace.~Fo11owing is ‘a list, of
justices appointed and elected in Hopewell township‘
during the century of its existence, viz. :

Robert Garrett, May 25, 1815.
William McClean, May 16, 1818.
Alexander Adams, Nov. 13, 1818.
George Plummer, June13, 1822.
William Rea, March 6, 1823.
David T. Archer, Dec. 3, 1823.
Thomas McKeever, July 2, 1824.
James McFadden, March 3, 1826.
John Ramsey, Oct. 19, 1829. ‘
George Elliot, Nov. 30, 1830.
James Lee, Nov. 18, 1835.
George Elliot, Nov. 18, 1835.
James Do11ahoo, Nov. 18, 1835.
Nathan Patterson, Nov. 18, 1835.
John Boyd, Nov. 17, 1837.
Henry Smith, Jan. 18, 1838.

John Marshall, July 15, 1781.
William Smiley, Nov. 11, 1788.
Samuel Urie, April 1, 1794.
William Slemmens, Nov. 1, 1799.
John Buchanan, Dec. 20, 1799.
James Gillespie, Aug. 4, 1801.
William Hughes, Jan. 7, 1805..
David F. Finney, Oct. 20, 1808.
Thomas Smith, March 15, 1809.
Thomas Patterson, March 15, 1809.2
Samuel Urie, March 21, 1810.
Robert McCready, April 1, 1811.
Alexander Adams, Nov. 18, 1811.
David Boyd, Aug. 23, 1813.
Matthew R. Acheson, Nov. 1, 1813.

1Hopewel1 township at its erection in 1781 embraced in addition to
its present territory that of the townships of Independence, Cross Creek,
and J eiferson, and part of that of Mount Pleasant. Upon the erection
of Cross Creek, in 1790, that township became a separate district (em-
bracing its own present territory with that of Jefferson and a part of
Mount Pleasant), and so remained until 1803, when it, with Hopewell,
became embraced in District No. 3. In 1822 a part of Mount Pleasant
was attached. In 1823 West Middletown borough was erected, but re-
mained attached to the district, which remained then with that jurisdic-
tion till the commencement of the operation of the Constitution of 1838,
under which the oflice of justice of the peace became elective, and each
township a district.

2 Not sworn in until April 27, 1813.

"George Plummer, April 14, 1840.

' James E. Lindsey, April 10, 1849.

Abraham Wotring, April 1.4, 1857.
David Brown, April 14, 1857.
Abraham Wotring, April 21, 1862.
John White, April 14, 1863.

D. M. Boyd, July 11,1865.
Abraham W'otring, April 9, 1867.
George W. Richie, April 15, 1873.
George W. Richie, Jan. 19, 1874.
George W. Richie, March 25, 1878.

John H. Smith, April 14, 1840.
John H. Smith, April 15, 1845.
Thomas G. Allen, April 15, 1845.

Robert McKee, April 9, 1850.
John H. Smith, April 9, 1850.
John Vasbinder, April 10, 1855.
George Linville, April 10, 1855.

West Middletown B0r0ug‘h.——West Middletown
is situated within the boundaries of the township of
Hopewell, i11 its northwestern ‘part, on the dividing
ridge between the waters of Buffalo and Cross Creeks,
and on the main road leading to Washington borough,
which road forms the main street of thetown. The
borough of West Middletown now contains four
churches, a school-house, post—oflice, two resident
physicians, five stores, a drug-store, machine-shop,
two wagon-shops, a cabinet-maker’s shop, two black-
smith—shops, a hotel, a livery stable, seventy-five

.dwellings,——one-third of which number are of brick,‘

—and a population of three hundred and twelve

according to the return of the United States census of I

1880.

The site of West Middletown borough is upon parts
of two tracts ofland that originally belonged to James
Martin and Samuel Grill. The tract of James Martin

. was taken out under a Virginia certificate granted in

February, 1780, and when surveyed was named
“Saint Martin,” and contained three hundred and
four acres. A patent for it was obtained March 4,
1794. The tract belonging to Samuel Gill when sur-
veyed was called ‘.‘Rosegill.” Patent for this tract
was granted Oct. 28, 17 90. One of the first settlers in
the locality was Galbraith Stewart,‘ who was a. black-
smith by trade and for. geveral years previous had
carried on his trade near Mount Hope Church, now
in Independence township. In the year 1795 he re-
moved to what is now West Middletown, where. he
built one of thefirst dwellings and opened a black-
smith-shop.
there and opened a store. The election district com-
posed of Hopewell, Buffalo,‘ and‘ Cross Creek town-
ships was erected in 1797, and this settlement became
the polling-place and so continued many years. At
one time during this period there were three licensed
taverns in the town. A post-oflice is mentioned as
being at West Middletown in the Postmaster-General’s
report in 1805.
(who afterwards removed to Washington) settled and
lived for a. time. Robert Garrett (the father of John
W. Garrett, president of the Baltimore and Ohio Rail-
road) also settled here, and opened a store which he
kept many years. It is stated that while living here
his son, John W. Garrett, was born. The house in
which he lived is now owned by Robert Garrett.
William McKeever was a hatter by trade, and was
also an early resident here. Later, Thomas and Mat-
thew McKeever were prominent men, and they were
among the first Abolitionists of the county. Thomas

Soon afterwards David Craig settled-

At this place William McKennan -

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HOPEWELL

TOWNSHIP. 817

was a justice of the peace, and upon a certain occa-
sion a number of Virginians came up from Wellsburg
in search of a negro slave, whom they captured at the
house of his brother _Matthew. He was brought be-
fore Justice Thomas McKeever. The negro claimed
that he was a freeman and was born in Somerset
County, ‘Pa., and gave names of parties living there
to prove it. Justice McKeever returned the case to
court, and demanded bail of the negro for his appear-
ance. Col.'McNu1ty signed the bond. The justice
then demanded bail of the ‘claimant for his prosecu-
tion of the claim, and no one responded, but the claim-
ant threw down the amount claimed, which the justice

refused upon the ground" that it was not bail but for- »
pfeit.

The justice then ordered the handcuffs to be
taken from the negro, deciding that he had complied
with the law and was a free man. The negro was
surrounded by his friends and marched ofi” in triumph.
McKeever was a director of the “ Underground Rail-
road” for forty years. “I was acquainted,” said he,
“ with a large number of slaves, and also their masters,
and I never advised a slave to run away from his
master, but when they came to me I helped them all
I could.” _ p

West Middletown was erected a borough by an act

- passed by the Legislature of Pennsylvania on the

27th of March in that year, and, in accordance with
other provisions in this act, borough officers were
elected, and the board organized and proceeded to
business, but little of importance was transacted.
The’ road that passes through West Middletown was
paved in 1824, but was taken in hand by the citizens,
and the burgess and Council, as such, seem not to
have been recognized in the action. A call was
made for a public meeting of the citizens of West
Middletown, to be held on the 19th of August,’ 1823,
“for the purpose of taking into consideration the
propriety of laying a road tax for the construction
of a paved road through the borough.” At a later

meeting the same year (December 15th) the citizens

decided to build one hundred rods of pavement, to
be paid for in two years, to be contracted for in sec-
tions of five rods each. It extended from the east
end of Joseph Lane’s shop to the west end of Samuel
Clutter’s house. On the 26th of December, William
Lindsey, Thomas White, and Thomas McKeever
were appointed a committee to lay out the street in
sections of five rods each as proposed, which was
done, and during the next year the road was paved.
It was not until the year 1832 that the burgess and

Council took action to procure apparatus for the ex-

tinguishment of fires. In the latter part of that year
a contract had been made for a fire-engine with parties
in Wheeling, and on the 5th of January, 1833, Hugh
Hamilton was sent to Wheeling by the Council to
nullify the contract. A meeting of the citizens was
soon after held, to vote whether or not a fire-engine
should be purchased. Forty-one votes were cast,
twenty-four in favor and seventeen against. A hand-

engine was thereupon purchased for two hundred and
seventy-five dollars of Ira Cummings, of Vermont.
The engine was kept at the house of David Craig,
who kept a store where the hotel now stands. It was
in use fortwenty years, and was then" housed till
1868. On the 13th of March of that year the Council
ordered the fire-engine and all pertaining to it sold.
A report made to the Council, March 24th, shows that
the engine, ladder, hooks, weigh-scales, 'etc., were
sold, and for them twelve dollars and twenty-five cents
was received. Since that time no attempt has been

made to organize a fire department in -West Middle-

town. _ .

Justices of the Peace.—Following is a list of j us-
tices-of the peace for West Middletown from 1840 to
the present time, viz. : ~

James McFadden, April 14, 1840.
John Boyd, April 14, 1840; June
23, 1845.

Alexander Burns, June 23, 1845.
John Boyd, April 9, 1850.

James E. Lindsey, April 11, 1854.
Thomas McFadden, May 25, 1857.
James E. Lindsey, Aug. 8, 1859.

Andrew c. Ritchie, April 10, 1860.

8, 1874. _

D. M. Boyd, Feb.‘ 1,1874.

R. B. McClure, May 24, 1874. J
David M. Boyd, March 17, 1875.
R. B. McClure, March 27, 1879.
D. M. Boyd, March 30, 1880.

The following incident in connection with Squire
Samuel Urie, who lived at -West Middletown, is in-
‘teresting. The docket from which it is,derived is in
possession of D. _M. Boyd, Esq. On the 1st of Feb-
ruary, 1818, complaint was made that a‘ certain yeo-
man did “ yesterday, the 31st day -of January, being
the Lord’s day’, commonly called Sunday, at Hope-
well Township chop off wood to the amount of two
sticks as big as his leg or thigh and further sayeth
not.”

For this outrageous violation of law and order
Squire Urie, on the 6th of February, five days after,

delivered the following decision: “I do‘ adj udge himi

toforfeit for the same the sum of four dollars.” In
addition to this were the fees of the justice, seventy-
five cents, and of the constable, twenty-five cents.
Post-Oflice.——The Postmaster-General’s report of
-1805 shows at that time there was a post—oflice at West
Middletown, but fails to state who was postmaster.
It is learned from the newspapers that David Craig
was postmaster in 1808. ~He remained in that oflice
till 1832, and was succeeded by Thomas J. Odenbaugh,
"who" occupied the position till 1839. The following
are the names of the postmasters of West Middle-
town and their terms of office, viz.: John Smilie,
1839-45; Thomas B. Slemmens, 1845-49; Robert
Dougan, 1853-57; David M. Boyd, 1857-65; Thomas
McFadden, 1865-69; George McFadden, 1869-80;
William Fowler, 1880 (present incumbent). ’
Schools of West Middletown.-—The first school-
house was a log building situated on the State road.
School was taught in it by one of the McFaddens.
The early history of the schools of the township, then
embracinglndependence, contains the history of the
schools of this town up to the year 1856, ‘when on the
12th of May in that year it became a separate district.

R. B. McClure, April 20, 1864; Jan.‘

818

HISTORY or WASHINGTON COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA.

The first school directors under this act were A. S.
Ritchie, president; S. S. Quest, secretary; and James
Vasbinder, treasurer. Two schools were opened, and
in 1863 there were one hundred and twenty—two
scholars enrolled; the amount of money raised for

school purposes of the district was $409.28, and the '

expenditures were $431.53. In 1873 there were one
hundred and eight pupils; receipts for school purposes,
$625.80; expenditures, $587 .33. In the year 1880,
seventy-seven pupils; receipts, $637 .92 ; expenditures,
$533.82. ' -

Union Grove Seminary.——About the year 1828
this seminary was first opened, with James Sloan,
principal. An anniversary meeting of the Franklin
Literary Society, connected with the seminary, was
held on the 4th of November, 1831. The trustees of
the school at this time were Daniel McGugin, David
Wherry, and William Lindsey. At an examination
held on the 15th of November, the same year, J. An-
derson, William Wallace, and Dr. Al. Hamilton were
appointed by the trustees to take the charge. On the
22d of October, 1832, the school was opened under the
superintendence of the Rev. Charles Wheeler as prin-
cipal, and Mr. George Gordon (graduate of Washing-
ton College) as assistant, and on April 7,1834, George
M. Hall was principal. The school flourished a few
years after this time with varied success, and was
finally discontinued at a date which has not been as-
certained. _

The old “ Horse Mill Academy,” established in
1844, the Upper Buffalo Academy, which commenced
in 1853, and the Pleasant Hill Seminary, located near
West Middletown, are mentioned on pages 453 and
455.of this volume, in Dr. Brownson’s chapter on the
educational interests of the county.

The West Middletown Christian Church}-—The
early history of this congregation is so intimately
associated with the movements of Thomas and Alex-
ander Campbell, and the first church they planted on
Brush Run,~that the reader is referred to the article
on the Christian Church, or Disciples of Christ, in the
general history of the county, and the early labors of
these men as there presented, as a necessary introduc-
tion to a true sketch of the planting of this church.

Commencing in the year 1830, some of the former
members of the old -Brush Run Church, and of an-
other church planted by the labors of Thomas Camp-
bell, near to Hickory, -began to meet for worship at
Matthew McKeever’s. The following are the names
of some of the first members: Matthew McKeever
and wife, Isaac" Cox and wife, Martain and wife,
Mother Buxton, George Webster and wife (colored),
Mothers McCray and Gillen, James McElroy and
Wife, and occasionally’Joseph Briant and others.

* They afterwards met in a school-house at the east
end of the village for some time, and also in other
private houses besides McKeever’s. During these

1 By the Rev. A. E. Myers.

years they were ministered to by the Campbells, by
James McElroy, and others, who ministered Bible in-
struction for their‘ mutual edification and encourage-
ment. There was, however, no regular organization
of them into a church until the year 1837, which was
effected at Pleasant Hill Semi-nary.

The following were then members: James McElroy
and family, Wort and family, James Ryon and
family, Matthew McKeever and family, Polly Gillen,
the Tarr family, and John Mendle and family. John
Mendle and Matthew McKeever were chosen as their
elders, and in addition to the labors of the Campbells
they had for some time the labors of Matthew Clapp
and Dr. A. W. Campbell, with occasional visits from

otheriministers of the word. After this they met for '

some time in town, in the school-house and in private
rooms, until 1848, when they erected their first meet-
ing-house, in the western portion of the village, a
small brick building. Here they worshiped until
1861, when they sold their house and bought their
present church building.

During these years, from the time of the erection of
their first house for worship up to the present, many
of the young ministers attending Bethany College
have ministered to them the word of life, but for

quite a number of years previous to hisdeath T. C.-

McKeever was their most active elder, laboring very
acceptably to them and the public in word and doc-
trine. After his death Samuel Matthews was located
there for a while, and since his resignation the church
has depended for preaching very much on the Bethany
students.

This congregation has had much trouble and afflic-
tion from internal dissension, which at times pros-
trated it very much ; but for some years past they
have been doing well, having got rid of the disturb-
ing element, and they are now in a good condition,
though not strong, and their prospects for usefulness
are very encouraging. The present number of mem-
bers is forty-eight. The elders are Daniel Hare, John

Nelson, and Thomas Lane. Their church property is ‘

worth about $1200.

United Presbyterian Congregation of West A

Middletownfi-—The old minutes of this congregation
have not been preserved, so that it is difficult to know
the date of its organization. From the best informa-

tion it was about 1810. Dr. John Riddle, of Robin- 0

son’s Run, preached the first sermon for our people
in the month of May, 1802. From that time till 1814
more or less supply of preaching was furnished. In
the month of June, 1814, Samuel -Findley was settled
here only a part of his time. His pastorate continued
for eight years, when he demitted his charge; after-
wards he spent most of his long life and labors at
Antrim, Ohio. The congregation remained vacant
until the falliof 1828, when William Wallace was
settled here, in connection with Wheeling and Short

2 By the Rev. Samuel Taggart.

HOPEWELL

TOWNSHIP. 819

Creek, West Middletown receiving half his labors.
In April, 1833, at the urgent desire of the Wheeling
branch, but much against the wish of the people
here, he saw fit to demit his charge here and removed
to Wheeling, where he spent the most of his labors,
though he finished his course at Canonsburg. The
memory of Drs. Findley and Wallace is dear to many
here, and through a large portion of the church.

The present pastor accepted a call from the con-
gregation, in connection with Mount Vernon, a new
branch some nine miles east, two-thirds of his time
to the former, and one-third to the latter. This rela-
tion continued ten years, when for reasons deemed
sufficient the Mount Vernon branch was demitted,
and the whole time was given to West Middletown.
This relationcontinued till the spring of 1855, when
by mutual agreement he gave up the congregation
and removed to Illinois. He found the climate did
not suit his constitution, and though he had accepted
a call in Peoria County, he concluded that he must
have his home somewhere among the hills, he knew
not Where. lAfter having been “ well shaken,” he re-
turned from the West in 1856. He accepted the
second call from his old charge, and remains here at
this present date, January, 1882. p

In 1818 the congregation built a house that re-
mained. intact until 1860, when we entered our new
church. The present building is a substantial -one,
built of brick, with a View to utility rather than or-
nament. It is fifty by seventy-five feet in size, with
a gallery over the vestibule at the west end. It cost
about four thousand dollars without the furniture.

The people are pleased with it, and think it good

enough for any country congregation.

This congregation belonged to the Associate Re-
formed Church up to the period of the union. with
the Associate Synod in 1858. Then the present name
of “ The United Presbyterian Church” was assumed.
We have a legitimate claim to this title, for both
these bodies were “true blue” Presbyterians previous
to the union. While we do not claim to have attained
to perfection, yet we are not ashamed of our creed,
our profession, and our descent from faithful Scotch

- and Irish ancestors.

This congregation had about eighty communicants
in 1834. It has varied from that number up to one
hundred and seventy-five. There have been admitted
to communion since that date more than six hundred,
but from deaths and removals and other causes our
number at present isabout one hundred and thirty-
three. Of the present congregation only one female

- member remains who had her name on the roll of

membership when the writer was first settled here.
About one-third of the ministers of the Presbytery
of Chartiers have been called home to their reward
since the union. X

I will record the names of the ruling elders of the
congregation who served here, most of whom have
gone to the “house of silence :” Thomas Fullerton,

James Welch, Thomas Patterson, Thomas McCall,
Nathaniel Paxton, Thos. McCorkle, Samuel Patter-_
son, Thomas Ritchey, J as. Thompson, Thomas Germ-
ley, Hugh Reed, John McCorkle, John W. Stewart,
John Jamison, Samuel E. Brownlee, Aaron Welch,
John Hemphill, all dead, making in all seventeen.
Elders John Miloy and J ohn.Mustand removed from
the bounds of the congregation, and are yet living.
Walter Denny, R. C. Clark, D. F. Cummins, William

Morrison, David McNary, and J . Forbes Welshcom-A

pose the present session. As to our progress in
raising funds for ecclesiastical and benevolent pur-
poses, we have advanced about one hundred and fifty
per cent. In spiritual advancement we cannot-speak
with the same degree of certainty. The true con-
dition of the soul is known only to the Omniscient

-One. The members attend regularly on the public

ordinances, and we are generally favored with a nu,m-
ber of outsiders and others. We have generally
enjoyed peace and harmony, so that, everything con-
sidered, ,I can say this has been to me a pleasant
charge. During the troubles in our country more
than thirty communicants left this church. They
sent to the South for a minister, and have a small
congregation at Patterson’s Mills. Whether they
have gained by this change I do not pretend to de-
termine. “ To their own Master they stand or fall."

But I must bring this imperfect sketch to aniend.
In looking over our roll of six hundred and ninety
ministers I find West Middletown has the oldest
settled pastor in the whole church. If the work done
has not been very fruitful, we cannot complain that
the time to perform it has been abbreviated.

Methodist Church.—A Methodist Church,‘located -

in West Middletown, has an excellent house of wor-
ship, which was dedicated Jan. 15, 1878,.but it, has
not been found practicable to obtain any connected
history of the organization and subsequent progress
of this church. There is also an African. Methodist
Church located in the borough of West Middletown.

H0peWelltoWn.——James Gillespie, who was a set-
tler in the township prior to 1788 (his name being
found on the assessment-roll of that year), conceived
the idea of starting a town upon his tract of land.
The land was on the east border of the township,
nearly adjoining the present town of Buffalo. He in-
serted an advertisement in the IVas/aington Telegmphe
and VVestem Advertiser of Feb. 10, 1797, which is
here given :

“ The subscriber has laid out a Town on his plantation (called Hope-
well town) in Hopewell Township, on the great road leading from
Henderson’s Mills to Charlestown, mouth of Butfaloe, the 20th ultimo.
The corner lots will be sold at twenty dollars each, the others at ten
dollars each. The situation is elegant, about twenty rods from Hen-
derson’s Mills, and within one mile and a half from the two meeting-
houses.
forever:

“ JAMES GILLESPIE.”

Nb further account of the embryo village is ob-
tained till 1800. No deeds are on record prior to

Those that choose to purchase shall have a title -in, fee simple '

- others.

820

HISTORY or WASHINGTON. COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA.

that time that show that lots were sold, but on the
10th of June in that year Michael McClung sold to
Francis Henry “lot No. 20 in Hopewell town,” and
the same was sold by him on the 26th of August,
1809, to John Trimble, William McClelland, Thomas
Gillespie, and James Clark. Nothing more is known
of it. All recollection or tradition of the town seems
to have passed from the memory of man. Ezekiel
Davis now lives on the James Gillespie property.
Schools.——Primitive schools, supported by sub-
scription, were taught in this township, as elsewhere
in the county, several years before the beginning of
the present century; but few particulars have been
learned concerning them, or the teachers employed
in them prior to 1828. Mr. William Hunterlsays he
recollects at that time but four log school-houses in
Hopewell, and that the teachers in that year, or in
two or three years following, were John Ross, Bartley
A. McC1ean, Nathaniel Jenkins, Samuel Elder,
George Forester, and Joseph G. Chambers. The
last named died in 1829. ' ‘
Under the school law of 1834 the township (then
comprising also the territory -of Independence town-
ship) was districted in that year and 1835 by a com-
mittee chosen for the purpose, consisting of George
Plummer, John Lowry, James Thompson, James
Bell, Aaron Johnston, Abram VVotring. The num-
ber of districts into which the two (present) town-
ships was divided was twelve. There were then in
the entire territory (Hopewelland Independence)
four hundred and twenty-four persons liable to tax-
ation for school purposes. David Craig and Hugh
McGuire were elected the first school directors, and
James Thompson treasurer. The amount of money
raisedin that year for school purposes was $349.37.

In 1836 the township refused action under the school

law, and only the“State tax of $124.78 was raised.
In 1837 the provisions of the law were accepted by
the township, and a total of $718.15 was raised.

On the 26th of August, 1836,‘ the township “resolved
to build the necessary number of school-houses for
the districts as soon as proper arrangements can
be made, and that the secretary give notice in the Re-
porter and Examiner for proposals on the first Monday
of October next.” Feb. 14, 1837, it was “resolved
that the secretary be authorized to_ contract for brick
for eight school-houses.” David Craigand James

-Thompson were appointed ‘,‘a committee to obtain

right of school property for West Middletown Dis-
trict, No. 3.”
equal amounts be distributed among the several dis-
tricts, except M iddletown, No. 3, and Williamsburg,
the former of which was to receive one hundred
per cent. and the latter fifty per cent. more than the
The secretary was authorized to contract
with George Newcome to build these school-houses.
The Adams school-house, ‘No. 6, was also built by
Newcome. Abraham Wotring, John Lowry, Henry
Smith, Hugh McGuire, William Tweed, and James

Aug. 18, 1837, it was resolved that

Thompson were authorized to procure school lots,
which they did, as follows :

Lease, 99 years from James Boyd, 80 perches ......... .. $1.00
Purchase from Joseph Scott, 80 perches ................ .. 1.00
Purchase from Alexander Adams and Aaron Tem- '
pleton, 79 perches ......................  .................... .. 10.00
Purchase from John Lowry, 72 perches ................ .. 10.00

Purchase from William Jamison, 80 perches ......... .. 1.00
Purchase from John Dunkle, 80 perches ................ .. 12.00 ‘
Purchase from Joseph Bigham, 80 perches ............. .. 1.00
Purchase from Isaac Manchester, 82 perches ......... .. 10.00
Purchase from Robert Harvey (Wflliamsburg), 36%

perches .............................................. .., ......... .. 60.00

These purchases were all ‘made in 1837 and 1838.
On the 27th of May, 1839, a lot was purchased of
George Plummer, thirty-six. perches, for the consider-
ation “ Love and respect for education, and the better
maintenance and ‘support of common schools.” In
1845 the store of James McFadden was purchased for
a school-house, in District No. 3. On the 14th of
September, 1846, a lot was purchased of William Mc-

‘ Nulty for a school-house, and on the 16th- of April,

1847, it was voted to proceed with the erection of a
house forty-two by thirty-two feet, brick, thirteen
inches thick, ten feet story, two stories in height. To
this building another story was added in 1858.

The school report for the school year ending June
1,’ 1863, showed the following school statistics of the
township: Number of schools, 6 ; number of teachers,
6; number of pupils enrolled, 216 ; receipts for school
purposes, $983.69; expefinditures, $695. The report
for 1873 showed: number of schools in township, 6;
number of teachers, 6; number of pupils enrolled,
162; receipts, $1389.95; expenditures, $1312.46. In
1880 the report showed the same number of schools
and teachers; number of pupils enrolled, 210; school
receipts, $1356.11 ; expenditures, $1217.29. The pres-
ent number of districts and school-houses in the
township is six, exclusive of the West Middletown
district, which has been separate and independent
from the township in school matters in and since the
year 1856. ‘ _ ' 1

Churches. ——The Upper Buffalo Presbyterian
Church was organized in May or June, 177 9.1 The
location of the house of worship of this early congre-
gation was a spot “ near the northwest corner” of the
old burial-ground, or “ graveyard,” as the old settlers
in their austerity of speech as well as of manner
loved better to express it. The building was simply
a log house, differing inno essential particular from

the meeting-houses of all denominations in the pioneer :

days, but it served the needs of this weak but devoted

congregation for nineteen years, from 1779 to 1798. '

This included the period of the labors ‘of their first
pastor, the Rev. Joseph Smith. He had been called
by the congregations of Upper Buffalo and Cross
Creek, June 21, 17 7 9. Each congregation agreed to

1 The reader is referred to the history of Cross Creek Presbyterian

Church for the early history of this church; also to the personal sketches A

of the Rev. Joseph Smith and William Smiley in the early settlements
of this township. Much of the account here given of the Upper Buffalo
Church is taken from the centennial addresses .of the Revs. William E.
Eagleson. and James D. Walkinshaw, delivered June 19, 1879.

‘Q .9
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2-’

JOHN MAXWELL

also acted as stated supply of the Upper
.Church. 9’

HOPEWELL

TOWNSHIP.   821

pay him seventy-five pounds‘. The story of his labors,
pecuniary trials, and pastoral success is told elsewhere
in the history of Hopewell township. He continued
as pastor of both churches till the time of his death,
April 19, 1792, in the fifty-sixth year of his age.
During his pastorate, “in the latter part of the .year
1781, the Lord began a gracious work in the congrega-
tions of Cross Creek and Upper Buffalo. . . . At the
time the Lord’s Supper was administered at Buffalo,
in the fall of 1783, about one hundred of the subjects
of this good work were admitted to communion.”

On the 13th of June, 1794, the Rev. Thomas Mar-
ques was ordained and installed pastor of the Cross
Creek congregation, and so -continued until the be-
ginning of the year 1798, during which pastorate he
Buffalo

The second house. of worship of this church was

‘ built in 1797-98. It was a large building, made of

hewed logs, furnished with galleries on the ends and
also on one side, the pulpit beingion the other side.
The first stoves were put in it in 1806; it was weather-
boarded in 1808; pews were put in it in 1812. Some
time afterwards the pulpit was painted and the house
plastered. It was first used in 17 98, and was occupied
as a place of worship for forty-seven years. _

The Upper Buffalo Presbyterian Society was incor-

' porated under civil law by act of Assembly passed

March 29, 1804, and approved by Grovernor Thomas
McKean. The first trustees of the society (named in
the incorporation) were James Taggart, Sr.-, David
Boyd, Alexander,Hunter, William McComb, John
Flack, Matthew Morrow, James Dinsmore, John
Gilchrist, William Hughes.’ A

From 1798 to 1800 this church was dependent on
_presbyterial and transient supplies. In October of
the latter year the Rev. -John Anderson, D.D., ac-
cepted a call and at once entered onhis pastoral du-
ties. He was esteemed, a good theologian, and super-
intended the studies of a number of young menfor
the ministry, who took high rank among their minis-
terial brethren; among them were Henry Hervey,

V D.D., William C. Anderson, D.D., James McKennon,

D.D., and Rev. James Anderson.

The Rev. J ohn"Anderson, pastor of Upper Buffalo,
was born in Guilford County, N. C., in April, 1768,
and received his education, both academic and theo-
logical, under the Rev. David Caldwell. He was
licensed by the Presbytery of Orange in 1793, was
shortly afterwards ordained as an evangelist, and
spent several years in itinerant labor in the States of
North and South Carolina, Georgia, Tennessee, and
Kentucky. In 1799 he visited this part of the country,
and in 1800, after the meeting of the General Assem-
bly at Philadelphia, came here to remain as pastor of
the church, as before mentioned. 6

“He himself stated,” says the Rev. W. E. Eagleson, “that the first
two years of his ministry were not very fruitful, and that in the sum-

mer of 1802 about twenty careless persons were awakened to serious .

served for a time by supplies.

concern. This was the beginning of that great work of grace that
swept over this whole region in the beginning of the present century,
c immonly known as ‘ the falling work.’ 2 The most memorable Sabbath
in the whole history of the church was the 14th of November, 1802,.when
the Lord‘s Supper was administered here. It is estimated that ten thous-

and people were present. They brought their provisions with them, en- .
.camped on the ground, and slept in their wagons. Fifteen ministers

were present. On Saturday afternoon Dr. McCurdy and one of the
other brethren preached simultaneously, one in the meeting-house and
the other in the tent. Two sermons were preached in the same way on

Sunday morning. Whilst Dr. Milligan and some of his brethren were ,_

administering the communion in the ‘open space in front of the tent to
about one thousand communicants, Dr. McCurdy preached his famous
war sermon from a Wagon some distance west of the meeting-house. The
exercises on this occasion were continued until Tuesday evening. The
divine power was signally displayed. Some hundreds were convinced
of their sin and misery, and many of them sank down and cried bitterly
and incessantly for several hours. Some fell suddenly; some lost their
strength gradually ; some lay quiet and silent; some were violently
agitated; and many sat silently weeping, who were not exercised with
any bodily affections.” 5

The pastorate of Dr. Anderson continued for thirty-
two years and eight months, the pastoral relation being
dissolved on the 18th of June, 1833, at his request,
made and urged on account of his declining health.
In the fall of. 1834 he preached his farewell sermon at
a meeting of the Synod held at Steubenville, Ohio,
and on the 31st of January, 1835, he died, aged sixty-
seven years. His remains were interred in the burial-
ground of the church.

After Dr. Anderson’s death this congregation was
On the 24th of De-
cember, 1834, the Rev. John Eagleson, D.D., was or-
dained and installed pastor of this church, and served
in that capacity just thirty-nine years, during which
time six hundred and twenty—three members were
added to the church. He died Jan. 23, 1873, at the
age of sixty—four years, and while he was yet in all
the vigor of his usefulness. . '

After the death of Dr. Eagleson the congregation
was supplied by the Washington Presbytery until
1874. On the 3d of February in that year acall was
made to the Rev. James D-. Walkinshaw (who had
preached his first sermon here on the second Sabbath

‘of the preceding November). The call was accepted

onthe 29th of April following, and on the 22d of May,
1874, he was installed the fourth pastor of this church,
which relation still continues.

The building and occupation of the first and second
houses of worship of this congregation have already
been mentioned. The second, after being in use for
forty-seven years, gave place to the third, which was
-built and occupied in 1.845. It stood on the site oc-
cupied by its predecessor, and was dedicated on the
Sabbath, Oct. 26, 1845. The ded_icatory sermon was
preached by the Rev. J ohn. Eagleson from 2d _Chron-
icles vii. 1. The lecture-room was “ raised” April
29, 1845, and was occupied (in an unfinished state)
on the following 11th of May. S

The fourth church building was commenced in.

1872. It was in process of erection at the time of
Dr. Eagleson’s death, in January, 1873, being then
under roof and inclosed. The funeral servicesover

O

THE REVOLUTION.

97

count of the apparent Probability there was for a
Change of Government. Soon after this, Gen’l Clark
had a meeting of the Principal People to consult on
the most Plausible Plan to raise the Militia forhis
Expedition. They, after long Deliberation, Resolved
that nothing could effect so desirable a Plan save my
Exertions as County Lieu‘ of Yohogania, and in the
most pointed Terms (in an address to me) requested
that I would put my Command in Force, and use
every Exertion to facilitate the Expedition. The
Day following, I was furnished with a Demand from
Gen’l Clark for the Quota of the County. I went into
the Business with Resolution, conducted myself with
a steady Firmness, and with a great Deal of Fatigue,
Trouble, & Perplexity, have accomplished that Busi-

' ness, and the Militia are now encampt.” In another

part of the same communication he says, “I am now
in General Clarke’s Camp, about three miles below
Fort Pitt, and am about to leave this Country on the
Expedition under that Gentleman’s Command.” And
he further says, with regard to the course which had
been pursued. by Col. Marshel-with reference to the
raising of men for Clarke’s expedition : “A_nd he ac-
cordingly did all he could to perplex the People, and
advised them to pay no obedience to Draughts that I
had ordered for Gen’l Clark's assistance, & has actu-
ally offered Protection to some of ’em, though he be-
fore, on a Request of Gen’l Clark’s, declared he could

_ do nothing as an ofiicer, wish’d well to the Expedi-

tion, & as a Private Person would give every assist-
ance to promote it.” _

There is no doubt that in the enforcement of the
draft ordered from the militia by the lieutenants of
Yohogania and Monongalia CountiesGen. Clarke
pursued‘ the business with great vigor, and showed
very little leniency toward those (and they were

. many) who were inclined to deny the jurisdiction

of Virginia.‘ _ Many bitter complaints were made
against him for his stern methods of enforcing the
draft, among which complaints inthat particular are
the charges made against him (as also against‘ Dorsey

,,Pentecost) in the following letter, addressed by Col.

James Marshel to the president of the Council,” viz. :

“ WASHINGTON COUNTY, 8th August, 1781.

“ S’,-—When I began to organize the Militia of this
County, I expected the line between the States would
have been run (at least by the Commissioners of this
State) in May last; but Finding they did not arrive
at neither of the periods given us to expect them, I
thought it my duty to take the most favourable Op-
portunity that would Offer to form the Militia.
About the fifteenth of June last, I apprehended
Appearances favourable and accordingly advertised

1 Many of those people who had been willing and anxious for the es-
tablishment of Virginia’s claim, so that they might purchase their lands
from her at one-tenth part of the price demanded by the Pennsylvania
Land-Oflice, were now quite as ready to deny her right to demand mili-
tary service from them. -

2 Pa. Arch., 1781-83, pp. 343-45.

two Battalion Elections, but soon found that Gen-
eral Clark’s preparations for his Expedition and the
Extraordinary Freedom with which he and his party
of the old Virginia Officers used with the people of
this County stood greatly in the way; they were In-
defatigable in propagating reports of the General
being a Continental Officer, having extraordinary
Countenance and Authority from the State of Penn-
sylvania, in pulling down my Advertisements, dis-
suading the people from attending the Elections,
crying out that I was everything that was bad, and
was doing all this to hurt the Expedition, &c.; all
which, however false, produced a Visible Indisposi-
tion in the people towards attending the Elections;
and altho’ I was not attempting anything with design
to Injure his Expedition, I could not do anything to
fill up the General’s troops out of the Militia of this
frontier County, not having Council’s orders for that
purpose. . . . I can only say at present I have acted
such a part as I thought a faithful Oflicer ought to do
in similar cases; and that I Ever Conceived I had no
right so much as to say any of the people of this
County had a right to go with general Clark without
your Excellency’s Orders for that purpose; much
less that I should ly still on purpose that the Vir-
ginia Officers should draft the Militia of this County
for that service. If any complaint of what kind so-
ever should be lodged against me, I hope your Excel-
lency will favour me with a Coppy thereof, that I
may have an Opportunity of doing myself Justice;
and as the Manner in which the Gen] and his Un-
derlings have treated the people of this and West-
moreland Counties has been so arbitrary and unpre-
cedented, I think it my duty to inform your Excellency
the particulars of a few facts. The first instance was
with one John Harden, in Westmoreland, who, with
a number of others, refused to be drafted under the
government of Virginia, alleging they were undoubt-
edly in Pennsylvania, and declared if that govern-
ment ordered a draft they would obey cheerfully, and
accordingly elected their officers and- made returns
thereof to C01. Cook. After this. the general, with a
party of forty or fifty horsemen, c_ame to Harden’s in
quest of him to hang him, as the general himself de-
clared; but not finding the old gentleman took and
tied his son, broke open his mill, fed away and de-
stroyed upwards of one hundred and fifty bushels of
wheat, rye, and corn, killed his sheep and hogs, and
lived away at Mr. Harden’s expense in that manner
for two or three days; declared his estate forfeited,
but graciously gave it to his wife; formed an article
in which he bound all the inhabitants he could lay

hands on or by any means prevail upon to come in ‘
to him ; under the penalty of ten months in the reg-

ular army, not to oppose the draft. Another man in

Westmoreland, being in Company with Clark’s troops, ,

happened to say the draft was Illegal, upon which he
was Immediately Confined, and Ordered to be hanged
by the General. Col. Penticost, being willing to assist

822

HISTORY OF WASHINGTON COUNTY, PENNSYLPVANIA.

the remains of the old and beloved pastor were the
first ever held within it. The basement was provided
with temporary seats, and here the funeral was held;
it was the first meeting of pastor and people within
its Walls, “he in the‘ embrace of death, they to weep
over their sore bereavement.” The church was dedi-

cated May_ 22, 1874, the day of the installation of‘ the
The dedication ,

present pastor, Mr. Walkinshaw.
sermon was preached by the Rev. J . T. Fredericks.
The church edifice is a good and commodious build-
ing of brick, forty by fifty feet in dimensions. In
1875 the congregation built a parsonage, at a cost of
twenty-five hundred dollars, completed in August of
the year named. The present membership of the
church is two hundred and sixty-six. A Sabbath-

school has been in operation since about 1815. A =

library was furnished to it in 1827.

The elders of this church prior to 1834 were Wil-
liam Smiley,1 John Johnson, William McCullough,
William Hughes, John Cowen, James Dinsmore,
Robert Lyle, James Brice, William Patterson, John
Flack, and David Rannello. At the commencement
of Rev. John Eagleson’s ministry the elders were
John Gilchrist, William Wallace, John Dinsmore,
John McWilliams, James McConahey, Robert Cald-
well, William Smiley, and David McComb. On the
9th of January, 1840, James _Taggart, Parker Reed,
Andrew Herron, and Samuel Donahey were ordained
to and installed in the office of ruling elders, and on
the 25th of September, 1853, Ezekiel Davis, William
Donahey, and Robert Sloan were so ordained and in-
stalled. On the 7th of January, 1872, William W.
Hunter, David C. Ross, and Samuel A. Caldwell
were ordained and installed. The elders composing
the session at the time of the commencement of Mr.
Walkinshaw’s pastorate were William Smiley, Wil-
liam Donahey, Ezekiel Davis, Robert Sloan, S. A.
Caldwell, W. W. Hunter, and D. C. Ross, the first
named an elder since the pastorate of Rev. John An-
derson, the next three since Sept. 25, 1853, and the
last since Jan. 7, 1872. _

Buffalo Village, situated in the east part of Hope-
well township, on the road leading from Washington

‘boroughto West Middletown, is a hamlet of twelve

dwellings, a post-office, a store, and having onenresi-
dent physician, Dr. Henry L. Snodgrass. Here also
is located the house of worship of the Upper Buffalo
Presbyterian Church. The post-office was first estab-
lished at the Wotring farm, with Abraham Wotring

. as postmaster. After him came John Smith and

Samuel Merchant. Under the last named the office
was removed to Buffalo village. The present post-
master is William McGill, who is also the merchant
of the village.

1 The same brave and devoted old man who took the cargo of flour to
New Orleans for sale to procure the means to pay the arrearages of the
Rev. Joseph Smith’s salary, and avert the impending disaster of the loss
of his farm and the congregation’s pastor when all other means had
failed. (See account of Rev. Joseph Smith’s settlement in Hopewell.)

Brush Run Post-Office was established in 1846,

largely through the instrumentality of James Clark,
who was made postmaster. His successor was Sam-
uel Merchant, under whom this office and that at
Wotring’s were consolidated and the new office estab-
lished at Buffalo village, about midway between the
original sites of the tviro old oflices. Merchant was
the postmaster in charge in 1866-67. His successor
was William McCrill, as above mentioned. 6

/LL
fivr

BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES

  PARKER REED.  
Parker Reed, farmer, was born in Hopewell town-
ship, Washington Co., Pa., March 11, 1811, and died
there Marcl1 27, 1871. He was the son of James

Reed, a native of Scotland, a carpenter by trade, who 2

built the first court-house erected in Washington, Pa.
Parker Reed was tutored at home and in the country

PARKER REED.

schools, and reared upon the farm which he subse-
quently inherited. He was an elder in the Upper Buf-
falo Presbyterian Church for thirty-three years, and
superintendent of the Sunday-schools for seventeen
years, and was eflicient and zealous. His record as
a man and citizen is unassailable. He was married
June 13, 1838, to Jane Ann Brice, by whom he had
six children,—-Jol1n B., a Presbyterian minister of
Sisterville, W. Va., married to Isabella Shields; Lina
Catharine, who died when eight years of age; James
P., a grocer of Larned, Kan., married to Georgia
Walker; Rebecca J ., the wife of Samuel P. Wilson,

HOPEWELL

TOWNSHIP.   823

a farmer of Hopewell township, Washington Co., Pa.;
Henry‘H., a flour and grain merchant of Larned,
Kan., marriedto Anna Dumont; L. C., a concrete
maker of Garden City, Kan., married to Nancy J .
Matthews.

Mrs. Jane Ann Reed, who survives her husband, is
the daughter of Rev. John Brice, who died Aug. 26,
1811, aged fifty-one years, and in the twenty-second
year of his ministry. He was a self-made man in the
best sense of the word, having pursued his studies
when a boy under the discouraging restraints of pov-
erty, and having advanced upon his merits. Aug. 16,

1786, he appeared before the Presbytery of Redstone, '

and asked to be taken on trial in order to his being

licensed to preach. April 16, 1788, “Presbytery hav- '

ing received sufficient testimonials in favor of his
having gone through a regular course in literature,
of his good moral character, and of his being in the
communion of the church, etc., having given satis-
faction _as to his accomplishments and experimental
acquaintance with religion, and as to his proficiency,
etc., in divinity, did license him to preach as a pro-
bationer for the holy ministry wherever he might be
orderly called.” April 22, 1789, a call was received
by him from the united congregations of Three
Ridges and Forks of Wheeling, and at the meeting
of Presbytery May 25,.1789, he declared his accept-

‘ ance of the same. He was ordained at Three Ridges

i.n April, 17 90. After leaving this charge he removed
to his farm in Virginia, where he spent his remaining
years. While there he organized the church at Unity,
Greene Co., Pa. His first wife, Rebecca Carr, a woman
noted for her piety, died in 1794, leaving two children,
——James, and Jane, who married John McCoy.

By his second wife, Jane Stockton, he had nine
children,——Mary, who married ,Dixon Coulter; John,
who married Nancy Byers; Rebecca, who married
Samuel Frazier; Margaret S., unmarried; Sarah, who
married Isaac Oldham ; Elizabeth, who married Ed-
ward Supler; Alice, who married William Craig;
Fannie S., who married Joseph Blaney; and Jane
Ann, the wife of Parker Reed, and the only one of

I . the family now living.

GEORGE T. WORK.

George Work and his wife, Martha Dunlap, were
natives of Londonderry, Ireland, where they were
married, and whence they emigrated to America in
17 89, landing in Wilmington, Del., July 24th of that

, year. They resided in Eastern Pennsylvania for three

years, and then settled in Hopewell township, Wash-
ington County, upon a farm now owned by their
grandson, S. C. Work. Their children were as fol-
lows: Alexander, born Feb. 11, 1781; Jane, born
May 9, 1783; Mary, born Nov. 8, 1790; James, born
Sept. 12, 1792; John D., born Dec. 14, 1794.
Alexander Work_ married Jane Taggart, Jan. 10,
1809. They died in Harrison County, Ohio. Jane

married Andrew Gilmore, July 3, 1810. Their home
was in Highland County, Ohio. Marymarried Rob-
ert Tweed, Oct. 10, 1821. They lived and died in
Hopewell township, Washington County, Pa. John
D. married Miss Brown. They died in Jasper County,
Ind. ‘ -
James Work was twice married,-—first, Feb. 7,
1822, to Grizzilla Tweed, who was a daughter of Rob-
ert Tweed by his first wife, Elizabeth Wylie, sister of
Adam Wylie, M.D., and Andrew Wylie, D.D., and
after whose death he (Robert) married Mary Work.
The children of James and Grizzilla (Tweed) Work
were Grizzilla Elizabeth, born Dec. 20, 1822, who was
the wife of Robert Denny, and died in 1859 in Mor-
row County, Ohio; and George T., born April 7, 1.825.
Grizzilla (Tweed) Work died Jan. 27, 1827, and James
married his second wife, Margaret , Caldwell, June 3,
1828. By this marriagethere were nine children,-
Martha L., born June 1, 1829, died Aug. 19, 1832;
Agnes A., born Nov. 17,1831, is the wife of Robert
S. Caldwell; Sarah J ., born Oct. 14, 1832, is the wife
of William Denny, of Harvey County, Kan. ; 'Mary
B.', born May 8, 1834, died Aug. 14, 1834; Clarissa
E., born Nov. 8, 1835, died Aug. 29, 1840; Samuel C.,
born July 16, 1838, married Anna Donahey; Maria
I., born Aug. 11, 1840; Margaret E., born Oct. 26,
1842, is the wife of Joseph H. Rankin; Soph-i‘a M. A.,
born March 6, 1846, is the wife of William Smiley;
James Work died Sept. 26, 1868. _His second wife is
still living. V a
George T. Work received a good practical English
education, the principal part of which he obtained in
the common schools, and assisted his father in the
business of farming until twenty-six years of age.

He then engaged in the lumber business, to which he -

has given attention ever since, except during the war-
of the Rebellion. He was married Sept. 19, 1850, to
Catharine Denny, daughter of Robert Denny, of‘
Chartiers township, Washington County, Pa. Their
children were seven in number, -- Lydia J ., was

drowned June 29, 1857,. in her fourth year; John D.,'

died Jan. 30,1858, aged nineteen years, five months,
and thirteen days. Those living are James A., mar-
ried to Laura B. Logan; Margaret E. ; Grizzilla, the
wife of William Patterson ; Emma C.; and George R.

George T. Work enlisted as a private in Captain
W. W. McNulty’s cavalry company in May, 1861.
On their way to camp (Camp Wilkins) he was ap-
pointed orderly sergeant. In August, 1861, their
company was ordered to Washington, D. C. Soon
after its arrival there it was disbanded by order of
Gen. Stoneman, who, at the request of Mr. Work,
who was then a second lieutenant, assigned his com-
pany to the First Pennsylvania Cavalry, in which it
became Company I. In a short time thereafter Mr.
Work was first lieutenant, and in November follow-
ing captain, and while holding that position he took
part in the battle of Drainesville’, where. he com-
manded a squadron, and was also a participantvin

824

HISTORY OF WASHINGTON COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA.

minor engagements. He was under McDowell on
the Rappahannock during the Peninsular campaign
in 1862. He remained there until his regiment was

_ ordered to join Fremont in the Shenandoah Valley,

and was with his column in advance at Mount Jackson,
having participated in all the marches and skirmishes
in which his regiment had been engaged up to that
time. Suffering from malarial fever, he was sent
from Mount Jackson to Douglas Hospital, Washing-
ton, D. C., from which he was discharged because 0
disability in July, 1862. ' '
‘On his way to his home, which he reached in
‘August, he was authorized by Governor Curtin to re-
cruit two cavalry companies. The Governor laughed
at the idea of recruiting, as he then had recruiting
oflicers in nearly every county in the State, who were
getting very few volunteers. In less than sixty days
Capt. Work had recruited two full companies, and
joining his efforts with those of Capt. John Keys,

- of Beallsville, they were able to take into service in

West Virginia six companies of cavalry, which were
known as the Ringgold Battalion until March, 1864,
when, together with the Washington Cavalry and five
new companies, it was organized as the Twenty—second
Pennsylvania Volunteer Cavalry. In this organiza-
tion Capt. Work was chosen major, and served in
that capacity until the close" of the war. He was
twice wounded at the battle of Port Republic,-Sept.
27, 1864. He was discharged in August, 1865.
Immediately after his return home he engaged in
the oil business in West Virginia, where he remained
for two years. He then engaged in farming.and- mill-
ing, which he followed in his native county until

.187 6, when he was elected_ as the Republican candi-

date for sheriff of Washington County. He filled
the office for three years, when he returned to his
farm in Hopewell township, where he lives quietly,

4

‘V yr

enjoying good health, a comfortable home, and the
esteem of a large acquaintance. He is a member of
the Presbyterian Church, as were also his father and
grandfather. A I

JOHN .MAXWELL.

John Maxwell was born in Hopewell township,
Washington County, Sept. 5, 1809. He is of Scotch
lineage, the son of Robert andlHannah (Graham)
Maxwell. He learned the cabinet-maker trade in
West_Middletown, Washington Co., and worked for a
while as a journeyman, a part of the time in Cincin-
nati, Ohio. About the year 1834 he purchased the
farm where he now resides, and has since been engaged

in farming and stock-raising. He has been twice

married,—-—first to Elizabeth Dinsmore, and after her
death to Mary E. Caldwell, who died Nov." 24, 1873.
But one of his first wife’s children, Robert G., grew
to manhood and married. He died April 12, 1881,
having been twice married. His first wife was Bell
S. McCarrell, who died, leaving two children, Edna
D. and William W. His second -wife, Jennie Cald-
well, survives_him, a_nd has,two children, John Ralph

and Robert Graham. John Maxwell by his second '

marriage had three children, all living,-——Samuel, a
farmer of Hopewell township, married to Anna Hemp-
hill; John, a farmer, of Hopewell township, unmar-
ried ; and Jennie, the wife of,James McBride Taggart,
a farmer,’ of Buffalo township. Mr. Maxwell was in
early. life a member of y the United Presbyterian
Church, but afterwards united with the Presbyterian
Church, of which he is now a communicant. He has

followed his business steadily and very successfully, .

gathering together much valuable property. Among
the self-made men of the county he occupies a most
worthy and honorable place.

I‘ A

INDEPENDENCE TOWNSHIP.

ggg
‘vi

INDEPENDENCE is one of "the townships lying on

‘the western border of Washington County. Its north-

ern boundary is the stream Cross Creek, which sepa-
rates it from the townships of Cross Creek and Jeffer-
son. On the east it is bounded by Hopewell township;
on the south by Donegal, from which it is separated
by Buffalo Creek. Its western boundary is the State
of West Virginia. The two creeks above mentioned
(Cross and Buffalo), forming respectively the north
and south boundaries of Independence, are the only
streams of any size or importance belonging to the
township. ‘

Independence was originally a part of Hopewell,
as mentioned and explained in the history of the
latter township. The two remained together as one
township for almost seventy-five years from the forma-
tion of Hopewell in 1781. At the November term of
the Court of Quarter Sessions in 1854 there was pre-
sented to the court“ A Petition of Divers inhabitants
of Hopewell Township for a division of said town-
ship, Commencing at the mouth of Brush Run in
Buffalo Creek, running up said Run, the line between»
Nos. 7, 8_, School Districts, to the line of Middletown
district; thence the line between Middletown and N0..-

8; thence between No. 2 and the Middletown district '

to the mouth of a.run emptying into Crisswell’s Mill-
Dam on Cross Creek.” The court appointed as
viewers Lysander Patterson, John Cole, Esq., and
William Gillespie. The matter was continued from
term to term until February sessions of 1856, when
the court ordered the division and the erection of “ a
new township, to be called Independence, elections
to be held at the house of William White, in the vil-
lage of “Independence.”

Early 'Settlements.——The first authentic record
found of a permanent settlement in the present terri-
tory of Independence township is of that made by
John Doddridge, who came here from Bedford County,
Pa., in 1773. Upon a Virginia certificate he took up
four hundred and thirty-seven acres of land, which
was surveyed to him April 6, 1786, under the title of
“Extravagance.” This tract was adjoining the one
soon after warranted to Samuel Teeter, and upon it
was built the “Doddridge Fort,” of which Samuel
Teeter, a relative of the Doddridge family, had com-
mand during the times of trouble with the Indians.
Mrs. Doddridge was a niece of Alexander Wells, an

» extensive landholder in Independence, Jefferson, and

Cross Creek townships. She died, and Mr. Doddridge
married Elizabeth Reeves, who survived him. He
died in February, 1791. The children of the first

wife were Joseph, Philip, Ann, and Ruth. Those of

the second union were J osias, Benjamin, Enoch, John,
and Eleanor. The daughter Ann became Mrs. Na-

than Reeves, Ruth became Mrs. Carson, and Eleanor

married Mr. Gautt. The greater portion of the land
owned by John Doddridge is now the property of
David Huston.

Samuel Teeter was a relative of the family of John
Doddridge, and soon followed them into what is now

Independence township. He located a tract of land ,

that contained three hundred and eighty acres, which
was surveyed. to him May 1, 1780, and twice resur-
veyed by an order of the board of property, Sept. 15,
1784,‘and March 7, 1785. Upon the tract “Plenty”

- Samuel and Mary Teeter, with their sons.Samuel and

George, residedlin a two-story log house, which stood
near the house now occupied by Col. Asa Manchester.
Northwest of the house and adjoining it was a, fort
known as “Teeter’s Fort,” which was not far from
the “Doddridge Fort,” and is well remembered by
Col. Manchester. Around the house and fort ,Mr.
Teeter had built a stockade, which inclosed about
one-eighth of an acre of ground. This stockade was
built high above the house, and was constructed of
logs sixteen feet long, which were split and set in the
ground, with another tierplaced over the interstices.

» Some of the logs which composed the house and fort
‘ of Samuel Teeter are still in use in the woodshed of

Col. Manchester, who now owns and lives on the
Teeter homestead. The -property descended to him
from Isaac Manchester, to whom Mr. Teeter sold it in
1797, when he removed to the State of Kentucky.

INDEPENDENCE TOWNSHIP.

I

825

Benjamin Wells settled on a tract of land on or
very near‘ the State line in this township. A few
years after his settlement he died, leaving the farm to
his widow and son Charles, the latter eventually own-
ing the whole of it. “He died, leaving a widow and
two children. The property was left to the widow
for her sole use while she remained unmarried. She,
however, married a man na.med James, who had nine
children, and the estate left her then passed to her
children. The son, Charles Wells, J r., went to Wells-
burg, Va., learned the tanner’s trade, married, and

came back to the Wells homestead in 1817, building

a tannery, which he carried on until 1824, becoming
quite wealthy. He died from an accident which oc-

curred while he was attempting to repair the roof of

his house. His wife survived him but one week.
Eliza Wells, daughter of Charles and sister of Charles
Wells, Jr., married Mr. James, _a son of her step-
father. The old Wells place is now owned by David
Buchanan, but the house and tannery have disap-
peared.

The tract “Pembroke,” in the territory of Inde-
pendence township, was owned by Thomas Maguire,
and contained nearly four hundred and forty-four
acres. Francis Maguire, a brother of Thomas Ma-
guire, lived in Virginia, on a farm adjoining the
“ Flower Garden” tract. Thomas Maguirehad three
sons,——Hugh, John, and Thomas, J r.,-—wh.o inherited
his property. John sold his portion, which extended
nearly to the village of Independence, to Richard
Carter, who in turn sold it to Arnold Lee. It was
disposed of by Lee to Bazil Bell, and is now in the
hands of his son, Cornelius Bell. Hugh sold. his in-
heritance in 1840 to Dr. Parkinson, who still possesses
it.

Samuel Buchanan, with his wife and son John, .

came from Lancaster County, Pa., to Hopewell (now
Independence) township in 1783, and purchased the
property of Joseph Worley, who received the tract on"
a Virginia certificate granted Jan. 28, 1780, which

frecites that it is situated “in the county of Ohio, on

the waters of Buffalo Creek, to include his settlement
made in the year 1773.” It was assigned by Mr.
Worley to Samuel Buchanan, and surveyed to him as
“Comfort,” containing three hundred acres, on the
19th of April, 1785. The creek on which it was situ-
ated was known as Worley’s Run. Joseph Worley

returned to his home in the East, and died there

within ‘a year. 
After coming to this township three sons were born

to Mr.‘ and Mrs. Buchanan,——William, Samuel, and
;David. They, with the son John, inherited the prop-
i erty at the death of the parents, and all settled in this
township. John Buchanan, as assignee of Henry
,Nelson, took up the tract of land called “ Dundee,”
adjoining the lands of Henry Levens and John and

Philip Doddridge, which was surveyed March 27,

(1786, as containing two hundred and twenty-five

acres. John Buchanan died in this township. Sam-

826

HISTORY OF WASHINGTON COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA.

uel, who lived upon his father’s farm, died there in
1804 or 1805. William removed to Zanesville, Ohio,

where he lived and died. David Buchanan married I

a daughter of Robert Cummins, and also settled upon
a portion of the homestead, where he built a tannery
in 1810, but a son of his being drowned in the vat in
1817, he soon after discontinued the business. His
son, David Buchanan, J r., now lives in Independence
township, and owns‘ the old Buchanan farm, which is
occupied by John McAllister, and his son George
came into possession of “ Dundee,” which he sold to
his cousin,’ Robert Buchanan, in 1840, when he re-
moved to Indiana. , About six years ago the property
passed into the hands of William Craig, who still
owns the greater portion of it. '

Samuel, Arthur, and Josiah Scott were natives of

Lancaster County, Pa., who made early settlements -

in Washington County. Samuel and Arthur Scott
settled in the eastern part of the county just after the
close of the Revolution, and lived near Ginger Hill,
on thewaters of Pigeon Creek. In 1786 they came
into this section, and purchased one hundred and
seventy-five acres of unpatented land of a German
who had settled upon it. This tract of land was in
that portion of Hopewell township which has since
been set off as Independence. Arthur Scott married
Ann Hamilton, and the two families resided ‘here
together.’ Not long after their settlement Samuel
Scott was killed by the accidental discharge of a gun
in the hands of James Law, who was out with him on
a hunting expedition. He left one child and a widow,
who afterwards became the wife of Mr. Hutchinson.
John Scott, son of Samuel, married Miss Ferguson, 9.
daughter of one of the pioneers of Hopewell town-
ship, and continued to live on his father’s property
from his marriage in 1808 till 1831, when it was
purchased by Joseph Scott, son of Arthur.

The property adjoining that of the Scott brothers
(Samuel and Arthur) on the north was the four-hun-
dred-acre tract belonging to Col. David Williamson.
Of this Arthur Scott purchased one hundred and
thirty-five acres, which, with his early purchase, made
his estate nearly two hundred and twenty-five acres.
Helived upon this place until 1848, the year of his
death. The only children of his family now living
are David Scott, of Portsmouth, Ohio, Mrs. Hugh

H Miller, of Knox County, Ohio, and Col. Joseph Scott,

who resides on the homestead. He was born on the
old farm in May, 1808, and his present residence oc-
cupies the site of the old log house. =

Col. David Williamson owned a tract of four hun-
dred acres of land in the extreme southern part of
Independence, but he never lived upon it. He first
sold a part of it to Arthur Scott in July, 1802, and
William Haggerty afterwards purchased the"remain-
der.. Thomas Haggerty, a grandson, now owns one
hundred acres -of William Haggerty’s portion and
Barnet Jones the remainder.

James Welch came into this part of Hopewell town- 0

' ship. soon after 1788, and settled upon a tract of land

adjoining that of Arthur Scott. Mr. Welch married
for his first wife Agnes Smith, a daughter of Joseph
Smith, who at her death left her husband one hundred
acres of land, which had been her portion of the
Smith patent. Mr. Welch was married the second
time to Margaret Johnston, a native of Hopewell
township. She was born in 1776, on the farm (east
of Mount Hope Church) that Thomas McFadden oc-
cupies. Two of her brothers, Nimrod and Aaron
Johnston, removed to Ohio, where both died at a very
advanced age. Mrs. Margaret Welch spent her whole
life in this township, and died in 1867. Mr. Welch
died in 1840, aged seventy—seven years, leaving a
family of ten or twelve children. Several of thesons
removed to the West. Aaron Welch lived and died
near West Middletown, in Hopewell township, and
Abel Johnston Welch still owns and lives on the
homestead. The daughter Jane, now Mrs. Jane
Hunter, is living here with William Smith, and is
eighty-four years of age. p

“ Levens’ Hall” was a two hundred and fifty-three

acre body of land in this township, which was pat- .

ented to Henry Levens, March 28, 1788, adjacent to
the lands of John Doddridge and Samuel Teeter, and
now possessed by Col. Asa Manchester, Elijah Car-
man, and Mr. McMurray. Henry Levens never lived
upon this property, but leased it to J ehial Carman, a
native of Trenton, N. J . Carman’s wife was a niece
of Robert McCready, who was a brother-in-law of
Mr. Levens.
hundred and twenty acres of the tract “Levens’
Hall.” -He finally emigrated to a place_near Rich-
mond, Ohio, and thither all of the family removed
except the sons, Elisha and John Carman. John
Carman removed to West Virginia, and Elisha lives
upon the Levens’ Hall property, which J ehial Car-
man left to his grandson, William Carman, who is
Elisha’s son, and is now eighty-five years old.

Galbraith, Benjamin, and William Stewart were
three brothers, who lived in Independence township
as early as 1788, and all were blacksmiths by trade.
Galbraith Stewart lived near Mount Hope Church,
on the place later occupied by George Macauley, and
now owned by David Buchanan. Benjamin Stewart
lived on the road leading from Independence to Pat-
terson’s‘ Mills, in Cross Creek township, and on the
place Joseph Brown now occupies. His blacksmith-
shopat this point was kept up until 1825, when
Thomas White purchased the property, and also
started a shop of the same trade. His shop did not
occupy the Stewart site, as the housein which Mr.
Magee lives was built upon that. No information of
the brother, William Stewart, has been gained, save
that he resided here as early as the others, and fol-
lowed the trade of a blacksmith. Galbraith Stewart
lived in West Middletown, and carried on black-
smithing in and after 1795.

Matthew Mitchell came from Cumberland County,

Jehial Carman in time bought one

INDEPENDENCE TOWN SH IP.

827

Pa., into Hopewell township in 1790, and June 29th‘

of that year purchased two hundred acres of land of
Robert Caruthers, a portion of the tract “ Liberty,”
patented April 8, 1788. This land was situated in the
vicinity of Mount Hope Church, and is now the prop-
erty of Samuel Cosner. Mr. Mitchell lived there until
his death, which occurred in 1829, at the very old age of
ninety-six years. Soon after the death of Mr. Mitchell,
Rev. Thomas Allison came into possession of the prop-
erty, and it later descended to his son, Matthew Alli-
son. The Mitchell family has entirely disappeared

_ from this vicinity.

Robert Cummings lived in what is now Independ-

ence township as early as 17 92, if not before that time. ;

On March 6th in that year he purchased one hundred

and twenty—one acres of land of William Spry. Again,

Nov. 24, 1800, he bought two hundred acres of Thomas
Sheirer, part of a tract situated on the waters of Buf-
faloCreek, for which a warrant was issued Sept. 5,
1787. It is not known upon which purchase Mr. Cum-
mings resided, but he lived so exactly upon the State
line that one-half of his house was in Virginia and the
other .half in Pennsylvania. He built a grist-mill
upon his property in this township, which is now
known. as the “Applegate Mill.” One of Mr. Cum-
mings’ daughters married William Stewart, a grand-
son of Galbraith Stewart. He ran the mill for a time,

V and then Thomas Buchanan, a son-in—law, assumed its

management. His daughter, who married Lewis Ap-
plegate, inherited the property, and it now belongs to
their daughter Margaret, who is a great-granddaugh-
ter of Robert Cummings, who died on July 4, 1836.
Isaac Manchester was born Aug. 18, 1762, in Mid-
dletown, Conn. In 1796 heleft his Connecticut home
and traveled into the Western country on foot, look-
ing for a place to make a permanent settlement. He
went as far as Kentucky, passing through this section
on his way out. After a prospecting tour, Mr. Man-
chester returned to this township, then Hopewell, and
purchased the tract “ Plenty” of Samuel Teeter. It
contained three hundred and eighty acres. He then
returned to the East, and the following spring came
back to take possession of his property, bringing his

A ’ wife and five children, and also accompanied by

Philip Jenkins, his nephew. There was a house
upon the land, builtby the former proprietor, and into
this they removed’, Mr. Teeter at the same time emi-
grating to Kentucky. Mr. Manchester soon had a
large acreage under cultivation. He had a large fam-
ily of children,—four sons and six daughters. The
son Benjamin went to the Western Reserve in Ohio.
Ruth, who married Asa Crutchfield, Hannah, who
married Pardon Cook, and Isaac Manchester all
removed to Holmes County, Ohio. The daughter
Avis became the wife of John Doddridge, and is now
living in Wayne County, Ind., at the age of ninety-
two years. Col. Asa Manchester, the youngest child,
has always remained upon the homestead, where he
still resides. The house he occupies was built in

1815 by Isaac Manchester. It is located in apleasant

valley, and is one of the most elegant country homes '

in Washington County.‘ Isaac Manchester lived upon
this place for a period of fifty-four years, and died in
1851, at the age of. eighty-nine years, honored and
respected by all who knew him. a -
George Plumer came from the State of Maryland

. to this township when he was seven years of age, and

for the first seven years of his stay here lived with an
uncle. He then entered theemploy of Richard Wells,
working in the store at Wells’ Mills, and was sent
down the river with a cargo of flour from the mills.
Mr. Plumer married the daughter of Richard Wells.
Mr. Wells then purchased the George Sparks mill
property and gave it to his daughter, Mrs. Plumer.
Mr. Plumer refitted and remodeled the mills, which
were after known as the Plumer Mills. They were in
operation until 1870, when theidam washed out and
has never been repaired. George Plumer purchased
a part of the McDowell tract, called “ Fallen Timber,”
also the part of “ Shannon Hall” now owned by James
Magee. He finally became the owner of the “ Flower
Garden” tract. He died in 1877. His son, Jerome
Plumer, still lives_in Independence township.
Dennis Dorsey was a native of Maryland. In 1807
he came to Wellsburg, Va.pthen known as Charles-
town, with his wife and six’ children. In 1809 he
moved across the State line and located on a portion
of the Widow Wells’ farm, near the Forks, which is
now the village of Independence. He remained there
until the year 1813, and then removed to Fowlertown.
His daughter, Mrs. Martha Leech, has been a constant
‘resident of this.township since her‘ father came -here
in 1809, and she still lives in the village of Independ-
ence. She is now seventy-nine years of age, and pos-

sesses a remarkable recollection of the early people

and early history of Independence township.
In the year 1800 therewere living in that partof
Hopewell township which is now Independence (as

‘ shown by the Hopewell assessment-roll of that year)

the following-named persons, who followed vocations
other than. that of farming, viz.: James Brown and

_ Robert*Cummins, millers ; John Crutchfield, cooper;
William McCormick, carpenter; John Brown, mason; .

Benjamin Anderson, William Stewart, J onathanr Bu-
chanan, and Benjamin Stewart, blacksmiths; John

Buchanan and Robert Wilkins, inn-keepers; John‘

Cuthbertson, physician.

James Boyd, who was a resident within the terri-
tory of Independence township for fully three-fourths
of a century, and was one of’ its best known as well

as most respected citizens, was the son of David Boyd, .

who settled in Hopewell township, three miles east of

West Middletown, in 1787, from which place his son ‘

David removed in 1805, and settled in the west part
of Hopewell, which afterwards became the township
of Independence," where he lived to thevday of his

death, Oct. 8, 1880, in his ninety-ninth year. He ‘

was born in the year -1782, in Cumberland County.

  828

His first farm was about three miles from West Mid-

V dletown, in Independence township. He had a great

taste for horses. David Craig furnished him the
money to buy the team which he used when he
started wagoning, and this team he paid for in silver
on his return from the war of 1812. He first bought
forty or fifty acres of ground, and after some years
bought a larger farm. He was not brilliant or quick,
but had good judgment, a clear memory, and robust
health. Three weeks_before~he was taken sick he
recalled events of recent occurrence as vividly as he
did those of seventy—five years ago, showing that his
mind was still unimpaired. '

He was married three times, and had nine chil-
dren. "The last time he was married he was over
eighty years of age. He was an elder in the Presby-
terian Church of Upper Buffalo for nearly fifty years.

In 1819, Joseph Brownlee, a son of James Brown-
lee, who lived near \Vashington borough,'came into
what is now Independence township, and purchased
one hundred and eighty—one ‘acres of the John Dod-
dridge tract,‘ callec “ Lexington,” upon which he
lived until his death. He died Nov. 16, 1867, aged
seventy-six years. Of his children, Paul B. Brownlee
lives in Richmond, Kan. ; Joseph W. Brownlee lives
i11 Cross Creek township ;%David A. Brownlee lives on
the homestead; and Rev. John T._Brownlee lives in
West Middletown, in charge of the Mount Hope
Church. The daughter Jane married R. Y. Melroy,
and Esther became the wife of Samuel Moore. ‘ Both
still live in this township.

The property of Thomas Swearingen was a tract of
four hundred and four acres, callec “ York,” adjoin-
ing the tract of Thomas Shannon, and was granted

to him on a Virginia certificate, dated Dec. 7,,

1795. It was located in the southwest part of Inde-
pendence township, touching the three lines of the
township, county, and State. .
Physicians.~Of physicians resident in that part
of the old township of Hopewell which has since be-
come the township of Independence, the earliest one
of whom any knowledge has been obtained (and no
doubt the. first of his profession actually located
within the bounds of the present township) was Dr.
John Cuthbertson, who lived and practiced here sev-
eral years before the beginning of the present cen-
tury. He lived on and owned the beautiful farm now
owned and occupied by Mr. Robert Vance. He was
known as a man of large intelligence and influence
in the community. His medical practice, which was
large and laborious, continued for a period of not
less than thirty years. He lived unmarried, his sister
Sarah, or, as shewas known in the community, “Sally
Culbertson,” being his faithful housekeeper till his
death, which took place about the year 1828. The
sister survived a few years longer, and at her death
the estate passed into the possession of friends in the
East. Another physician notless famed than Dr.
Cuthbertson, who began the business of his profes-

HISTORY OF WASHINGTON ‘COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA.

sion in Independence township about ten years after
the death of the latter, is Dr. Joseph Parkinson, who
is still engaged in the practice of his profession in
Independence township. He commenced the practice
of his profession in the village of Independence on the
1st of April, 1838. For a period of almost forty-four
years he has now continued i11 the same field of labor,
and has had all the while a measure of practice as
large as he desired. With a sufiiciency of wealth to

assure for himself and household a comfortable sub- ’

sistence, living in a beautiful home, made doubly
attractive by the aesthetic taste and culture of him-
self and wife and daughter, he might retire from the
toil of his profession without bringing censure upon
his head fron1 any source. But he loves his profes-
sion and_ still perseveres in its practice. His enjoy-
ment is rather in well regulated labor than in ease.
At a time of life when most men incline to lay the
harness off he still inclines to keep it on, and seems

to have real pleasure in ministering to the bodily ‘

relief of any, and more especially when called to

minister to the relief of those who were his friends I

and patrons in years long gone by.

Dr. Smith,_ of Brooke County, Va., had a large
practice in this township from 1820 to about the time
of Dr. Parkinso11’s settlement here.

Dr. Ramsay was a physician who settled at Inde-
pendence about the year 1886, but after a short pe-
riod of practice removed to West Middletown, where
he soon after died. '

Dr. Robert Hartman, a native of Alsace, France
(now Germany), studied medicine there and in Ger-
many, and came to America in 1856, having previ-
ously practiced a short time in Europe.
Independence in 1859, and l1as been in practice here
from that time until the present.

Dr. J. P. Johnston is a native of Canton township,
Washington County. He studied medicine two years
with Dr. David Crise, and afterwards with Dr. A. S.
McEl_ree, of VVashington, for one year. He attended
two seasons at the Jefferson Medical College in Phil-
adelphia, and ‘graduated in 1879. In April, 1880, he
located at Independence, where he has continued in
practice to the present time. _

Independence Vi1lage.~The landupon which the
village of Independence has been built was a part of
the two tracts “Pembroke” and “Shannon Hall,”
patented and improved by Thomas Maguire and
Thomas Shannon. The first purchase for this pur-
pose was made by William McCormick, who on
Sept. 26, 1798, bought three acres of the “Shannon
Hall” property, which was described as “begin-
ning at ‘a post on the south side of the road lead-
ing from Washington to Charlestown, crossing the
road, and running along the line of the late Thomas
McGuire. . . .” On Dec. 14, 1801, William McCor-
mick bought fifty acres of land ''of Francis Maguire,

which was adjoining the land of ‘William Harvey. J

This fifty—acre tract was located just south of the

He came to '

of the estate.

' while in her care.

A 1. died there.

INDEPENDENCE TOWNSHIP.

829

villagei site, and was conveyed to Mr. Maguire by
Charles Wells, son of Benjamin 'Wells, and executor
of his estate. Again, Oct. 14, 1802, VVilliam McCor-
mick purchased fifty acres of the “Pembroke” tract
of William Maguire. In the following year (1803)
Mr. McCormick laid out the plat of the village, and on
October 5th of that year an article. of agreement with
prospective purchasers was filed in the recorder’s office

by him, pertaining to the sale of the lots in the vil_-
-lage he had laid out. The article was signed by Wil-

liam McCormick, with John Cuthbertson and David
Buchanan as witnesses, and provided that the lots
should be 60 by 110 feet in size, and each contain one-
fourth of an acre. A

The prices for these village lots at the first sale
ranged from $8.50 to $20. The names of the earliest

purchasers and the numbers of their lots were as fol-

lows: Philip Everhart, No. 11; Patrick Fowler, N6.

‘ ,9; Benjamin Stewart, Nos. 6 and 8; Willia.1n Ma-
guire, Nos. 13, 31, 32, 33; James Sellers, No. 25;

James McMurray, Nos. 19, 21; Caleb \Vells, No. 12;
John Crutchfield, No. 10; Alexander Irwin, No. 26;

John Cuthbertson, Nos. 3, 20; James Carr, No. 13;"

Samuel Davidson, No. 5; Robert Cummings, No. 18.

' Soon after making these preliminary arrangements

Mr. McCormick died, and his plans were carried out
by his widow, Margaret McCormick, John Buchanan,
and Galbraith Stewart, who were the administrators
The original name of this place was
“The Forks,” given it from the junction of two roads
at this point,»-but where the village was platted it re-
ceived the name of Williamsburg, retaining it until
1836, when it was changed to Independence.

Robert Harvey, a son of VVilliam Harvey, who

owned the “Flower Garden” tract, married the

widow of William McCormick, and for many years
kept a tavern at VVilliamsburg. He finally became
deranged, his wife left him, and he was taken to his
sister, Mrs. David Archer, in Ohio, and died in 1840,
I The first store in the village was
opened here by William Gilchrist, who ‘lived on the
same side of the road that Robert Harvey did, and
also kept a tavern. In 1816 he removed to Ohio, and
Some of the village lots changed hands

several times. No. 20 was disposed of by John Cuth-

. bertson to Robert Harvey, and Jan. 17, 1825, he sold
. it_to Richard Carter. He, in partnership with his

cousin, James Bell, built upon it, and opened a store
near the Harvey tavern, where Jehial Carman now
lives. A little later, John ‘Bell, a brother of James,
built a store on the hill where Mr. Leggett at present
resides. In 1812 a man n_amed Gregory started a

. blacksmith-shop on the main road, below the site of

the present tannery. The log house he lived in was

» the one built by Dennis Dorsey, and, having since
. been repaired and weatherboarded, is now occupied
, by Miss Katy Baker. William V/Vaters, a hatter, who
. came from east of the mountains, kept a shop in the
.1 field south of Jerome Plummer’s present residence.

53

In 1830, Richard Carter purchased the tannery
then in operation near the village of Williamsburg.
He opened a store in connection with the business of
the tannery, and carried on a very flourishing trade.
Mrs. Leech, who retains a most accurate knowledge
of the events and incidents of those days, says she
has carried many pounds of butter to this last-men-
t_ioned store of Richard Carter, which she solc “at a
fip-penny bit a pound.” Robert Shaw kept a tavern
in VVilliamsburg from 1833 to 1836, when he sold out
to James McCreery. McCreery kept this tavern about

a year, when he purchased the hotel property and

store now owned and occupied by William Leggett.
This was the first brick building put up in the village,
and was built by Thomas Potts, of whom McCreery
bought it in 1837, and opened a tavern there at that
time. He remained, in that place and business for
several years, when he sold out to Jesse Litton, from
whom Samuel Leggett obtained the property, which
has descended to his son, \Villiam Leggett, who is
now proprietor of the hotel and store, and also holds
the office ofjustice of the peace. Mr. McCreery died,
but his widow still lives in Independence village, and
his son, William S. McCreery, is postmaster at VVood-
row, Mount Pleasant township. A man name_d
Ephraim Johnston also kept a tavern. in Independ-
ence in 1837, at the lowerpend of the village, and
continued to live there until after the war of the
Rebellion, when he died. _

The post-office was established here in 1836, and at
that time the name of the village was changed, from
Williamsburg to that of Independence. Richard

. Carter was the first postmaster, holding the position
, for several years, and was succeeded by John Lane.

James K. McConaughy took charge of the office in
1864, and is still postmaster. Independence village

has, beside the post-office, two stores, several other‘
. places of business, three churches, and a fine school-

house. A lodge of the Masonic Order, No. 448, was
organized. here, but has been removed to Patterson’s
Mills. 0

Lower Buffalo Presbyterian Church.——The earliest
mention of the existence of this congregation is in the.

records of the Redstone Presbytery, which met at A

Chartiers on the 25th of May, 1789, at which time
“Mr. Hughes declared his acceptance of the call
from Lower Buffalo and Short Creek.” A congrega-
tion,,h-ad been gathered at Lower Buffalo before this
time, but no minister had been settled. James ‘Hughes,
the pastor above referred to, was a native of York
County, Pa. He came to this county in 1780 with his
parents, and in 1782 entered the academy of the Rev.
Thaddeus Dodd, at Ten-Mile. Upon the suspension
of that school in 1785 he wentto study withthe Rev.
Joseph Smith, with whom he completed his course.
He was licensed by the Redstone Presbytery April
18, 1788, and soon after received a call from the con-
gregation of Short Creek and Lower Buffalo, Done-
gal, Fairfield, and VVheatfield, and New Providence

4'

830 9 HISTORY OF WASHINGTON COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA.

\

and South Fork of Ten-Mile. Her accepted. the
former, as before stated, and was ordained on the 21st
of ‘April, 1790, and served in that capacity until the
29th of June, 1814, when he resigned. Upon the erec-
tion of the Presbytery of Ohio in October, 1793, this
church became one of the constituent churches.- Mr.
Hughes, after his resignation, removed to Urbana,
Ohio, and became a member of the Presbytery of
Miami. In 1818 he was chosen president of the

lMiami University, which position he held till his

death in 1821, at the age of fifty-six years.
The church of Lower Buffalo was ministered to only

by supplies from 1814 to 1819. At the first meeting A

of the Presbytery of Washington in 1819, the Rev.
Jacob Cosad, who ‘had been acting as missionary for
the Bible Society for a year or two previous, received

' a call from the congregations of Lower Buffalo and

Short Creek, which he accepted. He was ordained
and installed by the Presbytery of Washington, which
met at Lower Buffalo on the 5th of January, 1819.
The Rev. Joseph Harvey preached the sermon.
Arthur Scott was an elder at that time. Mr. Cosad

served this church till 1827, when, on the" 29th of ‘

April, he asked a dissolution of the "connection, which

was granted. At a meeting of Presbytery Dec. 30,

1828, Lower. "Buffalo and West Liberty applied for
James W. McKennan as stated supply, which was
granted.’ At a meeting of Presbytery July 1, 1829, a
call was presented to Rev.”.J. \V.:McKenna-n from the
congregations of Lower Buffalo and Short Creek,
offering a salary of two hundred and fifty dollars from
each church. The call was accepted,’ and Mr. Mc-
Kennan was ordained and installed over these con-
gregations Dec. 29, 1829, on which occasion the Rev.
John McClusky presided, and the sermon was preached
by the Rev. John Stockton. The membership of the
church at about this time was reported at sixty-five.
The Rev. James VV. McKennan was born in Wash-
ington borough, Sept. 2, 1804, being the youngest son

of Col. William McKennan, of Revolutionary fame,
- . and brother of T. M. T. McKennan, of VVashington.

He was licensed in 1828, and ordained in 1829, and in

V December of thelatter ..y~ear installed over the con-

gregations of Lower Buffalo and West Liberty, as
mentioned, and remained in that -relation for five
years, during which time his health became seriously
impaired, and on that account he spent two winters
in the Southern States and in Cuba. On the 28th of
December, 1834, his pastoral connection with the
\—Vest Liberty (Short Creek) and Lower Buffalo
Churches was severed, and he was dismissed by the
Washington Presbytery to the Presbytery of Cincin-
nati, which included Indianapolis, Ind., and be ac-
cepted a call from the First Presbyterian Church of
that place. The duration of his pastorate there has
not been ascertained. He was afterwards connected
with the preparatory department of Vvashington
College, and adjunct Professor of Languages in that
institution. He’-diedin the fall of 1861.

On the 21st of June, 1835, the Lower Buffalo
Church extended a call to the Rev. David Hervey,
who accepted and became their pastor, inwhich rela-

tion he remained until Oct. 3, 1849. From that time’

the church was without a settled pastor until 1858.

In April of that year a call was extended to the Rev.

James Fleming, who accepted «.an~d-was installed over
this church on the 20th of May following. He re-
mained until the 28th of April, 1869, when the rela-
tion was dissolved by his resignation. His successor
as a settled pastor was the Rev. J ..Linn Reed, who

-was ordained and installed on the 15th of December,

1874, and who still remains pastor of this church.
The first church edifice of this congregation was
built of logs, and was situated in Virginia, nearthe
State line. A graveyard was laid out on the church
grounds, which is still used. All burials of the mem-

-bers of the church are made in this old yard, which
is well inclosed’ with a stone wall. The second_

church building was erected of stone, in 1822, on the

ridge about one mile south of Independence. This
church was used till 1850, when the present frame *

church was erected in the_village of Independence.
Among the early elders of this church were Arthur_
Scott, Green, and John Armspoker. The pres-
ent board consists of William Patterson, David
Buchanan, James McConnaughy, VVilliar'n“ Leggett,
Joseph Scott, and Alexa-nde§~Adams.  '
Methodist Episcopal ChuI"ch.—-Methodist preach-
ing was known in Independence township as early as
1808, although they had no church building, no pas-
tor,,nor any regularly organized society. In the year
mentioned (1808), Mrs.-Leech, who was then a little
girl nine years of age, remembers a Methodist camp-
meeting that was held on the flat by Cross Creek,
below’ the’. site occupied by Plummer’s mill. 1 Thick

 

woods then stood upon the place, and very many

people gathered in them to listen to the preaching of
Rev. Mr. Harrison, the minister in charge, who is de-
scribed as a tall, slim man, full of “ Methodist fire.”
In 1840 a church society of the Methodist Episcopal
faith was organizedin the township. Previous to that
date there had been only irregular servicesof that
denomination by the occasional preachers who trav-
eled through this section of country. After the church
was formed services were held in the brick school-
house, the first preacher.in charge being Rev. James
C. Taylor, and Joseph Adams the first class-leader.

Other-preachers of.th_e circuit were sent from -time to.

time, among whom were Samuel Worthington, Mr.
McCall, and Dr. Edward Smith. Dr. Smith was a
physician, who resided in Virginia, but practiced all
through Independence township. A lot was donated

‘to the society by George Plurnmer, and in 1848 a

church edifice costing $800 was erected. The society
then numbered seventy-five members. Now there are
three churches in the charge, under the Rev. G. H.
Hoffman, the three church buildings having an aggre-
gate value ‘of $6000,and the churches amembership

INDEPENDENCE TOWNSHIP; A

 

831

of one hundred and twenty-eight persons. There are
also three Sunday—schools in the charge, with an en-
rolled’ list of one hundred and seventy-two scholars
and thirty-four teachers, and the.-three li.braries have
a collection of three hundred volumes.

United Presbyterian Congregation of Mount
H0pe.'——The United ‘Presbyterian Congregation of
Mount Hope is in Independence township, two and
one-half miles southwest from West Middletown, and
four miles southeast from the village of Independence.

The date of its organization, if formal organization-

it ever had, is unknown. Scattered families in con-
nection with the Associate Presbyterian Church had

been residing in the territoryeafterward occupied by_
» the congregation for a period of near twenty years

before the beginning of the present century. The
place of worship for most of these was with the con-
gregation of North Buffalo, of .the -same religious
faith, in Buffalo township. But they grew weary of
their long journeyings, from five to fifteen miles, to
Buffalo, and sought and obtained supplies of preach-
ing near_er their homes. In houses or barns, orin
“ God?s first temples, the groves,” this was furnished
to them from 1790 to 1800 at long intervals of time.

I The earliest recorded notice of the existence of the

congregation -as an organized body is in the minutes
of the Associate Presbytery of Chartiers, which set
forth that a call addressed to Rev. Thomas Allison to
become pastor of the congregation was accepted by
him Nov. 12,1801. On the 10th of February, 1802,
Mr. Allison was ordained and installed as pas-
tor of the coiigregation. The deed from John Mc-
Fadden and wife, by which the ground on which the

A church was built was conveyed to the congregation,

bears date Feb. 17, 1804, from which it is evident that

V the first house of worship was not erected till that

year. I It was a log building, in the usual form of the
early churches of the county, constructed almost en-
tirely without financial cost by the labor of the mem-
bers. With various renovations from time to time, this
house served the need of the congregation for a period
of forty‘ years. '

The members of session at the time of the installa-
tion of the first pastor were John Templeton, James
Dickey, Robert Ferguson, and George Sharp. The
first addition toltheisession consisted of Robert Hum-
phrey, Samuel McEwen,.and David T. Archer, who
were elected Oct. 30, 1806,, and soon after duly in-
stalled. The congregation grew and prospered during
these early years of its history. The members were
widely scattered, but ‘they. bore cheerfully the hard-
ships. of their long journeyings on horseback or on
foot to the place of worship. About the year 1817
the names of Messrs. Sharp, Ferguson, and Dickey no
longer appear in the records of the sessions, though
no notice is ‘given of how they became separated from

it. During this-year-Mr. David Gibson and Mr. John

1 By ‘Rev. John '1‘. Brownlee. , ,

"the charge of the congregation.

Scott were elected and duly installed in the eldershi p.
The service of public social covenantingwas con-
ducted in the congregation in the year 1824, in which
the pastor was assisted by Dr. James Ramsay, pastor
of the church of Chartiers,_and Rev. David French,
pastor of North and South Buffalo. Mr. Griibson
having removed, and others of the session becoming
infirm through age, an election was held in 1831,
which resulted in the. addition to the session of. Messrs.
John Gilmor, Thomas Hagerty, and Joseph Brown-
lee. I A ‘I A
The pastor of the congregation, having officiated in
that capacity for a period of almost thirty-six years,
was now no longer young, and feeling that his. labors
in the future would not be so much for edification as
they had been in the past, tendered. his resignation,
and on the 28th of November, 1837, was released from
He continued for
some time to minister to the other ,branch of his
charge, to which one-third of his time had been

given; but the infirinities of age increasing, he was

soon. released from that field of labor also, and passed
at length to his final rest on the 6th of April, 1840.
The Rev. Thomas Allison was born, probably, in
York County, Pa., June 3, 1771, but removed while
still. a child with his parents to Washington County.

He prosecuted his classical and scientific studies ln_

Canonsburg Academy, afterward. Jefferson College,
and having gone through the regular course of theo-
logical study, in a class-.witl1 three others, under the
supervisionof Rev. Dr. John Anderson, the regu-
larly appointed theological professor of the Associate
Presbytery of Pennsylvania, was licensed to preach
in the beginningoftlie year 1800. He was of me-

dium size, erect and well-proportioned form, aquiline

nose, of dignified and solemn demeanor, and of a gen-
eral bearing calculated rather to elicit respect and ad-
miration than draw those around closely to (him.
The wife of Mr. Allisonrwas-Anne, daughter of Rev.
Matthew Henderson, the first pastor of the Associate

Congregation of Chartiers, at Canonsburg, They’!-
had twelve children, eight daughters a.ndf'_four sons. D.

The daughters and one son-have passed away. Three
sons still survive. The widow, having survived. her
husband more than thirteen years, died Oct. 4,1853.
During the winter immediately followinggthe‘re-
lease of Mr. Allison the congregation of Mount
Hope was supplied for alconsiderable time by Rev.
David Thompson. Some ten or twelve years before
he had emigrated from Ireland, and, traveling alone,
found his way to the village of West Middletown,
where he-had some relatives residing. Possessed of
a burning desire to obtain a liberal education, with
the gospel ministry in view, and being without means
of his own, and without friends on whom he could
draw for help, he set himself to work, and by labor-
ing on~a farm and on a flat-boat on the Ohio River,

"by carrying a pack of dry-goods and notions frdm

house to house,'by teaching school, by one means or

I to Col.‘Marshe1’s letter, said, “ . .

98

HISTORY OF WASHINGTON COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA.

the General, Issued Orders to the Commanding officers three hundred men for that service. As the state of

of the old Militia Companys, to Raise an armed force
and Collect the Delinqts; and altho these orders were
Chiefly disobeyed, yet there has been several armed
Banditties in this County under command of a cer-
tain Col. Cox and others, who have acted nearly in
the same manner as the general himself has done.

“They being in Quest of John Douglas (a Gent.
Elected one of our Justices for this County) and not
finding him the first attempt, broke open his house in
the night time, Fed away and destroyed such a part
of Rye and Corn (his property) as they thought
proper; Drew their swords upon his wife and Chil-
dren in order to make“ them Discover where he was ;
the sd Cox and his party have taken and confined a
Considerable number of the Inhabitants of this
County, amongst which were Hugh Scott (one of the
acting trustees of the County), altho’ he was not
drafted; in a word the Instances of high treason
against the State are too many to be Enumerated,
therefore shall not trouble your Excellency any more
on the subject at present.”

President Reed, in his reply1 (dated Aug. 25, 1781)
. As General
Clark’s proceedings have been the Occasion of so
much Dissatisfaction in the Country, & it is given out
that he has extraordinary Countenance from -us, we
think it necessary to state our Sentiments & the Facts
respecting his Command. We were informed early
last Spring that a Plan of an Expedition under Gen.
Clark against the Western Indians was approved by
Gen. Washington. Our Opinion of the Gentleman,
from his former Successes and acknowledged Abili-
ties, as well as our Belief that his Expedition would
be beneficial to our Frontier, led us to give it our
Countenance so far as to write to the Gentlemen of
Westmoreland County, with a View that it should be
communicated to you, that it was our Wish that Gen.
Clark might be assisted so far as to encourage Volun-
teers to go with him & to supply him with Provisions,
if he should have Occasion to apply for them, he
paying their Value. We also wrote to Gen. Clark
himself, a Copy whereof is inclosed, by which you
will see the Extent of the Countenance & Support he
has derived from us. But while we utterly disprove
the irregularities and hardships which have been ex-
ercised by him [Gen. Clarke] towards the inhabitants,
we cannot help fearing that too many, in consequence
of the unsettled state of boundaries, avail themselves
of a pretense to withhold their services from the pub-
lick at a time when they are most wanted, and when
an exertion would not only serve the country, but pro-

' mote their own security. We cannot help also ob-

serving that, by letters received from the principal
gentlemen in Westmoreland, it seems evident they
approve of Gen. C1ark’s expedition, and that the lieu-
tenants of both States united in the plan of raising

. publick affairs had not admitted your forming the

‘militia sufliciently to concur in these measures, we
concluded that these resolutions would also include
your county, and even now are at a loss to account
for the different opinions entertained on the point
by the people of Westmoreland and Washington
Counties.”

In a letter by Christopher. Hays, of Westmoreland,
and Thomas Scott, of Washington County, to Presi-
dent Reed, dated “ Westmoreland, August 15, 1781,”
they said, “ . . . The truth of the matter is, the
General’s Expedition has been wished well, and vol-
unteers to the service have been Incouraged by all
with whom we corispond; but we have heartily repro-

. bated the General’s Standing over these two counties

with armed force, in order to dragoon the Inhabitants
into‘ obedience to a draft under the laws of Virginia,
or rather under the arbitrary orders of the officers of
that Government, without any orders from Virginia
for that purpose, and this is really the part the Gen-
eral hath acted, or rather the use which has been
made of him in this country.” _

“With respect to Gen. Clarke’s Proceedings,” said
President Reed, in his reply to the above, “we can
only say that he has no authority from us to draft
Militia, much less to exercise those acts of Distress-
which you have hinted at, and which other letters
more particularly enumerate. His Expedition ap-
pears to us favorable for the Frontiers, as carrying
Hostilities into. the Indian' Country, rather than rest-
ing totally on the defensive.
of Westmoreland, however different in other Things,
to have agreed in Opinion that his Expedition de-
served encouragement. . . .” .

Gen. Clarke on his part accused several oflicials
of Washington and Westmoreland Counties of using
every means in their power, fair and unfair, to pre-
vent the raising of men for the expedition and ruin
its chances of success. In a communication dated at
Wheeling, August 4th,” and addressed to the president
of the Council, he said, “I thank you for the favor-.
able sentiments and the Requisition to this country to
give all possible aid to’ the Enterprise 1 am ordered
on. Had they have done so, as their Interest loudly
call’d for, I believe there would have been no Reason
to doubt but our most Sanguine Expectations would
have been answered. But so far from compleating

your wishes, that part of them have taken every step I «

in their power to frustrate the design (at a time when
their neighbours were daily massacred) by confusing
the Inhabitants and every other device their abilities
would admit of, though small, are too apt to effect the
minds of such persons as Inhabit this frontier. What
put it more in their power was the unsettled Terri-
tory, and noorders of yours appearing you mention
you had sent by one of your members (meaning Chris-

' 1 Pa. Arch., 1731-33, pp. 367-69.

2 Ibid., pp. 331-32.

We find the Gentlemen _

2832

L

-' -another, he was {enabled to graduate from Jefferson
‘College in‘ the class of 1829, and, having gone through
-the regular‘course in the theological seminaryat Can-
onsburg, was licensed to preach the gospel March 18,

1834. Having itinerated for some time through the
church, he received a call to the pastorate of Mount

‘ Hope, which he accepted July 3, 1838. Having been

admitted to the communion of the church by the
session of Mount ‘Hope in 1826, he was installed as
the pastor of that congregation, Sept. 12, 1838.

It is matter of regret that the minutes of the session -
-of the congregation during the whole of the pastorate

of Mr. Thompson and up to the year 1860,_ twenty-one _

— years.in all, were lost-in the burning of the house of.

the clerk. The exa'ct date of some events during this

period cannot therefore be given. Near the close of

1838 or in the beginning of .1839, Messrs. VVilliam

-Ralston, Sr., and David Archer were elected and or-
- dained to the eldership in the congregation. The old

church building, which for a period of forty years or

_ more had served the congregation as a -place of- wor-

ship, was becoming dilapidated and antiquated in
appearance. It was taken down in the year 1845, and
a new structure erected on the same ground. The

new building was somewhat smaller than the old,
. being thirty-eight by forty—five feet.
: tial and neat, but quite plain, as may be inferred from
, the fact that its whole cost was but $1060. a
The pastorate of Mr.‘Th_0.mpson terminated June 15,
= 1847. Not long after he removed with his family to

It was substan-

the State of Oregon, traveling by the overland route.

‘ Remaining there for a few years he returned to the
«East, and was settled for some time as pastor of the
‘ congregation of ‘Clear Fork, in Guernsey County, Ohio.
' He afterwards removed to the State of Kansas, and
~ located in Arkansas City, Cowley Co., where he still
' remains. r

Fora period of four years following. the close of the

-pastorate of -Mr. Thompson the congregation was
" supplied with some regularity by various itinerating
‘ ‘ preachers. The call addressed to the present pastor
. was ‘accepted in the month of May, 1851, and on the

last Sabbath of Junefollowing, being about the 25th

’ of the month, heformally assumed the charge of the

congregation. Its numbers during the period since
the close. of the former pastorate, according .to the

-- usual experience in such cases, had become consider-
- ably reduced. Of the session but two members, Mr.

Joseph ‘Brownlee and Mr. Thomas Haggerty, were
now remaining. An election for elders was soon held,
the result of which was that Messrs.‘ William Smith
and Samuel Jamison were ordained and installed on

V Saturday,-Oct. 16, 1851, and Mr. John B. Garrett on
v the Monday following, October 18th. Of these, Mr."
« Smith survived only till the 25th of January follow-
’ ing, so that the substantial result of this election was
- only the addition to the session of Messrs. Jamison
~ and Garrett.
1 ciate Reformed Churches in 1858,resulting in the

The union of the Associate and Asso-

, HISTORY OF‘_WASHINGTON COUNTY,,PENNSYLVANIA.‘

formation of the United Presbyterian Church, had its
effect on the congregation of Mount Hope, in common
with all other congregations in communities where
both branches had before existed. A few of its fami-
lies, who were geographically nearer to the adjacent
congregation o_f West Middletown, changed their
membership to that congregation, but the loss thus
sustained was made up by the reception-fromr\Vest.

-Middletown of as many, whose names were now
.added to the roll of Mount "Hope. A Partly in View of

theincreasing age of the two senior members of the

- session, and in part from a desire that the new element

introduced into the congregation should also be repre-
sented in the session, an election was held during the
month of December following, which resulted in the
addition to the session of Messrs. John Meloy, Esq.,

and William Smith. Mr. Meloy had been for many

years a member of the session of West Middletown,
and Mr. Smith a member of that congregation. The
former -was installed and the latter ordained and in-

V stalled at Mount Hope during the month of January,

1859. Mr. John Jamison,.who had been for many
years a member of the session of West Middletown,
was received into membership at Mount Hope Oct.
27,1860, and on the same day, on the recommenda-
tion of the session, was chosen as an "elder, and ac-
cepting the position, was at the same time installed as
a member of session. '

p . The war of the Rebellion drew its recruits from the

congregation of Mount Hope as well as others. Nine
young men went forth to the -“high places of the

» field”from its midst who were either communing mem-

bers of the congregation at the time or became such
soon after the close of the war. Their names deserve to
be recorded in the history of the congregation, and are
as follows, viz. : Samuel Williamson, William R. Jami-
son, Thomas B. O’Donald, Alexander Walker McCon-
nel, Samuel Donaldson, Joseph W. Brownlee, Samuel
A. Garrett, John F. Gibson, and Thomas J. Zeigler.
Though exposed, in common with others, to the dan-
gers of the camp, the march, and the battle-field,,it
is a noteworthy fact that these young menall return ed
to their homes at the close of the war, none of them
having been even seriously wounded during the prog-
ress of the conflict. .

_The house of worshi p occupied by the congregation
since 1845 was still firm on its foundations and with-
out defect in its walls, but it wassmall, the -number

of the pews not quite equaling the number of families -

in the congregation, andin many respects its appoint-
ments were regardedas not quite up to thedemands
of the times. After" the usual amount of considera-
tion, investigation, and argumentation, it was decided
that the old house must give way to something better.
The contract for the new erection was made in the
spring "of 1867, and on‘ the first Sabbath of November
in the same year the completed houseof worship, was
occupied fo_r the first time by the congregation. Itis
a frame, forty-three feet wide by sixty feet in length,

. to year.

was found to contain but sixty-six names.

INDEPENDENCE TOWNSHIP.

with story twenty feet high, the whole cost to the con-
gregation being about $4500. It is not fine or grand,
but fully meets the wants of the congregation, and is

- a house of worship of which they do not feel that they

have need .to be ashamed. ' _ ' _
Messrs. James M. Welch and Nathan Patterson on
the 28th of November, 1870, were elected to the elder-
ship, and a short time afterwards were ordained and
installed in the office. The latest addition to the

‘ membership of the session is that of Messrs. James

H. Welch and.David A. Brownlee, who were elected‘
in the month of November, 1880, and ordained and
installed Jan. 7, 1881. ' 1 ,
The congregation of Mount Hope has never been
one of the large and strong congregations of the

i United Presbyterian Church in Washington County.

During the earlier years of its history statistics of its
membership do not appear to have been taken, and
when afterwards taken give evidence of inaccuracy,
and of being corrected only at long_intervals from year

at any time higher than one hundred and twenty, and
at the close of that pastoratewas reduced much below
that number. During the nine years of the pastorate
of Mr. Thompson, when returns began to be more
carefully corrected, the whole number of members at
no time rose higher than eighty-eight. At the begin-
ning of the present pastorate in 1851 the corrected roll
From this
time the increase was slow and gradual till the year

. 1864, when the membership numbered one hundred
and sixteen. Therewas then a decline, mainly by

removals, till 1877-78, when the number was eighty.
The tide then turned, and with -gradual increase the
number is now (February, 1882) one hundred and
seven. The whole number of accessions to the mem-

bership of the congregation during the present par- '

torate has been two hundred and seventy-six, of which
one hundred and forty-one have been by examination
and profession of faith, and one hundred and thirty-
five by certification or other attestation of membership
from other congregations. The average annual ad-
ditions from both sources has been nine. The largest
accession during any single year is twenty, which is
during the ‘year yet to close (April, 1882). Infant bap-

H tisms during the present pastorate, one hundred and

fifty-six, an average of five each year. Adult baptisms,
twenty-two, being less than -one each year.
The contributions for charitable and religious pur-

' poses,‘ at home and abroad, during. the year closing

April 1, 1881, were an average of $14.43 to each mem-
ber. The whole amount of contributions for charit-
able and religious purposes during the thirty years of
the present pastorate has been about $30,000, being
an average to each member of about $10 each year.
Of those who were members of the" congregation at
the beginning of the present pastorate but seven con-

tinue. to. be membersnow. But one remains,(Mrs.

During the incumbency of the first pastor,‘
I there is no evidence that the number of members was

- used for the holding of their services.

Jdhe A. Brownlee) who was a member during the
pastorate of Mr. Allison, which closed forty-five years.
3.gO. ' :1

The oflicers of the congregation are as follows :-
Pastor, John T. Brownlee; Ruling Elders, John ‘Me-;
loy, Samuel Jamison, William Smith, J am-es-M.W-el_ch~,:;

James H. Welch, and David A. Brownlee ; Treasurer, .

JamesvM. Welch; Sabbath-school Superintendent,
Samuel Jamison. ' , 

The Church of the Disciples was organizedin
this township in 1865, by Paul Ralston, Mr.-Dean,
George Armspoker, Mrs. Robert Hartman, Mrs. Rob-.
ert Buchanan, and others. Services were held in. the
school-house until 1867, when the present building of
the society was erected. The pulpit was supplied
most of the time from students of Bethany College,
no regular pastor being in charge. The services

ceased in 1876, and the church has been practicall'y~ .

discontinued since that time. .
The Old Doddridge Chapel:-On the Reeves farm
(originally the Doddridge property) is the site of -a
house of worship that was erected by the Rev. Joseph
Doddridge, though the date of its erection is not
known. It afterwards came into possession of the
Methodist Episcopal denomination, and was by them
Later it’ be-
came the place of worship of the African. Methodist

Episcopal congregation, who used it for several years, ,

but it was given up by them and abandoned when
they purchased the VVesley, a church building in
West Middletown, about 1860. It was then taken
down, and the logs removed to the McConnell farm
adjoining. An old burial-ground, adjoining the site
of this old meeting-house, is still inclosed, though
not in use for its original purpose. _ ‘ . V ' » 

On the Dr. Parkison farm, in the west part of the
township, is an old burial-ground -containing many;

graves, among which may be -seen those of Maj. ’

Francis Maguire ‘and his wife Barbara, their tomb-

stones being still standing. Other graves in this

ground are marked by rude headstones, but few of
them having legible inscriptions. There is a tradi-
tion that there'once stood on a site adjoining this
graveyard an old log meeting-house, in which the_
Rev. Joseph Doddridge sometimes preached. This is
but a tradition, as there is now ‘no vestige of the old
building, nor is there any person living who remem-
bers having ever seen it. ‘
Camp-Meeting Ground.-—On or near the westline

of ‘the’ township is a lot of about seventeen acres. of ~

ground, a part of the tract originally ‘warranted to
Benjamin Wells, which, about 1874, was leased of
Thomas Buchanan by the Methodist Episcopal people,
who fitted it up as a camp-meeting ground, and
named it,“Belle View.” At the expiration of the
lease the ground was purchased, and is nowowned

' and used as a place for the holding of camp-meetings

by the Methodist Churches of the district. '
Schools.-—-The first school building known to exist

8:33}

831

HISTORY OF WASHINGTON COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA.

within the territory of Independence township $3
built as early as, if not before, 1800. This is one
that Mr. J. Scott, of this township, remembers very
well, as he attended school there. A It wassituated on
the hillsideofgthe farm belonging to James \;Velch,
now the property of his grandson, James 1‘ H. \Velch.
Mr. Scott describes it as a log cabin, in the construc-
tion of which not a nail was used. Yet, rude as it
was, this building served its purpose "well, and within
its walls gathered the pioneer children of its imme-
diate section, to be taught by John Robinson, and
afterhim by Thomas McCready, and again for a time
by John Robinson. Lawrence Gardner, whowas a
noted penman, was also a teacher in this school-house,
as was Isaac Sharp and others. In 1810 another log
school-house, in which were used the oiled paper
windows, was built in the vicinity of The Forks, on
the Widow Wells’ farm, but not a vestige of the
building remains. An Irishman named Moses Han-
lan was the teacher in 1810 and 1811. Hugh Maguire
taught a school on the property of Cornelius Gist,
just over the Virginia line. This was said‘ to be at
“ the far end of The Forks.” In 1820 a school-house
was located on a branch of the creek, which was
called Witch Run from its banks being lined with
witch hazel. Nathaniel Smith, who owned a farm
near by, was a teacher in this school-house. His son,
William Smith, was a later teacher in the township.
This school building was succeeded in 1830 by what
is known as the Cuthbertson school-house, built on
the farm of Dr. Outhbertson, and which is still stand-
ing, but unoccupied. Among theteachers in the
Cuthbertson house were William Smith, Joseph
Baker, and Thomas Patterson. In 1833 a log school-
house stood about twenty rods east of the site of the

. present Mount Hope Church, and Joseph Baker -and
George Vasbinder were among the teachers.

~ In 1836, under the operation of the school 1-law of
1834, eight new school buildings were erected. One

of them stood about one—fourth of a mile east of 1

Mount Hope Church. In 1840 a brick building for
school purposes was put up in District No. 5, known
as Scott’s District. In 1874 the present frame struc-
ture replaced it. ‘

' In 1834, after the enactment of the school law, a
brick addition was made to the school-house then in
use in Williamsburg. At that time Paul Ralston,
David ‘and Robert Buchanan were school directors.
In 1855 or 1856 the first frame building was put up,

thesite on the hill, which belonged to the village,

being exchanged with George Plummer for the one
now occupied by the school buildings.

- In 1863 Independence township comprised six
school districts, in which six teachers were employed,
‘and two hundred and forty-five pupils were enrolled.
The amount of money received from all sources for
school purposes was $914.92; the State appropriation
was $97.20; and the expenditures for the year were
$777.51. In 1873 therewere six districts, six teachers

employed, and two hundred and twenty-eight pupils
enrolled in the township. The amount of tax raised‘

for school funds was $2411.13; amount received from _

the State was $144.46 ; cost of schools for that year,
$2496.40. In. 1880 thetownship had still six districts,
which weresupplied with six teachers; number of
pupilsenrolled, 257; $1424.37 was raised by tax;
$330.30 received from the State; and the expendi-
tures for the schools were $1550.42. , -

Justices of the -Peace.~The names of persons ap-

pointed and elected to the office ofjustice of the peace '

in and for the territory now forming Independence,
prior to the time of its erection as a separatertown—

ship, are included in the list of justices in Hopewell I

township. The list of those elected for Independence

- since it became a separate township is given below,-

viz. :

J_efferson Wells. April 16, 1856.
James K. McConnaughy, May 18,
1858.

John Jeffrey, April 10, 1860.

R. McConnaughy, April 1.4, 1863.
John Jeflrey, July 12, 1865.-
Thomas Boyd, April 14, 1868. ‘

David Buchanan, March ‘.29, 1870.
Lemuel Leggett,.Nov. 30, 1870.
David. Buchanan, Jan. 31, 1874.
Robert Y. Meloy, March 17, 18.75.
W. C. Leggett, March 21, 1877.
Robert Y. Meloy, March 30, 1880.

4 LL
wvf

A BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCH.

DR. JOSEPH PARKINSON.

Dr. Joseph Parkinson, the eleventh and only living
child of Thomas and Margaret (Latimer).Parkinson,
was born in 1807. The Parkinsons were of English
ancestry, having come to this country in the early
part of the last century. Afterwards ‘William Par-
kinson, grandfather of Dr. Joseph Parkinson, settled
near Carlisle, Cumberland Co., Pa. He had a large
family, most of whom were sons; Of these, Benjamin,
Joseph, and Thomas came to Washington County at
an early date. Joseph owned and kept the ferry on
the Monongahela River, then called “Parkinson’s
Ferry,” now Monongahela City. He and Thomas
were also engaged in the mercantile business at -that

place. Thomas was enterprising and energetic, taking.

an active part in all the efforts of the time in the mate-
rial development of the county. He was strictly tem-
perate in his habits, and opposed to the “ Whiskey In-
surrection,” in which his brother Benjamin was one
of the leaders. In 1777, Thomas Parkinson bought a
‘farm of three hundred acres from John‘Decker,"on
Pigeon Creek, near Parkinson’s Ferry. Subsequently
he built at this place the first mill on" Pigeon Creek,
where he carried on the business of milling and farm-
ing for a number of years. In 1792 he sold this prop-
erty to James McFarlane, and the next year he moved
to Fayette County, Pa., in the immediate vicinity of
Connellsville, where he owned a mill and ‘farm. He
also owned five hundred acres of land in Huntington’
township, Westmoreland Co., Pa. In 1804 he sold

his farm and mill in Fayette County, Pa., and bought

- '- dergoing many hardships reached their home.

' ‘ schools of Philadelphia.

INDEPENDENCE TOWNSHIP.

a farm in Brooke County, Va., adjoining the farm on

which the college and village of Bethanywere after-

wards built, and to which he removed with his family
in 1805 or 1806. About the year 1783, Thomas Par-
kinson was married to Margaret Latilmer, whose par-
ents lived in the Ligonier valley, VVestmoreland Co.,
Pa., not far distant from Hannastown, then the seat
ofjustice for the county. The_Latimers were of Eng-
lish descent, and came from Philadelphia to Ligonier
valley in the exciting times of Indian warfare. In the

days of their early married life, Mr. Latimer and his '

wife, with their infant child, were taken captives by the
Indians, and subjected to a five days’ march across the
Ohio River into the wilderness. The parents, with
their child, finally managed to escape, and after un-
3 Mr.
Latimer was also badly wounded by the Indians while
carrying a messageofrom one fort to another in the
Ligonier valley. They lived when the dangers to"
which they were exposed developed strong points of
character. In her girlhood Margaret, with her only
sister, Martha, would follow the reapers in the har-
vest-field, carrying loaded rifles for their use in case
they should beattacked by the Indians.

Thomas Parkinson had lived at his Brooke County
home but a short time when, in May, 1807, he became
ill, and September 30th of the same year he died. At
this time Dr. Joseph Parkinson was but seven months

old, so he never knew a father’s care. This loss,'how-

ever, was in a great measure supplied by the affec-
tionate care and good training of a kind mother, She
was an excellent woman, largely endowed with com-
mon sense, intelligence, prudence, and strong will
power, but of quiet and gentle manners, and of more
culture than the womenof her ‘time in the Western
country, having been educated in one of the girls’
While she had strong affec-
tions for her children, she never allowed that affection
to control her better judgment, and believing that
the future development of the man or woman de-
pended largely upon the early training of the mother,
she taught her children to be industrious, persevering,
and energetic, and warned them against indolence
and vices. Her chief desire was that her children

' should become good and useful members "of society.

Dr. Joseph Parkinson was sent by his mother at a
very early age to a school kept by Alexander Camp-
bell, afterwards the celebrated Bishop Campbell,
whose home and school were upon the farm adjoining
the homeof the Parkinsons.
Buffalo Seminary. In it were taught the English,
Latin, Greek, and Hebrew languages, together with
the higher mathematics. Dr. Parkinson took a six
years’ course in this school, andholds a certificate
signed by Bishop Campbell, certifying to his‘ pro-
ficiency in the branches taught therein. For one

year after leaving school he taught_Latin, Greek, and

ii

The school was called.

the higher mathematics in a school in Warren, Trum-
bull Co., Ohio. He then returned to his home, where
he remained for some time, and finally decided to
study a ..profession, and chose that of medicine. In
1831 he entered the office of Dr. John C. Campbell,
a disti'n.guished physician of Wellsbuurg, Brooke -Co.,
Va., and while there was enabled to pay his bdarding
by working two hours daily as transcript clerk in the
recorder’s office. _
Campbell for two years, and in 1833 wentto Phila-
delphia, and matriculated in Jefferson Medical Col-
lege, and attended the lectures of 1833 and 1834,
u.nder Granville Sharp Pattison, George McClellan,
John Revere, and their associates. ,

Upon his return home his funds were exhausted,
and he concluded to seek a place in the office of some
eminent physician in one of the cities. He obtained
the position sought for in the office of Dr. James R.
Speer, of Pittsburgh, a gentleman of fine attainments

in his profession, in full practice, and with a large .

and well-selected library. Dr. Speer had ajhigh rep-
utation as an operator in general surgery,.and as an

adept in surgical and medical treatment of the eye,
Dr,

and of the treatment of diseases in general.
Parkinson entered the office of Dr. Speer, where, as

an equivalent for the use of the library, instruction,
and boarding, he kept the books, made out bills,

compounded medicines, put up prescriptions, etc.
After remaining with Dr. Speer for three years, he

decided to begin practice upon his own account. He,

accordingly settled at the village of Independence,
Washington Co., Pa., April 1, 1838, where he still
continues to  practice.
mencing he had as much practice. as he could attend

to properly. During the forty—three years which,
have since elapsed it may be said he has lived in the

saddle. He has rarely been absent from his post,
except a few flying visits to some of the VVestern
States, and the winter of 1870 and 1871, spent in the
South for recreation and rest. During that visit he
availed himself of the opportunity to attend the lee-
tures and surgical operations in the medical colleges
of Nashville and New Orleans. In the spring he,
returned home and resumed the active duties of his
profession. Some years after he settled in Independ-
ence he bought the farm which is now his home.
After buying this farm he married Elizabeth Pogue,
a lady of Scotch-Irish ancestry, eldest daughter of
the late’David Pogue, of Jefferson township, Wash-

ington Co., Pa. They have one child, Margaretta.‘E.,

Parkinson. ' V j ,
During. his long and active life Dr. Parkinson has

uniformly had good health, which he attributes to

his constant exercise in the open air and his temper-
ate habits in eating and drinking. His patrons in
the community where he has lived so long decide that
his life has been -been a successful one.

835." -

-He remained as a student with Dr. 

In six months after com-_

‘JEFFERSON

T OWN six 11?.

44;
‘V?

T JEFFERSON township is bounded on the north by
Hanover, on the east by Smith and Cross Creek, on
the south ‘by Independence, and on the west by the
State of West Virginia. The township is watered by-
Cross Creek (which forfns its southern boundary
against Independence) and its branches,,and by the
waters of Harmon’s Creek on the north.

The territory now within the limits of Jefferson
township was included in Hopewell, one of the thir-
teen original townships formed in 1781. On the 1st
of September, 17 89, the township of Cross‘ Creek was
formed byaction of the Court of Quarter Sessions,-
confirmed by the Supreme Executive Council, and
then embraced the territory that is now Cross Creek,
Jefferson, and «part of Mount Pleasant. The terri-
tory now'Jefl°erson remained within the jurisdiction
of Cross Creek until 1853'. During the winter of
1852-53 a petition of ‘ citizens of Cross Creek town-
ship was presented to the Court of Quarter Sessions
praying that the western "portion of Cross Creek be
formed into a separate township. Viewers were ap-
pointed who made an examination, and at the June
term of court of 1853 they mad_e a report, which was
confirmed, and on the 16th of June of that year the-
court ordered the territory mentioned in the petition
to be formed into “ a township to be called Jefferson
township.” ‘ _ r T

Settlements.-—The following list,‘ gathered from
the assessment-roll of Cross Creek township for the
year 1791, embraces the names of property-holders
at that time in that part of Cross Creek which after-
wards’ becameand is now the township of J efferson,
v1z.:

Acres. I Acres.
Edward Brown ............. .. .... .. 260 Ann Levens ........................ .. 200
John Brown ....  ................ .. 200 Samnel Leeper .................... .. 300
Caleb Brown ...................... .. ‘ 84 William McGarragh ............. ..
Joshua Brown ................... .. 180 ' Robert Mc 31'e_ady.. .............. .. 300
James Cresswell ................. .. 100 John Morrison, Sr ................ .. 150
J0hIlCI'1'9-f » .. 340 Joseph Morrison ................. .. 58
Nicholas Crist .................... .. ‘Hugh Newell ...................... .. 316
James Clark ....................  200 John Pough or Pogue .......... .. 275
Vvilliam Clark ................... .. 25 Robert Robb ................. .. 300
David Davis ...................... .. 200 Elisha Robinson ...... .. .......... .. 125
James Dunbar ................... .. Thomas Robinsonm.’ ............ .. mo
John Gardner ...........  ....... .. 50 James Watson ..................... .. 250
John Leeper ...................... .. 50, " - .

I preceding list of property-holders in 17 91, and who

Robert McCready, whose name appears ‘on ‘the.

was one of the earliest settlers within the limits of the
present township of Jefferson, was a native of Scot-
land, who came to this country in 1772, and after
working for a time in New ersey, went to York

County, Pa., where he became a school-teacher. On
836 ’

the opening of the Revolution, he entered the service
with a York County battalion, and with it joinedthe
body known as the “Flying Ca1np,” under Wash-
ington. He served several months, then returned to

York County, and in 17 7 6 came to Western Pennsyl- '
Vania, and made location on a tract of land of three ’

hundred and thirty-two acres, called “Good Will,”
situated on Scott’s Run, a branch of Cross Creek,
about one mile east of the State line, in what is now

Jefferson township, it being the same that is now’
owned and occupied by his grandson, Robert William

McCready.
Mr. McCready was married soon after making his

locationon the tract mentioned, and he became a-

school-teacher here, as he had been in York County.

He taught school in Richard.,Wells’ fort, which was I

one of the earliest schools in all the region west of the
Monongahela. He was present when the first sermon
was preached at that fort by the Rev. J. Powers in
September, 1778. He was the first person who signed
the “ religious agreement” originated by Judge Edgar,
and he selected the site of the edifice of the Cross
Creek Church, of which he was elected an_ elder
in 1792. He was elected county commissioner in
1797 ; was adjutant in the militia for many years, and
served in that capacity under Col. John Vance, in
what was called the “Lisbon campaign,” in 1812. He
was a large, fine-looking ofiicer, with an unusually
powerful ‘voice, well adapted for military command.
In politics he was a Federalist, and a leading spirit in
that party in his section. He died Aug. 10, 11846, at
the age of ninety-four years, his death being immedi-
ately caused by a cancer on his right hand. He was

buried in the Cross Creek graveyard, where his rest-p
ing—pl_ace is marked by a modest monument, His-

son David settled in the vicinity of his -father’s farm.
The homestead came into possession of his son Wil-
liam, who occupied it till his death, which occurred
on the day of the first election of Abraham Lincoln

as President of the United States, Nov. 6, 1860. His.

son,'Robert W. McCready, is, as before mentioned,
the owner and occupant of the farm on which-hi
grandfather settled in 1777. , I
John Criss and Nicholas Criss, brothers, were early
settlers, both taking up land on Virginia certificates.

That held by Nicholas was dated Nov. 3, 1779, and,

described the tract granted as “ in Yohogania County,

on.Harmon’s Creek, to include his settlement made.

in ye year 1775, and also a right in pre-emption to

JEFFERSON

one thousand acres adjoining thereto.” This land
wasadjoiningthat of James Barr, Joseph Fawcett,
and others. Nicholas Criss also owned land on the
Monongahela River. John Criss had a tract of three
hundred and forty-nine acres of land called “Hermi-

tage,” which he willed to his son William. It was

afterwards sold, and became the property of Charles
and Grant Havelin, and they now own it. John
Criss had a.family of six sons,-—'William, Jacob,

' Henry, Nicholas, Jr., John, Jr., and George. AWil-

liam Criss, son of John, settled first where John
Melvin now lives, but some years after his father’s
death bought the homestead and removed to it. Jacob
Criss bought one hundred and twenty acres of his
father’s land, on which he settled, and where he died

‘in 1845 at the age of sixty-eight years. His son
- Rittenhouse now occupies the same farm.

‘Henry,
third son of John Criss, lived on a farm adjoining the
homestead, but died at the house of his nephew‘, Levi
Criss, a son of VVilliam. ,Nicholas and John Criss,
sons of. John, emigrated to Carroll County, Ohio.
Their brother George" settled on Yellow Creek, and
died there. ’

Edward Brown came here and took up two hun-l
dred and seventy—six acres of land on a Virginia
treasury warrant, dated March_23, 1780, the title
given to the tract being “ Fair Hill.” This property
he sold again, April 1," 1796, to Daniel Henderson,

_ who in turn sold it, April 1, 1798, to David Walker.

It is located east of Eldersville and adjoining the
Cross Creek line. . Creigh Walker, a grandson of
David, lives on the “Fair Hill” farm. Of the other
descendants, James lives in Cross Creek village,
Norris in Cross Creek township, Samuel in Jefferson
township, adjoining the homestead, and David is

-. dead. Joshua ‘Brown took up three hundred and
sixty-nine acres of land in this section, which was

warranted to him Jan. 9, 1788, as “Brownfields.”
A part of this tract is now owned by William Jack-

son, who lives "in Hanover 'township, and the

remainder by his son, James Jackson, and John
Anderson, his son—in-law. ' ..

John Stephenson came into possession of four
hundred and two acres of land in this section on_a
Virginia certificate, dated June 24, 1780. The «tract
was called “ W'ild Roe,” was situated on‘ Cross Creek,
and was surveyed as “Stephenson’s Choice.” This
property is in J,efi"erson, near Hanlon Station, and it

A belongs to Cyrus and,Samuel Stephenson, sons of

Robert and grandsons of John Stephenson. John

‘Stephenson died in 1825, near Eldersville, leaving

three sons,—-Andrew, Thomas, and Robert. Andrew
was at one time postmaster at Burgettstown, and
afterwards lived in this township. Thomas lived and
died upon the homestead, and Robert also had a ‘por-
tion of the old farm.

James Clarke came from Maryland,‘ and took up
land on a Virginia certificate dated June 24, 1780.
The tract was three liundred and fifty-lone acres, lo-

TOWNSHIP.

cated near Eldersville, and was patented to Mr..
Clarke Sept. 16, 1786. His daughter Rachel married. _
William Wells, of Wgllsville. Mr. Wells owned a.

large tract of land at that place, upon which they
went to live, and both died there.
Nancy married Samuel Leeper, who settled upon a

tract of land about two miles from Eldersville, in

Jefferson township. Robert Pogue now lives upon

the property. Elizabeth Clarke, became the wife of

John Gardner, who came from Maryland and bought

four hundred acres of land near Eldersville. Some 9,
of it he purchased of James Clarke, his father-in-law,

and the rest included the property called “Great-
house Castle.” John and Elizabeth Gardner had’
five son‘s,—-William, John, James, Samuel, and David.
William made his home.near New Lisbon, and John
settled in Virginia. James went to West Virginia
in -1820, and still resides there. David’s\ farm adjoins
the home-farm. Samuel remained upon the home-‘
-stead, which has now been divided, and is occupied
by his five sons.‘ His five daughters all removed to
other States. The old homestead and the farm of
David Gardner are underlaid with coal, which is
mined by the Keystone Coal Company.

‘Hugh Newell, a native of Connecticut, came tothis.

county and settled before 1781 on the farm where
William Archer now lives.

active laborer in all that advanced its interests. He:
married a relative of Shesbazzer Bentley, of Somer-
set township, and they reared a large’ family of chil-
dren. ' Hugh Newell died in 1810, and the home farm
passed to the son George, who remained upon it until

his death, in 1840. _ ‘George Newell married a daugh-5. - A

ter of "Rev. Thomas Marques. They had two sons,——

Thomas Bentley and George Bentley Newel1,—,-who

both became ministers. The older members of the

family of Hugh N ewell were widely scattered, several '

of them removing to Virginia and Ohio.
Robert Stewart was a native of Ireland. A He came
.to this country and served in the Revolutionary war,

‘after which he came to this county, -settling on the.

property now occupied by James Stewart, Sr. He
had a family of six children.
home farm, Robert on the Robinson tract, and John
has the David Brown property, in Smith township.
Eliza married David Kidd, and lives on the Kelley
farm, near Eldersville. , -
' George Miller came from Donegal, Ireland, to, this
county in 1792. For two years he lived with Robert
Wiley, near Washington, and the next year with
Samuel Taylor, of Taylorstown. In 1795 he came
and settled in J efi"erson township. His children‘ all
moved to Ohio and died there save George, who is
still living on his father’s place. , . .
John Pogue came from Ireland to this section and
lived on a tract of eighty-seven acres which he
bought of Thomas Marshall, Oct. 5, 17,91. It was a

part of “Happy Retreat,” which was patented to

837 *

The daughter.

He was an elder in the
Cross Creek Church, and during his life a noted and. -

James lives on the. j '

7’ of Samuel Cole, is yet living.

838

HISTORY or ~WASHINGTON COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA.

James Marshall, Sept. 26,1786. John Pogue lived
upon this land until his death, about thirty years
ago. He had six children,—-lfiibert, David,’ Samuel,
James, George, and Sarah. / The daughter married
John Curry, and settled with him near Claysville,
where ‘both died.’ Robert bought a portion of the
“ Leepersburg” tract, upon which he lived and died.
David passed his life upon the homestead. Samuel
died here, as did James, who was a school-teacher
and only lived to middle age. George went to Ohio.

The _name Pogue was changed to that of Pollock in
after-years by some of the family.

William Boyd purchased of James Fulton, Oct. 26,
1793, eighty acres ofland, which was a part of the
four hundred and twenty-two acres called “ Raccoon

‘Den,” which was patented to Charles Stewart, July

10, 1788. On March 18, 1801, this land was con-
veyed by William Boyd to his son, John Boyd, who
lived on the north side of Cross Creek.

The property purchased in this section by Harmo- V

nius Cole embraced three tracts—-“ Fallowfield,” con-
taining‘ two hundred and twenty-three acres, “ Sugar
Tree Run,” having three hundred and ninety-six
acres, and “Black ,Walnut Thicket,” three hundred
and sixty-eight acres. The last-named piece of land
was sold by Mr. Cole to his son Samuel, Oct. 7, 1809.
The other sons were Peter, Harmon, and John. Peter
and Harmon went \Vest, and John remained here on
a part of his father’s property.

Benjamin Beabout came here from New Jersey in
1795, and.bought of Ulrich Huffstater one hundred
and forty-six acres of land, which was a portion of
“ Nancy’s Fancy,” patented to William VVells, Nov.
29, 1794. Mr. Beabout lived upon this farm fifty
years, then removed to Paris, and there passed the
rest of his life. He died at the age of one hundred
years. His family of children was quite large, several
of whom, after their marriage, settled in Ohio. Israel,
Mary, and Nancy all live in Paris. Hannah and
Rizpali both settled in Paris and died there.

John Sharp came here from New Jersey, buying
the two hundred acres of land now occupied "by
James Jackson, and near the lands then belonging

to Isaac Van Ostran and Benjamin Beabout. He

lived upon the farm for many years, and died there.
John Sharp’s family numbered eight children,—Jol1n,
Levi, Edward, Polly, Ruth,'Hannah, Nancy, and an-

other daughter. ; John settled and still lives in Jef-'

ferson township; _ Edward went to Indiana; Levi

‘ was killed in a railroad disaster at Steuben ville, Ohio;

Polly married James Gardner, and settled in Paris;

Ruth married Samuel Gardner, and lived upon the

Gardner homestead; Hannah married John Steen;
and Nancy became Mrs. Wheeler, her home being
upon the placenow owned by her son. The other
daughter married Alexander Walker, and lived upon

the father’s farm, which has now passed into other
hands.

Mrs. Ann Cole, wife‘

Nathan’ Gillespie was a native of Ireland who came
to what is now J efl"erson township about the year 1801.
He purchased the tract of land known as “Black-
VValnut Thicket,” containing upwards of three hun-
dred acres, of Harmonius Cole, the transfer being
made May 6, 1813. He lived and died here, and the

rrproperty is now in the hands of Nathaniel and Wil-

liam Gillespie, his grandsons. In the year 1827 two
nephews of Nathan Gillespie came here from Hope-
well township, where their father had lived and died.
They each bought a piece of property,-—Nathaniel, of

his Uncle Nathaniel, and John, of James Carmichael, '

——and are still living here. ’ V
Samuel and William Melvin, brothers, ca.me from
Ireland in 1790, settling first in Cecil County, Md.

In 1803, Samuel came to Irish Ridge, in what is now
Jefferson township, and purchased land next to that

of Steenand Cassidy. He livedthere until his death
in 1821. He left six children,—fo_ur sons and two
daughters. William lives on the home farm, Henry
died in Wellsburg, Va., James in Pughtown, and

1 John at home at about the same time his father died.

William Melvin followed his brother to this town-
ship in 1808, and lived for a few years near him, then
he went to Brooke County, Va. In .1846 moved to
Burgettstown, where he worked at his trade o.f cooper
until his deathin 1856. John Melvin, a son of Wil-
lia_m, moved to Burgettstown in 1833, and worked in
the woolen—factory until 1869.‘ In January, 1877, he
went to Wellsville, Ohio, and died there two. years
later. His son William was born in Burgettstown, and
lived for years inthe old David Bruce house. He has
taught school since 1855, and is now teaching in Smith
township. , - 4- 1 ~

Elisha Robinson came from Ireland to Washington
County, and on June 3, 1809, was granted a patent
upon the tract of land called “ Remainder.” He had
three sons,——Elisha, Abel, and Samuel. -Elisha went
to Virginia, Abel. became a Methodist minister and
went to Ohio, and Samuel settled upon-his father’s

farm. This farm was afterwards sold to Robert Irwin, .
and his son now occupies it. Elisha Robinson was an

active member of the Methodist Church. He lived to
a very advanced age, and at his death was buried in the
Bethel churchyard. , l

. Thomas McCarroll, a native of County Down, Ire-
land, emigrated to York County, Pa. About 1790
he came to this county with his wife and children,

and settled on a tract of land abjoining Abraham"
Barber, of whom he purchased, and where he lived a

till his death in 1835. He left two sons. Samuel,
the eldest, settled in Hanover township, lived there
all his days, and died in June, 1881. His children
were the Rev. Alexander McCarroll, for many years
pastor of the Presbyterian Church in Claysville, and
who died in May, 1881; Samuel M., who settled at
Ryerson’s‘ Station, in Greene County, and died in

1852; Dr. -J. F. McCarroll, a resident physician of .

Jefferson township, living at Eldersville ; and L. F.

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JEFFERSON

‘TOWN SHIP.  

MeCar'roll, the youngest son, who occupies the home-
stead of his father in Hanover township. Elizabeth,

' a daughter, is living with her brother at the home-

stead. Another daughter, Mary  lived to matur-
ity, graduated atthe Washin»gton"Seminary, and died
in 1862. Thomas McCarroll, the second son of
Thomas ”"McCarroll, Sr., settled in Jefferson town-
ship, on the homestead of his father, where his
widow and children still live. _

In 1819, Charles Scott, a'lay preacher who came
from Ireland, was living on Scott’s Run,'in this
township, about one mile from the mouthof the
stream, at whichipoint he had a mill. He died there,
and his son Charles inherited the mill property. He
sold it to Samuel Criswell, and went to Ohio. After

' that the property passed through several hands. A11

oil company from the East purchased it from one
proprietor and sunk a well eight hundred feet‘ deep,
but that proving unsuccessful they sold it to Nathaniel
Gillespie, who sold it to George Chalmers Miller, the
present owner. . '

The “ Pleasant Hill” tract originally contained

‘ . three hundred and ninety-eight acres of land. James

Steen, who came from Ireland, bought a portion of

_ it. At the death of James Steen the property was

divided between his sons, William E. and John.
VVilliam afterwards purchased J ohn’s share, and now

V owns the whole.

Churches-—tThe Bethel Church (Methodist Epis-
copal) was the first religious society of Jefferson town-
ship, and was organized early ‘in theipresent century,
but the building of a house of worship was impracti-
cable until the year 1813, when by voluntary sub-
scriptions a building fund was secured.‘  lot was
donated by Stephen Perrine, and, upon it in 1814 a

frame building was put up, in which for more than —

sixty years the members of the Bethel Methodist
Episcopal Church gathered for religious services.
During that time it was once or twice remodeled, and
is still standing, but in 1875 it passed into disuse, and
most ‘of the members now attend services in Inde-
pendence township. Some of the clergymen who

_ had charge of this society in its long term of exist-

 

ence were Revs. George Brown, Jamison, Archi-
bald 'McElroy, Andrew Coleman, and George 
Robinson. Rev. George Hudson was the last regular
minister. ‘

In 1829 a church of the Methodist Protestant de-
nomination was organized in Jefferson township, the
services being held in the Methodist Episcopal house
until 1834. In that year they built a stone church,
and at the time the society numbered among its mem-

1 The subscription paper, dated Oct. 16, 1813, and signed by Elisha

J Robinson, John Patterson, Richard Wells, and ninety-one others, was

headed with this agreement: ,

“ For the sole purpose of erecting _a Methodist.Episcopal Chapel near
John Elliott, we promise to pay unto Charles Scott, Alexander Leslie,
James Patterson, John Patterson, and John Elliott, trustees of the same,
or to their successors in oifice, the sums set opposite our names as an-
nexed.” The sum raised was $379.75.

.--in

bers ‘Charles Scott, James Patterson, John Patterson,

John Cassidy, Robert Cassidy, and Andrew Johnston. .

The first pastor in 1829 was Rev. Josiah Foster. He
was followed by Revs. John Wilson, John Clark,
Enos Woodward,‘Ja;mes Porter, William College,
William Dunlap, George Hughes, Cornelius Wood-
ruif, William‘ Miller, John Huntsman, John Beatty,
George Brown, William Ross, John Herbert, John
Cowl, A. W. Porter, R. Simontown, John Scott, J . B.
Roberts, J . W. Bischer, William Reeves, John Cowl,
William H. Doe, Samuel Dorsey, R. H. Sutton, J .
W. Rutlege, James Robinson, D. I. K. Ryan, Henry
Lucas, ‘William Ragg, James Lucas, \Villiam T.
Wilson, and William Wallace, whofisrthe present
pastor. The stone church was replaced by a new
frame building, put up on the same ‘site in 1874,
which was dedicated in the ‘following winter, Dr. J .
J .' Murray, of Pittsburgh, preaching the dedicatory
sermon. The society now numbers about seventy
members. A graveyard is in thesame lot with the
Methodist Episcopal and Methodist Protestant
Churches, wherein lie the remains of many of J effer-
son’s early settlers.

Pine Grove Presbyterian Church, of J eiferson town-
ship,’was organized in 1852 with twelve or fifteen
members, among the number being John Leeper,
Enoch Hays, John Barber, and George Miller. This
society, which belongs to the Washington Presbytery,
erected a house of worship on a rise of ground on
Scott’s Run, not far below Miller’s Mill, at a cost of
eight-hundred dollars. Among the pastors who have

' presided ‘over this charge are Revs. David Hervey,

James Fleming, Joseph Pomeroy,‘and W. I. Brugh,
D.D. The present membership is fifteen.

‘ A society of the Methodist Protestant denomination
was organized in 1829 at the village of Eldersville.
A church was built the same year, but was replaced
in 1849 by a new brick edifice on the same site, and
the old one was removed and remodeled into a dwell-
ing-house. The society was organized by Rev. Josiah
Foster, the pastor of the Bethel Methodist Protestant
Church, and he continued to officiate upon both
charges. In 1875 the brick building was remodeled,
at a cost of two thousand five-hundred dollars, and.
was rededicated in 1876, Revs. William Collyer, of
Sharpsburg, and Alexander Clark officiating. A par-
sonage was built many years ago for the use of the
pastor of this church. ‘ .

In 1844 about twenty members seceded from the
Methodist Protestant Church, formed themselves into

a society, and built a frame church in Eldersville in i

which to hold their services. The first pastor was
Rev. Mr. Selby. The church is still standing; the
society has a membership of fifteen or twenty of the
residents of Jefferson township who adhere‘ to that
faith, and the pulpit is supplied by Rev. Mr. Magee,
of Carroll County, Ohio. s

839

~ to point out those Gentlemen.

. Honour to Influence .

Ohio River, most of them at Fort Henry (Wheeling)
but a part encamped about three miles below Fort

THE REVOLUTION. i

99)

topher Hays, of Westmoreland) with Encouragement
for the people to co-operate with me in all respects:
But he appears to have taken every step to disappoint
the good Intentions of Col. Lochryl and many other
Gentlemen of Westmoreland County who have used
every Effort to Raise men. But disappointed by those
alluded to, I have Endeavored to make myself ac-
quainted with the different persons w_ho appeared to
be busy in Ruining the sentiments of the Inhabitants
and think it my duty as a citizen and oflicer to ac-
quaint you with the principals, Believing that you are
Imposed on as those bodies gain their Influence by
opposing Every measure proposed for the publick
good in the Military Department, strange that such

V Conduct should have those Effects among any class

of People in This Dept. Every commanding -oflicer
has Experienced, and I think I can Venture to say
you never will be able to have anything of Import-
ance done in this Quarter until many of them are re-
moved from their respective oflices. The Inhabitants
on my arrival was so Buoyed up at the thought of my
carrying out an Expedition that promised them peace
that it has Required all their little artifices to disap-
point, which is too likely to -be the case at present.
Mr. M. [Col. Marshel], of Washington County, Lt.-
Colos. C and D, I believe to be the perpetrators of

» these Evils. I fear this country will feel, after giving

you my honor that I am not influenced by prejudice
I can assure you they
are persons that will for Ever disgrace this part of the
country while in power. As for Mr. M., he has, I
learn, lived in Obscurity ‘until lately; his promotion
has so confused him that his Conduct is Contradic-

' tory in his own publick writing, and as wavering as

the minds of that class of mortals he has had the
'. . I learn that it is generally
believed that the Inhabitants of the western country
are disaffected. I do not think it to be the case, and
-was the line between the two states Established, and
the whole well oflicered, they might in a short time
be made Valuable Citizens, and any necessary force
call’d to the field on the shortest notice. _ But at pres-
ent scarcely a week passes but you hear of some
massacre. Sufficient stores of necessaries provided to
Enable them to» Reduce the Indians, and yet those

Inducements are not sufficient to draw them to action,

owing to those principles before Recited.” .
The troops of Gen. Clarke’s expedition, embracing

infantry, mounted men, and several pieces of light

artillery (but not including the Westmoreland County
men under Col. Lochry, whowere not ready to move
with the main force), were gathered in camp on the

2

1 It is a fact beyond dispute that Hays, who was at first extremely fav-

orable to the furnishing of men for the expedition, afterwards turned
bitterly against it, the reason for this change being that he came to be-
lieve (as didlalso Col. Marshel and others) that it was a project for the

advancementof Virginia interests and the extension of the territory of
that State in the West. (See his letter to President Reed, ibid., p. 369.)

Pitt, where they lay on the 27th of July, as is shown

, by the letter of Col. Dorsey Pentecost of that date,

before quoted. From that point they moved down
the river and joined the main body at the rendezvous
at Fort Henry, where they were in camp on the 4th
of August. It was the purpose of the commander to
remain at that point until the arrival of the West-
moreland detachment, but this was found to be im-
practicable on account of the desertion of his men.
Accordingly he broke camp at Fort Henry and pro-
ceeded down the river about the 10th of August.

At the mouth of the Kanawha River the forces
were landed, with the intention, on the part of Gen.
Clarke, to wait there for the arrival of the rear de-

tachment. But here, although so far away from their

homes, the men evinced even more determination to
desert than they had at Fort Henry, having begun to
realize more fully than before the dangerous nature
of the service in which they were engaged. There-
upon Gen. Clarke, finding that if he should remain
there any considerable time ‘he would find him-
self without a following, ordered an immediate re-
embarkation of the troops, and went on down the
river, but even while on the passage the desertions
continued, though they were of course less numerous
than from the encampments. 7

The passage from Fort Henry to the point of des-
tination consumed about three weeks. The banks of
the river down which the expedition passed were
occupied at various points by hostile Indians, but
these dared not offer any attack on the forces because
of the cannon which Clarke had with him, artillery
being always greatly dreaded by savages of all tribes.
After a journey which was especially tedious on ac-
count of the low water in the _river, the troops reached
their destination at the Falls of the Ohio about the
end of the month of August. A There they waited for
reinforcements from Kentucky, which never came,
and for the arrival of the detachment under Col
Lochry, but the waiting was in vain (for reasons here-
after given), and the commander, having now no
hope of reinforcement, and finding his force so much
weakened by desertion that it would be madness for
him to march with it in any expectation of being
able to reduce the post of Detroit, or even of the

-Indian towns on the Sandusky, he reluctantly-aban-

doned the enterprise. This disastrous ending of the

expedition was the result of the desertion of the men, .

not only by reducing thestrength of the main force,
but by compelling the commander to move on from
Fort Henry, and again from the mouth of the Kan-
awha, without waiting, as he wished and intended to
do, for the‘ arrival of the detachment under Col.
Lochry, thereby leaving that brave oflicer and his
command to proceed on their way alone and unsup-
ported to meet the terrible fate which overtook them,
and which is now to be narrated. "

I The force raised in Westmoreland County (includ-

‘within its walls. ‘

840.

HISTORY OF WASHINGTON COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA.

Schools:-The history of the early schools oflth-e
territory now within the limits of Jefferson township
is largely” embodied in that of Cross Creek township,
of which Jefferson was atone time a portion. A Mrs.
Laird, in 1795 or 1796, taught a school in her own

- house on what was then known as the Robb farm,

now owned by the estate of John Lee. There was a
Mr. Creighton who about that time followed teach-
ing. A school was taught in 1811 in an old log cabin

' in the Miller district, and situated on the waters of

Cross Creek, down on the bottom by the creek, on the
site" of the log house afterwards built by Frederick
Cline, now standing there unoccupied. The teachers
were John Neager, Richard Freeborn, andcAndrew
McCullough. Later a school was taught on the Mc-
Crea Hill, thecpropertygnow owned by-George Cun-
ningham. The first frame’ school building was built
in the township in 1813, on the west side of a branch
of Cross Creek, upon land now owned by Hampton
Walker, but then the property "of Mrs. Jane Smith, a
widow. This house remained in use until the ‘enact-

ment of the school ‘law in 1834, and in the first year.

of its occupancy (1813) Mr. Israel Bebout, at present
a resident of Cross Creek township, was a student
_ Among the teachers in this school
were Andrew McCullough, who taught three years,
Elder McDermott, who taught two years, and Cor-
nelius Barber, who also was an -instructor for two
years. ‘James Campbell, son of Launcelot Campbell,
of Smith township, taught several terms in Lee’s
school-house, beginning in 1820. He was, considered
a good teacher, but teaching and study brought him
to an early grave. Amonghthe first terms taught by
e‘x-Superintendent Dou_thett, of Allegheny County,
was one at the same place. The Hon. Robert Curry,
of the Nebraska State Normal School, taught his first
term in Jefferson township‘. ‘

  The first school buildings in Jefferson township
erected under the school law of 1834 were at Elders-
ville and in the Melvin district. School districts
were then formed throughout the township and num-
bered as follows: Miller District, No. 1; Melvin, No.
2; Eldersville, No. .3; Coles’, No. 4; Lee, No. 5‘;
Gardner, N o. 6. — In the year 1863 the schools in the
township numbered siix, the teachers employed were
six, with an aggregate enrollment of two hundred and
fifty-six pupils. The amount of tax levied for school
purposes" was $885.42; Stateappropriati.on, $92.80;
amount received from other sources, $885.42; and the
expendituresfor the year, $887.18. In 1873 there were
six schools in the township,.six teachers were em-
ployed, and two hundredand ten scholars in attend-

ance. The amount of tax levied was $1439.57 ; State I
appropriation, $155.62; amount received from other
sources, $1533.82; and the amount expended during

the year, $1493.-38. In 1880 the districts in J efferson
township were ‘six,.the number of teachers six, and
two hundred and ten_ pupils’ names were enrolled.

School tax levied was $1167.31; amount received

i

from the State,» $208.32; from all other sources,
$1663.03; and the total expenditures for the ye‘ar were
$1410.85. ‘ ' A‘

‘Phy'sicians.‘—Concerning the early practice of
medicine within the limits_of what now comprises

J efferson township but little is known at the present '

time." Tradition, however, informs us that the first
settlers were principally of Irish and New England
extraction, and that they ‘carried with them to their
new homes in this township many of‘ the peculiar and
superstitious ideasof their ancestors. Probably owing
to the sparseness of population and consequent difli-
culty of obtaining qualified.‘ medical aid, theylrelied to
a great extent on their own efforts for treatment, and
this treatment was generally administered by the most
illiterate portion of the community, such as old ladies
and men who were considered incompetent to pursue‘
any other vocation. Many of those ancient preten-
ders of medical knowledge claimed supernatural
powers to overcome disease. Witchcraft and enchant-
ment entered largely into their practice. The seventh’
son or daughter was considered qualified by nature

for medical practice. _ Laying on of hands, uttering -

senseless words to the sun, blowing breaths on sick
persons, and many other foolish thoughts were called
into action in this dreadful fight of our ancestors with
disease. Others relied on what were supposed to be
more potent remedies,—-poultices made from black cat--
skins, brains of black chickens, dried and pulverized
snakes, potatoes carried in the breeches pocket, lique-
fied fishing-worms, oil of white dogs, etc., covered
themselves with glory by discomfiting the enemy dis-
ease, and, strange to ‘relate, tradition has handed down
from fatherpto son those superstitious vagaries, and
many of them retain a strong foothold amonga very
few of our most illiterate population at this late day.
The onward march of knowledge was not long in ex-
pelling those foolish ideas of our fathers, and as early
as 1790 or -1792'they began to realize the necessity of
medical aid based" on the higher plane of educa-
tional qualification, but as there was no resident physi-
cian prior to 181-0, they were compelled to look abroad
for that aid. Amongst those non-resident physicians,
erninentin their day, who are entitled to honorable
notice, and who labored in this region between 17 90
and 1810, are the following, viz.: Dr. John Cuthbert-
son, of Hopewell; Rev. Joseph Docldridge, M.D., of
Wellsburg, Va.; Edward Smith, M.D.,’ of Franklin,
Va.; Adams, M.D., of West Middletown, Pa. ; Dr.“
Perry, of Burgettstown, Pa. ; and Drs. McClain and
Pittszer, of Florence, Pa.

In the year 1810 two physicians located in or near
the present site of Eldersville and opened oflices here,
but time has erased their names from the memory of
the oldest inhabitants, at least so far as the writer can
discover, and almost their memory; the only trace left
is the recollection of our older inhabitants hearing

1 By Dr. J McCarro1l. .

J 
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amassing considerable wealth.

JEFFERSON

TOWNSHIP. °

841

their parents refer to the year 1810 as the year-when

the doctors first settled in Eldersville.

In the year 1817, Dr. David Pierce opened an oflice
andpractice here. In 1819 he removed three miles
west of town, purchased the property now owned by

. W. Wells, and continued the practice of medicine with

honor and distinction until death called him from the

- field in the year 1842. His remains rest in the village

cemetery, and a plain marble slab perpetuates his
vocation and the date of his death.
Dr. VV. English in 1826, but only remained a few

‘years, hence little is known concerning him at the

present day. . _
Dr. McCabe settled here in -1837, and remained a
short time, and has been lost sight of since his re-

Vmoval. «

Dr. H. K. McC1e1land commenced. the practice of

- medicine in Eldersville in the year 1842, and was emi-

nently successful. As a practitioner he was bold and
fearless, and always expressed. his convictions plainly,-
regardless of feelings or results. . He succeeded in

were of the highest order, and he made himself felt
in the affairs of both State and church. , He died in

‘ September, 1860, and his remains rest in the cemetery

at Cross Creek village, this county. _
Dr. Chalmers settled here A.D. 1848, and-remained

’ a number of years, but failed to secure a very large
' practice, and has long since removed to some other

field of labor. - ‘

'Dr. J. K. McCurdy settled here in 1855. He after-
wards removed, but returned at the close of the war,
and‘ continued practice until 1872. He is now a resi-

1 dent o.f Cardville, this county.

Dr. J. L. Ray settled in Eldersville A.D. 1861, en-
tered the army as assistant surgeon in 1863, retu_rned

V to Eldersville and resumed practice in 1865. He re-

moved to Cross Creek village in 1869, where he died
in 1872. l - . V

Dr. A. O. McCollough commenced practice here in
1861, removed from here to Wellsburg, W‘. Va., in
1868, and from there to ‘Newark, Ohio, in 1874, where
he continued practice until his death in’ 1879.

Dr. J. W. Donan located here in 1872, and practiced
until 1875, and then removed to South Pittsburgh,
where he isnow puisuing the vocation-of his pro-

‘ « fession.

Dr. J. F. McOarrell locatedlin the village of Elders-
ville Aj.D. 1865, and has continued the practice’ of

_ medicine until the present time, and is at this time
. . (Feb. 22, 1882) the only resident physician within the

limits of Jefferson township.
Coal-Mining:-The Keystone Coal Company, of

- Pittsburgh, now owns about two thousand acres of

coal rights in this sect_ion,leased of William Boles,

. Alexander Smith, Thompson Crise, David.Stephen-
, son, John Anderson, James Jackson, William Wort,

George Crise, and others, as well as of some parties in

West Virginia. ‘They also ‘own about fifty acres of -

\ 9

His qualifications A

land at Hanlon Station, which gives them shipping
and storing advantages. They have already sixty
men in constant employ, have a large company store’
forsupplying the wants of their help, and are rapidly
increasing their operations. ~ :
Village of E1dersvil1e.——The land in this township

upon which Eldersville has been built was originally

owned by Thomas Ward. He took up a tract of four
hundred acres, which was surveyed Sept. 15, 1784, and
again March 7, 1785, and a patent. granted April‘ 6,
1792, under the title of “ Ward’s Ward.” In Septem-
ber, 1814, the plat of the village was laid out and sur-
veyed by'James Henry for Thomas Ward, and the
name first given to the place was Wardsville. Fifty-
three lots were laid out, and thefirst store was built

in the year the village was platted, John Miller being '

the proprietor. The tavern was kept by Thomas El-

der, who purchased two acres of land of Ward. The is

old tavern building has butrecently been torn down.
Thomas Elder_’s tavern licenses extended from 1809 to
1818, and through him the name of the village was

changed from Wardsville to Eldersville». ' ‘

- The place now contains two churches, three stores,
a hotel, a-post-ofiice, two blacksmith-shops, and a
hall. 4 '

A post-office was first established at Eldersville

during the administration of President Jackson,
George Elliott receiving the appointment of post-
master. He was followed by Andrew Oassidy and
James Patterson. Hugh Patterson was appointed
during the presidency of Harrison, John Ellingham
served under James K. Polk, and ‘Hugh Patterson
again under Zachariah Taylor. Then came George
Hopkins, William Oosgrove, Thomas Cosgrove, Mar-
garet Moore, and Robert Osborne, who have ofIici-
ated as postmasters in the order given, Mr. Osborne
at present holding the -oflice. For the space of three

years the oflice at Eldersville was discontinued, but V

upon the completion of the-Panhandle ‘Railroad it
was re-established, and for the last four years a daily
mail has been run. The merchants in Eldersville at
the present time are J. and H. C. Cooper,'R. O. Os-
burn, and George Ellingham. . is
Societies and Orders.——On May 24, 1872, a lodge

of Odd-Fellows was institutedat Eldersville, in Jef- '

ferson township, ‘called Cynosure Lodge, No. 805,

‘with Dr. J. S. McCarrol1 as Noble Grand. In 1876
this society, in conjunction with the society of ,

Grangcrs and a few private individuals who took
shares in the project, builta town hall at Eldersville,
at a cost of one thousand‘ dollars. "The upper rooms

, werefitted up for the use of the orders, and the first ‘

floor was converted into a large hall for public pur-
poses. The present oflicers of the Odd-Fellows’ lodge.
are James Martin, N. G.; G. C. Miller, V. G.; Albert
Elliott, Secretary; David Martin, J r., Treasurer- The

— lodge now comprises forty—five members, and is in a

very flourishing condition. , ,
The_Patrons of Husbandry arerepresented in Jef-

  842

hall at Eldersville.

' Josiah N. Scott, April 10, 1855.

. David Gardner, April 20, 1864.

HISTORY or WASHINGTON COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA.

ferson township, owning a part interest in the town
Under a dispensation granted
Aug. 13; 1874, Jefferson Grange, No. 314, was insti-
tuted, the charter being received Nov. 24, 1874, Wil-
liam L. Archer, Master.

Justices of the Peace.~The following is a list of

justices of the peace of the township since its organ-
ization. The justices who held jurisdiction prior to
that time will be found in the history of Cross Creek:

Robert Smith, April 11, 1854. James A. Stewart, March 24, 1870.

Samuel McGough, _April 25, 1873.

William Cassidy, Sept. 15, 1873;
Jan. 30, 1874.

Samuel McGough, Jan. 30, 1874;
March 25, 1878.

A. E. Walker, March 27, 1870.

William Kidd, April 12, 1859.
James A. Stewart, April 12, 1860.

James A. Stewart, June 3, .1865.
Samuel lllcGougli, April 21, 1869.

4-;
" fivr

BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHE8

A nonnnr STEWART. "
Robert Stewart was born in Ireland in 1795. He

'was the son of James and Elizabeth (Hemphill)
‘Stewart, who came to America in 1812, and settled

in Mount Pleasant township, near the village of
Hickory, in Washington County, Pa. They had four
sons and two daughters. The sons wereJohn, James,
Robert, and:lTho1nas. Robert married Anne Mc-
Gough. They had six chi1dren,———John, married to
Tamar McClurg, died Aug. 10, 1881; Eliza J., the

,widow of David Kidd, ‘of Guernsey County, Ohio;
_ Robert, who has had three wives, Sarah J. Elliott,
.,Eliza Orr, and Rebecca .H. Provines; Sarah, who

died when ayoung woman; James, married to Su-
sanna Andrews; Andrew, who died in infancy.

_ Robert died April 25,1875. His wife, Anne Mc- ’
_Gough, died about the year 1858. Robert was a
, member of the Seceder Church, and a Democrat in

4*; A
’ , if

politics. He left a. handsome fortune, the result of
his own labors. Hundreds of acres of the finest agri-

cultural lands are pointed to as testimonials of his in- J

dustry, progress, and great business capacity. His
successful career was the result of his unwavering
faith in the ultimate triumph of industry, energy,
prudence, and probity. V

DAVID PERRINE.

David Perrine, farmer, was born. upon the farm
where he now resides, of which he became the owner
in 1847. His father, Stephen Perrine, a Revolution-
ary. soldier, who served during the entire struggle for
independence, -was the son of Peter Perrine, an Eng-
lishman by birth, and was born April 14, 1759, in New
Jersey, where he married, in 1798, Anne M. VVort-

man, a native of the same State, born April 25, 1773. _

They settled in Washington County, Pa., about the
year 1793. Stephen died in 1847. His wife died’ in
1861. Their children were Peter, -born Aug.26,

1794;,Lydia, born June 2, 1796; Margaret, born‘

Dec.'15, 1798; Anne, born Dec. 27, 1800; Stephen,
born April 14,1803; William, born Feb. 22, 1805;
David, born April 4, 1807; Sarah, born Nov. 12,
1809 4; Catharine, born April 26, 1812; Mary, born
Nov. 6, 1814. But two of the above-named children,
Anne, the widow of Samuel Cole, and David, are
now living.

David’s life has been chiefly occupied in quietly
tilling the soil of the farm where he now resides, and
the management of the stock which good farming
has enabled him to prepare for the market. His
parents were Presbyterians, and he, although not a
member, attends the same church. He has been a
man of frugal, steady, and industrious habits, has
traced out his own course, and owes’ his success to his
own efforts. A '

MORRIS TOWNSHIP.

__4n....L

“VV”(

MORRIS is one of the southern» tier of townships of
Washington County, being bounded on the south by
Greene County, on the west by East Finley township,
on the north by Franklin, and on the east by Amwell,

9- which last-named township originally included the
‘I territory which afterwards becante the township of

Morris. 9 , .
At the September term of 1788 there was presented
to the Court of Quarter Sessions a petition, signed by

' David Dille, Thomas Axtell, and thirty-three others,

‘i,

inhabitants of the west and southwest parts of Am-

well township, representing that they “labour under '

great Inconveniences from the Intolerable length of
the township; that ‘many are obliged to travel near
twenty miles to work on some of the publick high-
ways .  .; that the township is so largeias renders it
Inconvenient and oppressive as well to a great number
of the Inhabitants as the Oflicers thereof in the dis-
charge of their respective duties; that a division of
said Township will tend to the ease and Conveniency

‘ William Lindley, April 15, 1845;
. Abraham Hinkin, April 9, 1850;

- Thomas Hanna, April 16, 1856.

. Greene Co.

MORRIS TOWNSHIP.

8 l3

of the Inhabitants, . . .” and for these and other
reasons set forth, praying that such. division be made,
and a new township erectedfrom the western part of
the township of Amwell‘.

The petition bears the following indorsement, show-
ing the actionnof the court, viz..: “September, 1788,
Petition for the division of Amwell township. To
be called Morris township. Granted by the court.
Certificate sent up.” The township of Morris re-
tained its original territory until Aug. 13, 1855, when
the northern portion" was setoff by order of the court

' to form the township of Franklin,.thus reducing Morris

to its present limits.
The township from itserection in 1788 was an inde-
pendent district until 1803, when it was embraced

' with Amwell in District No.10, and so remained till

1838, when it again became a separate district. The
names of justices who had jurisdiction over its terri-
tory while it was a part of District No.10 will be
found in‘the list for Amwell township. The list of

. justices for Morris for the periods from 1788 to 1803
‘ and from ‘I840 to the present time isvhere given, viz.:
' Ebenezer Gollle, March 12, 1793.

Timothy Ross, May 10, 1861.
Thomas Hanna, April 14, 1863.
William ()onklin‘April‘l7, 1866.
Matthias Minton, April 14, 1868.
W'1lliam Parcel, April 11, 1871.
Matthias Minton, April 15, 1873;
Jan. 9, 1874.

William Parcel, Feb. 16, 1874.
Matthias Minton, March 25, 1878.
l M. W. Wood, April 9, 1881.

\Villiam Lindley, April 14, 1840.

William Cracroft, April 14, 1840;
Sept. 15, 1845.
April 9, 1850.

April l(), 1855.

William Sanders, June 23, 1857.
William Conklin, March 9, 1861. A

Demas Lindley with his family came in 1773 to
settle west of the Monongahela, in the section of coun-
try which afterwards became Washington County,
and with him came about twenty other fami1ies,“all

, ‘from New Jersey, and nearly all from the county of
' ~ Morris, which had been Mr. Lindley’s home before

his emigration. Four of the families settled’ on the
south fork of Ten-Mile Creek, near Jefferson,
The others settled at different points on
the north and middle forks of the same creek.
Demas Lindley located upon four hundred acres of
land situated on the middle fork of Ten-Mile, adja-
cent to the lands of Caleb and John Lindley, James
Draper, and J. McVaugh. This property was‘ war-
ranted to him Feb. 5, 1785, and surveyed December
6th of the same year, receiving, the title of “Mill
Place,” its location being very near the present vil-
lage of Prosperity. Mr. Lindley became the owner
of another tract of land called “Headquarters,”

, which was warranted to him April 18, 1796,as con-

taining three hundred and sixty-eight acres. ‘
Demas Lindley and J acob, Cook were the two most

prominent and influential men among the early set-I

tlers along Ten-Mile Creek. They were very active

, in the frontier movements against the Indians, and a
_ fort was early established upon the property of Mr.
. Lindley, called Lindley’s Fort, and was the rendez-
 yous forthe residents in this part of the county.

Mr. Lindley built ‘a grist- and merchant-mill on‘
his property soon after his settlement here, and mills

which are known as “ Lindley’s Mills” still occupy,

the same site. Both Mr. Linflley and Mr. Cook, men-
tioned above, had much to do with the organization
and establishment of the Upper and Lower Ten-Mile
Churches. . ,
Demas Lindley’s sons located about him, and all
owed theirprosperous start in life to his influence
and assistance. They were Zenas,’Joseph, Abraham,
Isaac, and J acob._ When Demas Lindley died, in 1818,
his will was found to have been made Dec. 20, 1802.
It devised the whole of his estate " to his. son, John
Lindley (as the only one who had not been previously
provided for), with the provision that he pay to each
of his sisters—-Joanna, Sarah, and Abigail Lindley-—
twenty pounds in produce. 1
Among the families who emigrated from’ New
Jersey in 177_3, or shortly after, were those of Caleb,
John, and Levi Lindsey, brothers, and relatives of
Demas and Naphthali Lindley. Caleb located land
adjoining Naphthali, to which was given the name
of “ Potato_Hollow,” containing four hundred acres.
He also purchased a part of the tract “ Fox Chase,”
of Naphthali Lindsey, who had previously warranted
and patented it.’ On the 23d of February, 1796, Caleb
Lindley sold to Naphthali Lindley forty-sixracres,
part of “Potato Hollow,” and on the 5th of June the
next year fifty-seven acres of the same tract toAbi-
gail Loveridge, and on the 16th_'of June, 1815, one
hundred and nine acres to his son Lewis. This ‘also
was from the “Potato Hollow” tract. Mr. Lindley
had three wives, by whom he had four sons-—John,

‘ Lewis, Samuel, and William—and two daughters,
Sarah (Mrs. Minton) and Cassandra (Mrs. Larimore).

To John and Lewis he had given farms before his"death.
He died in 1836, his last wife, Elizabeth, surviving

him. , His son William died before his father, and "

left two s,ons—John and Caleb—and daughters,-—
Keziah, Mary, Jane, and Nelly.

John Lindley, who came in the county with the
others, obtained a warrant in April, 1786, for a tract
of land on Ten-Mile Creek near the others. This
was surveyed to him under the name of “Linsey-
Woolsey.” On the 28th of November, 17 96, he pur-
chased a large tract of Caleb Lindsey. He died about
1806, and left a wife (Martha), seven sons,-—Samuel,
Robert, J ohn,,William, James, Thomas, and Joseph,
—and two daughters, one of whom was named
Martha. Their descendants are numerous in the
township. _

Levi Lindley, who came with Caleb, John, and the
others, purchased a tract of land called “ Bucks’ Flat”
of Benjamin Ryce. .l\.[r. Lindley lived here but afew
years, and died in 1801. A part of the property which
he then owned came to him from his wife. This was
left to his son VVilliam. There was devised to Ben'-
jamin all, the‘ land lying south of Ten-Mile Creek,

..aI_1d.the use of the sugar-trees on the north side. op-

A , Matthias.

81-L ,

HISTORY or wAsH1i~IeroN COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA.

posite the sugar-trees on the south side. The land
of which he was in possession. in Virginia,-near the
waters of Dunkard Creek, was divided between his
sons, Ziba, Timothy,,Benjamin, and William.

David McCollum was an Irishman by birth, who
emigrated to America before the commencement of
the Revolution. He entered the service in the Revo-
lution, and continued until the close of the war.
Having married a lady of Scotch nativity, he came
into Washington County, and took up a tract of land
containing sixty acres, situated on the north fork of
Ten-Mile Creek, in. the territory now included in

’ Morris township. From thisvery small beginning

Mr. McCollum rapidly advanced to prosperity, and
in 1810 had a handsome’ farm of five hundred and
eighty acres. The family“of David McCollum' were
three sons and seven daughters,—Samuel, Asa, Daniel,

‘Lucy, Annie, Sarah,.Lydia, Abigail, Mary, and Me-
..linda McCollum. Many of their descendants are

living in Morris township.
Samuel Rutan, from Sussex Co'unty, N. J ., estab-

A lished his home in this township soon after the close
~ of the Revolutionary war.

A He married Miss Eleanor
Beadle, and their eight children were Jacob, Abra-

‘ham, John, Sarah, Elizabeth, Catharine, Annie, and
' Fanny Rutan. Several of these emigrated with their
. families to Ohio. ' ' '

Matthias and Philip Minton were brothers who emi-

' - grated from Morris County, N. J ., to Morris township,

Washington County, in 1786. They purchased a part

- of the tract “ Fox Chase,” warranted by the Lindley

family,,and Matthias Minton married -Sallie S., a

. daughter of Caleb Lindley. The children of Matthias

and Sallie Minton were ten,—-Caleb, Mary, Matthias,"
Josephus, Kezia, Rachel, Cynthia, _Phebe, Eliza, and
R The first soninamed Matthias died when
but an infant of one month; the second of the name

' grew tovmanhood, married Margaret Hanna, and”re-
« sides in the village of Prosperity, where he holds the

oflice of justice of the peace. The son Caleb died at

‘ the age of three years, Josephus was drowned when
A of the -same age, andRachel, who remained single,

died in 1825. Mary became the wife of Leonard

~ Vail, of‘ Vermont. Kezia married Rev. Stephen Win-
~ get, and resided in the village of Prosperity. Cynthia

became the wife of C. C. Kaine, the editor of a jour-
nal called Our Country, and died in Harrisburg, Pa.
Phebe married Henry Wilson, and still lives in Wash-
ington. Eliza, who became the wife of Dr. J. W.
Blachly, is a resident of Prosperity village.

Caleb Winget was a native of New Jersey, and lived

 there until he had become a man of family. Some
’ time before 1786 he removed with his family to Wash-
‘ ington County, Pa., where the tract of land he located
in Morris township was warranted in the name of his ‘

son, Daniel Winget. 1
Caleb Winget hadsix children,-—-Reuben, Ziba,
Stephen, Daniel, -VVilliam, and Hannah. William

A Winget’s wife was Nancy Hampton, and the number

of their children was te‘n,——M‘oses, John,‘ Reuben,
Stephen, Elizabeth, Hannah, Margaret, Sarah, Ann,
and Phebe Winget.

. Hugh Hanna, a native of Ireland, moved into
Morris township about’ the year 1790, and purchased

the farm on which Henry M. Conklin at present 're- -

sides; Upon this place he passed the "remainder of
his days, and at his death left a family of eight chil-
dren. They were John V., James, Hugh, Thomas,

,Nancy, Elizabeth, Martha, and Rebecca Hanna.
, John V. Hanna married Lydia McCollum, and set-

tled upon a farm near that )of his father, where he
lived for many years. He afterwards purchased and
resided upon another farm, remaining on it until his
death. Of his children, the son Thomas lives upon
the farm where his father died, the daughter Matilda
became the wife of John Braden and lives in Rankin-
ville, and'Margaret_, who became the wife of Matthias
Minton, resides in the village of Prosperity. James

Hanna, the son of Hugh Hanna, Sr_., removed to,

Ohio; Hugh, Jr., went’ to Connellsville, in this
State, and Thomas died young; the daughter Nancy‘
married Jacob Hathaway, and lived on the home farm;
Elizabeth became’ the wife of Samuel Clutter, of
Hopewell township; Martha married Dr. Spencer
Blachly, of Waynesburg, Pa., and « Rebecca died un-
married. R , «
About the year 1790, Arthur Langdon removed
from the vicinity of- Baltimore, Md., to Morris town-
ship, bringing his family with him. His children
were John, Nimrod, Sarah, and Nancy Langdon.
Nimrod Langdon married Mary Huston, and resided

- allhis life in West Finley; Sarah Langdon became .

Mrs. Moses Braddock; Nancy Langdon married ‘John
Brooks, and died in this township; John Langdon
married Mary Miller, and lived and died in Morris
township. His sons, Gibson and Hiram Langdon,
reside in Ten-Mile village. Daniel, Is-aac, and Fran-'
cis» Langdon, the sons of Nimrod Langdon, are resi-
dents of VVashington and Greene Counties.

. Bethuel, Luther, and Daniel- Day were three
brothers who e-ame from their native ‘State, New
Jersey, to Morris township, accompanied by five or
six sisters. Luther Day’s wife was Mary Vankirk,

- and their children were seven, four sons and three"

daughters. The'_ daughter Priscilla _married Benja-
min McVay, Lavina married Demas Lindley, and

‘Maria married Ira Dille. The son, William Day,
married Sarah Patterson, and still lives in’ this town- .

ship. Daniel married Lavina Clutter, and also resides
in Morris township. Arvidi married Elizabeth Bald-
win, and lives in’ the village of Prosperity. _ Artemas
married and removedto Ohio. -

VVilliam Ringland emigrated from Ireland in the
year 1795, coming almost directly, to Morris town-
ship. , He located upon the property now owned by
Joseph Ringland, Esq., a grandson. The children
of VVilliam and Prudence Ringland were George,
Thomas,‘James, lVilliam, Margaret, Eliza, Molly,

MORRIS TOWNSHIP.

84.3

Jane, Catharine, and Nancy. The homestead of
\Villiam Ringland was situated on Ten-Mile Creek,
and upon this place he resided until his death.’ Wil-
liam Ringland,_Jr., married -Mary Bane, George mar-
ried Miss McGuire, and James married Miss Sarah
Stockdale. Joseph Ringland, who now owns and
occupies the old homestead, is a son of James Ring-
land, and the only male representative of the family
in VVashington County.

James Connit, whose home was in Bound Brook,
N. J., came to Morris township in 1802. His wife
was Jane Powell, a nativeof the State of New York.
Their family numbered thirteen children. Of these
Sarah, John, Milton, Joseph, Jane, and Lydia
Connit all died single. Melissa is still living un-

. married. James Connitniarried Rebecca Cary. He

is still living on the Demas Lindley tract of land,
near Prosperity, and is eighty-six years of age. He
has but one child, Isaac N. Connit. Eliza Connit
married Daniel Ferrell, and lived and‘ died in East
Finley township. Priscilla became Mrs. Norman
Powers, and is now a resident of Greene County.
Isaac Connit, Sr., married Abby French,'and re-
moved to Ohio. Spencer Connit died in Greene
County. ; _

George Harris, a Revolutionary soldier, who fought
at Monmouth and Princeton, settled in the township

_ very early, and died Feb. 3, 1822, at an advanced age,

leaving a numerous family and descendants.

A four-hundred—acre tract of land was warranted
in this township, July 17, 1785, by Samuel Parkhurst.
It adjoined the lands of Caleb Lindley, Daniel Park-
hurst-, and Jacob Rude. He was one of the constitu-
ent members of the Ten-Mile Baptist Church, which
was organized in 1772, and was the clerk ofthe church

~ in 1773. He married a daughter of the Rev. David

Sutton.

Village of Prosperity.——The village plat was
laid out in 1848 by Robert Wallace, who built the
first house, which is still standing, owned by John
M. Day, and occupied as a store. The first postmas-
ter was T. D.., Minton. Arvidi Day is the present
postmaster, and has occupied the position twenty-six
years. 3

The town contains at present fourteen dwelling-
houses, a school-house, and the Upper Ten-Mile Pres-

' byterian Church. The business places are the store

of Miss Mary E. Brownlee; shoe"-shop of Nathan
Daley;.blacksmith-shop, A. L. Hayden; drug-store,
David Dille; Matthias Minton, justice of the peace;
two physicians, and a lodge of Odd—Fellows, viz.:
Morris Lodge; No. 936, which was organized on the
10th of August, 1876, with the following‘ officers:
Samuel Houghland, N. G.; Silas Young, V. G. ; Isaac
Mankey, Sec.; and VVilliam Miller, Treas. The present
officers are Joseph Dunn, N. G.; James B. Allison,
V. G. ; M. Minton, Se-c., The society has a member-
ship of forty—five. Nineveh Lodge, No. 583, of Greene
County, was consolidated with Morris Lodge in 1881.
54

Upper Ten-Mile Presbyterian Church.-—The
churches of Upper and Lower Ten-Milewere organ-
ized Aug. 15, 1781, as one church. Prior to that time,
however, services‘had been held by these people in
different places, the first time upon the visit of the
Rev. Thaddeus Dodd in the spring of 1777. He was
a graduate of Princeton College, and had been li-
censed by the Presbytery of New York. He remained
with this people, preaching in private houses in the
forest, and in the different forts or block-houses in
this section of country, till August of that year, when
he returned to the East, and was ordained by the
Presbytery of New York in the early part of October,
1777. He visited this place again later in the year,
and returned home after a short stay. He was pre-
vailed upon by Lindley, Cook, and others to come
out to this people and become their pastor. This he
promised to do. Afterhis return home he preached
in Maryland and Virginia, and had strong induce-
ments to remain, buthe had given his promise, and
in the September of 1779 he arrived at Ten-Mile
with his wife and two children (one of whom, Cephas,
became a minister and pastor over the church his
father organized). Services were held at different
places, but no distinct effort was made towards a
permanent organization until August, 1781, when
twenty-three persons gathered at the house of Jacob
Cook and organized a‘ church, of which the following
named were the constituent members,'viz. : Thaddeus
Dodd, V.D.M., and Phebe, his wife; Demas Lind-
ley (elder) and Joanna, his wife; Jabez Baldwin;

William Leonard and Mary, his wife; VVilliam Hays’

and Anna, his wife ; David Dille and Elizabeth, his
wife; Jacob Cooke and Phebe, his wife; Daniel
Axtell and Ruth, his wife; Joseph Coe and Abi-
gail, his wife; John Eddy and Mary, his wife; Daniel
Dodd and Charity, his wife; Abner Brown and
Paul Brown; and Jacob Cook, Joseph Coe, and
Daniel Axtell were chosen elders. “After this,” says
the church record, “we set several times when we
should have the sacrament of the Lord’s Supper ad-
ministered, but could not compass our designs on ac-
count of the incursions of the savages.” The next
entry is as follows: “VVednesday, April 30, 1783.
The session met at Mr. Lindley’s fort. Present:
Thaddeus Dodd, V.D.M., Demas Lindley, Joseph
Coe, Jacob Cooke, Daniel Axtell, elders.. At this
session twenty-two persons joined.”

The sacrament of the Lord’s Supper was first ad-
ministered1 on the third Sabbath of May, 1783, by
the Rev. Thaddeus Dodd, their pastor, assisted by the
Rev. John McMillan. The meeting was held in
Daniel AXtell’s barn.

The church increased in numbers under Mr. Dodd’s
efforts, and became strong. Mr. Dodd died of con-
sumption May 20, 1793, after a ministry of nearly

1 Much of the following history is taklenfmm a historical sermon de-
liver-ed by the Ben’. Dr. E. G. Wines, Aug. 28, 1879.

8616

HISTORY OF ‘ WASHINGTON COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA.

sixteen years. The funeral ‘discourse was preached
by the Rev. Dr. McMillan from Rev. xiv. 13. From
the record of the Redstone Presbytery it is found
that in October, 1793, this church, then styled the
United Congregation of Upper and Lower Ten-Mile,
presented a call_to Mr. Thomas Marques, a licentiate
of the Presbytery of Redstone. This call was not
accepted. On the 10th of April, 1794, the society
presented a call to Mr. Thomas Moore, a licentiate of
the association of Bristol, Mass., who had been taken
under the care of Redstone Presbytery. Mr. Moore
accepted the call on the 19th of August, and was or-

dained and installed in September or October, 1794. ~

Mr. Moore continued pastor of this people ten years.
The years 1799, 1802, and 1803 seem to have been sig-
nalized by an abundant increase. The two latter
years embrace the period known as the “ Falling Re-
vival.” Rev. Cephas Dodd, a son of Rev. Thaddeus
Dodd, succeeded Rev. Moore. The same meeting of
Presbytery dismissed Mr. Moore and ordained and
installed Mr. Dodd, 14th December, 1803, and though
it was midwinter, all the ‘services connected with them
were held “in Joseph Riggs’ sugar-camp, with the
open ‘canopy of heaven for ‘a temple, the snow for
a carpet, and the wind whistling through the leafless
branches of the trees as an accompaniment‘ to the
solemn music, as it pealed forth from a choir consist-
ing of hundreds of voices.” Mr. Dodd was dismissed
from his double charge April 15, 1817, and thence-
forward the two congregations became distinct bodies.

The Rev. Thomas Hoge, of Washington, succeeded
the Rev. Mr. Dodd as stated supply, and served the
people for about two years. His successor was Rev.
Andrew Wylie, D.D., president of VVashington Col-
lege, from about 1819_to 1821. Next was the Rev.
Boyd Mercer, long an associate judge of the county

court, who supplied this church for two years. Next.

was Rev. Ludovicus Robbins, supply for one year.

A period of several years elapsed before the con-
gregation were again under the-charge of a regular
pastor. In December, 1827, the Rev. Cornelius
Laughran was installed as pastor of the congrega-
tion of Upper Ten-Mile. In the fall of 1830, Rev.
Jacob Lindley, a member of the Presbytery of Wash-
ington, became the stated supply of this congregation.
Laughranhad been dismissed, tried, and convicted
by the Presbytery of \/Vashington on charges pre-
ferred by the congregation of Upper Ten-Mile.
Chagrined andexasperated by this rebuke, he and

his friends wrote to the Cumberland Presbyterians in ,

Tennessee, inviting a visit from them. This invita-
tion was accepted, and the next year (1831) five of
their ministers, among the ablest in their body, came
on. Before their arrival Mr. Lindley preached a ser-
mon in this pulpit, in which he exhorted the people
to give them a generous welcome. In the course of
the summer and autumn these ministers held camp-
meetings at different places, preached with zeal and
fervor, producing great excitement, and numbered

_ took charge.

the site occupied by its two predecessors. A
was paid for by the congregation. A handsome com-

their converts by hundreds. A joint session of this
new church with the Presbyterians was held Sept.
1], 1832. Sixty-two persons were received; only
thirteen joined. the mother-church. A Cumberland
Presbyterian Church was immediately organized.
Rev. Lindley was about to be tried for his disloyalty
to the interests of his church when he withdrew from
that body. His name was stricken from the list of
Presbyterian ministers.
swept with a desolating fury over this fair and lovely
Zion, prostrating towers and battleinents, and in one
brief hour laying in ruins the whole stately structure.
When, in 1832, Presbytery sent a’ committee to in-
quire into the condition of things here, only seven

individuals in a concourse of hundreds gathered upon 0

the occasion were found willing to rise in their places
and declare themselves old-fashioned Presbyterians.
Five members of the session bent to the storm, and
five stood firm to their post. These latter were Jacob
Hathaway, James Reed, Reuben Sanders, Zenas Con-
dit, and Lewis Dille. The condition of the church
became a by-word. It remained without a pastor for
many years. The venerable Dr. Elliott, of Washing-
ton, preached here twice in 1832. In the year 1838
Rev. James M. Smith wasiordained and installed pas-
tor of thislong-vacant congregation. Mr. Smith was
dismissed in 1841. Two years again pass without a
regular pastor. The supplies were Alfred Paull, Mr.
Miller, Rev. John R. Dundas.” . ‘

In the spring of 1846 the Rev. Nicholas Murray,
a professor in Washington College,‘ received and ac-
cepted «va call. Murray continued with this church
until his decease, March 23, 1853. ’ ’

Rev. Cyrus Braddock, then a lieentiate, supplied
the church for a season, when the Rev. E. C. Wines
In 1854 the third house of worship was erected upon
The house

munion-service was presented by a kind Methodist
brother of Morris County, N. J ., whencethe original
settlers had emigrated. The pastorate of Dr. E. C.
Wines having terminated, the people of Ten-Mile,
early in the spring of 1859, called as their pastor the
Rev. N. B. Lyons.
of the Presbytery of VVashington on the second day
of June in that year.

In January, 1860, the congregation was called to
suffer the loss of their almost new church by fire.

Services were held in the mean time in the public
school-house, and during fair weather in the grove.
A brick church was erected on the site of its three pre-
decessors in 1860, and dedicated to the worship of God.

Rev. Mr. Lyons asked to be released from this’
church in the year 1868, to assume the labors of an-_
other congregation. He preached his- farewell ser-
mon to the congregation Jan. 26, 1868. His successor

was Prof. Henry Woods, of Washington and J efferson‘

College. ' - ‘

I

“The whirlwind of 1831.

He was installed by a committee_ '

MORRIS TOWNSHIP.

Rev. Mr. Lyons died May 19, 1868. Rev. Henry
\Voo'ds remained in charge during two and one—half
years, until the fall of 1870. Rev. William Ewing
then preached one year. In the fall of 1871 the Rev.
S. M. Glenn was invited to take the pastoral oversight
of the church.

The pastoral relations were again broken Septem-
ber 1, A.D. 1878, when the Rev. S. M. Glenn took
charge of another field,——-Sandy Lake, Pa. The
present supply (1882) is the Rev._ J. H. Sherrard.
A parsonage, with four acres of land, was purchased
for two thousand'nine hundred dollars, and first occu-
pied by the pastor in 1872. _

The first house of worship was erected in 1792 on
land donated by Demas Lindley “ for the occupancy

— and use of a Presbyterian church and for no other

purpose whatever.” The second house-—a frame
building forty-five by fifty feet in size, with twenty-
five feet posts,\and with a gallery on two sides and
one end—was erected ‘in 1818. The erection of the
third house of worship in 1854, its destruction by fire
in 1860, and the building of the present brick edifice
have already been mentioned.

There is a Sabbath—school (organized in 1825) con-

nected with the church. It has one hundred and
thirty pupils, si.xteen teachers, and a good library.

Mount Zion Methodist Episcopal Church.-—The

. house of worship of this congregation was erected’ in

1856, about two miles west of Prosperity, on the farm

‘of Robert Andrews. The church is united in the

Claysville charge of VVashington district, with Clays-
ville, Stony Point, and Liberty Chapel. It has at
present seventy members. The pastor in charge is the
Rev. Thomas Patterson, who succeeded the Rev. G.
\V. Sheets. The names of earlier pastors will be
found in the history of the Claysville Methodist

‘Episcopal Church.

Physicians.~About the year 1794 one Dr. William
Blachly moved to this county and settled in Morris
township, at. what is now known as Lindley’s Mills
Station. Hepracticed medicine in that region of

country for some twelve or fifteen. years, after which ,

he moved to the State of Ohio. He was the first
physician located in the township. It is said of him

-that he was more remarkable for his energy and bold-

ness of character than learning and skill in the pro-
fession. He was succeeded by Dr. Henry W. Blachly,
son of Dr. Ebenezer’S. Blachly, of Paterson, N. J .,
and a distant relative «of the aforesaid Dr. William
Blachly. . ‘

Dr. Henry W. Blachly received his medical educa-
tion in New'York City, and practiced one year in
copartnership with Dr. William Budd in that city
before coming to'Morris township, where he settled
near the village of Prosperity in 1806. He had an
extensive practice for over forty‘ years, and ever held
a first rank in the profession. He was also a surgeon
of much skill, and kept himself in readiness to operate
when necessary. He had a number of medical students

847'

under his -tuition, a.nd left four sons and two sons-in-._

1 law in the profession at his death. His end was sud-

den and unlocked for, ‘having attended his patients
until within a few hours of his death, at the age of
sixty-three. His widow still survives, at the great age
of ninety-three. O ‘

Dr. Stephen L. Blachly, son of Henry W., suc-
ceeded his father, having been his partner in the
practice for twelve years.
practice. A more extended biographical sketch of
Dr. Blachly is given elsewhere in the history of this
township.

In the year 1849, Dr. Joseph Warren Blachly, also
son of Henry W., located after his father’s death in
the village of Prosperity, and continued the practice
of medicine for some ten years in that vicinity. His
health failing him he removed to Washington, and
engaged in the drug trade.

For the last five_years Dr. Oliver L. Blachly, son of
Stephen L., has been associated with his father in
general practice. He graduated in his scientific
course at Waynesburg College, and in his medical
course at Jefferson College, Philadelphia. He is a
member of" the County Medical Society, also of ‘the

State and United States Medical Associations, and the V

Alumni Association of Jefferson Medical College,
Philadelphia. Thus have the Dr. Blachlys adminis-
tered to the wants of suffering humanity in Morris
township for a period of eighty-seven years success-
ively. V
In the year 1865, Dr. Ezra Cary, formerly of New
Jersey, located in the village o-f_ Prosperity. 9 Dr. Cary
was associated with the medical corps of the armyfor
some time during the war of the Rebellion, after
which he took his degree from the Jefferson College,
Philadelphia. He is a member of the County Med-
ical Society. His practice has been remunerative and
honorable.
~ Concord is a hamlet situated in the southwest cor-
ner of the township, and contains three dwellings, a
grocery-store, a blacksmith-sliop, a post-oflice, of
which T. VV. Minton is postmaster, and the old Con-

cord Cumberland Presbyterian Church. The history ,
of this church (the first of this denomination in the
county) will be found in an article on Cumberland
Presbyterianism in the general history, contributed.

by the Rev. Azel Freeman. :
Sparta.—-The old village (if it could properly be

. so termed) of Sparta was laid out in 1816, as is shown

by an advertisement found in the Washington Reporter
of J anuaryin that year, as follows:

“ Loox I-Inns. ,

“The Subscriber informs the public that he has laid out a town on
the waters of Ten Mile, Morris Township, Washington County, 11 miles
from Washington, 14 from Waynesburgh, and 16 from Alexandria. Said
town ‘lies between the Middle and North fork of Ten Mile, and in a.
beautiful Situation ; being on the public road that leads from Washing-
ton to Riason’s Station, and surrounded by a rich country. There are

V five Grist-mills and five saw-mills adjacent thereto. Also a Fulling-mill

within’ one mile of this town, and there is a great abundance of build-
ing stone and stone coal-banks. The lots will be laid out in a parallelo-

He still continues in the ‘

100

HISTORY_ OF WASHINGTON COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA.

ing men from Washington County) for Clarke’s ex-
pedition; about one hundred and‘ten strong, as before
mentioned, and under the command of Col. Archibald
Lochry, proceeded to the rendezvous at Fort Henry,
-where the commanding oflicer expected to join the
main body under Gen. Clarke. But on arriving there
he found that the general had gone down the river the
day before, leaving a Maj. Craycroft with a few men
and a boat for the transportation of the horses, but
without either provisions or ammunition, of which
they had but a very insuflicient supply. Clarke had,
however, promisedto await their arrival at the mouth
of the Kanawha ; but on reaching that point they
found that he had been obliged, in order to prevent
desertion (which his men were more than ever de-
termined on), to proceed down the river, leaving
only _a letter aflixed to a pole directing them to follow.
Their provisions .and forage were nearly exhausted;
there. was no source of supply but the stores conveyed
by Clarke; the river was very low, and as they were
unacquainted with the channel, they could not hope
to overtake the main body. Under these embarrassing
circumstances Col. Lochry dispatched Capt. Shearer
with four men in a small boat, with the hope of over-
taking Gen. Clarke and of securing supplies, leaving
his (Shearer’s) company under command of Lieut.
Isaac Anderson. Before Shearer’s party had pro-
ceeded far they were taken prisoners by Indians, who
also took from them a letter to Gen. Clarke, informing
him of the condition of Lochry’s party.

. About the same time Lochry captured a party of
nineteen deserters from Clarke’s force. These he
afterwards released, andthey immediately joined the
Indians. The savages had before been apprised of

the expedition, but they had supposed that the forces

of Clarke and Lochry were together, and as they knew
that Clarke had artillery, they had not attempted an
attack. But now, by the capture of Shearer’s party,
with the letters, and by the intelligence brought to
them by the deserters, they for the first time learned
of the weakness and exposed situation of Lochry’s
command, and they at once determined on its de-
struction. '

Collecting in force some miles below the mouth
of the Great Miami River, they placed their prison-
ers (Shearer’s party) in a conspicuous. position on the
north shore of the Ohio, near the head of Lochry’s
Island, with the promise to them that their lives
should be spared if they would hail Lochry’s men as
they came down and induce them to land. But in
the mean time, Col. Lochry, wearied by the slow
progress made, and in despair of overtaking Clarke,
landed on the 24th of August, at about ten o’clock in
the morning, on the same shore, at an inlet which
has since borne the name of Lochry’s Creek,‘ a short

1 This creek empties into the Ohio, nine or ten miles below the mouth
of the Miami. Lochry’s Island, near the headof .~which.-theprisoners
were placed by the Indians to decoy their friends on shore, is three miles
below the creek.

distance above the place where the Indians were await-
ing them. At this point the horses were taken on shore
and turned loose to feed. One of the men had killed
a buffalo, and all, except a few set to guard the
horses, were engaged around the fires which they
had kindled in preparing a meal from it. Suddenly
a volley blazed forth on them from a wooded bluff,
and simultaneously a large force of Indians appeared
and rushed to attack them. V The men, thus surprised,
seized their arms and bravely defended themselves as
long as their ammunition lasted. Then they attempted
to escape by their boats, but these were unwieldy, the
water was very low, and the party, too much weakened
to avail themselves of this method of escape, and
being wholly unable to make further resistance, sur-
rendered to the savages, who at once proceeded to the
work of massacre. They killed Col. Lochry and sev-
eral others of the prisoners, but were restrained from
further butchery by the timely arrival of their chief,’
who declared that he disapproved of their conduct,
but said he was unable wholly to control his men,
who were eager to revenge the acts of Col. Brodhead
against the Indians on the Muskingum a few months
before.

The party which Col. Lochry surrendered to the
Indians consisted of but sixty-four men, forty-two
having been killed. The Indians engaged numbered
over three hundred of various tribes, but principally
those of the Six Nations. They divided the plunder
among them in proportion to the numbers of each
tribe engaged. '

On the next day the prisoners were marched to
the Delaware towns, where they were met by a
party of British and Indians, who said they were
on their way to the Falls of the Ohio to attack
Gen. Clarke. The prisoners were separated and
taken to different places of captivity at the Indian
towns, and there they remained (excepting a few who
escaped) until the close of the Revolutionary strug-
gle. After the preliminary articles of peace had been
signed (Nov. 30, 1782) they were ransomed by the
British oflicers in command of the Northern posts
and were sent to Canada, to be exchanged for British
prisoners in the hands of the Americans? In the

2 It has been stated that the chief in command of this Indian party
was the famous Capt. Bran t, and that he afterwards professed much re-
gret for the massacre of Lochry and his men. _

3 The following memorial of escaped prisoners belonging to C01. Loch-

ry’s command was presented to the Supreme Executive Council, ad- ‘

dressed to President Moore, and indorsed July 3, 1782, viz.:

“ Sm,-—We, the subscribers, inhabitants of the County of Westmore-
land, beg leave to represent to your Excellency and Council that we had
the misfortune to be made prisoners of by the Indians on the 24th of
August last and carried to Montreal, and there kept in close confine-
ment till the 26th of May last, when we were so fortunate as to make our
escape, and after a long and fatigueing march through the Wilderness
we got to this city yesterday at three o’Clock. As we are at present
destitute of both Money and Cloathes, without which we cannot go
home, We pray your Exc'y and Council to take our case into Considera-
tion, and order‘ us our pay from thetime. we were made prisoners to
this. We were under the commandlof ‘Colo. Loughery when taken, and
have a list of all those, both oflicers and privates, who are now prisoners

8:48

HISTORY OF WASHINGTON COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA.

gram square, so as to contain one-fourth of an acre of land. Good
spring-‘water in abundance to be had very convenient. Any persons de-
sirous of purchasing lots in this beautiful situation may have the terms
of sale made known by application to the proprietor.
“Joan Bnooxs.

“P. S.——'1‘his town is adjacent to places of public worship and school-
houses."

“Jan. 29, 1816.”

The town, so magnificent in its location and advan-
tages, was evidently all on paper. It does not appear
that any of its lots were sold, nor is there found in
any records anything to show that John Brooks ever
bought, sold, or owned any lands in this township.
But that there was a post-oflice located there at that
time or not long afterwards appears from an advertise-
ment of Aaron Kerr, postmaster, dated “Sparta,
Washington Co.., Aug. 17, 1818,” in which he requests
“all wishing mail sent to this oifice to notify him.”
Mr. Kerr opened a store and remained as postmaster
till 1822. A notice in the Reporter of June 1st of
that year says, “John Lindley is appointed post-
master of Sparta, in place of Aaron Kerr, removed.”
Mr. Lindley at this time lived on the adjoining farm.

About 1830, Leonard Vail, who also lived near,‘

opened a store at Sparta and did a th.ri=vin,7g,‘.lfbusiness
for several years in wagon/ing,  sell-
ing goods. ’He was appointed_,e‘?post‘masterr._!int.

At thistime there were two t'oth*ér*\p'ost-otiiefes=::estab- A’

lished on’ the route from Wash.ingtoi1 to Waynesburg,
——one at Van Bure'n,,two and a half -milesjnorth of
where Sparta post-office was then kept, and another
thr'ee miles east of Sparta, called Lindley Mills post-
oflice. The growth of the country by this time de-
manded another post-oflicfe westward from where
Sparta was then located. ‘ The citizens of this region
petitioned for the removal of Sparta post~ofiice west-
ward two and a half miles, which gave about equal
distances between the three post-oflices above named,
and aftera vigorous contest the department granted

the removal and appointed Dr. S. L. Blachly postm_as— _

ter in 1842. That removal settled the location of Sparta
up to this time. It has for many years been a busi-
ness poi11t for the accommodation of the surrounding
country, and now is furnished with a daily mail.

Sparta is situated twelve miles a little’ west of south

from VVashington, and fourteen miles north of

~\Vaynesburg, on a branch of Middle Fork of Ten-

Mile. Sparta at present contains six dwellings, a
smith-shop, store, post-ofiice, grist-"mill, and two phy-
sicians, Dr. S. L. and Dr. 0. L. Blachly.

Lindley's Mills.——This village (also post—oflice and
railway station of same name) is situated in the south-
east part of Morris township, and contains eight dwell-
ings, a store, blacksmith-shop, mill, and the depot of
the VVaynesb.urg and Washington Railroad. The
post-oflice at Lindley’s Mills had been established

6 before the removal of the office from old Sparta three
_ miles, up the Middle Fork- The present postmaster

of Lindley’s Mills is John Nickerson. The site of
Lindley’s Mills was included in a tract taken up in

1788 by Joseph Headley,-who erected a mill of logs,
which he afterwards -replaced by a frame building.
Later the mill was rebuilt by Adam Weir. The mill
property is now owned by John Clutter, Sr. ‘

4;;
fivr

SBIOGRAPHIGAL SKETCH.

DR. STEPHEN’ L. BLACIILY.

Dr. Stephen L. Blachly traces his paternal anizestry
nearly two and one-half centuries to one Thomas
Blachly, who was of Hartford in 1640, New Haven
in 1643, and Branford in 1645. He signed the agree-

ment with those who migrated from Branford to set-

tle in Newark, N. J ., but did not go with them, and
did not receive a part of the division of lands set off
to him. His children were Aaron, Moses, Miriam,
and Abigail.

Aaron Blachly married Mary‘ Dodd, of Guilford.
They had nine children,—Mary, Thomas, Dr. Eben-
ezer, Hannah, Daniel, Joseph, Benjamin, Sarah, and
Susanna in uncertain order.
Newaiflv,,‘Ia1._1‘dvwas of Gruilford in 1683.

 .Eb,enezer'Blach1y, the first, lived at Dix Hills,
H>n,iit,i1’71gti§nl,"'tt‘wnsl1ip, L. 1.
Elizabeth, Dr.’ Ebenezer, Joseph, Benjamin, and
Daniel. ’  _

Dr. Ebenezer, the second, was born in 1709, and
died at “The Ponds,” N. J. He married Hannah
Miller, and «had eight children,——Frances, Zophar,

I Dr. Ebenezer, Miller, Sarah, Cornelius, Mary,and

Marcy.
_Dr. Ebenezer Blachly,‘the third, was born in 1735,

and ‘died'April: 19, 1805. He married Mary Wick-

ham, and lived and died near Mendham, N. J. He
was one of the founders of the New Jersey Medical
Society in 1766, and was a surgeon in the Revolution-
ary war. He had twelve children in his family,—
seven sons and five daughters. Five of his sons, viz.,
Ebenezer, Henry W., Absalom, VVilliam, and Cor-
nelius C., were physicians, and his oldest. daughter,
Mary, married a physician, Dr. Hezekiah Stites
Woodrufii -

Dr. Ebenezer Blachly, the fourth, was born in 1760',

and died Aug. 20, 1812. He entered the American
service under age in the Revolution as surgeon’s
mate to a North Carolina’ regiment which was en-
camped near the old Raritan bridge in the winter of
1778. He also acted as .a' volunteer assistant surgeon
to a regiment in the Pennsylvania line. He was at

the battle of VVhite Plains in 1776, in winter—quarters '
at Valley Forge in 1777, and in the battle of Mon-

mouth in 177 8. After the war he married Elizabeth,
daughter of Col. Oliver Spencer, and settled’ in Pat-
erson, N. J ., where he enjoyed an extensive and suc-
cessful practice.' He had nine children,——Nancy, Dr.
EbenezeriS., Dr. Henry VVickham, Mary J., Juliana,
Bayard P., a druggist of A New York City, Eliza, J 0-

He sold his land in .

The children were

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MORRIS TOWNSHIP.

8-19

seph W., and Oliver, wholesale dry-goods merchants
of-‘Cincinnati. , ,

Dr. Henry Wickham Blachly was born April 17,
1786, in Paterson, N. J. He read medicine with his
father, and after finishing his medical studies in New
York City, practiced there for a short time with Dr.
VVilliam Budd. He then settled in Washington
County, Pa., where he practiced for forty years. He
was devoted to his calling, and was very successful.
He married Hannah Loverirlge, Jan. 9, 1806. They

had twelve children,——Ebenezer S., Milton, Eveline,

Maria J ., Stephen L., Eliza, Oliver B., Joseph Warren,

Lucilla Caroline, Harriet Newell, Henry W., and

Hannah’ Louisa, named in the order of their births.
Dr. Ebenezer S. Blachly completed his medical

I course in Jefferson Medical College, Philadelphia.

He was twice married. His first wife was Martha
Hanna, who was the mother of his children, five in
number, and after her death he married Elizabeth
Alison, who isstill living.‘ But one of his children,
Bayard Milton ‘Blachly, grew to maturity.’ He was a

physician, and practiced for about thirty years in

\Vaynesburg, Greene Co., Pa., the Scene of his father’s
professional labors. A
Milton Blachly died when sixteen years of age.

' Eveline Blach-ly married Dr. William B. Porter, of

Fayette County, Pa. They died leaving three chil-
dren,—Maria, who married Francis Braddock; Lou-

. isa, who married William Carter; John Henry, who

married Hannah McAfee. He was a physician, and
died soon after completing. his medical studies.

Maria J . Blachly married Dr. Lutellus Lindley, of
Connellsville, Fayette Co., Pa. She died leaving one
son, Dr. Henry B. Lindley, of Perrysville, Allegheny
Co., Pa.‘

Eliza Blachly married John Milton Lindley. He

8‘ died leaving three children,—Bayard, Colin, and

Sarah. . ‘
Oliver B. Blachly married for his first wife Ellen
Cracraft, by whom he had five» children,——Byron,

.Henry, Oliver, Mary, and Howard. His second wife

was Ella Hunt. .

Joseph Warren Blachly was a physician who prac-
ticed successfully in his native county for a number
of years. He married Eliza Minton, by whom he
had four children,—Maria; Ella, who is dead; Joseph
\Varren, who is dead ; and Frank, who married Han-
nah Post. He is a physician, and practices’ at Good
Intent, Washington County, Pa. I

Lucilla Caroline Blachly married ‘I. N. Day, a
farmer of Morris township, Washington County, Pa.
Their living children are Henry B., married to Alice
Vail; Homer, married to Nettie Donahey, is a physi-
cian practicing in Smyrna, Ohio ; Cora L. A

Harriet Newell Blachly married Harvey Lindley.
Their children are Henry B., who married Sarah Van-
kirk, and died at ‘the age of thirty—three years; Ann

‘Eliza, married to Samuel Cozad; -Oscar, Howard,

and Abraham Lincoln.

Henry VV. Blachly is a physician practicing in
Cavette, Ohio. He married Caroline Cracraft, and
hastwo children,—Mary, married to Dr. Emrick, of
Dowds’ Station, Iowa; and Henry W., who is a_
lawyer in Van Wert, Ohio.

Hannah Louisa Blachly, the youngest of the.
family, never married.

Dr. Stephen L. Blachly, of this family, so remark-

able for its medical proclivities, was born in Sparta,

Washington Co., Pa., Dec.’ 11, 1815, and has spent
all of his professional life in the locality where his
father so long wore the wreath" of medical honor.
Having completed his preparatory education at
Washington College, in his native county, he read
medicine under the direction of his father, and after-
ward entered J efferson Medical College, Philadelphia,
from which institution he received his degree. He
was associated with his father in the practice of his
profession until the death’of the latter in 1849, prac-
ticed alone until 1877, and since that date has asso-
ciated with him his son, Dr. Oliver L. Blachly.
While engaging in a general. practice, he has given
special attention to surgery, and for a number of
yearshas attended all of the surgical cases in his
vicinity, performing amputations, etc., sometimes
using in his operations a case of ‘surgical instruments

; now in his possession, and once owned by his great-

grandfather, Dr. Ebenezer Blachly the third, and
used by him during his service as a surgeon in the
Revolutionary war. ~ ,
Dr. S. L. Blachly is one of the oldest practitioners
in the county, and one of the oldest» members of the
Washington County Medical Society, of which he has
been president at various times. He is a member of
the State Medical Society of Pennsylvania, of which
he was elected first vice-president in 1873, and by
which he was appointed censor for the Eighth District
in 1874, which position he has held by annual ap-
pointment ever since. He is also a member of the
American Medical Association and of the Alumni
Association of Jefferson Medical College. His prac-
tice, extending over a large district, has involved much
hard labor, and has been fairly remunerative. Dur-
ing the late war he served as a volunteer surgeon after
the second battle of Bull Run, and after the battle of
the Wilderness. Hehas been a diligent student of
medical journals, and occasionally a contributor to
the same. His intelligent discharge of his profes-
sional duties and his careful observance of the rules

of medical ethics have secured for him the confidence 7

of his neighbors and the good will of his professional
brethren. He is likewise esteemed as a man and citi-
zen. He has been a member of Upper Ten-Mile
Presbyterian Church for over forty years, and an
elder in the same for twenty-five years. He was
married Jan. 9, 1840, to Sarah, daughter of Benjamin
Lindley, who was a. descendent of Francis Lindley,
who came to this country with his Puritan brethren‘
from Holland in the “ Mayflower.” By this marriage

5- '7

.ships.

.John Reed, April 14, 1840.
‘John Reed. April 15, 1845.

850

HISTORY OF WASHINGTON COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA.

there were five children, two of whom died in infancy.
Those living are Mary Minerva, married to Stephen
J. Day, a merchant in Sparta, Henry Spencer, a
druggist of Waynesburg, Greene Co., Pa.; and Dr.
Oliver L., married to Anna Sherrard, daughter of

Rev. John Sherrard. They have oneuson, Stephen
Lindley Blachly. Sarah~ (Lindley) -Blachly died
Nov. 25, 1857, and the doctor was married July 28,

1859, to his present wife, Maria Wade, daughter of ‘.

James and Margaret Wade, of Fayette County, Pa.

4,; A
7 

V

MOUNT PLEASANT ‘TOWNSHIP.

44;

&vf

ALL the territory now embraced in Mount Pleasant

township was originally comprehended in the‘ town-

shipsiof Smith, Cecil, Hopewell, and Canton. The
erection of Chartiers from Cecil on the 12th of March,
1790, and of Cross Creek from Hopewell in the sa.me
year brought a part of this territory in those town-
In January, 1806, a petition of citizens of
this section was presented to the granpl jury of the

Court of Quarter Sessions, praying for the erection of

a new township. This body passed upon it favorably,
and the matter was brought to the notice of the court
at the May term, and on the 12th of that month the
action of the grand jury was confirmed, and decree
ordered for the erection of a township to be called
Mount Pleasant. Aslight addition was made to the
township from Chartiers in 1831.

The territory comprehended in this township has .
been at different times in the early years included in

election districts Nos. 3, 4, 5, and 6. It was erected
into a separate election district March 28, 1808, but
for some reason did not so remain, and continued to
be included in districts with other territory till 1838,
when it became independent. The names of justices
having jurisdiction here prior to that time will be
found in the lists of Smith, Cecil, Peters, Chartiers,
and Cross Creek_ townships. Those elected for Mount

‘Pleasant since that time are here given, viz. :
James Hughes, April 14, 1840. James Hughes, May 5, 1863.

John Reed, Sept. 25, 1863.

James B. Buchanan, Nov. 24,1869.
James Hughes, April 15, 1845. John M. Miller, April 15, 1873. ‘
James Hughes, April 9, 1850.

_A. B. Mcl(eever, April 9, 1850.
James McCloskey, April 13, 1853.
James Hughes, April 10, 1853.
John Reed, May 10, 1858. '
Thomas McCarroll, April 10, 1860.

John M. Miller, Jan. 31,1874.
James B. Buchanan, March 7, 1875.
‘ John M. Miller, March 27, 1879.
James B. Buchanan, March 30,
1880.

” Early Sett1ements.—Daniel McCrugin, a native of
Ireland, came to this county in 1770, and in 1775 his
son David was born. He took up and afterwards set-
tled on“ the farm adjoining the one to which he first
moved. The land was not warranted until‘ Dec. 4,
1816, and then to David, the son of Daniel McGugin.
The following note is attached to the survey: “The
above describedland has been improved ‘since the

James B. Buchanan, Jan. 17,1874. 1

year 1770, and a continued resident settlement kept
up ever since.” In 1791 the land was assessed to
Ann McCrugin (widow of Daniel), in Cross Creek
township, and in 1817 in Mount Pleasant. David
lived on the homestead till his death in 1861. He
was an early advocate of ‘abolition principles, and
lived only to see the fight for the downfall of sla-
very commenced. Daniel removed to West Mid-
dletown, where he kept a hotel many years, and died
in 1852. James went to New Orleans in a flat-boat,
and on his return to New York by sea died of fever
on shipboard. A daughter married John Cloud, an
elder in Raccoon Church; their son, John Cloud, Jr.,
was a missionary to Africa, and died in 1834. The
homestead of Daniel McGugin is now in possession

of Alexander McGugin, a grandson. On this farm an

experimental oil well has been sunk. A depth of
eighteen hundred feet was reached when there com-
menced a very strong flow of gaslwhich accidentally
took fire, and has not yet (July 1, 1882) been'-extin-

guished. The light from it can be seen at night a.

distance of twenty miles. ,

John McCarty emigrated to what is now’Washing—
ton County about the year 1773. He located on a
tract of land at the head of Cherry Run Valley. The
farm is now owned by Robert Farrar. He was an
energetic, hard-working pioneer, and in the course of
a few years had made an extensive improvement. It
was not until Feb. 13, 1786, that Mr. McCarty took
out a warrant for his land, which was suryeyed to
him the 10th of June the same year under the name of
“Rhodes,” and‘ contained three hundred acres. The
first cabin was built a little east of where the dwell-
ing-house of Mr. Farrar now stands.
all his days and died here. He had five sons,-—Tim-
othy, John, ‘James, Samuel, and Robert, and a daugh-
ter Cassia, who married William Elder, and settled
on the west part of Midway village. He died, and
the property was sold to.J. M. Clark, Esq.‘ She is
now’ living at Butler, Pa.

.Timothy, the eldest son of John _McCarty, Sr., was
born on the homestead in 1775, and when he arrived
at maturity his father gave him one hundred and
seven acres, part of the hometract. He married a.

He lived here "

MOUNT PLEASANT TOWNSHIP.

851

daughter of Thomas McConnell, of Robinson town-
ship, and lived on the place till his death. John, his
only son, inherited the place. John, the second son
of John McCarty, settled on one hundred acres of
the home tract also given him by his father. He sold
it to John, the son of Timothy, in 1835, and removed to
Ohio. James, the third son, never married, but lived
with his father and brothers, and died there. Samuel
lived on the homestead, and later sold to Robert
Farrar, who still owns it. Robert, the youngest son,
died in 1819.

A military warrant of thirteen hundred and seven
acres lying on the waters of Chartiers Creek was
granted to Barton Lucas for military services. A

, patent from Virginia, dated July 28, 1780, was issued

to Matthew Ritchie and William Bruce, as assignees
of Lucas. On the 17th of October, 1797, Ritchie
and Bruce conveyed one hundred and nine acres of
the tract to John’Hammon‘d,who occupied it and
lived there till his death, when it was sold to Nicho-
las White. Mr. Hammond‘ left nine children, who
all went .West except Martha, who married James
Thompson, and Jane, who married Samuel. Wilson
and lived on a farm adjoining her father. McClure
VVhite now owns the property. 9

Robert Guthrie was one of the pioneers of the
county, and settled on a tract of land in the town-
ship which was patented to him Sept. 25, 1788. It

~ lay about three miles from Hickory, on the road to
Canonsburg. On the 15th of June, 1793, he con-

veyed seventy-nine acresto James Guthrie. Other
portions were sold to Andrew and Robert \Vilson.
Andrew devised his portion to his brother Robert and
two nieces, one of whom married Alexander Gaston,
the other Thomas Struthers. Robert Thompson mar-

. ried Joseph Guthrie’s daughter, and they own a por-
' tion of the original tract.

William Campbell came from York County in
1772, and settled on the farm now owned by his grand-
son, Napoleon B.'Campbell. Hewas driven away by
the Indians, returned about 1778, and became a man
of influence in that section of country. He was a
commissioner of the county in 1799. He purchased
large tracts of ‘land in this and Hanover-township.
He lived many years and died on the homestead,

leaving six sons and one daughter. They all emi- .

grated but two, James and Jesse. ‘ The former lived
on the homestead, where he died in 1837, leavingthe
property to his son, Napoleon B. Campbell. Jesse
died in 1858. ~ V
Charles Campbell came to this township before 17 80,
and settled on the farm where Moses Lyle now lives
on Raccoon Creek. He married Abigail Rankin, who
died in 1804. He died in 1819. His children, except

one, went to the West. ‘John remained on the home-

stead, a part of which is now owned by his_grandson,
JohnrCampbell. A‘
John McCammant, whose father had settled pre-

viously in Cross Creek township, came to Mount

Pleasant from Lancaster County in 1806, and bought
the Zachariah Rankin farm. Later he bought the
Tannehill farm: formerly the David Acheson tract.
Here he lived till his death in 1860, aged seventy-
eight years. His son John also remained on the farm

till April, 1872, when he purchased the Samuel Cowen

farm, where he now resides. James, the oldest ‘son of
John, is living in Robinson township. Alexander is
living on the original Zachariah Rankin farm. A
daughter, Polly, married John Henderson, a grandson
of the Rev. Matthew Henderson, and settled where
John Carter now lives. Eliza married Samuel Moore.

Joshua Pyles emigrated from east of the mountains,
and settled on a tract of land which was surveyed to
him as “ Albemarle,” for which a patent was granted

Aug. 15, 1787. He was a carpenter, as was his son

J ames,.who now lives in the township.

John Henderson, a son of the Rev. Matthew Hen-
derson, then.-living in Ohio County, Va., purchased a -

tract of ninety acres from VVi1liam McGarrah, and

settled on it. It was left by him to his son John, who ‘

married Polly McCalmont, daughter of John McCal-
mont, of Mount Pleasant township. John Hender-
son, J r., left the property by will to his brother Rob-
ert, a physician,‘ who livedrin the West. It is now
owned by John Carter.

Robert Montgomery took out a warrant for a tract

of land Oct. 7, 17 86,which was surveyed for one hun-
dred and ninety-two acres, and named “ Greenville.”
He sold forty-eight acres to Sarah Chapman, March
4,1809. Richard Chapman, the husband of Sarah,
built a log tavern in the fields near this property in
1796. Custom was good, and they were soon enabled

to ‘move up to the road, where they built a better -

house: James Miller and Robert Thompson each had
stills, and they each gave him ten gallons" of whiskey
to start with. A The tavern was first called. “Blue

Ball,” and later “Cross Keys.” Richard died on the

place, and his wife Sarah at Pittsburgh. They accu--
mulated considerable property, and remained there
till about 1815.. Alexander, a son, and Joel Lambum,
a son-in-law, removed to Claysville. Robert, the
oldest son, went to Burgettstown, and opened a tavern,
but soon failed. Andrew prospered, purchased a farm
in Buffalo township, and married a sister of Alexander
Campbell.

Lodowyck McCarrol1, of Bladensburg, Md., mar-
ried Martha, daughter of John Leman, of Canton
township, and on the 6th of November, 1797, purchased
one hundred and five acres of land of Arthur and John
Pattersoil, sons ‘of Thomas Patterson. It was situated
in the southern part of Mount Pleasant township, and
was a part of a tract termed “ Complaint.” On the
31st of August, 1803, he purchased two" hundred and
thirty-eight acres of land of John Ritchie, executor
of the estate of Matthew Ritchie, _and David Bruce,
attorney for William Bruce. This was part of the
Virginia patent of thirteen hundred and seven acres

-granted by Lord Dunmore to Barton Lucas. On this

ant.

852

HISTORY OF WASHINGTON COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA.

A last purchase Mr. McCarroll lived and died, leaving

four sons——John, Thomas, Leman, Andrew-and
two daughters. John removed to Beaver County and
died there. Thomas lived on part of the homestead.
He, was elected an associate judge of Washington
County, June 3,1862. He had six sons, of whom
three became physicians,—Dr. John McCarroll, now
of Wellsville, Ohio, Dr. James McCarroll, of Alle-
gheny City, Pa., and Dr. David McCarroll, of Hickory.
Leman McCarroll settled on the homestead, and still
resides there. Lodowyck McCarroll is a lawyer, resid-
ing in Washington. Rev. Alexander McCarroll is pas-
tor of a church at Stewart’s Station, Westmoreland Co.
Of the two daughters, Margaret became the wife of
Joseph Cowden, of Cecil township, and Martha re-
sides on the homestead with her brother Leman.

Andrew McCarroll, son of Lodowyck, is now living,
at the age of seventy years, on a part of the homestead.
Leman, brother of Andrew, was a tanner, and settled
at Canonsburg, where he lived and died. Of the
daughters of Lodowyck, Elizabeth became the wife
of John Cockins; the other daughter married Judge
Isaac Hodgins. .

James Ridgeway came to this country when the ter-
ritory on which he took up land was in Hopewell
township. A warrant was taken out Aug. 28,1789.
The tract he purchased was named “ Forest.” James
Ridgway married Mary, daughter of John Leman,
andwidow of one Stewart, by whom she had a daugh-
ter Mary. In the will of John Lem-an, dated June
28, 179-1, Mary Ridgeway is mentioned, and on the
15th of September, 1796, James and Mary Ridgeway
signed a release with the other heirs of John Leman
to Mary, the wife of John Leman, and Aug. 19, 1796,
James Ridgeway -and Mary, his wife, conveyed to
Joseph Irons thirty-seven acres of land adjoining the
land of the heirs of Thomas Patterson. From the
above facts it is evident that Mary Leman was the
widow not only of Stewart, but of Thomas Patterson
also, and as Thomas Patterson died soon after; it is
quite possible she was his wife for a short time.
Ridgeway in 1792 was assessed in Canton township on
‘two hundred and twenty acres of land, and in 1807
in Mount Pleasant township on one ‘hundred and
seventy acres. The place on which he lived in 1796
was then in Cross Creek township, now Mount Pleas-
The ‘Washington T elegrap/ze and Western Ad-
vertiser of Sept. 6, 1796,gives the following account
of a tragedy which occurred at his house:

“MURDER or MARY ‘srnwanr.

‘.‘ On the evening of Sunday, Sept. 4, 1796, Mary Stewart, a little girl of
nine or ten years old, was found murdered in the house of her stepfather,
James Ridgeway, on Cross Creek, in this county. It seems the deceased was
left in charge of the house while the rest of the family were at meeting,
and in their absence some person committed the above horrid murder
by dashing.“th‘e.c_hild’s brains with an axe, and afterwards robbed the
house of}a. sum.of.mo'ney, amounting to near one hundred dollars, to-
gether with seve—ral other articles. A man calling himself sometimes
James Stewart, and at other times Brown, who was seen loitering about

the neighborhood a few days before, is strongly suspected. ' Several per-

Mr. 7

sons are in pursuit of him, and it is hoped he will be shortly appre-
hended. and, if guilty, meet that punishment which the perpetrator of
so horrid a crime richly deserves.”

The verdict of the coroner’s jury (one of whomwas
David McGugan, father of A.‘ V. McGugan, Esq.)
was “that she came to her death by the hand of some
one to the jury unknown.”

“ Suspicion did indeed rest‘ on a young man named S———-, the son of
a pious father, but himself not above the suspicion. But there was no
proof, not even circumstantial evidence sutficient to justify his arrest.
But the eye of suspicion was closely upon him, and he soon disappeared
from the community. Years after, John Brownlee, Sr., the cousin who
was with the Ridgeways the Sabbath evening of the murder, while fol-
lowing his vocation as a ‘ New Orleans trader,’ met with this man in a
bar-room on the bank of the Ohio River. They were only so far ac-
quainted as to enable them to recognize each other. In the course of a
brief interview the matter of the murder of Isabel S. came up. The two
were alone in the room, when S. proposed to B. the question, ‘ Did you
ever hea.r my name connected with the guilt of that murder?’ Feeling
that it was an occasion for plain dealing, after a pause B. responded, ‘ Yes,
I have so heard ;’ and, looking him straight in the eye, he added, ‘I
believe that you were the murderer of my cousin, Isabel S.’ The man
S., without a word in response, arose, and, passing from the room, was
seen no more. The name of Mr. Ridgeway, the step-father of Isabel,
was also connected, in the judgment of some, with the guilt of the
murder. The reasons for the suspicion were, first, the matter of his
return for his tobacco after all had started to the church;2 second, the
fact that the life of Isabel was all that stood in the way of his joint own-
ership with his wife of the farm on which they lived. But while these
circumstances furnished a seeming basis for these suspicions entertained
by some, the whole make-up of the man was such as, in the judgment
of those who knew him best, and in the judgment of the extensive circle
of the relationship of the murdered Isabel, entirely precluded the
thought of his guilt. He died at an advanced age in West Middletown
about the year 1834. The afflicted mother survived her bereavement a
number of years, hearing all the while near to her heart the great sorrow
of her life. It was almost literally true in her experience that ‘she
never smiled again.’ ” V

Matthew Atcheson’s name appears first on record
in a bill of sale made by David Rankin to him on the
10th of April, 1778, in which Rankin sells “unto
Matthew Atcheson, of said county, a tract of land
situate on the head-waters of Raccoon Creek, adjoin-
ing lands of William Rankin, Thomas“Cherry, and
John Reed.” Matthew Atcheson was a native ‘of
Ireland, who emigrated to this country with his wife
and four sons, David, Matthew, Humphrey, and
Robert. Matthew Atcheson, Sr., died about 1814,
leaving sons, David, Matthew R., Humphrey, John,
and a daughter, Jean (Mrs. Moses Cherry). The
original farm is now owned by Robert and Matthew
Atcheson and John Henderson.

David Atcheson, the oldest son, had part of the
estate, and lived and died there. ‘

Matthew Reed Atcheson, the second son of ‘Mat-.

thew, Sr., lived on part of the tract, which his father
gave him by deed Dec. 10, 1803. He was justice of
the peace many years, and died on the farm, leaving
five sons, who all moved to Ohio except Samuel, who

1 From an account of the murder by the Rev. John T. Brownlee, It
will be noticed that he gives the name Isabel to the murdered girl,
while the account in the newspaper has it Mary.

2 Mr. Ridgeway had started for church, and proceeded some distance,
when he recollected he had left his tobacco behind, and returned to the
house for it, when there was no one in the house but the child, who was
afterwards found murdered. ' . ' 

MOUNT PLEASANT TOWNSHIP.

853

lives on the old homestead. Humphrey, the third
son of Matthew, took out a warrant for three‘ hundred
acres of land, “including an improvement on the
held-waters of Raccoon Creek,” on the 8th of Sep-
tember, 1785. He was a school-teacher,'and taught
in the township. He gave to his sons David and

_ John all of the land covered by the warrant except

one hundred and nineteen acres, which was the home-
stead. John sold his portion to David and went
\Vest. Humphrey went. VVest after a few years. Hum-
phrey Atcheson, Sr., died about the 1st of December,
1814. John McCammant, Jr., now owns the home-
stead. C

John McCalmo-nt was a blacksmith and farmer. He
had adistillery on the farm now owned by Alexander

' McCalmont, his son,'on the road from Hickory. to

Burgettstown. He bought the farm of Robert A.tche-

son, and lived there till his death. James, his eldest

son,- lives near Raccoon Church. John lives in the
township, southwest of Hickory. ’ 4 .

Before the year 1800, John Cloud lived on a farm
adjoining that of William Hughes, where he remained
a number of years. He was an elder in the Raccoon
Church during the pastorate of the Rev. Moses Allen,
and later moved to Beaver County, Pa., and still
later to Ohio, then to Salem, Beaver Co., Pa. He was
an elder in the churches where he lived. His son,
afterwards the Rev. John Cloud, was born Dec. 9,‘

_ 1801, on the farm in Mount Pleasant (then in Cross

Creek township). He graduated at Jefferson College
in 1830, and entered the Allegheny Seminary, and
prosecuted a full course of theological study. He was
ordained by the Presbytery of New York, in the
Brick Church (Dr. Spring’s), on the 11th day of Oc-
tober, 1833, with a view to foreign missionary work.

_ He enter-ed upon these duties at once, and sailed for

Africa on the 6th of November the same year, with
the Rev.—Matthew Laird and wife. A few weeks after
reaching Monrovia (the place of their labors) he was
prostrated by the African fever, which so reduced

him that a commencement of active duty in the-

spring brought on dysentery, from which he died
April ,9, 1834. Two sons and a daughter of John
Cloud, Sr., still reside at Hookstown, Beaver Co.‘,‘Pa.,

where the father lived in his latter days.

William Patterson, before 1788, owned one hun-
dred and fifty acres of land, and later owned three
hundred and fifty-five acres on the road from Canons-
burg to Hickory. He lived here many years. He
finally sold to David Huston, of Canonsburg, and he
and his sons went, West. He lived here for a time,

" . and his son David now owns it.

William Hughes, a nativeof York County, Pa.,
was asoldier in the Revolutionary war. He emi-
grated tothis county and settled in 1778,"in the lower
part of Cross Creek township (now Jefferson). He
returned.East and married, and in the spring of the
next year came out to what is now Mount Pleasant

township, with J ohnand Elias Cowen. Mr. Hughes

six years.

I 

built a tannery, which was in operation until about
1835. He was elected a justice of the peace and
served several terms, and was an elder in Upper Buf-
falo Church. He died in March, 1831, aged seventy-
A son, Dr. John Hughes, was a surgeon,
and died in the war of 1812 at Lower Sandusky.
James remained on the homestead. He was elected
justice of the peace in 1840, and held the position for

several terms. Was an elder in Mount Prospect (Pres-*

byterian Church, active in all good works, and died
in 1872, hi-ghly beloved and respected by all.p
Robert Lyle, a native of Northampton County, Pa.,
and a brother of Aaron and John Lyle, came to this
township with his wife and one chil_din 1784, and
bought one hundred and forty acres of land of David
Decker, and also the eighty acres of John Brown,
and on which he settled. Four years later, Oct. 31,

e 1789, he purchased a tract of one hundred and forty

acres adjoining of David Decker, ‘and sold the first
tract to his brother, John Lyle. On this last tract he
moved and lived till his death, Nov. 25, 1843. He
was an elder at different periods in Cross Creek, Up-
per Buffalo, and Mount Prospect Churches..- He had
four sons,——Samuel, David, John, and'William. Sam-
uel was a teacher, and died in West Middletown in
1813. David died on the home farm in 1863, a bache-
John and VVilliam married and removed to Bel-
mont County, Ohio. /The former died in‘ 1851, the
latter in 1854. Of the seven daughters, Ann married

Robert Simpson in 1820, and in 1827 lived in Cross 4

Creek township on land now owned by their son,
James Simpson.
lived-in Hopewell township. Their son, R. Lyle
White, was an editor, and for a time edited a paper
in Connellsville, Fayette Co. V Margaret married
James Dinsmore, and settled in Cross Creek town-
ship. She still lives on the place where they settled.

Mary married William Smith, and settled near Mans-* '

field, Ohio. Their son, Dr. William Smith, was a
lieutenant in the Mexican war, a lieutenant—colonel
inthe late Rebellion, and is now an eminent physician
in‘Van Wert, Ohio. Rosanna became the wife of
William Reed, of Cross Creek township, and settled
in Ashland County, Ohio. Their son, Joseph R.
Reed, is now judgeof a district embracing ten coun-
ties in Iowa. I He resides at Council Bluffs.

John Lyle was a native of Northampton County,
and brother of Aaron and Robert Lyle. He was a
lieutenant in the Revolutionary war, and was at the
battle of Long Island. He came to the county with
his brothers, and about 1876' purchased of his brother.
Robert the one hundred and forty acres he first pur-
chased of Decker and Wilson, where ————-— Miller now
lives. Here he lived, and died in 1826, aged seventy-four
years. His children were David, John, and Joseph,
Elizabeth and Nancy. David married a daughter of
Peter Kidd, and moved to Ohio. John lived on the

homestead, a bachelor, and died in 1853.“ He ‘was V

county commissioner in 1822.. Joseph lived on a farm

Isabel married John White, and“ it

‘ removed to Ohio.

854

HISTORY OF WASHINGTON COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA.

adjoining the homestead, and died in October, 1881,
aged eighty-four years. Elizabeth became the wife
of John Proudfoot, and moved to near Burgettstown,
wheretheir descendants still live. Nancy became the
wife of William Rankin, and remained in the town-
ship. She died in 1870.

James Simpson, a native of Ireland, emigrated to

7 Delaware in 1768, was in the Revolutionary war. In

1779 he married Margaret Conier, and in 1783, with
two others, made a tour of the Western country with
a view to the purchase of land. There were no pub-
lic roads, but the trail (supposed to be the old Mingo
path) was marked by blazed trees. At that time but
three cabins were at Burgettstown; the millwrights
were placing the burr-stones in Burgett’s mill. He
settled first in Chartiers township, between Pigeon
Creek and Chartiers Creek. On the 10th of April,
1797, he purchased fifty acres of land of George
Stephenson, adjoining Hugh Patton, John Woods,
George Stephenson, and Francis" Andrew. It was
part of two tracts on the head-waters of southwest
fork of Chartiers Creek, one of which was called
“ Hillsbury,” the other “ Walnut Bottom.” His wife
died in 1815, and his death occurred in September,
1819. They left four sons——'John, James, William,
and Robert-—and four daughters, who all married and
John and James also went to Ohio
and settled. William and Robert remained on th'e
homestead, now owned by William Simpson, the son
of William. Robert, in 1827, purchased a farm in
Cross Creek township, where he lived till his death,
April 22, 1875, aged seventy-eight years. James, the
son of Robert, now lives on the property in Cross
Creek. There is no person living who is as well in-
formed as James Simpson on all matters pertaining
to the history of the western and northwestern part of
Washington County, and it is from him that most of
the facts given in this work in reference to the north-
western townships of this county have been obtained.

Robert and Thomas Thompson, on the 24th of Feb-
ruary, 1790, purchased twenty acres of land on the
north fork of Chartiers Creek, in Chartiers township

(now Mount Pleasant), including a water-mill, horse-_

mill, with dam and tail-race. This land was purchased
of Hugh McKnight, and is now owned by Owen Mc-

Knight. The mill has long since been torn down."

Later they purchased an adjoining fifty acres of James
McElroy. On this farm theylived. Robert died in
1799, and left six children,——Joseph, Andrew, Alex-
ander, J ames, and Robert and Lydia. The latter were
twins, and born the year their father died. Joseph,
the oldest, settled in Mount-Pleasant township, where
Alexander Gaston now lives. His sons-—Joseph,,Al-
exander, and J ames—-were all ministers of the United
Presbyterian Church. Joseph was born Sept. 15, 18.23,
graduated at J efiferson College, Canonsburg, in 1848,
was licensed to ‘preach in 1851, and was called to a

. mission church in VVest Twenty-fifth Street, New

York City, and the same year received a call from a

church in Baltimore, Md., and from the congregation
of iMount Pleasant, his native township. The last
call he accepted, and was ordained and installed April
25, 1853, and remained pastor of the church till his
death, Dec. 16, 1861.

Alexander, a son of Joseph Thompson, Sr., was born

Dec. 16, 1816, taught school for a time in Cross Creek.
Entered junior class in Jefferson College, Canonsburg,
in 1843. He entered the ministry andlabored in New
York City and State, and finally was given charge of
a mission in Wilkinsville, Mass., where he died Nov.
12, 1854. James, also a son of Joseph, became a min-
ister of the United Presbyterian Church, and labored
in New York .City and died there.’ John, another son
of Joseph, lived and died at Canonsburg.
. Andrew Thompson, a son of Robert, married Eliza-
beth Bell, settled on part of his father’s homestead,
and died in 1859. His son Robert now owns the farm.
James Thompson, a son of Robert, lived for a time
with John Dawson,'at the tavern called “ Cross Keys,”
about half a mile south from Hickory. It was the old
Chapman tavern stand. He married Martha Ham-
mond. Her father, John Hammond, settled there in
1807. James Hammond and his wife arenow living
at Woodrow, he at the age of eighty-eight, and she at
seventy-six years. Robert married Nancy Guthrie,
and settled in Bloomfield, Ohio. Lydia, the twin
sister of Robert, became the wife of Alexander Mc-
Call, and settled in Iowa.

Thomas Cherry emigrated from near Bristol, Eng-
land, with his wife and three children, in 1770, and
settled in Frederick County, Md. In 1774 he came to
what is now Mount Pleasant township. He built a
cabin about one hundred rods west of William P.
Cherry’s present residence. At this place he lived
but a short time after making his entry. He was
found dead at a spring near the place, with a bullet-
hole through his brain and his empty gun beside him.
His scalp was not taken. His own gun was dis-
charged, and the character of the woundled to the
conclusion that his death was accidental. The next

year his son John was killed by the Indians. Two.

hundred acres of the tract which was patented as
Fairfield, April 12, 1788, was left to Moses Cherry.
He married Jane Atcheson, daughter of Matthew
Atcheson. In addition to this he took up a tract ad-
joining and east of the home farm. He was in the
war of 1812, and died soon after, on the’ farm, in 1815,
aged forty-five years.
No descendants of this branch now live in the town-
ship. The farm passed from the heirs of Moses Cherry
to John McBirney, whose sons now occupy it.
Edward, the youngest son of Thomas Cherry, 1nar—
ried Rebecca Perrin, of Hopewell township (now In-
dependence). He purchased the homestead of the
heirs, and was born, lived, and died on the homestead.
His death occurred July 1, 1854, at the age of seventy-
eight years. He had ten children, of whom William

P. is the eldest, now in his seventy-eiglith year. He,

His children all went West. '

‘ property, and became the wife of Jesse Woods.

MOUNT PLEASANT TOWNSHIP.

855

with two sisters, Maria and Sarah, all unmarried, are
living on the homestead. Rebecca, also unmarried,
lived with them until her death, Oct. 8, 1881. Of the
other children, Aaron removed to Tuscarawas County,
Ohio, wherehe died. Edward is settled on a part of
the home farm, where he still lives.

The Cherry Fort was situated on this farm a few
yards northeast of William P. Cherry’s present resi-
dence, and consisted of three log buildings, one twenty-

' five feet square, the others smaller. They were ar-

ranged in a triangular form and inclosed with a
stockade. ‘ This fort was built in the summer and fall
of 1774, and was the residence of the Cherrys, and
wherein time of danger the McCartys, Rankins, and
others fled. The large building was two stories in

’ height, with a half-story above, and was built to with-

stand a formidable attack. Edward Cherry, the young-
est son of Thomas, occupied this house many years.
after, and William P., his oldest son, was born there.

William Rankin, in the fall of 1773, came to what
is now Mount Pleasant township, and purchased six-
teen hundred acres of land, a part of which had been
improved, and returned to his home in Winchester,
Va. In the following spring some of his sons came
out, cleared land, and planted corn. One or two
cabins were erected on the place. In the fall of that
year, 1774, William Rankin, with his wife and seven
sons and two daughters, moved out to the new pl-anta-

ition, leaving at the old home two sons, David and

William, who were married and settled there. Octo-
ber 31st, William and his family moved into a cabin
which stood on the hill above the barn in the rear of
James Rankin’s present residence, and near a fine
spring. Here they lived for several years, when Wil-

liam Rankin built a hewed log house, larger and more '

commodious, north of the old cabin, where he lived

' till his death.

Zachariah Rankin, a son of William, took up a
tract of land near his father’s on a Virginia certificate.
It was surveyed in 1785 as “ Black-Oak Ridge,” con-
taining three hundrednand thirty-seven acres, adjoin-
ing William Martin and John Lyle, on the waters of
Raccoon Creek. In the October following he was

bitten by a mad wolf, and died three months after-

wards of hydrophobia. He was married, and a
daughter was born after his death. She inherited the
In
1806 they sold the property to John McCammant,
whose son, Alexander McCammant, VVilliam and

“ Zachariah Rankin took out a Virginia certificate for

four hundred and two acres of land February, 1780,
that was surveyed as “ Chestnut Ridge.”
Thomas Rankin, also a son of William, received a

“tract of land of his father, containing two hundred

and fifty acres, a part- of two tracts patented by his
father,—“ Chestnut Ridge” and “High Spring/’——and
Feb.’ 15, 1790, he received a patent for a tract adjoin-
ing Samuel Rankin. He lived on paft of his lands
many years, and sold to John Cunningham, and moved

near Cadiz, Ohio,.where he died. Samuel ‘Rankin,
also a son” of William, settled on land left him by his
father. James, his son, now owns one hundred and
twenty-five acres of it, and the heirs of David own a

part. He died July 10, 1820, an-d left ten children. .

William and.John settled where James now lives.
After his father’s death he purchased their interest,
and has since lived there. The old mill was built as

a saw -mill in 1806, by Samuel Rankin, and in a few 6

years was changed to a grist-mill,’ and is still used in

that work. - ‘
The Farrar family of this county are descended

from James Farrar, who resided a.t the beginning of

the Revolutionary war in Hunterdon County, N. J. 1

He had six sons—-James, John, Peter, Richard, An,-
drew, and Samuel——-and several daughters, of whom
all trace has been lost by reason of their marriage
and change of name. The oldest son, James, was an
army blacksmith, and with his father worked forthe

American army during its operations in New Jersey. ‘

The sons John and Peter were soldiers in Washing-
ton’s army, and were both killed at the battle of
Long Island, Aug. 27, 1776. V, .'

, After the close of the war, Andrew, who is the im-
mediate ancestor of the family, married Margaret
Moore,»the daughter of one James Moore, a Scotch-
Irishman, who resided in what was known as the
Craig settlement, in Northampton County, Pa., and
removed in 1785 with his brother-in-law, Aaron Lyle
(who had married Ellen Moore), across the mountains

‘ to Western Pennsylvania‘, and settled in Mount Pleas-
' ant township, where he died Nov. 5, 1882.. His family _

were James, who married a McFarland, and removed
to Guernsey County, Ohio, where he died in 1862;
Polly, who married John Corey, and removed to
Marion County, Ind., where she died ‘in 1872. Nancy,
who married first John Gillespie, and after his death
—— Alcorn, and removed to Indiana, where she died;

John, who married a Dunlap, and died at Midway, -

this county, in 1842; Samuel, who married a Siman-
ton, and died at Mount Pleasant township in 1867;
Thomas, who married a McFarland, and went to
California, from where he never returned; Andrew,
who married a Buchanan, and died at.Buffalo, in
Hopewell township, in 1867 ; Aaron, who married a

Griflith, and died at Buffalo in 1846; Eleanor, who ,.

married Thomas Johnston, and died in 1821; and
Joseph, who removed_to Ohio in 1834, where he mar-
ried Isabella Elliott, removed to Iowa in 1854, and
died in 1859. ’ ’

The Simantons are descended from one Robert
Simanton, who prior to the Revolution lived in North-
ampton C0,, Pa.
Ephraim, Robert, Peter, Benjamin, Jane, Margaret,
Esther, and Polly. The oldest son, John, was a-soldier
in the patriot army, and died on an English prison-
ship in New York harbor. James and Peter were also
in the Continental service, and about 1810 removed

-across the mountains, and settled in Washington

His children were John, James, .

THE REVOLUTION.

spring of 1783 they sailed from Quebec to New York, [

and from there returned home by way of Philadel-
phia, having been absent twenty-two months. But
more than one-half of those who went down the
Ohio with C01. Lochry never again saw their homes.

Upon the abandonment of the expedition by Gen,
Clarke at the Falls of. the Ohio, the men composing
the force made their wayas best they could through
the wilderness to their homes, encountering many
perils and hardships, and being more than two
months on the weary homeward journey. The ar-
rival of a part of them, as also the terrible disaster

'to C01. Lochry’s command, was announced by Gen.

Irvine (who had in the mean time succeeded Col.
Brodhead in the command of the ‘Western Depart-

A ment) in a letter to Gen. Washington, dated Fort

Pitt, Dec. 2, 1781, as follows:

“. . . Capt. Craig, with the detachment of artillery,
returned here on the 26th inst. [ult ?] . . . A Col.
Lochry, of Westmoreland County, Pa., with about one
hundred men in all, composed of volunteers and a
company raised by Pennsylvania for the defense of
that county, started to join Gen. Clarke, who, it is
said, ordered him to unite with him (Clarke) at the
mouth of the Miami, up which river it was previously
designed to proceed; but the general, having changed
his plan, left a small party at the Miami, with direc-

' tions to Lochry to follow him to the mouth of the

Falls. Sundry accounts agree that this party, and all
of Lochry’s troops to a man, were waylaid by the In-
dians and British (for it is said they had artillery),
and all killed or taken, not a man escaping, either to
join Gen. Clarke or to return home. When Capt.
Craig left the general he would not be persuaded but
that°Lochry with his party had returned home.‘ These
misfortunes throw the people of this county into the
greatest consternation, and almost despair, particularly
‘Westmoreland County, Lochry’s party being all the

best men of their frontier. At the present they talk
 1
of that party, which, together with such information as is in our power,
we are ready to give for the satisfaction of your Exc’y and Council.
“ We have the Honour to be
“ Your Exce1lency’s Hble Servts,
“ Isaac ANDERSON,
“ Lieut. Capt. Sheerer’s Company Rangers.
“ RICHARD WALLACE, , -
“Late Quartermaster to Colonel Lochry.”

A similar petition was presented to Council Jan. 6, 1783, by prisoner
from Lochry’s command, then returning ( not escaped) from Canada, as
follows: »

“We, the Subscribers, would beg leave to represent the situation of
Henery Dungan, Sergt of Captn John Boyd’s Company, and Robert Wat-
son, John Marrs, and Mich. Hare, of Capt. Thos. Stoke1y"s Com’y of
Bangers of this State, that they have been Captured by the Savages in
the Summer of Eighty-one, and are now on their return from Canada,
being Destitute of Money, and allmost Cloathing, would beg that Coun-
cil would take their Situation under Consideration, and grant them such
supply’s as they in their wisdom shall think necessary.

(Signed) “JOHN Born,
“ Capt‘n of Rangers S. P.
“ Tnonus Sroxnmr,

“ Capt. of Rangers S. P.” M

-——Penn. Arch., 1781-83, pp. 738-34.

of flying early in the spring to the eastern side of the

mountains, and are daily flocking to me to inquire‘

what support they may expect.”

While Gen. Clarke’s expedition was in progress,

and long before the intelligence had been received ’

of its disastrous termination, another expedition was
projected, its object being identical with a part of
Clarke’s plan, viz., the capture and destruction of
the Indian towns on the Sandusky River. The en-
terprise was conceived and fostered by Cols. Brod-
head and Gibson at Fort Pitt, and by'Hays, Marshel,
and other officials of the Pennsylvania counties on
both sides of the Monongahela. Undoubtedly mili-
tary jealousy had much to do with the advocacy of
the plan by Col. Brodhead and other ofiicers at Fort
Pitt, but they, as well as Marshel, Hays, and other
Pennsylvania oflicials, also believed, or afi’ected'to be-
lieve, that Clarke’s campaign was prosecuted wholly
in the interest of Virginia, and with the ulterior ob-
ject of establishing the claims of that State to territory
in the West. ' I

As early as the 23d of August, Col. Brodhead men-
tioned the proposed enterprise in a letter of that date
addressed to the president of the Council, viz. : “ An
Expedition against the Sanduskies is in Contempla-
tion, and I wish to promote it, but what can be done
with naked and starved men, unless the Country will
afford a generous supply, you will easily Determine.”
The expedition was to be under the command of Col.
Gibson, of the Seventh Virginia Regiment, and the
rendezvous was ordered at Fort McIntosh on the 5th
of September. A considerable number of volunteers
were recruited, including many of the leading citizens
of Washington County. But the same difficulties were
encountered in the raising of supplies which Brodhead
had previously met in the prosecution of his campaign
against the Delaware towns, and he made little if any
progress towards the‘ desired result during the short
time that he afterwards remained as commandant at
Fort Pitt.

On the 24th of September, 1781, Brig.-Gen. William
Irvine received orders to supersede Col. Brodhead in
the command ‘of Fort Pitt and the VVestern Depart-
ment. He at once repaired to his post of duty, and
began the arduous task of having the work put in a
tolerable condition for defense, and of bringing the
troops under his command there up to as near a state
of efficiency as was practicable. The Eighth Penn-
sylvania and Seventh Virginia Regiments at Fort

Pitt had been reduced to a mere remnant, suflicient ,

menremaining in‘each to form two full companies,
but no more, and they were reorganized in that way,
and the supernumerary oflicers sent elsewhere. Of
the condition of the soldiers at the fort Irvine wrote
Gen. Washington: “ I never saw troops cut so truly
deplorable a figure. No man would believe from their

appearance that'*they~’~"w‘ere soldiers ; nay, it >wa_s diffi-

cult to determine whether they were white men.”

101

  85.6

HISTORY OF ‘WASHINGTON COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA.

Courity, theformer one mile west of Briceland’s Cross-
Roads, where he died in 1819, and the latter in Mount
Pleasant township, on Cherry’s Run, where he died
in 1836 at the age of seventy years. James ‘ left
one son, who neverrmarried, but removed to Ohio
and died years ago; he also left a numberof daugh-
ters, who cannot‘ now be traced. v »
Peter Simanton married a,McFarren ; his children
were, first, Jane,'who married Samuel Farrar, and
diedin 1881 ; second, John, who marriedfirst a Ram-
sey, and second Eliza~Allen, granddaughter of Rev.
John McMillan, and-died in 1871; and, third, Isa-
bella, who married Robert Johnston, and died 1830.
Jane left-a number of descendants, who reside in
Mount Pleasant and Smith townships. John left one
son, Harper Simanton, who resides on the old home-
stead‘ in Cherry valley, and two married daughters,
Mrs. eWil'liam Campbell, of Midway, and Mrs. Robert
Patterson, of Westmoreland County, Pa. '

James McElroy, a native of ‘Scotland, emigrated to
this country, and purchased a tract of land on Vir-

ginia certificate. He lived on the place the remainder
of his days, and died at anadvanced age. He had
three sons, Alexander, James, and John. Alexander
later owned the farm; Nancy, a ‘daughter of Alex-
ander, married James Cotton, who now owns the farm.
They live in'\Vashi'ngton. Eliza J ., also a daughter

_ of Alexander, married Joseph Rea, and settled in the

neighborhood. James,.an only son, was afarmer, and
settled in Allegheny County. James,‘soniof James
McElroy, Sr., settled in 'JeflF'erson County, Ohio;
John,‘also a son, settled in this township on a farm
on.-the head-waters of Chartiers Creek, now owned by
Mrs. Robert «Maxwell; he lived and died there, and
left four sons, James, John, Ebenezer, and Alex-
ander, and seven daughters, Susan,_ Margaret, Eleanor,
Mary, Elizabeth, Tabitha, and Jane. James settled
on his father’s farm, anddied in Cross Creek town-

ship; John and Ebenezer moved to Ohio, and died

there. John McElroy, of VVashington, is a son of

» John. Alexander, son of James McElroy, Jr., lived

on _a farm near the home farm. Dr. Joseph McElroy,
of Hickory, is a son. Eleanor married James Canon,
a son of John Canon, of Canonsburg, and lived near
the homest_ead'of_ her father. ' Margaret married ——
Smith, and lived near the home farm ; the other
daughters married and settled in Ohio. , 1
Alexander McConaughy, an Irishman, came to this
county and purchased a ‘farm of one hundred and
eighty acres, now owned by his great-grandson, Alex-
ander McConaughy. He had a son David, to whom"
his father left the farm. David had three sons, John,

. David, and Alexander. He. died in October, 1827.

J ohnvsold his portion of the farm to David and Alex-
ander, and purchased a farm below Hickory, now

owned by James White. He later movedto Ohio,‘ , ..
i where he died.‘ ’ David went to Ohio, and Alexander

lived on the home farm, and died about 1870. His
son Matthew now owns the farm.

' The Washington Lands.—,In the section. of coun-
try lying between Raccoon Creek and Miller’s Run, in
Mount Pleasant township, lies’ a‘ large body of lands,
which areamong the richest and most productive in
the county. These lands,’ drained on the east by
Miller’s Run and on‘ the west by Raccoon Creek, in-

cludemore than two thousand eight hundred acres, ‘

which have been known and mentioned for more than
a century as “the -Washington lands,” having been
at one time owned by George Washington, of Mount
Vernon. _ .

- In 1767, before the trans-Allegheny "region had
been ceded by the Indians, Washington, who had
seen it in 1753-55, wrote from Mount Vernon (Sep-
tember 21st) to his friend, Capt. William Crawford,

who had settled at Stewart’s Crossings on the Yough-r

iogheny, “to look me out a tract ‘of about fifteen
hundred or two thousand or" more acres somewhere

inyour neighborhood, meaning only by this that it .

may be as contiguous to your own settlement as such
a body of good land can be found. Itwi-ll be easy
for you to conceive» that ordinary or even middling
lands would never answer my purpose or expectations

so far from navigation and under such a load of ex’-

penses as these lands are encumbered‘ with. No, a
tract to please me must be rich . . . and, if possible,

level. Could such a piece be found, you would do me»

a singular favor in falling upon some method of se-
curing it immediately from the attempts of others, as
nothing is more certain than that the lands cannot
remain long ungranted when once it is known that
rights are to be had. . . .” V '

" Under this arrangement and‘ as soon as application

could be filed in the tland-office for lands in-the
“ New Purchase” of 1768, four tracts of land, aggre-
gating sixteen hundred and sixty-one acres, in what is
now Perry township, Fayette Co., were taken up,
warranted to George Washington, William Athel,
John Bishop, John Paty, and Thomas Jones. These
Warrants were all dated April 3,1769. They -all
passed soon after to George Washington, for whom
they were originally intended, and were pa.tented to
him Feb. 28, 1782. The next year after these lands

-had been secured Washington made a tour through

the section now VVashington County, and having
formed a favorable opinion of it, he instructed his
agent, Capt. William Crawford,‘ to select and purchase
lands for him in this section. Thereupon Capt.

Crawford examined the great tract owned or claimed-

by George Croghan, but made no purchase from them.
In a letter to Washington, dated April 20, 1771, he
said,-—- . '

“ Agreeable to your request I went to view Col. Croghan’s land, but
before it could be done the line was to be run‘, which I attended, and
viewed the whole, but I could not find the quantity of land you wanted,
nor one thousand acres such as you would like, or such as I would have’.
What land is worth anything is already taken by somebody, whose
survey comes within the line we run. But the colonel is not content
with that line, as he thinks it does not include lands enough. I am
afraid he has not a proper title to what he is now claiming; but I will
avoid giving him any certain answer‘ about the land as long as I can

MOUNT A PLEASANT TOWNSHIP.

857

possibly do so. I have found some good tracts of land on the head of
Chartiers Creek and the head of Raccoon Creek. It is good level farm-
ing land, and good meadow, but not that quantity you wanted. .I be-
lieve I can procure you a tract in one body of three thousand acres,
which is very good, ‘well watered, and about fifteen ortwenty miles from
the fort. I have not told him where thelinelies, and I am afraid to tell
him till he runs the line, for I think if he knew of it he would run it
on purpose to have the selling of it to you, as he prides himself much
upon it and makes it a handle to all bargains he is making with other
people.” '

In another letterdated Aug. 2, 1771, Crawford says,
“I have done nothing with Col. Croghan in regard
to the land you want of him as yet, as I could see

none of his land in his 1i_ne now run that will answer,

to be laid off as he wants it laid off. I have found
some at about fifteen or sixteen miles from Fort Pitt,
which is very good farming land, and as good meadow
land as any. The upland is level, or no more hilly
than is necessary to make the ground dry.” The
tenor of subsequent letters from Crawford to his prin-
cipal show that he had succeeded in finding and se-
lecting lands suitable in quality and extent; also that
Croghan, on ascertaining this fact, claimed that the
landsso selected by'Crawford for Washington were
within the limits of his (Croghan’s) grant, -and used

every means inphis power to induce settlers to locate-

on the lands Crawford had selected, and promising
them assistance to hold their claims against Col.
Washington. In the summer of 1773,’ Crawford wrote
his principal,——_

“ Your lands on Chartiers are safe yet, but how long they may con-
tinue so I do not know, as the people that were going to settle on them
at the time we come down were driven off, but attempted to return in

the spring. I shall settle some man on them if possible, and hope by
that means to secure them. Everything in my power shall be done.

_They,must be stronger than I and my party are if they take them. . . .”

And again, in a letter dated Spring Garden, Nov. 12, 1773, he said, “The
reason these people sat down upon your land was that Colonel Croghan
told them the officers and soldiers could never hold one foot of the land,
and he further told them that I had [no] orders from the Governor to
survey any land on the Ohio, that it was only a scheme between you and
myself. The only chance you have to get land settled is to get some of
your people near where you live to settle, . . . or bring up some hired

men, set them to work, and clearsome land, and then you may rent it V

for something. I believe that will be the surest way to improve your
land, and with the least expense. Seifleral persons are waiting for your

land to relapse, who intend to fall on it immediately thereafter.”

Again, in a letter dated Dec. 29, 17 7 8, he said,-

“Some people, about ten or twelve in number, have gone on your
Chartier’s land within these few days, and there is no getting them off,
except by force of arms. They are encouraged by Major Ward, brother
[in-lawjto Colonel Croghan, who claims the land and says he has a

grant of it from the Crown." He will indemnify them, if they will move

in any house where no person is living’. He also offers the land for sale,
warranting the purchaser a lawful title. He further adds that Colonel
Croghan says you and I have used his brother very ill, in pretending to
buy his land and "did not, but went and took the best of it, and would
not agree to pay him. That was the reason offered for selling the land
to any person who should choose‘ to buy. . . . Those men have not
bought of him but took your land, and say they will keep it. I could
drive them away, but they will come back immedi-ately—as soon as my
back is turned. The maml put on the land, they have driven away, an_d

built a house so close to his that he can not get in at the door. . . . Your

‘land is two miles and better from the utmost limits of his land, as you

will see by the way it is laid down on the stream called Miller’s Run.
When Thompson run the land and made out the draft and delivered it to
him, Colonel Croghan said it was not run right. Then he employed M r.
Campbell and told him that the river must be twisted up to the mouth

_ of Pete-r’s creek, as that was the bounds of his lands. , \Vhen'Mr. Camp-

bell hadlrun the line as marked,anrl delivered the draft to him, Colonel
Croghan said he not run the land right; he should have allowed him
ten degrees for variation of the compass. Then he got Mr. Hooper and

run this last line as you see marked. He then employed Mr. [Dor-

sey] Pentecost to run thirty thousand acres on the head of Chartier-"s
Creek and Cross Creek. This still left you out; but since then Major
Ward takes you and myself and Lund Washington in, and says Colonel
Croghan has a grant from the Crown for the land and has given him
that part, as low as the mouth of Wheeling.”

Capt. Crawford,.in a letter dated Jan. 10, 1774, ad-

vised Washington to.take out a patent (from Vir-’

ginia) for his lands on Chartiers’ Creek and Miller’s
Run,as that would be sure to prevent further dispute
and trouble. Thereupon \Vashington, as a prelimi-
nary to the procuring of a patent, directed a survey
to be made, which was done, and Crawford, in _a letter
dated May 8, 1774, says, “Sir,——In.c_losed you have
the drafts of the Round Bottom Lands, and your
Chartiers land, agreeable to Mr. Lewis’ direction.’-’

On the 5th of July, 1775, a military patent for
these lands was issuedto Col. George Washingtonby
Lord Dunmore, Governor of Virginia, -describing
them as “being in Augusta County, Vir., on the
waters of Miller’s Run, one of the branches of Char-
tiers Creek, a branch of the Ohio.”

Crawford again wrote to Washington, Dec. 20, 1776,
as follows: “Your land on Chartiers Creek iswell
cultivated, ready to your hand, the men on it think-
ing you have no patent for it,‘ or if ' you have, that
you will lease the land on reasonable terms,etc. . . .
Some I understand have been trying to sell their
rights to your land, but I have had an advertise-
ment printed and set-up forewarning any person not
to purchase these lands,‘ setting" forth your titles, etc.”

The settlers still remained in possession of the-tracts
on which they had located within the limitsof the
Washington‘ patent. On the 10th of Augusta,"1.779v,
Col. Crawford wrote from Fort Pitt to Washington,
who was then in the field as commander-in-chief -of

the patriot armies, saying, “‘Dear’aGeneral,——Agre'c- A

able to my promise the last time I had the pleasure
of seeing you, I advertised your lands on Chartiers
that are settled by those men ' I formerly informed
you of. They still remain on theland. . . .” And
they so -continued undisturbed until after the close of
the Revolution. A I
In the fallof the year,1784,vafter the close of Gen.
Washington’s military career and before he was called
to the Presidency, he made a tour of exploration and
inspection through this section of country, and kept
a diary of the principal events of his “Journey over
the \Vestern Mountains,”1 covering» the time from

.1 This journal has hitherto been unpublished, resting in the original
manuscript in the State department at Washington, D. C. The presence
of Gen. Washington in Washington County in relation to his lands here
has been doubted by many, but that fact, as well as the authenticity of
the journal quoted, is established by the following: '

'“DF.I’AR'l‘l\IE.\"1‘ or S'l‘A'I‘F., WASH-NGTON, April 12,1882.
“THE IIo:voRABI.s_ W. S. SHALL!-1.\,TBF.RGER, House. of Represe'ntatives.
“SIR,—The' letter of Mr. Boyd Crumrine, of Washington, Pennsy-|-
vania, underdate of .the 20th ultimo, transmitted by you, has been re-
ceived. ‘In compliance with your request I take pleasure in sending

858

HISTORY OF WASHINGTON COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA.

Sept. 1 to Oct. 4, 1784. From that journal the fol-
lowing extracts are made as having reference to his
lands in this_ county. The transcript comprises the
entries from September 18th to 21st inclusive, viz.:

“ September 18th. ‘Set out with Doctr. (trail: for my Land on Miller’s
run (a branch of Shurtees Creek)—crossed the Monongahela at Deboirs

—.[De\'01‘e’s] Ferry, 16 miles from Simpsons; bated at one I-Iamiltons,

about 4 miles from it, in Washington County, and lodged at a Colo.
Canno_n‘s on the waters of Shurtees Creek, a kind, hospitable man; and
sensible. I

“ Most of the land over which we passed was hilly; some of it very
rich; others thin; between a Colo. Cook’s and the Ferry the land was
rich, but broken; about Shurtee, and from thence to Colo. Cannon’s,
the soil isivery luxuriant. and very uneven.

“ September 19th. Being Sunday, and the People living on my Land

apparently very religious, it was thought best to postpone going among
them till tomorrow ; but rode to a Doctr. Johnson’s who had the keep-
in g of Colo.Crawford’s surveying records; but not finding him at home,
was disappointed in the business which carried me there. . . .

“ September 20th. Went early this morning to view my Land, and to .

receive the final determination of those who live upon it. Having ob-
tained a Pilot near the Land I went first to the plantation of Samuel
McBride, who has about 5 Acres of Meadow, and 30 of Arable Land
under good fencing; a logged dwelling house with a punchion roof, and
stable, or small barn, of the same kind; the land rather hilly but good,
chiefly white oak; next James McBride; 3 or 4 Acres of Meadow 28
D0 of Arable Land, Pretty good fencing; Land rather broken, but
good; white and blackoak mixed; a dwelling-house and barn (of mid-
ling size) with -Puncheon roofs. Thomas Biggart; Robert Walker liv-
ing thereon as a Tenant. No meadow; 20 Acres of Arable Land. A
dwelling House and single Barn; fences tolerable, and Land good.
William Stewart; 2 and 1-2 Acres of Meadow, 20 Acres of Arable
Land; only one house, except a kind of building adjoining for common
purposes; good Land and midling fences. .

V “Matthew Hillast; has within my line about 7 Acres of Meadow, 3
besides; Arable; also a small double Barn.

“ Brice McGechen; 3 Acres of Meadow, 20 Acres Arable: under good
fencing; a small new Barn, good. I

“ Duncan McGechen; 2 acres of Meadow 38 do Arable Land. A good
single Barn, dwelling House, "Spring House, and several other Houses,-—-
the Plantation under good fencing.

“David Ree-.1; claimed by the last mentioned (Duncan McGeechen),
2 acres of ‘Meadow, 18 do Arable Land; Nobody living on this place at
present-—the dwelling House and fencing in bad order.

“ John Reed, Esquire; 4 acres of meadow, 38 Do arable Do; a small
dwelling House, but logs for a large one, Still House; good land and
fencing. .

“ David Reed; 2 acres of meadow, 17 Do arable ; a good logged dwell-
ing House with a bad roof; several other small Houses and an indifferent
Barn, or stable; bad fences, but very good Land.

“ William llillas; 20 acres of arable Land no Meadow. But one house,
and that indiffe-_rent; fences not good.

“John Glenn ; 2 or 3 acres of Meadow within my line; his plantation
and the rest of his Land without.

“James Scott; Placed on the Land by Thomas Lapsley; has 17 acres
under-good fencing; only a dwelling House (which stops the door of a
Cabbin built by Captn. Crawford)-white oak Land; rather thin, but
good bottom to ciear for meadows. .

“ Matthew Johnson; 2 acres of Meadow, 24 Do. arable Land; a good
Logged house, materials for a dble Barn; very good Land, but indifferent
fences.

“ James Scott; a large Plantation—abont 70 acres of arable Land, 4
D0. of improved Meadow; much moremay be made into ni_eadow.—othe
Land very good, as the fences al do are. A barn, dwelling House and
some other Houses. .

“ The foregoing are all the Improvements upon this Tract which con-
tains 2813 acres. The land is levell(y<h-an is common to be met with in

you a transcript of a. portion of the Journal of Washington, being the
record of his visit to Washington County, Pennsylvania, September
18th—21st, 1784, which is all that has been found in relation to the sub-
ject of Mr. Crumrine’s letter. ,
“'1 have the honor to be, sir, '
“ Your obedient servant,
“Fasnx. T. FRELINGHUYSEN.”

this part of the Country, and good ; the principal part of it is white oak,
intermixed in many places with black oak; and is estemed a valuable
tract. .
“ Dined at David Reeds, after which Mr. James Scott and Squire Reed
began to enquire whether I would part with the Land, and upon what
terms; adding that though they did not conceive they could be dispos-
sessed, yet to avoid contention, they would buy, if my terms were
moderate. I told them I had no inclination to sell; however, after hear-
ing a great deal of their hardships, their religious principles (which had
brought them together asa society of Ceceders) and unwillingness to
separate or remove, Iytold them I would make them a last offer and this
was :—-the whole tract at 253 per acre, the money to be paid at 3 annual
payments with Interest ;——or to become Tenants upon leases of 999 years,
at the animal Rent of Ten pounds pr. C pr. Ann. The former they had
a long consultation upon,_and asked if I wd. take that price at a longer

credit, without interest, and being answered in the negative they then

determined to stand suit for the Land ; but it having been suggested that
there were among them some who were disposed to relinquish their
claim, I (told them I would receive their answers individually; and
accordingly calling upon them as they stood, James Scott, William
Stewart, Thomas Lapsley, Sam]. McBride, Brice McGeechen, Thomas
Biggar, David Reed, William Hillas, James McBride,«Duncan McGee-
chen, Matthew Johnson, John Reed, and John Glenn, they severally
answered, that they meant to stand suit, and abide the issue of the law.

“ This business being thus finished, I returned to Colo. Cannon’s in
company with himself, Colo. Nevil, Captn. Swearingen (high sherif) and
a Captn. Richie who had accompanied me‘ to the Land. '

“September 21st. Accompanied by Colo. Cannon and Captn. Swear-
ingen who attended me to Debore‘s ferry on the Monongahela which
separates the counties of Fayette and Washington, I returned to Gilbert
Simpson’s in the afternoon; after dining at one Wickerman’s [Wicker-
ham’.-] Mill near the Monongahela.

“ Colo. Cannon, Captn. Swearingen and Captn. Richie all promised to
hunt up the evidence which could prove my possession and improvement
of the Land before any of the present occupiers ever saw it ”-

Concerning the interview between Washington and '
the settlers, the story has been told and retold for al-

most a century that the general declared he would
have the land, and accompanied thedeclaration with
an oath, for which Squire Reed promptly fined him
five ‘shillings, which the commander—in-chief as
promptly paid, and accompanied the payment with an
apology for his violation of the laws of God and man.
This is represented to have occurred atthe house of
John Reed, Esq., but it appears from the diary that
the interview was held at the house of David Reed.
Mr. Joseph Reed, still living, and son of David, says he
has often heard his father relate that on that occasion
Washington declared most emphatically that he would
have the land, but that he never mentioned the cir-
cumstance of the oath and fine, and it is, therefore,
more than probable that that part of the story is a

,mere fabrication. The story is related that after the
dinner was over the business for which they had met,

was considered. Squire Reed, on behalf of the set-
tlers, presented their case, spoke of the hardships they
had endured, the improvements made, and the in-
creased value of the lands byreason of their labor,
and claimed that inasmuch as they preferred a peace-
able settlement of the matter, and there were grave
doubts as to the validity of Gen. Washington’s title,
the occupants would expect liberal terms from the dis-
tinguished claimant. Gen. Washington replied with

dignity and some warmth, asserting that they had

been forewarned by his agent, and the nature of his

claim fully made known; that there could be no_

doubt of its‘ validity, and rising from his seat and

* David Reed, John Glen, James Scott (the elder)

MOUNT PLEASANT ‘TOWNSHIP.

859

holding a red silk handkerchief by one corner,-he said,
“ Gentlemen, I will have this land just as surely as I
now havethis handkerchief,” and that he proposed to
sell to them at eight shillings per acre cash. Then
Mr. Reed, on behalf of the-occupants, replied they
neither could nor would accept such terms, an/d there-
upon the conference ended. This story agrees very
well with the diary, except as to the price at which he
offered. them the land. '

Soon after this visit VVashington secured the‘ serv-
ices of Thomas Smith, Esq., of Bedford County,
leading a_ttorney (afterwards a justice of the Supreme

Court), to commencesuits of ejectment against the ‘

parties. Suit was brought at the December term,
1784. Hugh M. Brackenridge represented the de-

, fendants. No claim was made on the part of the

settlers to priority of title, and as the rights of Wash-
ington by the Virginia patent were well authenti-
cated, the suit was successful against the settlers.
The claim brought by them was that the lands were
purchased by Col. Washington of Col; George
Croghan, who obtained his rights by Indian pur-
chase, which rights were not recognized by either
the States of Virginia or Pennsylvania. E

The names of the settlers who had located on the
\Vashington lands and against whom ejectment suits
were brought were Samuel _McBride, James McBride,
Thomas Biggert (Bigger), William Stewart,‘ Brice
McGehan, Duncan McGehan, John Reed, Esq.,
7
\Villiam Hillis, and Matthew Johnson. Possession
was given to Gen. Washington, some of the parties

remaining on the land as tenants, others on lands

adjoining. Thomas Bigger removed to the land on
which -he settled in 1773 in what is now Robinson
township. ’ ’

Matthew Ritchie acted as the local agent for
VVashington, and on ‘the 1st of June, 1796, he pur-
chased the entire tract for twelve thousand dollars.

. Shortly after the purchase he advertised, the lands for

sale, and says of it, “ There are thirteen farms cleared
and cultivated. The soil is of excellent quality, rich,
level, well timbered, and well watered.” No deeds
are on record to show that Matthew Ritchie ever sold
any of the tract. He died in the spring of 1798.
By his will made-on the 25th of February, 1789, and
probated in March of that year, he devised this land

I to Alexander Addison, as follows: “My lands on

Miller’s Run, bought from ‘ Gen. Washington, I give
to Alexander Addison and his heirs and assigns, sub-
ject to aceount for the profits after payment of the
purchase-money.” The executors of the estate were
John Ritchie and Alexander Addison-. The records
do not show any settlement of account by them, nor
is there any release on file to Addison, or settlement
by him for profits on sale of land. ,

In the month of March, 1802, Absalom Baird, then

W sheriff of VVashin-gton County, advertised the two

thousand eight hundred and thirteen acres of land

forsale, they being “The Lands and tenements of

Col. Matthew Ritchie, Deceased, in my Bailiwick.” - 0
He was ordered to levy on theland, “as well as a cer- ‘

tain debt of $6409.20, being the two last instalments
due upon a mortgage which is held by Bushrod
Washington, William Augusta VVashington, George
Steptoe Washington, Samuel Washington, and Sam-
uel Lewis, Executors, and Martha VVashington, Ex-
ecutrix, of Gen. George Washington.” In pursuance
of this order, the premises were exposed at public
vendue on the day advertised, and were sold to Alex-
der Addison for sixty dollars, he being the highest
bidder. The sheriff’s deed bears date May 4, 1802.

Judge Addison commenced the sale of lands after ‘
this purchase, and on the 3d of April of that year

conveyed three hundred and one acres to James’
Scroggs, one hundred and forty acres to John Cowden,
and one hundred and ninety-four acres to James
McDowell.‘ On the 8th of September the same year
ninety-nine acres were sold to Matthew Hillis. Two
hundred and fifty-one acres were conveyed to John
Berry, Aug. 15, 1804; one hundred and fifty acres to
Robert George, April 10, 1805; and three hundred
and nine acres to Samuel Scott on the 4th of May
the same year. Judge Addison died Nov. 27, 1807,
and Mrs. Addison, his widow, was the executrix of
the estate. She appointed John Johnston her attor-
ney.‘ He purchased two hundred acres ofthe re-
mainder on the 1st of April, 1810, and on the 5th of
April the same year Jane Addison, as executrix, sold
all the residue or remainderof the two thousand
eight hundred and thirteen acres yet unsold at this
date, which was about thirteen hundred acres, to
John Johnson. v d A

Of the settlers on these Washington lands, James
McDowell, in addition to his first purchasevfrom Ad-
dison, bought of John Johnson one hundred and
forty acres (also part of the Washington lands), Jan.
23, 1812. This tract he sold two days later to James
Campbell. The land he boughl: of Judge'Addison
was sold by his executors, Feb. 5, 1828, to William
Crawford, who left it. by will with other lands, Feb.
27, 1846, to his sons James,.Thomas, and Robert.
The one hundred and ninety-four acres first pur-
chased‘ by James McDowell was sold by James Craw-
ford to John Reed. ‘

James Scroggs, who bought three hundred and one
acres, lived to a ripe old age, and left two sons, James
and Reynolds. The land now belongs to John Reed.

John Cowden, who bought in 1802‘ one hundred

and forty acres, lived on this place until his death,

when the land was sold to V-Villiam Crawford. He

left several children. Isaac, a son, settled near Hick-
ory, where John McBirney now owns. -

John and David Reed, brothers, and sons of David
Reed, were natives“ of Lancaster County. They came

1 This last tract had been conveyed Jan. 3, 1799, but by reason of error
was perfected in this deed of April 3d.

8150

HISTORY OF WASHINGTON COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA.

to this county in 1777, and induced by the represent-
ations of agentsof Col. George Croghan, and the
offer of settlement rights by the State of Virginiaon
compliance with certain conditions, they settled on
these lands, clearing off a small portion, and build-
ing each a cabin. In the fall they returned to Lan-
caster County. John was already married, and
David was married on his return home. In the
spring following they with their wives moved to their
new homes. They lived several years undisturbed.
Soon after the organization of VVashington County in
1781, John Reed was chosen justice of the peace of
the district which afterwards in 1787 became the
Fourth, and justice of the peace of the Court of (Com-
mon Pleas, and was reappointed in November, 1788.

"On the 2d of October, 17 83, he purchased of David

Lindsey“ all that tract or parcel of land lying and
being on the waters of Miller’s Run, within the
county and State aforesaid, containing four hundred

, acres,” adjoining James McCormick and others.

After the ejectment suit was decided he removed to
his land in Cecil township, now owned by Mrs. Cub-
bage, where he died in 1816, leaving a son, David,
and daughters, Catharine, Ann, Jane, and Mary.
David settled on the farm. His son John lived there

"many years, and sold to a party in Pittsburgh, who

sold to John Cubbage. Catharine became the wife
of the Rev. Daniel McClean, who settled at'Che-

lnango, Pa. ; Ann married Robert Story ; Jane became

the wife of the Rev. David Emery, and settled at
Darlington, Beaver Co.; Mary married the Rev.
Alexander Murray, and settled at Slippery Rock, Pa.
David Reed, the brother of John Reed, Esq., lived
here till the ejectment suits were decided, and pur-
chased in Cecil township. It was at his house "that
Wasliington dined when he came up to these lands
on the 22d of September, 1784.

Matthew Hillis was a settler here before these
lands were sold. He had taken up a tract of land
on a Virginia certificate, one hundred and thirty
acres of which he sold Dec. 5, 1803, to John Mc-
Kibbins. He died in 1803. He left a wife, Eliza-
beth, and seven daughters,-—Elizabeth (Mrs. Hugh
Dobbins), Martha (Mrs. John McKibbins), Eleanor
(Mrs. Abraham Boyd), Rebecca (Mrs. Ebenezer R.
Donaldson), Jane (Mrs. ————- Glass), Agnes (Mrs.
—'—-—— Smith), and Mary. There were in 1780 a Rich-
ard and VVilliam Hillis; the latter was one of those
ejected in 1784. ~

Robert George, who purchased one hundred and
fiftyacres in 1805, lived here until his death. His
son John now owns the homestead. Jacob, a son,
lives northeast from Hickory. David, also a son,
bought one hundred and five acres of Thomas Cherry,
March 28, 1835, about one mile from Midway, where
his son Samuel now lives.

John Berry, a native of Ireland, came to Mount
Pleasant township, and purchased two hundred and
fifty acres of the Washington lands of Alexander

Addison on the 15th of August,-1804. He lived on
this farm till his death, and left two sons, John and
William. John remained on the original tract. His
son Williani now. owns it. John, a son of John, had
four sons,-——Jonathan, who went to Ohio; John, who
settled in Steubenville, Ohio; VVilliam, who settle-d
on the home tract; and Samuel, who became a Pres-
byterian minister.
the wife ‘of Alexander May, of Cecil township ; Mary
married Robert Riddle. William, the son of John
Berry, Sr., moved to Venice,‘pu_rchased a farm and
mill property, and in 1834 purchased‘ a fa.rm in North
Strabane township, where he settled, and where his
descendants still live. ‘ I 1
Samuel Scott, on the 4th of May, 1805, purchased
of Alexander Addison three hundred andnine acres
of land, where he lived till his death. . Of his sons,
John settled on the homestead and died there. His
son John now owns the farm.
township, married a daughter of Robert Cook, and
now lives on the Cook farm in Cecil. Joseph Scott,
a son of Samuel, was a soldier in the war of 1812, and
settled in Mount Pleasant township, where his sons
John and Joseph now reside. R. D. a.nd J_. L. Scott,
of the township, are also sons of Joseph. Mrs._
Joseph Scott is still living at the age of eighty-six
years. ,
Of the lands John Johnson purchased of Mrs. Ad-
dison, Vincent Cockins bought two hundred and
sixty-five acres, Aug. 1, 1817, on which his son, "John

Cockins, now lives; Dr. Jameslrwin purchased one A

hundred and four acres, May 7, 1810; John Hog-

seed, one hundred and eighty acres, April 1, 1813;

David McConehey, one hundred and eighty acres,
Sept. 10, 1817, and others later." Matthew Johnson
was one of the ejected in 1784. He purchased, March
7, 1783, of David Long, a tract of land “ supposed to

’ contain two hundred acres, situated on the waters of

Shirtee Creek.”

Mount Prospect Churcl1.‘~The history of this
congregation really begins "before the church had an
organized’ existence. As early as the summer of 1824
the people began to congregate in or near this place
for the purpose of holding public worship. The
object in holding these first meetings in this place
doubtless was to accommodate with the preaching of

the gospel many people who were at inconvenient -

distances from their respective places of worship. The

nearest Presbyterian Churches were those already.

named,—Buff-alo, Cross Creek, Raccoon; and Miller’s
Run,—each distant about six miles. 5 -

Meetings were at first -held in private houses, and
afterwards in the grove just south of the church.
These meetings led to the organization of Mount
Prospect Church. Prominent among those‘ who were
specially accommodated by these services were the fol-

1 Taken chiefly from a historical sermon by the pastor, the Rev. T. R.
Alexander. ' -

Of the daughters, Eliza became ’

J. P. Scott, of Cecil»

"afterward became pastor.
at that time was three dollars. ,
of which there is a record Was, administered on the

  MOUNT PLEASANT ‘TOWNSHIP.  

861

lowing persons, withtheir families: ‘William Hughs,

John Co-wen, William Simpson, Robert Marshall,
Robert VVa.llace, Samuel Moore, Charles Campbell,
David McGugin, Simeon Haynes, Archy Stewart,
Hugh McConaughey, David Lyle, George Campbell,
John White, and Samuel Jewell. .

This new mission succeeded so well during that
summer that it was thought practicable to continue
and perhaps perpetuate it inan organized form. To
this end a petition, signed by a part or perhaps all
those whose names are above mentioned, was pre-
sented to the Presbytery of Washington on the 29th

day of December, 1824, asking Presbytery to form a

new congregation at this place. For reasons that
cannot be discovered now this petition was not

‘ granted. In the light of the next minute that ap-

pears on the Presbyterial record it is inferred that
this first petition was denied until it should be made
to appearthat a place of Worship would be provided;

this was done at the next meeting of Presbytery, as
appears from the fact that a petition was laid before

the Presbytery asking permission to build a house of
worship on the farm of Simeon Haynes, half~_a mile
west of Mount Pleasant, now Hickory. This request
was granted on the 20th of April, 1825; and this, be-
yond question, - implies ‘also a grant of the former
petition. Hence it appears that thehistory of Mount

- Prospect as an organized church begins April 20,
1825. A’ I ‘

Until the settlement of the first pastor the pulpit

L was supplied as regularly as could be expected. The

following is a list of the supplies, to Which, of course,
others should be added whose names have been lost:
Revs. McCluskey, Mercer, Anderson, Elisha Mc-

Curdy, Nesbit, ‘William Smith, John Hamilton, Vin-I

cent, Hoge, James Stockton, and David Hervey, who
The price paid to supplies
The first sacrament

fourth Sabbath in May, 1827 by Dr. Anderson and

6 Elisha McCurdy. But the time soon came when

Mount Prospect no longer contented herself with
only an occasional sermon, and that coming as it
were by accident. Accordingly in the fall of 1828 a
call was presented to the Presbytery for the pastoral
services of the Rev. David Hervey, and that he might

befree from worldly cares and avocations, they prom-‘
ised and obliged themselves to pay him the sum of‘

$350 annually. The call was accepted, and on the
3d of ‘December, 1828, he was installed the first pas-
tor of this church, Dr. Wylie having preached the
sermon ‘and Dr. Anderson delivering the charges.
This pastorate continued _a little over six years, and
wasdissolved by Presbytery April 23, 1835. After
the resignation of Mr. Hervey the‘ congregation was
without a settled‘ pastor for about two years. The

-following is a partial list of the supplies during the
vacancy: Re-vs.'Knox, Sloan, Weed, Elliot, McCart-

ney, Boggs, Kennedy,‘Moore, and Stockton.
8 55

In the spring of 1837 the congregation presented ‘a
call to Presbytery for the pastoral servicesof the Rev.
James Moore, promising to pay him the sum of $450
annually, which sum was reduced to $400 after four

years. The call wasaccepted, and ‘Mr. Moore became

pastor of the congregation about the 1st of April, 1837.
His was the longest pastorate ever enjoyed by the
congregation, having continued till the third Wed-

nesday of April, 1845," a little more than eight years. -

After his release followed another vacancy till the
fallof 1849, during a part of which time the congre-
gation had Prof. Snyder (then a teacher. at Canons-
burg) as a stated supply. In addition to this the fol-
lowing names occur in the list of supplies for that
period: Revs. Newell, Miller,‘ Moore, Hastings, Nes-
bitt, Hare, and Todd. The church determined to

, call back one of her own sons to occupy her pulpit.

Accordingly, at the fall Presbytery of 1849 a call was
presented for the services of the Rev. David Campbell
at a salary of $450, which after the first year was
raised to $470. This call was accepted, and before
the close of that year he was installed as pastor.

Mr. Campbell’s pastorate continued about six years,

and he was released about Nov. 1, 1855. .
The vacancy occasioned by the resignation of Mr.
Campbell continued till December, 1858, when the
Rev. William B. Keeling was installed as pastor.
The following names occur among the supplies
during this vacancy: Revs. John Stockton, J. P.
Fulton, J. L. Pomeroy,_ Alexander McCarrell, Loyal
Young, James‘ Fleming, 0. M. Todd, and D. R.
Campbell. Mr. Keeling’s salary was fixed at $600.
His pastorate was the shortest thus far in the history
of the church, ending with the September meeting of
Presbytery in 1863. His successor, the Rev. J. C.
Caldwell, was installed about September, 1864, leav-
ing a vacancy of only one year. During that year
mention is made of the following supplies: John
Stockton, D.D., C. V. McCraig, and John Eagleson,
D.D'. Mr. Caldwell accepted the call at a salary of
$600, which was subsequently increased to $700, then

to $800. His pastorate ended Aug. 1, 1868, being one

month less than four years.

The vacancy following the_resignation of Mr..Cald-
well was a short one, less than six months. During
this time mention is only made of the Rev. Frederick
Wotring and David VV. Miller as having supplied the
pulpit. In December, 1868, the Rev. R. T. Price,
having accepted a call from the congregation, became‘
its pastor at a salary of nine hundred dollars. He
was released from the charge by Presbytery in J anu-
ary, 1873, having served the congregation as pastor
for four years and about one month. Then followed

_ a short vacancy of about four months, till: the begin’-

ning of the present pastorate. The Rev. T. R. Alex-
ander was elected by the congregation in April, 1873,
and began to preach regularly’ on the 1st of June, but
was not installed until October 10th, after the fall
meeting of the Presbytery. At his installation the

862

. in its elders.

. ruling elder.
. declined to act.

.March 20, 1848. Samuel Moore died soon after.

. vember, 1875.

‘elected and installed as elder.
creased in. 1880 by the death of Andrew Donaldson,

HISTORY or ‘ WASHINGTON COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA.

Rev. J. T. Fredericks presided, and preached the
sermon. The Rev. J. H. Stevenson charged the pas-
tor, and the Rev. Samuel Forbes the people. -This
pastorate still continues. , ,

The congregation has been particularly fortunate
There first appear the names of Wil-
liam Simpson, John Cowen, and William Hughes;

«these were elected elders at the organization of the
church in 1825. William Simpson was an elder in
. the church of Miller’s Run, and John Cowen and
- William Hughes were elders in the church of Upper

Buffalo when the organization was effected here. In.

‘transferring their connection to this church at its
* organization they were at the same time elected and
installed ruling elders, being-the first to hold that

oflice in this church. The changes in the session

since that time have been as follows: In 1828,

Charles Campbell, Hugh McConaughey, and Andrew
Farrar were elected elders. ' VVilliam Hughes died
April 17, 1831; Charles,Campbell died June 4, 1832;
Andrew Farrar died Nov. 5, 1832.; and John Cowen
died Aug. 11,1833. In 1832, Robert Lyle was elected
About the close of 1833, Samuel Moore
and Dr. John White were elected elders, butthe latter
In 1842, James Hughes wasvelected.
William Simpson, the last of the original elders, died
In
the fall of 1848, William M. Campbell and Samuel

.Cowen’ were elected, and in February, 1851, James

Lee was added to the session. Jan. .26, .1857, all the

. members of the session resigned, and February 9th of
. the same year James Lee, James Hughes, Hugh Mc-

Conaughey, and William M. Campbell were elected

' elders.‘

The session of four continued till March 9, 1.859,

» when.James Rankin, James F. Hill, and James Mc-
" Elroy were elected. The session was again reduced by
. the removal of James McElroy and W. M. Campbell,
about April 1, 1861. No further change’ occurred in
' the eldership until Jan. 25, 1867, when Andrew Don-

aldson and A. V. McGrugin, who had been previously
elected, were ‘ordained and installed. James Lee died
June 12, 1867, and James F. Hill ‘removed from the

-congregationin January, 1869. On the 17th of De-
Vcember in that year J. R. Lyle and A. E. Walker
.were ordained, and they, together with W. M. Camp-

bell, who had returned to. the congregation, were in-

. stalled as elders of’ the church. The next change was

‘that occasioned by the death of James Hughs, March

' 12, 1872,'and the next that which took away the vener-
-' able.H.ugl1 .McConaughy, after having faithfully served
5 as a ruling elder in his church for forty-six years.‘ He

died on the 14th of November, 1874. The next addi-
tion was made to the session by the ordination and
installation of John H. Miller on the 6th day of No-
James F. Hill, having returned to
the" congregation in the summer of 1877, was re-

The session was de- »

who died July 12th of that year, having served faith-
fully in the oflice for eighteen years and four months.
The session also lost a member by the removal of A.
E. Walker. It at present consists of William M.
Campbell, James Rankin, Esq., A. V. McGugin, J.
R. Lyle, James H. Miller, and James F. Hill.

There does not appear to have been a building of
any kind until upwards of a year after the church
was organized. Early in the summer of 1826, how-
ever, a board “tent” was erected in the grove just

south of the church, which was occupied as a place '_
of public worship during that summer. The first

church building was built during the latter partflof

the summer and autumn -of 1,826, and was occupied , _

by the congregation the following winter. The build-

ing was a frame one, and was erected by Hugh Mc- —
Conaughey. It occupied about the sa.me site on which A

the present building stands. This building was never
formally dedicated, but was simply occupied by the
people. With some additions made to it afterwards,
it remained the only houseof worship for the congre-
lgation until the year 1861. In that year the old
church building, which had been occupied for thirty-

five years, wastaken down, and in its stead a brick struc- .

ture erected,‘ at a cost of a little more than $4000.
The first service was held in it Dec. 28, 1861, and it
remained until March 23, 1871, when it was destroyed

by fire. During the summer _of that year the present -

building was erected atpa cost of $9307, and on the
29th of February, 1872, was formally dedicated, fre
from-debt. -

The church has received into its membership since .

its organization, as near as can be ascer-tained, eight
hundred andtwenty-eight. The present membership
is about two hundred and thirty. Of the former
pastors two only are living,——Rev. J. C. Caldwell, of
Chambersburg, Pa., and the Rev. R. T._Price, of Dun-
bar, Pa. Rev‘. David Hervey, the first pastor, died
June 19, 1881. Rev. W. B. Keeling died in 1878, and
Rev. D. R. Campbell in 1873. — '
The United Presbyterian Congregation of
Mount Pleasant.‘—-This congregation is located in

,Mount Pleasant township. The house of worship is
situated in the village of Hickory,» and not far from ,

the centre of the township. The precise date of its
organization cannot nowbeascertained. It was most
probably organized by the Associate Presbytery of
Pennsylvania between 1.790 and 1800. It is recog-
nized as a congregation in the oldest minute of Char-

tiers Presbytery now extant, the record of Nov. 10,

1801. « .

It cannot now be ascertained who entered into the
organization at the first, or who were the elders. under
whom the organization was effected, as the records of
the Associate Presbyteryof Pennsylvania are not now
available, and the oldest record of the session of
Mount Pleasant that can now be found bears the date

——

V 1 By the Rev. W. A.'l\,IeConne1l.

MOUNT PLEASANT TOWNSHIP.

A .863

-of June 1, 18-21. _. There is a continuous record of the
session from that date tq the present time. ‘At the

above-named date the following-named individuals

composed the session, and were the ruling elders of

the congregation, viz.: Messrs. Patrick Douglass,
William Nelson, Thomas McCall, Da.vid Reed, Lou-

-dowick McCarrell,and John McBride.

Succeeding elders have been installed as follows:

Installed 1825, Elijah Coulter, Robert Acheson, and
John Little. _ _

Installed 1828, John Moore, Samuel Cunningham,
and John‘McCall.

Installed 1836, Samuel Agnew, Andrew Miller, and

.Heuston Buchanan.

Installed 1841, William Caldwell, Ephraim Mc-
Kimans, Joseph Thompson, and Joseph McKnight.

Installed 1846, John Reed, Esq., and E. J. Agnew.

Installed 1861, John McBurney, Robert Jeffrey, and
John L. Thompson. .

Installed 1865, W. S. White, Nathaniel White, Wil-
liam M. Russell, and James Caldwell.

Installed 1879, Samuel Moore, J. H. Moore, T. M.
Berryhill, and Alexander V. Reed. . '

The following-named individuals are the elders in
charge of the congregation at the present time, viz.:
Messrs. John McBurney, Robert Jeffrey, Nathaniel
White, James Caldwell, Samuel Moore, J. H. Moore,
T. M. Berryhill, and Alexander V. Reed.

The first pastor was the Rev.,W. C. Brownlee. His

‘pastorate was of short duration, extending over a

period of only three years and four months. Dr.

»Brownlee was born in 1783, at’ Torfoot, Scotland;

graduated at the University of Glasgow, and at a

subsequent period received the degree of D.D. from
the same institution.
_ gospel by the Presbytery of Sterling in the year 1808.

He was licensed to preach the

Coming to this country soon after his licensure, he
was ordained and installed pastor of Mount Pleasant
congregation by the Presbytery of Chartiers May 3,

1809. September, 1812, he received and accepted‘ a
call to become pastor of the Associate Congregation

of Philadelphia, which terminated his relation to the
tongregation of Mount Pleasant. Soon after remov-

ing to Philadelphia he connected himself with the
Reformed Dutch Church, in which connection he re-
mained until the year 1860, when he died, in the

seventy-seventh year of his age, and in the fifty-second

year of his ministry.

The Rev. Alexander Donnan, the second pastor of

this congregation, was a native of Scotland, born in
the year 1775. At the age of seventeen he entered
the University of Glasgow. He was licensedto preach
the gospel by the Presbytery of Kilmarnock in 1800,
.In the spring of 1818 he emigrated with his family to
-America,‘and at once connected himself with “the
A Associate Church of North America.”
1820, he received andaccepted calls from what was
then, the Associate, now the United Presbyterian con-

In January,

gregation of Mount Pleasant and Burgettstown, both

located in Washington County, Pa. Each of the
aforesaid congregations received one-half. of his pas-
toral labors until the year 1840, when he resigned the
pastoral care of Burgettstown. The congregation of
Mount Pleasant enjoyed his undivided labors from

the year 1840 to the year 1852, when, on account of ,

the infirmities of age, he resigned the charge of it also.
After resigning this charge he lived upwards of seven
years in the bounds of Mount Pleasant congregation.
His death occurred on the 3d of-June, 1859, in the
eighty-fifth year of his age, and in the fifty-ninth
year of his ministry. _ "
The third pastor was the Rev. Joseph Russell Thomp-
son. He was a child of the congregation, born and
reared in it. Son of Joseph and.Margaret Thompson,
the former for about twenty years ruling elder of the
congregation, he was born Sept. .15, 1823, nearly
threehyears after the settlement aspastor of his im-
mediate predecessor, the Rev. Alexander Donnan.
In the year 1845 he entered the sophomore class in
Jefferson College, Canonsburg, Pa.,' graduating in the
year 1848. Soon after he commenced the study of
theology in the Associate Theological Seminary, then
located at Canonsburg, and was licensed to preach
the gospel by. the Associate Presbytery of Chartiers
in the year 1851. He received a call to become pas-
tor of the congregation of Mount Pleasant, and com-

. menced to labor in said congregation January, 1853.

On the 28th day of the April foll.owing he was or-
dained and installed pastor of the congregation, and
the relation thus constituted continued most happily
until it was dissolved by his death, which occurred
on the 16th'day of December, 1861, in the thirty—ninth
year of his age, and in the eleventh year of his min-
istry. .

The fourth pastor, the Rev. W. A. McConnell, was
born near Mansfield, Ohio, Jan. 11, 1830; graduated
at Franklin College; studied theology at the Associate

Reformed, now United Presbyterian Theological Semi- '

nary, Allegheny City, Pa., and was licensed to preach
the gospel June 16, 1858. On the 15th of June,»-1859,

«was ordained and installed pastor of the congregations
I of Mill Creek, Keen, and White Eyes by the United

Presbyterian Presbytery of Mansfield, and was released
from said charge in 1864. . Received and accepted a
call from the congregation of Mount Pleasant, in the

Presbytery of Chartiers, July 4, 1865.1 Immediately .

took charge of the congregation; was installed pas-
tor Oct. 31, 1865, the relation thus formed still ‘con-
tinuing. '

A Sabbath-school was first organized in the congre-
gation under the pastorate of Rev. J. R. Thompson,

in or about the year 1853. ' It has now one hundred

and twenty-five scholars, and some two hundred vol-
umes in the library.

The congregation at the present time is occupying
its third house of worship, though a tent had been
used for that purpose for some years prior to the erec-
tion .of a, house of worship, the tent being located

861

HISTORY OF WASHINGTON COUN TY, PENNSYLVANIA.

near the site now occupied by the congregation.
The first house of worship was a log building erected
in the year 1803. The second was a good commodious
brick building, erected in the year 1834, and completed
in 1835. The third, the one occupied by the congre-
gation at this date, is a brick building,”-‘." sixty by
eighty feet, one story, erected in the year 1867. Its
cost with its fixtures was about $13,000. The congre-
gation at the present time has about two hundred
communion members, is free from debt, and in astate

of peace. A

Village of-...Hickory.———The tract of land on which
the village of Hickory is situated was located by
James Ross, who died in January, 1781, before the
warrant was secured. He left a wife Mary, a married
daughter, Mrs- Hannah Andrews, a11d Margaret,
Mary, and Isabel, and three sons,—James, John, and
Robert A. It was not until the 19th of October, 1785,
the executors took out a warrant for the land in trust
for the heirs of James Ross. It was surveyed to them
on the 3d of September, 1786, under’ the name of
“Executorship,” and contained three hundred and

two acres, adjoining John Ross, William Martin,‘

James McClelland, and Matthew Hillis. The follow-
ing advertisement appearéd in the Washington Tele-

ra he of March20 1797~:

, 7
“ To be Sold

“ By the Subscriber on the first day of May next by Public Vendue a
number of Town Lots situate in Smith Township Washington County
at a place commonly known by the name of the Hickory '1‘avern or
Mount Pleasant.‘

A “ ANDREW McCown.

“ March 20, 1797.

“ N. B.—-A Horse Mill will be erected this summer for the convenience
of the town.”  '

‘On the 7th of July, 1802, a deed was executed by
John Ross and John Shannon, executors, to Andrew
McCown for one hundred acres of land, part of the
Ross tract. There is no record of any sales having
been made in 1797, but at this time McCown opened
a tavern and sold several lots. A tavern had been at
this point several years before. The first. village lots
that appear on record are as follows :_ Feb.‘ 8, 1803, to
\Villia‘m Hammond and Richard Donaldson ; the next
day one to Thomas Cooper; March 6, 1804, one to
Neill McFarland; between that time and May 1st
lots were sold to John Hoge, VVilliam Marshall,
John Griffith, and one acre to the trustees of the
Mount Pleasant‘ Congregation. On the 1st of May,
1804, Andrew McCown sold the one hundred acres
(except the lots mentioned above) purchased of the
Ross estate to Samuel Miller. In this deed the town
is called Mount Pleasant, and the land is mentioned
as lying in Smith and Chartiers townships. The name
“Hickory” originated from an incident which hap-
pened here before McCown owned the property. A
party of axemen were opening a road from Wells’
mill, on Cross Creek, to Canon’s mill, on Chartiers.
They came to this place at about dinner-time, and
here found an old broken sled, which they used for

a table. After the repast was over one of the com-
pany pulled down a hickory sapling standing near, to
which the sled was fastened, and springing to its orig-
inal position carried the sled with it,’ where it re-
mained several years. They j ocularly called the place
the “Hickory tavern,” and when in the course of
time it became a cross-roads and a tavern, blacksmith-
sh‘op,.and store followed, the name still clung to it
and became the name of the hamlet and town. .

Thomas Miller, son of Samuel Miller, kept tavern
at the town about 1812. He kept the tavern a year
or two and removed to near Burgettstown, where he
died in 1819. In 1820, John and James McCluskey
bought a lot in Hickory. James kept tavern in that
place many years.

A post-oflice was established about 1830. William
VValker was the first postmaster appointed. He was

succeeded by James McCluskey, Samuel _._GI'lflltl1,_

William Simcox, and James M. Campbell, the present
postmaster. The village now contains about forty
dwellings,‘ a United Presbyterian Church, Union
school—house, post-office, hotel, three stores, and two
physicians.

A Physicians.1—Owing to theimperfect data‘ at our.’
command we will be unable to go back of the year
1800. Two brothers named Grant were located here '

in the practice of medicine" somewhere between 1800

and 1810. Following them was one Dr. ‘Carroll, who .
practiced for several years, winning the love and es-. A

teem of his patrons, and who died in the year 1815.
The next in the practice was Dr. John White, who
was a graduate of Jefferson College of theclass of
1804, moved to Steubenville, Ohio, studied law, was
admitted to the bar, subsequently returned to Wash-
ington County and married, was one year in the pro.-
thonotary’s office in Washington as clerk. 9
Feeling that the practice of medicine was or would
be more agreeable to his taste than that of law, he
removed to Cecil township and studied medicine
under Dr. Robert Thompson, of Thompsonville, re-
maining with him three and a half or four years.
On April 1, 1816, he removed to Hickory, becoming
a successor of Dr. Carroll, and continuing in the
practice till the spring of 1849, when impaired health
required that he cease from all active pursuits of life,
and died on the 19th day of August, 1853, aged sixty-
seven years. »
Dr. VVhite was an eminent physician of his time,

as well as a man peculiarly gifted with qualities that . i

made him a valued member of the community, hold-
ing for many years the oflice of justice of the peace,
his knowledge of the lawfitting him especially for
the transacting of such business as usually comes
before such an oflicer. He was a member of the
Presbyterian Church at Mount Prospect, inthe ceme-
tery of which he was buried.

1 This sketch of the physicians of Hickory, Mount Pleasant township,
is contributed by Dr. Joseph Mt-Elroy. . .

MOUNT PLEASANT TOWNSHIP.

During the period of Dr. White’s practice, from
1816 to 1849, we have, first, Dr. Hewitson, from 1833
to 1835, who removed to St. Clairsville, Ohio; next,
Dr. Anderson, who removed to Cross Creek; next,
Dr. Hughes, who was a practitioner in Hickory and
vicinity from about 1842 to 1850, who afterwards
studied ‘theology, and became a ‘minister of the
gospel. ‘ .‘

On the retirement of Dr. I-Vhite from the practice,
his son-in-law, Dr. John Hanna Donnan (sonof the
Rev. Alexander Donnan), commenced the practice of
medicine, and continued till the fall of 1861, when
declining health. warning him‘ of approaching dissolu-
tion, he sent for Dr. D‘. M. C._McCarrell, a young
man of promise located at Frankfort, Pa., who, being

' “strongly pressed both bythe doctor and his friends,

consented to locate. After several months of disease

and suffering, Dr. Dorman died March 9, 1862, of

chronic disease of the liver and bowels, in the forty-
seventh year of his age. As above mentioned,_Dr.

McCarrell commenced the pract'ice of medicine in

Hickory in the fall of 1861, and he has been in con-
tinuous practice since. In the year 1863, Dr. A. M.
Rea was a practitioner, and is now located in one of

‘ the northern counties of this State-. In the year 1864,

Dr. D. M. Read located here, and continued till 1868,

0 when he removed VVest, where he died. In 1868,‘Dr.
-5 Isaac W’. .Chisholm located, and continued in prac-
tice a period of two years, when he removed to Ohio,

and is now in practice in New Concord, inthat State.
In 1870, Dr. Joseph McElroy,-a former student,of
Dr. McCarrell’s, located here, going into partnership
with him, and has continued solsince. _

I Schools.1——The earliest school in Mount Pleasant

A township was on the farm of John McCalmont, known

as the Cowen farm, in the winter of "1783 and ’84.

There was a school taught there, but by whom is not

known at this time. William Marshall, who died in
1860, aged ninety-three years, used to relate his going
that winter to this house. Among the young men
that attended were Daniel Johnston. About the year
1795 this same Daniel Johnston, taught in the same
old school-house. The venerable David Lyle used to
relate many things‘ that happened during J ohnston’s
teaching. 5

The next school-house built was near where Mount
Prospect Church" now stands. This was built about

_ the year 1797. A widow lady with two daughters
. moved—into the building, and taught school in it for

some time.’ During the autumn of that year anold
gentleman from Cross Creek named -Reynolds one
day called to pay his addresses to the lady teacher.
The school was dismissed for the occasion.‘ In a few
weeks the lady teacher’s name was changed to Mrs.
Reynolds, and she removed to Cross Creek. Soon after
the house was burned by an incendiary. Another
house was then built'on'the farm of John Lyle.

1 Ohiefly contributed by J. M. K. Reed, Esq.

865

This site was in the big woods known as “Poplar

Hollow.” The base of the ‘old chimney ca.n still be
seen. The first teacher who taught there was John
Dickey, a Scotch-Irishman, who died about 1860 in
Hanover township. ‘

Some years before the commencement of the pres-
ent centurya school-housewas built on the farm of
John Knight, now’ Joseph Rea’s, on the old road.
The remains can still be seen.
Cready taught there in the year 1803. He was a very
severe disciplinarian, and taught in after-years in
Cross Creek township, but was always a dread to the
scholars both large and small. VVhat became of him
or where he went tono one knows. In the same
house school was taught in the winters of 1811-12;
Samuel Campbell and George .Wallace, two of the
scholars that year, enlisted in the navy in 1812, and
were both killed in Perry’s victory on Lake Erie.

Some time about 1800 a school-house was built on
the farm lately owned by George Carroll. Here
Samuel Lyle taught, and a number of others now
forgotten. Lyle removed _to West Middletown in
1811, and taught some two years, dying there in
1813. ’

There was another school-house on the farm now
owned by Jacob Donaldson, Jr.,,on the State road
near Mr. Orne’s. This was built prior to 1800. Among
the teachers were Thomas Merchant, who taught a
number of years, and John Hogwe, a Scotchman,
also taught there in the winter of 1812-13. He died
some fifty years ago at the house of Ludwic McCarrel,

in Mount Pleasant township, and was interred in the H

1

Hickory churchyard. , » -

From the venerable William Rankin it is learned
that about 1806 Humphrey Atcheson taug_ht school
in a log house on John Hend.erson’s farm. James

Rankin was a teacher about the same time. In 1807, ‘

James Irwin and Robert McClure were assessed as
school-teachers. In 1818 and 1819, John Crawford
and Humphrey Dedworth taught school in a log
house on what is now the McC1uskey farm. About
1820, J ames. Rankin went to school on the Edward
Cherry farm. John Hoge and Alexander Hays were
the teachers. The school continued till 1826. A
school was taught on the Josiah Allen farm (now J.
Edgar Rankin) about the same time. Richard Mc-
Clure was the first teacher, and Henry Robinson suc-
ceeded him. ‘

In 1835 the township voted upon the acceptance or
rejection of the. school law, and declared in favor_ of
it. S. Wort and William Rankin were chosen school

- directors. The township was divided into eight dis-'

tricts. .Frame school-houses were built in each dis-
trict, the greater part of which have been replaced.
A new sch_ool—house was erected at Hickory in the
fall of 1855, and opened with ceremonies on the 3d
of December in that year. The districts have re-
mained as at first, with the exception of Hickory,
which was made independent about 1865.

A man named Mc- ’

102

HISTORY OF WASHINGTON COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA.

Under such circumstances and in view of the al-
most impossibility of obtaining supplies,- Gen. Irvine
did not encourage the projected expedition to the
Sandusky towns, and it was accordingly abandoned
for that year. He ascertained that the post at Wheel-
ing (Fort Henry) was occupied by a garrison of one
Continental oflicer and fifteen privates, but he could
not spare any of the soldiers from Fort Pitt for their
relief, and he found some difliculty in obtaining else-
where even the small number of men necessary. On
the 14th of November he wrote James Marshel, county
lieutenant of Washington, asking him to furnish vol-
unteers for the relieving party. Marshel replied, two
days later, “I cannot comply with your requisition
of engaging a number of men for the defense of Fort
Wheeling, as I am heartily tired out with volunteer
plans ;” but he added, “ I shall order out, according
to class, the number of militia you have demanded,
and order the oflicer to wait on you for instructions.”
He did so, sending Lieut. John Hay in command of
one sergeant and fifteen privates of the Washington
County militia. The oflicer waited on Gen. Irvine as
ordered, and on the’28t.h of November received his
instructions “ to proceed to Wheeling with the de-
tachment under his command, there to relieve the
garrison of Continental troops, taking upon himself
the charge of the post.” Lieut. Hay and his detach-
ment occupied Fort Henry until the 2d of February
following, when the oflicer and garrison were relieved
by another lieutenant and a detachment of equal num-
bers from the Washington County militia, and these
remained garrisoning the post until about the 1st of
April following.

. Wi11iamson’s Expeditions.-—In November,1781,
after the proposed campaign against Sandusky had
been - given up for that year, a small expedition was
sent against the Moravian towns on the Muskingum
River. The reason for this movement against the peace-
ful Moravians was that many of the borderers believed,
or professed to believe, that they (the Christian In-
dians) were secretly in league with the warlike savages
who lived farther to the northwest, that even if they did
not take active part in the frequent raids and butcher-

' ies, they did at least at their isolated towns—situated

midway between the Ohio River frontier and the hos-
tile villages on the Sandusky——give shelter, subsist-
ence, and information to the Shawanese and Wyan-
dot warriors when engaged in their bloody forays;
and some even believed that the Moravians them-
selves mingled with the war parties and wielded the
knife and tomahawk. It was not intended, however,
in this expedition to.use fire and sword against the
Indians of the Moravians towns, but to induce them,
if possible, to remove farther away from the Ohio, or,
failing in this, to take them as prisoners to Fort Pitt.

The expedition numbered between seventy-five "and
one hundred men, and was made up of volunteers
from the country west of the Monongahela River,
principally from Washington County. The com-

manding officer (Col. David VVilliamson) was of the
same county and one of its prominent citizens.

The" organization of the expedition was effected
with but little delay, for the enterprise was one in-
volving little danger to deter volunteers, and it was not
necessary for its probably short term of service to
accumulate a large amount of provisions. Having
no artillery, camp equipage, or supply trains to im-
pede his progress, Col.,W,il1iamson moved his force
rapidly to the Ohio, and thence to the towns on the
Muskingum ; but in the mean time he had been-fore-

stalled in his projected work by a large force of hos"-I,

tile savages,‘ who charged the Moravians with being
in league with the whites, and on this plea had visited
their towns, broken them up, driven the people away
to Sandusky, and carried the white Moravian mis-
sionaries residing among them prisoners to Detroit.
On his arrival at the towns, Williamson found
them deserted, except by a small party of the Mora-
vians, who had been driven away, but who had been
allowed by their captors to return for the purpose of
gathering some corn which had been left standing in
the fields near the villages. — This party he took pris-
on ers and marched them to Fort Pitt, where, however,
they were soon after set at liberty by Gen. Irvine, the
commandant. -

During the winter of 1781-82 the people of the
frontier settlements looked forward with dread and
painful. foreboding to the time of melting snows and
springing grass, the time when the lifting of winter’s
embargo would permit the Western savages‘ to come
out from the shelter of their towns and ‘carry devas-
tation across the border from the Ohio to the Monon-
gahela. The months of December and January were
exceedingly and continuously cold, but at the begin-
ning of February the weather became unusually

mild; and this sudden and remarkable change proved ’

to be the opening of spring. In a few days the snow
had disappeared, and the season seemed like April
rather than February. The savages on the Sandusky
at once availed themselves of . the unusual circum-
stance, and took the war-path. A party of them en-

1 The hostile Indians and British, being suspicious that the Moravians 7

had been secretely working in the interests of the Americans, resolved
to drive them from their towns on the Muskingum. An Indian force
was therefore gathered for this purpose, composed of Wyandots, Dela-
wares, and Shawanese, in all amounting to more than three hundred
warriors. The first of the Indian parties-—a body of one hundred and
forty Wyandots under their Half-King, and accompanied by Matthew
Elliot, a Tory, holding a captaiu’s commission in the British service-
reached the Muskingum on the 10th of August, 1781. The Upper San-
dusky Delawares, under Capt. Pipe and Wingenund, came in soon after,
and by the 14th the whole force was gathered-at the Moravian towns, where
they remained for nearly a month. On the Ilth of September they left
on their return to Sandusky, forcing the Moravian Indians to accompany
them, abandoning their villages, cattle, and crops. The war parties also
made prisoners of Heckewelder, Zeisberger, and other missionaries found
at the villages, and sent them to the British at Detroit, where they were
tried as spies, charged with holding correspondence with the Americans.
They were soon afterwards acquitted by the British court-martial at
Detroit, and allowed to rejoin their Indian converts. in the vicinity of
Sandusky. '

NORTH STRABANE TowNsHI:1-?.

 

STRABANE was an original township. For its erec-
tion reference is made to the history of South Strabane.
The division of the township into North and South

Strabane was made by order of court at the May term _

in the year 1831. — V

The township was an independent district for the
election of justices from its erection till 1803, when it
was embraced with Washington as District No. 1, and
so remained until 1838, at which time it again became
independent. The list of justices of old Strabane and
of District”No. 1 are here given from the first until
1838, from which time the justices only of North
Strabane are mentioned: '

Alexander Eddie, July 15, 1781.
Daniel Leet, July 15, 1781.
Nicholas Little, July 15, 1781.
David Clark,-July_15, 1781. 6
Henry Taylor, July 15, 1781.
John White, July 15, 1781.
Matthew Ritchie, Oct. 6, 1784.
Henry Taylor, Sept. 30, 1788.
Thomas McNary, Feb. 8, 1799.
George Craighead, Jan. 19, 1799.
Alexander Lyttle, April 6, 1805.
John Colmery, Ar 51 1, 1811.
James Orr, Feb. 8, 1812.

David Little, Dec. 11, 1813.

James Blaine, Jan. 1, 1817.

‘ Joshua Monroe, March 12, 1819.

, Richard Johnston, March 22, 1819.
Daniel Palmer, May 7, 1819.

' Matthew McNary,'Dec. 4, 1820.
David Quail, Jan. 31, 1822.
John Marshall, May 20, 1822.
Thomas Morgan, Dec. 3, 1823.
Matthew Linn, Dec. 20, 18:35.
Thomas Smith, Jan. 23, 1826.
James McDowell, May 19, 1830.
Dickerson Roberts, May, 1833.
Archibald Kerr, Nov. 14, 1835.

-North Strabame.

Matthew Linn, April 10, 1860.
James Kerr, April 14, 1864.
Matthew Linn, June 3, 1865.
Matthew Linn, March 29, 1870.

J. B. McBride, April 19, 1872.
William Reas, May 24, 1874.
William Reas, April 11, 1874.
Wm. H. Lawrence, March 21, 1877.
William Pease, March 27, 1879.

David Quail, April 14, 1840.
Matthew McNary, April 14, 1840.
Matthew Linn, April 15, 1845.
Matthew McNary, April 15, 1845.
Matthew Linn, April 9, 1850.

Ira C. Bebout, April 15, 1851.
Matthew Linn, April 10, 1855.
David Keyes, April 16, 1856.
James Kerr, April 12, 1859.

The Morganza Tract and Morgan Family.-
When the proprietaries’ land-oflice was opened, April
3, 1769, there were three thousand two hundred ap-
plications on file, and on these warrants were issued
in the order of the dates of applications. The first
warrant issued for lands in this county was No. 517
to William Preston, and three others were issued im-
mediately afterwards for tracts contiguous to Preston’s,
and all adjoining each other, forming a body of land
of nearly eleven hundred and forty acres, all in the
township of North Strabane. These tracts were all
surveyed Nov. 3, 1769, as follows: William Preston,
warrant -No. 517 ,“‘Leicester,” 374 acres; Robert Har-

« rison, warrant No. 549, “Norfolk,” 273 acres, 3 roods,

and 33 perches;

Paul Fooks, warrant No. 1916,
866 A -

\

“Shrewsbury,” 288 acres, 3 roods, and 3 perches;
David Evans, warrant No. 1969, “ Leeds,” 201 acres,
3 roods, and 26 perches. The original survey is now
in possession of D. T. Morgan, Washington,'Pa.

The tract of William Preston was in the forks of-

the East and West Branches of Chartiers Creek, and

lay on both those streams. , The land of Robert Har-

rison and Paul Fooks was on the East Branch, the

former adjoining Preston, the latter_ adjoining Harri-~

son, and being the southernmost. ‘David Evans’ tract
was on ’the West Branch south of Preston, west of
Harrison, and north of Fooks.

Dr. John Morgan, of Philadelphia, had become
interested with others in the purchase of large tracts
of land in the Western country, and purchased. these
four tracts lying in the valley of the Chartiers, con-
taining eleven hundred and thirty-eight acres two
roods and twenty-two‘ perches, with six per cent. al-
lowance. The Preston, Harrison, and Fooks tracts
were deeded to him May 1, 1769, and the Evans tract
May-1, 1771. '

A certain William Wilson had settled upon a part ,

of these lands, and had made some improvements,
and by an article executed Oct. 18, 1774, between
Morgan and Wilson, the former agreed to purchase
Wilson’s improvements at such valuation as should
be put upon them by referees agreed on by the two
parties. Beyond the making of these betterments

-and their purchase by Dr. Morgan, nothing is known

of theprogress made in the improvement of these
lands until they came into possession of, Col. George
Morgan, a brother of Dr. John Morgan. The latter
died in 1789, and in his will, made July 22, 1788, and
probated Dec. 23, 1769, he devised to his brother, Col.
George Morgan, all his estate, real and personal, ex-
cept such bequests as are otherwise mentioned. The
lands in the valley of Chartiers were still in the pos-

session of Dr. Morgan, and by this will the title be- '

came vested in C01. George Morgan. His relations
with thegovernment as Indian agent at Pittsburgh
from 1775 to 1779 brought him into this section of
country, and it is quite probable that he then visited
those lands at that time, but nothing definite is known;

He‘ came to the property in 17 89, and from an ad-
vertisement issued in the Pittsburgh Gazette, bearing
date Nov. 26, 1796, it is evident that the land had
been pretty well improved, and that settlers, or rather

tenants, had been living upon it some time. The

NORTH STRABANE TOWNSHIP.

867

time that Col. George. Morgan removed to the West-
ern country to reside has been a matter of dispute,
but one which a letter written to his son in 1796 and
the advertisement hereafter given definitely settled.
His son George, when sixteen years of age, was at-
tending school at Princeton, preparatory to a three
years’ course at college. The letter referred to is
written from Prospect (where he resided), a short dis-

. tance from Princeton, and was written for the purpose

of ascertaining whether George would prefer remain-

‘ ing at school, finish his course, and prepare himself

for a profession, or to go West with the family. He
says, “The resolution I have long since formed to
leave New Jersey has now_become necessary to be
executed. . . . ,As there are good schools in Pennsyl-

_— Vania, I shall take Tomwith‘ me. I hope to leave
_ Psqspect next October.” It is evident he removed at

the time he intended, as on the 26th of November,
1796, he published an advertisement in the Pittsburg
Gazette, in which he said,—— -

“I have six farms in and adjoining the forks of Chartiers Creek,
twelve or thirteen miles due south from Pittsburgh, which I will rent

for one year or a term of years, taking a share, or cash, or a certain -

quantity of produce in payment. On each farm are buildings with
from forty to. eighty acres of clear land under fence, with a propor-
tion of good meadow. On one of them is an orchard of one hundred
bearing apple trees, and on two of them are distill houses. . . . Lots
will be ceded on easy terms to those who wish to build for themselves,
which may be done as cheap in stone and lime as in wood. . . . One
able to erect suitable buildings here for an inn to accommodate trav-

‘ elers will meet particular encouragement, as the great number passing
.the route stand in daily and hourly need of supplies and accommoda-

tions here.

“ Mr. Moses Coe’s saw and grist mill adjoin Morganza, about nine
hundred yards down the Little Chartiers from the Cross-Roads, and
Mr. J. Struthers’ Fulling Saw and-Grist Mills adjoin it on the West,

' one’ mile from the intersection of the above-mentioned public roads,

from whence it is two miles to Mr. McMillan's Presbyterian Meeting-
House, three miles to Canonsburg, and nine miles to the county town of
W'ashington. . . .” ’

The advertisement was /dated “ Morganza, Nov.
26, 17 96,” this being the first mention found of the
name which Col. Morgan gave to his great tract, the
name “ Morganza,” which is still well known as ap-
plied to these lands.

It was evidently Col. Morgan’s intention to make
extensive improvements at Morganza, On the Wil-

I liam Preston tract, -“ Leicester,” he built a large frame

house, about fifty feet square, two stories high, with an
extensive wing on each end. In the rear of these
buildings was a frame barn one hundred and thirty
by one hundred and fifty’ feet. The main road passed
on the south side of the house, and along this he
planted trees. He brought with him from Prospect
many articles of comfort and elegance, and was sur-
rounded with much of culture and taste. Upon this

I farm he lived with hisfamilyltill his death.

In the fall of 1806, Col. Aaron Burr (with whom
Col. Morgan had long been acquainted) visited him
at Morganza, with the purpose (as it afterwards be-
came evident) of enlisting Morgan with him in his
scheme for the founding of a Southwestern govern-
ment. At Col. Morgan’s dinner-table the subject of

a dismemberment of the Union was adroitly brought

up by Col. Burr, who remarked that, so weak was

the government, two hundred men could drive Con-
gress into the Potomac, with the President at their
head; also, that with five hundred men he could
take possession of the city of New York. To this
remark Thomas replied that he ‘would be d——d if
the little town of Canonsburg could be taken with
that number of men.

Biirr left baffled, and with his‘ companion, Col. Du-
peistre (De Peyster?),, left the next‘ morning, and
proceeded to VVheeling. When Col. Burr was after-

wards tried for treason at Richmond, Va., Col.‘

George Morgan and two of his sons, John and
Thomas, were called as witnesses, and related the
circumstances of Burr’s visit at their home, and
the conversation that ., there took place._ It was
While at Richmond on this occasion that Thomas

Morgan, son of Col. George, became acquainted p

with Catharine Duane, daughter of Col. William
Duane, of Philadelphia, Who not long afterwards
became his wife. Mrs. Catharine Duane Morgan

,was a woman of remarkable talent,'and one whose

name was for many years a familiar one in Wash-
ington.County.

1 Col. George Morgan lived but a few years after
that time, and died in 1810. His wife survived him
fifteen years. They were both buried in the family
ground at Morganza.

On the 24th of October, 17 64, C01. George Morgan
was married by the Rev. George Whitefield, at Phila-
delphia, to Miss Mary Boynton. Their children
were John, Ann, George, Thomas, and Maria.

John Morgan was born in 1770, was educated at I

Princeton College, married Margaret, the only daugh-
ter of James Bunyan, of New York City, in 1795. He
removed to this place with his father’s ‘family. His

father-in-law, James Bunyan, also came to this sec- '

tion and purchased land on Chartiers Creek, opposite
Morganza, in Cecil township. Col. John Morgan
lived on this property, and died there in 1819, leaving
five sons and three daughters.
are Col. James B. Morgan, of Pittsburgh, and Mrs.

Barker, Wife of Major Barker, of Washington, D. C.‘

Thomas Gibbs Morgan, a son of Col. John Morgan,

emigrated to New Orleans about 1824, where he re- _

sided until his death. He was one of the leading

lawyers of the State. His son, Philip Gibbs Morgan,‘

also an attorney, is now minister to Mexico.

Ann Morgan, the eldest daughter of Col. George
Morgan, was born in 1772, and became the wife of
Thomas S. Gibbs, of John’s Island, S. C., in 1793.
He died in 1798, leaving three sons and one daughter.
Later she married John Gibbs, a brother of her first
husband. .

George Morgan was born in May, 1780, educated at
Princeton College, came West after he had finished

,his_studies, and attended to his father’s business. He

To all his specious arguments ,
and overtures Col. Morgan turned a deaf ear, and C01,.

The only survivors .

868

HISTORY OF WASHINGTON COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA.

had charge of the saw- and grist-mill built across the
creek in Cecil township. After the division and sale
of the property he went to Bower Hill, Allegheny
County, where he resided on a farm of about five
hundred acres. His children were David T. Morgan,
Mary B._. Elizabeth, Nancy, Maria, George, Matilda,
William McK., and Lauretta. Of these, David T.,
George, Maria (Mrs. James Watson), and Lauretta
are living in VVashington, Pa. VVilliam McKennan
Morgan became a physician, studied medicine with
Dr. F. J. Le Moyne, practiced in Pittsburgh, and died
about 1854. g

' Thomas Morgan, the youngest son of Col. George
Morgan, was born Aug. 25, 1784. Came to Morganza
with his brother’s family in 1796. Studied law in
Pittsburgh, and-was admitted to practice in Wash-
ington County in 1813. He was elected to the Legis-
lature of the State in 1814-15, was prothonotary from
1821-23, postmaster at Washington, Pa., from 1829

,to _1889. He was prominent in the organization of

tho.I"ranklin Bank (now the First National), and of
the VVashington Female Seminary. He died July 19,
1855, aged seventy-one years. He married Catharine
Duane, as before mentioned. She survived him eight
years, and died March 23, 1863,_at the age of seventy-

six‘years-. Their children were Thomas J ., William’

D., George’ W., and Anna. Thomas J. Morgan was
born at Morganza ‘April 3, 1815, and died N ov. 30,

_ 1850. He. commenced the ‘study of law- with Isaac

Leet. » He established a newspaper at Washington
called Our Country, which he published a few years.
In the summer of 1836 he raised a company of men
for the war in -Texas.
located at Columbus, Ohio, and received the appoint-
ment of chief clerk in the post-oflice of that city.
In 1841 he completed his study of the law in C0-
lumbus with Noah H. Swayne. Was clerk of the
Senate-of Ohio in 1841-42. In- the spring of 1846 he
was appointed law clerk in the oflice of the solicitor
of ‘the treasury of the United States. In the spring
of 1847 he was appointed secretary of legation at
Brazil, under Governor David Todd, of Ohio. He
died of yellow fever at Rio de J aneiro, March 30, 1850.

- VVilliam Duane Morgan, son of Thomas, is now
living at Newark, Ohio. Gen. George W. Morgan
resides at Mount Vernon, Ohio, and Miss Anna Mor-
gan is still a resi’dent of Washington, Pa.

. Maria Morgan, the youngest-child of Col. George
Morgan, was born in 1787, and became the wife of
Dudley Woodbridge, of Marietta, Ohio, where she
settled. - Their descendants are numerous in that
place. ’ ~

- About 1818a division took place of the Morganza
tract, which later was sold in parcels to several dif-
ferentvpurchasers. It is now owned by Samuel Vane-
man, VVilliam Pollock, McC1elland Brothers, and
John McConnell.‘ The old homestead is owned by
William Pollock, who married a daughter of James
Murray, by whom it was purchased from the heirs.

In December of 1837 he was

‘ Other Sett1ements.——Dorsey Pentecost was one
of" the first to take up lands in the “ New Purchase”
in Western.Pen“ns/ylvania. In 1769 a return of a
survey was made to him from the,surveyor’s oflice of
a tract of land which contained three, hundred and
fifty-two acres, and was called “Green Way.” It
was situated on the Youghiogheny River, in what
is now Rostraver township, Westmoreland County.
Soon after this purchasehe came into possession of
other tracts, one of three hundred» and seven acres,

another of five hundred and twenty-one acres, an- ’
other of one hundred and sixty-three acres, and still

another of four hundred and six acres, all lying in

the neighborhood of the Youghiogheny except one,

which was near the mouth of Mingo Creek, in what
is now Washington County. The “Green VVay”

. tract was the one on which he settled, and was known A

as the Mansion tract. The valley’ of the Chartiers
attracted his attention, and be determined to sell his
property on the Youghiogheny and ‘remove to that
section. On the 16th of May, 1777, he sold the
“Green Way” tract to Samuel Purviance, Jr., and
Robert Purviance, merchants of Baltimore, Md., for
£500, and soon after disposed of the others. He‘ was
a Virginian, and as a portion of this -territory was in
dispute between Pennsylvania and Virginia, he be-
came an active Virginia partisan. His connection
with the boundary controversy between Pennsylvania

and Virginia will be found mentioned elsewhere. I

His first purchase in what is now Washington County,
except the tract on Mingo Creek, was made in the
summer of 1777 from Paul Froman, of Yohogania
County, Va. The deed recites that in consideration
of £2000 the former conveys to Dorsey Pentecost that
plantation on both sides of the East Fork of “ Chur-

tees” Creek, adjoining lands “claimed by Thomas ‘

Edgerton, Nathaniel Blackmore, Thomas. Cook,
James Allison, and others.” Later, Pentecost pur-
chased other lands in what is now -South Strabane
township. 7 ‘ - ' ’
Upon this tract of land purchased of Froman a
mill had been erected, known in the early records as
“Froman’s Mill on Chartiers.” On, this tract Dor-
sey Pentecost built his ‘log house, near the present
residence of John Gamble, and resided there for
some years. The titles to these lands, after the.pur-
chase from Froman, he secured from Virginia by
certificates dated Dec. 20, 1779. They were after-

wards confirmed by warrants of acceptance, and '

were surveyed to him on the 20th of April, 1786,
as follows: “Independence,”v403 acres; “The Big
Meadow,” 407 acres; “ Sugar Tree Hill,” 402 acres;
and “ Gravity,” 194 acres.

“ The Recovery,” containing one hundred and forty-
seven acres, was a pre-emption warrant in ‘the name
of George Rooles, assigned to Dorsey Pentecost, and

surveyed to him on the 20th'of December, 17 86, adjoin-

ing lands of James Campbell and Thomas White. It

A was located on the North Fork of Chartiers.

... ,

- The records ‘show further that Mr. Pentecost was
extensively interested in real estate transactions in
other localities from 1779 to 1786, both on his indi-
vidual account, as partner with Levi Hollingsworth,
with Samuel and Robert Purviance, and as a member
and director of the Ohio Trading Company‘, composed
of himself, John Canon (the proprietor of Canons-
burg), Andrew Robinson, Samuel McCullough, and
Ebenezer Zane, of. Ohio County, Va., Thomas Cook,
Isaac Cox, and James McMahon. He had interests
in large tracts on Saw-Mill Run, on “Tumblestone’s”

‘Run, above Logstown, on the south side of the Ohio,

at the mouth of Chartiers Creek, and at other places.
On the large tract of land on which he lived in the
township of Strabane, and on the site of the present

-town of Linden, Mr..Pentecost laid out a ,town in

1.778—79—by the name of “ Louisburgh,” which is to-

day one of the lost towns of the county. The only p

evidence of its existence is contained in the. records
of the county, from which it is learned that on the
20th of May, 1779, Dorsey Pentecost conveyed to

Benjamin Mills lots Nos. 1 and 2 “in the town of.

Louisburgh, laid out on the mansion plantation of
the said Dorsey Pentecost, adjoining the lots whereon
the said Pentecost’s Mills are erected,” and on June
11, 1779, lots Nos. 72 and 73 are conveyed by him to
Charles Records. - J '
About the year 1784, Mr. Pentecost, by his large
landed interests, became involved infinancial diffi-

culties, owing to the lessening of ‘values, a depreci-
ated currency, and other causes.
February, .17 85, he mortgaged his lands to Levi Hol-

On the 26th of

l.ingsworth to secure. the existing indebtedness and
future advances. This mortgage was satisfied eleven
years later. t

On March 29, 17 86, Mr. Pentecost executed a power

‘ of attorney to Gabriel Peterson to enable the latter to

collect debts and demands for him “ in the western part
of Virginia, commonly called Kaintucky Country ;”
also “in the Illinois country at_ the villages of Kas-
kaskie, Kahokia, Post St. Vincen, or elsewhere below
the falls of the Ohio.” On Sept. 29, 1786, he executed

‘ a power of attorney to George McCormick and Andrew

Swearingen to sell tenlots of five acres each, laid out
on the'Richard Yeates tract. 5

Other mortgages were afterwards given and other
powers of attorney executed by Mr. Pentecost for the
selling’ of his lands in Washington County and other
localities; and in November, 1789, certain lands which
he had mortgaged to Levi Hollingsworth, July 25,
1787, were sold by David Williamson, sheriff of the
county. But in the mean time (in or about the year
1786) he removed to Frederick County, Va., and re-
tired permanently from all participation in the affairs
of Washington County. He had held the highest po-

V sitions in the gift of the people” of the county where

he had resided. His public acts will be more fully,
as well as more appropriately, mentioned in the
accounts of theboundary controversy and other po-

NORTH STRABANE TowNsHn>.

Q 869

litical movements of his time. Neither the time nor
place of his death is accurately known. His wife
was Catharine Beeler, and their children were Joseph,
Dorsey, Catharine, Sarah, Lucy, George W., and
Rebecca. Joseph, the eldest, studied law, and was
admitted to the bar of Washington County in 1792,
and settled in Washington, Pa. He was known by
the people throughout the county as “the Honest
Lawyer.”
ington borough. He left, among other children, a
son, George W. Pentecost, now living with his family
in West Middleton; the latter’s son,'Joseph, the
great-gra.ndson of old Dorsey Pentecost, was mortally

‘wounded at Fort Steadman, March 25, 1865, in the

war of the Rebellion, while lieutenant-colonel of the
One Hundredth Regiment Pennsylvania Volunteers.
His death occurred the next day.

Of the other children of Dorsey Pentecost, Catha-

rine became the wife of Andrew Rabb, of German
township, Fayette Ciixnty. Lucy married James Ash-
brook, at one time a prominent member of the bar of
VVashington County. Sarah married Ezekiel Gra-
ham, and removed from the county. Of the other
children nothing definite has been learned.

The ‘large brick house on the Pentecost lands was ,
- built by Joseph Pentecost, and later came into pos-

session of Robert McClelland, ex-sheriff of Washing-
ton County; and about two hundred acres of the
tract, including the Pentecost house, is now owned
by John Gamble.  Brownlee, Mrs. Ada B.
Reed, of Washington, Homer, and others own
the old Pentecost estate.

John McDowell was a native of Ireland, born a.
few miles from Belfast on the 23d of ‘September, 1736.
When a young man he emigrated to this country,
and settled near Elizabethtown, N. J ., where he mar-
ried Agnes Bradford, daughter of James Bradford,

and sister of David Bradford, whose history is so well

known in connection with the Whiskey Insurrection
of 17 94. In company with the Scotts, Allisons, and
other families, they emigrated westof the mountains
in 1773, and settled on the waters of Chartiers Creek,

in what is now Washington County. That he lived-

here in August, 1775, is shown from Rev. John Mc-
Millan’s journal, in which he says, “The fourth Sab-
bath of August, 1775, preached at John McDowell’s.”
Other records show that in pursuance of a warrant
he obtained possession of a tract of land, which in
the survey was called “Mount Pleasant,’,’ a.nd con-
tained four hundred acres, situated about two and a.
half miles southwest of where Chartiers Church now
stands. On this tract he built the log cabin in which
Dr. McMillan preached his first sermon in the terri-
tory now Washington County. This log cabin served
as his dwelling for some years, and was replaced by
a two-story log house. This house was for a long
time the finest residence in the vicinity. He pur-
chased numerous tracts of land besides that already
mentioned. In October, 1776, he was commissioned

He died of apoplexy in 1828 in Wash-.

870?? A

HISTORY on WASHINGTONCOUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA.‘

one of the justices of the peace of Yohogania County,
and was one_ of the first elders of the Chartiers Church,

Upon the erection of Washington County, in 1781,‘

he was appointed one of the three commissioners of
the-county. In 1783 he was one of the Council of
Censors of the State, appointed by the Supreme Ex-
ecutive Council. In 1798 he was elected a member
of,the House‘ of Representatives; re-elected in 1799,
1800, 1801. He was prominent in the organization
of the Canonsburg Academy in 1791, and was one of
its trustees from the first. He succeeded Judge

‘James Edgar, April 27,1803, and served in that

capacity four years. On the 31st of May, 1802, he

A took ‘the oath of oflice. as associate judge of Washing-

ton County, having received a commission from Gov-
ernor’Thomas McKean the 8th of April previous. He
died on the 12th of August, 1809, in the seventy-third
year of his age, leaving a widow, three daughters-
Mary, Rachel, Rebecca, Sarah, and Agnes—-—and two
sons‘, James and .William-. 0

Mary, the eldest child,: was born April 24, 1766, and
married John Urie, who then resided in the township
of Strabane. They had seven children,-John-,
Thomas, Agnes, Rebecca, Sarah, VVilliam, David, and
Mary. John Urie. and .Mary, his wife, both died
about 1802. John, the eldest son, was born April 28,
1784. _ In 1822 he was elected county commissioner.
In 1837 he was elected prothonotary, and served one
term. .He was president of the board of managers of
the Washington and Pittsburgh Turnpike Company,
and afterwards‘-sequestrator. of theroad many years.

iHis children were Nancy, William, and Samuel.

Mrs. Georgie Cook, of Canonsburg, is a daughter of
William McDowell. - ‘

"James, the eldest son of John McDowell, was born
in November, 1767. Arrived -at years of maturity he
married and settled on part of his father’s farm, and
died in early manhood, leaving four sons,-John,
Elijah, VVilliam, and Samuel. William, born in Oc-
tober, 1771, also settled on part of the estate and died,
l:eaving two sons, John and James.

Rachel McDowell was born in November, 1773,
after herparents had removed to this section of coun-
try. In 1790 she became the wife of Alexander Scott.
They settled on part of the McDowell estate, where
they raised a large family of children. Violet, the
eldest daughter, became the wife of William Colmery
in April, 1810. She lived to be eighty-five years of
age; theirchildren are now residents of Ohio. A

_ daughter ‘Sarah became the wife of John Kerr, son of 3

James, who lived in the neighborhood. A son Josiah
was born Dec. 1, 1803, and early ‘entered Jefferson
College, where he graduated in 1823, when in his
twentieth year. He was one of a class of thirty-two
members, and the first class that graduated under the
presidency of the Rev. Matthew Brown. Soon after
this he went to -Newton, Bucks Co., Pa., and taught
in a classical academy for about two years. He then
taught near Richmond, Va., two years, and while there

commenced the study of law: About 1828 he re-

turned home, and was a tutor in Jefferson College,-.
still continuing the study of law. In the spring of

1829 he removed to Bucyrus, Ohio, and opened a law-
office. Both his knowledge and practice were at first’
limited, but careful, unremitting study and his natu-
ral abilities soon placed him on a level with the best

lawyers of the time. In 1849 he removed to Hamilton,

Ohio, where he at once ranked with the foremost. In
May, 1856, he was nominated for the ofiice of judge
of the Supreme-Court of Ohio,’ and was elected, and
remained on the bench fifteen years, at the end of
which. time he declined a renomination.

1878, in the seventy-sixth year of his age.

In 1839, Alexander Scott, the father of Josiah,-

removed to Knox County, Ohio (where most of his
children" had settled), and died there in December,
1868, at the age of eighty-five years.

Rebecca, daughter of John McDowell, was born in
1776, on the farm in what is now North Strabane town-

ship, and in June, 1793, became the wife of the Rev-

Abraham Scott, a brother of Alexander. He was
connected. with Jefferson College, and lived in

Canonsburg for a time. They had eleven children,-

——William, Violet, Nancy, . Josiah, John, James‘,
Rebecca, Abram, Park, Samuel,,and Alexander T.
Of these, Josiah studied law, _and practiced in Cadiz,
Ohio, represented Harrison County in the State
Legislature, and was a member of the Constitutional
Convention of that State that framed the present con-
stitution. Most of the other children emigrated to
the West.

Sarah, also a daughter of John McDowell, in 1792
became the wife of J ohn. Parks, of Cecil township,

where they settled. Further notice of this branch of I

the family will be found in the sketch of the Parks
family in that township.

Agnes McDowell, the youngest daughter, became
the Wife "of Dr. John White. They settled in Hick-
ory, where he was in practice many years. Mrs.-
Dr. John H. Donnan, of VVashington, Pa., is a
daughter. I V ‘

The Rev. John McMillan has already been men-
tioned so fully in the religious and educational

chapters of this history that it is not thought neces-

sary here 'to do more than note the facts immediately
relating to his settlement and life as a citizen of this
township, with a brief account of his descendants.

He was a native of the eastern part of the State, and .

when hemade his first visit to this section of country
resided at Fagg’s Manor, Chester Co., where he had
been preaching. He was licensed to preach in Octo-
ber, 1774. In the summer and fall of the next year
he started out on a preaching tour, and passed through
the settlements between the North and South Moun-
tains in Augusta‘ and Rockbridge Counties, Va.,
crossed the mountains between Staunton and the

head of Tygert’s Valley, preaching along‘ the route-

On the first Sabbath of August he preached at Mount

He died in

township, Westmoreland ‘Co.

was later surveyed, and named “Snow Hill.”

NORTH STRABAN E TOWNSHIP. 1 I  871*“

Moriah Meeting-house, in Fayette County ; the next
Sabbath at John McKibbin’s, on Dunlap’s Creek,
also in Fayette County. The next Sabbath he had
reached the house of Dorsey Pentecost, who then
resided on the Yough River, now in 'Rostraver
The fourth Sabbath
of the month he was stopping at the house of John
McDowell, at which place he preached his first
sermon in what is now Washington County. Here he
remained for a short time and returned to his home-
at Fagg’s Manor. He made a similar tour the next
spring, and preached to the people in this section,

who were much interested, and decided to give him a

call to become their pastor. He returned home,
was "ordained by the Presbytery of New Castle at

- Chambersburg, to which Presbytery he had been

dismissed by the Presbytery of Donegal that he might
accept the call of the people of _Chartiers and Pigeon
Creek, who were wi-thin the limits of’ the territory
embraced by that Presbytery. He married Catha-

-' rine, daughter of William "Brown, a ruling elder in

the church of Upper Brandywine. She remained at
home until 1778, when they removed to thenew home

' in wh at is now North Strabane township. This course

was thought best by reason of the troubled condition

'of the country. . He accepted the call of the congre-
.gation, the church was organized, and he commenced
. his labors, spending a part‘ of the time at home with

his family, and also preaching throughout the county

of Washington.

_ On the 8th of September, 1777, John McDowell,

as trustee of Mr. McMillan, purchased three hundred.
_ and thirteen and seven-tenths acres of land of Mich-

a’el Thomas and Thomas Cook, “ on the western side
of the eastern prong of Shirtees Creek,” adjoining
lands of Paul Froman, Samuel_Shannon, and Dr.

John Morgan (Morganza). Itwas not until Oct. 29,

1784, that a warrant was obtained for the land. It
His
settlement on his place with his family is best de-
scribed in a letter by himself written in 1832 to Dr.
Carnahan, president of Princeton College :

“When I came to this country the cabin in which I was to live was
raised, but there was no roof to it, nor any chimney nor floor. The peo-
ple, however, were very kind. They assisted me in preparing my house,
and on the 16th of December I removed into it. ’ But we had neither
bedstead, nor tables, nor stool, nor chair, nor bucket. All these things

we ‘had to leave behind us, as there‘was no wagon-road at that time_

over the mountains. We could bring nothing with usbut what we car-
ried on pack-horses. We placed two boxes, one on the other, which served
us for a table, and two kegs served us for seats; and having committed
ourselves to God in family worship, we spread a bed on the floor, and
slept soundly till morning. The next day a neighbor coming to my as-
sistance we made a table and a stool, and in a little time had everything
comfortable about us. Sometimes, indeed, had no bread for weeks to-

' gether, but we had plenty of pumpkins and potatoes, and all the necessa-

ries of life. As for luxuries, we were not much concerned about them.
VVe enjoyed health, the gospel and its ordinances, and pious friends.
We were in the place where we believed God would have us to be, and
we did not doubt but that He would provide everything necessary, and,
glory be to His name, we were not disappointed."

In the cabin of which he speaks in the letter he
lived many years. About 1782 he established a Latin

school in his own house, and soon after built ‘upon his’
farm not far from his house-a log cabin school,-house, and:
commencedthe education of youngmen for th"“e'*min-'

istry. The first cabin was destroyed by fire, and an-:

other, still standing, was erected near the site of the‘
first one.
assistant was obtained in James Ross, who later be-

came a prominent lawyer at.Pittsburgh and United’ "
This school was kept in operation’ -

States senator.
until the opening of the Canonsburg Academy in
1791, at which time the students were transferred to
that institution. , _ " ’ ' A I '
in Upon the organization of the college, in 1802,-Dr.‘

McMillan became the president of  board of true!
tees and Professor of Divinity. He retained his con-' ,

nection with the Pigeon Creek Church for nineteen
years, and from that time his life was devoted entirely

to Chartiers Church. His wife, with whom he had-

lived forty-three years, died‘ on the 24th of Novem-

ber, 18l9._ He lived at his home on.the farm all his A
‘days. When returning from a visit in 1833 he stopped‘
at the house of Dr. Jonathan Letherman, hispfriend

and physician, where he was taken sick and died N ov.
16, 1833, aged eighty-one years. 3

Dr. McMillan had three sons,.William, John, and
Samuel, and four-‘daughters, Jane, Margaret, Mary,"
and Catharine. William settled in Mercer County,

Pa., married and died there, leaving no ‘children.-:

John settled on the home farm and died there, leaving
a family“ of children. John, his eldest son, lives on
an adjoining farm. ‘Rebecca (Mrs. Caldwell) and
Sarah, her sister, settled in Allegheny County. Catha-
rine became the wife of J. B. Haines, who lived on’
the Haines farm near the McMillan homestead.
Thomas ‘settled near Chartiers Church, and died-

there. Jane married T. H. Lyons, and settled at A
‘Linden.

Robert became a minister in the Presby-
terian Church, and settled in the West. Samuel now
resides_at Canonsburg. William settled on the_ home
farm, and about 1874 sold the homestead to -the Ful-

-ton Brothers, whose mother, Mrs. John Fulton, was

a daughter of Samuel, son of the Rev. John Mc-
Millan. Mary_became the wife of ohn Means, and
settled in the neighborhood. ‘ “

Samuel, the third son of the Rev. J ohn'McMillan, ‘

settled on part of the homestead and died there. Two
of his children arrived at maturity; one became the
wife of John Fulton. ‘They settled at Letonia, Ohio.
In 1874 two of her sons purchased the homestead
place of John McMillan, and now resides there, their
mother living with them. Another son is a dentist
i11 Washington, Pa. '
Jane McMillan, daughter of the Rev. John Mc
Millan, married the Rev. William Moorhead, a Pres-
byterian minister. He‘ died Nov. 30, 1802. She
afterwards married Samuel Harper, of Greene County,

‘ where their descendants now live. Margaret married

the Rev. John Watson, the first president of J effer-
son College.. He also died on the 30th of November,

This school increased in numbers, and an"

872

HISTORY OF WASHINGTON COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA.

1802. These two clergymen were married on the same
day ; a short time afterwards they were taken sick on
the same day, and died on the same day. The funeral

' services were,held, one at Canonsburg, the other at

the residencegof Dr. McMillan. The processions met
at the Chartiers churchyard, and they were buried
in the same grave, and one slab covers their last rest-
ing—place. The widow of the Rev. John Watson
later becamethe wife of John Neill, and settled in
Peters township. ‘ ~

Catharine, a daughter of Dr. McMillan, became the
wife of the Rev. Moses Allen. He was for many years
pastor of the Raccoon Presbyterian Church. Of their
children, Eliza became the wife of John Simonton,
of Mount Pleasant township, and is still living. Wat-
son died leaving two children, John and Catharine.

' Harper, also a son of Moses Allen, became -a physi-

cian, and settled in Butler County, Pa. Moses R.
Allen, of Burgettstown, is a son of Harper. He has in
his possession the original journal of his gre_at-grand-
father, also a fine portrait of the veteran clergyman.
John, David," and James ‘White, three brothers, em-
igrated to this county and township about the year
1773, and settled here. John was elected a justice of
the peace July 15, 1781. He died in 1806. He had
sons John, Jones, Samuel, William‘, George, Nathan-
iel, and Benjamin. The latter remained at the home-
stead. This land was adjoining that of his brothers

, David and James. -

David White, brother of John and James, received
a Virginia certificate for land which was surveyed to
him on the 24th of September, 1787. The property
wassold on the 31st of May, 1802, to William Smith,
of Philadelphia, who transferred it to Joseph Pente-
cost on the 8th of December, 1806, and on the 15th of

July the,next year he conveyed it to Reynolds C.
« Neill, by whose heirs it is still owned. 0

James White’ received a Virginia certificate for a

tract of land -“ on water of Chartiers Creek,” dated
V Feb. 25, 1780, “ to include his actual settlement made

in the year 1773.” On the 2d of February, 1797, he
sold the whole tract to his son Samuel.

, Col. George—Craighead, who lived in his early days
near Carlisle,-was a colonel in the Revolutionary
army. Hepvemigrated to this township in 1795, and

~ purchased -ninety acres of land on the 15th of Septem-

ber in that year of Levi Hollinsworth. It was part
of a large tract (the Pentecost lands) sold by David
Williamson, sheriff of the county, in .1789. He was
justice of the peace from Jan. 19, 1799, till his death
in 1811. His‘ two sons, Thomas and \Villiam, by
a first wife, came from the East with their father.
Thomas was a physician settled in Chartiers town-
ship, and died there, leaving two children, who died
young. William. settled in Cecil township, and pur-
chased in.1802 part of a tract taken up by Thomas
Brocken, and later moved to Chartiers Creek, near
the Morgan mill on the Bunyan property, where he
died. Of his children, George settled in Peters town-

ship. His son, William R., lives on the homestead‘
in Cecil township, and James and John, also sons of
William, live in Cecil, near Canonsburg.

Jonathan Crawford was in the township in 1788,
and was in possession of a tract of land containing

about one hundred acres. In 1799 he was assessed on

thr-eehundred, and each of his sons on onehundred
acres each. He had four sons,—Josiah, John, James,
and Gavin,——-to each of whom he gave one hundred
acres of land. The settlement of the Crawfords was
in the southeast quarter of the township. These sons
left numerous descendants, some of whom are on the
original tract, others in the neighborhood, while
many emigrated to the West.

Samuel Pollock emigrated to this country from Scot-
land, and warranted a tract of land called“ Plenty,”
containing one hundred and forty-eight acres.

On this place he settled and died, leaving three-

sons and four daughters,-—John, Samuel, William,
Mary, Grizella, Jane, and Margaret. John lived at

home, single, and died there; William married-Nancy -
. McNary, and settled upon the homestead, where he

lived and died; James, his son, now lives upon the

place. Samuel, son of Samuel Pollock, Sr., married '

Ellen Young, and settled in Mercer County; Mary

married a Mr. House; Grizella became the wife of

Robert Johnson, and located in Canton township;
Jane became the wife ‘of'John Crow, and emigrated
to Butler County, Pa.; Margaret married Alexander
McNary,' and settled in Ohio.

Daniel Weller was born near Lancaster, Pa., and
on the 2d of May, 1781, married Elizabeth Mechie.

He was a weaver by trade, and settled in that locality V

several years before coming to this county, and where
the older children were born. On the 28th of May,
1796, he purchased a tract of land in Strabane town-
ship of William Price, who had purchased of ‘Craig
Ritchie in 1790. Price had built a cabin on the tract,
and in this cabin Mr. Weller lived several years, then
built the residence now occupied by his grandson,
Daniel. Weller, who was born in the old cabin in the
year 1801. ' Daniel Weller diedion the 23d of March,
1824, and left one hundred and four acres to each of

his sons, J acoband Daniel. His children were-’Bar- ,

bara, John, Elizabeth, Jacob, Catharine, Agnes, Dan-
iel, and Peter. Agnes became t e wife .of John Hair,

who settled at Linden, and built what is known as

Hair’s mill ; Jacob settled on the homestead part of

the farm, and died there, leaving the farm to his son-

Daniel. .

James Bradford was a native of Ireland, who came
to Washington in 1784, and obtained a warrant for a
tract of land which was surveyed as “ Montgomery,”
and contained three hundred and six acres,‘ adjoin-
ing land, of Robert Hamilton and Samuel Stewart.
Several of his children had married and settled in
the county prior to his coming. He lived on this:
farm till his death. On the 26th of December, 1788,
he sold one hundred and ninety-one acres of the

..and died there.
. Topeka, Kan. Jacob Moringer now owns the farm. .

‘in South Strabane, where he died.

. fork of Shirtees Creek.”

NORTH STRABANE TOWNSHIP.

873

tract to his son, James, who was afterwards one of the
elders of Chartiers Presbyterian Church. His son,
the Hon. John Bradford, of Bell Brook, Greene Co.,
Ohio, is still living at ninety years of age.

On the 3d of December, 1811, William Quail pur-
chased one hundred and forty-seven acres of this
land of the Rev. Thomas’ Hamilton, of New York
City, March 12,1813; he also purchased of Ham-
ilton one hundred and fifty-seven acres, and later
purchased other tracts. He lived and diedon the
farm, leaving four sons and two daughters,—David,
James, Robert and William, Jane, and" Mrs. John
Hoge. David settled on the homestead, and left the

-farm to his son, VVilliam McA. Quail, who now re-

sides upon it. James bought a part of the old tract
His son VV.illiam now lives in

Robert was a carpenter, and lived in Washington, Pa.,
where he died. Jane married Dr. George McFar-
land, and removed to Indiana. John Hoge married
a daughter of William Quail. They lived in Wash-
ington for a time, and retired later in life to his farm
She survived
him, and died in Cleveland. ‘

A Virginia certificate was granted to George Van-
eman 011 the 22d of February, 1780, for three hun-
dred and eighty acres of land, “lying on the ‘east
Patent for it was granted
Feb. 28, 1786. George Van Emen had four sons,

‘Joseph, George, William, and Nicholas. Joseph set-

tled in Cecil township, on the farm now owned by
his son Samuel, who resides upon it. George, son of
George, emigrated VVest, as did William, who later
returned and purchased the mill property (now

_ owned by William Smith) and resided below Can-
onsburg. The Rev. Thomas B. Van. Emen, of Can.- _
‘onsburg, is his son.

Nicholas, the youngest son of
George, Sr., also emigratedf7§rW'est. Elizabeth, the
only daughter of George Vaneman, became the wife
of the Hon. Joseph Lawrence, .and resided in West
Bethlehem, in Washington County.

Andrew Vaneman, brother of George, also took up
a- tract of land on a Virginiacertificate, which was
named “Zobeide,” containing three hundred and

ninety-five acres. It was located on Chartiers Creek, I

adjoining land of his brother George. On this farm
he "lived and died, leaving a large family of children,
of whom Catharine married John McCully and moved

.West. VVilliam settled near Burgettstown, but finally

went West and died there. Polly married James
Wilson, and settled on the farm now owned by Homer
Donnelly, who married a daughter. John died young.

. Margaret married James McDowell. Jane became the

wife of Andrew Vaneman, a cousin. He died in Can-
onsburg, and she moved West. Andrew lives in Kan-
sas. Elizabeth became the wife of Squire William
Smith, of Somerset township. He owns the most of

the original tract, which is in both Somerset and South
.Str,abane townships. 7 His son (Wylie lives in the old

Vaneman homestead- Hannah, a daughter of An-
drew Vaneman, remained umnarried, and now lives
in the township.

James Leeper received a warrant dated April 8,
1786, for the tract of land “Round Bottom,” contain-
ing two hundred and forty acres. He sold a portion
of it to James Thorn,.who also bought ninety-six

acres of Andrew Vaneman, April 1, 1813. James‘
Thorn, a son of James, now lives onthe land his ,

father bought of James Leeper. ‘ ’ a

One of the earliest warrants issued by the Pennsyl-
vania land-office in what is now Washington County
was to~John Altman, and bears date May 23, 1769.

It came into possession of Alexander Speer by patent, ‘

April 2, 1798. Alexander Speer left four children,——-
Robert, Maria,'James, and Ellen. Robert settled on
the hill on a part‘ of the tract now owned by Mrs.
John Weaver, who is a daughter of Robert. He had
four children,——John, who settled in Mount Pleasant
and still resides there ;- Mrs. John Weaver, now living

.on the homestead of her father; Nancy (Mrs..Porter) ’ J

7
Jane (Mrs. James McCoy), who both emigrated West.
Maria became, the wife of Moses Linn, and settled on
the Linn farm in North Strabane township. Of their
children, one became the wife of Ebenezer Boyle;
Jane married -John Campbell_...and settled near Venice;
Hannah married Andrew Henderson, and settled near
McConnell_’s Mills. James, a son of Alexander Speer‘,

_ lived at home, and died when a young man. .. Ellen,

the youngest daughter, became the wife of John Pat-
terson, and settled where their son,'Sp'eer Patterson,
now resides.

About the year 1827, Alexander McConnell, of Cecil \

township, purchased .two hundred and seventy acres
of land, a part of the Morganza tract, in North Strai-
bane township. His sons were John, who lives on
the home place; Alexander has resided at McCon-
nell’s Mills (Locust Hill), in Chartiers township;
Anderson lives at Burgettstown, and James at Hons?-
tonville. . . ' .
Thomas McNary emigrated from York County, Pa.,
in 1782, and on the 30th of ‘December in that year
purchased of James Allison two hundred and fifty
acres of _land “ situate on the forks of Shirtee Creek“,
on Sugar Tree Run, bounded by lands of l)orce Pen’-
ticost, and to a line of said tract run by Hendry Taler
[Henry Taylor], and lands of John McDoll [Mc-
Dowell].” For this tract he received a warrant dated
Oct. 29, 1784, and on the 21st of February,-1785, it

was surveyed tohim as “Sugar Tree,” and contained ’ .

two hundred and_ nineteen acres. . He waslthe son of
James McNary, of -York County, who settled ‘in Han-
over township in 1787. He was elected an elder in
Chartiers Chuich prior to 1799, and remainedin that
capacity till his death in 1820. ,His children were
Samuel, James, David, Joseph, and Matthew... Sam-
uel settled in J etferson ‘County, Ohio; James in

Munntown, in Nottingham township, where he was‘

an elder’ in the Pigeon Creek United Presbyterian

ish interpreter.

74

HISTORY OF WASHINGTON COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA. I

-Church; David in North Strabane, where his sons
Samuel and James now reside. Joseph settled in Ce-
cil township, near Canonsburg, where, his son-in-law,
Andrew Griffin, now resides. 1' He was elected an elder
-in Chartiers United Presbyterian Church May 10,
1832. Matthew settled on the old homestead, and
later sold it to John Struthers. It is now owned by
-William Donaldson and James Farris. Matthew was
elected an elder in Chartiers United Presbyterian
-Church‘ May 21, 1825.

John McNary, a son of James, who settled in Han-

over township, settled some years after his father re-
moved to this county. On the 21st of December, 1801,
he purchased one hundred and eighty acres of land
of Sam'uel.Smith-. After, the purchase he returned
home, and died early the next year. On the 4th of
.May in that year (1802) the family removed to the
new home, and.John, his son, purchased the farm of
his father’s estate and settled upon it. In 1.816 he
was elected an elder in the Chartiers Presbyterian
Church. His children were John, who lived on the
homestead and died there; James G., who now owns
the farm ; Esther, who married Samuel Pollock; and
"Jane, who now resides on the homestead with her
brother. |

John Murdoclrand his wife (both natives of Scot-
land) removed from near Carlisle, Pa., to Washington
County in 1778. Soon after his arrival in this county
he purchased from Nathaniel Blackmore a tract of
«land containing three hundred and fifty acres on Char-
,tiers Creek (or, as it is writtenin the deed, Shirtee

Creek), in Strabane, now North Strabane township, .

paying therefor £349 103.
. The journey was made over the mountains and
«through the wilderness» on horseback. They occu-
pied this farm with their children until _ the death of
»Mr. Murdoch. The farm was devised to Alexander
Murdoch, the youngest son. In 1804 he sold the land
-to John Bebout for the sum of £1572 153. P

John Murdoch left four children,—th.ree sons and
one d,aughter,—-—all of Whom were born near Carlisle,
Pa. John Murdoch, J r., the eldest son, left home at
an early period, went South, studied the Spanish lan-
guage, and was for several years employed as a Span-
He finally settled down upon his
-plantation near Bayou Sara, La., and there died in
-.1822. He never married. ‘

‘Nicholas Pees, a German, came here prior to 1780,
bringing his wife, his oldest son, Andrew, his daugh-

. 1 ter Molly, and his son George, four years old. . He

built a_ cabin on Chartiers just above the present mill
of John Berry. ,Afterwards he built a log mill and a
distillery.

hundred and two acres, a part of “ Amsterdam.” He
lived in the homestead, and there his son Zachariah

‘ was born in 1798, who is now living at the age of

.eighty-four years.

His daughter Mollie married John Mc-'
Glumpey, and settled on land which James Roneyi
- now owns. George Pees bought of his father one

‘ Andrew Pees purchased from his father. one hun-
dred and eighty-seven acres and lived on it till his
death, leaving eight children, who are all dead or re-
moved. John, James, and Nicholas Pees, of Finley
township, are sons of John Pees, so11 of ‘Andrew.
James Linn came from Carlisle, Pa., and settled i11
what is now North Strabane township, on a. tract (two
hundred.and eighty acres) called “ Cranberry.” . He
married Eleanor, daughter of Robert Young. They had
five sons, Robert‘, Moses, ‘William, James, Matthew,
and two daughters, Sarah and Mary. The farm was di-
vided between the sons. Robert settled on the farm ; his
descendants" moved to the West. Moses settled on his
-portion and died there. Elizabeth, a daughter, be-
came the wife of Boyle, and settled in the north
part of the township. William settled in West New-
ton, and died there. James settled on his part of the
farm, and late in life sold out and settled near Wash-
ington, on the farm where Li11ntown now stands, that
settlement deriving its name from the proprietor.

-His daughters were Eleanor (Mrs. J amesPollock),

of North Strabane ; Elizabeth (Mrs. Thomas Miller) ;
Sarah J . (Mrs. Alexander McCoy), both -of Canons-

iburg; Margaret (Mrs. Teasdell), of Batavia, Ohio.

The sons were John Linn, of Washington, Pa.; Mat-
thew Linn, of Linntown, and Robert Linn.
Matthew, a son of James Linn, _Sr., settled on part
of the homestead, and died there. He was a justice
of the peace. Samuel, a son, lives on the old Hughes
tract. Harriet, a daughter, married a Mr. Pitman,
and lives on the homestead. V
Richard Johnston (now spelled Johnson) emigrated
with his father’s family from County Down, Ireland,
when nine years of age, to Lancaster County, Pa., and
came to this county about 1800 and purchased a tract

ofland where R. V. Johnson, his grandson, now resides. ,

He was elected an elder in the Chartiers Presbyterian

Church, and served many years. He died in Novem- V

ber, 1836, aged seventy-four years, leaving seven sons
and three daughters. James and Richard, the first
and fourth sons, died when about nineteen years of
age. Mary became the wife of Thomas Allison, of

, Chartiers township, where she now resides at eighty-
William studied medicine with Dr,

two years of age.
John Wishart,'and graduated at Jefferson Medical
College, Philadelphia, commenced practice at Cadiz,

Ohio, and continued there till his death. John-settled

on the home farm and lived many years, andabout
1871 removed to Canonsburg, where he now resides.
His son, R, V. Johnson, resides on the homestead, at
J ohnson’s Station. ‘J. B. Johnson, another son, lives
on Chartiers Creek, opposite his brother. Elizabeth
became_ the wifeof George Gladden, and after his

-death married the Rev. John Stockton, of Cross Creek,

who died May 5, 1882, leaving her a second time a
widow! She still resides at Cross Creek. David
settled on a farm near Steubenville, Ohio, and now
lives there. Thomas graduated at»Jefferson College,
studied medicine, beca-meta physician, and settled first

' NORTH STRABANE TOWNSHIP.

A875

at Bloomfield, and later at Steubenville, where he
died. George graduated at Jefferson College, studied
law with J. Marshall, of Steubenville, was admitted
to the bar, but did notenter into active practice. He

-was elected president of the Bank of Portsmouth,

Ohio, where he resided, and died there about 1875.
Jane, a twin sister of Thomas, became the wife of

. Guion Morrison, of Chartiers township. They settled
.for some years in Stillwater, Harrison‘ Co., Ohio, and

returned to the old Morrison farm, where he died.
She now resides near Philadelphia.
Alexander McClure purchased of William Wier

.one hundred and eight acres in this township in 1800.

He lived and died on it, leaving two daughters, one

-of whom became the wife of’ Samuel Clokey. Eliza-

beth married Andrew Borland, who settled on t_he

farm where he still lives. Of their children, Mary
‘married Thomas McClelland; Sarah became’ Mrs.

John .Watson, of Nottingham; Elizabeth married

“James McClure, of Houstonville; Robert Henry

married, and lives onvthe old Henry farm. Alexan-

-der, a son, lives near Speers’_ Church.

James Martin came from York County, Pa., to this
county in 1804. He married Margaret McNary, a
daughter of John ‘McNary, who, in 1801, purchased
land in the township, and died soon after, and whose

son John took the farm where James  McNary now
lives. He settled on the farm, and resided there till
,his death, and left three daughters and one son, Sam-

uel, who wasbornin 1790. He inherited the farm,
and lived there many years, till declining health ren-

dered him unable for active duties, and he moved to
.Canonsburg, and died March 16, 1878. He was an
- active member of the Chartiers United Presbyterian
«Church. He married in 1812, and had three sons,——-
_-VVilliam, James, and Isaac.
homestead, an-d James and Isaac are in the West.
A Of the three daughters of James Martin, Isabel mar-,
ried John C. Hanna, of Hopewell. The Rev. Thomas
-Hanna, of Illinois, is their son.
wife of Joseph McNary, of Cecil township, and Mar-

William now owns the

Esther became the

garet married David Templeton,_of North Strabane,

-where they settled.

James Grier came to this township from Cumber-

.land County about 1810 with his wife and one son,

Samuel S., who later removed to Columbiana County,
Ohio. James Grier died about 1833, leaving five

sons and one daughter,-——Samuel S., Thomas, James,

Jane, Guion, and David. . 1
Thomas graduated at Jefferson College and at
Princeton Seminary. He then entered the ministry

-‘of the Presbyterian Church, and settled as pastor

over a church at Sidney, Shelby ‘Co., Ohio,_where he

‘died. James settled on the home farm, where he still

resides‘. - - V
-James Clokey purchased on the 5th of May, 1813,

a tract of land situated on" both sides of Chartiers

Creek, and containing ‘three hundred and ‘eighty

acres. .He -had but; one son, Samuel, who resided on I

the home farm till his death. A tavern was opened
at this place soon after the pike. was opened, which
was kept by one-Applegate. The place was named

Clokeyville, after Samuel, who at that time »was.pro-

prietor of the lands. Joseph Clokey, a son of Samuel,

now lives on the homestead. A post-oflice was opened »

at the place, and Samuel Clokey was appointed post-
master. He was succeeded by his son Joseph. The

office is now held by John Paxton, who keeps a stored
at the town, which is a station of the—Pittsburgh ,

Southern Railroad. ~

Robert and James McClelland were brothers, of
Scotch-Irish descent. Robert, at one time sheriff‘ of
Washington County, married Anna, daughter of
Robert Oflicer. He purchased .in 1823 at sheriff’s
sale a portion of the large. Pentecost tract, now owned
by John Gamble, Esq. He had no sons, but four
dau,ghters,——Anna', Manilla, Eliza, and one who be-
came the wife of Dr. Adams, of Canonsburg. Anna

‘married . John Johnson, lManilla married Samuel
Hughes; both resided in Washington County. T.Eliza_
married the Rev. James P. Smart, a minister of the

United Presbyterian Church, and settled at Xenia,
Ohio. \ .

James McClelland, the brother of Robert, raised a
large family of daughters and one son, James, who
now resides in Birmingham. Of the daughters, Mar-
garet married Levi Griflith, Jane married Thomas
Jackson, Julia became the wife of Robert McCoy,

Sarah married Samuel McCloy, Emi married John‘

McNary, They all resided in or near Canonsburg.

Nancy J. married J ohn Simpson, and Elizabeth mar-

ried James Smith, of Mount Pleasant township. _ I
Ebenezer McClelland purchased two hundred and

seventy acres of land of Dudley Woodbridge on the

15th of November, 1831. This tract was partof the
Paul Fooks’ tract, “Shrewsbury,” and part of the
Morganza plantation. Mr. McClelland built upon it
a cabin twenty feet square, and it became the home
of the family. Mrs. McClelland is still living at the

-homestead and now in her eighty-first year. Here
grew "up to *maturity five sons and two daughters."

Three sons, VVilliam, Ebenezer, and James, known as
the McClelland brothers, reside upon the farm, which

-has been increased from time to time until at present

it embraces an area of eight hundred and twenty-
seven acres. _ Each of the brothers have a specialty:

'VVilliam, the managernentof sheep, of ‘which they
have a flock of about eighteen hundred; Ebenezer, .
the care of the cattle, -of which twenty-eight- are -

thoroughbred Shorthorns .witha registered pedigree;

' James has the care of the horses and hogs, which -are
also thoroughbreds. The largefarm is divided up

into suitable fields for pasturage for the different

stock. The farm is well provided with large, commo-
Jdious, and suitable buildings necessary for the protec-

tion of stock.
William Berry, a son of_ John Berry, of Mount
Pleasant (who settled on the Washington lauds), ‘after

THE REVOLUTION.

tered Virginia as early as the 8th of the month, and
murdered a youngman named John Fink at the Bu-
chanan settlement. if This was the opening act of the
Indian hostilities of the memorable year 1782.

On the 10th‘ of February a war party of Shawanese
attacked the house of Robert Wallace, on the waters

. of Raccoon Creek, in the present township of Han-

over, Washington County. The husband and father
was away from home at the time of the attack, and
the Indians having killed his cattle and hogs, and

committed all the depredations possible except that
_of burning’ the house, took Mrs. Wallace and her

three children prisoners, and moved as rapidly as
possible with them towardsthe Ohio, evidently an-

, ticipating a prompt pursuit. When Wallace returned

in the evening and saw the desolation of his home
he at once understood the cause, and during the
night roused the neighboring settlers, and formed a
party to start at dawn on the trail of the savages, and
rescue the prisoners from their hands if possible.
The party, determined on revenge, set out as pro-
posed, but there came a light fall of snow which con-
cealed the trail, and compelled them’ to return with-
out having accomplished. their object.

Within a few days of the time when the Shawanese
attacked Wallace’s house,2 another party of Indians
appeared in the west part of Washington County, and

‘ captured a man named John Carpenter, who lived on

the waters of the Dutch Fork of Buffalo Creek.3
They also took his two horses, and with these and
their prisoners they made their way to and across the
Ohio, swimming the somewhat swollen river, and
nearly losing the horses in doing so, and proceeded
rapidly to the Muskingum. At the end of the first
day’s journey beyond that river the horses were hob-
bled and turned loose to feed. In the morning Car-
penter was sent to bring them in, and finding them

- attempting to make their way back overthe trail of

the previous day, he suddenly resolved that he too
would make the -attempt, though he well knew that
his fate would be a terrible one if he should fail.
Freeing the horses from their hobbles he mounted
one of them, and made his way as rapidly as possible
to the Ohio, which he reached in safety near Fort
McIntosh. ,Thence he Went to Fort Pitt, reported
the events of his captivity to C01. Gibson, and came
back to his home in Washington County. I

I Upon his return Carpenter reported in the settlement‘
that his savage captors were six in number, and that
among them were two who called themselves Mora-
vian Indians and spoke in good Dutch. These two,
he said, had appeared particularly vindictive towards
the whites, and treated him much more severely than

1 Butterfie1d’s and some other accounts erroneously give the 17th as
the date of the attack on Wallace’s house. ‘
- 2 It was about the 15th of February that Carpenter was captured.
Some accounts have it “ early in March,” but this is a mistake. He had
escaped and returned to the settlements before the 25th of February. .

3 Doddridge in his “ Notes” says Carpenter - lived in Virginia, not far
from Wellsburg.

103

did the others. The settlers had already become
aroused, and were preparing to form an expedition
to invade the Indian country as- their only means of
safety and peace. But when they received the intel-
1-igence brought by Carpenter, they at once concluded
that the atrocities then recently committed were the
work of the Moravians. Evenbefore this they had
been strongly inclined to hold the so-called Christian
Indians responsible for the atrocities which had been
committed, for it was known that some of the Mora-
vians had returned from their enforced exile and
were reoccupyingtheir former homes ;‘ and, as the
frontiersmen said, it was not likely that the hostile
savages _from far-off Sandusky would have reached
the border ‘settlements so early in the season ; or if in
fact they were the perpetrators of the outrages, they
must have made the Muskingum villages the base of
their operations, and in such case the blame was charge-
able on the Moravians. There were some who dis-
sented from this view of the case, but when the story
of Carpenter’s capture and captivity was told, it was
agreed by nearly all that the Moravians had at least
given aid to the murdering savages by furnishing
them with a refuge and subsistence, if indeed they
had not also actually accompanied the war parties
and taken active part in their work of massacre and
devastation. It was therefore the general sentiment
of the people that an expedition should be sent at
once to the Moravian towns to compel their final and
permanent evacuation by the Moravians, to burn the
houses so that the place could no longer be used as a
shelter and base of operations for war parties, and to
take bloody vengeance on all hostile savages who
might be found there; but it does not appear that in
the inception of the enterprise there was any inten-
tion (at least among the leading men) to kill any of
the really peaceable Moravians, or to do them any
violence beyond compelling them (by force if need
be) to vacate the villages and remove either to a re-
mote part of the Indian country or to the vicinity of
Fort ‘Pitt, where they could be kept under the sur-
veillance of the military authorities.

So unanimous among the settlers was’ the senti-
ment in favor of such an expedition that its ranks
could have been easily and quickly filled with volun-
teers, but Col. James Marshel, who as county lieu-
tenant of Washington had entire control of the mili-
tary of the county, was entirely opposed to that
method of raising men, being-—as he had previously
expressed himself in an ofiicial letter to Gen. Irvine———
“ heartily tired out with volunteer plans.” He had re-
ceived authority from the Supreme’ Executive Council
of Pennsylvania (in circular instructions to lieuten-
ants of the western counties, dated Jan. 8, 1782).to

4 “Having received intelligence that the Indian towns on the Mus-
kingum had not moved, as was supposed, a number of men, properly
provided, collected and rendezvoused on the Ohio opposite the Mingo
Bottom, with a design to surprise the above [Moravian] towns.”-Penw
sylvania Gazette, April 17, 1782. '

876

‘sides.

HISTORY OF WASHINGTON COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA.

many years’ residence near Venice, in Cecil township,
came to this township and purchased three hundred
acres of land June 23, 1835, of Dr. Jonathan Lether-
man and John Ritchie, executors, of Craig Ritchie.
The tract was originally taken, up on a Virginia cer-
tificate, and surveyed to Nathaniel Brown as “Peach
Garden,” and contained three hundred and twenty-
four acres. The land had been rented over forty years
when purchased by Mr. Berry. He moved his family
to the farm on the 1st of March, 1836, and lived upon
it till about 1850, when he movedto Canonsburg, and
resided till’ his death, which occurred about 1865, in
his eighty-fifth year. His son John settledon part of

. the old Nicholas Pees tract in this township. Mary

became the wife ofi_William McGlaughlin, and settled
in Ohio. Jane married John Thorne, of Canonsburg.
William married Elizabeth Collahan, and emigrated
to Iowa. Prudence married Mr. Carson, and "now re-
sides in Canonsburg. Matthew settled on the farm
his father purchased in 1835, and where he still re-
He and his sons are prominently engaged in
the breeding of the “Black Top” merino sheep.
James resides in Pittsburgh. The sons of John also
are .prominently engaged in sheep-breeding.
Linden.—On the site of the “lost town” of “ Louis-
burgh” now stands the town of Linden. The first store
at this place was opened by J arfi‘es' Hamilton, who was

also the first -postmaster. The mill sitefhere is that of

the old Pentecost mill. It passed from the Pentecost
estate to the ownership of John Hair, and is now
owned‘ by Thomas Hixson. The town at present con-
tains two stores, post-oflice, mill, blacksmith-shop, and
a few dwellings. ’
Chartiers Presbyterian Church.‘-—It is not known
in what year the congregation of Chartiers was organ-
ized. It is probable there was no regular organization
until Rev. John McMillan came. On his first visit to
this region, in 1775, he preached atthe house of John
McDowell, on Chartiers Creek, on the fourth Sabbath
of August. This is the earliest record of service at
Chartiers, but there can be no doubt that the set-
tlers had” previously met many times for ‘divine
worship. In an obituary notice of the Rev. _Reid
Bracken, published in the Presbyterian Advocate in
August, 1849,. it is stated that he was born in Sep-
tember, 1778, that his father removed from York
County to Washington County, Pa., when he was an

infant six weeks old, and that he was the first‘ child V
‘baptized by Mr. McMillan in Chartiers Church. We

know that Mr. McMillan preached and baptized at
Chartiers three years before the Bracken family
came, for he put it on record. We may reconcile
the newspaper statement with historical facts by sup-

1 Thi historyof the Chartiers Church is taken largely from “ An His-.

torical Address by the Rev. Francis J. Collier, delivered at the McMillan

Centennial Celebration held at the Chartiers Presbyterian Church, near
Canonsburg, Washington Co., Pa., Aug. 25, 1875,” supplemented by in-

‘formation as to its later history furnished by the present pastor, the

Rev. Matthew H. Bradley.

posing that a house of worship was built by Chartiers
congregation soon after Mr. McMillan was settled as

pastor, and that Reid Bracken was the first i~nfa‘nt-

baptized in the new church. The word “church”
used in the obituary refers, as we understand it, to
the sacred edifice, and not to the congregation. »

A charter was procured by the ‘congregation of
Chartiers in “February, 1798. More than thirty of
the male members signed the petition for the charter.
The followingis a list of the signers: John McMillan,
John McDowell,,Craig Ritchie, Moses Coe, Robert
Hill‘, VVilliam Cochran, George Craighead, William

.Kerr, Robert Hughes, James Foster, James Allison,

John Johnson, William V\_7elch, James Oflicer, Hans
McClean, Abraham DeHaven,‘ Robert Welch, Robert
Bowlaiid, William Hayes, John McCahey,. William
Hartapee, Nicholas Smith, Daniel Kirkpatrick, James

.Wishart, John Donnell, William \Gault, Alexander

Frazer, John Lindsay, Thomas Briceland, Samuel
Logan, Thomas Bracken, John McClain,.James Gas-
ton, John Crawford, George McCook. The charter
was signed Feb. 15, 1798, and approved by the Gov-
er’nor*March 28, 1798.

The first trustees were Robert Hill, William Kerr,
James McCreedy, William Hays, John Mercer, James
Morrison, George Craighead, James Bradford, and
John Cotton. After the church was incorporated
Josiah Haines conveyed to the trustees, in June,
1798, two and one-fourth acres of land.‘ I A year after,
Samuel Gilpin, of Cecil County, Md., conveyed seven
acres and three-fourths to the board of trustees.
church thus became possessed of ten acres of land.
A part of this tract the trustees afterwards exchanged
for other land more conveniently located.

The first pastor of Chartiers was the Rev. John

McMillan. His parents emigrated from County An-

trim, in-the north of Ireland, in the year 1742, and ‘

settled at Fagg’s Manor, in Chester County, Pa.
There he was born on the 11th of November, 1752.

In his "infancy he was dedicated to the Lord by his .

pious parents, and their earnest prayer was that God

would spare his life and make him a minister of the
_ gospel.

They first gave their son an English educa-
tion, then, when he was prepared, they sent him to

the Rev. John Blair’s classical school at Fagg’s Manor,

and subsequently to the Rev. Robert Smith’s classical
school at Pequea, Lancaster Co., Pa. He entered
Princeton College in 1770, and in two years gradu-
ated, at the age of twenty. .

r Having finished his course at Princeton, he went I
back to Pequea to study theology under the direction

of Rev. Robert Smith, D.D. At this period, as we
learn from his famous manuscript, he was in an un-
certain and perplexed state of mind about undertaking
the work of the ministry. He determined to leave
the matter wholly with God. If the way was opened
he would go on ; if it was shut, he would be satisfied.

When in the twenty-second year of his age he was _
licensed to" preach the gospel by the Presbytery of A

The '

1774, at East Nottingham, Chester Co., Pa.

7 Monongahela.

*NORTH STRABANE TOWNSHIP.

77.

New Castle. This occurred on the 26th of October,

The
winter following he preached in the vacant congrega-

' tions of New Castle and Donegal Presbyteries.

Young as he was, and difficult and hazardous as
was the undertaking, he set outin the summer of
1775, under instructions from his Presbytery, to visit
the settlements irrVirginia and Western Pennsylvania.
His course was in part, determined by a desire to see

some of his friends-and kindred who had settled in c

this reg-ion of country. Starting from Chester‘ County,

~ Pa., he made his way westward and southward through

the Cumberland and Shenandoah valleys. In July
he crossed the Allegheny Mountains near Staunton,
Va., and, it is probable, came down the valley of the
As he traveled from place to place
he preached the gospel. On the fourth Sabbath of
August he preached at John McDowell’s, on Chartiers
Creek, and on the Tuesday following at Pigeon Creek.

’ He then journeyed eastward, and in the month of

October reached his father’s house at Faggls Manor.
But he did not remain long at home. He returned to
this region in the winter, by the same circuitous route

‘ through Staunton, Va.,' and preached at Pigeon Creek
/and Chartiers from January until nearly the end of

March, 1776, when he received a call from these
churches to become their pastor. He was not as yet
ordained, but preached as a licentiate. He went

‘East, and at a meeting of the Presbytery of New
T’ Castle,~held in. April, accepted the‘ call. He was

thereupondismissed to the Presbytery of Donegal,
and on the 19th of June was ordained at Chambers-
burg, Pa. , .

‘ Before going to his field he married, on the 6th of
August,'17 76, Catharine Brown, a pious young woman,
whose father, William Brown, was a member of “ The

‘ Forks of Brandywine Presbyterian Church,” or, as it
is now more commonly called, “Brandywine Manor '

Church,” in Chester County, Pa. It was the period
of the Revolution, and_ the country was in such a dis-
turbed condition that he judged it imprudent to take
his wife to the frontier. He went himself and took

‘ charge of the churches, preached, ordained elders, -

and administered the sacraments,
returned to the East. . V ,

The account of Dr. McMillan’s settlement in the
Wilderness of Washington County,»his establishment
of thejlog cabin school, and other matters not strictly
pertaining to his pastorship of this church will be
found in the chapters on ‘the religiousand educational
interests of the county, and in that part of the history

but at times

of this township referring to its early settlements and

settlers. _

Dr. McMillan was not more distinguished» as an
instructor than as a preacher and pastor. He ex-
plained the Scriptures with great clearness, ability,
and skill. The inspiring theme of hisidiscourse was
“ Jesus Christ and him crucified.” He did not hesi-
tate topreach the terrors of thelaw, and at the same

56

time he proclaimed the sweet promises and encour-
aging invitations of the gospel. Death and the judg-

”ment, heaven and hell were realities to him, and he

urged men to flee from the wrath to come. He
alarmed the careless, encouraged the timid, consoled
the afllicted, instructed the ignorant,-confuted the
skeptical, and reproved the proud and presumptuous,-
the hypocritical andlcontentious, the wick_ed and
worldly-ininded. .
Sometimes his manner was austere. He. ridiculed
the man who first appeared at church carrying an
umbrella, and the family who first rode to church in
a carriage.‘ As‘ two younglwomen arose to leave
during service he cried out, “Sit down, girls, sit
down, for we have all seen your high combs.” Meet-

ing a man who had just recovered from an attack of -

sickness he said, “It is betterthat you are here.than
in hell.” For his liarsh expressions we offer no
apology. They were the faults of a good man.

,Dr. McMillan’s costume would not _accord_,with
present fashions. He wore buckskin knee-breeches,
blue stockings and buckled shoes, a coat and a vest’

"of a peculiar style, and a hat witha broad brim. ,
He preached with marked effect upon sacramental '
-occasions and at camp-meetings. With-his powerful

voice he could be distinctly heard by a great multi:
tude. He expressed regret before his death that he
could not leave his lungs as a legacy to some weak-,
voiced. minister, for he thought they were strong
enough to last for another generation.

For many years his salary did not amount to more
than one hundred pounds in Pennsylvania currency,
a sum equivalent totwo hundred and sixty-six dol-
lars. Some paid their subscriptions in cash, others
in merchandise. In a small paper book in the writer’s
possession, dated 1782, Mr. McMillan gives one per-,
son credit for six pounds and a half of tallow, another
receives credit for a quire of paper valued at two

_ shillings and sixpence, others are credited for corn

and wheat. The salary seems meagre and insufficient,
but we must remember that -provisions were cheap,

"the style of living was very plain, and the pastor was

the possessor of a large farm,which he purchased‘
when land was worth but three or four dollars an
acre. Small as was his salary, Dr. McMillan wasable
by strict economy to save a portion, which he used
for charitable purposes. . . .2
Dr. McMillan served the united congregations of
Chartiers and Pigeon Creek for a period of nineteen
years, and afterwards devoted; his pastoral labors ex-
clusively to Chartiers. ' _ ~
During his ministry it was Dr. McMillan’s good
fortune to have around him a noble band of elders,
menflof intelligence, energy, prudence, courage, and
piety. Such men were John McDowell, James Al-
lison, Moses Coe, -George Craighead, James Foster,
Samuel Logan, Jacob Bell, Thomas Briceland, Rich-

1 Col. George _Morgan’s family. A v

!

878

HISTORY or WASHINGTON COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA.

ard Johnstone, John Phillips, John Colmery, Samuel
“Miller, Jacob Howey, John Hare,,John Neil, and
others at Chartiers, and James Wherry, Patrick Mc-
Cullough, Hugh Scott, John Hawkins, VVilliam Mc-
Combs, Patrick Scott, and others at Pigeon Creek.
In the year 1822, Dr. Matthew Brown, the emi-
nent instructor and divine, whose praise is in all the
churches, removed from Washington, Pa., to Canons-
burg, being called to the presidency of Jefferson Col-
lege. Dr. Brown preached each Sabbath at Chartiers,
in conjunction with Dr. McMillan, for a period of eight
years, or until the College Church was organized in
1830, when Dr. Brown became its pastor. ' In his his-
torical sketch of the Jefferson classof 1828, the Rev.
Loyal Young, D.D., said, “Our usual place of wor-
ship was old Chartiers Church. Dr. McMillan wa.s
still vigorous but aged. His voice when he became
animated was stentorian. In the days of summer, Dr.
McMillan preached the sermon in the morning and
Dr. Brown in the afternoon. Our religious exercises
were solemn, and at the prayer-meetings on Wednes-
day evening, in Franklin Hall, Dr. "Brown exhibited
-a warmth and an unction in his address that often
melted the listeners to tears.”
In 1830, the same’ year in which Dr. Matthew Brown

, ceased his labors at Chartiers and took charge of the

church organized in Canonsburg, Dr. McMillan, then
an old man, resigned his pastorate, but he did not
cease to preach the gospel. Being strongly urged, he
accepted invitations to visit the churches in this re-
gion. In his eightieth year Dr. McMillan adminis-
tered the Lord’s.Supper fourteen times and preached
fifty times, leaning on his crutch on some occasions.
In the last year of his life he assisted in administer-
ing the .Lord’s Supper seventeen times and preached
about seventy-five times. Before he was called to
rest his successor‘ was installed at Chartiers, and

some changes and improvements were made in the‘

old‘ house of worship. The building was enlarged
and a new pulpit constructed. Dr. McMillan did
not like to‘see the old pulpit set aside, and he was
unwilling to enter the new, and in his last days, when
he addressed his people, he stood on the platform in
front of the pulpit. The old pulpit was endeared to

. him by many associations.

Dr. McMillan’s useful, laborious, and eventful life
ended on the 16th of November, 1833. Of him, as
of Moses, it could be said, “His eye was not dim,
nor his natural force abated.” The church mourned
his departure, for a great man had fallen in Israel.
“He, being dead, yet speaketh.” His influencevsuru
vives; his memory is imperishable. He was buried
at Chartiers, where the remains of his father, wife,
and two sons—in-law were interred. His sons-in-law,
the Rev. John VVatson, first president of Jefferson
College, and Rev. \Villiam Moorehead, were married

A by Dr. McMillan on the same day; a short time

afterwards they took sick on the same day, died on
the same day, and were buried in the same grave.

They died on the 30th of November, 1802; his father
on the 2d-of July, 1792; "his wife on the 24th of. No-
vember, 1819.

About two years before the death of Dr. McMillan
the Rev. Lemuel F. Leake was installed as the second
pastor of Chartiers. This tookplace on the 12th of

October, 1831. He served the congregation twelve ‘

years. He resigned in April, 1843, and became.pres-
ident of Franklin College, at New Athens, Ohio. Mr.
Leake was a native of New Jersey, born at Chester,
in Morris County, in 1790. He was educated at
Princeton College and Theological Seminary. For a
few years he was pastor of Oxford and Harmony
Churches in New Jersey, in the Presbytery of New-
ton. Resigning his ‘charge, he engaged fora while in
missionary labors. In 1831 he made an extensive
tour through Virginia, as McMillan had done, and
preached the gospel, and came to Chartiers, where
he was induced to settle. He was prospered in his
ministry. In the first year twenty-two persons united
with the church on profession, and seventeen in the
second year. These were seasons of special religious
interest which Dr. McMillan witnessed before he was
called away. Soon after Mr. Leake came to Char-
tiers he was married to Miss Catharine Ritchie, of
Canonsburg. She was his second wife. In the year
1835 he established a class of catechumens at Char-
tiers, and the session .adopted a rule that in ordinary_

' cases young persons should not be received into the

communion of the church unless they had’ been for a
time members of that class. A 2
During Mr. Leake’s.. pastorate a new church was
built, at a cost of two thousand five hundred dollars.
It was finished in the summer of 1841, and having
been repaired and improved from time to time, it
remains to this day. The first house of worship
erected by Chartiers congregation was made of logs,
and it was probably built in the year 1778. The
people who worshiped in it knew nothing of the
comfort afforded by a stove or furnace on a cold
winter day; and indeed when stoves could be had
some were as much opposed to their introduction as
they were to the use of hymns or organs in the house
of God. -The log church lasted until about the year
1800,‘\-vhen a stone church was built. The stone used
in its construction was taken from an Indian mound
which stood nearby on the top of the hill. The

stone church was enlarged and improved i11 183:2, .

about the time Mr. Leake was installed, and it Stood
until the present brick church was erected.

In Mr. Leake’S time we find the first record ‘of the
election of church oflicers. An election of elders was
held April 2,1838, which resulted in the choice of
Thomas Connelly, Samuel Logan, J r., William Scott,
George Gladden, and John Johnson. Mr. Scott de-
clined the ofifice; the others were ordained and in-
stalled in May. Another election took place in Sep-
tember, 1841, at which.Samuel Kerr, Joseph Horncr,

NORTH STRABANE TOWNSHIP”.

879

and Andrew Allison were chosen elders, ‘and Samuel

Logan, J r., deacon. Mr. Kerr accepted, and in
December was ordained and installed; the others
declined.

‘ After Mr. Leake left Chartiers he resided at New
Athens, Ohio, Zelinople. Butler Co., Pa., Waveland
and Terre Haute, Ind. He died on the 1st of‘Decem-
ber, 1866, and wasburied at Terre Haute. ’

* After the resignation of Mr. Leake, in April, 1843,
the pulpit remained vacant two years._ ‘The third
pastor of Chartiers was the Rev. Alexander B. Brown,
D.D. He was elected to a professorship in Jefferson
College in the year 1841. For some time after he
suppliedthe pulpit of Centre Church, located about

~ five miles east of Canonsburg. In the spring of 1845
6 he became pastor of Chartiers congregation, and so

continued until the fall of 1847, when he was elected
to the presidency of Jefferson College as successor to
Rev. Robert J. Breckinridge, D.D. “ During his short
pastorate,” says Dr. D. H. Riddle, “ twenty-two per-
sons were admitted to the communion of the church
on professions of their faith’, and in many hearts and
households there the memory of his preaching and
usefulness-tremaiiiis“fragrant to this day.”

‘ Alexander B. Brown was the son of Rev. Matthew
‘Brown, D.D., and Mary Blaine. He was born in
Washington, Pa., on the 1st of August, 1808. He
graduated at Jefferson College in _ 1825. He re-
ceived his theological training at the Western Theo-

’ logical Seminary, Allegheny. After his licensure he

labored for a while asa missionary in the mountain
regions of the State of Virginia. -It will be remem-
bered as a remarkable coincidence that his predeces-
sors at Chartiers, Dr. McMillan and Mr. Leake,
preached in the same region. He was married in De-
cember, 1833, to Miss Elizabeth Finley Nevin, whose

' brother was then 'ap’rofessor in the seminary at Alle-
gheny. Dr. Brown was settled at Niles, Michigan,

and Portsmouth, Ohio, before he was elected‘ profes-
sor at Canonsburg. He was connected with Jefferson
College as professor and president from 1841 to 1856.
After years of devoted service in the cause of educa-
tion and religion, his increasing bodily infirmities led
him to seek rest and retirement in the -country. But
the change of residence did not bring him that free-
dom from care and labor which he needed and sought.
Living near Centre Church, where he had formerly
preached as stated ‘supply, he was induced to become
its pastor, and he continued to hold this relationship
for several years, until he had not strength to preach.

~ At his rural home he Waited patiently until the Lord

called him. He died on the 8th of September, 1863.
The fourth pastor of Chartiers was the Rev. Robert

‘M. VVhite. His pastorate lasted but a short time. He

was called in September, 1848, about a year after Dr.
A. B. Brown resigned his pastoral charge at Chartiers,
and was installed in October. Two months later, on
the 14th of December, hedied. ,

. Mr. White was an earnest advocate of the cause of

temperance. ' He twice represented his Presbytery in
the General Assembly, thelast time in 1846, when he
took a prominent part in a debate on slavery, in
which he displayed great ability and tact. In June,
1848, he was elected professor extraordinary of rhet-
oric in Jefferson College. 0

A Six months elapsed after the death of Mr. White
before another minister was settled at Chartiers. The

fifth pastor was Rev. Joseph R. Wilson, a native of ‘

Steubenville, Ohio, a graduate of Jefferson College
and of Princeton Theological Seminary. In June,
1849, he was ordained and installed as pastor of Char-
tiers congregation. In July he was elected professor

extraordinary of rhetoric in Jefferson College. He.

was encouraged during the first year of his ministry
by the addition of twenty-five persons to the church
on profession of their faith. His pastorate lasted less
than two years. In January, 1851, the Presbytery
released him from his charge. .Mr. Wilson afterwards
removed to the South, and became thoroughly identi-
fied with the Southern people, in feelings, principles,
and interest. « 1'
Following the resignation of Mr. Wilson there
occurred a vacancy of one year in the pastorate. The
sixth pastor of Chartiers was the Rev. VVilliam Ew-
ing, a native of Washington, Pa., a graduate of Wash-
ington College, and of the VVestern Theological Sem-
inary, Allegheny. After leaving the seminary he went
to Europe and spent some time in travel and study.
He was ordained and installed Jan. 14, 1852, and he
ministered to the congregation more than eighteen
years. During three years of his ministry there was
more than ordinary religious interest in the con-
gregation. Twenty-one united with the church on

profession in 1858, sixteen the next year, and"

twenty-two‘ the year after‘. During his pastorate one
hundred and twenty-nine persons-‘were 1 received into
Chartiers Church on profession of their faith. '

The session was increased during Mr. Ewing’s min-
istry. In June, 1855, William Black and Thomas
Weaver were ordained to the eldership. Alexander
Boland and John Chambers, who had been chosen at
the same congregational meeting, declined the office.
In July, 1860, John Weaver, VlVillia1n McMillan, John
Norris, and Israel Haines were ordained elders. - '

Towards the close of Mr. Ewing’s pastorate a new

I roof was put on the church edifice, and the interior

was renovated and improved.

Mr. Ewing was released from his charge in April,
1870. He became successfully engaged in the im-
portant work of instruction as principalof the acad-
emy in Canonsburg, organized since the removal of
Jefferson College to VVas'hington. .He was elected
professor extraordinary of history and modern lan-
guages in Jefferson College in 1852; It is a fact
worthy of mention that several of the pastors of
Chartiers have been noted for their zeal in the cause
of education.

For several months after Mr. Ewing left Chartiers

880

HISTORY OF WASHINGTON COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA.

the pulpit was supplied by different ministers. In the
winter of 1870 a call was given to Rev. Robert S.
Morton, a graduate of Jefferson College of the class of
1845. The Presbytery placed the call in his hands.
He asked and obtained permission to hold it for six
months before making ‘known his decision. At the
expiration of that time hedeclined the call. A va-
cancy of three years followed the withdrawal of Mr.
Morton. -

The seventh pastor of Chartiers is the Rev. Mat-
thew H. Bradley. He was born at Mercersburg, Pa.
He received his academical, and one year of his col-

legiate education at Mercersburg College; graduated .
.at Lafayette College, Easton, Pa., in June, 1871, and

received his theological instruction at the VVestern
Theological Seminary, Allegheny. -He was licensed
to preach the gospel by the Presbytery of Carlisle,
convened at Chambersburg, Pa., in the same church
in which Dr. McMillan , was licensed. He was or-
dained and installed at Chartiers on the 10th of June,
1874. He has the confidence, respect, and affection
of the people. , '

On the 10th of‘ July, 1875, James _McLaughlin and
Robert Munnel were ordained to the office of ruling
elder in Chartiers congregation, and in 1877, James
T. Craighead was ordained and elected to the office
of elder.‘ The board of elders as at present consti-
tuted are John B. Weaver, Jam es McLaughlin, Robert
W. Munnel], and James T. Craighead. The deacons
are Samuel McMillan and Frank C. Lyon. The num-
ber of communicants at present is one hundred and
forty-eight. , _ _ _ _

Canonsburg United Presbyterian Church.~This
society was organized in 1830 as the Speers Spring
Associate. Reformed Church by the Monongahela
Presbytery. The meeting for organization was held
in a tent erected at the foot of therhill by a spring on
the grounds of Alexander Speer. Worship was held
at this place until 1832, when the main part of the
present brick edifice was erected. An addition of
twenty feet was afterwards made to this.

The first elders were Samuel Fergus, James Stewart,
Moses VValker, James Crabby, Andrew Monroe, and
\Villiam Berry, and on the 5th of April, 1832, John
Ballentine, _Sr., and Alexander McConnell were or-
dained and installed as elders. The present board of
elders are D. G. Philip, John Tho-rne, John Connor,
Sr., Isaac Weaver, VVilliam Griffin, and Alexander B.
Borland. V -

The pastors who have presided’ over the congrega-
tionare as follows: Rev. Alexander McCa'han, a na-
tive of Ireland, was installed on the 21st of September,
1831, as pastor of the Canonsburg and Cross-Roads
Societies. He was released from the care of Canons-
burg on the 12th of April, 1837, and remained in
charge of Chartiers Cross-Roads till March 28, 1843.
He died in Canonsburg Oct. 4, 1873.‘

Rev. Thomas Callahan, the second pastor, was born
in Washington County, Pa., in 1820; was licensed to

preach March 29, 1843', and ordained as pastor of the
church July 16, 1844. He remained in this connec-
tion till 1848, when he was released.

Rev. William Wallace, D.D., was a native of',Alle-
gheny County, Pa.; graduated at V\7ashington Col-

_lege in 1824; licensed April 24, 1827; "ordained Oct.

3, 1828, as pastor of the church at Wheeling, Va., and
Sept. 24, 1850, was installed pastor over this church.
He died Jan. 31, 1851. In connection with his duties
as pastor he was Professor of Moral Science in Jef-
ferson College, at Canonsburg.

Rev. David Paul, D.D., succeeded Rev._William
Wallace, and was ordained Dec. 13, 1853. He re-
mained but two years, and was released Dec. 25, 1855.
He now resides at New Concord, Ohio.

Rev. William H. Andrews, D.D., studied theology
at Canonsburg about 1846, and served as pastor over
several churches. On the 30th_of June, 1857, he be-
came the pastor of this church, and after two years’
service was released July 26, 1859. He died at Galt,
Canada, March 30, 1869.

Rev. John W. Bain was ordained pastor over the
society by the Presbytery"of Chartiers Nov. 12, 1861,
and remained till June, 1867. 1

Rev. J.,G. Carson, D.D., graduated at Jefferson

. College in 1849; studied theology at the theological _

seminary at Canonsburg; was licensed to preach by
the Presbytery of Chartiers June 22,‘ 1855, and or-
dained pastor of South .Buffalo Church Nov. 13, 1856.
He was released in May, 1867; was installed as pas-
tor of this church October 1st the same year, and re-
leased Nov. 5, 1869. _He is now professor in the theo-
logical seminary in Xenia, Ohio.

Rev. William Weir was ordained pastor in June,
1870, and remained till June 17, 1873, when he was
released. He was succeeded by the Rev. John S.

Speer, who was installed pastor on the 21st day of A

April, 1874, and has charge of the congregation at
the present time.

The society has a membership of one hundred and
ninety. A Sunday-school in connection with the so-
ciety has.one hundred and forty scholars, under the
superintendence of William P. Morgan, assisted by
eight teachers. A ‘

A cemetery also is connected with the church lot,
the ground having been donated by Alexander Speer.
It is situated in the township of North Strabane, but
adjoining‘ the town of Canonsburg.

4-;
wt

BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES.

JAMES S. MCNARY.

James S. McNary was born in North Strabane
township, Washington Co., Pa., May'22, 1810, the
third in a family of eight children of John and Jane
E. (Hill) M_cN-ary. (For full account of genealogy
of the family, see biography of his brother, VVm. H.

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881

McNary.) He was born on the place where he now
lives, and where he remained until he was thirty years
of age. His education was received in the district
school of the neighborhood. For a number of years
prior to the death of his father the sole management
of the homestead farm devolved upon him. He
eventually became its owner. To the original one

hundred and seventy-nine acres he has since added

sixty acres. He married, September, 1841, Hannah,
daughter of John and Hannah (Rankin) Anderson,

"who was born" in North Strabane township Aug. 18,

1822. She died Aug. 3, 1842. Mrs. McNary was a.

‘ most amiable and lovely woman, and her early death

was most keenly felt by a large circle of friends. To
her-husband it was a stroke ‘hard indeed to be borne.

A Since her death Mr. McNary has remained single.

After marriage he removed to his farm of one hun-
dred and fifty-six acres, situated in South Strabane
township, and lived there till 1857, adding, while
there, sixty-five acres to the original farm. Having
that year purchased the homestead farm, he removed
to it, and has ever since resided there. The farm resi-
dence, a substantial brick, was built by his father in
1828. His family at the present time (1882) consists
of himself, a sister, Jane E., a nephew, James E., and
niece, Clara Ella, "children of his brother, O. R. Mc-
Nary.

In politics Mr. McNary was first an anti-slavery

. Whig, but has been actively identified with the Re-

publican party since its organization. Has been no
ofiice-seeker. - _
He became a member of the Chartiers Seceder

Church, now the Chartiers United Presbyterian," at

the age, of eighteen, and is still a member of the same
church. He has been a member of its board of trus-

, tees, and was on the building committee in the con-

struction of their present house of worship. Though
by nature a quiet and/reserved man, no private citizen
in the community wields a more potent influence in
either church or political matters. In all public enter-
prises he has always ‘stood among the first with his
influence and means. As a farmer he has always

ranked among the most thorough and successful in a

region noted for its good farmers. He is no vision-

.ary; ideas whichmay be wro_ught into PRACTICAL

RESULTS have been the sort herpreferred toentertain.
Mr. McNary has been a man of wonderful physical
endurance, still doing a man’s work at the age of
seventy-two. His motto ha-salways been “Come
on,” not “ Go.” ‘ ,
His house is one of the most-hospitable in the
region, always a pleasant resort for his friends. One
who knows him well says, “ If ever there was a man
who for years has lived for his friends, that man is

. James S. McNary. C

ZACHARIAH PEES.

Zachariah Pees was born in North Strabanel town-
ship, Washington Co., Pa., July 15, 1799. His
grandfather, Nicholas ‘Pees, accompanied by an

uncle, emigrated from Germany when but twelve years _

of age. Eventually he settled and married in Cani-
guagig, east of the mountains. “ Here three of his
children, viz., Mary, Andrew, and George, were
born. About the year 1769 he journeyed on foot to
the “backwoods,” and located in what is now the
township of North Strabane, on Little Chartiers
Creek, four hundred acres of land. Returning East,
with the aid of one horse, uponwhich were placed
his worldly effectsand the youngest child, he moved
to the new home, the whole journey being made by
himself, wife, son, and daughter on foot. At first a
small log hut was built, in which the family lived
during the first winter.
present residence of John M. Berry. ‘Mr. Pees was
one of the three first settlers of the township. Here
were born children as follows: Nicholas, Catharine,
Betsey, and Susan’. All of his children but Nicholas
were married and raised families.

The grandfather died at the advanced age of one
hundred and five years. In physique he was indeed
a “ stalwart,” being six feet and one inch in stature,
and well proportioned. He was capable of great
physical endurance. He raised, cured, and prepared
his own tobacco, and was both a chewer and smoker
of the weed. His wife lived upward of ninety years.

George Pees, father of Zachariah, was but four
years of age when the family removed to Washing-
ton County. He was the only one privileged to ride
over the mountains. He married Lydia, daughter of
John Vaughn. She was a native of New Jersey.
Their children were Polly, Andrew, Rebecca, Zacha-
riah, John, Nicholas, George, Joseph, James, Eliza,
Polly, Lydia, and two daughters who died in infancy.

“Polly was burned to death when a child, Joseph

died at about the age of thirty, and James when
twenty-five years of age. All the rest were married,
raised families, and settled in Washington County.
Only Zachariah, John, and George (1882) are liv-
ing. _
George Pees. died March 1, 1849. His wife died
Oct. 16, 1865. Father and mother were first members
of the Chartiers Presbyterian Church, but for about
twenty years prior to their deathwere members of

; the Pigeon Creek Presbyterian Church. Both are

buried there. -

Zachariah Pees was born in the house now owned
and occupied by John M. Berry, -then owned by his
grandfather. Lived on theplace of his birth till
twenty‘ years of age. His opportunities for education
were very limited. For a number of years he drove
team for his father to Pittsburgh, carrying the pro-
ducts of the farm, and bringing in return supplies
from that. market. The cost of transportation in

It was situated near the

882

HISTORY OF WASHINGTON COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA.

those daysto Pittsburgh was two dollars per barrel
for flour, eight cents per bushel for oats, and fifteen
cents for corn. The journey was made for most of
the way through the woods, and at this time there was
not a house on Mount Washington.

When twenty-one years of age his father exchanged
farms with his uncle, Andrew Pees, securing in the
exchange a saw— and grist-mill, which have always
been known as “ Pees’ Mills.” These mills were oper-
ated by Zachariah Pees fourteen years. The “ Pees”
brand of flour was wellknown throughout the region as
the bestin the market. He married, Dec. 27, 1820, Han-
nah, daughter of Andrew and Polly Pees. She was
born April 25, 1800. Their children were William,
born Oct. 13,1821; married Mary Jane Cheesman,
May 20, 1844. The latter died Feb. 12, 1846. By
this union one child, Mary Jane, wife of John L.
Gault- Second wife, Eliza Davis. Two children,
Hannah and Anderson, both deceased. ‘Third wife,
Cordelia Sutman. Children, Catharine, William,
Abner, Mattie, John, Belle, and Susan.

Joseph, born Aug. 21, 1823; married Sarah New-
som. ,

Andrew, born July 4, 1825; married Julia Ann,
daughter of John and Sarah (Haines) Dickson. Chil-
dren, Zachariah Mason, Ida, Elizabeth, and John
Dickson.

Mary, born May 1, 1827; wife of Jacob Anthony, a
farmer-living in Illinois. Children, Hannah, Pear-
son, Belle, _J ane/Ann, Abbie, Ettie, Grant, and John

_ Zachariah.

Lydia, born July 24, 1830, wife of Zachariah Pees,

a farmer, also living in Illinois.
Francis, Clark, and Lessie.

Elizabeth, born June 5, 1833; died March 11, 1841.

George, born April 27, 1835; died May 3, 1835.

. Hannah Jane, born May 20, 1839; died May 16,
1841. , _ . _

Phebe, born April 7, 1841 ; died Oct. 30, 1841.

Mrs. Pees died Oct. 4, 1846. Mr. Pees married
Jan. 13, 1848, for his second wife, Jane, daughter of
Robert and Margaret Jackson. Her family were a
connection of President Andrew Jackson. Mrs. Jane
Pees was born in Lancaster County, Pa., Oct. 18, 1806.
One child was the fruit of this union, viz., Margaret
Jane, born May 12, 1849 ; died May 18, 1877.

About the year 1825, Mr. Pees purchased a farm in
Ohio, near Richmond, with the intention of-removing
to it, but was persuaded to remain in Pennsylvania
by his father. Sold his farm in Ohio, and purchased
the farm in North Strabane township now owned and

Children, Swan,

occupied by his son William. He subsequently pur-

chased the farm upon which he now resides, which
is worked by his son Andrew. . Z  '

In politics Mr. Pees has been a lifelong Democrat.
Has been called to fill a number of township oflices.

He became a member’ of the Chartiers, Presbyte-
rian Church when eighteen years -of age, but for the
last sixty-four years of his life has been a member of
the Pigeon Creek Church‘, and an elder in the latter
for-many years. Mr. Pees has always commanded the
respect of his neighbors, and the declining years of
his life are brightened by the loving regard of a large
family circle. '

  NOTTINGHAM TOWNSHIP.

THIS was the ninth of the thirteen original town-
ships of Washington County, formed by the trustees
appointed for that purpose July 15, 1781. It retained
its original area for eleven years. In 1792 a petition
of “-sundryof the Inhabitants of the lower end of
Strabane and upper end of Nottingham townships,”
prayed that a part of Nottingham be added to Stra-
bane township. The action on this petition is indi-
cated by the indorsement upon it, viz.: “December,
17 92——Petition graiited, andthat part of -Nottingham
township which lies within Washington Election Dis-
trict added to Strabane township.”

On Sept. 30, 1834, the boundaries of the township
were somewhat curtailed by the formation of Carroll,
and on March 3, 1836, were further lessened by the
erection of Union. As now constituted, Nottingham
is bounded on the north by Peters, east by Carroll

and Union, south by Fallowfield and Somerset, and 

west by North Strabane. '

-117

The township is generously drained,——in the north
by the waters of Peters Creek, and in its central and
southern portions by Little ‘Mingo and Mingo Creeks,
all "flowing east into the Monongahela River.

Nottingham is hilly, partaking of the general topo-
graphical character of all the eastern townships. In
the north along Peters Creek and in the east at Grin-
ger Hill the hills rise with considerable abruptness,

but are easily cultivated to their very summits. The '

township is underlaid with a vein of the valuable Pitts-'

‘ burgh coal ;’ along Peters Creek it crops out at many

places and is easily mined, but in the central and
southern portion lies at too great a depth for present
profitable development. V
Nottingham was an independent district until 1803,
when it became a part of District No. 6, and so re-
mained u’ntil 1838, when...it.became again an inde-
pendent district.’ The justices of the peace for the
territory of Nottingham while it remained a part of

_ Peters township.

NOTTINGHAM‘ TOWNSHIP.

883’

District N o. 6 will be found in the list of justices of
Following is a list of justices

- having jurisdiction in Nottingham prior to 1803 and

“Benjamin Parkinson, July 15, 1781.

. Samuel Morrison, April 15, 1845.

after 1838, the periods of its existence as an independ-
dent district, viz.‘:

Joseph Parkinson, July 15, 1781. I James McNary, April, 1860.

‘ David Hootman, April, 1863.
Jonathan Cosebeer, April 11, 1865.
Andrew Clark, April 11, 1865.
David Hootman, J r., May 5, 1866.
Jonathan Cosebeer, Nov. 30, 1870.
Andrew Clark, April 15, 1873.
Andrew Clark, Jan. 28, 1874.
Jonathan Cosebeer, J an. 31, 1874.
David Hootman, March 17, 1875.
Jonathan Cosebeer, March 16, 1876.
George McGibbony, March 13, 1880,
Andrew McDonald, April 9, 1881.

Hugh Scott, Nov. 8, 1788.

David Hamilton, Feb. 29, 1792.
George McGibbony, April 14, 1839.
George Crouch, April 14, 1840.

Andrew Clark, Aug. 25, 1845.
Andrew Clark, April 9, 1850.
James McNa.1‘y, April 9, 1850.
James McNary, April 10, 1855.
Andrew lV.Loore, April 10, 1355.
Andrew Clark, April, 1858.

Sett1ements.—Hugh Scott was one of the earliest
settlers in this township. He was a son of Abram
Scott, born in Chester County (now Adams) in 1726.
He married Miss Janet Agnew, and lived on the
Millerstown road, about five miles from Gettysburg,
Pa. In 1772 he came to the territory of Washington
County with his brother Josiah (who settled in what
is now South Strabane), and settled on a tract of land

now in possession of his grandsons, J. K. and H. C. '

Scott. Hugh Scott" was a blacksmith, and in that
year built a blacksmith-shop on Mingo Creek, almost
opposite the residence of his grandson. He was
one of the commissioners appointed to purchase a
site for the county courthouse and jail in 1781. A
man of great piety and influence, he was one of the
signers of the “Religious Agreement” written by

-James Edgar, and one of the founders and first elders
in the Pigeon Creek Presbyterian Church. He died

at hishome, Oct. 11, 1819, aged ninety-three years.

His wife died Oct. 9, 1814, aged seventy—seven.

They were both buried in the Pigeon Creek grave-
yard. Their children were Abraham, James, Hugh,
Josiah, John, Rebecca (Mrs. George Vanemen),
Margaret (/Mrs. Ramsey), Sarah (Mrs. J ordan‘), and
Elizabeth (Mrs. Todd). The three last settled near
Steubenville, Ohio. Of the sons, Abraham and James
returned to Adams County when young men, and

settled there. George K. Scott, an early teacher and .

merchant of Washington, was a son of Abraham.
Hugh, the third son of Hugh, emigrated to Newark,
Ohio, where he settled and died. Josiah settled on
thehomestead, and died there. His grandchildren

‘ now occupy the place. He married Jane, a sister of

Daniel Darragh. He died of cholera in 1834, and
was buried in Mingo churchyard. Mrs. Thomas
Weir and Mrs. A. D. Scott, of Beallsville, are his
children.

John, the youngest son of Hugh Scott, Sr., married
Martha Patterson, and settled in the town of Wash-
ington. They both died of cholera in 1834. Of his
children, three are now living,—Dr. John Scott, of

Pittsburgh, J. Randolph Scott, of Washington, Ill.,
and Mrs. Robert Officer, of Council Bluffs, Iowa. 1 7 -

D

Among the Hessian soldiers captured at Trenton
by Washington’s army was a boy named Andrew
Devore. He, entertaining no love for the English,
and detesting his prince for having sold him and his
comrades into the service. of a foreign potentate, re-
fused to avail himself of an exchange of prisoners,
and with anumber of others enlisted in the American
army, and in the summer of 1782 came to Notting-
ham township, where he settled on a farm named in
the Pennsylvania patent which he received in 1784
“ Up and Down.” A portion of the original tract is
still owned by his grandson, James Devore. In 1792
he erected a distillery on Mingo Creek, and operated
it continuously until 17 94,’ when it was seized by the

government for non-payment of the excise. ,Devore

died in 1834 at the age of seventy-six. _
Benjamin Parkinson, famous in the annals of the
Whiskey Insurrection as one of the leaders, resided in

1 Nottingham township near Kammerer from 1792 until

the time of his death in 1834. Parkinson was of Eng-
lish descent, his father having emigrated about the
middle of the eighteenth century and settled in the
Cumberland valley near Carlisle, where- Benjamin
Parkinson was born in 1750. Shortly after the close
of the Revolutionary war ‘Parkinson came to Wash-
ington County and settled. In 1792 he built for him-
self a dwelling-hou-se and tavern stand on his farm,
acquired several years previous both by Virginia cer-
tificate and Pennsylvania patent. His homeand tav-
ern stood on the “Glades road,” eight and one-half
measured miles from Parkinson’s Ferry, and is now

occupied‘ as a residence by Mr. William Gamble, who '

is also owner of a portion of the farm. At the same
time he built a distillery, and in 1795 a blacksmith-
shop just west of the tavern. This still, of one hun-
dred gallons capacity, was seized for non-payment of
the excise on Nov. 14, 1794. John Coulson was the
first smith in charge of thelshop, and was succeeded
by David Hootman, Parkinson’s son-in—law.

agement of which he gave his personal attention, was
famous for its hospitality, its table, and good liquor.

Benjamin Parkinson died Oct. 26, 1834, at the ad-
vanced age of eighty-four," and lies buried in the
graveyard of Pigeon Creek Presbyterian Church, a
plain stone slab covering his grave.

David Hamilton, Esq.', was born in Adams (then .

York) County, Pa., in 1759. He removed with his
father’s family to Washington County at an‘ early
period, and became possessor oiithe tract of land
known as Ginger Hill. He was commissioned a
justice of the peace in 1792, and for more than forty
years continued in this office, filling it with more
than ordinary acceptability and efliciency. His name
occurs quite frequently in the historical records of
the insurrection. That he took an active part in that
great popular uprising is not to be denied. But there
is no evidence that he approved of any of the acts of
violence committed. Though he was present at the

/

The ‘
“ Buck Tavern,” the name of the stand, to the man- .